concession Exxon demanded
...says parties doled out every Citizens, opposition
protest ‘obscene’ Former
Presidents’ Benefits Bill
ByKhadidjaBa
Leader of the Opposition AzruddinMohamedhasdemanded the immediate resignation of President Irfaan Ali following disclosures regarding the head of state’s ownership of a massive livestockfarmandprivateestateat Long Creek, along the LindenSoesdykeHighway
The resignation demand coincideswithaformalintervention by anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International Guyana (TI Guyana) The body issued a statementonTuesdaycallingforan independentinternationalprobeinto themulti-billion-dollarfacilityover potential conflicts of interest, personal enrichment, and breaches ofpublicintegrity
Responding to the mounting criticism, President Ali stated in a statement shared on his Facebook page “As required by law, the presidenthasmadetheappropriate declarations to the Integrity Commission.Theacquisitionofhis assets and the source of the funds usedtoacquirethemarecapableof verification through the relevant financialandregulatoryrecords.”
However, the mandate of the regulatory body is strictly
circumscribed by the Integrity Commission Act, CAP 26:01 The legislation dictates a strict and continuing obligation of confidentiality in respect to the contentsofalldeclarationsreceived and any assessment undertaken by the commission Consequently, this statutory secrecy legally shields the asset details from public view, blockingindependentverificationof the president’s financial and regulatoryrecords
Inapublicstatementpostedon Team Mohamed’s Facebook page on Sunday, the opposition leader estimated the current market value of the 150-acre private ranch at more than $5 billion, contrasting thesprawlingdevelopmentwiththe president’s official monthly salary of $3.7 million dollars. “President Irfaan Ali has confirmed his ownership of the luxury estate ranch, which is estimated to be worthmorethan$5billionbasedon the current market value of land along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway while his presidential salary is $3.7 million dollars per month,” the opposition leader stated. “It is important to note that President Irfaan has been a public servantallhislife.Hisluxuryestate islocatedinLongCreek.”
The opposition leader further allegedthattheestatewasdeveloped justthreeyearsafterAlitookoffice in 2020 while 60 per cent of Guyanese live in poverty, warning thattheheadofstatewillgodownin history and be remembered as Guyana’s most corrupt and selfish president, leaving a lasting mark of shameonhislegacy
Mohamedspecificallylinkedthe controversytolegislativemaneuvers in the National Assembly, claiming that the Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill currently beingpushedtopassinParliamentis designed for Guyanese to pay for unlimitedelectricityandwatersupply among other perks, structured specifically for Ali to maintain his sprawlingranchandliveluxuriously afterheleavesoffice
Accordingtohisstatement,the bill states unlimited electricity, water, technical staff, and the provisionofmotorvehiclesowned andmaintainedbythestate,which can be capitalised by President Irfaan Ali to request vehicles to manage his ranch Mohamed furtherallegedthatthebillprovides full-timesecurityforhissprawling estate and clerical staff where Guyanese taxpayer dollars will be used to pay for the staff to run his
business,ensuringtheenterpriseis fundedoffthebacksofGuyanese.
Compounding the political pressure on the administration, Transparency International Guyanadeclaredthatitis“alarmed by recent reports indicating that President Mohamed Irfaan Ali ownsasubstantiallivestockfarmat LongCreek.”Initsofficialrelease, theanti-corruptionbodynotedthat “these revelations raise urgent and seriousquestionsaboutconflictsof interest,misuseofpublicresources, and violations of the Public IntegrityAct.”
The watchdog warned that “the allegations surrounding the Long Creek facility risk further eroding global confidence in Guyana’s governanceandinvestmentclimate,” addingthat“ifleftunaddressed,these matterswillhavelong-termnegative consequences for the nation’s reputationasastable,transparent,and attractiveinvestmentdestination”
To ensure absolute impartiality andremoveanyperceptionofbias, the organisation has taken the extraordinarystepofcedingcontrol oftheinquirytoexternalbodies.
The proposed independent probeissettoexaminecorepillars covering transparency, the use of state resources for personal enrichment, compliance with the Public Integrity Act, and the potentialabuseofstateprivileges.
The transparency group reiterated its institutional commitment to public accountabilityandequalapplication of ethics standards for all public officials Issuing a stern warning to executive leadership, the group declared that “the Government of Guyana must address these allegationswithalacrity”
The body concluded that “continued obfuscation or attempts to gaslight the public will only deepen domestic mistrust and further damage Guyana’s internationalstanding,”maintaining that“theevidencepublishedtodate is serious and demands full, transparentscrutiny”
“TI Guyana invites Transparency International member chapters and independent experts from other jurisdictions to lead an d co n d u ct th e investigation,” the statement explained, noting that the local chapter “will serve strictly in a consultative and facilitative capacity, providing local context andlogisticalsupportwhileceding investigative independence to externalexperts.”
Christopher Ram has launchedoneofhisstrongest
attacks yet on the management of Guyana’s petroleum sector, accusing successive PPP/C and A P N U + A F C administrations of presiding over a “persistent pattern of
weak oversight, lax
enforcement, poor transparency” that has allowed oil companies to secure virtually every concessiontheysought.
InhislatestRoadtoFirst Oil – Every Man, Woman and Child Must Become Oil Minded column, Ram argued that Guyana’s problems extend far beyond the controversial 2016 Production Sharing
Agreement (PSA), contending that failures in governance, regulation and contract administration stretch back to the original 1999 agreement and continue under the current administration.
“Thefinancial,auditand regulatory weaknesses highlighted in this miniseries make for disturbing reading and raise serious concerns,” Ram wrote “These failures pale in comparisonwiththeabsence of adequate contract administrationbysuccessive administrations.”
T h e o u t s p o k e n
a c c o u n t a n t s a i d
governments have consistently failed in their duty as “trustees of the nation’s resources, ” accusing them of neglecting theirresponsibilitytoprotect the country’s oil wealth for present and future generations.
Kaieteur News has repeatedly highlighted concerns over the 2016 ExxonMobil contract, particularly its 2% royalty, the absence of ring-fencing provisions, unlimited cost recovery, tax concessions and other provisions critics say heavily favour the oil companies Successive governmentshavealsofaced criticism over delays in completing cost recovery audits and refusing to renegotiate the agreement despiteearlierpromises.
Ram argued that while t h e A P N U + A F C
administration has attracted much of the criticism for signingthe2016agreement, “therecordshowsachainof failures stretching from the 1999 Agreement signed underPresidentJanetJagan, through its 2016 revision, and into its ongoing administration.”
“These are not isolated errors,” Ram stated. “They reflectapersistentpatternof w
transparency, and an undue deference to foreign oil companies at the expense of thenationalinterest.”
He singled out what he described as a series of decisions that ultimately favoured ExxonMobil, pointing to what he called excessive acreage granted under the Janet Jagan
administration, the acceptance of force majeure
during the Bharrat Jagdeo administration, the licence renewal under the David Granger government and continuedconcessionsunder the current PPP/C administration.
“Exxonhasbeengranted every concession it has sought, undermining the safeguards built into the petroleum legislation, all at the expense of the country,” Ramdeclared.
Thecharteredaccountant
also revisited the
controversial 2016
renegotiation of the petroleum agreement, arguing that legal issues surrounding the original licence were effectively erased through a Bridging Deed.
According to Ram, “Janet Jagan’s 1999 Agreement and David Granger’s 2016 Agreement
became conjoined twins, politically and legally inseparable,” leaving both majorpoliticalpartiestiedto what he described as a petroleum regime that disproportionately benefits theoperators.
Ram further accused the PPP/C of abandoning key campaign promises after returningtoofficein2020.
“Afteritsreturntopower in 2020, the PPP/C reneged on its repeated commitment to renegotiate the 2016 Agreement and to set up an independent Petroleum Commission,”hewrote.
T h e P e t r o l e u m Commission legislation was originally intended to establish an independent regulator for the sector However, despite repeated commitments by successive administrations, the body has never been established,
leaving the Ministry of Natural Resources to perform both policy-making andregulatoryfunctions.
Ramwasequallycritical oftheministry’shandlingof the sector, saying, “The entireteamattheMinistryof Natural Resources appears to lack the commitment, the capacity or the expertise required to oversee the Petroleum Agreement effectively.”
He argued that this has resulted in persistent deficiencies in accounting, reporting, auditing and operationalcompliance.
Among his strongest criticismswasgovernment’s handling of petroleum audits.
Listing18majorfailures, Ram said authorities have failedtoscrutinisebillionsof US dollars in pre-contract costs, neglected to enforce ring-fencing protections, refusedtopublishpetroleum reports required under the agreement and failed to completeministerialaudits.
“Not a single ministerial audit has been completed in what has becomea circus of reckless incompetence,” Ram wrote. “It is as though the Administration is insensitive to the financial benefitsofproperaudits.”
He also accused the government of acting alongsideoilcompanies
Continuedonpage17
Chairman of the PAC and WIN Member of Parliament, Vishnu Panday
Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) Member of Parliament (MP) Vishnu Panday has expressed concern over the committee’s inability to begin its work, lamenting what he described as the deliberatedelayinreviewingnearlysixyears ofAuditorGeneral’sreports.
Speaking on Sunday’s episode of “Sources,”Pandaysaidthecommitteeisnow faced with an almost six-year backlog of auditorgeneral’sreports,pointingoutthatthe pace of the PAC’s work makes clearing the backlogabigchallenge
Hismainconcern,heexplained,isthatthe committee typically takes an entire year to examineasingleauditorgeneral’sreportand compileitsownreportbeforepresentingitto theNationalAssembly
“So,2031willfinishupto2024hopefully andthenwestillhavea2031six-yearbacklog
So, there is no progress whatsoever. So, the majorconcernhasbeenthebacklogthat’sone, and two the members of the government, the fivegovernmentmembersofwhichweneedto have two of the government members and three of the opposition members to have a quorum. They are not responding to the requestsofar.”
Panday confirmed that since the committeewasconstituted,ithasnotbeenable tomeettodevelopaworkplanforaddressing the backlog, despite that being its immediate intention
“So,theelectionswereheldonthe15thof June, where I was appointed with others to variouscommittees Iwasappointedchairman of PAC Immediately I said to the clerk send out requests You have to inform three days before;youhaveagestationperiod So,send out requests that I would like to have a meeting soonest. That would be a matter of formalityandthethingsyouhavementioned their modalities and how we going to strategiseandsoon.Noresponse.
Hecontinued “so,the22nd,23rd,24th, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and the 26th which was a Friday of June Thursday was skipped because that was cabinet time and I was informed So, requests were sent out for meetingsandallthosedays”
According to Panday, the requests were met with responses from government members indicating they were occupied with otherpressingmatters.
Hesaidinacountrywhereparliamentary scrutiny of public spending is critical, governmentministersandMPsshouldregard PACmeetingsasapriority
“If a minister of government or government MPs cannot see the committee meetingasapriorityandcannotfititamongst their other priorities, then that bespeaks the waythegovernmentismanagingtheaffairsof thecountry,andthat’saseriousissue,”hesaid
At its press conference last Friday, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), MP Juretha Fernandes also criticised the delays, describingaccountabilityasthePAC’scentral responsibility
“I think we have about three paragraphs theretoconcludethatreportandthenwe’llbe movinginfromtothereportof2020 Iwantto remindthepublicthattheauditofficeauditor generalhasalreadysubmittedthe2024report So,wehavethe2020,2021,2022,2023,and 2024 report outstanding there to be examined.”
Fernandes said government members were using the committee’s quorum requirements to prevent scrutiny of public
expenditure.Sheallegedthatthegovernment side of the House was “weaponizing” the quorumrulestouseitsparliamentarymajority to ensure taxpayers do not receive proper accountability for how public funds are spent.
MP Fernandes noted that both she and fellow APNU MP Ganesh Mahipaul had committed to attending meetings whenever they were called, including virtually if necessary
“Both indicated that anytime the meeting iscalledwewillmakeourselvesavailable If we’renotphysicallyabletoattendwewilljoin virtually as is afforded for those meetings as well Most of the PPP members are not just sayingtheycan’tphysicallyattend” Shesaidthereareseveraloptionsavailable for members to participate in meetings and maintained that government MPs were deliberatelyavoidingthem Sheadded,“they are willfully not attending those meetings becauseweareattheendofthe2019report”
ThePACisresponsibleforexaminingthe AuditorGeneral’sreportsandensuringpublic fundsarespentinaccordancewiththelaw The committee’s work is regarded as one of Parliament’sprimarymechanismsforholding the executive accountable for public expenditure
PrintedandPublishedbyNationalMedia& PublishingCompanyLtd. 24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana
Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456
Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams
Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
Constitutional reform is not an ordinary legislative exercise.Itisperhapsthemostconsequentialundertakingin anydemocracybecauseitseekstoreshapethesupremelaw of the land, the document that defines the relationship between the state and its citizens, limits governmental powerandprotectsfundamentalrights.
Thatprocessmustthereforebebeyondreproach.Itmust inspireconfidence,commandlegitimacyand,aboveall,be inclusive.
ItisagainstthisbackdropthatthePeople’sProgressive Party/Civic(PPP/C)administration’srefusaltoreconstitute theConstitutionReformCommission(CRC)toincludethe parliamentaryopposition,WeInvestinNationhood(WIN), isbothperplexinganddeeplytroubling.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall’s position is that the commissionis“properlyconstituted”undertheConstitution Reform Commission Act of 2022 and should therefore proceed uninterrupted. Legally, that argument may have merit. But constitutional reform demands far more than mere legal compliance. It requires political wisdom, democratic maturity and a willingness to build national consensus.
