Kaieteur News

As more oil projects come on stream US$600M insurance remains same

...says US$2B guarantee still lodged with Govt. - ExxonMobil

As Guyana brings more Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessels (FPSOs) to increase the nation's generation capacity, the country has been stuck with a US$600M insurance from the operator in the eventanoilspilloccurs.

The limited insurance remains a major cause for concern for Guyanese and Caribbean citizens alike- a matterthatwaslandedinthe local courtrooms. While the High Court ruled for ExxonMobil to provide the countrywithanunlimitedoil spill guarantee, the Appeal Court later overturned that decision.

Consequently, Guyana's US$600M insurance remainsinplacealongwitha US$2B affiliate company guarantee.

Notably, Exxon wholly owns the company that is providing insurance coverage to Guyana as was previously highlighted, creating further tension about the financial protection and its likely availability in the event of a disaster

Since the startup of oil and gas production in December 2019, Exxon has maintained its subscription to the limited insurance coverage with Ancon Insurance.

Between2019and2026, the company's operations have grown from 120,000 barrels daily to a whopping 920,000barrelsdaily

D

engagement with media operatives, President of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), Alistair Routledge admitted that the US$600M insurance remains stagnant, with the same conditions remaining inplace.

He explained, “On insurance we continue to maintain our insurance policies in place as required under the Environmental Permitandmeetingallthose obligations,sonochangeon thatfront.”

When asked specifically if the figure remains the same, Exxon's Country Manager added, “So there are different elements- there is the insurance the US$600 but then there is also the guarantee from affiliated companiesorfromcorporate structures, depending on which of the companies you talk to, that number of US$2B is unchanged as well.”

On Thursday, the company confirmed that although the US$2B guaranteewaslodgedduring the Court proceedings as a condition to stay the “unlimited parent company guarantee” ruling, the added layer of financial protection remainsinplace.

US$2B guarantee exposes'fullprotection'lie Exxon casually touts its commitment to take care of anoilspillintheeventsucha disasteroccursinthe26,800 square kilometers Stabroek Block The company, whenev

d with questionsaboutthecostofan oil spill assures that it will not walk away from the country but will handle associated cleanup and compensation.

The assurances provided however have been cast aside with the US$2B oil

G

and Indemnity Agreement

writings In fact, the agreement, entered into by theExecutiveDirectorofthe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Kemraj Parsram, explicitly outlines US$2B as the maximum amounttobeprovidedbythe Stabroek Block partners collectively

According to the document, “This Guarantee and Indemnity Agreement constitutes the entire a g r e e m e n t a n d understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter and supersedes all oral statements and prior writings with respect thereto; provided that for certainty it is acknowledged by the Beneficiary and the Guarantor that this Guarantee and Indemnity Agreementisnotintendedto anddoesnotamendanyterm or provision of the PetroleumAgreement.”

Increasedproductionnot allowed

M e a n w h i l e , t h e document seen by this publication also makes it clear tha

production on the FPSOs is notallowed.

The affiliate company guarantee, seen by this newspaper,makesitexplicit “…theOperatorispermitted to carry out the activities authorised by the Environmental Permits in accordance with their respective terms and conditions.”

To date Exxon has rampedupproductiononall of the vessels approved to operateinStabroek.

Stringent conditions to access

P e r h a p s m o r e concerningisthatbeforethe Government of Guyana (GoG)touchesapennyfrom the US$2B oil spill guarantee provided by ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC, the country will firstberequiredtowriteeach of the three guarantors informing of the company's failure to meet its legal financialobligations.

The Guarantee and Indemnity Agreement lodged by the Stabroek

President

of ExxonMobilGuyana, Alistair Routledge

Block partners on June 9, 2023states,“Inorderforthe Beneficiary (GoG) to exercise its rights under this Guarantee and Indemnity Agreement, the Beneficiary

must provide to the GuarantorattheGuarantor's addressstatedinSection4.4, written notice, signed by an authorized representative of Beneficiary (the “Notice”), of EEPGL's Default of the E

Obligation…”

The notice to the guarantor must detail the environmental obligation(s) thatis(are)purportedtohave beendefaultedon,including the legal basis giving rise to theenvironmentalobligation (s) in question; how Exxon

applicable Environmental Obligation(s)andtheunpaid amount for which the companyisliablefor Additionally, the government under the agreement must also notify the guarantor that the oil companies have been advised of its intent to draw theguarantee.

Subsequently, “payment ofanyundisputedportionof the amount in default” shall then be made by the guarantor within 30 days after receiving the notice from government. This means that the guarantor must be satisfied that the claim made by the governmenthasalegalbasis fortheoilspillcompensation tobereleased.

Kaieteur News

Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: DR. GLENN LALL - TEL: 624-6456

Editor-In-Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS

Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

ThePresident’scallforunity

At Fort Island on Monday night, President Irfaan Ali stood beneath the glow of Guyana’s 60th Independence anniversarycelebrationsanddeliveredyetanotherpolished sermononunity,harmonyandshareddestiny Itwasthekind of speech that fits neatly into the occasions—measured, uplifting,andcarefullywordedforapplause.

Yet beyond the flag-raising, beyond the patriotic spectacle and carefully choreographed symbolism, lies a politicalrealitythatrefusestobesmoothedoverbyrhetoric alone. For all the President’s call to reject “the poison of zero-sumpolitics,”thelivedexperienceofgovernanceover the past months tells a far more complicated story—one in which dialogue with the Opposition remains strained, parliamentary engagement has been inconsistent, and constitutional consultation appears, at best, selectively applied.

This is not the first time a Guyanese Head of State has invokedunitywhilepresidingoverdivision.KaieteurNews has, over successive administrations, chronicled this familiar contradiction: where unity is preached in national forums, yet sidelining becomes practice in the day-to-day mechanics of governance. The result is a political culture wherewordsofinclusionoftenoutpacethestructuresmeant toguaranteeit.

President Ali’s assertion that “no one should seek to divide Guyana in pursuit of power” is, on the surface, difficulttodispute.Butitimmediatelyraisesthequestionof how unityis to be achievedwhen key democraticchannels appearweakenedorbypassed.

Parliament, for instance, was left in limbo for close to 100 days before a sudden announcement of a sitting was madeforJune5.Meanwhile,keyparliamentarycommittees are still to be established, and at least one constitutional commission was formed without full and proper consultation with the Leader of the Opposition as required underestablisheddemocraticnorms.

ItisagainstthisbackdropthatthePresident’sappealfor “political maturity” must be assessed Maturity in governance is not measured by speeches delivered at ceremonial events; it is measured by the willingness of the state to fully engage even its most critical stakeholders. Unity cannot be built on exclusion, nor can national cohesion be sustainably constructed on the selective applicationofconstitutionalconsultation.

The President’s historical framing of Guyana’s ethnic divisions Africans, Indians, Indigenous peoples, Portuguese,Chinese,andMixedcommunitiesbeing“pitted against each other” under colonial rule is accurate in its historicalcontext.

Kaieteur News has itself consistently reflected on the lingering shadows of that colonial engineering, where divide-and-rule tactics left deep political and social scars thatcontinuetoinfluencecontemporarydiscourse.

But the invocation of history must serve more than rhetorical effect. If colonialism thrived on exclusion and fragmentation,thenpost-Independencegovernancemustbe judgedbyitsabilitytotranscendthoseinstincts,notmerely condemntheminspeeches.

The President’s repeated reference to “One Guyana” as bothphilosophyandpolicydirectionisambitiousinscope. “OneGuyanadoesnotmeanweareallthesame;itmeanswe areallequal,”hesaid.Itisacompellingideal.Yetequalityin governance requires more than declaratory statements—it demands institutional fairness, equal access to political participation, and a parliamentary system that functions withoutextendedparalysis.

TheabsenceofsustaineddialoguewiththeOpposition, particularlyonmajorconstitutionalandgovernancematters, continues to undermine the credibility of that vision. A nationcannotbeunifiedthroughmessagingalone;itmustbe unified through practice. Kaieteur News has repeatedly cautionedthatprosperity,ifnotmanagedwithtransparency andparticipatorygovernance,canbecomeanothersourceof divisionratherthanunity

Yet even here, unity at the national level must translate

Guyana Missions in New York Host Flag Raising Ceremony

DEAREDITOR,

Guyana’s Consulate General of NewYorkandthePermanentMissionto theUnitedNationshostedaflagraising ceremony and reception in Queens in observance of Guyana’s 60th Independence Anniversary (Golden Jubilee).

Theflaghoistingtookplaceinfront of the Boro Building on Queens Blvd and a cultural concert laced with speeches and reception took place inside the building at the Helen MarshallCulturalCenter

Deliveringremarksontheoccasion weretheDeputyBoroPresident,deputy Mayor for Cultural Relations, UN Ambassador Carolyn RodriguesBirkett,ConsulateGeneralAmbassador Michael E Brotherson, and a representative of Diplomatic and Caribbean Consular Corps.Therewere three cultural dances representative of the Amerindian, African, and Indian

communities.

Over two hundred patronized the event held on Tuesday afternoon May 26. The program began outside with religious invocations, a march past, national pledge, anthems, and the hoisting of the American and Guyana flags.

In the cultural ballroom, Ambassadors Birkett and Brotherson commended the role being played by the large diaspora in NewYork. It was pointedoutthespeakersfromtheBoro andtheCitythatGuyanesearethefifth largest immigrant group in New York. Almost a million Guyanese and their descendants are in America. Hundreds of thousands are in the greater New York area with Queens having the largest concentration. Because of their dominance in Richmond Hill, the extendedareaiscalled“LittleGuyana”, where over a hundred thousand Guyanese call home. The deputy Boro

President and the deputy Mayor extolled the contributions made by GuyaneseinNewYork.

TheAmbassadorsmadereferenceto the struggle waged for nationhood and the border dispute with Venezuela and to America’s celebration of its 250th anniversaryofindependence.

There was tassa and African drummingaswellasasteelbandanda cutting of the 60th anniversary cake followedbyamusicalinterludebyRick Dalgetty This was followed by the reception of drinks and snacks. Guests weretreatedtoaGuyanastampedwhite cream-coloured bag when they made their way to the auditorium The reception included a variety of items related to Guyana as well as fresh coconutwaterfromGuyana,Guyanese juices, and a hot meal of traditional Guyanesedishes.

Yourstruly, VishnuBisram

Independence did not immediately free all and sundry

DEAREDITOR,

This country of many waters and races, is observing its 60th independence anniversary since the British flag, the Union Jack, was lowered at midnight on the 25th May 1966 and the Guyana flag, the Golden Arrowhead,wasraisedonthe26thMay 1966.Those were the days when sugar was king of the land and nicknamed “gold dust.” Today, oil is the queen of theseaanditspet-nameis“liquidgold.” Uniquely,Guyaneseareenjoyingbackto-backholidayswithEidAl-Adha,the followingday

From the inception, “gold” cradled thefoundationforGuyana’sname,built itsgrowthforfameandits“discovery” to develop its fortune. The searching, sighting, visiting, landing, settling and colonizing of “Guiana,” was as a quest tofindthe“GoldenCityofElDorado,” with a famous myth that villages with housesweremadeofgold.

British Guiana has metamorphosed from a British colony ruled previously by the Dutch and invariably occupied bytheFrenchandSpanish,thustainted with a European intrusion, to a sovereign state known as Guyana and thentoaRepublic,nowreferencedtoas “The Co-operative Republic of Guyana.” But, from inception, it was the original home of the Indigenous inhabitants which comprised a number of different tribes but popularly and collectively referred to as the “Amerindians,” who populated the

hinterland, in “The Land of Many Waters.”

After the arrival of the European pioneers, they pulverized the land to reap and rape for profits. This was followed by the infusion of African slaves, the indentured Indian labourers and a small influx of Portuguese and Chinese. The eventual co-habitation of thesixraces,reproducedaseventhrace genesis as a result from “crosspollination.”

From exploration to exploitation, a new community evolved from this Guyanesesocietytorisetoasignificant level from a breeding ground, to birth another race of “mixed races” and “cross-breeds” identified as “dougla.” Guyanese are still in disbelief but cannot forget Burnham’s evil intention oftherealpurposebehindtheformation of National Service. Having set aside our diversified background, known as Guyanese now, we are forecasting an identityof“OnePeople.”

Mindyou,mostGuyanesearewary of the comparable combination of the citizens’ contrasting cultures, which cementacomfortablecompatibilitynot to compromise the nation’s goal of gluingas“OneNation.”Butdifferences and indifferences with options and opinions,actionsandactivitiesandour wayoflifeofwhywelivehowwelive, will always circumvent any given standardforcommonality

Despiteanygreatpurpose,thereare those who will obviate any good

into unity of purpose across political divides. Territorial integrity is not the responsibility of the executive alone; it is a national position that requires bipartisanreinforcement,somethingthatbecomesmoredifficultwhendomestic politicalrelationsremainstrained.

