Kaieteur News

‘PPP/C victory in Exxon’s interest’…lopsidedoildealsafe

Oil and global market watchers arebettingonthe PPP/C to keep in place the unfair terms in the lopsided ExxonMobil contract, saying that its success at the general elections would guarantee continuity of developmentoftheoilsector without any changes to policy

And while they believed a government led by either thePNCRortheAFCwould also promote growth of the oilandgasandinfrastructure sectors, it said those parties would be more likely to review the terms of existing oil contracts, tighten environmental requirements and consider increasing oil royalties.

S&P Global, a leading U.S. corporation providing transparent and independent data and analytics to the global capital and commodity markets provided this analysis in the leaduptoGuyana'srecently heldelections,whichsawthe President Irfaan Ali-led PPP/C ticket emerging victorious snapping up 36 seats to control the 65-seat legislature here. The PPP/C Government has resisted callsforchangestothe2016 oil contract that governs operations of the Stabroek Block.

T h e d e a l w i t h ExxonMobil has been widely condemned by international and local experts.

In its manifesto the PPP/C pledged to accelerate oil and gas exploration by concluding Production SharingAgreements (PSAs) withsuccessfulbiddersfrom the 2022 auction under new and enhanced terms. This will bring new blocks into accelerated exploration and, ultimately,production.

The party also plans to complete 3D seismic surveys across unlicensed blocks and operationalize a Petroleum Data Repository to enhance the basin's marketability. To further ramp up exploration and p r o d u c t i o n , m o r e international auctions of additional blocks will be conducted. It must be noted that the new terms are not applicable to the lucrative Stabroek Block, where it is believed most of Guyana's oilis.

The Stabroek Block, which spans 6 6 million acres and holds about 11.6

- Int'l analyst

billion barrels of oil equivalent, is operated by ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), which holds a 45% stake Its partners are Chevron (formerly Hess) with 30% andCNOOCwith25%.

In its analysis that was published on September 1thesamedayGuyanesewent to the polls, S&P Global noted that there were no publicly available formal election polls, “but our incountrysources,localmedia and informal polls indicate thatAli(PresidentIrfaanAli) maintainspublicsupportdue to infrastructure investment and social spending funded by oil revenues and backing from Guyana's main ethnic groups,” the corporation said.

It noted too then that the main opposition parties — the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) led by Aubrey Norton and the Alliance for Change (AFC) led by Nigel Hughes "remain divided andhavebeenunabletoform a coalition to challenge the government due to leadership differences.” “In theeventofaPPP-Cvictory, broad policy continuity would be likely, including continued development of the oil sector An opposition government (led by either thePNCRortheAFC)would also promote growth of the oilandgasandinfrastructure sectors but would be more likelyto review the terms of existingoilcontracts,tighten environmental requirements and consider increasing oil royalties,” S&P Global concludedintheiranalysis. Campaignpromises

During the elections campaign all of the parties promised changes to the oil contract in their manifestos except the PPP/C. The We InvestinNationhood(WIN) led by Busiessman,

Azruddin Mohamed had pledged to seek fairer terms from the 2016 Production SharingAgreement(PSA)if he had won the polls. At a news conference when pressed on WIN's plans to review the oil and gas framework Mohamed, said, “we will engage with ExxonMobil when we take office, and we will try to ensure that we can ringfence some of the projects, we'lldiscussthiswiththem.”

A ring-fencing provision wouldrequirethatonlycosts related to a specific development are recovered from that project once oil productionbegins.

This would prevent ExxonMobil from charging unrelated expenses to the cost bank and help ensure a larger share of revenue is available for Guyana Currently, the deal lacks such a provision and the IrfaanAliledadministration has approved new oil projects for Exxon without inserting a ring-fencing provision Further, the currentagreementgoverning the Stabroek Block offers favourable terms to the oil companies.

Under the PSA, the consortiumcanrecoverupto 75%ofoilproducedtocover investment costs The remaining 25% is split equallybetweenGuyanaand the consortium, with each receiving 12.5%. From that, the consortium pays a 2% royalty to Guyana Of Guyana's total 14.5% take, the government is also responsibleforpayingtheoil companies' taxes. The deal also stipulates that the amount equivalent to the taxes owed by the oil companies must be paid by the minister responsible for p e t r o l

m t o t h e Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority(GRA).

For their part, the AFC had vowed swe

p

ng changes to the contract, promising to establish a N

nal P

eum Commission and pursue renegotiation and ringfencing provisions. It must be noted that it was AFC founder, Raphael Trotman who was the Minister of Natural Resources at the time when the coalition signed the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) withExxonMobil.

The2016PSAstipulates thattheMinisterresponsible for petroleum must pay the equivalentofthecompanies' income tax to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on their behalf. Under the agreement,upto75percent of oil production is used to recover costs, the remaining 25 per cent is considered

profit and is split equally between Guyana and the consortium,givingeach12.5 per cent However, the consortiumpaysa2percent royalty from its share to Guyana From Guyana's 14.5 per cent total take, the governmentmustpaytheoil companies'taxes.

The AFC said too that environmental protection will be prioritised, along with the building of the country's local capacity and long-termnationalplanning, to ensure there is equity and every citizen benefits

“Within30daysofassuming office, we will initiate renegotiationoftheStabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement(PSA),including transitioningtoanewmodel thatensuresGuyanareceives its fair and proportional share of oil revenues

Introduce ring-fencing provisions to ensure cost recovery is limited to each project, guaranteeing faster revenue flows to Guyana,” thepolicysays. APNU had pledged to engage ExxonMobil on the Stabroek Block Production SharingAgreement(PSA)to secure greater benefits for the country APNU also stated that it aims to amend the Natural Resource Fund Act to guarantee savings for future generations and “when oil prices are low,” the party said. Additionally, the party said that it is committed to publishing all government contracts related to the oil and gas sector and other major projects, and to establishing a professional and independent Petroleum Commission.

KaieteurNews

PrintedandPublishedbyNationalMedia& PublishingCompanyLtd. 24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor:NIGELWILLIAMS

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EDITORIAL

ThePresident’sPledge

At his inauguration on Sunday, President Irfaan Ali pledgedto“kill”thescourgeofdomesticviolence.Itwasa bold promise, one that resonated with a weary nation that hasseenfartoomanyheadlinesaboutwomenmurderedat thehandsoftheirpartners.

But words, however passionate, cannot heal broken lives.Theymustbefollowedbydecisiveaction.Domestic violenceisnotnewtoGuyana.Itisanold,stubbornevilthat festersinourhomes,ourcommunities,andtragically,even inthecorridorsofpower.Overtheyears,toomanywomen havelosttheirlivestothehandsofmenwhoonceprofessed tolovethem.InoneofarticlesonMondaywereportedthat from January to late August 13, women lost their lives in domestic violent encounters. When these incidents occur familiesareshattered,childrenlefttraumatized,andsociety weakened. This cannot go on and as such the president’s pledgemustbetransformedintopolicy,practice,andmost importantly,protectionforthevulnerable.

Thefirststepisthefullenforcementofthelaw Guyanahas lawsonthebooksmeanttoprotectvictimsofdomesticabuse Butlawsaremeaninglessiftheyexistonlyonpaper Timeand again,citizenscomplainthatwhentheyseekhelp,theircriesfall on deaf ears Too often, the Guyana Police Force is unresponsive,dismissive,orslowtoact Womenindangerare toldto“workitout”withtheirabuseroraremadetofeelthat theirsufferingisaprivatematterratherthanacrime Thisculture of negligence cannot continue A responsive and responsible police force is non-negotiable if we are to stem the tide of killings. Beyond policing, we must address prevention. Teachingouryoungmentolove,cherish,andrespectwomenis critical. Too many are raised with distorted notions of masculinity that equate control with love and violence with strength Wemusttellthem andshowthem thatrealstrength iswalkingaway,thatrespectmeansbackingoff,andthatlove cannotcoexistwithabuse Schools,communityorganizations, andfaith-basedgroupsmustbecomepartnersinthisnationalreeducation Butleadershipmustalsosetthetone Ifthoseinhigh officeareaccusedofrapeormisconductandsuchmattersare swept under the rug, what message is sent to ordinary men? Coveringupallegationsagainstofficialsisnotjustimmoral;itis counterproductivetoanycampaignagainstdomesticviolence Ourleadersmustexemplifythevaluestheypreach

Equally urgent is the establishment of adequate safety shelters for battered and abused women. At present, the facilities available are woefully inadequate. Many victims remaintrappedinabusivehomessimplybecausetheyhave nowhere else to go.Awoman who flees with her children should not be left homeless or penniless; she should find refuge,counselling,andsupportservicesreadilyavailable. This requires state investment, private sector partnership, andcommunityinvolvement.Sheltersarenotluxuries;they are lifelines. There is also a need for sustained public educationcampaigns.Violencethrivesinsilence.Toooften, neighbourshearscreamsbutturnablindeye.Familieshush upabuseforfearofshame.Communitiescloseranksaround theabuserinsteadofthevictim.Wemustbreakthesilence. Let it be known, loudly and repeatedly, that domestic violence is a crime, not a “family problem.” Let every citizen understand their duty to intervene, to report, and to protect.ButnoneofthiswillhappenunlessthePresident’s pledge is backed by measurable targets and timelines. We mustask:howmanynewshelterswillbebuilt?Howmany police officers will be trained and deployed in domestic violenceunits?Howmanypubliceducationcampaignswill belaunched?Vaguepromiseswillnotsavelives.Onlyclear, accountableactionwill.

We,thepeopleofGuyana,mustalsoplayourpart.The Presidentalonecannotkillthescourgeofdomesticviolence. It is a fight that belongs to all of us: government, civil society, the private sector, and every household. Yet, as citizens, we must insist that the Head of State lead by example. He has been emphatic in his words; we will hold himtoaccountinhisdeeds.

I am never going on any other tours in Guyana for the foreseeable future

DEAREDITOR

In the Kaieteur News of 27th August 2025, 4 days beforeelectionIsawastory captioned “Sod turned for new $7B arrival terminal at CJIA”thestoryinformedus that the current ruling Poor

Performing Party is expanding the Chedi Jagan InternationalAirport!

If I live to be 100 years old, I would still not be able to understand how such people can expect to run a governmentinacomplicated countrylikeGuyana.

First of all, I hold the

facilitiesatTimehriaremore t h a n e n o u g h t o accommodate the meagre tourist industry of Guyana. Especially in view of my recent experience with one of the local G$22,000 tours totheEssequibo. Personally, as a GuyaneseIhavetosaythatI was totally ashamed after accompanying a few friends of mine from Trinidad, EnglandandtheUSonatour of the Essequibo on Sunday 24thAugust2025. Wehada very uncomfortable ride in

the bus from Georgetown, and the Bartica type river boat they retained for the ridetotheresortwithstopsat Bartica and Fort Island was superuncomfortableforme, and most of my party of foreigners.Theboatwasthe type which you have to climbovertheseatstogetto the back, and is certainly no credit to any country which hastourismambitions,IfMr RubiothinksthattheHeroes highway is a breakneck experience, I’m glad they didnottakehimforaridein thatboattoBartica.

