Monday Edition
Iran warns of K NEWS ‘painful response’ if it suffers further attacks AIETEUR
September 07, 2026 - Vol. 19 No. 35 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $200 readership yesterday, 44,101
Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly
“U.S. grateful to Guyana for helping address migration issues” - Ambassador Theriot
…as Afghan, Cuban deportees arrive
Fire destroys house at Ogle Scene of the devastating fire Sunday night at Ogle.
U.S. Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot
Viral school brawl puts Berbice parent in police custody …students reportedly injured in confrontation
Miner dead, suspect on the run after Issano bar fight Opposition MPs press Govt. for transparency on U.S.-Guyana deportee pact
Ram urges Pres. Ali to ring-fence new oil projects to stop ExxonMobil eating into Guyana’s profits
Kaieteur News
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Monday September 07, 2026
Bandit flees after female Viral school brawl puts Berbice in police custody cashier grabs gun during parent ...students reportedly Linden gas station robbery injured in confrontation A lone bandit bolted with an undisclosed amount of cash on Man bolts after female cashier takes away his gun. Friday after a female cashier grabbed his gun during a robbery at Hinds Gas Station in Linden. A video of the robbery went viral after viewers reacted to c a s h i e r ’s “ q u i c k thinking.” Police told Kaieteur News that the bandit entered the gas station around 19:15 hrs. with a gun and demanded that the cashier hand over all the cash. She took the cash from the counter and handed it to him. However, while the bandit sorted the money, he placed his firearm on the counter. As she He is believed to be a life. handed over a second A police rank told man who was recently handful of cash, she quickly grab his gun and pointed it to K a i e t e u r N e w s t h a t released from prison after investigators have already serving time for a similar him. Realising she had the secured some leads and are offence. Investigations are weapon, the suspect grabbed m a k i n g p r o g r e s s i n continuing. the loot and bolted for his identifying the suspect.
Teen mom still recovering 6 months after 25-stab attack
Tiana Chapman, 16, survived a horrific knife attack.
S
ixteen-year-old Tiana Chapman, a mother of one, is still recovering from a brutal attack on her life allegedly perpetrated just over six months ago by the father of her child. The teen, of Pepper Street, Edinburgh Village, East Bank Berbice, was pounced upon and stabbed multiple times on the evening of 24th February, reportedly while she was at the home of a friend. Christopher Ali, 28, with whom Chapman had been in a relationship, allegedly entered the home and attacked the unsuspecting teen with a knife, stabbing her more than 25 times after learning that she no longer wished to continue their relationship. Chapman recounted the incident in a subsequent interview with Kaieteur News in March. She was rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital, where she was admitted to the
Intensive Care Unit (ICU). She suffered punctured lungs and was temporarily placed on an oxygen machine. She was also stabbed to her head, while multiple parts of her body were fastened with staples following the attack. The incident left Berbice in shock, but there was also widespread relief when Chapman made what was described as a remarkable recovery after spending just two weeks in hospital. Chapman, the third of seven children, remained fearful following her discharge on 10th March, as Ali had evaded law enforcement for several weeks. He was eventually caught and beaten by individuals while hiding in the Berbice River before being handed over to police in Region Six on 13th March. Despite her recovery, Chapman continues to experience physical effects from the attack and is also trying to heal mentally from the ordeal that nearly claimed her life. “I’m still having discomforts. I can’t really sleep on my belly. I have shortness of breath and I can’t walk far. There is pain in my left side....my left side paining. I’m having difficulties. My right hand, it ain’t really working. The right-hand damage,” Chapman told this publication on Sunday. On 26th March, Ali made his first court appearance at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court, where he was formally Continued on page 10
The Vryman’s Erven Secondary School A visit by a parent to a New Amsterdam secondary school to address a matter involving his son ended in a physical confrontation with several students last week, leaving at least two youths reportedly injured and the father in police custody. The incident occurred at t h e Vr y m a n ’s E r v e n Secondary School and was captured on video, which has since gone viral on social media. Kaieteur News understands that the parent went to the school after his son was allegedly assaulted by other students and robbed of money. The father reportedly confronted one of the students on the school compound and demanded answers. However, accounts surrounding what triggered the confrontation vary. One account suggests that the man’s son had earlier bullied another student and taken his money. W h a t e v e r t h e circumstances, the situation quickly escalated, with the parent and one student getting into a physical altercation. Several other male students then joined the fray, apparently in support of their schoolmate. The video shows male teachers rushing to intervene as the confrontation intensified. Despite their efforts, it reportedly took some time before the parent and students could be separated. At one point, a teacher managed to pull the parent away from a student. However, not before the parent appeared to punch or strike the youth with an object. Kaieteur News was told that one of the students was struck in the mouth and suffered a broken tooth, while another was reportedly punched in the eye, leaving it badly bruised. The matter was
A screen grab of the incident.
subsequently reported at the Central Police Station in New Amsterdam. Officials of the Region Six Education Department
confirmed that they are aware of the incident and said the matter is being investigated. The police have also been notified.
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Monday September 07, 2026
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“U.S. grateful to Guyana for helping address migration issues” ...as Afghan, Cuban deportees arrive “We’re grateful to Guyana for agreeing to assist us in resolving our migration issues,” U.S. Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot stated, as the United States signalled its appreciation to Guyana for receiving non-citizen deportees under a newly finalised bilateral agreement. The government has finalised a one-year migration cooperation framework with the United States, under which the country will receive, according to a statement issued on Saturday, limited, vetted group of non-criminals, skilled individuals through the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Assisted Voluntary Return Programme. The agreement marks the immediate rollout of a temporary third-country deportation mechanism, with an initial cohort of six deportees, four originating from Cuba and two from Afghanistan, arriving in Guyana on Friday. In brief remarks Sunday, Ambassador Theriot said the U.S. has been working on the arrangement with Guyana for many months. The deal outlines a temporary arrangement for individuals who voluntarily opt for relocation to Guyana while awaiting the final determination of their immigration s t a t u s . O ff i c i a l g o v e r n m e n t statements detailed that depending on the outcome of their cases, individuals will either return to their country of origin or relocate
elsewhere of their choosing. The arrangement operates under strict parameters and does not offer openended residency or permanent resettlement. Under the agreed terms, the United States Government will bear the complete financial burden of the relocation exercise, ensuring Guyana incurs no financial liability. The operational execution of the framework falls directly under the IOM, which will fund and manage reception, housing, basic support, and social integration services, including healthcare, employment supervision, and facilitating contact with legal counsel and family. The IOM confirmed that the arrangement does not transfer any of the state’s official legal duties concerning immigration admission, protection, legal stay, or deportation. The administration maintained that Guyana holds total sovereignty and retains complete veto power to review and deny any individual put forward by U.S. authorities. Only individuals who explicitly consent to relocate of their own free will, have been denied asylum in the U.S. without wanting to return home, and meet strict non-criminal and skill criteria will be admitted. Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud confirmed to Al Jazeera that the initial cohort had been vetted by Guyanese authorities and found to have no criminal backgrounds. The Miami Herald quoted Persaud as stating that Guyana reached the agreement
after months of discussions dating back to January. He pointed out that Guyana’s position regarding accepting skilled migrants is tied to its ongoing oil boom, which has created an estimated skills gap of 70,000 to 80,000 workers. Persaud added that the U.S. has not made any further requests for thirdcountry deportations to Guyana at this time. Guyana is the latest of several member states to receive U.S. deportees, joining St. Kitts and Nevis, Belize, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and St. Lucia. Nevis signed a memorandum of understanding to accept noncriminal deportees from CARICOM nations, excluding Haitians, after facing US visa restrictions. Other nations agreeing to third-country deportations include Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, El S a l v a d o r, P a r a g u a y, G h a n a , Eswatini, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Poland, and Uzbekistan. Reports indicate the Trump administration has approached at least 58 governments, utilising leverage such as tariff concessions or threats of travel bans and diplomat restrictions, while paying ancillary integration expenses. Human rights activists and organisations such as Amnesty International, Refugees International, and Human Rights First have denounced third-country deportations as inhumane and
- Ambassador Theriot
potentially illegal under international law, noting that many deportees lack ties or language familiarity in destination countries, face severe human rights abuses, or risk unlawful repatriation to places of persecution. C o n v e r s e l y, t h e Tr u m p Administration has defended the legality and merits of the mechanism under its mass deportation programme, portraying it as a vital national security tool to deter unlawful migration and clear backlogs where home countries refuse repatriation. According to Congressional Research Service (CRS) documentation dated 24th August, 2026, Kaieteur News understands that third-country removals are authorised under the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) when return to a home country is “impracticable, inadvisable, or impossible.” The practice operates alongside statutory protections, including Withholding of Removal and the Convention Against Torture (CAT). Following President Trump’s January 2025 Executive Order “Securing our Borders,” DHS expanded third-country designations, prompting ongoing legal challenges. While a federal district court judge vacated DHS’s policy in February 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit granted a stay pending appeal, keeping the policy
U.S. Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot operational. Under current ICE procedures, individuals subject to third-country removal receive 24 hours’ notice, or 6 hours in exigent circumstances with legal access, and must proactively express fear of persecution to trigger USCIS screening. Tracking estimates indicate that more than 21,000 individuals have been removed to third countries during the second Trump administration. P r e s i d e n t I r f a a n A l i ’s administration framed the framework as a continuation of Guyana’s international human rights obligations, emphasising that relocated individuals maintain the right to seek international protection where applicable in direct coordination with local civil society bodies, the IOM, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
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Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL - Tel: 624-6456 Editor-in-Chief: Nigel Williams Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Guyana in the middle A senior U.S. State Department official, Juan Pablo Segura, sharply criticised Chinese projects in Guyana and the region. The Chinese Embassy in Guyana clapped right back at Segura with its own rebuttals of malice and manipulation. Caught in the middle is Guyana. It is the object of serious interest from both global powerhouses, with its rich prizes forming part of the spoils for whichever side gains the ascendancy. It is not the best place for an emerging country like Guyana to be. Trapped between two elephants staking out territory, fighting for dominance. We hold no brief for the Chinese, have had our share of criticisms about some of its projects. Similarly, the U.S. has not been the best of partners for Guyana, with ExxonMobil being the most glaring example of a partner claiming trustworthiness, only for it to prove otherwise. Is there any development, any involvement, that could be more damaging to Guyana’s interests than America’s ExxonMobil 2016 Production Sharing Agreement? An oil contract that hemorrhages this country of its wealth, and for mere pittances. We would prefer to leave the Chinese and Americans to battle this out, and keep our distance. But something must be said for the record: by what moral authority, and from which moral rulebook, can the U.S. justify adopting the posture that it did? Also of interest is the fact that Asst Secretary Segura was clever enough to use a personal social media account to deliver his blast at various Chinese projects in the region. Why not through the weight of his official account? Truth be told, the Chinese have been behind projects that left much to be desired. “Costly, poorly built, and failing” was the description given by Asst Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Segura, to a Chinese hydroelectric dam in Ecuador. Then, there was the Guyana example, and it is one that had to bite deep. The Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion project that was rightly condemned for being “plagued by more than a decade of construction delays and cost overruns.” This paper has published over a dozen news articles and editorials over the years pointing to the failures and likely corruptions involved in that CJIA project. For its part, the Chinese Embassy in Guyana was not taking the U.S. State Department official contentious social media blast sitting down. There is the low hanging fruit that is just begging for the plucking. The US$2B Wales Gas-toEnergy (GtE) that is fast approaching two years past its original delivery deadline of 2024 yearend. An American company, Lindsayca Guyana Inc., holds a US$759M contract to construct two plants, a gas conversion facility and a power generation engine. It is now almost two years later, and the two facilities are still some time away from becoming fully operational. In the interim, Guyanese are left hanging, and the millions in losses for Guyana keep on increasing. ExxonMobil takes advantage of Guyana, on the one hand, and Lindsayca Guyana Inc., is struggling to fulfill what it signed on for. The way that we at this publication interpret this, is that both the Americans and Chinese have helped themselves in Guyana’s soft political environment, and toyed with its lax oversight regime. The Americans and Chinese are free to point as many fingers at each other, as that serves the grandstanding of both. Guyana is the one that gets bruised and left to cope with its disadvantages. A compromised government that is not motivated to lay down the law and hold contractors, including U.S. and Chinese ones, accountable. That is, make them pay for their failures. It is not a matter of strategic interests and spheres of influence for Guyana. It is about getting the fullest value for every dollar in the many billions spent. The wisest course for Guyana is stay out of the current U.S-China fray. Guyana has its own challenges to overcome. Both the U.S. and China have their merits. They also have their own interests, which are not necessarily to Guyana’s benefit.
Natural resources in Guyana DEAR EDITOR, On a per capita basis, Guyana is one of the very well-endowed countries in the world; for it has oil and gas, gold and diamonds, and many other minerals, as well as arable lands. Also, Guyana has a rich diversity of plants animals and marine life; and it has many creeks and rivers. Table 1 below shows an incomplete listing of what resources are available; but the foundational information,
including what are the recognised quantities and quality of these resources are not known. So here is the concern: When foreign investors come to Guyana and recognise that our Guyanese policymakers do not know in detail what we have; and cannot engage in serious investment contract negotiations, we are taken for a ride. Or as the old people have said: “When you do not know what you have,
people will take advantage pun yuh!”, This lack of knowledge must stop, if development and higher standard of living are to be harnessed for current and future generations. Table 1 is a partial overview of what we have to complete in order to understand our endowment, and to build a sovereign wealth fund that includes all the non-renewable resources. Incidentally, our grandparents built our first
sovereign wealth fund, not with dollars, but with several permanent food crops they planted to transfer food to the subsequent generations. Consequently, the task before us is to extend that inter-generational gift bag by building a state-owned sovereign wealth fund from the revenue earned from our non-renewable natural resources. Get the job done! Sincerely, C. Kenrick Hunte Mike Persaud
Opposition leader is now a public nuisance DEAR EDITOR, I am very ‘up-to-date’ as regards Opposition Leader, A z r u d d i n M o h a m e d ’s presence near President Irfaan Ali’s private Leonora home. Now regarding the incident after interception, Azruddin Mohamed, as expected was legally detained and questioned by the police. The reason is simply that his vehicle was intercepted near President I r f a a n A l i ’s p r i v a t e residence. The details, now quite public, show that on 3rd September, 2026, the members of the Guyana Police Force stopped a black Toyota Land Cruiser along the Windsor Forest Public Road, West Coast Demerara, near the President’s home in Leonora. (And get this) Inside the trunk, officers discovered a DJI drone and four cellular phones. This is serious! It has elements of criminal intent. The specifics of the incident are worth emphasising, as Mohamed was using a driver and accompanying the lot was a technician who admitted
ownership of the device, though he noted his operator ’s licence had expired. What is this? Editor, this is more than enough to institute arrests and lay charges. The whole thing wreaks of suspicion, treachery and some kind clandestine operation. I cannot treat this as another of Mohamed’s many act of provocation, to have the upper end on the GPF, if he can only get them to do the irrational and illegal. This then led to Special Prosecutor Glenn Hanoman raising alarms regarding Mohamed’s presence near the residence at night, suggesting the investigation could touch on severe security implications. Hanoman subsequently petitioned the court to revoke Mohamed’s bail, that had already ensued. However, Chief Magistrate, Judy Latchman, denied the prosecutor’s application to remand Mohamed. This is where the matter is as investigations are ongoing, with the Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed on self-bail.
