Guyana Times - Friday, October 3, 2025

3 arrested in late-night litter crackdown in Georgetown

Solid Waste Manager of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) Walter Narine has revealed that a recent late-night stakeout enforcement tactic on Wednesday has already led to some three arrests and fines for littering in Georgetown.

He revealed this ground-breaking effort to capture illegal dumpers to this publication in a recent telephone interview.

“So last night we caught three persons; I and a constable from the Guyana Police Force were there on the streets, but going forward

we will get more personnel, and the team will be bigger,” Narine explained.

Meanwhile, he emphasised that the efforts will continue, noting that additional operations are already being scheduled.

“On Thursday we are set starting at 10pm, and that is our goal – to send a message to persons about the severity of how we see this case of littering in Guyana.”

He noted that the last time such an operation was carried out was five years ago, and it was conducted during the day. However, officials have

now observed that many individuals – and even businesses – are dumping garbage at night.

“We realised that people are now coming out in the night time to dump, and in fact businesses are doing it too, which highlights that it’s not only homeless persons who are engaging in this,” Narine pointed out.

Looking ahead, Narine suggested that penalties should include more than just fines.

“I wish that these persons who are caught could do community service. I think that

will further enhance the goal of what we are doing, but this is something we will have to work on with the magistrates and the relevant authorities,” he said.

Sharing details of the operation, the city mayor highlighted that the effort extended beyond enforcement and included on-the-ground cleanup by staff. In a recent social media post, he reported, “Our objective tonight wasn’t only the stakeout to arrest litterbugs, but the staff also cleaned up two dumpsites – Alexander and Church Streets, and Alexander Street between North Road and Church Street.”

Clean up after yourself

Meanwhile, as cleaning efforts sweep across the city of Georgetown, Dr Josh Kanhai, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Administration), urged citizens to clean up after themselves and refrain from littering across Guyana.

Dr Kanhai made the remarks during a recent cleanup exercise, stressing the importance of individual responsibility in maintaining a clean environment.

He highlighted that it is not an easy task that the officials are doing and said that at

times, it is as if they have to clean up after citizens.

“We shouldn’t have to be doing this because garbage belongs in a bin. As a young man, I try as much as possible to set that example. It’s simple, and I encourage others to do the same: if you have garbage in your hand, look for a garbage bin – it won’t kill you. That is something I do, and I challenge you all to do the same. Please use the garbage bins, because cleanliness begins at home. Our home is Guyana, and we need to keep it clean. I urge you, let’s all work together to keep Guyana clean.”

Director General of the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Anand Persaud, spoke on the wider initiative being undertaken by the Ministry to ensure Georgetown maintains its reputation as the “Garden City”.

“At the Local Government Ministry, we have embarked on several initiatives, and I am pleased to say that this is one of them. We have started the clean-up around the city –not on a very large scale yet, but in a way that we intend to sustain.”

Meanwhile, he stated that a number of staff from the Ministry of Local Government

came out to serve, and he extended his thanks towards them.

He further highlighted that they were able to clean two areas – Stabroek Market and the Bank of Guyana surroundings, as well as along Avenue of the Republic.

“This is something we want to sustain while also finding more meaningful ways to do it on a regular basis. Once again, thank you to the Ministry staff and, most of all, the members of the security forces who assisted us.”

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, October 301:45h-03:15h and Saturday, October 4 - 01:45h-03:15h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, October 3 - 13:40h-15:10h and Saturday, October 414:25h-15:55h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.

WEATHER TODAY

Sunny skies interrupted by brief afternoon thundery showers are expected during the day, and clear skies are expected at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to Easterly between 0.89 metre and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 13:59h reaching a maximum height of 2.31 metres.

Low Tide: 07:27h and 19:51h reaching minimum heights of 0.89 metre.

President Ali pushes to build local capacity for Guyana’s crude oil trading …says

will work with Private Sector, intl partners to build local capacity

resident Dr Irfaan Ali has announced that he will be working with the private sector in Guyana to build local capacity so that they can eventually take over in selling the country’s share of crude oil received from offshore production activities.

“I will be working with the local private sector and international partners to ensure that we develop our capability and capacity in crude oil trading. We must be able to trade our crude oil from Guyana with the infrastructure, with the human capital, and with the market skills. And that is going to create enormous opportunities for us,” the Head of State said while addressing industry stakeholders at the breakfast energy forum hosted by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Thursday morning.

Based on the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) for the oil-rich Stabroek Block, Guyana receives a 50 per cent share of the profit oil from offshore operations. Since production started in December 2019 with US oil giant ExxonMobil as the operator, the country has been hiring international companies via a competitive bidding process to market its share of crude.

According to President Ali, he plans to continue partnering with the international experts over the coming years while simultaneously building local capacity.

“We have to short-circuit this. So, we have to get those who have already done it for other countries to work with us in transferring the knowledge. Maybe to enter a partnership for the next three, four, or five years until we get the experience to do it on our own. These are the bold decisions that we must embrace. These are the bold ideas that will

take us from where we are to where we want to be,” the Guyanese leader posited.

oil from the Liza Destiny, Unity, and Prosperity Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels for a 12-month period starting in 2024.

These two companies, which had previously marketed Guyana’s crude from the 2023-2024 period, were selected from among 27 bids submitted. The bidding process was divided into several lots: Lot 1 – Liza Destiny FPSO Vessel, Lot 2 – Liza Unity FPSO Vessel, Lot 3 – Payara Prosperity FPSO Vessel, Lot 4 – Any two (2) Lots combined, Lot 5 –Combined Lots One, Two and Three.

At the time of the award of the contract, the Natural Resources Ministry

oil, a 93 per cent increase from the previous year.

“The combined premium per barrel to be received by the Government of Guyana from these two companies for the crudes from these three FPSOs amounts to US$1.85, reflecting a substantial 93 per cent increase compared to the US$0.96 premium secured in the previous period (2023-2024),” the Ministry had said.

For 2025, Guyana is entitled to 31 of the 246 lifts of profit oil from the Stabroek Block.

Back in July, it was reported that Guyana received payments for 13 of its 31 lifts during the first half of this year. In fact, Guyana has earned just

Last October, British firms BB Energy Trading Limited and JE Energy were contracted to market crude

had highlighted that the Government secured a US$1.85 premium per barrel for the sale of its crude

over US$1.05 billion from crude oil sales so far this year.

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Housing support

In a decisive move that underscores the Government’s commitment to social welfare and inclusive development, Vice

President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has announced a forthcoming, countrywide survey aimed at identifying citizens in need of assistance with home construction. This initiative, soon to be rolled out across all ten regions of Guyana, including Amerindian communities, represents a practical and strategic approach to addressing one of the most fundamental aspects of human dignity: safe and adequate housing.

Housing is the cornerstone of stability, security, and opportunity. The importance of a secure home cannot be overstated, particularly for low-income and vulnerable populations. By undertaking a systematic effort to identify households that require support, the Government is creating the necessary framework for targeted intervention. This approach ensures that assistance reaches those who need it most, rather than being distributed unevenly or inefficiently. It is an acknowledgement that sustainable development is only achievable when the basic needs of citizens are met, and it reflects a thoughtful alignment between policy intention and practical implementation.

The forthcoming survey is poised to serve multiple purposes. Firstly, it will create a comprehensive national database of households requiring assistance with home construction and improvement. Such a database is crucial in streamlining aid delivery, facilitating monitoring, and ensuring accountability. Accurate data is the backbone of effective policy, allowing resources to be allocated efficiently and transparently. Secondly, the initiative signals an inclusive vision, explicitly encompassing Amerindian communities and other often marginalised groups. By incorporating these communities into the programme from the outset, the Government demonstrates a recognition of the diversity of needs across the country and a commitment to equitable development.

The practical support envisaged by the programme is also notable. Grants will be made available to assist with construction, not to complete entire homes, but to provide meaningful, tangible aid that enables citizens to improve or expand their living conditions. Additionally, home improvement assistance will address urgent repairs, such as leaky roofs or structural maintenance, which can significantly affect the quality of life. This two-pronged approach – support for construction and home improvement – reflects a nuanced understanding of housing challenges, ensuring that both immediate needs and longer-term objectives are addressed.

From a broader perspective, the initiative aligns with contemporary development thinking, which emphasises the importance of social infrastructure in fostering economic growth. Stable housing contributes to improved health outcomes, better educational attainment for children, and greater cohesion. Families living in secure homes are better positioned to participate in economic activities, to plan for the future, and to contribute positively to their communities. In this light, the Government’s programme is not merely a social welfare measure; it is a strategic investment in human capital and national development.

Moreover, the timing of the initiative reflects an effective use of policy continuity. The programme’s anticipated inclusion in the next national budget demonstrates forward planning and ensures that the necessary resources will be available for implementation. By signalling this commitment in advance, the Government provides a sense of certainty and reassurance to citizens who may have long awaited assistance. It also allows for careful logistical preparation, from survey design to the deployment of support mechanisms, thereby increasing the likelihood of successful execution.

The programme’s announcement, which was made during the recently concluded General and Regional Elections in the governing party’s manifesto, further strengthens public confidence in governance by demonstrating responsiveness to campaign commitments. Translating promises into actionable measures enhances credibility and reinforces the principle that Government initiatives must be closely aligned with the needs of the populace. In doing so, the initiative sets a standard for policy integrity and underscores the importance of accountability in public service.

The forthcoming housing assistance survey represents an administrative exercise that is a deliberate step toward fostering a more equitable and inclusive society. By systematically identifying households in need, providing targeted construction and home improvement aid, and ensuring that support reaches all regions of Guyana, the Government is laying the foundation for tangible social progress. This initiative embodies a vision, one in which every citizen has the opportunity to live in dignity and security, and it reinforces the broader principle that national development is inseparable from the well-being of its people. The success of this programme has the potential to transform lives, strengthen communities, and create a lasting legacy.

Ghost writers targeting PPP/C Ministers

Dear Editor, Quite interestingly, I have discerned that one “ghost writer” – Emily Lorrimer –has been replaced by another – Surujdai Juglall – and dissecting these letters carefully, the emergence coincides with that of the WIN Party before and after the 2025 General Elections. These fictitious writers should be man enough to append their real names (identity) in order for the public and those attacked personally to do a proper evaluation and take whatever legal course of action may be deemed necessary.

I have always written letters using my real name, and yet many times my letters were not published by two newspapers in particular. These two writers have made no qualms in supporting the WIN Party and have continuously attacked Minister Ashni Singh and Minister Mustapha. Yet these very newspapers gleefully publish these letters. These Ministers have excelled in their performances in their respective sectors but have been singled out for character assassination and ad hominem attacks, both of which weaken an argument. Maybe it has to do with a decision which affected them personally and not our country.

These writers must be cognisant of the fact that “cherry picking” and the use of selective statistics can be used to portray the picture we want the public to see and guilefully hide the bigger picture of what happened. It was Mark Twain who once stated that there are “lies, damned lies and statistics”, which means that sometimes statistics are used to strengthen weak arguments.

