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Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d), Mark Phillips (sitting centre) today administered the Oath of Office to five Commissioners of Title and six magistrates appointed by the Judicial Service Commission, during a ceremony held in the Lula Room of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. (OPM)
Corentyne and robbed of millions DR-company given 6 months to commence activities in Spain grants nine Caribbean travel, but blanks oil-rich Guyana
New Canadian firm moves to
Tint shop owner, Troy Singh
Narinedutt Ramnarain says he was robbed of millions, and beaten by intruders
Alivestocktraderandhis family of No 1 Road, Corentyne, Berbice have been left traumatised after gun-wielding bandits stormed their home on Mondayevening. The intruders, all of whom are believed to be males, ransacked the home of Narinedutt Ramnarain, and made off with over $3 million in cash. The family believes the robbery was carriedoutbysomeonethey arefamiliarwith.
RamnaraintoldKaieteur News Wednesday, that he was home at around 8:30 casuallyrelaxinginsideafter he had taken dinner, when screams from his daughters alarmedhimmomentslater Ramnarain’s family
the
shares two properties in an extensive plot, occupied by himself, his wife, son and two daughters, as well as their two sons-in-law and grandchildren. None of the maleswerehomeatthetime.
“Mytwodaughterswent outsidehere;mywifewasin the hammock. I left them there and I went inside. My three grandchildren went with them outside. When I went and go inside, about five minutes after I left and go inside, I hear screaming outside, and I said maybe something wrong with my grandchildren.”
He inquired from his daughter what the situation was, and proceeded outside, where he was confronted byfivemaskedindividuals.
“AllIhearsomebodysay ‘shhh,nonoise’.So,Igetup fromtheroomandcomeout. When I reach at the door, theytoldmeliedownonmy bellyanddon’tsayanything.
Them man pull a gun on me,”Ramnarainshared. He complied, while two of the men made their way into the lower flat of his house.Twoothermenwould ‘rough up’ his daughters, ages30and31.Themen,he said, went straight to his roomandcarefullyremoved clothing from several baskets, which had monies tiedinblackbags.
The cattle dealer explainedthathehadover$1 million in one of his pants, which he reserved for business dealings on Tuesday, and an additional $500,000underhismattress.
Themenforcedhiminto the room, where he volunteeredtohandthemthe pants with the $1.2 million. Dissatisfied, the men demanded more and assaultedRamnarain.
“They continue beating me.Lashedmewithagunin my head. They beat and
broadsidemeh.Theyhadme onmybellylyingdown,and they give me about 9 broadsideinmyback.”
The men would resume rummaging through the two clothes baskets, where they found $1 million in each, Ramnarain told this publication. He expressed hisreliefthatnoharmbefall his grandchildren or his wife.
His daughters, however, were not so fortunate Appealing to the men not to harm her father, one of Ramnarain’s daughters was reportedly dealt multiple lashes with a cutlass, while theotherwasslapped,before herfingerringwastaken. Ontheirwayout,hesaid themaskedmenfiredseveral shots before making their escape.
Areportwasmadetothe Albion Police Station in Corentyne. The matter is beinginvestigated.
The ransacked baskets which held Ramnarain’s savings
Ramnarain displaying
broadside wounds from Monday night’s assault
New Canadian firm moves to acquire 64 km² of mineral claims in US$1.1M deal from local owner
ByRenaySambach
LexstonMiningCorporation,thenewest Canadian firm to be drawn to Guyana’s mining industry, has moved to acquire mineral claims covering approximately 64 75 square kilometres (km²) in the northwestminingdistrict,inadealvaluedat US$1.1million.
This move comes just weeks after Lexston incorporated a wholly owned local subsidiary, Lexston Guyana Inc., after an evaluation identified opportunities in Guyana’sgold-richdistricts.
Lexston Guyana entered the LOI with Joseph Jardine, the seller to acquire a 100% undivided interest in 15 strategic mineral claimsinRegionOne,MiningDistrictFive, NorthwestGuyana.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lexston Mining Corporation, Jagdip Bal commented,“Securingthisexclusiveoption onapproximately16,000acresintheGuiana ShieldregionofNorthwestGuyanamarksan important milestone for Lexston. Subject to the completion of due diligence and the execution of a definitive agreement, this proposedacquisitionalignswithourstrategy to evaluate and expand our international mineralexplorationportfolio.”
Forhispart,JosephJardine,thesellerand claim holder said, “I am very pleased to partner with Lexston on this project. This transaction provides a clear path forward to advance exploration on these highly prospective assets by leveraging Lexston’s corporateresourcesandmanagementteam.I lookforwardtoworkingcloselywiththemto complete the definitive agreement and unlock the true mineral potential of this region.”
Undertheproposedtransaction,Lexston GuyanawillpayatotalofUS$1.1millionin structured cash payments.Thecompany has already paid an initial refundable deposit of US$25,000,withtheremainingpaymentsto bemadeoverafive-yearperiodfollowingthe receiptoftherequiredapprovals.
The agreement also provides for Jardine to retain a two percent net smelter royalty (NSR) on future production from the property, while maintaining operational
rights to any alluvial gold found on the property
Lexston has been granted an exclusive 90-day period to advance the transaction to conduct a comprehensive due diligence review,whichincludesexplorationandlegal assessment of title, licenses, permits, technical information and environmental matters.Notably,duringthe90-daywindow, Jardine is prohibited from soliciting, encouraging, negotiating, or entering into any alternative agreements or transactions regardingthedispositionorencumbranceof anyinterestinthemineralclaims.
Completion of the acquisition remains subject to several conditions, including the satisfactorycompletionofLexstonGuyana’s duediligencereview,negotiationandformal executionofamutuallyacceptabledefinitive purchase agreement and the receipt of all mandatory governmental, regulatory, and mining authority approvals within Guyana, including the transfer and registration of the claims.
Thecompletionofthetransactionisalso contingent on regulatory clearance from the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) Further, the company cautioned there is no assurancetheacquisitionwillbecompleted.
Lexston’sarrivaladdstoagrowingwave of Canadian gold interest in Guyana.About 11 Canadian companies are already advancinggoldprojectsacrossthecountry’s mining districts — most concentrated in RegionSeven,theCuyuni-MazaruniMining District, long recognised for its gold potential.
Five of those companies have published ProvenandProbableReservesandIndicated Mineral Resource Estimates totaling 15.7 millionouncesofgoldwhiletherestremain atearlierexplorationstages.
Lexston Corporation had revealed that it decided to establish a presence in Guyana after an internal evaluation identified opportunities in the country’s gold-rich districts. The move follows the company’s recent engagement of Dentons Delany Inc., an international law firm with a Guyana office, and a site visit by Lexston representativestoassessprospectsfirsthand.
The body of 14-year-old Daveanand Balram was found one day after he was reported missing after swimmingwithfriends.
The teen’s mother, Gayatree Rambhajan, confirmed the shattering discovery to Kaieteur News onWednesday.
Balram, also called Ritesh, and ‘White Boy’, of No. 60 Village, Corentyne Berbice, was among three other friends at a location within that area on Monday His mother told this publication that her son’s friends were attempting to teachhimtoswimwhenthe tragedyoccurred.
Rambhajan explained thathersonwasclingingtoa piece of wood while his panickingfriendsreportedly
wenttogethelp.
“Theysaidheholdonto a wood and the boy go to bringsomeboatmantopick him up, but they ain’t find him. By time they come back, the water wash he away,”theagonisingmother expressed.
A search got underway on Monday evening into Tuesday, but proved unsuccessful, even after a joint operation along the Corentyne River between the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and its Surinamese counterparts, and family membersandfriends.
PoliceinRegionSixina statement confirmed that an investigation has been launched into the discovery, whichwasmadeat07:00hrs, in the vicinity of the
Dukestown Foreshore, Corriverton,Berbice.
P r e l i m i n a r y investigation revealed that family members resumed searchingabout06:00hrsOn Wednesday when his body wasdiscovered.
Balram’s body was found lying face down in a crouched position between severalrocks,cladinaboxer short. It was in an advanced stateofdecomposition.
The body was examined and no marks of violence were observed. Rambhajan was hoping that her son would be found alive Balram’s body was taken to theRamoo’sFuneralHome.
Apost-mortem examination isscheduledforFriday Investigations are ongoing.
Thealarmingreportsofrepeatedillegalforeignaircraft flying over the Kanashen Protected Area should concern everyGuyanese.
This points to a dangerous pattern of lawlessness unfoldinginthecountry’svasthinterland.Foryears,Guyana has battled the scourge of gold smuggling, with criminal networks involving foreign nationals, particularly BraziliansandVenezuelans,exploitingweakbordercontrols andremoteminingdistricts.
Illegal aircraft are not flying hundreds of miles into Guyanaforsightseeing.Theyaretransportingpeople,fuel, equipment,suppliesand,verylikely,smuggledgold.Every unauthorisedflightrepresentsapotentiallossofrevenueand adirectchallengetotheauthorityoftheState.
It is unreasonable to expect Toshaos and Indigenous communitiestoserveasGuyana’sfrontlineairsurveillance system. Their role is to safeguard their communities, not police the nation’s borders. When they repeatedly raise alarms only to receive promises instead of action, confidence in the State’s ability to protect its territory inevitablyerodes.
This issue extends far beyond illegal mining. Unmonitored aircraft create ideal conditions for organised transnational crime. The same routes used for gold smuggling can be exploited for trafficking firearms, narcotics, migrants and other illicit goods. Criminal organisations do not distinguish between one illegal commodity and another; once secure air corridors are established, they become gateways for multiple forms of criminalenterprise.
There are also serious national security implications. Guyana’s borders are already under pressure from illegal mining, environmental destruction and longstanding territorial threats. Allowing unidentified aircraft to move with apparent ease across our airspace is an invitation for criminal syndicates to deepen their operations and underminenationalsovereignty
The Government can no longer rely on seasonal explanations or delayed aerial surveys. The wet season cannotbecomeaconvenientexcuseforinactionwhileillegal flights continue unabated. Effective airspace monitoring requires permanent surveillance, stronger radar capability, better coordination between the GDF, Police and aviation authorities,andswiftenforcementwheneverillegalaircraft aredetected.
Guyana’s expanding oil wealth has increased the country’s strategic importance. Yet vast portions of its interior remain vulnerable to exploitation by foreign criminal elements. Protecting the nation’s airspace must therefore become a national priority, not merely an occasionalresponseaftervillagersraiseanotheralarm.
Asovereignnationmustknowwhoisenteringitsskies, where they are going and why Until Guyana demonstrates that it controls its own airspace, criminal networks will continuetobelievethatthecountry’sinteriorremainsopen forbusiness.
Guyana’s Judiciary and the Writ of Habeas Corpus: Testing Article 139
DEAREDITOR,
Habeas corpus is the oldest common-law safeguard against arbitraryconfinement.Itdoesonething: compelthestatetojustifybeforeajudge whyitconfinesaperson.
Its value in the West Indies has never depended on the literal meaning or the flowery elegance of the constitutional text, but on whether judges treat such writ as urgent and an extension of detention as the exception rather than the routine. Article 139 permits the deprivation of liberty on reasonable suspicion of having committed, or being about to commit, an offence The Criminal Law (Procedure)Actcapswarrantlesspolice detentionat72hourssothat“reasonable suspicion” doesn’t become indefinite confinement. An extension of that periodisafreshincursiononlibertythat the Constitution requires the state to justifyanew
A Newspaper reported that on July
8, 2026, a murder suspect voluntarily surrenderedtopoliceatEveLearywith his attorney When his detention approached the 72-hour limit, a judge granted an extension, despite a Fixed Date Application for habeas corpus againstthestate,whereinhestatedthat his detention was unlawful and in breach of said Article. Another judge somehow got involved and permitted thecopstoholdthesuspectuntilJuly14 at 1:00 p m His lawyer, when interviewed, claimed neither he nor his client was served any order of extension, and further stated that no station sergeant’s entry recorded any such document verifying a judge granting an extension appearing at the station where his client was unlawfully held. If those facts hold up, they describe a pattern West Indian courts haveconfrontedbefore:ThornhillvA.G.TrinidadandTobago[1981]AC61.It was held that the police’s delay in allowing a detainee to exercise a right
guaranteedbytheConstitutioncouldn’t be justified by the convenience of an ongoing investigation. Lord Diplock obiter matters most here: a constitutional right belonging to a person in custody isn’t suspended becausethestatefindsitinconvenientto honour promptly An extension order thatisneithershowntothedetaineenor communicated to his counsel, and a habeas corpus application that goes unheard while the extension is quietly granted first, repeats the same defect Thornhillcondemned:processarranged around the state’s convenience rather thanthecitizen’sright.
A.-G. T & T v Ramanoop [2005] 2 WLR 1324 went further, describing cops as state agents endowed with coercive power, whose misuse of that power the courts exist to vindicate, not merely compensate after the fact, but vindicate, so that the right itself is seen tomatter Acourtthatextendsa
Continued on page 5
The need for human capital is critical
DEAREDITOR,
Guyana’s population has gone past theonemillionpeoplemark.Forseveral decades hitherto, Guyana’s population stagnated due to external migration, mainlytotheUnitedStatesandCanada. Bothofthesecountrieshavesignificant Guyanese diaspora, the majority of whom departed the shores of Guyana during the period of PNC authoritarian rule.