But unfortunately, the worst was yet to come, after Fort Island we then went to Bartica,nottheplacewhereI usedtodockmyboat,where thereisanactualdockwitha barandamallnextdoorand stores right there within eyesight,theydroppedusoff at a spot near to the police station, where there was nothing except a gazebo Then,theytookusforashort boatridetowhatispurported to be one of the best resort installationsclosetoBartica. Editor I was amazed at thepoorqualityoftheplace,

DEAREDITOR

The Private Sector Commission of Guyana e x t e n d s s i n c e r e congratulations to His Excellency, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali on his re-electiontoserveasecond term as President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

Thisrenewedmandateis a clear reflection of the confidencethatthepeopleof Guyana have placed in his leadership and vision for a modern, united, and

prosperous nation The Private Sector Commission commends the peaceful manner in which citizens exercised their democratic right, and acknowledges the efforts of the Guyana Elections Commission in administering the process undersignificantscrutiny

The Commission looks forward to continuing close partnership with the administration in advancing inclusivegrowth,expanding opportunitiesforinvestment and employment, and

the pool was clearly not serviced for some time and was green not blue, the toilets were in a completely unacceptable condition and very smelly, but these folks are charging G$2500 for a shot of tequila. So, I had to enjoy these extremely poor facilitiescompletelysober Editor a bottle of that kind of tequila is around G$6600anywhereevenhere atDiamondwhereInowlive anditcontains26ounces,so its roughly G$253 per shot. They are charging 10 times moreforashotinthatsmelly resort Editor they are making G$65,000 for liquor they are paying G$6600 for The lunch they gave us was equally poor, no reasonable cook shop in Guyana would offer you that poorly seasoned chicken they gave us. Most of my companions couldnoteatit.Themealwe paid G$22,000 for with the rough trip in the speed boat, was a total rip off, and it showed me clearly, there cannot be a viable tourism industry in this country, if this particular resort is a representative of what one can expect in Guyana. The very poor quality of the service,theshabbynatureof thefood,theextremelyhigh costoftheentirethingwould certainly turn off any international traveler accustomedtobetter

A government and a tourism authority which clearlydonothavequalified people regulating these resorts better, have no right to be giving the public fictitious figures about how well our tourist industry is doing And so, I must repudiate their numbers Guyanesereturninghometo see their family here during the summer holidays cannot possibly be used as de facto tourists.Actually, one of the members of our party, told me that to travel to Lethem by plane 262 miles was nearly 40% more expensive than what she paid to come fromNewYorktoGuyanaa tripof2629milesaccording to Professor Google I certainly am never going on anyothertoursinGuyanafor theforeseeablefuture.

Sincerely

TonyVieira

PSC pledges continued collaboration with government

ensuring that the benefits of Gu

c transformation are shared e

Commission also welcomes

strengthening of democratic institutions, which remain vital to investor confidence a n d

development.

The PSC reaffirms its unwavering support for

working collaboratively with the Government to buildadiversifiedeconomy, enhance competitiveness, andsecureGuyana’splaceas a leader in regional and internationalmarkets.

The Commission extends best wishes for every success in this new termandremainscommitted t o a d v a n c i n g t h e developmentandprogressof ournation.

Regards PrivateSector CommissionofGuyana

PPPand Bamia Primary? 4 years later

DEARE

DITOR

I have no issues with the Governingparty Icamehere to state the facts, and then leave. Undoubtedly, what I pen here will ruffle some feathers, but it must be said. Let’sdiveintoit. When the contract was awarded for this school, it was pegged at $364M Another $127M was also expendedforthesaidproject to be expedited back in February 2024 These are some facts to keep in your mind as you read along

Backin2024,MinisterParag assured Parliament that the project, at 65% completion atthetime,accordingtoher, wouldbecompletedbyApril 1,2024.I’mnotmakingthis up. These are the facts. Just by this metric, school should’ve reopened for kids at this school, in September ofthatyear Itdidn’thappen. I’mnotlying.

ItwastheVicePresident

who claimed back in October of 2024 that the school has been completed. Clearly ignorant of this

particular issue.As it would later prove to be incorrect.

The school was not completedatthetime.These are some more facts. In the very same month, the company handling the contract stated that the school was 95% completed. Not only contradicting our beloved Vice President, but settingusupforaschoolthat should have been opened at least, by January 2025

Thesearethefacts.

In January of this year, Rawle Ferguson, known

more to us as one of the principals of Hits and Jams, cametousandstatedthatthe project was still at 95% owing delays to workers

taking time off for

Christmas, weather challenges and labor issues. These are the facts Here again, I present another glaring fact. Do allow me to submit.Inamatterofweeks, or months, or however long isthe5%moreoftheschool takes to be completed, the President,andafew (Continuedonpage06)

Factors that Contributed to PPP Victory

DEAREDITOR

, President Irfaan Ali has secured a historic second term, gaining three seats. The ruling PPP has won 36 seats while the former official opposition APNU haswon12seats,downfrom 31, while a newcomer WIN has won 16 and another newcomer FGM led by a formerAPNUMP,haswon1 seat. It is noted that the opposition has not formally acknowledgedthesuccessof

the incumbent and congratulateditinwhatwas a very peaceful poll. The PPPhas won an even larger majority than in the 2020 election, albeit a low turnout, when many did not foreseesuchamandate.

So, the opposition must acknowledge this feat Congratsareinorderandthe opposition should give serious thought of critically cooperating with the new government for the benefit ofallGuyanese.

It must be noted that voting was calm unlike in previous elections going backtothe1960s.President Ali has reached out to the opposition.

He thanked voters for givinghimasecondtermfor havingtrustandfaithinhim, noting he is President of all and has stated he will work to build an inclusive government including the opposition.

Why was Ali and PPP ablesecureasecondterm?A combination of factors are identified, among them, strong nationalist sentiment against Venezuela and growing alliance with USA, national economic improvement,AliandhisVP

Jagdeo’s personal popularity,thegovernment’s social welfare initiatives, PPPbranding, a fragmented opposition, luring of opposition political figures, a resource or monetary advantage,andbetterpublic relations.

The fear of Venezuelan invasion solidified Guyanese. Close relations with USA being cultivated by the Ali/Jagdeo administration has given a majority of Guyanese

security comfort, and they ralliedwiththePPP ThePPP campaigned on economic improvements including fiscal responsibility, a decline in unemployment rate, and the importance of continuity

The government created thousands of part time jobs for the lower unemployed class, winning over many who were previously dissatisfied. It urged voters not to risk reversing the progress achieved so far, reminding them of the disastrous rule of APNU administration during the 2015-2020 period, and its failed attempts to rig the elections as well as prior riggings (1968-1985) and banningoffoodstuffs.

The economy grew rapidly over the last five years,primarilyaresultof investmentbyandrevenues

obtained from oil exploration and production by the multinational giant, Exxon/Mobil.

Without Exxon’s invest

ge injection of billions of American dollars, the country would havelacked revenues to carry out even basic infrastructure work and all of the social investments in education, health care, pension, child care, welfare handouts for thepoor,andgrants.

The public appeared s a t i s f i e d w i t h government’s handling of the revenue from Exxon

The opposition did criticize the government on the economy, asserting that the lower income half of the nation faced socioeconomic challenges, including high cost of livingandpoverty

But the opposition’s message was drowned out by superior PPP public relations.

The PPP promised that more economic reforms and social investments are coming that will cushion against rising prices and the populationboughtin.

The PPP used state

resources effectively to create brand Irfaan “Ali and Jagdeo” and implemented welfare programs that captured a majority of voters.Therewasacharisma and personal appeal of Ali and Jagdeo that that was associated with strong leadership and better governance than the predecessors There was unity in the PPP camp and disunity in the opposition. The PPP duo was present almost everywhere; the opposition presence was lacking.

Also, Ali and Jagdeo’s personal popularity of g

e (outreaches) and of giving handouts won the governmentkudos

The social welfare initiatives were very appealing Many voters felt theseinitiativesrepresented positive changes and wanted to give PPP more time to implement other promises Jagdeo provided economic stability and growth over the last five years Voters have confidence in Jagdeo’s handlingoftheeconomy

Asecondtermwouldbe good for business Despite challengeslikejobgrowth, many in the business community and among the general public feared the return of the opposition that governed disastrously between2015and2020

The PPP’s strong mandatewasseenasavote for continued stability

APNU had broken several promises during its term in office

And the opposition

APNU did not present i

v e The opposition, excluding WIN, was very weak

APNU was viewed as f r a g m e n t e d a n d disorganized, unable to mount a cohesive challenge to the PPP’s superior organizational strength and massive financial advantage. Jagdeohashadtremendous experience as an election campaigner going back to 1997, easily outwitting the

opposition

In addition, the r e s o u r c e s f r o m incumbency and monetary advantageallowedthePPP to run an efficient and effective campaign that o v e r w h e l m e d t h e opposition

It is noted that Bharrat Jagdeo has dominated politics since 1997 when he was chosen as a figure representing youth in the PPPATeam

And since August 2020, Jagdeo and Ali have dominated politics in Guyana Theirpolicieshad set the state for political gainsandasecondterm Ali is entering the pantheon of Guyana’s leaders, including the party’s founder Cheddi Jagan, to win re-election Jagdeo was the first to win majorities in Parliament in back-to-back elections since democracy was restored in 1992 Jagdeo won 36 seats in 2006 and now Ali has also won 36 seats, commanding a sweeping mandate to govern

In order to mount an effective challenge to the PPP,APNUwillhavetodo a serious introspection and regroup under new leadership WIN must be congratulated for its performance displacing APNU as the official opposition

Itisnotedthatthisisthe first time since 2006 that a President was given a second term since democratic elections were held in the country in 1992. Ali’s predecessors David Granger and Donald Ramotar were defeated in attemptsatre-election.

The constitution only allows two Presidential terms.CongratstoPresident AliandthePPP!

Yourstruly, Vishnu

Bisram

Will we let fear, injustice, and exclusion rule?

DEAREDITOR, The 2025 Elections may be over for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), but the process that led to the declaration, questioned by some and acceptedbyothers,mustnot be considered finished businessforanycitizenwho values the right to vote, a right for which generations ofworkershaveshedblood.

As a trade unionist, I hold an abiding interest in thismatter Itwasthelabour movement under the great Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow that led the charge for oneman-one-vote back in 1926. That historical fight wasn’t for ceremony or decoration. Itwastoplacepowerintothe hands of the working class and the ordinary man and woman.

Today, that power is again under threat, and it is our duty to defend it. We must be clear-eyed The 2025electionswereplagued by serious challenges and s i g n s o f s y s t e m i c incompetence. If these are not addressed with urgency and seriousness, then the LocalGovernmentElections of2026andtheGeneraland Regional Elections of 2030 risk repeating the same disgrace.Ifweallowthis,we betray not only our democratic responsibilities but the very essence of who weareasapeople.

Time and time again, I have raised concerns about GECOM’s repeated failure to facilitate a process that can truly be called free, fair and credible. This country continues to strive for political integrity, yet we keep falling short. Observer missionsswoopineveryfive years, issue their reports,

tickboxes,andflyoutwhile we are left to clean up the mess, to confront the divisions and tensions that follow every election. From their inaction, it seems they are more interested in appearances than substance, in presenting a picture of democracy rather than ensuringtherealthing. Their presentations to the world do not reflect the truth that we, the people, live. GECOM hides behind these endorsements while ignoringthecallsofcitizens for electoral reform, calls that fall on deaf ears both at the commission and in the hallsofpower

This year, a few of the observermissionswerebold enoughtotouchontheissues that we, the Guyanese people, have been shouting about for years But lip serviceisnotenough.

The international communitymustmovefrom talking the talk to walking thewalk.Iftheycannotback up their principles with action, then they must be called out for what they are, participantsinacharadethat undermines democracy in the developing world while paddingtheirresumes.

