The government’s
US$127 million MV Ma Lisharemainsidle,morethan three years after its acquisition, with Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill disclosing Tuesday that the vessel has still not made its maiden voyage to Port Kaituma, Region One,
because the newly constructed wharf there
developed structural problems after the soil shifted,forcingsectionsofit toberebuilt.
Edghill made the disclosure while addressing theNationalToshaosCouncil (NTC) Conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre(ACCC)
TheMVMaLishaarrived in Guyana inApril 2023 and wasacquiredtoimproveriver transportation, particularly forhinterlandcommunitiesin RegionOne
“Theonlyreasonwhythe MV Ma Lisha has not yet made a maiden journey to PortKaitumaisthatwehave built out the wharf for that boat to berth, and everybody in the area knows there was significant movement of the soilandwehadtobreakouta whole section and have it reconstructed,” Edghill told theconference
The minister also said extensive work had been carried out on the MV Barima,describingit,priorto
Saturdaynight’stragedy(July 18), as the vessel “of choice for both residents and business people to get into PortKaituma”
The MV Ma Lisha was built by Indian company Garden Reach Shipbuilders andEngineersLimited,under a deal signed in 2021 The government acquired the vesselthroughaloanfromthe Indian government, with a condition attached that the ferry be built in India
Officials have said the US$127 million vessel can a c c o m m o d a t e 2 5 0 passengers, 12 sedan-type vehicles,andtwotrucks.
TheMVMaLisha,which currently sails to Kumaka from Georgetown, was also expectedtoserveresidentsof PortKaitumauponitsarrival
Aheadofthevessel’sarrival, theMinistryofPublicWorks had announced plans to
Section of the $1.4B Port Kaituma wharf being constructed in Region One. (Photos shared by Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill via Facebook in February 2026)
upgrade the Port Kaituma wharftoaccommodateit
A c c o r d i n g t o a Department of Public Information (DPI) article dated March 19, 2024, infrastructuralworksonthe Continuedonpage6
The new MV Ma Lisha vessel which sails from Georgetown to Kumaka, Region One.
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Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456
Editor:NIGELWILLIAMS
Tel:225-8465,225-8491. Fax:225-8473,226-8210
The capsizing of the M.V Barima ranks as Guyana'sworstmarinetragedyandthesecondworsthumancatastropheinthenation'smodern historyaftertheJonestownmasssuicide/murderof1978,in whichmorethan900personslosttheirlives.Withthedeath toll from this disaster expected to exceed 100 persons, Guyanafacesastaggeringnationaltragedy
The enormity of this disaster places it among the Caribbean'sdarkestmaritimetragedies.Itrecallsthe1970 sinkingoftheM.V ChristenainDominica,whichcapsized while operating between Roseau and the northern communities of Portsmouth and Marigot. The Christena encountered rough seas, developed a severe list and sank, resulting in the loss of more than 100 lives. Subsequent examinationspointedtofactorsincludingoverloadingand compromisedstability.
Italsorecallsthe1993sinkingoftheHaitianferryM.V Neptune,oneofHaiti'sworstmaritimedisasters,inwhich hundreds of passengers were believed to have drowned after an overloaded vessel capsized while travelling from Jérémie to Port-au-Prince., with estimates of those aboard rangingfromhundredstoseveralthousand.
Thesetragedies,andcountlessothersaroundtheworld, serveasgrimremindersthatmarinedisastersarerarelythe resultofasinglefailure.Theyareusuallytheconsequence of a combination of factors involving vessel stability, loadingpractices,weatherconditions,maintenance,safety systems, crew decisions and regulatory oversight. The investigation into the M.V Barima must therefore be comprehensive, independent and guided by facts rather thanspeculation.
While there is always room for improvement in any emergency response, the government's initial reaction to thistragedyhasbeengenerallycommendable.Search-andrescue aircraft and the Coast Guard were immediately dispatched to the affected area. The government and regional authorities called upon local fisherfolk to assist, and many responded courageously Arrangements on the ground and providing information to the families are improvingallthetime.
Thereweresomeearlyconcernsregardingthedecision to not invite the private media to some engagements.And there was one instance in which a Minister, on noticing a cameraatoneactivity,askedaboutitandwhentolditwasa sectionoftheprivatemedia,utteredwordstotheeffectof gettingthecameraoftheactivity
Thissituationhassincebeencorrected,undoubtedlyin recognition that a tragedy of this magnitude has attracted national, regional and international attention and requires greater openness. This is a complex mission but the government has generally discharged its duty in a commendablemanner
Guyana must now prepare for an extended period of nationalmourning.Itwouldthereforenotbeunreasonable if major events, including sporting activities such as the GlobalSuperLeagueandthePresident'sCuparepostponed orcancelled.Suchdecisionswouldnotbeanabandonment ofnationallife,butratheranappropriaterecognitionofthe griefofhundredsoffamiliesandthecollectivesorrowofan entirenation.
There have inevitably been questions, demands for accountability and calls for resignations. However, such decisions must await the findings of the impartial investigationpromisedbythegovernmentandexpectedby thenation.
For now, Guyana mourns.We must do so with dignity andrespect.
AN OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY DR. MOHAMED IRFAAN ALI, PRESIDENT OF THE CO-OPERATIVE REPUBLIC OF
Mr.President,
The sinking of the MV Barima is, I believe, the worst maritime tragedy in our country's history
Families have been devastated.Parentshavelost children. Children have lost parents. Scores of ordinary Guyanese have perished Survivors have endured unimaginabletrauma.Every Guyanese shares their grief and extends heartfelt sympathy to all whose lives havebeenchangedforever
In times of grief, the nationexpectsleadership.In the hours immediately following the tragedy, Guyanese looked to the Government for clear information, decisive action and reassurance that every available resource had been mobilised.Instead,therewas uncertainty, confusion, conflicting reports and official statements that raised as many questions as they answered Attention appearedtoshifttooquickly from discovering what had happened to defending official action. That only addedtothetragedy
In any national disaster, Government's first obligation is to activate a machinery capable of minimising further loss of life and damage to property, coordinating rescue efforts, providing timely and accurate information to
anxiousrelatives-including through a dedicated hotline and ensuring that the public receives information that is accurate, consistent and credible Only then can Government turn to the equally important task of establishingthetruth.
That is precisely why Parliament enacted the GuyanaShippingAct,1998. Itrecognisedthatwhenlives arelostinriversoratsea,the searchfortruthcannotbeleft to official assurances or political debate. The Act itselfisanelaboratepieceof legislation establishing a statutory framework governing maritime safety, regulation and the independentinvestigationof marine casualties. It also separated the operation of vesselsfromtheirregulation byestablishingtheMaritime Administration as the country'smaritimeregulator My cursory reading of the Act is that it has been systematically ignored in practice. But that is a matter foranotherforum.
As the nation comes to terms with the scale of this tragedy,disturbingquestions arise.
* Was the Barima properly maintained and operated by the Transport andHarboursDepartment?
* Had the Maritime Administration discharged itsstatutoryresponsibilityto
regulate and oversee the vessel's safety to protect livesandlimbsofpassengers andcrew?
* Were the vessel's inspections, surveys and certificates current and fully compliantwiththelaw?
* Had the Maritime Administration identified any deficiencies and, if so, what corrective action was requiredandtaken?
* Did the Transport and Harbours Department comply with every statutory requirement governing passengersafety?
* How did the Minister, who bears responsibility for both the operator and the regulator, satisfy himself that each had properly discharged its separate statutoryresponsibilities?
* Did failures of operation, regulation, supervision or enforcement contributetothisdisaster?
· Doesthis c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f responsibilitywithinasingle ministry compromise the independence of the regulatoryprocess?
I ask you not to regard these as political questions. They are legal and factual questions, and we deserve and expect honest and factualanswers.
The purpose of an independent investigation is not to assign blame before theevidenceisheard.Itisto
ensure that the evidence is gathered independently, examined objectively and reported publicly That is howconfidenceisbuilt.Itis alsohowfuturetragediesare prevented.
Mr President, public confidencedoesnotexistina vacuum Many Guyanese still carry unanswered questions from previous nationaltragedies,including the Mahdia Dormitory Fire which cost the lives of twentyofourchildren.There is a widespread perception that official investigations too often fail to satisfy the reasonable expectation that every relevant fact will be exposed and every lesson learnt Against that background, the handling of the Barima tragedy assumes evengreatersignificance. There is another matter that deserves urgent attention.
Our maritime legislation still contains penalties that belong to another era Conductcapableofexposing passengers to grave danger attracts fines that are derisory by modern standards. In an era when Guyana has become one of the fastest-growing economiesintheworld,such penalties neither deter misconduct nor reflect the valuethatour societyplaces upon human life. That is a (Continuedonpage5)
Mindful Guyana Inc. to host candlelight vigil for peace, compassion and national unity
DearEditor, Mindful Guyana Inc invites members of the public to participate in a Silent Candlelight Vigil on Sunday, July 26, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Main Street Avenue, between Quamana and Middle Streets, subject to the relevant official approvals.
Thevigilwilllastforone hour
The event is a nonpolitical, non-religious, humanitarian gathering designed to bring together people from every community, background, and belief in a shared expression of compassion, reflection,andhope.
At a time when many individuals and families continue to experience the effects of violence, tragedy,
and personal loss, the vigil seeks to create a peaceful space where Guyanese can stand together in silent solidarity
Through the simple act of lighting candles, participants will honour the memoryofthosewhoselives havebeenlost,supportthose who continue to grieve, and reaffirm a collective commitment to peace, kindness,andrespectforthe sanctityofhumanlife.
Theoverarchingpurpose of the vigil is to encourage healing, foster empathy, and strengthen the bonds that uniteournation.
It is an opportunity for citizens to demonstrate that, despite our differences, we share a common desire for safer communities, mutual respect, and a more
compassionateGuyana.
The programme will be conductedinsilencetoallow for personal reflection and collective remembrance Participants are encouraged to wear white or lightcolouredclothingifpossible andtobringacandlewithan appropriatewindguard.The event will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. and conclude at approximately7:30p.m.
Mindful Guyana Inc emphasises that the vigil is not intended to advance any political, religious, or partisanagenda.Rather,itis ahumanitarianinitiativethat welcomes all persons who wish to join in a dignified expression of unity, healing, andhopeforourcountry
Mindful Guyana Inc extendsawarminvitationto all Guyanese, civil society organisations, faith-based organizations,youthgroups, professional bodies, and community leaders to participate in this meaningful national observance.
Together, through silence, remembrance, and shared humanity, we can sendapowerfulmessagethat every life matters, compassion is stronger than division, and hope remains the foundation upon which webuildapeacefulfuturefor Guyana.
MediaContact: Chairman
The organization is working closely with the relevantauthoritiestoensure that the event is conducted safely,respectfully,andinan orderlymanner
MindfulGuyanaInc.
DearEditor,
Freddie Kissoon, a turncoat from PNC and AFC, has become a sharp defender of Irfaan Ali, Bharrat Jagdeo, and PPP
The Mohamed family funded him for decades, including helping him with his house and bills. He has become a critic of the Mohameds as he gets a new funder in the PPP I wonder how much he is being paid by PPP, Jagdeo and Irfaan. HefrequentlyattackedGlen Lall since he joined the PPP in 2020. Glenn was his founder for two decades payingalargesalaryandhis bills.HepraisedGlennuntil he came on the payroll of PPPcontractors.Isittruehe gets $2M a month paid in cash by a government contractor? Has he no shame?
For decades, Freddie fashioned himself as the permanent outsider of Guyanese politics a fierce critic of PPP (1992 thru 2015) who famously promised to speak truth to power, regardless of the consequences. He attacked Jagan, Janet, Ralph Ramkarran, Jagdeo, Irfaan, otherPPPfigures.Nowheis friendly with Irfaan and Jagdeo.Whathappenstothe truth? He blamed Jagdeo, Irfaan, PPP, for everything that went wrong with him and the country, most of them lies. Jagdeo sued him for libel, a deal was cut to drop the law suit in 2020
when Jagdeo won back government and Freddie's party lost power Did the deal include becoming a defender of Jagdeo, Irfaan, andPPP?
Yet,hisrecent,desperate defense of Irfaan regarding the controversial state farm acquisition exposes a grim truth. The man who once claimedtobetheconscience of the working class, poor, farmers has completed his final met
a relentless critic of the PPP intooneofitsmostreliable, uncritical defenders. He finds nothing wrong with PPP.
He said there is no corruption Sheep, other cattle, etc , apparently bought with state resources, found theirway to thefarm. For Freddie that is not corruption.
Freddie is defending officials using state resources for private personal wealth Is he gettingacut?