The so-called ‘push factor’ due to economic and social decline, coupled with political victimization saw thousands of Guyanese leaving the countryinsearchofabetterlifeandthe consequential emergence of the socalled‘greenergrass’syndrome.
One consequence of such situation was a significant brain drain and a depletionofourhumancapital.
With the return of democratic rule on October 5, 1992 and the election to office of the PPP/C administration the exodus slowed but by then many
overseas Guyana were fairly well settled in their adopted homeland and had family and other commitments which rendered it difficult to return to their respective homeland. Many had already ‘sponsored’close relatives and developednewfamilynetworks.
The recent unsure in our population has to be seen in the context of a new dispensationfuelledinlargemeasureby our oil and gas resources which created newopportunitiesforGuyanesetoreturn home Many of them have done well economicallyandhaveacquiredvaluable managerialandtechnicalskills
Guyana is now better positioned to absorb much of the skills and expertise ofourGuyanesediaspora.Indeed,there is now a shortage of skilled labour especially in the construction sector Thecountryiscurrentlyexperiencinga construction boom, thanks to massive infrastructural works and home construction.
Theconstructionboomhascreateda
labourvacuumwhichispartiallymetby migrant labour, the numbers of which have increased exponentially with the past five years.According to the latest census report, the unemployment rate hasfallensignificantlytoapointofnear fullemployment.
Theseareallpositivedevelopments which are impacting not only on our economic growth and competitiveness but also on the social fabric of our society It is not uncommon to hear a diversityoflinguisticexpressionsatour workplacesandothersocialgatherings, especially from our growing Hispanic community
All of this, I wish to submit, augers well for the future of Guyana. As the country embarks on the road to modernization and transformation, the need for human capital will be critical. Agrowingpopulationisessentialinthis regard.
Sincerely, HydarAlly
Political games by our leaders must come to an end
DEAREDITOR,
It is becoming increasingly clear that the political games played by our leaders must come to an end. The consequences extend far beyond political parties—they indirectly affect the lives of ordinary citizens who are looking for responsible leadership, stability,andprogress.
Today, our greatest priority should not be political affiliation, religious belief,ethnicity,orrace.Beforeallelse, we are one human family Guyana is experiencing remarkable growth, and there is every indication that this progress will continue. To sustain that momentum,wemustuniteacrossevery divide. Political tension and racism havenoplaceinapeaceful,democratic,
anddevelopingsociety
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has also grown stronger, and as a member state, Guyana has a responsibility to lead by example. Our continued support for neighbouring countries and our collaborative partnerships with nations such as Barbados and Jamaica are encouraging stepstowardamoreunitedandresilient Caribbean.
At the same time, many citizens continuetostrugglewiththerisingcost of living and the demands of everyday life. We should therefore take full advantage of available scholarships, skills training, financial literacy programmes, and business opportunities that can empower
individuals and strengthen our economy
By investing in our people, supporting entrepreneurship, and expanding agriculture, Guyana can continue to build its reputation as the breadbasket of the Caribbean while contributing to the food security of the widerWestIndianregion.
The future of Guyana will not be determined by division, but by our willingness to work together with mutual respect, shared purpose, and a commitmenttothenationalinterest.Let us place country above politics and build a stronger, more united Guyana forfuturegenerations.
Sincerely, BlaneRBunbury
DEAREDITOR,
This third installment tells the story not only of Wednesday 18th of July 2012 but of the 35 Days of the People’s Struggle that followed While the Commission of Inquiry thoroughly examined the shootings themselves, this account focuses on the people, their courage, discipline, sacrifice and determinationasasingleday ofprotestevolvedintothirtyfive days of resistance, negotiation and community action before an agreement was signed between the people of Linden and the Government.
Forme,Wednesday18th of July remains deeply personal. I still remember hearing the sound of bullets striking the steel of the Wismar-Mackenzie Bridge,
the warnings of “Mr Solomon turn back, they are using live rounds,” the frantic journey to the hospital where families gatheredaroundthedeadand wounded and travelling to Georgetown the following morning to tell the nation what had happened. Those memories remind us that behind every historical record are human lives foreverchanged.
H o w e v e r , t h i s installment is not about me. It is about a community that refused to surrender A community that buried its dead, cared for its wounded, organiseditself,rebuiltwhat had been destroyed and demonstratedtoGuyanathat courage is not measured by theabsenceoffear,butbythe determination to stand together in the face of
Guyana’s Judiciary and...
Frompage4 detention without requiring the police to produce and communicate its own order isn’t vindicating personal liberty; it is deferring to the very authority the writ is meanttocheck.
And in Hinds v The Queen [1977] AC 195, the B o a r d r e a d i n t o Westminster-model constitutions like Guyana’s an implicit separation of powers: judicial functions can’t be exercised, in a way that makes the courts an extension of executive convenience.Ajudiciarythat grantsextensionsswiftlyand hears habeas corpus applications slowly inverts thatprinciple.Thewritexists precisely to be inconvenient to those holding a person in custody;acourtthattreatsit as an afterthought to an extension already granted has misread its own constitutionalrole.
injustice.
History ultimately asks one question: How does a government respond when its own people cry out to be heard?
The events of 18th of July 2012 answered that question in a way that continues to shape Linden’s history
Asoutlinedinthesecond installment, the people of Linden had spent months exhaustingeverydemocratic avenueafterthegovernment announced what residents regarded as an over 1,000% increaseinelectricitytariffs. Letters were written Technical proposals were
submitted. Meetings were held. Delegations travelled to Georgetown Peaceful demonstrations were organised. Every reasonable opportunityfordialoguewas pursued.
The community sought e
G
indifference.
T h e P r o t e s t –Wednesday, 18th of July 2012
The protest of 18th July 2012 was a lawful exercise of the constitutional right to p
mbly Permissionwasgranted.
Thousands of workers, pensioner
students, vendors and families gathered peacefully to oppose a decision that threatened the economic survivalofanentiretown. Ourprotestwasaboutfar more than electricity It was about dignity It was about fairness It was about economicjustice.Aboveall, it was about the right of citizens, guaranteed under Article 13 of the Constitution, to participate in the decisions that affect theirlives.
TheKillings
What followed remains one of the darkest moments in Guyana’s democratic history
Members of the Guyana Police Force opened fire on unarmed civilians at the Wismar–MackenzieBridge. Ron Somerset, Alan Lewis and Shemroy Bouyea were killed. Dozens more were wounded, many carrying physical and emotionalscarstothisday
The Commission of Inquiry concluded that the use of lethal force was unjustifiedandthatinnocent citizenshadbeenunlawfully killed It recommended compensationforthevictims and recognised serious failures in the actions of the GuyanaPoliceForce.
Continued on page 6
EMANCIPATION CELEBRATION PLANNED FOR THE MACEDONIA JOPPA DISTRICT IN BERBICE
DEAREDITOR,
Within the next two weeks the Macedonia Joppa Voluntary Committee (MJVC), a registered nonprofit organization in East Corentyne, Berbice will celebrate 192 years of Emancipation on Saturday
Guyana replaced the Privy Council with the CCJ in2005,butitdidn’tthereby discardthejurisprudencethe Privy Council built for the region Thornhill, Ramanoop, and Hinds remain part of the common inheritance every W.I. judge swearstoapply
The measure of an independent judiciary isn’t how it rules when the executive is unwatched, but howquicklyitmoveswhena citizen’slibertyisontheline andthestatehasbeenslowto justify holding him. On that measure, Article 139 will mean only what Guyana’s judges are prepared to make itmean.
Regards,
None of this requires assuming bad faith on the partofanyindividualjudge. It requires only that Guyana’s courts recognise what the Privy Council recognised for Trinidad and Jamaicadecadesago:aright topersonallibertythatcanbe quietly extended around, without a written order shown to the detainee, without counsel heard, is a rightthatexistsonpaperand nowhere else. As the g u a r a n t o r o f t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n , t h e Chancellor’s office has a supervisory interest in whether that pattern is becoming routine, and its silence in the face of public reporting on it is itself a matter the public is entitled toaskabout.
M.ShabeerZafar Barrister-at-Law
August 1st 2026 to commemorate the abolition of slavery in Guyana. The Emancipation Law which was enacted by the British Slavery Act on August 1, 1834, liberated the African slavesintheBritishcolonies andendedhundredsofyears ofsuffering,brutalityandthe dehumanization ofAfricans. Theholidayissignificantnot justasacalendareventbutas a new lease of life for Guyanese It is a day of remembrance, and an opportunity to reflect on the courageous efforts and sacrificesofenslavedAfrican men,womenandchildrenin theirfightforfreedom.
The Macedonia Joppa Voluntary Committee (MJVC) will mark this solemn, yet joyful occasion with the largest celebrations everseenontheCorentyne. Weather permitting, this y e a r ’ s o u t d o o r Emancipation celebration is
expectedtoattractthousands ofpeoplefromasfarasWest Coast Berbice to Molson Creek on the Corentyne and beyond. It will be the only all-daycelebrationofitskind inEastCorentyne,startingat 7:30 AM with a male and female race followed by a two-mile road march from Brighton to Epsom Village and to the Community Center Pavilion ground Thousandswilljointheroad march under the theme
“INSPIRING HOPE, BUILDING A BETTER
F U T U R E I N O N E GUYANA.” Participants in the road march will be decked out in a dazzling array of colorful attire of green, gold, yellow, white, black and red representing the colors of the Golden Arrowhead, and depicting Guyanese culture, lifestyle, andheritage.
Residentsofallagesand from all walks of life, regardless of race, religion, or social status from the MacedoniaJoppavillagesof No 35, 36, Brighton, Kiltearn, Eversham, Epsom, Bengal and No 43 will line the roadway to view the colorfuldisplayofcostumes and exquisite outfits as the
revelers danced to the rhythm of the lively and customary soca music suppliedbythedynamicand popular Natural Sound Vibes.
At the pavilion, children andadultswillparticipatein severalsportsactivitiessuch as bag, lime and spoon and needle and thread races and cultural, social, and educational activities including the recital of poems,singingoffolksongs, a display of African dance, drumming and education quizzes on the meaning of Emancipation and on the historyandgeographyofour beloved Guyana High lightening the day’s activities will be a beauty pageant with several lovely and attractive contestants competing for the
prestigious2026MJVCtitle.
For the residents of the Macedonia Joppa District, Emancipation is not only about partying, eating, drinking and dancing in the streets, all of which are part of our culture, tradition and heritage.Itisacelebrationof the freedom of enslaved Africans and a time for all Guyanesenearandfartoput aside their differences and prejudices and unite to celebrate as one people, one Guyana.MJVCwillprovide freemealstoall.
The Macedonia Joppa VoluntaryCommitteeinvites allinthedistrictandbeyond to participate in the picturesque celebration on SaturdayAugust1,2026.
The investigation into the 2021 assassination of RicardoFagundes,knownas “Paper Shorts,” saw rapid developments over the last seven days. An East Bank Demerara businessman was arrested on Wednesday, a w a n t e d m e c h a n i c surrendered to authorities, and three high-profile suspectswerereleasedon$1 millionstationbaileach.
Reactingtothearrestsin avideoaddresspostedtohis Facebookpagelastevening, Leader of the Opposition
Azruddin Mohamed criticised the police’s handling of the case, questioningwhykeyfigures remain untouched “They continue to harass random people, yet key witnesses in the case, like Roger Khan, we haven’t seen a wanted bulletin for,” Mohamed stated.
TintShopOwner Arrested,Claims PoliceCoercion
TroySingh,theownerof an Eccles-based tint shop, wasarrestedbypoliceathis home at 10:00 AM on Tuesday He remains in custody at the Kitty Police Station. Singh is the fifth person arrested in
connection with the murder probethisyear Singh’sattorney,Yuborn Allicock, confirmed the arrest to Kaieteur News, stating that his client was first taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters on Vlissengen Road before beingtransferredtotheKitty Police Station Allicock allegedthatinvestigatorsare attemptingtoforcehisclient into making false statements “My client related to me that the police
are pressuring him to implicate Mohamed in the said murder by stating that Mr Mohamed had ordered him to tint the white fielder wagon...he also said that he has no knowledge of that,” Allicockstated.
Singhhasmaintainedhis innocence. In audio- and video-recorded interviews with the police, he insisted he never tinted any white Toyota Fielder wagon associated with Opposition LeaderAzruddin Mohamed. Singh maintained that he
“only tinted high-end vehiclesforMr.Mohamed.”
It remains unclear up to press time, whether police willseekacourtextensionto hold Singh beyond the standard 72-hour detention limit as they did for previously held Mark Richmond.Thewhitefielder wagon in question is believed by investigators to be the getaway vehicle used by the hitmen who executed Fagundes in March 2021. Transaction documents reportedly shared with investigators in July 2025 indicatethesaidvehiclewas sold to Shemroy Omar Stewart.Inavideopostedon his “Team Mohamed’s” Facebook page, Mohamed identified Stewart as a security guard and close associate of convicted drug trafficker Shaheed Roger Khan.