When the results of the 2020 General Elections for

Region Six are compared with those of the 2025 Elections, it is crystal clear that the WIN party wrecked the APNU and not the PPP/C, and this result was long anticipated. The supporters of the WIN party attending their campaign meetings and rallies were clearly identified as APNU/AFC supporters. Let those who have eyes see. WIN was seen as a threat by the APNU and other small parties to the PPP/C, but they were sadly mistaken. Norton and Hughes realised this too late; the damage was already done. I was on the ground prior to September 1st and saw that there was a switch from APNU and AFC to WIN in Region Six. The results showed that in 2020 in Region Six APNU/AFC garnered 20,399 votes and the PPP/C 43,440, with a total of 64,657 valid votes cast. In 2025 the APNU was reduced to 6223. WIN 12,623 and the PPP/C 41,320 with a total vote cast of 60,974. I wish to bring to the attention of the writers that the PPP/C gained more seats in 2025 than in 2020. There is no “silent” damage done to the PPP/C. The writer hopelessly lost perspective here. How do we interpret this?

In 2020 APNU/AFC secured 31.5 per cent and the PPP/C 67.1 per cent, whilst in 2025 the combined APNU and WIN secured 30.1 per cent and the PPP/C 67.7 per cent. Therefore, the PPP/C has done extremely well by maintaining a consistent margin. The argument that over 22,000 voters did not vote can be attributed to many factors and not only because these persons are “disenfranchised” with the PPP/C and the Ministers. In one letter, the writer attacked Minister Bharrat and Minister

Mustapha, and in another, he attacked Minister Ashni and Minister Mustapha as being responsible for what he falsely claimed to be a dwindling support for the PPP/C. It is clear that the writer has a bone to pick with the agriculture Minister, and this should be an indicator of who the real writer is.

I wish to take the writer back to 2015 when the APNU/AFC made many lofty promises to the sugar workers and the rice farmers and failed them miserably –$9000 for a bag of paddy and 20 per cent wage increases. None of these materialised. This goes to prove that some people are easily persuaded by “lofty promises”, but this time in 2025 they saw a man going around sharing money, houses and cars with the promise that there will be lots more should he become the President. Some swallowed, hook, line and sinker. I spoke to a few of these persons from the Chesney/ Kilcoy and Canje areas, and they told me that they were personally offered cash and a car by Azruddin to campaign for WIN. These people saw the realisation of instant gratification. They felt that they had already gotten from the PPP/C Government, so it was time to ‘catch’ their hand with Azruddin. This is not about the country and our young people not having opportunities in Region Six; this was simply business for some.

Moreover, another factor which the writer conveniently ignored is the fact that many persons on the voters list have migrated, some have died and some have changed residence to other areas. Persons moving to other areas will show a shift in voting patterns. Many of

these persons will not reappear in 2030 to vote, as the writer suggested. In addition, the writer, whom I am positive has a background in sugar, seemed to believe the PPP/C’s investment in sugar should have afforded that party a landslide victory, not a “pyrrhic” one. Is it a hollow victory which comes at a great cost? Is securing the livelihood of workers deemed a great cost? Is 36 seats a hollow victory? The writer should have his head examined, spewing garbage when all the parties, including WIN, promised to invest more in the sugar industry just to con the workers. But this con failed, and the writer should ask Azruddin to give him an estimated cost of his “pyrrhic” victory as the Opposition leader. Many youths all over the world are attracted to hedonistic pursuits and instant gratification, and the WIN leader offered that, not unlike his lifestyle. Our youths should not be misled in this manner; they should be taught the principles of hard work, patience and sacrifice. But what can you expect from a leader who is not endowed with these qualities and who got rich the easy way?

In contrast to Azruddin, Ministers Mustapha, Bharrat and Dr Singh are definitely of Presidential material. They are endowed with the required leadership qualities, diplomacy, sound judgement, mental fortitude and empathy. They are from poor but respectable backgrounds and strive hard to achieve where they are today, and no naysayers will convince the masses otherwise.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

President Ali has taken Guyana to new heights

Dear Editor, I, like most Guyanese both in Guyana and in the diaspora regardless of race, ethnicity, religious beliefs or political affiliation, should congratulate His Excellency, Dr Irfaan Ali, on his historic victory at the polls and his re-election as the 9th Executive President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Dr Ali’s creative and visionary leadership, coupled with his splendid work for the nation’s progress during the last five years, has earned him the trust and assurance of the citizens of Guyana. For the most part, the Head of State has displayed love, compassion and tolerance, and most, if not all, the citizens have in one way or another benefited from his good governance and his boundless efforts to reduce the high cost of living and improve their lives.

I also extend my sincere and profound congratulations to Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Honourable Mark Phillips, General Secretary of the PPP/C and Vice President,

Honourable Dr Bharat Jagdeo and the entire leadership for this renewed and significant mandate. It is my fervent hope and desire that during the next five years, they will be guided by humility, integrity, wisdom, ethics, political acumen, the rule of law and incessant commitment to serve the people with dignity, promote unity and lead Guyana towards greater prosperity and a much brighter future.

I, like others, strongly believe that the young, energetic and spirited Dr Ali’s leadership is not by chance, but by divine appointment, not only to lead the nation in a time like this, but also to safeguard Guyana’s interest and recognition within the global community of nations. This was evident on Wednesday, September 24th, 2025, when His Excellency addressed the 80th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York. It was one of the most outstanding and excellent speeches at the United Nations (UN).

In his speech, Dr Ali

extols the tenets of human values, ideals, morals, and respect for one another and the rule of law before outlining some of the most persistent and severe problems that exist globally. He pleaded with the leaders of the world, including the United States and the other Global North (developed) and Global South (underdeveloped and developing) countries, to solve them. He called on his counterparts at the UN to end the raging and violent war in Gaza and the never-ending, uncontrolled and devastating war between Russia and Ukraine. Not to mention the scourge of gang warfare in Haiti’s capital city of Port-au-Prince and to suspend and/or remove all sanctions against Cuba. President Dr Ali urged the leaders to seriously tackle food insecurity, deal with the unfair trade policies that benefit the rich and powerful countries and solve the problems caused by climate change before it is too late. The president courageously told the leaders at the UN that if these

problems are not solved urgently, the fault will be ours and history will be unkind to us and we will perish unwept and unhonoured.

Most Guyanese believed that President Dr Ali is honest, trustworthy and compassionate. and that his “One Guyana” initiative will continue to unite the races, enrich the nation, improve the lives of the people, especially the poor, and take the country to greater heights. His policies are intended to benefit the greater good and bridge the racial divide which has hindered progress and development for more than six decades.

President Dr Ali’s accomplishment during the last five years has been fully acknowledged by one of the world’s most prestigious global media brands, Time Magazine, which named him one of the world’s youngest and most influential leaders. It is a well-deserved commendation.

Yours sincerely, Dr Asquith Rose

Commending the President’s approach to healthcare leadership

Dear Editor, I want to applaud President Irfaan Ali and his Government for their inspiring leadership in transforming Guyana’s healthcare system. The ambitious initiatives they announced, such as integrating artificial intelligence into medical supply distribution, implementing electronic health records, expanding dialysis units, and investing in primary care facilities, truly show foresight and a commitment to the people.

These reforms will not only boost efficiency and cut down on waste but also make sure that every cit-

izen, whether they live along the coast or in the hinterlands, has access to top-quality healthcare services. The emphasis on preventive medicine, women’s health, and pandemic preparedness reflects a forward-thinking Government that cares about the health of future generations. Editor, Guyana stands on the brink of a healthcare revolution, and it’s a time that will be remembered as one where vision turned into action. President Ali’s leadership truly deserves our heartfelt praise.

Yours sincerely, Clair Glasgow

2 strikes against FGM

Dear Editor, Two strikes against it and court costs mount. FGM's legal challenge to GECOM was dismissed by the Appeal Court, with the court labelling the case “most unmeritorious” and saying it “does not meet the bar of a major matter in the public interest”.

From the legal arguments put forward by the appellant, as reported in the media, it can be discerned that they were basically the

same arguments as were heard in the High Court. The case failed then; it was bound to fail again. There ought to be some penalty applied to the appellant's legal team for filing a case that had no legal basis for succeeding. Also, the case in both courts included the ALP. Would this party share the settling of the costs as prescribed by the courts?

Yours sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

Page Foundation

Similar to dependent events where one event affects the other, conditional probability is the probability that an event happens given that another event has already happened.

The probability of A given B is shown as P(A|B).

The formula for conditional probability is as follows:

Example 1

A card is drawn from a standard deck.

Event A: card is a king.

Event B: card is a face card.

Finding P(A|B) is asking, “what is the probability of the card being a king, given that it is a face card?”

To find it, we use the formula:

There are 4 king cards in a standard

deck of 52 cards, and 12 face cards altogether.

Therefore:

Example 2

In a group of 50 students:

• 20 have a dog

• 15 have a cat

10 have both a dog and a cat

5 have no pets

In this case, what is the probability of a student that has a dog to also have a cat?

• Event A: student has a cat

• Event B: student has a dog

P(B) = 20/50 = 0.4

P(A and B) = 10/50 = 0.2

Using the formula:

If a student has a dog, there’s a 50% chance they also have a cat.

Practice

1. Out of 100 students:

• 40 play soccer

• 30 play basketball

• 20 play both soccer and basketball 10 play neither sport

a) What is the probability that a student plays soccer, given that they play basketball?

b) What is the probability that a student plays basketball, given that they play soccer?

7.

(Adapted from artfulparent.com)

2. At a cafeteria, 200 students choose their lunch:

120 choose pizza

60 choose salad

20 choose sandwiches

• 0 choose sushi

a) What is the probability that a student chose salad, given that they chose either pizza or salad?

b) What is the probability that a student chose pizza, given that they chose either pizza or a sandwich?

3. At a school:

• 80 students are in band

• 50 students are in choir

• 30 students are in both band and choir

20 students are in neither band nor choir

a) What is the probability that a student is in choir, given that they are in band?

b) What is the probability that a student is in band, given that they are in choir?

Govt explores Junior Stock Exchange

…as State commits to incentivise setting up bank accounts

As the Guyana Government continues to work on modernising and expanding the country’s financial sector, considerations are being given to the establishment of a junior stock exchange that will open up financing opportunities for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).

This was revealed by President Dr Irfaan Ali

tal by offering shares to the public.

In the past, the GCCI Chamber had previously called for an overhaul of the Guyana Stock Exchange (GSE), which only has about 15 local companies with publicly listed shares.

A January 2024 statement from the Chamber had highlighted the negatives of current GSE operations and its effect on the

nancial health of businesses, restrict their ability to attract investment, and ultimately hamper their growth potential.

Months later, in October 2024, the GCCI announced that it is collaborating with the Jamaica Stock Exchange on the development of a junior stock market in Guyana.

“SMEs need to have access to capital, so we are moving forward with that. The Chamber is excited about it; we need to expose our members to these opportunities. Jamaica Stock Exchange as a model that works,” then GCCI President Kester Hutson had stated at the time.

Companies have to go public

Meanwhile, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday, expounding on the Government’s plans to set up a Junior Stock Exchange, reminded that while the Government appoints the Guyana Securities Council

on Thursday at a breakfast forum hosted by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on “Energy Insights”.

“As part of the financial sector modernisation, we’ll enhance the [local] stock exchange and [are] looking at the possibility of a junior stock exchange,” the Head of State noted.