Kissoon's eager rush to justify the President's farm controversyisamaster-class in intellectual dishonesty Rather than demanding transparency or questioning the optics of elite state-land distribution in an era of unprecedented national wealth, Kissoon chose to obfuscate He no longer cares about the poor and farmers.Heusesstatemedia to abuse others and defend government officials. His
commentary in state media does not serve the public interest;itservedasashield for the ruling PPP class. To watch a former claimed champion of transparency minimize a legitimate national controversy is a betrayal of the very journalistic standards he once claimed to uphold although he never had credibility and has never beenajournalist.
This is not an isolated lapse in judgment of Freddie; it is a calculated political realignment for personal gain. He goes wherehismouthisfed.Ishis daughter still working at Irfaan'soffice?
Kissoon once dedicated himself to dismantling PPP policies, highlighting governance flaws, and decrying executive overreach, and bring about accountability He has become a submissive, hyper-defender of Irfaan, Jagdeo,andPPP
The venom he once reserved for the PPPis now
turned exclusively toward anyone who dares to question the current PPP administration. How much additionalishebeingpaidto move from a PPP, Jagdeo and Irfaan critic to a booth licker?
By trading his role as a publicwatchdogforthatofa government praise-singer, singing for supper, Kissoon has compromised whatever littlelegacyhehas.
In Guyana's highly polarized political landscape, independent, critical voices are essential to keeping power in check. When a prominent analyst shifts so radically from systemiccritiquetopartisan PR, it erodes public trust in independent commentary altogether Freddie has become a soupdrinker Hisdefenseof thefarmcontroversyproves thatinthegameofGuyanese politics, even the loudest criticshaveashelflifeanda price.
Yourstruly, NathanBarton
Frompage4 matter for Parliament to correct.But where statutory penalties are inadequate, the responsibility of the State becomes correspondingly greater Thefamiliesofthose who perished are entitled not merely to sympathy but to justice. If regulatory failures contributed to this tragedy, legal accountability cannot end with outdated fines imposed upon individuals. It must extend, where the law and the evidence justify it, to thepublicauthoritiescharged with protecting those who entrusted their lives to the nation'stransportsystem.
Mr President,theBarima must not be allowed to become another national tragedyrememberedonlyfor grief and unanswered questions It should be remembered as the moment when your Administration demonstrated, by action rather than words, that in Guyana the rule of law is stronger than official
convenience, party interest and the protection of personalities.The families of the victims deserve the truth. The people of Guyana deserve accountability History will remember whether your Administration chose official reassurance or independentscrutiny I therefore respectfully urge you to declare an appropriateperiodofnational mourning in honour of those who lost their lives Thereafter,andwithoutdelay, to establish an independent CommissionofInquiryunder the Guyana Shipping Act, 1998, and to allow it to discharge its mandate completely independently, free from interference or influenceofanykind.
That, I believe, is the surest way to honour the dead, comfort the bereaved andrestorepublicconfidence in the administration of justice.
Respectfully, ChristopherRam
A 42-year-old labourer of Skyland Village, Moruca, is in police custody after cannabis was found on his person during a searchalongKumakaHospitalRoad,Region One.
According to a police statement, ranks conductingamobilepatrolintheMorucaarea observed the man seated on an ATV and appearingtobeundertheinfluenceofalcohol at around 18:20 hrs. on Monday He was stopped and searched, during which a
The suspected cannabis
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) is seeking a 40-year-old male driver from Eccles and his accomplice in relation to a $2.61millionfirearmlicensefraud.
A statement from the police said David Singh and another man are wanted for obtaining money by false pretence, committedagainsttwo brothers, ages 35 and 30,ofBestPlantation,WestCoastDemerara.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims were allegedly approached by Singh, of Eccles New Scheme, East Bank Demerara. He reportedly claimed that he could assist them in obtaining firearm licences,”policesaidinareleaseTuesday
The victims allegedly paid some $2,610,000 and later received documents purporting to be firearm licence approvals, duringtheprocess.Thedocumentswerelater examinedandfoundtobefraudulent.
A report was made on Monday to the police, and efforts are currently underway to locate the suspect, and his accomplice as the investigationscontinue.
Wanted: David Singh
transparent plastic bag containing leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis wasfoundconcealedintheupperrightpocket ofhispants.
The man was arrested and taken, along with the suspected narcotics and theATV, to the Acquero Police Station. There, the substance was weighed in his presence and amountedto17.2gramsbeforebeinglodged as evidence He remains in custody as investigationscontinue.
'US$12.7MMVMaLisha
Frompage3 wharf began on January 17, 2023, and were expected to be completed byApril 17, 2024, at a cost of $1.4 billion, undertaken by International Import and Supplies DPI reported at the time that the project was 80 percentcomplete.
More than three years later, this publication understands, the wharf remains unfinished. The project has faced repeated structural challenges throughout construction.
Addressingthosesetbacks,thecontractor saidina2024statementthattheinitialfailure oftherevetmentwasassessedtobetheresult of a design flaw beyond the company's control.
The company further disclosed that as of February 18, 2024, the project was on schedule and approximately 90 percent complete. During the final stages of casting pile caps, however, fissures were observed within the backfilled area, prompting an immediatehalttoworkandnotificationtothe consultant and the Ministry, the company said.Initial investigations indicated that the tie rod strength specified in the original designwasinadequate.Anindependentthird-
party firm was subsequently engaged to review the design and identified additional deficiencies,particularlyintheaffectedzone of the structure. The Ministry then retained that firm to conduct a new geotechnical surveyandprepareareviseddesign.
Anew,independentdesignhassincebeen completed, addressing the deficiencies identified in the original plan, including the useoflonger,thickerpilesandtierods.Those materials have already been procured, and preparationsareunderwaytoresumeworkon the project, the company noted in its 2024 release.
On Sunday morning, Edghill had stated thattheMVBarimaisthevesselusedtotravel to Port Kaituma, explaining that the route requires a smaller vessel suited to the port's particular conditions, while the MV Kimba andMVMaLishaserviceMabarumainstead.
The 87-year-old MV Barima sank about seven miles offshore near Iron Punt, in the vicinity of the Pomeroon River, while on a scheduled voyage from Georgetown to Port Kaituma on Saturday night. Approximately 179 people and cargo were aboard when the vesselcapsized.Sincetheincident,53bodies havebeenrecoveredand76peoplerescued.
Government officials fielded pointed questions Tuesday about the capacity andmechanicalconditionof the MV Barima, which capsized and sank several miles off the Essequibo CoastonSaturday At a press conference
Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill,
a n d M a r i t i m e
Administration head Stephen Thomas sought to dismiss reports that an
engine or other heavy equipment had been loaded aboard before the vessel’s finalvoyage.
Journalist Gordon
Moseleypressedofficialson survivoraccountsdescribing a large piece of equipment loaded during cargo operations,askingwhethera generatororenginehadbeen placed on board, and whether engineers had been present on the vessel’s last tripfromRegionOnedueto mechanicalissues.
Responding on the
question of capacity, Thomas said the vessel, roughly87yearsold,carried a certified passenger capacity of 394 and a cargo capacityofabout126tonnes, a c c o r d i n g t o i t s documentation. He said he couldnotspeaktohowcargo weight was distributed aboardthevessel,notingthat determination would fall to investigators.
“As for the distribution oftheweight,Ihavenotseen the investigation data, so I cannotsaywhetherthecargo
was loaded higher or lower onthevessel,”Thomassaid. “That will be determined as partoftheinvestigation.”
Pressed further on how the vessel’s capacity is practically monitored, given that passengers are not weighed before boarding, and that people not listed on the manifest were aboard, Thomas pointed to the vessel’s load line as the standardmeasure.
“The vessel has a load line. If the load line is not submerged,thenthevesselis
not considered overloaded,” Thomas said. He added that reviews conducted with input from those assisting the investigation found the load line “was only just submerged,” which he described as normal in fresh water, noting vessels sit higher in denser seawater
“Based on that assessment, the vessel was not overloaded,”hesaid.
Prime Minister Phillips intervened at points to steer the discussion, cautioning againstattemptingtoresolve the entire matter before a formalinvestigation.
“Weruntheriskoftrying to interrogate the entire incident here,” Phillips said. “I understand you want answers, but many of those answers will come from the subsequentinvestigation.”
Minister Edghill addressed the vessel’s passenger loads directly, explaining that travelers to the North West Region typically carry substantial cargo beyond personal luggage.
“Anyone who has travelled to the North West knows that passengers are not travelling with only a handbag. They buy supplies and stock for their communities,” Edghill said, noting that commercial cargo is loaded before passengers board. He said the MV Barima and other ferries have not carried over 300 passengers in practice because available seating spaceistakenupbyluggage, boxes, and provisions,
adding that online bookings are closed once that space fills.
Journalist Leroy Smith raised questions about whether a list of expected repairs on the vessel should have prompted an adjustment to its carrying capacity, and asked directly whether the vessel experienced engine trouble on its final voyage into Georgetown.
Edghill denied any reportsofmechanicalissues.
“There was no report from the crew of any engine trouble. When the vessel came into Georgetown there were no reported engine issues, and when it departed there were no reported engine problems,” he said, adding that crews typically report and return to port if enginetroubledevelopsafter departure He maintained that any equipment loaded onto the vessel was cargo being transported, not equipment meant to repair thevesselitself.
Smith also asked whether any government official or minister had instructedthatitemsbe
Continuedonpage22
T h e r e a r e f e w propositions in modern development thinking more seductive and more misleading than the claim that prosperity begins with "strong institutions." It has becometheseculargospelof ourage.
TheWorldBankpreaches it The International
M o n e t a r y F u n d institutionalises it. A global industry of governance consultants, policy advisers anddevelopmentexpertshas built an entire professional universearoundit.
The prescription is always familiar If a country is poor, strengthen institutions If corruption exists, create another oversight body If development disappoints, improve governance If political accountability is weak, establish another commission.
It is a remarkably convenient doctrine because it transforms the complex failures of development into a technical problem of administration Poverty becomes a deficiency of i n s t i t u t i o n s Underdevelopment becomes a failure of governance Politicalconflictbecomesan
absence of transparency
ion becomes a shortage of regulatorycapacity
The solution is always more
fundamentalism. It is one of the defining articles of faith oftheneoliberalera.
The argument appears r
institutions clearly matter No serious scholar disputes that effective states require competent public agencies, reliable legal systems and m e c h
s m s o f accountability The problem begins when this truth is elevated into a universal theoryofdevelopment.
The central mistake of institutional fundamentalism is that it reverses history and c
h consequence.Itassumesthat wealthy societies became prosperousbecausetheyfirst constructed sophisticated institutions.
History tells a different story Britaindidnotbecome the world's first industrial power because it possessed modern regulatory agencies, comprehensive disclosure laws or internationally a d mired governance
standards. The United States did not emerge as an economic giant because it first perfected institutional accountability Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and other successful industrialisers did not begin t h e i r e c o n o m i c transformation by adopting the institutional blueprint n o w p r o m
d b y international financial institutions.
Theirinstitutionsevolved
mic development They were shaped by industrialisation, technological advancement, social transformation and political struggle. In many cases, the institutions now celebrated as models were created after these countries had already achieved s
progress.
Yetthewealthycountries, having travelled a long and often disorderly road to prosperity, now present developing nations with a different map. They insist that countries must first ach
perfection before they can embark upon the very development journey that historically created those i n s t i t u
Dem boys seh Facebook turn into a real old-time village gossip with a smartphone. Longtime,ifyouwantedtoknowsomebody business, you had to sit down by a shop corner, listen to two old people chatting, or wait until the neighbour wife pass and “accidentally” stop by yuh gate for three hours.
Today,Facebookdoingallthehardwork. Social media does know who born when, whogetmarried,whobreakup,whoeating what,andwhopretendingtobehappy
But de biggest trap is birthday Once uponatime,abirthdaywasaprivatething.If youwantedpeopletoknow,youtellthem.If youwantedpeace,youkeepquietandenjoy yuh cake without a crowd showing up with emptyhandsandbigappetites.
But Facebook ain't allowing that anymore. The moment yuh birthday arrive, thewholeworlddoesknow Beforeyuheyes open good, the greetings start coming: “Happy Birthday, have a blessed day!” “Wishing you many more years!” “Stay strongandbeautiful!”
Someofthesepeopleain'tcallyuhsince the last election. Some of them ain't even knowifyuhstillalive.ButFacebookremind them, and suddenly they remember yuh exist.Demboyssehsomefriendshiptodayis not built on memories; it is built on a notification.
And then there are those who does
development path followed bytoday'swealthynationsis quietly removed from history, and developing countries are instructed to climb using a ladder that no longerexists.
I n s t i t u t i o n a l fundamentalism is particularly powerful becauseitprovidesamorally attractive explanation for economic failure. It avoids uncomfortable questions. It does not ask who controls naturalresources.Itdoesnot ask how multinational corporations negotiate with developingstates.