Wantedmechanic surrenderstopolice Hours after a wanted bulletin was issued for his arrest on Tuesday, July 14, Satrohan Rajkumar, commonly known as “Depo,” surrendered to police on Wednesday, July 15 Accompanied by his attorney Damien Da Silva,
Rajkumar turned himself in at the Regional Division 4 “A” Police Headquarters at Eve Leary He was immediately arrested and transported to CID
Headquarters on Vlissengen
Road Rajkumar, a mechanic, was the fourth person to be arrested in connectionwiththecasethis year Under Guyanese law, policecanholdhimforupto 72 hours without charge, a window that expires this Friday unless the police request and are granted an extensionbythehighcourt.
The opposition leader said the bulletin for Rajkumar, whom he described as a respectable mechanic of 20 years who services his racing team’s vehicles, as “both unnecessary and absurd,” noting that Rajkumar lives minutes from the nearest station and operates openly
Mohamed added that Rajkumar suffers from an ulcerative stomach condition and expressed hope that he would receive his food on time while in custody The police force issued a wanted bulletin for him for the offence of “murder” reportedly
committed on “Paper Shorts”.Thepoliceforcehad also,oneyearago,releaseda similar bulletin for the same chargeforRondellBacchus. Bacchus was subsequently r e l e a s e d w i t h n o development. M o h a m e d a l s o addressed the arrest of Troy Singh. He claimed Singh’s family spent the entire day desperately searching for him because he was barred from contacting them until his transfer to the Kitty Police Station. Condemning what he termed a “wild goose chase” by the ruling PPP, Mohamed pointed to the six-day detention of his former employee, Mark Richmond.“Canyoubelieve Continued on page 7
18 July 2012: The Protest, The Shooting, A Community’s Resolve
Frompage5
Every democracy has moments that define its conscience.
Britain remembers Peterloo South Africa remembers Sharpeville NorthernIrelandremembers Bloody Sunday. Linden remembers its 18th of July Martyrs.
The true measure of democracy is not how a governmenttreatsthosewho supportitbuthowitprotects those who peacefully disagree. The contrast was evidentwhencomparedwith the PPP Government’s handling of other protests, including those in Berbice.
On November 25th, 2005, when residents of Tain and surrounding communities, including Whim, burned tires, buildings and vehicles in protest against alleged corrupt practices by members of the Tactical ServicesUnitstationedinthe region.Onthatoccasion,the then Minister of Home Affairs, Gail Teixeira, travelled to the area to meet with the protesters and assure them that the allegations would be investigated. Shestatedthen:
“We will set up an investigating committee to take evidence from people who have been victims of policecorruption,orvictims o f s u s p e c t p o l i c e involvement in any criminal activities.”
Parliamentary discussions involving the Government, APNU, and the AFC also commenced, although the Government still refused to reverse the electricity tariff increase that had triggered thecrisis.
On 25th of July 2012, whileParliamentdebatedthe Linden shootings, tragedy struck again. Randy Telford and Ray Wills were shot duringwhatwasdescribedas a “reckless police operation ” Mr. Telford sustained devastating injuriestohisjaw,whileMr Wills narrowly escaped losinghisleg.
Neither shooting formed part of the Commission of Inquiry Neither man has received the justice or
recognition their suffering deserves.
On 27th of July, negotiations intensified while preparations continued for the funeral of the three young men whose liveshadbeentaken.
On 1 August, citizens gatheredattheSquareofthe Revolution bef
re accompanying Ron Somerset, Alan Lewis and Shemroy Bouyea, where thousands of Lindeners paid their last respect at the Wismar-Mackenzie Bridge, before taking them, to their final resting place at Bamia Cemetery
Linden buried its sons together but also buried any notion that intimidation would break the spirit of its people.
Thencameanotherblow
On 12 August, the historic One Mile Primary School, the first school built through self-help by the people of Linden, was destroyed by fire Other public and private buildings werealsoburned.
Despite repeated concerns about outside agitation and attempts to return the community to the divisionsof1964,noonehas
ever been held accountable for the destruction Yet Lindenrefusedtoretreat.
Under the leadership of the “Rebuilding Our Future Project,” chaired by the late Councillor Maurice Butters, residents raised resources, cleared debris, restored damaged areas and began rebuilding almost immediately.
The slogan was simple: NoRetreat.NoSurrender NegotiationOver Confrontation
Even in grief, Linden chose dialogue The n e g o t i a t i n g t e a m , comprising Aubrey Norton, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, VanessaKissoon,Councillor Leslie Gonsalves, Nigel Hughes, and myself, engaged the Government overseveralweeksinsearch ofpeacewithjustice.
T h e c o m m u n i t y demanded an independent Commission of Inquiry; changes to the police leadership responsible for operations in Linden; an Economic Committee to address Linden’s depressed economic condition; a Technical Committee to review the generation and distribution of electricity;
the return of the television infrastructure which was giftedtothecommunity,but washijackedbythestateand the re-establishment of the Land Selection Committee
under the Regional Democratic Council to ensure greater community
participation in land allocationanddevelopment.
Those negotiations culminated in the signing of an agreement on 21st of August2012.
The lesson was unmistakable. The dialogue
the community had requestedbefore18thofJuly was ultimately the same dialogue that resolved the crisis. Most importantly, the government reversed its imposition.
JusticeRemains Unfinished
As one of the demands, on September 5th, 2012, President Donald Ramotar established the Linden Commission of Inquiry His government chose to unilaterally select the Commissioners and its own terms of reference for the Inquiry
Yet justice remains incomplete.
The families of Ron Somerset, Alan Lewis and Shemroy Bouyea still deserve full accountability. The dozens injured demand far more than what was a s s i g n e d b y t h e Commission.
Randy Telford and Ray Wills remain outside the Commission’s consideration despitesufferinglifealtering injuries. The destruction of theOneMilePrimarySchool and other public buildings has never been fully explained, nor have those responsible been brought beforethelaw
History is not simply aboutrememberingthepast. It is about learning from it. We remember these events nottoreopenoldwoundsbut to ensure they are never repeatedbecausedemocracy demandsaccountability
Justice demands truth, and no government should ever answer peaceful protestswithbullets,andthe killingofunarmedcitizens.
H o n K S h a r m a Solomon
Its findings confirmed serious failures in the policing of the protest and recognisedtheunlawfulloss ofinnocentlives.
MemberofParliament
Troy Singh
Satrohan Rajkumar
“We do not control the judiciary” – PM Phillips insists
DPI - Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to preserving the independence of Guyana’s judiciary, stressing that the executive plays no role in determining who is appointed to judicial office orhowthecourtsfunction.
Spain grants nine Caribbean countries visa-free travel, but blanks oil-rich Guyana
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Spain on Tuesday named nine Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries among60nationsworldwide,whosecitizenswillnotneeda visatoentertheEuropeancountry
According to the statement issued by the Ministry of ForeignAffairsinMadrid,theCARICOMcountriesnamed are Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, The Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Trinidad andTobagoandStVincentandtheGrenadines.
The list does not include Jamaica, Guyana, Suriname, BelizeandHaiti.
Apart from the CARICOM countries, Spain is also granting citizens of eightAfrican countries visa-free access for short stays of up to 90 days. The holders of ordinary passports from Botswana, Namibia, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mauritius,Seychelles,CapeVerdeandRwandacantravelto SpainandthewiderSchengenAreawithoutfirstobtaininga visa.Thevisa-freearrangementappliestotourism,business tripsandothershortvisitsofupto90dayswithina180-day period.
However, citizens of most other Caribbean andAfrican countries will still be required to apply for a Schengen visa before travelling to Spain or any other country within the Schengenzone.
Theprimeministermade the remarks on Wednesday during the swearing-in ceremony for six new magistra
d five commissioners of title at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre(ACCC)inLiliendaal
At the event, the appointees took their oaths ofoffice.
The new magistrates are Ocelisa Marks, Nikkisha Logan, Jimelle Joseph, Shareefah Parks, Taneisha SaygonandCaressaHenry
The five commissioners of title are Deputy Registrar
Alicia Lowenfield, Magistrates Annette Singh, Alisha George and Shivani
Lalaram, along with Attorney-at-law Utieka
John.
While addressing members of the judiciary, legal fraternity, and government officials, PM Phillipssaidthegovernment continues to provide unprecedented levels of support to the judiciary and fully respects the constitutional separation of powers.
“We do not control the judiciary We do not determine whom they appoint Wedonotdetermine how they function The judiciary must remain functionallyindependent Itis a fundamental constitutional conceptwhichweembrace,” theprimeministersaid
He explained that the executive’s responsibility is
to ensure the judiciary has the financial, technological, and physical resources needed to administer justice effectively
Prime Minister Phillips noted that from 2020 to 2026, the government has made the largest investment inthejudiciarysinceGuyana attainedindependence.
“More courthouses have been built and rehabilitated, litigation is now almost whollyelectronicintheHigh Court, the Court of Appeal and the Caribbean Court of Justice, and the executive has worked with the judiciary to ensure the appointment of the greatest number of judicial officers since independence,” he said.
The prime minister also underscored the critical role of a strong and independent judiciary in supporting national development and investorconfidence.
“Investors, both local and international, are severely influenced by the state of this crucial arm of government. After all, the safety of their investments lies with a competent, independent, and reliable judiciary,” the prime ministerexpressed.
Prime Minister Phillips congratulatedtheappointees and urged them to discharge their duties with integrity, professionalism, and efficiency as they take on their responsibilities in the administrationofjustice.
Tint shop owner arrested, mechanic surrenders...
Frompage6 that Mr Mark Richmond was not questioned?”Mohamedasked.“Ifthere werenoquestionstoaskhim,thenwhy was he held for six days in the first place... This is a travesty in our justice system.”
Threesuspectsreleased onMillion-DollarBail
These developments followed Tuesday’sreleaseofthreesuspectswho were detained for several days. Each wasgranted$1millionstationbail.
The released men include Udoh Kanu, former manager at Mohamed’s Security,arrestedonMonday,July13, and represented by attorney Nigel Hughes,AmarnauthRamsook,anauto sales dealer arrested on July 8, and Mark Richmond, a former security guardatTeamMohamed’s,arrestedon July 8, and represented by Damien DaSilva While freed on bail, Richmond has been ordered by police to report to investigators daily Asked about the grounds for this daily reportingcondition,hisattorneystated thatpoliceprovided“noreason”
Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, who previously employed both Kanu and Richmond, released a series of videos on his “Team
Mohamed’s” Facebook page Mohamed categorised the renewed probe as a politically motivated fabrication orchestrated by the state. MohamedfurtherallegedthatPresident Irfaan Ali instructed Deputy Crime Chief Mitchell Caesar to reopen the investigationaspoliticalretaliation.
“IdiscoveredandexposedPresident [Ali’s]150-acremegafarm,worthmore than $5 billion,” Mohamed claimed in hispublicaddress.
“This exposure has thrown the presidentintoastateofdesperationand panic… causing him to manufacture total fabrications… and attempt to manipulate the system ” Police Sergeant Dion Bascom publicly claimed in 2022 that senior police officers were involved in a high-level cover-uptoprotectkeyfigures.
F o l l o w i n g B a s c o m ’ s whistleblowing allegations, the government requested regional
assistance from the Regional Security System(RSS).Aformerdetectivechief inspector from the UK’s Metropolitan Policewasdeployedtoreviewthecase files The resulting RSS report, published by the Ministry of Home Affairs on September 9, 2022, cleared theinvestigators.
The report concluded there was no evidence of corrupt practices or coverup efforts by Detective Superintendent MitchellCaesarorotherpoliceofficers. It dismissed Sgt. Bascom’s bribery allegations as “hearsay having no provenance.” Additionally, the RSS review highlighted significant discrepancies in the initial investigation.
It noted that a close associate of Fagundes,whowaspresentatthescene onthenightoftheshooting,gavehighly inaccuratestatementstoinvestigators.
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage later contradicted the associate’s claims regarding who was driving the vehicle and omitted the presenceofathirdoccupantinsidetheir car.
The six newly appointed magistrates with Chancellor (ag) Roxane George (left), Prime Minister Mark Phillips (third right), Attorney General Anil Nandlall (second right), Chief Justice (ag) Navindra Singh (right) and Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman (fourth right) - OPM
AFC urges closer monitoring of supermarkets, stores operated by foreigners
TheAllianceForChange (AFC) is urging closer monitoring of stores and supermarketsacrossGuyana that are operated by foreign nationals, noting that many arenotadheringtoGuyana’s lawsandregulations.
In a statement on Tuesday the party said that, “The AFC found that many Chinese supermarkets are selling food products that
carry no English description as is required and no expiry or ‘best by’date. The health of our people is being put at risk. Further, it was noted that many Chinese and Brazilian stores and supermarkets fail to issue receiptstocustomers.”
Itwentontosaythatthey are not ‘mom and pop’ businesses and they gross millions of dollars and may
very well be fueling “massive tax evasion and even money laundering ” The party is also claiming that it was discovered that some of the staff were also subjected to inhumane treatment.