Onthatscore,thegovernmenthasfallenwoefullyshort. The most persuasive argument in this debate came not fromthegovernmentbutfromAllianceForChange(AFC) Executive David Patterson. His reasoning cuts through the legal technicalities and exposes the practical folly of the government’sposition.
Patterson reminded the nation that any constitutional amendments emerging from this process will eventually require a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly beforetheycanbecomelaw Thatparliamentaryarithmetic is unavoidable Given the current composition of parliament, the government cannot achieve that threshold withoutsupportfromWIN,theverypartyitnowrefusesto accommodateonthecommission.
That reality makes the government’s position remarkablyshortsighted.
How can the administration reasonably expect WIN to endorseconstitutionalchangeslaterwhenitisunwillingto affordthepartyameaningfulroleinshapingthosereforms today?
Constitution-makingisnotmerelyaboutinvitingwritten submissions or allowing citizens to attend consultations. Commissioners do far more than listen. They debate competing proposals, negotiate compromises, frame recommendations and ultimately determine what reaches parliament.
As WIN Chief Whip Tabitha Sarabo-Halley correctly observed, there is a fundamental difference between being consultedandbeingrepresented.
Publicparticipationisindispensable.Butrepresentation atthedecision-makingtableisequallyindispensable.
Ganesh Mahipaul’s attempt to dismissWIN’s concerns isequallydisappointing.TheAPNUparliamentarianargues thatWINalreadyenjoyssufficientoversightbecauseitsits ontheParliamentaryStandingCommitteeonConstitutional Reform, where the commission’s recommendations will eventuallybeexamined.
Thatargumentignorespoliticalreality
The standing committee operates on majority voting. ThePPP/CholdsfiveseatswhileWINandAPNUeachhave two. If consensus cannot be reached, the government possesses the numerical strength to approve whatever recommendationsitchooses.
To suggest that this committee somehow offers equivalent influence to membership on the commission itselfisthereforemisleading.
More importantly, Mahipaul appears to overlook the valueofachievingconsensusbeforerecommendationsever reachparliament.Constitutionalreformshouldnotbecome anotherarenaforwinner-take-allpolitics.
OnecannotescapethesuspicionthatAPNU’sreluctance to support WIN’s inclusion may be influenced by self-
Duringhismorethansix years as PPP Minister for Housing and Water, January 2009–May2015,IrfaanAli w a s a l s o acquiring/developingalarge mixed farm near St Cuthbert’s Amerindian Village,alongtheSoesdykeLindenHighway
Aerial images show that this farm is in the intermediate savannahs, with a shallow infertile soil over deep white sands, needing many truckloads of clay-loam soil to be fertile enough to sustain vegetable cropsorfodderforlivestock (poultry/chickens, goats, sheep,cattle).
The images show long sheds for penned livestock and long shade houses for crops.
Inavideopostedon5July and presented by the Leader of the Opposition, MP Azruddin Mohamed on his Team Mohamed’s Facebook page, the costs of this impressive infrastructure were alleged to be GYD 2.2 billion. The sources of the cost data were not disclosed inthevideo.
Almost immediately, the now-President Mohd. Irfaan Ali protested (NewsRoom. (2026, July 5). ‘Mohameds trying to blackmail President’ – says President Ali.
https://newsroom.gy/202 6/07/05/mohameds-tryingto-blackmail-presidents a y s - p r e s i d e n tali/?fbclid=IwZnRzaAS3ZZ pwZG9mA2ZkaWQWUJ a oUE rf6ZDcNcQHoPgH V944QnmrGV4dG4DYWV tAjExAHNydGMGYXBw X2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAA R56Pt5FoCmEfEyaWtBNa
The table above does not include the payroll over three years of the personnel who run the presidential complex.
e x 8 1 0 p Q x J d 16lofOVI1OoXN89EA9Wv kiUDVUJN8w aem zYUA
interest.Shouldthecommissionbereconstitutedtoreflectthe presentparliament,APNUwouldalmostcertainlysurrender oneormoreofitsexistingseatstoaccommodatethecurrent official opposition. If that is indeed the calculation, then APNUisplacingpartisanarithmeticabovenationalinterest.
TheconstitutionbelongsneithertothePPPnorAPNUnor WIN.ItbelongstothepeopleofGuyana.
That is why the recommendations of international observers deserve serious attention. The Carter Center has alreadyrecommendedthatthecommission’scompositionbe reviewed to reflect the post-election political landscape and ensure that all parliamentary parties are represented. That recommendation recognises an essential democratic principle:institutionstaskedwithconstitutionalreformmust reflect the political mandate most recently expressed by the electorate.
The government cannot simultaneously proclaim that public confidence is central to constitutional reform while refusing to acknowledge that confidence depends on fair representation.
Retired Justice Carl Singh has already clarified that the commission itself cannot alter its membership. Legislative actionisrequired.Thatmeanstheresponsibilityliessquarely withthegovernment,whichhastheabilitytoamendthelawif
President and that the assets have been disclosed to the Integrity Commission, and all the expenses have been ‘above-board’ Quite properly, the disclosures to theIntegrityCommissionare notinthepublicdomain,but the president appears to be willing to publish all the costs and farm-related income.
So,Mr President,Idoso request that you publish the capital and operating costs, as a good example to the ministers and other MPs whom you have appointed butwhoareapparentlymore shy about telling the Guyanese taxpayers about theirassetsandcosts.
It will certainly be interesting for citizens to wonder about the difference between your salary and allowance as Minister for HousingandWaterduring77 monthsof2009-2015andthe capital costs of the farm alleged by MP Azruddin Mohamed Cabinet ministers now have a gross base salary of over GYD 1 million/month and allowances for housing and duty and expenses of about thesameamount.
For this letter, let us say GYD 2 million/month x 77 months = GYD 154 million. Gosh, Mr President, you must have had an enormous bank loan to close the gap between your ministerial take-home pay and the cost ofyourfarm.
_aoHovjZBfDgkwE8_Q) that the farm was developedbeforehebecame
How did you secure and service that loan, given that most Guyanese businesses struggle to obtain much smaller loans? Guyanese lookforwardtoyourreply Yourstruly, JanetteBulkan
itgenuinelywishestomaketheprocessmoreinclusive. Instead,ithaschosenrigidityoverstatesmanship.
No one is arguing that the commission has acted unlawfully Theissueiswhetheritreflectstoday’sdemocratic reality.
Theanswerisplainlyno.
The PPP/C has repeatedly insisted that constitutional reform should belong to all Guyanese. If that declaration is sincere, then there can be no credible justification for excludingthelargestoppositionpartyinparliamentfromthe very body entrusted with recommending constitutional change.
Thegovernmentstillhasanopportunitytocorrectcourse before consultations progress further Doing so would not weaken the process. It would strengthen its legitimacy and improve the prospects of securing the broad parliamentary consensusthatconstitutionalreforminevitablydemands.
The constitution should never be rewritten through narrow partisan calculations. It must emerge from dialogue, compromiseandinclusion.
Anything less risks producing constitutional reform that may be legal on paper but deficient in legitimacy and ultimatelyincapableofattractingtheparliamentarysupportit willrequiretobecomethelawoftheland.
DEAREDITOR,
We live in very dangerous times. War and threats of war, tensions within and between countriesareontheincrease. Not since the second World War have we seen such brutality and sufferings as wearewitnessingtoday
The genocide and ethnic cleansingthatisbeingmeted outtothePalestinianpeople by the Israeli Apartheid regime continues unabated. Recent UN reports have shown the deliberate targetingofchildreninGaza and the West Bank. The conscience of the world seems to be numbed by the sheer scale of the massacre. This is now being extended toLebanon.
In addition to the holocaustintheGaza,wesee theexpansionofwarcaused bytheunprovokedattackby Israel and the United States on Iran Thousands of innocent civilians have perished in those attacks, billionsofdollarsinproperty have turned into cinders. Now we are in a state of a nervousceasefire.
In the face of those terrible situations the People’s Republic of China, led by the indefatigable President Xi Jing Ping, is a real silver lining in the dark cloudsofwar
Once again China has come forward with proposals to change the direction from the global disaster which international
relationsseemtobeheading. InJuneof2026thePRC renewed its call for a “More Just and Equitable Global Governance ” These proposals are intended to chart a clear road toward a just and lasting peace in our world.Theideaisnotonlyto have peace, but enduring peace which would be anchored by economic prosperity and global governance based on equality and the rule of law Thisismostwelcomed.
Atthecentreofthewhite paper which contains the propositions is the strengthening of global institutions.Thisisanurgent demand since we have noticed what appears to be deliberateactionstoweaken theUnitedNationsandmany otherglobalbodieslinkedto the UN and play very important roles in global governance.
China is working strenuously to promote the United Nations as the main globalinstitution.Ithasbeen involved in every aspect of itsworktofosterpeaceinour world and to ensure justice forall.
ThePeople’sRepublicof China has become the second largest financial contributortotheUN.Itisa leading number of its peace keepinginitiativesproviding thousands of soldiers to the UNmissions.
It has been advocating for reforms in the UN to reflect the changes in our
world that has taken place since the formation in 1945. This will entail giving a more prominent role to former colonies that have joined the UN since the ending of colonialism in the late 1940s, the 1950s, 60s and 70s. China is a very strong advocate of respecting every country’s sovereigntyandequality
It is calling for the democratisation of many institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Those bodies have mainly served the United States’ interests and are known for imposing harsh structural adjustment measures on countries of the Global South.
However, China is not just making these calls, it is taking a leading role in the implementation of the proposals It has set an example of win-win internationalrelations.
The Belt and Road Initiativelaunchedin2013is proving to be very transformative Many countries have benefited from the infrastructure developments that have taken place in almost every part of the world. Those projects have helped to increase global production considerably and it has improved the connectivity within and between countriesandcontinents.
The Chinese nation has nowbecomealeadingplayer
in the scientific and technological revolution (STR).Thenationisleading in robotic and Artificial Intelligence(AI).
Inthepastthebenefitsof the STR were derived by very few countries. It was used to enrich the elites in very few rich states. For the vast majority of the peoples in the global south, it was used to increase the exploitationofourcountries and even to oppress the aspirations of the masses. It wasusedindestructivewars and to continue oppression using neo-colonial measures. Now with China having a bigger role it is not only ensuring that its own people benefit from the ingenuityofitsscientistsand researchers, but it is sharing itwiththerestoftheworld. It is making very important proposals to ensurethatthesemarvellous inventions are not used to endangerourworld.
In this regard, it is advocating that the United Nationsplayacentralrolein forming “a global AI governance system with broad consensus to benefit all humanity;” This is to ensurethatnocountryisleft behind.
China is also wary of howtechnologywasusedin the past to enhance the militaryofsomecountries.It has therefore made a very important suggestion to preventthemisuseofAIin Continued on page 6
DEAREDITOR,
The amount of money being spent on the wasteful undertaking of hiring the powershipscouldhavebeen used to provide 60% of our households with a solar powersystem.
This would have provided the energy independence needed by all Guyanese, while also eliminating the need for the gas to energy plant and accelerating the green energy transition within our nation. After all, we are a nation that is pursuing
leadershipinecotourismand tryingtosetthestandardfor forestry conservation and lowcarbonemissions.
Inaddition,iftheamount being spent on the poorly managed gas to energy project was also used to provide Guyanese households with solar systems our population w o u l d b e e n e r g y independent and we would have achieved an energy expense that is better than a 50% reduction in total annual electricity cost as p r o p o s e d b y t h e
government’s gas to energy project.ComradeAliandhis administration continue to show our nation and the world that they cannot be trusted to properly manage the finances of Guyana. We cannolongerplaceourtrust andconfidenceinthecurrent administration.
Comrades, fellow Guyanese, we need a government that will do better We need a government that will secure the financial future of all Guyanese for generations to come The current
is a loserattacks AG’s concern for minors
DEAREDITOR,
I have witnessed some ‘lows’inmylifetimethusfar, but this ‘takes the cake.’ I refer here to the general opposition in Guyana, particularly theWe Invest in Nation (WIN) party, and their chronic behaviour in attempting to distort just abouteverything.Justamere glancing at their approach showcasestheirunharnessed carping and kvetching. I am shockedthatthe“…planned socialmediaregulationsthat will be implemented for children, for their (own) safety…” is being attacked.
Under the aegis of Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister,Anil Nandlall, SC, and in his words, it is an attempt“…tomaketheissue seem like a negative thing (and truly) it is merely them pullingatstraws.”
Editor, I expect theWIN party to at least be on top of issues that are of global concern in this rapidly evolving cyber age that we are all caught up in. WIN should appoint a qualified, eager, and well-paid professionaltofollowissues thataretrending.
emergency
U n i v e r s a l l y , g o v e r n m e n t s a r e increasingly mandating social media protections for minors, even shifting the responsibility onto technology companies to ensure digital safety For example, in Canada, lawmakers introduced the proposed Safe Social Media Act (Bill C-34), which requiresplatformstoenforce a minimum age of 16 for accounts unless they implement strict regulatory safeguards.
administration has wasted and continue to waste the resources and opportunities currently available, and we must put in place a government whose top priority is the people of our beautiful land. We need a governmentthatunderstands and accepts that we the peoplearenotsecondtotheir accumulation of personal wealth.ComradeAliandhis team must remember that they serve at the will of the people.