It does not ask whether developingcountriespossess the technological capacity to transform raw materials into higher-value industries It does not ask whether governments have the fiscal and industrial strategies
required to convert temporary resource wealth into permanent productive capacity
Instead, it asks whether countries have sufficient commissions.
Whether regulators are independent enough Whetherdisclosureformsare modern enough Whether governance scores have improved The entire complexity of development i s r e d u c e d t o a n administrativechecklist.
This is not because institutions are irrelevant. It is because institutional reform is a much safer conversation than economic transformation.
trapped in an economic structure designed around extraction rather than production.
The resource curse has neverbeensimplyashortage of institutions. It is a failure of political economy It concerns whether resource revenues are transformed i n t o e d u c a t i o n , infrastructure, technological capability, industrial diversification and national productivestrength.
Nor can institutions be separatedfromtheeconomic and political realities that sustain them. A Petroleum Commission does not autom
y create negotiating power with multinational oil companies.
An Integrity Commission does not automatically produce ethical political behaviour. A disclosure
accountability Institutions do not operate in a vacuum. Theyreflectthesocietiesand power structures in which theyexist.
The great illusion of neoliberalgovernanceisthat institutional design can substitute for political strategy.Itcannot.Acountry cannot regulate its way into development.
strategy It gives developing countriesamirrorinwhichto examine their bureaucratic imperfections while distracting them from the larger structural challenges thatdeterminetheirfuture.
Guyana's challenge as an oil-producing nation is not simply whether it possesses enoughoversightbodies.The deeper question is whether petroleum wealth will become the foundation of a diversified, technologically advanced economy or whether it will merely finance consumption within an extractive economic model.
That question cannot be answered by a governance scorecard. It requires vision, strategyandstatecapacity Institutions matter But theyarenotthebeginningof development.They are often the achievement of development.
actually go and search out your birthday They studying Facebook like it is a bank statement. They checking the date, saving the information, and waiting for the opportunity
Because when birthday day come, suddenlyyouhearaknockatthegate.“Hey, I was just passing through and decided to checkyou.”
Dem boys seh Guyana does have the most creative “passing through” in the world. A man could live at Diamond and somehow be “passing through” East Coast. Awoman could live in Kitty and somehow be“inthearea”atMahaica.
And the funniest part? They come empty-handed.Nobottle.Nocake.Nocard. Notevenagift.
But they come with a healthy appetite and a powerful thirst. “Boy, you cooking anythingtoday?”
Of course, they know you cooking. Facebookalreadytellthem.Facebookisthe messenger, the invitation card, and the gossipauntieallrolledintoone.
DemboyssehsoonFacebookmightstart sending reminders: “Your friend birthday tomorrow Please remember to carry a gift, notjustyourstomach.”
Becausenowadays,theonlythingbigger than the birthday greeting is the crowd that cometoeatthebirthdayfood. Talkhalf.Leffhalf.
A country can spend decades creating regulatory bodies while remaining dependent on exporting raw commodities.Itcanestablish transparency mechanisms while failing to develop domestic industries. It can improve governance indicators while remaining
It cannot audit its way into industrialization It cannot create prosperity through compliance with governance templates Development requires states capable of thinking beyond administration and pursuing long-term economic transformation.
This is why the institutional fundamentalist approach is ultimately so limited. It offers a language of reform while avoidingthe harderquestionsofeconomic power, production, technology and national
T h e t r a g e d y o f institutional fundamentalism is that it mistakes the architecture surrounding prosperityfortheenginethat creates it. It asks developing countries to perfect the institutions of wealth before they have been allowed to build the economic foundationsofwealth.
History has already delivereditsverdict.Nations do not become prosperous because they first acquire perfect institutions They acquire better institutions because they become prosperous.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the authoranddonotnecessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
A national disaster is when men dig deep They find the best in themselves Be it from force majeure or manmade,anationaldisaster istheworsttimeforspinning Continuing membership in a political party isn’t worth it Nor misplaced sense of loyalty to leaders Or indebtedness that must be repaid.
With contortions With what deforms a nation already grappling with too muchofboth Thisisthetime for ministers, advisers, leaders in the PPP Govt to comeclean Thefullstory,as known A clean sheet Nothing redacted Nothing withheld. First,whatisthefigureon those missing? A firm number, if such could be derived No tricks The missingnowpresumeddead Ihavepresented66,basedon government’sfiguresofthose onboard versus the number rescued It was adamantly and dismissively said that the MV Barima was “not overloaded.”
existence and presence on that boat officially acknowledged. Since those 37 turned up and upturned assertionsofnooverloading, anotherquestionsurfaces.
If 37 of the persons rescued were not on the passenger manifest, then this question boils How many morenameswerealsonoton the manifest? How many of them not rescued? Perhaps, never to be found Or their
Howoverloadedwasthat boatnowatthebottom? Was itonlytheknown37? Orwas it 137? I hear approx 110 Havingfallenonitsfacewith no overloading, yet 37 unknowns are found, the government can neither recovernorreturnwithsome number of its own A numberpluckedfromitsbag of tricks to aid in damage minimization.
The PPP Govt has damaged itself. Beyond
repair, I believe It failed to p r o v i d e a d e q u a t e representation on a farm It repeats that standard with a sunken boat; and a bulky circleofcitizensnevergoing home again My advice stands: come clean on the MVBarima.Lessofadvice. Moreofacommand.
Second, depending on how much the MV Barima wasoverloaded,itisprobable that there weren’t enough lifejackets How many fell into the category of ‘not enough’ What happened to them? Did they sink like bricks? Or floated close to shores hundreds of miles away? Unrecognizable bodies now further mangled by losing encounters with jaggedrocks.
Third, there is the MV Barima itself A boat long past its better days Few nauticalmilesleftinitstank Fewer of any kind of miles Period Billions could be foundtofuelthefunandfrolic that’s rapturously celebrated
at the National TenderBoardandthe P r o c u r e m e n t Commission But a fraction of those billions couldn’t be found to replace a boat nearing a hundred years. Millions[maybebillions] couldbefoundsforballsand banquets,butnoneforaboat Alltheboatscan’tbebuiltat once I agree But when arguably 70 cents on each dollarisseizedbyPPPGovt insiders to feed their addiction to corruption, then the remaining 30 cents per budget dollar can only buy somuch.
The MV Barima had to wait NowitwaitsinDavey Jones’locker Scatteredinits wakearethelifelessbodiesof Guyanese who trusted in it (and their leaders) and paid theultimateprice Regarding price,trythis Fourth, helicopters were boughtwithmuchfanfareand much cash by the PPPGovt One senior arranger behind
FiveChinesenationalsaged31,34,50,53,and59,have beenarrestedandchargedinconnectionwithimmigration offences, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) confirmed in a statementonTuesday
Accordingtopolice,themenwereinitiallyarrestedon June 16, 2026, at the Rock Creek MiningArea in Puruni, Region Seven, during an enforcement operation targeting illegal mining activity Asubsequent check of their travel documentsrevealedthatallfivehadoverstayedtheperiod permittedundertheirvisas.
Themenarescheduledtoappearincourt.
that deal is also MIA, conspicuously silent Weigh this: one of those new helicopters,onlyoneliftsoff, and what were the probabilities? Zeroing in. Latching on. Winching up. One nearly watery casualty totheMVBarimatragedy Then, a dozen, then dozens more, with early intervention Who is responsible for new helicopters stuck to the tarmac? There is too much bloodonthehandsofleaders (coming up soon) for heads not to be hung on a public pike
Fifth, I sense the usual farces Leaders wracked by artificial tears. Leaders’ voicesmuted Inpretensesof bonding with those savaged by loss, grief A leader hurrying with ointments for whatringwormsandeczemas pastedallover Anddeath.
Last, a mourning season Then, it’s back to the usual business Tricking Guyanese Wounding them grievously I’mtryingtohelp the unclean identify the gravityoftheiruncleanliness. So, they resolve to come clean. Justthisonce. Amen. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper)
ByKhadidjaBa
In the aftermath of the MV Barima tragedy, veteran fisherman Haresh Singh, who has spent four decades on the water, proved instrumental in locating the missing, submergedvesselafterofficialsearchefforts hadstalled.
Speaking with Kaieteur News early Tuesdaymorning,Singhrecountedthetense search, describing how instinct, sharp observation and persistence led him and his crew to the exact spot where the boat had sunk.
WhenSinghandhiscrewfirstsetout,the horizon offered no trace of the missing vessel.
“WhatIwaslookingforwhenIwentout there...Iwaswatchingtoseeifwecouldsee theboat,”Singhrecalled.“Butunfortunately, weneverseenothing,notapieceoftheboat oranything.”
Refusing to give up, Singh drew on decades of experience at sea. Trusting his instincts, he directed his brother to steer towardasubtleoilslicknearadock.
“Memindtellme,‘Youknowwhat?You gottolookforaspotofoil.’So,Iwatchand seeaspotofdieseloiloutside...about15feet from the water outside. I tell my brother,
The coordinates used to locate the sunken MV Barima
‘Drivetothispart.’Whenhedrivetothatpart, I see this oil and this place was rank, rank, rank,rank.” Moments after easing up the boat’s
engine,debrisbegansurfacingrapidly,firsta life jacket, then floating barrels, spray cans, clothing, and personal bags. Soon after, the boat’sorangebowlinerosetothesurface.
CHILLINGDISCOVERIESAND EMERGENCYCALLS
Actingquickly,Singh’steamhookedonto the floating rope to hold their position over the site. As the boat tugged at the line, air bubblesrosefrombelow,andhumanremains begansurfacingfromthewreckage.
Unable to reach the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard directly, Singh made urgent calls to Minister Zulfikar MustaphaandMinisterRamraj,pleadingfor immediateinterventionbeforeroughweather andswiftcurrentscouldsweepthesiteaway
“I call Minister [Zulfikar] Mustapha, RegionalChairman,andMinisterRamraj...I decidedtoaskthemtosendouthelpasquick as possible,” Singh said, noting that the watersweregrowingdangerouslyrough.
It took nearly two hours after Singh’s team pinpointed the location for a Coast Guard vessel to arrive. On arrival, Singh directed authorities to the exact spot, which histeamhadmarkedwithananchorline.
Thevesselliesinroughly50to55feetof
Veteran fisherman, Haresh Singh
water, making visual detection virtually impossiblewithoutpreciselocalknowledge. Singh voiced frustration with the early response, noting that his team had already rescued 11 survivors from the water days earlier He said that had authorities acted sooneronthecoordinateshisteamprovided, recovery efforts might have progressed faster
“Idon’tthinknoCoastGuardornobody couldhavebeenfindingit,”Singhsaid.“You don’thavenosignalornothingtheretopick up.Ithastobesomebodywhoknowsthearea andknowswhattolookfor Wereally,really workedhardtofindit.”
Theordealhastakenaheavyphysicaland emotional toll on the veteran fisherman. Exhausted after helping recover multiple bodies,Singhsaidhisentirebodyachedfrom thestressandexertionofthepreviousday
Divers were scheduled to descend Tuesday morning to secure lines to the sunkenvesselinanefforttotowitashore.
While the odds of finding further survivors grow slimmer by the hour, Singh said the only remaining hope rests on the possibility of air pockets inside the submergedhull.
Residents of Mabaruma gathered in unity this evening for a Candlelight Vigil to honour and remember the lives lost in the tragic MV Barima incident. As candles were lit and prayers were offered, the community stood together in remembrance, extending heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the departed.
Photos of passengers reported to have been on board the MV Barima. Up to press time, Kaieteur News was unable to independently confirm whether the bodies of these individuals were recovered.
...as22morebodiesrecoveredonDayThree ...Govt.says76survivorsaccountedfor
ByKhadidjaBa
The death toll following the capsisingoftheMVBarimaisnow peggedat103,followingthreedays of search and rescue by the coast guard,OppositionLeaderAzruddin Mohamed, owners of private vessels,andlocalfishermen
The casualty count rose sharply after rescue teams recovered an additional 22 bodies during operations on the third day of the maritimedisaster,whiletheverified totalofrescuedsurvivors,according tothegovernment,stoodat76
Callsintensifiedfortheremoval of Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill from office following what is being described as Guyana’s deadliest maritime disaster The demands come on the heels of the government’s decision on Monday morning to send the entire management team responsible for the loading, dispatch, and overall oversight of the MV Barima on administrative leave pending an investigation Pointing to systemic failures and lapses in leadership, political stakeholders from WIN, APNU,FGMandVPACarguethat
accountability should not end with those directly responsible for the vessel, but should also extend to
responsibility for the relevant agencies. Demands have likewise been voiced for the removal of Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar, as well as
M
Department (MARAD) Director GeneralStephenThomas.