Thestatementaddedthat there is no separate washroom for the genders and staff do not have a lunchroom.Insomestoresit
was noted that the lunch break is 20 minutes or less. The hours worked are also extensive and “with no overtime and NIS contributions paid Most staffarepaidincash,andno payslipsareissued.”
AFC highlighted that these practices put the workers, NIS, the consuming public and the state’s coffers at risk and is calling “the Guyana Revenue Authority, the Ministry of Labour, the Guyana Competition and Consumers Affairs, NIS, F o o d a n d D r u g Administrationtocarryouta national campaign to bring all stores and supermarkets into compliance The responsible minister of government must ensure these exercises are carried out year-round, ” the statementread.
BackinOctoberof2024 thispublicationreportedthat
citizens were raising concerns about the viability of their enterprises and had called on government to urgentlyintervene.
Residents of Agricola took to the streets to protest the establishment of a Chinesesupermarketintheir area. Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo in response to a question by Kaieteur News on issue said that the regulatory bodies need to uniformly enforce the laws ontheChinesebusinesses.
Continuedonpage9
Venezuela is the main gateway for cocaine into Guyana
– CANU says 90% seized came through neighbouring country
Nine out of every 10 cocaine seizures made in Guyana originated from Venezuela, according to Head of the Customs AntiNarcotic Unit (CANU) James Singh, who also disclosed that investigators are still pursuing leads into death threats against him allegedly linked to a Spanish-speaking group believed to be operating out oftheneighbouringcountry
Speakinginaninterview on the sidelines of an event held at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown on Wednesday, Head of the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) James Singh addressed ongoing joint investigations intotheflowofhigh-potency drugs into the country and the unresolved threats againsthim.
Asked about the source of narcotics entering Guyana, Singh said the patternhasbeenconsistent.
“I would say 90% of the drugs that we have seized, cocaine, has been originated fromVenezuela,”hesaid.
He was careful to distinguish between where drugs are produced and where they last passed through before reaching Guyana Asked whether Colombian cocaine was making its way into the country, Singh noted that while Colombia is a producer of cocaine, he could only confirm the last transitpoint.
“Icanonlytellyouwhere the last place that [cocaine] entered Guyana from was from Venezuela,” he said, adding that many of those arrested in connection with the seizures have been Venezuelannationals.
Meanwhile, on the threats against his own life, Singh said the matter remains under investigation
CANU Director, James Singh
with international partners. He disclosed that evidence pointstoaSpanish-speaking group suspected to be operatingoutofVenezuela.
“Well, I’m still here, so that’sagoodsign,right?”he said, before confirming no arresthasyetbeenmade.
He acknowledged the limits of cross-border cooperation “We don’t have the sort of communication we’dwantwithVenezuelaas we have with other countries,”Singhsaid,adding that his agency continues sharing information with regional counterparts and doing“ourbesttoatleastget tothebottomofitordissuade themfromtrying” On concerns that Venezuelan migration could give rise to small criminal networks locally, Singh said that assessment falls to the police and intelligence agencies.“Icanonlytellyou whatwehaveseen,andatthe endoftheday,whetherthose personsarepartofagroupor so on, we have no idea,” he said,notingthatoutreachfor information to contacts in Venezuela has gone unanswered In the meantime, he said, his agency is working with the police, the Guyana Defence Force and other bodies to strengthenexistingsystems.
The curious but false analogy
The invocation of South Africa’s Phala Phala farm controversy in the debate over President Irfaan Ali’s farmrepresentsaremarkable exercise in political analogy gone astray It is an attempt to borrow the drama of one controversyandpasteitonto another situation that bears littleresemblanceexceptfor one detail: both involve farmsownedbypresidents.
But a farm is not automatically a scandal. A farm is not a synonym for corruption. A farm is not a crime scene merely because apoliticianownsone.Ifthat werethestandard,thenevery presidentialgarden,business investment,cattlepasture,or family property around the world would become a potential criminal investigation waiting to happen.
ThePhalaPhalamatterin
SouthAfricawasnotabouta presidentowningafarm.The farm itself was never the offence The controversy arose because a substantial amount of foreign currency reportedly went missing fromthepropertyafterbeing concealedthere.
The central questions were not: “Why does the president have a farm?” or “How dare a president own livestock?” The questions were: Why was such a large amountofcashstoredonthe property? Was the money legally acquired and properly declared? How did it disappear? Were laws relatingtoforeignexchange, security, and financial disclosureviolated?
In other words, the farm was the location of the alleged wrongdoing; it was not the wrongdoing itself.
There was evidence of foreigncurrencyonthefarm
being secreted in sofas and later stolen, leading to a criminalinvestigation.
That distinction appears to have escaped those eager to manufacture a parallel between Phala Phala and PresidentIrfaanAli’sfarmat Long Creek. In the case of President Ali, there is no allegation, no evidence, and no suggestion that stolen publicmoneywashiddenon the property, that foreign currency vanished, that criminal proceeds were involved,orthatasuspicious financial transactions took place.
Thereisonlyconjecture. The comparison therefore collapses at the very point where comparisons are supposedtobegin:thefacts.
Without an equivalent allegation, missing money, suspicious financial transactions, concealed assets, or evidence of
AFC urges closer monitoring of...
Frompage8
Jagdeo had explained that he was in contact with citizens who said they were being displaced by Chinese nationals establishing businessesintheircommunities.Ontheother hand, he said there were other business persons who are pro-Chinese and rent their propertiestothemfortheirbusinesses.
He said there were cases where Chinese business owners often times bypass regulatory approval and the agencies responsible for enforcing the regulations do notholdthemaccountableinaccordancewith the law “So, they (Guyanese) put up a building that breaches the building permits, noventilationthereonthebuilding,theywill getavisitfromtheinspectorwhosaystosell pharmaceuticals, here you have to have
proper ventilation, but next door there is a Chinese company selling pharmaceuticals but there is no ventilation whatsoever, they are not applying the law uniformly,” the VP said.
This is one of the other avenues that Guyanesearehighlightingasadisadvantage and Jagdeo said that “the Guyana Revenue Authority does not pay careful attention for payment of VAT and other things, or hold them accountable for paying VAT and other taxesthattheyhavetopay
“So, we have made it clear to the regulatory bodies you have to enforce the laws uniformly and we believe that sometimes people are induced not to do that so we are paying careful attention to this,” Jagdeosaid.
Dem Boys Seh...
Some potholes got big ambition
DemBoyssehGuyanagatroadworksall over de place Everywhere yuh turn, machine ah digging, asphalt ah rolling and people complaining because traffic moving slowerthanalazydonkeyindemiddaysun. But while new roads rising, some old roads look like dem done surrender Take Lombard Street, just outside GNEC. Right dehsitonemanholesodeepandsowidethat it look like it applying fuh become a swimmingpool.
Every driver who know de road does swing away from it. De result is that a twolaneroadsuddenlybecomeonelanebecause everybody trying to save dem suspension, steeringendsandwallet.
Dem Boys seh if yuh drop a coconut in dat hole, yuh might hear it land sometime nextweek.Onetaxidriversehhehitdehole once and afterwards he steering wheel was pointing east while de car was travelling west.
DeMinistryofPublicWorksreallyneed a pothole patrol. Not one wah waiting fuh somebodycomplainponFacebook,butone driving around every day looking fuh roads cryingoutfuhrepairs.
criminal conduct, the analogy is like comparing a house where a burglary occurredwithanotherhouse simply because both have a front door Or perhaps we should now conclude that every person who owns a refrigerator must explain themselves because somewhere in the world someone once hid stolen goods in one. The object is not the offence The circumstances surrounding theobjectarewhatmatter
Afarm does not become ascandalbecauseapresident owns it. A farm becomes a matter of public concern when credible evidence suggests that something wentamissthere.
The argument being a d v a n c e d a l s o misunderstands the role of democratic institutions. Of course, in any mature democracy, the word of a political leader should not automaticallyendaninquiry Presidents are not above
scrutiny Institutions must investigate credible allegations Parliament, courts, auditors, and law enforcement agencies exist precisely because power requiresaccountability
But accountability is not the same thing as suspicion without evidence. Oversight is not a licence for political opponents to demand investigations without a basistodoso.Theexistence of democratic institutions does not mean that every accusation,howeverweakor speculative, must be elevated into a national scandal The principle is “investigate credible allegationsbecausenooneis abovethelaw.”
The danger of careless analogies is that they c h e a p e n g e n u i n e accountability The lesson fromSouthAfricaisnotthat presidents must prove their innocence every time someonepointsatapieceof landtheyown.Thelessonis
that when there is credible evidence of possible wrongdoing, institutions mustact.
In Phala Phala, the question was: what happened to the missing money? In the case of President Ali’s farm, the question appears to be: where did he get the resourcestobuildthisfarm? Those are not the same questions They do not belonginthesamesentence, much less the same argument.
Institutions worthy of their name should pursue facts,notfantasies.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
Demheavytruckspoundingderoadsday and night. Some roads wearing out faster than a cheap pair of rubber dinky slippers. Bydetimeonepatchfinishdry,anotherhole doneopenuprounddecorner
And talking about trucks, Dem Boys can’t understand why some people feel de roadsideisaparkinglotfuhcontainertrucks andbigtrailers.Andnuffademdehparkat de side of de Diamond Bypass. Yuh does wonder whether that is trailer graveyard ratherthanaroad.
Dem Boys hope de authorities ain’t waitingfuhsomebodydrivestraightintoone ah dem parked trailers before action get taken. Too often, people only start looking fuhsolutionsaftersomebodygethurt.
Dem Boys seh prevention cheaper than condolences. Patch de dangerous holes before dem swallow a vehicle, and move demcontainertrucksandtrailersbeforedem becomepermanentroadsidemonuments.
Because in Guyana, if yuh dodge a potholeyuhmighthitaparkedtrailer Andif yuh dodge de trailer, yuh end up in another pothole.
Talkhalf.Leffhalf
Men of God, men of darkness
Politiciansarenowoften inthepulpit. Nowadays,the main preachers in houses of worship seem to be more menofpolitics,andlessmen ofgod. Fancythatstate! It’s profaning when politicians areincitedtoperformbefore the pious and penitent. The houses of God are desecrated. Isayitflatout. Allmustbewelcomedin sacredplaces. Includingthe vilest politicians. I make thatandanotherpointagain: immovably, nonnegotiably No one is irredeemable. I makestillanother,onemore oldposition. Politiciansare guests.
T h e y c o m e a s worshippers, whatever their beliefs. Forwhomeverthey believe. Theyarewelcomed asguests. Taketheirplaceas guests. Prayasguests(ifup to it). And that’s it. No honestmanorwomanneeds a dirty political trickster in hispublicmomentwithgod. It is the worst. They come with repentant heart, praise and thanks. They cometoproselytise,andthat meets the definition of perversity in the sacred sanctuary Does light and darkness merge? Should the unholy, the ungodly, the diabolically clever, be invited to tarnish the ambienceofquietmoments?
To interfere with prayer and thanksgiving. IsayNo! No! No!
In their hurry to curry favour with the forces of darkness, many preachers
are only too cravenly happy to jump and wave with gyrating politicians
Gyrating politicians who grindGuyana’spoortodust. Grindthelightoutofthem. Grind the last hopes that stillremainedinthem. Thus, there is this revulsion of laughing in the face of god. When the music blares When politicians bellow When numerous preachers bow before manmade gods. Men who preen and prance, and strut their stuff, in the cloakofself-madegods.
Whichpreacherofpiety, of moral and ethical substance, joins in such gaudy displays that dishonors God? Which preacherconsentstobeinga part of such abominations?
Which preacher could be so lowastostoopstilllowerfor some reward, some recognition,someelevation?
Politicians have their place. They must either knowtheirplace,orbeputto their place Welcome, brother! Takeaseat. Listen and learn. About humility About sincerity About banishinghypocrisy About the plight of the poor, and how much they hurt. In a land so blessed, one now so rich. Yet,wheresomanyare socrippledbytheburdensof being poor, stricken perpetuallybypoverty
Whether male or female preachers must stop calling shame on themselves
Whether dharmic, Islamic, ecclesiastic, atheist, or
agnostic: cease groveling before earthly princes
Politicians with little to recommend them. Nothing deserving of honored presences in the houses of theLord.
Preachers must discern how they appear before the world of watching
Guyanese, be they Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Zoroastrian, Rastafarian, Buddhist. Preachers, with
entertainment groupies
Those who flock near to the smellofmoney
Those who harbor lusts for being near to power
Many preachers are now singing along and dancing theirjigs. So,theycanmake itbig.
The poor of Guyana are wretched. Thehopelesslive with dread And their shepherdsarebusybuttering theirownbread. Howmany preacherssaid,countmeout of the carnivals? Who are the few that have said: I am walking with God, tending the flock of believers, and distancing from men and womenwhoareusers?
Generally speaking, politicians are users Sometimes, subtly so. In Guyana, it’s more blatantly so,recently It’stheirgame. But men of God don’t have to play along. They play along and they string along thoseintheircongregations.
They string along God, also. Well, so they fool
themselves. LeaveCaesarto play his politics. Alone. Preachersmustworkhardto be profound. Steer clear of the wolves who come in sheep’s clothing. Guyanese need spiritual succor
Guyanesedon’tneed cheap entertainment circuses.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.
The Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation is preparing to spend approximately$36billionfor the rehabilitation and reconstructionoftheTaxiway Charlie,andthemainrunway at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri
Accordingtominutesfrom thetenderopeningonTuesday, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB),theprojectisdivided intotwolots.
Based on the information provided by NPTAB, Lot 1 involvestherehabilitationand reconstruction of Taxiway Charlie which is estimated to cost$2,333,022,020,andlot2 involvestherehabilitationand reconstruction of the main runway,whichisestimatedat $1,309,536,344 In total, the project is estimated to cost $3,642,558,364.
A total of 15 contractors submittedbidsfortheproject
and they are: C&L
Construction Inc – Lot1
$2,176,849,946, Lot2
$1,445,810,000; Basheir & Son’s Construction Inc – Lot1
$1,913,374,193, Lot2
$1,053,415,000; A & S G e n e r a l Contractors Inc. – Lot1
$2,118,925,816, Lot2
$1,198,885,250; C Jorree Farming & ContractingServices–Lot1
$2,001,335,775, Lot2
$1,103,657,500; Avinash Contracting & Scrap Metal Inc – Lot1
$1,752,252,559, Lot2
$1,083,912,500;
$3.6B to upgrade
B.KInternationalInc.–Lot1 $2,586,658,095, Lot2
$1,830,985,000; R&N Construction
S e r v i c e s – L o t 1
$2,131,843,281, Lot2
$1,210,142,500; B . M P r o p e r t y Investments Inc. – Lot1
$1,204,760,000; Q i n j i a n G r o u p Company Guyana Inc. –Lot1 $3,000,749,943, Lot2
$1,374,001,479; XL Engineering – Lot1
$1,951,395,941, Lot2
$1,150,217,500; DCSN Construction & GeneralSuppliesInc –Lot1
$3,617,730,535, Lot2
$1,954,670,000; China Railway First Group Co Limited – Lot1
$2,872,923,750, Lot2
$1,426,468,000; K.P Thomas & Sons Contracting Inc. – Lot1
$4,570,784,680, Lot2
$3,810,780,000;and China Road & Bridge Corporation – Lot1
$7,064,712,525, Lot2
$5,162,552,276
Taxiways are the roadwaysairplanesusetoget toandfromtherunway They connect the runway with the rampandparkingarea,while the main runway is a space dedicated for aircraft to land ontoortake-offfrom When the advertisement fortheprojectwasissuedlast month, Kaieteur News reached out to CJIA’s Chief
According him, the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the main runway and Taxiway Charlie are required to address the “natural degradation” caused by continuous aircraft operations and to ensure the long-term safety and efficiencyoftheairport
“Thesustainedvolumeand weight of modern aircraft movements exert cumulative mechanical stress on airfield pavements. Over time, these repeated loading demands naturally lead to structural fatigue and surface wear, making comprehensive intervention necessary The main runway has sustained over two decades of highimpact use since its last rehabilitation in 2005, while Taxiway Charlie has gone more than 35 years without major reconstruction,” CJIA explained
K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that by proactively reconstructing thesecriticalassets,theairport secures its capacity to handle future traffic demands safely, reliably, and without operationaldisruption
The projects will form part of the $140B approved for the ministry in this year’s budget It was reported that out of the $140B, the government set aside $3,655,586,000 for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation for the terminal project and upgradingoffacilities
The Cheddi Jagan International Airport
Govt. to link Cummings Lodge Housing Govt Scheme to Aubrey Barker Highway
The government will soonbuildanewroadwayto link the new Cummings Lodge Housing Scheme and theAubreyBarkerHighway.
A c c o r d i n g t o information provided by the Ministry of Housing on Wednesday, Minister Collin
C r o a l m
d
t h e announcement to residents duringavisitonTuesday
Minister Croal was accompanied by engineers
f
department, Mr Esan Barry and Mr Kwesi Thompson, Surveyor Mr Travis Fields and staff of the Community
Compliance Departments to address issues affecting the community.
The Cummings Lodge Housing Scheme comprises morethan450twoandthreebedroom flat and elevated houses and is equipped with a police outpost, concrete roads and other essential infrastructure.
During the engagement, Minister Croal announced p
accessibility to the housing scheme.
“Through this new
project, two principal roads on the eastern and western sides of the development
o reinforcedconcrete,creating a direct connection to the Aubrey Barker Highway, whichislocatedsouthofthe scheme. The project will coveratotalof1,800metres of roadway in length and each road will measure 6.1 metres in width It is currentlyintheprocurement phase, with the contract expected to be awarded within a month’s time,” the ministryinformed.
Commenting on the linkage, Croal noted that personswillbeabletogetto and from the East Coast of Demerara and Georgetown veryquickly.
provided an update on the d
community’s recreational ground, noting that the facilityisbeingdevelopedin phases.Theareahasalready
been fenced, while the next phase of works will include concretedrains,fillingofthe ground, and installation of theentrancegate.
Continuedonpage18
The new Aubrey Barker Highway that connects to the Ogle highway.
The new Cummings Lodge Housing Scheme.
Sodturnedfor$388MBuxtonmarket
Council and vendors at the sod turning ceremony on
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand on Wednesday turned the sod for the construction for the new $388 million Buxton Market on the East Coast of Demerara(ECD).
The project follows a visit conducted by the minister back in September 2025, when she recognised the urgent need for intervention and committed to transforming the facility for vendorsandresidents.
According to information provided by the ministry, the contract for the project was awarded through the public tender process in accordance with the
Public Procurement Act The projectisbeingdeliveredbasedon designs prepared by Skylines Architecture Inc. and construction will be done by R&P Engineering &GeneralConstructionatacostof $388,147,745 The project is expected to be completed within eightmonths.
This publication understands that the new market has been designed to create a safe, modern and functional environment that supports economic activity while preserving Buxton’s cultural and commercialsignificance.
Upon completion, the facility will accommodate 136 stalls, a significantincreasefromthecurrent
It will include dedicated areas for fresh produce, general food items, retail shops, salons, barber
businesses, as well as a dedicated meat and fish section designed to improve hygiene, food safety and operationalefficiency
Additionally, the new market will have modern sanitary facilities, CCTV security, an integrated waste management
system, organised vendor allocation, and an elevated market site with a comprehensive perimeter drainage system to
reduce flooding and improve resilience.
Inherremarksatthesodturning ceremony, Minister Manickchand said the new market forms part of thegovernment’sbroadervisionof building stronger, more resilient communities across Guyana. The market development is only one component of a wider programme of investment in infrastructure and public spaces that will benefit all Guyanese.
During her address, Manikchand assured vendors and residents that the ministry will closelymonitortheprogressofthe works to ensure the project is delivered within the agreed upon timeframe.
Speaking also was Regional Chairman,ClemsfordBelgravewho said the project represents an important step in advancing the economic development of Buxton, notingthattheRegionalDemocratic Council will continue working closely with all stakeholders to ensureitssuccessfuldelivery
Council (NDC), Walston Martins saidthecouncilremainscommitted toworkingcollaborativelywithall partners to ensure the project is completed successfully, fairly and transparently He expressed hope that the new market will become a thriving business hub for generations to come, the ministry reported.
With$18 billion budgeted in this year’s national budget to upgrade markets, the ministry noted that it is committed to investing in modern infrastructure that strengthens local economies, creates opportunities for vendors, andimprovesthequalityoflifefor communitiesacrossthecountry
Last Saturday, the minister and her team turned the sod for the rehabilitation of the East RuimveldtMarketinGeorgetown.
The redesigning of that market will feature 237 stalls, an increase of24stallsoverthecurrentlayout, a l l o w i n g f o r g r e a t e r accommodation of vendors, and improving the organisation of the market Works there will be executedatacostof$528,370,300.
…says asset recovery most powerful tool in combating transnational organised crime
DPI-Guyanaisadvancingitsanti-money laundering and asset recovery framework while strengthening regional cooperation to ensurecriminalsarestrippedoftheproceeds of crime and to combat transnational organisedactivities.
Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, made the assertion on Wednesday at the openingofthe2026AnnualGeneralMeeting oftheAssetRecoveryInter-AgencyNetwork of the Caribbean (ARIN-CARIB) at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown.
The ARIN-CARIB is a network of law enforcement and judicial practitioners in the field of asset tracing, freezing, seizure and confiscation Each member state is representedbyalawenforcementofficerand ajudicialexpert.
The AG said asset recovery has become oneofthemostpowerfultoolsincombating transnational organised crime while noting thatmoderncriminalnetworksoperateacross borders and exploit increasingly sophisticatedfinancialsystems.
“Assetrecoveryisnolongersimplyabout identifying and confiscating criminal proceeds.Itisabouttransformingthewayour institutions operate, strengthening our legal framework, enhancing public confidence in theadministrationofjustice,andensuringthat organisedcrimecanneverretainthefinancial rewardsofcriminalconduct,”saidNandlall
He explained that organised crime now extends beyond drug trafficking to include firearms trafficking, cybercrime, human trafficking, environmental crime, corruption
and money laundering, all of which are supportedbycomplexinternationalfinancial networks.
Against this backdrop, Nandlall underscored the importance of regional collaboration
He noted that criminal organisations cooperate seamlessly across jurisdictions, making international partnerships among governments, investigators, prosecutors and financialintelligenceagenciesmorecritical
The legal affairs minister also disclosed thatthegovernmentisreviewingamendments to Guyana’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) legislation to further strengthen asset confiscation provisions, improve investigative powers and align the country’s legalframeworkwithinternationalstandards
HesaidGuyanahasalsoexpandedtheuse of mutual legal assistance mechanisms, strengthened information-sharing with international partners and increased collaborationthroughARIN-CARIBandthe Egmont Group to pursue cross-border financialinvestigations.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, noted that modern crime is no longer confined by geographical boundaries, with advances in technology enablingcriminalnetworkstooperateacross jurisdictionswithease.
Emphasising the importance of effective investigations, the DPP said successful
AG and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC
prosecutions and asset recovery depend on investigators having a strong understanding of the law, gathering credible evidence and workingcloselywithregionalcounterparts.
“The maintenance of law and order is vitaltodemocracy.Thefightagainstcrimeis everybody’sbusiness,”Ali-Hackaffirmed.
Deputy Executive Director of the Regional Security System (RSS) Atlee Rodney warned that criminal networks continue to operate across borders with increasedsophistication.
He underscored that asset recovery is morethanidentifyingandconfiscatingillicit wealth.
TheARIN-CARIBgeneralmeeting2026 isbeingheldunderthetheme,“FromTracing to Transformation: Building an Asset Recovery-ReadyCaribbean.”
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand (centre) joined by officials of the Regional Administration, the Neighbourhood Democratic
Wednesday.
A section of the gathering at the 2026 Annual General Meeting of the ARIN-CARIB at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown
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The Taiwan question bears on China’s sovereignty andterritorialintegrityandis at the very core of China’s coreinterests.Thepositionof the Chinese government and the Chinese people on the Taiwan question has been consistent and clear. Resolutely safeguarding China’s
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sovereigntyandterritorialintegrityisthefirmwillofmore than 1.4 billion Chinese people. Achieving China’s complete reunification is the shared aspiration and sacred duty of all Chinese people.
In recent years, some international media outlets, in theirreportingontheTaiwan question, have at times portrayed“China”and“Taiwan” as two separate and equal political entities. They have used erroneous expressions such as “China-Taiwan relations”and“tensionsbetween ChinaandTaiwan,”andhave evenwronglyreferredtoTaiwan as a “country.” Such descriptions disregard the historicalcontext,legalfactsand internationalconsensus,violate the one-China principle, and convey to the public the falseimpressionof“twoChinas” or “one China, one Taiwan.”
There is but one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory,andtheGovernmentof the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the wholeofChina.Theseareindisputable facts supported by history and the law The one-China principle has becomeabasicnormgoverning international relations and a prevailing consensus in the internationalcommunity ChinaHasIndisputable SovereigntyoverTaiwan Taiwan has belonged to China since ancient times. The earliest records of Taiwan in the world are in Chinesehistorybooksfrom1700 years ago. The Chinese were the first to develop Taiwan. Asearlyas230A.D.,Chinese ships arrived in Taiwan. Around610A.D.,thecoastal inhabitantsofthemainlandof China began to move to the Penghu Islands of Taiwan. From the mid-12th century
onward, successive Chinese governments established administrativebodiesinTaiwan to effectively govern the islands.
In 1894, when Japan launched the Sino-Japanese War, the Qing Dynasty was defeated andTaiwan was occupied by Japan. In 1945, when the Second World War against fascism was won, Japan declared its surrender, unconditionally accepted the Potsdam Proclamation and the Cairo Declaration, and handedTaiwanbacktoChina.
Thus, Taiwan returned to the embrace of the motherlandandcamebackunderthe sovereignty of China.
Shortly thereafter, civil war broke out in China. In 1949,thePeople’sRepublicof China was founded, and some of the military and political personnel of the Kuomintang, with the support of the U.S. government, retreated to Taiwan after the defeat. The two sides of the Taiwan Strait fell into a special state of long-term politicalconfrontation,butthefact that Taiwan and the Chinese mainland belong to the same China never changed. Therefore,theTaiwanquestionisa legacy of China’s civil war, and China has undisputed sovereignty over Taiwan.