Sincerely,
JamilChanglee
Let me educate this quasi-politicalcoterie,ledby Azruddin Mohamed. It is time for the lot to be informedthatwhat the everalert and noble AG is attempting to do is all about safe-guarding our children. In being informed and proactive, he is hoping not only to deter criminality against our juniors, but also topre-emptscavengersofall sorts from invading and destroyingGuyana’sgreatest asset, that is our children. WIN must know by now (I hope)thatcybercrimesofall sorts against children are surgingglobally,withonline child sexual exploitation, sexual extortion, and enticement reaching record highs.Thecrisisissorapidly outpacingtheregulatoryand safety measures of digital platforms, that urgency to protectivelyactisinastateof
Look atAustralia, where there was the passing of legislation enforcing a minimumageof16formajor social media platforms. For more on this kind of thing, I advise that WIN trace the European Union countries likeFrance,Spain,Germany, and Greece, where they are all are advancing national regulations, with EU-wide age verification policies under consideration. I add that UNICEF keeps emphasizing the importance of robust enforcement mechanisms and consulting young people on the rules that govern their online environments.
Readers,Iamalltheway with Nandlall. He “… has assured the general public that there are no ulterior motives behind the planned socialmediaregulationsthat will be implemented for children, stressing that it is merelyfortheirsafety.”This iswhatIhavejustdelineated. I can posit no reason for opposing, or even questioning this most important introduction into ourlegalframework.Indeed, ashepointedoutin‘Issuesin the News’, “… the initiative i s d e v o i d o f a n y disadvantage because childrenwillstillhavesocial media access it is just that it willbemanaged.”
Heremovedthefearofa ‘ban’ that will preclude the positivesofsocialmediafor
Continued on page 6
DEAREDITOR,
I wish to re-visit the continued omission of Gudakesh Motie that has once again brought into focus an issue that extends well beyond the selection of one or more outstanding cricketers.
For many years, supporters throughout the Caribbean and its diaspora havequestionedwhetherthe West Indies selection
process consistently recognises and rewards performance through clear, objective and transparent standards.
Those questions have become an increasingly important part of the public discussion surrounding Windies cricket and should notbeeasilydismissed.
Publicconfidenceinany selectionsystemdependsnot just on fairness, but more importantly on the ability of players and supporters to understand how decisions are made. Where questions persist and objective explanations are limited, confidence in the process inevitablydeclines.
Cricket West Indies has an important opportunity to strengthenthatconfidence.
Publishing clear selection criteria, establishing measurable performance benchmarks, and communicating how players are evaluated would help to reassure players, supporters and stakeholders that every selection is based upon consistently applied merit-basedstandards.
Greater transparency
undoubtedly benefits everyone It protects the integrity of the selection
process, enhances confidence in those making the decisions, and reduces unnecessary speculation whenever difficult selection decisionsarise.
Governancedeservesthe samelevelofattention.
Cricket West Indies is morethanacricketboard.It is one of the Caribbean’s most important regional institutions and the custodian of one of our greatestsportingtraditions.
Like every successful modern organization, it should operate under a comprehensive business plan supported by a clearly defined strategic vision, measurable objectives and regularpublicreporting.
Leadership should never be evaluated only by good intentions It should be assessed against measurable outcomes.
M e a n i n g f u l K e y Performance Indicators couldinclude:
* Improvement in ICC rankings.
* Development of elite players across all territorial boards.
* Growth in attendance andsupporterengagement.
*Financialsustainability a n d c o m m e r c i a l partnerships.
* Transparency in governance and decisionmaking.
* S t a k e h o l d e r confidence.
* Competitive success across all international formats.
* Youth development pathways.
* C o n t i n u e d advancement of women’s cricket.
* Periodic independent governance reviews and implementation of their recommendations. Without measurable standards, leadership cannot beobjectivelyevaluated,and accountability becomes difficulttomeasure.
Supporters are also entitled to ask whether the President of Cricket West Indies,KishoreShallow,can devote sufficient time and attention to leading a r e g i o n a l s p o r t i n g
organization while simultaneously serving as a Member of Parliament in a relatively newly elected Government of Dominica. This is not intended as criticism of his commitment orability,butasalegitimate governance question that would arise in any organization with regional responsibilities.
It is equally reasonable for supporters to welcome greater engagement from all members of the Board, including Directors Azim Bassarath and Bissoondyal Singh, whose perspectives ongovernance,transparency and strengthening public confidence would make a valuable contribution to the ongoingdiscussion.
N o n e o f t h e s e observations should be interpreted as allegations against any individual or as conclusions regarding the reasons behind any particularselectiondecision. Rather, they reflect legitimate questions about governance, accountability a n d p u b l i c confidence subjects that deserve thoughtful discussion within every successful sporting organization.
It may be said that Windies Cricket history demonstratesthatitsgreatest achievements were built u p
h
confidencethatplacesinthe team were earned through merit.
S t r e n g t h e n i n g transparency, accountability and public confidence will not only benefit today’s players, but will help ensure that future generations may be able to believe that the pathtorepresentingtheWest Indies is determined by performance, consistency andmerit.
Regards, KrisKooblall
Guyana calls for democratic change, economic freedom in Cuba
DEAREDITOR,
Governments are chosen bythepeopleofthatcountry andnottheotherwayaround where a party chooses itself and stays in power ad infinitum. This has been the position ever since the advent of democracy, where the masses choose who govern them, or in other words from the mass of people a government is chosen, this is the formula thathasstoodthetestoftime. A true labelling of the process is “Agovernment is of the people” and one that governs “For the benefit of the people of that jurisdiction, it is a Universal Law that transcends every political jurisdiction known to man. When this ceases to exist then dictatorship takes over, and the state becomes mired in conflict, similar to whatweexperiencedherein Guyana.
No person, or party should be in power/office
except that mandate originates from the people, simply put a people choose whogovernsthem.So,when President Ali made the statement that “The Guyanese Government
stands in solidarity with the people of Cuba, as it welcomes a sustainable solutiontotheeconomicand humanitarianchallengesthat countryfaces.”Hegoesonto say, “A resolution to the current situation must be based on the will of the Cuban People and based on universal values, the rule of law, transparency and good governance.”
These words clearly enunciate the principles that govern us as a people in the regional family, however, it is a sad picture when these principles are not upheld for onereasonortheother Other Caribbean heads get dicey when certain countries are brought under the microscope, at the present moment they are up in arms against the utterances of Guyana’s president calling him a “snitch” or one that is alignedtothedictatesofThe UnitedStates.
But is this so? And the answer is a resounding no, instead, they are the ones whobyconveniencebecame amnesiactowhatdemocracy and the rule of law means, they are living out the same behaviour like they did to
Guyana, they are doing it again for Cuba, that is, turning the blind eye. Like sympathetic Judases they haveblindedtheireyestothe fact that Cuba needs to get outofthatauthoritarian,one party rule and get into the ambience of true democracy andprogressivegovernance, thereisnootherway So,thepeopleofGuyana would like for Cuba the freedom of choice of government in just the same way we longed for democracy to return to our country We had to wage a valiantbattletogetridofthat albatross of rigged elections and one-party PNC Rule in Guyana, for 28 years we languished in the dumps waitingforthatdaytocome. When that day came, we welcomeditwithopenarms, and have since moved full speed ahead with our development.
This is our wish for a fellowCaribbeanTerritoryto get into the future of developmentwherepeople’s voice as well as their votes mustbecounted,Cubaneeds thisnow!
RespectfullySubmitted
NeilAdams
Frompage5 the military arena. Here is what it says “... China attaches great importance to preventing risks in the military applications ofAI and proposes that all countries should adopt prudent and responsible approach in the development and use of relevant technologies, to ensure that weapons remain underhumancontrolatalltimestopreventan AIarmsrace.”
Thisisofvitalimportancetoallmankind to ensure that these technologies serve the
good of all mankind and not be held as a monopoly of any country or group of countriessothatit/theycanthreatenandbully otherstogetits/theirownway
Today China has become the most responsible member of the global community
Itisabeaconofhopeforaworldofpeace, progressandprosperity
Regards,
DonaldRamotar, FormerPresident
Frompage5 children by explaining that “They will continue to have access to educational programmes but they will NOT have access to pornography, and what they have access to will depend upontheirage.”Iaskisthisa case of “… the government being uncomfortable with w h a t h a p p e n s o n Facebook?”Noway Honestly,andliketheAG pointedout,goodandcaring adults are certainly not pleased with ‘every single thing’ that is seen on Facebook.We are inundated withtheimmoralandillegal, and seem to have no conscience to pique, nor sensibilities to offend. But we do have a governmental responsibility to create a conducive and salutary
environment for our young people The government thereforemustnotberemiss inthearea.
(Look WIN and followersofWIN).Pleasebe informedandeducated,even if you do not want to be caring. The AG, like I just did, has proffered evidence of what is obtaining in the global village of today’s world. Cyber age is about compressing all of us into a single space, but that does not mean we cannot isolate and insulate ourselves for our own good. As per the United Nations, the leaders have already produced a model legislation which 177 countries have already signed on to, so regulating social media for children is not something that is going to happen it is already here.
Guyana must follow suit immediately It is quite commendable that through the AG, the Government of Guyana has (already) written to various platforms seeking to establish a formal institutional relationship withthem,sothatcensorship canbeeffected.
TheGeneralSecretaryof CARICOM, I add has confirmed that the entire Caribbean Community is on boardonthismatter Afterall, Children must be protected on social media to shield them from severe risks like cyberbullying, sexual exploitation,andexposureto harmful content that drives mental health issues. WIN shouldgetonboard.
Yourstruly, HargeshB.Singh
Fresh concerns have surfaced over the quality of concrete used in the foundations of Guyana’s multi-billion-dollar Gas-toEnergy (GTE) project, with allegations that critical structural elements at the Wales,WestBankDemerara site have failed to meet r
qu
red engineering standards.
The concerns center on
theconcretepilesdriveninto the ground and the concrete pouredforthefoundationsof the Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) plant and the 300megawatt power plant, the twomaincomponentsofthe project the government says will reduce electricity costs by50percent. Information obtained by thispublicationfromsources close to the multi-billiondollar project, including project insiders and subcontractors, points to potential structural integrity challenges According to
thesesources,concernshave been raised regarding the concretepilesdrivenintothe ground and the concrete poured for the foundation worksatthesite.
This publication understandsthattheconcrete
failure was flagged by specialised testing conductedon-sitebyBeston Consulting, an engineering firm involved in the project. Beston was reportedly hired to conduct rigorous, realtimeconcretetesting.
According to sources familiar with the site operations, tests conducted at this laboratory have flagged instances where concretepoursfailedtomeet the strict structural and compressive strengthrequirements specified for theproject.
Technical officers advised that in heavy industrial construction, foundation concrete must meet precise design strengthstosupportmassive machinery, including heavy industrial gas turbines and high-pressure processing facilities Any deviation from these standards risks unevensettlement,structural cracking, and long-term operationalhazards.
The reported findings raise urgent questions about the extent of the concrete deviations identified by Beston’s on-site lab and the reason for the lack of public disclosure or technical updates regarding these quality control challenges from the Office of the President, the Office of the PrimeMinister,theMinistry ofNaturalResourcesaswell astheGTETaskforce.
The alleged failure of these critical foundation elements is particularly significant given the history oftheWalessite.
Guyana is already footing the bill for multiple delaysandcostdisputeswith the contractor again raising questions about what the financial impact of this disaster is likely to be if indeed critical foundation elements are failing to meet strengthspecifications.
To understand the gravity of these reports, this publication consulted civil and mechanical engineering expertsspecialisinginpower plant construction Their assessment of the technical risks paints a worrying picture of what happens when turbine foundations fail to meet strict specifications. According to sources, “Industrial gas and steamturbinesareincredibly delicate, highly engineered machines. They operate at
extreme temperatures and rotational speeds exceeding 3,000 RPM. For these units to run safely, the concrete foundationssupportingthem must remain perfectly level, rigid, and completely free from differential settlement, meaning one side of the foundation cannot sink even a fraction of a millimeter morethantheother.”
Expertswarn thatevena microscopic misalignment of a turbine shaft, measured in microns, can have catastrophic consequences. It can trigger severe rotational vibrations, rapid bearing wear, and shaft fatigue In a worst-case scenario, misalignment causes “blade rub”—where rotating blades spin out of balance and impact the stationary casing, causing catastrophic mechanical failure and the total destruction of a turbine worth tens of millions of dollars.
Furthermore, this newspaperwaswarned,“Ifa foundation is discovered to be defective after concrete hascured,theremediationis an engineering nightmare. Unlike a standard commercial building, you cannot simply patch a turbine foundation Correcting a failed pour typically requires complete demolition of the massive, heavily reinforced concrete foundation block; chipping away cured concrete and dense rebar cages without damaging the underlying piles; re-driving piles or performing complex underpinning, followed by a complete repouring of the concrete.”
According to industry specialists, such a remediation process can easilydelayaprojectby6to 18 months and cost tens of millions of US dollars in directconstructioncosts.
Thisnewspaperwastold that if structural concrete is f a i l i n g t o m e e t specifications, it points to potential vulnerabilities in the overall Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) protocols a n d s u p p l y c h a i n management of the main Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor,LindsaycaInc.
Under the terms of the lump-sum, US 22 million in public funds to serve as the “Owner’s Engineer.” EIL’s contractual mandate is to review designs, supervise construction quality, and act asthegovernment’sprimary oversight body on the ground,specificallytoflag Continuedonpage9
There is an old habit in Guyanathatrefusestodie.It is a habit born not of evidence but of envy, not of investigation but of insinuation.