I must point out that Azruddin Mohamed seems oblivious of what it really means to be the official Leader of the Opposition. His conduct and general deportment have descended to that which is wild, boisterous, and messy. Overall, Mohamed’s behaviour represents a pattern of intimidation and lawlessness, and this ‘drone incident’ typifies what I am saying. I do not think that anyone needs convincing that ‘an unauthorised drone,’ allegedly seen flying over President Irfaan Ali’s private residence is tantamount to a security threat. Also, the man was in an ‘equipped for crime’ vehicle. The chronic pattern set out by Mohamed leaves me wondering if he is simply trying to create as mush mess as he can, since he feels hopeless regarding his ‘11count U.S. federal criminal indictment for gold smuggling and money laundering.’ We are talking here about his conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, money laundering, tax evasion, and customs
violations. I ask again, is it a case of ‘fighting for his life,’ since to him, it is in vain, so he might as well go down ‘guns a blazing?’ I do recall that In June 2 0 2 3 , Ta y l o r Ta r a n t o actually streamed himself in Washington, D.C., He claimed that he was searching for “secret tunnels” outside the neighbourhood of former President Barack Obama’s residence. He was spotted walking into the woods near the property and was arrested by the Secret Service because his vehicle contained firearms, ammunition, and materials to make a Molotov cocktail. He was subsequently convicted of menacing and sentenced to time served plus supervised release. He was a private citizen, and not a political opposition leader, and by implication, Mohamed, being of a high-profile status, must be handled in a more stringent manner. Bear in mind that one of Mohamed’s associates Continued on page 5
Monday September 07, 2026
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Taking govt. to the people: Leadership with a human touch DEAR EDITOR, The recent government outreach across Linden and Region Ten represents an important and commendable approach to democratic governance that cannot be overstated. His Excellency taking his government directly to the people, listening to citizens where they live, and creating opportunities for communities to engage with policymakers without the usual layers of bureaucracy is most noteworthy. I was particularly pleased to see the large number of residents who seized the opportunity to attend meetings within their communities and engage Ministers and other government officials directly. Citizens came not merely to complain, but to participate. They raised personal concerns, identified
community challenges and, importantly, offered ideas and recommendations for improving the delivery of public services for their benefit. That is democracy at its most practical. In several instances, residents received immediate assistance or answers to matters affecting them. In others, commitments were given for follow-up and resolution. This kind of direct engagement helps to narrow the distance between government and governed and it reinforces an important principle of public administration: government must not only formulate policies for people; it must continuously listen to the people those policies are intended to serve. I must note that the two recurring concerns were particularly evident in the
reliability of electricity and the quality and delivery of water across Linden and other communities in Region Ten. Residents were right to raise these issues. Reliable electricity and access to safe, dependable water are fundamental to household wellbeing, business development and the overall economic advancement of our communities. What was encouraging was that these concerns were not simply heard; residents were provided with information on immediate and short-term interventions, as well as the longer-term direction for addressing these challenges. The real measure of success, naturally, will be the timely implementation of those commitments and the improvements residents experience in their everyday lives.
President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s approach to governance deserves particular recognition in this regard. His willingness to leave the confines of offices and formal meetings and engage ordinary Guyanese directly has become a distinctive feature of his leadership. Whether speaking with a businessperson, a young person seeking an opportunity, a pensioner, a parent, a farmer or an ordinary resident concerned about conditions in his or her community, the President demonstrates an understanding that leadership must ultimately have a “human touch”. There is something valuable about a President being prepared to stand among citizens, hear their concerns firsthand, ask questions, demand answers
The police and the government must account for the disappearance of citizen Mohamed’s Facebook page and phones DEAR EDITOR, This issue concerns everyone who lives or travels to Guyana, and it demands immediate attention and solutions, from a national perspective. Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed’s main Facebook page was seized and deactivated, truncating his 500,000-plus followers off from his regular platform for communication and political engagement, and violating many of his constitutional rights and freedoms. The Opposition has pointed to the PPP Government, alleging the shutdown is part
of an effort to restrict Mohamed’s access to his supporters and his ability to communicate directly with the public. This is not only about Mr. M o h a m e d . I t ’s a b o u t everyone. Any right-thing person must vehemently protest the alarming disappearance of the “Team Mohamed” Facebook page, reportedly followed by more than 500,000 people, while Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed’s phones was, and still remains in police custody. Worse yet, the page became unavailable shortly
Opposition leader is... From page 4 admitted owning a drone, but with expired licence. This has its own element of laughter, as I recall that only recently, the said Oppostion Leader’s boat, the Prince AZ II, was detained by a joint police-coast guard patrol in Guyana, and it was revealed that its licence and certificate of inspection had expired seven years prior, on 10th September, 2018. A joker? Certainly not. I see him as an utter demagogue. He is infected with an irascible proclivity to incite violence. Look at his support base-not a word from Basil Williams and Joseph Harmon. Not a word from Clive Thomas or David Hinds. At least no defence of and no support for him in any missive or oral appeal. Mohamed is on a mission to muster up support by appealing to popular base desires and prejudices, all coming from the vulnerable rift-raft of society. I see him as someone who is willing to engage in what looks like “willful political immolation” as he seems to be a failure, and is driven by motives of escapism. He recognises that WIN, under him cannot win, so he selfishly choosing go down in a spectacular, uncompromising manner. Yours truly, Hargesh B. Singh
after Mohamed announced that he intended to publish materials alleging corruption involving a G$200 million land transaction at Leonora concerning highly placed officials. The Guyana Police Force cannot avoid responsibility for property and data entrusted to its exclusive custody. Once the police seized Mohamed’s phones, they assumed a strict custodial duty to preserve the devices, account credentials, c o n f i d e n t i a l communications, electronic evidence and complete chain of custody. The Force must account for, explain or accept institutional responsibility for this illegal act. As state agents, they may have unlawfully accessed the phones and/or interferred with the Facebook page, and serious constitutional violations may have occurred, which mandate a c c o u n t a b i l i t y, i n accordance with: Article 146 protects freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions, receive and communicate information and remain free from interference with correspondence. Article 147 protects freedom of assembly and association, including political association. A political Facebook page is a
modern platform through which citizens organise, communicate and associate. Article 143 protects persons and property against arbitrary search. Any examination of the phones must therefore rest upon lawful authority and remain within its permitted scope. Article 142 protects against unlawful deprivation of property. Continued detention of phones, vehicles and personal belongings must be legally justified and no longer than reasonably necessary. Article 144 secures the protection of the law and access to impartial judicial determination. Article 149 prohibits discriminatory treatment by public authorities based on political opinions. Any selective interference with a n o p p o s i t i o n communication platform would strike directly at this constitutional guarantee. We therefore demand: Immediate publication of the legal authority under which the phones and vehicles were seized and continued to be detained. An independent forensic examination of the phones, conducted with representatives of Mohamed and the Police present. Preservation and disclosure of all deviceaccess records, passwords Continued on page 6
from officials and seek practical solutions. It sends a powerful message that public office should never become disconnected and aloof from the everyday experiences of the people. This hands-on approach also strengthens a c c o u n t a b i l i t y. W h e n ministers, technical officers and other decision-makers are brought directly before communities, citizens can articulate their concerns without having their voices diluted or lost as information passes through multiple administrative layers. Government officials, in turn, gain a clearer appreciation of conditions on the ground. Equally encouraging was the confidence and boldness demonstrated by the people of Linden and Region Ten. Residents engaged their elected representatives and government officials respectfully, firmly and constructively. They did not surrender their right to question government; rather, they exercised it responsibly. That is precisely the relationship a mature democracy should encourage. The people must speak, government must listen, and where legitimate problems exist, practical solutions must follow, this is what the Ali administration is about. President Ali’s philosophy of taking government directly to communities therefore deserves support, not simply because it brings ministers
closer to citizens, but because it encourages a more responsive model of governance, one in which people increasingly become participants in national and community development rather than spectators. For Linden and Region Ten, this engagement should therefore be viewed not as the conclusion of a process, but as another important step in an evolving partnership between government and the people. President Ali’s down-toearth engagement with ordinary Guyanese, his practical and hands-on approach to problemsolving, and his willingness to take government beyond Georgetown and directly into communities represent a leadership style worthy of commendation. The last time the majority of Guyanese had experience with this type of engagement was with then President Jagdeo more than 20 years ago and President Ali has taken it to a new level. Ultimately, government is at its best when it is closest to the people. Leadership must listen. Leadership must engage. Leadership must act. And when government goes directly to the people not merely to speak, but to listen, understand and deliver it gives genuine meaning to the principle that development must be with the people, for the people and ultimately felt by the people. Yours respectfully, Jermaine Figueira
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Two survivors miraculously rescued 10 days after devastating President Ali -Wales Sugar Estate flash floods in Nepal laid-off workers, their families and livelihood matters too!
Nepali Army soldiers carry Chandika Shrestha, after she was rescued from Betrawati following devastating floods and mudslides, in Kathmandu, Nepal, on 5th September, 2026. Dipen Shrestha/Reuters. ( C N N ) Tw o m o r e survivors from Nepal’s catastrophic flash floods were rescued on Saturday, offering a sliver of hope for a region reeling from the destruction wrought by a wave of water, ice and mud that washed away entire riverside communities 10 days ago. A Chinese national, Lu Haitao, was pulled from the hydropower tunnels where hundreds of other workers remain missing while the other, 60-year-old Chandika Shrestha, was found downriver, on the upper floor of a four-story building in the devastated community of Betrawati. So much time has passed since the floods that Shrestha’s family had started ceremonial last rites and begun preparing for her funeral, believing she had died, a local official said. Thousands of families remain in this limbo across Nepal and China, not knowing if their loved ones are alive or dead. At least
1,362 people are known to have died in the disaster, authorities say. About 900 of those missing are hydropower workers, who were working at facilities dotted along the Trishuli River when a huge chunk of ice sheared off a melting glacier, triggering a landslide and floods which buried entire communities in minutes. Lu said he had been desperately trying to attract rescue workers’ attention for days, crying for help whenever he saw their lights. “Whenever I saw the lights, I shouted, ‘Hey!’ Really loudly, really loudly,’ he told Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. “Maybe they didn’t hear me. “When they came to rescue me today, even when their (lights) were shining right in front of me, I couldn’t believe it.” Two other workers were rescued on Friday from a different hydropower plant after rescuers had worked around the clock in
treacherous conditions in the hope of finding survivors. But away from these miraculous rescues, the death toll continues to rise – two bodies were recovered from the same site where Lu was found – and other families are still enduring an agonizing wait for news of missing relatives. Krishna Poudel added an image of his younger brother I s h w o r, a 2 6 - y ear- o ld hydropower worker, to a board with scores of other such posters for those missing eight days ago, but he still doesn’t know his brother’s fate. Some who escaped from the tunnels told Poudel that his brother is still inside, he told Reuters. “They said they could hear the voices of about 200-300 people shouting from inside,” he said. Rescue teams, helped by specialist crews from other countries including India and China, are concentrating their efforts on these Continued on page 10
The police and the government... From page 5 used, extraction reports, officer-access logs and chain-of-custody documents. An immediate preservation request to Meta for the page’s administrative, login, deletion and recovery records. Restoration of the page and its contents as it was removed without Mohamed’s authorisation. Protection of confidential sources, whistleblowers and evidence stored on the devices. An independent investigation by an appropriate judicial or oversight authority into whether any State agent accessed or interferred with the account. Immediate return of all property not lawfully required as evidence. This demand does not presume that individual police officers deleted the page. It insists upon a basic constitutional principle: when the State takes possession of a citizen’s
property, the State must account for what happens to that property while it remains under State control. Freedom of expression is meaningless if an opposition leader’s principal communication platform can disappear without a prompt, transparent and independently verifiable explanation. Freedom of association is endangered when hundreds of thousands of citizens suddenly lose access to a political forum. The police must preserve the evidence, disclose the records, accept custodial responsibility and restore public confidence. Silence is complicity, not accountability, and coincidence and inexplicable obliterations are not adequate explanations. A Facebook page does not disappear on its own. Defend constitutional government. Protect political expression. Preserve the evidence. Restore the page. Yours faithfully, Albert Baldeo
DEAR EDITOR, Thank you for publishing this letter in your widely read news media in Guyana, to remind President Ali and Prime Minister Mark Phillips, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of labour that majority of the Wales Sugar Estate laid off sugar workers are landless agri-workers. And they have applied for land, 5 to 10 acres each, to do farming, chicken, animal rearing, skill training, etc…, but did not get no reply, not even an acknowledgement to their letter and petition. Many of these hardworking sugar workers, have worked with Wales Sugar Estate and GuySuCo for many, many years and are feeling neglected and forgotten, especially by the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Agriculture, GAWU and NAACIE Union. Editor, it was reported that President Ali said recently in Region # 6, “Poverty reduction is not only about reducing the cost of things,” he said, “It is about investing in you, so you can own things; your businesses, your homes, properties that are increasing in value and have access to the best infrastructure, water, education, and healthcare.” It is also reported that the president said, that his government’s development approach does not provide temporary relief. Instead, the PPP/C focuses on transforming livelihoods, strengthening communities, and ensuring future generations can live with dignity. T h i s n e w s announcement sounds great, but it appears that the ministers especially from the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Labour are not listening or do not understand what President Ali are saying and want to do for the Guyanese people. Isn’t Wales Sugar Estate laid-off workers, their families and Livelihood matters too? Editor, the Wales sugar workers committee representatives and majority of the workers feels, that President Ali and Prime Minister Mark Phillips and the PPP/C led Guyana Government should urgently consider and give some of the Wales Sugar Estate, idle