A junior stock exchange is a type of stock exchange where small and growing companies can raise capi-

business community. With access to financing being a leading hurdle for many businesses in Guyana, the GCCI had noted that the GSE has a significant role to play in facilitating a transparent and efficient marketplace for companies to raise capital, invest, and grow.

According to the Chamber, the lack of necessary infrastructure, technological advancements, and regulatory framework at the GSE compromise the fi-

– the regulatory body – and sets the regulatory framework like the Securities Exchange Act, the stock exchange mechanism in Guyana is privately owned.

Jagdeo further pointed out that the challenge with the local stock exchange market is the lack of interest by private companies to go public and be listed on the exchange.

“Many of them do not want to list on the exchange. So, the only way we

could get an exchange that is very vibrant is if you get more companies to go public and to then pay a fee to get listed on the exchange,” he noted.

VP Jagdeo explained that while the Government can put the regulatory systems in place, for this to work depends on the willingness of the business community to utilise the exchange.

“A lot of the private companies in Guyana don't want to use the exchange because going public means they have to publish every few months their records… their audited statements and all of that, and then some people don't want that type of scrutiny. So, I think when the President spoke of this, he was hoping that the private sector would also make full use of the opportunity.”

“We are prepared to address any regulatory matter that would enable this to happen. We are prepared to create the incentive for this to happen, but then it's up to the private sector to make use of it, and a lot of them lament that they can’t get loans or that they're stretched to the limit, but this is one way of raising capital outside of going to the formal banking system. You can raise capital either through a loan or by getting equity, like trading shares in the company,” Jagdeo stated.

Another option the Vice President touted is having some Government instruments traded on the exchange. In fact, the Government has already indicated that they may want to syphon off, from the burgeoning oil and gas sector, some of the most lucrative opportunities, then underwrite a return for the investors in those companies, create the share structure of the companies, and maybe list those on the exchange.

Jagdeo said this model could be used for the fertiliser plant that the Government plans to build in Phase Two of the Gasto-Energy (GtE) project at Wales, West Bank Demerara.

“We can create a

share structure and allow Guyanese to buy shares in that company, maybe limit it to, say, 100 shares per person, because you want to have more people own shares – teachers, fishermen, nurses, everybody can own shares. You guarantee a 10 per cent return on those shares…the Government can underwrite it and then have those shares listed on the exchange,” he stated.

Incentivising opening up of bank accounts

Nevertheless, during the GCCI event on Thursday, President Ali outlined plans to modernise the local financial sector – something which a team comprising Cabinet members and other stakeholders is working on.

“In three weeks that report will come to us as to how we modernise our banking sector, the creation of a modern stock exchange and options for capital mobilisation. Many people are speaking about diaspora

bonds and all of this – all of these options will be examined,” the Head of State noted.

He went on to outline that as part of modernising the financial sector, his Government is ready to step up and ensure that every Guyanese has a bank account.

“We have to be able, in the shortest timeframe, to ensure every Guyanese has a bank account even if the Government must incentivise the opening up of those bank accounts. So, a modern economy that is powered by a modern financial sector, one in which efficiency, reliability and results drive our governance,” Dr Ali stated.

Only earlier this week, the Guyanese leader announced a slew of measures aimed at strengthening and stabilising Guyana’s financial system, with a specific focus on financial and banking services and the foreign currency market.

“Most unmeritorious” – Appeal Court says in rejecting FGM’s bid to challenge GECOM …says party’s ballot exclusion was their own choice

The Court of Appeal on Thursday dismissed the Forward Guyana Movement’s (FGM) case against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), calling it “most unmeritorious” and noting that “this case does not meet the bar of a major matter in the public interest”. FGM had challenged GECOM’s exclusion of political parties from ballots in constituencies where they are not contesting.

In a summary Judgement read by acting Chancellor, Justice Roxane George, the court upheld the August 29 ruling by acting Chief Justice, Navindra Singh, that the placing of a party on the ballot in a geographical constituency where that party did not submit a Geographical Constituency List of Candidates would amount to a breach of the Constitution.

“The court agrees with the decision of the chief justice that the application has no merit. The court agrees that ballot access and therefore voting rights are limited to parties contesting the particular geographical constituency,” Justice George noted.

According to Justice George, the chief justice was correct in his interpretation of Article 160 of the Constitution and ROPA that “a political party cannot earn votes in a geographic constituency if it does not field candidates for, and thereby does not contest, that constituency. As such, the finding that the political party can only be included on a ballot for a constituency it is contesting is correct.”

The case was filed by FGM Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) candidate Krystal Hadassah Fisher, who was represented by Attorney Vivian Williams. The Court criticises the applicant for cherry-picking sections of the constitution in putting together arguments for the case.

“Most unmeritorious”

“It is unfortunate that the litigant seeks to construe the constitution or relevant legislation by relying on fragments of provisions in order to bolster their misguided views, rather than reading the provisions as a whole. As a consequence, the appeal is dismissed,” Justice George directed.

“This case is most unmeritorious and has taken up significant judicial time, with the court having to deal with it with urgency because of the claims made. Given the constitutional and statutory provisions which are clear, this case does not meet the bar of a major matter in the public interest.”

Fisher had asked the court to declare that the exclusion of the political parties on ballots in non-contested regions violates Articles 13, 59, 149 and 159 of the Constitution and denies her a right to ballot access and that GECOM is discriminating against voters through this practice.

Fisher also argued that the practice was in contention with the Representation of the People Act (ROPA). The Court underscored that the case failed to put forth any arguments showing discrimination in any regard.

“The appellant has not shown how she has been discriminated against when compared to any other elector or candidate in other geographical constituencies,” the Judge said.

“There is nothing in the provisions or the omission from the ballot that suggests discrimination in any form or fashion. It would be absurd to hold that one's political party can choose not to participate in an election, and then one is permitted to cry foul, relying on Articles 13 and/or149.”

The Court awarded further costs of $1 million each to the defendants in the case, the Attorney General and GECOM, payable by November 14. The Court upheld the previous $1 million each in costs that was awarded by the High Court.

The Court noted that the applicant did not have a clear understanding of her rights and privileges.

“It is clear that the appellant has a misconceived sense of her entitlement to vote, based on a fundamental lack of recognition that the political party she chose to represent decided not to represent her in geographical constituency nine and the other constituencies where it was not placed on the ballot,” Justice George said.

Fisher’s FGM party did not submit Geographical Constituency Lists of Candidates for Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine and was therefore excluded from the ballots in those regions in the recent

September 1 General and Regional Elections (GRE). As such, Fisher’s FGM party was not listed on her ballot in Region Nine, where she voted.

In the application it was also noted that the Assembly and Liberty for Prosperity (ALP) party was also not included in Regions One, Two, Eight, and Nine, where that party did not submit geographical constituency lists. However, ALP was not a party to the case.

In Guyana’s electoral system, in order to qualify to contest in the General Elections and vie for seats in the National Assembly, a political party must submit a National Top Up List of Candidates, as well as Geographical Constituency Lists of Candidates to contest in at least six of the 10 geographical constituencies. In the 65-seat National Assembly, 25 of the seats are awarded based on results in the votes in geographical constituencies, while 40 of the seats are awarded based on the results of the popular vote.

“Declined to include themselves”

In the August 29 ruling, the High Court underscored that a party can only appear on a ballot paper of a geographical constituency for which the party has provided a Geographical Constituency List of Candidates. In keeping with the previous ruling of the High Court, the Appeal Court also ruled that the fault was with FGM for not making its party available in those regions.

“It appears that it is FGM that discriminated against its constituents or persons who may have wanted to vote for or support it by not fielding candidates in the identified geographical constituencies. FGM and ALP declined to include themselves in the democratic processes of the elections in these constituencies. GECOM did not misinterpret, misapply or

violate any law in not placing these parties on the ballot, where they decided not to compete,” Justice George said.

“A political party and, by extension, its supporters can all only be included in the democratic process if the party seeks to participate. The appellants' party, through the statutory framework, had the opportunity to contest all ten geographical constituencies but declined to do so. That most definitely is not the fault of GECOM.”

The Court accused the applicant of intentionally omitting from the application that it is the political parties' choice to not contest particular regions, and not a doing of GECOM.

“The appellant did not specifically disclose in her affidavit… that FGM chose not to contest constituencies Seven, Eight, and Nine, and that the ALP chose not to contest constituencies One, Two, Eight, and Nine. Her affidavit conveyed the impression that GECOM unilaterally excluded the names of FGM and ALP from the ballots in these constituencies. This is a material nondisclosure on her part, which the court frowns on, since she must have been aware of this information, particularly as a candidate for FGM. Indeed, such a material nondisclosure could lead to the dismissal of a case,” the Judge noted.

At the commencement of the ruling, Justice George noted that the challenges in the case were in fact supposed to have come by way of an election petition, which is filed after the completion of the elections. As such, it was noted that the Court of Appeal in actuality did not have jurisdiction to hear the case, and the Court’s pronouncements in the case were “purely academic” or to be on record in any eventuality that it is ruled by a higher court that the Court of Appeal had the jurisdiction to give a ruling on the matter.

Outing…

…Mad Maduro’s 5th Columnists

With every passing day, the showdown between the US and Mad Maduro in Venezuela looms larger. Whether we agree or not on President Trump’s motives, as far as your Eyewitness is concerned, that’s irrelevant!! The bottom line for us is Mad Maduro’s actions proving he’s an implacable enemy of our very existence!! And, like T&T, we’ve got more than ample evidence that drugs are being shipped from Venezuela into our Essequibo – staining us as a drug transhipment route! Not to mention creating a slippery slope for our law enforcement personnel – who can’t resist the humongous bribes.

What your Eyewitness wants to know is exactly what role our Opposition wants to play to get rid of – or challenge – Mad Maduro’s bullyism. With or without the Yanks. Since they like to protest – as they’ve shown in their picketing of GECOM – they can put some pressure on folks who can actually put pressure on the SOB. Like China – which is backing him to the hilt by buying more than 80 per cent of Venezuelan oil and helping them to reach 1 million bbd again!! Even as their CNOOC exploits our Stabroek Oil!!

Can’t these worthies from the Opposition, say, chain themselves to the fence of the Chinese Embassy and go on a hunger strike till that country reads the riot act to Mad Maduro?? Can you imagine that?? It’ll invoke the memory of Mahatma Gandhi taking on the British Empire when they held India under their boots. The Opposition can point to the moral depravation of China – now aspiring to pip America in the superpower sweepstakes – propping up Venezuela under Mad Maduro to put us under THEIR boots!! Surely the Chinese don’t want to start off their global ascendancy by throwing away the legitimacy we’ve given them all the way back to 1972, when Forbes backed them at the UN over Taiwan?

So you may ask, why would China give credence to such a small state like us?? Well, firstly, we ain’t such a small state no longer. Just look at the attention Pressie got at the UNGA!! Pictures of our brave Opposition chained to the Chinese fence crying for justice as they pine away gonna be on TV screens – not to mention social media platforms like X – all over the globe. And secondly, there’s the demonstrator effect on most of the UN that are small states – which China depends on to create a multipolar world!!

For us, it would be a litmus test on whether our new Opposition leader and his WIN party have any connections to Mad Maduro – as has been asserted by some!! He should be in the forefront if he wants to get the OFAC monkey off his back!!

…new colonisation?