At a press conference on Monday evening, Minister Edghill was asked whether the calls for his resignation in light of the tragedy werejustified WhileEdghilldidnot respond to the question, Prime MinisterMarkPhillipsansweredon his behalf, saying such a decision couldnotbeaddressedbyanyoneat thepressconference
“Let me answer all the questions,” Prime Minister Phillips said “Minister Edghill was appointed by a president of Guyana ButIwanttoalsoinform you and remind you that, that decision lies with the president Noneofusherecannotanswerthat” Phillips noted that officials,
including President Irfaan Ali, are aware of the calls for Minister Edghill’s resignation and dismissed thosecallsas“noise”Whenpressed further on the matter during a subsequent briefing, the Prime Minister remained firm in his position
“AsfarasI’mconcerned,there’s a lot of noise out there from the opposition Iamnotgettingangry,I amjustbeadamantthatthefocusis on dealing with the search, rescue and recovery operation There are opposition elements that are contributingtothesearch Thereare opposition elements who are makingalotofnoiseoutthere AndI said, not only that they’re making noise, I said, Guyana remains a democraticstate Peoplehavearight
to say what they want to say Once they don’t go down, breaking and damaging buildings and private property and going to a state of disorder That’s what I said yesterday, and I stand by everything that I said yesterday I believe in that. I believe in what I said. And I believe that what I’m doing now is the right thing.
Focusing on bringing closure to those people who would have lost their loved ones. And ensuring thosewhowererescuedgetthebest care Many of them remain traumatied. And working in this whole of government approach, which includes the opposition elementswhowantstobehelpful.”
Following the confirmation of the coordinates of the MV Barima
wreckage, search, rescue, and recoveryoperationshaveintensified significantly The government said 16 state and private sector vessels are currently deployed within the wreckagearea,whilethedesignated searchareahasbeenexpandedbyan additional 400 square miles Extending to Waini Point, the expansion means authorities are now searching an area of 2,100 square kilometers to maximise the likelihoodoflocatinganyremaining personswhomightstillbealive
The government explained that ongoing verification exercises reconciled information received from multiple sources involved in the operation While 69 rescued individualshadbeenreported
Continued on page 24
A28-year-oldEssequiboman,identifiedasKeltonBenn, died after being electrocuted by a wire connected to a chickenpen.
Police said in a statement that the incident occurred on Mondayataround17:30hrs.atPtolemyAvenue,Dartmouth Village,EssequiboCoast.
“Preliminary enquiries revealed that Benn had gone to useanoutdoortoiletsituatedatthebackoftheyard.Afterhe failed to return, a relative went in search of him and found himlyingmotionlessnexttoachickencoop,”policesaid.
Furtherenquiriesrevealedthatanelectricalwirehadbeen runfromthehousetothechickencoopsomemonthsearlierto providelighting Twochildren,anine-year-oldboyandasixyear-oldgirlweresubsequentlyfoundshakingwhileleaning againstthestructure,apparentlyalsoshockedbytheexposed wiring TheyweretakentotheLimaRegionalHospital,where theywereadmittedforobservation
Benn was also taken to the Lima Regional Hospital, wherehewasexaminedandpronounceddeadonarrivalby the doctor on duty His remains are at the same hospital awaitingapost-mortemexamination.
GuyanaPowerandLightInc.(GPL)wascontactedand disconnectedtheelectricalwireasinvestigationscontinue.
ChineseForeignMinisterWang Yi on Monday met with Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and candidate for the post of UN Secretary-General, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, as she continued her campaign for the organisation’stoppost.
A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, said during the meeting Rodrigues-Birkett outlined the campaign for her platform and her vision for the future development of the UN, noting that the world today is undergoing profound changes unseeninacentury
“Challenges such as the spread of conflicts, the climate crisis, and development deficits are emerging one after another Regardless of how the situation evolves, multilateralismisnotanoptionbut a necessity for the international community China is a steadfast supporter of the UN cause and a leader in advancing the developmentagenda,”itsaid.
Rodrigues-Birkett also expressed her support for the UNGA Resolution 2758 and reaffirmed her commitment to the one China principle, speaking highly of the four major global initiativeswhichwereproposedby
China, as well as the country’s advocacyfortheestablishmentofa World Artificial Intelligence CooperationOrganisation.
Citing that crises breed opportunities, the next UN Secretary-General pledged to continue driving UN reforms to ensurethattheorganisationismore agile, more efficient, and fairer, to place sustainable development at the heart of the international agenda, and to deliver tangible benefitstopeopleofallcountries.
Minister Wang Yi said that the current UN centered international system is facing shocks, as multilateralism is being challenged, and the law of the jungle is resurfacing It there therefore expected by all parties thatthenextSecretary-Generalwill lead the UN in confronting these difficulties and challenges, as it playsitsroleintheadvancementof i
development.
“Ms Carolyn RodriguesBirkett’s decision to run for secretary-generaldemonstratesher firm belief in multilateralism and steadfast support for the UN cause President Xi Jinping has pointedoutthatthemoreturbulent and unstable the international situation becomes, the more
imperative it is to safeguard the authority of the UN and firmly safeguard the UN-centered i n t e r n a t i o n a l s y s t e m Multilateralism is the protective shield for small and medium-sized countries, and the UN serves as a vital cornerstone for the common developmentofallnations.TheUN is not perfect, but without it, the worldwouldonlybeworseoff,”the statementadded.
Hestressedthatthisyearmarks the fifty fifth anniversary of the restorationofthelawfulseatofthe People’s Republic of China in the UN. China has always remained a builder of world peace, contributing to development globally and defending the international order, regardless of howtheinternationallandscapehas evolved. It is also a consistent observer of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and firmly supports the cause of the UN.
“In May of this year, during China’s presidency of the UN Security Council, a high-level meeting themed “Upholding the Purposes and Principles of the UN CharterandStrengtheningtheUNCentered International System” wasconvened,withrepresentatives from over 100 countries in
Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Candidate for the Next UN Secretary-General andPermanent Representative of Guyana to the UN, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett.
attendance. The unanimous voice that emerged was to uphold, revitalise,andstrengthentheUN,” thestatementfurtheradded. ItwentontosaythatChinawill takepartintheselectionofthenext UN Secretary-General in a responsible and constructive manner, and will support the selection of a Secretary-General
who will uphold the UN Charter While demonstrating outstanding competence, acting fairly and with integrity, shouldering responsibilities with commitment, keepinginaccordancewiththeUN Charter,soastohelptheUNrestore its authority and vitality, adapt to the new situation, and meet new challenges.
Several persons, including a team of healthcare workers and four children, were injured on Tuesday afternoon after two boats collidedintheCanjeRiver,leaving eightpersonshospitalised.
The incident was confirmed to Kaieteur News by health officials inRegionSix.
According to information received, one of the boats was transporting a team of medical personnel returning from a health outreach in Bara Cara, located along the upper Canje River The other boat, which reportedly sustained more extensive damage, was carrying several passengers, includingchildren,boundforBara CaraVillage.
Sources told this publication that at least one of the injured was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for specialised treatment. He was identified as 38-year-old Claymont LaFleur The remaining injured were admitted to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital with injuries said to be non-lifethreatening.
Police said the collision occurred at about 2:30 p.m. in the vicinityofPatWalla,CanjeCreek, Berbice It in
unregistered boat and a private vessel transporting a government medicaloutreachteam.
LaFleur's damaged boat engine due to the impact
Preliminary investigations revealed that the private boat,
captained by a 35-year-old man of Kimba, departed Bara Cara at about1:00p.m.witheightmedical personnel on board While travelling through the Pat Walla area, it collided head-on with the unregisteredboat.
Thesecondvessel,poweredby a40-horsepowerYamahaoutboard engine, was captained by LaFleur, a security guard of Bara Cara. Relatives told Kaieteur News that LaFleur's boat was carrying eight passengers, including several children,toBaraCara.
LaFleur's relatives alleged that theothercaptainwasnegligentand travellingatahighspeed.
"We left 8 Mile around 1:00. Weweretravellingonourleftside, and the driver wasn't paying attention ahead.With the speed he wascoming,maybehewaslooking behind or on his phone, I suppose. We diverted a little into the grassy area, and he did the same,"
Amsterdam,toldthispublication.
She said the other captain appeared to attempt to avoid the collisionatthelastmomentbutwas unabletodoso,resultinginthetwo boatscrashingintoeachother
The collision left several people injured, including four children between the ages of one andseven.
Alloftheinjuredweretakento the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where they were treated by doctors. Due to the severity of his injuries, LaFleur was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. His familysaidheremainsinacritical condition and is undergoing surgery
The seven other injured passengers remain hospitalised at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, while police investigations into the incident are continuing.
US funding cuts are impacting HIV projects across the globe, the report warns [File: Getty]
As Guyana continues to grapple with the devastating loss of lives in the MV Barima disaster, ExcelGuyanaInc.hasextendedits condolences to the grieving families and praised the rescue teamsandcitizenswhoresponded tothenationaltragedy.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the company said it was offeringits"deepest,mostheartfelt condolences" to the families and friends of those who lost loved onesinthetragedy,describingthe incidentasonethathasplungedthe nationintomourning.
"To every family still waiting for news, and to those now
grieving: please know you are not alone," the company stated. "Our hearts are with you, and we hold you gently in our thoughts during thisincrediblydifficulttime."
The company also paid tribute to the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard, rescue teams and volunteers who participated in the massive search-and-rescue operation following the vessel's capsizing.
"TotheCoastGuard,therescue teams, and every Guyanese who answered the call to help: thank you for your courage, your sacrifice, and your compassion," thestatementread.
"ExcelGuyanaInc.standswith all of Guyana as we mourn together. May every family carryingthispainfindcomfortand strength in the days ahead," the companyadded.
The MV Barima tragedy has triggered an outpouring of grief across Guyana, with businesses, religious organisations, political parties and members of the public expressing sympathy for the victims and their families as the countrycontinuestocometoterms with one of its deadliest maritime disastersinrecenthistory
ExcelGuyanasaidthetragedy has touched every corner of the country and reaffirmed its solidaritywiththoseaffected.
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“I cannot say yes or no because I have not received one,”Phillipssaid.“Ifanyone has information suggesting that happened, they should come forward during the investigation, provide a statement and present the facts to the commission or inquiry That process will be independent and transparent.”
Phillips said all logbooks and records would be examined as part of the investigation, and that any equipment, fuel, or machinery aboard the vesselwouldbeidentifiedand itemized.
Smithalsoraisedanapparent discrepancy in the vessel’s reported capacity, noting Edghill was quoted in 2024 stating the vessel’s ca-
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pacity was 150 far below the 394figurecitedthisweekand asked whether the vessel’s age had contributed to a reduced carrying capacity over time.
Thomasrejectedthatsuggestion, saying the opposite is generally true. “If a vessel is properly maintained, it retainsitscertifiedcapacity,”he said, explaining that older vessels were often built with thicker steel, while modern ships use thinner, stronger steel that makes them lighter and able to carry more cargo.
“The age of the vessel, by itself,doesnotreduceitscertified carrying capacity,”Thomas said.
The officials’ assurances stand in sharp contrast to accounts from survivors of the disaster. Leon Murray, who survived after spending hours in the water, insisted the vessel was filled well beyond its stated capacity with both passengers and cargo.
“Taxi pon boat, plus 200 passengers on the boat. Dem claiming is only 116 but dem lie. The boat was packed... packed, packed, packed all downstairs. It overload, it overload,” Murray said.
He said the vessel was loaded with ration, chicken, pork, beef, and other goods, while passengers were squeezedintoeveryavailable space. Murray also alleged that some passengers boarded without tickets.
“Oneladywholosttwoah shepickneycomeandtellme she nah get no ticket,” he said.
Murray further alleged that one of the vessel’s engines failed around 7 p.m. while at sea, and that instead of returning to Georgetown, the crew repaired the engine mid-journey and continued on.
“Theenginecutout...dem man instead of go back to port, dem repair the engine and keep moving again,” Murrayalleged.
He said overloading was not a new problem on the
route,addingthathehadtravelledonthevesselmanytimes before and had witnessed similar conditions on previous trips.
Another survivor, Daniel Modeste, also disputed the government’s account. In a statement to the We Invest in Nationhood party, Modeste said he and other survivors questioned whether the vessel was overloaded, and raisedconcernsthatthecargo scalesatthestellingwerenot functioningbeforedeparture, makingitimpossibletoproperlyweighcargoloadedonto the vessel.
Diane Cort, wife of MV BarimacanteenoperatorNeil Cort,toldPrimeNewsthatthe boatwasoverloaded.Known familiarly as “Aunty Diane,” shesaidsheregularlymether husband at the dock before his trips to Region One and upon his return.