sugar cane land to them and the landless peasant farmers, including the Belle Vue Pilot Scheme landless-farmers that wanted and requested land to do Agriculture farming, chicken and animal rearing, etc, so that these workers can start to be owners, own business and owners of the means of production. Editor, it was reported, that based on the Wales Estate land survey plan, this closed down Wales Sugar Estate have over nine thousand ( 9,000+) plus acres of idle and abandon sugar cane land. And it was reported that the proposed ‘Wales Gas Project & Gas Power Generating Plant’ that is situated in the area of the Marias Lodge-Free & Easy Village area, on the West Bank of Demerara, Region # 3, will only be using approximately 100 acres of the land, from the Wales Sugar Estate idle sugar cane land, for this gas project and gas generation plant. It was also reported, that during the last national and regional election campaign, Minister Zulfikar Mustapha went to Vreezeland –Vive Laforce village and promised to give a group of squatters, including nonsugar workers, 200 acres from the Wales Sugar Estate cane land for pasture, in the Potosi North section. Editor, it is reported that some of these squatters have already got over 500 acres of land from the Guyana Government in the Red Wing Polder, Kamuni area. Also in 2026, it is reported that the Guyana Ministry of Housing is in the process, to use some of these idle cane land, in the Vreezeland -Vive Laforce area for a housing development project, with thousands of house lots, not too far from the proposed gas plant and gas generating plan. Editor, we want President Ali and the Guyanese people to know, that since 2023, the laid off Wales Estate Sugar Workers have followed his public advice and have organised the workers into a group. And elected a workersfarmers’ committee, made up of these Wales Estate S u g a r Wo r k e r s , K r i s Budhoo, Etwaroo, M. Hercules, Twaheer, J. Singh, Mohammed, B. Balkarran, S. Gendalall, Tyron and
others. And the workers committee collected over 350 to 400 of the laid off Wales Sugar Estate workers names and signatures from Canal # 2 Polder, ToevulgtPatentia District, Vr e e z e l a n d , a n d Vi v Laforce-Patosi , that wanted land to do farming, chicken, animal rearing, aquaculture, etc….Then the workers’ committee made copies of the list/petition and delivered one copy each to the Office of the President, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Labour, Office of the Prime Minister, GAWU and NAACIE To date none of the workers committee representatives or the workers did not get a call and or a reply from the OP, OPM, the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of labour, and the two sugar workers Unions, G AW U a n d N A A C I E leadership. These workers and the sugar workers committee, want to know from the two sugar workers unions, especially GAWU president that is a sitting member of parliament-MP, what action, if any that he and GAWU have made or are making to help us the Wales estate laid off sugar workers, to get some of these land for farming, chicken and animal rearing, financial assistance, skills retraining, etc…. Also, how many of these house lots developing within the Wales Sugar Estate land, will be reserved and given to the Wales Estate Sugar Workers, that do not own a house lot and worked with Wales Sugar Estate, five years and over continually and qualify under the SILWF program, for a subsidised house lot. Editor, the GAWU and NAACIE leadership, must know that these landless, laid off sugar workers, were GAWU and NAACIE union members and supporters that have given donation, paying union dues, through the pay list deduction system to GAWU and NAACIE for many, many years and have Rights. Thank you. Yours Respectfully, Shyam Balkarran Former GAWU & GCFA member and national Representative for the Wales Estate Workers Committee and the concerned Wales Estate Landless- Agri
T N U L B . . . T B N U T L N T B . U . L . L T B . N . U . N U T L N B . U . T . L N T U N B . N U . L U L LUNT. B . T . . T T N N B U B . U . Guyanese Must L . L T B . B . . N . . . T U T L N N T U U L N L Not Become Last B U . B . . L . . . T B T . . N . N T U L N LU B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . NT LUNT...B NT...BLU N U L B . . B . U . . T L . N T B . . U N . L N T B U N . . L . U T L B . . N B . . . T U . L N T B U . . L . UN T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L B U UN .BLUNT. . . L . T B . . N . T U . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B . . L LU ...BLUN . T B . . N . T U L N T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U BBL T...BLUN BLUNT... ...BLU . T . N . N T T U L U N L B U T...BLU U B . L . N . B T . . . N T U N N N L U U U B L . L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Monday September 07, 2026
Kaieteur News
Guyana cannot afford to become a dumping ground for the world while its own citizens struggle for basic necessities. The Government’s deportee arrangement with the United States raises questions that cannot be brushed aside with talk of hospitality and international obligations. Yes, Guyana must help those in need. But compassion cannot come at the expense of citizens who are battling unreliable utilities, strained healthcare, insecurity and a housing crisis.
The government owes the nation answers. How many deportees will arrive? Where will they be housed? Who will monitor them? What safeguards exist against political interference? And most importantly, who will pay when the foreign assistance ends and the responsibility falls squarely on Guyana? Oil wealth has given this government unprecedented resources. Yet too many Guyanese still feel neglected. Hospitality is a virtue. Putting Guyanese first is a responsibility. They must never become last in their own country.
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Kaieteur News
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Monday September 07, 2026
Opposition leader takes alleged state harassment to UN, CARICOM, U.S. diplomats
T
he office of the leader of the opposition has formally dispatched a diplomatic briefing note to international bodies and foreign missions, sounding the alarm over an alleged campaign of state-backed harassment, unlawful detentions, and warrantless searches targeting him and his party. The document, dated 5th September, 2026, was transmitted directly to the
UN Secretary-General, the CARICOM SecretaryGeneral, the OAS SecretaryGeneral, the United States Ambassador, the British High Commissioner, the C a n a d i a n H i g h Commissioner, and the Carter Center. The brief calls for immediate international scrutiny regarding what it characterises as escalating threats to political freedoms, due process, and the rule of law under the current administration.
Central to the document is a detailed timeline of events from 3rd September, 2026, when Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and members of his staff were detained by the Guyana Police Force at approximately 7:15 p.m. Though Mohamed was initially released on his own recognisance later that evening, he, along with Members of Parliament Dr. Gordon Barker and Dr. Andre Lewis, and Regional
Councillor Sean Nelson, were subsequently redetained at the Leonora Police Station over allegations surrounding their movement near the president’s residence. During the incident, police confiscated personal mobile phones from the opposition leader, MPs, the regional councillor, and support staff, physically removing the devices from the station. Officials were reportedly made to wait for
the return of their phones prior to release, while Councillor Nelson was told to return the next morning after officers misplaced his device. Personal vehicles belonging to Mohamed and his staff were also impounded and remain in state custody without clear legal justification, according to the document. “The continued retention of these vehicles raises questions concerning the legal authority for their seizure, the evidential basis for their continued detention, and whether their retention is n e c e s s a r y a n d proportionate,” the diplomatic brief states. The brief emphasises serious concerns regarding privacy breaches, noting that Mohamed’s personal mobile phones and laptop remain in state hands. The opposition raised fears that specialised software may have been used to bypass security controls to inspect privileged legal matters, strategy documents, and private c o n s t i t u e n t communications. The document further outlines heavy-handed tactics against opposition personnel, revealing that three staff members remain in police custody after being taken to their homes in
handcuffs for warrantless searches. These actions follow other recent police operations, including the overnight detention of MP Natasha Singh and her husband, the physical search of MP Tabitha SaraboH a l l e y, a n d p o l i c e interception of a WIN parliamentary delegation delivering humanitarian relief to families affected by the MV Barima tragedy in Region One. Describing the developments as an “emerging pattern” aimed at intimidating constitutional officers, the briefing note urges foreign allies to engage directly with the opposition and demand clear explanations from the Guyanese government regarding the legal authority for the searches, detentions, and electronic asset seizures. “Elected representatives must be able to organise, communicate with citizens, travel, assemble, and perform their constitutional functions without fear that state institutions will be used against them because of their political position,” the document warns, cautioning international observers that national economic expansion must not come at the expense of democratic accountability.
Miner dead, suspect on the run after Issano bar fight
A miner was killed early Saturday morning during an altercation with another miner at 14 Miles, Issano, Middle Mazaruni, Region Seven. The dead man has been identified as 36-year-old Shawn Abrams of Charity, Essequibo Coast, Region Two. Police said Abrams was reportedly drinking with three friends and a 31-year-old miner from Canje, Berbice, Region Six, at a bar in the area when a disagreement developed between the two men. The argument soon turned into a scuffle. One of Abrams’ friends reportedly intervened and separated the two men. However, he noticed blood stains on Abrams’ vest. Abrams then walked a short distance away before collapsing. He was reportedly bleeding heavily and died at the scene. The suspect reportedly left the area after the incident. Police, in a statement on Sunday, said ranks who responded found Abrams’ body lying in front of the counter of the business place where the incident occurred. Several mining camps in the area were searched for the suspect, but he was not found. Police have since launched a search for the suspect as investigations into Abrams’ death continue.
Kaieteur News
Monday September 07, 2026
PAGE 09
The Kara Kara conundrum T
he Linden Town Council does not possess an untouchable constitutional right to administer its affairs. The Constitution does not confer upon the Linden Town Council an unfettered right to govern Linden in whatever manner it chooses. It establishes local government within the constitutional and statutory framework of Guyana. Indeed, the Municipal and District Councils Act itself is an emphatic reminder that local government does not operate in a legal vacuum. Parliament has prescribed what councils may do, how they may do it and, importantly, when the approval of the minister is required. Consider by-laws. Section 305 of the Municipal and District Councils Act provides that by-laws made by a council must be submitted to the minister for approval. The minister may approve them with or without amendment or reject them, and a by-law has no force of law until ministerial approval has been given. That brings us to the central question in the Kara K a r a c o n t r o v e r s y. I f parliament has given the minister the statutory power to approve a by-law before it becomes law, why should it necessarily follow that the minister’s authority ends
forever at the precise moment of approval? The answer offered by the council’s critics appears to be that there is no express provision saying that the minister may revoke an approved by-law. But that is not necessarily the end of the matter. The interpretation and General Clauses Act provides that subsidiary legislation may be amended, suspended or revoked by the same authority and in the same manner by which it was made. The question therefore becomes whether the statutory process by which a council by-law acquires legal force is simply an act of the council, or a composite statutory process in which ministerial approval is an essential component. It is difficult to ignore the fact that parliament has said that without ministerial approval the by-law has no force of law. That makes the m i n i s t e r ’s a p p r o v a l considerably more than a ceremonial rubber stamp. One can therefore make a perfectly respectable argument that the power of approval carries with it an implied power of withdrawal or revocation. That does not mean that every power of approval automatically includes an unrestricted power of revocation. It means that the question must be determined by construing
the legislation as a whole. And the legislation plainly contemplates substantial centralgovernment supervision of local councils. Section 306, for example, provides mechanisms for intervention where a council has exceeded or abused its powers, defaulted in its duties, failed to maintain reasonable efficiency or incurred excessive or unreasonable expenditure. This is hardly evidence of an arrangement in which central government is forbidden from touching anything a council does. Saying that the revocation of the toll, removes the revenue and strips Linen of its democratic voice is therefore a case of rhetoric getting ahead of the law. If the toll is lawfully imposed and the minister unlawfully removes it, then the council has a legitimate grievance. But if the minister possesses statutory authority to revoke or otherwise terminate the legal instrument, calling that centralisation does not make the action unlawful. If parliament has deliberately placed ministerial approval into the machinery by which a council’s by-laws acquire legal force, it is at least arguable that parliament also c o n t e m p l a t e d a corresponding ministerial capacity to withdraw that
Dem Boys Seh...
Ticket touting must cease Dem boys seh that Guyana does have a wonderful way of making yesterday’s nuisance into today’s national institution. Back in the days when cinema was the big entertainment in town and people used to line up to see cowboys, karate men and James Bond save the world, there was another little industry operating outside the cinema whenever a blockbuster movie was being screened. Men used to get hold of tickets and resell them to people who did not want to stand in the long line or who come too late to get a ticket from the official booth inside. Only difference was that the ticket that cost one dollar inside might cost two or three dollars outside. The then PNC government apparently had enough of that business. Whether the crackdown was entirely lawful is another question, but the authorities did not treat ticket touting as an entrepreneurial achievement. People were arrested for buying up tickets and reselling them at a considerable markup. Fast-forward to today and dem boys seh Guyana has discovered progress. Now is CPL cricket that is the hot ticket. People who genuinely want to go to the match find themselves hunting high and low for tickets. Yet, when match day come, you
could see dozens of fellas outside the ground with tickets in hand, quite prepared to sell them to you—for a price. And the remarkable thing is that everybody seems to know what is happening, except, apparently, the authorities. Dem boys seh that if a man buys up a scarce commodity with the deliberate intention of reselling it at an inflated price, that is not exactly philanthropy. It is touting. Imagine fuh de finals people selling one tic ket for as high as $30,000. And when the ordinary fan cannot get a ticket at the official price while somebody outside is making a little fortune from scarcity, the system is rewarding the very behaviour that creates the scarcity. Perhaps it is time parliament deal with the matter. A simple law could prohibit the bulk purchase and unauthorised resale of tickets above the official price, while allowing genuine transfers. Because dem boys seh, if the cinema days could stop ticket touting, surely CPL cricket could stop it too. Or is this another case where the authorities can see everything—except what is happening right in front of them? Talk half. Leff half.