The President’s call for unity is not without merit. But unity cannot be selectivelyinvokedatceremonialmilestoneswhilethestructuresofconsultation andinclusionremainuneveninoperation.

Untilthatgapisaddressed,speechesliketheonedeliveredatFortIslandwill continuetoinspireapplause,butalsoprovokescrutiny

intention. The ruling Government led by a roaring President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the popular People’s Progress Party/Civic, is perpetually pronouncing on their productive performances and the profitable achievements which will permeate a promenadetoproducetheaspirationof working together to mold a “One Destiny,”pavingapamperedpathwith peace,progressandprosperity

Notwithstanding this erudite motto with the classic slogan, “One People, One Nation, One Destiny,” these exponential factors bear an existential questtoresolveanequationfor:avision nottolookthroughthelensofethnicity as a redress for liberty; a promise to forgo using violence to instigate disruption to address equality; and a challenge to work together to bridge harmonyinfraternityagainstracism.

Having traversed the treacherous journey from forced exits to coerced exits, the wind changed direction from slavery to freedom and then, indentureship to liberation. The tide havingsailedinthecolonizers,changed course from independence to a Republican state. In the travesty for overnight self-governance, we trailed on a trial of conspired deception to avoid alleged Communism The turmoiled water provided a storm to brewdictatorshipbeforebeingrelieved ofsocialismtorelyoncapitalism.

Political leaders from the past have manipulatedandmutilatedtherichness of this land via disgusting measures, deceptive means and disguising intentions, denying the people the true results from the ballot boxes with the aid of the British and American cooperation, Guyanese collation and conspirators’ collaboration controlling riggedelections.

Nationalization has seen the rude awakeningofacrude,newleader

Continued on page 5

The PPP leadership is blind to the hardship on the backs of the bottom 50% of the Guyanese people

DEAREDITOR,

In an article in the Kaieteur news dated May 26th 2026 and captioned, “Pres. Ali defends foreign firms ‘flipping’ mining claims despite Guyana getting nothing from the deals” the reporter asked whetherstrongerpoliciesare needed to ensure that Guyana benefits when companies transfer gold mines and pointed out that G2Goldfieldswassellingits holdings for approximately US$2.2B.

It was obvious that the President was very disrespectfulquestioningthe reporter asking her, “”Can you tell me how Guyana is not benefiting, give me one example”.

Also, this is a ridiculous question as it was the president who should have informed this country in what ways it benefits b e c a u s e f r o m a n examination of the realities, verylittle.

Ali questioned the reporter about the company’s cost of exploration for the gold project and how much had been invested by the company, so that they could havegottenthemarketvalue ofwhatassettheyhave.

Mr President was it the US$2 2 billion they received? I guess Mr President, that our millions

of ounces of gold are worth nothing. All we get is a measly 8%. And they leave us with a wrecked environment. All the profits aresentoverseas.

Now let’s examine what happens in other sectors.

Oneobtainsaleasefromthe Land and Surveys

Commission The land is developed, infrastructure built and when you transfer the fee is two Percent of the value.

One purchases a land, builds a house and the transfer fee is 2.5% of the value.Inaddition,onehasto pay capital gains if applicable.IknowGuyanese who had to pay millions.

This company sold for US$2 2 billion and paid nothing.

Apparently, the President believed we benefit indirectly, he says “Foreign investors are often better positioned to develop large-scale projects and that their investments have contributed significantly to theminingsectorbenefitting locals” He asked the reporter to explain

However, it is the President who should have explained andgiveexamples.

The President said the country is operating under global market standards

Well,let’stakealook.Inthe USAcapitalgainstaxispaid when mining land is

transferred. Long term 020%, Short term, a year or less, profits are taxed at the higher income tax brackets. In Canada, “profits from transferring are usually taxable as ordinary income. In some instance capital gains have to be paid and it rangesfrom50%onthefirst 250,000 Canadian and 66,67% on gains exceeding this.

For corporations it is a flat66.67.InGuyanaweget zerobutthePresidentsayshe isoperatinginaccordanceto globalstandards.

The President then decided to point at the Granger Administration and asks if the reporter is aware of what took place in the mining sector between 2015 and2020.

“Asadearfriend,areyou aware of what took place in the forestry sector between 2015 and 2020 and in the mining sector?” According to the article the President said about 60% of the local miners’ assets and equipment were parked because operators could not operate.

From my knowledge I know the President did not have his facts right and I would advise him before he waxeloquentlyonissues,he should be briefed by his advisors. But what can I say whentheadvisorsarepicked because they are yes men

Independence did not immediately...

Frompage4 imitating the image of a “white, colonial master,” ashamed of his “innate inhibitions.”

Aman who professed to be a General, rode on a horse with a cigar as his horse trotted along the road in his “Hope” estate, ordering his “serfs” to obey his command or, bear the brunt of his whip as he unleashed violence, vindication and vengeance!

Aman who can make Satan cryandhissisterweep,was onetofearandnotfathom

how can they educate the president.

I decided to do some research and I produced a chart that gives an idea of production under the Granger and Irfaan presidency I collected data as best as I could from Google.

The chart tells its own story Production was much lessbeforeandafterGranger which begs the question, smuggling? Well according

tothePPPanditssupporters Azzruddin is the one and only gold smuggler in Guyana.

Nowifhewassmuggling before granger the smuggling stopped under Granger and it started back under PPP But ifAzzurddin is the only gold smuggler what happened after 2022 when production figures werelow

The chart also indicates that65to70%ofthegoldis

beingproducedbythesmall and medium scale miners, however, the big foreign ones are getting all sorts of incentives.

Duty free importation of machinery, tax remission on heavyequipment,zero-rated value added tax (VAT) on mining supplies, flat or educed income tax rates. They benefit from reduced orzero-ratedexcisetaxeson fuel. Well now everybody benefitsfromthat. So, while the small and medium scale miners producemostofthegoldthe big ones who produce less getsalltheincentives.

Icanunderstandwhythe Preside

w

s ca

p

ed into the presidency, does not hold press briefing. Our people should understand it is not just the President. The PPP leaders have become incompetent.

In addition, the leadership is blind to the hardship on the backs of the bottom50%oftheGuyanese people.

Regards, RajendraBisessar

Noise nuisance in Lodge

DEAREDITOR,

permission?

Nobody seems to know the owner of this heavy equipment, nor the lot of land,whereearlierawooden cottagestood.

Guyana’s independence gave us poverty, nakedness and corruption, all enwrapped, enveloped and entrapped in the name of freedomforthesmallmanto enter the dream of being the real man while the privileged,theprotectedand the prioritized ones were permittedtoenjoytheplatter from the luxury of a golden plate!

The infancy stage of Guyana’s freedom fermentedamassexodusof migration from all races, banning of essential food items, the creation of long and lasting “Guy lines,” the freezing of wages, the ‘mistreatment’ of females workers, the use of workers and materials for personal gains, the misuse of the

Themanwhothoughthe would rule for life, aligned himself with Jim Jones and the 918 mass-murders in J o n e s t o w n , R a b b i Washington’s House of Israel and the murder of Father Darke and was the intellectual architect who engineeredWPA’sDr Walter Rodney’s murder But those sinistereventsplayedsecond fiddle to the horror of the “Wismar Massacre,” the burning and looting in GeorgetownonBlackFriday and the harsh 135 and 80 days GAWU strikes. The “best orator” stood silent to speak against indignity, injusticeandinsanity!

armed forces, the evaporation of foreign currency, the abuse of state properties, and to crown it all, the PNC Party card’s usage as a Passport to freedom,freebiesandfeasts for the few, fortunate figures!

Independence did not immediately free all and sundry The fight for real freedom continues as, hopefully, will this article. HappyholidaysGuyana.

Yoursrespectfully, JaiLall

I was born and bred in Lodge Housing Scheme, an area established before Independence, and I am aware that when I was a youngster an attempt was madetoconvertaresidential building to a business and car wash, the Mackenzies, the Smiths, the Cains, Mrs Green and others objected and the council stopped the operation, those old folks haveallsincepassedon.

Today, there is a disgusting situation obliquely opposite Ashton Alleyne playground. I came in for an anniversary on Sunday evening May 24, therewasacontinuousnoise from one or two massive vehicles now occupying a residential lot; who give

The noise is affecting people living in the surrounding areas, east of thisdisgustingsituation,and there is the Davis Memorial Hospital, the Seventh Day Adventist church, and a seniorcitizenshome.

Where are the building inspec

nd those responsible for maintaining zoning in the city? I invite the media to send an investigative journalist to

see this ridiculous situation and to find out who is responsibleforit.

Thereisanothersituation in this area, huge trucks are parked on Joseph Pollydore Street, opposite Five Dollar Street,makingtheplaceugly andatraffichazard.

This is an appeal to the media,MinistryofHousing, City Council, Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) to help preserve the law and the sanctity of an area designated for housing beforeIndependence.

Sincerely, NigelBacchus

Guyanasignsmulti-lateralMOUtoexchangeinfo.

onpersonsandentitiesrelatedtoterrorismfinancing

Attorney General Anil Nandlall SC signs the MOU at the Working Group Meetings of the CFATF, held in Trinidad and Tobago, from May 24-28, 2026.

Guyana became one of the first countries within the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) to sign and operationalise the landmark Multilateral M e m o r a n d u m o f Understanding (MOU) Among Targeted Financial Sanctions Competent Authorities Within the Caribbean Financial Action TaskForce

TheMOUwassignedby Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs

AnilNandlallSC.

In a statement, the

Attorney General’s Chambers said that by signing the agreement Guyana has once again demonstrated regional leadership in the fight

against money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferationfinancing.

The statement noted that the MOU underscores Guyana’s continued c o m m i t m e n t t o strengthening its AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework in accordance with international standards established by the Financial ActionTaskForce(FATF).

“Th

sh

agreem

nt

mal framework for cooperation and intelligence-sharing a m o n g c o m p e t e n t authorities in relation to the implementation of Targeted Financial Sanctions (TFS) pursuant to FATF

Recommendations6and7.

TheMOUisdesignedto facilitate the rapid and secure exchange of information concerning persons and entities being consideredfordesignationin matters related to terrorism financing and proliferation financing,” the statement said.

Further, the Attorney General’s Chambers said that the MOU has now become operational following its execution by the requisite number of jurisdictions. In addition to Guyana, the MOU was also signed by several other Member States under CFATF jurisdiction with the expectation that others wouldfollowshortly

“The operationalisation of the MOU marks a significant milestone for the Caribbean region, as it strengthens the collective ability of participating jurisdictions to identify, assess, and disrupt threats associated with terrorist financing and proliferation financing through enhanced regional collaboration and information-sharing.”

The MOU seeks to facilitate timely and secure exchanges of intelligence and information among competent authorities;

support the identification and designation of persons and entities linked to terrorist financing and proliferation financing activities; enhance regional cooperationinimplementing targeted financial sanctions; promote compliance with FATF Recommendations and international best practices;and strengthenthe overall integrity and resilience of the Caribbean financialsystem.

The agreement further provides mechanisms for confidentiality, secure

communications,designated points of contact, and coordinated procedures for designation and information e x c h a n g e a m o n g participating states, the statementsaid.

“Guyana’s participation in this pioneering initiative reflects the Government’s unwavering commitment to maintaining robust AML/CFT safeguards and supporting regional and international efforts to c

financialcrimeandthreatsto globalsecurity.”

U.S. State Department labels Brazil’s 2 biggest drug gangs as foreign terrorist organizations

SAO PAULO (AP) — The U.S. State Departmentannounceditwilldesignatetwo Braziliancriminalgroupsasforeignterrorist organizations on Thursday, a move that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has repeatedly said he will interpret as interference favouring his rival, Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, in October’s presidential elections.

Aheadofelections,supportersofformer President Jair Bolsonaro and of his presidential hopeful son have called for the designation for the two gangs — First Command of the Capital, or PCC, and Red Command, or CV— as they accuse Lula of notfightingthosegroupseffectively

Both groups likely have more than 50,000 members combined, according to experts, who also say most of their connections are in Europe rather than in NorthAmerica.

Designating criminal cartels in Latin Americaasforeignterroristorganizationsis a strategy that Trump’s administration has usedasitturnstomilitaryactivityandother aggressivestepstocombatdrugtraffickingin the Western Hemisphere, notably carrying outacampaignofdeadlyboatstrikesagainst those it calls “narcoterrorists” in the CaribbeanSeaandtheeasternPacificOcean.

“CVandPCCaretwoofthemostviolent criminal organizations in Brazil. Together, they command thousands of members and have orchestrated brutal attacks against Brazilianpoliceofficers,publicofficials,and civilians,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement. “Their influence and illicit networks extend far beyond Brazil’s borders, across our region and into ourcountry.”

