Headteacher
killed in Rose Hall hit-and-run
Wednesday Edition September 16, 2026 - Vol. 21 No. 37
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Price $200
2 Dead: Sonia Natasha Williams
Online readership
yesterday, 42,173
‘Govt. must pay
$170,000 extra cash grant to PAGE
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citizens’
...Ram cites increased profits as country projected to earn 136.% more from oil
Family members of victims of the MV Barima tragedy on Tuesday continued their protest outside the Office of the President
Parag tells TVET students to prepare for global jobs ...says every region will be equipped with a TVET centre by end of 2026
Porous borders push Guyana to step up HIV fight
‘Float the Barima’ Mohamed warns Opposition boycotts of development bank corruption risks Pres. Ali’s ‘unstructured’ ...says institution being
...families demand answers, slam systemic failures and unequal payouts . .Anthony wants care taken to 450 health centres
talks ...demands genuine consultation
launched without key safeguards
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday September 16, 2026
Wednesday September 16, 2026
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‘Govt. must pay $170,000 extra cash grant to citizens’ ...Ram cites increased profits as country projected to earn 136.% more from oil Guyana is now projected to earn 136.8% more from oil and gas production than it envisioned earlier during its Budget preparations. The massive windfall revenues should be enjoyed by the citizens of this c o u n t r y, a c c o r d i n g t o Chartered Accountant and Attorney, Christopher Ram who is now demanding that Guyanese adults benefit from an additional $170,000 cash grant before the end of 2026. In a letter to the editor on Tuesday, Ram pointed out that the Mid-Year Report made public by the Government of Guyana (GoG) on Monday highlights that petroleum deposits into the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) or the country’s oil account will reach US$6,497.6 million. He said that the estimate has
more than doubled the expectations of government due to the ongoing war in the Middle East that has impacted the price of oil. Based on calculations by the Chartered Accountant, the GoG used G$73.6 billion or 14.3% of the US$2,471.4 million deposited into the NRF in 2025 for the national cash grant, the year on which this year’s withdrawal was calculated. Ram said, “Apply the same proportion to the Minister’s own projection for 2026, and the citizen’s entitlement for the year is G$193.5 billion, or roughly G$270,000 for each adult. Of that, G$73.6 billion has been provided. The outstanding balance is G$121.8 billion, or about G$170,000 a head.” Anticipating push back from government, the
Chartered Accountant challenged the GoG to show how putting an additional G$121.8 billion into citizens’ hands would fuel inflation. In fact, Ram reminded that the Finance Minister in the Mid-Year Report touts the payment of cash grants to every Guyanese over 18 as a measure to cushion rising costs and increase disposable income at paragraph 3.35. “The Government cannot describe this payment as relief at G$100,000 and as a danger at G$270,000 without telling us where the line falls and on what evidence,” he argued. Furthermore, with President Irfaan Ali admitting to the increase in cost of living, Ram said the government must make the supplementary payment of
G$170,000 to every Guyanese 18 and over, before the end of the financial year, out of money already lawfully withdrawn. Ram said that government should clearly state what percentage of the country’s oil revenue it considers to be the Guyanese share. “If it is 14.3%, the balance is due now. If it is something less, please have him name the figure and explain why the people’s portion is reduced in the very year that oil revenue increases significantly,” the lawyer appealed. The Chartered Accountant argued that he is
Chartered Accountant and Attorney, Christopher Ram not seeking a new benefit, but rather for Guyanese to receive the remaining share that the government itself fixed. Moreover, he pointed out that the request for the additional monies for Guyanese will not exceed the sum already allocated for withdrawal. “Paragraph 3.45 records that G$212.1 billion was withdrawn to June, with a further G$282.9 billion expected, exhausting the
entire G$495.0 billion permitted this year. The money is coming out regardless. The only question is who receives it,” the lawyer explained. He went on to note that the Mid-Year Report offers clarity on government’s spending, with under the Public Sector Investment Programme at the half-year mark reaching G$248.9 billion against a programme Continued on page 6
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Wednesday September 16, 2026
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL-TEL: 624-6456 Editor: NIGEL WILLIAMS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Prepared for any reaction Guyana's President Irfaan Ali has made bluffing a centerpiece of his political life. Often, he makes statements for public consumption that he cannot backup. In the local environment, his list of such statements is long. Media and information, transparency and accountability, corruption and cleaning house, unity and access to information, are some quick extracts from his postures, that he has had to walk back, tone down, or hide from to avoid embarrassing himself further. He recently went on Al-Jazeera, and did what he has always done, and which he believes that he is now so good at, that the world falls for it. “We are prepared for any reaction to the court ruling. The court is going to determine the merits of words and facts, and then when the court determines that, and then what is left before is how do we walk back from sometimes the harsh realities of our own words.” When President Ali is like this, there is no stopping him. He believes that reality has to yield to his verbal barrages, that inconvenient contexts are best ignored, and that his salesmanship is enough to carry the day. We have seen leaders like President Ali before. The best way to cut through empty rhetoric is to be sympathetic to those who are prone to ignore facts and circumstances, and place those before the public. Venezuela has already made itself clear on any International Court of Justice ruling that goes against its national interests. Such a ruling would have no bearing on Venezuela's claim on Guyana's territory, and as relevant as what is nonexistent. President Ali may believe the force of his own rhetoric. Venezuelan leaders, however, know that he is nothing but straw in the wind without the US behind him. He can talk, but without the US in Guyana's corner, he is nothing. Regarding its own situation, Venezuela has just had not one, but two slaps across the face, and both from the US. Its president, Nicolas Maduro, was dragged out of Venezuela, like a common criminal, and dumped in a US jail to begin his likely losing battle to free himself from US captivity. The second blow came when Venezuela lost control of a quarter of its vast oil reserves and, as in the instance of Maduro, being powerless to do anything to prevent that from happening. A third blow, a loss handed down by the ICJ on its claim of over two-thirds of Guyana's territory, would simply be intolerable to proud Venezuelans. What would they have left to live for in such a situation? How much more could Venezuela's interim leader, Delcy Rodriguez and her cooperative team, absorb and what would they have left to recommend them? While one of the members of the ExxonMobil-led consortium, Chevron, is making its mark in Venezuela, ExxonMobil itself is still sticking to its initial reaction to the changes taking shape in Guyana's neighbour. It is a place that the company views as “un-investable.” Time will provide evidence on how long that posture remains intact. But with the US firmly in the driver's seat in Caracas, Exxon Guyana can feel more comfortable to expand its footprint in Guyana's waters, by venturing in what was previously hostile and off-limits areas, from a Venezuelan standpoint. The question that we asked earlier returns with added power. How much more of this tightening of the walls around it, can that country tolerate? It is in these contexts, that Guyana's President Ali stated that “we are prepared for any reaction to the court ruling.” The president has never been lacking in overconfidence and overstatement. Reaction from Venezuela can be that of a wounded and helpless sitting duck. Or one that bides its time, and look for ways to burst President Ali's bubble. We at this paper believe that it is in Guyana's best interests, of President Ali is more careful with his words and postures. One recommendation is that there be less of the bluster, what could be misinterpreted as taunting. He should be more aware of Guyana's vulnerabilities and its dependence on the US. Sober circumspection is healthier than boastful exaggeration. Venezuela has lost some of its teeth, but not its powerful tail.
Pay the Guyanese the balance of their Cash Grant Dear Editor, The Mid-Year Report dated August 28 (?) contains a figure that deserves attention. In paragraph 3.64, the Minister responsible for Finance projects petroleum deposits into the Natural Resource Fund of US$6,497.6 million for 2026. That is 136.8 per cent above what was assumed when Budget 2026 was presented in January, before the war in the Middle East transformed the oil price. The people's share of that windfall now moves downward. Consider how the current grant was determined. The G$73.6 billion appropriated for the National Cash Grant represents 14.3 per cent of the US$2,471.4 million deposited in 2025, the year on which this year's withdrawal was calculated. That is the Government's own proportion, derived from its own conduct. Apply the same proportion to the Minister's own projection for 2026, and the citizen's entitlement for the year is
G$193.5 billion, or roughly G$270,000 for each adult. Of that, G$73.6 billion has been provided. The outstanding balance is G$121.8 billion, or about G$170,000 a head. So, I am not asking for a new benefit. I'm requesting the unpaid remainder of a share that the Government itself fixed. Nor am I asking for a single additional dollar from the Fund. Paragraph 3.45 records that G$212.1 billion was withdrawn to June, with a further G$282.9 billion expected, exhausting the entire G$495.0 billion permitted this year. The money is coming out regardless. The only question is who receives it. The report shows where it can be found. As of June 30, expenditure under the Public Sector Investment Programme stood at G$248.9 billion against a programme revised upward to G$829.7 billion. That is 30 per cent executed at the halfway point, requiring G$580.8 billion in the
remaining six months - with many projects stalled and no Public Procurement Commission. Paragraph 3.52 is even more telling: first-half capital spending exceeded the same period of 2025 by G$1.9 billion, while the programme itself was enlarged by G$50.1 billion. The government has increased its plans by fifty billion dollars and its performance by two billion. The people's balance is not competing with roads and schools that will be built this year. It is competing with a projection that will not be met. But let me anticipate the reply. If it is said that putting G$121.8 billion into citizens' hands would fuel inflation, I refer the Minister to his own paragraph 3.35, which presents cash support to every Guyanese over 18 as a measure to cushion rising costs and increase disposable income. The Government cannot describe this payment as relief at G$100,000 and as a danger at G$270,000 without telling
us where the line falls and on what evidence. Having regard to the real increase in cost of living belatedly admitted by President Ali, the Government must make a supplementary payment of G$170,000 to every Guyanese aged eighteen and over, before the end of the financial year, out of money already lawfully withdrawn. And I ask the Minister the question for which the G o v e r n m e n t characteristically has no policy - let alone an answer. What percentage of this country's petroleum receipts does the Government consider the Guyanese people's correct share? If it is 14.3%, the balance is due now. If it is something less, please have him name the figure and explain why the people's portion is reduced in the very year that oil revenue increases significantly. I shall examine the MidYear Report more fully this weekend. Yours faithfully Christopher Ram
Inclusionary democracy is a national imperative Dear Editor, Guyana has arrived at a defining moment in its history. The country is becoming extraordinarily wealthy from its natural resources, while its people remain politically and ethnically divided and increasingly confronted with decisions that will determine who benefits from that wealth and how it is used. This is why inclusionary democracy is a national imperative, and the time to give it legislative force is now. Article 13 of the Constitution provides the foundation: “The principal objective of the political system of the State is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of citizens, and their organisations in the management and decision-making processes of the State, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that directly affect their well-being.” Guyana cannot continue to ignore this vital component of its political system while large sections of the
MV BARIMA Dear Editor, Let her rest in peace; Disturb not its sleep; Awake not agonies resurrected; The waves are crashing above Below there is silence; Let what is remain reside in silence This my plea Leave her, leave them alone. Painful decision, but avoiding more pains. Regards Krishna Nand Prasad
population remain spectators to decisions affecting their economic future, communities, livelihoods and the management of the nation's unprecedented wealth. Equal and equitable participation - as constitutionally mandated - must mean that no one is left behind. People whose lives are affected by decisions of the State must have meaningful avenues to influence those decisions. Their organisations must have a voice. Their leaders must be sitting at the decisionmaking table, not standing outside waiting to be consulted after decisions have already been made. That is particularly urgent in a nation where avarice, self-interest and greed increasingly appear to stalk the corridors of power; where deep political and social divisions persist; and where petroleum wealth has transformed Guyana's economic fortunes on a scale beyond anything in the country's history. The wealth generated from Guyana's natural resources belongs to the nation. Its management therefore cannot become the exclusive preserve of whichever political party wins an election. An electoral victory—whether disputed or accepted—confers the mandate to govern, not a blank cheque to govern without restraint. Democracy demands more than the arithmetic of victory; it demands inclusion, accountability and meaningful respect for those outside the governing majority. Winner-takes-all politics becomes profoundly dangerous when the stakes are no longer small. Guyana is now presiding over unprecedented oil revenues and an economy being transformed at breathtaking speed. Decisions made today will determine
the fortunes, opportunities and freedoms of generations yet unborn. The greater the wealth, the greater t h e n e e d f o r t r a n s p a r e n c y, accountability, participation and consensus. That is why the Guyana Trades Union Congress has consistently demanded concrete legislative action and has put forward proposals to make inclusionary democracy a reality. Parliament should seriously consider a constitutional and legislative requirement that the National Appropriation Bill receive two-thirds approval. Such a safeguard would make unilateral control of the national purse far more difficult, compelling the Government and Opposition to negotiate priorities, subject public spending to rigorous scrutiny, and engage civil society in determining how Guyana's wealth is invested and distributed. The National Treasury must never become the political property of whoever controls the Executive and/or commands a parliamentary majority. The same principle must apply to local government. Articles 75 and 77 of the Constitution provide for autonomous local democratic organs and funding to enable regions to implement their development programmes. Those provisions must become reality. Autonomy without r e s o u r c e s i s n o t a u t o n o m y. Municipalities, towns, villages and regions must have the authority and financial capacity to make decisions for their communities without being perpetually dependent on the political discretion of central government. Organised labour must also have a legitimate and meaningful seat at the (Continued on page 5)
Wednesday September 16, 2026
Kaieteur News
What next to target the Mohameds with? Dear Editor, Quote, “Any responsible public authority dealing with a sanctioned person must, therefore, carefully consider the legal, financial, banking, contractual and compliance consequences of any proposed transaction. MARAD would, therefore, be extraordinarily reckless as the national regulatory maritime agency to issue a licence to anyone of such sanctioned character,” the agency said in a statement. What next? Would the Mohameds be banned from: Receiving Water from Guyana Water company? Receiving electricity from GPL? Travelling across the river bridges? Using any THD facilities? Attending any of the Public Health Facilities? Having their children attending Government schools? All other public services? Have I just given additional ideas to target the Mohameds? Sincerely Faiyaz Alli
Guyanese workers should not be expected to accept lower wages simply because another worker is willing to accept less Dear Editor, A s a p u b l i c communications analyst and a citizen who has lived outside of Guyana for more than twenty years, I believe we need to have a serious national conversation about the labour crisis currently developing in Guyana. Guyana has welcomed a significant number of legal immigrants from different countries and backgrounds, many of whom have made
Inclusionary democracy is a national imperative From page 4 national decision-making table. Guyana has two national trade union federations, and both should have appropriate representation on State authorities and bodies responsible for labour, economic and social policy—including institutions such as the Natural Resource Fund and Guyana Development Bank. This is not a demand for trade unions to govern the country. It is a demand for democratic inclusion. Workers whose labour drives the economy should not be spectators when decisions are made about wages, employment, development, national wealth and the future of their families. If decisions are made in the name of the people, the people must have a voice in making them. That is consistent with the principle of democratic participation reflected in Articles 13 and 149C of the Constitution. There is an even greater reason for urgency. Guyana is changing rapidly. Foreign capital, foreign workers and other foreign nationals are entering the country as the economy expands. The country has also entered into arrangements under which people deported from the United States are being accepted into Guyana. These developments raise legitimate questions about immigration, employment, security, social services, housing, community relations and national resources. Such decisions cannot be left to government alone. They require national conversation and meaningful participation by the people and
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organisations affected. This fierce urgency of now demands action. If Guyana waits until the current transformation is complete, the opportunity to build inclusive, accountable institutions alongside economic transformation may already have passed. Where the Government falls short, the Opposition must do more than criticise. It must pursue concrete legislation and reform to give practical force to Article 13: require two-thirds parliamentary approval of the national budget; guarantee genuine financial and administrative autonomy for local democratic organs; ensure fair representation of both national trade union federations on appropriate State bodies; and establish stronger mechanisms for citizens and their organisations to participate meaningfully in national decision-making. But these reforms must rise above partisan politics. They must not be weapons designed against one government or instruments to benefit another. They must bind every government—including any government the Opposition may form tomorrow. Guyana's extraordinary oil wealth presents an extraordinary responsibility. It must become the foundation for shared prosperity, stronger institutions and greater national inclusion—not another source of political division and exclusion. The constitutional promise has been made. Now Guyana must give that promise teeth. Regards Lincoln Lewis
Guyana their home and are contributing to various industries. There is nothing inherently wrong with Guyana providing opportunities for foreign nationals to work and build a better life. In fact, Guyanese citizens themselves have benefited from opportunities to live and work throughout CARICOM, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. Migration and the movement of labour are part of our increasingly interconnected world. However, we must also examine what is happening to Guyanese workers within our own labour market. Guyana has invested significantly in education and skills development, including programmes such as the GOAL scholarship programme, from which many citizens, including myself, have benefited. Yet we continue to see qualified Guyanese struggling to secure meaningful employment, while others are forced into underemployment or positions that do not adequately reflect their education, experience and qualifications. At the same time, there appears to be growing demand in some industries for bilingual employees, particularly Spanishspeaking workers, as well as workers from other countries. Again, the issue should not be about nationality. If an employer legitimately
requires particular language skills, technical expertise or experience that is difficult to find locally, there should be room for qualified foreign workers. The concern arises when the availability of cheaper labour begins to influence the wages, working conditions and employment expectations of the wider workforce. Guyanese workers should not be expected to accept lower wages simply because another worker is willing to accept less. They should not be expected to tolerate unsafe, exploitative or unacceptable working conditions because someone else is prepared to do so. Most importantly, labour laws and established employment standards should apply equally, regardless of whether the worker is Guyanese or a foreign national. This is where stronger national oversight and enforcement become important. Guyana must ensure that our labour market remains competitive while protecting workers from exploitation and preventing a race to the bottom in wages and working conditions. Employers should be encouraged to invest in Guyanese talent, provide meaningful training and development opportunities, and recruit internationally when there is a genuine skills or labour shortage—not simply because foreign workers can be employed more cheaply.
