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Mahipaul demands NEWS answers on MV Barima salvage delay AIETEUR
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August 25, 2026 - Vol. 19 No. 34 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $200 readership yesterday, 41,198
Govt. still to decide whether to punish gasto-energy contractor for delays in project — setback costs Guyana US$884M and counting
Suriname chamber calls for new vessel …says suspension of Canawaima affecting businesses, passengers WCB man killed after struck by lorry Dead: Steve McAlmont
Miners torture man accused of stealing gold mat
Ram wants constitution reform commission scrapped — says 2 years on, millions spent and little to show
Andray D’oliviera, the man tortured after being accused of stealing boss’ gold mat
Fight for unlimited oil spill protection from Exxon heads to CCJ
Kaieteur News
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Tuesday August 25, 2026
Govt. still to decide whether to punish gas-to-energy contractor for delays in project — setback costs Guyana US$884M and counting Lindsayca Guyana Inc, the company that was initially awarded a US759M contract by the Government of Guyana (GoG) to deliver 300 megawatts (MW) of electricity by the end of 2024 has failed consistently to meet promised deadlines with the project now expected to deliver a fraction of power by the end of 2026. The delays have resulted in multimillion US-dollars
losses for Guyana as the country’s rapid expansion continues to demand increased electricity supply. While the company pushes to meet another deadline, the GoG is still deciding whether the contractor will face any penalties if it fails again to deliver power to the country by the end of the year. During a recent press conference, Minister of
Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar said, “At the end of the year, myself and the Prime Minister have gotten the commitment from Lindsayca, the Gas-toEnergy (GTE) contractor that we will get one of the turbines that will generate 57MW of power.” As such, Kaieteur News questioned government officials to say whether Lindsayca could face
penalities for failing to meet the yearend deadline. To this end, Prime Minister Mark Phillips explained, “We’re taking things one step at a time. We had a meeting with Lindsayca and we left the meeting with the assurance that they would reach the deadline for simple-cycle power in December 2026. L e t ’s g i v e t h e m a n opportunity to deliver. When
Prime Minister, Mark Phillips we reach that point we’ll determine the next step.” Kaieteur News reported that the two-year delay of the Wales GTE project is expected to cost the country approximately US$884M or more than the initial cost of the two gas plants currently under construction. The Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract, stipulates that Lindsayca is responsible for the design, procurement and construction of the Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) plant and a 300 MW natural gas fire plant at Wales. The GoG promised that the project would slash electricity tariffs by 50% but so far Guyanese continue to pay high bills and a ballooning price for the plants. So far, Guyana forked out an additional US$97M to
the contractor over a legal dispute. Additionally, the country has been forced to keep importing Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) to continue generating power which amounted to US$619M for the two-year period. This amount is estimated to increase by the end of this year due to the increased cost of HFOs as highlighted by the Prime Minister. It should be noted that in addition to the fuel cost for GPL, Guyana was forced to hire two Turkish powerships to supplement the national grid. The rental bill on the country is GY$126M daily, as was previously highlighted by Interim Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), David Patterson. As such, the extensive delays in project is expected to cost Guyana a massive US$884M more.
WCB man killed after struck by lorry
Dead: Steve McAlmont A Saturday morning road accident at No. 5 Village, West Coast Berbice, has claimed the life of a 30-year-old man of the community. Steve McAlmont, of Lot 10, No. 5 Village, was killed after he was struck by a motor lorry, police confirmed. The incident occurred at about 11:30 hours between the No. 5 and No. 4 bridges, West Coast Berbice, and involved McAlmont and motor lorry GAR 4204, owned by Nisha Dean-Bacchus of Lot 33, Gay Park, East Bank Berbice. The lorry was being driven by 27-year-old Joseph Wilson of Lot 69, Glasgow Village, East Bank Berbice. Police enquiries revealed that the lorry was proceeding east along the No. 5 Public Road at about 50 kilometres per hour when McAlmont ran from north to south onto the bridge connecting No. 5 and No. 4 Villages, into the path of the lorry, resulting in a collision. Continued on page 9
Tuesday August 25, 2026
Kaieteur News
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Fight for unlimited oil spill protection from ExxonMobil heads to CCJ The legal battle over ExxonMobil’s refusal to provide Guyana with an “unlimited” parent company guarantee for potential oil spills is heading to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), after the Guyana Court of Appeal granted leave for the matter to be appealed. The Court of Appeal on 14th July granted leave to attorneys representing public-interest litigants Frederick Collins and Godfrey Whyte to challenge the appellate court’s May ruling before the region’s highest court. The development reopens a major legal battle over how far ExxonMobil’s financial responsibility extends in the event of a catastrophic oil spill offshore Guyana. In May Guyana’s Appeal Court unanimously overturned a 2023 High Court decision by Justice Sandil Kissoon where he ordered ExxonMobil to provide Guyana with an unlimited parent company guarantee for oil spills. The Appeal Court later overturned Justice Kissoon’s O r d e r t h a t t h e Environmental Permit issued to Exxon be suspended until the company provided the unlimited guarantee. The landmark ruling by Justice Kissoon was issued on 3rd May, 2023. Collins and Whyte had taken the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to court to enforce a critical clause in the Liza Phase One renewed environmental permit issued t o E x x o n s u b s i d i a r y, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL). They were
successful in getting the court to declare that EMGL was not in compliance with the insurance provisions of its Liza Phase One Permit, which requires an unlimited parent guarantee for oil spills in the Stabroek Block. However, the Court of Appeal, comprising Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory, Nareshwar Harnanan and Priya Sewnarine- Beharry, held that Justice Kissoon fell into error when he held that Exxon’s liability under the Environmental Permit was unlimited in nature. The justices further ruled that neither the Environmental Permit nor the Environmental Protection Agency Act made any provision or referred to an unlimited guarantee and that Justice Kissoon erred in seeking to substitute his own discretion and decision for that of the EPA. Earlier this year, the Court heard arguments from the applicants and the respondents in the case. Collins and Whyte were represented by a team of lawyers including Trinidadian born Senior Counsel, Seenath Jairam and attorneys Melinda Janki and Abiola Wong-Inniss as well a s B r i t i s h - b o r n K i n g ’s Counsel, Tim Prudhoe who joined the appeal. The respondents’ lawyers had contended that EMGL as the permit holder must be able to meet its liabilities. In the likelihood of an oil spill, the responsibilities of Exxon are uncapped. Notwithstanding the Act requires financial assurance in the Exxon permit, the attorneys believe that the
core of the issue is for the corporation to provide unlimited guarantee for all costs related to cleanup, restoration, and compensation for damages caused by any discharge of contaminants. Meanwhile, lawyers for t h e E PA , M r. S a n j e e v Datadin and Ms. Mohanie Anganoo raised contention over the legitimacy of the claims of an unlimited parent company guarantee. EPA lawyers advanced that the term was introduced at the level of The High Court when the trial judge sought to give legal effect to the term “unlimited guarantee”. They submitted that Section 31 of the EPA Act requires financial assurance to be provided in a specified sum. Condition 14.3 sets the formula to calculate the amount. The lawyers contended that the trial court erroneously issued a mandamus to compel the appellant to issue an enforcement notice within days of its decision directed to Exxon to provide the said unlimited assurances, which, if not produced within thirty days would result in the suspension of the environmental permit. Notably, Exxon was represented by Mr. Edward Luckhoo, S.C; Mr. Andrew Pollard, S.C. and Ms. Eleanor Luckhoo. Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall SC, representing the Government of Guyana was represented by Mr. Darshan Ramdhani, K.C.; Mr. Nigel Hawke, Solicitor General; Mr. Arudranauth Gossai;
Ms. Shoshanna V. Lall, Deputy Solicitor General and Ms. Raeanna Clarke, Senior Legal Advisor. In this Appeal, the Attorney General sought to intervene in order to advance the legal position of the State inclusive of the State’s contractual obligations under the Agreement with Exxon but the Court of Appeal refused the application to intervene which resulted in an appeal to the Caribbean Court of Justice. The CCJ agreed with the position that the Attorney General is the protector of the public’s interest and therefore must be heard for
and on behalf of the State in a matter of such national importance. As a result, the Attorney General was added as a party to the proceedings in the Court of Appeal. At the Court of Appeal the Attorney G e n e r a l a r g u e d t h a t Attorney for the litigants: Melinda Janki Parliament is the entity to which financial assurance quantum, circumstances is made and that therefore, it was for the Government, when necessary, and terms a n d n o t t h e C o u r t , t o and conditions, are matters determine what assurance, if which Parliament has vested any, was required, its terms e x c l u s i v e l y w i t h i n t h e and conditions, and the functional domain of the effect of failure to provide EPA, the Government and such assurance. Further to t h e P e r m i t H o l d e r t o that, it was outlined that the determine.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday August 25, 2026
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL-TEL: 624-6456 Editor: NIGEL WILLIAMS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL Blaming Guyanese for cost-of-living crisis President Irfaan Ali's prescription for Guyana's worsening cost-of-living crisis is deeply insulting to ordinary citizens who are struggling to put food on the table in one of the world's fastest-growing oil economies. When citizens complain that food, rent, transportation, utilities and basic necessities are becoming increasingly unaffordable, the President tells them to change their eating habits, shop less in supermarkets and cook more at home. That is a remarkably myopic response from a government presiding over an unprecedented oil boom. The President may be correct that consumer behaviour has changed. People may indeed be eating out more and shopping in supermarkets more frequently. But to suggest that these lifestyle choices are a principal explanation for the crushing cost of living is to miss the forest for the trees. People are not spending more because they suddenly became extravagant. They are spending more because almost everything costs more. The pensioner receiving $46,000 a month does not need a lecture on cultural eating patterns. The single mother struggling to provide lunch for her children does not need another lesson about cooking at home. Families need an economy in which their incomes can actually keep pace with the cost of survival. And this is where the President's argument becomes particularly troubling. Guyana is no longer a poor, resource-starved country without options. We are an oil-producing nation generating billions of dollars in petroleum revenues. The country has moved into an entirely different economic league. Yet too many citizens are still being asked to tighten their belts while those administering the nation's wealth appear to live in a completely different economic universe. Government spending has expanded enormously. Statefunded projects run into billions. Officials travel, entertain and operate within an increasingly expensive public-sector environment, all ultimately financed by taxpayers and national resources. Citizens are entitled to ask a simple question: If the country is becoming so wealthy, why does the average Guyanese feel so financially squeezed? The answer cannot simply be supermarket margins, restaurant visits or changing eating habits. The government must confront the structure of the economy itself. At the centre of that discussion must be Guyana's oil agreement. For years, critics have argued that the 2016 Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement provides ExxonMobil and its partners with extraordinarily generous terms. Whatever the government's legal arguments about the sanctity of contracts, the political reality is that Guyanese are entitled to demand whether their country is receiving the best possible return from its most valuable natural resource. The government has repeatedly demonstrated that it is prepared to negotiate, renegotiate and restructure arrangements when it suits national objectives. Why, then, is meaningful renegotiation of the oil contract treated almost like a forbidden subject? If improved terms could deliver substantially more revenue to the people of Guyana, that conversation should not be avoided. More oil revenue, properly managed, could strengthen social protection, reduce the burden of essential goods, improve public transportation, expand affordable housing, support local agriculture and build productive industries capable of surviving long after the oil boom ends. Instead, citizens are being told to eat differently. There is nothing wrong with encouraging healthy eating, supporting farmers or establishing permanent farmers' markets. These are worthwhile initiatives. But they cannot become substitutes for serious economic policy. Government must address inflation, competition, excessive mark-ups, housing costs, transportation costs, energy prices and wages. It must ensure that oil wealth
Constitution Reform Commission: Still at the Starting Line Dear Editor, The appearance in the press on 15th August of a notice dated 23rd June, 2026, signed by Attorney-at-Law Javed Shadick, Secretary to the Constitution Reform Commission, is the first public indication in some time that the Carl Singh-led Commission is still alive and, after more than two years in office, has finally reached the first stage of public consultation. The notice invites written proposals until 31st December, after which comes the second stage public engagements. More remarkable than the timetable is that the matters on which submissions are invited are substantially a wholesale transposition of the mandate Parliament gave the Commission in Act No. 16 of 2022. This means that nearly four years after the Act and more than two years after the Commission was sworn in, it has arrived at the starting point Parliament prescribed for it. This is not a snail's pace. The snail, at least, keeps moving towards its destination. There is a ready benchmark for judging this performance, and it is one which the present Commission itself invited. Ms. Gail Teixeira, now ViceChair of the Commission, told the National Assembly in 2022 that “repeating what happened in 1999 is the model that has been most progressive and most innovative not only in Guyana but in the entire region.” Very well. Let us make the comparison. The 1999 Constitution Reform Commission was born out of the political crisis following the 1997 elections and the Herdmanston Accord. Its circumstances were difficult: it was the first wholesale examination of the justifiably derided 1980 Constitution; its issues were contentious; and its timetable demanding. Yet, sworn in in January 1999, the Commission considered some 4,600 proposals drawn from oral and written submissions,
public hearings, organisations and individuals across the c o u n t r y, i n c l u d i n g substantial proposals from the PPP/C and PNC/R. It drew on Guyanese and international expert advice, deliberated and reported by J u l y, m a k i n g 1 7 1 recommendations. In roughly six months, under far greater political pressure and under the chairmanship of Mr. Ralph Ramkarran, S.C., the 1999 Commission substantially completed an exercise which the Carl Singh-led Commission, after more than two years, has barely begun. Attorney General Anil Nandlall - never short of words - was emphatic during the debate on the legislation. He described the Commission as “time-bound and assignment-bound” and said it would have the institutional support to operate “effectively and efficiently”. Most appropriately, he told the National Assembly that the people must hold accountable those who make promises and do not deliver. Let us apply his test. This is not a resource-starved exercise. Hundreds of millions of public funds have been allocated to constitutional reform and its supporting machinery. I understand that the monthly payment to the Chairman is $1.3 million, the Vice Chair $500,000, each Commissioner $200,000, and the Secretary $600,000. Farcically, egregiously and unconscionably, Commission members accepted payment for each of the four months that the Commission went into recess for the 2025 elections campaign. And when it was meeting, things were hardly better: Chairman Singh himself acknowledged publicly in September 2025 that attendance by Commissioners had been a problem. Knowingly accepting public money for work one does not perform strikes me as conduct of an altogether different order from mere absenteeism.
translates into a higher standard of living for ordinary Guyanese—not merely bigger budgets, bigger contracts and greater opportunities for the politically connected. The President should stop looking at the dinner plates of struggling Guyanese and start looking at the national balance sheet. Citizens did not create the cost-of-living crisis. They did not negotiate the oil contract. They do not control government spending. They do not determine the distribution of national wealth. They voted for leadership. And leadership means finding solutions—not blaming the people for the consequences of policies they had no hand in creating.