“Today’s action taken by the State Department further demonstrates the Trump Administration’s unwavering commitment to dismantlingcartelsandcriminalorganizations in our region and ensuring the safety of the Americanpeople,”headded/Thedesignation goes into effect on June 5 Until then, both groups will be referenced as specially designatedglobalterrorists BRAZILREACTION

Lula, who is seeking reelection and is tryingtoboosthisanti-crimecredentials,has openly opposed labeling criminals as terrorists, while Bolsonaro’s supporters in Congress have publicly urged Trump to hit harderonthegangs.

Earlier Thursday, Brazilian prosecutors launched a mega-operation to dismantle fraud,moneylaunderingandtaxevasion,in the latest phase of an investigationtargeting criminalgangslikethePCCandCV. Lula’s special adviser for foreign affairs and former foreign minister Celso Amorim wasthefirsttopubliclycommentonRubio’s announcement.

“Public security is a key topic for social economic development. Organized crime is an evil that must be fought. International cooperation is welcome, especially in mattersofmoneylaunderingandarmstrade. (But) pretext for intervention is unacceptable,”Amorimsaid.

Public security will likely be a wedge issueinBrazil’spresidentialelections,when Sen.FlávioBolsonaro,ahandpickedheirof the former president, faces off against Lula. The71-year-oldJairBolsonarocannotrunas heisservinghis27-yearprisonsentencefor leadingacoupattempt.

Experts have said neither Jair Bolsonaro nor Lula was hugely successful in fighting the two criminal groups, although Brazil’s federal police and prosecutors have conducted several raids against them in recentyears.Authoritiesscoredamajorwin against the PCC in August by dismantling part of its money laundering network that included gas stations, perfume shops and even a financial services company based in oneofSaoPaulo’smainarteries.

Brazil’sfederalpolicesaidthenthattheir operation, known as Hidden Carbon, found companies linked to the PCC laundering at least 6 billion reals ($1.1 billion) in recent years.

Political analystThomasTraumann says Rubio’s move is about “the Trump administration trying to meddle in the election after a request by Flávio Bolsonaro duringhistriptoWashington.”

“FlávioBolsonaro’scampaignwashitby his problematic businesses with a corrupted banker,hecametotheTrumpadministration to ask for some help and he got this one,” Traumann said. “Lula’s best moment in the pollswasafterTrumpimposedtariffsagainst Brazilandherevivedanarrativeonnational sovereignty Itislikelyhewilldoitagain.”

Brazil’s president did not respond a request for comment from The Associated Press. Sen. Bolsonaro is yet to comment on thedecision.

Guyana risks EITI suspension if citizens remain shut out of information sharing

...as country faces fresh evaluation round

Guyana faces the risk of temporary suspension from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)underArticle6ofthe EITI Standard if it fails to demonstrate substantial progress on a sweeping mandate of 21 corrective actions.

Following an extension of its initial timeline, the EITI International Board

c

Validation review on May 15, 2026, evaluating the nation's performance across critical resource governance pillars.

This global assessment follows an April 2022 evaluation where Guyana achieved a "fairly low" overallscoreof52pointsout of100,reflectinganaverage

of weak component scores:

Transparency, and a low 42 inOutcomesandImpact.

While the EITI Board commended the state for

Stakeholder Group (MSG) platform and expanding tracking to cover forestry and fisheries, international oversighthasflaggedsevere operationaldeficiencies.

The low score of 42 on Outcomes and Impact stems from an ad hoc approach to public outreach, poor internal follow-up on EITI reform recommendations, and a failure to conduct thorough annual reviews to shape national work plans.

On Transparency, the board highlighted that despite

positive efforts toward contract disclosures and commodity sales, taxpayer confidentiality laws and weak corporate reporting meanonlyaminorityofstate resource revenues are currently disclosed to required standards of d

reliability

corrective actions demand immediate structural and legal reforms to bring Guyana into line with international transparency

standard definitions, the government must formally implement clear open data p

e systematically disclosed information is online, machine-readable, and free to reuse without prior consent.

Furthermore, Guyana is requiredtopubliclyuncover thetruebeneficialownership of all companies applying for or holding oil, gas, and mining licenses, while establishing a publicly accessible register detailing active concessions, license coordinates, and application dates.

Financial accountability protocols have also been extended heavily to StateOwned Enterprises (SOEs),

g them to comprehensively publish auditedfinancialstatements, outline the rules governing their capital expenditures, and disclose all material transfers, joint venture terms, and quasi-fiscal expenditures To cure systemic gaps in data collection, the independent

m

r

gorous

y

uate corporate and state audit frameworks, project-level revenue streams must be strictly disaggregated rather than grouped by company, and all material omissions must be disclosed with non-

reporting entities named

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e governmentmustimplement enforceable legal provisions guaranteeing full public participation and free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) for indigenous and local communities during the extractive licensing process.

The EITI Board has also offeredtentargetedstrategic recommendations to fortify local resource management beyond core mandates These guidelines urge the state to systematically disclose active reserves, exploration plans, draft legislative reforms, and national frameworks for the artisanal and small-scale mining sectors. To build a robust socioeconomic diagnostic, the board encourages publishing gender-disaggregated employment data, capturing methodologically sound estimates of the informal mining economy, making l e g a l l y r e q u i r e d environmental impact assessments publicly accessible, and clearly

detailing the formulas used to calculate production and export volumes. Finally, the c

absolute transparency regarding subnational transfers and subnational

earmarked for specific geographiczones.

This rigorous validation process marks the latest chapterinGuyana'scomplex history with the global w

implementing country on October24,2017.Following pandemic-related standard adjustments and extensions, the EITI International Secretariat is actively seeking stakeholder views on Guyana's progress betweenApril2022andMay 30th2026.

The confidential public call targets specific queries regarding industry and government engagement, operational barriers, and civil society's freedom to participate in public natural resource debate without restraint, coercion, or reprisal.

Police shoots teen, then reportedly tell relatives it

was mistaken identity

Patrol ranks shot a 19year-oldmanonThursdayat Block 'E' Sophia, Greater Georgetownclaimingthathe was wanted for robbery but relatives were reportedly latertoldthatitwasacaseof mistakenidentity

Hospitalised with a bullet lodged close to his spine is Jukeem Scipio, a labourer His mother, Faith Fordyce, explained to Kaieteur News on Thursday that doctors will re-attempt to remove the bullet again today Reports are that the bulletrupturedhisintestines and is lodged in a critical area One wrong move, according to reports can damageScipio'sspine.

Police reportedly shot the teen in his yard around 09:00hrsonThursdayandhe was hit in his left-side abdomen.

In a statement the Guyana Police Force (GPF) said

ce professional Responsibility isinvestigatingtheshooting.

19-year-old

Jukeem Scipio was shot by police

revealed that ranks on mobile patrol duty received informationthatthe19-yearold was wanted in connection with an alleged Robbery Under Arms,”

subsequently observed the 19

motorcycle and pursued him ”According to the statement the pursuit ended atScipio'syard.

Police said that the teen dropped his bike and ran inside and during the encounterhewasshot. H e w a s t h e n apprehendedandtakentothe GeorgetownPublicHospital Corporation (GPHC) where he remains hospitalised Policesaidthataspentshell (Continuedonpage16)

Rewardinglawlessness

There are times when a problem in Guyana goes on forsolongthatpeoplebegin tobelieveitcannotbefixed. We shrug our shoulders, mutter a few bad words underourbreath,andaccept miseryaspartofdailylife.

Traffic, especially, has becomeoneofthosenational punishments. But the recent turnaroundontheEastBank Public Road has proven that when there is leadership, urgency, and enforcement, thingscanimprove.

Not long ago, travelling on the East Bank was an ordeal fit for a man serving hard labour.The road works createdconfusionanddelay, yes,buttherealproblemwas indiscipline.Driversrefused towaittheirturn.Minibuses, trucksandcarswould“bore” from every angle. One lane suddenly became three People blocked junctions. Others drove on shoulders and corners Everybody wanted to get ahead, and in theprocessnobodymoved.

The result was total gridlock.

A journey to the airport became an adventure requiring prayers, packed snacks,andaflexibleairline ticket Persons missed flights.Businesseslosttime.

Tempers flared daily The roadway became a living monumenttoconfusion.

Then the President intervenedpersonally Andwhateveronethinks of him politically, the facts

are difficult to deny He instructed that work continue around the clock.

Heensuredthatpolicetraffic ranks and other personnel were placed strategically along the roadway to direct theflowoftraffic.

And it worked The results have been close to miraculous.

Yes,therearestilldelays. No major roadway under repair will flow perfectly But the difference is that traffic now moves. Most times, one can reach the airport in roughly an hour, which is about what the journey took before the repairs started. That is no small achievement considering the volume of vehicles now using the East Bankcorridor

The lesson here is straightforward Traffic problems in Guyana are not caused only by roads. They are caused by behaviour Andbehaviourchangesonly whenthereisenforcement.

Which brings us to the EastCoastPublicRoad.

Anybodytravellingdaily between LBI and the beginning of Buxton knows that the situation there has become unbearable The traffic crawls at all hours.

Morning,midday,afternoon, evening — it hardly matters anymore. A man can leave Georgetown believing he hasenoughtimetospareand stillfindhimselftrappedina movingparkinglot.

Dem Boys Seh...

Dem boys seh the rain get up yesterday morning and decide it ain’t just coming down.Itcomingwithattitude.Andithadits partners in crime waiting. It look like if the coordinating their actions. High-intensity rain,springtide,andthehightideallhappen atthesametime.

Demboyssehistruetheauthoritiesbeen warningaboutspringtides Truetoothatthe rainwasheavy,likeithadgymmembership and personal trainer And yes, the tide was high higherthansomepeopleexpectations andevenhigherthansomeoftheexcusesthat beenfloatingaroundaftereveryflood

But dem boys seh the question still remain:ifallofthiswasknowninadvance, how come the system still behaving like it surprise?

We got pumps now. Fancy pumps. Expensive pumps. Pumps that could probably write their own procurement contractifwegivethemachance.Anddem pumpswassupposedtobethebackupwhen thetidedecideitdon’twanttobehave.

We got canals too. Supposed to be cleaned,widened,andkeptlowsowhenrain fall like it vex, the water got somewhere to go.Thatwasthewholeidea—storage,flow, control,management.Bigwordsthatsound

Manypeopleassumethe problem is caused by the section at Buxton where the two eastbound lanes merge intoone.Butthatisonlypart of the story. The real problem is indiscipline — the same disease that once infected the East Bank PublicRoad.

Drivers create an unofficial third lane. Others race through side streets in neighbouring villages, bypass long lines of waiting traffic, and then force themselves back into the queue after Buxton. Some behaveasthoughtrafficlaws applyonlytofoolswillingto obeythem.

And what happens then? Everythinglocksup.

The law-abiding driver who patiently waits his turn is punished. The reckless driver who cuts the line is rewarded. The end result is frustration, confusion, and gridlockstretchingfromLBI through Annandale and beyond.

SundaytoSunday The situation is especially maddening because the solution is not mysterious.Wehavealready seenitworkontheEastBank PublicRoad.Whatisneeded isenforcement—sustained, v

ive enforcement.

Not just one or two police ranks standing at the Annandale junction while chaosunfoldsafewhundred yards away The entire

corridor needs monitoring. Officers are needed along the approaches where drivers create illegal lanes and attempt clever shortcuts throughvillagestreets.

The problem is that enforcement campaigns in Guyana often last about as long as a New Year’s resolution.Thereisaburstof activity for a few days, perhaps a week, and then slowly the old habits return.

The cones disappear The

resumesnormalservice.

That is why this issue now requires presidential attention.

The President should come undercover one

afternoon and experience it personally Sit quietly in a vehicle somewhere between LBIandBuxton,sayaround 16:45 hrs, and observe the daily torture endured by people simply trying to get home. Watch how a handful of selfish drivers can create miseryforthousands.Watch how one illegal third lane canchokeanentireroadway

discover that the East Coast trafficproblemisnotmerely an engineering issue. It is a discipline issue And discipline, unfortunately, doesnotenforceitself.

The East Bank Public Road showed that when government acts firmly and consistently,ordercanreturn surprisingly quickly The

EastCoastnowcriesoutfor the same seriousness Otherwise, law-abiding citizens will continue to sufferdailywhiletheboldest lawbreakers race happily ahead.

In Guyana, too often, patienceispunishedandbad behaviour rewarded. That cannot and should not become our national traffic policy

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper

Rupununi man dies in mining pit collapse

A 25-year-old miner of Kwaimatta Village, North Rupununi, Region 9 was killed on Tuesday after the mining pit he was working in collapsed The incident occurred at Chi Chi Backdam, Upper MazaruniRiver

The victim has been identified as Ryan Roberts. According to preliminary police reports, the incident occurred at approximately14:45hrswhileRobertsanda crew of labourers were working inside a miningpit.

The situation turned critical when a

water hose suddenly burst. As workers scrambled to secure the immediate area, a massive portion of the pit wall collapsed withoutwarning.