Your Eyewitness has been getting quite a few reports of foreigners flooding our landscape and treating our locals like dirt. Remember that substandard Chinese (notso-great) supermarket wall collapsing and killing that worker? It’s like Columbus landing again, “DISCOVERING” us, giving us some baubles – while taking our gold and snickering that we’re “naïve natives”! Actually it was because they had guns – while we had bows and arrows! Today they’ve got something more powerful than guns – “Foreign Direct Investment” (FDI)!! Without FDI, we can have all the resources in the world, but it ain’t worth squat unless they’re developed – needing funds. But hey!! We now have oil revenues flowing into our coffers to fund whatever project we NEED!! We don’t need no FDI so desperately that we gotta beg!! And especially, we don’t need no FDI to build supermarkets. At least we can build those on our own!!

In the meantime, we absolutely shouldn’t let them furriners diss us. They need our resources, don’t they?? …Norton??

We don’t have all the (perfidious?) details – yet!But we were informed that Norton emerged from the PNC CEC meeting retaining the “Leader” portfolio!! So was he challenged to fall on his (rusty) sword?? Or was the fix in??

Police destroy over $1B worth of ganja in Upper Berbice raid

Ranks from the Guyana Police Force’s Narcotics Branch, supported by officers from Regional Police Division Six (East Berbice –Corentyne), on Wednesday conducted a joint narcotics eradication exercise at Kuyorokuri Creek, Upper Berbice River, which resulted in the discovery and destruction of more than $1 billion worth of cannabis.

During the operation, police unearthed six cannabis farms spanning 21 acres in an open savannah area. The farms contained approximately 118,000 cannabis plants ranging

from two to seven feet in height.

In addition, ranks found

eight camps and 10 drying areas containing about 2500 pounds of dried can-

nabis. Several pieces of machinery and equipment used for cultivation were also discovered, including one tractor, seven tilling machines, one chainsaw, two generators, six weeding machines, three mist blowers, 16 spray cans, and nine water pumps.

The cannabis plants and dried cannabis, along with the camps and drying areas, were destroyed by fire. The operation was completed without incident.

According to police, the total street value of the narcotics destroyed is estimated at $1,060,560,400. Police said that the cannabis plants have a street value of $39,978,400, while the dried cannabis is worth $1,020,582,000.

An investigation has been launched.

ExxonMobil’s Longtail Project can power Berbice’s gas-fuelled industrial boom – Production Manager

Following the approval of the Hammerhead Project, ExxonMobil Guyana is already working to bring online its eighth development – the Longtail Project, which has significant natural gas deposits that could be tapped into for major initiatives like fertiliser plants, data centres and the alumina plant that the Guyana Government has touted for Berbice.

Updating industry stakeholders at an energy-themed event hosted by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Thursday morning, Production Manager of ExxonMobil Guyana, Huzefa Ali, indicated that the Longtail development is currently under review and consideration. This project, which is located in the south-east of the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, could potentially supply hydrocarbons for several gas-powered initiatives.

“The southern part of the Stabroek Block is… rich in gas resources. We are well on our way to appraising those resources and then also taking that to the next step, which is considering what is the most valuable development concept that brings the highest value for the people of Guyana, for the Government of Guyana and for the other stakeholders.”

“[The] potential vision of what that gas could potentially be used for, it includes things like a pipeline coming onshore into the Berbice area and then being used for various different outputs, whether that be data centres, alumina and/or fertiliser development,” the Exxon official stated.

President Dr Irfaan Ali has been touting the establishment of a world-class data centre and alumina

plants, among other initiatives, as Guyana moves to monetise its gas resources, which will be an independent project from the model Gas-to-Energy (GtE) initiative that is currently under construction at Wales, West Bank Demerara. The GtE project comprises a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility and a 300-megawatt power plant utilising the rich natural gas from the Liza Fields in the Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana.

United States (US) energy firm Fulcrum LNG Inc has been selected to work in a tripartite arrangement with the Guyana Government and ExxonMobil to develop a potential gas project likely to be located in the Berbice region.

Currently, a pipeline has already been put in place by Exxon to bring the rich natural gas from the Liza Destiny and Unit Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSOs) vessels offshore to the GtE Project site at Wales.

Plans are also underway for a second power plant and NGL facility at Wales, which Exxon says it could also supply the gas for.

“Potentially, a second power plant could supply additional power to the country of Guyana. It could also

supply other manufacturing and/or industrial uses, whether that be data centres and/or fertiliser plants and other investments in the Wales area. We continue to work with the Government on those opportunities and look forward to progressing those into the future,” the Exxon official noted.

Only last week, the Guyana Government approved Exxon’s seventh development project offshore Guyana, Hammerhead, which also has large gas deposits.

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat recently disclosed plans to utilise that gas from the Hammerhead Project to power the second phase of the Gas to Energy Project at Wales. The Hammerhead development can produce as much as 95 million cubic feet per day of gas, but only about 10 million of these will be needed to fuel the FPSO.

According to Bharrat, the remaining gas will be piped onshore for the GtE project.

“Hammerhead field actually has a lot more gas than the other fields. And we have been told by Exxon, confirmed by our technical teams, that unlike the other developments, they will not use the gas to reinject

in order to optimise production like they do in the other fields.

“The Liza 1 and Liza 2 [offshore projects] will not be able to fill that pipeline, and that is why Hammerhead is so critical and important because rather than re-injecting the gas to optimise production, that gas now would go to the Unity and Destiny FPSOs, and then through that pipeline [from] offshore to the Wales Development Area,” Bharrat explained during an appearance on the Starting Point podcast, which aired on Sunday.

As part of the GtE project, ExxonMobil – the operator of the oil-rich Stabroek

Block – has already laid the 250 kilometres of 12-inch pipelines that will bring the gas onshore. However, only 40 per cent of the pipeline’s capacity will be used to gas up the current power plant and NGL facility at Wales, bringing 50 million cubic feet per day of dry gas onshore.

But with the pipelines having the capacity to push as much as 130 thousand cubic feet per day (mcf/d) of gas, the Government is now moving ahead with Phase Two of the GtE project that will utilise the remaining 60 per cent capacity of the pipeline to bring an additional gas onshore for a second power plant and NGL facility at the Wales project site.

“Hammerhead now will help us to fill that Wales pipeline… because that gas is guaranteed right now… 50 million cubic metres per day is already available, which is enough for the first power plant and which will come on stream in a couple months from now. And then with Hammerhead being tied into that, it is guaranteed now that we will fill that pipeline with over 120 million cubic feet per day, which will now accommodate a second power plant, another 300 megawatts of power,” the Natural Resources Minister stated.

Guyanese can expect early budget in 2026 – VP Jagdeo

…as Govt to roll out development bank for SMEs in 2026

Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has announced that Guyanese can expect an early national budget in 2026, with the establishment of a long-promised development bank high on the Government’s agenda.

During his weekly press conference on Thursday, Jagdeo assured citizens that the Government has already begun working on many of its campaign commitments, noting that efforts to deliver on promises started immediately after the 2025 General and Regional Elections.

He stressed that work is quietly ongoing to ensure that the agenda for the next five years is fully implemented, noting that preparations are underway for an early 2026 budget that will provide funding for several projects.

"We're not the other parties that are just walking around the place looking for a photo op or anything, or to get relevance in the newspaper. As I said before, the elections are done; a lot of people keep asking me, 'When are the small contracts coming out?' When are you going to start? You spoke a lot about the drainage, you know, like concrete drains and concrete roads and those things. Well, the new budget we're working on [is] an early budget so we have funds in the next year to start all of those projects in the city [and] across the country. A lot we're going to resume; a lot of that work –the road building and the concrete drains and the electricity lights,” Jagdeo told media on Thursday.

On the jobs front, the Vice President said that the Government is pursuing expanded investment in several sectors of the economy to create more employment opportunities.

Jagdeo stressed that while some projects may not yet be visible to the public, extensive planning and groundwork are already in motion.

“The education agenda – I just saw the President going through [that] with a group, looking at the digital school online. The discussion was ongoing when I left there a few minutes ago. So what I wanted to say today is that although you don't see as much, a lot is being worked on behind the scenes to ensure that we have the agenda fulfilled in the next five years. And as I said before, elections are going to be in 2031. So that's when we will – we'd have to [accomplish] all of these promises,” he added.

SMEs

The Vice President further explained that the long-promised development bank will target small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), particularly those unable to access financing through the traditional banking system. He stressed that too many Guyanese, including young people and women across all 10 administrative regions, have viable business ideas or start-up ventures but remain unable to grow due to the lack of affordable credit and collateral requirements.

While reforms to the formal banking system are underway to allow easier access to capital through a range of instruments, including project financing, invoice discounting, and commercial lending, the vice President said the new development bank will cater to those who remain excluded.

“We will work with the banking system to develop a

range of instruments, from discounting trade invoices to project financing to commercial bank financing, that would allow Guyanese to better use the banking system to support their business needs. And we will also, as promised, create this development bank for a group of people who may not have access to the commercial banks so that they, too, can realise the benefits and opportunities of our country,” the vice President explained.

Work on the initiative

has already advanced, with a concept paper under review. Jagdeo disclosed that a second draft will be discussed next week, with clear directions already issued to ensure the plan reflects the Government’s intentions. Financing for the bank will be included in the early 2026 budget, with the aim of making the institution fully operational before the end of next year.

“A lot of work has already been done in developing the concept. As I said before, next week we're meeting to have a discussion on the second draft of the concept. We already have clear... We've given the people who are working on this, these concept papers, clear indications of what our intentions are, and we want to make sure that those are reflected in the final concept document before we proceed to implement. And so that is very important to us,” he added.

Carpenter slapped with robbery under arms charge

A25-year-old carpenter of Phase One Good Hope squatting area, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was on Thursday charged with robbery under arms.

Steve Anthony Lowe was arrested on September 29 by a rank from the Beterverwagting Police Station in connection with an armed robbery committed against Kumar Isree, a 29-year-old taxi driver of Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice. The incident reportedly took place at Lusignan, ECD.

Lowe appeared before Senior Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was read to him and he pleaded not guilty.

He was released on $250,000 bail on the condition that he reports to the Police

Electrician charged for discharging loaded firearm

A39-year-old electrician of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was on Thursday charged for the offence of discharging a loaded firearm in public.

Sherwin Critchlow appeared at the Friendship Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Tameika Clarke, where the charge was read to him. He pleaded not guilty, and was released on $450,000 bail. The matter was adjourned to November 11.

President Ali pushes...

This, combined with royalty payments, has seen the country’s total oil revenues earned in the first half of 2025 reach some US$1.22 billion or G$255 billion – monies that are being held in the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) at the New York Federal Reserve Bank, where it is earning interest.

Station every other Saturday until the completion of the case. The matter has been adjourned to October 7.

The Government is projected to earn an estimated US$2.2 billion in profit oil and US$340.6 million in royalties for 2025.

Exxon, through its local subsidiary Esso Exploration Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), is the operator of the Stabroek Block and holds a 45 per cent interest in the block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest, and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds the remaining 25 per cent interest.