Incredibly, the Commission and its members are entitled to the same privileges and immunities as the National Assembly and its members. Is this Government serious, or has the entire National Assembly taken leave of its senses? In any case, these privileges - including dutyfree concessions - cannot convert non-performance into public service or unearned remuneration into value for money. The Commission is expressly charged with considering the safeguarding of public funds and integrity in public life. It can start with itself. Every member should therefore have no difficulty confirming that the appropriate taxes have been paid on the remuneration received. Nor is the Commission short of personnel, experience or political clout. Its twenty-one members include five Government nominees, all Ministers when appointed and already remunerated from the public purse, among them ViceChair Gail Teixeira and Attorney General Anil Nandlall, S.C.; four Opposition nominees; attorneys Timothy Jonas, S.C. and Kamal Ramkarran; and private-sector representative Ramesh
Persaud. Responsibility for the Commission's dismal performance is therefore collective. It is inconceivable that these politicians, professionals and businesspeople would tolerate such delay, cost and paucity of output if their money was being spent. There is an even more fundamental problem with the Commission's composition. The 2025 elections swept away the political configuration on which it was constituted. Nigel Hughes, to his credit, resigned when the AFC disappeared from Parliament. Yet, the representative from the Joinder parties ANUG, Liberty Justice Party and The New Movement none of which is represented in the National Assembly post 2025 remains on the Commission while WIN, with sixteen seats and now the principal Opposition party, has no representative at all. The Attorney General himself recognised the problem. In October 2025, Mr. Nandlall acknowledged that the Act had been drafted for the previous parliamentary configuration and said that amendments had already been made to a draft Bill to reflect the new (Continued on page 6)
GECOM's work plan for the LGE must commence Dear Editor, There is no reason why an independent body such as GECOM cannot commence the work plan in place to ensure that local government elections are carried out in a timely manner. The commission knows what their responsibilities are and they must carry out their constitutional mandate. Whether or not everyone agrees on the makeup of the commission should not prohibit it from ensuring that the democratic process continues. We must rid ourselves of the excuses that enable democracy to be delayed and that prevent the will of the Guyanese people from being carried out. The current disagreement between sore losers who prefer to remain in office due to a constitutional oversight and their new replacements as the voice of the people who oppose the current government should not provide impetus for the government to further delay democracy. The LGE (local government elections) was delayed for far too long in the past under both the PNC and the PPP. Awaiting a constitutional amendment or common sense to prevail will further delay the process. For those who do not wish to relinquish power and embrace democracy, delaying or preventing the LGE from taking place is in their best interest. We the people of Guyana must insist that our voice be heard and that our democratic rights be respected. If the President is truly a proponent of democracy, he will ensure that GECOM is no longer hindered in carrying out its constitutional duties. Although GECOM is an independent body the appointment of the Chairperson falls within his realm of authority and it is done in consultation with the Leader of the Opposition. If the current Chairperson is unable to get the job done, then the President and the Leader of the Opposition must take the appropriate steps to ensure that the democratic process is no longer hindered. Sincerely, Mr. Jamil Changlee
Tuesday August 25, 2026
Kaieteur News
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Guyana Profit share, Royalty and Paying Taxes, yields only 29.6 % of Total Revenue Dear Editor, It has been reported that Guyana profit share from oil exports will increase from 12.5% to 39.8%). (https://kiskadeewatch.com/ opinion/editorial/profit-oilof-39-8/). This expected increase in profit is because the total investment cost of the oil project (US$55 Billion) has been repaid in full and profits will therefore increase, due to the only cost item being the operating cost of extracting and selling each barrel of the oil. While Guyana's profit share will increase to 39.8 %, what really matters is not the profit share, but the share of total revenue that Guyana receives after Guyana collects its royalty of 2%; and pays the taxes for the ExxonMobil-led consortium from its share of revenue. Measuring profits in this manner after the Government pays the taxes for the consortium is troubling; and it is not an equitable sharing of the revenue between the consortium and the people of Guyana, who own the nonrenewable resource. Therefore, the purpose of this letter is to show how Guyana only receives in real terms only 29.6% of total revenue, while ExxonMobil consortium receives 50 % of total revenue, with total expenses being 20.4% of total revenue. When Guyana receives profit of 39.8% of total revenue, this implies that the ExxonMobil consortium receives the same amount of profit, yielding a total profit (TP) between Guyana and
Table 1: Profit Shares and Cost Allocation Total Shares of Categories Revenue Identifiers TR Price per Barrel (TR) 100.0% GP Guyana Profit (GP) 39.8% CP Consortium Profit (CP) 39.8% Total Profit (TP) = GP + TP CP 79.6% TC Total Cost (TC)= TR – TP 20.4% the consortium of 79.6%. When this profit amount of 79.6% is subtracted from the 100% of total revenue (TR), this yields total cost (TC) of 20.4% of total revenue (Table 1). What is now required from the consortium is a detailed breakdown of the cost that is associated with the 20.4%. This is important as Guyanese still need to know the average cost of producing a barrel of oil; and how much in real terms will Guyana receive after paying the taxes for the consortium (PSA Article 15.2. 15.3, 15.5); and giving the consortium tax receipts for tax payments the consortium never paid is a benefit to the consortium. This is because the consortium will not frame these receipts and put them on a wall, but they can present these Government of Guyana tax receipts in their specified country (wherever that is) to avoid paying taxes on the money earned in Guyana. One of the interesting features of the oil price (P) is its variability. For example, given the oil transportation difficulties through the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices
today could be $60.00 per barrel; and the next day, it could be $100.00 or $80.00 (https://tradingeconomics.c om/commodity/crude-oil). This price information is important because under the current method of calculating the cost of a barrel of oil (CoBO), the cost is specified as: CoBO = (20.4%)P. Therefore, whenever the price changes, the CoBO changes, even though nothing in the CoBO has changed. Ta b l e 2 c o n t a i n s information showing when Guyana receives 39.8% of total revenue as profits and the price of a barrel of oil change from US$80.00 to US$100.00 and to US$60.00, respectively. In these price changes, the cost of a barrel of oil is US$16.32, US$20.40, and US$12.24, respectively (Table 2). Therefore, it is important that the correct cost of a barrel of oil be identified; otherwise, the amount of profit that Guyana receives could be undervalued, when the price increases; or losses could result, when the price of barrel of oil decreases below the real cost of a barrel of oil. As noted previously,
Table 2: The Average cost of a Barel of Oil when Price Changes Total Shares of Categories Revenue Per Barrel Per Barrel $ Price per Barrel (TR) 100.0% 80.00 $ 100.00 $ Guyana profit (GP) 39.8% 31.84 $ 39.80 $ Consortium profit (CP) 39.8% 31.84 $ 39.80 Total Profit (TP) = GP + $ CP 79.6% 63.68 $ 79.60 Total Cost (TC)= TR – $ TP 20.4% 16.32 $ 20.40
Categories
Per Barrel $
60.00
$
23.88
$
23.88
$
47.76
$
12.24
that the consortium receives 50% of total revenue, while Guyana receives 29.6% of total revenue, with expenses being 20.4% of total revenue. Moreover, the real cost of a barrel of oil must be obtained; and real time auditing is required. Also, Guyana paying the taxes of
Table 3: The Distribution of Total Revenue for one Barrel of oil (US$80.00) for Guyana and the Consortium Company Guy. Pay Tax Total Taxes Benefit Royalty Total
Total Revenue (TR)
100.0%
100.0%
Total Expenses (TE) Guyana Profit (GP), Taxes, Royalty Company Profit (CP), Taxes, Royalty
20.4%
20.4%
Total Profit (TP) = GP +CP
79.6%
Total Revenue (TR) = TP + TE
100.0%
profit is not the only concern for Guyana; instead, what matters is the share of total revenue that Guyana receives after collecting 2 % royalty and paying the taxes for the consortium. In this case, since Guyana received 39.8% as profit and 2 % as royalty, but must subtract taxes of 12.2% of total revenue (the average tax rate over previous years), this gives Guyana a net of 29.6% of total revenue, while the consortium receives 50 % of total revenue and expenses of 20.4% (Table 3). When the price of a barrel of oil is $80.00, Guyana receives US$23.65 per barrel of oil; when it is US$100.00, Guyana
39.8%
-12.2%
2.0%
29.6%
12.2%
-2.0%
50.0%
-12.2%
12.2%
0.0%
79.6%
-12.2%
12.2%
0.0%
100.0%
39.8%
receives US$29.56 per barrel; or when it is US$60.00, Guyana receives US$17.76 per barrel of oil. It is therefore recommended that the CoBO must exclude the price of a barrel of oil from its accounting methodology. To conclude, it is clear
Indicators $ 80.00 $ 16.32 $ 23.65 $ 40.03 $ 63.68 $ 80.00
the consortium must be terminated; and ring-fencing must be a central pillar of the new projects that are expected to be started shortly. Sincerely, Dr. C. Kenrick Hunte Professor and Former Ambassador
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday August 25, 2026
Constitution Reform Commission...
ERC: Youman-Nabi: celebrating a legacy of mercy, justice and compassion The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) extends warm and sincere greetings to our Muslim brothers and sisters, and to all Guyanese, on the sacred observance of Youman-Nabi, the birth anniversary of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him (PBUH). Youman-Nabi invites reflection on the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) whose message of mercy, justice, humility and compassion has guided generations, and whose teachings speak as clearly to the enduring question of human dignity as they do to the ordinary courtesies between neighbours. Among the most enduring of those teachings is the recognition of a common human dignity. In his Farewell Sermon, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have reminded those gathered that an Arab holds no superiority over a non-Arab, nor a nonArab over an Arab, except through piety and good conduct. Spoken in the seventh century, that principle remains profoundly relevant to a society such as ours, enriched by the many peoples, cultures and traditions that call Guyana home. The teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) turn, with equal care, to how we treat those closest to us.
Believers are reminded that a neighbour must be safe from harm, and are enjoined to generosity, fairness and care for those who are vulnerable. For Guyana, these values speak directly to the work of strengthening relationships between our communities. According to the Holy Prophet (PBUH), “The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the limbs suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever”. Though the teaching speaks to the community of the faithful, its imagery offers a powerful reflection for Guyana. Our ethnic groupings, with their distinct histories, traditions and identities, are like different limbs of one national body. When one is weakened or suffers, the whole body is affected; and when one is uplifted, the whole benefits. Harmony, therefore, is about recognising our interconnectedness and supporting each other through kindness, empathy and care. As we observe YoumanNabi, the ERC encourages every Guyanese to carry these values into our homes, our schools, our workplaces and our communities. Happy Youman-Nabi to all.
GPSU: May the principles of love, charity demonstrated on this occasion The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) extends warm fraternal greetings and peace to all our Muslim brothers and sisters across Guyana, especially those within the public service, on the sacred occasion of Youman Nabi. As we join in commemorating the birth and life teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, we are reminded of his profound messages of humility, justice, peace, and deep compassion for the vulnerable. These values serve as a powerful blueprint for building a more equitable, fair, and harmonious society.
The GPSU highly values the dedication, resilience, and invaluable contributions that our Muslim members and citizens continue to make toward the advancement of our workforce and the development of our nation. In a diverse Guyana, our shared commitment to mutual respect, unity, and social progress remains our greatest strength. May the principles of love, charity, and tolerance demonstrated on this occasion, work together for the collective upliftment of our communities and our country. Best wishes for a peaceful, reflective, and blessed Youman Nabi.
