No price increase, no way to repay loans, pay workers
Outrage as some media houses barred from Pres. Ali presser sparkbacklash
Acid attack destroys woman’s sight
...suspect remanded -courthears ...questionrestrictions
using
of criminal networks …butsilentonU.S.deadly strikeonallegedtraffickers Pres. Ali warns
Concerns over press freedom in Guyana resurfaced on Tuesday after several media outlets were excluded from President Irfaan Ali’s first press conference since taking the oath of office on September 6.
The president hosted the pressbriefingattheOfficeof the President; however, sections of the local media did not receive formal
Veteran jou
t DennisChabrolofDemerara Waves,whohadreceivedan invitation, walked out of the press conference in protest afterbeinginformedofstrict restrictionsonquestions.
Before the press conference commenced, communications consultant Kit Nascimento instructed journalists that only six questions would be allowed in total to ask the president, with no follow-ups permitted Furthermore, questions were to be limited strictly to the content of the president’s address, the subject of which was not disclosedbeforehand.
invitations While representatives of the Guyana Standard, National Communications Network (NCN), Guyana Times, Guyana Chronicle, Ignite News, News Source Guyana, News Room, Kaieteur News, and the Department of Public Information (DPI) received direct calls from Press Secretary and Director of Press and Publicity Suelle Findlay-Williams, several other prominent media houses, including Stabroek News, Prime News, Nightly News, News In-Depth, Big Smith News Watch, and Capitol News, were notably absent, having not been informedabouttheevent.
journalistsinannualsurveys fortheWorldPressFreedom Index.Theorganisationalso referenced a section of President Ali’s inauguration speech in which he pledged to recognise the media’s watchdog role and promote transparency RSF responded, “These positive words must be followed up withaction.”
However, at the start of the press briefing, FindlayWilliamsattemptedtodispel these claims, stating that the accusation was false. She claimedthatacallwasmade to Stabroek News’s accredited reporter, Marcel Fowler, at 11:02 hrs., followed by a written message at 14:30 hrs. She further asserted, “Every person sitting in this room also received a phone call fromme.”
Despite this, several journalistsusedsocialmedia t o e x p r e s s t h e i r
Meanwhile, editor-inchief of Stabroek News Anand Persaud, took to Facebook to condemn the selective invitations, writing,“PresidentAliwants tobetreatedwithrespectbut his own office has shown greatdisrespecttodaybynot inviting accredited media houses to his press conference.”
dissatisfaction Chabrol wroteonhisFacebookpage, “For several decades from 1992, the PPP/Civic-led
es without cumbersomerules.Sincethe employment of Mr. Kit Nascimento, the so-called rulesareahumbug.Another blow to media freedom, freedom to attend, but not freedomtoquestion.”
Additionally, Journalist Travis Chase echoed this sentiment, stating, “The officeofthepresidentseems tohavenowseizedcontrolof the press in Guyana and is now deciding which media outlets cover events with PresidentIrfaanAli.”
In response to the controversy, Kaieteur News reached out to, President of t h e G u y a n a P r e s s Association Iva Wharton who expressed concern. “I have received a number of complaintsonit.WhatIcan say is that it is concerning, but we intend to write to the
president’s office to find out exactly what happened,” Whartonstated.
Attempts by Kaieteur News to obtain further clarification from FindlayWilliams, on the other excludedmediaoutletswere unsuccessful.
The controversy comes just a week after Reporters Without Borders (RSF), an international press freedom watchdog, criticised P r e s i d e n t A l i ’ s administration for its ongoing hostility towards localjournalists.
In a public statement, R S F d e c l a r e d , “Unfortunately, President Ali’s tenure in office has been marred by his government’s hostility towards the news media. RSF calls on PresidentAli’s administrationtomakepress freedomapriorityduringhis five-yearmandate.”
RSF highlighted persistent harassment by government supporters, as reported by Guyanese
President of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) Patrick Yarde has written to Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh proposing an additional 25 per cent acrossthe-board wage increase for 2024, for all publicservants.
The union in a letter to the minister, that was copied to President IrfaanAli, said that therisingcostoflivingandtheburdenithas placed on workers, particularly, in the lower incomebracketmustbeconsidered.
“This adjustment is necessary to protect our members from a decline in their purchasing power and economic stability The Union is also proposing an across-theboardincreaseof35%for2026.”
Last year, the government signed a twoyearagreementwiththeGPSUthatwillresult insalaryincreasesandimprovedallowances forpublicservants.
Under the agreement, public servants received a retroactive 10% salary increase
RSF made several recommendations to the government,includingthose politicalfiguresrefrainfrom publiclyinsultingjournalists orencouragingsupportersto doso,andthoseclearsignals be sent from the highest levels of government to condemn the harassment of thepress.
Clayton Weimers,
Executive Director of RSF North America, added, “Open hostility from the government towards the media has become a regrettable norm in Guyana. Thiscultureofantagonismis directly holding Guyana back on the World Press Freedom Index. It doesn’t needtobethisway.” Hecontinued,“RSFcalls for President Ali’s administration to help foster a more pluralistic media landscape, provide transparent and timely access to the entire press corps, and treat journalists with respect. A free press must always be an essential p a r t o f G u y a n a ’s democracy.”
President of the Guyana Public Service Union, Patrick Yarde
TheInternationalEnergy Agency (IEA) has cited favourablecrudequalityand reservoir volume in Guyana’s Stabroek Block as advantages that shortens the time from discovery to first oil and boost production rates – despite challenges associatedwithdevelopinga newdeepwaterarea.
The IEA in “The Implications of Oil and Gas Field Decline Rates” report published on September 16, 2025 pointed to the global evolution of oil and gas finding and development (F&D)andsaidthatthecost per barrel of discovering conventionaloilandgasrose byaround50%inrealterms between2015and2024.
It was stated that exploration efforts yielded lower returns, while exploration expenditure fell by roughly 50% and discovered resources dropped by about 65% duringthesameperiod.
Notably, the agency said development costs for conventional oil and gas have fallen by more than one-third since peaking in 2017.IEAnotedtoothatthe largest reductions occurred in oil fields, where costs have almost halved to an averageofUSD14perbarrel ofoilequivalent(boe).
“All regions except the Middle East saw cost reductions between
30–50%, with countries in Africa seeing some of the steepest declines These gainsoccurredmainlydueto lower costs in developing offshoreprojects,”thereport stated.
The IEA attributed the reduction in development costs over the last decade to threekeyfactors:changesin the types of projects executed, improvements in project design, and cyclical factors affecting the cost of implementation.Theagency
noted that the clearest example of changes in project types is the preference for projects with shorter intervals between approvalandfirstproduction andshorterpaybackperiods.
“Reservoir and fluid quality also come into play; light fluids in high quality reservoirsreducethetimeto first oil and support higher subsequent production rates High grading of assets leads to an overall reduction in the average
President IrfaanAli on Tuesday said his administration’s concern lies with ensuring Guyana’s territory is not used by criminal networks.
He was asked at a press conference whetherhisgovernmentsharedanyconcern aboutthelegalityofthestrikesbytheUnited States military on an alleged Venezuelan drug cartel vessel, which killed at least 14 persons in two separate operations. The strikes form part of the Donald Trump administration’s plans to confront drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere, whichWashington says threatensAmerica’s nationalsecurity
For his part, Ali noted that his governmentremainscontinuouslyconcerned about criminals exploiting international waters or countries’ exclusive economic zonestodestabiliseeconomies.
“We have raised an alert about the
capital cost of the projects that proceed,” the IEA said, citing Guyana’s Stabroek Blockasaprimeexample.
The Stabroek Block whichisestimatedtohold11 billion barrels of oil equivalent is operated by
American oil giant
ExxonMobil Corporation through its subsidiary ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) Exxon holds 45% interest while its partners Hess and CNOOC hold 30% and 25% interest
respectively
“IntheStabroekBlockin Guyana,thefavourablefluid qualityandreservoirvolume made projects commercially viable despite the economic challenges of developing a new deepwater area,” the IEAsaid.
Oil was discovered offshoreGuyanain2015and by December 2019, oil production commenced Stabroek Block measures 26,800 square kilometers or 6.6millionacres.Todate,six projects have been sanctionedfordevelopment. These include, Liza One, Liza Two, Payara, Yellowtail, Uaru and Whiptail The first four projects are already in operation, producing an average 650,000barrels of oil per day (bpd), with an installedcapacityof900,000 bpd.
Exxon has already submitted an application for an eighth project, Longtail. Theoilcompanyisaimingto bringalleightdevelopments intoproductionbytheendof the decade, targeting a combined output of 1 7 millionbpd.
PrintedandPublishedbyNationalMedia& PublishingCompanyLtd. 24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.
Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456
Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams
Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
Guyanese are looking at a patient that may have to be put on life support soon. The PNCR haemorrhaged from theoutsideonSeptember1,whensomanyvoterssheltered inplace. Notonestepoutofthedoor Nottoanypolling station. Notforthepartyoftheirfathersandgrandfathers. TheAFCdisintegratedfirst,andthatwastheverdictofthe ballotbox. NowthePNCRhaemorrhagesfurther,almost like a river, this time on the inside with longstanding members throwing in the towel, wanting to put as much distancebetweenthemselvesandthepartythattheyloved solong.
The first question is what is going on? The second is why so many, some who it was believed couldn't be separated from the PNCR by a blowtorch, or a tow truck winching and hauling away a stuck object? The third question that the PNCR cowers from is who is next, how manymorecouldtherebelininguptojumpship? Thereisa school of thought that there is great disfavour with Mr AubreyNorton'sleadershipofthepartyinthelastelections, in that he wasn't trying hard enough, and what could be responsible for that approach. There seems to be some reasonable grounds for such ideas, since the PNCR was a far cry from its usual boisterous campaigning self. Why was it so subdued? Why the embarrassing intervals of starting and stopping in coalescing talks with the AFC? Why were there not greater efforts to cultivate crossover voters from across the political and racial divide? All of those issues have now come full circle and stop at Mr Norton'sdoor
Nortonistheproblem,anditisahugeone,accordingto manyPNCRinsiders. ForthePNCRtogrow,hehastogo. It'sassimpleasthat,andthatjarring. Thereappearstobea consensusbuildinginsideofthePNCR,thatsinceNortonis theproblem,hecannotbepartofthesolution. Itisobvious that the voters were not inspired to any great degree by Norton,whichtheymadeknowninthemostunambiguous st manneronSeptember1 Itwastheworstperformancefor the PNCR since Guyana gained Independence in 1966, almost60yearsago. Anyleaderthatpresidesoversucha disastrous run at the polls, hailed as the most crucial in Guyana'shistory,hasonlyoneoptionleft. Hehastodothe decentthing,andresignimmediately ThefactisthatMr Norton is hanging around, even as he is losing party veterans in a steady trickle. It's a trickle that threatens to deteriorateintoafull-fledgedexodusofcomrades.
Todate,thereisnoindicationthatthosewhohaveleft thePNCRhavebeenboughtoverbythePPPCjuggernaut. The timing is all wrong, since the returning PPPC Government has already handed out the plum political positionstopeoplethattheparty'sleadersfeelwereontheir side when everything was still up in the air, personnel decisionsstilltocome. So,anyclaimofpoliticalbetrayal wouldn'thavemuchtraction,whichrefocusesalleyesright back on Aubrey Norton. He seems unfazed by the departures, and gives every impression of digging in his heels for a long stay He makes that his position, and commonsense suggests that he would become the worst enemy of the PNCR, and probably be responsible for tumbling it into oblivion. A leader open to listening, one that is inclined to reason, would not want to stick around. Thecircumstancesandswellofnegativesentimentaretoo muchagainsthim. IfthePNCRleaderisnothearingthat, then he, at least, should be sensing it, given the savvy political veteran that he is. Whether it is a stubbornness bornofpride,orsomemisplacedvisionthathecouldbethe savior of a party now on the rocks, that's up for debate. Whateveritis,hehastoletgoofhisego,andthinkofnot what is good for Aubrey Norton, but what's good for the party of Burnham and Hoyte, and of so many others. AubreyNortonshoulddotherightthing:resign.
DearEditor, Elisabeth Harper was probably known only by those in political and diplomaticcirclesduringthe yearswhilethePPP/Cwasin thepoliticalopposition.
Weeks after the PPP/C came to power in October 1992, I was dispatched to a number of our overseas missions, principally to assess the staff strength, it's potentialandeffectivenessto executetheforeignpolicyof President Cheddi Jagan and hisnewgovernment.
The point here is that as thePresidentialcandidateof thePPP/CCheddiJaganhad pledged during his elections campaign to make drastic cuts to the budgetary allocations for the Office of the President and the MinistryofForeignAffairs.
Effectively, this meant thattheforeignpolicyofthe new government was to be pursued at a time when Guyana was a heavily indebted, poor country; when debt relief was an almost impossible achievement and when financial resources were scarce both nationally and internationally
Mytaskwastoexplainto the staff at Guyana's overseas missions the
financial challenges facing the new government, why cutsintheforeignministry's budget was necessary, and how it will impact the staff strengthandexecutionofthe foreign policy of the new administration.