Guyana is experiencing rapid economic transformation, and with that transformation comes the responsibility to create an economy that works for everyone. We can welcome immigrants, support businesses, attract international investment and participate in the global labour market while still protecting the dignity, rights and economic opportunities of Guyanese workers. The objective should not be to favour Guyanese over foreigners, or foreigners over Guyanese. It should be to ensure that everyone who works in Guyana is treated fairly, paid fairly and protected by the same labour standards. If we fail to address these issues now, we risk normalising poor employment practices at precisely the moment when Guyana should be raising its standards. Our economic growth should not only be measured by the number of new businesses, investments or foreign workers entering the country. It should also be measured by whether ordinary Guyanese can find decent employment, earn a living wage, use the qualifications they worked hard to obtain and build a secure future in their own country. Sincerely Blane R Bunbury
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Wednesday September 16, 2026
Porous borders push Guyana to step up HIV fight ...Anthony wants care taken to 450 health centres Guyana continues to strengthen its response to Human Immunodeficiency Vi r u s ( H I V ) w h i l e advancing national efforts to eliminate a number of infectious diseases, Minister o f H e a l t h , D r. F r a n k Anthony, has said. Dr. Anthony made the disclosure while addressing the Strengthening Clinical Capacity for the Management of Advanced HIV Disease in Guyana workshop, being held at the Ministry of Health's Boardroom, Brickdam, from September 14–15, 2026. The workshop is a collaboration between the Health Ministry and the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) Disease Elimination Initiative and has brought together clinical professionals from Guyana's ten administrative regions. According to a Ministry of Health release, Dr. Anthony reflected on the significant progress made in HIV care and treatment over the years, noting that the availability of effective a n t i r e t r o v i r a l ( A RV ) medicines has transformed HIV from a once lifethreatening diagnosis into a
manageable chronic condition. He recalled the early years of the HIV epidemic, when limited treatment options and widespread stigma often resulted in patients facing severe illness and discrimination. “From those days, we have come a far way,” the minister said, highlighting the effectiveness of current ARV regimens and the importance of ensuring that persons living with HIV receive comprehensive care, particularly where they may also have other chronic diseases. The minister stressed that Guyana must continue strengthening HIV surveillance, diagnosis, treatment and viral suppression, particularly in light of increased population movement across the country's borders. The twoday workshop is designed to strengthen the capacity of clinical professionals to effectively identify and manage persons with Advanced HIV Disease (AHD). The workshop aims to strengthen participants' understanding of the national burden and clinical
Some of the experts at the workshop
Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony addressing the gathering
significance of Advanced HIV Disease (AHD), while improving their ability to i d e n t i f y, a s s e s s a n d investigate patients at risk. It will also strengthen the application of updated national and WHO recommendations for HIV treatment, including ART initiation, optimisation, management of treatment failure and re-initiation, and equip healthcare providers to
deliver the WHOrecommended package of care for people with AHD. The workshop will further focus on strengthening Tuberculosis (TB) and TB/HIV screening, prevention and comanagement, as well as improving the recognition, diagnosis and management of opportunistic infections, including tuberculosis, cryptococcal disease, histoplasmosis and Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia. Participants will enhance their use of laboratory and point-of-care testing and clinical monitoring, develop
clinical decision-making skills through peer learning and real-world case discussions, and identify opportunities to strengthen facility-level systems and referral pathways to improve care for people with AHD. Guyana's geographical position and porous borders have resulted in significant cross-border movement for both healthcare and other purposes. The minister pointed to the provision of healthcare services to persons from neighbouring Brazil and Venezuela as examples of the increased movement that health authorities must take
into consideration when planning and implementing disease-control programmes. “We need to step up our surveillance. We need to step up what we are doing in terms of our diagnosis,” Dr. Anthony said, noting that where surveillance identifies potential hotspots, targeted programmes must be implemented to address emerging needs. Guyana currently provides antiretroviral (ARV) therapy through the public health system, while efforts are also being made to ensure that persons (Continued on page 23)
'Govt. must pay $170,000... From page 3 revised upward to G$829.7 billion. According to him, “That is 30% executed at the halfway point, requiring G$580.8 billion in the remaining six months - with many projects stalled and no Public Procurement Commission.” Notably, spending in the first six months on capital projects exceeded the same period in 2025 by some G$1.9B, while the programme itself was enlarged by G$50.1 billion. As such, Ram suggested that the balance that belongs to Guyanese is not competing with roads and schools that will be built this year, but with a projection that will not be met.
On Sunday, Kaieteur News reported that in one month, Guyana received a whopping US$778M in oil revenues for the month of August. This was more than what the country received during the first quarter of 2026. It was reported that during the first three months of 2026, the NRF recorded deposits of US$761. It should be noted that Guyana's earnings from the rapidly expanding petroleum sector has increased as the American oil major has recovered its investments in the seven projects approved by the GoG. The country is now receiving 39.8% of profits up from the measly 12.5% that allowed the operator to finance the projects.
Wednesday September 16, 2026
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Wednesday September 16, 2026
Mohamed warns of development bank corruption risks Leader of the Opposition and the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, Azruddin Mohamed has sounded an alarm over the government’s intention to roll out the Guyana Development Bank (GDB) in October this year without a robust framework that ensures all Guyanese can benefit fairly from loans up to $3M and that resources intended to benefit those in need are not used to fuel further corruption. In an interview with this publication, Mohamed said the Opposition, particularly his faction, welcomes any genuine initiative that expands affordable financing for Guyanese entrepreneurs. The freshly appointed Member of Parliament (MP) however
stressed that the law, passed in the National Assembly on July 27 and assented to by President Irfaan Ali on July 30 is gravely deficient and fails to set strict penalties for corruption involving the misuse of funds from the Bank. Mohamed warned that an October 5 launch date is not a substitute for transparency or proper institutional preparation. In fact, he said government risks rushing the launch and missing a key ingredient for the successful operation of the institution a c c o u n t a b i l i t y. T h e Opposition Leader pointed out, “Every director is appointed by the Minister of Finance, and the legislation guarantees no representation for the parliamentary opposition or any genuinely
...says institution being launched without key safeguards independent stakeholder. The law allows the Minister sole power to appoint all five to nine directors, including the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson, with no requirement of approval from the National Assembly. Mohamed reasoned that a bank capitalised with public money, empowered to lend “with or without collateral and with or without charging interest” at the Board’s discretion, must not be controlled as though it were a partisan lending facility. In fact, he told this newspaper that opposition involvement in the governance of publicly
Leader of the Opposition, Azruddin Mohamed (right) and President Irfaan Ali owned banks is neither unprecedented nor incompatible with professional independence. The Opposition Leader pointed out that in Germany, the Parliament appoints seven members of KfW’s Board of Supervisory Directors, and that parliamentary appointment process has included members proposed by opposition parties. S i m i l a r l y, M a l t a ’s Development Bank requires consultation with the Opposition before appointing the chairpersons of both its Board of Directors and its Independent Supervisory Board. He also noted that in South Africa, the Land Bank’s appointment process formally allows relevant parliamentary committees to nominate Board candidates, although the minister retains the final appointment power. To this end, Mohamed suggested, “Guyana can adopt comparable safeguards without compromising the b a n k ’s p r o f e s s i o n a l independence. A bank funded by all Guyanese must work fairly for all Guyanese and not only for those with the right connections.” Shifting his attention to o ff e n c e s , h e s a i d t h e legislation is weak in ensuring banking officials face penalties for seeking or accepting kickbacks to approve, accelerate, or influence a loan. He said that the Act also imposes the same G$5 million to G$10 million fine for offences ranging from providing false information to the deliberate misuse of the bank’s funds, without any penalty proportionate to the amount diverted. Mohamed added, “For serious insider corruption, a fine without express
provision for imprisonment, confiscation, or permanent disqualification risks becoming little more than a tap on the wrist. Nor does the legislation establish a protected complaints mechanism or independent investigation process.” The Leader of the Opposition argued that these safeguards should have been expressly built into the bank’s governing framework prior to it becoming operational. He acknowledged that the law only provides for offences such as providing false information, obstruction, record tampering, improper disclosure, and misuse of the bank’s assets. The leader said, “We support financing for small businesses, but access must be fair, transparent, and protected from political favouritism, corruption, and cronyism.” During a press conference on Monday, President Ali announced that the Bank will become operational by October this year. He said this will provide US$100M in financing for businesses. Previously, leader of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Aubrey Norton indicated that the group will table amendments to the recently passed law to govern the Development Bank. Norton explained that while the party supports the idea of a development bank, he believes the current framework to manage the institution makes it more of a “slush fund” to support those close to the ruling administration. “What we are seeing is not a development bank, this looks like a slush fund that the PPP can use to give PPP people what they want and continue the process of
discriminating against those who are not linked to the PPP,” he said. THE GUYANA DEVELOPMENT BANK News of the financial institution sparked excitement among Guyanese as the government marketed the facility as one that would offer zero interest to Guyanese on loans up to $3 million with no collateral required. The legal framework to govern the bank however reveals a different picture than that promised by government. According to the legislation, “Subject to the other provisions of this Act, the Bank may - (a) assist small and medium-sized enterprises in establishing, carrying on or expanding their operations by providing loans with or without collateral and with or without charging interest.” It does not clearly outline what specific projects will require collateral or attract interest and at what specific rates. The law makes no provision for any nominees to be submitted by the Opposition, civil society or any transparency bodies, raising concerns over the direct control of billions by the administration and the likelihood of selection based on “political alliance”. The involvement or appointment of individuals stemming from these sections of society will undoubtedly provide an added layer of scrutiny with more eyes overseeing the rollout of billions of state resources. Read more here: https://kaieteurnewsonline.c om/2026/06/07/govt-tocontrol-development-bankwith-no-oversight-fromopposition-transparencybodies-or-civil-society/
Kaieteur News
Wednesday September 16, 2026
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If you want to stop corruption, start at the top There is nothing wrong with warning public officials that procurement breaches will have consequences. In fact, it is long overdue that every person entrusted with public money understands that the public purse is not a personal purse. But there is a fundamental question which the Government must answer if its latest warning is to be t a k e n s e r i o u s l y. T h a t question is: where does accountability really begin? Does it begin with the Regional Executive Officer? With the Permanent S e c r e t a r y ? Wi t h t h e procurement officer? With the junior public servant who signs a document? Or does it begin at the top? Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo has now warned Permanent Secretaries, Regional Executive Officers and other accounting officers that breaches of procurement rules will have consequences. The Government says it is strengthening monitoring of procurement and payment systems and improving accountability across the public service. That sounds good. But accountability cannot be credible if it operates selectively. There have been serious allegations and controversies involving persons at the highest political levels which have generated considerable
public concern, yet the response has often been remarkably different from the treatment meted out to lower-level public officials. This is where the Government risks creating the impression of two systems of accountability: one for the politically connected and another for the ordinary public servant. And nothing destroys an anticorruption programme faster than that perception. Consider what has happened with Regional Executive Officers. All but one REOs were removed or replaced in the recent administrative shakeup without the public being told that they were afforded disciplinary hearings or given an opportunity to answer specific allegations of misconduct. Removal from a position is not necessarily the same thing as disciplinary punishment, and the Government may have perfectly legitimate administrative reasons for changing personnel. But even if these REOs were removed because of performance issues, they are still entitled to due-process and they should have been given the opportunity to respond to the concerns over their performance. If an official is accused of wrongdoing, there should be a n investigation. If the
evidence establishes misconduct, there should be consequences. If the evidence does not establish misconduct, the person's reputation should not be left hanging in the public square. Due process is not a favour to public servants. It is a protection of the State itself. Yet at the same time, the Government has repeatedly spoken of serious procurement concerns at other levels. There were anomalies in the small-contractors programme which resulted in the suspension of Region Four's awards for additional verification. The Government itself acknowledged complaints and anomalies and said further checks were necessary. The Government has also acknowledged problems involving multiple companies, family or household ownership and attempts by larger contractors to enter programmes intended for small contractors. Those matters should be investigated and resolved. I t h a s b e e n acknowledged, at press conferences, that persons had attempted to “scam the system” by falsely presenting themselves as farmers and fisherfolk in order to obtain $150,000 grants. There was also
DEM BOYS SEH
Seat? Which Seat? Dem Boys seh Guyana got a special breed of cricket fan. You buy a CPL ticket and on that ticket, in black and white, it got your stand, section, row and seat number. Is not a treasure map. Is not a suggestion. Is not a horoscope telling you where you feel you should sit. But as soon as some fans enter the stadium, dem boys seh the ticket becomes optional reading. The ushers pointing people to dem assigned seats, but some spectators behaving like dem got ancestral rights to a completely different section. If somebody friends and family sitting in Section A, but your ticket say Section C, you simply migrate to Section A. Why? Because apparently friendship stronger order. Ya got people sitting in seats that don't belong to dem, waiting for the rightful owner to arrive. And when the rightful owner comes, dem don't get up. Suddenly, the person sitting in your seat looking at you as if you invading his home. Then comes the famous Guyanese negotiation. “Boss, I sitting here.” “Yes, but this is my seat.” “Yeah, but me people over here.” And some of dem does pretend that dem in the right seat. Others does tell you to sit in some other vacant seat. But what happens
when you oblige and the rightful person then turns up for their seat. You now have to face embarrassment and all because someone who is sitting in your seat does not want to be inconvenienced. Some people don't even have a ticket for the stand where dem sitting. Some don't even have a ticket for the match but how dem pass through the gates nobody knows. Yet somehow dem sitting comfortably in your seat and making styles to remove. When the rightful ticket holder insists, the matter escalates. Ushers get called. Officials get called. Sometimes police get called. All because somebody apparently believes a CPL ticket means, “Sit anywhere you see an empty chair.” Meanwhile, people who actually paid for their seats are standing in the aisles waiting to be seated. Others behind them can't see the cricket. The game going on, but the real competition taking place in the stands: Guyana versus the Seat Invader. Dem boys seh dis does only happen in Guyana. You don't see that happening in Trinidad, Barbados, Jamaica and St. Lucia. By the time the reluctant seat squatter is removed, half the game done. And who are seated behind the melee miss the sweetest part because persons haggling over seats. Talk half. Leff half.