From page 4 Opposition arrangement. Yet the Commission is now proceeding with public consultation without that acknowledged defect having been corrected. The absurdity does not end there. Whatever recommendations the Commission eventually produces must enter the parliamentary process. WIN now holds sixteen of the twenty-nine Opposition seats. The Commission is therefore attempting to devise constitutional reform without the principal Opposition party, only eventually to send its proposals to a National Assembly in which that party's support may be indispensable. Measured against the time, resources and output, this performance amounts to gross incompetence. While the Commission sits and waits more than four months for submissions - perhaps expecting the public to function at a pace similar to that of the Commission - the Attorney General and the Minister responsible for Finance should produce and publish a full accounting of expenditure and remuneration, while the Commission publishes its meetings and attendance, research undertaken and substantive work produced. This Commission has had ample time to carry out a detailed assessment of the 1999 Report including the submissions, the action taken on its recommendations, and the issues arising from their implementation or nonimplementation. Where is its assessment of what was implemented, what was not, what worked, what failed and why? That should have been both its starting point and part of its invitation to the public. Those who still hope for something useful from this exercise should remember that two genuine heavyweights - Haslyn Parris and Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine - were centrally involved in preparing the 1999 Report. But that was not all - and here I stand guilty of omissions. The Commission drew on constitutional experts including Justice Albert Sachs of South Africa, Professor Kathleen Mahoney of Canada, Anund Hylland of Norway, and our own Professor Keith Massiah, Professor Harold Lutchman and Professor Rudolph James. The question is what comparable intellectual firepower the present Commission has assembled? Twenty-five years of experience have meanwhile supplied important issues requiring examination: the concentration of presidential power and presidential immunity; the failure to give meaningful effect to Article 13 and inclusionary democracy; constitutional appointment deadlocks, including at the apex
of the judiciary; GECOM's partisan architecture; parliamentary oversight; and genuine local government autonomy. Guyana in 2026 is not Guyana in 1999. Petroleum wealth now raises fundamental constitutional questions about stewardship of natural resources, intergenerational equity and accountability for national wealth. Above all, constitutional reform must distinguish constitutional deficiency from constitutional non-compliance. There is little point endlessly rewriting the Constitution if governments and constitutional actors fail to observe the provisions already there. Mr. Shadick's advertisement has therefore performed one useful public service. It has told the country where the Commission stands in August 2026. Unfortunately, after more than two years, continuous remuneration and substantial public expenditure, it is scarcely beyond where Parliament placed it in November 2022. Mr. Shadick himself also has some accounting to do. How does he discharge this important function as Secretary to the Commission alongside his appointment as Secretary to the presidential Commission of Inquiry into the MV Barima disaster? And Mr. Nandlall needs no reminding. He himself told Parliament that those who make promises and do not deliver must be held accountable. That Guyanese may have forgotten the existence of the Commission about which he spoke so confidently is no excuse for its failure to account. I am not usually a pessimist, but on the application of any reasonable test - including the Attorney General's own metric - the Carl Singh-led Constitution Reform Commission is already a colossal failure. Nothing in its record so far suggests to me any reasonable prospect of redemption. The question therefore is no longer whether this Commission needs more time. It is whether it should be permitted to continue in its present form. In my view, it should not. The present exercise should be ended and the task returned immediately to the constitutional Parliamentary Standing Committee for Constitutional Reform, where the political representation reflects the present National Assembly. That Committee can determine, transparently and with appropriate expert and civil-society participation, the arrangements for taking constitutional reform forward within a firm timetable and with proper accountability for public expenditure. Yours faithfully Christopher Ram
Kaieteur News
Tuesday August 25, 2026
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WIN, APNU talks end without breakthrough Representatives from A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) met on Monday at Brandsville Hotel in a bid to resolve escalating disagreements over administrative and electoral appointments. The 50-minute meeting between the country’s main opposition factions concluded without immediate resolution on key disputes, but both parties described the engagement as cordial and confirmed they are working toward establishing a structured framework and a future Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Speaking to reporters outside the venue following the meeting, Leader of the Opposition and WIN Leader Azruddin Mohamed emphasised that while specific points of contention were not formally ironed out during the session, the dialogue was productive. “We had part of discussions. We will be issuing a joint statement later today,” Mohamed stated. “We had no discussions on the way forward with the Local Government Commission and GECOM issue... Dialogue will continue and as I have said, the meeting was well done.” Mohamed noted that both sides need to return to their respective party memberships and Members of Parliament to deliberate before establishing a formal way forward. “I don’t think it is fair for us to go through all of that when we have
...as opposition factions seek common ground
WIN and APNU officials at their meeting on Monday. already agreed to having one agreed-upon statement released to the press... I do feel as though it was a very amicable discussion that was had, one that appeared to have been friendly enough given the circumstances,” Mohamed added. APNU Leader Aubrey Norton similarly confirmed to reporters that both sides agreed to hold back detailed disclosures until the release of their joint statement, focusing instead on establishing ground rules for future engagements. “As far as I’m aware, we agreed that there will be a joint press statement,” Norton said. “In principle, we have agreed that we will work out a clear approach to moving forward... If you’re in serious negotiations, you need to have clear principles, a clear framework to be guided. You can’t
just hopscotch.” Norton confirmed that while an MOU is expected at a later stage, the current focus remains on setting foundational terms. “We didn’t push in that direction [on specific issues]. Like I said, we just want to agree that we have a clear framework, so we are on one page when we’re talking,” he remarked. Dr. David Hinds, who represented APNU alongside Norton, reinforced the seriousness of the engagement. “We want to impress that we came to this meeting with a serious intent, and insofar as we are going to pursue future engagements, they will be treated with the seriousness that they deserve,” Hinds told reporters. The high-stakes meeting follows public criticism from Norton regarding WIN’s recent
submission of nominees for the Local Government Commission (LGC) to President Irfaan Ali. Norton expressed strong disappointment after WIN submitted names for Leola Narine and Leslyn Lowe (WIN), alongside Nicholas Chesney of the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), w i t h o u t i n c l u d i n g A P N U ’s recommended nominees, Joan Ann Ramacindo and Ronald Daniels. Norton argued that fairness and political proportionality, given APNU’s 12 seats in the National Assembly compared to WIN’s 16, demanded APNU hold at least one seat on the commission. Beyond the LGC dispute, the talks were to be aimed at addressing broader opposition friction following political realignments from the 2025 General and
Regional Elections. Key issues include representation on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), where WIN has sought the replacement of long-serving Opposition-nominated Commissioners Vincent Alexander, Charles Corbin, and Desmond Trotman with Roysdale Forde, S.C., Siand Dhurjon, and Damien DaSilva. APNU, however, remains firm that it cannot influence the resignations of the sitting commissioners. Additional points of contention include a dispute over 69 field scrutineer appointments under Section 33D of the Representation of the People Act, as well as the post-election leadership outcome in Region 10, where a coalition of APNU, PPP/C, and FGM councillors elected the RDC Chairman and Vice Chairman, effectively bypassing WIN’s 9-seat plurality. Monday’s talks were attended by key figures from both delegations. WIN was represented by Mohamed, alongside MPs Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, Duarte Hertsberger, Vishnu Panday, and Odessa Primus. The APNU delegation comprised Norton, Dr. Hinds, MPs Ganesh Mahipaul, Coretta McDonald, and Dr. Dexter Todd, as well as Attorney-at-Law Ronald Daniels. Both parties are expected to release their agreed-upon joint statement detailing the outcome of the session and the parameters for upcoming talks. Up to press time, no such joint statement was confirmed.
Canadian firm advancing exploration programme …as TSX Venture reviewing at Quartzstone Gold Project takeover by other foreign firm Canadian mining company Fortuna Mining Corp. is advancing exploration work at the Quartzstone Project, located in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) under the earn-in agreement it entered earlier this year. This was disclosed by XAU Resources Inc., another Canadian firm. XAU is currently in the process of acquiring Barbadosincorporated QS Holdings Inc., the parent company of local company Qstone Inc., which controls the Quartzstone project. The Quartzstone gold project covers 296 square kilometres of contiguous mining lands. In May, Fortuna entered an earn-in agreement with Guyanese company Qstone Inc. for the Quartzstone concession. Upon signing the agreement, Fortuna paid Qstone a nonrefundable US$5 million cash option premium, marking its entry into Guyana’s mining sector. As per the agreement, the company can earn an initial 51 per cent stake by funding exploration and completing 60,000 metres of drilling within four years, and may
increase its interest to 70 per cent by solely funding a feasibility study within three years of exercising the first option and continuing to pay all license fees. In a recent update, XAU said Fortuna’s 2026 work programme is underway under the direction of a joint Fortuna-Qstone Inc. technical committee, which held its first meeting on 20th June, 2026. According to XAU, the programme includes the integration of historical drilling, trenching and sampling data, updated geological modelling, targeting to support drill planning and infrastructure and logistics upgrade. The company also disclosed that Fortuna also plans to review previously acquired airborne magnetic and radiometric data and conduct a higherresolution fixed-wing survey with 100-metre line spacing. XAU said provisional approvals have been received and data acquisition targeted for later this year. A property-wide geochemical programme is also planned, including regolith mapping and approximately 1,600 auger samples on a broad 500-metre by 500-metre
grid. The work is intended to identify additional mineralised corridors and priority exploration targets. The programme also includes an initial 5,000-metre diamond drilling campaign to verify selected historical results, test extensions of the northerly plunging shoots at Eikle, Blue and Main, and evaluate priority undrilled targets along the principal shear zone. M o r e o v e r, i n f r a s t r u c t u r e upgrades are also planned, including expansion of camp capacity to approximately 40 to 50 people and improvements to site access to support a safe, costeffective and year-round exploration programme. Notably, Fortuna’s programme is supported by a 2026 working budget of approximately US$5.6 million. The company has also established safety and communityengagement procedures as an early priority. “Fortuna’s involvement brings significant technical and operational capability to Quartzstone and supports a staged, data-driven approach to evaluating
the project,” XAU said. Meanwhile, trading in the shares of XAU Resources Inc. has been halted on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) as a comprehensive review of the company’s proposed transaction with QS Holding is conducted. The TSXV has determined the transaction constitutes a reverse takeover. According to the company, the TSXV’s review is subject to the exchange’s applicable listing requirements and requires the submission of extensive technical, financial, legal and corporate documentation. Among the outstanding materials are an updated NI 43-101 technical report on the Noseno Project (a project located in Region One that is owned by XAU), audited financial statements and supporting financial information, legal due diligence materials, transaction agreements, corporate documentation, as well as valuation and fairness-opinion materials. “Management and the company’s advisors are actively completing the outstanding
submissions and responding to the TSXV’s comments. The company intends to provide further information on the remaining process and expected milestones when timing can be stated with sufficient certainty,” XAU noted. Further, XAU explained that despite the trading halt understandably creating uncertainty, a detailed regulatory review is customary for a reverse takeover. “There can be no assurance regarding the timing or outcome of the TSXV review; however, the Company remains focused on satisfying the Exchange’s requirements as efficiently as possible,” it added. In addition to its Noseno Gold Project, Kaieteur News recently reported XAU Resources secured the option to acquire a 100% interest in the Matthews Ridge gold property in Region One (BarimaWaini), which spans more than 15,000 acres. In an 20th August update, XAU Resources Inc. said it entered into the option agreement on 18th August with Russian company Consolidated Northwest Resources Incorporated (CNRI).