approval when the statutory circumstances justify it. Nor does Article 13 of the Constitution automatically require consultation before every decision affecting a local authority. Article 13 expresses a constitutional objective, but does not, by itself, create a legal right that an individual or organisation can enforce in court. Article 13 is an unenforceable provision that declares that the political system should provide increasing opportunities for citizens and their organisations to participate in state decisionmaking, particularly in matters affecting their wellbeing. But it does not say that a citizen, local authority or other affected body must be consulted before every particular decision is made. The same arguments now being advanced in relation to
the Kara Kara toll were made when government announced the abolition of the Wismar-Mackenzie Bridge toll. The council quite properly pointed out that the decision would deprive it of roughly $6 million a month in revenue and raised concerns about the absence of consultation. But the government’s policy was not directed at Linden alone. It was explicitly announced as a policy to abolish tolls on the country’s major bridges, including the Demerara Harbour and Berbice River bridges. The Wismar toll was consequently removed along with the others on 1st August, 2025. That decision obviously had financial consequences for the council, just as the present decision concerning the Kara Kara toll will have
consequences for its revenue. Those consequences are legitimate matters for discussion between the council and central government. Indeed, government has met with the council to address its concerns. What should not be done, however, is to transform a dispute over the financial consequences of a national policy into an argument that the right of the council to administer the affairs of Linden is under siege. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Kaieteur News
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UTH
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HAR
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BY G
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LAL
Monday September 2026 Monday May 02,07, 2022
H@RD TRUTHS
BY GHK LALL
Exxon upping the amps - profits I
t is fascinating to watch Exxon on the move. Its people taking the floor, speaking with power and supreme confidence. What’s good news for Exxon’s investors is bad news for Guyanese. Follow Exxon’s sequence. It moved quickly. Burst the halo and bubble surrounding Guyanese. Squelched excitements and expectations. Laid out the c o m p a n y ’s p r i o r i t i e s . Guyana has to get with Exxon’s program. Like hell, I s a y. T h e G u y a n a Government should tell Exxon to get going. Out of here immediately. Every Guyanese knows that’s not going to happen. Chickenfoot leaders. Lily-livered PPP Govt. Passive population. I go in the opposite direction. No one in Guyana should support returning to the 12.5 percent (plus 2 percent royalty) trick. Try this first clue: 75 percent of oil revenues subtracted to settle Exxon’s expenses (cost recovery) and tens of US billions of those expenses audited. But the audit
reports are stonewalled into paralysis; or hidden from citizens paying the bills submitted by Exxon. This is where the company wants to return. This is what it assured its investors. Guyana’s profits will decline, so that their cash flow could flow at its rich levels. And Exxon says that it’s the best thing that ever happened to Guyanese. Those free cricket bats should be converted to batons. Helps keep the peace. Having tasted close to a true half and half profit share (39.8 percent), after six years of hard grinding, who in Guyana would want to return to that measly 14.5 percent? It would only be those lowclass Guyanese collecting their pieces of silver from Exxon’s payroll. But that’s precisely what one of Exxon’s senior honchos shared with the company’s anxious investors. Their dividends and collections are guaranteed, quell the anxiety attacks. Guyana’s higher profits will not last; will plunge back to where the level was. Just
wait for the projects on the Stabroek Block doorstep to go live. It would be back to the sweetness, slickness, of cost bank and 75 percent cost recovery from gross oil r ev e n u es , le s s r o y a lty. Exxon reaps some sly advantages in that setup, then sticks around with its hand stretched out to grab half of what is left. If that is not a corporate holdup, then I don’t know what is. Whatever good feeling Guyanese had, that era is over. Over almost as soon as it got started. One bucket of ice-cold water to freeze Guyanese hopes. Capitalism at its most rapacious and cunning. Like a stalking jackal blending into the foliage. Waiting to pounce on naïve Guyanese. Give them a few dollars more, then grab a big fistful of dollars for self. It’s not Sergio Leone and Clint Eastwood. It is Guyana with Exxon’s noose coiled around its neck. The Stabroek Block is the closest thing to an oil heaven on earth. Exxon knows the Stabroek Block almost like the back of its
Two survivors miraculously rescued... From page 6 hydropower stations. But authorities are also working to rescue those who found themselves cut off by the floods and to rebuild temporary bridges across the river, the Nepali Army said Saturday. More than 7,500 homes across Nepal and around 55 kilometers (34 miles) of road were damaged in the floods, the Nepali Foreign Ministry said Saturday, leaving thousands in need of humanitarian assistance but with access to the area severely restricted. Around 35,000 people are believed to need safe temporary accommodation, while 43,000 are feared to be at immediate risk of food insecurity, according to a United Nations report.
With such urgent humanitarian assistance required, dozens of U.S. Congress members have written to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling on him and his department to “do much more.” That, they suggested, should include providing daily updates to family members of missing Americans, share aerial imagery with first responders, and provide additional reconstruction support. A State Department spokesperson told CNN “We do not comment on Congressional correspondence.” They pointed to the $3.6 million already committed to the relief effort, and said an additional $3 million in assistance “will be provided through our global assistance award with World Food Programme.”
Teen mom still recovering 6 months... From page 2 charged with attempted murder and rape of a minor. The prosecution objected to bail, and the objection was upheld by Magistrate Michelle Matthias. Ali remains on remand awaiting trial. With her former partner now behind bars, Chapman said she feels relieved and is able to
focus on moving forward with her life. “I feel more safe, I feel comfortable now. I feel much more better, because if he was still on the run, I would have been scared. I feel comfortable.” Adisea Andrews, Chapman’s mother, told Kaieteur News that the ordeal had been traumatic for her daughter, but that the family remains “grateful for her life.”
hand. It knows that there is no investment risk. It knows that to put its money in G u y a n a ’s p r o d u c t i v e Stabroek Block is safer than the White House. There is no place, no investment, that’s safer. Or with returns that are richer, harvests that can’t be beat. Thus, in the spirit of true, confident partnership, Exxon can agree to ringfence upcoming projects, pay some taxes, and still harvest spectacular rewards. A trustworthy partner would
do so. Think of this, Guyanese: what slickness could be embedded in no to ringfencing? Or, to present differently, what games are played when there’s no ringfencing? No ringfencing, no unfriendly auditors, no big findings, and still Exxon is afraid for audit reports to be released. What’s up with that slow dance? Only a foxlike oil partner, would insist: no ringfencing. Then reassure its investors.
Then restart 75 percent cost recovery. Thus, a government and nation hypnotised. Renegotiation of the damaging Exxon oil contract is compulsory. No ringfencing and no taxes that deplete Guyana’s benefits must be addressed. Right now. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)
Caribbean teachers rally behind embattled GTU ...condemns Govt. over dues suspension, judicial non-compliance The Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) has launched a joint regional and international campaign in support of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), publicly condemning the Government of Guyana for its “ongoing, unjustified action” in unilaterally halting union dues deductions and disregarding judicial orders. In an official statement issued by CUT President Sharon Kelsick, the regional body announced that it is taking immediate action to confront the government’s decision to suspend the check-off dues system. The dispute centers on the executive branch’s refusal to remit union dues, alongside its failure to adhere to decisions from both the high court and the Court of Appeal of Guyana ordering the process to be reinstated. The CUT warned that the government’s refusal to collect and remit union dues threatens the stability of union representation in Guyana. Describing the standard check-off system as a “standard, legally recognised, and longestablished mechanism that facilitates workers’ fundamental right to freedom of association,” the union declared that the unilateral suspension is an “overt attempt to undermine the financial stability, independence, and operational capacity of the GTU.” The statement further noted that such measures constitute a “direct violation of international labour standards, fundamental human rights, and the principles of fair industrial relations.” Beyond the immediate financial impact on educators, the union expressed deep concern over the broader legal precedent set by the administration’s inaction following judicial oversight. “The continued failure of the executive to respect and execute these judicial decisions threatens the rule of law, undermines democratic institutions, and sets a dangerous precedent for industrial relations across the entire Caribbean
region,” the CUT stated. Founded in 1935 under the motto “Each for All - All for Each,” the CUT represents educators across the region under an executive body including President Sharon Kelsick of Antigua, First Vice President Fiona Charles-Williams of St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Second Vice President Elena Smith of Belize, Third Vice President Julian Pierre of Barbados, General Secretary/Treasurer Vern Charles of St. Lucia, Deputy General Secretary Shana Eudovique of St. Lucia, and Trustees Rudy Lovell of Barbados and Mark Smith of Jamaica. As an autonomous regional body affiliated with Education International, led globally by President Mugwena Maluleke and General Secretary David Edwards, the CUT is leveraging its international network to apply external pressure. In its regional mandate, the CUT urged a l l m e m b e r organisations, trade union affiliates, and civil society partners to “rally in support of the GTU and Guyanese educators.” The organisation specified two primary avenues for action: to “highlight this violation of workers’ rights and judicial non-compliance across local, regional, and international media platforms,” and to “demonstrate active solidarity” by issuing formal statements demanding full compliance with court directives. Concluding its declaration, the CUT called directly on the executive branch in Georgetown to reverse course and uphold constitutional norms. “We urgently call on the Government of Guyana to act responsibly, honor the rule of law, respect the decisions of its own judiciary, and immediately reinstate the check-off dues process,” the statement read, adding that “respect for workers’ rights and the judiciary is non-negotiable in any democratic society.”
Kaieteur News
Monday September 07, 2026
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Ram urges Pres. Ali to ring-fence new oil projects to stop Exxon eating into Guyana’s profits Chartered Accountant and attorney Christopher Ram is calling on the Government of Guyana to use what President Irfaan Ali has described as its “administrative leverage” to ring-fence every new oil development in the Stabroek Block, preventing ExxonMobil from using production from existing fields to finance future projects. Ram’s call comes against the b a c k d r o p o f E x x o n M o b i l ’s assurance to investors that the company will continue making major investments in Guyana, with those new expenditures entering the existing cost-recovery mechanism. The implications, Ram contends, are significant: unless new developments are ring-fenced, Guyana’s currently improved share of oil profits could again be reduced as Exxon recovers the cost of future investments from production. ExxonMobil Chief Financial Officer Neil Hansen, during the company’s recent earnings call explained that although Exxon has recovered its US$55 billion
investment, additional spending will continue to enter the cost bank and be recovered under the existing 75 percent cost-recovery ceiling. In an invited comment on Hansen’s remarks, Ram told Kaieteur News that the CFO’s comments should not be confused with ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods’ assessment of Guyana’s current position. “Woods was giving a scorecard. Hansen was giving a forecast,” Ram said. The scorecard, according to Ram, is Guyana’s current 39.8 percent share, comprising a two percent royalty and 37.8 percent profit share—the country’s strongest position since oil production began. But Hansen’s forecast is what concerns Ram. “The forecast reads differently. It says the cost bank is not closed, only emptier; that new spending enters it; and that the 75% cap survives untouched,” he said. Hansen had explained that while Exxon has recovered its initial investment, further investments and operating costs
will continue to be added to the cost bank and recovered at the 75 percent cap. For Ram, that means Guyana’s present 39.8 percent share cannot simply be treated as a permanent improvement. “What Hansen was saying is that the new wells will send cost oil up and profit oil down—hopefully never back to 12.5%, but quite possibly a long way below 39.8%,” Ram said. He believes the Government has a practical mechanism available to prevent that outcome without reopening the entire 2016 Production Sharing Agreement. That mechanism is ringfencing. Under Ram’s proposal, every new development plan and production licence should contain a ring-fencing condition requiring each project to recover its costs from its own production. In simple terms, the oil from an existing profitable field would not be used to pay for the development of another field. “The next development is paid for by the oil it finds rather than by
Chartered accountant, Christopher Ram
ExxonMobil Chief Financial Officer Neil Hansen the oil the last one found,” Ram said. Such an arrangement, he argues, would allow Guyana to continue benefiting from the profits of existing projects while allowing Exxon and its partners to recover the costs of new developments from the production generated by those specific projects. Ram rejected the suggestion that ring-fencing would amount to an alteration of the contractual terms governing existing developments. “Exxon will say this offends Article 32. It does not,” he said. “Guyana would not be altering
the terms on which Liza or Payara operate. It would be deciding whether to approve a new field—and nobody is obliged to approve anything.” The distinction is crucial, Ram argues. Rather than attempting to rewrite the rules for projects already approved, the Government could make ring-fencing a condition for approving future developments. That would also give practical meaning to President Ali’s assertion that Government has “administrative leverage” as it considers the next phase of development in the Stabroek Block. The President has said Government is consulting experts on how future projects should be financed, particularly now that Guyana has entered a new phase of oil production.
President Ali’s mother sues Hana Mohamed for $600M in libel claim …pre-trial review set for September 11, trial to begin October 29
A
pre-trial review has been set for 11th September , 2026, followed by an in-person trial on 29th October, 2026, in the $600 million-plus libel case filed by President Irfaan Ali’s mother, Bibi Shariman Ali, against Hana Mohamed, sister of Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed. Ali, a retired senior education official, filed the multi-milliondollar lawsuit against Mohamed over a Facebook post which allegedly accused her of involvement in high-level political corruption, bribery and goldsmuggling schemes. Through her attorneys at L o n d o n H o u s e Chambers—Devindra Kissoon, Natasha M. Vieira and Abhimanyu Dev—Ali is claiming general damages “in excess of G$300,000,000.00” for each of the libellous statements contained in the post. She is also seeking aggravated and exemplary damages “in excess of G$300,000,000.00”. The lawsuit, filed under matter number 2025/155-HC-SOC-DEM-
Bibi Ali CIV, centres on a Facebook post published by Mohamed on 12th August, 2025. In the post, Mohamed referenced an online interview featuring Junior Baksh and journalist Travis Chase, and alleged that the interview exposed corruption involving President Ali, his mother, Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat and others. Mohamed wrote that the interview had revealed allegations of “damning evidence of serious corruption” and concluded that “the truth is finally out showing how the PPP is rotten to its core”.