While the other miners managed to successfully flee the pit, Roberts was trappedandburiedbeneaththefallingearth. Co-workers acted quickly to excavate Roberts from the debris, but he was found unresponsive. He was transported to the Chinoweing Health Centre, where he was pronounceddeadonarrivalbytheattending medicalpersonnel.

goodinmeetings.

But when the rain come, dem boys seh the system behaving like it never read the minutesofthelastmeeting.

And then comes the real problem: timing. Because dem boys seh a pump turning on late is like opening an umbrella afteryoudonesoak.Halfhourdelayandyou don’tgetpuddles.Yougetponds.Youdon’t get flooding You get people rowing mentallytowork.

Dem boys seh back in the old days, the colonialpeopledidn’thavenofancypumps. Just kokers. And they keep them clean. Simplesystem.

And in Georgetown, one man used to ridebicycleintherainfromkokertokoker like he training for the Olympics, just to make sure everything open on time. And guess what? He was never late. And the kokerswasneverlateeither.

Nowwefeelwesmart.Wescraptheold system because it look too simple. Only problem is, when the rain fall, simplicity doesbeatcomplexityeverytime.

Dem boys seh it might be time for an assessment—notjustofthewater,butofthe systemthatsupposedtomoveit.

Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

H@RD TRUTHS

WIN still fighting

The Leader of the Opposition,theWeInvestin Nationhood (WIN) chief, Mr Azruddin Mohamed has hisbackagainstawall. He's still fighting. The wall is unyielding, barbed with hostility He's carrying the fight to the PPPGovt. Pres Ali,PhDandall,ismorbidly fearful of exchanging greetings with him. From close friend to sworn foe. Love does that, sometimes.

Guyana's politics is somethingalientome.

The weak spots, blind spots,andgiveawayleopard spots of the PPP, group and government,emphasizehow much both are entangled in corruption. Corruption in procurement. Corruptionin management. Corruptionin statements. Corruption in w h a t ' s p r a c t i c e d Corruption in standards avoided. Leading from the front on all of those is Mr WIN, Mr Mohamed. He is kicked to the corner, to the gutter He's still fighting. He is jukked in the back by hisformerPPPbrothers,but still he stands. He and his group have been exposing and highlighting deepseated decays in the PPP Govt House lots shenanigans.

up, and teared up with the endless

a s s a u l t s o f

Actual houses telling their own sordid tales Whenitisn'tland,it'smoney Ifitisnotwhichgovernment luminary is involved, it is whichfamilymembershave corruption written all across theirforeheads.

Like the mark of Cain, they condemn themselves. Agile minds. Fast hands. Fancyfootwork. Andabelly full of lies. Since the PPP declaredwaragainsthimand his kin, against him and WIN,Mr Mohameddecided that the only course left was to wage his own war in return It is a missed opportunity, a loss to Guyana, that the WIN man and his band toil alone. Where'sthePNC?

What about the AFC? Corruption is everybody's business. There are few bigger hot button issues in Guyana. Quitefrankly,even PPP loyalists-ancient and modern- are fed up, choked

government's predators on the nation's treasury, and the conscience citizens. Take people granted too long, and it doesn't take too long for themtotakeoffense. When Vice President Jagdeo, former kingmaker and now policymaker,wascautioned, he smirked. Wha is a li'l corruption? Nobody's perfect. Boys will be boys when set free in a candy shop, and some girls like to go along for the ride. Hey, it's the capitalist way Plus, democracy is built on trial and error, has expansive roomforcorrection.

This is where Mr.Azmo comes in; Mr Democracy has labored quietly and effectively In a coin toss

b e t w e e n t h e C C J (Mohamed) and the ICJ (Venezuela), the PPP's preferenceistheCCJ. Get Mohamed going from here, so that comrades and cronies can get back to the business of stealing and camouflaging Mr Mohamed-innocent or guilty, railroaded or the real thing-has shown Guyanese how to confront challenges, carryon battling. Will his efforts be wasted? Will his going, now almost inevitable, signal the end of exposures of PPP corruption? Stabroek News is gone. The rest of the opposition has gone beyond

thehill,andisstillasaghost on the corruption culture. Note is taken of the PNC's, Dr Terrence Campbell's, energetic efforts in the interior Though blocked, word still leaked: US millions in Guyana's mineralscrosstheborder(s), withGuyanesepoorerforit. Is he the next extradition c a n d i d a t e b e i n g contemplated? History has shownthatnothingisoffthe table, or off-limits, for the PPP Meanwhile, WIN Mohamed walks his lonely roads, grapples with his battles. He isn't letting up. Doeshisdigging. Cultivates his sources. Where is the rest of Guyana? The PPP knows it is as naked as a plucked duck when corruption is involved. It's why Drs.Ali and Jagdeo go into overdrive and work overtime to deflect, dismiss, or disappear. Corruption cancers impact all Guyanese.

Their voices must be heard. Their burning anger penetrating. Leaders must feeltheheat.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)

Chinese-backed firm eyes luxury gated community at Providence

Guyana's booming economycontinuestoattract foreign investment, with a Chinese-backed joint venturemovingtodevelopa high-end gated residential community on a nine-acre propertyatProvidence,East BankDemerara.

According to a Project Summary submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA),theprojectis to be developed by a joint venture- New Sea International Inc , the landowner, and G Homes Office Condominium Inc.,

t h e f i n a n c i a l a n d constructionpartner

The document explains, “The proposed development includes six mid-rise apartment buildings, comprising 121 residential units, each supported by modern utilities, on-site water and wastewater management systems, landscaped public spaces, and 128 vehicle parking spaces.”

The gated community will be developed on Parcel 2438, Block Providence, offering modern housing

solutions designed to internationalstandards.

K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that New Sea International Inc , a registered entity within Guyanaholdsthetitletothe lands while G Homes will not only support the project financially, but offer technical expertise and

General Layout of Providence City Development submitted by the developers

constructionmanagement.

informed the EPA that all necessarylegalpermissions, building permits, and

l authorizations have either been obtained or are currently being applied for.

Accordingtothedevelopers, “Guyana's urban centers are

Berbice teen remanded to Juvenile Holding Centre following murder charge

A 17-year-old of Belvedere, Corentyne, Berbice,whohasbeenchargedwithmurder, was on Thursday remanded to the Juvenile Holding Centre when he appeared before Magistrate Michelle Matthias at the New AmsterdamMagistrates’Court.

Theteen,whofatallystabbed48-year-old Carter Babolall on May 22, 2026, was not requiredtopleadwhenthechargewasreadto him.

Babolall resided at Masjid Street, Nigg Settlement,Corentyne.

The prosecution promptly objected to bail, and sought time to receive additional legal advice. Summarising its position, the prosecutionsaidthatthecourtisduty-bound todenybailforcapitaloffencecases.

Meanwhile, Attorney Vinay Punwa, representing the teen, signaled his intention toengagetheDirectorofPublicProsecutions (DPP) to have the murder charge reduced to manslaughter

The attorney reminded the court that his client is a minor and is a part-time constructionworkerandwashbayattendant.

Punwaemphasizedthatthevictimhabitually bulliedandharassedtheteenager,notingthat there were prior incidents where he was attackedbyBabolall.

Punwa told the court that on the day in question Babolall saw his client at the wash bayandapproachedhimaggressivelyandan altercationensued.Theteen,accordingtothe lawyer, was forced to take defensive measures,evenasBaboolallhadhimpinned with his knee. He posited that the teen, in desperation, reached for a knife from his pocket with which he had peeled mangoes earlier,andstabbedtheman.

Last Monday, the boy’s mother in an interview with Kaieteur News said that he was provoked to committing the crime. She detailed a history of alleged inciting and assaultthatdatesfouryearsbackbyBabolal.

The case has been transferred to the Albion Magistrates’Court, upon the request oftheprosecution.Itisscheduledtoconclude onJune30,2026.Theteenwillremainatthe Juvenile Holding Centre until the case is completed.

experiencing rapid growth

expansion, demographic

investment. The Providence City Development responds to an urgent demand for s

residential accommodation suitable for professionals, expatriates, and upper-

households.”

Thecompaniesinformed theregulatorthattheProject Site is relatively flat, with a gentle slope toward local drainage channels that eventuallydischargeintothe DemeraraRiver.Further,the land is bordered by existing residential developments

and access roads, providing favorable connectivity for construction and service provision.Itispresentlyfree from significant vegetation or ecological constraints, as the land was previously clearedandgraded.

Providence City will be built with reinforced concreteandsteelframingto meet structural standards. Upon completion, the gated community will boast a clubhouse, guardhouse, w

generator rooms, and landscaped green spaces covering approximately 37,759.76squarefeet.

Further the Project Summary states that the buildings will each be equippedwithfourelevators and two staircases to meet accessibility and fire safety standards. “Each structure will contain a mixture of one-, two-, and threebedroom apartment units designed to meet diverse housing demands Architectural plans provide for spacious living areas, private balconies, and (Continuedonpage16)

Man in 10-AK-47 bust remanded

A taxi driver who was fingered in the major firearmsbustinBerbicewas on Thursday remanded to prison after being charged with possession of firearm and ammunition without license.

Stephen Rajah, 33, of Goed Fortuin Village, West

Bank Demerara, was remanded for the offense when he appeared virtually at the New Amsterdam Magistrates' Court before Magistrate Michelle Matthias.

The charge read that on May 22, 2026, at No. 11 Village, East Coast Berbice, he had in his possession ten firearms (AK47 rifles) withoutbeingtheholderofa firearm license in effect at thetime.

Rajah, who was unrepresented, pleaded not guilty

Also highlighted by the prosecutionwasthattheman was in league with other individuals to smuggle the firearms into Guyana. This coordinatedactivitycanlead to the commissioning of further offenses, according to the prosecution. Lending to the prosecution's effort in thecasewasMs.Kooblall,of the Police Legal Advisor's Office.

Magistrate Matthias offered the accused an opportunity to convince her ofwhyheshouldbegranted bail. The accused promptly implored that the court extend leniency to him, as thiswashisfirsttimebefore anycourt.

"Madam,I'veneverbeen in the lockup before.... with all due respect, anything, Your Worship, that you ask metorelateinthissituation, I will come forward. I'm

The prosecution, in seeking to deny bail, asked that the court consider the large quantity of firearms found, and also the type of firearms. Additionally, the prosecution pointed to the fact that Rajah attempted to evade the police, thereby confirming that he is flightriskandmightattempttoflee ifgrantedbail.

beggingforyourreleasejust to go home to get some sleep.... I'm begging you to justpardonme,"theaccused expressed.

AnemotionalRajahalso told the magistrate that he was peer-pressured into the activitywhichlandedhimin frontofher

The magistrate advised that he can seek the services of an attorney to represent his interests in the matter, then proceeded to remand him to prison pending the outcomeofthematter,which continues on June 15, 2026 atthesamecourt.

PoliceinRegionSixhad reported that on May 22, 2026,adiscoveryoftenAK47rifleswasmadeduringan operation which was conducted along the No. 11 Village Public Road, East CoastBerbice.

A stop-and-search exercise was conducted by ranks during the operation along the Berbice River Bridge Access Road between 01:00hrs and 04:30hrs., during which a

ToyotaFielderWagonmotor car bearing registration number HC 9018 was stopped Rajah allegedly drove away from the ranks andescapedeastward.

Ranks later made a searchlateralongtheNo.11 Village Public Road, using information receive

Subsequently, the AK-47 rifleswerefoundwrappedin plasticandcloth.

The firearms were

examinedandboremarkings consistent with 7.62x39mm rifles. It was also observed that sections of the firearms appeared to have been tampered with, suspected to have been done to obscure serial numbers.The firearms were taken to the Central Police Station, where they werelodgedpendingfurther investigation.

Shortly after, Rajah was interceptedatNabaclis,East

Triowantedinconnection withBerbiceAK-47bust

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Thursday issued wanted bulletins for three persons in connection with the 10 AK-47 rifles that were found during an operation along the NO. 11 Village Public Road, Corentyne,Berbice.

The wanted men are Antonio Alonzo LawriealsoknownasLanzoofFarmVillage, EastBankDemerara(EBD)andLot72Grant 1805 Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice; Ryan 'Satan' Singh, 32, of Parika Outfall Seadam, East Bank Essequibo; and 21-yearoldGregoryAnthonyPersaudof15Area“G” Ogle,EastCoastDemerara(ECD)andFarm Village, ECD. The trio is wanted for the unlawfulpossessionoffirearms.

Police in a statement said the weapons were discovered on May 22 during a stopand-search exercise along the Berbice River BridgeAccess Road between 01:00 hrs. and 04:30 hrs.Ranks intercepted a black Toyota Fielder Wagon bearing registration number HC9018.

“Acting on information received, ranks laterconductedasearchalongNo.11Village Public Road, where ten AK-47 rifles were foundwrappedinplasticandcloth.