accusations of fraud involving the agricultural cash grant and these accusations came from highly-placed political persons and not from opposition sources. Yet, where are the prosecutions? Where are the convictions? The public therefore has a legitimate right to know what happened after the fraud was discovered. Were the cases referred to the police? Were investigations conducted? Were files sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions? Were anyone charged? If the answer is no, then the Government's repeated warnings about corruption and procurement breaches begin to sound less like a consistent policy of accountability. The public is entitled to ask: what happened after the
anomalies were identified? Who was held responsible? What sanctions followed? What lessons were learned? You cannot build an effective anti-corruption culture by threatening the people at the bottom while unanswered questions remain about wrongdoing at the top. The deterrent must operate upwards as well as downwards. There have also been serious allegations involving persons close to the political establishment. Those allegations should not be dismissed simply because the persons concerned are politically influential. The message must be that nobody is too important to be investigated, nobody is too connected to be questioned, and nobody is too powerful to be held accountable. The real test of an anti-corruption
regime is not how loudly it warns the weak. It is how fearlessly it investigates the powerful. Clean government cannot be a message delivered downward. It must be an example demonstrated from the top. Because, if those at the bottom are warned while those at the top are protected, the lesson is not that corruption will be punished. The lesson is, do not get caught. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper
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Wednesday September 16, 2026
Music lovers treated with kid gloves, coddled Guyanese love their music. I do, too. The problem is that Guyanese love their music much too much. It’s a big problem, a national one. Citizens clash with members of the Guyana Police Force trying to do their job, establish sanity around the Kitty area. Citizens in Leonora so caught up in the revelries, frenzies, and ecstasies of booming music that they forget it’s the birthplace of Guyana’s Pres. Ali. If thinking of the worsts way to disrespect Guyana’s head-
of-state, music blasts at all hours do so. Done almost round-the-clock. Not a beat lost from the partying to care about insulting Guyana’s president, Guyana’s Police, Guyana’s people. People such as workingclass villagers, who toil for their honest dollars. They count, don’t they? People like dedicated students, who must put in time during the nighttime. They are the future; said so, hasn’t it? People include newborn babies, toddlers, and frail elders.
There’re still seen as people, aren’t they? So, somebody in the PPP Govt., in the Police Dept., in the law division, should have the courage and courtesy to share with the sleepbattered, eardrum-bruised, and homestead-besieged in the capital city and countryside, how it is that noise explosions and noise casualties go unaddressed, are left on their own? Today, I do something different: the personal pronoun is used for the Excellencies addressed humbly. Are you, Dr. Ali, this captive to the private sector that noise explosions have become a negligible matter? A condition that produces rolled eyes, chuckles, and winks and nods in the PPP Cabinet. In other words, boys will be boys and girls just wanna have fun. I regret that Pres Ali has done so poorly as leader. On oil. On noise nuisance. On cost-of-living. The president is on
record as counseling Guyanese to eat out less. By the same distasteful logic, he should have his agents instruct bar owners, bar operators, event controllers, and music masters to deal in less decibels, with less distress on hapless neighbors, others. Are you, Dr. Hicken, Guyana’s law enforcement powerhouse, this impotent re taking needed action so that there’re less breaches of the peace, a more civilized ambience in this globally luminous country? If you, Dr. Hicken, have been reduced to a comedic police commander-in-chief, one that’s helpless when noise nuisance is such a menace in Leonora, then where can you police, Dr. Hicken? If Leonora, the sacred shrine recognizing Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s entry into the world and later national coronation, cannot be oases of peace and calm, then of what use are you, Mr. Hicken, to your president, and the people paying you?
Are you, Prof Anil Nandlall, so highflying about the majesty of the law, yet so low crawling when it comes to the application of the law, sir? Laws that atrophy into laws unenforced condemn you, Dr. Nandlall, to a caricature of what an attorney general shouldn’t be. It is unbelievable and unacceptable, Drs. Ali, Hicken, and Nandlall that large bunches of widely scattered noise mongers can be coddled so much. Protected so much, they are confident that they can repeatedly pierce Guyanese with noise weaponized for their (mongers) pleasure to the injury of Guyana’s lawabiding population. I regret personalizing these noise nuisance crime waves, with Pres. Ali, Comm. Hicken, and AG Nandlall (exceptional overachievers) dragged into the public square and dissected before domestic and foreign audiences. Not
my way, nor my style. But these crimes have lasted too long. I believe that if Pres. Ali, Comm. Hicken, and AG Nandlall are genuine about shutting down noise nuisance, it’s over. None of this appalling asininity about insulating music rooms. Because the rum culture, and other less liquid cultures, still flourishes, with attendant chaos on roads and homes. Government should never be a party to what damages society’s texture. Leaders shouldn’t turn their faces, when an issue that can be solved is made unsolvable. Cut the bull. Begin with the bona fides that demolish noise nuisance explosions for good. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Wednesday September 16, 2026
Kaieteur News
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Govt. writes off $175.6M in student loans – Mid-Year Report
The government has indicated that under the University of Guyana (UG) student loan debt write-off programme, $175.6 million in loans were cancelled for 204 persons in the first half of 2026. This was disclosed by the Ministry of Finance in its 2026 Mid-Year Report which was released on Monday. This $175.6 million write
off, the ministry said brings the total loans written off to $3.2 billion since the programme began in 2024. It was presented in this year’s budget that since the programme started more than 4,000 persons benefitted. Regarding the Education Sector, the Report stated that of the $183.6 billion allocated for the sector in 2026, the sum of $85.4 billion was spent in
the first half of the year. According to the document, in the first half of 2026, the university expended $7 billion, including outlays related to the expansion of access to medicine and engineering programmes. In relation to these programmes, it was documented that of April 2026, the pre-medicine Continued on page 14
The University of Guyana
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Wednesday September 16, 2026
Opposition boycotts Pres. Ali’s ‘unstructured’ talks Representatives of the opposition-led, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) parties refused to attend parliamentary subcommittee meetings held by President Irfaan Ali, citing lack of clarity on the agenda. According to a statement issued by President Ali’s Facebook page, the head of state met with members of the Parliamentary SubCommittee on Foreign Relations as part of efforts to further align the work of his government with the legislative arm. During the meeting at the office of the president, the head of state updated representatives of his government on the parliamentary sub-committee on key foreign policy matters, including the ICJ proceedings and the third country national agreement between Guyana and the United States of America.
...demands genuine consultation
Opposition boycott President Ali’s meeting with members of the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Foreign Relations as part of efforts to further align the work of his government with the legislative arm. (President Ali’s Facebook page) “All members of the committee were invited through the speaker of the national assembly to meet with the president on matters of national importance. However, up to the time of the meeting, the parliamentary opposition members had neither accepted nor declined the invitation to the speaker of the national assembly,” the
statement outlined. The release added that those present welcomed the engagement and expressed their desire for continued engagement in furtherance of the development of Guyana’s foreign policy agenda. At the meeting, President Ali outlined that it is his government’s intention to strengthen its work with all parliamentary committees in
an open, transparent and accountable manner. However, WIN responded in a statement noting that the president’s decision to bypass genuine engagement with the Leader of the Opposition and instead seek to engage individual parliamentary committee’s raises serious concern. The statement added “The president’s invitation to members of the foreign relations committee and the economic services committee, sent without an agenda or indication of the matters to be discussed, is therefore troubling. These are parliamentary committees, not departments of the executive.” The party noted that clarification was sought from the speaker of the national assembly, including a request for an agenda or an indication of the purpose of the proposed meeting. “No meaningful response was received. Under these circumstances, WIN does not believe it is appropriate for its members to participate in the meeting. This decision is also informed by the wider treatment of members and supporters of the political opposition in recent weeks, including the detention, the seizure of phones and vehicles, and degrading treatment of persons while in state custody,” WIN said in its release. “We cannot ignore these developments and then participate as though normal institutional relations exist…The office of the leader of the opposition views the manner in which the president has sought to engage members of parliamentary committees as a further disregard for the constitutional role of the office of the leader of the opposition and the independence of parliament.” “Members of parliament are elected to represent the people of Guyana through
their respective political parties. Opposition members of parliament do so collectively under the leadership of the leader of the opposition, a constitutional office established to provide oversight and accountability to the executive,” the party added. A statement of Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir dispatched via Facebook attempted to debunk the claims that the opposition’s questions were not answered. The statement noted the opposition’s absence raises important questions about commitment, accountability, and their role in matters of national importance. Meanwhile, members of the APNU noted that as members of parliament serving on the Foreign Relations and Economic Services Committees, they believe such meetings should take place before agreements are finalised and signed, so that participation could meaningfully influence national decisions. “Any such meeting must have a clear agenda and the relevant documentation, including proposed agreements, financing frameworks and assessments of their implications, so that all participants can engage in informed discussion in the national interest…we have no difficulty participating in a properly planned and organised meeting with the President aimed at advancing the interests of the Guyanese people.” The APNU noted therefore that presenting the opposition with an accomplished fact and calling it consultation is an unacceptable fait accompli. “We therefore expect this information sufficiently in advance of any meeting to allow proper examination and preparation.” As a principled opposition party in a democracy, APNU said it must determine whether to
attend the meetings proposed by the President according to the prevailing context and content. “Our decision cannot be reduced to an automatic acceptance or rejection of an invitation. We will assess whether there is a genuine opportunity to influence policy, obtain answers and secure improvements for the people we represent. Attending a meeting after national decisions have already been made, with no genuine opportunity to change them is not consultation. It is a dictatorial exercise seeking cover behind a poorly planned political photo opportunity. Attendance must never be misrepresented as endorsement, and legitimate disagreement must never be dismissed as opposition to development,” the party said. It noted that foreign relations and economic development require adequate discussion and consultation before Guyana is committed to consequential actions, financial obligations or international arrangements. “The government must explain the options, costs, risks and safeguards, and seek broad national support. It must not commit the country to actions whose national support it has neither sought nor established, then summon elected representatives to provide political cover. The PPP/C cannot substitute a presidential announcement for a national consensus,” the APNU stated. Commenting on the boycott, founder of the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) party Amanza Walton noted WIN and APNU are right to reject the president’s latest attempt to engage parliament selectively and entirely on his own terms. Walton asserted “Their refusal must not be reduced to a disagreement over attendance or the absence of an agenda. The larger issue is the president’s continuing disregard for parliament as an institution. President Ali did not address the 13th National Assembly when it was convened. For five successive parliaments before this one, the sitting president addressed the national assembly at its opening. President Ali chose to present his national programme right outside the doors of parliament instead of entering the chamber to address the national assembly. That deliberate choice has compounded the institutional disrespect.”
Wednesday September 16, 2026
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79 government services now available online The government’s drive to modernise public service delivery is gaining pace, with 79 government services now available online and further services expected to be digitised before the end of the year. The development forms part of the government’s broader digital transformation agenda to make public services more accessible, reduce processing times and limit the need for citizens to visit government offices in person.
According to the 2026 Mid-Year Report, several agencies expanded their use of digital platforms during the first half of the year, with government services increasingly being delivered through online portals and integrated service centres. Among the developments is the continued expansion of online revenue administration services through the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). During the first six months of 2026, more than
85,000 tax returns were filed through the GRA’s eServices platform. The platform is also expected to facilitate online payments using Mobile Money Guyana and debit cards before the end of the year. The Padna mobile application, meanwhile, has more than 84,000 registered users and was upgraded during the period to improve filing individual income tax returns and notification of refunds. Further upgrades are planned to facilitate
motor vehicle licence payments. Digital services have also been expanded through government service centres, which bring several agencies together under one roof. The centres provide services from the GRA, General Register Office, Digital Identity Card Registry and Immigration Department, with centres operating in several regions and additional facilities being developed. The digital transformation has also extended to housing services.
Through the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s Single Window System, 4,292 applications were submitted during the first half of the year, of which 2,398 were processed for residential, commercial and industrial lots and other categories. The CHPA’s online portal also facilitated 7,882 land applications and 207 applications for home construction assistance. In the immigration sector, an Continued on page 14
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Wednesday September 16, 2026
AmCham Guyana welcomes Citibank’s opening The American Chamber of Commerce in Guyana (AmCham Guyana) has congratulated Citi on the establishment of its representative office in Georgetown. AmCham said the move is a step that reflects the growing confidence major US financial institutions are p l a c i n g i n G u y a n a ’s economic trajectory. “ C i t i ’s d e c i s i o n t o establish a presence here is a meaningful marker of how far Guyana’s investment landscape has come,” said Iman Cummings, President of AmCham Guyana. “A global institution of this scale positioning itself to our country reflects the growing weight Guyana now carries in international financial and commercial circles,” AmCham said. AmCham said that Guyana’s rapid GDP growth continues to accelerate, noting that the Ministry of Finance’s Mid-Year Report
2026 recorded real GDP growth of 33.3 percent in the first half of the year, with full-year growth now projected at 20.8 percent, driven substantially by the oil and gas sector, which is itself projected to grow 24.2 percent this year. The same report, AMCham said noted financial and insurance activities among the fastestgrowing services subsectors, expanding 12.7 percent in the first half, alongside a 15.5 percent expansion in net domestic credit and 11.5 percent growth in private sector lending. This trajectory has drawn sustained attention from global financial institutions seeking closer proximity to government, to large-scale project financing, and to the corporate banking activity concentrated around the sector. “The arrival of a global institution of Citi’s standing signals recognition of that
shift and points to the deepening coordination expected between international capital, government, and the major companies shaping the country’s energy-driven growth. AmCham Guyana looks forward to continued engagement with Citi as it builds out its presence, and to the broader benefits this kind of institutional investment brings.” U.S-based Citibank opened its representative office at Regus building on Waterloo Street Georgetown- a move which the bank said reinforces its strong commitment to s u p p o r t i n g G u y a n a ’s dynamic and rapidly expanding economy. Citi Group back in May had announced that it had received regulatory approval from the Bank of Guyana for Citibank, N.A. to establish a representative office in Georgetown. This strategic establishment reinforces
Citi’s strong commitment to supporting Guyana’s dynamic and rapidly expanding economy, the bank had said. It noted that the expansion “of our unparalleled global network marks a milestone for Citi. An on-the-ground presence enables a strong understanding of local business dynamics, the culture, the regulations, and how to help clients navigate any environment. This allows us to provide unique solutions to global clients looking to invest in Guyana, and support the ambitions of Guyanese clients growing abroad.” The bank said too that the decision to establish a presence in Guyana is driven by the nation’s robust economic growth, particularly in critical areas such as infrastructure and export financing. “Citi aims to deploy its expertise to contribute significantly to G u y a n a ’s e c o n o m i c development,” the bank said. “After almost three decades of close relationship with Guyana without an on the ground presence, this new office is strategically established to enhance the delivery of products and services in the country and to
Citibank has opened operations in Guyana strengthen our collaborative partnerships with government, its agencies, financial institutions and p r i v a t e s e c t o r. T h i s underscores our commitment to supporting the nation’s economic growth and the development of LATAM,” said Julio Figueroa, Head of Citi in Latin America. This new entity will serve to facilitate access for Citi’s clients and partners to global markets, thereby supporting the country’s overall growth, development, and the strengthening of its financial infrastructure. President Irfaan Ali said the bank’s presence here is another indication of Guyana’s growing prominence within the
regional and global economic landscape. He said Citibank’s establishment in Guyana comes against the backdrop of an economy undergoing significant transformation, with expanding investment, new industries and major development projects creating greater demand for sophisticated financial services. He said the country’s economic trajectory is positioning Guyana as an increasingly important destination for international business and investment. “Guyana is the talk of the town, that this country is on the rise and on the move,” he said, while emphasising his government’s commitment to strengthening Guyana’s global and regional standing.