It surfaces whenever someone builds a handsome home, acquires farmland, opens a new business, or appears to prosper beyond what the village accountant believes possible The verdict comes swiftly and confidently:themoneymust be dirty Drugs. Corruption. Theft Something illicit There is seldom any proof. Thereisalwayscertainty
One would have imagined that this crude
reflex would have disappeared as Guyana modernised. Instead, it has merely found new political custodians.
The leader of the
opposition has now embraced this familiar practice with remarkable enthusiasm Rather than present evidence of wrongdoing, he presents photographs of assets
Rather than produce documents demonstrating corruption, he offers arithmetic. Rather than investigatefinancialrecords, heinvitesthepublictodraw c o n c l u s i o n s f r o m appearances.
T h i s i s n o t accountability It is speculationmasqueradingas scrutiny
His latest target is none other than the President of
Guyana. Displaying images of the president's farm, the oppositionleaderarguesthat the president's lawful earnings could never account for the scale of the investment He even ventured into estimating the revenues from the poultry operation, calculating that the chicken houses generate some $80 million every six weeks.
One is left wondering whether he appreciates the implications of his own calculations. If those figures are anywhere near accurate, theydonotmerelysuggesta profitable enterprise; they describepreciselythekindof business that financial institutions would be eager to finance since the entire capital investment for the farm can be repaid easily withinamere3years.
Any competent banker examines one fundamental question before extending credit: can the borrower repay? A commercial operation capable of generating that level of revenue presents precisely the sort of cash flow upon which loans are routinely structured.
This is how modern economies function The remarkable structures rising across Guyana are not built fromsalariesalone.Theyare financed, in overwhelming measure, by banks The construction boom visible throughoutthecountryisnot principally the product of
accumulated m
hly earnings. It is driven by mortgages, commercial loans, and lines of credit facilities extended by institutions whose business depends upon evaluating riskandfutureincome.
Indeed, many of the country's most successful entrepreneurs would readily acknowledgethattheycould never have reached their present position relying sole
earnings.
They borrowed They leveraged assets They refinanced. They expanded throughaccesstocapital.
There is therefore something strangely antiquated about assuming that every significant asset must have been purchased outright from one's personal income Such reasoning belongs to a time when banking was inaccessible to ordinary citizens and commercial credit was the privilegeofanarrowelite.
Today's economy operates differently. That reality appears to have escaped the opposition leader.
Noneofthisistosuggest that corruption does not exist It does Every government, regardless of political complexion, must remain subject to scrutiny Public officials should be transparent Questions concerning conflicts of interest, procurement, asset d e c l a r a t i o n s a n d
DemboyssehinGuyanafingergotmore exercise than foot. Some people don’t walk tofacts;theyjustpoint.
Buildanicehouse?“Hetiefing.”
Buy a new pickup? “Something nah right.”
Openasupermarket?“Moneywashing.”
Plant ten acres of cassava? “He know people.”
Buytwofowlandagoat?“WaittillCID hear.”
Nowadays, all yuh got to do is prosper and half the country suddenly become forensicaccountant.Isamazinghowpeople whocyanbalancedemownchequebookcan calculate another man’s wealth down to the lastbagofcement.
Dem boys seh Guyanese got a special calculator It don’t add mortgages, bank loans or financing. It only got one button: “Corruption.”
The funny thing is that nearly every big building going up today got one silent partner Not uncle. Not overseas relative. Is thebank.
Go ask any businessman. Go ask any contractor Go ask people building them dream home. The bank own more of them housethantheownerdoes.Iftheownermiss a few payments, the bank don’t even knock
unexplained wealth deserve careful examination whereverlegitimategrounds exist.
But suspicion is not evidence. And accusations should not replace investigation.
To allege corruption simply because someone possesses substantial assets is to establish a dangerous principle Today it is a g
a businessman. The following day it is a farmer who has expanded his acreage, or a contractor who has built a new home, or a young professional whose mortgagehasallowedhimto purchase property beyond what his monthly salary mightsuggest.
Once appearances become proof, everyone becomes vulnerable The
opposition must question. It must investigate. It must expose genuine wrongdoing wherever it exists. But it weakens both itself and the institutions of oversight when it substitutes conjectureforevidence.
Political theatre may generate headlines. It does notgeneratetruth.
If there is evidence that assets were acquired unlawfully, then let that evidencebeproduced.Butif the argument amounts merelyto,"Icannotimagine howthispersoncouldafford these assets," then it is an argument rooted less in fact thaninpersonaldisbelief.
Guyana deserves a higher standard of public discourse than this We deservedebatesgroundedin documentation rather than deduction, in proof rather thanpresumption.
The ease with which reputations are placed on trialwithoutevidenceshould concern every citizen, regardless of political allegiance.
For once the politics of insinuation becomes acceptable, no one remains immunefromitsreach. We do need vigilance against corruption. But that also requires intellectual discipline.
Between suspicion and proof lies the hard work of investigation Those who aspire to govern should knowthedifference.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
Frompage8 structural anomalies and verify compliance. It is unclear whether EIL formally documented and reported these concrete testingfailurestotheGoG.
Todate,officialgovernmentupdateshave notpointedtoanyconcretestrengthissuesor foundation concerns at the Wales site, focusing instead on high-level promotional materials.
VicePresidentBharratJagdeoandProject Head Winston Brassington are being called upon to address these reported concrete qualityissuesdirectly,clarifythecontractual liabilityoftheprimecontractor,andconfirm what financial guarantees are in place to protectpublicfunds.
Brassington and the Prime minister did not respond to messages seeking clarity on thesituationuptopresstimeonThursday
twice. It simply remind yuh who really sleepinginthemasterbedroom.
Butsomepeoplebehaveasifbanksonly lendmoneytoforeignersandMartians.
Now politics enter the picture, and everybody become quantity surveyor, poultry expert, valuer, engineer and financial analyst all before breakfast. One manlookatachickenpenfromtheroadside andcalculateprofitsixweeksintothefuture. Demboyssehifhecouldpredictbusinessso good,Wall Street woulda hire he tomorrow morning.Questioningpublicofficialsisfair Dat is democracy But pointing finger withoutproofislikebowlingbeforeputting up the wickets. It make plenty noise but nobodyreallyout.
Dem boys seh accusation cheap Evidenceexpensive.
And finger-pointing got one serious problem.Everyfingerpointingatsomebody got three pointing back. Plus one pointing straight up, as if asking the Almighty to rescuecommonsensefrompublicdebate.
Because in Guyana today, some people don’t investigate first. They conclude first andhopethefactscatchuplater
Demboys sehthatisnotaccountability Thatisguessworkwearinganecktie.
Talkhalf.Leffhalf.
Suriname’s Ministry of F o r e i g n A f f a i r s , International Business, and International Cooperation (BIS)said:
“During the most recent discussions, Suriname clearlyindicateditsintention to assume responsibility for financing the Corentyne Riverbridge.”
Guyana’s Executive President Mohamed Irfaan Alisaid:
“I have not received anythingofficial,otherthan what’s already been placed in the media The Corentyne River bridge is a bridge that is being discussed jointly as a joint project by the Government of Guyana and the Government of Suriname. Guyana is interested in being part of a project that covers two sovereign states in a joint manner That has alwaysbeenourvision ” WhatamItosay?
In addition, Suriname’s BIS said that the bridge was discussedbetweenGuyana’s and Suriname’s heads-ofstate in Nickerie on
September13,2025. Further, Suriname said: the matter was discussed on the sidelines during the heads of governments of CARICOM meeting in Basseterre, St Kitts and NevisonFebruary24,2026. ThesameonethatAmerican interloper Marco Rubio crashed.
Moreover, Suriname said: the matter came up for discussion again during a virtual meeting between the two national heads on May 15,2026.
The ball in this he saidshe said (literally) volleying isinExcellencyAli’scourt. What is there left for me to say? Not so much; just a little.
Personally, I’m usually forthehomeside. However poorly Manchester United, the New York Knicks, the New York Giants (and Brazil)do,Istickwiththem.
Wellsprings of hope There’llbebettertimes. Therefore, I stand next tomypresident,Excellency Ali Ifhesaiditwasso,itis so Andwhatdidhesay?“I
have not received anything official ” Now “official” is a tricky word Could mean one thing to Dr Ali May mean quite another to Excellency GeerlingsSimons
Recall that familiar statement: one man’s freedom fighter is the other man’s terrorist. Could be h
Corentyne Bridge that crumbles on Guyana’s side. Before one shovel turned. It’s something about which PresAliboastsexpertise. Confession time. Many will react terribly I persevere. PresAlihassaid things that he hasn’t backed up. Remember unity, t
y, a
accountability, six Augusts ago. Slipped his memory. Hanging.
Despite public affidavit. I still have his back versus
anticorruption czar) one September ago. Anything done re information distortion? Where’s the
czar?
Regardless, Irfaan Ali is my president, suh I tekkin hee side in dis bridge business wid de dutch peeple Admission: he hasn’t given me any trump (no pun) to manage a challenge But loyal, patrioticsoldierIam.
Considering what Surinamese asserted, there are mitigating factors. I tender as defenses of my belovedpresident. Doesthat sound like State media and PPP-awestrucksuperstarsor what!
First,theNickeriebridge discussionwasalmostayear ago,damnit. ExcellencyAli is overwhelmed; presides over the regional oil superpower.
C’mon folks, give the Guyanese a break. Re the Feb 24, 2026 meeting in St Kitts, Secretary Rubio was
there, which threw Dr Aliupside-down Who cares about bridge and CARICOM brothers, when a special American friend is in the neighborhood! Who would recall sideline chats about someli’lbridgenowtortured byheseh-sheseh?
Americans have developedquiteareputation for casting that kind of spell on PPP leaders. Regarding Suriname’s reference to the May 15,2026 virtual meeting between the two presidents, I submit two points. The connection was unstable,yukky. And,itwas during the PPP Govt’s nonstop extravaganzas
celebrating Guyana’s
Independence Diamond Jubilee. HopeIgotthatone right. Excellency Geerlings-
Simons may have brought up the Corentyne Bridge, but the masquerade and ChutneybandsonGuyana’s side of the room were blasting away Either, Pres Ali didn’t hear about the bridge Or that went over hishead
Suriname had better get its bridge act together
Guyana’s Ali has set his teeth: nothing “official” EverytimeIhearanewborn baby cry…. Then I know whyIbelieve….
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
...as Prestige eyes deeper expansion despite profit slump from rising costs
Prestige
Trinidad company, Prestige Holdings says its strong-performing operations in Guyana remain a key part of its regional growth strategy, even as the restaurant operator reported a sharp decline in profits for the six-month period ended May 31, 2026, citing higher supplier costs, increased national insurance contributions and foreign exchangeconstraints.
According to the restaurant management company’s financial report for the half year, profit attributable to shareholders for the sixmonthperioddeclinedby457percent,falling to$348millionforthesameperiodin2025
Prestige Holdings chairman Christian Mouttet noted the restaurant management company had seen increased sales volumes, with revenue increasing by 1.3 per cent to $707millioninthepreviousyear,butaseries of increased expenses impacted the company’sprofits.
Mouttetsaid,“Notably,increasedforeign
exchangecoststosettleforeignpayablesby accessing alternative currencies and currency swaps through the banking systematratesthatweremuchhigherthan ourinputswereoriginallycosted,increased national insurance contributions and increasesincostsfromlocalsuppliers.”
He continued, “We have implemented several initiatives to address these increased costs, including alternative supply chain options, menu changes and efficiency improvements.We expect these actions to benefit our bottom-line performance as the financial year progresses,andweremainconfidentinthe group’slong-termperformanceandgrowth prospects.”
The company is the local operator of popular international franchises including KFC, Pizza Hut, Subway, Starbucks and TGIFridays.
Mouttet confirmed the company was seeking more expansion opportunities outsideofTrinidadandTobago.
He said, “The second TGI Fridays restaurant in Portmore, Jamaica, which openedinthefirstquarter,isperformingwell. In addition, management is making good progresstolaunchPizzaHutinPanama,and we expect to open our two new Pizza Hut restaurants in Panama in the fourth quarter Our two Starbucks cafés in Guyana are performing strongly, and, as mentioned above,wealsohaveplanstoopenthreenew StarbuckscafésinGuyanabeforetheendof theyear.”
The chairman’s report confirmed that on June23,2026,AgostiniLimited’stakeoverof Prestige Holdings Limited formally closed after securing all necessary regulatory and shareholderapprovals.(TrinidadGuardian)
Thirty-four-year-old
Omar King Charles of ‘A’ Field, Sophia, Georgetown, is appealing for public support as he battles a lifethreatening brain tumor that has already robbed him of thevisioninoneeyeandnow requires urgent surgery in India.
Charleswasdiagnosedin May with a meningioma, a tumor that develops in the meninges-the protective layers surrounding the brain and spinal cord. While most meningiomas are slowgrowingandnon-cancerous, they can cause serious neurological complications by pressing on the brain, nerves,orbloodvessels.
Doctors have informed thefamilythatthetumorhas wrapped around a major b l o o d v e s s e l b y approximately 180 degrees and is compressing his left optic nerve. As a result, Charleshaslostvisioninhis left eye and can now only distinguishsilhouettes.They were also advised that Guyanaisunabletoperform thedifficultsurgery
Before his diagnosis,
Charles with two of his daughters
Charles worked tirelessly to supporthisfamily,takingon jobs in weeding, power washing, gardening and landscaping.Healsoworked as a K-9 trainer but was forced to give up that career ashishealthdeteriorated. His wife, 33-year-old Melissa Vaughn Charles, saidthediagnosishasturned theirlivesupsidedown.