The firearms were examined and bore markings consistent with 7.62x39mm rifles. It was also observed that sections of the firearms appeared to have been tampered with,suspectedtohavebeendonetoobscure serialnumbers.Thefirearmsweretakentothe Central Police Station, where they were lodged pending further investigation,” the

statement said.Additionally, police said that furtherinvestigationsledtotheidentification of 33-year-old Stephen Rajah of Goed Fortuin Village, West Bank Demerara, who hassincebeenchargedandremandedforthe offence.Rajah, a taxi driver, was reportedly thedriverofHireCar9018.

Police also found a white Toyota Runx (PSS 4272) suspected to have also been involvedinthetransportationofthefirearms abandonedatSecondStreet,SavannahPark, NewAmsterdam,Berbice.

BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT

Nandlall pushes for tougher AML convictions

...urgesjudicialtraining atCFATFplenary

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall SC has called for stronger judicial training and improved conviction ratesforfinancialcrimesacrossthe Caribbean, warning that weak enforcement threatens the effectiveness of anti-money launderingsystemsintheregion.

Nandlall made the remarks during the 62nd Plenary and Working Group Meetings of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), being held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, fromMay24-28,2026.

The Guyana delegation comprises of representatives from several competent authorities responsible for Guyana's AntiMoneyLaunderingandCountering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT)framework.

During the meeting on Thursday, the AG emphasised the needforgreatersensitizationofthe judiciary in respect of the interpretation and application of the AML/CFT legislation citing unfortunately low rate of convictionsacrosstheregion.

NandlallcalleduponCFATFto urgently create an institutional relationship with the judiciary acrosstheregion,thatwillresultin

training and continuous education ontheintricaciesoftheAML/CFT statutory framework, as it is peculiar and oftentimes not properlyappreciated.

interpretationinassetrecoveryand confiscation proceedings should take into account the FATF Methodology, international standards, and the broader objectives underpinning the administration of justice in combating money laundering,

The Guyana delegation at the 62nd Plenary and Working Group meetings of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) in Trinidad and Tobago

terrorist financing, corruption, and organisedcrime.

He noted that judicial

appreciationofthepolicyrationale behind AML/CFT measures is essential to ensuring that confiscationandforfeitureregimes operateeffectivelyandconsistently withinternationalobligations.

“Perhaps the time is ripe to invitenomineesoftheJudiciaryto attend plenary meetings, as this would give them first-hand insight into our international obligations and the recommendations which

underlie the unique statutory provisions reflected in the legislation,” the Attorney General said.

According to the AG, the Plenary and Working Group Meetings focuses extensively on regional and international

AML/CFT developments, including ongoing discussions on lessons learnt from the 4th Round of Mutual Evaluations as member statesprepareforthetransitioninto the Fifth-Round assessment processundertheFinancialAction

TaskForce(FATF)Methodology

Particular attention is being placed on enhancing effectiveness ratings, strengthening institutional coordination,improvingbeneficial ownershiptransparency,increasing the use of financial intelligence, and advancing asset recovery and confiscationframeworksacrossthe region.

Guyana is engaged in discussions relating to its upcoming compliance obligations under the CFATF follow-up (Continuedonpage16)

Israel's Netanyahu directs army to seize 70% of Gaza Strip

The Israeli army has already expandeditscontrolofGazaby11 percent over the 'Yellow Line', beyondthetermsofthe'ceasefire'.

B

Aljazeera - Prime Minister

enjamin Netanyahu has instructed the Israeli army to expanditscontroloftheGazaStrip to70percent,accordingtoremarks airedbyIsraelimedia.

“At this point, we are fully in controlof60percentoftheterritory of the Gaza Strip … and my directiveistogetto…70percent,” Netanyahusaidinfootagerecorded by Channel 12 and aired on Thursday

Whensomeoneintheaudience shouted that Israel should take the entire besieged enclave, the prime minister said “we are going in order”, according to The Times of Israel. “First 70 percent,” he said without disputing that a complete

takeover could take place. “We'll startwiththat.”

The Israeli army had in midMarch quietly sent maps to aid organisations showing it had already expanded its control to about 11 percent beyond the socalled “Yellow Line” demarcating areas of the enclave occupied by Israelitroops.Thatlinewasagreed in a United States-brokered “ceasefire” in October 2025. That meant it controlled 64 percent of the Palestinian territory, instead of 53percent.

Due to the Israeli army occupation, Palestinians cannot accessabouttwo-thirdsofGaza.A further seizure of the territory would force two million of them, already living in disastrous conditions, into an even smaller territoryafterenduringtwoyearsof genocidalwar

Despite the nominal truce reached last year, Israeli bombing in Gaza continues with near-daily attacks. An Al Jazeera tally from October to April counted at least 2,400 Israeli violations. Earlier on Thursday,healthauthoritiessaidan Israeli air raid killed at least 10 people, including four children, andwounded20others.

According to the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs' (OCHA) latest report, the humanitariansituationforcivilians in Gaza remains critical, with displaced families living in overcrowded tents, schools or damagedstructures.Cleanwateris scarce,andpoorwastecollectionis increasing health risks, including thespreadofratsandinsects.Many neighbourhoods across Gaza are also still dangerous, with frequent air strikes, shelling and shootings

happening in or near residential areas,thereportsaid.

Last week, the high representative overseeing the U.Sfounded Board of Peace for Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov, warned that the deteriorating status quo in the enclave risks becoming “permanent”. SpeakingtotheUN Security Council, he urged the international body to use “every means at its disposal” to press HamastodisarmandtopushIsrael toupholditscommitmentunderthe October ceasefire, pointing to its continued killings and restrictions onhumanitarianflow

The war that Israel launched following the October 7, 2023, attacks on southern Israel by HamasandotherarmedPalestinian groupshaskilledmorethan72,775 Palestinians. The Israeli military continues to maintain a strict security regime, and many hundreds more have been killed in the past seven months. Conflict monitors warn that since the U.SIsrael war on Iran started in February, Israeli bombardment of Gazahasaccelerated.

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Wanted one professional jeweller.Contact:612-2125.

Excavator Operations to workintheinterior.Contact: 223-5273/4,621-5907.

VEHICLES FOR SALE

1 Honda CRV, includes TV, musicsystem,alarm,reverse camera,spoiler,lowmileage, PTTSeries(firstowner).Call: 649-0956.

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Three-month-oldBigBread Rottweiler and Mastiff puppiesforsale—$60,000. Call:669-9258.

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Solar System for sale. Contact: 757-1581 / 7159392.

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General Domestic (4 day work) & experiened handyman,applyatKeyfoodTrading, Mc Doom next to the post office.

Reliablehousekeepingstaff needed. Must be punctual &detail-oriented.Call:2250198

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Now Hiring Bus Drivers. Route 47 Zone (can be changed if required). Call / Whatsapp:592-681-8119

Vacancy exists for one domesticworker.Pleasecall: 647-8005

Cuba sees higher risk of U.S. military aggression as talks stall

HAVANA, May 28

(Reuters) - Cuba’s Deputy Foreign Minister Josefina Vidal sees the risk of U.S. military aggression against the island growing as negotiations between the nations stagnate, she said on Thursday

Speaking at a legislative hearing at the National Capitol to denounce U.S. sanctions on Cuban oil imports, Vidal accused Washington of fabricating pretextstoportrayCubaasa threat to U.S. national security to justify aggression.

“Everydaythedangerof `military aggression against Cuba grows,” she said.

Under President Donald Trump, the U.S. has effectively imposed a blockade on Cuba by threatening sanctions on countries supplying it with fuel, triggering power outages and exacerbating its worst crisis in decades.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday he was confident dialogue between the nations, which began around March, would have “a good result.”

Cuban authorities have said they will not ‘allow

interferenceininternalaffairs and have criticized the U.S. for a lack of good faith.

“A channel of exchange between the two governments remains open, but there has not been much

progress. We have reason to `doubt the seriousness and responsibility of the United States government,” Vidal said.

In the latest escalation in Trump’s pressure campaign

against Cuba’s Communist government,theU.S.formally ‘charged former President Raul Castro with four counts of murder for the 1996 downing of civilian aircraft operated by Miami-based exiles.

Foreign ‘Minister Bruno Rodriguez has warned that anymilitaryactionwouldlead to a “bloodbath” in which thousands of Cubans and Americanswoulddie.

Policeshootsteen,thenreportedlytellrelativesitwasmistaken...

From page 8 wasrecoveredfromthescene and the gun used to shoot Scipiohasbeenlodgedasthe OPR continues its investigation.

Meanwhile,relativestold Kaieteur News that a rank informed them that Scipio’s shooter will be placed under close arrest and explained that it was a case of mistaken identity

Scipio’smotheriscalling for justice. She said had she

not heard her son’s screams and ran outside of her home; he may not have been alive. She claimed that after he was shot police entered the yard and “cranked the gun and put to his head”.

However, she intervened and ask them why they wanted to kill her son.

According to woman the ranks told her that he is wantedforarobberyandthey heard he was armed with a gun.

Chinese-backedfirmeyes...

From page 11 efficient natural lighting and ventilation. The enclosed design ensures safety and promotes social interaction among residents through shared open spaces, internal roads, and pedestrian walkways,” the document added.

Security at the facility promises to be top-tier with 24-hour surveillance and digital access control. All vehicular entries will be recorded through an automated barrier system linked to a centralized managementserver

Pedestrian entry will be facilitated through cardaccessgates,andvisitorswill be required to register upon entry According to the

developers, “The project’s design emphasizes a closedloopsecuritysysteminwhich bothvehicularandpedestrian access are monitored to ensure residents’ safety.”

Undergroundparkingwill be available for the communitytobepoweredby the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL), with a backup powersystemtobeinstalled.

Construction activities are likely to be executed in multiple phases over an estimated period of 24 to 30 months. About 150 persons will be employed during the construction period. The developers have signaled their intention to support localcontentwithpermanent employment to be provided during the operation stage.

Thefamilyallowedpolice to search their home for the gun.

“They search the house anddemain’tgetnogun,”the angry woman told Kaieteur News. She noted too this is second time in five days the police almost killed her son. The first run in with police was over documents for his motorcycle.

“My Son recently bought anXRbike,hehasthepapers but is presently looking after his licence”, she said.

On the day he was first stopped by police, the teen

did not have his documents on him. He was close to his home so he reportedly asked the police for permission to ride to his home and get the documents but they reportedly refused.

“He said them tell he to jump in the van,” his mother told Kaieteur News while addingthathewastased.The womansaidthepoliceclaimed that the young man was resisting arrest and also assaulted an officer He was subsequently released on station bail.

On Thursday, Scipio was

riding the motorcycle along the Georgetown seawalls withafriendincloseproximity after dealing with passport sized photographs for his licence when he was stopped by patrol ranks.

The teen claims that the policestoppedhisfriendwho was on another motorcycle andwhilehisfriendwasbeing questioned, he rode away The teen’s mother said that he was nervous because he did not have his licence.

The ranks reportedly pursued and eventually shot himathishome.

Nandlall pushes for tougher...

From page 14 process. Guyana is scheduled to undergo a follow-up report process in November 2026 and is expected to be assessed for re-ratings in November 2027 as part of its continued efforts to demonstrate technical compliance and effectiveness under the FATF standards.

Earlierintheweek,theGuyanadelegation participated in several technical working groups addressing mutual evaluations, compliance monitoring, typologies, operational cooperation, and technical assistance initiatives aimed at strengthening regional capacity to detect, investigate, prosecute, and deter financial crimes.

Guyana is scheduled to host, in 2026, a number of crucial regional initiatives and activitiesaspartofitscontinuedcommitment to strengthening regional cooperation and enhancing national and regional security architecture. These include the hosting of the

ARIN-CARIBAnnualConferenceinJuly2026, which will bring together regional and international experts involved in asset recovery and inter-agency cooperation in combatingtransnationalcrime.

Guyana will also host a CFATF Assessors’ Training Programme during September/October 2026, through which participants will receive specialised training in conducting mutual evaluations and assessing countries’ compliance with FATF standards.

The programme will include the training of several personnel from Guyana in various relevant sectors, as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s technical capacity andregionalleadershipinAML/CFTmatters. Guyanawasgivenacleanbillofhealthat the conclusion of the country’s mutual evaluationexercisecarriedoutbytheCFATF in2024.

U.S. and Iran reach tentative deal to extend ceasefire, U.S. officials say

BBC - A deal to definitively end the war has sofarprovedelusive,despite morethanamonthofon-off talks.

Negotiators for the U.S. and Iran have agreed a framework of a deal that would extend their ceasefire for 60 days and launch negotiationsonthefutureof Iran’s nuclear programme, U.S.officialssay

The agreement is yet to be approved by President Donald Trump or the leadership in Iran, the officialstoldtheBBC.

B u t t h e r e w e r e conflicting reports from Tehran, with Iran’s semiofficialTasnimnewsagency quoting a source close to talkswhosaidithadnotbeen finalisedorconfirmed.

