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August 18, 2026 - Vol. 19 No. 33

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‘Time to change Exxon deal is now’ ...10% royalty, taxes; clean up costs to be borne by company - Chris Ram Govt. begs citizens to cut electricity use …as blackouts surge, businesses asked to self-generate

The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has commenced its second round of verification of speed cameras installed along Guyana's roadways, as part of efforts to ensure the devices remain accurate and reliable when enforcing speed limits.

CSEC, CAPE results to be released today ‘We ain't looking for small things, we looking for multi-million ounces’ — Australian gold company tells shareholders

‘Fly-by-night’ company linked to

Pres. Ali’s brother gets $3.9 billion …$12.3B over following in contracts in five days years, opposition alleges ...company says Ali is only a senior technical consultant

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Tuesday August 18, 2026

Kaieteur News

Unlicensed Chinese national remanded for Police believe Industry businessman shot himself causing motorcyclist's death ...$27M debt uncovered as

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Chinese national, Zeng Huaqing, has been remanded to prison for causing the death of 24-year-old Christopher Thomas, called “Barn,” at Coverden, East Bank Demerara. Thomas was riding his motorcycle with a pillion rider around 9:00 p.m. on August 5 when he was struck by a minivan. Zeng was detained following the accident, and police later found that he was not licensed to drive in Guyana. The minivan was also unlicensed and uninsured. He subsequently appeared at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrate's

Court, where he was remanded to prison.Police said Thomas met with the accident around 9:10 p.m. when the van, driven by Zeng, collided with his motorcycle. “Initial enquiries revealed that the motor van was proceeding north along the western driving lane of Coverden Public Road and, upon approaching the entrance to a worksite compound, allegedly turned right into the compound without stopping,” police stated. The police added that the van collided with the motorcycle, which was travelling south along the eastern lane at an alleged high rate of speed.

investigators probe death

Remanded: Zeng Huaquing

Police investigators now believe that 33-year-old businessman Satyanand Persaud, who was found dead inside his car at Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD), last Tuesday, died from a selfinflicted gunshot wound. Persaud, of Industry, ECD, was found in his motorcar parked along the Ogle Highway around 13:00hrs on August 11 with a suspected gunshot wound to the chest. A post-mortem (Continued on page 17)

Satyanand Persaud, the businessman found dead in his car at Ogle.

5 Brazilians deported after entering Guyana illegally

Police believe Industry businessman shot himself

Geovanny Nogueira Ferreira Cleocione Ferreira De Souza

Daniel Dos Santos Reis The Guyana Police Force on Monday reported that the Lethem Magistrate's Court ordered the deportation of five Brazilian Nationals who entered Guyana illegally. They were identified as Fabricio Braga Tomza, 24, Daniel Dos Santos Reis, 23, Cleocione Ferreira De Souza, 44, Edimar Dos Santos Chaves, 40 and Geovanny Nogueira Ferreira, 23, all of Boa Vista, Brazil. They were arrested and c h a rg e d w i t h e n t e r i n g Guyana by crossing a land frontier and failing to forthwith present themselves to the nearest immigration officer. They appeared before

Fabricio Braga Tomza

Edimar Dos Santos Chaves Magistrate Nikkisha Logan at the Lethem Magistrate's Court on Friday. They pleaded guilty and were fined $30,000 each and deported.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday August 18, 2026

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‘Time to change Exxon deal is now’ ...10% royalty, taxes; clean up costs to be borne by company - Chris Ram

The recovery of all investments made in the Stabroek Block by ExxonMobil – the Operator of the Stabroek Block - has removed the last semblance of risks for the operator, paving the way for the Government of Guyana (GOG) to now seek a renegotiation of the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA). This is according to Chartered Accountant and o u t s p o k e n A t t o r n e y, Christopher Ram. In a recent commentary, Ram weighed into the US$55B costs that have been recovered by the company as announced by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman, Darren Woods on July 31, 2026. The recovery of the company's investments means that additional returns are like icing on the cake and make it possible for Guyana to get a bigger piece of the pie. Since production commenced in late 2019, Exxon has claimed the full 75% of the oil revenue as

expenses to recover its investments. The remaining 25% was then split with Guyana as profits, meaning the country received 12.5%. As such, Ram said, “Now that this moment has arrived, and the project has become risk-free, it is entirely appropriate that the government calls Exxon to the table and say, look we must renegotiate this contract now.” The attorney reminded that the Ali-administration promised contract renegotiation during the 2020 Elections campaign but later back-peddled after taking office. He argued, “Then they promised better contract administration, and they have been demonstrably incompetent in that as well. Finally, it was sanity of contract (although ) the contract allows for renegotiation. Let us see what their most recent excuse is.” Article 32.1 states that G o v er n men t s h all n o t "require renegotiation of" the agreement without the

Contractor's prior written consent. Article 32.2 bars any new tax, royalty, duty, fee, charge or VAT for the life of the contract. Ram would narrow the whole of Article 32 to what stabilisation clauses are supposed to do protect an investor from being singled out - leaving laws of general application to apply to Exxon as they apply to every other business in Guyana. The sweetheart deal Exxon signed in 2016 states in Article 15.1 that the Contractors as well as their affiliates shall not be subjected to tax, value-added tax, excise tax, duty, fee, charge, or impost in respect of income derived from petroleum operations, property held or transactions except as specified under the agreement. Further, Article 15.4 states that the sum equivalent to the taxes owed by the company will be paid by the Minister responsible for Petroleum to the Commissioner General of the GRA. It should be noted

Chartered Accountant and Attorney, Christopher Ram that the contract also allows for the issuing of a receipt to ExxonMobil, indicating that it has met the local tax requirements to avoid the burden of double taxation. Ram noted that Darren Woods did not mention anything about taxation or the benefits of billions. Ram's first demand is that the Contractor file, be assessed, and pay its own taxes like every other company operating in

Govt. begs citizens to cut electricity use as blackouts surge ...businesses asked to self-generate where possible

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he Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc. is rushing to install new lines to supply key areas with reliable electricity as the demand for power continues to grow beyond the capacity of the installed infrastructure. In the interim, government is appealing to consumers to employ energy-saving techniques to help maintain a stable distribution of power. During a media conference on Friday at the Office of the Prime Minister, the Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar laid out a long list of troubles the agency must address to ensure stable power is distributed across the Demerara Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS). He explained that the “unusually hot” season coupled with the rapid expansion in the country has resulted in peak demand for electricity increasing significantly in just one year. The minister said, “As at last night and the night before, we saw the grid...recorded a demand of 242.64 megawatts (MW), it's the highest we have had since the grid was formed.

Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar Last year we saw a demand peak of 221 MW- so in a single year it rose by 21.6MW.” Be that as it may, he assured that while there is enough power being generated to meet the demand on the DBIS, the issue is now the transmission and distribution lines that in many cases cannot accommodate the high demand for electricity in some areas, resulting in power outages. According to the minister, “...what is happening now is because the overall

demand is raising, it is putting pressure and the thermal limits of some of these feeders are causing these trips.” While GPL may require as much as three months in some instances to install new lines to distribute the power, the government is appealing to consumers to ensure electricity is conserved. “There are some large customers that we have asked them to come off the grid that have self-generating capacity to come off the grid during the peak so that we can have a stable grid, and it's not running on, you know and the engines are not running on the max capacity because sometimes when they run on the max capacity, some of these engines that we have in the system, they're old and they kind of back down,” Indar explained. Additionally in an appeal to household customers, he said, “We are also asking the general public to look into ways in which they can conserve the uses of energy, if they have lights that they are not using, unnecessary equipment that is being used, that are not critical to them and any other thing that they can do in the household or in their businesses.”

Guyana, and receive a receipt for money it has actually paid. If the companies insist that a tax concession was part of the bargain, he says, then let it be a concession with an end date: a defined ten-year waiver running from first oil in December 2019 and expiring in December 2029. Ten years is a holiday. Thirty is a transfer. Second, Ram wants an increase in the rate of royalty from 2% to at least 6% moving up to 10% within five years. Ram wants each production licence treated as a separate cost centre, with its own costs recovered only from its own production, and the recovery ceiling cut from 75 percent to 50 percent - a figure common across producing jurisdictions. Article 20.1(d)(iii)(gg) provides that "all costs included in the approved abandonment programme and budget shall be Recoverable Contract Costs," recovered on a unitof-production basis. In plain terms, Guyana pays for the clean-up out of the oil. On this point, Ram observed, the 2016 agreement is weaker than the one it replaced. H e w a n t s

decommissioning costs borne solely by the companies and expressly excluded from recovery; the sums set aside held in cash in a ring-fenced account in Guyana rather than existing as a paper undertaking; and guarantees given by the ultimate parent companies themselves, not by an unnamed affiliate. Ram also wants all tax benefits – including withholding taxes on interest, dividends etc.,be removed from Affiliated Companies since they do not contribute to any activity in the sector. Ram has previously estimated that had ordinary withholding rates applied to remittances, Guyana would h a v e c o l l e c t e d approximately GY$409 billion. In conclusion, Ram said that Woods has spoken to his shareholders. This Government has yet to speak to its own. The time to speak, he said, is while Exxon still needs something from Guyana. Ram notes that the Government has been silent on the announcement by Woods. This is not time for distraction. It is time for Action.

Kaieteur News

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Tuesday August 18, 2026

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: DR. GLENN LALL - TEL: 624-6456 Editor-In-Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

The corruption curse The shocking revelations and allegations of corruption continue to enmesh this administration from the highest to the lowest. In its previous 23-year term, the PPP/C government was dogged by allegations of the giveaway of the Sanata Textile complex, the Fip Motilall debacle; the Pradoville scandal; the witch hunt of NBS CEO; the forest giveaway to Bai Shan Lin and others. No sooner than the party returned to government in 2020, the corruption scandal continued. Its tentacles have touched almost everyone in the government, the President and Vice President have not been exempted. We had the Su-gate corruption scandal exposed by Vice News that entangled Bharrat Jagdeo and now two running scandals involving President Irfaan Ali, his mega farm and now one allegedly involving a relative. As we have said in a previous editorial, it is nauseating how often the names of top-ranking officials in the government are called in some corruption context. For the most part, neither elected officials nor the ones that they select to support their work are spared. Often, there’s the overpowering sense that national governance has deteriorated to the machinations of a gang of thieves. The skullduggeries are most pronounced in procurement for public works. In its 2025 report, Transparency International said that the state of Guyana has been captured by the economic and political elites, fostering misappropriation of resources, illicit enrichment and environmental crimes. The body also stated that Guyana has lost ground in the fight against corruption moving from 40 points last year to 39 this year, ranking it 92 out of 180 countries on the Corruption Perception Index. The report also noted that although the country has created anti-corruption institutions and laws, transparency and law enforcement are very low, and attacks on dissenting voices, activists and journalists increasingly common. For years, ordinary Guyanese have watched as public resources are siphoned off, contracts are handed to friends and political loyalists, and accountability is treated like an inconvenience rather than a duty. The oil boom was supposed to be a blessing, but it risks becoming just another gold rush for the political elite while the average citizen sees little change in their daily life. Transparency is a word politicians love to use in speeches, but in practice, it’s a mirage. Procurement processes are routinely bypassed. Major projects are green-lighted without genuine oversight. Under this government important questions in Parliament are often dodged, audits have been delayed, and whistleblowers intimidated. When scandals break out much like the one involving the president and his farm or even the MV Barima tragedy, the standard playbook kicks in: government officials even the President would deny, distract, and wait until the public moves on. Law enforcement and regulatory bodies, instead of being independent guardians of the public interest, often appear as tools to protect the powerful and punish dissenters. The lines between government, business, and party are blurred to the point of invisibility. Foreign investors quickly learn that “greasing palms” is not just an option but a necessity if they want to operate smoothly. Meanwhile, the country’s social services remain underfunded, so much so that we have to borrow money from the IDB to fix the water systems. The healthcare systems despite the construction of new hospitals remain strain, and infrastructure in many communities is crumbling. The wealth gap widens while a political class entrenches itself, living far removed from the struggles of the people which they claim to represent. Guyana’s potential is enormous, oil wealth, fertile land, human capital but corruption is the parasite that keeps draining it. Until the PPP is forced to face real consequences for abuse of power, the cycle will continue: the rich and connected will get richer, and the majority will be left with promises, excuses, and little else.