Just last month, however, Exxon started up its fourth FPSO, the One Guyana vessel from the Yellowtail Project. With these four FPSOs, the company anticipates growing production to more than 900,000 barrels of oil per day by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, Exxon has already received approvals for, and is advancing preparatory works on, its fifth and sixth projects, Uaru and Whiptail. Uaru is anticipated to start production in 2026, and Whiptail is anticipated to start up in 2027, taking Guyana’s production to over 1.2 million barrels of oil per day by 2027.

In addition to at least these six projects offshore Guyana, Exxon is also eyeing the possibility of having 10 FPSOs being operational by 2030. Only last week, the Guyana Government approved US oil major’s seventh development in Guyana’s waters – the Hammerhead project, which is targeting a 2029 start-up with an FPSO vessel that will produce approximately 150,000 barrels of oil per day.

The Liza Phases One and Two and Payara Projects, all of which combined are producing over 600,000 barrels of oil per day, account for the three FPSO vessels operating in Guyana’s Stabroek Block in waters offshore.

Farmer arrested with unlicensed shotgun in Region 1

Police in Region One (Barima-Waini) have arrested a 50-yearold farmer of Baramita, Northwest District, after he was found in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition on Wednesday.

According to Police, ranks acted on information received and approached Bradley Thomas at his home, where he was informed that he had been accused of threatening

a man, identified as Shawn Benn, with a shotgun earlier that evening around 19:57h. Thomas reportedly denied the allegation, stating, “No, officer, the man is lying.”

A search was conducted at Thomas’s home and surrounding compound in his presence.

During the operation, ranks discovered one 16-gauge shotgun along with four 16-gauge cartridges and four 12-gauge cartridges concealed among

banana suckers. The items were seized, and when questioned, Thomas allegedly admitted that he did not possess a firearm licence. He later told investigators that he had purchased the gun and ammunition from a “Spanish man” for $30,000. Thomas was arrested, and he, along with the firearm and ammunition, was taken to the Baramita Police Station, where he remains in custody.

PM Phillips highlights Guyana’s leadership in clean energy transition

– tells OLADE country remains dedicated to achieving low-carbon economy

Honourable Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips outlined Guyana’s actions and achievements under its Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030, while emphasising the Government’s commitment to a clean, just energy transition, strengthened regional cooperation, and continued global climate advocacy

Chile, earlier today.

Addressing energy leaders and policymakers, Prime Minister Phillips underscored Guyana’s steady progress in building a low-carbon economy by diversifying its energy supply mix, referencing accomplishments under LCDS 2030, which outlines the Government’s support for sustainable energy development and participation

under the tenets of the Paris Agreement.

The Prime Minister made these remarks during his address at the 55th Latin American Energy Organisation (OLADE) Meeting of the Energy Ministers, held as part of the 10th edition of OLADE Energy Week in Santiago,

in global climate initiatives.

“Guyana remains dedicated to achieving a low-carbon economy through innovation, inclusion, and bold policies that safeguard our forests and communities. Our actions reflect the belief that clean and renewable energy development is about ensuring equity and oppor-

tunity so that every citizen benefits from the transition.”

He also reminded attendees that the Government is advancing complementary policies to promote energy conservation and energy-efficient technologies.

“Our country remains dedicated to advancing global efforts to address climate change and transition to clean and renewable energy, and significant progress has been made in this regard.”

In discussing the clean energy transition, the Prime Minister spoke of Guyana’s diversified energy supply mix plan and infrastructure development agenda. At the forefront is the Gasto-Energy Project. Phase I is a 300 megawatt (MW) natural gas-fired power plant currently under construction, while Phase II will deliver an additional 300 MW combined-cycle plant and a natural gas liquids facility. Together, these projects will supply 600 MW of power, reduce emissions, and lower costs for consumers.

Hydropower

Guyana's progress in hydropower was also highlighted, with the Prime Minister describing the 165 MW Amaila Falls Hydropower Project as a major clean energy initiative. The Government, he explained, is also developing smaller plants like Kumu, Moco

Moco, and Kato, progressing to a combined capacity of 2.35 MW, along with several medium-scale sites under review.

tems have been distributed to hinterland and riverine communities, directly benefiting approximately 140,000 people.

He spoke to initiatives like electric mobility, noting the installation of 23 electric vehicle charging stations and the introduction of fiscal incentives to promote cleaner transportation and green investments.

Importantly, Prime Minister Phillips also pointed to grid modernisation, with ongoing upgrades to substations, transmission and distribution systems, and the deployment of battery energy storage technology.

Regional partnerships

In highlighting Guyana’s role on the international stage, he emphasised the importance of regional partnerships in addressing climate change and promoting sustainable energy.

“OLADE has been an important partner for regional integration and sustainable energy development. There is room to further leverage this platform to pursue innovative solutions, tailored

markets, and stressed the interconnectedness of energy and forest conservation in supporting climate resilience.

Prime Minister Phillips also highlighted Guyana’s achievements as a small tropical forest country that has become a regional and global advocate for sustainable energy.

“These accomplishments are not ends in themselves but are stepping stones for a more resilient, equitable, and low-carbon future. Guyana’s journey demonstrates that a small tropical forest country can achieve outsized climate and energy results. By combining sound policies, community engagement, and international cooperation, we have positioned ourselves as a regional and global advocate for sustainable energy.”

Looking ahead, the Prime Minister reiterated Guyana’s dedication to expanding clean energy initiatives and fostering energy-efficient lifestyles across the country.

“Guyana will continue to engage and work in partnership with multiple stake-

expansion, including the installation of utility-scale solar PV farms totalling more than 36 MW. Some 56 solar mini-grids and over six MW of rooftop solar PV systems have been installed across 452 public buildings, ICT hubs, and agricultural facilities. In addition, more than 37,000 solar home sys-

financial instruments, and de-risking mechanisms to address climate change mitigation and adaptation.”

He noted that Guyana continues to advocate for climate finance, technology transfer, and the fair treatment of tropical forest countries in global carbon

holders to roll out clean and renewable energy initiatives, adapt to the challenges posed by climate change, and encourage sustainable energy-efficient lifestyles while building capacity to facilitate the requisite technical and regulatory support for effective clean energy transitions.”

Reg 6 undergoing major transformation; residents urged to grab opportunities

Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) is entering a new era of infrastructural, educational, and economic transformation, with several major projects. These projects, particularly around Palmyra and Port Mourant, alongside the upgrading of the Corentyne highway corridor, promise to reshape the social and economic landscape for residents.

Palmyra is being developed into what is envisioned as a “mini-city” in Region

Six. More than $7 billion in initial works has already been invested in the community, where housing, commercial, and civic amenities are being erected.

Plans are underway for hundreds of houses, young professionals’ homes, hotels, a modern mall, a hospital, and eventually a regional airstrip.

There will also be a national cultural market to showcase Guyana’s arts, culture, food, dance, and history. There is also the stadi-

um that is being constructed in Palmyra.

Regional Chairman David Armogan believes that improved living standards are some of the benefits for residents, with the creation of jobs as the most prominent.

“The Palmyra Stadium is near completion. It is going to be completed sometime next year. When that is completed, it is going to be a very busy time here. The four-lane highway is proceeding. The Chinese have

Production of hatching eggs gets major boost with GovtPrivate Sector partnership

Hatching eggs are to receive a major boost, as Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has announced a significant investment in local production through a partnership between the Agriculture Ministry and the private sector.

The Minister revealed that a massive investment will be undertaken within the agriculture sector, with a key focus on hatching egg production.

“We are now moving to make a massive investment in hatching egg production. As a matter of fact, we have already acquired tunnel houses which are on their way to Guyana, and the project will be taking place in Pakuri, where land clearing has already started. Dr Walsh and I have been working with the private sector to move this process forward,” Mustapha revealed.

Currently, Guyana uses about 53 million hatching eggs annually.

The Minister added that the initiative will be rolled out in a few months and highlighted the improvements compared to the hatching eggs previously available.

“So, in a very short space of time, we will see a massive transformation in this sector. At the same time, we are continuing to expand in terms of the hatching eggs we had before. But, as I said, we will be investing to ensure Guyana becomes self-sufficient. We currently use approximately 53 million hatching eggs annually, and with this project, I am hoping not only to sur-

pass that demand but also to export to Caribbean markets,” he explained.

When it comes to the livestock industry, Guyana is already self-sufficient in table eggs and poultry. However, President Dr Irfaan Ali has repeatedly emphasised that he wants Guyana to produce its own hatching eggs and expand poultry production to build local export capacity.

In recent months, the world has faced significant challenges in food production due to environmental changes, resource constraints, and rising global demand.

With soaring demand for poultry products – including hatching eggs, table eggs, and broiler meat – the Government is ramping up efforts to ensure food security while mitigating risks posed by the global bird flu outbreak.

In 2023, Guyana produced just 27,000 eggs. By August 24, 2024, production had increased to 97,000 eggs. Minister Mustapha expects that, within a few years, Guyana will become self-sufficient in egg production.

already started, and the Indians [contractors] are likely to start very shortly. When that is completed, too, that will be a major development for us in this region. The bridge connecting Guyana to Suriname is also likely to start as soon as finances are available and the

“If we go to the back of where Port Mourant Hospital is – I happen to pass there very often – you need to go there and look at the transformation in our own backyard. In another year or a year and a half, the ExxonMobil school will be finished, and the hospi-

residents as a whole need to position themselves to be able to take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead.

Weighing in on the discussion of transformation, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh pointed out that there are opportunities in every sector, especially when it

negotiations are completed,” Armogan said while speaking at the launch of the Berbice Expo recently.

Similarly, Port Mourant is becoming a key educational and training hub in Region Six, especially for the growing oil and gas and tourism/hospitality sectors.

There is a national training centre being transformed to include a hospitality institute as well as the oil & gas training component. The first phase, valued at about $160 million, is moving apace.

President of the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, Poonai Bhigroog, says the Port Mourant development project is just one of several things happening in the region.

tality centre will be finished. And then if you are coming from New Amsterdam, you can look and see what is going to happen at Palmyra. It has started already, and we can look and see… Berbice will be transformed with the new highway. So there are a lot of things happening in Berbice,” Bhigroog told chamber members.

Opportunities arising

He also alluded to the fact that people of the region need to position themselves to take advantage of these developments, noting that in order to do so, persons need to pay close attention to the Government's vision.

Bhigroog said entrepreneurs, business people, and

comes to producers increasing their rate of investment, which will ultimately increase production due to the growing demands of goods and services.

“It is important to think about where the country is going and the opportunities that are arising. The people who will succeed and prosper are the people who think about where we are going as a country and as a region, what the opportunities are that will arise, and how they can position themselves and be prepared to take the risk to raise and invest capital and generate returns from the very exciting future; [they] are the ones that will succeed,” the finance Minister said.

New forex measures Rules to target tax-evading foreign entities no burden for small businesses – Jagdeo

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has assured that the new foreign exchange monitoring mechanism announced earlier in the week by President Dr Irfaan Ali will not burden ordinary Guyanese or small businesses but will instead target loopholes that allow non-Guyanese entities to exploit the system and evade taxes.

Speaking at a press conference, Jagdeo explained that the measures are aimed primarily at large-scale foreign currency users whose transactions are not always reflected in Guyana’s formal financial system. He cited cases such as some Chineseowned supermarkets that import large volumes of goods without maintaining bank accounts locally.