We, the people of Guyana, demand action. As wedemandedin2020andas we demand again in 2025, GECOM, the Government, and the National Assembly must commit to the urgent workofreform.

This includes sanitising t h e v o t e r s ’ l i s t , implementing biometrics, and enacting every safeguard necessary to deliver elections that truly reflectthewillofthepeople. Thatmeansaprocesswhere

(Continuedonpage06)

Will we let fear, injustice...

Frompage05

voters are real, living, resident, and bona fide citizens of this country Nothing less will suffice. The people who built this nation, our workers, our ancestors, fought too hard for too long to allow their sacrifice to be mocked by fraudulent or incompetent systems.

The reported 49 percent voter turnout should set off alarm bells This is not democracyfunctioningatits best It is a cry of disillusionment It means that nearly half of eligible voters have lost faith, either in the process or in the options presented to them. Thatisnotjustastatistic.Itis anationalshame.Ourvoteis our voice, our power And a voiceless people are a powerless people. We must be engaged not only at elections but every day, as part of a vigilant and active citizenry holding all leaders toaccount.

W h i l e G E C O M continues to disappoint, one

small mercy this year is that ourchildrenweresparedthe trauma of violence No school buses attacked. No children harmed. No nurses or public servants assaulted. No buildings stormed. Our men and women in uniform sparedthethreatsandinsults of the public for doing their jobs.Thataloneisablessing, butitcannotmaskthedeeper rot. Law and order must never be optional or selective.

Tooofteninthiscountry, somebelievethelawisonly valid when it works in their favour That mindset must end.

However, even as some breatheasighofrelief,many still see and feel the double standards that continue to breed mistrust, ethnic tension, and social unrest. Truepeace,notthesilenceof suppressionbutthepeaceof justice,willonlycomewhen all are held to the same standard and no group is above scrutiny or accountability Tothosewho desire a better Guyana, let

me say this: we must be the guardiansofourdemocracy The next five years will not improve if we sit on our hands and hope for the best. We must hold our elected representatives and ourselves to the high standards of justice, accountability, and good governance.

That is the only way we moveforward.

We now stand at a crossroads. Will we let fear, injustice, and exclusion rule?Orwillweriselikethe true heirs of this land and demand our fair share? Will wesettleforcrumbswhilea few, both foreign and local, feast off our resources and labour? Or will we fight, unitedandunrelenting,fora nationthatdeliversforallits people? We have hard choicesahead.

Let us make them with courage, with conviction, and with the legacy of Critchlow and the working classguidingourhands.

Sincerely LincolnLewis

PPPand Bamia Primary? 4 years...

Frompage04

ministers will show up or post up, how much they are advancing our education sectoranddoingforLinden. They will speak of how muchtheydocare.Theseare thefacts.

The last set of facts I wish to present is that this project was awarded in November of 2021 and shouldhavebeencompleted byJuly2023.Understanding

that delays do occur when undertaking large projects, this project should’ve never gone past the year 2024 withoutcompletion.

But if you think that’s shocking. I have spoken to teachers at the school and senior officials at the ministry’slevel,theyallsaid that the school isn’t completedasyet.

2025. A new academic

year will go by and yet, scoresofstudentswillnotgo backtotheirschool.

These are facts. ProGovernment propagandists will convince you that the governmentisn’tatfaultfor thecontractor’sinabilityand incompetence But you decide. These are, as stated before,thefacts!

Regards

Concernedresidentof Region10

GPA condemns attacks on journalists by

Pres. Ali and supporters

T

he Guyana Press Association (GPA) has condemnedrecentattackson journalists by President IrfaanAliandhissupporters, while calling for improved relations between the new government and the news media.

In a statement on Monday the GPA said last Friday it was forced to take note of the President Ali's treatmentofseniorjournalist Travis Chase during a questioning opportunity

outside the Guyana ElectionsCommission.“The GPA condemns the President's attack on Mr Chase and other journalists withhislabellingofthemas “Opposition aligned journalists”.

These attacks, the GPA said mirror similar ones

perpetuated by other activistsofthePPPincluding social media commentator and government contractor Mikhail Rodrigues who continuestolabelChaseand journalist Abena Rockcliffe as"MaduroPuppets".

The GPA recalled that last Friday, outside the GECOM offices, Rodrigues repeatedly verbally abused otherjournalistsinthevilest of manner while being

cheeredonbyotheractivists ofthegoverningparty.“The GPA also condemns the attacks on Ms. Rockcliffe and all the other journalists whocontinuetodotheirjobs without fear or favour in an aggressive environment ”

The association alluded to statements by several international observers of the September 1 elections

that highlighted the polarised atmosphere in which Guyanese journalists continue to operate and the needforthattochange.

“The Guyana Press Association will continue to call on all politicians to respect journalists and their work,”thestatementnoted.

In his inauguration speechPresidentsaidthathis government recognises and respects the essential

Presdient of GPA, Iva Wharton

watchdog role of the media and will ensure greater sharing of information by instituting mechanisms in every ministry and department that provide the facts in a timely way

However, he said that his administration will hold those tasked with the d i s s e m i n a t i o n o f information accountable for theiractions.

“They must be held accountable,”hesaid.

The GP also took the time congratulate President

Ali in his reelection while stressingthatitishopedthat relations with the news media will be greatly improved in the coming months and years, with a clear understanding of the

y information sharing and respect for the work of the media. Additionally, the GPA said it hopes that elected officials,onbothsidesofthe politicalaisle, (Continuedonpage15)

Girl,11diesin Enmoreaccident

An 11-year-old girl was killed on Sunday after the canter truck she was travellinginranintoatrench at Enmore, East Coast Demerara(ECD).

DeadisKimberlySingh.

According to police

reports, the accident occurredaround12:00hrson Sundayontheaccessroadat Enmore New Housing Scheme The incident involved a canter vehicle (GAH 1139) which was driven by her father, Rupnarine Singh, 40, of HopeWest,Enmore.

Policesaidinthevehicle at the time also, were Kimberly's mother Kamini Jairam, 32, and her siblings agesthree,four,andeight. It was reported to the police that the canter was parked at Lot 248 Hope West,Enmore,atthehomeof RieaadNaraine,whenSingh met him about 09:00 hrs. on the road and asked him to borrowthecantertotakehis family for a drive down the back of Enmore New Housing Scheme Naraine reportedthathetoldSinghto call and seek permission from his 'boss man', who is

Takechand Rooplall, the ownerofthevehicle.

Naraine told police he subsequently left Enmore and went to De Hoop, Mahaica, leaving the canter vehicle at his residence, parkedwiththekeysinside,” the report stated Further, police said when questioned by investigators, Singh reported that he took the vehicle and was heading south along the access road in Enmore New Housing Schemewithhiswifesitting in the back seat along with theirfourchildren.Singhtold policethathewasdriving“at a fast rate when he lost control of the vehicle and ended up in a nearby trench.”As a result, all the occupants received injuries about their bodies and were picked up by residents and taken to the Enmore Regional Hospital for treatment.Reports are that the 11-year-old girl was pronounced dead on arrival around14:09hrs.

Herbodywasthentaken to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where it awaits a post-mortem examination.

Opinion, Not Abuse

The recent controversy surrounding a politicians comment or insinuation that a particular journalist was “opposition-aligned” has triggered a press release from the Guyana Press Association (GPA) The GPA, in its statement, appeared to view the politicians remark as an act of abuse against the journalist.

But is it truly so? A careful analysis suggests otherwise The comment, whileperhapsunwelcomeor uncomfortable, falls squarely within the realm of opinion, not abuse. Indeed, even the law of defamation recognizes the sanctity of opinion. That this incident should feature prominently in a GPA press release is surprising, given both legal precedent and the everyday realities of political life worldwide.

Abuseisbestunderstood as speech or conduct intended to demean, insult, or threaten the dignity of another person in a gratuitous or harmful way By contrast, an opinion,

however biting or

controversial, is an evaluative statement a subjectiveinterpretationofa situation, a person, or an event. When a politician suggests or implies that a journalist is “oppositionaligned,”heisnothurlingan insult about the journalists character, appearance, or worth as a human being. Rather, he is offering a political judgment about the journalists perceived orientation or professional

stance. Suchastatementmaybe accurate, inaccurate, or unfair, but it does not automatically amount to abuse Abuse would be calling the journalist derogatorynamesorseeking tohumiliatehiminamanner unrelatedtohiswork.Tocall someone “oppositionaligned” is to express a viewpoint about where their questioning or reporting seemstofallonthepolitical spectrum. In the rough-andtumbleworldofpolitics,this isparforthecourse.

Evenifoneassumesthat thepoliticianscommentwas stinging, it is important to recall the protections embedded in the law of defamation. A key principle in this body of law is the distinction between statements of fact and expressions of opinion Defamation arises when a false statement of fact is made about a person, causing damage to their reputation By contrast, expressions of opinion particularly when clearly recognizable as such are shielded, even if they are unpleasant or strongly worded.

Incommonlawsystems, including Guyanas, the defenseof“faircomment”or “honest opinion” exists precisely to protect individuals who express evaluative judgments. The reasoning is simple: democracy cannot function if people are afraid to express views For this reason, courts have consistently held that

subjective commentary, even when harsh, is not actionable as defamation so longasitdoesnotpurportto be an objectively verifiable falsehood.

Thus, if a politician says that a journalist is “opposition-aligned,” it is plainly an opinion a political assessment not an assertion of a provable fact.

The law, therefore, recognizes its legitimacy as protectedspeech

Against this backdrop, theGPAsdecisiontoissuea press release that included thismatterseemsmisplaced. Press associations exist to safeguardtheindependence, safety, and professional dignity of journalists. When journalists are physically attacked, unlawfully detained, threatened with violence, or systematically silenced by the state, press associations rightly raise theirvoices.Buttoelevatea mereopinionexpressedbya politician into an incident worthy of public censure dilutes the seriousness of genuine threats to press freedom.

It is worth asking: what exactlyisatstakehere?The politiciandidnotpreventthe journalist from asking questions.Hedidnotbarhim fromcoveringevents.Hedid not insult his family, his ethnicity, or his humanity He merely offered a view albeit a provocative one about the journalists political alignment. To treat thisasabuseriskscreatinga chilling environment in which politicians are expected to remain mute in

DEM BOYS SEH

FirstDayShoesDoesShine

Every September is the same story Guyana does turn into a fashionshowwhenschoolopen. Yuh could swear is Milan Fashion Week. Lil pickney pon the road, shirt white like angel wing, skirt pleat sharp like cutlass, hairgreasetillitcouldfryegg.Andshoes? Ohlawd,theshoes!

Demshoesdoesblindyuh.Shinyshiny, brand new sneakers, some looking like it comestraightouttaFootLockerinMiami. Evenifmummyanddaddyhadtopawnthe fan,selltwochicken,ortekalilcreditfrom the neighbour shop, that child going to school wid new shoes. That is national tradition.

But leh me tell yuh, is only a half-day miracle. By lunch time, dem same shiny shoes looking like dem march through backdam. The sneakers that did white like toothpaste now brown like cane mud.And isnotdechildrenfault.Guyanasdutyroads and schoolyards alone could destroy a

the face of pointed or partisan questions. That is not healthy for democracy either G l o b a l l y, i t i s commonplaceforjournalists toreceivejabsandjibesfrom politicians. In the United States, the British House of Commons,orIndiasraucous political stage, journalists are frequently accused of being “left-wing,” “rightwing,” “state-aligned,” or “opposition mouthpieces ” These are not polite characterizations, but they are a normal part of democraticcontestation.