Hacking Back: What the U.S. shift toward private cyber warfare means for Guyana DEAR EDITOR, In a historic and controversial shift that is redrawing the boundaries of modern warfare, the United States has officially authorised vetted private cybersecurity firms to carry out offensive cyberattacks against international criminal networks. Under a landmark presidential memorandum, Washington is stepping away from a decades-old policy that restricted private entities strictly to network defence. Now, approved corporate firms will be permitted to deploy surveillance spyware, disrupt foreign target infrastructure, and permanently destroy the data of overseas cartels engaged in ransomware, financial fraud, and cyber extortion. This drastic policy change aims to harness private-sector innovation to dismantle international syndicates that operate beyond the reach of traditional l a w e n f o r c e m e n t . H o w e v e r, Washington is not giving these firms a blank check. To prevent rogue vigilante operations, the U.S. government maintains tight control, requiring private contractors to seek explicit, case-by-case approval from the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Participating companies must also put up a steep $1 million escrow bond, subject to immediate forfeiture if guidelines are breached. Despite these guardrails, global cybersecurity experts are sounding the alarm, warning that unleashing private actors into foreign digital battlegrounds invites severe diplomatic fallout and exposes civilian hackers to prosecution as illegal combatants under international law. As this unprecedented era of privatized warfare unfolds on the global stage, the implications ripple far beyond Washington and affect fast-developing

nations like Guyana. Experiencing unprecedented economic growth driven by its booming oil and gas sector, Guyana is rapidly digitizing its banking, energy, and government infrastructure. This sudden influx of wealth and digital transformation makes the nation an increasingly attractive target for the very same international ransomware syndicates the U.S. aims to strike down. While Guyana is not in a position—nor would it be wise—to deploy its own private cyber armies, the country must strategically adapt to this new digital reality to safeguard its economic future. First and foremost, Guyana can position itself to directly benefit from these overseas operations through expanded intelligence sharing. Because major cybercriminal networks operate across borders, a ransomware gang targeting financial institutions in Georgetown is often the same entity attacking infrastructure in North America. By deepening bilateral security ties with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Guyanese authorities can share critical threat data, effectively allowing heavily armed international allies to strike down cyber threats at their source before they hit local networks. Simultaneously, the U.S. initiative highlights a truth that Georgetown’s policymakers must accept: governments can no longer defend cyberspace alone. Guyana must bridge the gap between the public and private sectors by forging an active national defense alliance. By empowering the Guyana National Computer Emergency Response Team (Guyana CERT) to collaborate directly with local commercial IT experts, telecommunications providers, and financial institutions, the nation can build a unified, real-time defence shield

capable of repelling sophisticated attacks. Furthermore, this shift toward privatized cyber conflict creates a murky legal landscape that demands an urgent update to Guyana’s local laws. As private firms and foreign proxies engage in digital crossfire, Guyana’s Cybercrime Act must be modernised to clearly delineate between legitimate corporate defence, state-sanctioned activity, and illegal hacking. Clear legislation will ensure that Guyanese servers and digital infrastructure are not unwittingly hijacked or used as proxy launchpads by foreign corporate mercenaries operating in legal grey areas. Finally, Guyana can adopt the U.S. policy’s smartest financial safeguard: mandatory security escrows. As the government contracts foreign and local tech firms to build out critical digital infrastructure—from automated customs systems to smart power grids—it should require these vendors to place financial performance bonds in escrow. Holding contractors financially liable for security oversights ensures that those building Guyana’s digital backbone are strictly accountable for maintaining the highest defences. The era of passive cybersecurity is officially over, replaced by a complex landscape where private enterprise and state security collide. For Guyana, a nation standing on the cusp of unprecedented economic prosperity, remaining a bystander is no longer an option. By refining its legal frameworks, demanding vendor accountability, and leveraging strategic international alliances, Guyana can ensure that its soaring economic rise is protected by a modern, impenetrable digital armour. Respectfully, Philip Inshanally

NDIA contract variation raises serious questions about procurement and accountability DEAR EDITOR, Freshly released cabinet documents have raised serious questions about the management of public contracts at Guyana’s National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), particularly the decision to seek substantial increases to contracts that had already been awarded through competitive procurement. The documents point to two separate contracts in Region No. 6, Berbice, for which significant additional sums were subsequently requested. Taken together, the increases disclosed in the documents amount to G$450,044,827. 00. Some analysts suggest G$600 am is sought. The first case concerns the maintenance and servicing of NDIA drainage and irrigation pumps awarded to D Sawh Mechanical Workshop for G$396,290,876 for the 2026 contract year. According to the document, the NDIA subsequently requested an additional G$300 million, which would bring the contract to G$696,290,876. The stated justification was that the original contract had been exhausted

after six months because of extensive works allegedly required following severe weather, as well as an increase in the number of pumps in Region No. 6. The document says that completed invoices for April and May amounted to G$230,365,380, with projected July works estimated at G$69,634,620. Those explanations, however, demand scrutiny. If the additional expenditure is being justified on the basis of an increased number of pumps, the public should be told precisely how many additional pumps were deployed, where they were installed, when they became operational, and what additional maintenance obligations they created. The second contract concerns the construction of the Letter Kenny Pump Station in Corentyne, Region No. 6, awarded to Quality Deliverer at G$784,875,787. A July 15, 2026, request sought a further G$150,044,827, taking the proposed revised contract value to G$934,920,614. The justification in this case is particularly important because the additional cost relates to three items

involving steel sheet piles. The tenderboard document shows that these items were originally competitively bid at specified contract rates. The revised rates, however, are substantially higher. For example, one item involving 3,600 units was originally priced at G$16,000 each, producing a contract amount of G$57.6 million. The revised rate is shown as G$61,898, producing a revised amount of G$222,832,800. The document attributes the increased cost to higher production and international shipping costs arising from global conflicts, supply-chain disruptions and unforeseen market conditions. It also states that G$37,375,037 of the contract contingency would be used, leaving a net variation of G$150,044,827. That explanation may warrant examination, but it also raises a fundamental procurement question: when a contractor wins a competitive tender at a particular rate, under what circumstances can that rate subsequently be substantially increased? Continued on page 5

Kaieteur News

Tuesday August 18, 2026

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Brazil’s democracy is again under threat from the right DEAR EDITOR, It is worth remembering h o w t h e B i d e n Administration saved democracy in Brazil and the World would have to do the same. I couldn’t help but reflect as the election campaign that is going on in Brazil for general election that will be held on the 4th of October 2026. Once again

Brazil’s democracy is under threat and could be undermined from the right wingers, the same that threatened the second largest democracy on the 2nd October 2022 in the Western Hemisphere. Arguably America could be remembered for its failed policy and interventions in many countries but there are times

when America must be given credit for its success and help that would avoid devasting consequences. The Biden Administration should be remembered for saving democracy in Brazil. Returning to the Reuters article “EXCLUSIVE CIA chief told Bolsonaro government not to mess with Brazil election, sources say,” was telling and showed how

serious America took democracy and election in Brazil and wasn’t afraid to pile the pressure. According to the article “The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director last year told senior Brazilian officials that President Jair Bolsonaro should stop casting doubt on his country’s voting system ahead of the October

NDIA contract variation raises serious questions... From page 4 A variation is not automatically evidence of wrongdoing. Construction contracts can legitimately require variations when circumstances change. But where prices submitted during competitive bidding are later replaced by dramatically higher prices, the public has a right to know whether the applicable procurement rules were followed, whether the variation was independently assessed, and whether the original competitive process remains meaningful. There is another issue that deserves clarification: who had the authority to initiate and approve these requests? The documents identify NDIA Chairman Lionel Wordsworth as seeking approval for the increase to the pump-maintenance contract. If the chairman’s statutory or administrative authority does not extend to making such a request independently, that should be clearly explained by the NDIA, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board ( N P TA B ) , a n d t h e responsible ministry. This is not a minor procedural question. Public procurement depends on clear lines of authority. Every variation of a major government contract must have an identifiable legal and administrative basis, particularly where hundreds of millions of dollars in additional public expenditure are involved. The documents also create an obvious need for transparency regarding the companies benefiting from these variations. Any suggestion that a contractor has political, familial or personal connections to senior government officials should not be treated as proof of corruption without evidence. But such allegations make disclosure even more important. The government should therefore publish the relevant tender

evaluations, contrac t s , variation orders, approvals, engineering assessments, invoices and evidence supporting the additional expenditure. The same standard should apply to claims that additional pumps were deployed in Berbice. If the justification for the G$300 million increase is that the number of pumps increased to mitigate flooding, the NDIA should provide the records that demonstrate that increase. Public money cannot be protected by assurances alone. It is protected when the documents can withstand independent examination. There are also allegations circulating that funds associated with these contracts could ultimately be connected to the replacement of cattle previously imported from Brazil. Those claims require documentary evidence and should not be presented as established fact. If such allegations are being made, the appropriate response is not speculation but disclosure of the relevant expenditure records, procurement documents and government accounts. For the Opposition, the issue

presents an opportunity to demand accountability through Parliament. The Opposition Leader can require the government to explain why these contracts were increased, what work justified the additional expenditure, who authorised the variations, whether NPTAB approved them in accordance with the law, and what independent verification was conducted before the increases were sought. The government should also explain why the public should have confidence that the additional G$450 millionplus being sought across these two contracts represents genuine additional work and legitimate market costs rather than weaknesses in the original procurement and contract-management process. Fourfold increase in price; not even an increase in steel and shipping can justify the large increase. And at any rate, price didn’t increase much for materials or goods or shipping for the contract. This is a fourfold increase, a highway robbery. The beneficiary of the more than $400M variation increase was overheard saying that he was instructed