The referenced interview contained allegations that a local contractor was required to pay President Ali a five per cent kickback on public contracts and that Ali had personally collected such payments on the president’s behalf. Court filings state that Baksh specifically alleged that Ali had “demanded and collected a specific sum of G$35,000,000.00” as part of the alleged scheme. However, according to Ali’s statement of claim, Baksh had already issued press releases before Mohamed’s Facebook post stating that the allegations concerning Ali were untrue and had been made under duress. Baksh also publicly apologised to Ali and confirmed that he “has never had any dealings with the claimant”. Despite the retraction, Ali’s legal claim alleges that Mohamed published and maintained the post to her tens of thousands of followers. The statement of claim accuses Mohamed, the sister of Azruddin Mohamed, of acting with malice and reckless disregard for the truth. The court document alleges that
Hana Mohamed Mohamed “published the words complained of knowing them to be false, or recklessly, not caring whether they were true or false,” as part of what it describes as a “sustained campaign of public criticism and vilification” aimed at influencing the national elections. Ali claims that the allegations caused serious emotional distress and damage to her reputation. She spent more than four decades in public education, including serving as a teacher, Chief Curriculum Development Officer at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD),
and a member of the Rights of the Child Commission. The claim states that the Facebook post exposed Ali to public humiliation, with some users referring to her in derogatory terms including “Gangster granny”. Ali says the allegations have left her facing the prospect of spending her retirement “with the lingering stigma of corruption”. In addition to damages exceeding $600 million, Ali is seeking a declaration from the court that the Facebook post is false and defamatory, as well as an injunction restraining Mohamed from publishing similar statements. She is also asking the court to order Mohamed to publish an apology, pinned to her Facebook page for no less than 30 days, and to permanently delete the offending post, screenshots and derivative content within 24 hours. The case was previously before Madam Justice Sherdel IsaacsMarcus but has since been reassigned to Madam Justice Azeena Baksh, according to an official notice issued by the high court.
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Monday September 07, 2026
Kaieteur News
Monday September 07, 2026
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Iran warns of ‘painful response’ if it suffers further attacks (Reuters) - Iran said it will step up efforts to tackle problems created by U.S. sanctions that are crippling its economy, while a senior Iranian official warned of a “painful response” if it comes under further attack. Six months after U.S.Israeli strikes Iran launched the war, the conflict appears to be at a stalemate. A preliminary ceasefire accord reached in June has unravelled, and little progress has been made in diplomatic efforts to get the peace process back on track. After a pause in military action for much of August, tit-for-tat strikes have resumed with U.S. Central Command saying it hit three Iranian tankers on Saturday a f t e r I r a n ’s I s l a m i c Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles at two U.S. Navy ships. Following the attacks, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on Sunday that the U.S. should understand that the rules of the game have changed “before it is too late”. “From now on, any attack against Iran’s interests and security will receive a faster, heavier and more painful response,” he said in a speech published on his
Telegram channel. A restricted zone will ‘be announced outside the Strait of Hormuz in coming days, Mohsen Rezaei, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said on Sunday, according to state media. He added that the zone would include areas in the Gulf. Few details were provided on the plan initially, but Rezaei said any ship entering the new zone would be added to a sanctions list. Tehran has shown it retains the capability to attack U.S. interests in neighbouring countries and to shut down oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global oil supplies flowed prior to the conflict. SANCTIONS, OIL BLOCKADE SQUEEZE ECONOMY H o w e v e r, t h e U . S . campaign to throttle Iran’s economy by blockading its oil exports and stopping sanctions evasion is growing increasingly difficult to withstand, three senior Iranian sources have said. In his speech on Sunday, Qalibaf added that alongside the military front, Iran’s main battle was now over production and people’s
Kitty businessman remanded on robbery charge
Remanded for attempted armed robbery, Naipaul Basdeoram
Naipaul Basdeoram, 36, a businessman of David Street, Kitty, Georgetown, was on Friday charged with attempting to commit a felony in relation to an alleged armed robbery. Basdeoram was arrested on Saturday 29th August, 2026, in connection with the offence. He appeared at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court No. 2 on Friday 4th September, 2026, before Magistrate Omadatt Chandan, where the indictable charge of “Robbery Under Arms”, contrary to Section 36 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01, was read to him. Basdeoram was not required to plead to the charge and was subsequently remanded to prison. The matter was adjourned to 9th October, 2026.
livelihoods. He cited sharp currency fluctuations, inflation, unemployment and market management as major challenges, adding Iranians could tolerate hardship but not mismanagement or inaction and expected the government to act quickly. Iran’s Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh said that Tehran planned to respond to U.S. economic pressure with reforms and rejected the notion that sanctions would cause it to change course, according to state media on . “They speak of `economic pressure and isolation, of breaking off financial ties and they think that by pressuring the economy of a country they can change the decisions of its people,” Madanizadeh said. “I have to clarify one point: The responsibility of reforming Iran’s economy is with its government and people, not with the U.S. Treasury.” Separately, Economy Ministry Deputy Morteza Zamanian said on Sunday t h a t t h e m i n i s t r y ’s “ E c o n o m i c Wa r Headquarters” was doubling down on its work to resolve problems caused by the war, according to the semiofficial Tasnim news agency. KHARG ISLAND HIT 550 TIMES IN PRIOR MONTHS, IRAN SAYS Iran is the third-largest producer in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting
A woman walks on the beach of Bandar Abbas with vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran, 5th September, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS Countries and exported 90% of its crude via its Kharg Island export hub ‘before the war. Flows have been disrupted since a U.S. blockade of Iranian oil exports began in mid-April. U.S. Central Command said on X that as of Sunday it had redirected 92 commercial vessels, disabled three and boarded two to ensure strict compliance with its blockade. On 31st August, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a one-line social media post accompanied by an AI-generated video depicting Kharg Island being
“blown to smithereens.” Iranian authorities have vowed a strong response if Kharg is attacked. In an interview aired on ‘state TV on Sunday, Iran’s Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad said the island had been hit around 550 times in previous months but continued to operate. Iran has also imposed a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, creating an issue for Trump by pushing up fuel prices globally as his Republican Party heads into elections in November when control of Congress is at stake. However, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said
Fire destroys house at Ogle
oil was getting through the waterway. “Our ` transits through the Strait are averaging over 9 million barrels a day now, and with the access pipelines that go around the strait, we’re probably two-thirds or more of pre-conflict flows. So Iranians are still causing trouble, but the United States Navy is winning that battle,” he told CNN. O n S a t u r d a y, U . S . Central Command said it struck three Iranian vessels, including one off the coast of Kharg Island, after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles at two U.S. Navy ships.
Scene of the devastating fire Sunday night at Ogle.
A
fire on Sunday night destroyed a two-storey house and partially damaged another property located opposite the Ogle Masjid, East Coast Demerara (ECD). Reports are that the fire was observed shortly after nearby residents heard a loud explosion. “Around 22:35 hrs, I was sitting outside because it had a blackout and we heard a loud explosion. When we looked up the road, we saw smoke,” one resident recalled. The Guyana Fire and Rescue Service was called to
the scene, with three fire tenders responding. Firefighters were able to contain the blaze and prevent
it from spreading to nearby properties. The destroyed building reportedly housed a wash
bay and an auto body works shop. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.
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Monday September 07, 2026
Oil ends week higher Service centres processed on renewed U.S-Iran over 204,000 transactions strikes, diesel hits record since December
Inactive oil pump jacks at an agricultural fields in Dacano, Colorado, U.S., 11th May, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Mohatt (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Friday, ending the week substantially higher after the United States and Iran resumed military exchanges in the seventh month of their conflict, while retail U.S. prices hit a record high. Brent crude futures settled at $96.28 a barrel, up 76 cents, or 0.8%. West Texas Intermediate crude futures finished at $91.48 a barrel, up 18 cents, or 0.20%. For the week, Brent crude rose 7.6% while U.S. crude gained nearly 10% as supply routes in the Middle East remain impaired due to the war. The rally in oil prices combined with a much steeper increase in fuel prices has pushed inflation and government borrowing costs higher around the world and intensified fears that global economic growth might pull back without some relief. “All sectors of the economy are affected by diesel. `This is one of the reasons why the government bond yields in the United States are so high, it’s the expectation that inflation will continue to go up,” said Claudio Galimberti, chief economist at Rystad Energy. Average U.S. diesel prices hit record highs as renewed U.S.-Iran hostilities and Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries increased supply disruptions. A gallon of diesel now costs $5.85 on
average in the U.S., according to AAA data. The price of diesel could rise even further due to the sharp drawdown in inventories and as agricultural states in various parts of the country head into harvesting and planting seasons. Diesel is a primary fuel for ag equipment. Its equivalent futures contract, heating oil, has also surged as winter approaches. Citi raised its average Brent crude price forecast for the third quarter to $86 a barrel from $80, saying the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz was taking longer than previously expected. ANZ analysts raised their short-term Brent crude forecast to $95 a barrel, with upside risk the ‘Middle East conflict intensifies. The U.S. economy added 162,000 jobs in August, allaying fears of weakness in the labour market, but bolstering the case for the U.S. Federal Reserve to raise rates later in September. “The strong employment figures points to an interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve and that was weighing on WTI,” said John Kilduff, partner with Again Capital. TANKER FLOWS REMAIN IMPAIRED The U.S. government has said Middle Eastern oil flows have returned to near normal levels in recent weeks, but analysts and
tanker trackers indicate that flows remain ‘seriously disrupted. Four commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, well below the 10-day average tally of about 15, preliminary shipping data showed. “Oil seems to be in a phase where the conflict’s gridlock and recurring hostilities are regularly awakening a risk premium embedded in prices,” said Norbert Rucker, head of economics and next generation research at Julius Baer. “So far, `there is no indication that this week’s escalation materially impacted exports out of the Middle East and tightened the oil market,” Rucker said. “Oil’s current rally seems mostly mood and fear driven.” U.S. attacks this week that killed and wounded dozens, including Iranian civilians, were the fiercest clashes between the two countries since July. The U.S. campaign ‘to throttle Iran’s economy by blockading its oil exports and stopping sanctions evasion is growing increasingly difficult to withstand, three senior Iranian sources said. Iraq increased its August oil exports to about 2.34 million barrels per day from about 1.35 million bpd in July, two Iraqi energy officials said on Wednesday.
Minister Ally interacts with staff of the newly opened Bartica Government Service Centre. More than 204,000 Guyanese have completed government transactions through service centres now operating in six regions, sparing them the time and cost of travelling to Georgetown for important services like the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and General Register Office (GRO). The rollout began in Leonora, Region Three last December and has since expanded to Regions Two, Five, Six, Seven and Nine. This was highlighted by the Minister of Public Service, Government E f f i c i e n c y a n d
Implementation, Zulfikar A l l y, d u r i n g a r e c e n t interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI). The centres are a onestop shop where citizens and residents can access a wide range of public services, official documents, and administrative support from different government departments under one roof. These include Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), General Register Office (GRO), Central Immigration and Passport Office (CIPO). “It saves them time and money,” Minister Ally said. He added that the centres
provide “reliability and predictability in the everyday movement of our citizens.” Following Leonora, service centres launched in Fort Wellington, Region Five in February; Anna Regina, Region Two in April; Port Mourant, Region Six in May, and Lethem in July. A sixth centre in Bartica, Region Seven was launched last week. Minister Ally said the ministry is now working to extend coverage to remaining gaps, including in Region One and Linden, Region Ten. (DPI)
The Government Service Centre in Leonora, Region Three
Monday September 07, 2026
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Opposition MPs press Govt. for transparency on U.S.-Guyana deportee pact Members of the parliamentary opposition are demanding full disclosure and parliamentary scrutiny over a newly finalised migration cooperation agreement with the United States, accusing the government of executive overreach and governing in the dark after third-country deportees began arriving on local soil. The demand follows confirmation that an agreement has been struck between Georgetown and Wa s h i n g t o n a l l o w i n g Guyana to receive up to, according to MP Walton’s statement, 12 third-country nationals per month, capping at 144 individuals annually over a one-year period. The agreement’s implementation became public only after the first batch of six individuals, including Cuban and Afghan nationals, landed in the country.
Wa l t o n s a i d t h e administration concluded months of secret negotiations without informing the National Assembly or briefing the relevant Sectoral Committee on Foreign Relations. Walton released a statement yesterday raising concerns regarding the legal, security, and administrative gaps in the framework, emphasising that the public was left to learn about the deal through foreign news outlets. “Guyanese deserve answers on this thirdcountry deportee agreement,” Walton stated, criticising the government’s timeline. “Six deportees arrived on Friday. The government’s statement confirming a concluded agreement followed only on Saturday, by which time the Associated Press and Al Jazeera were already reporting the arrangement to
the world.” Walton stressed that reliance on the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to administer the framework does not absolve the state of its constitutional responsibilities. Pointing out that Guyana lacks national asylum legislation and is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention, she questioned which domestic agencies would oversee the admission, legal protection, and potential removal of the arrivals. “The government’s own release admits that IOM will not assume, and the arrangement will not transfer to it, any of the government’s responsibilities concerning admission, legal stay, protection or removal,” Walton warned. “Those four functions remain with Guyana alone. The question the government has not answered is which domestic
At least 5 dead after Amazon cargo plane barrelled off runway at Miami airport (AP) — An Amazon cargo An Amazon cargo plane plane barrelled off a runway at barrelled off a runway at Miami International Airport on Miami International Airport. Sunday, killing at least five people and injuring five others as it struck vehicles and was engulfed in flames, authorities said. The aircraft overran the runway around 2 p.m. after arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and plowed across a road used by warehouse workers and other businesses that surround the airport. Five people were roadway near two semi-trucks, images killed, three critically injured and two others showed. The aircraft appeared to be resting hospitalised with less severe injuries, on its belly and was largely intact despite the Miami-Dade County officials told a news fire. conference. The cause had yet to be determined, and Miami officials said Sunday afternoon it was not clear if weather had played a role. that it was too soon to say whether the people Thunderstorms and wind gusts up to 30 mph who died were on board the plane or in the (48 kph) were recorded in the area at the vehicles the plane hit. time, according to the National Weather The crash, which sent thick black smoke Service. billowing into the sky, trapped the pilot and The flight had been operated by 21 Air, a copilot in the cockpit and some occupants in cargo carrier based in North Carolina. The cars, said Miami-Dade Rescue Fire Chief 32-year-old Boeing 767 was originally built Ray Jadallah. The agency said crews also to carry passengers and flew for several had to extricate a person who was trapped airlines for more than two decades before under a vehicle. being converted to a cargo plane in 2015, The crash halted flights at the busy travel a c c o r d i n g t o f l i g h t - t r a c k i n g s i t e hub for much of the afternoon. Some 200 Flightradar24. emergency personnel responded, finding the More than 160 flights were cancelled and plane with heavy flames and smoke from a nearly 325 delayed by late Sunday, complex engine compartment fire, the according to FlightAware, a website that department said. Firefighters used foam tracks flight disruptions. Officials from from specialised airport firefighting units to Orlando International Airport, more than extinguish the fire, and crews were still 200 miles (320 km) north of Miami, said dealing with a fuel leak on the plane hours some flights were diverted there. later. The National Transportation Safety The Prime Air plane came to rest beside a Continued on page 16
agency exercises each of those four functions, under what legal authority, and through what documented procedure.” Wa l t o n f u r t h e r questioned the long-term legal and civil status of those brought into the country, raising practical concerns over their right to work, access to public health, voting eligibility, and security vetting. Echoing these concerns, opposition MP Sherod Duncan condemned the executive branch for executing high-stakes international deals in secret, particularly at a time when the nation is confronting heightened public safety concerns, recent firearm seizures, and persistent border enforcement challenges. Duncan clarified that his critique remains strictly focused on executive governance and democratic oversight rather than the migrants themselves, but insisted that sovereign agreements cannot be brokered out of public view. He cautioned that a pattern of administrative discretion without legislative input leaves fundamental issues, such as local vetting protocols, employment authorisation, and long-term state liabilities, completely unanswered. “Humanitarian obligations and public transparency must coexist,”
Amanza Walton Desir, Leader of FGM , MP
Sherod Duncan, APNU MP
Duncan declared, urging responsible government ministers to immediately lay the complete legal framework before Parliament, allowing only essential redactions for operational security. Duncan added that as Guyana’s economy rapidly expands, the administration must abandon fragmented, surprise announcements in favour of a clear, legally grounded immigration system equipped with traceable records, proper border staffing, and routine parliamentary oversight. Walton argued that this lack of disclosure fits a broader, troubling trend within the current administration, drawing parallels to previous instances where major national developments were withheld from the public. “This lack of transparency and frankly non-disclosure is not
isolated,” Walton noted, pointing to delayed public disclosures regarding national oil revenues and updates on maritime disasters. “A government that treats disclosure to its own people as optional, whether the subject is an international agreement, the nation’s oil revenue, or the deaths of its own citizens, has a transparency problem, to put it mildly, that goes beyond any single incident.” The MPs are demanding that the executive immediately publish the U.S. migration agreement in its entirety, present it to the national assembly, identify the exact government officers directly responsible for each individual received, and provide full accounting, with protections for personal s a f e t y, r e g a r d i n g t h e qualifications, background, and long-term status of every person brought into Guyana under the deal.