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Tuesday August 25, 2026
Mahipaul demands answers on MV Barima salvage delay APNU Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul is demanding immediate answers from the government regarding the recovery of the capsized MV Barima, more than a week after the deadline for expressions of interest passed. Ten days after the close of the Expression of Interest (EOI) period published by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), Mahipaul called on the administration to explain the delay surrounding one of the most tragic maritime incidents in Guyana’s modern history, which claimed more than 100 lives. In a public statement on Monday, Mahipaul accused the government of remaining silent and showing indifference towards the victims’ families, who
continue to seek answers and closure. “Ten days have passed since the close of the Expression of Interest for the salvaging of the MV Barima, and the Government of Guyana has still not told the nation what is happening. This is unacceptable,” Mahipaul stated. “We are talking about one of the greatest maritime d i s a s t e r s i n G u y a n a ’s history, with more than 100 lives lost in a single tragedy. Behind every number is a mother, father, child, spouse, sibling, friend or loved one who is mourning, waiting for answers and hoping for closure. Yet, ten days after companies were invited to express interest in salvaging the vessel, the government remains silent. What is going on?” he questioned. Mahipaul also
questioned whether previous government outreach, including President Irfaan Ali’s multi-day visit to Charity and the attendance of senior ministers at funerals, amounted to little more than public relations exercises. He called on the government to disclose the total number of entities that submitted bids, how many met MARAD’s technical evaluation criteria, which companies were shortlisted and when the salvage operation is expected to begin. “Was it all a sham when President Irfaan Ali spent days in Charity? Was it all a sham when ministers attended funerals and publicly expressed solidarity with grieving families? Or has the government already moved on and simply hopes
that the MV Barima tragedy will fade from public memory?” Mahipaul asked. “The dead deserve dignity. The families deserve closure. The country deserves to know. And the government owes the people a full and timely update, not silence,” he added. The delay comes after weeks of public debate over the fate of the 38.6-metre ferry, which is resting in soft mud at depths of between 13 and 15 metres, amid restricted visibility and challenging tidal conditions. Mahipaul had previously urged the government to bypass the standard tendering process, arguing
Ganesh Mahipaul, MP that the public procurement framework was causing a “cruel, insensitive, and entirely unacceptable delay.” He also warned that prolonged exposure to saltwater could accelerate the corrosion of structural and mechanical components, potentially compromising evidence that
will be relevant to the Commission of Inquiry (CoI). Mahipaul pointed to statutory provisions allowing emergency solesourcing in exceptional circumstances, citing previous rapid acquisitions such as the MV Hercules. Continued on page 21
$3.4B contract awarded for new Diamond water treatment plant The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) has awarded a $3.4 billion contract for the d e s i g n , s u p p l y, i n s t a l l a t i o n a n d commissioning of surface water treatment facilities at Diamond, East Bank Demerara. According to information released on NPTAB website, the GY$3,476,624,420 contract was awarded to Jiangsu Gaiya Environmental Technology Co. Limited (out of China) who was among five contractors that submitted bids for the project earlier this year. During the opening of bids, it was disclosed that the project was estimated to cost $6,142,500,000 and is being executed through the Guyana Water Inc. an agency under the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation. The government in its initial advertisement for bids stated that the project will be financed through a loan acquired from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) under the Climate Resilient Water Infrastructure Improvement Project. The GWI advertisement had stated that the facility will be a 30 million litres per day (MLD) surface water treatment plant, with construction expected to last for 24 months. Back in March 2025, GWI said under the Guyana Climate Resilient Water Supply Improvement Programme, the initiative was being carried out in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Once completed, the water treatment plant will significantly enhance water access for thousands of residents along the East Bank corridor, ensuring a more resilient, sustainable, and efficient water supply system. The project will also reduce groundwater abstraction and improve climate adaptability through modern infrastructure and non-revenue water (NRW) reduction initiatives. As part of the broader Guyana Climate Resilient Water Supply Improvement Programme, the project will be supported by key infrastructure investments, including investment in water treatment and transmission, which seeks to construct a
modern water treatment facility, raw water intake infrastructure, and 30km of new transmission mains. GWI said it remained committed to providing safe, reliable, and affordable water services while adapting to the challenges posed by climate change. GWI’s CEO, Shaik Baksh in the statement, had reaffirmed the company’s dedication to delivering improved service quality to residents across the country, stating, “this partnership with IDB and JICA represents a major step forward in ensuring a sustainable and climate-resilient water supply for our growing communities which we are witnessing through developmental transformation and expansion. The new Diamond Surface Water Treatment Plant is a key component in our vision for a modern and efficient water system,” he related. In a statement dated 22nd July, 2025, the IDB disclosed that it approved a US$30 million Conditional Credit Line for Investment Projects (CCLIP) to support Guyana’s efforts to enhance its water and sanitation infrastructure. The US$30.0 million CCLIP has a 25year repayment term, a 5.5-year grace period, an interest rate based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR), and will benefit from co-financing contribution of US$36.33 million to be financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Bank explained. According to the IDB, this programme is expected to benefit approximately 151,560 people by improving access to safe, reliable water services. GWI will also benefit from digital transformation, enabling the adoption of modern technologies and tools that will improve operational management, reduce costs, and increase revenue, the statement said. ”The main investments under this phase include the construction of a new water treatment plant at Diamond, East Bank Demerara and approximately 15 kilometers of transmission pipelines and interconnections, which will allow the integration of the new plant with the existing distribution network,” IDB stated.
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Tuesday August 25, 2026
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WIN cannot break the PPP/C's political stranglehold unless it first weakens the PNCR
T
he results of the 2025 general and regional elections were a shocker. And anyone who now claims that they predicted the performance of We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) coming should seriously consider going into the fortune-telling business. WIN did not merely emerge from the election with a good showing. It emerged as a formidable electoral force, securing a level of support that few serious observers would have predicted before the ballots were counted. That is precisely why WIN should be celebrating its achievement while simultaneously studying it with a cold and unsentimental eye. The danger for a new political movement is that an extraordinary first performance can easily be mistaken for the beginning of an unstoppable march to power when it may instead prove to be a political highwater mark. There is a cautionary tale sitting right in front of WIN, and its name is the Alliance for Change (AFC). The AFC once appeared to have broken the traditional political mould, attracting support from across ethnic and partisan lines. It established itself as a permanent third force. But after entering into political
partnership with the APNU its fortunes steadily declined until, in the 2025 elections, it was effectively wiped off the electoral map. That history should be studied very carefully in the present circumstances, particularly as talks have commenced between WIN and the APNU. History demonstrates that a smaller party can sometimes lose its identity, momentum and independent appeal by joining forces with a larger political formation.. There is another uncomfortable question that WIN must confront: was 2025 the beginning of a political realignment, or was it a one-hit wonder? The answer will not be known until 2030, and there is even the possibility that WIN's present leader may not be available to contest that election. WIN certainly made inroads into the PPP/C's support base in 2025, but those incursions were not of such magnitude as to hobble the governing party. Its more consequential achievement was the damage it inflicted on the APNU's traditional base, particularly the constituency around the PNCR, which remains the principal political force within the APNU. And there lies the strategic lesson that WIN ought to understand. If
its ambition is eventually to t a k e p o l i t i c a l p o w e r, however remote that prospect may presently a p p e a r, i t s i m m e d i a t e objective should not be to strengthen the APNU but to weaken it. That may sound paradoxical, but elections are contests for votes, and WIN's most accessible reservoir of additional votes may be the electorate that once supported the PNCR. If, over the next four years, WIN succeeds in taking a substantial portion of the PNCR's support and converting those voters into permanent WIN supporters, it would be in a far stronger position to make a serious assault on the PPP/C's electoral base in 2030. The arithmetic is therefore fairly simple: WIN cannot defeat the PPP/C merely by nibbling at its margins. It must first establish itself as the principal alternative political home for voters who presently look to the PNCR and APNU, because only then will it possess the numerical strength necessary to challenge the governing party. This is why an agreement between WIN and APNU is self-defeating for WIN. Every concession WIN makes to the APNU
DEM BOYS SEH
Cooking is now an endangered skill Dem boys seh President Irfaan Ali got people talking when he suggested that changing habits, including more people eating out at restaurants, helping to push up household expenses. But dem boys seh, Mr. President, restaurant is only one part of the problem. The bigger problem is that too many Guyanese now don't know how to cook—and, worse yet, don't want to cook. Once upon a time, breakfast used to start in the kitchen. Now breakfast start on the public road. From six o'clock in the morning, dem boys seeing people lining up at roadside stands for bake, saltfish, eggs, porridge and everything else that could have been cooked at home before the first rooster finished crowing. And lunchtime is another story. Long ago, a working man or woman would leave home carrying a lunch bag like it was a briefcase. Inside was rice, curry, stew, cook-up, chowmein—something that told the stomach, “Don't worry, I got you.” Today, ask somebody to walk with lunch and dem boys hear, “Lunch? Where I going to warm that?” Very few people now know what a
thermos looks like. Some young people probably believe a thermos is an extinct species of stainless-steel animal. At lunchtime, the office worker does tek a walk around the block where you have six caravans and ten food stalls serving a growing clientele. Dem boys seh Guyanese now cooking less and eating out more. The kitchen becoming a museum. Stove getting rusty from loneliness. Pots hanging on the wall looking at each other and asking, “When last we work?” And this is where the real expense comes in. When you cook at home, one chicken could stretch from Sunday dinner to Tuesday lunch. When you buy food outside, one meal can stretch your wallet until payday. So yes, habits changing can increase expenses. But dem boys seh the best restaurant in Guyana might still be the one in your own kitchen. Because the food there is cheaper, the portions bigger, and—if you know how to cook—you don't have to leave home to eat out. Talk half. Leff half.
potentially preserves the very political structure whose support it needs to capture, while every arrangement that strengthens the APNU could ultimately strengthen the PNCR at WIN's expense. The PPP/C understands this dynamic better than anyone. The governing party has reason to fear WIN precisely because WIN represents something different from the traditional opposition. A strong PNCR has historically been useful to the PPP/C because it helps galvanise and consolidate the governing party's own support. That does not mean the PPP/C wants the PNCR to remain dominant forever. On the contrary, it may welcome the weakening of the PNCR when that weakening allows it to recruit supporters and strengthen its own coalition, particularly among voters who traditionally identify with the PNCR's ethnic and political base. But there is a
crucial distinction between a weakened PNCR whose supporters migrate to the PPP/C and a weakened PNCR whose supporters migrate to WIN. The former strengthens the government; the latter creates a potentially dangerous new challenger, which explains why the PPP/C is likely to view the rise of WIN with considerably more concern. WIN therefore needs to resist the temptation of shortt e r m p o l i t i c a l accommodation with APNU. The strategic question is whether such cooperation advances WIN's long-term objective of becoming the principal alternative to the PPP/C. WIN's task over the next four years should consequently be about persuading PNCR voters that their political future lies with WIN rather than with a party whose electoral influence has been steadily diminished. Only then will it be able to convince the PPP/C support
base to give it a chance at ruling. If WIN wants to turn the shock of 2025 into a durable political movement, it should remember that its greatest opportunity may lie not in joining the old opposition but in replacing it. Once it takes the PNCR out of the political arithmetic, it will see a lear pathway to overcoming the PPP/C. WIN must rely on strategy, and the strategy staring it in the face is clear: weaken the PNCR, capture its political space and then take the fight to the PPP/C. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper
WCB man killed after struck by... From page 2 McAlmont's brother, Tony Khan, told reporters that he was working in Georgetown when he received a call from relatives and neighbours informing him that his brother had been involved in an accident and had died.“So far, I get to understand that my brother went and shop, and when he come out from the shop, he stand up near to the road corner with an umbrella cover, and he mek a one step with he foot, and shortly after they said they hear a blam. By time they look, they see the body on the ground,” Khan recounted. According to police, McAlmont was dragged for approximately 40 feet from the point of impact into No. 4 Village. He was
picked up in an unconscious condition by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Bath Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Khan said his brother suffered severe injuries. He noted that both of McAlmont's feet were broken and had major lacerations, while his back was “scrape out.” Khan said he was informed that the lorry driver is currently in police custody. He disclosed that McAlmont had previously served in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) before working in construction. He was living with his father up to the time of his death. “We're hurt about it, but it is what it is,” Khan said.