Both Iran and the U.S. have accused each other of violating the fragile ceasefire in the past few days Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted a U.S. base in the region on Thursday, after fresh U.S. strikes on southern Iran overnight.

On Wednesday, Iranian state media reported elements of what they described as an unofficial draft of a 14-point m e m o r a n d u m o f understanding (MOU) betweenthetwocountries.

The report included the liftingofWashington’snaval blockadeofIranianports,the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the “vicinity of Iran”, and the restoration of nonmilitary traffic through the Strait of Hormuz with Iran and Oman in control of the management and routing of vessels.

The White House called the purported MOU draft a “completefabrication”.

One-fifth of the world’s liquefied natural gas and oil normally pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and its closure has impacted global fueltrade.

Sincetheinitialceasefire between the U.S. and Iran came into effect on 8 April, Trump has suggestedrepeatedly - that the two

A deal to definitively end the war has so far proved elusive, despite more than a month of on-off talks (Getty Images)

sides are close to a deal and that negotiations are progressing, but so far there have been no substantive results.

Talks that took place in Islamabadjustdaysafterthe ceasefire took hold, for example, ended without any substantiveagreement.

Innearlyeverycase,and as recently as Wednesday, Trump and other officials havewarnedthat“optionB” - a return to combat operations - remains on the table.

Just last week, Trump told reporters that he had been an hour from ordering renewed strikes on Iran but ultimately held off at the requestofU.S.allies.

In a cabinet meeting on Wednesday,Trump said that talks were progressing but insisted that the Iranian proposalwas“notthereyet” andthatworkremained.

It is unclear what took place in the subsequent 24 hours, or when - or even ifTrump will give his final approval for the agreement toextendtheceasefire.

Doing so, however, wouldallowU.S.andIranian teamstodiscussthefarmore complicated and technical issues at play, particularly about Iran’s nuclear programme and its

remaining stockpile of highlyenricheduranium.

Trump had suggested that U.S. could take it, or, togetherwithIran,diluteitin placeorinathirdlocation.

Axios, which first reported the tentative agreementonThursday,said thatTrumphadbeenbriefed

on the proposal but did not immediately sign off on it and would take a couple of daystoconsiderit.

The confirmation from U S s o u r c e s o f anonymously sourcedAxios reporting on the contours of the agreement is rare, suggestingthatthetwosides

may be closer to a deal than they were at any previous point during the more than six-week-oldceasefire.

Reports say the deal could allow “unrestricted” passagethroughtheStraitof Hormuz,andthatIranwould have 30 days to remove mines from the narrow

shippingpassageway

The U.S. would also lift its blockade, and issue sanction waivers to allow Irantoresumesellingoil.

Answeringaquestionby the BBC’s Daniel Bush on Thursday,Vice-PresidentJD Vance said, “the Iranians want a deal”, but that it was tooearlytosay“whenorif” adealwouldbereached.

Negotiators are “going backandforthonacoupleof languagepoints”,Vancesaid on Thursday, adding that sticking points include the “questionofenrichment.”

“We do think they’re negotiating in good faith,” saidVance.

LeadingtheWhiteHouse briefing, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declined to confirm that an agreement hadbeenreached.

“It’s always a mistake to get out ahead of the president,”hesaid,“anditis allgoingtobethepresident’s decision”.

Askedaboutwhetherany eventualpeacedealincludes “reconstruction” for Iran, he said: “‘We’ve got to get to thedealbeforewegettothe otherside.”

Guyana and Barbados to establish joint investment fund for nation-building projects

Guyana and Barbados will soon establish an investment fund called the 'Trident Arrow' which will allow ordinary citizens to invest in nation building projects.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by the Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley during a press conference with Guyana's presidentIrfaanAli.

The Barbadian leader explainedthatthefund“will be open to ordinary Bajans and ordinary Guyanese to i n v e s t i n c r i t i c a l infrastructure and long-term medium to long-term investment projects whether in the utility sector, whether in the area of technology whether in the area of agroprocessing…”

The prime minister submitted that only leaders canprovideopportunitiesfor theircitizenstoearnareturn that is higher than the 0.1% the banks are currently paying out. As such, she stated that in an inflationary environmentcitizensneedto beprioritized.

Additionally, PM

Mottley who was visiting Guyanaforits60thDiamond Jubilee Independence said thatthefundwillensurethat thecitizensofbothcountries becomeownersintheirland of birth rather than tenants forthedurationoftheirlives.

“It will be properly managed with all the proper credential regulations and financial mechanisms and lawsbuttressingit.Butwhat it does is that instead of allowing only other foreign investmenttocomeintoown criticalpartsofaspectsofour economy, it allows ordinary peoplewhocouldnotdoiton their own, but who as part and parcel of a collective group can make it happen and move mountains,” PM Mottleysaid.

SpecialDiasporaBond

Meanwhile, President Irfaan Ali announced at the same press conference that the government of Guyana will launch a special diaspora bond aimed at raisingfundsfromGuyanese living abroad for investments in public

“As from July 1, you can forgetyourpassportathome and travel with your digital IDcardtoBarbados,andthe same from Barbados to Guyana.”

He said the delay until July is intended to give airlines additional time to fully adapt to the new travel system, even though the technology is already operational.

Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley alongside President

infrastructureprojectsacross thecountry

“Members of the diaspora, here is your opportunity to make your contribution and be part of the massive transformation takingplaceinourcountry,” PresidentAlisaid.

A c c o r d i n g t o a Department of Public Information(DPI)report,the bond is intended to tap into thefinancialresourcesofthe Guyanese in the diaspora,

Ali at the press conference, displaying their ID cards.

directing that capital toward infrastructure development as the country presses forward with its national transformationagenda.

Passport free travel between Guyana and Barbados

At the same press

conference, it was announced that PM Mottley wasthefirstpersontotravel from Barbados to Guyana passport free using her electronic identification

card. On May 27, Kaieteur NewsreportedthatPresident Ali announced that citizens ofGuyanaandBarbadoswill beabletotravelbetweenthe two countries using only their digital identification cardsfromJuly1,markinga major milestone in regional integration and digital modernisation within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Sitting alongside PM Mottley, President Ali said,

The president described theinitiativeasa“majorstep forward in regional digital integration, border modernisation and the advancement of CARICOM cooperation,”notingthatthe

government officials, CARICOM IMPACS and regionalstakeholders.

The digital ID cards will not only facilitate travel but are expected to support wi

According to the president, healthcare systems in both countries are also expected to become integrated throughthecards.

SmithstarsasNZdominateIrelandinBelfast

BBC Sport - New Zealandtookcontrolagainst Irelandontheseconddayof theone-offTestwithNathan Smith claiming an internationalcareerbestof640atStormont.

After recovering from a poor start on the first day to reach 361-5, the Black Caps continued in a similar vein on the second day in the Belfast sun, reaching 490-8 before captain Tom Latham declared.

New Zealand enforced the follow-on and Ireland’s response was dealt an early blow when Stephen Doheny

and Cade Carmichael were dismissed in the first over and they then lost four more in quick succession after lunch as Smith claimed his firstfive-wickethaul.

Mark Adair and Andy McBrine steadied the ship, but Ireland were 179 all out before performing much better in the second innings astheyendedthedayon652, trailing New Zealand by 246runs.

The tourists enjoyed a strong start in the morning sessionasTomBlundelland Dean Foxcroft built on their 58-run partnership from day one.

Blundell surpassed 150, while Foxcroft brought up his first Test half-century as they went beyond the 100runsmarkasapair

Friday May 29, 2026

ARIES(Mar 21–Apr 19)

Try not to force anything today You'vegottotakeitasit comes even if it's slower than you'd like it to be. Just make sure that you're taking care of the bare necessities and leavingtherestforlater

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Yourpassionsareclosertothe surface today, and that could mean that you're just about to m a k e a r o m a n t i c breakthrough of some kind. It's a great day to live life exactlyhowyouwantto!

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Your emotional side is runningwildrightnow,which means that you need to show offwhat'sreallygoingon.You may not be as articulate as usual, but that's okay Your bodylanguageisclear!

CANCER(June21–July22)

Thisisnotthebesttimetosign new agreements or enter into long-lasting arrangements, but if you're absolutely sure it's the right thing to do, you might as well get started as soonasyoucan.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Try not to rely too heavily on reason and logic today, though you shouldn't abandon them entirely, of course! Your intuitive powers are much strongerthanusualandmaylead yousomewhereinteresting

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

It'sagoodideaforyoutokeep moving today, and one that your soul should heartily agree with. See if you can indulge your restless nature with a long walk or even a spontaneousroadtrip!

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Your finances may seem dire, butyoucantakeconcretesteps to improve the situation if you're willing to be forthright with yourself. Get to work as soon as you can to make it all right.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)

Try to find a new way to keep your people organized in your mind or online. When you jumble them all together, the quietest get lost in the shuffle, andthey'retheonesyouneedto payattentiontonow

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

Your moods are a bit darker than usual, certainly more so thanyouwouldlike!It'sagood time for you to just hunker down and let yourself work through whatever it is that's causingthis.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Look forward to some new perk,thoughitmaycomewith some measure of local fame, which could be a drag if you havetoconstantlyinteractwith people you don't know all that well.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Slow your pace down a bit. If youdon't,it'ssuretohappenon itsown.Seeifyoucangetyour peopletolendahand,butdon't worry if you're the only one carrying the weight. It gets lightersoon.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

Someone is treating you like a doormat or maybe an ATM! Nowisthetimetostandupfor yourself, though it may be quite difficult at first. Ask a dear friend or relative for emotionalsupport.

Ireland eventually got movingandtookthreequick wickets, including Blundell for 186 and Foxcroft, who fell two short of a first Test century

Heinrich Malan’s side endured a disastrous start to their chase however, with Doheny and Carmichael dismissed by Smith in the secondandsixthballsofthe firstover

After lunch, Smith continued his fine run as he took the wickets of Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher and Lorcan Tucker while HarryTectoralsofellbefore Adair and McBrine got Ireland back on track, steeringthemthroughtotea.

They brought up a 100runpartnershipbeforeAdair exited for 40 as Smith got a sixthwicketoftheday

Tom Mayes and Liam McCarthythenfellasIreland falteredtofinish179allout.

They fared better in the opening of their second innings, led by Doheny, but theystillhaveamountainto climbheadingintodaythree.

“You’d take 98, its obviouslybetterthanaduck, Iwassoclosetothecentury, but at the end of the day the teamisinagreatpositionto win this game,” Foxcroft toldBBCSportNI.

“In terms of the match, I’m delighted where we are at the moment. We’ve got eightmorewicketstogoand looking ahead to tomorrow morning, we are hoping we can put Ireland under pressure.

“For us enforcing the follow-on was all about momentum.Wewillwantto try and finish the game off and then we can think about Englandnextweek.”

Ireland batting coach

Tom Blundell and debutant Dean Foxcroft helped New Zealand score 490. (Getty Images)

GaryWilsonadded:“Itwasa really good spell from Nathan Smith, it asked us a lot of questions and I think youcouldseeit’sanewball wicketandyoucouldseethat inbothinnings.”

Play will resume at Stormont at 11:00 BST on Friday

Scores: New Zealand 490-8 dec (119 overs): Blundell 186, Foxcroft 98; Tector1-16

Ireland 179 all out (45 overs) Balbirnie 73*, Adair 40; Smith 6-40 & 65-2 (16 overs) Doheny 36*; Tickner 2-14. Ireland trail by 246 runs.

Sinner struggles with illness, low energy as Cerundolo shocks French Open favourite in second round

PARIS,(Reuters)-Jannik

Sinner’s bid for a maiden French Open title and career GrandSlamwentupinsmoke on a scorching Thursday as the world number one struggled with illness and a lackofenergyina3-62-67-5 6-16-1second-roundlossto JuanManuelCerundolo.

Sinner arrived in Paris as the hot favourite for the title after claycourt triumphs in Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome,withhismainrivaland defending champion Carlos Alcarazruledoutwithinjury

and Novak Djokovic searchingforhisbestform.

ButCerundolotoreupthe script in a dramatic clash whereheheldhisnerveeven as last year’s runner-up

Sinnercrumbledwhileonthe vergeofabigvictory,sending shockwaves through Roland Garros“I started to feel very dizzy,” Sinner told a packed pressconference

“Itriedtoserveitout,but didn’thavealotofenergy In thefourthset,Iletitgoalittle bit trying to have a bit more energy in the fifth It was an importantgame,thefirstone Icouldn’thold Thenitwenta bit downwards. “I woke up this morning, I didn’t feel verywellandtriedtokeepthe pointsshort.Inthebeginning, Iwashittingveryclean,very good, and then I just hit the wall,that’sit”

STREAKSBROKEN

Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo in action during his second round match against Italy’s Jannik Sinner. (REUTERS/ Stephanie Lecocq)

Sinner’s loss ended his 30-match winning run going back to March and also snapped the nine-GrandSlam streak of ‘Sincaraz’ championship victories, but the early signs on Thursday hardly pointed to anything other than a comfortable outing.