Journalists, by the very

nature of their work, probe sensitive issues, challenge authority, and occasionally appear to favor one side or another Politicians, who often feel cornered by such questioning, respond with sharpretorts.

No serious democracy mistakes such back-andforth for abuse Abuse occurs when there is intimidation, threat, or language so offensive that it undermines human dignity But political jousting even whenitinvolvesquestioning the neutrality of a journalist ispartoftheroughterrainof public life. Journalists who

cover politics must accept that their motives or alignments will sometimes be questioned The professional response is not to cry abuse but to continue asking probing, evidencebased questions that let the factsspeakforthemselves.

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

brand-newpairinfiveminutes.Hole,dust, and them lil roadside trench water splash doesbaptizethemshoesquickquick. Still, parents proud. They dont mind.

First day picture must tek, even if the uniform starch so hard the child cant bend he elbow Facebook does flood with “My babyfirstday!”whilethechildlookinglike heinpoliceparadedrill.

Bysecondday,realitysetin.Theshine gone,lacetear,andmamaalreadyshouting, “Keepyuhshoesclean,man!”Butthecycle donestart.

Everyyearisthesamescene:Guyanese parents determined to prove that even if booklist long like Bible, dem children goingoutrespectable.

So when dem foreigner seh how impressed they be with Guyanese school pickney, they right. We does start bright. Butdemboyssehbyafternoon,isnotabout shineshoesanymore isaboutstrongsole. Talkhalf.Leffhalf

H@RD TRUTHS

Elections 2025… Lesson 3 -incumbency advantage

Say incumbency advantage,andithadthePPP Governmentwrittenallover it. So said the EU, so say I. For the record, this is a postmortem of preSeptember 2025, and not of the new PPP Government, which has the first 100 days as honeymoon, a personal Xmasgift.

When I first heard “incumbency advantage” I ranforcover

The first thought that surfaced, believe it or not, was from childhood, as in that fairytale titled Jack and theBeanstalk. Guyanahasa lot of the fairytale about it, with oil standing out, and how well this country has done with it, well, that is anotherstory,onethatisnot so much of a fable. In Guyana, the fairytales somehow always end up upsidedown.

Therewasnogiantkiller,

electorally speaking, which is the basis for that beauty from the EU about “incumbency advantage ”

The ruling party wiped the slate clean of a

y competition, when it made

advantage of having its hands on all of the levers of government.

If only half of the levers of power were in its hands, the incumbents still had an u

d, a commandingpresence. And that's what the incumbents projected.

It was good to hear the foreign delegation(s) having their say, reinforcing what Guyanese already knew

Despite the guarded and stilted choice of words, the messagesstillrangtrue. He whocontrolsthebatandball and wicket (maybe even the umpires) gets the most runs

on the scoreboard, is declared the victor

Consider the following, which is now as old and boring as PNC rigging and GECOM juggling while dancing (on its head, no less).

The broadest range of State assets commandeered and deployed to the a d v a n

incumbents.

The St

edia apparatus,onethatisaslong asanoctopus,andasthickas that cloud of ink that it releases for self-protection, wasutilizedtothemaximum first to deny political opponents some breathing spacefortheirmessages,and then to overpower them. It may not be the World Wrestling Entertainment complex, but I am sure that Guyanese have no difficulty gettingtheEU(andmyown) drift.

The more things change inthiscountry,themorethey stay the same. That's no blasted philosophy, that is the regular history of Guyana I recall as a youngster, how one LFS Burnhamtookcontrolofthe national media machinery and made it work for him. Some of its more skilled exponents are still around, andonewouldbeshockedto discover where they are perched in plain sight Rememberaprogramcalled ActionLine?

Well, a hundred years later, under a new set of incumbents, there is Fright Line and Spite Line. If the late,great,DaveMartinswas stillaround(Godresthimup there with Chopin and Beethoven) he would have saidMadline.

Butthatiswhatthegood folk from Europe had to put onthetableunderthebanner

of “incumbency advantage.” Five hundred years after C h r i s t o p h e r Columbus, the

Europeans are still at it, through new voyages of discovery Incumbency Advantage is the latest flagship leading the charge alongtheCaribbeanSeaand d

tributaries.

They see national institutions now so bent out of shape by the incumbents, that they bear a close resemblance to the leaning TowerofPisa. Theybehold a

consisting of a combination of public and private assets that is dedicated to maintaining the status quo, while engaging in a long, circular, and drawn-out process of pretending at neutralityandindependence. Whoever in Guyana never heardoftheprivatesector,or thought of it in a dark light, hadbetterbookadatewitha psychiatrist,oraneurologist, orsomeholymanorwoman in this town. The problem with the holy men and women in Guyana is that they are unholier than me, which takes some doing. It means that they are really, terribly,incurablybad.

In considering the EU's

“incumbency advantage”, I am scratching around for any, even one, incumbency disadvantage. I have bad news for Guyanese, I couldn't put my fingers on a single incumbency disadvantage, including the disputes over access to information, which once again emphasized the North Korean grip that is wrapped around the necks of all Guyanese. Look at what's happening right at this minute. Who is the one extolling the virtues of the incumbents? Whatdoesthat say, when the layers of the onionsareremoved? Permit metorushtotherescue,and extending a damp cloth. Don't cry for me. I am still where I am, have always been. Ilabelthatindividual incumbency inspirations Try it sometime, fellow Guyanese. Itischickensoup for the soul, though slightly cold.

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

Pedalcyclistkilledin hit-and-runaccident

A41-year-oldmanwaskilledonSundaynightinahit-andrun accident along the Ruimzeight Public Road, West Coast Demerara(WCD).

The dead man has been identified as Mohamed Shazaud Wahab,alabourerofLot16WallersDelight,WCD.

According to a police release, Wahab and his brother AhmadWahabwereridingtheirbicyclessidebysidetoeach otherontheroad.AhmadWahabwasreportedlyridingonthe inside (closest to the white line) while the now deceased was more in the center of the northern carriageway of the public road.Ahmadtoldinvestigatorsthatawhiteminibus(number unknown), which was heading east along the northern carriageway at a fast rate, collided with his brother, who fell ontotheroadwayandreceivedinjuriesabouthisbody.

Wahab was reportedly picked up in an unconscious condition by the EMTs and taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he was seen, examined and pronounceddeadonarrival.

As investigations are ongoing, Wahab's body is at the Ezekiel'smortuaryawaitingpost-mortemexaminations.

Kanand Ojha wanted for 2015 murder of sex worker, arrested in New York

Kanand Ojha who was wantedbytheGuyanaPolice Force (GPF) for the 2015 murder of sex worker Noel 'Nephi' Luther, was on Monday arrested by law enforcement authorities in NewYork,USA.

This is according to a r e l e a s e f r o m t h e GovernmentofGuyana.

“Law Enforcement Authorities in Queens, New York, including New York/New Jersey Regional

Fugitive Task Force consisting of US Marshals, members of Homeland

S e c u r i t y a n d I C E Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), on Monday, September 8, 2025 arrestedKanandOjhawhois wantedinGuyanainrelation to the murder committed on

Construction workerremanded forlarceny

A 2 3 - y e a r - o l d constructionworkerofLot99 BlockXXXNonPareil,East Coast Demerara (ECD) was on Monday remanded to prison after he was charged with the offence of simple larceny

Making his first court

a p p e a r a n c e a t t h e Sparendaam Magistrate's Court before Magistrate Clive Nurse was Saydesh Dasscalled'Alex'.

Accordingtoinformation provided by the Guyana Police Force, Dass was arrested on September 4, 2025 by a rank from the Enmore Police Station and charged on September 7, 2025withtheoffence.

He is accused of committing the offence on Balram Manickram, a 31year-old Civil Contractor from Mon Repos, ECD, betweenAugust31,2025and September 1, 2025 at Mon Repos.

The police informed that he stole one cement mixer

Remanded, Saydesh Dass

(Ransom) valued at

$423,000, one Generator set valued at $85,000, and a submersiblewaterpumpwith flexhosevaluedat$35,000. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge read to him.Policefurtherstatedthat bail was denied, and he was remanded to prison The matter has been adjourned to October13,2025.

Noel 'Nephi' Luther in July, 2015,”thegovernmentsaid.

The government stated thatthearrestofOjhaisas

cooperation between the Guyana Police Force, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Attorney General's Chambers and authorities in theUnitedStatesofAmerica undertheMutualAssistance

platform.

“Over the years, Guyana

enforcement agencies have strengthened their relationship and this has led to mutual cooperation in criminal investigations by virtue of which criminal investigations have been pursuedinbothjurisdictions leading to the arrest of fugitives in both countries andtheirextraditiontostand trial in the country where they have committed offences. This relationship will intensify in the future,” thereleasestated. It was reported that the

GPF had issued a wanted bulletin for Ojha in July, 2019inrelationtothekilling of Luther, who was shot at Carmichael and Quamina Streets,Georgetown. Luther was reportedly shotoncetohischestduring a confrontation with Ojha and his friend Ron 'Andel' Forde.

Forde was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June, 2017afterpleadingguiltyto the lesser count of manslaughter for Luther's death.

Phillips, Jagdeo sworn-in as PM, VP respectively

Brigadier (Ret'd) Mark Phillips and Bharrat Jagdeo were officially sworn in as Prime Minister and Vice President respectively on Monday at office of the Presidentceremony

Both men previously served in the same roles during President Ali's first term in office, from 2020 to 2025 Following the September 1 General and Regional Elections, the

G u y a n a E l e c t i o n s Commission (GECOM) declaredonSeptember7that the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had won the elections. President Ali was sworn in on Sunday at the State House in Georgetown. However, unlike his first term, the swearing-in of the Prime Minister and Vice President did not take place on the same day Instead, both Phillips and Jagdeo were formally sworn in on Monday

Inhisremarks,President Aliexpressedhisconfidence in both men describing their a

beginning of a series of key

delighted to have just administered the oath of office to the Prime Minister and Vice President. These appointments represent the first of many in the public service and reflect our commitment to placing the reins of our nation's development in the most capable hands, hands that have been tried, tested, and proven in the eyes of public service,”hestated.

President Ali praised Prime Minister Phillips for his leadership during the previous term, highlighting

his strength and effective management “In those years,heservedasapillarof strength and confidence. He handled an expansive portfolio not just with efficiency but with a masterful command that instilled confidence across the government and throughout the nation,” Ali said.

Reaffirming his trust in Phillips,thePresidentadded, “I am supremely confident that, as Prime Minister, he will not only continue his (Continuedonpage16)

‘Leave now’, Netanyahu threatens Gaza City residents

…as 52 killed on Monday in attacks

Aljazeera -Israeli Prime

Minister Benjamin

Netanyahu warned residents of Gaza City on Monday to leave now, hours after Israel said it would ramp up airstrikesontheenclave.

He said: "I say to the residentsofGaza,Itakethis opportunity and listen to me carefully: You have been warned—leavenow."

Netanyahu said forces

are organizing and assembling into Gaza City for a ground "manoeuvre. Attacksonthecitysawsome

52 Palestinians being killed onMonday

Earlier, Israel said it would ramp up airstrikes on GazaonMondaytoserveas alastwarningtoHamasthat it will destroy the enclave unless fighters accept a demandfromU.S.President Donald Trump to free all hostagesandsurrender

Residents said Israeli forces bombed Gaza City from the air and blew up armoured vehicles in its streets. Hamas said it was studying the latest U S

ceasefireproposal,delivered on Sunday with a warning from Trump that it was the militant group's "last chance."