The couple has four daughters, aged 11, 7, 4 and 2. Melissa said they have deliberately shielded the children from the full extent of their father’s illness so it does not affect them emotionallyorinterferewith their schooling. “I didn’t want them to be affected withschool,”shesaid.
Melissa, a home nurse andfounderofGiftedHands Home Nursing Services, is now the family’s primary breadwinner
To help meet household expenses and raise money for the operation, the family has also begun selling homemade local juices and proteinshakes.
“I’m accustomed to Omar being a hardworking husband who loves nature Hewouldteachourchildren theimportanceofplantsand even set up a little plant shop for them,” Melissa said
“He’s not the type of person who likes to ask for help It was difficult convincing him to seek assistancefromthepublic.”
The family is now
seeking to raise GY$4 million to cover the cost of s u r g
l , accommodation and other medicalexpenses.
“We are praying for the opportunity to get him the treatment he urgently needs. This diagnosis has changed every part of our lives.
Financially, the burden has been overwhelming, and we aredoingeverythingwecan to give him a chance at treatment,”Melissasaid.
If the funds are secured, Charles will travel to India, w
st neurosurgeon will attempt the delicate procedure to remove the tumour while protecting the major blood vessels and preserving the visioninhisrighteye.
Despite the challenges, the family remains hopeful that public support will give Charles the chance to undergo the life-saving surgery.
Persons wishing to assist can contribute through the following:
Bank: GBTI Regent Street
Account Name:Omar King Charles Account Number:002186400018 MMG:592-608-0278 (MelissaVaughn Charles)
(CNC3) Trinidad and Tobago says its objection to the reappointment of Dr Carla Barnett as Caribbean Community (CARICOM) SecretaryGeneralis“neither personalnorpolitical.”
In a 22-page letter to regional leaders, Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar said Port-ofSpain’s position “is not directed towards any individual” but rather concerns “the legality of the process adopted, the integrity of our institutions and the faithful observance of the constitutional framework established by the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas”.
S h e s a i d h e r administration “does not accept the process by which the Secretary General was purportedly reappointed and, consequently, is unable to recognise the validity of thepurportedsecondtermof theSecretaryGeneral”.
“I wish to be very clear: our position is not held to create division within the community, but to preserve theconstitutionalorderupon which the legitimacy and credibility of CARICOM ultimatelydepend.
“Regional unity cannot rest upon expediency and irregular practices masquerading as precedent. It must rest upon adherence to the rules which every member state has freely accepted and undertaken to uphold,” Persad-Bissessar wrote in the letter, a copy of which has been obtained by the Caribbean Media Corporation(CMC).
Persad-Bissessar is also urging regional leaders to seek an opinion from the Trinidad-based Caribbean CourtofJustice(CCJ)onthe issueandwantsBarnetttobe engaged on a month-tomonth basis until there is a determinationbythecourt.
“Such an interim extension should be expressly stated to be withoutprejudicetothelegal rights or positions of any Member State, and should notbeconstruedasaffirming thevalidityoftheimpugned reappointmentprocess.
“ P e n d i n g t h e determination of the advisoryproceedings:(a)the incumbent Secretary General shall fully recuse herself from the exercise of any authority whatsoever or from taking any decision, directly or indirectly, regarding the said advisory proceedings. Responsibility for such action shall be vestedentirelyintheDeputy Secretary General or some
other independent person or body.
“The General Counsel shallrecuseherselffromthe matter of the advisory opinion in light of her primaryroleasanadviserto the Secretary General, who isthesubjectoftheproposed advisoryopinion.”
In addition, PersadBissessar said the proposed questions of interpretation arising under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas should be urgently referred to the CCJ for an expedited advisoryopinionpursuantto Article212ofthetreaty
“Giventheconstitutional significanceoftheissuesand their implications for the governance of the Community, the Court should be requested to hear and determine the reference on an urgent basis,” she wrote.
Thecontentsoftheletter havebecomeamajortalking point for leaders who went into retreat on the first working day of their fourday summit, which is being chaired by St Lucia Prime MinisterPhilipJ.Pierre. Barnett, the first woman to be appointed CARICOM Secretary General, assumed office on August 15, 2021. Her reappointment was announced during the leaders’ summit in St Kitts and Nevis in February this year
Persad-Bissessar arrived at the opening ceremony of the51stCARICOMSummit on Sunday night after Barnett had delivered her
remarks. St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrance D r e w, w h o s p o k e afterwards, praised Barnett for her stewardship of the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat and the regional integration movement as a whole.
“You have understood theimportanceofpreserving the impartiality of the Secretariat while faithfully implementing the decisions of Heads of Government,” Drew said, adding that “that balance has strengthened thisCommunity,andforthis Ioffer,onbehalfofallofus, oursincerestgratitude”.
InherJuly3,2026letter, Persad-Bissessar said her administration had “set out our proposals for a final and conclusive determination of the issues arising therefrom by the Caribbean Court of Justicebywayofanadvisory opinion,aswellasproposals forinterimmeasures”.
ShenotedthatArticle24 of the Revised Treaty “expressly gives the power to appoint and reappoint the Secretary General to the Conference,nottoaRetreat, caucusorinformalgathering ofHeadsofGovernment”.
“While a Retreat may lawfully facilitate confidential discussion, it cannot replace the constitutional institution designated by the Revised Treatytoexercisethepower ofappointment.”
She also wrote that “the Rules of Procedure regulate the manner in which the Conference conducts its
deliberations,butdonotalter the institutional authority established by the Revised Treaty”.
“Accordingly, where the decision itself was taken at the Heads-only Retreat rather than by the
Conference acting in accordance with Articles 11 and24oftheRevisedTreaty, thereappointmentwasmade by a body lacking the constitutionalcompetenceto exercise that power and was therefore inconsistent with theRevisedTreaty.”
Persad-Bissessar further argued that the Heads of GovernmentRetreatwasnot a meeting that legally constituted a Conference “and/orindeedacaucus”for the purposes of exercising the Article 24(1) power to reappoint the Secretary General.
She said “it is clear that the Retreat of Heads was seen as something separate and apart from the plenary sessionoftheConferenceor acaucusunderRule19(3)of the Rules of Procedure for Meetings of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM”.
“The powers conferred byaconstitutivetreatyupon an institutional organ must ordinarilybeexercisedinthe manner prescribed by the treaty CARICOM organs possess only those powers conferredbytheRevised Continuedonpage15
ByKhadidjaBa
Former APNU+AFC MP Annette Ferguson, and Working People’s Alliance (WPA) executive member and activist Kidackie Amsterdam led a protest on Tuesday to decry the proposed Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill, calling it an “abuse of national resources”anda“showofselfishness”bythe administration.
The bill, which seeks to repeal amendments made by the previous APNU+AFC government and restore the framework of the 2010 legislation, would grant former presidents uncapped benefits, including fully funded household staff, unlimited utility payments, and lifetime tax exemptions.
‘AN
Protestors,whogatheredattheChurchof God Road in Buxton, East Coast Demerara, argued that while former heads of state deserve a dignified retirement, the 2026 bill goesbeyondreason.
“I am not saying presidents are not entitled to a decent way of life after leaving the seat,” Amsterdam stated during the protest on Monday in Buxton, which was broadcast via social media on his KamsTV page and Demerara Waves. “What I have a problemwithisexcesses.Thisbillisanabuse of our resources, an abuse of the majority in the National Assembly, and an abuse of the citizensofthiscountry.”
Amsterdam drew attention to the financial disparity between the benefits afforded to former leaders and the struggles of ordinary retirees. He noted that while former presidents receive a pension amounting to seven-eighths of a sitting president’s salary, estimated at over $2 million monthly, along with perks, retired public servants receive a fraction of that amount while bearing the full cost of their own utilities and medical care. “Former publicservantshavegiventothiscountry,in many instances, way more than former presidents,”Amsterdamargued.“Yettheyare left to survive on $46,000 monthly.” KN understands another protest will take place outsidetheOfficeofthePresidentTuesday THE150-ACREFARM CONTROVERSY
The protest also highlighted recent allegations surrounding a 150-acre farm on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway reportedly ownedbyPresidentDr MohamedIrfaanAli. Protesters and opposition figures said if the billpassesinitscurrentform,thestatewould effectively subsidise the operational costs of thismulti-billion-dollarprivateestate.
“Ifyouhaveaformerpresidentwiththis multi-billion-dollar farm employing scores of people, and they are being paid from the coffersofthisstate,whileheisreapingallof the benefits tax-free, that is an obscenity,” Amsterdamsaid.
Ferguson meanwhile urged citizens to remain vigilant. “I believe once people becomeawareofwhatthisbillislikelytodo and the impact it will have on our treasury, more Guyanese will push back,” Ferguson stated.
The protest coincided with a scathing videoaddressbytheleaderoftheopposition, who formally called for President Ali’s immediateresignation.Theoppositionleader alleged that the 2026 bill is a targeted effort bythepresidenttosecurealavishlifestyleat the expense of taxpayers before his
constitutionally mandated two terms conclude.
Mohamed further alleged that the government is attempting to “cook the books” regarding the financing of the President’sfarm,castingdoubtonclaimsthat the project was funded entirely through legitimatebankloans.
AmajorportionofMohamed’sstatement focusedonthemechanicsofthe2026former presidents benefit bill, which he labeled “repulsive,” “obscene,” and “greedy.” He explained to the public that the current administrationcallsforParliamenttoresume foronlyoneoftworeasons:eithertoapprove additional funding for large, corrupt deals after squandering previously passed allocations, or to pass predatory legislation likethisspecificbenefitbill.
Mohamed emphasized that the proposed amendments are meticulously engineered to benefit just two specific individuals in the entirecountry,currentPresidentIrfanAliand former President turned Vice President BharratJagdeo,placinganadditionallifetime burden on the backs of taxpayers to fund a “lavishlifestyleofunlimitedspending.”
To illustrate the financial gravity of the bill, Mohamed detailed a list of specific, uncapped provisions that he claimed would allowtheseofficialsto“livelikeMaharajas.” He noted that the legislation demands unlimited state payments for residential water, electricity, and telephone services, alongside full-time personal security, Presidential Guard services, and statemaintainedmotorvehicles.Italsoguarantees free lifetime medical treatment or full reimbursement for dependents, a permanent household staff including a gardener and an attendant, clerical and technical staff upon request, toll-free road transportation throughout the country, and an annual vacation allowance equivalent to the cost of twofirst-classreturnairfares.
Mohamedprovidedconcreteexamplesof how these clauses would translate into massive public expenditures, stating that if theelectricitybillforasprawlingranchtotals $100 million for the year, ordinary citizens willbelegallyforcedtopayit.Hespecifically citedaman-madecircuitcreekconstructedat PresidentAli’s estate at an estimated cost of $60 million, noting that taxpayers would be saddledwithitsongoingmaintenance.
He also criticized the ambiguity of the term“residence”inthenewbill,pointingout thatunliketheclearer2015lawwhich Continued on page 15
CARICOM heads at the opening ceremony of the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM in Saint Lucia
Prime Minister of Saint KittsandNevisandoutgoing Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Dr TerranceDrewhascalled for greater cohesion and participation from member states, urging regional leaderstoresolvechallenges internally rather than throughpublicdebate.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM inSaintLucia,Dr Drewsaid oneofCARICOM’sgreatest strengths lies in leaders workingtogether
“Permitme,therefore,to o ff e r o n e h u m b l e recommendation. Whenever this community faces mattersofgreatsignificance, letusensurethateveryhead of government makes every effort to be present for our retreats and caucuses to resolve matters in house, thosesessionsremainamong CARICOM’s greatest strengths,”hestated.
The Prime Minister underscored that away from cameras and prepared statements, CARICOM heads can speak candidly,
trust is strengthened, misunderstandings are resolved, and consensus is built.
“There are moments when the life of every institution when its strength is measured not by the absenceofchallengesbutby thewayitrespondstothem,” Dr Drewstated.
Reflectingonhistimeas CARICOM chairman, Dr Drewsaidwhenheassumed therolesixmonthsago,there weregenuineconcernsabout the future of the regional bloc.Henotedthatquestions about the community’s cohesion had come to the forefront, with some wondering whether CARICOM had reached a defining moment from which it might struggle to recover
“Matters that would normally have been discussed privately among heads of government were increasingly being debated publicly These concerns were real…and after much reflection, I concluded that before we could resolve issues, whether real or perceived, we must first strengthen relationships,”
Frompage14 specified a single “habitual place of residence,” the 2026 version fails to define whether taxpayers are expected to fund multiple luxury homes owned by a single former president.
Themost“vulgarrequest”ofthenewbill,accordingto theoppositionleader,isthegrantingoftax-exemptstatusfor life. Mohamed warned that this provision would create a crisis of unfair competition that could completely drive ordinary local farmers, cash crop growers, fishermen, and independentbusinessownersoutofbusiness.
Becauseaformerpresidentcouldimportheavybusiness machinery, specialized equipment, vehicles, livestock, and buildingmaterialswithoutpayingasinglecentindutiesor taxes,downtoasinglescreworevenaprivatejet,theycould operate a multi-billion-dollar commercial agricultural investmententirelytax-freewhilestandardcitizensstruggle tosurvive.
the outgoing chairman stated.