“They packed that boat so much. Nobody seems to careaboutanybody;theyjust wantedtocarrythings.There was a generator on the vessel,” she said. She explained that a standby generator normally kept at the back of the vessel had instead been moved to the front for this trip, adding there was an unusuallylargeamountofcargo aboard.
Cort said she disembarked only minutes before the vessel departed. “I came off the boat about two minutesbeforeitleft.Normallyit is supposed to leave at 1:00 p.m., but it never leaves at 1:00 because there is always so much cargo to load,” she said.
She said passengers were already on board while the generators were still being loaded, and that it was common for passengers, particularlyAmerindian travelers to bedisplacedfromupper-deck seating because cargo occupied so much space.
“We don’t normally see them upstairs like that. It’s a regular thing. Sometimes many Amerindian people have to come downstairs because the cargo takes up so
much space. I just feel sorry for them,” she said. She recalled telling her husband to come sit and eat before the boatleft,andsaidshefeltsignificantheatcomingfromthe back of the vessel as crew preparedtouseasecondgenerator, near where engineers typically worked in the engineroom.
Cort described her husband as “a wonderful man” who “never refused to do whathewasaskedtodo.”She said he and his brother, Kenrick Cort, were both aboardmanagingthecanteen.
She said the vessel’s second engineer told her there had been an ongoing issue withoneoftheenginesinthe days before departure. “The boat start loading from Tuesday They load Tuesday They load Wednesday, Thursday, Friday… So, we was there, and the second [engineer] come, he said, Auntie Diane, we still have the problem with the one engine,”sherecalled.
Cortsaidtheengineertold her the engine had not been fixedandthathiswarningsto the crew had gone unheeded. “Nobody listen to me,” she recalledhimsaying.Shesaid theengineerlatercheckedthe side of the vessel and remarkedthatitwasridinglow inthewater.“Theboatwasso packed. It was so packed to themax.Plus,ithadapickup. Ithadacar,andwhenyousee likecustomerssendcarsorso, dem is normally put the goods inside and pack it more,” she said.
Cort said that when she left the vessel on Saturday, shenoticeditwascarryingan unusually large number of passengers, including childrenandinfants.Sherecalled a moment of foreboding shared with a colleague as she disembarked.
“Isaid,oh,thisboatfull.I seechildren,babies…Icome off the boat, and even she [someone next to her] turned andsaid,‘Diane,thisboattoo low, let we pray.’ We ignore the prayer,” she recounted, tearfully
With 53 bodies recoveredand at least 50 people still missing following the MV Barima
maritime disaster, OppositionLeaderAzruddin Mohamed has joined a growing chorus of voices callingforMinisterofPublic Works Juan Edghill to be removedfromoffice.
Speaking to GoMoseley Radio Station on Tuesday morningfromthesitewhere the 87-year-old vessel capsized several miles offshoreonthenightofJuly 18, Mohamed said the scale of the tragedy demands ministerial accountability TheTransport and Harbours Department(T&HD),which oversaw the vessel's operations, falls under E d g h i l l ' s portfolio.
Although authorities have disputed claims from relatives and survivors that the vessel was overloaded en route to Port Kaituma, Region One, Mohamed pointed to those same allegations along with concerns about the vessel's age and condition in laying blameattheminister'sfeet.
"The vessel was overloaded and it's a negligenceoftheMinisterof PublicWorks.
I'm calling on the Minister of Public Works to resign immediately, resign immediately because over 100 lives… It's sad to say this, but it looks like over 100,"Mohamedsaid.
H e h i g h l i g h t e d inconsistencies in the vessel's passenger manifest,
whichauthoritieshavesince acknowledged did not accurately reflect who was aboard Edghill initially stated that 116 passengers and 17 crew members were on the vessel; officials later revised that figure to approximately 179 people after reviewing CCTV footage.
"We don't even know how much passengers on board… One time we heard 116 plus 17. Now they're givingusdifferentnumbers. We don't know how much persons are on the vessel. Thatistobeginwith.So,no rules, all systems broken," Mohamedsaid.
On Monday, the
governmentplacedtheentire m a n a g e m e n t t e a m responsible for the MV
at the appropriate time, not tonight,"Edghillsaid.
Phillips, who has maintainedthatanydecision on Edghill's position ultimately rests with President Irfaan Ali, dismissed the resignation callsaspoliticalnoise.
"Yesterday I said we heard the noise, I wanna congratulate you for contributing to the noise today, it's not disrespect, of course you are contributing to the noise because I
claiming the ship's captain was being unfairly blamed forthedisaster
"Now,thispoorinnocent man,theywanttopinallthe problems,likethefaultofthe captain. Even the family of thecaptainreachedouttome and mentioned phone calls would come to him to put morecargoonthevessel…" Mohamedclaimed.
"So, this is the problem in the country This is the problem. We have ministers influencing everything as it
Barima's loading, dispatch, and oversight on leave pending investigation
Political stakeholders argue accountabilityshouldextend beyond those directly responsible for the vessel to the ministers overseeing the relevantagencies.
Edghilldeclinestoaddress resignationcalls
At a press conference Tuesday evening, Edghill declined to directly address whether calls for his resignation were justified, a question Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret'd) Mark Phillips had already fielded duringMonday'sbriefing.
"I will address any issue
answered you yesterday because we heard the noise and you come back with the same thing…" Phillips told journalist Leroy Smith. "I have no apologies to make for the statement I made yesterday As far as I am concerned, there is a lot of noise out there from the opposition."
OppositionLeaderalleges politicalinterference
Mohamed also alleged that political interference
compromised safety decisions aboard the vessel,
Forty-one-year-oldDenellon
Emanuelwhoisalsoaclothes vendorof14MilesLandingIssano, MiddleMazaruniRiver,wasonTuesday chargedwithpossessionofnarcoticsforthe purposeoftrafficking.
InastatementonTuesday,policesaid EmanuelwasarrestedonSaturdayJuly18, 2026,inrelationtoanarcoticsmatterandwas chargedonTuesdayJuly21,2026.
TheaccusedappearedattheBartica Magistrate'sCourtbeforeHisWorshipTeriq Mohamedwherethechargewasreadtohim. Hepleadednotguiltyandwasplacedon $80,000bail.Thematterwasadjournedto September3,2026,forcontinuation.
relatestosafety,"headded. Mohamed,whohasbeen assisting with search and recovery operations and has helpedlocateseveralbodies, said hope of finding further survivors is fading after threedaysatsea.
"We're not seeing anything other than bodies floatingup,"hesaid.
He also questioned whether an investigation alone would be sufficient, pointingtoconcernsthatthe vessel was riding below its waterline and arguing that a nearly 90-year-old vessel should not have been in servicein2026.
Callsforremovalmount acrosspoliticalandcivil
Leaderofthe Opposition, Azruddin Mohamed
societygroups Mohamed's remarks come amid mounting calls from political figures and civil society organizations for Edghill's removal followingwhatisnowbeing described as Guyana's deadliestmaritimedisaster
TheAmerindianPeoples Association (APA), in a statement Monday, said the tragedy exposed poor m a n a g e m e n t a n d accountability within the T&HD and called for Edghill's removal, given his oversightofthedepartment.
The APA pointed to Edghill's own disclosure of discrepancies in the vessel's manifest as evidence of broader institutional failure.
"Who oversees the operationsofthevesselsthat they do not detect what appears to be corrupt practices in overloading? Who is responsible for the regular maintenance of the vessels that a seemingly unseaworthyandagedvessel is allowed to ply dangerous routes without care for the souls on board?" the associationasked.
TheAPAnotedthatwhile
people of all ethnicities live in the North-West District, the majority of residents are Indigenous, and rely on the ferry service as the most cost-effective mode of transportation available to them. It said responsibility ultimately falls on the government to ensure safe, reliable, and affordable transport for citizens, and a r g u e d t h a t t h e normalisation of practices Edghillhimselfdescribedas "mischief" had contributed directly to the systemic failuresbehindthetragedy APNU Members of Parliament Saiku Andrews andTerrenceCampbellhave also called for Edghill's resignation or removal Andrews similarly pointed tothemanifestdiscrepancies and reports concerning the vessel'sactualcargotonnage at the time of the incident, questioned the maintenance of the decades-old vessel, andurgedthegovernmentto address the concerns with factualevidence.
TheAlliance for Change (AFC) has also called on President Ali to remove Edghillfromoffice.
held afterover two pounds of marijuana found in Rosignol
Policediscoveredovertwopounds of marijuana at Hosanna Street, Rosignol,WestCoastBerbice,on Monday, and a suspect has been taken into custody
According to a police statement, ranks acting on information received conducted a search of a premises in the area. While leaving, they spotted a black plastic bag lying near a dam, about 10 feet from the property Inside, they found a bulky parcel containing leaves, seeds, and stems suspectedtobecannabis.
The suspected narcotics were taken to the Blairmont Police Station, where they were weighed at 1.045 kilograms before being lodged. The suspect remains in custodyasinvestigationscontinue.
(DPI) President Mohamed IrfaanAli has declared three days of national mourning following thetragiclossoflivesintheM.V Barima incident, as the nation continues to grieve alongside the families and communities affected.
The period of national mourning will be observed from Wednesday, July 22, through Friday,July24,2026,inhonourof the victims of the tragedy During thistime,theNationalFlagwillbe flown at half-mast on all Government buildings and other appropriate locations across the country
As part of the observances, Wednesday, July 22, has been designated a National Day of Prayer
ANational Day of Prayer and Remembrance will be held at the Kingston Seawall in Georgetown, bringing together citizens in solidarity to honour the lives lost and offer support to grieving families.
T h e p r o g
remembrancewillcontinuewitha Night of Reflection and Prayer in Port Kaituma on Thursday, July 23, followed by another observance in Mabaruma on Friday,July24.
Frompage19
previously, overnight crossreferencing and verification confirmed that 77 persons who wereonboardhadbeenbroughtto safety,withofficialworkingtallies recording 76 reconciled cases at 18:00hours.Officialupdatesnoted that 53 bodies had been recovered by official units as at 18:00 hours, of which 26 have been positively identified.
French and local divers continue to conduct underwater operations at the wreckage site. Authorities confirmed that after thoroughly searching the submerged structure, no survivors remain inside the vessel, officially transitioningworkatthehullfroma searchtoastrictrecoveryexercise. Divers did identify one body trapped within the wreckage, but were unable to immediately recover it as of 18:00 hours due to thecomplexityoftheextraction.
“Well, they saw one body and the divers, they're the ones who must make the call as to whether they can, where the body's located and whether they can recover the body from the vessel,” the prime minister explained regarding the extraction efforts. “The report we got is that they were unable to do that. Okay, however, this is an ongoingexercise.Morediverswill go down. They will go down with moreequipment.Anditisourhope that we will reach the point where they'll be able to safely extract the bodyorextricatethebodyfromthe vessel. That's not the end of it. Effortswillstillbemadetorecover thatbody Wehavethedivers,local divers, we have the French divers, and we have divers coming from Trinidad and Brazil tomorrow So, there's a concentrated focus on dealing with searching the vessel, recovering bodies from the vessel. And sometime in the future, the discussions as to whether we
The government is also enc
us organisations, civic groups and citizens throughout Guyana to organise candlelight vigils and moments of prayer during the three days as the nation collectivelyreflectsonthetragedy andpaystributetothevictims.
The declaration of national mourning underscores the government's commitment to standing with the bereaved
communities as Guyana mourns one of the country's most h
tragedies
salvage the vessel and so we will enter into those discussions in the nearfuture.Butrightnow,thefocus and the concentration is on searching and recovering as much aspossiblebodiesfromthevessel.”
Additional support from the governments of Trinidad and Tobago and Brazil is en route to Guyana, with personnel from the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard andtheBrazilianNavyexpectedto reinforce the ongoing search and rescue operations. The Maritime Rescue Coordination Center remains fully operational, and officials pledged that operations will continue until every reasonable effort has been exhausted.
To assist grieving relatives, several aircraft have been engaged to transport family members from interior communities, including Port Kaituma, Mabaruma, and Georgetown, to the hospital in RegionTwotoassistinidentifying theirlovedones.MinisterofHealth Dr Frank Anthony and his team remain at the hospital to facilitate the identification and release of bodies.Ofthoseidentified,11have already been repatriated to their respectivehomecommunitiesupon request, with regional authorities providing financial and logistical support for wakes, funerals, and interments in keeping with the religiousandpersonalwishesofthe families.
All private boat operators, fishermen, and stakeholders participatingintherecoveryefforts havebeenremindedthatanybodies retrievedatseamustbetransferred immediately to the custody of the Guyana Police Force at the designatedfacilityatCharityRiver Dam, in strict accordance with established recovery protocols
One Guyana Coast Guard vessel recentlyrecoveredfivebodiesfrom the water and returned to shore to
offload them before heading back outtothesearcharea.