that it is to be used to purchase replacement cattle for those that came under scrutiny in Ebini for a farm in Soesdyke and had to be diverted. Many of those 300 cattle died of starvation, thirst, heat, and neglect. Those that survived had to be diverted to shift attention from the farm linked to corruption. The central issue over the $400M is not whether every contract variation constitutes corruption. It does not. The issue is whether Guyanese taxpayers can see a transparent, independently verifiable and legally compliant chain of evidence showing why hundreds of millions of additional dollars are being added to contracts that were already competitively awarded. Until those questions are answered, the NDIA contract increases will continue to raise legitimate concerns about procurement, accountability and the protection of public funds. Yours truly, Nathan Barton

election, sources told Reuters. The previously unreported comments by CIA Director William Burns came in an intimate, closeddoor meeting in July, according to two people familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Burns was, and remains, the most senior U.S. official to meet in Brasilia with Bolsonaro’s right-wing government since the election of U.S. President Joe Biden. A third person in Washington familiar with the matter confirmed that a delegation led by Burns had told top Bolsonaro aides the president should stop undermining confidence in Brazil’s voting system. That source was not certain whether the CIA director himself had voiced the message.” (Reuters) From the article, “How U.S. Pressure Helped Save Brazil’s Democracy” made the case clearly and showed how democracy was saved in Brazil by US. “This tide of criticism may explain why one of Biden’s most significant foreign-policy achievements to date remains curiously overlooked. Not only was Brazil’s democracy closer to the brink than initially understood, but targeted U.S. pressure on key Brazilian officials was likely decisive in guaranteeing the eventual outcome: a largely peaceful transition of power

in the country after its October 2022 presidential election. The account presented in this article comes from interviews with Brazilian policymakers and issue-area experts as well as Brazilian and international media reports. In conversations with Foreign Policy, several individuals, including a high-ranking Brazilian diplomat and a military expert, confirmed that, in their views, external pressure was critical to preventing members of Brazil’s military from executing Bolsonaro’s plans f o r a c o u p . ” https://www.almendron.co m/tribuna/how-u-spressure-helped-savebrazils-democracy/ Once again Brazil’s democracy is under threat from the right for the 4th October general election and everything legally possible has to done to save what have been protected and secure from 2nd October, 2022 to presently. The world owed it to protect democracy in Brazil from the right and to make sure that Brazil doesn’t return to the dictatorship like it did in its history. A book everyone should read is “Disputed Pasts: F o rg e t t i n g a n d Remembering the Dictatorship in Brazil, by Cristina Buarque de Hollanda and José Szwako.” Yours sincerely, Sharmini Rampersaud

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday August 18, 2026

‘We ain’t looking for small things, we looking for multi-million ounces’ — Australian gold company tells shareholders

Australian-based Liberty Metals, has disclosed that it is not targeting a small discovery but instead looking for a multimillion-ounce gold discovery at its newly acquired gold projects in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni). On August 12, Liberty announced that it had acquired a 90% interest in the Oko North and Oko South Gold Projects, a package of 40 granted medium-scale mining permits

covering approximately 180 square kilometres (km²) in Guyana’s Oko gold district – an area where nine-million-ounces of gold have already been established by other foreign players. During a webinar on the acquisition, Liberty Metals’ Technical Advisor, Christopher Piggott noted that there is mineralisation across both parts of the Oko district where the company’s projects are

Map showing geological setting of Oko North and Oko South Projects; the land package owned by Altair Minerals; the two consolidated projects now controlled by Canadian firm GMIN and the remaining properties that now falls under G3 Goldfields. located. Liberty’s land package is spread across two consolidated blocks located about 60 kilometres apart within the Oko gold district. “So when you look at Oko, a lot of the mineralisation up there is within the kind of shear zone at the contact in that margin between the greenstone and the granites. But there’s also other areas within this part where there’s mineralisation within the actual greenstone units itself as well,” Piggott said. He further stated, “And we are very encouraged by what we’re seeing on satellite imagery, and what we’ve got at like very preliminary indications is that there are largescale workings here.” Piggott explained that while there has been alluvial mining in the area, there has not been any modern, systematic exploration like the kind traditionally undertaken by Western mining companies. He added that gold mining in Guyana has generally focused on smallscale mining opportunities. “From our point of view, like that’s a really great positive outcome for us because now we know where to start. We know there’s gold there, and now it’s up to us to go and make a significant discovery in this part of the world. And from what we’ve seen today, it looks like there’s the ingredients for this to occur,” he added. Piggott further underscored why Liberty considers Guyana and the Guiana Shield extremely attractive, pointing to other players pursuing large-scale gold projects and investing billions of dollars in the region. He noted that the presence of other

foreign players and their projects in the Oko area bodes well for Liberty and validates the company’s decision to acquire mining lands there. “I think bodes very well for the belief that this this region and specifically the area that we occupy is highly prospective, and I think that bodes well for future discoveries and I think the other factor here is we’re not looking for small things here. We’re looking for million, multi-million-ounce potential discovery here, and I think that gets us really excited as the team as we look forward to the rest of the year and into next year.” Kaieteur News reported that ninemillion-ounces of gold have already been established by other foreign players in the Oko area in Region Seven. Liberty Metals is now the second Australian firm to control a significant land package in the district. Altair Minerals in 2025 secured a 70% interest in the Greater Oko Gold Project, which spans 590 km² of contiguous mining lands in the area. Besides Altair and Liberty, Canada-based G Mining Ventures Corp. (GMIN) also holds a major land package in the Oko district. Through its recent acquisition of fellow Canadian firm G2 Goldfields Inc., GMIN expanded its footprint in the Oko district to a contiguous land package of more than 362 km². The combination brings together GMIN’s advanced Oko West Gold Project with G2’s Oko-Ghanie Gold Projects, with a combined Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource of 7.0 million ounces and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 2.3 million ounces.

T N U L B . . . T B N U T L N T B . U . L . L T B . N . U . N U T L N B . U . T . L N T U N B . N U . . L U L LUNT B . T . . T T N N B U B . U . L . L T B . B . . N . . . T T LU N N T U U L N L B U . B . . L . . . T B T . . N . N T U L N Guyanese LU B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . deserve answers T B U . . L N . N T B . . U N . L T U B L N . . B . U . . T L . N T B . . U N . L N T B U N . . L . U T B L . . N B . . . T U . L N T B U . . L . UN T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N B U U .BLUNT. . . L . T B . . N . T U . L N . T B U . UN .BLUNT.. UNT...BL T...BL . L N . T B U . . L LUN ...BLUNT. LUNT...B NT...BL T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U BBL T...BLUN BLUNT... ...BLU . T . N . N T T U L U N L B U T...BLU U B . L . N . B T . . . N T U N N N L U U U B L . L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Tuesday August 18, 2026

Kaieteur News

It is nothing short of disgraceful that Guyanese are being forced to learn from ExxonMobil what their own government should be telling them about the country's oil wealth.

Exxon says it has recovered some US$55 billion in investments and operating costs, nearly two years ahead of schedule. Yet more than two weeks later, the Government remains silent. Where are the explanations from Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat? Where is the promised statement? This is not Exxon's oil. It is Guyana's patrimony, and citizens have a right to know what cost recovery means for their share of the profits.

If the recovery bank is cleared, Guyana's take should increase significantly. The Government cannot continue treating transparency as a favour. Oil belongs to the people. They deserve answers, not silence.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday August 18, 2026

15 MW to be added from powership to grid - GPL Head of Executive Management for the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) Kesh Nandlall on Sunday said that an additional 15 megawatts of power will be added by the grid from the powership. Citing that due to El Nino, which Guyana is experiencing, record peak demand of 244MW and this will further increase as the weather gets hotter, GPL said the extended power outage citizens experienced on Sunday is due to maintenance work being carried out at the new Georgetown sub-station to facilitate the additional power that will be needed. “We expect the peak demand to grow, and we are making preparations at the new Georgetown substation here to take off more power from the power ship and increase low power

Head of Executive Management for the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) Kesh Nandlall generation by about 15 megawatts from the power ship. Hence, we have to do some maintenance work and some change out of panels at the substation here at the New Georgetown substation,” Nandlall said. He added that additional

works will be done to construct a transmission line from the new Georgetown substation all the way to the Sophia sub-station. Much needed adjustments will also be made to the L10 line, which will be in the way of the new line. Engineer in charge of the sub-station David Benjamin in brief remarks explained that two panels were changed out, as they were recognised to be posing a risk to the operations. “These panels, the new panels that have been installed, will allow us to deliver a larger capacity of power to the customers. We w o u l d h a v e managed to complete all of our maintenance activities in the 69 kV yard. We are in the process of trying to complete the outstanding activities on our 13.8 kV switch gear,” he added.

CSEC, CAPE results to be released today The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC®), in collaboration with the Government of Anguilla through the Ministry of Social Development and Education, will host the ceremony for the official release of the 2026 MayJune Examination Results today at the Teachers' Resource Centre, Edison L. Hughes Education and Library Complex in The Valley, Anguilla. The annual event will bring together government officials, education stakeholders, school leaders, and media representatives for the official presentation of results for the May-June 2026 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination® (CAPE®), Caribbean

Secondary Education Certificate® (CSEC®), C a r i b b e a n Ta r g e t e d Education Certificate (CTEC) and Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence® (CCSLC®) examinations. In a press release, CXC said the hybrid ceremony will accommodate both inperson participation and online viewing through a regional livestream. Minister of Social Development, Education, Youth & Culture, Library Services and Probation, Shellya Rogers-Webster, will deliver the Feature Address at this year's ceremony. Dr. Wayne Wesley, Registrar and Chief E x e c u t i v e O ff i c e r o f CXC®, will share key initiatives underway at CXC® and the outcomes of

the CTEC pilot, ahead of the presentation by Dr. Nicole Manning, Director of Operations, who will highlight candidate performance and notable achievements coming out of the May-June examination results. As this year's host country, Anguilla will welcome viewers from across the region for one of CXC's flagship annual events, underscoring the island's commitment to education, regional collaboration and student success. The ceremony will also highlight the rich cultural talents of Anguilla's students, featuring a poem performed by spoken word poet Ms. Nevaiya Simpson, winner of the Junior category in the 2026 Malliouhana Poetry Competition and a pan music rendition by 1264 Island Boys, Sharvin and Arvin Narine. “The Official Release of Results Ceremony reflects CXC's commitment to developing the region's human capital while recognising the hard work, dedication and accomplishments of teachers and students throughout the region. Candidates will be able to access their examination results following the ceremony.”