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UTH
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HAR
HK
BY G
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LAL
Tuesday 2026 MondayAugust May 02,25, 2022
H@RD TRUTHS
BY GHK LALL
The man from WIN slipped I
think that the Hon Leader of the Opposition (LOO), Mr. Azruddin Mohamed, blundered. Three Local Govt seats in hand. One went to the Hon Ms. Amanza Walton-Desir ’s Forward Guyana Movement. Good! The second should have gone to the APNU. Would have been reflective of longterm thinking. Indicative of strategic positioning. Mr. Mohamed erred twice. For sure, there’s some bad blood over the GECOM seats. Them being held, despite the optics. Despite the September 2025 numbers. Also, there has been disconnections and disagreements over governance in the regions. Individually or collectively, these aren’t de minimis
matters. In contrast, there’s that vision, the ultimate objective. It is to change the power dynamics four years hence. A fragmented opposition is no opposition. It’s the dissipation of all energies. No two ways about it; no revisiting nor amending of that reality. I think that Mr. Mohamed, as the new LOO, had a golden opportunity to present a different kind of leadership. The kind neither seen nor heard nor known in the annals of this country. He slipped. Lost some ground. He needs allies, not more adversaries. For what is politics if not the art of compromise. Something found objectionable in Guyana. And if politics is not about sacrifice, then what else can
it be? I appreciate that in Guyana, however, politics is the pathway to become filthy rich. The WIN leader, now holding the office Opposition Leader, promised to be a man apart. From the old. From the tired. From the selfdestructive. Regrettable that when opportunity presented itself on how magnanimous he could be, he resembled all the ghosts that went before him. Plus, the ones in the current era with whom he coexists uneasily. On the issue of sacrifice on a personal level, a digression is timely. There are people in the ruling party who have been bypassed for higher positions. It seems that they still lag, when 2030 is discussed. They bite their tongue, stuff their ears,
tighten their lips, and continue stoically. Sacrifice, I say. For group ambience and endurance. Holding together, binding as a unit. Despite disappointment with the team. Only its continuing success matters. The newer entrants into the political fray can learn. Another attribute is alien to local traditions and thinking. Give something to get something. Relinquish a seat. Opens discussions on some other seats. If WIN stays on one side of the bridge and the PNC sticks to the other, where’s the vigor? What probability of sitting around a table, putting heads together, working out a way forward? One side sticking it to the o t h e r, w i t h t h e f a v o u r returned, doesn’t help one
voter. Nor does it aid any p a r t y. N o r d o e s i t transform any leader into an inspiring figure. A unique o n e . B e c a u s e t h e r e ’s willingness to set precedents. Even at the expense of loyal soldiers. The politics of grudges, leadership energised by v e n g e a n c e , i s counterproductive. The only beneficiaries are the well-entrenched, smirking, incumbents. Is that an objective? If it is, then it is better to call it a day and let reality and history extend indefinitely. No question that there is uncertainty, there’s anxiety, within the opposition fold. When there is looking at one another and seeing competitors, or underminers, then the battle is already half
lost. Somebody has to break the ice, scale the divide. It doesn’t have to be public. It just has to be strategic. Play the cards that are in hand. The numbers and environment don’t favour now. But when the census could conceal the demographic composition of Guyana, there’s a clue. There’s inspiration. Mr. Mohamed has to think big and think broad, too. Last, he must cease operating like a lone ranger. For that would be the recipe that best suits the people with the power. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)
Tuesday August 25, 2026
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Ram wants constitution reform commission scrapped — says two years on, millions spent and little to show Attorney-at-law and Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram is calling for the immediate termination of the Carl Singh-led Constitution Reform Commission, arguing that after more than two years, substantial public expenditure and continuous remuneration, the body has produced little and remains barely beyond the starting point set by Parliament. Ram, in a letter to the editor dated 23rd August, 2026, said the Commission’s recent invitation for written submissions until 31st December represents the first stage of public consultation—nearly four years after the Constitution Reform Commission Act was passed and more than two years after the Commission was sworn in. He described the pace of the exercise as unacceptable. “This is not a snail’s pace. The snail, at least, keeps moving towards its destination,” Ram said. According to Ram, the matters now being placed before the public are substantially the same as the mandate Parliament gave the Commission in 2022.”This means that nearly four years after the Act and more than two years after the Commission was sworn in, it has arrived at the starting point Parliament prescribed for it,” he said. Ram contrasted the performance with that of the 1999 Constitution Reform Commission, which, despite operating under intense political pressure following the 1997 elections and the Herdmanston Accord, completed its substantive work in roughly six months. That Commission considered about 4,600 proposals from individuals and organisations across Guyana, held public hearings, consulted experts and produced 171 recommendations by July 1999. “In roughly six months, under far greater political pressure and under the chairmanship of Mr. Ralph Ramkarran, S.C., the 1999 Commission substantially completed an exercise which the Carl Singh-led Commission, after more than two years, has barely begun,” Ram wrote. Ram said the current Commission’s slow pace is
even more troubling given the resources placed at its disposal. He said hundreds of millions of dollars in public funds have been allocated to constitutional reform and its supporting machinery and called for a full accounting of how the money has been spent. Ram said he understands that the Chairman receives $1.3 million monthly, the Vice-Chair $500,000, each Commissioner $200,000 and the Secretary $600,000. He also raised questions over payments made during the four-month recess for the 2025 elections campaign. Ram said Commission members accepted payment during the period, while Chairman Singh later acknowledged publicly that a t t e n d a n c e b y Commissioners had been a problem. “Knowingly accepting public money for work one does not perform strikes me as conduct of an altogether different order from mere absenteeism,” Ram said. He called on Attorney General Anil Nandlall and the Minister responsible for Finance to publish a full accounting of expenditure and remuneration. At the same time, he urged the Commission to publish its meeting records, attendance, research undertaken and substantive work produced. Ram also questioned whether the Commission still reflects the political configuration of the country following the 2025 elections. He highlighted the absence of representatives from WIN, which now holds 16 parliamentary seats and is the principal Opposition party. At the same time, he pointed out that a representative of the Joinder parties—ANUG, the Liberty Justice Party and The New Movement—remains on the Commission, although none of those parties is represented in the current National Assembly. “WIN, with sixteen seats and now the principal Opposition party, has no representative at all,” Ram said. He noted that Nandlall himself acknowledged the problem in October 2025, saying the legislation establishing the Commission had been drafted for the previous parliamentary
configuration and that amendments were being prepared to reflect the new Opposition arrangement. Ram questioned why the Commission is now proceeding with public consultation before that acknowledged defect has been corrected. He warned that this could create a serious problem
further down the road, since any recommendations produced by the Commission will ultimately have to be considered by Parliament, where WIN’s support could be critical. “The Commission is therefore attempting to devise constitutional reform without the principal Opposition party, only
Attorney-at-law, Christopher Ram eventually to send its proposals to a National Assembly in which that party’s support may be indispensable,” he said.
Ram also criticised the Commission for failing, so far, to demonstrate what lessons have been drawn Continued on page 21
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Tuesday August 25, 2026
59 people screened for cancer at health education outreach in Diamond Cancer prevention and early detection depend on access to accurate information, screening, timely diagnosis and appropriate care. These priorities were at the centre of a recent community cancer outreach conducted by The Lotus Cancer Initiative Inc., in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Oxford Medical, which provided 59 individuals from Diamond and surrounding communities on the East Bank of Demerara with access to cancer screening, diagnostic services and health education. In a press release the ministry said the outreach brought a range of specialist cancer-related services closer to residents, with a strong emphasis on prevention and early detection. A major component of the initiative was cervical cancer prevention and early detection. Women were provided with cervical cancer screening, including Pap smears and HPV testing. Colposcopy and cervical biopsies were also available for women requiring further evaluation. These services are critical in identifying cervical abnormalities early, allowing for appropriate investigation and treatment before they progress to cancer.
Staff of The Lotus Cancer Initiative Inc., the Ministry of Health, and Oxford Medical Centre pose for a group photograph during the recently concluded cancer screening and diagnostic outreach at the Diamond Regional Hospital. The outreach also addressed breast cancer awareness and screening. Women received clinical breast examinations, along with information on breast health, breast awareness and the warning signs that should prompt medical attention. Where further assessment was indicated, women were referred for additional investigations, including mammography. Men were also engaged through
prostate cancer screening and education, promoting greater awareness of prostate health and encouraging men to seek appropriate screening and medical evaluation. In addition to the clinical services, participants benefited from health education sessions addressing cancer prevention, risk factors, warning signs, screening and the importance of seeking medical attention at the earliest opportunity.
The Work Continues After Screening According to the release, for Lotus, the outreach does not end when the last patient leaves. An important part of the organisation’s approach is patient follow-up and navigation after screening. Results are reviewed and communicated directly to patients, who are provided with an explanation of their findings and guidance on the appropriate next steps.
Depending on the results, this may include routine screening, repeat testing, colposcopy, biopsy, imaging, specialist consultation or treatment. This patient-navigation approach seeks to address one of the critical challenges in cancer care: loss to follow-up after screening. Completing a screening test is only the first step. If an abnormal result is not communicated, understood or Continued on page 21
Tuesday August 25, 2026
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Suriname chamber calls for new vessel ...says suspension of Canawaima affecting businesses, passengers The Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce (SGCC) is calling for greater clarity over the temporary suspension of the MV Canawaima ferry service, warning that the disruption is already affecting passengers, transport operators, businesses and the movement of goods between Guyana and Suriname. While stressing that passenger and crew safety must remain paramount, the Chamber said a reliable cross-border service must, first and foremost, be a safe one. The SGCC noted the conflicting positions surrounding the vessel’s seaworthiness. Guyana’s Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, recently said technical inspections involving maritime experts from both countries concluded that the vessel could remain in operation for three months pending dry-docking. However, the Maritime Authority Suriname (MAS) subsequently determined that certain outstanding matters should be addressed immediately. The Chamber also cited a Suriname Nieuws Centrale report on an August 21 assessment by Marine Consulting & Survey, which identified significant corrosion requiring further examination and remedial work. The assessment reportedly found no leakage and concluded that the vessel could remain operational for three months pending drydocking, while also identifying outstanding documentation and certification requirements. Against this backdrop, the SGCC is urging the authorities to explain precisely what remains outstanding and why the vessel was subsequently taken out of service. “Transparency around these matters would help the travelling public and business community better understand both the decision taken and the pathway toward resumption of service,” the Chamber said. The SGCC also raised concerns about passengers and transport operators stranded on both sides of the Corentyne River, many of whom are now facing unexpected expenses for accommodation, transportation, fuel and other necessities. The Chamber urged the authorities and operators to prioritise those affected and clearly communicate what
The MV Canawaima
immediate assistance or alternative arrangements are available, particularly for persons unable to sustain an extended delay. It is also calling for a coordinated plan for the ferry’s return to service, including a clear timeline for the required repairs, whether the current intervention will affect or accelerate the v e s s e l ’s p l a n n e d d r y docking, and what interim arrangements will be made to preserve cross-border connectivity. Of particular concern is the absence of clarity on when a replacement vessel will be deployed. The SGCC said the disruption underscores the urgent need for a properly inspected secondary vessel and, ultimately, investment in a new ferry to provide the redundancy required for such a critical bilateral transportation link. The Chamber further pointed to the existing arrangements governing the ferry service. The Canawaima Ferry Service Inc. was incorporated in Guyana, while Canawaima Management Company N.V. was incorporated in Suriname as its wholly owned subsidiary. The latter owns Transport and Harbours Department Inc. in Guyana and Scheepvaart Maatschappij Suriname (SMS NV) in Suriname. According to a 2026 NCN publication referencing the SurinameG u y a n a J o i n t Ve n t u r e Agreement, Guyana supplies all fuel, lubricants and batteries for the ferry’s daily operations, while Suriname is responsible for maintenance and drydocking. The SGCC said the Canawaima is far more than a ferry service, describing it as an essential economic and social link connecting the two countries and facilitating trade, tourism, investment and the daily
movement of people and g o o d s . “ C o n t i n u i t y, predictability and safety must therefore be considered together,” the Chamber said. The latest disruption, it added, reinforces the need for a sustainable, long-term solution to the SurinameGuyana ferry connection. In February 2025, the SGCC advanced a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) proposal for the management of the Canawaima Ferry Service, aimed at supporting a more sustainable and reliable
model for the operation of the vital cross-border link. This newspaper reported recently that days after clearing a critical safety inspection by the Maritime Authority Suriname (MAS), the MV Canawaima was hit by fresh technical difficulties, forcing an immediate, temporary suspension of the crossborder ferry service. The suspension was announced in a public notice issued on 22nd August,2026, by Continued on page 25
GUYANA
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday August 25, 2026
Govt. seeks contractor to undertake Mahaica-Abary road project The Ministry of Public Works has issued a request for bids for a contractor to rehabilitate and upgrade the Mahaica to Abary Bridge Road Corridor on the East Coast of Demerara. The tender notice which was published on the government’s procurement opportunities website, states that Guyana has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Integrated Transport Corridors Project (ITCP) and intends to apply part of the proceeds toward payments under the contract for the Improvement (Rehabilitation and Upgrade) of the Selected Regional Road Corridor -Reconstruction of Existing Road Network on the East Coast Demerara – Lot 1: Mahaica Bridge to Abary Bridge Road Corridor (Km. 0+00 – Km. 27+10). The ministry in its notice said that it is
inviting bids from eligible bidders to undertake the construction of 27.1 kilometers of asphalt concrete road, along the Upper East Coast Demerara corridor in Guyana, extending from Mahaica River Bridge to Abary River Bridge. According to the document, the works comprise a dual carriageway facility consisting of two lanes in each direction, separated carriageways, and paved shoulders 1.0 m to 1.5 m wide. “The works include, but are not limited to, the improvement (rehabilitation and upgrade) of approx. 27 km of roadway. The works include the relocation of existing utilities from within the works limit, the construction of 10 No. 10-15m span prestressed precast concrete bridges, 750m precast box culverts, 20,120m in-stu concrete
Section of the upper East Coast Demerara road corridor leading from the Mahaica Bridge.