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Kaieteur News
Monday September 07, 2026
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change. SETBACK FOR MERZ The result marks a significant setback for Merz, whose personal approval rating has sunk to historic lows as voters turn away from both his planned reforms to revive Germany’s sluggish economy and his gaffe-prone personal communication style. A poll from the ARD broadcaster showed 87% of the state’s voters were unhappy with the federal government. Siegmund has described Merz as the AfD’s best campaigner, given his unpopularity in the state. “This election result is, above all, a vote of no confidence in the federal government,” Marcel Fratzscher, the president of the German Institute for Economic Research, told Reuters. Merz has vowed to revive Europe’s largest economy with business-friendly reforms and increased spending, while warning that an AfD win in Saxony-Anhalt would damage the state and deter foreign companies from investing there. Germany’s mainstream parties have all refused to work with the AfD, which has been classified as right-wing extremist by the local office of Germany’s domestic intelligence service. One outlier is the small Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance party (BSW), which looked set to clear the threshold to parliament. The ‘BSW has floated the idea of rule for
Saxony-Anhalt by a non-partisan state premier relying on shifting majorities, including with votes from the AfD. Siegmund, however, rejected the BSW’s idea as a “mess” and ruled out any arrangements with other parties that would prevent the AfD from delivering on his promise of change. “If push comes to shove, there will simply be new elections,” he said. Merz’s conservatives said they would explore talks with other parties, although that could require pulling together parties with vastly different policy agendas. In the neighbouring eastern German state of Thuringia, the conservatives run a minority government with passive tolerance from the Left party. Although Saxony-Anhalt, formerly part of Communistrun East Germany, is one of the smaller German states, with a population of just over 2 million, the result underlines the rapid advance of the AfD since it was created in 2013. The ‘AfD is now Germany’s most popular party nationally, polling at 28% according to a recent INSA poll, comfortably ahead of the conservatives on 20%. HARD LINE ON MIGRATION While hard-right parties have gained ground elsewhere in Europe, Germany’s Nazi past has contributed to a reluctance among mainstream parties to cooperate with the AfD. The AfD has dismissed
accusations of extremism as scaremongering and an insult to the party’s millions of supporters. During the campaign, the AfD tapped into growing disillusionment with established parties, which it characterises as tired and out of touch, offering instead a range of hardline policies ‘and a nostalgic vision of a return to cleaner and safer streets and taking pride in being German. “It is clear that we need change in Germany and in Western Europe. And I believe a starting signal is definitely going out from here whether you like it or not,” said Antony Lee, an attendee at the AfD’s election party. “I am a father, I am an entrepreneur, and I know that things cannot continue like this in Germany.” The AfD’s programme includes plans to push schools and cultural institutions ‘towards what it views as more traditional values, while curbing immigration and overhauling public broadcasting. It wants the children of refugees to be taught in segregated classes. It has called for rainbow flags in schools to be banned and for the German national flag to be hoisted every day. The national anthem would be sung by students and staff at school celebrations. Other proposals include citizen patrols, more teaching of Russian in schools and a halt to building new wind farms.
At least 5 dead after Amazon... From page 15 Board said it was sending a team to Miami led by Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy to investigate. Amazon said in a statement that it would cooperate with any investigation. “We’re heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today’s incident at Miami International Airport,” the company said. “Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss.” Last year, a UPS plane crashed after losing its engine while accelerating down the runway at Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport. The crash killed all three pilots and 12 people on the ground. Twenty-three more were injured. Aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo said that a 767-
cargo aircraft would typically be staffed only by a pilot and copilot on domestic flights. A third pilot would be added for an international flight, and a long-haul international flight would require a fourth pilot. Arroyo, a retired longtime United Airlines pilot, said he wants to know whether the Amazon plane landed in the touchdown zone of the runway, and if it was beyond that area why it didn’t simply abort that landing and go around to line up for another attempt. Typically, the landing zone is within the first 3,000 feet (914 meters) of a runway. “Did the aircraft land within the required touchdown zone?” he asked. “If it did, what happened?” Mary Schiavo, who is a pilot and former inspector general of the Transportation Department, said that video
posted online of the landing shows the Amazon plane floating above the runway for an extended period without flaring the nose upward to force the main landing gear onto the ground. “It didn’t touch down right away, and so it lost a lot of critical real estate by just continuing to float over the runway. It was literally still flying,” Schiavo said. She noted the Miami airport is not equipped with arresting systems that the FAA says have been installed at more than 120 airports nationwide to safely stop planes that do go past the end of a runway. Those beds of lightweight, crushable material at the end of a runway have been credited by the FAA with helping save at least 497 lives aboard planes that overran runways.
Kaieteur News
Monday September 07, 2026
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China warns U.S. against interfering in T&T tech partnerships
The Chinese Embassy in T&T ( Tr i n i d a d E x p r e s s ) T h e Chinese Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago has hit back at recent criticism by U.S. officials of Chinese technology companies, accusing Washington of political manipulation and interference in the sovereign affairs of countries in
the region. In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the embassy said it had noticed “negative comments” recently made by U.S. officials and authorities about Chinese technology firms and declared that it “firmly” rejected them.
The embassy defended the presence and operations of Chinese technology companies in Trinidad and Tobago, saying they had become known for their advanced technologies, competitive pricing and secure and efficient services. It said the companies operating
in Trinidad and Tobago were reliable suppliers that complied with local laws, regulations and industry standards, while contributing to the c o u n t r y ’s s o c i o e c o n o m i c development and job creation. The embassy also sought to turn the criticism back on Washington, alleging that the United States had engaged in surveillance and “tapping” across the Latin America and Caribbean region. “In stark contrast, the U.S. has long engaged in tapping and surveillance across the region, leaving nations there feeling insecure and distrustful of Washington,” it said. The embassy did not identify the specific U.S. officials or authorities whose comments prompted the statement. It said cooperation between China and countries in Latin America and the Caribbean was not directed at any third party and should not be subject to interference from outside governments. “Cooperation between China and Latin America and Caribbean
countries does not target any third party and should not be subject to interference by any third party,” the embassy said. It also urged Washington to stop what it described as political manipulation and interference in the right of sovereign nations to independently choose their international partners. “We strongly advise the U.S. to stop its political manipulation, as well as stop interfering with sovereign nations’ right to independently choose cooperation partners,” it said. The statement comes against the backdrop of growing U.SChina competition over technology, infrastructure and strategic influence in Latin America and the Caribbean. Chinese technology companies have secured a significant presence in telecommunications and other sectors across the region, while U.S. officials have increasingly raised concerns about the security implications of Chinese technology and infrastructure.
Jamaica to bring slavery reparations petition to King Charles Grange will also meet with British Museum officials to “advance discussions on the repatriation of artefacts” taken from Jamaica during the colonial era. She said: “They are priceless, they are significant to the story of Jamaica and we are working to bring them home.” In 2015, David Cameron, who
King Charles said in a 2024 speech that leaders should commit to ‘finding creative ways to right inequalities that endure’ (BBC NEWS) The Jamaican government will highlight to King Charles a petition over slavery reparations on Monday, the country’s culture minister Olivia Grange has said. It will ask the King, who serves as Jamaica’s head of state, to refer three questions to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, the country’s highest court, over the legality of the enslavement of Africans in Jamaica. Grange said it could pave the way for a “long outstanding settlement for the hundreds of years of the most horrific abuse that our African ancestors endured”. She will also meet with British Museum officials to discuss the repatriation of artefacts taken during the colonial era. The three questions which the Jamaican government is asking the King to refer to the Judicial
Olivia Grange, Jamaica’s culture minister, will be leading the delegation to the UK
Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) are: whether the enslavement of Africans in Jamaica was legal under English law, whether it broke international law, and whether Britain now has a legal duty to provide redress. The petition, which is not a demand for payment, goes to the King who then refers it to the JCPC. King Charles has no personal discretion in deciding whether to make a referral. Grange said: “Once we get the answers, or once we get a response to those questions, then the next steps will be determined.” Buckingham Palace has been working closely with the Governor General of Jamaica to ensure the petition is correctly lodged. A Palace spokesperson said: “His Majesty has on many occasions expressed his personal
and wholehearted commitment to promoting greater understanding around the issue of slavery and finding ways to address historic wrongs for the benefit of communities today.” When slavery was abolished across most of the empire in 1833, the British government paid £20m to slave owners in compensation. The loans taken out to raise the money were paid off in 2015. Grange said: “Up to 2015, Britain was paying the slave masters, because we were being considered property. “The question really should be: if in modern times we’re still paying back the slave masters for the property that was our people, our ancestors, for property that was because of the abolition of slavery, then why shouldn’t we be pursuing some remedy at this time?”
was prime minister at the time, ruled out making reparations for Britain’s role in the historic slave trade, while visiting Jamaica. Speaking to MPs in Jamaica’s parliament, Cameron said slavery was “abhorrent in all its forms”. He added that he hoped they could “move on from this painful legacy and continue to build for the future”.
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Monday September 07, 2026
Monday September 07, 2026
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Monday September 07, 2026
Odegaard sinks Chelsea in London derby thriller (BBC Sport) - Reigning champions Arsenal came from behind to beat big-spending Chelsea in a pulsating London derby at Emirates Stadium. Chelsea stunned the home fans by taking a second-minute lead through £117m summer signing Morgan Rogers’ volley after the Gunners failed to clear Reece James’ free-kick. That was the first goal Mikel Arteta’s side have conceded this season. Despite their flying start, Chelsea had not kept a clean sheet in their previous 18 Premier League games and Xabi Alonso’s side were forced to withstand wave after wave of Arsenal pressure. Emiliano Martinez denied Bukayo Saka, while Jorrel Hato and Wesley Fofana each made crucial blocks before the Gunners levelled in the 25th-minute after former Chelsea forward Kai Havertz beat Martinez at his near post with a well-placed finish. In a high-quality match, Chelsea - who spent close to £350m in the summer transfer window came within a whisker of retaking the lead. After captain James had forced David Raya into a save from outside the box, Pedro Neto hit the post after a wonderful solo run before Martin Odegaard settled it in the 50th minute. The Arsenal captain beat Martinez after Havertz’s clever dummy, the Norwegian’s second goal in three Premier League games.
Chelsea’s Morgan Rogers is challenged by his former Aston Villa teammate Ezri Konsa. (EPA)
Chelsea substitute Estevao thought he had equalised right at the end of the game but Raya produced a brilliant finger-tip save as the Blues lost for the fifth straight league game at Emirates Stadium. EVERTON POINT AGAINST MAN UTD Ainsley Maitland-Niles marked his return to English football by scoring a stunning stoppage-time equaliser as a resilient Everton came from behind twice to draw with Manchester United in the Premier League. The former Arsenal full-back,
who joined Everton from Lyon on transfer deadline day, left United goalkeeper Senne Lammens rooted to the spot in the sixth minute of added time when he curled an unstoppable effort into the net to deny the visitors a first away win of the season. Michael Carrick’s side looked set to seal all three points at Hill Dickinson Stadium for the second consecutive season after Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko scored either side of Tyrique George firing Everton level. But Maitland-Niles’ first Premier League strike since
December 2019 maintained Everton’s unbeaten start to the season at the end of a turbulent week on Merseyside. Fresh from hitting Ipswich Town for five last weekend, United made a fast start and almost went ahead inside eight minutes when Bruno Fernandes struck the crossbar following a knockdown from Mbeumo inside the area. It was the 24th time United had hit the woodwork since the start of last season, more than any other Premier League side. But that did little to dampen United’s mood as they, and Marcus
Lopez stars as Barcelona put five past Valencia (BBC Sport) - Barcelona maintained their perfect start to the season with a rampant 5-0 win against bottom-placed Valencia. Hansi Flick's side broke the deadlock after just five minutes when Lamine Yamal ran in behind the Valencia defence and converted a perfectly weighted through ball from Fermin Lopez. Lopez doubled the lead when he rifled Anthony Gordon's lay-off into the bottom left corner of Stole Dimitrievski's goal. It was Lopez's fourth goal and Gordon's fourth assist in as many matches this season. Barcelona began the second half as ferociously as the first when Raphinha tapped in his sixth goal of the season. Lopez, Barcelona's best player on the afternoon, sprinted the length of the attacking half to set up the former Leeds winger for his 50th goal in the Spanish top flight. Midfielder Pedri combined with Dani Olmo for a one-two and neatly slotted home to score Barca's fourth, before Olmo slithered between Valencia midfielders to slip Lamine Yamal through for his fourth goal of the campaign.