It was during my visit to our High Commission in London in November 1992, that I met Elisabeth Harper for the first time. She was posted there as a Senior Foreign Service Officer (SFSO).
While conversing with SFSOHarperduringmystay atthemission,Iassessedher to be knowledgeable of the mission statement of the Foreign Ministry and the functions of a High Commission. She had read aboutpoliticaldevelopments in Guyana and as a professional, was fully prepared to help further the tasks assigned to the High Commission, the foreign ministry and the foreign policy of the new government.
Afterwards, I recognised SFSO Harper as a valuable human resource for the ForeignMinistry
When she sat with President Ramotar, former PresidentJagdeoandIasthe thenGeneralSecretaryofthe
PPPandacceptedtherequest to be the Prime Ministerial candidate in the 2015 election, it was probably the boldestpoliticalstepshehad ever taken to be recognised as a person with an unblemishedcharacter
Ambassador Harper understood well that d i p l o m a c y i s a communication process between states and political entities and that there is a fundamental difference between the person who decides on the content and the person who delivers the message.
Ambassador Harper has left us at a time when the world is currently experiencing unprecedented social, political and military upheavals in Asia, Europe and the Middle East; This distinguished daughter of Guyana has left us at a time when Guyana's case concerning the Arbitral AwardofOctober3,1899is currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ); when climate change, food, energy and defense security have risen to the top of government's foreignpolicyagenda;
And as Guyana's Ambassador to CARICOM, the consummate diplomat
hasleftusatatimewhenthe region continues to be faced with serious security challenges including drug trafficking, organised crime human trafficking, migration, the threat of nuclear weapons and unfavourabletradetariffsall of which, cumulatively, are proving to be divisive at the national and international levels in some member states.
I have absolutely no doubt that given her admirable skills and diplomatic prowess, and knowing that international relations and diplomacy
A
H
per remainedwithuswithallher freshnessinthoughts,fullof the energy and yet cautious asdemonstratedbymembers ofhercalling,shewouldstill be engaged regularly and in regularised negotiations as oneofGuyana'soutstanding and a valuable human resourcewhocouldberelied upon to capably and effectively implement the main tenets of the IrfaanAli administration's foreign policy
Yoursfaithfully, ClementJ.Rohee Minister of Foreign Affairs(1992-2001)
DearEditor,
As Guyana advances its developmentagenda,thereis immense value in looking
international partnerships to accelerate sustainable urban
Malaysia and China to strengthen cooperation on smart city pilot projects offers a compelling model from which Guyana can learnandadapt.
At the ASEAN-China Ministerial Roundtable on Construction2025,Malaysia and China announced plans to establish smart city commandcentresinsecondtier Malaysian cities such as Ipoh and Seberang Perai. These projects will serve as livinglaboratoriesfortesting smart technologies, energyefficient designs, and community-focusedhousing models. Malaysia intends to draw on China's advanced
Hangzhou's City Brain and Shenzhen's Smart City Data Platform, to create urban systems that are digitally
connected, environmentally sustainable, and socially inclusive. This partnership underscoresabroaderlesson for Guyana. With our economy expanding rapidly andoururbancentresfacing increasing demands, we too mustbegintoviewcitieslike Georgetown, Linden, and NewAmsterdamaspotential pilotsitesforinnovation.By engaging ASEAN partners, Guyana could introduce e n e r g y - e f f i c i e n t infrastructure, IoT-based building management, and integrated digital services that improve the daily lives of citizens while ensuring long-termresilience.
Equallysignificantisthe emphasis on green features and social innovation Malaysia's collaboration with China includes solar energy, waste separation, water-saving technologies, and housing designs that are elderly-friendly and familycentric. These are precisely thekindsofinnovationsthat Guyanarequiresifweareto build cities that meet the needs of middle- and low-
income groups while also preparing for the climaterelated challenges of the future. Malaysia has gone further by inviting China, Japan, and South Korea to participate in theASEAN+3 Real Estate Conference (AREC) 2026, which will convene in Kuala Lumpur Guyana should consider seeking observer status or initiating similar dialogues. Participation in such forums would expose our policymakers to tested strategies, allow for the exchange of expertise, and create new networks of cooperation that extend beyondtraditionalregions.
Equally important is the proposal for a structured training and exchange programme between Malaysian and Chinese officials in urban planning and public policy This is a model Guyana could emulate, enabling our planners, engineers, and ministry officials to learn directly from ASEAN experiences and return with practicalknowledgethatcan beadaptedtolocalrealities. Malaysia's example is clear:smartcitycooperation is not only about adopting newtechnologies.Itisabout leadershipthatactivelyseeks out partnerships, embraces knowledge-sharing, and ensures implementation on the ground. Guyana has the opportunity to take similar steps now, before urban congestion, housing s h o r t a g e s , a n d environmental pressures becomemoreacute. IurgeHisExcellencythe President and our senior ministers to consider ASEAN engagement as a priority in Guyana's development strategy Forging structured collaborationsinsmarturban development could be transformative, positioning Guyana not only as a beneficiary of global best practicesbutalsoasaleader in sustainable and inclusive city-building within the Caribbean.
Yourssincerely, Dr WalterH.Persaud WCD
DearEditor,
Despite extensive d e v e l o p m e n t projects roads, bridges,
hospitals, and major initiatives like the new Demerara Harbour Bridge and Linden to Mabura Road—many Guyanese feel these signs of progress have insignificant effect on their quality of life. High GDP growth (10.3% in 2025), strong reserves $(US) 1 billion,lowinflation(2.9%), and rising per capita GDP ($US 29,883) offer minimal comfort Instead, people seek improvements that directly enhance their personal and family wellbeing as well as alleviate their economic and social challenges.
In the 2025 elections, voters prioritised personal, family, and community
development over infrastructure projects In Region 10 (Linden), despite the PPPC's heavy c a m p a i g n i n g a n d highlightingofprojects,they gained only 1,098 more votesthanin2020.Thenew WIN party, with no political history,received2.4timesas
many votes as the PPPC, appealing to voters through gifts, promises of livable wages, cost-of-living relief, larger cash grants, and n e i g h b o u r h o o d revitalization as well as criticising the PPPC's handling of corruption Infrastructure achievements were marginal to their campaignmessages. Guyana is becoming more materialistic, with many seeking immediate rewards especially from its oil revenue. The US$3.1 billion in the NRF (Natural Resources Fund) is especially enticing. Many people struggle to see the value in infrastructure projects and, while rallies generate enthusiasm, there remains dissatisfied individualswhopreferdirect benefits like cash grants to addressurgentneeds. The PPPC government has announced another oneoff cash grant (over $(G)100,0000) before Christmas 2025. However, ongoing grants could encourage dependency and raisesustainabilityconcerns. If cash grants are needed,
they should be conditional and targeted at easing living costs, supporting business startups, home ownership, education advancement, or jobcreation.
Providing employment, free education, free healthcare, affordable housing, livable wages. and safe neighbourhoods can help address economic and social challenges Cash grants alone will not accomplish these goals. It is noted that employment opportunitiesareavailablein Guyana, particularly in agriculture, construction, transport, logistics, health, and oil and gas sectors.
Despite the existence of v a c a n c i e s , m a n y unemployed Guyanese do not possess the required skills to fill these positions. F o r e x a m p l e , t h e construction sector faces a workforce shortage of approximately 50% (CLBD).
The government is addressing labour force issues by rapidly expanding technical and vocational trainingthroughTVETand (Continuedonpage6)
DearEditor,
Zadok Ministers Fellowship extends our heartfelt congratulations to His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali on his re-election to a second term as the 9th Executive President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana; to the Hon Brigadier (Ret'd) Mark Phillips on his reappointment as Prime Minister; and to Dr Bharrat
Jagdeo on his re-
appointment as Vice President. We also extend congratulations to the new Cabinet of Ministers and Presidential Advisors recently appointed by the President.
We recognise the clear mandate you have received, Mr President, and celebrate this achievement as a testament to the confidence placedinyourleadershipby thepeopleofGuyana.
Excellency,asyoubegin your second term, may Almighty God inspire and guide your leadership. We pray for you and your beloved family during this newterm,askingthathealth, wisdom,andpeacesurround you as you lead with integrity, compassion, and excellence.
We commend your steadfast dedication to fostering unity among Guyana's diverse peoples and communities. We share
DearEditor, I have written three letters on matters related to the 2025 General and Regional Elections Now that the elections are over, I amreturningtothesubjectto share my take on the outcomewiththenation.
Tomakemypresenttask easier, and to be frank with readers,letmestateupfront what I did not expect as possible outcomes in the elections.Theseare,thelow voterturnout,theWINparty replacingAPNUasthemain parliamentary opposition with a huge margin, and the PPP's four-seat majority I expected a close finish betweenAPNUandthePPP, withWINinthirdplace.That wasmybestjudgment.
your vision of building a strong and resilient nation where every Guyanese can enjoy economic, social, emotional, cultural, physical, and spiritual wellbeing and a higher standard ofliving.
As you embark on this journey, we leave you with this encouragement from Holy Scripture, Jeremiah 29:11:“ForIknowtheplans Ihaveforyou,saystheLord, plansforwelfareandnotfor evil,togiveyouafutureand a hope.” May God bless His Excellency, the Cabinet, the Government, and the Cooperative Republic of Guyanaabundantly Z a d o k M i n i s t e r s Fellowship
I now return to the main focus of the letter Fair and freeelectionsboileddownto the following: (1) voter participation (2) a level playing field (3) a credible voterslist,(4)anon-partisan election commission; (5) restrictions on the spending of the incumbent (6) parties' organization not only at election period but throughout the five years span; (7) money; (8) a resistance culture; (9) the absence of vote buying; and (10) the inevitable influence of external forces on the population and the election actors All these factors shapedtheelectionoutcome. Beyond the issues already mentioned, the support of sections of the African populationforWINandPPP stemmed from years of economic hardship and desperation,ratherthanfrom any embrace of multi-racial politics, as some claim. It also reflected frustration with the opposition's failure to practice resistance politics, especially the APNU, the main force within the opposition. Of equal importance was the failure of the African collective to turn the (2023) LocalGovernmentElections into an African and Guyanese uprising to achieve its political objectives. The PNC fought to preserve political space but failed to grasp the limits
ofthatstrategy Theyignored the obvious reality: a political uprising would have prevented the government from reshaping the composition of the local bodies By taking the position they did, the PNC played directly into the hands of the PPP and its internal and external allies. In the end, they forced the PNC/APNUandtheAfrican community into elections under conditions that guaranteed its defeat. Since our community was not "battle-ready", we needed a major pre-election struggle to energise the base and to allow the young generation voters to experience our collectivestrength.Wefailed todoso. Instead,weentered the elections with our collective weakness, which negatively affects our base. Unfortunately, it produced a disastrousoutcome.
The issue of why there was no APNU/AFC coalition was a major concern for the opposition base.This failure negatively impacted the opposition, leading to voter apathy and, more importantly, a shift in supporttotheWINparty
The WIN party and its leader have to quickly translate their tremendous success into effective political capital or lose it. Thisisnotaneasytaskwith an entrenched PPP majority intheparliament.Inthenew parliament,theoppositionis in a worse position than in the last parliament. Their presencewillonlylegitimise the claim that Guyana is a multi-party parliamentary democracy if they fail to pushformeaningfulchange. Politically,WIN has already lost the first round. They missed the opportunity to rallysupportersinthestreets tobacktheirclaimsofeither winningtheelectionorbeing cheated. Instead, they have donenothing,andfrustration is spreading within their ranks. Many supporters, whose backing is more transactional than ideological, see the decision not to mobilize as a loss of bread-and-butterincome.
These individuals had
placedtheirhopesinWINto address their economic and social hardships. Now that reality has set in, WIN's ability to function as an effective opposition with grassrootssupportislikelyto collapse sooner than expected. Mohamed cannot continue to spend the huge sums of money he spent on the elections His objective/commitment to doing so was to avoid jail time in the US Having achieved that objective, overachieving politically, andwinning16seats,thereis no incentive for him to continue to spend the family's financial resources as he had done. Given the challenges, it is likely WIN willdoworsethanAPNUin thelastparliament. Politically, WIN and the PPPhave to either reconcile their differences and return to their historic alliance or turn their differences into a permanent, divisive struggle.Inrealpolitikterms, thePPPhastheupperhand;it needsnothingfromWIN.On the other hand, if WIN is to succeed,itneedstobegiven space in parliament by the PPP to help it be seen as an effective opposition Realpolitikdoesn'tallowthe PPPthatoption;theywillsee helping WIN as selfdestructive, and not in their interest. They will rather back-door PPP/WIN collaboration outside the publiceye.Facedwiththese challenges, going forward, WIN will have to decide whether it has meaningful parliamentary leverage – or better off investing in street protests and resistance to keep its base and be politically relevant. It was this dilemma that faced the APNU/AFC, and they were foundwanting. The outcome of the elections is that Africans objectively contributed to their own domination. In WPA public meetings, in support of the APNU election campaign, we pointedoutthattheelections were about national issues andthefutureoftheAfrican community Iarguethat (Continuedonpage6)
DearEditor,
The People's National Congress (PNC) has been before I was conceived and will remain long after my earthly departure
Established more than 60 years ago by its Founder Leader, the late Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, the PNC was built with strong structures at both the CentralandRegionallevels. ThePartyisfirmlygrounded on its five core principles enshrinedinitsConstitution, andguidedbytheCongress, Central Executive Committee, and General Council bodies where decisions are made. To this day, these structures remain active within the framework of the Party, making it the only mass-based political organisationinGuyanawith sucharesilientandenduring system. In my view, the PNCR continues to be the only political entity that many right-thinking Guyanese genuinely believe in, because its ideology is centered on improving the lives of ordinary people, giving hope, and building a citizenry that contributes meaningfully to national development.