Kaieteur News

Tuesday August 18, 2026

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The system is not working The local government system, and the regional adminis tration that is supposed to support are not equipped to deal with the mandate that they are supposed to have. They do not possess the money, the machinery, or the authority to mobilise the resources required to remove the water from the land or to give substantial relief to the people, as for example is the case when a koker breaks away or when there is flooding due to excess rainfall and poor drainage. This weakness is partly the consequence of a long dependence on central government. The Regional Democratic Councils, the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and the municipalities have become creatures of the centre. They look upwards for money. They look upwards for permission. And when something goes wrong, the first instinct is to look upwards for someone to blame. But central government is not the whole problem. There is another difficulty, more uncomfortable because it concerns the people themselves. If local government is to become real government, it must have its own revenues. The councils and municipalities must be able to collect enough money to maintain their roads, drains and canals, remove garbage and provide the ordinary services of a town. This means that people must pay for the government they want. Here the difficulty

begins. The slightest suggestion of a new tax, or an increase in rates and taxes, produces protest. Everyone wants the services. Few want to pay for them. The contradiction has been allowed to continue for so long that it has become almost a principle of public life: government must provide, but somebody else must pay. The rates and taxes paid by residential property owners are not enough even to meet the ordinary cost of garbage collection, much less the maintenance of roads, drains and canals and the many other responsibilities of local government. To compensate, the municipalities have leaned heavily on the b u s i n e s s c o m m u n i t y. Businesses have become the dependable source of revenue because they are visible, identifiable and easier to tax. The result is an arrangement that is neither fair nor sensible. Businesses carry a burden that becomes heavier with every new levy. And when a business falls behind, the penalties and accumulated interest can turn a manageable debt into something impossible. Yet the municipalities are reluctant to confront the underlying problem because businesses constitute such an important part of their revenue base. The system therefore feeds upon the very people whom it should be helping to keep productive. A local government system cannot be healthy when one class of ratepayers is expected to carry another.

What is needed is a simpler and fairer system in which residential property owners and businesses contribute according to their proper share. At present, the imbalance is striking. Residential owners pay little, and it is said that as many as six out of every ten homeowners are in arrears. At the same time, businesses are pressed for more. Meanwhile, there is another form of commercial activity that takes place in full view but contributes little to local government. Vendors occupy the pavements outside established businesses. They pay a cleaning fee, often little more than a token. Yet they produce garbage, obstruct the pavements and make it more difficult for customers to enter the shops whose owners are paying rates and taxes. Some vendors park vehicles along the roads and sell from them. Others operate from caravans and roadside stalls. They use public space for private commercial purposes, but they are not treated as commercial taxpayers in the same way as the businesses with permanent premises. A drive down Regent Street early in the morning is enough to see the absurdity. The vehicles appear. The stalls are erected. The pavements disappear. The drains become inaccessible. By the time the day has properly begun, the commercial district has been transformed into a bazaar in which the formal business is made to compete with the

Dem Boys Seh...

DE OLDER DE BETTER? Dem does say de older de better. Well, if dat is true, Guyana must be getting ready fuh become de richest country in de Caribbean, because some people does get more valuable every time dem birthday come around. These days, de older yuh get, de bigger de position yuh getting. Retirement looking more and more like one ah dem oldfashioned words that nobody in government remember. Long time, when yuh reach certain age, people would tell yuh, “Boss, tek yuh pension and go home.” Today, dem telling yuh, “Boss, tek another portfolio.” Dem boys seeing people holding down big positions who body sending dem messages dat even WhatsApp can’t translate. Knees complaining, eyesight on vacation, hearing selective and hand shaking like if dem trying to catch a mosquito. But ask dem if dem ready to retire and dem does look at yuh like yuh insult dem mother. “Nah, man. I still got plenty to contribute.” Dem boys would like to know: contribute to what?

Because sometimes dem boys watching some ah dem old hands on de job and wondering if dem still working or if de office just keeping dem around as historical artifacts. And dat does remind dem boys of de old lady who call she neighbour one day and ask fuh help with a puzzle. “I can’t figure out how fuh put dis thing together,” she complain. De neighbour ask, “Wha’ it supposed to be when yuh done?” “A rooster,” de old lady say. “It got de picture right here pon de box.” So de neighbour sit down, study de pieces, turn dem over, look at de picture and scratch she head. After five minutes she tell de old lady, “Girl, no matter how we try, we can’t make a rooster outta these pieces.” De old lady look confused. De neighbour tell she, “Forget de rooster. Let’s just put de corn flakes back in de box.” Talk half. Leff half.

informal business immediately outside its door. There is a certain mythology surrounding this vending: the vendor as the poor man trying to survive. Some are poor. But it is not possible to explain all of this activity in those terms. Some vendors possess several vehicles. Some have been in the trade for years. They are conducting businesses. They should therefore be treated as businesses. The business community has a legitimate complaint. It cannot be expected to pay relatively high rates and taxes, construct its own flood barriers and maintain its premises while an unregulated competitor is allowed to conduct business immediately outside its doors. There can be no serious discussion of a competitive private sector without first discussing the conditions under which that sector is required to compete. The British colonial

authorities understood something about drainage that appears to have been forgotten. They constructed a system designed to carry away the rainfall that was expected in a country such as Guyana. The drains were not necessarily deep. They worked because they were maintained. They were cleared. They were weeded. They were swept. It may be that Guyana does not require another grand engineering scheme to solve every instance of flooding. It may require something more ordinary and, for that reason, more difficult: maintenance. Sweepers. Cleaners. Weeders. Men and women who clear the drains before they become blocked. There is nothing modern about this. But it worked. The problem is that even this simple task has become difficult. How is a drain to be cleaned when, from early morning, vendors have placed their pallets and

merchandise over it? How does a municipality maintain a drainage system that has been made inaccessible by the very activities it is supposed to regulate? Everyone is therefore accommodated, except the system itself. The result is predictable. Local government remains short of money. Because it is short of money, it remains dependent on central government. Because it is dependent on central government, it lacks the independence and capacity to respond decisively. And when the rain comes or a koker breaks away, the weakness becomes a national emergency. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Kaieteur News

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D TR

HAR

HK

BY G

LALL

Tuesday August 18, 2026

H@RD TRUTHS

BY GHK LALL

Unusual peak, blackouts “Unusual peak.” In electricity demand. Hon. Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar, was unusually clear with a warning to expect blackouts. Appreciate the candor, minister. The Wales Gas-toEnergy, the much-advertised solution, is closing in fast on being two years past due. When that link collapsed, it dragged a bundle of Guyanese with it. Thanks to Minister Indar, Guyanese are informed of the source(s) of their blackout pains. Demand versus supply. Power plants and powerlines. Substations and feeders. He was on a roll: he threw in the Spanish named child of the scorchers that have left people like me breathless, searching for a bucket of ice. It's not there.

Needs electricity to solidify, and too expensive for a man of my means. After all the billions spent, all the elapsed years, all the warming speeches made, this is what Guyanese hear or read: “unusual peak” in demand. Plus the entanglements that leave locals cursing and shaking their fist at the authorities. Authorities preferred today, so that everyone feels shielded, none targeted. Guyanese don't need a minister doubling as a meteorologist. They know about hot, blistering weather. When the fridge stops (if there's one), think of how rapidly what is outside becomes a candidate for dogfood or garbage bin. Guyanese want a minister with answers.

Where is the blasted promised electricity? Don't even worry about half price, right now; that will attract its own blows later. Just give the people the damn current. The last thing I want to hear is a series of generators sputtering into roaring life. I live in a bigshot area: big ministry, big hospital complex, big gambling establishment. I am surrounded by a sea of generators. When they come on, wisdom comes. Parts of Georgetown without light. Parts of the East Coast without light. Sometimes, the East Bank and across the BJ Bridge without light. The big minister man was kind enough to alert Guyanese as to the upcoming facts of life. Theirs. It could take weeks,

even months, to unscramble, the situation. Frankly, it has been more current than upcoming. Guyanese are in for it. The first clue is when a minister is forced to take preemptive action and faces the public and the music. What music, when everybody is for the, ah, authorities. A ministerial press engagement doesn't make anything easier. Still, I am grateful for the heads up. Transparency from the authorities. Time to get tuff. The talk was about energy and “unusual peak” in demand and the accompanying blackouts. The GPL boss was there. He or one of his engineers are the best, most-equipped, people to face the people and lay the GPL's cards on the

New Health Centre commissioned in Kumu Village

M

inister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony on Saturday commissioned a new health centre in the Amerindian community of Kumu, Region Nine. Joining the minister was Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation, Zulfikar Ally; Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Pauline Sukhai; Regional officials and residents.

The new modern facility will provide improved access to healthcare for some 447 residents of the community. “We commissioned the new Kumu Health Centre in Region Nine, bringing improved primary healthcare and essential services closer to residents…Our promise is simple: no community is too remote for quality healthcare,” Minister Anthony posted on his Facebook page.

According to a post from Minister Ally, the commissioning marked an important milestone for Kumu, bringing greater convenience, improved access to healthcare and renewed confidence in the continued development of the community. The health centre will soon introduce telemedicine services, further expanding access to specialised healthcare and support for residents, Minister Sukhai informed.

The newly commissioned health centre in Kumu Village, Region Nine.

table. This is what is being dealt with, this is where the GPL is, and this is the result of the deficit. I repeat technical and professional people, not some politician. If Minister Indar is offended, never intended. Next, he was proud to inform Guyanese that at the cabinet level, the authorities instructed that the lights and air conditioners be turned off at the end of the workday. Snatching at scraps. Why are the authorities working with air conditioners on during the day? I want to know. They should turn them off, so Guyanese get that energy. So, they show solidarity with suffering Guyanese. So, that the authorities from Cabinet on down have firsthand knowledge of what it is to live like ordinary Guyanese. That is, those who maybe can struggle with the price of

an ac unit, but cannot pay the light bill. Now I'm going to get in more trouble. Minister Indar should turn off his ac during working hours and set an example. Authorities are in the same boat as the abused. Howzat for leadership! Probably a 2030 presidential candidate in the making. Points made. Departure time. Blackouts have strangled Guyanese from birth. Relief needed. Let there be light. And there was light. Obvious: heatstroke struck me. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Missing Orealla man found at Blue Mountain Backdam A 31-year-old Orealla, Region Six man, Andrae Wayne Thomas, who was reported missing by his family on July 28, has reportedly been located alive in Blue Mountain Backdam, Region Seven. Thomas' sister shared the update with Kaieteur News on Friday, saying he made contact with relatives and informed them that he was safe. According to his sister, Thomas explained that while making his way home to Orealla from Itabali Landing, Region Seven, he diverted to “Blue Mountain” after being offered work there. He reportedly said he lost cellphone service along the way and was therefore unable to immediately inform his family about the change in his plans or his arrival at the location. Prior to resurfacing in Blue Mountain, Thomas' relatives had last heard from him at around 4:25 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, when he called his mother to say that he was coming home. His sister had previously told Kaieteur News that the family expected Thomas to arrive in Orealla on

Missing Orealla man, Andrae Wayne Thomas, resurfaces at Blue Mountain. Wednesday afternoon, but he never showed up. The following morning, relatives tried repeatedly to contact him and became increasingly concerned when they could not get a response. “We called Wednesday morning and the phone rang out. Then we messaged and it was like somebody had the phone—the message read—but there was no response. After lunch, the phone turned off,” his sister had explained. Thomas' resurfacing brings an end to the family's anxious search for him.