"Amightyhurricanewill hit the skies of Gaza City today, and the roofs of the terror towers will shake," Israeli Defence Minister IsraelKatzwroteonX.

Katz's post appeared beforereportsofshootingat a bus stop in Jerusalem that killed six people, including one Spanish citizen. Hamas praisedtheattackers.

Businessman wanted in 'Lola Doll' shooting surrenders to police

Businessman, Paul Daby Jr. who police issued a wanted bulletin for on Sunday in connection with the shooting of Lolita 'Lola Doll' Callender on Monday afternoon surrendered.

He was accompanied by his attorney Callender was shot several times Saturday nightoutsideofherEastRuimveldthome.

Back in June, Daby was among six persons sanctioned by United States DepartmentoftheTreasuryOfficeofForeign Assets Control (OFAC) for alleged drug trafficking.DayspriortotheshootingofLola Doll,shehadclaimedinaFacebooklivethat there might be a hit out for her She even suggestedamotiveclaimingthatitmightbe connectedtoabackandforth(buse-out)she had with someone's girlfriend. Police said early Sunday morning that a suspect is in

Wanted for attempted Murder, Paul Daby better Known as “Randell”

custody assisting with investigations

Stopping short from identifying the suspect, police stated in a press release, “Relative to the shooting of Lolita Callender aka Lola Doll, last night (Saturday), police have arrestedonepersonwhoisassistingwiththe investigation.

ReportsonSaturdaywerethatCallender wasshotseveraltimeswhilesittinginhercar,

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) bombed a 12floor block in the middle of Gaza City where dozens of displaced families had been housed, three hours after urging those inside and in hundreds of tents in the surroundingareatoleave.

Lolita Callender better known as “Lola Doll”

in front of her East Ruimveldt home. Police had identified the shooter as a lone gunman on a motorcycle and reported that the shooting took place around 23:35hrs. Ranks atthetimewerescanningCCTVcamerasin thearea.CCTVfootagehassincesurfacedof the shooting. Based on the footage seen, the shooter rode past Lola Doll's car which was parkedinfrontofherhomewiththelightson. Heparkedthebikeashortdistanceawayand walkeduptothefrontpassenger'ssideofthe carwhereheopenedfireonher.Thesuspect then trotted back to where the motorcycle was,starteditandrodeoff.

Followingtheshooting,Lolawasrushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation(GPHC)foremergencymedical attention. Police said she was shot in her neck, face, hands and leg. Up to press time last night she was said to be in a stable condition.

Back in June when OFAC updated its SpeciallyDesignatedNationalsandBlocked Persons (SDN) list, it named Daby along with thirty-seven-year-old Senior Superintendent, Himnauth Sawh; Mark Cromwell, 43, known as “Demon” and “Diamond” of Lot 40 Vigilance, East Coast Demerara,andLot10Buxton,ECD;and50year-old Randolph Duncan for drug (Continuedonpage18)

In a statement, the IDF said Hamas militants who had "planted intelligence gathering means" and explosive devices had been operating near the building and"haveuseditthroughout the war to plan and advance terror attacks against IDF forces."

According to a senior Israeliofficial,thelatestU.S. proposal for Gaza calls for Hamas to return all 48 remaining living and dead hostagesonthefirstdayofa ceasefire, during which negotiations would be held toendthewar

Hamas has long said it intendedtoholdontoatleast some hostages until negotiations were complete. It said in a statement it was committed to releasing all hostages with a "clear announcement of an end to the war" and withdrawal of IsraeliforcesfromGaza.

Israel launched a major assault last month on Gaza City, where hundreds of thousands of residents are living in the ruins having returned after the most intense fighting of the war's earlyweeksnearlytwoyears ago.Residents of Gaza City said Israeli forces pounded several districts from the air and ground, and detonated decommissioned armoured vehicles laden with explosives, destroying clusters of homes in the SheikhRadwan,Zeitounand Tuffahneighbourhoods.

Among at least 25 Palestinians reported killed in Gaza on Monday was Osama Balousha, a journalist for Palestinian media, medics said. Fifteen other people were killed in separate Israeli strikes and gunfire across the enclave, medics said, taking Monday's death toll to at least40.

Nearly 250 journalists have been killed in Gaza during the war, according to Palestinian authorities, making it by far the world's deadliestwarfornewsmedia inlivingmemory Israel bars all foreign reporters from Gaza, so all journalists killed there have been Palestinians Palestinian officials say Israel has deliberately targeted some journalists, whichIsraeldenied

FamilydemandsjusticeforgoldminermurderedatPurunilanding

The family of 27-yearold Christopher Stephens is crying out for justice and demanding a swift and thorough investigation into his death which occurred on August 18 at Puruni Landing,RegionSeven. Stephens, a gold miner from Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo(EBE),wasfound dead,lyingfacedowninthe river with a chop wound to hisforehead.Apost-mortem reportlaterconfirmedthathe diedfromblunttraumatothe head.

Speaking with Kaieteur News on Monday, Stephens'

sister, Tatiana Blair, and mother, Natasha Blair, expressed frustration and heartbreak over the lack of progressintheinvestigation. They claim that since the discovery of his body, they have received no updates from the police, and no charges have been laid againstthesuspects.

“Thepolicedidn'ttellme anything positive about this case,” Tatiana said. Her mother added tearfully, “I ain't feeling good because I'm not getting justice and these boys are free, they get stationbail.”

The grieving mother continued,“RightnowIcan't even explain how I feel. It makes me feel sick, because uptonow,theGuyanaPolice Forceain'tcallusbacktotell us what's really going on with the three men. Every timewecall,theyjusttellus towait.”

Tatiana said the last update she received was on Monday,whenshecontacted thepolicewho informedher that the suspects had been regularly reporting to the Bartica Police Station. She was told that the investigationistakinglonger

than expectedbecause a key eyewitness to the murder cannotreadorwrite.

“Around12:00hrs.,Igot ontothem,andtheysaidthey haveaneyewitnesswhosaw when Christopher was chopped. But they told me the witness can't read or write…that'swhatthepolice toldme,”shesaid.

filed. A file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions(DPP)forlegal advice, though Moore could not say when a decision wouldbereturned.Hestated that the three suspects are complying with instructions to report regularly to the BarticaPoliceStation.

Dead: Christopher Stephens

Stephens' mother and sistersaidhewashisfamily's breadwinner,andhispartner is pregnant His mother pleaded, “We're not coping well, all because we're not getting any justice. I want theseboysjailedbecausewe need justice for him Christopher wasn't a violent person,andIdon'tknowwhy theydidthattohim.Thatwas hisfirsttimegoingtoPuruni Landing and sleeping out, and that's when he was murdered.”

Tatiana appealing for urgency in the matter: “We just need justice, and we want the police to speed up the case and leave no stone unturned.”

Meanwhile, Regional Commander and Senior Superintendent of Police Dion Moore confirmed that threesuspectswerearrested, butnochargeshaveyetbeen

Additional details surrounding the incident were shared by Stephens's brother,KevinBlairduringa previous interview on August 20. Speaking with Kaieteur News, Kevin said his brother last contacted himduringtheearlyhoursof Saturday morning “At 12:59,Iwokeupbecausemy phonerang.WhenIchecked, it was my brother calling,” hesaid.

“When I answered, I heard him say, 'Kevin, somebody want kill me.' I askedhimwho,buthedidn't say He just said somebody wantedtokillhimandlashed himoffhisbike.”

Blair said he urged his brother to return to the campsite immediately, warning him not to stay out late since he was unfamiliar (Continuedonpage16)

President IrfaanAli

on Monday met with Suriname's Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Melvin Bouva, at State House to advance development initiatives between the two countries.

In a brief statement posted on the Office of the President's Facebook page, the president's office said that the discussions focused on“Guyana'scommitmentto the Corentyne River Bridge project; collaboration with Suriname to resolve issues

; improving the efficiency of the Guyana–Suriname ferry system; and exploring joint investmentopportunities.” M r B o u v a w a s accompanied by Suriname's ChiefofStaffoftheCabinet, Mr Sergio Akiemboto, and theAmbassadorofSuriname to Guyana, Ms Liselle Blankendal.

Guyana's Foreign Secretary, Mr Robert Persaud, and Director of Presidential Affairs, Mrs Marcia Nadir-Sharma, were alsoatthemeeting.

Charged: Junior Anthony Greaves

Gold miner busted with cocaine at Ogle airport remanded

A44-year-oldgoldminerwhowasbustedwith 26.7lbs of cocaine at the Eugene F Correia InternationalAirport,Ogle,EastCoastDemerarain August,wasonMondayremandedtoprisonforthe offence.

JuniorAnthony Greaves of Kitty, Georgetown andPortKaitumaWaterFrontinRegionOne,made his first court appearance at the Sparendaam Magistrates' Court before Magistrate Abigail Gibbs,wherethechargewas readtohim.

GPA condemns...

Frompage8

will make themselves more accessibleandavailabletothe mediaandthatmattersrelated to the media and the work of the media would involve discussions with the media and the Guyana Press Association.“Themediahasa key role to play in today's society, and it cannot be one reduced to hostility,” the statementread.

In a preliminary on its observation of the recent elections,theEuropeanUnion Elections Observervation Mission noted that the media landscapeishighlypoliticised with many outlets aligned withthegovernmentresulting inadisproportionatecoverage in favour of the ruling party

The mission noted that staterun media favoured the government, while the editorial output of most private broadcast, print and digital outlets reflected their owners' political alignment.

“The integrity of independent reporting was undermined as some journalists openly campaigned for contesting parties, mostly the PPP/C.

Positivelydefyingthistrend,a few independent outlets upheld journalistic standards, providing non-partisan scrutiny of candidates, their policies, and the electoral process.All monitored media outlets made a positive contribution to GECOM's voter education efforts, airing manysuchclipsduringprimetime,”theEUmissionsaid.

According to the mission

several long-standing problemshinderedthemedia's work throughout the campaign.

“Journalists faced difficultiesinobtainingaccess to information of public interest, owing to inadequate action by the Commissioner of Information to address requests for information.

Independent journalists were also singled out and verbally attacked by high-ranking governmentofficialsandtheir supporters at public events

and harassed on social media for their professional stance and challenging questions

One prominent investigative reporter faced threats of legal action by government ministers,whoconsideredhis reportingasdefamatory Such amediaenvironmentdoesnot foster independent, professional, and analytical reporting.”

Politicalbullying

Meanwhile, in a swift response to the GPA's statement, Director of the Department of Public Information (DPI), Edward Layne noted that the association's statement contains a number of inaccurate and untruthful claims. He said in particular, the claim that President Ali's treatment of Journalist Travis Chasewarrantscondemnation is, in fact, another instance of politically-motivatedbullying by the president of the GPA.

“Mr Chase does not observe even the most basic protocols andethicsofjournalism.What the GPA should condemn is Chase's aggressively confrontationaltacticstoward aHeadofState,aswellashis inflammatory posts on social media. By any measure, Mr Chase'spracticesinthemedia are at once symptomatic and symbolic of a deep (or even pathological)disregardforthe People's Progressive Party C i v i c ( P P P / C ) administration,” Layne's statementread.

HesaidtheGPA'sdefence and advocacy for Chase must not be taken seriously “because the Guyana Press Associationisoneofthemost undemocratic, unbalanced, and congenitally biased organisations in Guyana President Ali remains committed to ensuring that freedom of expression in Guyana, in all its forms and modalities, is guaranteed and defended.

The expectations of ethical professional conduct must also follow the rule of law.”