The match at the famous Mestalla stadium saw debuts for former Premier League players Harvey Elliot and Gabriel Jesus, who both appeared as second-half substitutes. It was Rodri's first start for Barcelona since his £65m move from Manchester City. Barcelona capitalised on Real Madrid's shock loss to Real Betis on Friday and now sit three points clear at the top of La Liga. The Catalan side have scored 17 goals in four matches this season, conceding just two. Valencia have earned just one point and scoring one goal in four matches this season. There were signs of unrest from the home support, most notably a planned protest which saw a section of Valencia fans delay their entry to the stadium before flooding to their seats in the 19th minute. This is in reference to 1919, the year the club was founded. Barcelona now turn their attention to the Champions League when they host Feyenoord on Wednesday in the first group stage match of the campaign. Up next for Valenica is a trip to Sevilla on Friday.
Lamine Yamal silences the Mestalla by giving Barcelona the lead after only six minutes. (Getty Images)
Rashford in particular, continued to ask questions of the Everton defence. Only days after selling the creative Iliman N’Diaye to Manchester City in a deal worth up to £65m, Everton showed little ingenuity or originality in the final third. That was until two minutes before half-time when Thierno Barry, the club’s top scorer this season, headed over after a wonderful cross from makeshift full-back Merlin Rohl, and Jarrad Branthwaite forced a save from Lammens. But the United breakthrough came less than 60 seconds into the second half, with Mbeumo picking the ball up from Kobbie Mainoo before curling a spectacular effort past Jordan Pickford to double his tally for the campaign. Brennan Johnson almost drew Everton level, while Rashford continued to threaten. Everton manager David Moyes summoned summer signings Jack Grealish and Hayden Hackney from the bench midway through the second half, and Hackney was involved in the equaliser when he teed up George to rifle home at the near post in the 83rd minute. United thought they had won it five minute later when substitute Sesko made it two goals in as many visits to Everton by heading home Luke Shaw’s cross. But it was an Everton substitute who had the final say, with Maitland-Niles’ strike sending the home fans into raptures.
Kaieteur News
Monday Thursday September November07, 24,2026 2022
Knight Riders keep qualification hopes alive with win over Tridents
Kieron Pollard tried to deploy every tactic possible (CPLT20)
Monday September 07, 2026 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your family is even more important to you than usual today, so make sure that you're listening carefully and letting them know you're there for them. You can score some major points!
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You've got too much swirling around in your head today, so make sure that you can get some down time to relax and work through it all. If your emotions are all scrambled, take the day off!
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) That lunch meeting or dinner date should go quite well for you today—your social energy is great, and getting together over food is almost perfect. If you don't have anything scheduled, make it happen!
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Your deep subconscious mind is making a break for it—so chase after it and see where it leads! Your hunches should be impeccable and your mindreading skills remarkable. Make the most of them!
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You have to keep your wallet stashed away somewhere safe today—though it's not like you're going to get mugged! Rather, you just need to keep a tight rein on your finances this time.
SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Yo u a n d y o u r p a r t n e r (romantic, business, academic, or other) are swimming in different streams today and you just can't seem to connect. That's fine. Just make sure you're ready when you do meet up.
CANCER (June 21–July 22) You're on your own today—but that is a good thing! Make sure that you're spending time on the projects that mean the most to you. You should find that things are looking up for a while. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your natural modesty is showing today—and at least one person really likes what they see! This could lead to something new and wonderful for you in some aspect of your life. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Your family needs you to convene a gathering of some kind—maybe you all need to eat dinner together, or maybe you need a full-scale family reunion. Your ambition is the only thing limiting the possibilities.
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CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) There's no real mystery about what to do today—just take care of the issues that are obviously crying out for attention. You can probe more deeply some other time if you feel like it. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) A seemingly simple task turns out to be much harder than you had anticipated—so see if you can peel it back into its component parts and tackle them one at a time. Things are sure to pick up soon! PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You're having fun and chilling with your best people today—go with it and let your energy be your guide. It's a good time for you to step up and show someone new how it's done!
An innings of 59 from Nicholas Pooran and four wickets from Sunil Narine was enough to keep the Trinbago Knight Riders slim qualification hopes alive with a 35 run victory over the Barbados Tridents in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Pooran was 1 off 10 balls and 9 from 14 before a trio of sixes off the bowling of Mujeeb ur Rahmann got his innings going. That acceleration saw him reach his fifty from just 35 balls as he batted brilliantly against a Tridents attack that struggled to contain him. In reply the Tridents could not get on top of the hugely experienced Knight Riders spin bowlers who wrought havoc in the opening exchanges of the chase. Narine claimed three wickets inside the PowerPlay with him dismissing both Quinton de Kock and Rivaldo Clarke for ducks. The Tridents never got over the loss of early wickets and ended up losing in their first home game of the season. The Tridents bowlers were excellent in the opening exchanges with Chris Green sending down his four overs on the bounce to record figures of 0/17. Pooran was patient in the face of this tight bowling as he and Colin Munro put on a stand of 68, by far the highest of the match. The Tridents had their chance to dismiss Pooran when he was dropped on 35 off the bowling of debutant Jakeem Pollard and that spilled chance allowed the batter to put his team in a strong position for the death overs. The Knight Riders didn’t really seize that opportunity with no boundaries coming off the last five overs and at the halfway stage in felt that the Tridents were in control despite Pooran’s brilliance. W h e n t h e Tr i d e n t s innings got underway the wickets kept falling with Narine, Goolie and Akeal Hosein all picking up victims in the opening exchanges. By the time Green was dismissed by Hosein the Tridents were 50/5 and needed a lot of help. Some lusty blows from Daniel Sams kept the home crowd’s hopes alive for a while but in the end the web
spun by the Knight Riders attack was too much for them to overcome. It was left to Sherfane Rutherford to keep the Tridents’ hopes alive as he looked to bat with the lower
order to get his team off to a winning start at the beginning of their home leg. When he fell for 21 trying to him Lahiru Kumara out of Kensington Oval the game was all but over.
VMFA crowned inaugural GFF... From page 25 May 16. The initiative was established to introduce a more structured and predictable national youth football calendar, with competitions at the Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17 levels across Guyana’s nine Regional Associations. The programme represents one of GFF’s most ambitious investments in grassroots football, with approximately G$44 million being invested annually over four years. It was deliberately designed to strengthen the pathway from community football to national-team representation by giving young players more consistent competitive opportunities while enabling coaches and technical personnel to identify emerging talent from across the country. The conclusion of the inaugural U13 championship represents an important milestone in the GFF’s broader strategy to strengthen youth development and create a clearer pathway from grassroots participation to elite football. Over several months, young players from communities across Guyana competed regularly for their clubs, gaining valuable experience in technical development, tactical awareness, discipline, teamwork and sportsmanship. With the first national Youth Ensemble U13 champion now crowned, the GFF will look to build on the momentum generated by the inaugural programme and further strengthen opportunities for young footballers across the country. (GFF)
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Monday September 07, 2026
Alcaraz delivers statement Samuel Badree endorses IMC Over-40s Cricket World Cup win to reach last eight
Carlos Alcaraz won the US Open title in 2022 and 2025 (Getty Images) (BBC Sport) - Carlos Alcaraz continued his return from long-term injury with a hugely impressive fourthround win against Tommy Paul at the US Open. Playing just his fourth competitive singles match after an absence of more than four months, the 23-year-old Spaniard produced a masterful performance to beat American 20th seed Paul 6-4 6-3 6-4. He has dropped only one set on his way to the last eight in New York and his quarterfinal opponent will be either American eighth seed Ben Shelton or Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas. A wrist injury caused Alcaraz to miss both the French Open and Wimbledon earlier this summer. He had won the previous two Grand Slams - last year’s US Open and this year’s Australian Open - meaning the straight-set victory over Paul extended his run of match wins at the majors to 18. Asked on court if he is back to “full power”, Alcaraz smiled as he replied: “I think so. Except for one year since [his US Open debut in] 2021, I’ve made the quarter-finals here. That shows how special this place is to me and shows how well I’m playing every time I come here. “I just try to enjoy my time on the court and it doesn’t matter that I was out for four and a half months - every time I come here, I play my best.” Shelton and Tsitsipas meet in Sunday’s night session and seven-time major champion Alcaraz has never previously lost to either player at Tour level, beating Shelton three times and Tsitsipas on six occasions. “If Shelton were to come through, he is the kind of player that can knock the
racquet out of your hand,” said American former player Jeff Tarango on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra. “It’s going to be a real test to see how Alcaraz’s wrist is with a 149mph serve coming to that forehand, but Alcaraz should get through Shelton if his wrist is fine.” Alcaraz said after his thirdround win that he was happy with the level of fitness he had shown in the early rounds following his lengthy absence, while he demonstrated against Paul that the quality of his shot-making is as good as ever. One sensational crosscourt forehand winner early in the second set, which landed in
the two-time US Open champion put together a run of four straight points to seal victory. SABALENKA OVERCOMES TRICKY TOWNSEND TEST Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka emulated Serena Williams as she eventually overpowered American Taylor Townsend to reach a sixth straight US Open quarter-final. A topsy-turvy contest featured 10 breaks of serve, but Sabalenka recovered from 3-1 down in the second serve to seal a 6-4 6-3 victory with a fifth consecutive game. It was the Belarusian’s 18th consecutive win at the tournament, extending her three-year unbeaten streak following back-to-back triumphs in 2024 and 2025. Sabalenka, 28, is the first woman to reach six consecutive singles quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows since American great Williams in 2016. Six-time champion Williams was also the last player to win three US Open titles in a row, and Sabalenka is now three wins from matching that feat. She will face Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova for a semi-final place, after the Czech sixth seed required six
Former West Indies legspinner and now International cricket commentator Samuel Badree has endorsed the 2026 International Masters Cricket (IMC) Over-40s C r i c k e t Wo r l d C u p tournament, which bowls off October 17th in Guyana. The Trinidadian Badree, who represented West Indies in 52 T20s, is currently in Guyana doing Television commentary at this year’s Caribbean Premier League T20 extravaganza. Raj Singh, President of Cricket West Indies Masters Association (CWIMA) and Badree met on Saturday and discussed the excitement of veteran cricket. B a d r e e a l s o congratulated Singh on having the global event taking place in Guyana where 16 countries featuring with the final slated to be played at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, October 31st. “Hello, cricket fans from across Caribbean and around the world, this October, the excitement of International cricket comes to Guyana for the IMC Over-40s World Cup; 16 teams from around world will come together for an incredible celebration of cricket, competition, friendship and national pride,” the 45-year-old Badree related. Badree encouraged fans also that if you are in Guyana to come out to the grounds, bring the family and support
Samuel Badree, right, and CWIMA President Raj Singh during a meeting in Georgetown. your team. Singh thanked Badree for his support in this venture and would have been more delighted to have him on the commentary panel for this historic event. However, Badree will be heading to South Africa during that time to play the annual Legends cricket tournament. For the Over-40s roundrobin tournament, matches are spread across Guyana. The teams have split into Group A&B. The top two teams from each group
progressing to the semifinals before the finalists assemble at Providence. The participating sides are: Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, Namibia, USA, Canada, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, England, India, Scotland, Wales, defending champions South Africa, Rest of the World X1 and Rest of the Caribbean X1. Meanwhile, His Excellency of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali is the patron of the World Cup.
Empress defeat Warriors thanks to...
No women’s player has claimed more singles wins at the US Open than Aryna Sabalenka since her main-draw debut in 2018 (38) (Getty Images) from an almost impossible angle, was measured at 103mph. That came shortly after Alcaraz had broken Paul’s serve in the 10th game of a tight, high-quality opening set to take it 6-4. Paul, who was attempting to reach the quarter-finals of his home Grand Slam for the first time, battled hard throughout but Alcaraz proved to be too strong. Paul had two break points when Alcaraz served for the match at 5-4 in the third set, but
match points to overcome Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in a rollercoaster 7-5 5-7 6-4 win. D e s p i t e t h e straightforward scoreline this was a tricky match which required a resilient display from Sabalenka, who also had the vast majority of the crowd against her. In that context this was an impressive victory for the four-time major winner, who has not always managed to maintain her composure in similarly testing scenarios.
From page 24 sent in and endured a subdued Power Play, losing two wickets while scoring just 19 runs. Experienced campaigner Shemaine Campbelle and opener Realanna Grimmond then steadied the innings in emphatic fashion, combining for 97 runs from 63 balls for the third wicket. The pair appeared completely untroubled as they attacked the bowling, but their partnership was finally broken by a spectacular one-handed catch from Zaida James, who sent Grimmond back for 45 from 46 balls. Campbelle continued to drive the innings forward, bringing up her second WCPL halfcentury. However, she was dismissed shortly afterwards for a team-high 56 from just 33 deliveries. The two quick wickets triggered a collapse, with Empress captain Stafanie Taylor and left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba combining to claim two wickets apiece. The Warriors slipped from 104 for 2 to 114 for 5, losing three wickets for just 10 runs in eight deliveries. New Warriors captain Tryon tried to restore some momentum alongside the lower order,
finishing unbeaten on 21 from 16 balls. But the Warriors lost their final five wickets for just 22 runs, closing on 138 for 7 and giving the Empress the advantage at the interval. Meg Lanning wasted little time putting the chase on track, racing to 31 from 21 balls with five boundaries. When she was dismissed at the end of the fifth over with the score on 48 for 1, the Empress appeared firmly in control. But the Warriors refused to surrender. A brief rain delay reduced the game to a 19 over chase and either side of this the Warriors produced a stunning fightback in the middle overs, claiming five wickets for just 16 runs to turn the contest into a tense finish. With the Empress wobbling, Henry took matters into her own hands. The powerful left-hander launched four sixes in a matchwinning unbeaten 41 from just 21 balls, ultimately dragging Jamaica over the line in spectacular fashion. Erin Burns and Shabnim Ismail were the Warriors’ leading wicket-takers, claiming two wickets apiece, but it was Henry who had the final say as the Empress snatched victory with the very last ball.