As the temperature climbed over the 30 degrees Celsiusmarkforthefirsttime in the afternoon, Sinner had already breezed through the first set on the back of a

solitary break, and the 24year-old Italian looked to be incruisemode.

“It was warm, but not crazywarm,”Sinneradded

“I feel like it was quite okay to play Really it was nothing against the heat, nothingagainsttheweather It was just me today, but it happens” Sinner also hailed his opponent for seeing out thewin “Idon’twanttotake anythingawayfromhim,”he added

“He played a very solid

Egypt edge Russia in World Cup warm-up w

Egypt’s Omar Marmoush in action.

(REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany)

for the friendly clash in Cairo.

MostafaZiko’s65th-minuteheaderproved the difference for ‘Egypt, who had Omar Marmoushinthestartingline-upplusmarked the return of Ligue 1

match, especially in the end, andthat’sthesport”

Cerundolo offered resistancetowardstheendof the second set, but the 56thranked Argentine was left withamountaintoclimbafter Sinner unleashed a huge forehandwinnertodoublehis leadinmatchfor‘the loss of onlyfivegames.

The four-times Grand Slam champion cooled off withanicetowelinthebreak andturneduptheintensityon hisunseededopponentinthe third set to go 5-1 ahead, before he began to struggle andhaltedplaywhenserving at5-4.“Iwantedtovomitbut I couldn’t,” the Italian was heard saying to an official, before he stepped off the courtforamedicaltimeout

Cerundolosaidhefeltfor hisopponent

“It’s tough for him He was winning the match I couldn’twinmorethanthree games(intwosets),”hesaid

“I think I was a little bit lucky, I feel sorry for him he was serving to win this `match, but then I don’t knowwhathappened.Ithink he was cramping maybe, or maybeitwasthepressureof thematch,Idon’tknow.

“ButofcourseIfeelsorry for him and I hope he recovers. I’m super happy. I’m going to keep trying to play my best I hope to be readyforthenextmatch”

Italy’s Jannik Sinner reacts during his second round match against Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo.

(REUTERS/ Stephanie Lecocq)

MAJORUPSET

Sinner returned five minutes later and was immediately broken for 5-5, and dropped the next two games to ‘hand the set to his Argentine opponent, who sensedthechancetopulloffa majorupsetinParis

Hittingheaviertoquicken the points and also serving and volleying frequently, Sinner looked desperate to avoidtheexitbuthistroubles onlyincreasedashebeganto clutch his right thigh in the fourth set, which he surrenderedtamely

“I don’t remember last timeIfeltthisweak,butitis

`what it is,” Sinner added “I tried to stay there with all I had, and this was the maximumIhad”

Quickly losing control, Sinnerwasbrokenearlyinthe decider, as Cerundolo took full advantage to leave the ParisGrandSlamwithoutits title favourite and Djokovic with a golden opportunity to winastandalone25thmajor

Should Djokovic miss out,AlexanderZverevlooms as another top contender to finallybreakhisGrandSlam duckafterlosingthreemajor title clashes, with several otherdarkhorsesalsolooking tocapitalise

U.S.barsdronesoverFIFAWorld Cupsitesasitboostsprecautions

WASHINGTON,(Reuters)-TheFederal AviationAdministrationsaidThursdayitwill bar drones over FIFA World 2026 matches and related ‘fan events across the United States as theTrump administration works to addresssecurityconcerns.

During match days, ‘aircraft operations, including drones, are prohibited within a 3nautical-mile radius ‘and up to 3,000 feet above ground ‘level around the stadiums ‘unless specifically authorized by air traffic controllers.

Abdelmoneim after long-term injury and made10changesduringthematch. Salah,whojoinedupwith‘teammateson WednesdayafteratearfulendtohisLiverpool career at the weekend, was always likely to ‘misstheclash Egypthaveafriendlyagainst BrazilinClevelandtocomeonJune‘6before theybegintheirWorldCupGroupGcampaign ‘againstBelgiuminSeattleonJune15

Basketballmournspassingoflegend,MertonFitzalbert

By Rawle Toney

Guyana’s basketball fraternity is mourning the passing of former national player Merton Fitzalbert, who died on May 26, a date that coincided with the nation’s historic celebration of its 60th Independence Anniversary

News of his passing has castasombretoneoverwhat was otherwise a day of national pride, as the local basketball community reflectsonthelifeandlegacy of a player who contributed

competitiveness of the sport duringaformativeera.

The Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) has since joined in mourning, paying tributetoFitzalbertasoneof the sport’s respected figures whose influence extended beyondthecourt.

T h e F e d e r a t i o n acknowledged his role in helping to shape the early competitive structure of

Guyana’s national

programme and his commitment to representing thecountrywithprideacross multiple international assignments.

A c c o r d i n g t o information compiled by sports historian Charwayne Walker, Fitzalbert’s rise in basketballbeganintheearly 1970s when he was initially placedonthestandbylistfor Guyana’s 1972 tour of FrenchGuiana. Though not immediately a regular fixture, his determination and growing performances soon earned him recognition within the then Guyana Basketball Association during the presidency of Joseph ‘Reds’ Pereira. His breakthrough came in 1973 when he was

selected as an uncapped player for an international goodwillseriesinSuriname, featuringseniorandnational teamsalongsidetheHolland AllStars.

From

p

dly, establishing him as one of the promising talents of his generation.

Despit

missing selection for the 1974

C e n t r a l A m

c a n Championship in Puerto Rico, he returned strongly later that year, representing Guyana in home friendly internationals against Barbados at the Parade Ground, followed by an overseastourtoBarbadosin November 1974 His performances during this period reinforced his reputation as a dependable nationalteamcontributor

In 1975, Fitzalbert formed part of a historic Guyana squad that featured two sets of brothers, Merton and Melroy Fitzalbert, alongside Michael and Clifton Brusche, when the country competed in the C e n t r a l A m e r i c a n Championship in the Dominican Republic. This

StyleandsteelasOsakatames VekictoreachParisthirdround

Japan’s Naomi Osaka reacts during her second round match against Croatia’s Donna Vekic. (REUTERS/Benoit Tessier)

ope

und, arrived for the contest with Vekic in a white floorlength flared train overheroutfit.

On another blazingdayinParis, the Japanese player traded breaks freely with Vekic in the openingsetonCourt Simonne Mathieu, before finding her bestformduringthe tiebreak to prevail for the loss ‘only onepoint. Down a set, Paris Olympics silver medallist Vekic began to deploy a series of dropshotstotrouble Osaka early in the second set but her challenge fizzled out‘asshesurrenderedherserveintheninth game. Osaka saved a break point in the next gametocloseoutthe‘wininonehourand50 minutes,reachingthethirdroundforthefirst timesince2019.

She will ‘face 16th seed Iva Jovic in the third round, after the American beat compatriotEmmaNavarro6-06-3earlier.

period marked an important milestone in Guyana’s basketball history, highlighting both depth and family legacy within the nationalsetup.

He continued to feature prominently in international engagements, including matches against visiting Chinese opposition in 1975, appearances in Caribbean Championship action in 1976, and series against teams such as the NewYork BuffaloAllStarsandCubain 1977. Though results were mixed,Fitzalbertremaineda consistent presence in the nationalprogramme.

His international career extended across the region a n d b e y o n d , w i t h appearances in Suriname, Canada, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica

between1978and1984.

One of his standout performancescamein1979, when he top-scored with 17 points in a victory over Trinidad and Tobago at the NationalSportsHall.

In 1982, Fitzalbert producedwhatisregardedas the peak of his career, scoring a personal best 24 pointstohelpGuyanasecure a dominant victory over the visiting Northern League of Trinidad and Tobago. He later concluded his national duties with participation in the 1984 World Military BasketballChampionshipin Suriname.

The Guyana Basketball Federation, in its tribute, stressed that Fitzalbert’s contribution went beyond statistics, noting his role in strengtheningthefoundation of the sport during a critical periodofitsdevelopment. His passing, especially on a day of national celebration, has been described as a poignant reminder of the individuals who helped build Guyana’s sportingidentity

As the basketball community reflects on his legacy, Merton Fitzalbert is rememberednotonlyforhis performances on the court, but for his enduring contribution to the growth and expansion of basketball inGuyana.

Across his career, Fitzalbert represented Guyanainapproximately60 international matches, leaving behind a record defined by resilience, versatility, and commitment tonationalduty

2026 Women’s T20 Tri-Series in Ireland…West Indies vs. Ireland

Matthews’scorching82*, bowlerssinkIrishby8wickets

all-rounder

yesterday’s

Windies women’s skipper Hayley Matthews nailed a match-winning halfcentury to hurt the home team Ireland yesterday in the ongoing Women’s T20 TriSeries.

Ireland were steamrolled batting first at home in Dublin, falling for 103 all out in 17 overswithskipperOrlaPrendergast(25)and LeahPaul(21)theonlytwotowithstandthe mixedWindiesattack.

Left-arm spinner Qiana Joseph (3-8) alongside Jahzara Claxton (2-9) and Zaida James (2-10), were unstoppable for the Windiesladies;whoracedto104-2inside12 oversafterabrillianthalf-centuryfromtheir

Irish fast-bowler Ava

2 wickets yesterday.

skipper

Theopenerpunched11foursand3sixes inher44-ball82notoutwhichsetthetonefor what resulted in an easy chase for the Windies.

Veteran all-rounder and former Captain Stafane Taylor (10*) aided Matthews in the chaseasthetwosawtheirteamhomedespite IrishpacerAvaCanningbagging2-16asher otherteammatesreturnedwicket-less. Table-leaders Windies will look to keep their streak going today when they face off againsttheladiesofPakistan.(CliftonRoss)

TournamentDirectorStewartsays2026seasontofully

ByCliftonRoss ExxonMobil Guyana

Global Super League (GSL)

Tournament Director Jamie Stewart said yesterday, that thisseasonwillleantowards creating a more Guyanese environment with one eye heavily trained on ensuring

t h a t g r o w t h a n d development are paramount areas of focus as the league continues to build its brand as a local mainstay for local andinternationalfans;onthe annualcricketcalendar

During yesterday’s brief launch at the CPLTicketing Office,CampStreet,Stewart

told Kaieteur News exclusively following the launching, that this year’s tournament will look to kickstart a series of

e n d e a v o r s g e a r e d

specifically towards modelingtheGSLT20tothe tune of a more Guyanese

flavor with endless opportunities in the pipeline to help incorporate more Guyanese into the fold; as theLeaguegrowthsbigger “Our campaign that’s launchingisacelebrationof Guyana which says who Guyaneseareasapeopleand I’mhappywiththeresponse fromthosewhoweshowedit to.”

Director Jamie Stewart said the goal is to help raise the local bar for cricket while offering more opportunities to Guyanese as the League continues to build on its local brand and identity.

“We are creating opportunities for local peoplebecauseweshouldbe building with the people locally,”saidthetournament

Director Stewart explained that despite this season’s GSLT20beingplayedonthe heels of the 2026 Republic BankCPL,thetournamentis aimingtobuildanidentityof its own while offering anothermouth-wateringT20 international event that Guyanese can basically call their own; but nevertheless, believed that the local franchise can benefit from

this opportunity to get themselves in ideal shape right before the start of the CPL by virtue of playing against some quality internationalteams.

He explained that the condensed format of the competition allows a bit more flexibility as it relates to having the best players and franchise available for the benefit of offering top tierT20competitionforfans locallyandabroad.

“You might find next year we move to a different window which is a bit removed from CPL. I guess

if you look at it’s not a bad runway for the Amazon Warriors,it’sprettygoodfor them but in a perfect world we would like the tournament to be a bit more separatesowecanhavetwo spikes of activities in the year here in Guyana,” Stewartsaid.

As T20 culture grows globally and tournaments liketheGSLT20couldplaya hugeroleinnotonlypushing the local talent who may come through the Amazon Warriors franchise, but creatingwidespreadnoiseas one of the more exciting, locally grown 20/20 tournaments that could

Sooryavanshi

furtherestablishitselfonthe more sought after competitionforinternational cricket stars as well as the countless guns-for-hire who plytheirtradeonthelimitedoverscircuit.

“We spent the first couple years launching the tournament globally, and now it seems that the teams are chasing us. I want the GSLT20 to be a catalyst which raises the Sport’s bar here in Guyana,” Stewart outlined.

Speakingonsomeofthe long-term goals as well as plans to integrate other aspects of Sports development and science as

part of this season, Stewart hinted at some big plans whichcouldlikelyseeafew workshops being conducted byoverseasentities. Meanwhile, Guyanese broadcasters are also expected to be a key aspect of growing the League from within this season, as Stewart said he’s aiming to ensure that GSLT20 creates the ideal full Guyanese experienceasitcontinuesto build on a pre-existing identity

Fans were also urged to come out and show support as they did in the past with tickets officially going on saleyesterday.

a once-in-a-lifetime talent, says Hyderabad assistant Franklin

NEW CHANDIGARH, (Reuters) - Sunrisers Hyderabad assistant coach James Franklin hailed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as a generational talent on Wednesday after the Rajasthan Royals teenager smashed97off29ballstopowerhis side to in their Indian Premier Leagueeliminator.