Pres. Ali holds talks with U.S. Deputy

Asst.

Secretary of War

President Irfaan Ali and United States (U.S.) Deputy Assistant Secretary of War, Mr. Joseph M. Humire,duringameetingonMonday, at State House discussed strengthening and expanding Guyana's “strategic partnership” with theU.S.

InastatementpostedontheOffice of the President's Facebook page, President Ali emphasized that Guyana'ssovereigntyanddefenceare centralprioritiesforhisgovernment.

Greaves, who was arrested onAugust 24 at the airport,pleadednotguiltyto thecrime.

TheGuyanaPoliceForce (GPF) reported that Greaves wasarrestedonAugust24at the airport, and charged on August 26 for possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Heisscheduledtoreturn to court on September 19, 2025fordisclosure.

“The discussion also focused on strengthening and expanding Guyana's strategic partnership with the United States, with a shared commitment to peace and security acrosstheregion,”thestatementsaid.

Mr Humire was accompanied by his delegation and the United States Ambassador to Guyana, HE Nicole Theriot Also in attendance were Guyana's Foreign Secretary, Mr Robert Persaud; National Security Advisor, Captain Gerry Gouveia; Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier OmarKhan;andHeadoftheNational Intelligence and Security Agency, ColonelSheldonHowell.

WHO updates list of essential medicines to include key cancer, diabetes treatments

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Wanted one Maid. Call: 6801282.

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Driver to drive Canter Truck.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has released updated editions of its Model Lists of Essential Medicines (EML) and Essential Medicines for Children (EMLc), adding new treatments for various types of cancer and for diabetes with associated comorbidities such as obesity. Medicines for cystic fibrosis, psoriasis, haemophilia and blood-related disorders are among the other additions. WHO EML and EMLc include medicines for priority health needs of populations. They are adopted in over 150 countries, serving as a basis for public sector procurement, supply of medicines and health insurance, reimbursement schemes. The revisions mark the 24th edition of WHO EML and 10th edition of EMLc. “The new editions of essential medicines lists mark a significant step toward expanding access to new medicines with proven clinical benefits and with high potential for global public health impact,” said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, Assistant DirectorGeneral for Health Systems, Access and Data.

Launched in 1977 largely to promote better access to medicines in developing countries, the WHO Model Lists have become a trusted global policy tool for decisions related to the selection and universal coverage of medicines within all health systems. The WHO Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines reviewed 59 applications, including 31 proposals for the addition of new medicines or medicine classes. As a result, 20 new medicines were added to the EML and 15 to the EMLc, along with

new use indications for seven already-listed products. The updated lists now include a total of 523 essential medicines for adults and 374 for children, reflecting the most pressing public health needs.

Cancer medicines

Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, claiming nearly 10 million lives each year and responsible for almost one in three premature deaths from noncommunicable diseases. Cancer treatments have been a major focus of the WHO EML for the past decade. With cancer medicines accounting today for about half of all new drug approvals by regulatory agencies, the Expert Committee applies rigorous criteria to recommend only those therapies that offer the greatest clinical benefit. As a result, few approved cancer medicines are included – only those proven to prolong life by at least 4-6 months.

Seven applications encompassing 25 cancer medicines were evaluated. As part of broader efforts to reduce inequities in cancer care, the Committee recommended increasing access to PD-1/PDL1 immune checkpoint inhibitors, a class of immunotherapy medicines that help the body’s immune system recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively. Pembrolizumab was added to the EML as a first-line monotherapy for metastatic cervical cancer, metastatic colorectal cancer, and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. For the latter, atezolizumab and cemiplimab are included as therapeutic alternatives. The Committee also considered several ex-

pert-recommended strategies – highlighted in the cancer experts report – aimed at improving access to and affordability of cancer treatments. It endorsed evidencebased clinical and health system strategies, including dose optimisation approaches, to improve access. The Committee emphasized that while health system reforms require time and government action, clinical strategies can be implemented immediately to deliver faster benefits, especially in resource-limited settings.

Medicines for diabetes and obesity

Diabetes and obesity are two of the most urgent health challenges facing the world today. Over 800 million people were living with diabetes in 2022, with half going untreated. At the same time, more than 1 billion people worldwide are affected by obesity, and rates are rising especially fast in low- and middle-income countries. These two conditions are closely linked and can lead to serious health problems, including heart disease and kidney failure.

The WHO Expert Committee reviewed strong scientific evidence showing that a group of medicines called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists can help people with type 2 diabetes –especially those who also have heart or kidney disease – by improving blood sugar control, reducing the risk of heart and kidney complications, supporting weight loss, and even lowering the risk of early death.

GLP-1 receptor agonists –semaglutide, dulaglutide and liraglutide – and the GLP-1/

glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) dual receptor agonist (tirzepatide) have been added to the EML. They are used as glucose lowering therapy for adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus with established cardiovascular disease or chronic kidney disease and obesity (defined as body mass index (BMI) e” 30kg/ m2). This provides clear guidance to countries on which patients can benefit most from these therapies.

High prices of medicines like semaglutide and tirzepatide are limiting access to these medicines. Prioritizing those who would benefit most, encouraging generic competition to drive down prices and making these treatments available in primary care – especially in underserved areas – are key to expanding access and improving health outcomes. WHO will continue monitoring developments, support fair pricing strategies, and help countries improve access to these life-changing treatments.

“A large share of out-ofpocket spending on noncommunicable diseases goes toward medicines, including those classified as essential and that, in principle, should be financially accessible to everyone,” said Deusdedit Mubangizi, WHO Director of Policy and Standards for Medicines and Health Products. “Achieving equitable access to essential medicines requires a coherent health system response backed by strong political will, multisectoral cooperation, and people-centred programmes that leave no one behind.”

Family demands justice for gold miner murdered...

From page 14 with the area. That was the last conversation they had. At around 5:00 a.m., Kevin contacted their mother, Natasha, to inform her of what had happened. Both attempted to call Christopher again, but their calls went unanswered. He then reached out to individuals in the Puruni area to search for his brother, but

their efforts came up empty. Later, Blair filed a missing person report with the police. The following day, the family received a photo of a body, but it could not immediately be confirmed. Their worst fears were realized the following day when Tatiana, officially identified the body as his.

Police have since

launched an investigation, treating the case as a murder.

According to Tatiana, her brother was new to the area and did not have any known disputes with anyone. She explained that he had travelled to Puruni Landing to work in gold mining alongside their mother and brother.

On the day he went missing, Stephens and two em-

ployees were returning to their mining camp when he reportedly instructed them to go ahead while he followed behind. The two employees arrived safely, but Christopher never did.

The next day, his body was discovered in the river, and his motorcycle was found parked at Puruni Landing.

Phillips, Jagdeo sworn-in as PM, VP respectively...

From page 12 exemplary service but will surpass his own distinguished record.”

Turning to Vice President Jagdeo, President Ali commended his lifelong dedication to Guyana’s develop-

ment. “He has devoted a lifetime to the socio-economic and political well-being of our nation. In my first term I came to rely on his expert and wise counsel as my vice president. His grasp for complex issues, his foresight in policy making and profound understanding of both local dynamics and global economics are nothing short of extraordinary,” President Ali stated. Ali concluded by emphasising the strength of the team formed by the reappointments. “Together, these two exemplary gentlemen represent a powerful fusion of strength. They represent a unity of purpose and a diversity of skills that will support my government and the rest of my cabinet,” he said.

BLUNT BLUNT

Time for President Ali to clean house

President Irfaan Ali must face an uncomfortable truth: too many of his ministers have had their names linked to corruption schemes. Whether through direct accusation or public suspicion, the stench of “filthy lucre” clings to the corridors of power. This is not the image of a government that promised transparency and accountability.

If the President is serious about building trust, he must act decisively. This week he will be appointing cabinet members.

Competence and integrity must be the guiding principles for ministerial appointments not blind loyalty, political convenience, or ethnic arithmetic. The people of Guyana deserve leaders who work tirelessly in the national interest, not opportunists fattening themselves at the public trough.

Ali has an opportunity to show that he is not captive to the same old corrupt political culture. Letting go of tainted ministers and replacing them with uncorrupted, hardworking individuals would send a clear message that dishonesty will not be rewarded under his watch. Anything less is an endorsement of mediocrity and graft.

History will judge this government not by its speeches, but by the calibre of men and women it entrusts with power. It is time to clean house.

French parliament votes to oust prime minister, deepening political crisis

(Reuters) - France’s parliamentbroughtdownthe government on Monday over its plans to tame the ballooning national debt, deepening a political crisisthat is weakening the euro zone’s second-largest economy at a time of steep globaltensions.

President Emmanuel Macron, who is facing calls from the opposition to dissolve parliament and resign, will instead hunt forhisfifthprimeminister in less than two years His officesaidhewouldappoint oneinthenextfewdays.

The next government’s most pressing task will be to pass a budget, the same challenge Bayrou faced when he took office Securing the backing of a very divided parliament willbeequallyhard.

“Youhavethepowerto b r i n g d o w n t h e government, but you do not have the power to erase reality,” Bayrou told lawmakers before losing

the confidence vote, with 364 votes against him and only194inhisfavour

“Reality will remain relentless: expenses will continue to rise, and the burden of debt, already unbearable, will grow heavier and more costly,” hesaid

Francois Bayrou, who took office as prime minister only nine months ag

resignation on Tuesday, hisofficesaid

Bayrou had called the confidence vote to try to winparliamentarysupport for his strategy to lower a deficit that stands at nearly double the European Union’s 3% ceiling and to starttackling a debt pile equivalent to 114%ofGDP

But opposition parties were in little mood to rally behind his planned savings of 44 billion euros ($51.51 billion) in next year’s budget, with an election for Macron’ssuccessorlooming

in 2027. “This moment marks the end of the agony of a phantom government,” far-right

He could tack to the left and nominate a moderate socialist, or choose a technocrat No scenario would be likely to hand the next government a parliamentarymajority

Itwasinevitablethatthe need to form a new government would result in a dilution of the deficit reduction plan, Finance Minister Eric Lombard said beforethevote.

Macron may eventually decide the only path out of the crisis lies in calling a snap election, but he has so far resisted calls from Le Pen’s National Rally and from France Unbowed to dissolveparliamentasecond time.

FISCALMESS

leaderMarineLePensaid, pushing for a snap parliamentary election, which Macron has so far ruledout

“Macron is now on the front line facing the people. He too must go,” Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the hard-left France Unbowed, saidonX.

Macron could now nominate a politician from his own centrist minority ruling group or from the ranksofconservativesasthe nextpremier,butthatwould mean doubling down on a strategy that has failed to yieldastablealliance.

France’s EU peers will bewatchingclosely France holds the highest deficit as a percentage of GDP in the euro zone - the bloc using the EU’s single currency It pays more to service its debt than Spain and spreads against benchmark German 10-year bonds are at their highest level infourmonths.

Fitch, often seen as a first mover among rating agencies, reviews its AA- rating with a negative outlook on September 12 Moody’s andS&PGlobal,whichhave equivalentratings,followin OctoberandNovember

A downgrade would hamper France’s ability to raise money at low

interest rates from investors, potentially deepening its debt problems.

A lengthy period of political and fiscal u n c e r t a i n t y r i s k s undermining Macron’s influence in Europe at a time when the United States is talking tough on tradeandsecurity,andwaris raging in Ukraine on Europe’seasternflank.