It is true that the Party is facing challenges like many organisations do. But thisisnotnewtothePNCR. Following the change of government in 1992, the Party faced a massive exodus, yet it remained viable and continued to be a voice for thousands of Guyanese Historical records remind us that in 1997, the PNC was cheated at the polls, but it did not surrenderthestruggle.Inthe 2006, General and Regional Elections (GRE), under the leadership of Cde. Robert Corbin, the PNCR secured t w e n t y - t w o ( 2 2 ) parliamentaryseats.In2011, under theAPNU banner led by Cde. David Granger, the Party won twenty-six (26) seats.By2015,aspartofthe APNU+AFC coalition, we captured thirty-three (33) seats and formed the government. Even in the contentious 2020 elections, the Party; again under APNU+AFC secured thirty-one (31) seats. The point here is clear, despite being out of government since 1992, the PNCR has demonstrated resilience and hascontinuedtoimproveits performances at various
Relectoral stages No one should ever write off the PNCR.
As a stalwart, I will continuetoserve,regardless of the difficulties With renewed spirit and vigor, I amconvincedthatthePNCR will rise again. It is my duty t o e n c o u r a g e o u r membership and supporters not to lose hope.Across this country,Ihaveengagedwith personsfromdifferentethnic and social backgrounds, all of whom share the same plea:donotletthelegacyof ourFounderLeader,thelate LFSB,die.
It is time for the leadership and membership to engage in deep introspection of the current state of the Party, to find solid resolve, and to move forward united and strong. I also look forward to the return of many comrades who may have drifted, so that together we can rebuild this great institution. We cannotremaindivided,forin unitythereisstrength.
Iholdfirmlytothebelief that the PNCR will rise again. May the blessings of AlmightyGodbewithusall.
Yourssincerely, AnnetteFerguson
Frompage5 while the nation's interest willbeaddressed,thereisno guarantee that African interestswillbeaddressed.
Our logic was clear; all thecontestingpartieshadno explicit commitment to African interests to the extent required, except for theWPA.
The election results demonstrated the profound crisis in the African community that cut across all sectors: political, social, economic,religious,cultural and the youth Africans' contribution to their own domination vindicates the UN observation in its advocacy in the Decade for People of African Descent, that the historical damage fromtransatlanticslaveryon
ourpeopleandcommunities leaves us vulnerable and unprepared to deal with the survivalchallenges. As a community, we must confront the reality of the election outcome and engage in serious selfcriticism, both privately and publicly
While the results represent our collective failure and responsibility, it would be wrong to let those most accountable escape scrutiny Avoiding blame where it is due is counterproductive,giventhe gravityofthesituation.
The younger generation of politicians, especially those who broke away from theAPNUtoformtheirown parties, chose to support a potential minority
government, a decision that exposed their political immaturity
This reflects a failure to grasp the historical moment and the transformative impact that oil will have on thecountry
Inconclusion,Iaskthese younggenerationpoliticians on which planet they are livingonwiththeirsplitvote advocacy?
Our destiny lies in the much-postponed struggle to change the governance systeminthecountry,ending winner-take-all politics but the election results are a setback to that line of struggle.
We are now in moneytakes-allpolitics.
Yourssincerely, TacumaOgunseye.
egion Six (East B e r b i c eCorentyne)ViceChairman,ZamalHussainis set to vacate his seat for a more prestigious role in the National Assembly as a legislator for the governing People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) when th the 13 Parliament is convened.
On Saturday, President Irfaan Ali announced that Hussain will be among the n e w c r o p o f parliamentarians to serve alongside members of his newcabinet.
Speaking to Kaieteur News Tuesday, Hussain expresseshiselationatbeing handed such a crucial role, one considerably weightier than his current senior position.
“ServingasanMPinthe country, and to a lesser extent, Region Six has always been my focus in terms of assisting residents ofRegionSixandacrossthe country Serving the people of Guyana is a passion for me,”hestated.
Once a councillor at the RDC, Hussain joined chairman, David Armogan back in 2020 as its vicechairman.
He gave a passing grade to the advancements, which hewasabletofacilitateboth p e r s o n a l l y a n d professionally
“In Region Six, for the pastseveralyearsasthevicechairman…a lot of persons reached out to me
Zamal Hussain
Personally, with the help of the government, I have assisted numerous amounts of persons in different types of problems, be it drains, be itpersonalempowerment,be it economic empowerment, be it issues pertaining to assistance and several other things. If you're a politician, you can use those opportunities to help people.”
Hussain affirmed his intention to use his national platform to push for holistic and sustained development forhisregion,astherangeof his political reach will be extendedonceheissworn-in as a member of parliament. At age 54, the well-known Berbician conveyed his eagerness to assume yet anotherroleinhispubliclife, as long as he can create positive changes to the lives ofhisfellowcitizens.
The businessman and politician, who is also a
religious leader, has been a memberofthePPP/C,taking up ordinary assignments for the party during the 1992 elections.
His political starting point in 2006, saw him serving the RDC as a councillor, having been approachedbythenregional chairman, Zulfikar Mustapha to formally sit on thecouncil.
He served on several critical committees of the region, including those of infrastructure,educationand health.In2020,Hussainwas the golden pick of vice president,BharratJagdeofor vicechairforEastBerbice–Corentyne, which the party won at that year's elections. Elevating from the regional to the national level, he noted, is a responsibility he deemshumbling.
“Joining the team in parliament now, I am very, very elated. It is a privilege to serve the people,” he told Kaieteur News, using the moment to also heap gratitudeontheleadershipof the party, particularly PresidentAli, vice president and party general secretary BharratJagdeo,andMinister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha for their assistance to his political journey and reposing great faithinhiscapabilities.
“As a representative coming from Berbice, I personally will ensure that Berbicehastheirfairshare,” the incoming lawmaker pledged.
Politicians should recognise....
Frompage5
BIT programs across all 10 regions Training covers subjects like carpentry, masonry, auto mechanics, welding, computer programming, CCTV installation, data analysis, AC, and refrigeration. From 2020–2024, BIT produced an average of 2,553 graduates yearly; in 2023 TVET graduated 1,771 students with 4,255 registeredforTVETin2024. More females complete BIT programmes, while TVET sees higher male enrollmentandgraduation.
A Labour Ministry tracer survey of 228 BIT graduates found that only 19% worked in their field of training, 56% w e r e e m p l o y e d elsewhere, and 24% did not respond This mismatch between TVET/BIT programmes and labour force needs do highlight the urgent
need to update courses to better match current skillsdemands.
Alongside TVET (Technical, Vocational and Educational Training) and BIT (Board of Industrial Training) centers, state agenciessuchastheGuyana School of Agriculture, MinistryofHumanServices (WIN programme), University of Guyana, and GuySuCo also provide training, though available datawasnotaccessible.
According to a Private SectorCommission'ssource, about 10,000 workers have received training through local and international programmes.
For instance, some w o r k e r s r e c e n t l y participated in SBM Offshore Guyana's Trainee Technician Program in Canada for technical skills development, with Phase 2 taking place at the $(US) 13 million FacTor Simulator
Unit funded by Exxon and Partners at Port Mourant, Corentyne.
A CLBD (Center for L o c a l B u s i n e s s Development) study shows Guyana will need 52,396 more workers in four years. If local training is insufficient, migrant labour may be needed, but the government is enhancing training programs to prioritise local workforce development.
The Ministry of Labour is now the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning (MLMP), emphasising skills training and AI technology for the Guyanese workforce Minister Keoma Griffith should assess how skills acquisition and AI affect employment level, as these f a c t o r s r e l a t e t o unemployment,povertyrate, andsocialwell-being.
Regards
Dr.TaraSingh
The fire-damaged house.
The Government of Guyana has pledged to help rebuild the home of an Eastville Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara family that was destroyed by fire lastweek,AttorneyGeneral, Anil Nandlall has announced.
In a Facebook post, Nandlall said that on behalf of the Government of Guyana, he visited the family whose home was destroyed by fire Tuesday morning.
Hesaidhecommiserated with the family on behalf of HisExcellencyPresidentDr MohamedIrfaanAliandthe Government, "and offered assistance to the family in respect of their immediate needs as well as regarding helping to reconstruct their destroyed abode," Nandlall saidinthepost.
He noted that the fire of unknown origin took place
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall interacts with the victims of the fire.
lastSaturdayandcompletely destroyedthedwellingofthe family consisting of husband, wife, three adult childrenandgrandchildren. Only last week, over 30 people were rendered homeless after a fire broke out on James Street, Albouystown destroying fivehomesintheprocess. The Civil Defence
Commission (CDC) has since activated a shelter at the Six Head Lewis Gym to accommodate the displaced, providing temporary housing and personal supplies.
Reports are that governmenthaspromisedto paythreemonths'rentforthe affected families until they getbackontheirfeet.
Unfazed by the e l e c t i o n s thrashing and the resignations of key figuresofthepartyincluding its chairman, the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR)onMonday
Inastatement,thePNCR said it acknowledges the recent resignations of the Party Chairman, Cde ShurwayneHolder,fromhis position as Chairman and member of the CEC, Cde. Mervyn Williams, as a CEC Member, as well as his departureasamemberofthe party
"We wish to state unequivocally that the party takes these developments veryseriously
While it is indeed unfortunate, we respect the individuals' right to make personal choices, and at this time, our party members are free to decide their path withoutrestriction."
However, the party said, notwithstanding the foregoing, the "PNCR remainsaresilientandunited party, steadfast in its commitmenttoitsprinciples and the nation, even in this challengingperiod."
The PNCR said it has a proud history spanning over 70 years, during which members came and left, yet the party's core strength has onlygrownstronger
"This is not unfamiliar territory for us; political parties worldwide have faced similar moments of change and renewal. Our resilience is rooted in our unwavering dedication to our core values and our vision for a better Guyana," thestatementadded.
"The PNCR remains the only political party capable of standing firm against the PPPC.Weareconfidentthat, together, we will weather thisstorm,risestronger,and continue our mission to rescue and rebuild our nation.
We thank all supporters and members for their continued trust and commitment. The PNCR is here to stay, to serve, and to lead Guyana into a brighter future.
LonglivethePNCR,"the statementended.
Holder, a former Member of Parliament officiallysteppeddownfrom his position on Monday In anemailaddressedtoPNCR leader Aubrey Norton, Holder wrote, “I hereby tender my resignation as Chairman of the People's National Congress Reform
with immediate effect I would like to thank you as Party Leader, the Central Executive Committee, and themembershipoftheParty fortheconfidencereposedin meovertheyears.Iwishyou and the Party well in your efforts to rebuild and revitalise.”
When contacted by Kaieteur News forcomment, Holder declined to go into detail about his reasons for resigning.Hestatedonlythat he has no political plans at the moment and intends to focus on his family and personal development Holder previously served as a PNCR Member of Parliament from 2020 and played a central role in the APNU+AFC campaign, particularly on the Essequibo Coast and across Region Two, where he also served as the lead party representative. However, he was not chosen as one of 12 candidates selected to serve in the 13th Parliament, a decisionthatappearstohave triggered discontent within theparty
Also,onMondayanother member of the PNCR, Robert Maison confirmed hisresignation.Maison,who has been involved with the partysincetheeraofformer leader Desmond Hoyte, currently serves as a Councillor for Constituency Seven (Stabroek-Bourda) at the Georgetown Mayor and City Council and is an executive of the PNCR Georgetown District Despite resigning from the PNCR, Maison said he will continue in his council role untiltheendofhisterm.
Maison, speaking with Kaieteur News on Monday, noted that he followed party protocol in submitting his resignation to Norton, stating, “Based on the structure of the party that I have been a part of since 1 9 9 7 , I r e s i g n e d accordingly.”
He also revealed that his resignationwasinprotestof how Holder was treated, d e s c r i b i n g i t a s “disrespectful” that he (Holder) was excluded from the list of parliamentary candidates.
M a i s o n f u r t h e r expressed frustration over theinternaldecision-making process, claiming that his namewasremovedfromthe PNCR's national top-up list byCarolSmithJoseph,with Norton's knowledge Instead, he was placed only on a regional list, a move he felt undermined his
contributionstotheparty
These resignations come shortly after another highprofile departure, that of Williams, a longstanding executive member of the PNCR. Williams announced his resignation during his weekly Nation Watch programme in an interview with newly appointed MP Terrence Campbell. His exit from both the party and its Central Executive Committee reportedly caught leadership and membersbysurprise.
Despite the wave of resignations and growing discontent within the party ranks,PNCRLeaderAubrey Norton has remained silent. Multiple attempts by Kaieteur News to reach him for comment were unsuccessful.