"We're not going to restrict Guyanese from purchasing foreign currency. In fact, we will make sure that we provide adequate amounts from the central bank to meet domestic demand. But we're going to try to close the loopholes on some of those who have been abusing the system… For example, the Chinese supermarket that you are seeing, where most of these supermarkets don't have a bank account. They don't have a bank account, the owners don't have a bank account, and they're importing a lot of goods to sell in their supermarkets. How are they getting the foreign currency? So closing these loop-

holes would allow us to collect more taxes from these foreign entities, mainly, who are operating here, or if they are using our foreign currency on credit cards to meet demand in another country,” Jagdeo said.

Highlighting the Government’s fiscal capacity, Jagdeo said Guyana is well positioned to manage foreign exchange demand as revenues from the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) increase. He noted that although $1.2 billion has already been injected into the foreign currency market this year, the Government has the ability to inject much more, thanks to projected multi-billion-dollar inflows in the coming years.

Much of the rising demand for foreign currency, Jagdeo explained, is tied to ongoing large-scale infrastructure projects such as the new Demerara River Bridge and the Gas-toEnergy project. Many of these investments, he added, are financed through the local banking system, requiring the Government to supply the necessary foreign exchange. However, he pointed out that this demand is temporary, as several projects will be completed in the coming years.

Looking ahead, Jagdeo projected a significant reduction in foreign currency demand once Guyana begins producing its own cooking gas and electricity under the Gas-to-Energy project.

“When we start supplying cooking gas to our population, that would also reduce the demand for foreign currency to import cooking gas. Combined, we can reduce about 450 million to 500 million dollars a year, nearly half a billion in reduction in demand. Not only a reduction in demand for capital items, but a reduction in demand because we don't

New forex measure

On Monday, during a meeting with the heads of local banks, President Ali disclosed that the Government of Guyana, through the Bank of Guyana, has injected a staggering US$1.2 billion into the local financial system so far this year –more than triple the amount provided in the entire year of 2024 – in an effort to meet

have to import those in the future. So, if you look to the future, we have a growing revenue stream in foreign currency, and we have a reduction in demand for some of these projects that are ongoing now and for the import of fuel, basically energy. So, I think we're in a great position today to address any growth in demand for foreign currency in the future. We've made this very clear. So, there is no crisis in the foreign currency market,” he added.

rising demand for foreign currency.

According to the Head of State, credit card clearances rose from US$91.3 million in 2023 to US$347.5 million in 2024. For 2025 so far, transactions have already reached US$252 million, even before the year-end holiday period.

To deal with these pressures, the administration has announced a series of interventions that will reshape how foreign exchange requests are processed. Going forward, importers seeking foreign currency will be re-

quired to provide commercial invoices before their banks can release funds. Once goods arrive in Guyana, those invoices, along with bills of lading, will have to be submitted to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and to the commercial banks, ensuring that the shipments match the forex requested.

If importers fail to comply with this documentation process, they will not be able to access foreign currency for future requests. To streamline verification, commercial banks will now be required to forward invoices and bills of lading to the Bank of Guyana, effectively creating a centralised clearing house that will monitor and reconcile all transactions.

The President also signalled stricter rules for credit card use. Commercial banks will have to ensure that personal credit cards are not being misused for large business transactions or for importing goods, which he noted was becoming a loophole in the system. Entities found to be inflating invoices or engaging in related-party over-invoicing with the intent of moving money out of the country will face penalties.

Additional safeguards will also be implemented at Guyana’s borders. Persons leaving the country with large sums of foreign currency will have to declare not just receipts from commercial banks but also the source of funds obtained from

Cambios and other licensed dealers. Meanwhile, companies registered under the local content framework must hold local bank accounts and ensure that oil and gas service payments are remitted in foreign currency to those accounts.

In a bid to promote transparency and discipline, a new single-window reconciliation system will also be established at the Bank of Guyana to ensure that records from commercial banks, the central bank, and the GRA are properly aligned before any new foreign exchange request is approved. According to Ali, this measure will close gaps that currently allow some companies to use duplicate invoices at multiple banks, creating artificial demand for foreign currency.

Commercial bank representatives welcomed the reforms, noting that many of the proposed measures are already partially in place. They endorsed the creation of a centralised portal for invoice and customs clearance records, which will allow banks to verify transactions in real time.

Republic Bank described the measures as “overdue tightening” that would “bring more transparency”, while other banks said the single-window system will eliminate duplicate requests and level the playing field, especially for local companies operating in the oil and gas sector.

GAWP reinforces standards with inspection at TSU Drill Square

The Guyana Association of Women Police (GAWP) on Thursday conducted an inspection at the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) Drill Square, Eve Leary, Georgetown, as part of ongoing efforts to maintain professional standards within the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

The exercise involved participation from various departments across the Force’s headquarters, reinforcing the association’s role in upholding discipline and professionalism among female ranks.

Leading the inspection was GAWP President and Senior Superintendent Dr Nicola Kendall, along with members of the association’s executive team.

Dr Kendall inspected the parade to ensure ranks were in compliance with the Force’s regulations. She commended the officers for their turnout and stressed the importance of adhering to Standing Orders No. 9 and 12, which outline expectations for grooming, conduct, and discipline. She also shared updates on upcoming initiatives and activ-

ities planned by the association for the remainder of the year.

Senior Superintendent Shavon Jupiter, in brief remarks, praised the ranks for their punctuality and discipline. She highlighted the importance of maintaining a polished appearance, noting that hairstyles and other elements of personal presentation should evolve in line with contemporary professional standards.

During the inspection, several officers were recognised for their exemplary compliance with dress reg-

ulations and will receive incentives for their efforts. Dr Kendall further encouraged officers to actively participate in the association’s ini-

tiatives, particularly during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, stressing the importance of community involvement.

More transparent, efficient system being examined for tint permits, gun licences – Jagdeo

The Government is moving to streamline

two of the most contentious licensing processes in Guyana: firearm licences and vehicle tint permits, as Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo revealed that up to 50,000 applications for gun licences are currently pending.

According to the Vice President, Guyana is facing a flood of requests for firearm licences, with between 30,000 and 50,000 applications currently sitting before the authorities. The figure, he said, underscores both the frustration of citizens seeking protection and the immense security risks

phasised that while the Government understands citizens’ desire to feel safe, it cannot respond by simply flooding the country with firearms. Instead, he said, authorities are examining

the state must weigh before granting approvals on such a scale.

“Just imagine if you have to give out 50,000 gun licences in Guyana; what could happen?” Jagdeo asked pointedly during a recent press conference. He warned that many licensed weapons ultimately fall into the wrong hands or are stolen during break-ins and later used by criminals.

Jagdeo revealed that at community meetings across the country, requests for firearm licences dominate the conversations, often overshadowing pressing development issues like education, health, and jobs.

“After the meetings, people come and they talk about their gun licences. And so, you can’t get to the real issues,” he said.

The Vice President em-

non-lethal alternatives for personal protection, alongside reforms that would make the licensing process more transparent and less vulnerable to corruption or backroom deals.

“We have to think about how we can give people some way of protecting themselves, but maybe in a non-lethal way, and be very sparing with the gun licenses. Let the system be transparent so that you don’t have claims about paying someone for a licence or running behind a Minister for an upgrade,” Jagdeo declared.

Tint permits to be streamlined

Beyond firearms, the Government is also moving to untangle what Jagdeo called a “time-wasting” and “frustrating” system for vehicle tint permits. At pres-

ent, hundreds of applications for exemptions reach Ministers weekly – a practice the Vice President said distracts from more pressing governance matters.

“We may just have two levels,” he explained. “One for security forces and maybe diplomats, and then another tint level for the general public. Everybody gets treated the same. There’ll be no exemptions, so you can’t run down a Minister every day for a permit.”

Jagdeo argued that a clear, across-the-board framework would reduce opportunities for favouritism, curb the bottleneck of applications, and ensure fairness.

He added that the proposed reforms are part of wider efforts to improve efficiency in Government, reduce red tape, and allow Ministers to spend more time on issues that matter to citizens.

“It’s better to do acrossthe-board systems… rather than be bogged down with 50 or 500 applications for tint exemptions every week going into the ministry,” he said.

The Vice President said both the gun licence backlog and the tint permit confusion reflect a broader need for modernised systems that reduce red tape, restore public confidence, and keep Ministers focused on real development issues.

“I’m saying this here because I’m hoping it stimulates a conversation nationally about these matters,” Jagdeo told reporters. “How we can improve the system, help people, and at the same time not create new risks.”

Nationwide survey coming to aid families with home construction, improvements

President Dr

Vhas revealed that, very shortly, the Government will conduct a countrywide survey with the aim of identifying citizens who may need assistance in constructing their homes.

This is in keeping with a promise made by the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) on the campaign trail.

“If they are poor, if

they’re at the low-income level and they need help, they will get the help. And so, we will now do a database of all of those people across all the ten regions of Guyana, including in the Amerindian communities, so that we can, as soon as possible, roll the programme out in the budget next year so that they can start receiving help,” Jagdeo said during a press conference Thursday.

“So, they may get, you know, a grant to assist them with the construction, not to construct the full home, but, as we said, to assist with the construction, and then also for poor families, home improvement [aid]. So, for example, if they have, you know, a leaky roof or anything like that, they can get help from the Government to do that,” he added.

“Several cash grants in the next 5 years” –Jagdeo assures Guyanese

Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has reassured citizens that whenever the People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) makes a promise, it will deliver.

He explained that citizens will benefit from more cash grant initiatives throughout the next five years.

“This is a five-year term we have; there will be several cash grants in the five years… Don’t worry about it,” he said.

He emphasised this point in response to a question during his press conference on whether the Government has made a decision on rolling out a cash grant initiative in time for Christmas.

On the campaign trail, President Dr Irfaan Ali had hinted that his Government will distribute another cash grant to citizens, possibly in time for Christmas – if re-elected to office.

“Whatever the President

said on the campaign trail will be done,” Jagdeo said.

Approximately 600,000 Guyanese aged 18 and above were eligible for the initiative when it was first introduced in October 2024. The cash grant was valued at $100,000.

Murder accused freed for lack of evidence

Timothy Charles

- also known by the aliases Leon De Young and Howard De Jonge - on Thursday saw his murder charge dismissed in the New Amsterdam Magistrate's Court when Magistrate Michelle Mathias upheld a no-case submission by his defence team, finding that the prosecution failed to present a prima facie case.

Charles had been charged in connection with the murder of Titus Sutton, which occurred in 2013 at Baracara, Canje River.

On November 8, 2013, the 53-year-old Sutton, of Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was shot once in his chest. His business partner, 34-year-old Sherwin McAlmont, was shot and wounded in his right thigh during that incident. It had been reported at the time that Sutton was allegedly involved in an argument with De Yonge when he was shot.

A wanted bulletin was subsequently issued for De Yonge in January 2014 and then again in November 2018. De Yonge was arrested in Baracara in April 2024.

At the time of his arrest, Charles was also charged with possession of ammunition, but that charge was dismissed several months ago, also due to prosecutorial shortcomings in establishing a sufficient case to proceed.

On Thursday, the murder charge was discharged, following submissions by the defence.

Charles was represented by Attorneys Charlyn Artiga, Tiffany Parris, and Akim Lampkin.

The defence argued that the prosecution failed to produce evidence of a murder weapon and had no witnesses to link the accused to the offence.