The socialists have offered a counter-budget that would impose a tax of at least 2% on personal wealth greater than 100 million euros and generate savings of 22 billioneuros-aproposalthat would be tough to marry withthepro-businessreform agend

Macron’s presidency

Discontent may also start brewing on the streets

A grassroots protest m o v e m e n t c a l l e d “Bloquons Tout” (“Let’s Block Everything”) is calling for nationwide disruption on Wednesday Trade unions are plotting walkoutstheweekafter

Like many in France, Mohamed, 80, who sells produce at the Aligre market in Paris, doesn’t think the politicians will findawayout.

“Come back in 10 days and you’ll see n

thing will have changed There won’t be a majority, there will be no budget ”

Businessmanwantedin‘LolaDoll’...

Frompage13 trafficking Additionally, two Colombian nationals, Manuel Salazar Gutierrez, also known as “Manguera” and “Orejon” and Yeison Andres Sanchez Vallejo, alsoknownas“Blacks”and “Andreas”, were listed as operatingindrugtrafficking through Guyana OFAC stated that for decades, Guyana has been a transhipment point for the movement of drugs from SouthAmericatotheUnited StatesandEurope.

“Drugtraffickersexploitthe rivers and jungles of South America by transiting large quantities of cocaine, from Colombia and Venezuela, through the waters of Guyana and Suriname,” it was stated. OFAC outlined that Guyana’s proximity to the Caribbean, as well as reportedcorruptionalongits

ports and borders, allows maritime vessels, also knownasnarco-submarines, to transit through its waters undetected.

It was stated that traffickers utilise these vessels to smuggle cocaine from the ports of Guyana and Suriname, across the Atlantic, to the United States, Europe, and the Caribbean.

OFAC said, too, that traffickers also coordinate the importation of cocaine loads from Colombia and Venezuela to Guyana via small aircraft, utilising illegalairstripsinGuyanaas landingspots.

“Cocaine has been discovered buried in underground bunkers located on airstrips and in jungle territory, with Guyana’s Barima-Waini region as a prominent

location. Cocaine is then flown, via aircraft, to the United States, Europe, and the Caribbean,” it was stated. Following a US$188 milliondrugbustonAugust 31, this publication had reported that a senior police officer was allegedly connected with the cocaine bust at Matthews Ridge, RegionOne.

A Joint Services team, led by the CANU, on Saturday unearthed approximately 4 4 tons (4,400 kilos) of suspected cocaine,whichhasacurrent street value of US$188 million, at a nearby illegal airstrip at Matthew’s Ridge. Neatly stashed, the cocaine was found buried in four hand-dug pits, each averaging five to six feet deep, and covered with tarpaulins, wood, and bushes.

BLUNT BLUNT

Time for President Ali to clean house

President Irfaan Ali must face an uncomfortable truth: too many of his ministers have had their names linked to corruption schemes. Whether through direct accusation or public suspicion, the stench of “filthy lucre” clings to the corridors of power. This is not the image of a government that promised transparency and accountability.

If the President is serious about building trust, he must act decisively. This week he will be appointing cabinet members.

Competence and integrity must be the guiding principles for ministerial appointments not blind loyalty, political convenience, or ethnic arithmetic. The people of Guyana deserve leaders who work tirelessly in the national interest, not opportunists fattening themselves at the public trough.

Ali has an opportunity to show that he is not captive to the same old corrupt political culture. Letting go of tainted ministers and replacing them with uncorrupted, hardworking individuals would send a clear message that dishonesty will not be rewarded under his watch. Anything less is an endorsement of mediocrity and graft.

History will judge this government not by its speeches, but by the calibre of men and women it entrusts with power. It is time to clean house.

Hayley Matthews ruled out of WCPL 2025

(ESPN Cricnifo)Barbados Royals have suffered a significant blow on the eve of their WCPL titledefence,withashoulder injury ruling out their captain Hayley Matthews fortheentireseason.

Allrounder Chinelle Henry will lead Royals in Matthews’absence.

MatthewsistheWCPL’s leading run-getter (424 at a strike rate of 113.06) and wicket-taker (23 with an

economyrateof5.79),anda key player in Royals’ titlewinning campaigns of 2023 and2024.ShewasPlayerof the Match in the 2023 final against Guyana Amazon Warriors, scoring a 59-ball 82 and taking two wickets, and Player of the Series in the2024season.

Royals announced the news of Matthews’ injury via X, formerly Twitter They have not announced a replacementyet.

Royals are set to play their first game of WCPL 2025 against Amazon WarriorsonSundaynight.

Matthews had picked up a shoulder injury on the England tour and opted for surgery during the WBBL. She was the Melbourne Renegades’ pre-draft pick but pulled out before the WBBLdraft.Sheplayedthe home series against South AfricaandthentheHundred and was slated to undergo

surgeryaftertheWCPL.

NaiJanni Cumberbatch, Trishan Holder and Steffie Soogrim were among a select group of emerging West Indian players who tuned up for WCPL 2025 with a stint at the Chennai Super Kings Academy in Chennailastmonth.

Barbados Royals squad: Chinelle Henry (capt), Afy Fletcher, Aaliyah Alleyne, Kycia Knight, Steffie Soogrim, Shamilia Connell, Sheneta Grimmond, Qiana Joseph, Trishan Holder, NaiJanni Cumberbatch, Chamari Athapaththu, Georgia Redmayne, Courtney Webb, Shreyanka Patil

Tuesday September 09, 2025

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

Difficult predicaments could arise today if you try to exert your will over others without having the most honorable intentions, Aries. It could be that you're using someone else's fear of you to control himorher

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

The fire within you is raging today,Taurus,andyoushould becarefulhowyouwieldthis power Be proud and triumphant. Walk with your shouldersbackandheadhigh. Freedomisimportant.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

There may be a great deal of fuss over something that seems quite insignificant to you, Gemini. Try to see the beauty and importance of everythingaroundyou.

CANCER(June21–July22)

Thingsarecomingtoacritical point for you today, Cancer, and you may find that other people openly object to your actions. It's OK to be a bit selfish if the situation is appropriate.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Feelfreetospeakmoreloudly today, Leo. You'll find that things fall into place more easily if you speak your thoughts outwardly and directly in the presence of others. Bring your internal powerunderyourcontrol.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

Youshouldbaskinaglorious splendortoday,Virgo.There's a great deal of power at your disposal.You'll find your ego ishealthy,charged,andready forthebattlefield.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Add more sunshine to your day, Libra. It may be time to stir up your inner passion and let it speak with greater confidencethanyouhavebeen lately Make sure you heal yourself by letting the people aroundyouhearyourtruth.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)

You'llfindthatyoursparkcan easily turn potential energy into kinetic energy, Scorpio. Don'tunderestimatethepower of your words. Realize the profound impact they have on othersandtakeresponsibility

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

Don't dwell on your fluctuating moods today, Sagittarius. Look at the larger trends and how positive elements are coming together inyourfavor

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Thisisyourdaytoshineinall your glory, Capricorn. There's noneedtoholdanythingback. You'll find that you have a great deal of love to share. Your heart is likely to go to extremes today in order to proveitslove.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)Trynottolosesightofyour own projects or desires, Aquarius. There's a great deal of power and manipulative energy in the air today that could throw you off course if youaren'tcareful.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

Recharge today by getting outside and stretching your arms to the sky, Pisces. Be proud and courageous. You have the power to turn an unhealthy situation into a positiveone,

HearMe Out Charles Ramson Jr.’s legacy in sport

…accessibility,fundingandthegreatfacilityfailure

BYRAWLETONEY

As President Irfaan Ali prepares to unveil his new Cabinet, speculation swirls about who will take the reins at the Ministry of Culture,YouthandSport.

Before weighing in on the future, it is worth reflectingontherecentpast, specifically, Charles Ramson Jr.’s tenure. His five years as Minister were defined by admirable

a c c e s s i b i l i t y a n d unprecedented funding, yet ultimately overshadowed byanunforgivableAchilles’ heel; the failure to deliver sportinginfrastructure.

It’s important to set the stage. Ramson wore three hats, Culture, Youth, and Sport, but my analysis is confined to the one area I knowbest.Formorethan20 yearsIhavecoveredsportin Guyana,bothasajournalist and as an administrator What follows, then, is not armchair commentary but observationsfromsomeone embeddedinthesystem.

ACCESSIBILITYAND FUNDING–TWOBIG WINS

In my professional career,Charleswasthemost accessibleMinisterofSport

I’ve dealt with He answered the phone. He showed up to meetings. He engaged with associations consistently, and many federationswouldlikelysay the same. This was not a Minister hidden behind bureaucracy Hewasvisible andwillingtolisten.

Ramson also brought a genuine appreciation of sporttohispost.

His understanding of cricket and basketball was notcursory

He knew the language, the culture, and even found the time, when possible, to join the Sunday morning (basketball) sweat That kind of engagement, while symbolic, matters It allowedhimtoconnectwith athletes and administrators in a way his predecessors rarelymanaged.

Most importantly, Ramson changed the conversation around funding.

For years, associations struggled to wrestle government support for national teams, grassroots initiatives, and even national championships.

Under Ramson, that changed. Associations, at least those I’m familiar with, benefitted from full funding for international competitions and domestic programmes. That was no small feat, and it elevated themoraleofmanyathletes whooftenfeltleftbehindby successivegovernments.

THEFACILITIES FIASCO

But for all the goodwill Ramson built through accessibility and funding, hislegacywillbedefinedby the Ministry’s failure to deliver facilities. And that failureisglaring.

TaketheCliffAnderson Sports Hall. Renovations beganin2022.Fastforward to2025,andthefacility,our premier indoor arena, remainsunfinished.

Meanwhile, the new DemeraraRiverBridge,one of the country’s most complex infrastructure projects, broke ground in 2023andisalreadywellon its way to completion. The Mackenzie Sports Club is alsofarfromfinish.

Even more damning is the comparison with the athleticsstadiumsinLinden andBerbice.

Announced nearly a decadeagoundertheAPNU Government, they remain mired in delay And during thissameperiod,highways, schools, hospitals, and housingschemeshaverisen across the country and are alreadyoperational.

When juxtaposed againstthebillionsfunneled into sport under President Ali’s administration, the shortcomings are even hardertostomach.

Since 2020, a record G$21.61 billion has been

allocated to sport The Ministry’s budget ballooned from $805 3 million in 2020 to an unprecedented $8 billion in 2025.Onpaper,it’sagolden era On the ground, however, the absence of completed facilities tells a different, more sobering story.

THEHARSHREALITY

This is where the a n a l y s i s g e t s uncomfortable. A Minister who was accessible, supportive, and athletefriendly will not be remembered for those qualities.Instead,hislegacy will be dominated by steel frames, unfinished stands, and empty promises Facilities are the most visible barometer of progressinsport,andinthat respect, the Ministry failed u n d e r R a m s o n ’ s stewardship.

Tobefair,noMinisterof Sport has ever had the resources Ramson did. His predecessors operated with afractionofthebudget.But with unprecedented resources comes higher expectations, and here is where the Ministry stumbled.

THEVERDICT

So, how should Charles RamsonJr beremembered? AsaMinisterwhowasthere for the associations, who understood the culture of sport, and who secured unprecedentedfunding.But also, as the Minister under whose watch not a single major facility was completed, despite record allocations.

In politics, perception matters, and perception is unforgiving.WhileRamson deservescreditforchanging thetoneofengagementwith sport,heisunlikelytoreturn totheMinistry

Accessibility and fundingmaywinheadlines, but facilities, or the lack thereof, write legacies, and that, more than anything else, will define Charles Ramson’stimeinoffice.