The departures follow the PNCR-led coalition's recent announcement of the 12 members who will represent the party in the 13th Parliament over the next five years. Notably, Norton will not be returning toParliamentbutwillremain as party leader The parliamentary team will be led by Dr Campbell and includes returning MPs Coretta McDonald, Ganesh Mahipaul, and Nima Natasha Flue-Bess. Several newcomerswillalsojointhe ranks, including political commentator Dr. David Hinds, Riaz Zakeer Rupnarain, Sherod Avery Duncan, Linden Mayor Sharma Raheem Solomon, attorney and peace ambassador Dr Dexter Todd, gospel artiste and entrepreneur Saiku Andrews, and PNCR ViceChairman Vinceroy H Jordan, who represents RegionFive.
This announcement comes on the heels of the PNCR and its coalition APNU's disappointing performance in the September1elections.
The newly formed We InvestinNationhood(WIN) party, led by businessman Azruddin Mohamed, secured 16 parliamentary seats,pushingAPNUtothird place.
The ruling People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), led by President Irfaan Ali, won 36 seats, securingAliasecondtermin office. As Norton continues to grapple with the fallout from the party's electoral defeat, he now faces the unexpected resignation of one of the PNCR's most longstandingmembers.
Under the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) government, it seems our rulers prefer governingbygutinstinct,or perhapsbythefaintsmellof political expedience, rather than by the constitutional directives. For the past five years, two positions have remained conspicuously vacant: the Secretary to the Cabinet, required by the Constitution, and the Head
of the Presidential Secretariat,which,whilenot mandated, is a hallmark of competentgovernance.
One might wonder whether the government simply misplaced these offices, like car keys left on thekitchencounter Orifthe absence is intentional, a subtle experiment in chaos theory
The Secretary to the Cabinetisnot,assomemight imagine, a glorified notetakerorabureaucraticpaperpusher No, in the WestminstersystemGuyana supposedly follows, this is the custodian of memory itself.Heorsheensuresthat Cabinet decisions are meticulously documented, archived, and preserved for posterity
It is, in other words, the nerve center of institutional continuity Without such a person, the Cabinet risks degeneratingintosomething where decisions vanish into the thin air And yet, for years, this post has been vacant, leaving ministers to rely on memory, hearsay, or perhapsinterpretivedanceto convey policy decisions One can almost hear the Cabinet meetings now: “I vaguely remember we agreedtothat...ordidwe?”
Thenthereisthevacancy
of the Head of the PresidentialSecretariat.This
personplaysacriticalrolein coordinating the machinery ofthepresidencyitself.This position ensures that the President’s agenda is organized, priorities are clearly communicated across ministries, and interdepartmental initiatives are tracked and executed efficiently
In effect, the Secretariat functions as the nervous system of the executive, translating the President’s decisions into coordinated action.
The Head of the Presidential Secretariat had in the past served as a gobetween the media and the government. But today, the media is left scavenging for information from the General Secretary of the PPPC at his weekly press conferences, a role so inseparablypartisanthatone wondersifjournalistsshould b r i n g p r o t e c t i v e gear—masks,gloves,maybe even a seeds’ guard to fend offthespin.
In the past, the role of pressliaisonwasundertaken by the Head of the Presidential Secretariat, most notably by Dr Roger Luncheon, who at least had the decency to brief the mediaonthedeliberationsof Cabinet.Today,thatpractice has lapsed. The silence is profound. It is the kind of silence that compels one to invent imaginary Cabinet meetings just to feel a modicum of governmental engagement.
One might argue that appointing these officials is merelyabureaucraticdetail, a trifle among the myriad challenges of governance. But here’s the rub: these are not details—they are the difference between a functioning state and a
glorified shadow show The Secretary to the Cabinet preserves institutional memory, ensuring that decisions are not ephemeral and that ministers cannot simply shrug and declare, “Oh,Ithoughtwemeantthe opposite ” The press secretary, meanwhile, prevents the information vacuumfrombeingfilledby rumour, conjecture, or the General Secretary’s charmin
n musings.
And yet, the PPPC has, for five long years, treated these positions as if they were optional, like an umbrella in a monsoon or a napduringasleeplessnight. Perhaps the government is testing a new philosophy of governance: “If we ignore the Constitution long enough, maybe everyone will forget it exists.” Or maybetheysimplyenjoythe tension of a Cabinet shrouded in secrecy, the thrill of clandestine deliberation. Either way, the experiment is perilous, teetering on the brink between absurdity and authoritarianism.
Now,thereisaflickerof hope. Rumours swirl that appointments are imminent. One can almost hear the bureaucratic harbingers preparing for their ceremonial entry, briefcases in hand, pens poised, and perhapsatouchofexistential dread in their eyes. It is a relief to imagine that the Constitution will finally be acknowledged, that the Cabinet will have its memory restored, and that the media might again hear from someone who is not a party functionary. Yet, one cannot help but fret: will these appointments be meaningful, or will they be
Amancomeshomeadaytohewifeafter winningdelottery Hetellhewife,“Honey, ifahwindelottery,watyuhwoulddo?”
Dewifewasnotinagoodmood.Soshe tellhe,“Ahwouldtakehalfofitanddenleff yuh.”
Withahugegrinonheface,dehusband say, “Perfect!Ah win ten dollars! Here tek fiveandbeonyuhway!”
Butwinningdelotteryisnoteasy Some peopledoesmekitastudy
Deh gat people does be studying dem lotto numbers as if dem preparing fuh engineering exam. Dem does be writing downallkindcombinations.
Somedoesplaydesamenumbersallde time in de hope dat one day dat set of
another vignette in the absurdcomedyofGuyanese governance?
Will the Secretary to the Cabinet dutifully record decisions, or will they, like the rest of us, occasionally wishtheyhadstayedhome?
The vacancies of the Secretary to the Cabinet and the Head of the Presidential Secretariatarefarmorethan
bureaucraticlapses.
Theyaresymptomaticof a political system flirting with opacity, where the line between party and state has becomeablur
numbers gan be de winning combination. And nuff men does go and gamble out dem moneyanddemwifedoesleffdembecause demcan’tsupportdehome.
It mek dem boys remember de story of when de wife win de lottery She was suh exciteddatwhensheopendefrontdoor,she callout,“Packyuhbags,ahwindelottery!”
Dehusbandanswer,“Wehwegoing?”
To which de wife reply, “Watyuh mean ‘we’?”
Another time a wife ask she husband, “Would you still love me if yuh win de lottery?”
Dehusbandreply,“Ofcourse….ButI’d missyou.”
Talkhalf.Leffhalf.
Filling these positions is notacure-all,butitisafirst, indispensable step toward the restoration of transparency,accountability, andsanity Letushope,then, that the new appointees arrivesoon.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
Roll out of e-passports, electronic birth certificates part of major digital transformation
Guyanese citizens and international travellers will benefit from enhanced border securityandfaster,moreefficientservices,as the government continues to advance its nationaldigitaltransformationagenda.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, President Irfaan Ali said that both thebordercontrolande-gatesystemsarenow fully operational. The border control system went live in January 2025, while the epassportsystembecameactiveinFebruary
The new e-passport, equipped with advancedsecurityfeatures,providesGuyanese with a next-generation travel document that ensures safer and more efficient international travel These upgrades also align Guyana’s passport verification with international civil aviation standards, boosting the country’s globalrankingforpassportrecognition
“Wehavetoensurethatoursystemisrigid andstrongenoughtoidentifythreatsand,ina proactive way, give information to deal with those threats. This is why the border control ande-gatesystem,alongwiththee-passport, are so important to security and efficiency,” thepresidentexplained.
To further improve the service, an online passportapplicationportalisinitsfinalstages of development and is expected to go live beforetheendofthisyear.Thisplatformwill eliminate long lines at passport offices, allowing citizens to book appointments online and access services at the nearest decentralisedservicecentre.
The digitisation process is not limited to passports The government has already commenced work on electronic birth certificates and death certificates, with systemsbeingmigratedtodigitalplatformsto ensure faster processing and greater transparency PresidentAli underscored that all government services are being transitioned to digital platforms, with full digitisation targeted for completion by the secondquarterof2026.
Todrivethisinitiative,achieftechnology officer has been appointed, supported by the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), to manage the roll-out of digital platforms and monitor key performance indicatorsacrossgovernmentagencies.
The president also highlighted that this shift to digital platforms will create fintech opportunities while encouraging every citizen to own a bank account as part of the widermovetowarddigitalpayments.
A national survey has been launched to assess the level of digitisation in both the government and the private sector to ensure bothadvanceatthesamepace.
“This national digitisation initiative will improve transparency, accountability, and efficiency across all agencies, including security agencies. It will create a common framework that reduces the time to do business, improves service delivery, and builds a modern digital economy,” the presidentstated.(DPI)
There was the Jive Five. Hollywood presented the Magnificent Seven. Today, in Guyana, there're the 12 newlyarrived. Whatkindof 12 will these men and women of the PNC, of Guyana, be? It's the puzzle that intrigues, the one they must solve From new leader to greenest parliamentary newcomer They have to learn on the run. Swimorsink. ThePPP is watching. So is WIN. Me, too. Supporters of the former main opposition votedfourwayson9/1. For WIN mostly, a few for the PPP, some for the PNC. Or not at all. This is how low the PNC sank; how lackluster its appeal was then. Yesterday can't be recalled, but today is here. Andthisisthechallengefor members of the new PNC parliamentary team. There is the now What will they tell the people now? How will they represent the people in parliament now and for the next five years, andnotjusttheirown? How will they revive their base first,thenreconcileittotheir visions, and restore some prideinit? How,how,how? Aretheyuptoit?
There is no sense in
comparisonstothepast. The demands of the times, their people, Guyanese, are in front of them. Dr Terrence Campbell has been a successful businessman, by any measurement I understand that he is a man of faith and prayers. Both will be needed in ample supply There is too much godlessness in this country Icorrectmyself:thereisone god,andhisnameismoney. Anykindthatcomestohand. The PNC can bewail who bought votes, and who sold themselves. It should look inwards first, for it didn't even sell itself. Others, including its own, were crossingupitslines. Yet,in agameofnumbers,thePNC dawdled in taking the first steps towards snaring a few crossoversforitself. WhatdoesDr.Campbell haveinmindonthatreality?
For, in addition to the opposition's support base that eroded and crumbled, the PPP base also had its share of the disgruntled and disillusioned All those streams of money, all the purple headlines, and yet, and yet, the season was harder than guava, and even that couldn't be had. Yes, it wasthatbad. Thus,closeto
half of the electorate sat on its hands, and voted with their feet. Meaning, no stirring, no moving, no getting up and going out on Monday,September1,2025. The world of possibilities stood before Guyanese and they didn't believe, didn't trust,didn'tcare.
What does that say? What science and anguish are buried somewhere in there? Those answers are beyondmyrangeofinsights. But,thismuchIknow:inone oftherichestcountriesinthe world, too many Guyanese were at their unhappiest. It is fertile territory for all the political parties that just contested the elections. I repeat: all the parties have some work to do to interest and inspire apathetic and discontented citizens. For itspart,thePNCstartsoutin a hole, with its back to the wall, and the odds not looking favourable. The PNC, therefore, has to outthink, outflank, and outwork, the other parties combined. Clearly, it is facing a rebuilding stage in itsexistence,givenhowfarit has fallen. The party must reimagineitself.
Sometimesamanhasgot tofallflat,toknowhowlow
hehassunk. Andthechoices thatstarehimintheface. He hastwooptions. Staywhere heis. Or,throughanabiding self-respect, he digs deep, eats humble pie, and starts over on that long journey back to the estate of standing. Theparableofthe prodigalsonshouldresonate withGuyaneseofallstripes, which I hope that I didn't make too complex or mysterious. Ifnooneelsein Guyana understands the magnitude of what I left on the table, there is every confidence that Terrence Campbelldoes.
Guyanese are seeking inspiration. The 12 had better live that cliché that isn't a cliché in their case. The perspiration must flow WIN's Mohamed came out ofnowhereandgalvanizeda slew of voters to believe in him. It shouldn't be so farfetched to think that that could be extended to Dr Campbell and his team. Theydothehardwork;they stand a chance to reap some rewards. Theypersuadethe Guyanese voter of their honesty, reliability, and that they are trustworthy, and they can revive the fortunes
o f t h e PNC The vision is to be reconciled to Guyanese, beginning with their base. Restore some degree of confidence that they are real, and what is good for every Guyanese. Game on. Campbell must lead,learntoleaphigh. The 12 must come alive, drive forward,thrive.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the a
nd d
not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
Twenty-five-year-old
Jilicia Leitch, who was doused with a corrosive substance on September 3, has reportedly become visually impaired and remainshospitalised.
Prosecutors made the revelationintheGeorgetown Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, where her alleged attacker, 32-year-old Keron Merin Daniels appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty, prior to being remanded.
Attorneys for Daniels sought bail for the accused, however, the prosecution strongly opposed, pointing out that Leitch is still hospitalised and visually impaired. The prosecution highlighted the severity of Leitch's injuries, indicating she would require surgery “Due to the seriousness of the offence, the prosecution cannot let such acts go lightly,” the court was advised.