Govt. writes off $175.6M in student... From page 11 programme was extended to all regions, benefitting 80 students currently. Over 400 applications to the pre-medicine programme are also being processed for the 2026/2027 academic year. Currently, a total of 27 students in Regions Two and Six are pursuing studies in civil and mechanical engineering at the University’s regional centres, the Report stated. The Report noted also that of the $24.3
79 government services now... From page 13 online passport application and appointment system launched in June, while work continues to decentralise passport services through integrated government service centres. The government has also continued rolling out the national electronic identification system, with biometric eIDs introduced to strengthen identity verification and improve access to public services. The expansion of digital services comes as the government seeks to create a more efficient and accessible public sector, with technology increasingly being used to reduce administrative barriers and bring services closer to citizens. With additional services expected to come online during the remainder of 2026, the digital transformation programme is set to continue reshaping how Guyanese interact with the State. (DPI)
billion budgeted for school infrastructure, $6.1 billion was spent on construction, rehabilitation and maintenance countrywide, including the completion of 10 schools. It was disclosed that works were completed at Falls Top and Kanapang Nursery schools, Karaudarnau Secondary School, and Santa Rosa Dormitory, and continue to progress on more than 30 facilities countrywide. In relation to the National School Feeding Programme, the ministry highlighted that $3.4 billion of the $7 billion allocated was spent in the first half of the year. “As at June, 38,012 children were benefitting from juice and biscuits, 52,637 were receiving breakfast and 38,032 were provided with hot meals in schools countrywide. In June 2026, a total of 396 school-feeding support staff participated in a food-handlers training course to improve meal preparation practices,” the Report detailed. Touching on cash transfers and financial support, the document stated that the fees for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) were also paid for students sitting up to eight subjects at a cost of $853.3 million. This included 13,071 CSEC and 666 CAPE students in public and private schools. With regard to the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), in the first half of the year, the government stated that over 3,800 persons graduated from local and international institutions, and of the $5.8 billion allocated for scholarships, $1.9 billion was spent in the first half of the year.
Kaieteur News
Wednesday September 16, 2026
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‘Float the Barima’ ...families demand answers, slam systemic failures and unequal payouts
Families protesting Office of the President. Relatives of victims missing in the MV Barima sinking and family members of maritime staff criminally charged in connection with the disaster returned to the picket line outside the Office of the President on Tuesday. Protesters criticised systemic injustice, government opacity, and what they termed a slow, reactive state response nearly three months after the vessel went down. Demonstrators demanded the immediate refloating of the vessel, faster proceedings from the Commission of Inquiry (COI), and true accountability from state authorities, accusing officials of scapegoating low-level workers while offering unequal financial support and poor communication to grieving families. A central poin t of contention on the picket line was the legal targeting and remand of lower-level Transport and Harbours Department employees, including Goods Superintendent Delon Grandison. Relatives argued that authorities are detaining f r o n t - l i n e s t a ff w h i l e shielding higher-ranking management responsible for overall safety oversight and maintenance. Grandison’s mother, Marlene Grandison, m a i n t a i n e d h e r s o n ’s innocence, emphasizing that he was not aboard the vessel when it sank. “He is not supposed to be in prison,” Grandison said, noting her son had completed his daytime shift and was at home when the tragedy occurred at night. “He wasn’t on the boat... He
finished working and he came home, and all of a sudden, he ended up in
prison. He’s just a goods superintendent.” A relative of missing passengers, Neil
and Kenrick Cort echoed these concerns, stating that authorities “jail three men that I would consider at the bottom of the ladder instead of holding those who are accountable, accountable.” Family members of missing passengers stressed that retrieving the submerged vessel remains the only way to find closure and gather physical evidence for the ongoing investigation. Tiana Thomas, whose 13-year-old brother Brian
Thomas remains unaccounted for following the tragedy, criticised the government’s timeline for salvage operations. “We need the boat to float because we need some kind of evidence that he died, because we don’t know where he is,” Thomas said. “It’s September... time is going. I feel like when September is done, they’ll forget about me. We’re fighting because we need the boat to float.” Thomas, whose mother
survived the sinking, added that the government’s relief efforts have failed families left without breadwinners or answers, leaving households to fend for themselves. Protesting families also revealed discrepancies in how the State has distributed financial assistance, alleging that different households have received varying amounts of relief for funeral expenses without clear explanation. According to family Continued on page 19
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‘Starting Up Strong’ empowers hundreds Headteacher killed in with tools for small businesses Rose Hall hit-and-run The Ministry of Human Services and Social Protection is stepping up efforts to help vulnerable Guyanese build sustainable livelihoods through its ‘Starting Up Strong’ initiative, which has already provided hundreds of beneficiaries with practical tools to start or expand micro businesses. The initiative, launched four years ago by Minister of Human Services and Social Protection, Dr. Vindhya Persaud through the M i n i s t r y ’s D i f f i c u l t Circumstances Unit, takes a targeted approach to economic empowerment by providing in-kind support rather than cash grants. Minister Persaud, in a Facebook post on Tuesday, said the programme assisted persons who wanted to start very small businesses but lacked the essential resources to get going. “This is a programme that I started a few years ago, in fact, I would say almost four years ago, and this is a programme called Starting Up Strong,” the minister said. The programme has primarily benefited women, while also supporting men. The ministry is maintaining contact with beneficiaries to track their progress and demonstrate how the assistance has contributed to the growth of their livelihoods. One such beneficiary is Nickita McFarlane, owner of Nikki’s Dazzling Creation, who received a printer to
Looknauth Persaud
Nickita McFarlane receiving her printer.
expand her operations and increase her income-earning capacity. “I would have applied, and today, I would have uplifted my printer that would help me to boost my business and bring in an income for myself and family,” McFarlane said. For Looknauth Persaud, the support came in the form of a bicycle, which he now uses to travel. The beneficiaries reflect the broader objective of
providing practical resources that can help persons move from economic vulnerability towards greater selfreliance. By equipping individuals with what they need to begin earning, the initiative is positioning s m a l l - s c a l e entrepreneurship as a tool for livelihood development, household income generation and economic empowerment. (DPI)
The headteacher of Kildonan Primary School, Sonia Natasha Williams, was struck and killed in an alleged hit-and-run accident on Monday afternoon at Rose Hall, Corentyne. Williams, 51, a graduate headteacher of Kilcoy/Chesney Housing Scheme, Corentyne, was reportedly struck shortly after 3:21 p.m. on the Rose Hall Town Public Road while attempting to open the front passenger-side door of a car in which she was travelling. Police stated that the incident occurred about 3:21pm on Rose Hall Town Public Road, just after Williams had concluded a business transaction at an insurance company. Preliminary investigations disclosed that motorcar #PAK 5566, in which Williams was at the time of the incident, was parked on the southern side of the road. As she reportedly attempted to open the right-side front door, a white motorcar, which was proceeding west along the road, reportedly collided with Williams and the opened door. After slamming into the woman, the driver fled from the scene. According to reports, Singh’s (only name provided) car was discovered at a mechanic shop located in Williamsburg, Corentyne, creating speculations that he might have attempted to repair the damaged area and erase any evidence of being involved in the
Dead: Sonia Natasha Williams fatal accident. Williams fell onto the roadway and sustained injuries about her body as a result of the collision. She was taken to the Port Mourant Public Hospital and subsequently transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries while Continued on page 22
The white car that struck Williams
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Wednesday September 16, 2026
Wednesday September 16, 2026
Kaieteur News
PAHO opens new pathway to access lenacapavir for HIV prevention in Latin America Through an agreement with Gilead Sciences, the Organization will facilitate access to this innovation in 14 countries through its Regional Revolving Funds, complementing existing voluntary licensing arrangements and supporting a longer-term strategy for sustainable access. Johanna Mercier of Gilead Sciences and PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa during the signing of an agreement to expand access to lenacapavir in Latin America and the Caribbean. Washington, D.C., September 15, 2026 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) today announced a new pathway to access lenacapavir for HIV prevention in Latin America and the Caribbean through its Regional Revolving Funds, under an agreement with Gilead Sciences. The initiative will make the long-acting HIV prevention medicine available to 14 countries, complementing existing access mechanisms and supporting efforts to expand HIV prevention options across the Region. Approximately 140,000 new HIV infections occur each year in Latin America and the Caribbean, underscoring the need to expand access to effective and acceptable prevention options. Lenacapavir is a long-acting injectable preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) administered twice a year. In 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended lenacapavir as an additional HIV prevention option following clinical trials that demonstrated almost 100% efficacy in preventing HIV infection. Its twice-yearly dosing provides an alternative for people who may face challenges with more frequent prevention regimens. Under the new agreement, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela will be able to procure lenacapavir through PAHO’s Regional Revolving Funds, subject to applicable national regulatory and programmatic processes. The new pathway complements voluntary licensing agreements that already cover 24 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean under a broader global access framework covering 120 countries worldwide. Together, these mechanisms provide complementary routes for countries in the Region to access lenacapavir. “Today, the Americas have increasingly effective tools to prevent HIV, but these innovations will have an impact only if they reach the people who need them,” said PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa. “This initiative is an important step toward reducing gaps in access to lenacapavir, expanding the prevention options available to countries and advancing efforts to end HIV as a public health problem,” he added.
Countries will be able to procure lenacapavir through the established procedures of PAHO’s Regional Revolving Funds, which pool demand and support efficient and reliable procurement for Member States under favorable conditions. As part of this initiative, Gilead has also committed to advance a technology-transfer process in Brazil with the aim of facilitating local production of Lenacapavir in the future. The process is still under development, and specific timelines and mechanisms have yet to be defined. In the longer term, increased regional production capacity could contribute to greater availability of lenacapavir and more sustainable procurement conditions. “The agreement between Gilead and PAHO reflects our shared commitment to help countries move as quickly as possible from scientific innovation to real-world access to HIV prevention and public health impact,” said Johanna Mercier, Chief Commercial & Corporate Affairs Officer, Gilead Sciences. “Strategic partnerships are essential to our ambition to help end the HIV epidemic. This agreement demonstrates how collaboration between governments, public health organizations and industry can expand access, accelerate implementation and create the conditions for sustainable scale.” The introduction of lenacapavir into national HIV programmes will take place progressively and will depend on national regulatory processes, clinical protocols, healthworker training and programmatic planning. PAHO is providing technical cooperation to support countries with needs assessment and quantification, guideline development, monitoring and health-system preparedness, helping to ensure that introduction is evidence-based and adapted to national contexts. The agreement forms part of PAHO’s broader efforts to accelerate access to new HIV prevention technologies and strengthen regional capacity to produce health technologies. It is also aligned with the Alliance for the Elimination of HIV, a regional coordination platform within PAHO’s Disease Elimination Initiative. Lenacapavir adds to a growing range of HIV prevention options, including daily or eventdriven oral PrEP, long-acting cabotegravir and condoms, alongside early diagnosis and timely access to antiretroviral treatment. Providing people with a range of prevention options can help respond to different needs and preferences and support more personcentered approaches to HIV prevention. Expanding access to effective prevention, diagnostic and treatment tools, and ensuring they reach everyone who needs them, will remain essential to reducing new HIV infections and advancing toward the goal of ending HIV as a public health problem by 2030.
‘Float the Barima’...
From page 15 members, while the Cort family received $650,000 per missing family member to assist with burial costs, other families were provided only $350,000. “Why is the figure different? Why are persons getting different amounts?” the Cort family spokesperson asked. “Shouldn’t it be the same across the board? There is no life that is more important than the other. All lives on that boat deserve the same treatment, the same amount of dignity, the same amount of respect.”
Families further criticised the complete lack of direct communication from the State and the COI. Relatives reported learning about major developments, such as the opening of salvage bids 25 days after submission, through public social media channels rather than official State updates. Demonstrators vowed to continue their weekly protests outside the Office of the President every Tuesday until the MV Barima is refloated and formal proceedings under the Commission of Inquiry commence.