drains, 17,040m earthen drains, the installation of road furniture and traffic safety facilities as part of road safety improvements, and other ancillary works as specified in the contract documents,” the ministry explained. Among other details, the public works stated that the contract is expected to be completed within a period of 36 calendar months from the commencement date. Bids for this project are expected to open on 2nd October, 2026(Friday) at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office. Kaieteur News had reported that the reconstruction of Existing Road Network on the East Coast Demerara comprises (Lot1) the improvement of approximately 27 kilometers of roadway and associated roadway structures and (Lot 2)the extension/construction of the three (3) main bridges, namely the Mahaica River, Mahaicony River and Abary River Bridges. Back in October 2025, the Department of Public Information reported that the
government signed a US$156 million loan agreement with the World Bank toward the Integrated Transport Corridors Project (ITCP). According to the article, the project was approved in early 2025 by the World Bank and is geared toward supporting Guyana in its quest to upgrade and rehabilitate the country’s road infrastructure, and will focus on enhancing the country’s transport network in selected regions in order to allow for better equipped infrastructure that could withstand natural hazards while providing safer and more reliable movement for persons. In July 2026, this publication reported that Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill and his team met with residents, business owners, religious leaders, motorists, and other stakeholders to discuss the planned reconstruction of the ECD road corridor between the Mahaica and Abary bridges. Held at the Mahaicony Technical and Vocational Training Centre, the consultation Continued on page 26
Kaieteur News
Tuesday Thursday August November 25, 2026 24, 2022
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Chinese Medical Team, Shandong Group pump $1 million lifeline into Victoria SDA health clinic The 21st Chinese M e d i c a l Te a m , i n collaboration with the Shandong Hi-Speed Dejian Group, has donated nearly $1 million worth of medical equipment to the Victoria Seventh-day Adventist Church to support the establishment of a community health clinic at its Belfield, East Coast Demerara facility. The equipment was formally handed over on Saturday during a ceremony at the church, where leaders described the donation as a major boost to the church’s
Dr. Zhu Qianrang, Public Health Expert attached to the 21st Chinese Medical Team along with other members of the team and of the Shandong Hi-Speed Dejian Group and members of the church’s health team. services to employees of Chinese-funded enterprises, donated a ventilator to an impoverished patient and performed emergency surgery that saved the life of a Chinese citizen. The following month, it opened a Traditional Chinese Medicine Metabolic Disease Special Clinic at the Georgetown Public Hospital and hosted an open-day event attended by Prime Minister Mark Phillips. Its outreach continued
Dr. Zhu Qianrang, Public Health Expert attached to the 21st Chinese Medical Team and officials of the church at the handing over ceremony. efforts to bring basic healthcare services to residents of Belfield and surrounding communities. Elder Nigel Williams, speaking at the ceremony, said the initiative represents the church’s commitment to putting its faith into practical action. “This supports our work as a church to not only preach the gospel from the pulpit, but also provide a m o r e p r a c t i c a l demonstration of our faith in action,” Williams said. He thanked the Chinese Medical Team and the Shandong group for what he described as a timely contribution, assuring that the equipment would be used to provide relief to residents in the surrounding communities. Pastor Jermaine Andrews also expressed gratitude to the donors, saying the equipment would help the church advance its mission. “These pieces of equipment will help us fulfil our mission and we are grateful for the support,” Andrews said. Health and Temperance Leader Faith Elias outlined the church’s plans for the clinic,
explaining that it intends to utilise healthcare professionals within the congregation who will volunteer their services on designated days each week. Among the equipment donated is a height and weight scale, automatic armcuff sphygmomanometer, body composition analyser, SpO and pulse monitor, t h e r m o m e t e r s , electrochemical analyser and a 55-inch television. The donation also includes rapid test kits for HIV, HPV, dengue and malaria. Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Zhu Qianrang, Public Health Expert attached to the 21st Chinese Medical Team, said the team, together with the Shandong Hi-Speed Dejian Group, was pleased to support the establishment of the clinic. Dr. Zhu said the team is also working with the NonCommunicable Diseases Unit of Guyana’s Ministry of Health, with a focus on improving residents’ health through lifestyle-related interventions. The donation adds another chapter to the Chinese medical team’s
growing involvement in community healthcare in Guyana. The 21st Chinese Medical Team arrived in Guyana in late September 2025 with 18 members covering more than 10 medical specialties, including General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and A n a e s t h e s i o l o g y. T h e members have between 10 and 20 years of clinical experience and are led by team leader Li Huansong. Since its arrival, the team has undertaken a series of medical outreach and public health initiatives across the country. In October 2025, it held a Mid-Autumn Festival free clinic at the Qingjian Group compound in Georgetown. The team also successfully performed Guyana’s first reported opioid-free anaesthesia clavicle fracture surgery and conducted public welfare medical activities in Mahaica and with the Guyana-China Friendship Association. In November, the team provided free medical
into 2026, with medical supplies donated to Linden Hospital in February, a free clinic for the overseas Chinese community in March and medical outreach and emergency first-aid training at project sites in April. In May, the team conducted a charity clinic for workers on the China Road and Bridge Corporation’s Guyana Airport Road Project and participated in the Guyana Cultural Festival, where it showcased
traditional Chinese medicine. It was also reported in May that Chinese and Guyanese doctors had jointly completed a threeday breast reduction surgery. The latest donation to the Vi c t o r i a S e v e n t h - d a y Adventist Church now extends that outreach directly into the East Coast community, as the church moves to establish a clinic aimed at bringing basic health services closer to residents.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday August 25, 2026
Pres. Ali floats farmer’s markets again ...as food CPI up by 5.1% in 12 months In what has become a familiar refrain during spikes in household expenses, President Irfaan Ali announced on 18th August that his administration is considering establishing permanent farmers’ markets across the country to cushion the rising cost of living. “We may need to look at the creation of farmers’ markets across the country as a permanent part of our buying ecosystem, so that farmers have direct access to the market,” President Ali told a news conference. He noted that agricultural producers continue to complain that products are being sold at substantially higher prices once they reach consumers, suggesting that expanding farmers’ markets would allow producers more direct access to consumers and reduce costs and mark-ups along the supply chain. Despite these repeated announcements spanning multiple budget cycles, household budgets remain under pressure. Official figures from the Georgetown Consumer Price Index (CPI) for July 2026 showed an overall monthly inflation movement of 0.1% to reach an index of 153.58. While the broader food category experienced a slight deflationary movement of 0.03% for the month from June to July, driven by drops in fruits (4.2%) and pulses (2.7%), several essential food sub-categories continued to experience price increases, including condiments and spices (2.6%), non-alcoholic beverages (0.5%), oils and fats (0.4%),
cereals (0.2%), meats and fish (0.2%), and vegetables (0.2%). Over the past 12 months, the food category as a whole has risen by 5.1%, alongside overall CPI growth of 3.9%. However, last Tuesday’s announcement marked the latest iteration of a cost-of-living proposal the administration has floated repeatedly over the past four years without establishing a lasting national infrastructure. In 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture issued a statement assuring that the government has been implementing measures to ease the cost of living for all Guyanese as promised in the national budget, recognising the spike in food costs while farm-gate prices remained low. To reduce these inefficiencies, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, disclosed that the government would arrange monthly farmers’ markets across the country to help farmers find ready markets and help consumers benefit from buying directly from the producer. Following that commitment, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha assured producers in Region Six that “We will facilitate you; we will set out a place for you around the New Amsterdam area. We will advertise it well on a weekly basis. We could have a farmers’ market.” Minister Mustapha noted that the ministry planned to host the event at least once every month in all regions, stating, “I’m hoping that in each region in this country we can at least have these market Continued on page 25
A bar chart illustrating inflationary movements across food sub-categories for July 2026, showing Condiments & Spices leading price increases at 2.6%, followed by Non-Alcoholic Beverages (0.5%), Oil & Fats (0.4%), Alcoholic Beverages (0.4%), Cereal & Cereal Products (0.2%), Meat, Fish & Eggs (0.2%), and Vegetable & Vegetable Products (0.2%).
Govt. to probe fire on Exxon-operated FPSO
The Liza Unity FPSO The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) on Monday said it will investigate the circumstances that led to a fire aboard the Liza Unity Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, which produces over 220,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd). Operations were suspended after heat detectors in the laundry room of the living quarters signalled a small fire. MNR said Exxon reported to the ministry that the blaze was quickly extinguished and the appropriate response procedures were immediately initiated. Moreover, all personnel aboard the vessel are safe and accounted for. Consequently, the ministry said, “...that the relevant regulatory authorities will conduct the necessary follow-up to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.” It added that it will continue to closely engage ExxonMobil Guyana Limited and the relevant regulatory agencies on this incident. On Sunday, Exxon in a brief media statement said, “Heat detectors aboard the Liza Unity FPSO were activated in the laundry room of the living quarters, indicating a small fire, which was quickly extinguished. The appropriate response procedures were initiated.”
Meanwhile, the oil major confirmed that production and offloading operations were suspended as part of the company’s established safety response. It indicated that operations would resume following completion of the necessary checks. Up to the time of this report, Exxon did not respond to further media queries on whether its operations resumed and the extent of damages to the FPSO. The Liza Unity is Guyana’s second FPSO and produces hydrocarbons from the Liza Two project. The vessel commenced production activities in February 2022. The vessel was designed to produce 220,000 bpd but was optimised by Exxon which pushed production to about 250,000 bpd. It is moored in water depth of about 1,650 m and is able to store approximately 2 million barrels of crude oil. Unity is one of the four FPSOs in Guyana’s fleet. ExxonMobil also produces oil at Liza One, Payara- its third project- and Yellowtail, the fourth project. A fifth FPSO, the Errea Wittu recently arrived in Guyana and is slated to come online during the fourth quarter of this year, increasing the country’s daily production beyond a million barrels per day.
Tuesday August 25, 2026
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Kaieteur News
Mahipaul demands answers on MV...
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From page 8 Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, SC, has defended the decision to use an open procurement process, disclosing that the salvage operation is estimated to cost between US$8 million and US$10 million. Nandlall rejected accusations that the government was deliberately delaying the operation and accused political opponents of exploiting the tragedy. “If the government had gone and chosen some company to do the job, they would have said that government is handpicking some family or friend and they would be a cover up,” Nandlall said during his weekly programme.“Now the government has gone to open tender and that now they have a problem… No matter what is done, these people will not be satisfied,” he added. The procurement controversy also comes against the backdrop of an offer by Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed to independently finance and execute the salvage operation using international partners at no cost to the state. Mohamed had strongly criticised the government’s initial consideration of designating the wreck site as a permanent memorial, describing the proposal as “premature and wicked.” He also pointed to alleged safety and op-
erational failures, citing claims reportedly made by the vessel’s arrested captain that the MV Barima had an inoperable anchor, an inactive engine, expired life rafts, no functioning emergency beacons and was carrying cargo well beyond its 198-tonne deadweight capacity.Amid public criticism and weekly protests, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips clarified that the final decision on whether the vessel should be raised or left as a maritime memorial should reflect the wishes of the bereaved families. His comments came after Kaieteur News published leaked documentation showing that the government had consulted families about leaving the vessel at the site as a memorial. Following those consultations, MARAD issued a formal Request for Proposals (RFP), with the initial submission deadline set for 14th August, 2026. With no public update on the evaluation of proposals or the awarding of a salvage contract, Mahipaul reiterated that the public and Parliament are entitled to full disclosure of the technical and financial proposals submitted to MARAD. “Tell us something, Government of Guyana!” Mahipaul said. “What is happening with the salvaging of the MV Barima? The families are waiting. Guyana is waiting. We demand answers.”
Ram wants constitution reform commission... From page 13 from the 1999 constitutional reform exercise. He said the Commission should have assessed what recommendations from the 1999 report were implemented, what failed, what worked and why. He further argued that Guyana’s transformation into a major oil-producing country has created new constitutional questions surrounding natural resources, intergenerational equity and accountability for national wealth. Among the other issues he believes require attention are the concentration of presidential power, presidential immunity, inclusionary democracy, constitutional appointment deadlocks, GECOM’s parti-
san architecture, parliamentary oversight and local government autonomy. But Ram’s strongest recommendation is that the current Commission should not be allowed to continue in its present form. “The question therefore is no longer whether this Commission needs more time. It is whether it should be permitted to continue in its present form,” he said. “In my view, it should not.” Ram is proposing that the current exercise be ended and that responsibility for constitutional reform be returned immediately to Parliament’s Standing Committee for Constitutional Reform. He said the committee would better re-
flect the current composition of the National Assembly and could move the process forward transparently, with expert and civil-society participation, within a firm timetable and with proper accountability for public spending. Ram concluded that, by any reasonable measure— including the “time-bound and assignment-bound” standard previously articulated by Attorney General Nandlall—the Carl Singh-led Commission has failed. “On the application of any reasonable test—including the Attorney General’s own metric—the Carl Singh-led Constitution Reform Commission is already a colossal failure,” Ram said.
59 people screened for cancer at health... From page 16 acted upon, an important opportunity for early diagnosis and treatment can be lost. Lotus therefore works to help patients navigate the healthcare system, understand their results and remain connected to the next stage of their care. “When I founded Lotus, I wanted us to look beyond the numbers. Every person we meet is someone’s mother, father, sister, brother, daughter or friend. Our responsibility is not only to bring screening to communities, but to make sure that people feel supported, informed and valued throughout. If we can help one person find a cancer earlier, prevent a cancer from developing, or give someone the confidence to seek care, then the work we are doing matters,” said Dr. Shivani Samlall, Founder and Chairperson of The Lotus Cancer Initiative Inc. Through this
approach, Lotus is working to strengthen a continuum of cancer care, from prevention and screening to diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and survivorship. The initiative also highlights the value of collaboration among government, healthcare providers, community organisations and civil society in expanding access to cancer services. Lotus expressed its appreciation to all those who contributed to the outreach, including the Ministry of Health, the Oxford Medical Team, the Diamond Regional Hospital team, including mem-
bers of the hospital’s Board of Directors, as well as Lotus members and volunteers. As Lotus continues to expand its community outreach programme across Guyana, its goal is not simply to screen more people, but to ensure that individuals who are screened receive their results, understand what those results mean and know what steps to take next. “Cancer care should not end with a screening test. We don’t just screen patients, we stay connected to their care. Screening saves lives. Early diagnosis matters.