Additionally, the defence submitted that the circumstances of Charles' arrest offered no substantive proof of his involvement in the alleged crime.

The court ruled that in its submissions, the prosecution failed to make out a case, and the accused was freed.

Police to crack down on minibus operators amid reports of overcharging

The traffic department of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), in a traffic advisory on Thursday, notified minibus operators and commuters that strict enforcement measures will be implemented to address reports of passengers being overcharged, particularly along key routes such as Georgetown to Parika (Route 32) and Georgetown to Timehri (Route 42).

The advisory reminded operators that in accordance with the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02, fares must not be unreasonable, and that copies of the approved fare table must be carried and displayed in the vehicle for inspection at all times.

It also advised passengers to have an awareness of the official fares for their routes and to report any incidents of overcharging to the nearest Police Station, the 911 emergency system or via the Traffic Headquarters’ WhatsApp number: (592) 620-6713.

It ensured that the necessary actions will be taken against non-compliant minibus operators.

On a recent episode of the Road Safety and You television programme, Sergeant Carl Pedro of Brickdam Police Station’s traffic department admitted that minibus exploitation has become a persistent issue, particularly in the afternoons.

The issue of reckless and exploitative practices in the minibus sector has long been a sore point for passengers, many of whom rely on public transportation daily. Police say enforcement will continue and are urging commuters to play their part by reporting violators.

“... If there are persons who are overcharging you in public transportation, take the vehicle number. You have a smartphone; it is the modern time you live in, and let us deal with those defaulting drivers,” Traffic Officer for Region Three (Essequibo IslandWest Demerara), Superintendent Maniram Jagnanan, had advised in another episode of the programme.

Several callers to the programme expressed frustration over aggressive minibus operators demanding high fares, particularly during rush hours and at key transportation hubs.

One caller shared his first-hand experience: “There are thugs there and drivers

there bullying you to pay double fare one afternoon, as much as $500 a person…” he alleged.

According to the Police, while commuters across Guyana have recently been experiencing a surge in minibus fares, with drivers charging passengers more than the standard rates, instead of officially reporting these incidents, many affected commuters have taken to social media to voice their frustrations.

In response to this development, Police are urging the public to cease relying solely on social media and instead report these issues directly to the Police at the nearest Police Station or phone numbers provided, since law enforcement officials can do only so much without formal complaints being in their possession.

“If individuals choose to express their concerns on social media rather than reporting directly to the Police, it hinders our ability to respond effectively. While we continue to provide traffic education, without formal reports, we have no way of identifying the specific locations, drivers, or buses involved,” Traffic Chief Assistant Commissioner Mahendra Singh advised.

The GPF advisory also noted that mandatory stops will be conducted in keeping with the Traffic Dept Community Relations efforts to ensure passengers are not abused or exploited and bus operators are compliant with the law.

$314 million in cocaine, ganja seized in T&T’s Palo Seco

Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) Police found and seized over $314 million of "high-grade Colombian creepy" marijuana contained in 41 crocus bags, along with five crocus bags of cocaine, on Wednesday, October 1, in the Southwestern Division.

According to the Police, the drugs were found stashed in an area in Palo Seco during an ongoing intelligence-led operation coordinated by the Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU).

A statement from the Police said the operation "marked a strategic advancement in TOCU's ongoing efforts to dismantle a prominent drug trafficking network (DTN) operating within the Southwestern Division."

The operation started after the September 30 arrest of a close associate of this DTN and the seizure of a large amount of Colombian

"creepy" marijuana. As new information came in, intelligence revealed that the network intended to relocate the remaining drugs from the initial stash area in Palo Seco to avoid being caught due to the increased pressure from the TOCU.

Teams maintained their surveillance presence overnight into October 1 as the stash was uncovered.

The teams focused on this specific zone along Quarry Road, which has

dense forest and remote access points.

The officers, with the support of Police from the Southwestern Division, searched a targeted area, which led to the discovery and seizure of the remaining drugs.

The drugs were transported to the Siparia Police Station pending further investigations.

Investigations are ongoing. (Excerpt from Trinidad & Tobago Newsday)

Bermuda escapes worst of Hurricane Imelda's impact

Bermuda “dodged a bullet” with Hurricane Imelda, which weakened overnight as it struck the island headon.

Michelle Pitcher, of the Bermuda Weather Service, explained that while some exposed areas like Commissioner’s House in Dockyard experienced sustained hurricane-force winds, the storm was losing strength when it passed the island.

She said, “It looks like overall we dodged a bullet. In fact, as of noon we ended the tropical storm warning because the National Hurricane Centre has issued its last advisory on Hurricane Imelda, which is now a post-tropical cyclone officially.”

No injuries or major structural damage have been reported to date (Bermuda Broadcasting photo)

Jamaican woman faces 13 felony charges in US over car theft scheme

A24-year-old Jamaican woman who once worked as a security guard at Fort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport’s car rental centre is facing 13 felony charges after detectives accused her of conspiring with three men to steal a dozen vehicles from Hertz.

According to a report from Local 10, Savannah Harsha Phillips, who was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and now lives in Sunrise, Florida, appeared Wednesday before Broward County Circuit Judge Thomas J Coleman for arraignment.

Prosecutors say she played a central role in a theft ring that allowed cars to leave the Hertz parking garage without authorisation on May 16 and May 17.

Haitian

According to a Broward Sheriff’s Office detective, Phillips used her position to let drivers “exit the Hertz parking garage without showing a driver’s licence and pretending to scan the vehicles as they exited.”

The 12 stolen cars included multiple Kia K4 sedans, Nissan Altimas, a Hyundai

Sonata, a Toyota Corolla, and a Nissan Sentra.

Investigators later discovered that some of the vehicles were linked to crimes in other states, including a black Kia K4 connected to incidents in Texas and a white Toyota Corolla tied to crimes in Virginia.

Phillips was arrested at her Sunrise home on August 26 and booked into the Paul Rein Detention Facility.

She faces charges including first-degree organised fraud, five counts of second-degree grand theft, and seven counts of third-degree grand theft. A bond court Judge set bail at US$62,000 but ordered Phillips to prove the funds do not come from criminal proceeds. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

corruption probe implicates sitting Sports Minister in US$76K embezzlement

Haiti’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) has asked the judiciary to prosecute the current Minister of Youth, Sports, and Civic Action (MJSAC), Niola Lynn Sarah Devalien Octavius, for embezzlement of public funds and property, abuse of office, and criminal conspiracy.

The charges are part of a broader pattern of entrenched corruption in Haitian public institutions. In just one week, the country’s anti-corruption watchdog submitted seven new reports outlining fuel theft, embezzlement, ghost jobs, and forged contracts

across Ministries, a public university, and local markets.

Despite repeated findings and referrals, few officials have ever been held accountable – fuelling public frustration with a system many see as broken.

According to a ULCC report published September 26, Octavius and close associates diverted more than 10 million gourdes – about US$76,923 – earmarked for the commemoration of the Battle of Vertières on November 18, 2024.

Investigators describe an extensive scheme involving the Minister and sever-

al close associates. They say Octavius conspired with her brother, Jean Vilaire Maître, who serves as her security chief, and the Ministry’s chief accountant, Ludner Vogel Desforges, to misappropriate the state funds. The report found that two million gourdes (US$15,385) were deposited into Octavius’s personal account, while her brother withdrew 7.66 million gourdes (US$58,923) without justification. The accountant was also cited for attempted embezzlement and conspiracy to commit a crime.

(Excerpt from The Haitian Times)

BVI Labour Dept cracking down on illegal workers

A wave of power outages appeared to be the worst impact from Hurricane Imelda, which hit the island at about 01:00h and knocked out electricity for more than 18,000 customers as it passed over Bermuda.

kmph logged at Dockyard.

Police reported a relatively quiet night, while the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service responded to sporadic utility pole fires.

The Bermuda Weather Service said the airport recorded a gust of 145 kilometres per hour (kmph), with a wind blast of almost 161

LF Wade International Airport reopened at noon, with Michael Weeks, the Minister of National Security, commending residents for weathering the brunt of Imelda, which came swiftly after a near miss from Hurricane Humberto.

The first incoming flight was expected at 13:50h.

(Excerpt from Royal Gazette)

Americans surge in Grenada’s Citizenship by Investment approvals

The latest data from Grenada’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme, now rebranded as the Investment Migration Agency (IMA Grenada), show a sharp rise in US nationals seeking citizenship.

In the second quarter of 2025, 12 per cent of the 402 people approved for Grenadian citizenship were Americans, compared with just one per cent of the 632 approvals in the first quar-

ter. This marks the first time US applicants have overtaken Nigerians, who have traditionally ranked second. For Q2, China accounted for 10 per cent of approvals, and Nigeria also 10 per cent, placing Americans in the number two spot overall.

Other nationalities approved in the same period included Pakistan, the United Kingdom, the Philippines, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Egypt, France,

Germany, India, Kuwait, Lebanon, the Republic of Congo, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Syria, Turkey, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Haiti.

By the end of June 2025, Grenada had approved 893 new citizens through the IMA, generating EC$103.2 million in revenue, according to the Ministry of Finance’s fiscal report (Excerpt from CNW)

The Labour and Workforce Development Department has announced it is stepping up efforts to tackle illegal employment in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), with employers facing fines of up to $5000 for hiring workers without proper authorisation.

Acting Labour Commissioner Mervin Hastings issued the warning during a recent job fair in the Third District. He stressed that both workers and employers will now be held accountable under updated im-

migration rules.

“We have a major problem in the Virgin Islands when it comes to – we all know this – a lot of illegal workers. We have a lot of people that come on vacation, and they end up working for a month or two. We have people that come, and they overstay their time, and they’re working,” Hastings stated.

The announcement comes amid longstanding concerns about illegal labour in the BVI. Reports in recent years highlighted the challenges of enforcement due to limited

resources and loopholes that allowed tourists and overstayers to find work in the territory.

The Labour Department’s move signals a renewed push to regulate the workforce and ensure compliance with immigration and labour laws.

The Acting Commissioner also outlined the department’s employment priority scale, which places Virgin Islanders and Belongers at the top. Persons are deemed to belong to the Virgin Islands based on certain categories.

(Source: BVI News)

J’ca Police investigate suspected suicide in Parish Court Judge’s death

Trelawny Parish Court Judge Ruth Lawrence was found unresponsive at her Coral Spring home on Tuesday evening and later pronounced dead at Falmouth Public General Hospital. Jamaican authorities are currently treating her death as a suspected suicide.

Acting Commissioner of Police (ACP) Glendon Miller, who heads the Area One Police Division, told Observer Online that the investigation is still in its early stages. “By virtue of the initial investigation so far, which is really in the early stages, we are considering what transpired with Judge Ruth Lawrence’s passing as a suspected case of suicide for now, pending further investigation,” he said. Lawrence was discovered by her spouse around 19:50h at their home. A Police source said no signs of physical injury were observed on her body.

(Excerpt from CNW)

OIL NEWS

Oil falls 2% to fourmonth lows on oversupply concerns

Oil prices fell about two per cent to their lowest in four months on Thursday, extending a run of declines into a fourth day, due to concerns about oversupply in the market ahead of a meeting of the OPEC+ group over the weekend.