Tuesday August 18, 2026

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funds new health Turkey turns to Guyana as Black Sea oil supply takes hit China promotion centre

Turkey is turning to Guyana for oil supplies as escalating Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia's Black Sea export infrastructure disrupt shipments and squeeze supplies to one of the world's major crude buyers.According to Reuters, Turkey sharply reduced its purchases of Russian oil in July and is expected to cut them even further this month, with Guyana and Brazil emerging as alternative sources of crude.Turkey received about 900,000 tonnes of oil from Russian ports in July, down from 1.2 million tonnes in June, according to LSEG shipping data. Supplies arriving directly through Russia's Black Sea ports plunged by half, from about 600,000 tonnes in June to just over 300,000 tonnes in July.In August, Turkey is expected to receive some 200,000 tons of oil from Russia's Black ⁠ports, according to LSEG. The

two tankers expected to be supplied carry Kazakh KEBCO oil, while this month no CPC Blend or Urals oil loadings to Turkey are planned yet. The data may be updated later, however.Turkey diversifies supply to offset negative effects from the ⁠Black Sea crisis, traders said, adding that in August the state will make rare imports of oil from Brazil and Guyana.Loadings from the CPC pipeline, which carries about 1.8% of global oil ⁠supply from Kazakhstan to Russia's Black Sea coast, have been disrupted since the middle of last month, adding to the supply outages linked to the U.S.-Israeli war ⁠on Iran. Ukraine has paused drone strikes on non-Russian oil tankers using Russia's Black Sea CPC terminal after a request from U.S. Vice President JD Vance, the Financial Times said on Wednesday, citing Ukrainian officials.

...as Guyana pushes healthy living

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony and Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Ambassador Yang Yang and other officials at the commissioning ceremony China has added another layer to its growing health cooperation with Guyana with the commissioning of a new Health Promotion Centre at the Ministry of Health, offering the public free access to health-testing facilities and professional fitness equipment. The facility was officially commissioned on August 11 by Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Yang Yang and Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony, with representatives of the 21st Chinese Medical Team, AGM Inc. and Shandong HiSpeed Dejian also in attendance. The Chinese-funded centre includes a self-service health corner equipped with smart testing devices and rapid test kits for common infectious diseases, alongside a professional fitness area outfitted with exercise equipment. And unlike many public facilities, the centre is being offered free of charge to the public.Ambassador Yang described the facility as the latest achievement in the expanding China-Guyana health partnership, noting that cooperation between the two countries has moved beyond traditional medical assistance into public health and health promotion. Minister Anthony

welcomed the initiative and expressed appreciation for China's support. He said the facility could play an important role in raising public awareness about health and encouraging Guyanese to adopt healthier lifestyles. Anthony also urged citizens to make use of the facility and incorporate regular exercise into their daily routines. The development comes as Guyana continues to grapple with the growing importance of preventative healthcare, particularly through greater public awareness, early detection and healthier lifestyles. Rather than waiting for illness to become serious before seeking medical attention, the centre is designed to encourage people to pay greater attention to their health and fitness. The initiative also represents another visible example of China's expanding involvement in Guyana's health sector, where Chinese medical teams and other forms of technical and material assistance have increasingly featured in bilateral cooperation. Meanwhile, in remarks at the ceremony China's Ambassador to Guyana, Yang Yang said the centre

stands as a meaningful milestone in China-Guyana health cooperation, and a vivid reflection of our shared commitment to improving public well-being. "On behalf of the Chinese Embassy, I wish to extend my warmest congratulations and express my sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Health, the 21st Chinese Medical Team, partners from AGM and Shandong HiSpeed Dejian and all those who have contributed their time and effort to making this project a reality. This Health Promotion Centre, open to the public for free, consists of a selfservice health corner and a professional fitness area. The health corner provides smart testing devices and rapid test kits for common infectious diseases, supporting early detection and intervention. The fitness area offers various equipment for people of all ages, encouraging regular exercise and healthier lifestyles," the Chinese envoy said. She noted that over the years, health cooperation has remained one of the most practical and peoplecentered sectors of ChinaGuyana relations. Building on 33 years of dedicated service by the Chinese Medical Team, the construction of six Regional Hospitals, and the training of numerous Guyanese doctors in China, "our cooperation is now expanding into new areas, with greater emphasis on public health and preventive care," the ambassador stated. She said last year, for the first time, a Chinese public health expert joined the Ministry of Health as part of the 21st Chinese Medical Team. Since then, the two sides have worked together to design and organise Guyana's first nationwide research.

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Tuesday August 18, 2026

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Iran threatens to go on offensive in Strait of Hormuz if diplomacy with U.S. fails (Reuters) - Iran has decided to shift its policy from defensive to “fully offensive” due to the deadlock in efforts to agree a permanent end to its war with the United States, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday. Progress towards peace talks and a resumption of oil tanker traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz has ground to a halt, with no sign that the warring parties are moving towards ending the conflict that the U.S. and Israel launched on February 28. “Iranian entities must be prepared to escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and wider region, as Iran will be ready to make decisions and take action on difficult decisions,” the Iranian official said, adding that Tehran would conduct a “timely and precise” military attack to break the U.S. naval blockade if diplomacy failed. There was no immediate response to those comments from Washington, but U.S. President Donald Trump said in a phone interview with Fox News on Monday that Iran “should put up the white flag of surrender”. TRUMP THREATENS TO BOMB OMAN Monday marked the day by which Iran and the United States were expected to reach a final deal under a memorandum of ‘understanding agreed in June and aimed at ending the war. Signed on June 17, the MoU set a 60-day timeframe for Washington and Tehran to reach a broader deal on Tehran’s nuclear programme and U.S. sanctions. That interim deal, which declared the “immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts”, quickly unravelled, however, due to a dispute over control of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flowed before the war. Tehran said point 5 of the MoU gave it the right to manage the strait, which it shares with Oman, while Washington rejected that interpretation. Hostilities resumed as Tehran began firing on vessels it said were trying to sail through Hormuz on an unapproved route, and Trump said on July 7 that the pact was “over”. “Within the short period of a few weeks set by Iran, all the agreement’s provisions must be implemented by the U.S. This is a precondition for further negotiations with the U.S.,” the Iranian official told Reuters, adding that mediators would share Tehran’s deadline with Washington and regional states. Tehran has separately been negotiating an

agreement with Oman over management of the strait, seen as a key component of a wider deal, and says they are close to agreement, although progress has been slow. “If gets `in the way, we’ll bomb the shit out of them,” Trump told Fox. HOUTHI ATTACKS RAISE FEARS OF WIDER WAR Thousands of people have been killed in the conflict, mainly in Iran and Lebanon, since the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran at the end of February. Iran has struck U.S. assets and infrastructure in countries including Oman, Jordan, Kuwait, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Trump warned Americans in a speech at a rally on Friday to prepare for continued high fuel prices as a result of the war, while also saying that “after we finish defeating Iran ... pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States”. Earlier on Monday, Trump repeated on his Truth Social platform ‘that his main goal was to ensure that Iran never has nuclear weapons. “The president is playing the long game. He wants to leave the next generation of Americans well supplied with energy and without the existential threat of a nucleararmed Iran,” U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright later told Fox News’ “America Reports” program. “Their exports today are zero barrels of oil per day. The United States military is bringing out eight or nine million barrels of oil per day. Is that America `that’s controlling what’s happening there, or is that Iran controlling what’s happening there? The data is pretty clear on that.” Benchmark Brent crude oil futures have surged since the start of the war in February, hitting a peak of $126 a barrel, roughly 75% above pre-war levels, with choppy trade reflecting concerns over disruptions to Gulf oil supplies and shifting signals on peace talks. Brent crude edged up on Monday to around $89 a barrel. Attacks by Iran-backed ‘Houthis in Yemen have also renewed concerns about a widening regional war and the economic fallout it could bring. In the latest incident, the Houthis attacked what they called a Saudi military ship and four escort vessels in the Bab elMandeb Strait with missiles, according to the group’s military spokesperson Yahya Saree on Telegram on Monday. The strait is a strategic chokepoint connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and an important international shipping route. There was no immediate confirmation from Saudi authorities.

Corriverton teen charged with manslaughter released to parents Four days after being involved in an altercation that left a man dead, a 15-year-old boy of Corriverton, Corentyne, was charged with manslaughter. The teen was arrested on August 12, 2026, by Corporal 22539 Benjamin and was charged on August 17. He was reportedly involved in a physical confrontation with Mohamed Hasmat Hussain, a 55-year-old fisherman of 23 Dukestown, Corriverton. Hussain sustained a fatal wound allegedly inflicted by the teen. According to information received, the incident occurred at about 21:00hrs near a supermarket. Hussain was reportedly socialising with friends and relatives on Wednesday night. According to his brother, Hussain got up and walked towards a Chinese-operated supermarket, but moments later, he was seen lying on the ground a short distance from where he had previously been sitting. Continued on page 18

DEAD: Mohamed Hasmat Hussain

A vessel near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, August 17, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer

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Tuesday August 18, 2026

‘Fly-by-night’ company linked to Pres. Ali’s brother gets $3.9 billion …$12.3 billion over following in contracts in five days years, opposition alleges ...company says Ali is only a senior technical consultant

Mohamed Aqtar Ali

L

eader of the Opposition Azruddin Mohamed has criticised Sigma Engineers Ltd Inc., alleging the firm received $3.697 billion in government contracts just five days after its local registration, accumulating over $12.3 billion in State awards over subsequent years. Pointing to corporate ties involving President Irfaan Ali's brother, Mohamed Aqtar Ali, Mohamed called on state oversight agencies to launch immediate financial investigations. However, Sigma Engineers Ltd Inc. has rejected the accusations as serious misrepresentations, asserting its parent company has operated internationally since 2003, its first local contract was awarded through competitive bidding in 2026 via NPTAB, and that it has retained legal counsel to take action against the Opposition Leader. The company stated that it was not established five days prior to receiving a government contract, explaining that its parent organisation, Sigma Engineers Ltd, has been incorporated and actively operating in Bangladesh since 2003. Addressing its local timeline, the firm stated that while it registered in Guyana on October 6, 2022, its first local contract was awarded in 2026 following a national competitive bidding process conducted through NPTAB. Regarding the President's brother, the company stated that Mohamed Aqtar Ali is engaged strictly in a senior technical consultant capacity in Guyana and holds no affiliation with the parent company in Bangladesh. Allegations of rapid awards and State House access Meanwhile, speaking during a video posted on his Team Mohamed's Facebook page, Mohamed declared, "This is what

NPTAB notification dated May 7, 2026, approving the award of a G$153.8 million contract to Sigma Engineers Limited for the construction of a potable water well at Port Mourant, Corentyne. corruption looks like under the PPP. Fellow Guyanese, we thought we had seen it all. We were wrong because what we're about to put to the people of Guyana include the issues of political access, government contracts, and the use of State resources to an entirely different level." Mohamed claimed that the company's rapid growth was directly tied to the President's family network, alleging that Mohamed Aqtar Ali returned to Guyana from Canada "to benefit

off of the trillion-dollar budgets" after his brother took office. "Sigma Engineers Limited was incorporated on October 6, 2022. This is Aqtar's company being fronted for him by his close friend, Tamjeed Rahmaan, a BangladeshiCanadian," Mohamed asserted, noting that corporate documents identify Rahmaan as incorporator, director, and secretary using a commercial address in North Cummingsburg. Focusing on the immediate (Continued on page 17)

The May 20, 2025 contract agreement between Guyana Water Inc. and Sigma Engineers Ltd for a G$411.6 million well-drilling package across Regions 3 and 4.