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Wednesday September 16, 2026
Parag tells TVET students to prepare for global jobs ...says every region will be equipped with a TVET centre by end of 2026 Education Minister Sonia Parag on Tuesday urged Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students to recognise the value of practical skills, telling them that their training is positioning them to compete in an increasingly global workforce. Parag made the remarks while delivering the featured address at the launch of the third annual TVET Fair and Exposition at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. The event, being held from September 15 to 17 under the theme “From Classroom to Career: TVET in Action,” is among the activities marking Education Month. Delivering the featured address, Minister Parag told a packed gathering of students, teachers, educational officials and stakeholders that Technical Education is not a lesser form of education; that it is rigorous, valuable, and essential in transforming lives, communities and country as a whole. “And I want to say this: the idea that education is only academics is long out the window. It is a long-gone notion, and TVET has been on the rise around the world,” she stated. According to the Education Minister, “The child who excels with tools, machinery, design, food, fabric, technology, or construction is no less gifted than the child who excels in a traditional academic subject. Our responsibility is not to rank those talents, but to recognise them, develop them, and give every learner a pathway through which they can succeed.” The minister disclosed that there were times when technical education was
Minister of Education, Sonia Parag unfortunately treated as the alternative, the path offered to a young person when others believed that the traditional academic route was not for them. “That thinking placed limits on our children, diminished the value of skilled work, and ignore a simple truth: No modern country can be built by theory alone. Nations are built by people who can turn knowledge into action, ideas into products, and raw materials into things of value. That is why the theme of this year’s TVET Fair and Exposition, from classrooms to career, TVET in action, is so appropriate. It speaks not only to what our students are learning, but to where that learning can take them,” the minister explained. This year’s Fair, feature over 50 exhibitors showcasing the creativity, precision, craftsmanship, innovation, and enterprise of
Scenes from the TVET Fair and Exposition 2026 which is being held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre
students and practitioners of TVET institutions, public and private schools, across the country. “We have reached a stage where many of these products are commercially viable. The quality, finish, and presentation are now so impressive that, in many cases, one cannot readily distinguish between something produced by a student and something manufactured by an established company,” the minister said commending on the works of the students. Not simply completing practical assignments but they are learning to produce for a market, Minister Parag informed the students that “You are positioning yourself to be globally competitive, and I want you to let that sink in. So while we have those on the academic side that we are going to develop their competencies and their critical thinking and their problem-solving skills, you, on the other side, are preparing yourself for a market that is already out there in the world.” Applauding the works of the ministry’s TVET Unit headed by Dr. Deputy Chief Education Officer with responsibility for Technical Education, Dr. Ritesh Tularam, the minister stated that this is the direction in which technical education must continue to move. That is training must lead to competence, competence must lead to certification, and certification must create a clear pathway to employment, entrepreneurship, or further education. During her remarks, she added that Guyana’s TVET policy of 2025 to 2035 provides a clear framework for building upon this progress; it positions technical and vocational education as a foundation for economic growth, social inclusion, and individual empowerment. “It also recognises that our training programmes must remain aligned with the sectors driving Guyana’s transformation, including construction, energy, climate resilient agriculture, hospitality, manufacturing,
and digital technology,” she mentioned. That being said, the Education Minister reaffirms her government’s commitment of establishing TVET centres in every region by the end of 2026. Meanwhile, in his remarks, Dr. Tularam said TVET is where education moves from theory to practice, from knowledge to skill and from learning to earning, creating and contributing to national development. He stated that their vision for TVET at the Ministry of Education is therefore to train people for existing jobs. “ We a r e p r e p a r i n g s t u d e n t s t o participate confidently in an evolving world of work, where possibilities exist to create the opportunities of the future. Guyana is undergoing tremendous transformation and this is creating new demand for skilled professionals. As industries expand and technology advances, the skills required by the workforce are also changing. Artificial intelligence, digital technologies, automation, the green economy, and the new and emerging industries are reshaping the workplace and how we do things. And so, at the Ministry of Education, our TVET system will remain responsive. We must ensure that our programmes and curricula reflects the needs of industry, and of course, it reflects the needs of our industry,” he remarked.
Wednesday September 16, 2026
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Iran war has cost the U.S. more than $38B, budget office says The Pentagon is seen from the air, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, in Washington (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
(AP) — The U.S. war against Iran has cost the Department of Defense more than $38 billion through Aug. 1, and will continue costing up to $3 billion a month or more depending on the intensity of the conflict, according to an assessment released Tuesday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. CBO said the war is expected to contribute to inflation into the first quarter of 2027, making inflation roughly 0.5 percentage points higher than they had previously estimated. That's driven largely by the reduction of oil and natural gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and disruptions to shipping through the Red Sea. The estimate, prepared in response to a request for information from the top Democrat on the House Budget committee, Rep. Brendan Boyle, largely aligns with a previous estimate from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who pinned the costs at $37.5 billion, according to his Senate testimony. The estimates come largely from replacing munitions and equipment lost in battle, the CBO said, and do not include costs related to U.S. military personnel killed or injured in the conflict or longer term veterans' healthcare and disability compensation. Boyle said that beyond with the
war's human toll, “this nonpartisan CBO report makes clear that the war has also cost American taxpayers tens of billions of dollars and counting, while continuing to drive up costs.” “Donald Trump and Republicans have spent years telling Americans that we cannot afford to help families here at home,” Boyle said in a statement, “but apparently they can find tens
of billions of dollars, and potentially much more, for a reckless war that is leaving Americans to pay the price.” The findings come as voters eye the war and high prices heading toward the midterm elections that will determine control of Congress, where Republicans now hold majority power in the House and Senate. The war, which started Feb. 28, is now in its seventh month,
Alex Saab, ally of Venezuela's Maduro, pleads guilty in U.S. corruption case (Reuters) - A Colombian-born businessman with close ties to ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pleaded guilty on Tuesday in a U.S. corruption case, as federal prosecutors prepare separately to take Maduro to trial next year. Alex Saab entered th plea to one count of money laundering conspiracy at a hearing before U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams in Miami, court records show. He also agreed to forfeit $195 million and cooperate with the U.S. Department of Justice. The court records did not reveal the nature of any investigations where Saab might offer help. Saab's lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Prosecutors said Saab stole millions of dollars from a welfare plan intended to help feed needy Venezuelans, and transferred some proceeds to U.S. bank accounts. He had pleaded not guilty in July, two months after being extradited as part of acting
Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez's attempt to parts of her predecessor's government. Saab served under Maduro as Venezuela's minister of industry, before being removed by Rodriguez in January soon after
Maduro's seizure by U.S. Special Forces in Caracas. Venezuela's new government detained Saab the following month. The U.S. criminal case is the second against Saab. In 2020, he was detained in Cape Verde and extradited the following year to face money laundering charges for allegedly siphoning $350 million out of Venezuela in connection with a bribery scheme. Former U.S. President Joe Biden granted Saab clemency in December 2023, as part of a prisoner swap. Maduro is being held without bail in a Brooklyn jail, after pleading not guilty to drug trafficking charges. He has claimed immunity from U.S. prosecution because he once led a sovereign country. Legal experts have called this an uphill battle, in part because Washington had not recognized Maduro as Venezuela's president since 2019. Maduro's trial is scheduled for June 1, 2027.
with no signs of a quick end to the on-off conflict. The White House made a request for $87.6 billion in supplemental funding in June, largely for the war effort, but Congress has not approved it. CBO said the portion of that request that appears to be directly related to the conflict, $42.3 billion, is about 10% larger than CBO's estimate of DoD's costs. The Office of Management and Budget sent the supplemental spending request on Wednesday. It arrived just hours after President Donald Trump assailed Republican senators during a private lunch — engaging in a shouting match with one — over their votes to approve a war powers resolution that would halt further hostilities. The request is mostly for expenses incurred by the Defense Department as part of Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-led attack on Iran. But it also includes a range of other items, including $11.1 billion toward economic assistance for American farmers, $1.4 billion for the Ebola virus outbreak in Central Africa and $500 million to support ongoing efforts “to complete erestoration and construction projects in and around Washington, D.C.” “I urge the Congress to take action on these important and urgent requests as soon as possible,” said OMB Director Russ Vought in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said, “President Trump is asking taxpayers to clean up his messes, to the tune of $87.6 billion.”“After dragging America into a reckless war, he now wants
Congress to hand him tens of billions more to paper over the damage — while families are still paying higher prices.” There may not be enough support in Congress to pass war funds It's unclear how quickly the House and Senate could act on the White House's request, or if Congress takes up the matter at all. The funding faces a difficult path because many lawmakers could view any votes as a reflection of test of their support for the war effort. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth returned to Capitol Hill on Wednesday briefing House GOP lawmakers from the conservative Republican Study Committee on the Pentagon's budgetary needs. The White House is seeking as much as $1.5 trillion in defense spending in this year's budget, a nearly 50% increase over previous levels. But many lawmakers have complained they have yet to receive any formal briefing from the administration on the Iran war, nearly four months after it was launched, and as Trump's team is now working to secure a fragile ceasefire and bring an end to the conflict. Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the lead Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the request is not merely to pay for “the president's disastrous war, but an attempt to secure tens of billions of additional dollars for unrelated Pentagon priorities.” Murray said she would review to ensure servicemembers are taken care of, “but I will not rubberstamp tens of billions more for this (Continued on page 22)
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Wednesday September 16, 2026
Caribbean doing more evaluations but failing to use findings
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(Jamaica Observers) The Caribbean is getting better at evaluating its programmes and policies, but experts say the region is still struggling with the more important task of using those findings to improve decision-making and outcomes. Susan Branker Greene, vice-president of Caribbean Evaluators International, said governments and development organisations are spending thousands of dollars and significant man-hours collecting and analysing data, consulting stakeholders, and producing evaluation reports, only for the process, too often, to end there. “We have become better at doing evaluations than using them,” Greene said during the inaugural Caribbean Evaluation Space, hosted by the Caribbean Development Bank last week. She said the key issue is what happens between an evaluation producing recommendations and translating them into action. Even when an evaluation is completed and its recommendations are accepted or endorsed, there may be no clear ownership of what happens next, including who is responsible for implementation, what resources are required, and what the timeline should be. “Completing an evaluation is an evaluation output. It’s the output of an evaluation. But using it is an institutional responsibility,” she said.Camille Spencer, programme director for monitoring and evaluation at Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development, identified culture as one of the barriers to using evidence, pointing to a tendency among decision-makers to reject findings that conflict with their existing beliefs. She also highlighted a broader issue of
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Vice-President of Caribbean Evaluators International Susan Branker Greene
trust, with locally produced evaluations and practitioners sometimes receiving less credibility than those from international agencies, even when they produce similar findings. “Sometimes the evidence is telling you a story, but you refuse to believe it because that can’t be true,” she said. Beyond questions of trust, Spencer pointed to limited capacity and fragmented
data systems as other challenges facing governments across the region. Some government units, she noted, have only a small number of people responsible for multiple functions, while data collection can be inconsistent, outdated, or unreliable. She argued that these common challenges make greater regional cooperation necessary, allowing Caribbean
countries to share evaluation findings, resources, and lessons rather than repeatedly tackling similar problems on their own. “We can no longer afford to keep relearning the same lessons in isolation,” she said. That cooperation, Spencer said, could help the region move from reacting to challenges to preparing for them, particularly amid natural disasters, scarce funding, and changing political realities. “If we don’t do it now, then when?” Spencer asked. But sharing evidence is only part of the challenge. Greene pointed to what she described as a behavioural barrier, with institutions often moving from one programme, project, or report to another without stopping to assess what worked, what didn’t work, why it didn’t work, and what should be done differently. “If we don’t deliberately create that safe space to reflect, a report by itself will not
create the learning,” Greene said.Greene also placed responsibility on evaluators to ensure their findings are understood and usable, noting that a lengthy evaluation report has limited value if decision-makers cannot easily identify the key findings, understand their implications, or determine what needs to happen next. That could mean producing shorter evaluation briefs and presentations, engaging stakeholders in discussions about the findings, and ensuring recommendations provide a clear pathway from evidence to action. Ultimately, Greene argued, the value of an evaluation should be measured by what happens after the report is completed. “If an evaluation produces credible findings, useful lessons, and actionable recommendations, but nothing changes as a result, can we really say that the evaluation has fulfilled its purpose?” Greene asked.
Iran war has cost the U.S. more than $38B... From page 21 disastrous war of choice.”Yet the White House was clear to include provisions to interest lawmakers from various regions, including $1 billion to assist “the final design and construction of a modernized Penn Station in New York City,” which would be of interest to Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both of New York. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Ca., who chairs the panel's sub-
committee on Defense, said in a joint statement, “President Trump's request reflects the reality that our defense strength must be maintained, not merely demonstrated.” Money for farmers, the Ebola outbreak and other needs included The bulk of the request, $67 billion, is to replenish the Pentagon from the Iran war. The largest portion of that defense funding, $21 billion, would go to weapons and munitions, with another $17.3 billion for operational costs and $12.1 billion for other
classified programs. Funds are also requested to cover fuel costs, drone manufacturing and cybersecurity. The money for farmers would provide $10 billion in economic assistance to row and specialty crop farmers and $1.1 billion specifically to Florida agriculture producers who suffered losses from this past year's winter storms. The package also includes a collection of policy proposals that the administration strongly supports, and which are certain to raise interest among lawmakers.
Among them, the package proposes revisions to federal regulations of hemp products that have long been in dispute, changes to the yearround sales of renewable fuels and lifting of restrictions around federal investment support in Venezuela. The administration also requested $550 million to prevent and detect the Ebola virus in Congo, where an outbreak has killed more than 250 people. Another $800 million would go to provide humanitarian assistance to the region.
Headteacher killed in Rose Hall hit-and-run From page 17 receiving medical attention. Williams’ body is presently at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination. Singh and the vehicle, bearing registration #PJJ 7624 are presently in police custody. Williams’ family in calling for justice said they are particularly aggrieved that the driver chose to escape rather than to lend assistance. Her son-in-law, Noel, spoke with reporters on Tuesday, explaining that the family was told of the tragedy by the dead woman’s overseas-based sister. “...that mom had been involved in a serious accident,
she’s in serious condition and that we should get to Berbice as soon as possible. My wife left Linden; I was already in Georgetown. She met me there and we made our way up to the Berbice area...to the New Amsterdam Hospital where we were with mom until her untimely passing,” he said. Williams had visited Assuria Insurance to uplift a voucher for her glasses. “We are honestly hoping for justice. We are just hoping for justice, that the law takes action, and the person involved is held accountable for his actions. T he family is very distraught by her untimely pass-
ing. This is not something we foresaw ever happening...it’s affecting each and every one of us deeply. This is not something we expected.” Williams’ death has also left many educators in the region stunned, and has triggered an outpouring of grief. “She was committed to the profession and she remained committed not only to the profession, but her students, and the teachers under her charge will say the same about her. The Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) recognised her strength in ensuring that she did what she can while she can, and take part in many
activities as it relates to the union. She is always supportive. Sonia will definitely be missed by the teaching fraternity,” Mehalai McAlmont, Regional Vice President of GTU shared with Kaieteur News in an invited comment. In a statement released promptly, the Department of Education in Region Six offered “deepest and most heartfelt” condolences on the passing of Williams. “Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends, as well as the entire staff, parents, and learners of Kildonan Primary School, during this time of profound loss,” the statement read.
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FAO report highlights forests' crucial role in food security and nutrition ...countries urged to put forests at heart of food and nutrition policies Forests and trees play a crucial role in providing nutritious food, and more than 5 billion people worldwide rely on them to some extent for their l i v e l i h o o d s . Ye t t h e i r contribution to food security and nutrition remains largely overlooked in national statistics and policy frameworks. A new global report published on Tuesday by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United N a t i o n s ( FA O ) , a n d developed jointly with the Landscape Alliance, highlights the importance of forests in reducing hunger and poverty and calls on countries to include them into agrifood system policies. “By working together and fully integrating forests into national, regional and global strategies, we can build agrifood systems that are more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable. We must do so – because conserving and sustainably managing forests is fundamental to nourishing people, sustaining the planet and improving the wellbeing of present and future generations,” FAO DirectorGeneral QU Dongyu wrote in the report's Foreword. The report, titled Forests for food: Nourishing people, sustaining the planet, comes at a critical moment. According to the latest UN report on the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, around 645 million people experienced chronic
Forests and trees support food security and nutrition by providing fruits, nuts, tubers, mushrooms, edible insects and wild meat, with more than 50,000 wild species used for food, medicine and other purposes
hunger in 2025. At the same time, forests worldwide continue to face challenges. Over the last decade, the world lost an average of 10.9 million hectares of forest each year. Deforestation and forest degradation reduce b i o d i v e r s i t y, w e a k e n ecosystem services and can ultimately undermine agricultural productivity and access to nutritious food. Forests' key contributions There are strong links between forest cover and dietary quality. For example, a study in Africa found that children living in areas with greater tree cover tend to
have more diverse and nutritious diets. Forests and trees support food security and nutrition (FSN) by providing fruits, nuts, tubers, mushrooms, edible insects and wild meat. More than 50,000 wild species are used for food, medicine and other purposes, including at least 10,000 species consumed directly as food. In some forest-dependent communities, forest foods can supply up to 80 percent of daily protein requirements. Forest fruits are rich in minerals and vitamins, while seeds and nuts contribute calories, oil and protein to
Porous borders push Guyana... From page 6 diagnosed with HIV enter and remain in treatment and achieve viral suppression. The minister also highlighted the availability of viral load testing within the public health system, allowing patients to be monitored more effectively and enabling healthcare providers to make informed decisions about their management. Dr. Anthony said Guyana must continue moving away from a highly vertical approach to HIV care and towards greater integration of HIV services within primary healthcare. With approximately 450 public health facilities across the country, he said healthcare providers, particularly doctors at the health-centre level, should be equipped to diagnose HIV and provide appropriate treatment. Patients requiring more specialised care can then be referred to higher levels of the health system.