The Government of the People’sRepublicofChinaIs the Sole Legal Government Representing the Whole of China.
The one-China principle isabasicnormininternational relations.TheUNGAResolution2758adoptedin1971has stated in black and white the decision “to restore all its rights to the People’s Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its governmentastheonlylegitimaterepresentativesofChina to the United Nations”. International practice
over the past 55 years shows that since the adoption of Resolution2758,theUNand its specialized agencies and other international and regional organizations have unanimously observed the UNGA resolution by following the practice that “the United Nations considers ‘Taiwan’ as a province of China with no separate status”, “the ‘authorities’ in ‘Taipei’arenotconsideredto …enjoyanyformofgovernmental status”, and that the region should be referred to as “Taiwan, Province of China”.
The one-China principle is a universal consensus of the international community. Since the founding of the People’sRepublicofChinain 1949,183countriesincluding Guyanahaveestablisheddiplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle.
The Chinese people have always remembered that in 1971,Guyanavotedinfavour ofUNGAResolution2758restoringthelawfulrightsofthe People’sRepublicofChinain the United Nations. In 1972, Guyana took the lead in the English-speaking Caribbean to establish diplomatic ties with China. China highly appreciates the commitment of successive governments of Guyana to adhere to the oneChinaprinciple,tofirmlysupport China’s position on the Taiwanquestionandnotsupport the “Taiwan independence” secessionist forces. TaiwanMustNotBeListed AlongsideChina
“China” is the name of a sovereignstate,whileTaiwan is part of China. Treating ChinaandTaiwanasseparate political entities is tantamounttotreatingasovereign state and one of its constituent parts as two distinct entities. This is not only a basic logical error, but also creates the false impression that Taiwan is an independent country.
Depending on the particular context, relevant reports should use accurate expressions such as “the Chinese mainland and Taiwan,” “both sides of the Taiwan Strait,” or “China’s Taiwan region.” In lists of countries, maps,databasesandcommerciallabels,Taiwanshouldnot beidentifiedasacountry,nor should it be listed alongside China and other sovereign states. According to relevant United Nations documents and established UN practice, the formal designation for Taiwan is “Taiwan, Province ofChina.”Referencesto,and designations of, Taiwan in other contexts should likewise conform to the oneChinaprinciple.
PENPAL
GPL targets stronger national grid with river crossing, new substations
The Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) says excavation of the riverbed tunnel, or “bore,” for its network expansion project is expected to begin within the next two weeks as work on the company’s grid modernisation programmecontinuestoadvance.
A“bore”istheexcavatedtunnel drilled beneath a riverbed using a guided, trenchless method. The technique allows pipelines or conduits to pass beneath a waterwaywithouttheneedforopen trench excavation or disruption to theriver InastatementonMonday, GPL said significant progress has been made on the Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) River CrossingProject.
OntheWestBank,thecompany said the HDD equipment setup, along with the pipe stringing and welding area, has been completed. On the east bank, mobilisation of HDDequipmentbeganonJuly12, while the first shipment of polyethylene (PE) pipes has already arrived.Welding of the PE ducts is expected to begin this week, with the first HDD bore scheduled to commence in approximately14days.
GPL said the update was providedduringaprogressmeeting at the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation (MPUA), where Director General Alfonso De Armas, GPL’s executive managementledbyteamleadKesh
Procurement and Construction
(EPC) con
ors, and stakeholders from InterEnergy Holdings (IEH) UK reviewed the statusofkeyinfrastructureprojects aimedatstrengtheningthenational electricitygrid.
The company also reported continued progress under its transmission and substation expansion programme Critical materials for contracts being executed by PowerChina and Kalpataru are currently en route to Guyana, while civil and site preparationworksareongoing.
Upon completion, the programme will deliver eight new
substations and expand several existing facilities, significantly improvingthereliability,flexibility and efficiency of the national transmissionnetwork.
Meanwhile, engineering and designworkhasofficiallybegunon GPL’s 30 MW/60 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), which is scheduled for completion byMarch2027.AccordingtoGPL, the project will enhance grid stability, improve operational resilience and support the integration of additional energy resourcesintothenationalgrid.
Progress was also reviewed on the Primary Distribution Feeder P
contractors CMC, PowerChina and Kalpataru will construct 55 new primary distribution feeders spanning approximately 368 kilometres across Regions Three, Four, Five and Six GPL said the programme will increase network capacity,improveservicereliability, reduce outages and meet the country’s growing electricity demand Nandlallsaidthecontinued advancementoftheprojectsreflects GPL’s commitment to building a stronger and more modern electricitysystem
“These projects represent a transformational investment in
Guyana’s electricity infrastructure. As we continue to modernize the grid, we are creating a stronger, more resilient, and efficient power system that will deliver improved reliability for customers while supportingthecountry’sexpanding developmentagenda,”hesaid. GPL said it will continue working with the Government of Guyana, the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation, contractors anddevelopmentpartnerstoensure the timely completion of the projects, which form part of its long-termvisionofprovidingsafe, reliable and sustainable electricity nationwide.
DR-company given six months to commence activities in Berbice oil Block – Min. Bharrat
RefineriaDominicanade Petróleo S.A. (Refidomsa) has been given up to six months to begin exploration activities in the Berbice Block. This is according to Minister of Natural ResourcesVickramBharrat. Duringanappearanceon the Starting Point Podcast, Bharratsaidthegovernment hasimposedashorttimeline for the consortium to demonstrate progress under the three-year exploration agreement. “We have given themaveryshorttimeframe to start these activities Within four to six months, we must see some kind of activities within the Berbice Block,”henoted,addingthat the government wants operations in the block to g e n e r a t e a l o t o f opportunitiesinRegionSix.
Back in May, the GovernmentsofGuyanaand Dominican Republic (DR) inked the agreement for the Spanish-speaking nation
through Refidomsa to explore, develop and eventually produce oil or naturalgasfromtheBerbice BlockoffshoreGuyana.The agreement was signed using provisions in the Petroleum Activities Act allowing direct government-togovernment negotiations in certaincircumstances. The minister explained
that the agreement stemmed from discussions between President Irfaan Ali and Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader
“Andthenthetechnicalteam to start to negotiate, and we’vecometoanagreement with which we signed,” he said. The minister further reminded that the Berbice Block was not specially
created for the Dominican Republic. “The Berbice Blockwasanexistingblock. Thisblockwasn’tcreatedfor anyspecialagreementorfor the DR,” Bharrat said. The Berbice Block, which was previously held by CGX Energy subsidiary On Energy The block was returned to the state in 2023
after it was relinquished. Several exploration wells were drilled in the Berbice Block: Rosehall-1, L’Esperence-1, Yakusari, Albion, L’Esperence-1, Hermitage-1andSkeldon-1.
Thispublicationreported th
represent the Dominican State and receive a 10%
stake in the project without requiring an upfront capital investment.Itwasalsostated that if commercially viable reserves are discovered, the Dominican Republic would gain access to crude oil or n
GPL’s Executive Management led by Team Lead, Kesh Nandlall, Director General of MPUA, Alfonso De Armas, contractors and other stakeholders at the meeting.
(From left) Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat, President Irfaan Ali, President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic (DR) and President of Refidomsa, Samuel Pereyra in Georgetown back in May.
Map showing location of Berbice Block
U.S. strikes Iran again as Tehran warns of ‘existential war’ with America
(Reuters) - The U S struck Iran’s coastal defensesandmissilesiteson Wednesdayafterreimposing anavalblockadeofitsports, whileIranthreatenedtoshut off more regional energy exports, saying it was engaged in an “existential war”withAmerica.
The latest escalation of attacks and counterattacks launched by the U.S. and Iran has kept the region on edge days a fragile truce collapsed,raisingthespectre of a return to full-scale war, though analysts generally seethataslesslikely
Hostilities have intensified since Iran said lateonSaturdayithadclosed the Strait of Hormuz. The ongoing military operations are also keeping ships from transiting the vital artery, whichcarriedaboutafifthof globaloilandgasshipments before the war Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, closed at a onemonthhighat$84.95abarrel onWednesday
U.S. Central Command saidthemilitaryhadattacked coastal defense systems and cruise missile storage and launchsitesonIran’sGreater Tunb Island, and had completed the wave of strikes within around 90 minutes.
A vessel at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam,Oman, July 15, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
“At 6 a.m. ET (1100 GMT) today, U.S. Central Command forces began launching a wave of strikes against Iran,” the U S militarysaid.
“Thestrikesaredesigned to further degrade military capabilities Iranian forces have used to attack commercial shipping in the StraitofHormuz.”
In a statement issued hoursafterIran’sMehrnews agency reported that U.S. projectileshad hit a location on Iran’s Hengam Island in the strait, Tehran’s top negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said Iranian security depended on maintaining what he called “Iranian arrangements” in the strait. “We are in an essential and existential war withAmerica,” Qalibaf said inastatement.
Priortothewar,Iranhad not asserted the authority to
act as a gatekeeper over the strait.
The war has killed thousands of people and displacedmillions,mainlyin Iran and Lebanon, where conflict restarted between Israel and Iran-backed militantgroupHezbollah.
TRUMP THREATENS POWER PLANTS, BRIDGES
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday renewed a threat he has made on several occasions to hit Iranian power plants and bridges next week unless T e h r a n r e s u m e s negotiations.
“I’ll save the energy targets for last, but ultimately we’ll hit energy targets,”Trumpsaid.
On Wednesday, Trump wasaskedbyreportersifIran had a deadline before the U S starts attacking its bridges,andreplied:“Idon’t
Cuba’s national electric grid collapses for the third time in July
(Reuters) - Cuba’snationalpowergrid collapsedonTuesday,theenergyministry said, marking the third major blackout in nine days on the of about 10 million people.
“There has been a total disconnection oftheelectricalsystem,”theministrysaid onsocialmedia.
The frequent outages come as a U.S.imposed oil blockade has crippled the island’s already aging energy infrastructure U S President Donald Trump imposed an oil blockade on the Caribbean Island after Washington deposed Venezuelan President Nicolas MaduroonJanuary3.
Venezuela was Cuba’s primary fuel supplier, and subsequent U.S. pressure alsoledMexicotohaltoilshipmentstothe island.InthecapitalHavana,trafficlights wereoutandthehumofgeneratorsechoed through the streets Many residents, accustomed to blackouts, expressed frustration at their ever-increasing duration. “My mother is bedridden with dementia, and because of these blackouts I’vehadtothrowawaymeatandfishfromthe refrigeratorbecauseitallspoiled,”saidJulia Valdes,70.
People ride an electric tricycle, one of the few modes of transportation still functioning. (REUTERS/Norlys Perez)
like giving deadlines, but theyprettymuchknow,they knowthestory theybetter behave.”
Trump said on Tuesday that U.S. negotiators had been in touch with their Iranian counterparts to tell them “you better make a deal.”
Three U.S. officials told Reuters that U S strikes aimed at forcing open the strait are also targeting Iranian military capabilities the U S would want to destroy before executing morecomplexoperations.
IRAN THREATENS OTHER SHIPPING ROUTES
Iran has been trying to assert permanent control overshippingintheStraitof Hormuz and impose fees on vesselspassingthroughit,in what would be a major shift in the balance of power in a region where the U.S. has long acted as guarantor of security
Shipping traffic through the strait has dropped to a
“This is already the third collapse of the national electricity system this week. How muchlongeristhisgoingtolast?Wecan’tgo onlivinglikethisanymore.”
The chronic power failures have fueled frustration with the government and promptedsmallnightlypot-bangingprotests, as well as anger over the U.S.-imposed oil blockade.“It’sunfairthatwe’rehavingtogo throughthissituation,”saidValdes.
fraction of its pre-war activity
I r a n ’ s I s l a m i c
Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Wednesday it had struck U.S. military targets in the region, including in Bahrain,KuwaitandJordan.
It also threatened on Wednesday to shut off more regional energy exports, saying the U.S. “must brace for the closure of all other export corridors that benefit theU.S.anditsallies.”
Analysts say Iran is signalling it may use its Houthi allies in Yemen to shut Bab el-Mandeb, which would open a new front against Washington and put twooftheworld’smostvital energyarteriesatrisk.
Bab el-Mandeb links the RedSeatotheGulfofAden, through which Saudi oil exports and a substantial share of global shipping pass. Some shippers have been returning to Red Sea routesafterbeingdeterredby Houthi attacks linked to the Gazawarthatbeganin2023.
CEASEFIRE
DEAL FALTERS
Aninterimceasefiredeal signedlastmonthwasmeant to lead to further negotiations including on Iran’s nuclear programme, andtoapermanenttruce,but areturntotalkshasfaltered.