Man City & Premier League end sponsor rules dispute

Manchester City were among the four clubs who opposed the new Premier League rules (Getty Images)

( B B C S p o r t )Manchester City and the Premier League have reached a settlement in their dispute over the rules that governcommercialdeals.

City have accepted the rules governing associated partytransactions(APT)are validandbinding,withboth partiesagreeingtoterminate legalproceedings.

The club had mounted a legal challenge against the Premier League, claiming newruleswere“unlawful”.

“Neither the Premier League nor the club will be makinganyfurthercomment about the matter,” a joint statementsaid.

Cityarealsoawaitingthe outcome of a landmark disciplinary hearing after being charged by the Premier League with more than100allegedbreachesof financial rules for which the club deny wrongdoing. Last year, an independent arbitration panel found against aspects of the league’s APT regulations after a lawsuit instigated by the club. The rules were

formed by the Premier League to prevent clubs from profiting from commercial deals with companies linked to their owners that are deemed above“fairmarketvalue”.

In November 2024, a majority of top-flight clubs v o t e d t o a p p r o v e amendments to the APTs, despite opposition from City Backgroundto sponsorrulesdispute

The APT rules were introduced in December 2021 after the Saudi Arabian-led takeover of Newcastle earlier that year andwereamendedinMarch andNovember2024.

T h e r u l e s w e r e successfully challenged by ManchesterCitylastyear

A tribunal then ruled low-interest shareholder loansshouldnotbeexcluded from the scope of theAPTs, and that changes made to toughen up the regulations also breached competition law Following the ruling, City criticised the Premier League’s “misleading”

suggestion the regulations could be swiftly amendedand threatened further legal action if there was a “kneejerkreaction”.

Cityinsistedtheleague’s proposed changes “would introduce into the rules a retrospective exemption for shareholder loans... one of the very things that was found to be illegal in the recentarbitration”.

Theysaidthereshouldbe no vote on changes before a further determination by the panel.However, the Premier League voted through the amendments despite opposition from Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, as well as City

The Premier League and City attended a two-day hearing earlier this year to makesubmissionsinrelation to the impact of the original ruling.

Theyhavenowreacheda settlementthatwillbringtoa close a long-running legal battle that cost both sides millions of pounds in legal fees.

WestIndies’Sealesfireshis wayintoICCawardcontention

(CMC) - West Indies’ exciting young pace sensation, Jayden Seales, has been rewarded for a devastating bowling display by earning a nomination for the ICC Men’s PlayeroftheMonthawardforAugust.

The 23-year-old Trinidadian finds himself in elite company, shortlisted alongside New Zealand’s Matt Henry and India’s Mohammed Siraj for the prestigious monthlyhonour Seales’snominationcomes on the back of a Player of the Series performance in the recent three-match ODI seriesagainstPakistanonhomesoil.

The fiery pacer was the undisputed standout, finishing as the leading wickettakerwithatotalof10scalps

The highlight of his remarkable month was a breathtaking, career-best

spell of six wickets for just 18 runs in the seriesfinale

His demolition job powered the West Indies to a colossal 202-run victory, sealing their first ODI series win against Pakistan in over three decades, since 1991

The ICC Player of the Month awards recognise the best performances from both men and women across all forms of international cricket throughout the calendarmonth

TheshortlistiscompiledbytheICC,after which the winner is decided by a combined vote from an independent ICC Voting Academy, which includes West Indies past players Daren Ganga and Stacy Ann King, andcricketfansworldwide.

Britain’s Draper out for season with arm injury

(BBC Sport) - Jack Draper will not play again this season because of the arm injury that forced his withdrawal from the US Open.

The 23-year-old British number one left New York before his second-round match because the discomfort in his arm had becometoomuch. Draper, ranked seventh in the world, had not played

singles since Wimbledon because of bruising on his upper left serving arm, although his team were confident a scan taken before the US Open suggestedafullrecovery

But after beating the ArgentinequalifierFederico Agustin Gomez in the first round, Draper flew home and now says he must rest and sit out the remainder of theseason.

“Itisverydifficultforme to accept as I was building some incredible momentum this year and playing some greatstuff,”hepostedonhis socialmediachannels.

“However, I’ve been through this before and I always come back stronger as I’m so motivated to fulfil mypotentialasaplayer.”

The news means Draper willnotbeabletorealisethis season’s goal of qualifying for the season-ending ATP Finals, in Turin in November,forthefirsttime.

He was in a very strong position to do so earlier in the year, after winning his first ATP 1000 event in Indian Wells in March and finishingastherunner-upin MadridinMay

Draper is also likely to lose his place in the world’s top10bytheendoftheyear

He felt discomfort in his arm during the clay court season in the spring It affected his forehand and serve and, with the pain increasing,ascanwastaken after his defeat by Marin Cilic in the second round at Wimbledon.

On medical advice Draperdidnothitanyserves for a month or any ground strokes for two and a half weeks, but arrived in New

York confident the injury wouldnotholdhimback.

Draper has had many physicalproblemsinhisfirst fewyearsontour Hedidnot play for two and a half months because of a shoulder injury in the summer of 2023 and a hip issuelastDecemberaffected his preparations for this season.

Heputsahugeamountof forcethroughhisbody-with hisserveandforehandashis two biggest assets - and admits there could be benefits in “reining in” his serve

“It’ssurprisedmealittle bitthatevenwhenIdoserve fullout,myservicenumbers and my aces aren’t where I wantthemtobe-andIthink sometimes almost reining it inisnotabadthing,”hetold

BBC Sport after his firstround win at the US Open ”You see the top servers ever to playsomeone like a Novak Djokovic has such an underratedserve,andhehits his spots incredibly well. He’s not banging it at 140 [milesperhour].

“They are using their slices, the spins, different variations-soIthinkthereis definitely something to be saidinthat.It’snotallabout how fast you hit your service, it’s about how effectiveitis.”

D r a p e r a l s o acknowledged in New York that an injury like this can potentially be very serious. By sitting out the rest of the season, he will have at least four months without a match.

BCB calls up players to participate in Elite Training from Wednesday

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has called up 62 senior players as part of their elite training squad. The players will begin training in preparation for Inter Country and other cricketrelatedactivities.

T h e t r a i n i n g Programme will begin on W e d n e s d a y 1 0 t h September,andwillbeheld at the Port Mournat Community Centre ground. Thesessionswillbeheldby BCB head coach Winston Smithfrom10:00hrs.

The players will be divided into two (2) groups of thirty-one (31) players each.

The following players areaskedtotakenote.

Keith Simpson, Junior Sinclair, Rampersaud Ramnauth, Damian Cecil, Afraz Ali Budhoo, Afrizal Kadir, Sylus Tyndall, Jonathan Rampersaud, Salim Khan, Gaurav Ramesh, Kelvin Omroa, Leon Cecil, Naem Khan, Suresh Dhanai,AlexAlgoo, Sanjay Algoo, Raymond Vankenic, Leon Swamy, Garfield Benjamin, Tomani Ceasar, ZeynulRamsammy, Nial Smith, Shamar Joseph, Romario Shepherd, Quacy Mickle , Joemal Lafleur, Nigel Deodat . Seon Glasgow, Javed Karim, Zameer Nazeer, Shamal Angel, Shelton Ramsay, Abdool Subhan, Ravindra Budhoo, Omesh Matura , Delroy Osborne, Kareem

Me

Ramnauth, Isai Thorne, Ve

, Adrian Sukwah, Kevin Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Jeremy Sandia, Matthew P o

, R

a

i o Ramdehol,AdrianHetmyer, Shimron Hetmyer, Shamar Joseph, Clinton Pestano, Omari Arthur, Leon Andrews, Akash Heeralall, Steven Embrack, Demetri Cameron, Kevin Kisten , Rishi Persaud, Gudakesh Motie,DavendraLatchman, Tameshwar Ramoutar, S

, DeianathPersaud. Two youth fast bowlers in Devon Wharton and MicahAmsterdamhavealso been asked to attend (SamuelWhyte)

Unbeaten Tunisia join Morocco at 2026 World Cup

(BBC Sport) - Tunisia qualified for the 2026 Fifa World Cup after scoring a dramatic stoppage-time winner away against EquatorialGuinea.

TheNorthAfricanscame under pressure for most of thegameinMalabo,withthe hosts needing victory themselves to keep alive their own hopes of reaching thefinals.

Tunisia had goalkeeper AymenDahmentothankfor a string of saves in the second half as he acrobaticallykeptoutefforts from Saul Coco, Emilio Nsue and Alejandro Masogo.

With Equatorial Guinea pushingforwardinsearchof a goal, the Carthage Eagles won the match from a counter attack in the last of fouraddedminutes.

F i r a s C h a o u a t

dispossessed Coco, advanced into the box and

unselfishly squared for MohamedBenRomdhaneto scorepastJesusOwono.

Tunisiaareassuredoftop spot in Group H with two games to spare, and have

reachedCanada,Mexicoand the United States without conceding a goal in their eightqualifierstodate. It will be the seventh time the national side - who

Scotland’s solid start continues in Belarus

have never progressed past the group stage at a World Cup - will feature at the finals.

placed sides in Africa will enter the continental playoffs.

Meanwhile, Equatorial Guinea’shopesofafirstever World Cup qualification appear distant as only the four best-ranked second

win

(BBCSport)-Scotlandsecuredaroutine but important victory over Belarus to continue their solid start to World Cup qualifying.

Friday’s gutsy draw in Denmark was hard-earnedbutwouldhavematteredlittleif Steve Clarke’s side had failed to beat Group C’slowest-rankedside.

However, they got the job done comfortably enough, thanks to a goal from Che Adams, who then helped force an own goalfromZakharVolkovafterthebreak.

With the game played in an empty stadium in Hungary due to Belarus’support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the match was a throwback to Covid times with no cracklingatmospheretohelpthingsintolife.

Bournemouth winger Ben Gannon Doak

wasoneoffourchangesmadebyClarkeand was the player who often produced the excitement with his willingness to take playerson.Yetitwasthetrustedcombination of John McGinn and Scott McTominay who teed up Adams for the opener, the latter heading the former’s cross into the striker’s pathandhefinishedneatly

The Torino striker then turned provider after the break as his brilliant chipped pass found Billy Gilmour, whose header across goalhitVolkovandflewintothenet.

From there, victory was a formality againstthemostlybluntBelarusattack.

Denmark’s surprise 3-0 win in Athens means Group C is wide open, with Scotland andtheDanesbothonfourpointsandGreece onepointbehind.

S h o u l d t h e y b e successful,theywouldclimb backtosecondinthetable.

Tunisia become the second African side to qualifyforthe2026World Cup after North African rivals Morocco sealed theirspotonFriday Elsewhere, Morocco extended their 100% record as goals from Youssef En-Nesyri and Hamza Igamane gave the Atlas Lions a 2-0 victory inZambia

The National Thunder are fourth in Group H, two pointsbehindsecond-placed Namibia having played a game more. However, the Equatoguinean federation haslodgedanappealagainst a decision by world governing body Fifa to impose two forfeits against them for fielding an ineligible player earlier in thequalifyingcampaign.

Algeria can move to the brink of a place at the finals with an away win against Guinea later on Monday (16:00 GMT), while Egypt will qualify forthefinalsonTuesdayif the Pharaohs secure all three points in Burkina Faso Tunisia have not conceded in eight Group H outings (Getty Images)

Hayley Matthews is the WCPL’s leading runscorer and wicket-taker (ICC/Getty Images)

Hayley Matthews

ruled out of WCPL 2025

Charles Ramson

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