He explained that this prompted him to visit every full member state and meet privatelywitheachleaderto ensure they had the opportunitytospeakopenly, honestly and respectfully about the issues facing the Community According to Dr Drew, those discussions reaffirmed every leader’s commitmenttoCARICOM.
“Every head reaffirmed
that,despiteourdifferences, thefutureoftheCaribbeanis stronger together than apart,”hesaid.Headdedthat the leaders also reaffirmed that regional integration remains indispensable to security and prosperity
“Those conversations
reminded me w hy CARICOM has endured for more than 50 years,” he added.
Dr Drew stressed that public discourse and
newspaper headlines have never been an effective way to settle disagreements amongCaribbeanleaders.In fact, he said it has done the opposite.
“No public commentary has ever replaced honest dialogue, but respectful conversation among colleagues committed to a common purpose has repeatedly strengthened this community,”headded.
He said his time as chairman reinforced his belief that unity is not only CARICOM’s highest ideal butalsoitsgreateststrategic advantage.Headdedthatthe regional body’s recent conference demonstrated that disagreement does not equal division and that mature leadership is measured not by avoiding difficult conversations but by addressing them respectfully and resolving themtogether
Lookingahead,Dr Drew saidthefocusmustnowshift from the survival of CARICOMtostrengthening itforfuturegenerations.
“May we always preserve that tradition and so, my colleagues, the reaffirmation of our unity wasneverthedestination,it was the foundation Our people rightly expect more than declarations, they expect progress, they expect opportunity, they expect that the regional corporation will improve their daily lives, and I believe these past six months, to some extent, would have demonstrated that we served during a period of considerable globaluncertainty,andthose uncertainties continue,” the outgoingchairstated.
As the chairmanship is handed over to Prime Minister of Saint Lucia Philip J. Pierre, Dr Drew said he remains optimistic about the future of the regional integration movement.“…Idosowitha deepersenseofappreciation ofthiscommunity,astronger conviction in its purpose, and an even greater confidenceinitsfuture,”Dr Drewsaid.
Frompage13 Treaty and must exercise them consistently with its institutional framework.
“Whereatreatycreatesanorganand specifies how that organ is composed and how it acts, compliance with those requirementsisordinarilyaconditionof validity rather than administrative convenience. Substance prevails over nomenclature. A body cannot avoid treaty obligations merely by changing labels. Equally, a gathering cannot acquire treaty powers merely because participants overlap with those who ordinarilyconstitutethetreatyorgan.”
Persad-Bissessar argued that, significantly, the communiqué issued following the meeting “contained no
reappointmentoftheSecretaryGeneral underthatagendaitem”.
Shesaidthecommuniquéissuedon March 1, 2026, noted only that leaders had agreed to establish a special committee comprising the leaders of Barbados, Dominica, Guyana and Jamaica to review the governance and financingofCommunityinstitutions.
“That omission deprived Member States of the opportunity to prepare for deliberationuponamatteraffectingone of the highest constitutional offices withintheCommunity Anysuggestion that past practice dispenses with the need to identify such an important constitutionalquestionexpresslyonthe agenda cannot be reconciled with the principles of openness, legality and informed participation which underpin
the Revised Treaty. “Further, wrong pastpracticecannotbeusedtovalidate presentwrongpractice–twowrongsdo notmakearight.”
The letter notes that Article 24 establishes a mandatory constitutional sequence whereby the Community Council first makes a recommendation before the Conference may appoint or reappointaSecretaryGeneral.
“Norecommendationwassoughtor obtained from the Community Council before the purported reappointment. This requirement is neither procedural nor optional. It forms an essential constitutional safeguard intended to ensurethattheConferenceexercisesits appointing authority only after receiving the institutional advice contemplatedbytheRevisedTreaty.”
VacancyforCOOK/BAKER AND PITMAN for interior location.Applicants must be experiencedCall231-2250.
Reliable housekeeping staff needed. Must be punctual anddetailoriented.Call2250198
Reliable deskstaff needed. Must be punctual. Call 2250198
Reliable housekeeping supervisor needed. Must be punctualanddetailoriented. Call225-0198
General Domestic (4 days work), apply at keyfood Trading Mc Doom next to the post office.
Motor bus drivers wanted clean driving license and police clearance required. Trainingavailabletodrive50 seat buses. WhatsApp 7544455
Driver must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles, age 23-50, Car/Van license. Call 615-9132
MaidforEastBankareacall 615-9132
One(1)Paintercall615-9132
One Tiler to install a small numberoftilescall615-9132
Vacancy for one retired officertomarketandmanage ninestartupSecurityService. Call623-1615,701-6735,6821415
Gas for
MilwaukeeDeltaWoodLathe
Location:McDoomEastBank Demerara Public Road Call/ WhatsApp:634-3430
Granular Chlorine 100 lbs
$77,520 VAT Inc. Chlorine Tablets 40 lbs $72,960 VAT Inc. Friendship Oxygen LimitedCall/WhatsApp:6343430.
AluminumSulphate$13,700.
SodaAsh$18,200.PoolSalts
$13,700.CausticSodaPearls
$18,000. Copper Algaecide
$11,400 VAT Inc Friendship Oxygen Limited Call/ WhatsApp:634-3430
PAG 46 $22,800 RPO 32 Oil
$22,800RPO68Oil$22,800 ACFlashFlush$22,800VAT Inc. Friendship Oxygen LimitedCall/WhatsApp:6343430
SulphuricAcid5gal$34,200 Nitric Acid 5 gal $34,200
Hydrochloric Acid 5 gal
$34,200VATInc.Friendship Oxygen Limited Call/ WhatsApp:634-3430
Compressed CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) Gas and Cylinders also Hydrogen and other gases Can be supplied on order Friendship Oxygen Limited WhatsApp # 6343430.
HoneywellRefrigerationGas:
R404a$30,000R134a$38,7960
R410$33,000R-448$77,520
R290$14,800 R600a$14,800.
R32$30,780 R407c$34,200 VATInc. Friendship Oxygen LimitedCall/WhatsApp:6343430.
Air Compressor Friendship Oxygen Limited. Call/ WhatsApp:634-3430
2000 lbs., White metal in shape of a boat rudder Friendship Oxygen Limited Call/WhatsApp:634-3430
WhiteWashDazzellHousing Scheme, East Coast Demerara. Call/WhatsApp: Natasha#655-9846
Condemned Oxygen Cylinders $1,140 VAT Inc. Friendship Oxygen Limited Call/WhatsApp:634-3430
19 Acre of road side land at Friendship, East Bank DemeraraTele#701-6735,6821415,623-1615.
6 Acre of River side land at Coverden, East Bank Demerara. Tele# 701-6735, 682-1415,623-1615.
Corner land at Durban & Haleystreet Tele#701-6735, 682-1415,623-1615.
Corner Land at Robb and Bourda street Lacytown. Tele#701-6735,682-1415,6231615.
Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK: Graphics design,advertisements, weddingarchrentals.Tel:6267040.
Experiencedcookandkitchen assistant, located at Charlestown.Tele#601-4918/ 676-5534
Guyanaisonceagainpraisedasaminingfriendlyjurisdictionwithsupportivepolicies, with the President and Chief Executive Officer(CEO)ofOMAIGoldMinesCorp.,Elaine Ellingham saying that the country has been “great” to the company in its quest to return to gold production.
SinceitsreturntoGuyana’sminingsector in2020,OMAI,throughitssubsidiaryAvalon GoldExplorationInc.,hasidentified2.5million ounces of gold in the indicated category at the historic OMAI Gold project. The companyholds100%interestintheprojectwhich hosts two orogenic gold deposits: Wenot and Gilt.
DuringarecentinterviewwiththeKEReport, Ellingham described Guyana as an attractive destination for mining investment. She outlined that government understands the industry and has fostered an environment conducive to support long-term gold operations.“IthinkOMAIisgoingtogetfast-track to production. The government and the communities want to see this back in production but probably some green energy not too far down the road,” she said.
“If a company wants to come into a new jurisdiction, like Guyana has been great for us,they’reverypromining.Theyunderstand it, lots of skills in country…if you’re going into a new jurisdiction, a company wants to know that their investment there is going to be in production for a long time. And we’ve shown that,” she said.
She reiterated that government’s planned 165-megawatt(165MW)AmailaFallsHydropower Project and the liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility which is a component of the US$2billionGas-to-Energy(GTE)projectat Wales, West Bank Demerara could support future expansions of its processing plant by providing lower-cost power
She pointed to the improved access to its project located in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), benefiting from the country’s US$190 million Linden-to-Mabura Road project. The Linden-to-Mabura Road passes within 12 kilometres of the company’s prop-
President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of OMAI Gold Mines Corp., Elaine Ellingham
erty
EllinghamexplainedthatGuyana’sannual rainfallmakespavedroadsespeciallyvaluable for mining operations. “It rains over 2 metres a year in Guyana, when roads are dirt roads, theyobviouslygetmuddy.So,tohaveapaved road is really a luxury. It’s a luxury for any mineanywhereintheworld,actually,”theCEO said.
Beyondroadinfrastructure,Ellinghamsaid planned energy projects could further strengthen the economics of the OMAI Gold Project by reducing future operating costs. She highlighted the proposed 165-megawatt AmailaFallsHydropowerProject,notingthat OMAI has already submitted an expression ofinterestforapproximately40megawattsof electricity should the project proceed. The transmission line would pass within about 20 kilometres of OMAI’s proposed processing plant.“Thatwouldbeanincrediblewin,”she said.Thecompanyhasbeenengagedindrilling activities at both the Wenot and Gilt deposits as part of the company’s 50,000-metre exploration programme as preparations are ongoingfortheproject’sPreliminaryEconomic Assessment (PEA), expected within the next fourtosixweeks.
Caterpillar Generator CaterpillarD342CEnginein good working condition WhatsApp#634-3430
1234yf$14,799VATInc. WhatsApp#634-3430
Price6230ltrs$136,800VAT Inc. 9350 ltrs $171,000VAT Inc.UHPArgongas,Mixgas and other high purity gas can be ordered. Friendship Oxygen Limited WhatsApp #634-3430 2-100
TRUCKTIRES295/75R22.5
EACH. CALL/
UHPArgon,heliumballoons, Industrial Argon, Mix Gas, and Refrigeration Gases.We also source Gases upon request. Friendship Oxygen Limited. Call/WhatsApp: 634-3430
Liquid Nitrogen Tank 45 Gallons. Taylor Wharton FriendshipOxygenLimited. Call/WhatsApp:634-3430
Tractor foreignusedmassey ferguson283$2.6m,massey 165$1.8m,massey135$1.2m ,masseyloadertractor$2.4m #6825230/6154414
Industrial&MedicalOxygen and Acetylene Fast and efficientServicesFriendship OxygenLimited
Location: East Bank Demerara Public Road Call/ WhatsApp:634-3430
Technician wanted: Air conditioner installation and Air Conditioner Servicing, Call/WhatsApp #689-9856. DriversLicensewouldbean asset
We buy house lot and land withunfinishedbuilding.Call K.Lakeram,Building Contractor #216-0671 or WhatsApp#622-0267
Located at the corner at Smyth and Hadfield street Tele#701-6735,682-1415,6231615.
Located at Robb Street between Orangewalk & Cummings street Tele# 7016735,682-1415,623-1615.
Th i r t y - t w o
contractors have submitted bids for the rehabilitation of the East Ruimveldt Market, a project being executed through the Ministry of Local Government and RegionalDevelopment.
The project is divided into five lots and forms part of an $18 billion budget
allocated
o
market upgrades nationwide this year
EastRuimveldtisamong the markets slated for rehabilitation under this programme.
Plans to upgrade the facilitywerefirstannounced in February, following a walkthrough by Minister Priya Manickchand and her team.
Duringthatengagement, vendors raised several concerns affecting their daily operations, including
structural deficiencies, poor sanitation, inadequate drainage, and the general need for a safer, more
s environment.
Minister Manickchand assured vendors at the time thattheirconcernswouldbe addressed as part of the government’swidereffortto modernise markets across thecountry
She emphasised that m
economic hubs, sustaining hundreds of families’ livelihoods while giving residents access to fresh produceandgoods.
Planned works for East R
infrastructureandsanitation
upgrades,andthecreationof a more organised, resilient space for both vendors and customers.
MinistryofPublicWorks
ConsultancyServicesforComprehensiveRoadSafety Assessments,Studies&CapacityBuilding(financial).
MinistryofLocalGovernment andRegionalDevelopment
RehabilitationofEastRuimveldtMarketLots1-5.
Frompage3
rather than protecting the public interest, pointing to its interventionsincourtmattersinvolvingthepetroleumsector.
AccordingtoRam,therehasbeen“aconsistentpatternof interveninginlitigationonthesideoftheoilcompaniesrather than maintaining the neutrality expected of a government actinginthepublicinterest.”
He also renewed concerns about the gas-to-shore project, alleging that government had become “a co-conspirator in non-disclosure” after China’s CNOOC disclosed in its financialstatementsthatitwasfundingsomeprojectexpenses, adisclosurehesaidlaterdisappearedfromsubsequentreports. Ram concluded that the greatest danger facing Guyana’s oil future is no longer the controversial petroleum agreement itself but government’s unwillingness to confront its weaknesses.
“ToGuyanese,thegreatestdisappointmenthasbeentheAli Administration’s abandonment of its promise to put Guyana first,” Ram wrote. “Having inherited anAgreement it rightly condemned,ithaschosennotonlytodefendit,butinimportant respectstosweetenratherthanreformit,allfavourableofthe oilcompanies.”