Daniels, of Uitvlugt
Pasture, West Coast Demerara, recently turned himself in to the police and confessedthatitwashewho threw the corrosive substance,saidtobeacid,on Leitch and 26-year-old
Nirmala Sukraj on Wednesday,September3.
Daniels doused the two female cashiers with the substance as they were walking along Middle and East Streets, Georgetown. Thewomen,bothemployees of Balwant Singh Hospital, werereportedlyontheirway to buy lunch when a man approached them and threw the liquid before fleeing the scene.
Police investigations
suggest the attack stemmed from a love affair involving Daniels, Leitch, and his partner. Daniels and Leitch reportedlysharedaromantic relationship earlier in the year,whichallegedlycaused tensions within his family when it was discovered
Investigators believe this could have been the motive behindtheattack.
Representedbyattorneys Ronald Daniels and Ronald Bostwick, Daniels was charged with two counts of throwing a corrosive substance with intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or cause grievous bodily harm to both victims. He was not requiredtoenteraplea.
During the court proceeding, Bostwick argued for reasonable bail, emphasisingthatDanielsisa father of four, aged 15, 10, three, and one, and has no prior convictions He contended that Daniels
posed no threat to society, stating, “There is no reason to protect him from anyone else.” Bostwick also assured the court that Daniels would comply with any conditions imposed.
Co-counsel Ronald Daniels added that the attacker was masked and unidentified on CCTV footage,andthedefencehad not been granted access to review the video evidence. Hefurtherallegedthatpolice coerced a confession from his client by threatening his wife and child. “We are adamant that in these circumstances, he should be grantedbail,”heargued.
Responding to claims that Daniels was not identified in the CCTV footage, the prosecution pointed out that footage placed him as the driver of the getaway vehicle. After hearingargumentsfromboth sides, Magistrate McGusty ordered a review of the CCTV footage and remandedDanielsincustody until the footage could be examined. His next court appearance is scheduled for today
In a previous interview with Kaieteur News, a close friend of Leitch, who requested anonymity, shared details of the immediate aftermath. He said Leitch had not disclosed exactly where she was going, only thatitwasalongEastStreet. He revealed that after the attack,LeitchandSukrajran in different directions seeking help Leitch reportedly entered a nearby GuinnessBarbutwasturned awaydespiteherobvious (Continuedonpage17)
RicefarmersinRegionFiveareclamoring attheshockinglylowpricesbeingofferedby millersforthiscrop,contendingthatifthereis not an increase, they will be unable to repay theirloans,paytherentontheirlandsandpay workers
Thispublicationreceivedreportsthatsome millersarenowofferingamere$2,800perbag of paddy, $1200 less than what they received lastcrop,whenthe$400governmentsubsidy wasadded
While attempts to contact millers for details proved futile, Carlos Carbo, general manager of SAJ Rice Group in Burma Road Mahaicony, explained that the price being offered for paddy is in accordance with
Frompage2
inadequate.“TheGPSUalsosuggeststhata wage policy be developed bilaterally to guidethewageincreaseoverthenext5years tomeetthegoalofalivingwageparticularly forthelowerpaidworkers,”thelettersaid.
Theunionthroughitspresidentsaidthat it has noted the government’s acknowledgement of “this urgent issue and the measures your administration had taken to alleviate the effects of rising food and otherpricesonthepopulation.”
“TheconceptofalivingwageinGuyana, particularly for Public Sector Workers, has beenarecurringtopicofdiscussionbetween the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) andtheGovernment.Whilespecificfigures forauniversallyagreed-upon“livingwage” can be complex to define due to varying methodologies and economic factors, the GPSUhasconsistentlyadvocatedforwages thatallowPublicSectorEmployeestomeet their basic needs, including food, clothing, and shelter, and escape poverty This advocacyintensifiedinresponsetotherising cost of living, which has disproportionately affected lower-income households,” the unionstated.
Further, the GPSU reminded that the government has acknowledged the challengesposedbytherisingcostofliving and has implemented various measures to mitigateitsimpact.
Some farmers have began to harvest despite low prices.
internationalmarketprice Hesaidoverthelast twoyears,ricepricehasbeenonthedecline
“So,thisisacommodity,anditdependson howtheworldmarketandtheworldpricesare Theworldpricedroppedin45percent,andso itgoesaccordingwiththat,becauseifitdoesn’t drop, we cannot sell The mill have to buy fromthefarmers,andthemillhastoexportit
And when we export, we compete with the internationalprice,”hesaid
Roopnarine Etwaroo, a rice farmer from MahaiconytoldthispublicationthatinRegion Five millers are offering $2800 per bag of paddy, which is a big fall compared to the $4000theyenjoyedlastcrop
“So currently, the price is set at $2800
“Thesemeasureshaveincludedtargeted financial relief, and adjustments to public sector salaries. However, the GPSU has oftenarguedthattheseadjustmentshavenot been sufficient to bridge the gap between current wages and a true living wage, especially for those at the lower end of the payscale,withtheUnionpushingforamore substantial and sustainable solution to address the issue of poverty among Public SectorWorkers.”
The letter continued: “The economic modelsusedtocalculatealivingwageoften considerfactorssuchastheaveragecostofa basket of essential goods and services, housing costs, transportation, and healthcare,aimingtoensurethatafull-time workercanaffordadecentstandardofliving without relying on additional social assistance.”
Additionally, the GPSU said that the public servants it represents have “demonstrated unwavering commitment, often under challenging circumstances, to deliveressentialservicestoourcitizens.”
“Their invaluable contributions, which arecriticaltotheeffectivefunctioningofour society, deserve to be recognized with fair andcompetitivecompensation,”GPSUsaid.
The GPSU has consistently called for increasedfundingforsalaryrationalization, and has argued that recent Guyanese government budgets, while emphasizing capital works and infrastructure, have not allocated sufficient resources to human capital development, particularly regarding public servants’ remuneration and working conditions.
“Similarly, the GPSU accentuates that superannuation benefits also require urgent review to ensure that these categories of workersareadequatelycompensated.”
Theunionsaidthatinaccordancewiththe Labour Act, Chapter 98:01 it is exercising “our right to negotiate for new terms and conditions of employment, including adjustments to wages and salaries We proposetobeginnegotiationsimmediatelyat amutuallyagreeablelocation”
The union has requested a meeting to deliberate on its proposals and the way forward. The letter was copied to President IrfaanAli.
whichislikeabreak-evenpoint,orevenunder abreak-evenpoint,becauselasttime,ouryield washigherbecausewehadn’tmuchincidence of like gandi and so on Right now, at least about80-90percentofthefarmersarebeing affected by bugs which has affected the yield overall,”hesaid
Speaking on behalf of the farmers in his area,Etwaroosaidtheloweryieldsaswellas thelowerprices,willcausefarmerstoleave
He explained that at $2800, by the time farmers offset their expenses, like fertiliser, labor, harvesting and transportation and the reparation for seed paddy, they may fall into debt,aseveryonehasraisedthepricesfortheir services, but paddy prices ran in the opposite direction
Etwaroo added, “The lands on which we areplantingtoo,arenotownedbythefarmers Weareleasingfrompeopletous Well,soby the time you pay all your expenses and your juice, farmers left with almost practically nothingtogobacktothefields,becauseright nowit’sadropof$1,200inpricefromthelast price
”
Asked if he would be returning to the fields,thefarmerrevealedthathealreadyhas his seed paddy which was bought before he becameawareofthegoingprice
Another farmer, Mark (only name given) from Weldaad West Coast Berbice, told this publicationthatwhilethepricessurprisedhim, hiscropisalmostattheharvestpoint
“We gotta do and try and see what to do with it I don’t take it on The paying system forpaddyistight Theygiving15percentand then60-90dayyougettingtherest ImagineI went to do some work but I just signed off ‘causeIwasn’tablenomore Igotloanstopay, I have no idea how it will pay off,” the man lamented
Meanwhile the Government of Guyana, has committed to engaging with rice farmers andmillersinordertoassessthesituationwith currentpricesofpaddyandaddressitassoon as possible Minister ofAgriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha told Kaieteur News subsequent to beingsworninasamemberofcabinetthat“In relation to the prices for paddy, the farmers recentlystarttoharvestit,harvestpaddy,and I’llbelookingatthat Ihaven’thadachance totalktofarmerstofindoutwhatarethereal issues So,inthecomingweeks,I’llbemeeting withthefarmers,meetingthemillerstowork with(and)seewhatsystemsareinplace,”he said
Mustaphaaddedthatheisonlynowaware thatpriceshavefallento$2800,sohewillhave to meet with the Guyana Rice Millers Association(GRMA)aswelltohaveabetter understandingoftheissueathand “Remember,overthelastcrop,wewould
haveimplementedasystemwherewemakeup thepriceofpaddy SoI’vebeenlookingatit I’mnotsayingthatwe’lldoitimmediately,but I have to listen to the concern, analyze the situation, see what we can do to resolve the matter,”heassured
He continued, “in relation to paddy bugs, we have a system in place where we are workingwithfarmerstoeradicateitand,first ofall,tocontrolitanderadicateit Ithinkwe have been very successful over the last three crops,” he said The minister added that farmers are provided with chemicals and the expertise of technical staff, who work along with them directly to get the pests under control Itishisopinionthatoverthelastthree tofourcropsdamageshavebeenlimited
On Tuesday at a press conference held at theOfficeofthePresident,PresidentAlisaid that this crop is yet another exciting one, however “the international market and international prices is not as exciting as the production itself So, I wanted to give some amountofinformationonwhatishappeningin relationtotheglobalmarket Now,whenyou lookatthericeproductionglobally,isitanalltime high, with major producers, exporters such as India, Vietnam and Brazil, having record levels of production, not only record levels of production, but record level of stockpile”
Heexplainedthatthisglutinthemarketis asaconsequenceofitbeingfloodedhencethe low prices The weighted average per ton of white rice is $450 this is according to export quotas at the end of August This is a $14 reductionfromamonthagoanda$228froma yearago
“Sonotwithstandingthis,theGovernment ofGuyana,asyouknow,hassupportedtherice sectorenormously Recently,wehad$2billion of price support to farmers, which ensure farmersreceiveapriceof$4,000perbag We providedfarmerswith$36billioninfertilizer, flood relief and seed paddy assistance,” the presidentreminded
Goingontoremindofeverythingelsethat was done he added that, “Now that tells you thatwhenyoulookatit,wehave,whilstweare looking at ways in which we confront this challenge, we have exhausted many of the tools available to assist farmers and Millers Nonetheless, today, the Minister of Finance and Agriculture had a meeting with Millers They’reexpectedtomeetagainlaterthisweek, andthentohavemeetingwithfarmersacross thedifferentregion,forustocomeuptogether withideastoeasetheimpactandtheburdenof this,ofthefallingglobalprices,theglutonthe marketandtherecordlevelofstockpilesothat our farmers the burden can be minimised on ourfarmers”
The government is spendingjustover$1billion toupgradetheSt.Cuthbert’s Missionmainaccessroadin RegionFour
This is according to Toshao Alvoro Simon, who in an interview with this publicationonTuesday,said the project has been one the main aspirations of residents.
The road he said, measuressome12milesand is being upgraded from the Linden junction all the way to the center of the village. Works which started in the second week of August, he noted is currently some 95 per cent complete It is hopedthattheprojectwillbe fully complete time for the village’s heritage programme slated for September27.
According to Simon, prior to the upgrade, residents faced several challengeswiththeprevious loamsurfaceoftheroad.He disclosed that not only the previous road had several
potholes, but when there were heavy rainfalls, sections of the road would washaway
He added that farmers would face difficulty in getting out their produce fromthevillage.
Hesaidthenewroadwill bringaboutahostofbenefits village has a huge tourism mandate.
“Wehavethedestination to St. Cuthbert’s mandate to fulfill, we are trying to incorporate agro-tourism as well into the package Besides that, transportation, have easier access for farmers to get their produce inandoutofthevillage,that is for sure one and it would also encourage more tourist tocomeintoourvillage,”he elaborated.
Commute for residents will also be easier and their village, which is known for hostingannualHeritageDay celebrations,Simonsaidthe new road will provide smoother and faster access forvisitors.
endanger the safety of persons who use the SarstoonRiver
he Caribbean
C o m m u n i t y (CARICOM) on
Tuesday called on Guatemala to ensure that its military forces desist from illegally entering Belizean territoryandfromaggressive actions which will raise tensions between the countries, escalate into a military conflict, and
In a statement, CARICOM said that it has been informed by the Government of Belize that on several occasions during the period 10-13 September 2025, elements of the Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF) entered Belizean territory in the Sarstoon Riverwhichbordersthetwo countries.
“The GAF members illegally hoisted a GuatemalanflagonBelizean territory, attempted to ram a
Belizeanmilitaryvessel,and harassed and obstructed Belizeans from freely and peacefully navigating the Sarstoon River These incursions and actions flagrantly violated Belize's sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the statement said.
Further,CARICOMsaid that on each occasion, Belizean military officers firmly asserted Belize's sovereignty, territorial integrity and legal position, “but acted with restraint and professionalism to prevent these
ve and provocative actions by GAF
Frompage3
talkingtoourpartners,andtohelpsupportus intermsofourairsurveillanceandtracking system,becausewedon’twantourterritory tobeused,wedon’twantourlandorseato beusedbyanycriminalnetwork,”Alisaid.