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‘Fly-by-night’ company linked to... From page 16 aftermath of the incorporation, Mohamed questioned the speed of the initial tender decisions, "How does a newly incorporated company move from being a newly registered entity to receiving billions of dollars in government contracts in five working days? Sigma Engineers was registered on October 6, 2022. Within days, three government contracts, totaling approximately $3,697,000,000 were awarded. Five working days, a company is registered and multi-billion-dollar contracts follow. Is that coincidence?" Beyond the procurement pipeline, Mohamed raised further concerns regarding political access and local land allocation, alleging that Aqtar Ali is residing at State House and operating with unusual influence among staff. He also pointed to community disruptions in Eccles, claiming local ground space was made available for a company storage bond while ordinary residents elsewhere face land scarcity “part of the community ground in Eccles was made available to Sigma Engineers for the construction of a bond”. Calling on the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to intervene, Mohamed urged State authorities to trace the tender approvals, "Follow the contracts. Follow the procurement process. Follow the money. Examine the bids... We have to move from highlighting to acting." Timeline of contracts According to documents cited by the Opposition Leader and seen by this publication, the three initial awards granted within five working days of registration on October 6, 2022, totaled $3,697,000,000. These comprised a $687,000,000 contract for works at an existing facility at Caledonia, a $1,304,000,000 award for a new water treatment plant at Cummings Lodge, and a $1,647,000,000 contract for a

Official NPTAB correspondence confirming the approval of a G$124.5 million contract for well-drilling works at Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, awarded to Sigma Engineers Limited. new facility at Bachelor's Adventure. The financial volume expanded in subsequent years as the firm continued to capture major water infrastructure projects: February 2024, Sigma received an additional $254,000,000 contract for expansion works at the Bachelors Adventure site. By late October 2024, the company secured $1,486,000,000 for two water treatment plants at Wakenaam and Leguan. O n e m o n t h l a t e r, o n November 29, 2024, Sigma landed a $3,569,000,000 contract for the Hope Water Treatment Facility.Late-stage infrastructure allocations continued on

Police believe Industry businessman... From page 2 examination conducted on Friday, August 14, confirmed that he died from a gunshot injury to the chest inflicted from closecontact range.As the investigation continues, police said the evidence gathered so far points to the wound having been self-inflicted.Investigators told Kaieteur News on Monday that they have obtained CCTV footage showing Persaud driving to the location where his body was eventually discovered. According to police, the footage shows that Persaud did not exit the vehicle and that no one entered the car until several hours later, when relatives who

had been searching for him entered the vehicle and found his l i f e l e s s b o d y. M e a n w h i l e , investigators reportedly uncovered a promissory note indicating that Persaud owed an individual approximately $27 million. Police subsequently contacted the individual, who confirmed that Persaud had borrowed the money but had not made any payment towards the debt. The discovery of the alleged debt has now become part of the ongoing investigation as police seek to establish the circumstances surrounding Persaud's death. Investigations are continuing.

December 31, 2025, when the company was awarded a $2,439,000,000 contract for the rehabilitation of the shelter belt at Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) Headquarters, a transaction Mohamed criticised as being processed late on "Old Years Night" through the National P r o c u r e m e n t a n d Te n d e r Administration Board. The firm also secured several well-drilling contracts across Demerara and Berbice: On May 20, 2025, Sigma was awarded $411,000,000 for drilling four wells across Melanie, Friendship, We s t m i n s t e r , a n d G W I Headquarters. A year later, on May 7, 2026, the company captured two awards on the same day: a $153,000,000 contract for a well at Port Mourant and a $129,000,000 contract at Garden of Eden. On May 20, 2026, two additional contracts were granted simultaneously, comprising $124,000,000 for a well at Shirley Field Ridley and $124,000,000 for a well at Better Hope on the East Coast of Demerara, alongside subsequent work at Goedverwagting. Together, these individual line items account for the cumulative $12,386,000,000 figure outlined by the Opposition. Mohamed argued that engineers have reported markups between 70% and 100% on some projects, stating, "The money being spent to construct one water treatment plant or well could construct two.”

Official documentation dated May 7, 2026, approving the award of Tender Number 13 to Sigma Engineers Limited for a G$129.1 million well-drilling project at Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara.

NPTAB Board Approval notice from May 20, 2026, authorising a G$124.4 million contract award for well drilling at Shirley Fields Ridley, Georgetown.

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Tuesday August 18, 2026

Kaieteur News

EPA says still vetting application of Canadian firm for uranium project VACANCY Vacancy exists for experience Bulldozer and excavator operators to work in the interior. Attractive Salary offered. Call 223-5273/4 or 6215907 One skilled driver to make purchases in Georgetown, Knowledgeable in Automatic and Manual Drive Preffered. Contact #701-4000 to apply. Dyna's Embroidery & Screenprints: We are hiring a driver for minibus. Must have a valid drivers license. Tele#226-2621 Dyna's Embroidery: Vacancy for Receptionist. Must have excellent customer service skills, basic computer knowledge & good multitasking abilities. Tele #226-2621 Maid for East Bank area call 615-9132. One (1) painter call 615-9132.

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He said, “Yes we received an application and we are reviewing…the process is not completed as yet…” Dr. Parsram’s confirmation follows a recent statement made by U92 Energy that it anticipates receiving EPA approval this month, so it can commence phase one of its planned drill programme at the Kurupung Uranium Project. The company disclosed in April that it submitted an environmental application to the EPA for phase one of its drill programme. In an update this month, U92 said it had subsequent correspondence with EPA and has submitted an Environmental Management Plan as requested by the agency. Against this backdrop, the company said it has determined to proceed with completing the site infrastructure as it anticipates that the phase one drill programme will commence during the month of August, 2026 following receipt of the EPA’s approval of the environmental management plan.

However, Dr. Parsram underscored that EPA is the competent authority that decides “if and when” an authorisation is granted in accordance with the EPA Act. He further stated, “No environmental authorisation has been granted as yet.” The Kurupung Uranium Project spans approximately 92.2 square kilometres and carries a historical resource estimate of 20.6 million pounds of uranium. Kaieteur News reported that U92 Energy acquired the project early 2026, through the acquisition of LIA Industries Pte. Ltd., a Singaporean firm. Since taking control of the asset, U92 finalised a commercial agreement with Orbit Garant for phase one 5,000 metre diamond drill programme. The diamond drill rig assigned to U92 arrived earlier this year and now awaits approval to commence phase one drilling on highpriority targets at the project. In addition, U92 has already sourced key machineries to support

Corriverton teen charged... From page 15 He was also observed bleeding. The teen, who was reportedly armed with a knife believed to be the murder weapon, escaped shortly after. Hussain was rushed to the No. 75 Village Regional Hospital by his brother but succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention. The accused appeared before Magistrate Michelle Matthias at the New Amsterdam Magistrates’ Court, where the indictable charge was read to him. The charge was laid under Section 94 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01. Attorney Kevin Morgan appeared on behalf of the teen. The court took into consideration the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act and subsequently released the teen into the custody of his parents. Magistrate Matthias ordered him to report to the Springlands Police Station on the last Friday of every month. He was also prohibited from leaving the jurisdiction until the matter is completed. The matter was adjourned to September 17, 2026, for a report at the Springlands Magistrates’ Court.

access road upgrades and drill pad construction. The company also acquired the project’s historical technical and exploration dataset through a US$352,500 deal. This publication reported that LIA Industries local subsidiary, LIA (Guyana) Inc. was incorporated in Guyana on 20th March, 2023, and holds exclusive rights to occupy and explore the property under two Prospecting Licenses (PLs) issued by the Guyana Geology & Mines Commission (GGMC) on 19th April, 2024. The licences permit exploration of uranium, other radioactive minerals, and rare earth elements for three years, ending 18th April, 2027, with an option to extend for up to two additional one-year periods through 18th April, 2029. Notably, U92 has described Kurupung as a project with a significant historical resource and a clear path to expansion, positioning it to meet growing global demand for nuclear energy as countries look to uranium as a low-carbon power source. While U92 Energy has been advancing plans to begin drilling at the uranium project, there has been mounting concerns over the proposed project from civil society and politicians. The Amerindian Peoples Association (APA), as well as Region Seven Vice-Chairman Alden Marslowe, has called for consultations and urged the government and the EPA to halt the project. The APA cited the absence of public and community-level consultations, as well as a lack of information about the project. Meanwhile, former EPA Executive Director Dr. Vincent Adams had warned that Guyana currently lacks the regulatory and technical capacity needed to safely oversee uranium mining.

Tuesday August 18, 2026

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Tuesday August 18, 2026

Kaieteur News

Tuesday Thursday August November 18, 2026 24, 2022

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Slingerz Racing adds Brazilian G1 performer VITRUVIAN to formidable Guyana Cup arsenal Slingerz Racing Stable is turning up the heat ahead of the 18th running of the Guyana Cup, adding another proven Brazilian campaigner to an already formidable lineup as the stable seeks to reclaim the prestigious title on August 23 at the Rising Sun Turf Club. Stable owner Javed Ali has confirmed that VITRUVIAN, a five-yearold Brazilian-bred campaigner, will join 2024

Guyana Cup champion Olympic Kremlin and Guyana Cup debutant Olympic National as Slingerz Racing’s major weapons for the feature Banks Guyana Cup. With the competition expected to be fierce, Ali said Slingerz Racing had little choice but to strengthen an already well-stocked stable if it is to regain the crown it surrendered last year. “We know the other

stables would have also made moves and brought in formidable horses, so we had to go above and beyond to put ourselves in the best possible position to reclaim the title,” Ali said. Ali acknowledged that 2025 was a disappointing Guyana Cup for Slingerz Racing, but stressed that the stable has moved beyond that setback and is now focused squarely on August 23. VITRUVIAN brings

Tuesday August 18, 2026 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Things are going totally wrong for you today, but that's not such a bad thing, actually! Everyone needs some downtime now and then, and this is the Universe's way of telling you to chill out.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You need to deal with a business arrangement that can't be settled by normal means. The good news is that you can take care of it all on your own. You need to get back to your usual team soon, though!