The decentralisation of ARV services is also expected to improve access by reducing the need for patients to travel long distances to obtain treatment. The minister acknowledged that gaps remain in implementing this approach across the health system, but said strengthening primary-level HIV services will be critical to improving access and outcomes. Dr. Anthony urged the clinical professionals participating in the workshop to apply the knowledge and skills gained in their respective health facilities, strengthening the diagnosis, treatment and management of persons living with HIV. He said that continued investment in clinical capacity, integrated primary healthcare and patient-centred services will be critical to closing existing gaps, improving health outcomes and ensuring that Guyana remains on course to meet its HIV-related targets by 2030.
diets. Edible roots and tubers a r e s o u r c e s o f carbohydrates, and mushrooms provide important nutrients such as potassium, selenium and vitamins. Wild leaves are rich sources of protein and micronutrients, including vitamin A, calcium and iron, which are often lacking in the diets of nutritionally vulnerable communities. Forests also contribute to health. More than 1 billion people worldwide rely on medicinal plants sourced from forests, including remedies for illnesses that can affect nutrient absorption and overall wellbeing. Beyond food and health, forests provide fuel (around 1.8 billion people r ely o n w o o d f u el f o r cooking), income and employment, while supporting biodiversity, soil fertility, water resources and climate change mitigation. Such benefits are complemented by forests' wider contributions to economic resilience and the ecosystem services that sustain communities, cities and productive landscapes: Forested watersheds provide freshwater to more than 85 percent of major cities and support agriculture, livestock production and fisheries through critical ecosystem services, including water regulation, soil protection, nutrient cycling, pollination, pest control and biodiversity
conservation. In many regions, forests also generate up to 20 percent of rural household income and act as indispensable safety nets during periods of food insecurity and economic hardship. The report highlights regional differences in the contribution of forest foods to FSN. In parts of Africa, some communities obtain up to 80 percent of their daily protein from wild meat. In the Amazon, fish account for 44 percent of total food consumed by weight, alongside wild meat, Brazil nuts and açaí berries. Asia has the highest number of wild forest species used for food. In Europe, a survey covering 28 countries found that 90 percent of respondents consume at least one forest food each year, while more than one-third eat game meat annually. In North America, wild meat is used more for recreation than subsistence. The report also reviews progress in implementing the Committee on World Food Security's 2017 Policy Recommendations on Sustainable Forestry for Food Security and Nutrition through case studies from China, the Dominican Republic, Morocco, Türkiye and Uruguay. Policy recommendations Despite their
importance, the contributions of forests and trees to food security and nutrition remain insufficiently reflected in both forest and agrifood system policies and planning. This is partly due to a lack of globally agreed definitions and methodologies for measuring forest foods and forest ecosystem services, as well as fragmented policy approaches. The report p r e s e n t s 1 2 recommendations to fully harness the contribution of forests to FSN across policy, management, information and governance. These include: Adopt integrated, context-specific policies and strengthen legal and policy frameworks; Diversify production systems and promote the sustainable management and use of forest foods; Increase public investment and mobilize diverse financing sources for sustainable agriculture and forest management; Strengthen forest-food data systems and invest in research, innovation and technology; Build institutional and human capacity and foster multisectoral partnerships among governments, civil society and the private sector. Elevated food and energy costs, economic instability, climate impacts and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to affect the food security of millions of people worldwide. Meanwhile, the global population is projected to rise by nearly 1 billion people over the next 25 years. Against this backdrop, forests have an increasingly important role to play in strengthening food security, improving nutrition and helping communities build resilience. FAO combines forest data, technical expertise, policy guidance and country-level support to help governments strengthen the vital role of forests in food security and nutrition into all relevant policies and management p r a c t i c e s . FA O a l s o convenes Members and partners to promote coordinated action across sectors.
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LEAF, NA Rotaracy partners for literacy campaign in New Amsterdam New Amsterdam Mayor Wainwright McIntosh and officials from LEAF and the New Amsterdam Rotary Club at Monday's launch
Students drawn from multiple academic institutions in New Amsterdam participated in a reading and literacy programme that commenced on Monday at the New Amsterdam National Library and set to run for seven weeks. The event is facilitated by the Rotary Club of New Amsterdam in association with the Literacy Empowerment Assistance Foundation (LEAF). Currently in its third year, the annual activity is coordinated to strengthen literacy among schoolchildren from both the primary and secondary levels, who require critical assistance with fundamental reading skills, including letter identification, and reading below grade level. The programme takes a
multidimensional approach in emphasising on phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, v o c a b u l a r y, a n d b a s i c comprehension strategies. President of the Rotary Club of New Amsterdam, Keshia Rodney explained to Kaieteur News on Monday that there will be two sessions per week on Monday and Wednesdays for one hour. "We are aware that as much as they are in secondary school, some of them still lack that common pronunciation, writing, and reading skill. This is one of our areas of focus - education and literacy. We continue to work with the library and LEAF on this," Rodney highlighted. On day one, a diagnostic assessment was conducted on the
students who enrolled. This will provide critical data to instructors on what level the students are at and enable them to coordinate activities based on that information. The students will then be separated into groups and will be assigned one instructor per group. Coordinators endeavor to rapidly develop participants' reading capacity through individualised assessment, small group instruction, and the use of culturally relevant, age-appropriate materials. Ultimately, the vision is to empower students with the requisite skills that will lend to academic development, and also to "break the cycle of low literacy in New Amsterdam, Canje and Angoy's Avenue."
Speaking at the launch, New Amsterdam Mayor Wainwright McIntosh summed up to initiative as an investment into the future of the next generation, underscoring that literacy transcends merely being able to read and write, but translates to unlocking the ability to understand the world, express ideas and make informed decisions. "Our children are not merely the leaders of tomorrow. They are citizens of today, and they deserve our investment, our attention and our commitment today. This is why I commend the Rotary Club of New Amsterdam for taking this initiative." "I therefore encourage every child who benefits from this programme to take full advantage of the opportunity being provided.
Read widely. Read often. Read with curiosity. Because a book can take you places that your feet may never reach," the mayor added. He also pledged the support of the New Amsterdam Mayor and Town Council (M&TC). The initiative seeks to maintain the legacy of its late founder, Marva Gordon. Gordon was an educator and philanthropist who was known for her passion for academic excellence. She personally assisted many students with learning necessities, and helped to coordinate several initiatives geared at developing the town's cultural and educational aspects. She kick-started and oversaw the first edition of the activity back in 2024, but passed away in May, 2025.
South African president vows justice as more women's bodies found near Johannesburg (BBC NEWS) South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed that "no stone will be left unturned" in finding those behind the killings of several women in and around the town of Kempton Park, north-east of Johannesburg, over the last two months. Another body was discovered on Tuesday morning and police say their investigation now includes the deaths of seven women most of whom have been found either partially or fully naked. "These incidents are causing fear and uncertainty in our communities, and especially among women," the president said. Police say they are not linking the deaths to a serial killer at this stage, but are investigating the possibility that a group of people is behind the killings. "[It] could be that it's a copycat crime that is happening right here but so far, no linkages as yet," police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe said. One arrest has been made in connection with the discovery of the first body. The person is still in
police custody. So far only two of the seven women have been identified. On Monday, police said that one of them was Elizabeth Moselakgomo, a runner whose disappearance last week sparked a frantic and public search for her. President Ramaphosa said he had directed that the cases be prioritised: "Our law enforcement agencies are working urgently to establish the facts, keep communities safe and bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice." South Africa experiences some of the world's highest levels of gender-based violence (GBV), with the rate at which women are killed five times higher than the global average, according to UN Women. The discoveries of the bodies have sparked outrage and fear across the country, with many criticising the authorities for failing to adequately protect women. Moselakgomo was identified by her relatives on Monday after her body was discovered on
Elizabeth Moselakgomo's body was found on Saturday three days after she went missing during a routine jog Saturday. It was the 38-year-old's young daughter who raised the alarm about her disappearance after she failed to return from her daily run last Wednesday. The body of the first woman was found in mid-July, the second in late August - the others were discovered this month, two in the last two days.
On Tuesday, police said that the body of woman found on 7 September in a town nearby Kempton Park was also being included - bringing the total number of bodies being investigated to seven. "After noticing that there are bodies being picked up, we went back to our police stations… and
unfortunately it came to light that a body of a female in her late 20s was observed in a river next to a mall," Maj-Gen Fred Kekana, acting police chief for Gauteng province, said at a briefing. Police have urged women in the Kempton Park area - which is by South Africa's main international airport - to avoid walking or running alone "particularly in isolated areas". South Africa's Commission for Gender Equality urged residents of Kempton Park to work with the police to find the perpetrators. "These deaths are indicative that women in South Africa continue to face environments in which their ordinary freedom of movement can become a matter of life and death," it said. "Women s h o u ld be ab le to run, walk to work, use public transport, return home, visit friends and participate in community life without having to calculate whether an o r d in ary activity could place their lives at risk."
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Australia beat Zimbabwe in first ODI as Renshaw hits 109 HARARE, (Reuters) Australia's Matt Renshaw scored a maiden one-day international century while Nathan Ellis took five wickets to guide their side to a 59-run win over hosts Zimbabwe on Tuesday in the first clash of three-match series. Australia chose to bat first, and the surprise decision from captain Mitchell Marsh was vindicated as they scored 294-8 in their 50 overs, setting Zimbabwe an imposing target at Harare Sports Club. In reply, Zimbabwe were
dismissed for 235 in 45.1 overs, showing good fight but always behind the required run rate. Renshaw, who last scored an international ton in a test against Pakistan in 2017, made 109 and featured in key partnerships after Cooper Connolly survived a few letoffs before being bowled by Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza for 51. Renshaw put on 72 runs with Alex Carey for the fifth wicket and 75 with Ollie Peake for the sixth wicket, leaving Zimbabwe with a required run rate of 5.90. The 20-year-old left-arm
quick Newman Nyamhuri finished with 5-62, only the Zimbabwe bowler to take five wickets in an ODI against Australia. Zimbabwe lost four wickets quickly before Craig Ervine and Sikandar steadied the innings with a 98-run partnership that offered them hope of victory on a surface that traditionally gets better for batting as the day wears on. Nathan Ellis had taken two wickets in his first spell, and when he was reintroduced, took three balls to clean bowl Ervine for 59 and put the brakes on the
home side. Sikandar was yorked by Spencer Johnson for 57 to leave Zimbabwe still significantly adrift. Ellis finished with 5-31 in 9.1 overs, also cleaning up the tail. The second ODI is on Friday, and t he last on Sunday, all in Harare, after which Australia moves onto a similar series with neighbouring South Africa. Scores: Australia 294 for 8 (Renshaw 109, Connolly 51, Nyamhuri 5-62) beat Zimbabwe 235 (Ervine 59, Raza 57, Ellis 5-31) by 59 runs.
Australia's Matt Renshaw celebrates after reaching his half century. (REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo)
UEFA pressure on...
Wednesday September 16, 2026 LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19 Romance and creativity are You might find yourself the driving forces in your life reeling from shock when an today, Aries. You might find that old friend suddenly seems to feelings for a special person show romantic interest in you.
provide lots of inspiration for creative projects.
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You tend to be down to Earth and practical, Taurus, but now you feel like indulging in s o m e flights of fancy. Romance or fantasy novels could be especially appealing right now.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) An affectionate letter, phone call, or email could come to you from an old friend, Gemini, expressing gratitude for past favors.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today you may be asked to speak to a gathering or lead a discussion group, Scorpio. You tend to be shy, but today you'll be all for it and enjoy being in the limelight, albeit temporarily. . SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Romance continues to soar today, Sagittarius. You should feel especially sexy. You're likely to attract admiring glances from those around you, including strangers.
CANCER (June 21–July 22) Have you been thinking about changing careers, Cancer? You might hear of some opportunities today, possibly through a colleague. This could be the right time to make a change. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You may feel especially warm and loving, Leo, and romance could be on your mind. Time spent with a love partner from another state or country might seem especially appealing.
CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You could feel like a millionaire today, Capricorn. Money matters seem to surpass your expectations. You might want to spend time fixing up your home or perhaps shopping for yourself. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Someone you've never met before who you find exceedingly attractive could pass you today.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22)
Erotic dreams could wake you up in a strange mood, Virgo. You could long for a romantic encounter, but the impact is likely to be stronger than that. These intense dreams might stimulate your creative juices. If you aren't currently working on a project, ideas could flood your imagination.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Career and money matters continue to go well for you, Pisces, and probably romance, too. Your life may be the envy of others, but you probably feel there's still something missing. This is a good day to explore metaphysical andspiritual studies.
From page 29 support for Infantino after a crisis meeting in August in . UEFA has been among the staunchest critics of Infantino and have said a change in leadership is now necessary given the loss of trust in Infantino, who is planning to run for re-election in March. "We have to take care of football," Bierhoff, who was Germany's national team director for 18 years until 2022, said. "It is already commercial but it is a property for all of football. "The world views may be different but in the last weeks and months a lot happened so that we have no trust any more that it will be going in the right direction." Infantino has weathered the opposition against him since he apologised to FIFA members in August over errors surrounding the abandoned proposal but has since declined to discuss the fallout publicly.Sources have told Reuters his critics are now having t o rethink their strategy.They have until midNovember to name a rival presidential candidate but so far there is no clear frontrunner. On Saturday, Danish football chief Jesper Moller, a member of UEFA's Executive Committee, said he would continue working with European colleagues to find a candidate who could command a majority.