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Tuesday August 25, 2026
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Kaieteur News
Pres. Ali floats Miners torture man accused farmer's markets... From page 20 once monthly... So, farmers and consumers are calling that they want these markets to be held more regularly, so what we are doing now as I said we'll be going to other regions.” When the initiative launched on the East Coast Demerara corridor, the Ministry of Agriculture deemed the event at the Lusignan Market Tarmac a massive success where consumers from Buxton and Mahaicony purchased produce like tomatoes, plantains, pumpkins, eggs, meats, and agro-processed items at reduced prices. Speaking at the tarmac, Minister Mustapha reiterated that “This is one of the measures that the PPP/C Government has put in place to assist both the farmers and the consumers. We spoke about this in the budget and we are already implementing it. We will be hosting similar activities across the country so consumers can rest assured that the Ministry of Agriculture and the Government of Guyana will continue to implement measures to help them... The response has been tremendous and persons can rest assured that this will not be a one-off activity.” The pledge surfaced again in 2025 when General Secretary of the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Bharrat Jagdeo, acknowledged at a public meeting in Enmore that
more needed to be done to curb food prices. “The food prices, we did not have the same sort of success, and that is why in the next term we said we have to focus more on costof-living issues. We will get cheaper cooking gas [and] farmers' markets,” Jagdeo noted, explaining that while local food supply was increasing, high transportation and imported input costs were preventing market prices from dropping. He added that the administration took a holistic approach to address the high cost of living, including utility subsidies and fuel tax removals, stating, “So, we have to make sure that we help people grow out of this. And we'll do that by putting more money in your pocket, by taking away some of the costs from them so that they don't have to fund these costs.” The recurring promise appeared yet again in Dr. Ashni Singh's 2026 Budget speech, where he stated, “We will also undertake the development of 100,000 acres of new arable lands, incentivise large, medium and small-scale farming, strengthen the agriculture value chain and promote greater use of smart and appropriate technologies, while establishing a network of permanent farmers' markets to expand both domestic, export and v a l u e - a d d e d opportunities.”
of stealing gold mat A group of miners were caught on camera torturing an indigenous man they accused of stealing a gold mat. The victim was identified as Andray D'oliviera of Essequibo Coast, Region. According to reports reaching Kaieteur the incident took place on Saturday at 14 Miles Backdam, North West District. It was video recorded and went viral after the footage was uploaded on social media platforms. In the video, the men could be heard interrogating D'oliviera as he was beaten with cutlasses, their fists and other objects. He was also strapped to an excavator boom and hoisted air. Sharing his story online, D'oliviera said the men poured gasoline on him in an attempt to set him ablaze. D'oliviera said he and his brothers have been working with their boss for three years and are being wrongfully accused of stealing. “Me ain't know nothing about duh, plus dem ain't even find we with silver or anything like Duh”, D'oliviera said as he recounted the ordeal. He said after he was accused of theft, the matter was
reported to the police. D'oliviera and his two brothers were picked up and taken to a police station where they were questioned. “Dem man (police) ain't even come and do no investigation like check for foot prints and suh dem just start boxing we up and say is you”, the indigenous man claimed. He added that while they were at the station, his employer's son and a few other men came and picked him, leaving his brothers behind and took him back into the backdam where they began torturing him for answers about the theft. D'oliveira said about six men attacked him. “Dem man start beat me and them thing, Dem man beat me with all kind thing, cutlass, knife, cuff me, plus dem man d drinking to, rum bottle dem knock me up with”, he said. “Dem man binna guh light me yuh site”, he continued while showing his bruises on camera. According to victim's mother, the
Andray D'oliviera, the man tortured after being accused of stealing boss' gold mat matter was reported to the police on Sunday. “We get a number for some Sonia Latchman, we call her and she take some statements and she seh she gon see what more she can do today (Monday), she promised to come in today”, the mother related. Up to press time police have not responded to questions or issued any statement in relation to the matter.
Suriname chamber calls for new... From page 17 Terminal Manager Deyne Harry. According to the management of Canawaima Ferry Service Inc., the vessel was grounded after technical issues were detected on board. “Management is working assiduously to have these issues resolved at the soonest possible time,” the official release stated, adding that the public will be notified once operations are set to resume. Management also expressed regret for the disruption to travel and commerce along the Moleson Creek–South Drain transit corridor. The sudden disruption marked a swift turn of events following assurances provided earlier this month. On 14th August, Harry confirmed that
the vessel had passed a follow-up inspection conducted by MAS after Surinamese authorities addressed key maintenance deficiencies. That regulatory intervention stemmed from an August 7 letter from MAS, which issued a final ultimatum warning of an immediate sailing ban starting 14th August unless safety and structural shortcomings were rectified. Outstanding issues had included mandatory crew certifications, functional firefighting and safety gear, and verified hull watertightness. Under the long-standing bilateral joint venture agreement, Suriname holds operational responsibility for the maintenance and dry-docking of the vessel, while Guyana supplies all fuel,
lubricants, and batteries. Harry previously noted that while maintenance has historically lapsed on the Surinamese side, Guyanese authorities stepped in during recent discussions with MAS and the Board of Directors in Suriname to establish minimum operational requirements and preserve the vital transport link. Despite successfully averting the initial regulatory shutdown, the latest technical breakdown underscores the ongoing operational vulnerabilities facing the vessel. Passengers and commercial operators seeking further updates are advised to contact the Canawaima Ferry Service terminal at telephone number 654-1104.
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U.S. announces 'economic U.S. strikes alleged D-day' sanctions on drug-smuggling boat in Iran, asks allies to join Pacific Ocean, killing 2 people (CBS NEWS) The United States military said Monday it carried out a strike on an alleged drugtrafficking boat in the Pacific Ocean, killing two people. U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said in a post on X that the strike, which took place Sunday, targeted a vessel "operating along established narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific." "Confirmed intelligence revealed the vessel's active involvement in narcotrafficking," it added. "This operation is a clear and decisive reminder that SOUTHCOM is taking the fight directly to the cartels," SOUTHCOM said. Grainy black-and-white video footage accompanying the post showed a boat moving through the water before a large explosion. The military did not identify the style of boat but it appears to be a long semi-submersible vessel, sometimes called a "narco sub." The United States military said Monday it carried out a strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat in the Pacific Ocean, killing two people. SOUTHCOM Narco subs, which cannot go fully underwater, are popular among international drug traffickers as they can sometimes elude detection by law enforcement. "We are committed to imposing total systemic
friction on narco-terrorists — disrupting their operations, dismantling their leadership, and eliminating cartel terror across the region," Gen. Francis L. Donovan said in a statement Monday. The latest strike comes days after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the U.S. would extend its offensive to land across multiple Latin American countries. The secretary said during a visit to Panama that Colombia, Guatemala and Honduras had agreed to allow the U.S. to carry out joint military operations against criminal groups on their soil. Guatemala denied reaching such an agreement. Ecuador launched similar missions with the U.S. in March. The U.S. military launched operation "Southern Spear" last September, with President Trump arguing Washington is effectively at war with drug cartels operating out of Latin America. Since then, more than 200 people have been killed in strikes in the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. T h e T r u m p administration has not provided definitive evidence that the vessels it has been striking are involved in drug trafficking. Critics of the strikes have questioned the overall legality as well as their effectiveness. Part of the
argument has been that the fentanyl behind many fatal U.S. drug overdoses is typically trafficked over land from Mexico, where it is produced with chemicals imported from China and India. U.S. lawmakers have previously demanded that the Pentagon release "unedited video" of the very first strike that the military conducted after reports emerged that the U.S. chose to conduct a follow-on strike on survivors of its initial attack. Some lawmakers have questioned whether that follow-on strike constituted a war crime. The Defense Department and several congressional Republicans have insisted the survivors may have still been in the fight, warranting the followon strike. The Pentagon's watchdog said in May that it planned to look into whether the U.S. military followed an established targeting framework when carrying out the strikes. However, the evaluation is focused specifically on what's known as the six-phase Joint Targeting Cycle and not on the legality of the strikes, the inspector general's office said. In June, the U.S. military conducted a strike in the Caribbean against a boat accused of smuggling drugs in the region, killing two people and leaving six survivors.
Govt. seeks contractor to undertake... From page 18 covered the project's design and scope, environmental and social impacts, and the grievance redress mechanism available to affected residents. The ministry reported at the time, that the four-lane highway is designed for a 20-year lifespan and will be built in three lots, with initial rehabilitative work starting on Lots 1 and 2. The upgrade will include widened lanes with a median, street lighting, raised crosswalks, pedestrian and cattle-crossing signage, rumble strips, and improved junctions. Residents raised concerns about land acquisition, drainage, and the fate of
historic railway structures along the route. A project consultant said options for preserving the structures — some considered monuments — are being explored and that they will not be discarded outright. Edghill added that any drainage changes will require sign-off from a hydrologic engineer at the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, noting similar concerns have been resolved on other projects nationwide. On land acquisition, Edghill said affected owners will be paid fair market compensation, as required by the constitution, and would not be left at a disadvantage.
(AL-JAZEERA) U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has announced new sanctions on Tehran to “sever every economic lifeline that sustains Iran”, saying Trump is asking U.S. allies to join the measure. The announcement comes after Iran issued a warning that vessels violating its rules for transiting the S trait of Hormuz could face restrictions, including fines, detention or confiscation. Bessent said on Monday that the U.S. would target all of Iran's sources of revenue, including oil, with the aim of preventing other countries and companies from doing business with Tehran. “Around the globe, our objective is to sever every economic lifeline that sustains this tyrannical regime until Tehran stands alone,” he said. He said countries around the world must choose between the U.S. and Iran, stressing that the new campaign exposes Tehran's trade partners to secondary penalties.Bessent emphasised that “no one is above the reach of U.S. sanctions”. If countries and entities “facilitate transactions and are part of the ecosystem that turns Iranian oil into money, into repression, they will be targeted”, he said. While the U.S. did announce a new wave of sanctions against Iran, Monday's campaign did not target any major international economic institution for dealing with the country. Bessent framed the push as a strong warning for countries and companies across the world. The campaign is dubbed “Operation Economic Outcast”. Bessent also called it “economic D-day”, likening it to the Allies' forces landing on French shores to push back against Nazi Germany during World War II.Asked why the U.S. is threatening Iran's business partners instead of penalising them, Bessent said: “Well, we are giving everyone the
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks during a press conference to outline further sanctions against Iran at the Treasury Department, August 24 [Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters]
opportunity to remedy bad behaviour. Why would I want to blow up the global financial system?” His response underscores the risk that secondary U.S. sanctions pose to the broader international economy. The economic pressure campaign comes nearly six months into the war with Iran, after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against the country without direct provocation. While U.S. and Israeli attacks have killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several other top officials, they have failed to dislodge the governing system in Tehran. Tehran has responded to the U.S. and Israeli strikes with missile and drone attacks across the region. It has also largely shut down and asserted control over the Strait of Hormuz, a major artery for global energy, sending oil and gas prices soaring. Multiple rounds of fighting and diplomacy have failed to resolve the crisis. Monday's sanctions push is the latest effort by the U.S. to pressure Iran to make major concessions, including giving up its nuclear programme and ceasing attacks on vessels in Hormuz. In April, the U.S. announced a blockade on Iranian ports, but Iran has remained defiant despite the naval siege. “The blockade has clearly hurt Iran, especially its oil exports, but it hasn't produced the political outcome Washington wants. Iran hasn't capitulated,” Sina
Toossi, a fellow at the Center for International Policy, told Al Jazeera. “Hormuz remains heavily disrupted, and the costs to the U.S. and global economy are mounting. So, 'economic D-Day' looks like an effort to intensify the pressure now that the military campaign has failed to deliver a decisive outcome.” Bessent said U.S. President Donald Trump has been making calls to world leaders “with specific requests to cease their interaction with the regime”. “Those who stand with the United States will reap the rewards of our partnership. Those who tether themselves to the Iranian regime should expect to share in the isolation,” he said. The U.S. officials said new sanctions will target “five of Iran's most vital lifelines”: digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and shipping.The U.S. Treasury also imposed fresh sanctions on 60 entities, vessels and individuals across the world – including in the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, China, Singapore and Switzerland – accusing them of enabling the “Iranian regime's recklessness”.On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed U.S. pressure, stressing that economic sanctions against Iran are nothing new. “They cannot think of any other solution in confronting the great Iranian people, so they repeatedly put forward the same old plans,” Araghchi said.
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Tuesday August 25, 2026
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Gauff gears up for US Open Old Fort Top Form stays with Cincinnati triumph red-hot in Friday Night 5's
BBC Sport - Coco Gauff powered past third seed Jessica Pegula in the final of the Cincinnati Open to win her first title of 2026 and make a statement before the US Open. The 22-year-old American needed only an hour and 14 minutes to defeat compatriot Pegula 6-2 6-4 as she became just the third two-time champion of the WTA 1,000 event, joining Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka.When Gauff won the Cincinnati trophy in 2023, she went on to win her first Grand Slam title at the US Open three weeks later. By claiming her first WTA title since winning in Wuhan last October, the two-time major winner has reinstated herself as one of the favourites at Flushing Meadows. "I think with each match, I was feeling more and more confident in trusting the work that I put in and the practice - knowing that I can figure out these matches," said world number four Gauff, who dropped just one set in Cincinnati.”It's going to be tough in New York, but just knowing the quality wins that I
had this week, knowing that I'm able to figure it out even if I'm not playing my best, but also knowing that I can play that great tennis that I felt like I was playing this week." Qualifying for the US Open started on Sunday, while the main draw begins on Sunday, 30 August.