Addressing questions regarding losses sustained in the sink,theprimeministerconfirmed that state property was also on board.
“I'm advised that public works wouldhavelostsomeequipment... fuel,machinery,andso,ATVs,but all those things would be itemised as part of the whole investigative process,” Phillips stated. Asked whetheranygovernmentofficialor ministerinsistedthatthoseitemsbe loadedregardlessoflimitations,he added,“Idon'thavesuchareport.I cannot say yes or no. I don't have such a report. If there is such a report out there, I would say when the investigation commence, those people could come forward and they can submit statements. If you have a report, when the investigation process start, the commissionofinquiry,orwhatever you wanna call it, feel free, come forward, and give statements, present your facts to that commissionofinquiry Thatwillbe an independent commission of inquiry We are obligated as a government to do that. A lot of peoplelosttheirlivesthere.Alotof people,eventhoughtheymayhave beenrescued,theylefttraumatized. People would have lost their ornaments.So,weareobligatedto dosuchaninvestigation.”
Phillipsfurtheraddressedlongstanding systemic vulnerabilities, acknowledging that government vesselsaretypicallyuninsuredasa matter of policy, with the state assuming direct liability for accidents and compensation. He also noted that crew members on government vessels have historically faced disciplinary actions for various infractions, includingunauthorizedpassengers, illicitcargo,andprotocolbreaches, pointing to a breakdown in inspection systems that the upcoming inquiry will need to examine.
Earlierintheday,Leaderofthe Opposition Azruddin Mohamed provided a direct account of the situation on the water during an interview with senior journalist Gordon Moseley Operating near thesitewheretheferrywentdown, Mohamed described the expansive natureofthesearchzonedrivenby strong coastal tides, noting that search teams had found about 10 bodies near the mouth of the Pomeroon River, some 25 miles fromthewreckagelocation.
“Everyone, they're saying one story,” Mohamed reported after speaking with survivors and grieving families. “That the vessel went down, the 90-year-old vessel wentdownat10:30p.m.Thevessel was overloaded And it's a negligence of the Minister of Public Works. We would like to know,I'mcallingontheMinisterof Public Works to resign immediately Resign immediately becauseover100lives...It'ssadto say this, but it looks like over 100.
Yesterdaymorningat8:30,thefirst body I recover was a two-year-old baby girl. What is it to politicize? The minister must resign immediately Liveslost.Thisisone of the biggest national tragedies in this country after the Jonestown massacre. This is the biggest. So what,we'regoingtokeepallowing things to happen and don't hold themaccountable?”
Mohamed highlighted severe operational failures, including conflicting passenger manifests and direct executive pressure placedonvesselstaff.
“We don't even know how much passengers on board,” Mohamedsaid.“Themanifest,one time we heard 116 plus 17. Now they're giving us different figures. Different numbers.We don't know how much persons are on the vessel.Thatistobeginwith.So,no rules, all systems broken. The captain, now this poor innocent man, they want to pin all the problems, like the fault of the
Pres. Ali declares three days of mourning following capsizing of MV Barima
captain. Even the family of the captain reached out to me and mentionedphonecallswouldcome to him to put more cargo vessel. Let'ssayiftheydon'twanttoaccept some of the cargo, phone calls would come to him. He said, what can I do? What can I do? You're gettingcallsfromthetop.So,thisis the problem in the country This is the problem, where the ministers influencing everything as it relates tosafety.”
Mohamedalsoraisedquestions regarding delayed maintenance on the aging vessel, alleging administrative inaction despite allocatedfunds.
“In March of 2026, a contract was to be awarded for 120something million dollars maintenance on the same MV Barima,” Mohamed stated. “Can you believe they have internal fightingon who to get the contract for the vessel, and up to today no work was done on the vessel? So, what about Malali and all these otheroldvesselstoo?Theyneedto ensure they fix these vessels up as soon as possible and get new vessels.Forthepastthreeyearswe had trillion-dollar economies, but most of the money as I mentioned tocorruptionandintowrongdeals, andthepoorpeopleofthiscountry gottasuffertoday Thisvesselis90 years old We should have condemned this vessel not today, years now Now, they don't even haveascaletoweighthecargo.The manifest not reflecting the true number.”
The government has reiterated its condolences to the families affected by the tragedy and emphasised its commitment to providing full support throughout the search and recovery process. President Irfaan Ali has officially declared three days of national mourning, calling on the nation to keepthevictims,theirfamilies,and all rescue personnel in their thoughts and prayers as operations continue.
Wednesday July 22, 2026
ARIES (Mar 21–Apr 19
Don'tgetthrownoffyourpath, Aries Focus inward and concentrate on the tasks at hand.Thismaynotbethemost lighthearted and jovial day, but one must always take the goodwiththebad.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
Things should be flowing quite well for you today, Taurus. Take this opportunity and use the energy to its full potential.
GEMINI(May21–June20)
Todayisagreatdaytogatherdata foranewprojectyou'reworking on,Gemini Putyournosetothe grindstoneandmakesomemajor progressonanimportantjob
CANCER(June21–July22)
It's obvious how much you like to dream, Cancer Certainly, this is an important partofyourexistence.Realize that there comes a time when youmustfacereality
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
Stop wasting your energy on things that have no real relevance in your life, Leo. This is a day to focus your attention on the tasks at hand andgetthingsdone.Don'tget distractedbytheblinkingneon lights.
VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)
Delight in all your projects today,Virgo.Youshouldenjoy a positive mood and pleasurable experiences with others.Letthegoodtimesroll. Youregoandemotionsshould be acting harmoniously You haveeveryreasontosmile,so keepgrinningfromeartoear
THONON-LES-BAINS, France, (Reuters) - All remaining riders in the 2026 TourdeFranceunderwentan anti-doping blood test on
M o n d a y p a r t o f a comprehensive Athlete
Biological Passport programme,theInternational TestingAgency(ITA)said.
InastatementonTuesday confirming reports from French newspaper Liberation, the ITA said:
"This mission complements the standard pre-competition testingconductedonallriders
Frompage33
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
Today isn't a great day for inspiring enthusiasm in others, Libra You might find thatthere'sasober,conservative tonetothedaythat'sstealingthe fuelfromyourfire
SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21)
Today is an excellent day in which you should be able to ground your emotions and findagreateramountofstability inyourlife
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)
Realize that you're the one responsible for cleaning up your own mess, Sagittarius. If you've left your dirty clothes on the floor and the dishesunwashed,youwillbe the one who has to pay the consequenceslateron.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
Thingsshouldbegoingyour way right now, Capricorn. Feel confident about yourselfandyourdecisions.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)
Follow through on your promises today, Aquarius. You may be generous with your words and advice, but you might fall a bit short when it comes to actually deliveringthegoods.
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
Don't get discouraged by other people's failures today, Pisces Theremaybesignsthat warnyouofpotentialroadblocks ahead,butthisdoesn'tmeanthat youshouldturnyourcararound orgiveuponyourgoal.
in the days preceding the Grand Depart and any test already conducted during the race.
"Collecting additional blood samples enables the ITA to assess variations in relevant hematological biological markers and strengthen the longitudinal monitoring of each rider's individualprofile."
The biological passport, whichwasintroducedin2008 in cycling, monitors selected biologicalvariablesovertime to identify changes that may indicatetheeffectsofdoping.
Thelatestroundoftesting was conducted during
Region6,receivedtheballson behalf of the schools and was very thankful for the support. We wish the schools great success in the tournament. Over the years, many Guyanese cricketers benefitted from this project, some of whom went on to represent West Indies at different levels.This project will continue to improve the lives of youths in every community Wearepleasedto be part of the development of young cricketers in Guyana. Ouraimistokeepthemoffthe streets and get them actively involved in sports, cricket in particular Cricket related items, used or new, are distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients. Talent spotting is being done across the country and club leaders also assist to identify same Progressiveandwellmanaged cricket clubs with a youth programme,willalsobenefit.
We thank all who have supportedincludingthemedia fortheroletheyhaveplayedso far in promoting this venture. Distributionwillcontinue.
Anyone interested in contributing can contact Anil Beharry on 623 6875 or Kishan Das on 1 718 664 0896.
standard hours, according to mostoftheteams.Itcamethe day after Slovenia's Tadej PogacarandDenmark'sJonas Vingegaard were woken in theearlyhoursofSundayfor unannounced tests ahead of the15thstage.
MatejMohoric,whoraces for Bahrain Victorious, told Slovenian media on Tuesday that he underwent an antidoping test at 5 a.m. during this year's Tour de France, withoutspecifyingthedate.
The practice has raised concerns from some teams regarding the disruption to athletes' sleep and recovery routines.
DALLAS, (Reuters) - The first48-teamWorldCuphasbarely finished, but Gianni Infantino has already acknowledged the possibility that soccer's biggest tournament could one day grow larger still, a move that could fundamentallyaltertheeconomics ofthesport.
Speaking to Swiss television during the tournament, the FIFA president said a 64-team World Cup was among the ideas that couldbeexaminedoncethefinals were over, reopening debate over how large the game's showpiece eventcanrealisticallybecome.
The logistical implications of another expansion are obvious. A bigger tournament would require more stadiums, more hotels, more transport and, most likely, more time.
But the financial implications couldproveevenmoresignificant. Bymakingqualificationeasierfor many of the game's biggest nations, a 64-team tournament couldreducethecommercialvalue of qualifying competitions while increasing the importance of FIFA'sownflagshipevent.
Ifbroadcastersplacelessvalue on qualifying campaigns, soccer's six regional confederations could becomeincreasinglydependenton FIFA's own distributions, potentially shifting more financial influence—andpower—towards theglobalgoverningbody.
“Idon'tthinkit'sagoodideafor theWorldCupitself,andit'snota goodideaforourqualifierseither.
So I'm not supporting that
idea,”UEFAPresidentAleksander Ceferin said last year. The European governing body's position has not changed since then.
Asian Football Confederation
President Sheikh Salman bin IbrahimAlKhalifahasalsovoiced opposition, questioning last year where further expansion might end.
FIFAdid not reply to requests forcomment.
"I think it is important that whenyouwanttoorganiseaWorld Cup,youdoitforthewholeworld — not just Europe and South America," Infantino said when discussingtheideaofanexpanded tournament. “If you don't give smaller countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they'll lack the incentive to keep improving.”
The 2026 tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States was the first since 1998 to move away from the 32-team format, expanding to 48 nations and 104 matches over more than fiveweeks.
If the competition retained the same basic structure, with fourteam groups followed by a 32team knockout stage, a 64-team World Cup would comprise 128 matches — 24 more than in 2026 and double the total staged under theold32-teamformat.
Unless FIFA compressed the schedule or staged more games
simultaneously, that could add roughly another week to a tournament already lasting more thanfiveweeks.
Plans are in place for Spain, Portugal and Morocco to stage most of the 2030 finals, with Uruguay,Argentina and Paraguay eachhostingasingleroundmatch to mark the tournament's centenary
Accommodating 64 teams across six host nations presents a fo
challenge. Doing so in a single country could prove even more demanding.
Saudi Arabia, due to host the tournamentalonein2034,already faces significant scheduling questions.
Ramadan is expected to begin in mid-November that year, making the November-December window used for the 2022 World Cup in neighbouring Qatar difficult to replicate and potentially forcing another unprecedented reshaping of the globalfootballcalendar
A 64-team tournament would magnify those challenges, requiring more stadiums, training facilities,hotels,transportcapacity and volunteers while placing additional pressure on infrastructure in a country still developingitstourismindustry.
The Saudis have proposed 15 venues for the existing 48-team format, with eight stadiums in Riyadh, four in Jeddah and others in Khobar, Neom, and Abha Constructionandrenovationwork is already under
ParikaDefendersbeatEssequiboCoastbasedteamInvadersbyonewicketinaT20 Over-50 softball match on Sunday at Reliance Sport ground, Essequibo Coast, Region2(Pomeroon-Supenaam).
Invaders took first strike after winning thetossandtalliedupacompetitive154-9at theexpirationofthe20-overs.
Parika Defenders responded with 155-9 withoneballremaining.
Experiencedopener UnissYusufledthe way for the visitors with 35 while he got support from Teddy Manchand with 25. Devanand Kannan andYuvraj Singh added 22and19respectively.
Wayne Moore grabbed 3-34 from his maximum four overs and Rishie Bishop collecting2-24(04).
Earlier, Fazeer Mohammed hit a topscore for Invaders with 33. Skipper and former Essequibo Senior Inter-County player Latchmikant Narine stroked 33 and
22fromEshwarSingh.
ShiekAlliwasthestar-bowlerforParika Defendersnabbing4-31offfourovers.
PersaudandYuvrajSinghalsoaccounted fortwovictims.
At the post-match presentation ceremony, Parika Defenders received a trophyalongwiththerunners-upside.