He ended with a stark warning: “The Granger Administrationsurrenderedtoomuch;theAliAdministration isoncoursetosurrenderwhatremains.”
(Reuters) - Crowds of Iranians marched through the streets of Tehran on Monday in a funeral procession for slain leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the biggest day yet in a week of massive memorial ceremonies demonstratingthegripofsurviving clericalleaders.
Drone footage on state television showed many tens of thousands of people crammed into aboulevardincentralTehran.
The caskets of the slain leader and four of his family members weredriveninalargetruckthrough thestreets,whilefirehosessprayed water from above to keep the marcherscool.
As they passed under a bridge, mourners hurled stones at a billboardhungfromaboveshowing U.S.PresidentDonaldTrumpwith abulletaimedathishead.
“The U.S. killed our father,” it read.“Wewon’tletyougo!”
As demonstrators set fire to U.S. and British flags, women in black chadors held aloft red placards with the English words “KILLTRUMP”inblackletters.
Others held aloft posters with the faces ofTrump,Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth or Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, each depicted in the crosshairs of a gunsight, with the words “There willbeblood”.
Mourners gather around a monument in the form of a raised fist of the deceased supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Enghelab Square, during a funeral procession for Khamenei, who was killed on February 28 in Israeli and U.S. airstrikes, in Tehran, Iran, July 6, 2026. REUTERS/Murad Sezer
The larger crowds waved Iranianflagsandredbannerswitha slogan calling out to the “avengers ofKhamenei”,adaptingaphraseat the heart of Shi’ite Islam since the grandson of the Prophet Mohammad was killed in battle in theseventhcentury SONS PRAY FOR KHAMENEI BUT NO SIGN OF MOJTABA
Referring to the February 28 U S -Israeli attack that killed Khamenei, Iran’s Mission to the U.N. said its perpetrators “have sown in the heart of the Iranian nation the seeds of hatred and vengeance, which will one day clutchthembythecollar.”
It added in a post on X that the event showed the ‘robust’ bond between Iranians and the state, saying this ‘reality of Iranian society’ reflected the balance of powerinthecountry
On Sunday, three sons of the slain leader prayed beside his casketatahugeTehranprayerhall.
ButMojtabaKhamenei,theson who succeeded him as Iran’s supreme leader, did not make an appearance. Believed to have been disfigured by wounds in the attack that killed his father, the younger Khamenei has yet to be seen in public since the war began on February 28 with Israeli and U.S. airstrikesonIran.
The mourning ceremonies began on Friday when the caskets of the elder Khamenei, one of his daughters and her 14-month-old child,oneofhissons-in-lawandthe wife of Mojtaba lay in state for Iranian officials and foreign dignitaries. Further large-scale ceremonies were held outdoors on Saturday and Sunday before Monday’shugefuneralprocession.
A helicopter carrying
Khamenei’s coffin later landed in Iran’s Shi’ite seminary city of Qom,accordingtoaclippostedby state media, ahead of funeral processionstobeheldthere.
Authorities say the body will
also be taken for further processions in two Shi’ite shrine cities in neighbouring Iraq, before returningtoIranforburialwithina medieval shrine complex in Mashhad.
The war has ended with a preliminary peace agreement reached last month that left Iran’s clerical leadership in power and claiming victory, with newfound clout from exerting control over global energy supplies through the StraitofHormuz.
Trumphasalsoclaimedvictory, although the aims he gave at the outset - destroying Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities, ending its ability to attack neighbours and creating conditions for Iranians to toppletheirleaders-haveyettobe achieved.
Trump said over the weekend thatpeacetalkswithIranhadbeen delayed for a week by the funeral ceremonies On Monday he reiteratedthattheU.S.wouldeither reachadealwithIranor“finishthe job,”renewinghisthreatofmilitary action.
Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz,saidonMondaythattheelder Khamenei had been killed because he led a programme to destroy Israel.
“Any Iranian leader who will againtrytopursueplanstodestroy Israel will be killed as well,” Katz said.
BBC Sport – Mikel Merinocameoffthebenchto score an injury-time winner for Spain as they knocked Portugal - and Cristiano Ronaldo - out of the World Cupinaheavyweightlast-16 tieinDallas.
Spainhadfailedtocreate clear-cut openings in a poor second half before Ferran Torres played in theArsenal midfielder, who slotted low pastgoalkeeperDiogoCosta inthe91stminute.
The 1-0 result was a repeatoftheirmeetingatthe same stage in 2010 and sets up a quarter-final tie with eitherco-hostsUnitedStates or Belgium in Los Angeles on Friday, 10 July (20:00 BST).
Portugal’s defeat also ends 41-year-old Ronaldo’s World Cup career after the superstar confirmed this tournament would be his last.
Spain squandered a gilt-
edgedchanceafterjustthree minutesasDaniOlmo’spass helped Mikel Oyarzabal get behind the defence, but the Real Sociedad striker draggedhiseffortwide.
Costa then produced a doublesavetodenySpanish duoLamineYamalandAlex Baenainquicksuccessionas La Roja probed for an opener, but it was Portugal whowentclosestnext.
Spain were saved by the woodworkinthe41stminute
ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)
Itcouldbehardforyoutofeel connected to anyone today You're probably better off keeping to yourself. If you're feeling sad or depressed, it's best to work through these feelingsonyourown.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
You may feel a sense of restriction to the day, but in truth, this is for your own good, Taurus. You'll find that your acute sense of discipline comes in handy today as you tackle work with incredible enthusiasm.
GEMINI(May21–June20)
Find comfort in your work today Although it may sound ridiculous, you'll find that getting things checked off yourlististhemostrewarding activity of the day. Try not to betoocriticalofothers.
CANCER(June21–July22)
Get your head out of the clouds,Cancer You'llfindout thatnitpickydetailsyoufailed to attend to earlier are now coming back to haunt you. Don'tpostponeyourworkany further
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
Today you need to finish whatever you didn't get done yesterday,Leo.Themesofthe journeyincludedisciplineand paying attention to the sand slipping through the hourglass.
VIRGO(Aug 23–Sept 22)
Put aside frivolity for a day, Virgo. This is an important time to prepare for the future. Don't take another step forward before you know you'reonsolidground.Thisis a good time to secure your goalsonapieceofpaper
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
People may be a bit critical of you today, Libra, and you would do well to hear what they have to say. Be receptive offeedbackfromotherssothat you may establish a healthy ego.It'simportanttokeepyour senseofhumilityincheck.
SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)
Maintain your psychic shield today, Scorpio, because you'll need it. People's comments may seem harsh even if they mean well. Your best defense against the critical tone of the day is to use other people's criticisms as constructively as youcan.
SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)
Unfortunately, this isn't a day forfunandgames,Sagittarius. In fact, you might feel an annoying emotional weightiness, making you feel lessenergeticthanusual.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
You'll find little comfort in your emotions today, Capricorn. You may want to simply stick to business Concentrate on getting things done in your regular routine. Createaplanandsticktoit.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)
Trynottobesmotheringtoday, Aquarius. You may want to seek comfort in conversations with others but find that this only produces grouchiness on thepartofallinvolved.
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
There's a damper on your emotions today that could leave you feeling like a pot of simmering water, Pisces. Just by knowing there's a lid on things you're likely to heat up morequicklythanusual.Tryto holdyourtemper
Quick free-kick and Merino gets on it himself and scores from a great little pass from Torres and what a finish. (Getty Images)
remained goalless at the break.
Roberto Martinez’s side continued to grow into the gameafterthebreak,though Ronaldo cut a frustrated figure up front in a second halfthatproducedlittleinthe way of action in the final third.
Bruno Fernandes hit the side-netting in the 76th minute, while at the other endOlmo’sshotfrominside the box was blocked by a braveRubenDiasbeforethe two Spain substitutes combined to produce the match-winningmoment.
Frompage25
Speaking during the postrace awards ceremony, St Lucia’s Minister for E d u c a t i o n , Yo u t h Development, Sports and Digital Transformation, Kenson Casimir, described the event as a celebration of regional unity that extends beyondcompetition. He noted that the Road Run/Walk symbolises health,discipline,friendship and the shared Caribbean identity that connects member states, adding that everyparticipantcontributed to strengthening the spirit of regionalintegration.
CARICOM SecretaryGeneral Dr Carla Barnett echoed those sentiments, highlighting the event’s role in promoting healthier lifestylesacrosstheregionas CARICOM continues its fight against the growing prevalence of noncommunicablediseases. She encouraged Caribbean citizens to embrace regular physical activity as a means of reducing the incidence of hypertension, diabetes and heartdisease.
The Cricket West Indies Masters Association (CWIMA) has announced that Dave’s West Indian Florist & Groceries has come on board as a kit sponsor of the West Indies Over-60s Cricket Team for the upcomingIMCOver-60sCricketWorldCup, tobeheldinCanadafromAugust9–23,2026. This sponsorship is another strong show of support from the West Indian business community and will assist the team as it prepares to represent the region on the internationalMasterscricketstage.
CWIMAextends sincere thanks to Dave Narinewhosebusinessescontinuetoexpand to cater for the growing needs of the West Indian community Dave’s West Indian Florist.Dave’sWestIndianFloristislocated at114-07LibertyAve,SouthRichmondHill, NY11419andisthego-toforflowersinthe South Richmond Hill area serving the area withfreshfloralarrangementsandadditional gifts of all kinds. Since they opened, they have been the premier florist offering the freshest flowers and most beautiful arrangementsforeveryoccasiontothegreat residents of South Richmond Hill and beyond.
They are a locally owned flower shop with floral designers that use their creative talent of floral design to share a love of flowers with the community Dave’s is also well known in the community for being the largest importer of West Indian products to serve the community on New York and beyond.DaveNarinehasalwaysbeenardent supporterofsportsinthecommunityandhas recognized the importance of supporting senior cricketers who continue to represent
Freshoffahistoricsilver-medal finish at the Caribbean Women’s Basketball Championship, the Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) has unveiled a balanced 12-player squad that will represent the Golden Arrowhead at the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup 2027 Centrobasket Qualifiers in Managua, Nicaragua.
ThetournamentisscheduledforJuly 12-18 at the Polideportivo Alexis Argüello,whereeightoftheregion’stop national teams will compete for three coveted spots at the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup2027.
Guyanaentersthecompetitionriding a wave of confidence after producing a second-place performance at the women’s Caribbean Championship that earnedtheteamaplaceonthecontinental stage.
The squad will open its Group B campaignonJuly12againstElSalvador before taking on regional heavyweights PuertoRicoandtheUnitedStatesVirgin Islands.
Headlining the roster are the talented Ramlall sisters Amisha, Arshia and Ashna whose contributions were instrumental in Guyana’s remarkable silvermedalrun.
Their combination of scoring ability,
the West Indies with pride, discipline, and passion.
“This support means a great deal to the players and the organization,” said Roy Singh, Secretary of the Cricket West Indies Masters Association “Masters cricket continues to grow internationally, and sponsorships like this help ensure that our players are properly supported as they preparetocompeteagainstthebestOver-60s teamsintheworld.”
The West Indies Over-60s squad for the WorldCupincludes:
ZaminAmin-Captain
NarineBidhesi
AnthonyBoyle
RajendrasammyChetana
DeonarineDeyal
RajendraDilraj
HarryNarainHeeralaa
FareedHosein
SteveLinton
KenMayers
HafizMohamed
VictorPatrick
KeithSeale
ShivnathSeeram
Anthony“Tony”Small
BalwantRoySingh
TheteamwillbemanagedbyRajSingh, with Alexio Daley serving as Physical Therapist.
The Cricket West Indies Masters Association looks forward to a strong showing in Canada and thanks all sponsors, supporters, families, and cricket fans who continuetostandbehindWestIndiesMasters cricket.
newcomers Marley Edwards and Ava Thomas. Their inclusion reflects GBF’s commitment to developing emerging talent while maintaining a competitive balance betweenyouthandexperience.
defensive intensity and versatility has become a cornerstone of the national programme, and they are expected to once againplayaleadingroleasGuyanaseeksto makehistory
The experienced core is further strengthened by captain Joy Brown, whose leadershipandcomposurehavebeenvitalto the team’s recent success. Joining her are fellow veterans Ruth Adams and Anaya Clemons, both of whom were key contributors during the Caribbean Championshipandbringvaluableexperience toasquadaimingtocompetewithsomeofthe region’sstrongestbasketballnations.
TheFederationhasalsoplaceditsfaithin thenextgeneration,handingopportunitiesto
Rounding out the squad are Kean Andrews,KeishaCopperfield,JamaicyOgle and Rehaicia Romain, giving Guyana a well-rounded roster capable of competing at both endsofthefloor.
The team will once again be guided by head coach Kenneth Avent,alongsideassistantcoach Warren Wilson, who successfully steered Guyana to its breakthrough performance at theCaribbeanChampionship.
In announcing the squad, GBF president, Michael Singh, expressed confidence in the team’s ability to build on its recentachievements.
“We are incredibly proud of this group of women who have earned the right to step onto the continental stage and represent the Golden Arrowhead,” Singh said.
According to Singh, “our silver-medal performance at the Caribbean Championship proved what Guyana’s basketball programmesarecapableofachieving.Under the guidance of our exceptional coaching staff,weareconfidentthisteamwilldisplay the grit, skill and national pride required to secureaspotinthe2027AmeriCup.”
Withmomentumontheirsideandaroster featuring proven performers alongside exciting new talent, Guyana will travel to Nicaraguadeterminedtocontinueitsupward trajectoryinregionalbasketball.