Monday September 07, 2026
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VMFA crowned inaugural GFF U13 & U15 Youth Ensemble National Champions Vurlon Mills Football Academy (VMFA) has been crowned the inaugural Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Under-13 Youth Ensemble National Champion after a commanding 3-0 victory over Upper Demerara’s YMCA in the championship final at the National Training Centre (NTC), Providence, on Saturday. The following day, the VMFA Under-15 team emulated their younger club mates to become the GFF U 1 5 Yo u t h E n s e m b l e National Champions, after an impressive 4 – 2 win over Buxton Stars FC, at the same venue. The historic triumph marks the culmination of several months of structured youth competition under the GFF’s newly established Yo u t h E n s e m b l e P r o g r a m m e , a F I FA supported initiative designed to transform the organisation and delivery of youth football across Guyana. Braving the Saturday morning sun, four clubs r e p r e s e n t i n g d i ff e r e n t Regional Associations battled for national honours in the concluding U13 championship matches. The national finals brought together the leading teams emerging from the p r o g r a m m e ’s r e g i o n a l competitions, providing young footballers with an opportunity to compete on a
national stage after months of organised play. In the third-place playoff, Plaisance FC of the East Demerara Football Association and Potaro Strikers FC played to a 1–1 draw in regulation time. Anthwon Robinson scored for Plaisance, while Kriston Chandler found the net for Potaro Strikers. With neither side able to break the deadlock, the match proceeded to a penalty shootout, where Potaro Strikers prevailed 3–0 to secure the bronze medal and finish third nationally. Plaisance FC finished fourth. The championship final saw VMFA establish its authority early against Upper Demerara YMCA. The Georgetown-based academy applied sustained pressure and took a first-half lead, carrying its advantage into the interval. VMFA continued to control the contest after the break and eventually sealed a comprehensive 3–0 victory. Dean Vancooten, Dontay Kowlessar and Nash Moe were the goalscorers as VMFA secured its place in the history books as the firstever GFF Youth Ensemble U13 national champions. The victory caps a strong year for VMFA, which had earlier captured the Georgetown Football Association’s U13 Youth Ensemble title after finishing
at the top of the regional standings. The academy also won the Georgetown U15 competition, demonstrating the strength and depth of its youth development programme. The Under-15 finale saw Joshawn Haynes led VMFA with a brace while support came from Brandon Parks and Fabio Kowlessar, who scored one goal each. Those four successful attempts was enough to overshadow the efforts of Malik Sobers and Yao Roberts, who each found the back of the net once for Buxton Stars. GFF President Wayne Forde was present at the national finals and extended congratulations to the participating teams, players,
A part of the action in the U15 showdown at the GFF National Training Centre. (GFF)
The VMFA U13 Team celebrates becoming the inaugural Champions. (GFF)
coaches, parents, Regional Associations and other stakeholders who contributed to the success of the inaugural programme. He also acknowledged FIFA for its support and the clubs and Regional Associations for embracing the new national youth competition framework. “Today represents much more than the crowning of a national champion. It is the culmination of a new approach to youth football in G u y a n a . T h e Yo u t h Ensemble Programme was
created to give our young players meaningful, structured competition and to ensure that talent can be identified and developed wherever it exists in our c o u n t r y. I w a n t t o congratulate Vurlon Mills Football Academy, all of the finalists and every club, coach, parent, Regional Association and stakeholder who contributed to making this inaugural championship a success. This is an important first step, and we are committed to building on this foundation in the years
ahead.” Forde stated. The inaugural Youth Ensemble championship is the culmination of a landmark initiative launched by the GFF in partnership with FIFA in May 2026. The Youth Programme was first announced by the GFF in February following approval by the Federation’s Congress, with the programme formally launched at the National Training Centre on May 9. Competitive action officially commenced on Continued on page 21
2026 Republic Bank Limited CPL…
Nabi, Shepherd & Joseph dismantle Patriots The undefeated Guyana Amazon Warriors extended their flawless win streak this season while keeping their 2-0 record at home safe, after crushing the St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots by 7 wickets yesterday evening to send the at the National Stadium into a frenzy as they prepare for their next assignment. Choosing to bat first, the Patriots struggled massively against a relentless, world-class Warriors bowling unit. Despite the collapse around him, lefthander batsman Alick Athanaze who played a superb yet testing knock, anchored his team with a classy 52 off 39 (2x4 4x6), which helped the Patriots reach 128 all out in 19.2 overs. Warriors star of the show was veteran allrounder Mohammad Nabi, who earned another Player of the Match award for an exceptional all-round display. Nabi tore through the Patriots’ lineup,
collecting magnificent figures of 4 for 17 across his 4 overs. He was brilliantly supported by local boys, pacers Romario Shepherd, who delivered a devastating spell of 3 for 16 and fast-bowling demon Shamar Joseph, who claimed 2 wickets while keeping the speed gun ticking well over the 145 mark. In reply, the Amazon Warriors chased down the 129-run target with absolute composure, crossing the finish line at 132 for 3 with 9 balls to spare. In-form opening batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz set the tone yet again, this time with a brisk 39 off 25 backed by Mr. Cool Shai Hope who breezed himself to an unbeaten 38. Fittingly, Nabi capped off his perfect day by showing his class with the bat, hammering an unbeaten 25 runs off 21 balls with a pair of fours and one six to seal the victory and guarantee the Warriors a spot in the 2026 CPL playoffs. (Clifton Ross)
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Monday September 07, 2026
FIFA Arena Mini-Pitch Site at Haslington gets inspection as work continues The Guyana Football Federation (GFF), together with FIFA Regional Member Association Development M a n a g e r A m i e l Mohammed, conducted a site inspection of the FIFA Arena Mini-Pitch at Haslington, East Coast Demerara, as development of the facility continues. The inspection was attended by GFF President Wayne Forde; Second Vice President Rawlston Adams, who has responsibility for infrastructure development, GFF General Secretary Pushpargha Chattopadhyay, members of the GFF Council, East Demerara Football Association President, Rickford Profitt and members of the EDFA. Representatives of B&J Civil Works, the contractor responsible for the civil works, were also present, led by Chief Executive Officer Beverley Tapp. The Haslington facility is the second of two FIFA Arena Mini-Pitches allocated to Guyana under the global FIFA Arena initiative, alongside the facility at Retrieve, Linden. The initiative is aimed at expanding access to safe,
The contingent took a photo op during the site visit. (GFF) quality football infrastructure and providing more opportunities for children and communities to participate in the game. The Haslington facility will also strengthen the GFF’s grassroots and youth development efforts along the East Coast Demerara.
GFF President Wayne Forde said: “Projects like this matter because they put football where young people can actually access it. Haslington has a strong football community, and this minipitch will give more boys and girls a proper space to
play, train and enjoy the game. That is the kind of practical investment we want to continue making across Guyana.” The Haslington and Retrieve projects form part o f t h e G F F ’s w i d e r infrastructure development vision.
The Federation intends to progressively install additional mini-pitches across its Regional Associations, creating more accessible football spaces and giving communities across Guyana greater opportunities to participate in structured football
development. The long-term objective is to establish a stronger network of community football facilities that supports grassroots programmes, youth development and the identification of talent across the country. (GFF)
Empress defeat Warriors thanks to Henry Heroics Shemaine Campbelle top scored for the Warriors (CPLT20)
Chinelle Henry pulled off a stunning last-ball heist at Kensington Oval, powering The Warriors lost their final Jamaica Empress to a nail-biting five wickets for just 22 runs (CPLT20) one-wicket victory over Guyana Amazon Warriors in their Limacol WCPL debut. Needing 17 runs from the final over with Henry well set and just three wickets in hand,
the Empress found themselves staring down the barrel. With the match hanging in the balance, the drama intensified as two wickets fell via run-outs, with the Empress desperate to score off Warriors captain Chloe Tryon while keeping Henry on strike. Eight runs were still required
from the final two deliveries. Henry then produced the moment of magic, smashing back-to-back sixes to seal a remarkable victory and cap a contest that swung from one side to the other throughout the game. Earlier, the Warriors were Continued on page 22
Monday September 07, 2026
Kaieteur News
PAGE 25
VMFA crowned inaugural GFF U13 & U15 Youth Ensemble National Champions Vurlon Mills Football Academy (VMFA) has been crowned the inaugural Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Under-13 Youth Ensemble National Champion after a commanding 3-0 victory over Upper Demerara’s YMCA in the championship final at the National Training Centre (NTC), Providence, on Saturday. The following day, the VMFA Under-15 team emulated their younger club mates to become the GFF U 1 5 Yo u t h E n s e m b l e National Champions, after an impressive 4 – 2 win over Buxton Stars FC, at the same venue. The historic triumph marks the culmination of several months of structured youth competition under the GFF’s newly established Yo u t h E n s e m b l e P r o g r a m m e , a F I FA supported initiative designed to transform the organisation and delivery of youth football across Guyana. Braving the Saturday morning sun, four clubs r e p r e s e n t i n g d i ff e r e n t Regional Associations battled for national honours in the concluding U13 championship matches. The national finals brought together the leading teams emerging from the p r o g r a m m e ’s r e g i o n a l competitions, providing young footballers with an opportunity to compete on a
national stage after months of organised play. In the third-place playoff, Plaisance FC of the East Demerara Football Association and Potaro Strikers FC played to a 1–1 draw in regulation time. Anthwon Robinson scored for Plaisance, while Kriston Chandler found the net for Potaro Strikers. With neither side able to break the deadlock, the match proceeded to a penalty shootout, where Potaro Strikers prevailed 3–0 to secure the bronze medal and finish third nationally. Plaisance FC finished fourth. The championship final saw VMFA establish its authority early against Upper Demerara YMCA. The Georgetown-based academy applied sustained pressure and took a first-half lead, carrying its advantage into the interval. VMFA continued to control the contest after the break and eventually sealed a comprehensive 3–0 victory. Dean Vancooten, Dontay Kowlessar and Nash Moe were the goalscorers as VMFA secured its place in the history books as the firstever GFF Youth Ensemble U13 national champions. The victory caps a strong year for VMFA, which had earlier captured the Georgetown Football Association’s U13 Youth Ensemble title after finishing
at the top of the regional standings. The academy also won the Georgetown U15 competition, demonstrating the strength and depth of its youth development programme. The Under-15 finale saw Joshawn Haynes led VMFA with a brace while support came from Brandon Parks and Fabio Kowlessar, who scored one goal each. Those four successful attempts was enough to overshadow the efforts of Malik Sobers and Yao Roberts, who each found the back of the net once for Buxton Stars. GFF President Wayne Forde was present at the national finals and extended congratulations to the participating teams, players,
A part of the action in the U15 showdown at the GFF National Training Centre. (GFF)
The VMFA U13 Team celebrates becoming the inaugural Champions. (GFF)
coaches, parents, Regional Associations and other stakeholders who contributed to the success of the inaugural programme. He also acknowledged FIFA for its support and the clubs and Regional Associations for embracing the new national youth competition framework. “Today represents much more than the crowning of a national champion. It is the culmination of a new approach to youth football in G u y a n a . T h e Yo u t h Ensemble Programme was
created to give our young players meaningful, structured competition and to ensure that talent can be identified and developed wherever it exists in our c o u n t r y. I w a n t t o congratulate Vurlon Mills Football Academy, all of the finalists and every club, coach, parent, Regional Association and stakeholder who contributed to making this inaugural championship a success. This is an important first step, and we are committed to building on this foundation in the years
ahead.” Forde stated. The inaugural Youth Ensemble championship is the culmination of a landmark initiative launched by the GFF in partnership with FIFA in May 2026. The Youth Programme was first announced by the GFF in February following approval by the Federation’s Congress, with the programme formally launched at the National Training Centre on May 9. Competitive action officially commenced on Continued on page 21
2026 Republic Bank Limited CPL…
Nabi, Shepherd & Joseph dismantle Patriots The undefeated Guyana Amazon Warriors extended their flawless win streak this season while keeping their 2-0 record at home safe, after crushing the St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots by 7 wickets yesterday evening to send the at the National Stadium into a frenzy as they prepare for their next assignment. Choosing to bat first, the Patriots struggled massively against a relentless, world-class Warriors bowling unit. Despite the collapse around him, lefthander batsman Alick Athanaze who played a superb yet testing knock, anchored his team with a classy 52 off 39 (2x4 4x6), which helped the Patriots reach 128 all out in 19.2 overs. Warriors star of the show was veteran allrounder Mohammad Nabi, who earned another Player of the Match award for an exceptional all-round display. Nabi tore through the Patriots’ lineup,
collecting magnificent figures of 4 for 17 across his 4 overs. He was brilliantly supported by local boys, pacers Romario Shepherd, who delivered a devastating spell of 3 for 16 and fast-bowling demon Shamar Joseph, who claimed 2 wickets while keeping the speed gun ticking well over the 145 mark. In reply, the Amazon Warriors chased down the 129-run target with absolute composure, crossing the finish line at 132 for 3 with 9 balls to spare. In-form opening batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz set the tone yet again, this time with a brisk 39 off 25 backed by Mr. Cool Shai Hope who breezed himself to an unbeaten 38. Fittingly, Nabi capped off his perfect day by showing his class with the bat, hammering an unbeaten 25 runs off 21 balls with a pair of fours and one six to seal the victory and guarantee the Warriors a spot in the 2026 CPL playoffs. (Clifton Ross)
2026 Republic Bank Limited CPL…
Nabi, Shepherd & Joseph dismantle Patriots Romario Shepherd bowled both SKNP openers, Johnson Charles and Kyle Mayers. (CPLT20)
Shai Hope and Mohammad Nabi ushered the Warriors’ chase over the line. (CPLT20)
Empress defeat Warriors rts o p S thanks to Henry Heroics The VMFA U15 Team played well to become the inaugural Champions in their division (GFF)
VMFA crowned inaugural GFF U13 & U15 Youth Ensemble National Champions Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.