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NFL roundup: Bears score 59 in record-setting Week 1 win over Panthers Reuters - (Field Level Media) - Caleb Williams threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more and the Chicago Bears pulled away for a 59-37 victory against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte in the highestscoring Week 1 game in NFL history. In the teams' season opener, D'Andre Swift scored three touchdown runs and rushed for 124 yards on 18 carries for Chicago. Williams completed 21 of 29 passes for 269 yards and added 65 rushing yards. Kyle Monangai gained 100 yards on 10 carries, including a 61yard TD. Panthers quarterback Bryce Young threw two of his three touchdown passes to Jalen Coker. Young was 23of-37 passing for 361 yards with one interception. Coker made eight catches for 138 yards. Chuba Hubbard scored touchdowns on a run and a reception. The Panthers pulled even at 31-31 on Hubbard's 2-yard run with 9:02 left in the third quarter. From there, the Bears posted the next three touchdowns on runs by Swift (1 yard), Monangai and
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) runs the ball while defended by Carolina Panthers linebacker Devin Lloyd (55) in the second half at Bank of America Stadium. (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images) Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift (4) runs with the ball in the second half against the Carolina Panthersat Bank of America Stadium. (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images) Williams' 1-yard pass to Jahdae Walker. Later, Swift found the end zone from 28 yards out. Bills 36, Texans 31 Josh Allen accounted for four touchdowns and tossed the decisive 34-yard scoring pass to Joshua Palmer with 1:36 remaining as Buffalo won in Houston for the first time in 20 years with a wild victory over the Texans.
Allen completed 20 of 29 passes for 334 yards and two touchdowns and added two rushing scores while winning in Houston for the first time in five career attempts, including the postseason. The touchdown throw to Palmer capped a seven-play, 96-yard drive. Dalton Kincaid had five receptions for 130 yards and DJ Moore had five catches
GGA Westside Golf Course, alongside a number of entities including the Democratic Council (NDC), will be giving back to the region 3 community with its first-ever “Under the Stars” Drive-In Movie Night set for Saturday, September 26.
host Detroit held off New Orleans in overtime. Detroit got the ball first in overtime and Goff threw a 4yard TD pass to St. Brown for a 31-24 lead with 5:04 remaining in the extra period. Tyler Shough drove the Saints down the field on the ensuing drive and threw an 8yard touchdown pass to Noah Fant, but his two-point conversion pass was incomplete in the back of the end zone. Shough recovered from three turnovers to pass for
The movies will be shown on Telco Solutions' largest outdoor screen, creating a spectacular open-air cinema experience under the stars. Adding to the excitement will be a series of prizes and giveaways, compliments of Comfort Sleep, Madewini Gardens Eco Resort and Sterling Products Ltd. The event gets underway at 6:00 PM and will continue until midnight, with a wide selection of food and refreshments available from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM, including freshly prepared popcorn, hot dogs, chicken tenders and fries, ice cream and other great food options. Organizers are encouraging families and groups to make their plans early, as parking spaces are limited. Admission is FREE, but reservations are strongly recommended.
410 yards and three touchdowns, including a 9yard strike to Juwan Johnson late in regulation that forced OT. Chris Olave hauled in 10 receptions for 182 yards. In other results: Jaguars 34, Browns 10 Steelers 20, Falcons 13 Bengals 33, Buccaneers 27 Jets 23, Titans 10 Ravens 41, Colts 23 Vikings 39, Packers 22 Raiders 27, Dolphins 13 Cardinals 26, Chargers 14 Eagles 24, Commanders 22 Giants 28, Cowboys 20
Kensington Oval to turn blue for prostate cancer awareness at CPL eliminator CPL - Kensington Oval will turn blue today, Wednesday 16 September as the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) marks a special fundraising day for the Sir Clive Lloyd Health Care Foundation, which supports the fight against prostate cancer, coinciding with the eliminator match between home side Barbados Tridents and Jamaica Kingsmen. Patrons attending the eliminator, which gets underway at 7pm, are being urged to wear blue in a show of support, with the initiative forming part of CPL's continued commitment to cancer awareness as the 2026 season draws
Westside Golf Course,Best, Klein, Pouderoyen NDC to Host Region Three's Biggest Community Movie Night Westside Golf Course, in partnership with the Best, Klein, Pouderoyen Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), will be giving back to the community by virtue of what promises to be Region Three's biggest community event with its first-ever “Under the Stars” Drive-In Movie Night on Saturday, September 26. The event according to GGA president Aleem Hussain, is geared towards building the community not only through golf and other sports but to introduce a more social format of gathering. The free-admission family event will be open to everyone on a first-come, first-served basis, with guests having the unique option of watching the movies from the comfort of their vehicles or spreading out blankets and pillows on the expansive Westside Golf Course lawns.
for 100 yards and one touchdown in his Buffalo debut. Tyler Bass kicked three field goals and Rousseau had two sacks as the Bills won in Joe Brady's first game as head coach. David Montgomery rushed for two touchdowns and caught another in his Texans debut. Lions 31, Saints 30 (OT) Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 156 yards and two touchdowns, Jared Goff threw two touchdown passes to Amon-Ra St. Brown and
to its conclusion on 20 September. Signed blue caps from CPL players will be auctioned on the night, with proceeds going to the Sir Clive Lloyd Health Care Foundation. Fans at the ground, and those watching around the world, will also be able to donate in support of the cause. Th e R e p u b l i c B a n k C a r i b b e a n Premier League continues to place community wellbeing at the heart of its showpiece event, with cancer awareness remaining a standing priority as the tournament heads into its concluding matches.
Kensington Oval will turn blue today as the CPL marks a special fundraising day for the Sir Clive Lloyd Health Care Foundation, which supports the fight against prostate cancer. (CPL)
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BCB/Cardiology Services Inc Under 21 Tournament
Port Mourant holds their nerves to edge RH Canje to clinch title The historic Port Mourant Cricket Club held their nerves on Sunday last to defeat arch rivals Rose Hall Community Centre Cricket Club by two wickets to emerge as the champions of the Berbice Cricket Board Under 21 tournament. Playing in front of a sizeable crowd at the Port Mourant Ground, the home team required 13 runs with only two wickets in hands but level headed batting from Asgerally Nabie and Navin Boodwah took them home to start wild celebration from the home team supporters. Rose Hall Canje batted first in very heated weather after Port Mourant won the toss and invited them to take first strike at the crease. They soon found themselves 10 for 2 in the third over as medium pacer Doodnauth Seemangal bowled Romeo Ramdehall for 00 and off spinner Salim Khan bowled Luke Amsterdam first ball. The ultra aggressive Sanjay Algu and Adrian Hetmyer added 30 for the 3rd wicket before Hetmyer was caught off Seemangal for 04. The visitors never fully recovered as wickets fell at regular intervals as the Port Mourant bowlers kept the pressure on. Richard Ramdehall (08), Sanjay Algu 43, Zadeen LaRose 07, Donavan Newland 09, Avishkar Beharry 09, Devon Wharton 09 all fell as the innings fell apart. Michael Newland was last dismissed for 25, L.B.W to off spinner Navin Boodwah, while Brandon Brijmodd was unbeaten on 01. Rose Hall Canje ended on 122 all out in 33 of their allotted 50
overs. Doodnauth Seemangal 2 for 30, Salim Khan 2 for 34, Romeo Deonarain 3 for 19 and Navin Boodwah 3 for 21 were the best bowlers for the eventual champions. Needing to score 123 from 50 overs to lift their first ever Under 21 title, Port Mourant were given a rousing opening stand of 38 runs in just four overs by national youth players Rampersaud Ramnauth and Romeo Deonarain. Deonarain was the first to depart after his stumps were sent flying by Sanjay Algoo for 10 in the fourth over. Vishal Williams and Ramnauth then joined hands to add another 15 runs for the second wicket before the latter was caught off the bowling of off spinner Richard Ramdehall for 29 in the 8th over. Williams was then run out for 12 after being involved in a mix up with Mukesh Rampersaud as the home team slipped to 61 for 3. Smart batting from Asgerally Nabbie 19 not out then guided the home team to the close and exciting victory. Salim Khan supported with 12 and Navin Boodwah made 8 in the tense finish. Ramario Ramdehall ended with 3 for 32 from ten overs, Avishkar Beharry 2 for 5 (3 overs), Sanjay Algu 1 for 18 (3 overs) and Richard Ramdehall 1 for 24 were the successful bowlers for the Rose Hall Canje team. Romeo Deonarain, the national and Demerara Under 19 opening batsman and off spinner was named Man of the Finals for his impressive bowling spell of 9-3-19-4 and scoring 10 runs. The winners received $80,000
From page 33 Ta h i r p r a i s e d t h e v e t e r a n Veerasammy Permaul and Khary Pierre for stepping up seamlessly. "Motie was a loss, but Veerasammy Permaul has been really good, and that's why we've been playing him consistently. The guy took a bundle of wickets in Test cricket; he has close to a thousand first-class wickets. I think whoever sees Permaul's role is really satisfied," said the Warriors skipper on the veteran Guyanese left-arm spin ace. Healing Old Scars Despite Guyana's rich history of reaching the deep ends of the tournament, they have historically struggled to cross the final hurdle. For Tahir, the memory of past heartbreak remains a powerful motivator. "For me, the two months are going to be wasted if you don't cross the line. You become number one in the competition; you get remembered in people's hearts
forever. Number two doesn't matter, really. A couple of years back, we won 11 out of 12, and we lost the final. That still has a scar in my heart probably forever." Tahir bluntly admitted. Heading into tomorrow's critical clash against Antigua, Tahir's message to his team is simple: one game at a time, with maximum honesty and sacrifice. Facing grueling months away from family and hotel fatigue, the skipper refuses to let his team take their position for granted. He knows the boys, both overseas and especially the local bunch, are well aware that they're playing for a nation which lives and breathes cricket. Tahir said the intention is basically to leave everything on the field for the Warrior Nation's Guyanese fanbase, who have been behind their team from the very start; now just inches away from etching their name again in the CPL history books.
The winning Port Mourant team. while the runner up took home $40,000. Both teams also received trophies. President of the Berbice Cricket Board, Dr. Cecil Beharry expressed gratitude to the Management and staff of Cardiology Services Inc with special mention made of its head Dr. Mahendra Carpen. The
BCB Head noted that the Under 21 tournament was a vital bridge for Under 19 players preparing to enter the first division level. He urged the sponsor to continuing supporting Berbice Cricket as the BCB strive to produce more players for the West Indies. Dr. Carpen, the widely respected heart surgeon expressed
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and Hellenic Football Federation president Makis Gagatsis pose for a photograph with pennants ahead of the grassroots football festival. (REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis)
UEFA pressure on Infantino grows as Greek FA, Age-Defying Tahir sets sights... Bierhoff back change THESSALONIKI, Greece, (Reuters) - Greek Football Association president Makis Gagatsis and former Germany national team director Oliver Bierhoff on Tuesday backed UEFA's push for change in FIFA's leadership, underscoring a united European front in opposition to FIFA president Gianni Infantino. "The Greek FA (EPO) has taken a position against a candidacy of Gianni Infantino," EPO President Makis Gagatsis told reporters."We saw things happen at the World Cup that are not
his delight at the successful hosting of the tournament and indicated that his company would continue to sponsor the tournament for the next five years. He urged the cricketers to pursuit an educational background and to develop a simple formula of discipline, hard work and dedication.
acceptable to football public opinion," Gagatsis said. "Then... came a programme to sell World Cup rights and we are clearly against it, so we withdrew our support of the FIFA president." He was speaking after a meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki, with a "legends'" five-a-side game held in the city centre to promote UEFA's grassroots programme. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin was also present at the event but did not talk to media.
Infantino has been under mounting pressure ever since he unveiled a proposal to sell a commercial stake of the World Cup to private investors. The plan prompted fierce opposition, with UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and North America's CONCACAF among those calling for change at the top of FIFA. FIFA quickly abandoned the plan and apologised to member associations for mistakes made, but its leadership reaffirmed (Continued on page 27)
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Wednesday September 16, 2026
Zverev banishes US Open demons with victory over Shelton NEW YORK, (Reuters) - Top seed Alexander Zverev banished bitter U.S. Open memories to beat American Ben Shelton 6-3 7-6(2) 5-7 6-2 in the final on Sunday, capturing the title six years after letting a golden opportunity slip through his fingers. The German squandered a twoset lead in the 2020 title match against Austrian Dominic Thiem but now armed with a champion's mentality following his breakthrough triumph at Roland Garros in June, he broke American hearts with a devastating display against Shelton. "I think God has seen how hard we worked, how much we suffered, how much pain we went through and I think 2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before," Zverev said during the presentation ceremony. The home fans were desperate to see Shelton end a 23-year American men's Grand Slam drought but the eighth seed never found his top form in his first major final. "I know that today 99.9% of the people wanted Ben to win so I'm very sorry," said Zverev. "Even though I know that the crowd was against me, the crowd was always incredibly fair and we as players we appreciate it." Zverev was so focused on the job at hand, he did not even realise he had won the title when Shelton smacked a service return long. As the umpire announced 'Game, set and match Zverev', the German headed back to t he baseline, ready to receive Shelton's serve. It took him a few seconds to register why the cheering fans were giving him a standing ovation -- as he belatedly cracked a smile and ran to the net to embrace Shelton.
He was beaming again as he was handed a Grand Slam record, opens new tab $5.5 million winner's prize. ZVEREV GETS HOT START In a battle between two of tennis' most explosive players, it was Zverev who had all the early firepower, as Shelton's inexperience showed with a double fault on break point in the opening game. Shelton produced one of the points of the match in the sixth game, scrambling to reach a drop shot and prevailing in a tense exchange at the net. Encouraged by his team, the
game. But the German refused to get distracted, surging to a 5-0 lead in the tiebreak as the fans desperately chanted "Let's , Ben!" Zverev looked like he would roll to the finish line in the third set as he saved a break point in the sixth game with a lethal backhand winner. Shelton's frustration boiled over two games later when he slipped and crashed to the court, prompting the American to let out an expletive. But Shelton dug in his heels, subduing his opponent with a series of powerful groundstrokes from the baseline to break serve and force a
Germany's Alexander Zverev celebrates with the trophy after winning the men's singles final against Ben Shelton of the U.S. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Geoff Burke)
American mixed in serve-andvolley tactics in an attempt to shift the momentum, but the move proved ineffective and he handed Zverev the set with a double fault. The partisan crowd tried to get under Zverev's skin in the second set, cheering wildly after he produced a double fault in the ninth
fourth set. Shelton's resilience only delayed the inevitable as Zverev came through a 25-shot rally to secure an early break in the deciding set. He never let go of that advantage as he finally got the chance to hoist the U.S. Open trophy on his 11th appearance at the
Germany's Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton of the U.S. pose with their trophies after the men's singles final. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Robert Deutsch) hardcourt major. "My successes are a gift, the failures are a gift, and being here playing in front of you guys is a gift," said Shelton, the first Black American man in 54 years to contest the New York final after Arthur Ashe. His girlfriend, Olympic champion soccer player Trinity Rodman, made it to his player's box after racing 200 miles from her Washington Spirit game, which largely overlapped with the start of his match. 'JANNIK IS STILL AHEAD' The victory will no doubt help Zverev move beyond a series of Grand Slam disappointments. The German's career has also been overshadowed by allegations of domestic violence, which he has repeatedly denied. His two majors this season have
made a dent in the duopoly of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who won all eight Grand Slam titles across 2024 and 2025. Alcaraz, who won this year's Australian Open, exited the U.S. Open in a quarter-final defeat by Shelton after a long injury layoff while Sinner pulled out injured before the tournament began after winning Wimbledon. Asked if he considered himself the world's top player now, Zverev said, "With Jannik Sinner being injured and Carlos Alcaraz coming back from injury after four months, right now this moment, probably yes. "Both of them healthy and both of them at the top of their game, maybe not. "If everyone is healthy, I think Jannik is still ahead. It's as simple as that."