A top-three finish in the tournament would secure qualification for the FIBA Women’sAmeriCup2027andfurthercement what has already become one of the most successfulperiodsinthehistoryofGuyanese women’sbasketball.
Cricinfo - Sri Lanka rolled the momentum they had built in the latter half of the second session to roll over the final two West Indian wickets, to take a 50-run first innings lead. By stumps, they had extendedthatto142forthelossof twowickets.
At the crease were Kamindu MendisandDineshChandimal,on a fairly brisk third wicket stand of 60off72.Kamindu’sentranceat32 for 2 proved the catalyst for Sri Lanka’s improved rate of scoring, ashewastedlittletimeinlookingto takeonthebowling.
Prior to their intervention, a fiery opening burst from Shamar Joseph, allied with that trademark precision probing from Jayden Seales, accounted for the early removal of first innings centurion Lahiru Udara. The Lankan opener was unable to add anything to his matchtally,afterfailingtonavigate a length ball that seamed back sharply to rap him just above the knee roll. Sri Lanka wasted a review as well, as replays showed this to be hitting the top of leg stump.
the excellent Seales, as he continued to probe that channel outside off, while the introduction ofAlzarriJosephforcedtheLankan batters to deal with some uncomfortablebounce.
Anditwasjustthisthatbrought aboutMadushka’sdismissal,asone rose up from a good length to take theedgeofftheshoulderofthebat. There was still work to do though, as this seemed to be clearing first slip, only for John Campbell to jump fully extended with both handsandclaimthecatch.
Havingwatchedfromtheother end for a couple of overs, he belatedly faced his fourth delivery of the innings, which he promptly got a thick edge over a slow-toreact Justin Greaves at first slip. Twoballslaterheproducedamore convincingboundarythroughextra cover, and then saved the best for last with a screaming drive square past cover At the start of the next over he flicked a loose one from AlzarriJosephoverdeepsquareleg safely with the wind, and just like that he had raced to 23 off ten. Chandimal at the other end wasn’t as convincing, but he seemed to havefortuneonhisside.
Asitha Fernando bowls during his five wicket haul.
(AFP/Getty Images)
cameviaedges,thoughanuppercut sixoffAlzarrisignalledhisintentas well to push the scoring along. By thecloseofplayhehadmovedto40 off66,withKaminduon30off35.
Of his three boundaries, two
Sri Lanka moving at a healthy scoringrateof4.18.
Chandimal and Nishan
Madushka then came together to prevent any further inroads and theymanagedtoscratchtogethera 51-ball stand of 30. But with the pitch now showing more variable bounce and the West Indian seamers utilising the lateral movement on offer with the new ball effectively, there were some nervymoments.
BothMadushkaandChandimal werebeatenontheoutsideedgeby
Butdespitethoseearlywickets, as Sri Lanka seek an unlikely victory, they will hope that in ChandimalandKamindutheyhave twobatterscapableofgettingsome fast runs on the fifth morning beforepresumablyputtingthehosts backintobat.
Scores:SriLanka549for9dec and 92 for 2 (Chandimal 40*) lead West Indies 499 (Greaves 180, Hope 112, Asitha 5-130) by 142 runs.
LONDON, (Reuters) - Naomi OsakabeganherWimbledonweek wearing a kimono-style walk-on outfit inspired by her favourite character from the Quentin Tarantinomovie‘KillBill’andshe ended it by taking out top seed ArynaSabalenkainbrutalfashion.
The Japanese 14th seed produced the kind of tennis that tookhertofourGrandSlamtitlesas she blazed to a 6-2 7-6(2) win to reachthequarter-finalsforthefirst time, with Sabalenka’s demise adding to the carnage in the women’sdraw
Osaka’s victory, following third-round defeats for defending champion Iga Swiatek and 2022 winner Elena Rybakina, means the top three seeds are all out. With Barbora Krejcikova losing to fellowCzechKarolinaMuchovain thefourthroundonSunday,aninth successive first-time Wimbledon winnerisguaranteed.
Novak Djokovic continued his challenge for a men’s recordequalling eighth title although the 39-year-old said he did not enjoy his scrappy 7-6(6) 6-3 3-6 6-3 win over Russian qualifier Roman Safiullineventhoughitearnedhim yetanothermilestone.
“To be honest, I haven’t felt really great on the court, so I was relieved to get out of it and get a win,” Djokovic said after moving past `Swiss great Roger Federer with a men’s record 106th Wimbledonmatchwin.
“Satisfaction and enjoyment weren’tpartoftoday’swin.”
It may have been ugly, but the ageless Djokovic is through to his 17thWimbledon quarter-final and one step away from a possible
semi-final showdown with defending champion and top seed Jannik Sinner who comfortably saw off Japanese qualifier Shintaro Mochizuki 6-3 7-6(0) 63
For that to happen Djokovic will have to beat Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, who outlasted Spain’s last survivor Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 67(4) 7-6(6) 6-3 6-7(2) 6-1 a four-hour 26 minute battle that ended with an angry exchange of words between the players at the net
Sinnerhasyettofaceaseedso far and he will not do so in the quarter-finals where he will play veteranJan-LennardStruff.
The German reached the last eight at a Grand Slam for the first time, at the 47th attempt. The 36year-old Struff, ranked 74, had battled back from two sets down
against Hubert Hurkacz when the distraught Pole quit with a left hip injury SHOWDOWN BETWEEN POWER
There was ‘no doubt about which match had top-billing on a warm and sunny Day Seven at the All England Club — a showdown between power merchants SabalenkaandOsaka,two28-yearoldswithfourGrandSlamsapiece, allonhardcourts.
After Osaka beat Sabalenka en route to winning the 2018 U.S. Open title, they did not meet again for almost eight years. When they finally did cross paths again, Sabalenka beat her Japanese rival threetimesthisseasonincludingat theFrenchOpen.
But the tables were turned emphatically as a serene Osaka produced a display of sustained power and accuracy to leave
Novak Djokovic (SRB) hits a volley against Roman Safiullin (not pictured) on day seven of The Championships Wimbledon 2026 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
(Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)
Naomi Osaka (JPN) serves against Aryna Sabalenka (not pictured).
(Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)
Sabalenkascreamingin frustration onCentreCourt.
The expected fireworks failed to materialise though as Osaka dominated a misfiring Sabalenka — claiming her ‘biggest win since returning from maternity leave in 2024.
Next up for Osaka is 10th seed Muchovawhobeat2024champion Krejcikova ‘7-5 5-7 6-3 in a tight battle.
FiveAmerican women reached thelast16,themostsince2002and two of them met on Court One where fourth seed Jessica Pegula’s experience paid dividends as she gave18-year-oldIvaJovicalesson in match management in a 4-6 6-3 6-1victory
Pegula, who has matched her best Wimbledon run, will face anotherAmericaninthenextround after seventh seed Coco Gauff battled past Swiss 11th seed Belinda Bencic 4-6 6-3 6-4 two minutes short of Wimbledon’s 11 p.m.curfew
After eight days of non-stop youth basketball action, Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) has brought the curtain down on the 19th KFC National School Basketball Festival on Sunday at the National Gymnasium, capping offanothermemorableeditionwith four deserving champions crowned.
President’s College etched its name into the history books by capturing its maiden Girls’Under16 title before completing a championshipdoubleas its Under18 boys overwhelmed Queen’s College in the feature finale. St. Rose’s High School battled to the Boys’ Under-16 crown, while Hururu Secondary completed a remarkable campaign by cutting downSkeldonLinePathSecondary to claim the Boys’ Under-14 championship.
The tournament also marked a historic shift in the local schools’ basketballlandscape,asKwakwani
Secondary, a perennial powerhouse, failed to reach a championship game for the first time in the festival’s history, highlightingthegrowingdepthand competitivenessacrossthecountry
Region Six continued to make its presence felt throughout the tournament,placingtwoschoolsin championship finals as Skeldon Line Path Secondary and Berbice HighSchoolbothfinishedrunnersupintheirrespectivedivisions.
Theregionalsosweptseveralof the major individual honours. JC ChandisinghSecondarywasnamed
Fourtitles, Fourwinners! Here’s part of the action between PC and QC in the Boy’s U18 Youth Basketball championship.
Best Emerging School, Berbice High School’s Jason Gladstone collected the Coach of the Year award, while Region Six Conference Coordinator Stefan Peters was recognised with an OutstandingLeadershipAward.
According to YBG, the participation of schools from Regions Two and Nine reinforced the organisers’ belief that “young
people across Guyana simply need opportunities to develop and showcase their talents ” Their involvement reflected the organisation’s commitment to wideningbasketball’sfootprintand creating more avenues for youth developmentnationwide.
President’s College was one of the tournament’s biggest success stories.Aftersixpreviousattempts,
the Georgetown school finally broke through, driving the lane to secureitsfirstGirls’championship. The triumph comes amid a resurgenceingirls’basketball,with several emerging programmes showing they can now compete possession for possession with the country’straditionalcontenders.
YBG Co-Director Chris Bowman believes the future is bright.
“The future of the girls’ game looks bright, and there is much anticipation for their continued growth and development over the comingyear,”Bowmanremarked.
Championship Sunday certainlydelivered.
The Boys’ Under-14 final tipped off with two of the tournament’shottestteams,Hururu Secondary and Skeldon Line Path Secondary, trading baskets in an entertaining contest that showcased the country’s next generation of talent. Hururu eventuallyfoundanothergear in the second half, pulling away for a convincing 45-31 victory to secure its first championship.
Crandon Beckles dominated both ends of the floor with an outstanding double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds, controlling the paint throughout the contest. Roy Corbis provided excellent support with 12 points and 11 rebounds as Hururu won the rebounding battle and closed out a memorabletitlerun.
TheGirls’finalhadfanson the edge of their seats as tournament debutants Hururu
Secondary pushed the experienced President’s College lineup right down to the final possession. With the pressure mounting, President’s College kept its composuredownthestretchto escapewithanail-biting18-17 victory and finally lift the Girl’s U16 championship trophy
Sarah Williams paced the
winners with five points and four rebounds, while Christy Sears and Pauline Flatts chipped in with timely contributions to help PC survive Hururu’s spirited challenge.
The Boys’ Under-16 championship was equally dramatic as Berbice High School and St Rose’s High School exchanged momentum throughout a high-tempo encounter The lead changedhandsseveraltimesbefore St. Rose’s dug deep in overtime to edge tournament favourites BerbiceHigh50-46.
Nathan Williams delivered an MVP-worthy performance, filling the stat sheet with a game-high 23 points and 14 rebounds as St. Rose’scontrolledtheglasswhenit mattered most to seal the hardfoughtvictory
The U16 division gave way to the marquee Under-18 finale, where President’s College once againshowcasedwhyitremainsthe country’s most formidable school team. Although Queen’s College stayed within striking distance early, PC tightened its defence, forcedkeyturnoversandwentona decisive scoring run to cruise to a commanding47-25victory
Dontrell Ross and Mattaniah Fordyce combined for 25 of President’s College’s 47 points, with Ross pouring in a team-high 14 points while Fordyce anchored the defensive effort with several game-changing plays that kept QC’soffenceoutofrhythm.
Individualhonoursreflectedthe standout performances throughout the week. Mattaniah Fordyce was namedtheUnder-18MostValuable Player, Crandon Beckles claimed the Under-14 MVP award, Sarah Williams was deservedly crowned Girls’MVP,whileNathanWilliams earned Boys’ Under-16 MVP honours.
The19thKFCNationalSchool Basketball Festival was proudly sponsored by KFC, Edward B. BeharryandCo.Limited.,G-Boats Inc.,theMinistryofCulture,Youth and Sport, and the Ministry of Education.
Guyana continued its tradition of excellence at the CARICOM 10K Road Race with a series of podium finishes on Sunday, as Odida Parkinson and Attoya Harvey both secured second-place finishes in the elite categories duringthe19thstagingoftheevent inGrosIslet,SaintLucia.
impressive run to finish second in the Elite Men’s 10K behind Jamaica’s Garfield Gordon, who claimed the coveted CARICOM Chairman’s Trophy Antigua and B
’s
completedthepodiuminthird.
In the women’s elite race, Guyana’sAttoya Harvey, the 2023 champion,deliveredanotherstrong
performance to finish second behindBarbados’CarlieRobinson, who captured the CARICOM Secretary-General’s Trophy TrinidadandTobago’sAlexiaJohn crossedthelineinthird.
Guyanaalsocelebratedsuccess in the Open Men’s category, with Cleveland Thomas finishing third overall in a time of 34 minutes, 26 seconds. Kenya’sAlex Ekesa won the race in 30:24, while Saint Lucia’s Christopher Dubisson placedsecondin33:21.
The results capped another productive outing for the Golden Arrowhead, which fielded its
prestigiousregionalevent.Harvey, Parkinson, Thomas and Jelesa Wright represented Guyana under the management of experienced athleticsofficialTyroneSmith. Beforetheteam’sdeparture,the National Sports Commission (NSC) reaffirmed its commitment to the athletes by providing financial and logistical support, with Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle expressing confidence that the quartet would continue Guyana’s proud history at the event. His confidence proved well-
founded as Guyana returned home with three podium finishes, reinforcing the country’s status as one of the Caribbean’s strongest distance-runningnations. More than 250 professional athletes, amateur competitors and recreational runners from 15 CARICOM member states and territoriesparticipatedinthisyear’s Road Run/Walk, which forms part of the activities surrounding the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, being heldfromJuly5-8inSaintLucia. Continued on page 21