Hestressedthathisadministrationhasa duty and responsibility to make the necessary investments to secure Guyana’s borders and safeguard its people. He also outlined ongoing efforts to contribute to maintainingtheregionasazoneofpeace.
Further, when asked to address recent commentsbyVenezuela’sDefenseMinister Vladimir Padrino López, who warned of direct consequences if Guyana or Trinidad andTobagoallowtheirterritoriestobeused by the US military to attack Venezuela,Ali saidheisawareofthestatementsbutinsisted that Guyana’s sovereignty is a matter for Guyanaalone.
“What Guyana does in relation to its sovereignty is our business,” Ali asserted. Headded,“Iwanttomakeitveryclearthat ourpriorityasagovernment,asapeople,is to ensure this region remains a zone of peace…whilst our priority is to ensure that this region remains a zone of peace, we are alsoconsciousoftheimpactoftransnational crime, drug trafficking and other forms of illicitactivities,andtheimpactitcanhaveon ourpeople,theregion,andoureconomy.”
President Ali further outlined engagementsamongCaribbeanCommunity (CARICOM) member states, as well as meetings between Guyana and the U.S., aimed at strengthening cooperation in the fight against transnational crime and forming a coalition to target criminal networks.
officersfromescalating.”
“CARICOM recalls the duty of Belize and Guatemala to refrain from any action which may exacerbatethedisputewhile Guatemala's Claim is before the International Court of Justice,andreiteratesitscall forbothcountriestourgently
fulfil their commitment to design an effective mechanism of cooperation for the Sarstoon River and maritime spaces, with the a s s i s t a n c
Organisation of American States(OAS).”
A d d i t i o n a l l y , CARICOM recalled the
commitment of Belize, Guatemala and all states of the Region to maintain the Caribbean region as a Zone ofPeace.
CARICOM reaffirms its unwavering support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of Belize.
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A19-year-oldmantoldpolice on Tuesday that he had no knowledge of the cocaine and marijuana they found stashed near a stall he owns at Charity Back Street, Essequibo Coast, Region Two.
Themanwasidentifiedas Osay Tobin and according to police 28.8 grams of cocaine and 115.6 grams of cannabis were found near his vending quarters.
Policereportedlyreceived intelligence and decided to search his stall. They found nothinginsidethestall,butin a bushy area close by, they found a transparent plastic bag containing the cocaine andablackbagcontainingthe
The cocaine and Marijuana found near Osay Tobin’s stall marijuana. Despite denying he had knowledge of the drugs; he was taken into custody for further questioning. Investigations continue.
President Irfaan Ali on Tuesday unveiled the Georgetown City Revival Plan, an initiative aimed at revitalising the capital throughtargetedinvestments in infrastructure, drainage, road works, sanitation, and urban beautification.
According to the Department of Public Information, President Ali, speaking during a press briefing at the Office of the President, stated thattheplanwillformpartof abroadernationalstrategyfor sustainable urban development,beginningwiththecapital and its surrounding region. He emphasised that poor governance and inefficiency in managing the city could no longer be accepted.
“Themismanagementand inefficiency through which the city is managed can no longer be tolerated. It is time for us, as citizens and as a country, to take charge of the situation. We are advancing the rescue of Georgetown,” PresidentAlideclared.
DPI stated that over the past five years, the government has invested billions of dollars into improving Georgetown’s infrastructure, including drainage upgrades, roadworks,housingdevelopment, and the construction of a high-span bridge over the Demerara River These improvements,aimedatenhancingqualityoflifeanddriving economicgrowth,willnowbe supported by the newly launched city revival plan. Theplanisbeingimplemented in collaboration with the King’s Foundation.
The plan envisions a transformed,sustainable“Garden City” that reflects Guyana’s biodiversity, cultural heritage, and commitment to inclusive development. Several flagship projects have been proposed,
including:
• Recreational spaces and heritagerestoration:Rehabilitation of historic sites such as the old Transport and Harbours building and the formertrainstation.Thelatter will be repurposed to house a museum and training hub.
•StabroekWaterfrontDevelopment: A modernisation efforttargetingthewaterfront and market districts, with designs that showcase Georgetown’s identity as the “land of many waters.”
• Urban green enhancements: Restoration of urban landscapes and tourism-oriented upgrades to drainage canals,alongsidethedevelopment of the Lamaha Railway Courtyard project, a visual walk-throughofGuyana’shistory
•Sustainablegrowthclus-
ters: Expansion into agro-integrated zones, green infrastructure and transport links, and the revitalization of the city’s historic civic core, including Stabroek Market and Water Street.
PresidentAliunderscored that the plan is aligned with Guyana’sLowCarbonDevelopmentStrategy(LCDS)2030, ensuring that all initiatives promote environmental sustainability,economicresilience, and social inclusion.
Key priorities under the city’s urban framework include housing and infrastructure expansion, improved waste management and sanitation, increased flood resilience and climate adaptation, protection of the city’s heritage, and the development of a modern transport system aimed at easing congestion.
The president further stressed that stakeholder engagement, across the private sector, municipal authorities, government ministries, and civil society, will be crucial to the plan’s success.“Weareprogressing withaclearlydefinedplanfor the city. Every stakeholder will play a critical role in advancingthistransformationof ourcapital.Georgetownmust be repositioned as one of the finest cities in the world,” he affirmed.
Inadditiontothetransformation of Georgetown, the government also intends to pursue demonstration projects such as the outer Georgetownlow-carbonmarket town and the Silicon City masterplan,bothofwhichaim topilotmodelsofsustainable urban development.
R e s i d e n t s o f
Subryanville, Georgetown on Tuesday expressed that they will not agree to any plan that will enable private individualstotakeovertheir communityground.
Inawordedstatementto the press, several residents objected to the construction of pre fab buildings on the FarnumPlayingFieldbythe owners of Mae's School, which, according to them, was done without permission.
Thefirethatflattenedthe Mae's School in March this year, left students and staff
displaced.Partoftheplansto accommodate students to continue their learning was to use the playing field opposite the school as space fortentsforclasses. However, the owners movedtohaveprefabricated buildings erected on the ground, without permission from the city council or consultationswithresidents. This move has since caused tension between residents andownersoftheschool.
According to the statement,onSeptember15, 2025 residents met with the Georgetown Mayor, Alfred
Mentore, city councilors, Mr David Sugrim, and the owner of the school and his attorney at the Kitty Market todiscusstheconstructionof the prefab buildings on Farnumplayingfield.
Noting that permission was not granted for the structure to be erected, the residents shared that there was no application to show when the construction began “The mayor and councilors have refused to stop the illegal construction despite objection by the residents. It seems that they are now attempting to
A48-year-old fisherman who was busted on Tuesdaywith25.6poundsof cannabis and a quantity of ecstasypillswhileenrouteto Lethem,beggedpolicetoset him free because, according tohim,'itisjustalilhustle.”
Policeidentifiedtheman as Clive Thornhill of Lethem. He was arrested around 09:30 hrs after police stopped and searched a bus that was enroute to Lethem,RegionNine.
Thornhill was one among three passengers on boardthebus.
“Police conducted a normal routine search of the driver and the three passengers,whoweretoldto identify their belongings, whichtheydid”policestated while adding that nothing illegalwasfoundonthem.
However, when they searched Thornhill, they found a large sum of cash in his black haversack in variouscurrencies.
“ …He had in his possession, $703,180 cash (Guyana currency), 1,798 Reais (Brazilian currency), 3,260 Cuban dollars, and $1,137 United States dollars” the Guyana Police Forcereported.
Police then decided to
Police pose Clive Thornhill with his drugs for a mugshot
search his other belongings, a white cardboard box and a white 10-gallon bucket that wereontheminibus. In the box and bucket
police found twelve transparent bulky parcels of cannabis.
Two small transparent plastic bags containing 40 suspected ecstasy pills were alsofound.
Policealsosearchedared five-gallon bucket (also belonging to Clive Thornhill), packed on the rack atop the minibus and
Frompage10 Injuries.
“She told me the people put her out and asked her to leave while she was hollering in pain. She ended up running to the supermarket, where she collapsed The Chinese peopletherecameoutwitha bottle of water, soaked her, and rushed her to the hospital,”herecounted. Sukrajmanagedtoreturn to Balwant Singh Hospital for treatment. Leitch, who sustained burns to her face, stomach, and left hand, was unable to identify her attacker, as she did not see the person's face. She told investigators that the assault
legalise an illegality Will thisbesettingaprecedentfor all property developers to c o m m e n c e i l l e g a l constructionandthenobtain permission?”theyasked.
The residents said the developer is carrying out prefab construction on more than eight prime lots in Subryanville Farnum's Playing Field and that they are likely to utilise more ground in the coming days.
“It must be noted that the Mae's school occupied 2 houselotsinThirdAvenue,” theresidentsnoted.
In their statement, the residents related that the mayorstatedthathegranted permissionforoneyearfrom March2025toMarch2026.
“M&CC discussed the matter and granted the permissionforSugrimtouse Farnum without any written application from him, not to mention that the permission was granted with utmost speed. The issue remains, does the school owner have any intention to remove the prefab buildings by March
2026. Is this land grabbing by extensions, 12 months, then 18 months, then 24 months etc.,” the residents stated.
They noted that at the meeting on Monday, the mayor agreed to provide the following: “Evidence of ownershipofLots9,19&29 Third Avenue Subryanville by Mr Sugrim, evidence of ownership of Mae's Schools by Mr Sugrim, the March 2025applicationforusageof Farnum's Playing Field (it was stated at meeting 9 September that application didnotexist),theapplication for erection of any prefab building (stated at meeting of 9 September it did not exist),andanypermissionor otherwise by M&CC, town clerk, city engineer or otherwisetoauthoriseprefab buildings.”
found more bulky parcels of cannabis.
“Thornhill was told of the allegation of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking and was cautioned, and he said: "Sir giveyuhboyachance,isalil hustle, tek the money”, policesaid.
Thornhill was arrested and escorted to the Lethem PoliceStationalongwiththe drugspoliceseizedfromhim
He remains in custody p e n d i n g f u r t h e r investigations.
occurred around 15:39hrs, just six feet from their workplace. A white car reportedly pulled up behind them, and someone inside hurled a glass bottle containing the corrosive liquid.
As the car sped off, Leitchfeltherbodybeganto burn.
A 41-year-old excavator operator, on Tuesday, was remanded to prison after being charged with the murderofMarkBenn,agold miner of Lot 218 Blueberry Hill,Linden,Region10.
The accused, Dexter Agrian of Tuschen Housing
Scheme, East Bank Essequibo made his first court appearance at the Bartica Magistrate's Court before Magistrate Teriq Mohammed where the chargewasreadtohim.
Agrian was not required to plead to the charge and wasremandedtoprisonuntil October 30, 2025 for continuation.
It was reported that Agrian was arrested on September 11 in relation to the death of 38-year-old Benn which occurred on the same day at Big Mara Mara Backdam, Puruni River, RegionSeven.
This publication had reportedthatBennarrivedon September 11 at Big Mara Mara Backdam from Puruni Landing and went to a shop owned by Floyd Paul, a 28year-old dredge owner There he met a female Venezuelan national by the nameofFabianaGarcia.
According to a police report, the suspect later
The residents also disclosed in their statement that they are yet to see what steps the owners of the school have taken since March 2025 towards rebuilding the school and if these plans were submitted. Also,theyareyettoseewhat steps were taken to relocate the students since March, “the amount of students involved, (and) the fees receivedfromtheparents.” Further, the residents noted that they, “will not agree to any plan short or long term that will enable private individuals to take over community grounds to maximise their collection of schoolfees.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Mentoretoldthispublication that “Based on the back and forth with the residents and the councilors and the attorneyatlaw,wewereable (Continuedonpage18)
visited the shop at about 19:00hrs,wherehemetBenn with Garcia, and another female Venezuelan sex worker
“The suspect purchased several Guinness for himself, Benn, and the two Venezuelan women, while theyplayedmusic,drankand danced together At about 23:00 hours, Benn asked Fabiana to have sexual intercourse with him, and she told him 'no' because he was drunk. This annoyed Benn, who disconnected Fabiana's cell phone, which was playing music at the time The suspect then intervened and grabbed Benn around his waist, pulling him away from the shop. Benn rebuked him, stating,“Wegood,butnever again you hug me like that,
because thief men does hold people like that,” the police reported.
It was reported to investigators that without saying anything further, the suspect,whowasarmedwith a sharp 13-inch-long knife, pulled it from his waist and chopped Benn behind his head, causing him to fall to theground,faceup. The suspect reportedly then went over Benn and dealthimanotherchoptohis neck,almostseveringit.
Police learned that the suspect then walked away from the scene and went to his camp Following the ordeal, the shop owner reported the matter to the police. Investigators disclosed that the suspect was contacted, told of the allegation, and cautioned According to the police, he replied in his own words, “Sir, I drink couple well Guinness and I can't remember exactly what happened.” The police had confirmed that the weapon allegedlyusedtocommitthe offence was retrieved and examined and found to be a d
ble-edged knife measuringabout13inches.