“We have no plans for negotiations at the moment andarefocusedondefence,” Tasnim news agency quoted
Qalibaf, who is also speakerofIran’sparliament, said that if Iran did not b e n e f i t f r o m i t s m e m o r a n d u m o f understandingwiththeU.S., “wehavenoreasontoadhere tosuchanunderstanding.” Iranneverwelcomedwar but it must always be ready to fight and “stand to the end” to protect national security and Iranian interests, Qalibaf said. He addedIranmustalsouse“the tools of diplomacy and negotiation,” and choosing either negotiation or war as the sole course of action wouldbeastrategicerror
The U S says Iran attacked seven commercial ships over the last week, leaving nearly a dozen crew members killed, missing or injured.
Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said at least 30 civilians had been killed in recent days due to the U.S. strikesonsouthernIran,state media reported on Wednesday
The war, which began with U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28, triggered Iranian attacks on Gulf states that host U.S. bases and caused major disruption to global energy supplies, raising fears of a surgeininflation.
Govt. to link Cummings Lodge Housing...
Minister of Housing, Collin Croal and his team engaging with residents of new Cummings Lodge Housing Scheme on Tuesday.
residents, including street lights, treated
water supply, drainage, electricity, roaming livestock,andcommunitysecurity These matters will be addressed in collaboration with the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), National Drainage and IrrigationAuthority(NDIA),GuyanaPowerand Light Inc (GPL), Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), and the MinistryofHomeAffairs,theministryreported.
MinisterJacobsvisitsRHTYSC\Bakewellcricket...
Frompage22
Shabaki Gajanabi, Sheneeta
Grimmond and Erva Giddings, who have all playedfortheWestIndiesat the highest level. He stated that their success was based on a formula of hard work, personal discipline and dedication After his discussionwiththeacademy class of 2026, Minister Jacobs handed over a large supply of sports gear to RHTYSC Club captain
Clinton Pestano The donation included cricket
bats, batting pads, helmet, cricket balls, batting gloves, volleyballs, basketballs and footballs He also congratulatedthecoacheson theirdedicationtoimproving the cricketing skills of the youths at the academy and urgedthemtocontinuedoing sointhefuture.
The Minister also had a visit around the Area H groundaccompaniedbyclub officialsandtheTownClerk.
T h e M i n i s t e r immediately agreed that the Ministry Of Sports would
assist with repair of the fencing around the venue, upgradingoftheoutfieldand also to seek a roller for the ground that has produced 133 players for Berbice, 76 national players and thirteen attheinternationallevel.
Minister Jacobs also promised that a regional engineer would visit the venue for assessment work on the way forward.
RHTYSC Cricket Manager
Robby Kissoonlall expressed gratitude to Mr Jacobs for his visit and for
the support offered The managementoftheclubalso handed over several copies of the RHTYSC Youth Review booklet which was recentlylaunched.
Andre Boyce...
Frompage25
8-Ball Championship showcased the discipline, determination and competitive spirit that define our nation’s athletes. We congratulateAndreBoyceon an outstanding achievement andcommendtheCueSports Association Guyana for its continued commitment to developingthesport.”
Thursday July 16, 2026
ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)
Some enlightening conversations could occur today with a partner, possibly romantic, possibly careerrelated New methods of operation could come to your attention.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
Hard work on a particular enterprise for too long a time could finally lead to an increase in income, Taurus. Creativityorinnovationcould be involved Don't be surprised if you find yourself on the receiving end of compliments.
GEMINI(May21–June20)
Youtendtobeadventurousat the calmest of times, Gemini. Today you could be feeling especially daring. You might be tempted to make some radical changes in your life, particularly where your professionisconcerned.
CANCER(June21–July22)
Youtendtoberatherintuitive, Cancer, but today your psychic abilities could seem more focused than usual You'rebetterabletotuneinto thoughts,feelings,andevents.
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
Today your mind is apt to be turning to discussions of money, Leo. Conversations, perhaps job related, perhaps socialencounterswithfriends, could turn to the subject of new income opportunities throughmoderntechnology
VIRGO(Aug 23–Sept 22)
New opportunities, perhaps involvingwritingorspeaking, could appear on the horizon along with the current planetary energy, Virgo Thingscouldchange!
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
Letters, phone calls, or emails from afar could put you in touch with new, interesting people. These people could well bring some fascinating ideasyourway,Libra.
SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)
The current aspects encourage cultivating your spirituality, Scorpio. However advanced you are on your spiritual journey, there are revelations, awakenings, and new experienceswaiting.
SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)
Anewopportunitycouldcome your way today, Sagittarius. It mightseemlikeadreamcome true, the chance you've been waitingfor,butyou'llstillwant to think about it a bit. The reason is that it could well disruptyourlife.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
New communications equipmentmaymakewhatever work you do that much easier to do, Capricorn. You might have some doubts about your abilitytouseit,butdon'tworry You'llbeabletodealwithitas wellasanyone.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)
A long-term friendship could suddenly develop into something more now, Aquarius. You could see this person in a new light and realize that this is a very attractivehumanbeing.
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
Toomuchisonyourmindright now, Pisces, and so you could have trouble sleeping. When youdomanagetodropoff,you could experience bizarre dreams This is the only downside to your present situation,however
Frompage24
MeetatRisingSunTurfClub.
Organised by the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred racing committee,thisGuyanaCupisexpectedtoattractallthetop horsesandjockeysfromacrosstheregion.
CSAG also wishes to thankitstitlesponsor,MMG, which invested GYD $250,000 in this year’s championship, along with its other supporting sponsors, D&LSportsBar,SurajSports Bar, Sunil & Son Pool Bar and Boat House Sports Bar, aswellasallitsmembersfor their dedication to the sport. Theassociationexpressedits gratitude to the fans and participantsforcomingoutin large numbers to support the event and for displaying the sportsmanshipandtalentthat continuetoelevatetheprofile ofbilliardsinGuyana.
The CSAG & MMG
N a t i o n a l 8 - B a l l Championship continues to be one of the premier events for cue sports in Guyana, providingaplatformforlocal athletes to showcase their abilities on a national stage while contributing to the continued growth and developmentofthesport.
About Cue Sports AssociationGuyana(CSAG)
T h e C u e S p o r t s AssociationGuyana(CSAG) is the governing body dedicated to the promotion, development and regulation of cue sports throughout Guyana, fostering a community of competitive e x c e l l e n c e a n d sportsmanship.
- Donates sports gear and commits to restoration of Area H Ground
Junior Minister of Sports, Steven Jacobs on Tuesday last visited the Area H Ground and the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, Bakewell CricketAcademy, where he met the large group of youths and their coaches led by level three coach, Winston Smith.TheMinisterwasofficiallywelcomed at the academy by Rose Hall, Town Clerk, Natasha Griffith and RHTYSC Officials Hilbert Foster, Robby Kissoonlall, Jonathan Rampersaud, Eon Hooper and Clinton Pestano.
The former Guyana senior player in remarks to the attentive academy youths, urgedthemtoalwaysbedisciplinedasitisthe
foundation to a successful future on the cricketfield.
The youthful Government Minister also spokeontheimportanceofeducationandthe need to also be fit as cricket is a physically demanding sport. He advised the youths to listentotheircoachesandtoputintopractice whattheyhadlearnedfromthem.
Minister Jacobs, who also played in the Caribbean Premier League, called on the RHTYSC youth players to follow in the footsteps of their club mates like Assad Fudadin, Kevin Sinclair, Royston Crandon, KelvonAnderson,ShemaineCampbelle, Continued on page 21
Overwhelming support for Kennard Memorial Turf Club
horserace meet
The Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) Emancipation horserace meet is attracting overwhelming support with over 70 horses so far entered and a horde of sponsorsalreadyonboard.
The event is set forAugust 2nd 2026 at the club’s prestigious Bush Lot Farm Corentyne,Berbiceracetrack.
The much-anticipated event has seven races carded for the day with a palpitating $10M in cash, trophies and other prizes available for the winners and other outstandingperformers.
The prestigious KMTC venue is one of the premiere horseracing venues in the country and has a penchant for organizing topclasshorseracingevents.
Most of the races already have full entries. The Emancipation Cup, one mile contest, which is open to all 3-year old and overhorses,isthefeatureeventontheday’s card. A sumptuous $1M and trophy awaits thewinner
TheeventforEclassnonwinners,which is also open to F and G class horses over seven furlongs, has a winning purse of
Jumbo Jet bringing VIP brunch experience to Guyana Cup
Theraceforthree-year-oldGuyanaBred maiden horses and three years old Guyana Bred maidens’ winner of one, will see the winner riding home with $400,000 and a trophyovertheonemiledistance.
There are two races for Guyana-Bred two-year-old maiden horses. The winners will run away with $350,000 each and trophiesover5furlongs.
ThefinaleventistheracefortheLClass Open horses over 7 furlongs for a pole positiontaking,of$350,000andtrophy
There are trophies and other accolades for the top jockeys, trainers, stables etc. compliments of Ramesh Sunich of the TrophyStallandtheorganisers. It has always attracted tremendous support in terms of horses’ sponsors and Turfitesswarmingthevenue.
Theday’seventwillbeconductedusing the rules of the Kennard Memorial Turf Club. Race time is 12:30 hrs. (Samuel Whyte)
TThe 18th running of the Guyana Cup will be an all new experience for fans.
he 18th running of the Guyana
Cup will an iconic horseracing event. Rising Sun Turf Club will be transformed into a spectacle on Sunday August 23 when top horses, jockeys, stables andtrainersassembletobattleforthecrown.
WithmorethanG$66millionincashand prizes up for grabs, this year’s Guyana Cup will ensure fans witness, and remember the Guyana Cup for the most exciting sporting eventinthecountry
Fans will have more comfort, more visuals,anewandexcitedentrance,andalot of giveaways, including a brand new SinoTrukpick-up.
For this year’s Guyana Cup, special emphasis will be placed on community engagements through gift vouchers for kids, andaspecialdesignedkidsfunzonewillalso beatthevenue.
A new and excited entrance for easy accessequippedwithproductsampling,anda redesignedinfieldtoaccommodateanallnew VVIPelevatedzones.
Screens will be strategically erected around the venue with maximum visibility bring instant replays and all information on jockeysandhorses.
More than 700ft of additional covered bleacherswillbeaddedtothehomestretchso fans can feel the ground shake as their favoritehorsesreachthefinishline.
A specially designed VIP brunch experience will also be at the venue, for the first time this in Guyana Cup history Sponsored cabanas, will be available with each being distinct and representing a brand thatisbeloved.
With the absence of mega concert, there willbeaspecialchoreographedpresentation along the homestretch with performances from Guyana’s most talented artiste and
dancers.
Organised by the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred racing committee, this GuyanaCupisexpectedtoattractallthetop horsesandjockeysfromacrosstheregion.
G$1,875,000 Garen Pro K-Class (One Mile)- Total purseG$1,875,000 Sawh L Class Sprint (One Mile)- Total purseG$1,875,000
Minister Stephen Jacobs poses with the youth cricketers and RHTYSC Officials after the donation of sports gear.
Argentina late show sinks England and sets up World Cup final against Spain
ATLANTA, (Reuters)Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez struck late goals tosnatcha2-1winoverEnglandin the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday to send Lionel Messi’s reigning champions into the weekend showpiece match against Spain.
JustwhenEnglandappearedset forvictoryafterAnthonyGordon’s second-half goal, Argentina mountedarelentlesslatesiegeand got their reward as Fernandez levelled before Martinez completed the turnaround in the 92nd minute with Messi providing the for the equaliser and the cross forthewinner
The result added another unforgettable chapter to one of football’s fiercest rivalries, a contestrichinhistory,emotionand tensionfromtheopeningwhistle.
For England, dreams of a first World Cup final since 1966, when they enjoyed their only triumph at theglobaltournament,weredashed in the closing stages, while Argentina celebrated a comeback that kept alive their quest for anotherworldtitle.
With England inexplicably parked in their own end, an Argentinaequaliserfeltinevitable and, after waves of late pressure, Fernandez finally broke through in the 85th minute when Messi found him in space on the edge of the box to fire home from 20 metres past Jordan Pickford into thecorner Martinez, an 81st-minute
substitute, struck the winner early in added time when Alexis Mac Allister drove a ‘shot off the post thatMessirecovered.The39-yearold talisman drove down the right to send in a brilliant ball for Martineztoheadhome.
“Wearetrulyunique,andthat’s notarrogance,”saidArgentinaboss Lionel Scaloni. “From the bottom ofmyheart,theseplayersledusto victory.I’mlostforwords.Ajoyfor ourcountry,forourpeople.”
SIGNIFICANT
VICTORY FOR MESSI
The victory carried particular significancefor39-year-oldMessi, whowasfeaturinginwhatiswidely expectedtobethefinalWorldCup ofhisglitteringcareer
For England, the defeat was a devastating blow after they matched Argentina for much of a hard-foughtcontest.
The Three Lions had appeared poised for victory after Gordon broke the deadlock in the 55th minute when Nicolas Tagliafico’s attempted clearance landed at the feet of Declan Rice, who sent a throughballtoMorganRogers.
Gordon popped up at the back posttoguideRogers’crosswithhis instep past goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, sparking bedlam among theEnglandplayersandfans.
But Thomas Tuchel’s side failed to withstand a relentless late assault as Argentina turned the gameonitshead.
Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez scores their first goal past England’s Jordan Pickford. (REUTERS/Paul Childs)
“Weplayedagoodgameforthe large majority of it. Once we went 1-0 up, we seemed to just try and hold At`thislevel,it’snotenough.
“Guttedbecausewe’veworked sohardtobehereandtheladshave given every last bit of running, sweat, blood, tears, whatever it is. Sotofallshortlikewedidtoday justgutted.”
Tuchelsaidhehadnoregrets.
“Theteamgaveeverythingand we were very, very close,” the German said. “The team was top, we couldn’t bring it over the line, no,(but)atthemomentnoregrets.”
ONE OF FOOTBALL’S FIERCEST RIVALRIES
Thesemi-finalbetweenthetwo footballing giants needed little added drama, arriving steeped in historyandexpectation.
One of football’s fiercest rivalries, shaped by iconic World Cup clashes and political undertones, has produced no shortage of memorable moments
overthedecades.
This latest chapter was no different.
Both teams navigated difficult routes ‘to the last four, relying on resilience, composure and a knack for delivering when it mattered most.
Argentinaproducedmoreofthe same on Wednesday, as a side that had repeatedly found a way to win when the odds seemed stacked against them once again leaned on late-game heroics to keep their WorldCupdreamalive.
“This is really emotional,” Martinez said. “The first time my dad bought me a pair of boots, I always dreamed of scoring this goal.Itwasreallytoughtoday
“Enzo scored `a brilliant goal and I’m confident this team is continuing to show what it’s made of.”
Argentina’s supporters vastly outnumbered England’s, turning thearenaintoaseaofskyblueand white that made Atlanta’s
Mercedes-BenzStadiumfeelmore like La Bombonera in Buenos Aires,withtheirfansdrowningout England’s attempted pre-match renditionof“SweetCaroline”with awallofwhistles.
Renowned ring announcer
Michael Buffer set the tone before kick-off with his trademark cry of “Let’s`getreadytorumble!”
The players appeared to take himathisword.
Tempers flared almost immediately and it took only a matter of minutes for the simmeringrivalrytospilloverinto a series of heated exchanges in a firsthalfthatwasmorenotablefor robust challenges than genuine scoringopportunities.
The tension produced goals in the second half but after England scoredtheyneverreallythreatened again.
Argentinawerelefttolaysiege to their opponents’ goal with Fernandez and Martinez striking theblowsthatledtoSunday’sfinal.
Former Boxing champion Gladwin ‘Tiger’ Dorway killed in tragic road accident
BySamuelWhyte
The Boxing Fraternity in Guyana is presently in mourning following the tragicdeathofformerMultiweight Amateur and Professional Boxing champion Gladwin “Tiger” Dorway
Dorway, 38, of Plaisance East Coast Demerara, died on Sunday morning about 03:05 following an accident at the junction of Camp and New Market Streets, Georgetown,involvingamotorcar andtwomotorcycles,oneofwhich wasbeingriddenbyDorway
Dorway, who originally hails from Cumberland, East Canje, Berbice, was a part of a Cadre of fighters that began their boxing career and were trained and
nurtured by legendary trainer, former national champion Orland ‘PocketRocket’Rogers.
Dorway began his boxing career as a teenager around 2006 under the tutelage of Rogers at the Pocket Rocket boxing gym in Cumberland and then Canefield, East Canje, before the gym moved toNewAmsterdam.
A number of other notable boxers from the Pocket Rocket BoxingGymdominatedtheboxing sceneduringthatperiod,bothatthe amateur and professional level. Many represented Guyana at both the amateur and professional levels. Among them were Dereck Richmond, Leon “Hitman” Carter, Sheldon Phillips and later on the likesofcurrentchampionDesmond Amsterdam, Richard Williamson, Joel Williamson and Jamal Eastman and female champion RenaDavidamongothers.
- Boxing fraternity mourns the loss of former National Boxing Champion
Dorway was national amateur champion in the Lightweight, juniorwelterandalsofoughtinthe welterweight divisions. He also representedGuyanaonanumberof occasionsasanamateurfighterand won a silver medal. As a professional he was ranked among the best junior welter and welterweights in the country and foughtasaprofessionalinJamaica.
SpeakingtoRogers,Hesaidthe lossofDorwayisahardhitforthe boxing fraternity in Guyana Dorway who was attacked and injured a few years ago. Recently restarted training after recovering from his injuries. According to Rogers, he was preparing to take himforafewfightsoverseas.
He described Dorway as a live wiresincehisearlyboxingdaysin
East Canje. He was an attacking boxerduringhisdaythusthename Tiger.
Dorway leaves to mourn two youngchildrenandhiswife. Reports are that the car which wasbeingdrivenbyafemale,who was reportedly under the influence ofalcohol,failedtostopatthestop sign before entering the intersection, where the collision occurred.
Asaresultofthecollision,both motorcyclists were flung onto the roadway and sustained injuries. TheyweretakentotheGeorgetown PublicHospitalCorporation,where Gladwin Dorway was pronounced deadonarrival.
The driver of the motor car is presently in police custody assistingwithinvestigations.
Gladwin Dorway
2026 New Zealand tour of West Indies ODI Series …Game
3 at Providence (1-1)
Sammy says trusting process, timely execution remains team priority ahead of final battle at Providence
ByCliftonRoss
On the eve of a crucial, momentum-gaining 3rdandfinalODIatthe Guyana National Stadium, Providence, West Indies Head Coach Darren Sammy lauded his mendespiteatoughlossinGame2, callingformoredisciplinefromhis batters but remains optimistic that his team can sign off their time in Guyana with another W; before winging out to Barbados, with winningtheseriesbeingtheteam’s mainpriority
With the 5-match series currently deadlocked at 1–1, West Indies bagged the opening match by7wicketsafterKeacyCarty’s95 and captain Shai Hope’s unbeaten 87.
Nottobefazedbytheloss,New Zealandquicklyissuedanempathic response in the second ODI after left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox dismantled the Caribbean men to claim career-best figures of 5-19, skittling the hosts for a paltry 138 runs before easing to a 5-wicket win.
NowwiththeGuyanalegofthe tourcomingtoanendtonight,both teams will look to snatch the lingering momentum before heading over to Barbados, where theserieswinnerwillbedecided.
West Indies Head Coach Sammy, during yesterday’s final practice at Providence, praised the bowlers for their efforts so far but wanted more from the batters after thepreviousgame.
TheformerWestIndiescaptain turnedcoachbelievedthathismen failedtousetheconditionstotheir advantage, calling for more
awarenessgoingforward.
“It is important for us as a batting group to be more aware of the situation and assess a little faster what is required on the surfaceandwhatisagoodtotalon thatsurface,”Sammyoutlined.
He continued, “Yes, the conditions are challenging, but if we stick to the process of how we
Banks DIH continues support of Guyana Cup horserace
Beverage giants, Banks DIH are once again the main beverage sponsor for the Guyana Cup horse racing. The 18th running of the Guyana Cup is set forAugust23atRisingSunTurfClub, and Banks Beer will be celebrating theirplatinumanniversary
According to Sonya Forrester, Communication executive at Banks DIH, the company will continue to support this event since it drives tourism, and bring the community together
“WeatBanksDIHareproudtoget againbeasponsorfortheGuyanaCup. It’s an honour for us to support these eventsbecauseitbringstogethertalent, completion, superior horses and passionatefans.”
“Our tagline is committed to excellence which is embodied in the sport of horseracing. This event is an opportunity for us to engage in the community,”shesaid.
Sonya Forrester,
Communication executive at Banks DIH.
want to go about things, we give ourselves a better chance at executingourbattingplans.”
Praising his bowling unit, whichhasbeenexceptionalinboth styles (pace/spin), Sammy said he wanted more support for his operators going forward in the series.
“The bowling was good. We made them fight for the total, but we all saw that if we had put up a betterscore,wewouldhavebeenin a better position to win,” said the coach.
Reassessing conditions ahead of today’s important skirmish, the formerall-rounderwaswatchfulof the conditions which have been mixed thus far but says keeping a competitive mindset is the key to overcomingsuchhurdles.
“Ithinkwe’regoingbacktothe pitchweplayedinthefirstgame.It seems like whoever wins the toss bowlsfirst,butwehavetobecome ateamthatcansettotalsanddefend itandweareworkingonthat.”
“We just need to apply that samemindsetwehaveinthechase. Whetheritbeaturningwicketlike we face now in Guyana, it’s somethingwe’vegottogetbetterat and make decisions when the challenge comes from the bowlers.”
Sammy also praised the return
ofHetmyer,citingtheGuyaneseas a key member of the squad especially while supporting a possibleimpactfulremainderofthe seriesbythelocalboy
“Shimronisauniquecase;he’s fromGuyanaandoneofourbetter players of spin in the team, so it’s good to have him available, especially at home. We all know howheplaysintheseconditions,so hopefully he can come in and impact the game and help us in winning.We’repleasedtohavehim back in the squad,” Sammy explained.
In closing, Sammy said the messagetotheteamwastosimply stick to their tactics and remain focusedontheiroverallagendafor thisseriesandbeyond.
“The message is to stay in the moment.All the plans we have for the opposition are about execution and trusting the process It’s something we’ve been emphasizing, and home is one of theareaswewantedtoimproveour success, and I think apart from Sri Lanka, we’ve had a good run at home, and we want to keep that going in Barbados; we give ourselvesabetterchancetoqualify andwintheseries—that’sourmain objective,”heended.
Game 3 bowls off from 14:30 today
C
Barbados continued their winning ways while the Guyanesesufferedtheirthird straightloss,thistimeby63runs when yesterday’s third round of Regional U-19 50Overcricketcontinuedatthe Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua. Posting 258 all out after Jordan Graham (78) and Justin Parris (67) led all scoring, Barbados would keep Guyana to 195 all out despite Adrian Hetmyer strokingaresurgent61.
Justin
Guyanese middle-order batsman Adrian Hetmyer played well for his fifty despite another loss.
Forresteradded:“Wehavealwaysbeena great supporter of the Guyana Cup and we look forward to this partnership and other partnerships.”
More than G$65 million in cash and prizeswillbeupforgrabsonSundayAugust 23atthe18thannualGuyanaCuphorserace Continued on page 21
Parris would go on to complete a good game by claiming 4-19 to go along withhishalf-century,while3 wickets apiece from Gilbert GriffithandspinnerRomario Ramde
Guyana’s bowling efforts
earlierinthematch.
Leeward Islands beat Windward Islands by a whopping 144-runs in their match, while Jamaica handedTrinidadandTobago a 109-run defeat as part of yesterday’sround. Guyanawilllooktonow salvage whatever they can comeround4whentheyplay the Leewards at the Liberta Sport Club on Saturday (CliftonRoss)
West Indies will be looking to sign off their time in Guyana with another win but more importantly gain a 2-1 lead before heading to Barbados for the remainder of the series.
Parris had a solid all-round game yesterday for Barbados.
Andre Boyce crowned King of the Table at the 2026
CSAG &
MMG National 8-Ball Pools Championship
Following four days of intense competition and high-stakes manoeuvring, the Cue Sports Association Guyana(CSAG)andMobile Money Guyana (MMG) have crowned Andre Boyce as the 2026 National 8-Ball Champion. The tournament, which commenced on July 4 and concluded with a thrilling finaldayonJuly12,brought together the finest cueists from across the length and breadthofGuyana.Afieldof
Andre Boyce collects his prize after claiming the 2026 National 8-Ball Championship.
70 elite players represented regions including Georgetown, East Bank, West Bank, West Coast, Berbice, Linden, East Coast and Essequibo, making it o n e o f t h e m o s t geographically diverse and competitive tournaments in theassociation’shistory
AndreBoyceemergedas thestandoutperformerofthe w e e k , d i s p l a y i n g exceptional skill, tactical brilliance and composure under pressure. His clinical performance in the final rounds earned him the prestigiousnationaltitleand thetopspotonthepodium.
Jerry Josie secured second place following a series of dominant performancesthroughoutthe knockout stages, while Mario Albert and Ritick Persaud shared third place. Jameel DeAgrella,Anthony Xavier, Parsram Sobhai and McQuainSmithroundedout thetopfinisherswithfourthplacehonours.
“The talent on display this year has been nothing short of extraordinary,” said Steven Persaud, the President of the Cue Sports AssociationGuyana.“Tosee 70 players from so many different regions coming together proves that cue sports are thriving in
top performers take time out for
Guyana. We would like to congratulate Andre Boyce onhiswell-deservedvictory and extend our heartfelt congratulationstoallourtop performers.”
MMG Chief Executive Officer Mark Singh said the company was proud to support a championship that
c
excellence while bringing together talented players fromacrossGuyana.
“AtMMG,webelievein investing in initiatives that strengthen communities and create opportunities for peopletoexcel.TheNational
Continued on page 21
The
a photo.
Sammy says trusting process,
execution remains team priority ahead of final battle at Providence
Argentina’s
goal. (REUTERS/Dylan
Lautaro Martinez scores their second
Martinez)
Keacy Carty missed out on a possible ton in the first match but could easily make amends come today.
West Indies Head Coach Darren Sammy said the team remains geared towards building/ preserving on their winning record at home and is adamant that they can pull off this series win off.