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GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Slow down a bit and think things through. You may have already decided that you need a break, but now is the time to listen to your instincts and force some serious downtime!

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) You have to use your imagination if you want to get anywhere today. Things are sure to be extra boring otherwise! Your energy feels a little off, but you can make do and have a blast.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Are any alarm bells going off? If even the tiniest one is ringing, you need to walk away—at least for now. Your intuition is hardly infallible, but you can trust any warning signs that come your way.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) The details are vitally important today, so get into them! You may find that it's more fruitful to lock yourself away with that spreadsheet for a while, because distractions are pretty hard to take.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Try to take a second look at today's big-deal issue. You don't really know what's what, but you can make a good guess, and there's a good chance that your deeper knowledge wins out in the end.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) You've got to get out in the world and do something today! It could be almost anything, but as long as you're helping people you'll feel good about yourself, so find a new way to volunteer.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You need to pull back a bit and reexamine your goals. At least one of your big ideas needs to get tossed, but don't despair! That just means you get to have more room for better, more workable plans.

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significant credentials to the Slingerz lineup. The five-year-old has competed at the highest level of Brazilian racing, including Group 1 (G1) competition, the top classification in the Brazilian racing system. His record includes victories in the G1 Grande Prêmio J. Adhemar de Almeida Prado over 1,600 metres and a second-place finish in the G1 Grande Prêmio Presidente da República, also over 1,600 metres. His most recent performance further strengthens his credentials. On August 1 at the Hipódromo da Gávea in Rio de Janeiro, VITRUVIAN finished second in a 13-horse field, producing another strong performance over 1,600 metres. The result came just weeks before his expected Guyana Cup appearance and underlines his current form. Ali believes the horse’s affinity for the mile makes him particularly suited to the Banks Guyana Cup, which will be contested over one mile (1,600 metres). The Brazilian import is not, however, expected to carry the entire burden of Slingerz Racing’s challenge. Ali believes Olympic Kremlin, Olympic National and VITRUVIAN are all capable of winning the Guyana Cup, giving the stable three legitimate options for the sport’s biggest prize. “At the end of the day, all three horses are capable of winning the Guyana Cup,” Ali said. “But we also have to be realistic. Other stables have added some very formidable horses, so we are cautiously optimistic. We know it will not be easy.” Olympic Kremlin will return to the scene where he established himself as one of Guyana’s premier thoroughbreds, having captured the 2024 Guyana Cup for Slingerz Racing. Olympic National, meanwhile, adds another Brazilian connection to the stable. The horse has already raced successfully at Gávea, including a victory in the Much Better Classic over 1,900 metres in November 2025. Slingerz Racing has also strengthened its sprinting ranks with the acquisition of

Calypso Queen, a two-yearold filly from Miami who is set to make her racing debut in Guyana. Ali said Calypso Queen was foaled in 2024 and is bred from Authentic, the sire, and Gadabout, the dam. “She comes from a solid racing background, so we made the investment. This will be Calypso Queen’s first ever race,” Ali said. While Calypso Queen is not expected to feature in the Banks Guyana Cup, her arrival represents another investment by Slingerz Racing in strengthening its stable across different categories. The Guyana Cup itself is shaping up as one of the biggest editions in the event’s history. The 18th staging will feature a 14-race programme with more than G$66 million in cash and prizes at stake, including a G$22.5 million purse for the

Banks Guyana Cup, which will be run over one mile. The programme also includes the G$7.5 million Peter Lewis Guyana Cup Sprint and the G$7.5 million Forrester’s Imported Derby, adding depth to a race day expected to attract the country’s leading owners, trainers, jockeys and horses. Defending champion Dataman is expected to headline the opposition as he seeks to retain the crown, ensuring that Slingerz Racing’s challenge will face formidable resistance. For Ali and Slingerz R a c i n g , h o w e v e r, t h e attention remains firmly on the track. “We want to win,” he said. “We have put together horses that we believe can get the job done, but we also respect the competition. The other stables have prepared well, so we have to be at our best on the day.”

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Tuesday August 18, 2026

Dwayne Bravo and Ian Bishop confirmed as inaugural inductees into the CPL Hall of Fame CPL - The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has confirmed Dwayne Bravo and Ian Bishop as the two inaugural inductees into the newly established CPL Hall of Fame. Bravo joins as the first player inducted, with Bishop recognised in the non-player category for his contribution to the tournament’s success since its launch in 2013. The launch of the CPL Hall of Fame marks a historic moment for Caribbean cricket: an honour created to celebrate the players and individuals who have shaped the tournament since its unforgettable beginnings in 2013. Bravo and Bishop will make history as the inaugural inductees, taking centre stage at a landmark Hall of Fame Gala Dinner at The Hilton Hotel in Barbados on Tuesday 15 September 2026. The evening will bring together the biggest names in West Indies cricket to celebrate a tournament that has become a source of enormous regional pride, making it one of the unmissable nights on the Caribbean cricket calendar. Proceeds from the evening will go to The Sir Clive Lloyd Healthcare Foundation, supporting its work to raise awareness and improve testing for prostate cancer across the Caribbean. Dwayne Bravo is one of the icons who built T20 cricket and helped cement CPL as one of the greatest tournaments in the world. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players the format has ever seen, the Trinidadian allrounder won more than 15 T20 titles across the globe over an 18-year career, including two ICC Men’s T20 World Cups with West Indies in 2012 and 2016, multiple Indian Premier League titles with Chennai Super Kings, and further silverware in the Big Bash League and Pakistan Super League. He was the first bowler in the history of the format to reach 500 T20 wickets. In the CPL, he is the tournament’s third-highest

wicket-taker of all time with 129 wickets, and its most decorated player, winning five CPL titles as a player, with Trinbago Knight Riders in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2020, and with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in 2021, before adding a sixth as head coach, guiding Trinbago Knight Riders to the title in 2025. Ian Bishop has long been the voice of Caribbean cricket, delivering some of the most electric commentary the sport has ever heard. When Carlos Brathwaite smashed four

is today, as he tells the stories that make CPL special to fans across the world. HALL OF FAME GALA DINNER: BARBADOS, TUESDAY 15 SEPTEMBER Bravo and Bishop will be formally inducted at the inaugural CPL Hall of Fame Gala Dinner, held in Barbados on Tuesday 15 September 2026. The evening will bring together the players, coaches, broadcasters, franchise owners, and partners who have

Dwayne Bravo and Ian Bishop are the two inaugural inductees into the newly established CPL Hall of Fame. (CPL) consecutive sixes to win the 2016 ICC World T20 for West Indies, it was Bishop’s nowiconic call, “Carlos Brathwaite! Remember the name!”, that turned a stunning finish into one of cricket’s most unforgettable moments. Yet that is just one of countless times his words have brought the game to life. His passion for the game, and for CPL, has been vital in making the tournament the success it

shaped CPL’s story over more than a decade, celebrating the tournament’s history in the country that has hosted some of its most iconic nights. Dwayne Bravo said: “It’s a real honour to be the first player inducted into the CPL Hall of Fame. This tournament has been a huge part of my career, and I will always treasure every title I’ve won here. I’ve played cricket

Iconic CPL commentator, Ian Bishop. (CPL) all over the world, but there’s nothing like playing at home. CPL is a true celebration of Caribbean culture and the game I love.” Ian Bishop said: “Cricket has given me so much, and commentary has allowed me to give something back to a game and a region I love deeply. To be inducted into this inaugural CPL Hall of Fame class, and to be recognised for the stories I’ve had the privilege of telling, is an honour I’ll carry with me always. This tournament has always represented something bigger than the sport itself, it’s a stage for Caribbean talent, culture and pride, and I’m grateful to have had a courtside seat to its history.” Pete Russell, CEO of CPL, said: “Dwayne Bravo and Ian Bishop have both been central to CPL’s story since day one: Dwayne as one of the greatest match-winners this tournament has ever seen, and Ian is the voice who has brought that story to fans across the world. It is only right that they are the first names in our Hall of Fame and fitting that we celebrate them ahead of our final. We are also delighted to be able to support Sir Clive Lloyd, another West Indies legend, on his journey to raise awareness of prostate cancer across the region.” The CPL Hall of Fame will now run as an annual celebration, with future inductees announced ahead of each tournament. The event will become a major highlight of the CPL calendar, honouring the tournament’s past while supporting causes that matter to the Caribbean community.

De Kock, Rutherford, spinners script Tridents’ second straight win

Sherfane Rutherford’s hits gave Barbados Tridents a strong total. (CPL T20)

Cricinfo - Barbados Tridents’ sixhitting prowess and five wickets between Gudakesh Motie and Mujeeb Ur Rahman helped them clinch the rain-hit game against St Lucia Kings in Gros Islet, which also gives them top position on the CPL 2026 points table. Once rain made it an 18-overs-aside game, Quinton de Kock and Brandon King started with a flurry of boundaries from the end of the third over, after a quiet start which saw the early wicket of Zachary Carter. De Kock went after Maheesh Theekshana, while King took down Matthew Forde. De Kock also led the hammering in the fifth over by Khari Campbell that went for 23 runs. However, Roston Chase soon had de Kock holing out for 38 off 15. He also accounted for King, after Tridents’ run rate had dipped below 10 an over. Even though Theekshana kept things tight, by not leaking a single boundary in his last three overs, Sherfane Rutherford injected the firepower back in the innings. While Rivaldo Clarke scratched his way to 15 off 22 balls at the other end, Rutherford hammered four sixes in the

last four overs for a 27-ball fifty - his second in a row - that took Tridents to 177. The Kings chase was mostly about local boy Ackeem Auguste as Motie and Mujeeb troubled the rest of the line-up. They sent the Kings openers back in the first six overs and Chris Green also bowled a frugal spell, while Auguste went for the big hits. Auguste took 19 off Green’s last over and then three sixes off a Raom Simmonds over to bring the equation down to 61 required off 36 with his 28-ball fifty. Mujeeb then had Charith Asalanka caught at deep midwicket - with a juggling catch from Rutherford - in the 13th over, and Auguste lost his stumps to Motie in the next. With 50 required from 24, it was all downhill for Kings from there, as they continued to lose wickets. A few boundaries at the end, from Amari Goodridge and Forde, only reduced their margin of defeat. Scores: 18 overs Barbados Tridents 177 for 5 (Rutherford 61, King 39, de Kock 38, van Schalkwyk 2-25) beat St Lucia Kings 168 for 6 (August 63, Motie 3-22, Mujeeb 2-27) by nine runs.