Subsequently, an investigationwaslaunched.
(Washinton Post) An independent United Nations commission said Tuesday that Israel was committing genocideinGaza.
Israel's Foreign Ministry rejectedtheconclusions.The “fake report” was based on “falsehoods,” it said in a statement calling for the “immediateabolition”ofthe commission.
The U.N commission
found indications of intentions to destroy, in wholeorinpart,Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as a group — which it said amount to g e n o c i d e “ T h e responsibility for these atrocity crimes lies with Israeli authorities at the highest echelons who have orchestrated a genocidal campaign for almost two years now with the specific intent to destroy the Palestinian group in Gaza,” NaviPillay,chairoftheU.N. commission and a former U.N. human rights chief, saidinastatement.
The finding, which cites the conduct of military forces on the ground and statements by Israeli authorities, echoes assessments by a growing group of governments and Israeli and international humanrightsorganizations.
The Independent InternationalCommissionof Inquiry on the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, andIsraelwasestablishedin May 2021 by the U N Human Rights Council and has investigated alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights law during the war in Gaza The independent commission is composed of three experts appointed by the U N Human Rights Council's 47 member states and does not speak for the U.N.
Thereportwaspublished astheIsraelimilitarybegana ground offensive to seize GazaCity,oncetheenclave's
largest population center “Gaza is burning,” Israeli DefenseMinisterIsraelKatz saidonX.
It comes near the twoyear mark of the war, which beganinresponsetotheOct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel in which about 1,200 Israelis were killed and about250peopleweretaken hostage. More than 64,000 people have been killed in Gaza during the war so far, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatantsandciviliansbut says most of those killed werewomenandchildren.It saysthefigureislikelytobe anundercount.
Genocide is defined by the United Nations as an act committed with intent to “destroy,inwholeorinpart, anational,ethnical,racialor religious group.” That can include any of five acts: killing, causing “serious bodily or mental harm,” imposing measures to
prevent births, forcibly transferring children or “deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part,” according to the U.N.'s 1948 genocide convention. Any one of the conditions would be sufficient for a finding of genocide.
The U.N. report found that Israeli authorities and security forces “committed four of the five genocidal acts” as set out by the 1948 convention—allofthembut forcibly transferring children.
Itsaidthatmanyexplicit statements by Israeli o f f i c i a l s c o n t a i n “dehumanising sentiments that encourage hatred and v i o l e n c e a g a i n s t Palestinians,” pointing to “intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as a group.”
Israel's Foreign Ministry in a statement on X accused
the writers of the report of “serving as Hamas proxies” with“antisemiticpositions.” It said that instead, “Hamas is the party that attempted genocideinIsrael.”
In July, all three members of the inquiry submitted their resignations to the U.N. Human Rights Council.Pillay,83,citedher age,medicalissuesandother commitments; another member, Australian human rights expert Chris Sidoti, said Pillay's retirement was an “appropriate time to reconstitute”thecommission.
On Aug. 31, the world's
oldest and largest association of genocide scholarssaidIsrael'smilitary campaigninGazameets“the legal definition of genocide.”TheInternational Association of Genocide
Schola
d in its resolution that Hamas's Oct. 7 attack “constitutes international crimes,” but also said that Israel's response violates conditions
convention's definition of genocide.
Two prominent Israeli human rights organizations, B'TselemandPhysiciansfor Human Rights-Israel, in a July report said they had analyzed Israel's conduct in Gaza and the rhetoric of Israeli political and military leaders.Theyconcludedthat there has been deliberate intent by Israeli decisionmakers to target the whole population of Gaza rather than strictly combatants and to destroy life for the Palestinian people and the enclave's health and civilian infrastructure.
David Mencer, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, at the time called that report baseless and said it “blasphemesIsrael.”Hesaid genocideallegationswerean “attempt to delegitimize Israel's right to self-defense againstHamas.”
(AL-JAZEERA) Gaza
City residents say they are being subjected to “heavy, relentless” bombardment as Israel's military expands ground offensive, forcing thousandstoflee.Atleast90 peoplewerekilledbyIsraeli attacks across Gaza and forced starvation on
Tuesday The country has launched its long-planned groundassaultonGazaCity, and its troops have pressed deep into the densely populated city, which has been subjected to intense bombardment for weeks, triggering the forced displacement of tens of thousandsofPalestinians.
The launch on Tuesday came the same day as a United Nations inquiry found that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza – home to 2.1 million
Frompage17 togettoapointwherefroma council side we have agreed thatwewillallowtheschool to use the ground temporarily for the putting up of this prefabricated schooltousebythekids.” He noted that because of the nature of the situation, they have allowed that to happen and for the owner to have extended time to occupy the ground Originally, the owners were
Palestinians, most of whom havebeendisplacedmultiple times during the 23 months of war, which has killed nearly65,000people.
Israel's decision to seize thecity–hometomorethan amillionpeople–hasdrawn global condemnation Turkiye called the ground assault a new phase in its “genocide plans”. Ankara warned that it would trigger furthermassdisplacement.
'Wanton destruction'
An Israeli army official estimated that 40 percent of Gaza City's residents, about 350,000, have fled south while many buildings have been destroyed, leaving families to dig through rubble with their bare hands toretrievetrappedrelatives.
Footage verified by Al Jazeera showed huge explosions and columns of
givenayearfromthetimeof thefiretousethegroundfor thesettingupoftents,buthe said that time was extended toDecember2026.
“And after that period, they would have to dismantle everything hopefully by then the actually school would be rebuilt. So, we give them adequatetime.
Originally,theyaskedfor 18monthsbutwedidsaywe won't do that We have
black smoke as Israeli warplanes struck the Tal alHawa neighbourhood. The blasts lit up streets already lined with ruins from earlier attacks Medical officials told Al Jazeera that at least 78 Palestinians have been killedsincedawn,68ofthem
reportedthat20peoplewere killed in the bombing of the Darajneighbourhood,where entire residential blocks wereflattened.
The UN Human Rights Office in the occupied Palestinian territory has condemned the Israeli military's “wanton destruction” of Gaza City as “tantamount to ethnic cleansing”.
Residentsdisplaced Reporting from Gaza City, Al Jazeera's Hani
literally agreed to that on a tripartite perspective among the City Council, the r e s i d e n t s a n d i n collaboration of the school owner,sothatwecanhavea workable solution and a situationwherethekidswill not be displaced,” he explained.
According to the mayor, thereareover2,000students of the school that need a chancetobeeducatedandto haveaspaceforlearning.
MahmoudsaidIsrael'stactic is to “sandwich whoever remains in the city”. He notedthattheeasternpartof Gaza had already been cleared“notjustofbuildings or physical structures but also the densely populated area”. Residents who fled westward now find themselvesdisplacedagain.
As fighter jets hovered low in the sky, families and rescuers clawed through pilesofconcreteandtwisted steel “There was heavy bombardment here, and it was difficult to reach people,” rescuer Bashir HajjajtoldAlJazeera.
“We took out many, many martyrs and wounded people. The situation was very difficult due to the shelling, the helicopters, the missiles,dronesandtheF-16 aircraft ”Resident al-Abd Zaqqut described how a concrete block crushed his cousin during one of the strikes.“Wedon'tknowifwe
Displaced Palestinians flee northern Gaza due to an Israeli military operation. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
should try to retrieve her or leave her,” he said. “We're digging, breaking the concrete with our hands becausetherearenotools.
Al-Mawasi, a coastal strip of land in southern Gazahasbeendesignatedby Israel as a “safe zone”, but Israel has repeatedly bombed it, and Palestinian government officials said it offers no safety The Ministry of Health in Gaza warned that the area lacks “basic necessities of life, including water, food [and] health services” and said disease outbreaks are spreadinginitsovercrowded encampments Displaced families, it said, face “direct targeting and killing both inside the camps and when attempting to leave them” whilehundredsofthousands of people have risked returning north despite the bombardment, many of whom discover their homes havebeendestroyed.
Global condemnation Internationalcriticismof Israel is growing, with United Nations SecretaryGeneralAntonioGuterreson Tuesdaycallingthesituation in Gaza “horrendous”, adding that the war in the Palestinian territory is morally, politically and legallyintolerable.
Earlier, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called Israel's escalation “a stepinthecompletelywrong direction”. The UK's new foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, warned the assault “will only bring more bloodshed”.
European Union foreign policychiefKajaKallassaid the offensive “will make an already desperate situation evenworse”.
“Itwillmeanmoredeath, more destruction & more displacement,” Kallas wrote on social media platform X. She added that the bloc will present measures on
The Alliance For Change (AFC) stormed onto the political stage in 2006 like a cocky peacock, promising to be the “third force” that would break the duopoly - held by the PPP and PNC.
Today, that same peacock looks more like a featherless yard fowl pecking at scraps. Since its recent electoral thrashing, the AFC has been in political limbo, silent like a church mouse. Its chairman, David Patterson, now chants the tired mantra: “We will rebuild and come back strong.” Ironically, that same slogan is the PNC's lullaby to its battered supporters. Two patients in the ICU telling the world they will run a marathon next week.
But while AFC snores, Azruddin Mohamed and his WIN are buying up oxygen tanks in the opposition ward, and Amanza Walton-Desir is quietly making her parliamentary moves. The AFC's relevance now is somewhere between zero and minus ten. Voters no longer ask what AFC is doing, they ask if it even exists.
The truth is, AFC missed its last chance when it failed to ink a deal with APNU. Now, the party looks like a political corpse waiting for a pastor to mumble “ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” The graveside is ready, the mourners are few, and the burial hymn is short.
Frompage24 102 in 29 overs, securing a leadofjustfiveruns.
DamianCecil31andAri AfrizalKadir22werethetop scorers.
Bowling for RHTYSC –left arm spinner Keith Simpson led the fight back with5for14.Hewasbacked up by Matthew Pottaya and Jeremy Sandia with two wicketseach.
In their second innings
RHTYSC fared worst and wereskittledoutforapaltry 62 with Clinton Pestano scoring30. Doing the damage with the ball for Albion CCCC wereGauravRameshwith4 wickets. He was supported by Leon Cecil 3-10, for a match haul of 10- 56 Veerasammy Permaul also snaredthreewickets.
Needing 57 runs to win Albion CCCC eased to 57-1 with Damian Cecil making 29 while Ari Afrizal Kadir was unbeaten on 16 to give Albionvictoryby9wickets.
Frompage27 wickets, the former champs could likely feel the need to focus more getting the most outoftheir12oversoffrontlinespin.
ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)
Don't spread the good news tooquickly Asexcitingasitis, nothingisconfirmedyet Keep theinformationunderyourhat until plane reservations have beenmadeoryouhavethejob offerinwriting.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
If you receive a financial windfall, spend it wisely, Taurus. Your tendency might betobuygiftsortreatacrowd to a lavish night on the town. But where is the enduring value?
GEMINI(May21–June20)
You're energetic and enthusiastic today, Gemini, andthosearoundyourespond favorably. It seems everyone wantstobeinyourorbit.Work at home and the office goes quicklyandsmoothly.
CANCER(June21–July22)
There'stensionallaroundyou, soyou'llbehappiestspending as much time by yourself as possible, Cancer If you must interact with people, keep yourcommunicationclearand concise.
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
You'rereadyforachange,Leo, there'snodoubtaboutit Asyou grow older your interests broaden, and you're considering pursuing some of these new interests in earnest Perhaps school beckons, or someadulteducationcourses
VIRGO(Aug 23–Sept 22)
You've never looked better, Virgo. Your partner notices, too, and showers you with extra affection and perhaps even an unexpected gift. This should put a smile on your face!
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
Sometimes a little indulgence has value far beyond its price. Abubblebathinthemiddleof the day, a special outfit you've wanted for a long time - these areafewofthewaysyoucould perkupyourspirits.
SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)
You feel as though you've turned a financial and professional corner, Scorpio. Recent accomplishments have you feeling energized and on top of the world! You exude confidence.
SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)
Who knew you were so talented?Acreation done long agosuddenlytakesonalifeof its own. A short story written and submitted long ago is pulled from the bottom of the slushpile.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
Loving care is prescribed for someone in your family, Capricorn. Offer a bowl of soupandsometea,butbeyond thattryandstayoutoftheway Sometimesuninterruptedquiet isthebestcureofall.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)
There's tension in the air, Aquarius, but there's little you can do about it. The harsh atmosphere is in stark contrast tothefrivolityyoufeltoverthe last several days. It seems you receivedsomegoodnews.
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
While you're on a crusade for peaceanddiplomacy,youmay find that other people seem to be on a crusade for war You may find that other people's wordsarechargedwithagreat dealofpassionthatwillbehard toignore.
Meanwhile the likes of speedsters Pretorius, ShepherdandShamarJoseph will provide the hostility needed to back their threeheaded counterparts in the spinbranch.
With majority of the emphasis being placed on spin,Chase,KharyPierreand South African leggy Tabriz Shamshi, could cancel out the Warriors big 3 spinners and could easily look to correctanyerrorsagainstthe Warriors batsmen come tonight; with Captain Wiese having even more responsibility as the main strikepacerforhisteam.
Bothteamsaretiedon12 points each with either team lookingtorocketthemselves into the finals with arguably the most high-octane game set to bowl off from 19:00h tonight.