Raptors acquire Leonard from Clippers following NBA probe TORONTO, (Reuters) - The Toronto Raptors completed their trade for Kawhi Leonard on Monday after previously putting the deal on hold while the NBA investigated the seven-times All Star and Los Angeles Clippers over salary cap circumvention. In exchange Leonard, the Raptors sent Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two future first-round draft picks, one future first-round pick swap and two future secondround picks to the Clippers. The Raptors put the deal on hold in July after being told by the NBA they would assume the risk of any potential outcome of the investigation affecting Leonard, who led Toronto to their only championship in 2019 before joining the Clippers.
As part of a year-long probe, the NBA looked into whether Leonard was paid by a now-bankrupt firm that had close ties to owner Steve Ballmer as a way to circumvent league rules restricting how much a team can spend on its player payroll. Two weeks ago, the NBA said that an independent investigation found a pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations by the Clippers organization. It stripped the five first-round draft picks, imposed a $30 million fine and suspended Ballmer for a year, while Leonard was fined $700,000. When the punishment was announced the Clippers said they "vehemently reject" the findings and that they would challenge
them.On Sunday, however, Ballmer s aid the team had communicated to the NBA that they would comply with the penalties and have paid the fine and are moving forward. Leonard, who accepted full responsibility for what he called lapses in judgment by people within his inner circle, averaged a careerhigh 27.9 points during the 2025-26 season and finished seventh in MVP voting. "We're thrilled to welcome Kawhi back to Toronto," Raptors general manager Bobby Webster said in a press release. "His impact on our organization, our city, and our country is undeniable, and he embodies the competitiveness and championship mindset that we value.”
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) warms up prior to the game against the Golden State Warriors in the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome. (Jayne Kamin-OnceaImagn Images)
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Sterling Products honours commitment with Pee Wee U11 Football sponsorship W
ith 32 teams set to battle for honours in the 13th annual Courts Pee Wee Under-11 Football To u r n a m e n t , t h e P e t r a Organisation received a timely boost from longstanding corporate partner Sterling Products Limited on Tuesday, ahead of Saturday's opening at the Ministry of Education ground. The sponsorship, handed over by Sterling Products Marketing Director Dellon Lynch, represents more than just another corporate contribution to the popular grassroots tournament. It also fulfils a commitment made by the company roughly a year ago to take a more inclusive approach to supporting Petra's youth development programmes. The tournament, sponsored by Courts Optical, has grown significantly over its last 12 editions, bringing together some 400 young players this year, while extending its reach to seven administrative regions. That growth has also strengthened the Petra Organisation's role in grassroots football, with the programme providing a platform for young players to develop their skills and, in several instances, progress towards higher levels of the sport.The Under-11 competition, in particular, offers an opportunity
Petra General Secretary Jackie Boodie speaking at yesterday's sponsorship presentation meeting between Petra Organisation and Sterling Products Limited. to see some of Guyana's emerging football talent at its earliest stage, while also combining sporting development with the broader objectives of youth development. Recognising the importance of the initiative, Sterling Products has once again thrown its support behind the tournament, with Lynch commending Petra for its sustained efforts to expand the reach of grassroots football. “The impact has already shown over the recent editions,” Lynch said, while congratulating the Petra Organisation for its transformation of grassroots football and its efforts to ensure
General view at the start of the Men's 1500m final 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championships - National Athletics Centre, Budapest, Hungary. (REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel/File Photo)
(Reuters) - Nairobi has been selected to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, with the Kenyan capital becoming the first African city to stage the event. World Athletics announced the decision on Tuesday after its council meeting in Budapest, while also awarding the 2031 edition to Munich. Nairobi had previously failed in its bid to host the event in 2025, which went to Tokyo. The Kenyan capital previously staged the World U18 Championships in 2017
Sterling Products Marketing Manager Dellon Lynch extends support to the 13 Annual Pee Wee Football tournament with meaningful sponsorship during yesterday's presentation.
that Pee Wee Under-11 football reaches children across the country. Petra Organisation Secretary Jackie Boodie expressed appreciation to both the Ministry of Education and Sterling Products Limited Chief Executive Officer Ramsey Ali for the company's continued partnership. According to Boodie, Petra is delighted to have Sterling Products as an official sponsor of the Courts Pee Wee Under-11 Football Tournament. “The company's continued support has contributed majorly in bringing together 400 students
across one tournament which has extended its reach to now seven administrative regions through meaningful commitment towards sport(s) development,” Boodie stated. Lynch also pointed to the wider benefits of extracurricular activities, saying he had personally observed the progress made by students who participate in Petra's tournaments and similar programmes. “I've noticed over the years that the students who would take part of these and similar tournament have been able to excelling and improving their skill.
It's also easy to say that this force of events has transitioned into the classroom performance because for me, extracurricular most certainly improves thinking, your focus and like facets that may improve one's cognitive development. So, Sterling Products has always proud to be a part of these initiatives.” The latest sponsorship also carries significance because of a commitment made by Sterling Products at a previous sponsorship engagement approximately a year ago. Lynch had indicated then that the company intended to adopt a more inclusive approach to its support of Petra's programmes, and Tuesday's sponsorship provided tangible evidence of that pledge. With the latest partnership secured, attention now shifts to the field, where 32 teams will begin their quest for the coveted 2026 Pee Wee title from 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. For Petra, the tournament remains more than a competition. It continues to serve as one of the country's key grassroots football platforms, where young players are given an opportunity to develop, compete and, potentially, take their first steps towards becoming the stars of tomorrow.
Nairobi to host 2029 World Athletics Championships in African first
and the World U20 Championships in 2021. Events will take place at Kasarani Stadium, which is being renovated ahead of hosting matches at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. "Nairobi presented a compelling and emotional bid, and taking the World Athletics Championships to Africa for first time will be historic," said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe. "Kenya is one of the great athletics nations. The sport is
woven into the fabric of the country." Munich will host the 2031 event at the Olympic Stadium, bringing the championships back to Germany for the first time since Berlin in 2009. “Germany has proved time and again that it is an outstanding and dependable host for major athletics events,” Coe said. Both events will take place in the month of September, in line with the 2027 championships in Beijing.
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CPL Next Gen Schools match sees Sunset Smashers defeat Coral Reef Chargers CPL - The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Next Gen programme reached its climax on Friday 11 September, as 26 of the region's most promising young cricketers took to the field at the iconic Kensington Oval in Barbados, with Sunset Smashers defeating Coral Reef Chargers by seven wickets in a match broadcast live on CPL's social media channels and on Rush Live & Louder. The match brought together standout performers identified across a series of CPL cricket clinics held in Barbados, giving them the opportunity to play on one of the sport's most celebrated stages. These young people were identified with the help of the Barbados Cricket Association, the Ministry of Sport and school and cricket clubs across the country. Split into two competing sides,
Sunset Smashers and Coral Reef Chargers, the young cricketers demonstrated the calibre of talent emerging through the region's grassroots pathways. The occasion formed part of CPL's wider commitment to nurturing the next generation of Caribbean cricketing talent, offering school-age players a taste of the professional environment and exposure to a live broadcast audience. The partnership with RUSH Live & Louder ensured the match reached fans well beyond Kensington Oval, reflecting CPL's growing global appeal and its focus on community engagement across the region. J a s o n Wi l l i a m s , P r o j e c t Development Manager, Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League, said: “The standard of cricket on display from these young players was outstanding, and it's a clear sign of the strength of talent coming
Sunset Smashers defeated Coral Reef Chargers by seven wickets to claim the title. (CPL) through in the region. Watching them perform with such composure and skill at a venue like Kensington Oval was a special moment, and it's exactly why programmes like Next Gen matter so much to the future of Caribbean cricket. “This celebration of the young talent in Barbados only further
Bowling claims Promotech, Genuine Auto Spares and Tools NTFGL Tour #3 opener
The winners row take time out for a photo after first day honours. Chet Bowling emerged victorious at the Lusignan Golf Club's National Top Flight Golf League (NTFGL) Tour #3 on Sunday, September 13, after a competitive day of golf that attracted 37 players to the club's challenging course. Following the successful staging of Tour #2, the league continued its competitive run with the third leg of the tour, bringing together golfers for another exciting day of competition.Bowling secured the title with a net score of 69, edging Videsh Persaud, who also finished with a net 69, on the countback. Both players returned gross scores of 90 and played off a handicap of 21, making for a closely contested battle at the top of the leaderboard.Mike Mangal finished third with a gross score of 83, a handicap of 13 and a net score of 70, just one stroke behind the leading pair. Despite producing the lowest gross score among the top three finishers, Mangal narrowly missed out on the title as Bowling prevailed on the countback.The tournament tested the players' accuracy, consistency and course management, with Lusignan's well-
maintained fairways and carefully prepared greens providing a fitting setting for the third leg of the tour.Bowling's victory reflected his ability to remain competitive throughout the round and deliver a net score that stood up against a strong field. With Persaud matching his final score and Mangal close behind, the contest remained tight among the leading players.The day also featured individual honours, with Pantanjilee Persaud claiming the Longest Drive prize, while Mohanlall Dinanauth secured the Nearest to the Pin award and a Best Gross of 81.The NTFGL tour continues to provide a platform for golfers of varying handicaps to test their abilities, enjoy the game and compete for honours. With Tour #3 now completed, the league's competitive action continues following another successful outing at Lusignan. Bowling's triumph capped an exciting day at the club, with the narrow margin separating the top finishers underscoring the importance of consistency and precision in a closely fought competition.
highlights the great work that the Barbados Cricket Association has done to harness the cricketing ability that exists on the island which has for so long been a hot bed of fine players.” CPL remains committed to expanding opportunities for young cricketers across the Caribbean,
with the Next Gen programme set to expand to other markets in the future. As the tournament continues to grow its footprint across the region, initiatives like this remain central to support the efforts of Cricket West Indies to create the sport's next generation of stars.
Motorbikes, cash, and silverware as big rewards await top performers at One Guyana T10 Individual brilliance will once again carry a premium in the Lotto/Let's Bet One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast, with long-standing corporate partner Regal Super Centre stepping forward to sponsor the complete suite of individual player awards for the fourth consecutive edition of the tournament. The retail giant's renewed commitment ensures that while team silverware remains the ultimate prize, the competition's standout performers will walk away with substantial financial incentives and high-value rewards. The individual awards are headlined by the Most Valuable Player accolade, which includes a $150,000 cash prize and a brand-new motorbike. The tournament's leading run-scorer and top wicket-taker are also set for significant windfalls, with both categories offering $100,000 in cash plus a television set. Game-changing contributions will be similarly recognised: the Player of the Final will earn $75,000, while the players finishing with the Super Strike Rate and Best Economy Rate will each collect $50,000. Reaffirming the brand's
sustained involvement in the grassroots tournament, Regal Super Centre representative Telesha Ousman-Yamin highlighted the company's long-standing connection with the event. "We have been proud supporters of the One Guyana T10 Blast for four years now, and seeing the tournament expand and capture the public's imagination year after year has been incredibly rewarding," Ousman-Yamin said. "Tapeball cricket is the heart of local sport, and ensuring these players are rewarded for their excellence is something we are thrilled to continue." Expressing gratitude for the sustained commercial backing, John Ramsingh of FL Sport praised Regal's ongoing role in elevating the tournament's stature. "Regal Supercentre has been a steadfast partner in driving the growth of this competition," Ramsingh noted. "Their continued generosity adds immense value for the players who pour everything onto the park. On the field, the fourth edition has already produced compelling action, and having partners like Regal on board elevates the overall profile as the tournament reaches its business end." That on-field action has
already crowned three regional champions following intense zone qualifiers. Grillmaster Sip N Play All-Stars produced a series of clinical performances to secure the Berbice zone title, Mahdia – Movements Family dominated the East Bank/West Demerara zone, and Lusignan Bulls DTP II claimed bragging rights in Essequibo. The tournament now shifts its focus to the Georgetown/East Coast Demerara Zone, slated to run across two weekends on September 26–27 and October 3–4. Zonal finals for the region will take place at the Enmore Community Centre Ground, where the final qualification spots for the national phase will be decided. O n c e t h e Georgetown/East Coast representative is locked in, the marquee event moves to Essequibo for its grand conclusion. All roads lead to the Anna Regina National Stadium on Sunday, October 11, where the country's premier tapeball sides will battle for top honours and an ultimate prize pool featuring $2 million for the champions, $1 million for the runners-up, and $500,000 for third place.
Wednesday September 16, 2026
Kaieteur News
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2026 Republic Bank CPL.. Age-Defying Tahir sets sights
on CPL glory for Guyana Amazon Warriors - says not crossing finish line now, a waste of hard work By Clifton Ross The Guyana Amazon Warriors have done it again, securing yet another playoff berth in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) as the tournament's most successful franchise. But for veteran skipper Imran Tahir, qualifying is merely the prologue. As the final hurdle approaches, the legendary leg-spinner is driven by an unyielding desire to deliver ultimate glory to the people of Guyana. At an age when most of his peers have long transitioned into coaching or commentary, Tahir continues to defy Father Time. The South African is on the cusp of becoming the CPL's alltime leading wicket-taker and recently became the first overseas player to reach 100 CPL appearances.
Guyana Amazon Warriors captain Imran Tahir said his team will be more locked in ahead of this final stretch. (CPL) "People don't try to remind me about it [being the oldest guy playing right now," Tahir joked. "But I think that gives me more motivation to work harder and come back strongly
every year," Tahir said during the Captain's pre-match interview hosted on Tuesday in Barbados. A Captain Born from a Challenge Tahir's transition into
leadership with the Warriors has been nothing short of spectacular, netting a CPL title coupled with two Global Super League (GSL) trophies. Yet, he reveals that taking the armband originally came as a sudden proposition from franchise ownership. "I can say it was a surprise, but on the other hand, not really. I'm the kind of guy who likes challenges," Tahir said of the 30-second conversation that altered his career trajectory. "I said, 'Look, sir... if you give me the opportunity, I can make a promise with you that I will give my 200 percent commitment.' It's
Imran Tahir gave some insight into his journey with the Guyana Amazon Warriors as well as the team's plan to turn the last two months of hard work into another CPL title.
b e e n a g r e a t j o u r n e y, especially from a learning point of view," he explained. Adapting to Change A major talking point ahead of the season was the
departure of left-arm orthodox star Gudakesh Motie to the Barbados Royals.While Motie's absence left a massive void, (Continued on page 27)
Sterling Products honours commitment with Pee Wee U11 Football sponsorship
Petra Secretary Jackie Boodie (center) receiving sponsorship cheque from Sterling Products Public Relation Manager Youlundra McCammon while Marketing Manager Dellon Lynch and Petra executives Troy Mendonca and Troy Peters also share the moment at the company's Providence office.
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Motorbikes, cash, and silverware as big rewards await top performers at One Guyana T10
2026 Republic Bank CPL...
Age-Defying Tahir sets sights on CPL glory for Guyana Amazon Warriors - says not crossing finish line now, a waste of hard work Guyana Amazon Warriors captain Imran Tahir said his team will be more locked in ahead of this final stretch. (CPL)
John Ramsingh (left) of FL Sport and Regal Super Centre representative Telesha Ousman-Yamin.
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