Yusif was chosen as the best-batter and Alli as the best-bowler Both took home a trophyeach.
Trophies were sponsored by V&J Supermarket of Parika and Layne's Agri Electronics and Marine Shop of Three Friends,EssequiboCoast.
ManagingDirectorofV&JSupermarket KenrickPersaudthankedtheteamsfortheir participationandexpresseddelighttobeone ofthesponsorsforthegame.
OrganizerWakeelLayneechoedsimilar sentimentsandinformedthattheywillhave anotherencountersoon.
wayaheadofthe2027AsianCup.
DOMESTICPRESSURE
An expanded World Cup would also place greater strain on analreadycongestedinternational calendar and increase pressure on domestic leagues, many of which have aligned themselves with Europe's traditional August-toMayseason.
Japan's J-League is about to begin its first August-to-May campaign, while U S Major League Soccer plans a similar switch from next year Any future winterWorldCupwouldtherefore disruptanever-growingnumberof competitionsratherthanprimarily Europe'smajorleagues,aswasthe casein2022.
World Cups can be costly for national federations, even rich ones like France. The French Football Federation had been expecting to spend 24.5 million euros ($28 million) at this year's World Cup, with federation president Philippe Diallo saying LesBleuswouldprobablyneedto
the
(REUTERS/ Brian Snyder)
atleastreachthesemi-finalsnotto losemoney
At theApril FIFACongress in Vancouver, Diallo said FIFA neededtoprovidegreaterfinancial supporttoparticipatingnations.
If a 48-team tournament is already stretching the finances of participating federations, a longer 64-teameventcouldincreasethose costsfurther
Playerwelfareconcernswould also intensify, with more matches adding to the workload of elite players.
A 64-team tournament would give more nations access to football's biggest stage but could also reignite debate over competitive balance, tournament length, fan costs and whether the WorldCupriskslosingsomeofthe exclusivity that has long underpinneditsappeal. Whether the idea progresses beyond discussion may depend in part on how the first 48-team WorldCupisultimatelyjudged.
($1=0.8742euros)
SomeofGuyana'smostpromisingyoung cricketers will have an opportunity to impress an international audience when the Uprising Promotions Secondary School Inter-Ward Eight-a-Side Round-Robin Tapeball Cricket tournament bowls off this Saturday at the National Cultural Centre Tarmac.
Adding to the significance of this year's tournament, members of US-based DC Metro Cricket Organisation (DCMCO) will beinGuyanafromJuly23-27toobservethe competition,whichhasbeenregardedasone of the country's longest-running grassroots tournaments.
The visiting delegation, expected to arrive tomorrow, will spend several days assessingthelocaltalentassecondaryschool players showcase their abilities throughout the tournament. Their visit also coincides with the organisation's sponsorship of this year's championship, further strengthening tiesbetweentheoverseas-basedcricketbody andlocalyouthdevelopmentinitiatives.
Organised by Uprising Promotions, the
annual competition is open exclusively to secondary school boys aged 16 years and under, with participants required to be currently enrolled at the schools they represent.
Thetournamenthasbuiltareputationfor providing a competitive platform for emerging players, with several former participants progressing to higher levels of the game after making their names in the Tapeballarena.
“Competition is expected to be fierce as teams battle in the eight-a-side, round-robin format for championship honours, with trophies,medalsandotherprizesupforgrabs forthetop-performingschools.”
Tournament coordinator James "Uprising"Lewishasencouragedsupporters toturnoutandwitnessthenextgenerationof cricketing talent in action, while noting that interested persons can contact him on 6726179foradditionalinformation.
Thefirstballisscheduledtobebowledat 12:34 p.m. on Saturday at the National CulturalCentreTarmac.
Th e P e t r a Organisation has o n c e a g a i n fulfilled its commitment to rewarding excellence in school football, with KFC
Goodwill Secondary Schools Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) MalcolmHendricksheading off to Panama and Brazil to begin an elite football developmentprogramme. The Chase's Academic Foundation and Santos FC player earned the opportunity as part of the KFC Goodwill Tournament MVP reward package, a standing initiative through which Petra invests in the continued development of the tournament's standout performer
For more than a decade, the Petra Organisation has beenattheforefrontofyouth football development in Guyana, staging more than half a dozen competitions across age groups ranging fromUnder-11toUnder-18.
The KFC Goodwill Secondary Schools Football
Series remains the organisation's flagship tournamentandcontinuesto provide talented players with pathways beyond local competition.
Hendricks, who first represented Charlestown
S e c o n d a r y b e f o r e transferring to Chase's Academic Foundation, developed into one of the country's most promising center-backs and played a
key role in Chase's 2025 championship-winning campaign against some of the Caribbean's top secondaryschoolteams.
Having recently completed his CSEC examinations in June, the talented youngster is set to embark on Phase One of his high-performance training programme.
T h e i n i t i a t i v e , coordinated by Brazil Link Limited, will expose Hendricks to an intensive football development programme while also allowing him to participate in a cultural exchange experience designed to broaden both his football knowledge and personal development.
RS Sports extends deepest sympathy to the families affected by the
Asournationmourns,RSSportsextends our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to every family affected by the tragicsinkingoftheMVBarima.
This heartbreaking incident has brought immensesorrowtoournation.
We join all Guyanese in mourning the livesthathavebeenlostandprayforstrength, comfort, and peace for every family affected bythistragedy Nowordscantrulyeasethe pain of losing a loved one under such devastatingcircumstances,butwehopethose who grieve will find solace in the love, support,andcompassionoftheentirenation.
This national tragedy has touched the hearts of all Guyanese. We mourn alongside our fellowcitizensfor thepreciouslivesthat have been lost, and we are especially devastated by the loss of our children. The pain and grief being experienced by the families are unimaginable, and our thoughts and prayers remain with each of you during thismostdifficulttime.
Tothosewhosurvivedthishorrificordeal, we extend our sincere care and support. We recognize the physical, emotional, and psychological trauma that many of you have endured, and we pray that you find strength, healing, and hope in the days and months ahead.
As a sporting organization committed to bringing communities together, RS Sports standsinsolidaritywitheveryfamilyaffected bythistragedy WeencourageallGuyaneseto continue supporting those in need through actsofkindness,compassion,generosity,and unityaswemourntogetherasonepeopleand onenation.
We also extend our sincere appreciation and commendation to the members of the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Police Force, the Maritime Administration Department, healthcare professionals, fishermen, volunteers, and all others who
participatedintherescue,recovery,andrelief efforts Their courage, dedication, and selflessserviceduringthisheartbreakingtime reflecttheverybestoftheGuyanesespirit.
MayAlmightyGodgrantcomforttothose who mourn, healing to those who survived, strength to the rescuers and caregivers, and eternalresttothesoulsofthosewholosttheir lives.
To the immediate families, relatives, and friendsofthoseaffected,pleaseknowthatour thoughtsandprayersarewithyouduringthis time of profound sorrow May you find strength in the love of those around you, comfort in the support of your communities, andpeaceinthecherishedmemoriesofyour lovedones.
Asanation,letuscontinuetoprayforone another and draw strength from our unity as we navigate this time of profound sorrow May we find the courage to comfort those whogrieve,supportthosewhosurvived,and standtogetherasonepeoplewhileournation mournsthisheartbreakingtragedy MayGod'sloveandmercysurroundevery family affected, bringing hope, healing, and peaceinthedaysahead.
His journey begins with approximately 10 days in Panama, where he will train at the Universidade Latina de Panamá EDGE Facility and Ciudad del Saber Duringhisstay,Hendricksis expected to train and compete against teams from Panama,BrazilandTrinidad andTobago.
The second phase of the programme will take him to São Paulo, Brazil, where he will join two Trinidad and Tobagoplayersforadvanced training and competitive matches with Academia de Futebol Real Brasil under the guidance of respected coachCesarAugusto.
In a brief comment, an excitedHendricksexpressed gratitude for the lifechangingopportunity
"Once again, I am gratefulforthisopportunity Special thanks to the Petra Organisationforrecognising my talent This will definitely be a learning experience for me, and I am looking forward to the next month or so," Hendricks said.
The overseas training opportunity was made possible through the efforts of Petra Organisation codirectors Troy Mendonca and Marlan Cole, while special recognition was also giventoCyPadmore,whose behind-the-scenes work helped ensure the young footballer's smooth
transition as he embarks on what could be a significant stepinhisfootballcareer
Thisversiontightensthe flow, emphasizes Petra's long-standing commitment toyouthfootball,andmakes the headline focus on the organisation delivering on its promise to send the KFC MVP to Brazil for elite training.
Withlessthantwoweeks to go before the muchanticipated Kenna
(KMTC) Emancipation
Horse race meet, a hoard of sponsors are already on boardfortheevent.
The event is slated for Sunday 2nd August at the Club'sracetrackatBushLot Farm,Corentyne,Berbice.
Atotalofsevenracesare on the day's card with a sumptuous $10M in cash, trophiesandotherincentives for the winners and other outstandingperformers.
Among the sponsors on board so far are the Trophy Stall, Mike Pharmacy, Colin Elcock Delmur Company and Racing Stables, Big G Lumber Yard and Stables, Patsan's Trading Company, Survival Supermarket, Rohan Auto Sales, Armco Construction, Davenant Sawh Mechanical Work Shop, Joe Jagmohan Company and oversees base
hand Balkarran. A number of othersaresettoconfirmtheir association with the event during the week.So far over 70 horses have entered for what is expected to be an excitingdayofracing.
Thefeatureeventisopen to all 3-year-old and over horses in Guyana. The winnerwillraceawaywitha healthy $1M and a trophy overtheone-miledistance.
The other races on the day's programme are theThe event for E class non winnerswhichisalsoopento F and G class horses with a first prize of $500,000 and a trophy.There is a winner's take of $400,000 and a trophyforthetophorseinthe Handlowerrace.
Guyana Bred three-yearold maiden horses and three years old Guyana Bred maiden's winner of one will also be racing for a winner's take of $400,000 and a trophy
There are two races for Guyana-Bred two-year-old maiden horses. The winners willrunawaywith$350,000 eachandtrophieseach.
ThewinneroftheLClass Open event will take home $ 3 5 0 , 0 0 0 a n d a trophy.Reports are that most oftheracesalreadyhavefull entries.
AsusualtheTrophyStall will be presenting the outstanding participants including the top jockeys, trainers, stables with trophiesandotherincentives etc compliments of Managing Director Ramesh Sunich.
TheprestigiousKMTCis one of the premiere horseracing venues in the country and has a good reputation of organizing horseracingevents.
The day's event will be conducted using the rules of the Kennard Memorial Turf Club.Racetimeis12:30hrs. (SamuelWhyte)
Abdool “The terminator” Sattaur, Suresh Ganouri and Mr Permaul, all deceased and former members of the prestigious Albion Cricket Club, were remembered and recognized for theircontributionstothelovelygameofcricketwithaspecially arranged25overscricketgame.ThematchwasplayedonJuly 12th,2026attheWaterlooCricketGround,Kitchener,Canada. SattaurandGanourirepresentedGuyana,whilePermaulwasa cricketenthusiast.
The teams, captained by Abdool Samad and Balram Ganouri, brothers of Abdool Sattaur and Suresh Ganouri respectively, were selected from former national and internationalcricketersfromCanadaandtheUSA,allofwhom areconnectedtothetrio.
Scores: Ganouri XI batting first, scored 117 all out with a top score of 20 runs apiece for Farhad Haniff and Daniel. Bowling for Sattaur XI,Abdool Samad took 2 wickets while RajRaiandJadenSinghsupportedwithawicketeach.
Inreply,SattaurXIracedfor126for2withformerNational Senior all rounder, Sunil Dhaniram, scoring 36 retired. Derek Kallicharran, former West Indies “B” team player who narrowlymissedoutonWestIndiesseniorselection,supported with 34 not out and Jafar Samad 29 retired. Bowling for GanouriXI,MundhShariftookbothwickets.
At a simple ceremony after the match, the players that participated, thanked the families for the opportunity to celebratethelegaciesofthelatestalwarts.Specialmentionwas made of Raj Misir for organizing the game and providing the venue, meals and refreshments. They are looking forward for anannualevent.
MADRID, (Reuters) -
Dancingandchantingonanopentop bus that read 'Kings of the World'andshowedtwolargestars, Spain's national football team celebrated the country's second World Cup win on Monday along Madrid's streets packed with exhilaratedfans.
Close to two million people,
many dressed in the country's jerseys and waving red and gold flags, gathered in the Spanish capital to see the players and celebrate Spain's 1-0 win over Argentina on Sunday's final in New Jersey, according to governmentestimates.
"We're full of enthusiasm for (fulfilling)thedreamofbecoming
world champions," said Fran Carratala, 34, who had travelled from the northeastern region of Catalonia to witness the players' paradeinMadrid.