The greens are set, the weather is perfect, and e x c i t e m e n t i s building thanks to the MassyGroupofCompanies, which has stepped up to sponsor the Lusignan Golf Club’s highly anticipated tournament on September 20, 2025. This sponsorship reinforces Massy’s longstanding commitment to community, wellness, and sports, bringing together golfers for a day of skill, camaraderie, and healthy competition.
At the official handover, Mr. Troy Beharry, CEO of Massy Distribution, expressed the company’s pride: “On behalf of the MassyGroupofCompanies, it gives me great pleasure to hand over this sponsorship cheque for the upcoming GolfTournament.Massyhas proudly served Guyana for over 50 years, and partnerships like this reflect our ongoing commitment to supporting community development, sports, and activities that bring people together in a spirit of camaraderie and excellence.
Golf is a sport that not only challenges skill and
discipline but also fosters friendship, networking, and healthy competition. We are delighted to be part of this initiative that encourages both recreation and communityspirit.”
Addingawellnessangle, Ms. Neelam Dharmo, Head ofHealth+BeautyDivision at Massy Distribution, introduced Goli, a brand transforming health since 2019 She highlighted flagship products likeApple Cider Vinegar Gummies for energy and vitality, and Ashwagandha Gummies for focus and balance—perfect companions both on and off thegolfcourse.
“We are proud to have Golialignedwithasportlike golf, which embodies wellness, discipline, and community With our tagline,‘GolfwithGoli,’we celebrate both the pursuit of health and the joy of recreation,” she said. With sunnyskies,well-manicured greens, and Massy’s generous support, the 2025 Lusignan Golf Tournament is set to be a standout event, combining sportsmanship, wellness, and community spirit.
BySamuelWhyte
Centre Cricket Club (ACCCC) whipped Rose HallTownYouth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) by nine wickets in the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Two Days 1st Division Cricket competition.
In their top-of-the-table clashattheAreaHGroundin RoseHallTown,Albionwon the toss and inserted RHTYSC to bat first and they were skittled out for 96 injust22.5overswithSylus Tyndallmaking33.
Bowling forAlbion- Off spinnerLeonCecilwith7-46 from 10 overs was the destroyed.Hewassupported by Veerasammy Permaul with2wickets.
Albion CCCC in their first inning fared a little betterbeingdismissedfor Continued on page 23
The final group game of the 2025 Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) saw the Trinbago Knight Riders put up their highest total of the tournamentsofar,butitwasn’tenoughfor themtoclaimvictoryagainsttheBarbados Royals who go into Wednesday’s final undefeated.
The Knight Riders on the other hand finished their 2025 season without a win with Jess Jonasson’s brilliant 71 not enough to see her side home as Chamari Athapaththu and Courtney Webb brushed aside the 149-run target the Royals were set. Yet again for the two-time defending champions, it was Athapaththu with a blistering knock of 89 from 71 that set up thebigwin.
TheinningsoftheKnightRidersstarted poorlyastheylosttwoearlywicketsbefore a stand of 44 from Jonasson and Zaida Jamessetasolidfoundationforthebatters to come. Shikha Pandey and Jahzara Claxtonscoredsomequick-firerunsatthe end as the Knight Riders posted what lookedtobeaverycompetitivetotal.
Having just bowled two overs in the tournament leading into this game, it was Royals’ captain Chinelle Henry who finished with the best figures for the Barbados team, claiming 3/25 from her fourovers.
The Knight Riders backed up their battingwithanexcellentstartwiththeballas Pandey claimed two wickets in two balls to leave the Royals 3/2 at the at the end of the first over From there, it became all about AthapaththuasherandCourtneyWebbonthe higheststandofthe2025WCPLsofar Their partnership of 145 meant that this became another thumping win from the Royals in 2025.
The only minor disappointment was that Athapaththu was not there at the end, with Jonassenbowlingherwithtworunsneededto win.
At the end of the Knight Riders innings Jonasson had the highest individual score of the tournament, but that record did not last
Coutney Webb of Barbados Royals hits 4 during the Women’s 2025 Massy Caribbean Premier League. (Getty Images)
long as Athapaththu breezed past that in an inningsthatfeatured10foursandthreesixes.
At the other end Webb made her biggest contribution for the Royals so far Having struggledwiththebatleadingintothisgame, having made three single figure scores, she playedthesupportingrolebrilliantlytofinish with50notoutfrom42balls.
The Royals will be buoyed with this win and will take an unbeaten record into Wednesday’s final against the Guyana Amazon Warriors. The Royals have never lost to the Warriors and will be looking to makeitthreeWCPLtitlesonthebounce.The Warriorswillbehopinghomegroundsupport willhelpthemclaimtheWCPLtrophyforthe firsttime.
ByCliftonRoss
Nicholas Pooran missed out on a certain ton, while Alex Hales played a great supporting role to gave the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) the W after surging to a 9wicket win over the Antigua and BarbudaFalcons,whenlastnight’s EliminatoratProvidenceended. Falcons bowed out gracefully aftertheyfinisheddecentlyon1668 after 20 overs, thanks mainly to AndriesGouswhostroked61with 3sixesand5foursandopenerAmir Jangoo, who set the tone up front with a 49-ball 55 including 3 sixes and3fours.All-rounderShakibAlHasanpunched4foursandasixas hefinishedtheinningswith26*off 9. TKR bowlers did well with seamers Saurabh Netravalkar (3-
Alex
23) and Andre Russell (2-30) as well as off-break spinner Usman Tariq(2-19)havinggoodreturns.
Inreply,TKRspedto168-1,as skipperPooranledthechasewitha breathtaking90notoutoff53balls featuring 8 massive sixes and 3 fours.
Englishman Hales cracked 54* (3x4 3x6) as he helped steady the shipwithaseason-beststandof143 runs for the second wicket; after losingpartnerColinMunro(14).
Hales and Pooran dug into the bowlingastheytooktheirpersonal scores into the 30’s, bringing the deficitwaybelow100runs.
Pooransteppedonthegaswith his six-hitting while Hales brought up 3rd fifty this season, as the pair took their team home in the 18th over with a huge six compliments
oftheskipper.
Earlierinthenight,afterlosing Rakeem Cornwall (6), Jangoo and Gous teamed up to consolidate by adding a new franchise record partnershipof108-runs.
The Falcons 50 came up in the 8th over with the pair already settled, as Gous got to his halfcenturyoff38ballswhilethemore classyJangoogottohismilestonea fewdeliveriesaftersome44balls.
Tariq landed a huge double blow, removing Jangoo who was out caught before trapping Gous LBW, as TKR pulled the innings back. After the dangerous pair of Fabian Allen (1) and Imad Wasim (1)bothfellcheaply,itwasa9-ball cameo from the veteran Shakib whichhelpedtopushtheFalconsto arespectabletotal.
In a historic milestone, Saints Hockey Club (SHC) made their international debut at the Paragon Junior International Indoor Hockey TournamentinTrinidad&Tobago, competing on foreign soil for the firsttimeintheclub’shistory Over threedaysofintensegroupplay,all four SHC teams advanced to the semifinals, a remarkable feat in itself. But the Saints didn’t stop there, three teams marched on to Sunday’s finals, capping off a sensationalrunwithdebuttitles.
The Under-17 Girls team claimed the club’s first-ever internationaljuniortitleindramatic fashion, edging past Magnolias 1–0.CarenzaCopelanddelivereda heart-stoppingbuzzer-beatertoseal thewinandsparkcelebrations.
TheUnder-17Boysfinalturned into an all-Guyanese showdown, with Saints facing off against Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC). After a goalless draw, the match went to penalties Goalkeeper MalikChesterrosetotheoccasion, savingallthreeofGCC’sattempts, while Fayed Mohamed coolly slottedhomethewinningpenaltyto secureanothertitleforSHC.
In the Under-21 division, the SHCGirlscontinuedtheirwinning streak. A composed 1–0 victory over Paragon, courtesy of a decisive goal from Charlia Webb, earnedthemthechampionship.
On the U21 Boys’side, fellow Guyanese team Multilateral
The U17 Girls Champions – L-R: Standing – Paragon Representative, Alexcia Elias (Girls Manager), Arian Khan, Makaylah Poole, Sarah Harry, Kadence Belony, Tivésarid Garnett
Alumni battled hard in their final but fell just short, losing 1–2 in a penalty shootout against InSports after a 0–0 regulation draw Saints U21Boyshadearliermissedouton bronze,finishingfourthaftera0–2 defeat to Queens Park in a spirited campaign led by captain Jabari Lovell.
The tournament also highlighted individual brilliance from SHC athletes. Jabari Lovell was named to the U21 All-Star
Team as a midfielder, while Makaylah Poole earned U21 Girls All-Star Defender honours. Fanfavourite awards went to Kadence Belony (U17 Girls) and Eric Doodnauth (U17 Boys), and Charlia Webb capped off her tournament as the U21 Girls’ top scorer
This tour also marked a leadership transition for SHC’s junior program. Coach Tivesarid Garnett took the helm of all four
teams, having guided their preparation in the lead-up and coachedeachmatchthroughoutthe tournament. Long-serving coach Robert Fernandes, who has been instrumental in building the club’s juniorprogram,assumedtheroleof Boys’Team Manager for this trip.
Thegirls’squadsbenefitedfromthe steady hand of Alexcia Elias, SHC’s women’s captainwho managed her first tour with calm andprecision.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Coach Garnett said: “Ourteamsrosetoeverychallenge, demonstrating resilience, teamwork,anddetermination,even in the face of fatigue and strong competition. The players not only met our expectations but far exceeded them Their grit, sacrifice,andheartwereevidentin every match. These experiences willshapetheirgrowthbothonand offthefield.Thissuccessisjustthe beginning we will continue building and preparing for even greaterchallenges.”
SHC also acknowledged the crucial role of parents, whose supportmadeitpossibleforathletes tobalanceacademicsandsport.The values required to succeed in hockey; discipline, commitment, and focusare the same ones these young players will carry into all aspectsoflife.
Most importantly, it was the players themselves who drove this unforgettable debut. Their hard work, perseverance, and unity propelled SHC to three international titles, a monumental accomplishment on their first outingabroad.
Saints Hockey Club extends its heartfelt thanks to its sponsors: UmamiIncorporated,MVPSports, Sterling Products Limited, Demerara Mutual Assurance Society, and John Lewis Styles. Their support made this historic achievementareality
ByCliftonRoss
Tonight’s qualifier at the GuyanaNationalStadiumcouldbe theAmazon Warriors ticket to this year’sfinalsorarevolvingdoorof hurdles which will be known following one of the biggest rematchesoftheseason,versusthe numberoneteam;St.LuciaKings.
Quentin Sampson with more thana100runsintwogames,adds to the mystery of what could have beenifchancesintheXIaswellas up the batting order was presented muchearlierinthetournament.
Sampson will be the key at the top of the order as he could likely look to make it 3-out–of-3 with regardtoaddingtohisscoresof76 and 50, as Warriors somehow managedtoclingtothenotionthat an out-of-form opener Ben McDermott could somehow turn things around during this crunch
game.
Assuch,ShimronHetmyerwho lookedadifferentanimalfollowing his match-winning 68 in the last game should be promoted up the order alongside Sampson. Shai Hope batting 3 will add stability while Shamarh Brooks should be given one more shot after being flung into the XI during the tight stagesoftheseason.
With 0-38 in 3 overs and just 7 runs the last time Hassan Khan faced the Kings, a possible swap for a more versatile Kevlon AndersonorKeemoPaulmightbe the best option; with Romario Shepherd having the continued responsibility as one of the main pinch-hitters/finishers.
Warriors could also tinker with promoting Dwaine Pretorius to the opener spot, which could easily throw off a few tactics from the opposition.Hismatch-winninglast
ball six a few days ago proved testimony to his ability at showing no remorse during high-pressure situations or games and more time in the middle could prove to be beneficialfortheWarriors.
Although Moeen Ali has not been the batting revelation the Warriors would have wanted this season, his experience internationally coupled with his exceptional spin bowling will play ahugeroletonight,shouldheclick withthebat.
Windies skipper Roston Chase hadasuperbgamethelasttimethe twosidesmet,scoringanunbeaten 90 and bagging 3-30, despite the 2 wicketloss.WithAckeemAuguste showing his class with a halfcentury and the possible threats of openers Johnson Charles and Tim Seifert alongside the powerhouse Aussie Tim David looming, the Warriorswillneedtobemindfulof
Shimron Hetmyer has crossed the half century mark a few times this season. (Getty Images)
someretribution.
Power-hitter Aaron Jones will have a big role to play given his reputation while skipper David Wiese will be on a revenge tour; havingfeltthebruntofgivingaway the game in the last over when he was nailed for a maximum by his fellowSouthAfrican,Pretorius. The tale of the tapes in this
departmentcouldbethedifferencemaker, with spin being the likely weaponofchoicebeingutilizedby both units. ImranTahir will have a huge role as one of the leading wicket-takersthisseason. However, Gudakesh Motie 521inthelastgame,backedbyAli’s abilitytomiserrunsandclaim
Continued on page 23
Nicholas
produced a captain’s knock to pilot his team to victory. victory (Getty Images)