Gudakesh Motie wrecked the St Lucia Kings chase with his 3 for 22. (CPL T20)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday August 18, 2026

St. Maarten sends two-member boxing team for 9th Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors Championships St. Maarten will be represented by two promising 16-year-old boxers when the Caribbean’s emerging pugilists converge at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall for the ninth edition of the Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors Boxing Championships. The two-member fighting contingent comprises Tahnicio Peterson, who will compete in the 60kg category, and Samir Arndell, who will campaign at 75kg. The pair will be guided by Shawn Blair, President of the St. Maarten National Boxing Federation, who brings a particularly strong connection to Guyana and its boxing fraternity. Shawn Blair, President of the St. Maarten Blair was born in Guyana and began National Boxing Federation his own boxing journey here, representing the Guyana Police Force during the early 1990s. as the Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors In 1993, he was ranked No. 2 in Guyana’s Championships are critical to the welterweight division and competed at the development of young athletes, exposing Guyana National Open before eventually them to different styles, cultures and levels of relocating to St. Martin. competition while helping to build discipline, More than three decades later, Blair confidence and sportsmanship. remains deeply involved in the sport and has The ninth edition of the championships is dedicated much of his life to developing scheduled for August 20-22, continuing boxing on the island, particularly by creating Guyana’s long association with the opportunities for young fighters to gain tournament. competitive and international experience. The competition was first conceptualised “This tournament is very special to me and staged in Guyana in 2016 and has because Guyana is where I was born and developed into one of the region’s most where my boxing journey began,” Blair said. important youth boxing events. “I have returned to Guyana with St. Maarten It is now named in honour of Winfield boxing teams in the past, including in 2015 Braithwaite, Guyana’s 1978 Commonwealth and 2018, and on both occasions we were Games gold medallist and the country’s only able to capture gold medals.” Commonwealth boxing gold medallist. Blair said he is particularly pleased to The tournament has also established itself return with another young team and provide as an important developmental pathway, with Peterson and Arndell with the opportunity to previous editions producing fighters who test themselves against some of the subsequently progressed to higher levels of Caribbean’s best emerging fighters. regional and international boxing. “I am very much looking forward to Among the Guyanese boxers associated returning once again and giving these two with the competition is Olympian Keevin young boxers the opportunity to represent St. Allicock, while siblings Abiola and Alesha Maarten and compete at a high level,” he Jackman have also emerged through the added. country’s youth programme. The St. Maarten team enters the Guyana has traditionally dominated the championship following a period of focused championship, reflecting the strength and preparation, highlighted by the federation’s depth of its grassroots boxing programme. recently staged fourth annual Test Your Skills The Guyana Boxing Association has Boxing Event. continued to place significant emphasis on its The competition provided the island’s youth programme, using local competitions boxers with an opportunity to gain valuable and training camps to prepare young fighters ring time while testing their physical, for international competition. technical and mental readiness ahead of the The GBA had described the competition trip to Guyana. For the federation, however, as vital to maintaining a strong regional the significance of the tournament extends nursery, particularly after the pandemic well beyond wins and medals. disrupted youth boxing programmes across Blair believes regional competitions such the Caribbean.

Tahnicio Peterson and Samir Arndell will represent St. Maarten, while Shawn Blair (centre) will be in charge of the team.

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Tuesday August 18, 2026

BCB/Cardiologist Services Under 21 Tournament

Pottaya and Deonandan spearheads Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt Flour in Quarter finals

Matthew Pottaya

The winning RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour team. T h e R o s e H a l l To w n N a m i l c o Thunderbolt Flour Under 21 team on Saturday defeated Bush Lot United of West Coast Berbice to advance to the semifinals of the Berbice Cricket Board / Cardiologist Services Inc Under 21 fifty overs tournament. The Namilco Thunderbolt Flour team was spearheaded by outstanding bowling from skipper Matthew Pottaya and national junior players Tameshwar Deonandan and Ramzam Koobeer with the bat. Bush Lot won the toss and elected to bat first in steamy condition at the Area ‘H’ ground. They slipped to 14 for 2 in the third over as both Afraz Ali and Akash Ramdeowar ran themselves out in total mixup with opener L. Henery. T. Henery was then caught behind off pacer Rafeal McKenzie for 01 as the visitor soon fell to 24 for 3 in the 5th over. Opener L. Henery and the promising Atta

Ali then batted well to add 78 for the 4th wicket before Ali was caught by Nicholas Cameron off the bowling of offspinner Matthew Pottaya for a well played 26 (2 fours). Henery was then trapped L.B.W by Cameron for 48 with three boundaries to sparkle a collapse as the visitors were bowled out for 126 from 40 overs. Pottaya ended with 3 for 23 from nine overs while Asif Marimuthoo took 2 for 23 from 8 overs. Rafeal McKenzie, Jayden Ganpat, Nicholas Cameron all took a wicket apiece. Needing to score 127 to advance to the semifinals, the home team was given an opening partnership of 56 in eight overs by Ramzam Koobeer (30) and Matthew Perreira (21) before Koobeer was bowled by S. Seecharran. From 56 for one, Rose Hall Town Namilco Thunderbolt Flour fell to 89 for 5 as Perreira (21), Leon Reddy (03), Junior Babb

(01) and Pottaya (00) fell cheaply. Former national Under 13 player Tameshwar Deonandan and the hard hitting Nicholas Cameron then batted well to lead their team to victory at 130 for 5 in the 19th over. Deonandan ended on 35 not out with seven delightful boundaries while Cameron struck a four and a towering six in his unbeaten 18. Bowling for Bush Lot United, C. Odel took 3 for 21 from seven very impressive overs of medium pace while Seecharran and Justin Doobay both claimed a wicket each for 23 and 13 runs respectively. The Cardiologist Services Under 21 tournament is one of several junior tournaments to be organised by the Berbice Cricket Board as part of their cricket development programme. Other junior tournaments for 2026 includes U-12, U-13, U-14, Under 16, Under

Tameshwar Deonandan 19, Under 21 and Under 23. The Under 21 tournament is sponsored by the Cardiologist Service Inc, based at the Mercy Hospital and is headed by Dr. Mahendra Carpen.

Young Golden Jaguars roar to second straight win in the CFU U14 Challenge Series 2026 G u y a n a ’s U n d e r- 1 4 Boys continued their impressive start to the 2026 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Challenge Series on Monday, securing their second consecutive victory with a commanding 4-1 triumph over Anguilla in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The young Golden Jaguars, buoyed by

Sunday’s statement victory over Montserrat, once again delivered a strong attacking performance to maintain their momentum in Group C. To p s c o r e r A a r o n Vasconcellos spearheaded the charge, netting twice in the opening 24 minutes to put Guyana firmly in control. Vasconcellos opened

the scoring in the eighth minute before doubling Guyana’s advantage 16 minutes later with an exquisite close-range finish, giving the Jaguars a 2-0 cushion. Guyana continued to apply pressure despite a cheeky consolation from the Anguillans, the Guyanese were rewarded a third goal of the contest in the 35th

minute when Dane Vancooten made full use of a well-delivered cross to fire home, stretching the lead to 3-0. The Anguillans managed to pull one back before the interval, but Guyana carried a comfortable 3-1 advantage into the break. The Young Jaguars remained composed after the restart and continued to

dictate the contest, with midfielder Asher McIntyre putting the result beyond doubt in the 56th minute with a composed finish. The 4-1 victory capped another polished display from Guyana, who have quickly emerged as a force to be reckoned with on the regional stage. The Golden Jaguars will now turn their

attention to their final Group C assignment against The Bahamas today, August 19, with kick-off scheduled for 9:30 a.m. in Punta Cana. With two wins already secured, Guyana will enter the final group fixture full of confidence as they look to complete a perfect preliminary-round campaign.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday August 18, 2026

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D-Up Basketball Academy ready to make regional impact in St. Lucia Head Coach Anthony Kandar is confident the D-Up Basketball Academy has the firepower to make a strong impression when the Guyanese outfit makes its regional debut at the 2026 Invitational Aloysius Daniel Basketball Youth Classic in St Lucia. The Region Three-based academy departed Guyana on Saturday, brimming with confidence ahead of the fifth staging of the tournament, which tipped off yesterday at the Beausejour Indoor Stadium. D-Up is among teams from across the Caribbean and beyond assembled for the August 17-21 youth showcase. The Guyanese debutants opened their campaign against the ECA Lions of the United States yesterday and will face Trinidad and Tobago’s NCA Warriors today. Kandar believes his charges are ready to translate their preparation into results after spending just over a month together. “I think my guys have what it takes to do well at this tournament. Our team is composed of a few talented players, with the majority hailing from schools outside of the academy, which makes us a wellrounded unit,” Kandar said. “We have been together as a team for just over a month now, and

D-Up Basketball Academy departs local shores on Saturday with coach Kandar aiming for favourable results as Aloysius Daniel Basketball Youth Classic get underway on Monday in St. Lucia. the guys were able to gel nicely. Now it is time to show what we have been training for.” The coach said the team has embraced the challenge despite being drawn among several league champions, with D-Up expected to face a stern test from experienced regional opponents. “The guys are in championship mood. Not taking anything away from the other teams, we are nestled

among a few league champions, so every matchup is expected to be a challenge,” he added. Kandar will look to seasoned campaigners such as captain Aliandro Wickham, Marvin Marks, Kemol Pickering and Brentnol Archer to provide leadership, while Namit Persaud, who joins the squad from the United States, is also expected to play a key role. Among the other players

expected to attract attention are Sam Persaud, Desson Benjamin, Ethan Blair, John Nazier and Taishen Chung. The Aloysius Daniel Basketball Youth Classic has grown into a prominent youth tournament since its inception, attracting teams from the United States and England, along with several Caribbean territories. Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda and

Dominica are among the countries that have participated, with Guyana now joining the regional lineup for the first time. The annual tournament is coordinated by St Lucia’s East Coast Academy and sanctioned by the St Lucia Basketball Federation. For D-Up, however, the mission is clear: make its debut count and put Guyana’s Region Three basketball talent firmly on the regional map.

CFU U14 Challenge Series 2026

Young Golden Jaguars roar to second straight win

Midfielder Asher McIntyre celebrates Guyana’s fourth goal against Anguilla on Monday. Guyana’s No.5 battles for possession during the game which they won 4-1.

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VITRUVIAN will be making his Guyana Cup debut for Slingerz Race.

Slingerz Racing adds Brazilian G1 performer VITRUVIAN to formidable Guyana Cup arsenal

St. Maarten sends two-member boxing team for 9th Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors Championships De Kock, Rutherford, spinners script Tridents’ second straight win Dwayne Bravo and Ian Bishop confirmed as inaugural inductees into the CPL Hall of Fame

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