Spanish national Daniel Gaona,44,travelledfromEstonia where he lives to watch Sunday's finalinMadrid.
"Everybodywascrazy Itwasa verygoodmood.Peoplewerevery happy
Therewerenoproblems,justa lot of happiness," he said as he preparedtoseetheplayers'parade. "It's something you have to come heretoliveithere".
(REUTERS/Nacho Doce)
The Spanish players, t-shirts that read "We are champions" except a few who were topless, constantly waved at the crowds andthrewsomefootballsatthem.
Some players, like forward Borja Iglesias, played music on a DJsetontopofthebusthathada banner on one side and back that read:"Starsshinetogether".
Before the parade, the players were greeted by Spanish King Felipe and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez Both had attended Sunday'sfinal.
"Iwouldliketogiveimmense thanks to the staff and the players foryourplaying(style),effortand victory,"Sancheztoldtheplayers. Headdedthathewasdreaming about the possibility that Spain couldwinitsthirdmaleWorldCup in the next tournament in 2030 which will be hosted by Spain, PortugalandMorocco.
ST JOHN'S,Antigua –Defending champions
Barbados completed a flawless round-robin campaign in the 2026 Cricket West Indies Rising Stars Under-19 50-Over Championship, winning all five preliminary matches to book their place in Wednesday's championship finalagainstJamaica.
The Barbadians finished comfortably atop the standings on 35.6 points, continuing the dominance they displayed from the opening round and positioning themselves as favourites to successfully defendthetitletheycaptured in2025.
WhileBarbados'placein the first-place playoff was secured with a round to spare, the battle for the second finals berth went down to the final day of round-robinaction.
Jamaica ultimately claimed second place on 20.2points,despitefallingto Barbados in their final preliminaryfixture.
Theresultwasenoughto edge both Trinidad and Tobago and the Leeward Islands, who each finished on 19.2 points, and earn a chance to challenge the defendingchampionsforthe title.
Trinidad and Tobago kept their hopes alive until the very end, producing an impressive four-wicket victory over the Leeward Islands after successfully chasing 270 However, despite securing the win, they fell just short of overtaking Jamaica in the
standings.
That outcome sets up an intriguing rematch between TrinidadandTobagoandthe LeewardIslandsinthethirdplace playoff, while Guyana and the Windward Islands, bothofwhomrecordedtheir first victories of the competition during the fourth and fifth rounds, will contestthefifth-placematch.
T h r o u g h o u t t h e preliminary stage, Barbados combined consistent team
performances with outstanding individual displays.
T h e d e f e n d i n g championsfinishedwithtwo players among the tournament's top five runscorers and two among the top five wicket-takers, underlining the balance and depth that has fuelled their unbeatenrun.
Captain and opening batsman Gadson Bowens amassed 299 runs at an average of 59.8 to finish as the leading run-scorer His campaign was highlighted by a spectacular double century in Round 2 that became one of the defining inningsofthechampionship.
Leeward Islands opener Tanez Francis finished second with 259 runs, while Barbados' number three Jordan Graham continued his excellent form to secure third place with 240 runs. Jamaica's Tyson Gordon Jr (214) and the Windward Islands'TheoEdwards(213) completed the top five rungetters after an impressive preliminarycampaign.
With the ball, Barbados again featured prominently.
Leg spinner Justin Parris emergedasthecompetition's leading wicket-taker after collecting 12 wickets at an outstanding average of 7.5, w
Parsooram claimed 11 wickets, including best figuresof5for35.
L
medium-pace all-rounder
MatthewMilleralsofinished with 12 wickets, but at an average of 15 5, while Trinidad and Tobago's leftarm fast-bowler Daniel Holder and Jamaica's rightarm pacer Perico Henry rounded out the leading wicket-takerswith11and10 wicketsrespectively
The tournament's bonus points system proved decisive throughout the r
rewarding teams for posting score
240, dismissing opponents, and taking wickets through pace bowlers and wrist spinners Those bonus points helped shape a fiercely competitive table, with
t one point separating second from fourth at the conclusion of thepreliminarystage.
Attention now turns to Wednesday's placement matches, where final standings and championship honours will be decided. Barbadoswilllooktocapan unbeaten campaign with consecutive Rising Stars Under-19 titles, while Jamaica will be eager to upsetthefavourites.
Points standings after PreliminaryRounds: Barbados–35.6
Jamaica–20.2
Trinidad and Tobago –19.2
LeewardIslands–19.2
Guyana–11.8
WindwardIslands–10.6
Placement Matches: Wednesday,July22nd
Championship Final: Barbados vs Jamaica @ LibertaSportsClub Third-Place Playoff:
Trinidad and Tobago vs LeewardIslands@Bethesda PlayingField Fifth-Place Playoff: Guyana vs Windward Islands@Piggots
ESPNcricinfo - Jamaica Kingsmenwillhaveadistinct Pakistani flavour to their squadinCPL2026afterthey signed Saim Ayub, Maaz Sadaqat, Usman Khan and Hunain Shah, the brother of NaseemShah.
Pakistan-born USA players Hassan Khan and Shayan Jahangir will also be part of Jamaica's side in the upcoming CPL along with rookie Pakistani batter TayyabArif.All these seven players were also on the books of Kingsmen's parent franchise, Hyderabad, which reached the PSL 2026 final earlierthisyear
The CPL will be Sadaqat'sfirstmajoroverseas T20 league stint outside of the PSL. An explosive lefthand top-order batter, Sadaqatcanalsopitchinwith left-arm fingerspin He recently earned call-ups to Pakistan's ODI and T20I squads as well. He had a strike rate of 178.08 in PSL 2026, the highest among 38 batterswhofacedatleast100 ballsinthecompetition.
Ayub is a more familiar faceintheCPL,havingbeen
Hunain Shah is the brother of Naseem Shah. (PCB/PSL)
thesecond-highestrun-getter in 2023, with 478 runs in 13 innings at a strike rate of 142.26 for Guyana Amazon Warriors From barely bowlingonceuponatime,he has developed into an allrounderwhocanalsobowl mystery spin. His variations include the carrom ball, wrong'un and the flipper Ayub is set to return to the CPLafterthreeyears.
Saim Ayub has represented Guyana Amazon Warriors in the past in the CPL. (CPL T20/Getty Images)
Ayub, Sadaqat and Usman, however, will be available to Kingsmen only from August 19. They will slot into the positions of Jahangir and Arif, who will not be available for the second half of CPL 2026 after fulfilling their commitments for the first half Hassan and Hunain, though, will be available for the entire tournament. CPL
Andre Russell and Rovman Powell. The new franchise washandedanopportunityto recruit top local players unchallenged in the draft. Powell will lead Kingsmen after previously captaining the Jamaica franchise to the titlein2022,whentheywere calledTallawahs.Russelland PowellcomeintotheCPLon the back of winning MLC 2026withLAKnightRiders.
Left-arm wristspinner
Vitel Lawes, who made a splashoninternationaldebut against New Zealand in Guyana recently, is set to make his CPL bow for Kingsmennextmonth.
Jamaica Kingsmen squad
LPL.Kingsmen will become the second Jamaican team to feature in the CPL after the Jamaica Tallawahs, who have been defunct since 2023.Thefranchiseisowned byFawadSarwar,aPakistani businessman based in the UnitedStates.
Earlier during the draft, Kingsmen had snapped up local Jamaican stalwarts
2026 will be played in a record-equalling eight nations this year, with fixtures in Antigua and Barbuda,Barbados,Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines,andTrinidadand Tobago. The CPL will run from August 7 until September 20 this year and will overlap with the Hundred, the ETPL and the k n o c k o u t s o f t h e
Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Keemo Paul, Keacy Carty, Jediah Blades, Shaqkere Parris, Odean Smith,VitelLawes(Rightto Match Option), Romaine Morris, Kirk McKenzie (Breakout player), Kelvin Pitman (Breakout player), Jeavor Royal (Breakout player),MaazSadaqat,Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Hassan Khan, Hunain Shah, Shayan Jahangir,TayyabArif
UAE Team Emirates - XRG's Tadej Pogacar wearing the yellow jersey in action during stage 16 individual time-trial. (REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq)
THONON, France, (Reuters)
- Belgian Remco Evenepoel won theindividualtimetrialonstage16 of the Tour de France on Tuesday, finishing the 26.1 km route in 32 minutesand19secondstoshave28 seconds off four-time champion TadejPogacar'soveralllead. Pogacar, who finished second in the stage, remains four minutes and32secondsaheadofEvenepoel (RedBull–Bora–Hansgrohe)inthe
race for the yellow jersey as the Slovenian UAE Team EmiratesXRG rider closes in on his third straightTourdeFrancetitle.
"It'sincredible.Towinthistime trial with such a performance, I'm just proud and happy It's amazing to win two stages in a row," said Evenepoel Denmark's Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) was the third fastest on the route from Evian-les-Bains to Thonon-les-
Red Bull - BORA- hansgrohe's Remco Evenepoel in action during stage 16 individual time-trial. (REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq)
Bains, a minute and four seconds behind Evenepoel, who had also wonthepreviousstage.Bythetime Skjelmose had upstaged Mattia Cattaneo to post the leading time, 26-year-old Evenepoel already started his ride, making it to the third checkpoint 16 seconds faster thanPogacar Evenepoel, who took gold in the road race and time trial at the ParisOlympics,acceleratedfurther
in the final flat section to cement the stage win, as Pogacar tried in vaintoreducethegap.
Pogacar's teammate Isaac del Toro remained third overall with a fifth-placefinishinthestage.
Frenchman Paul Seixas, who finished fourth onTuesday, sits 20 seconds behind Mexico's DelToro intheoverallstandings.
Evenepoel's teammate Florian Lipowitz, who was fifth in the
general classification before the stage, had to withdraw from the race following a crash on a righthand bend just over six kilometres fromthefinish. "It's a real shame. It's a victory that leaves a bit of a bittersweet taste," Evenepoel said about Lipowitz.
The race continues on Wednesday with a 174.7km flat ridefromChamberytoVoiron.
ByCliftonRoss
Two crucial yet entertaining half-century knocks from the Guyanese duo of Sherfane Rutherford and Shimron Hetmyer helped the West Indies defy theoddstopulloffawinlast night by wickets in the last ODIencounteroftheseries.
Batting first on a good Kensington Oval surface, theNewZealandersposteda stiff 268-9 from their 50 overs; anchored by a string of classy half-centuries knocks.
Seasoned batter Tom Latham (71 x 69 balls), finally got to a significant milestoneafterbeingingood form ever since the series started; stroking 6 fours and a maximum during his time outinthemiddle.
SupportcamefromNick Kelly, who hit a solid 64 as opener Will Young (56) earlier set the tone with his busyknock.
Led by fast-bowler
Alzarri Joseph, who spearheaded the attack with 2-38fromhis10overs,West Indieshadareasonabletime with the leather, as rookie leg-spinner Vitel Lawes (263) continuing on his upward trajectory, with a scalp each for pacers
Matthew Forde/ Jayden Seales and spinner GudakeshMotie. West Indies then sought to wrap the series up on a high note by finishing on 269-8in47.3overs.
Power-hitter Sherfane Rutherfordspankedabullish 61 which featured 5 sixes and two fours; finding help fromastringofbatters.
Ackeem Auguste (34) and Justin Greaves (22) provided a good fifty partnershipatthetop.
Keacy Carty (20) and Shai Hope (39) also looked
In-form left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox grabbed 3 wickets last night (Cricinfo/Getty)
good but it was top-scorer Hetmyer, who helped the Windiesgundownthetarget after striking 4 sixes and a couplefoursinhis Leading spinner Jayden Lennox(3-35)wasthelifeof the game again, finding some help from pacer Jacob Duffy(3-67).
Hetmyer who returned mid-series,counter-punched with 2 fours and four big sixeswhichnotonlybrought up his return to ODI halfcentury after a while out of
importantly carved out a
SkeldonLinePathandNewAmsterdam SecondarySchoolsreceivedballs from“Cricketgearforyoungand promisingcricketersinGuyana”
Skeldon Line Path and NewAmsterdamSecondary Schools were recipients of nine red cricket balls each from this noble joint initiative between Anil Beharry of Guyana and KishanDasoftheUSA.The balls will be used by the schools to prepare for the national school cricket competition sponsored by the Beharry Group of Company The Beharry Group must be commended for this massive investment thatwillsurelyunearthnew talentsacrossthecountry
Imran Ally, Headmaster ofSLPSandformerDeputy RegionalExecutiveOfficer, (Continuedonpage27)
fiftiesas Windiesstroll homeby2wickets
- Kiwis (3-2) steal 5-match Series
CPL: Ayub, Sadaqat headline strong