Wednesday August 25, 2026 LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19 A great deal of wind fills your This is a wonderful day for sails today, Aries, so set your you, Libra. You'll find that course for a long-distance trip you're holding all the cards to an exotic place. Things are you need to be successful. coming to a dramatic climax Today luck and prosperity right now. meet with discipline to create a perfect situation for wealth. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) There's a lighthearted, SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) whimsical quality about the Things will be extremely day that you might not light and airy today, Scorpio. appreciate at first, Taurus. You may find that people are You'll find that the more open a bit less sensitive than you. and accepting you are of this Moving out of your comfort energy, the more you can make zone is the key to growth. it work positively for you. . SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) GEMINI (May 21–June 20) The wind is blowing briskly You can probably sweet-talk today, Sagittarius, helping your way in or out of any you keep your internal fire situation today, Gemini. You burning bright. You'll be a have a great deal of power within, social butterfly today. and you can accomplish anything as long as you aren't CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) afraid to use it. Don't fear failure. The key for you today is to not take things too seriously, CANCER (June 21–July 22) Find comfort in the people Capricorn. You'll find that around you today, Cancer. Try the more you deliberate over not to take things too seriously. a decision, the harder it will Don't feel like you need to be for you to make. internalize everyone else's problems.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Stop wasting your energy on things that have no real relevance in your life, Leo. This is a day to focus your attention on the tasks at hand and get things done. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22)
The time has come for you to be more flexible in your approach, Virgo. Things are changing quickly, and if you aren't prepared to change with them, you'll be left behind.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) This is a terrific day for you, Aquarius, and you'll find that long-term trends are moving in your favor. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) It may be necessary to hire a translator in order to get through to people today, Pisces. You may find that the more adamant you become, the more people shut you out. Keep things light and energetic. Too serious a tone could lead to disaster.
The Skip Roberts Youth Development Complex came alive on Friday evening as Old Fort Hockey Club produced a series of breathtaking performances when action continued in the Friday Night 5's Field Hockey League in South Ruimveldt Gardens. Old Fort Top Form set the tone in the Men's division, overwhelming GCC Outlaws 11-1 in the opening game. Shaquon Favourite and Nkosi Saul spearheaded the attack with three goals apiece, while Yonnick Norton added a double as GCC Outlaws struggled to find its rhythm. Old Fort Top Form maintained its momentum later in the evening, returning to the court to dispatch GCC Hockey Dogs 8-2. Simeon Moore was the star of the
contest, producing a brilliant hat-trick, while Norton again found the net twice. Favourite, Donnel Alleyne and Saul completed the scoring for the winners. Saints Men's Hockey Club also enjoyed a productive evening, defeating Bounty GCC 7-3. Keeland Cummings and Jabari Lovell led the charge with hat-tricks, while Meshhach Sargeant provided Bounty GCC with some consolation, scoring all three of his side's goals in a losing effort. Over in the Women's division, Saints Women's team secured a commendable 5-3 victory over the Women Masters, with five players finding the scoresheet. Saints continued their winning ways against GCC
Spice, securing another 5-3 victory. Kazaquah Uzzi and Makaylah Poole scored twice each, while Alexcia Elias added the other goal. GCC Elite Women then turned on the style against Women Masters, racing to a 7 - 2 v i c t o r y. A b o s a i d e Cadogan was virtually unstoppable, accounting for six of her team's seven goals, while Makeda Harding added the other. Trinity Greaves scored twice for the Women Masters in defeat. Meanwhile in the Under17 division, Old Fort Gladiators also picked up a 31 victory over Old Fort Warriors, with Micah Smith leading the charge with a brace. GCC Hurricanes and Saints Girls drew 5-5 to wrap up the evening's action.
Looknauth, Hubbard... From page 31 Mohamed with 41* off 13, with support from Ravid Fredricks (24 off 12) as they chased 88 in 4.5 overs. Trophy Stall Eagles had posted 87-1 in six overs, led by Jathaniel Nurse with 40* off 16 balls. Lusignan Bulls DTP II now await the winner of the Georgetown/East Coast Zone, which runs through the Round-of-32 on September 26, Round-of-16 on September 27, quarter-finals on October 3 at Lusignan Community Centre Ground, and the zonal final on October 4 at Enmore. Meanwhile, Grillmaster Sip N Play All-Stars (Berbice Zone) will lock horns with Mahdia - Movements Family (East Bank/West Demerara Zone) in the national semifinals. Everything culminates on October 11 at the Anna Regina National Stadium for the national finals, where teams will battle for top prizes of $2 million, $1 million, and $500,000.
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Maradona's 'Hand of God' ball sells for £2.5m BBC Sport - The football with which Diego Maradona scored his famous 'hand of God' goal at the 1986 World Cup has sold at auction for £2.5m. Maradona famously punched the ball past goalkeeper Peter Shilton in Argentina's 2-1 quarter-final win over England. After the game, he told reporters it had been scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God". Maradona later scored what became known as the 'goal of the century' in the same game, dribbling past
five England outfield players before slotting the ball past Shilton. Though it sold for $3.3m (£2.5m) at Heritage Auctions in the United States on Saturday, the ball had been expected to fetch nearer $10m (£7.3m). Speaking to Reuters before the auction, Mike Provenzale, a specialist auctioneer at Heritage, said: "It's a true one-of-one item. Arguably the most significant soccer item that exists." Tunisian Ali Bin Nasser, who refereed the match in 1986, collected the Adidas
Azteca ball at full-time and kept it for more than three decades. In 2023, he signed a letter to confirm it was the only ball used during the match, which has also been confirmed by further independent authentication. Bin Nasser sold the ball in 2022 for $2.37m (£1.74m). Its new owner again put it up for auction in 2023 though it did not sell as bids did not meet the minimum value set. The shirt worn by Maradona during the same match sold for £7.1m at auction in 2022.
Tuesday August 25, 2026
India celebrate as Lahiru Udara walks back. (MB Media/Getty Images)
India seize control of Colombo test after Jurel hundred COLOMBO, (Reuters) - Dhruv Jurel's unbeaten 115 powered India t o a commanding 503-9 before they declared late on day two of second and final test against Sri Lanka on Monday. Rain and bad light meant India could bowl only three overs, which proved enough to prise out Lahiru Udara and nightwatchman Prabath Jayasuriya and restrict Sri Lanka to eight for two, still 495 runs behind. India took control after a resilient lowerorder batting display led by Jurel's second test hundred, an innings studded with nine fours and two sixes. India had resumed at 300-5 at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, with Rishabh Pant due back after retiring hurt on Sunday following a forearm blow. Seamer Asitha Fernando (4-106) struck in the second over, removing Saransh Jain for six, but the collapse Sri Lanka craved never materialised. Pant joined Jurel to add 112 for the seventh wicket and tighten India's grip. Bruised but undeterred, Pant reached a combative fifty before lunch and departed soon after for 63, stepping out to Nuwantha Keshara and miscuing long-off. Manav Suthar fell soon after, yet Jurel held firm as India's advantage swelled until
Dhruv Jurel drives stylishly to the off side. (Getty Images)
rain again forced the players from the field. Jurel lingered on 99 before completing his century with a risky single -- tapping Fernando to mid-off and diving home as a direct hit would have dismissed him. Rising to his feet, he dusted himself off and embraced his partner Mohammed Siraj. Liberated by the milestone, Jurel launched Fernando for six over long-on and, in the seamer's next over, pulled another into the stands.
Tuesday August 25, 2026
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Looknauth, Hubbard power Bulls DTP II to Essequibo Zone title in Lotto/Let'sBet T10 Three zone champions have now been crowned in the fourth instalment of the Lotto/Let'sBet One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast as the Lusignan Bulls franchise, through their DTP II team, charged to the Essequibo Zone title at the Anna Regina Stadium on Sunday evening. The Bulls produced a clinical display in the final to dismantle Team Royals. After Royals opted to bat, a disciplined bowling performance led by Essequibo national youth player Bruce Vincent (1 for 25) restricted them to 83 for 5. The chase was a formality as Essequibo County batter Malcom Hubbard launched a swashbuckling attack, smashing an unbeaten 43 off just 15 balls as the Bulls raced to 88 for 1 in 5.3 overs. The title victory earned Bulls DTP II $500,000 courtesy of Shawn's Mini Mart, while runnersup Royals collected $200,000 sponsored by Jaigobin Hotel. The final's dominance followed a breathtaking semi-final exhibition earlier in the day, where Bulls skipper Richie Looknauth
batted Adventure Renegades out of the tournament. Looknauth hammered a stupendous 107 not out off only 27 balls—laced with three boundaries
Richie Looknauth hammered a stupendous 107 not out off only 27 balls.
Lusignan Bulls franchise, through their DTP II team, charged to the Essequibo Zone title at the Anna Regina Stadium on Sunday evening.
and 13 massive sixes—joining forces with Hubbard (39* off 14) in an explosive 123-run partnership across 5.2 overs to propel the Bulls to a mammoth 198 for 3 in 10 overs. Renegades managed 89 for 3 in response, anchored by Mark Gonsalves' unbeaten 49 off 33, as Dequan Bamfield picked up 2 for 21.
In the second semi-final, Team Royals defended 110 for 4—built on captain Alex Collins' unbeaten 52 off 30 balls—by holding Queenstown/Ariel XI to 96 for 4. Rajiv Nauth (3 for 11) and Bomesh Ramdahin (2 for 26) applied the brakes to stymie the run chase. Both losing semi-finalists
pocketed $50,000 each from Jaigobin Hotel, while Saturday's losing quarter-finalists took home $25,000 courtesy of Scoop Ride Inc. Meanwhile, in the exhibition match, Trophy Stall Eagles defeated Trophy Stall Jaguars by nine wickets, led by Shazzif (Continued on page 29)
Tuesday August 25, 2026
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MOE/Beharry Secondary School's Under-19 T20 tournament finals…BEI vs. Annandale Secondary
Championship final signals glorious return of school cricket in Guyana
A
fter more than a decade-long absence from the school system, competitive youth cricket has made a triumphant return to Guyana following weeks of intense competition, leaving two teams in the spotlight with everything on the line as today's final match bowls off at Enterprise Ground. The highly anticipated championship final of the schools' cricket tournament concluded across nine venues nationwide, showcasing a spectacular demonstration of distinct prowess from the country's top emerging talent. Sponsored by Beharry and organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MoE) Allied Arts Department, the tournament will see Berbice Educational Institute (BEI) and Annandale Secondary School battling for the prestigious title. The rigorous competition spanned eight geographic zones, which saw three competitive rounds of zone-
winner matchups before crowning its finalists and yesterday's last meeting ahead of the final came together yesterday during a press conference hosted at Beharry Group's Charlotte Street location where both camps got their last few words in prior to the final showdown. Nicholas Fraser, Head of the Ministry of Education Allied Arts Unit, emphasized the cultural importance of the initiative, stating that cricket is arguably the most popular sport in Guyana and must be firmly rooted in schools. While praising the massive scope and presentation of the event from its inception, Fraser also highlighted key areas for future growth. "This is the beginning of a new culture within our cricket community," Fraser noted. "Going forward, we will work on team preparation, improving coaching and umpiring standards, and ensuring proper cricket gear is accessible to everyone as we
Coaches and Captains of Berbice Educational Institute and Annandale Secondary said both camps were in high spirits and ready to put on a show come today with the finals trophy up for grabs following weeks of tough competition.
transition teams toward hardball cricket. "Through combining
elite training, mentorship, and deep community engagement, we hope to
build stronger communities at large," said the Restaurant Marketing Manager at
Beharry Kristy-Ann Ramsamooj. "On behalf of Beharry, I want to thank the entire team and extend our warmest congratulations to the finalists. Reaching this stage was not easy, and we look forward to seeing these young talents progress to the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in the near future," she ended. The tournament also delivered a number of standout individual performances by a few newbie prospects as well as some of the country's current national youth players. All-rounder Ruel Dindyal leads the race for the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP) after claiming the most wickets while performing equally with the bat. Top honors for batting went to Luke Amsterdam, who accumulated the most runs and smashed the highest number of fours throughout the competition. Reflecting on the competitive nature of the final, both Coaches from BEI and Annandale praised their respective groups of players for staying ready to this point; with special praise going out to Annandale, who entered the tournament as dark horses but managed to get better with every game as they booked a place in the finale. The coaches also extended their gratitude to the organizers, noting that Beharry has created a sustainable platform for long-term athletic development rather than just a one-off tournament. Special commendations were extended to Malissa Sylvester, Chief Marketing Officer of Beharry, alongside the company's executive board and staff, the Ministry of Education, tournament coordinators, and the members of the media who played an indispensable role in bringing the tournament to life. Today's final, which gets underway at 13:00h, will feature an exciting curtainraiser match between the MOE XI and the Beharry XI from 10:00h, with both g ames b o w lin g o ff at Enterprise. (Clifton Ross)
Tuesday August 25, 2026
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MOE/Beharry Secondary School's Under-19 T20 tournament finals…BEI vs. Annandale Secondary
Championship final signals glorious return of school cricket in Guyana
Petra executive Troy Peters Beharry Group of Companies Marketing Head Kristy-Ann Ramsamooj, MOE Allied Arts Unit boss Nicholas Fraser, Coaches and players share a photo moment following yesterday's press conference ahead of today's final of the Beharry School's T20 U19 tournament.
Gauff gears up for US Open with Cincinnati triumph After losing the first set in her opening match against Liudmila Samsonova, Gauff won the next 12 to earn the trophy in Cincinnati. [Getty Images]
s t r po
S Maradona scores the 'Hand of God' goal past Peter Shilton. (Getty Images)
Maradona's 'Hand of God' ball sells for £2.5m Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.