The 15-year-old also broke Chris Gayle’s record for most sixes in an IPLseason, taking his tally to 65 in the match and surpassing the former West Indies captain’s 59 set in2012.

Sooryavanshi’s performance helped Rajasthan secure a 47-run win that kept their hopes ‘of reaching the final alive, and Franklin said his potential was frightening.

“Idon’tthinkanyone’severseen a talent like this. It’s freakish what he’s doing at the moment,” he told reporters “To think that he’s potentially got 25 years left in the career,it’squitescary

“He’s only going to get better, strongerandmorematurewithhow he bats. So, it’s just devastating at themoment.”

The season’s leading run-scorer struck 12 sixes in his innings, includingthreeinarow‘Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins, but fell short of Gayle’s mark for the fastest IPL century(30balls).

Sooryavanshi, who last year hit the first ball he faced of his IPL career for a six aged 14 and later becametheyoungestplayertoscore a ‘Twenty20 hundred, has amassed 680runsthisseasonatastrikerateof242.85.

Rajasthan Royals’Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in action. (REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas)

go to other places, which tend to then `go backintohisstrength.”

“There’s a very small margin where you couldbowltohim,”Franklinsaid.

“He’sanamazingtalentthat`hecanstart playing around with it (bowling variations) andthenstarttocausethebowlerstohaveto

RajasthanwillplayGujaratTitansinthe second qualifier on Friday, with the winner advancing to Sunday’s final against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

FM Drayton cops top prize in Independence Day Chess960 tournament

FIDE Master (FM) Anthony Drayton claimed first place in the Independence Day Chess960 Tournament, sponsored by Trophy Stall and Pegasus Suites. To mark Guyana’s 60th Independence Anniversary Diamond Jubilee on May26th,2026,theGuyanaChess Federation hosted the event at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre’sExhibitionCentre.

Theprestigiousvenueprovided a fitting backdrop, instilling a profoundsenseofnationalpridein all participants. More than 50 playersfromtheGeorgetownarea, including 10 female competitors, faced off in the lively seven-round Chess960 tournament Because this chess variant randomizes the starting pieces and position, it bypasses traditional opening memorizationandreliespurelyona player’srawskill.

Drayton proved his mastery of the format, navigating the unique challenges flawlessly to finish the tournament undefeated He dominatedthe7-roundtournament, emergingundefeatedwithaperfect score Using his wealth of experience, Drayton effortlessly dismantled his opponents across the board. This victory marks the FIDEMaster’ssecondconsecutive Chess960 title, following his tournamentwinlastyear

Overseas based Guyanese MitraRamgopal,atalentedveteran inthechesscommunity,earnedthe second spot with 5 5 points Playinginhisfirsttournamentafter

a long absence, Ramgopal made quick work of his opponents. His lone loss came against FM Drayton, while he drew his final gamewithRolexAlexander

Alexander also finished with 5.5 points, but the tiebreaker rules placedhiminthird.Hisonlydefeat came in the fourth round, and he drewhisfinalgame.

Odinnie Reece secured fourth place, finishing with a total of five points. He dropped two points during the tournament, suffering losses in the fourth and final rounds.

In fifth place was the current National U12 Open Chess Champion, Aiden Tinne. He also scored 5 points, but due to the tiebreakerrules,hehadtosettlefor fifthplace.

AlekUbaldo-Singhclaimedthe Best Junior Award, finishing the tournamentwithasolid5pointsas well.

Fourteen-year-old Varsha Pooran secured the Best Female award, finishing the tournament with 4 5 points Her standout moments included a 6th-round victory over Kataleya Sam and a drawagainstVirNarineinherfinal match.

Other notable performers were Javier Davenand and Jevaughn Grant, who finished with 5 points each. Vir Narine, Jeremy Cole, DivyaPersaud,DominicSam,Kim Shing Chong, and WCM Jessica Callender all secured 4.5 points apiece.

The cash prizes plus trophies, compliments of Trophy Stall were distributedtothetopperformersof the tournament In a simple ceremony, Terry Mathura, representingTrophyStall,madethe presentation to the top five finishers, the Best Junior, and the BestFemaleplayer

Players were also treated to keepsakes marking the Jubilee

celebrations, compliments of the federation.

The GCF extends its sincere gratitudetoFIDEArbiterJohnLee and his team for ensuring the tournament was conducted fairly and in strict accordance with the rules, and for efficiently managing the pairings and results on ChessResults.com.

The Federation extend its

heartfelt gratitude to Trophy Stall for partnering with us to foster the growthofchessinGuyana.Wealso thank the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre for their hospitality and for providing a spectacularvenueforthisevent.

For more information on the Guyana Chess Federation, check out our social media pages and website,guyanachess.gy

OverwhelmingresponseforGBADevelopmentTournament signalscontinuedgrowthofBoxinginGuyana

T

g Association’s(GBA)Development Tournament continues to grow from strength to strength, with National Coach Lennox Daniels revealing that this weekend’s edition has already attracted close to 60 boxers from gyms across the country

The tournament, which is set for Saturday at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, from 5:00 pm, is expected to feature some of Guyana’s brightest young prospectsastheGBAcontinuesits aggressivegrassrootsdevelopment programme.

According to Daniels, the overwhelming response from boxing gyms is another clear indication that amateur boxing in Guyanaisonanupwardtrajectory

“So far, we are looking at almost 60 boxers for Saturday’s tournament, and that number itself tellsastory,”Danielssaidaheadof theevent.

According to Daniels, “The

interest continues to grow, and more gyms are becoming active in the developmental programme, which is exactly what we want to see.”

Among the gyms expected to field sizeable contingents are the Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis Gym, PaceandPowerBoxingGym,Rose Hall Jammers, New Amsterdam Boxing Academy, Police Boxing Gym, and Harpy Eagles Boxing Gym.

Daniels noted that the

Development Tournament has become one of the most important pillars in the country’s boxing structure,providingyoungfighters with critical ring experience while helping coaches and selectors identifyemergingtalent.

“These tournaments are extremely important because they give the young boxers the opportunity to compete consistently and gain valuable experience,” Daniels explained “You cannot develop a boxer withoutcompetition,andwhatthe GBAhasbeendoingthroughthese developmental cards is creating the perfect environment for growth ”

He further praised the Guyana Boxing Association for maintaining a structured pathway for the country’s fighters, noting that the developmental system has significantly improved the overall standardofboxinglocally

“TheGBAmustbecommended for the pathway they have created for these young athletes. A boxer

cannowentertheprogrammeatthe grassroots level, participate in developmental tournaments, improve steadily, and eventually graduate to national and internationalcompetition,”Daniels said.

“That structure is very important because it gives athletes motivationanddirection.Theycan nowseeafutureinthesportifthey remain disciplined and committed,” The GBF national coachsaid.

The broader tournament continues to reflect the steady growth of amateur boxing in Guyana.AccordingtotheGBA,the movetohosteventsattheNational Gymnasium is a direct response to increasing participation levels and therisingnumberofgymsactively involved in the developmental programme.

I n p r e v i o u s y e a r s , developmental cards were often staged at smaller gyms and community venues. However, the expanding participation numbers

have forced organisers to seek larger accommodations capable of hosting the growing number of athletesandsupporters.

Recent editions of the Development Tournament have produced several impressive performances from gyms such as Pace and Power Boxing Gym, Harpy Eagles Boxing Gym, Andrew Lewis Boxing Gym, and the New Amsterdam Boxing Academy, further reinforcing the competitivebalancethatnowexists throughout the local boxing landscape.

The consistent emergence of talentfromvariousregionshasalso strengthened the national programme, with selectors now having a deeper pool of fighters to monitoranddevelop.

Saturday’s tournament is therefore expected to provide another exciting showcase of Guyana’s emerging boxing talent, while continuing the GBA’s mission of strengthening the sport fromthegrassrootslevelupward.

Annandale, New Cambellville Sec’ win Independence Tapeball Cricket trophies

…Secondary Schools’ Boy’s Tapeball Cricket tournament concludes

As Guyana concluded its 60th Independence Anniversary celebrations,AnnandaleSecondary andNewCampbellvilleSecondary emerged champions of the International Imports and Supplies Diamond Jubilee Inter-Secondary

Schools Tapeball Cricket tournaments.

O n Tu e s d a y, w h i l e Independence festivities unfolded across the country, several young cricketers gathered at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall tarmac

New Campbellville Secondary School team moments after winning the International Import and Supplies Independence Inter Secondary Schools Tapeball trophy.

where Annandale Secondary defeatedCoventGardenSecondary by seven wickets to capture the IndependenceCuptitle.

Batting first, Covent Garden posted58-3fromtheirallottedfour overs.ShawnHusseinanchoredthe innings with a composed 31, guiding the East Bank side to a competitivetotal.MatthewPersaud led the bowling effort for Annandale,claiming2-19.

In reply,Annandale Secondary raced to 61-3, thanks to an

explosive 34 from Nathan Chaterpaul. Chaterpaul fittingly sealed victory with a powerful boundary over the in-field as Annandale secured the title by seven wickets. Despite the defeat, Covent Garden’s Vishan Kalpoo delivered a spirited spell, finishing withfiguresof2-23.

Following the match, the victorious team received trophies andmedalsdonatedbytheMinistry ofCulture,YouthandSport.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday at the National Park tarmac, New Campbellville Secondary captured the International Imports and Supp

rSecondary Schools Tapeball title

withanemphaticeight-wicketwin overBishop’sHighSchool.

Batting first, Bishop’s High reached 58-4, with Aiyan Persaud top-scoringwith27.ShahidSukhai starred with the ball for New Campbellville,taking3-29.

In response, Lakhan Ganesh produced a match-winning knock of 38 runs as New Campbellville cruised to 61-2 to seal the Independencetrophy

Andrew Narine was the lone wicket-taker for Bishop’s High, finishing with 2-29 Makhaya Jones was later named the tournament’sMostValuablePlayer (MVP).

Glasgow’sdoublesealsSoesdyke Falcons3-1winoverMocha

…Walkover victory keep Herstelling Raiders alive in GFF

Soesdyke Falcons booked their placeintoday’ssemifinalshowdown against Swan United after defeating Mocha Spartans 3-1 on Wednesday eveninginthe2026EastBank‘Elite League’ Playoffs at the GFF National Training Centre in Providence.

The Falcons, alongside Herstelling Raiders, became the latestEastBankteamstoadvanceas the Guyana Football Federation seeks to decide its East Bank representatives in the 2026 Elite LeaguePlayoffs.

Herstelling Raiders progressed without kicking a ball after Friendship Football Club failed to appear for their fixture, handing the Raidersaneasywalkovervictory Meanwhile, fans at Providence were treated to an entertaining encounter between Soesdyke

FalconsandMochaSpartans.

After a slow start to the doubleheader, Soesdyke gradually found their rhythm in a tightly contested first half. Neither side managed to break the deadlock during the opening 15 minutes, despite several attackingefforts.

Soesdyke eventually struck first in the 17th minute when Shakeem Billisonfinishedfromcloserangeto handhissideanearly1-0advantage.

Mocha Spartans responded with urgencyinsearchofanequaliser,but a disciplined Soesdyke midfield frustrated their attacking efforts. Moments later, Soesdyke Falcons doubledtheirleadinthe25thminute through Terrence Glasgow, who burst through Mocha’s defence beforeriflinghomeasuperbfinishto makeit2-0.

Derrick Barker gave Mocha

Elite League Playoffs

renewed hope some two minutes later, pulling one back in the 27th minute to reduce the deficit to 2-1 heading into the latter stages of the contest.

However, Glasgow returned late in the match to seal the victory, netting his second goal in the 82nd minute as Soesdyke secured a comfortable3-1triumphandmoved one step closer to the 2026 Elite League.

Action in the playoffs continues todaywithSoesdykeFalconsfacing SwanUnitedat6:30p.m.inthefirst semifinal clash In the second encounter,TimehriUnitedwillbattle Herstelling Raiders at 9:00 p.m. for theremainingspotinthefinal.

The winner of the playoffs will qualify for the 2026 Elite League Playoffsscheduledtocommenceon June7.

Secondary claimed the Second Formers’ Independence Trophy competition,whichwasdonatedby Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Hon. StevenJacobs,MP

The tournaments w

e coordinated by James “Uprising” Lewis, who expressed gratitude to International Imports and Supplies CEO Joe Jagmohan, Hon. Steven Jacobs, MP, and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport for their continuedsupport.

The next tournament is scheduledforJune13followingthe completion of CXC examinations, p e n d i n g s p o n s o r s h i p arrangements.