Brent crude futures fell US$1.20, or 1.8 per cent, to US$64.15 a barrel by 14:45h ET, the lowest since June 2. US West Texas Intermediate crude dropped US$1.30, or 2.1 per cent, to settle at US$60.48 a barrel, the lowest since May 30.

OPEC+ could agree to raise oil production by up to 500,000 barrels per day in November, triple the increase for October, as Saudi Arabia seeks to reclaim market share, three sources familiar with the talks said.

Jorge Montepeque, managing director at Onyx Capital Group, said some banks, such as Macquarie, have put out predictions of a super glut in oil markets, which have weighed on sentiment.

Oversupply concerns have been compounded by signs of weak demand, PVM Energy analysts wrote. "Oil demand forecasts diverge considerably, but on average, they show this year's figure revised down by 150,000 bpd between January and September," they noted.

Stockpiling demand from China, the world's largest crude oil importer, also underpinned oil prices, limiting the downside, traders said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Around the World

Trump declares drug cartels operating in Caribbean “unlawful combatants”

Donald Trump has declared that drug cartels operating in the Caribbean are “unlawful combatants” and says the United States (US) is now in a “non-international armed conflict”, according to a White House memo obtained by the Associated Press on Thursday.

A US official familiar with the matter who was not authorised to comment publicly told the AP that Congress was notified about the designation by Pentagon officials on Wednesday.

US Judge

The story was first reported by the New York Times.

It comes after the US military conducted strikes on three boats in the Caribbean Sea last month that killed 17 people and triggered widespread international outrage, especially in Central and South America.

The Administration is required by law to report to Congress the US Government’s use of armed forces.

The Times reports that the Administration’s memo cites

rejects

that statute and also repeats its past justifications that the strikes were conducted in self-defence and accuses the boats of containing members of a Venezuelan drug gang. But the memo also reportedly goes further and frames the US military’s attacks on the boats to be part of a sustained conflict.

The memo also reportedly states that Trump has deemed cartels engaged in smuggling drugs as “non-state armed groups” whose actions “constitute an armed attack against

Abrego

the United States”.

The Trump Administration has been increasing its military presence in the Caribbean in recent months, deploying a number of ships and military personnel to Puerto Rico.

It has justified the military action as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the US. But some lawmakers, as well as human rights groups, have questioned the legality of the attacks. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

Garcia’s asylum bid after wrongful deportation

AUnited States (US)

immigration Judge has denied an asylum bid from Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whom the Administration of President Donald Trump wrongfully deported to El Salvador earlier this year before returning him to the US.

The rejection, announced late on Wednesday, was hailed by the Trump

2 dead, 4 injured in Manchester synagogue “terror incident”

Two Jewish persons have died in a car ramming and stabbing attack at a synagogue in Manchester, England.

The attack came on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish religious calendar, and is being treated by Police as a terror incident.

Police say they know the identity of the attacker, who was shot dead by armed officers at the scene.

Four people remain in hospital with serious injuries.

Police responded to reports of a car driving towards members of the public and a man stabbed at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue at 09:31h BST on Thursday.

Officers quickly declared a major incident and arrived at the scene in north Manchester within seven minutes, shooting dead the suspect at 09:38h BST.

Shah, a local resident, said she was driving past the synagogue when she saw a vehicle "just sort of rushing past and driving straight for the members of the public".

She then saw a man "jump out" and start running towards the people, she said, calling the scene "traumatising".

"The man was just running out with a knife, and he just started going on a bit of a rampage. It's quite terrifying, to be completely honest."

Gareth Tonge, another eyewitness who was driv-

ing his delivery van near the scene, told the BBC he saw a man "bleeding out on the floor".

Mr Tonge added, "Within seconds, the Police arrived; they gave him a couple of warnings. He didn't listen, so they opened fire," he explained, saying the man holding the knife then went down on the floor. The man then "started

getting back up, and they [the Police] shot him again," Mr Tonge added – describing it as "nerve-racking" to witness.

GMP chief Sir Stephen Watson said the suspect was wearing "a vest which had the appearance of an explosive device" – but the force later confirmed it was not viable. (Source: BBC News)

Administration, which has remained defiant after deporting Abrego Garcia in March despite a Judge’s order.

However, Abrego Garcia will still have 30 days to appeal the decision issued by the Baltimore-based immigration Judge. His lawyers did not immediately publicly comment on the latest order. Abrego Garcia crossed

into the US without documentation as a teenager and has lived in Maryland with his wife and children for several years.

Immigration authorities have since sought to deport Abrego Garcia to a third-party country in an effort to work around the Judge’s 2019 decision barring his deportation to El Salvador. Uganda and Eswatini, both countries

in Africa, have been floated as possible destinations.

Trump has attempted to employ an 18th-century wartime law, the Alien Enemies Act, to quickly expel some individuals without legal review, but a federal appeals court in September found his use of the law illegal. The case is likely to reach the Supreme Court. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

“No signs of life”: Hopes turn to anguish in Indonesia school collapse

Hopes for dozens of students feared trapped in rubble at a collapsed boarding school have turned to anguish as authorities shift their focus from rescue to recovery.

Suharyanto, the head of Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency, told a news conference on Thursday that thermal drones and other equipment had found “no additional signs of life” at AlKhoziny Islamic Boarding School.

Relatives of the missing students collapsed in the streets around the site and wailed in anguish upon hearing the news.

Authorities said they would bring in heavy machinery to assist in recovery efforts.

Until now, they had resisted bringing in excavators to clear the debris for fear of harming anyone trapped alive.

Authorities have sealed off the school, which officials say collapsed as construc-

tion workers were laying concrete on the building’s fourth floor, as rescuers continue to painstakingly pick through the debris for the 59 persons believed missing.

But even hundreds of metres from the scene, the smell of decomposing bodies was overwhelming.

The missing are “all

Scaffolding collapse in Ethiopian church kills at least 36

At least 36 persons were killed and more than 200 injured at a religious festival in central Ethiopia when wooden scaffolding collapsed underneath them inside a partially constructed church, Police and a survivor said.

The temporary wooden structure gave way on Wednesday under the weight of worshippers visiting Arerti St Mary's Church in Minjar Shenkora Woreda, North Shewa Zone of the Amhara

Region, local Police chief Ahmed Gebeyehu told state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting.

The death toll could rise, as some of the injured remained in critical condition, Gebeyehu said. "What caused the dam -

age was when the scaffolding crumpled. It just crushed the people beneath. Some who were on the peripheries ran outside, but those in the middle perished," said Tadesse Tesfaye, a survivor. (Excerpt from Reuters)

dead”, said a junior Police officer standing guard at the scene, asking not to be named.

He said it had long been suspected that most of the students trapped inside the school had perished.

Family members who have been sleeping at the scene since Monday, when the building collapsed, lined up at an on-site tent on Thursday to give DNA samples in the hopes of identifying their loved ones.

Late on Wednesday evening, five students were found alive in an air pocket of the collapsed building, fuelling hopes that more could be saved.

Five students have been confirmed dead so far, and more than 100 persons were injured. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

SUDOKU

Sort out any differences you are having and concentrate on tying up loose ends. Use your imagination, and you’ll discover a cost-effective way to get things done with panache.

Emotional decisions will backfire if you aren’t careful. Do your research before making a purchase, signing up for a subscription or volunteering your time, skills or money.

Share your experience with colleagues or experts. Airing how you feel will be met with a sympathetic response. Avoid taking risks with your health.

Go on a learning spree. Discover what you can do to stay healthy, fit and mentally sharp. Leading someone astray will tarnish your reputation.

Emotion and anger will hurt a relationship if you aren’t careful. Ask questions and verify your facts before agreeing to participate in something costly.

Intelligence coupled with intuition will help you sidestep potential professional risks. Focus your energy on staying current with industry changes. Attend networking functions.

Be creative; consider how you can make your surroundings and lifestyle more accommodating and practical. Take on only what’s within your means mentally and financially.

Refrain from sharing too much information or secrets. Be a good listener and respond only when necessary. Anger and frustration can lead to opposition and setbacks.

Be open regarding your intentions, and you’ll receive positive input that helps you gain insight into how best to proceed. It’s time to invest in yourself instead of supporting someone else’s dreams.

Stick to simple, cost-effective solutions. Channel your energy into doing, not arguing over what others think or want from you. A physical change will boost your confidence.

You know the protocol regarding financial, medical or legal affairs. A change at home will turn out better than you anticipate and help set you on a positive path.

Don’t limit yourself when it’s others who need to adjust to what’s happening. A change in attitude or perspective can help you adapt your routine to suit your needs.

Bangladesh recorded their second ever win at a Women's World Cup, against the same opposition as their first –Pakistan.

In the first of 11 group games in Colombo, the two teams that came through the qualifiers fought a low-scoring battle, despite good batting conditions, as the attacks took centre stage.

The headlines belonged to Bangladesh's bowlers. Sole seamer Marufa Akter set the tone with two wickets in the first over, before their five-pronged spin attack caused all sorts of problems for Pakistan. Bangladesh's three leg spinners, Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan and Shorna Akter, claimed six wickets between them, with Shorna finishing with career-best figures of three for five.

The result means Pakistan have only won one of their last 22 World Cup matches and three out of their 31 overall and will be disappointed with the

Pakistan Women (50 overs maximum)

Muneeba Ali c Nishita Akter Nishi

b Nahida Akter 17

Omaima Sohail b Marufa Akter 0

Sidra Amin b Marufa Akter 0 Rameen Shamim c & b Nahida Akter 23

Aliya Riaz c Marufa Akter

b Nishita Akter Nishi 13

Sidra Nawaz † lbw b Rabeya Khan 15

Fatima Sana (c) lbw b Fahima Khatun 22

Natalia Pervaiz c †Nigar Sultana

b Shorna Akter 9

Diana Baig not out 16

Nashra Sandhu hit wicket

b Shorna Akter 1 Sadia Iqbal c Fargana Hoque

b Shorna Akter 4

Extras (lb 1, nb 1, w 7) 9

Total 38.3 Ov (RR: 3.35) 129

Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Omaima Sohail, 0.5 ov), 2-2 (Sidra Amin, 0.6 ov), 3-44 (Muneeba Ali, 11.3 ov), 4-47 (Rameen Shamim, 13.4 ov), 5-67 (Sidra Nawaz, 18.3 ov), 6-91 (Aliya Riaz, 27.3 ov), 7-100 (Fatima Sana, 29.3 ov), 8-113 (Natalia Pervaiz, 32.4 ov), 9-115 (Nashra Sandhu, 34.2 ov), 10-129 (Sadia Iqbal, 38.3 ov)

way they started this competition. After opting to bat first, only two Pakistan batters – Rameen Shamim and Fatima Sana – got past 20, and they had a highest partnership of 42. In contrast, Bangladesh's debutant opener Rubya Haider batted through the innings and scored a half-century to back up their strong performance in the field.

A visibly more conditioned Marufa found her swing immediately and success soon after. The penultimate ball of her first over pitched outside off and shaped back into Omaima Sohail, who stayed on the back foot, left a gap between bat and pad and was bowled. The final ball was even better; it hooped in and took Sidra Amin's inside edge on its way to the leg stump. That was Amin's first golden duck in ODIs and first since 2019. Left-handed Muneeba Ali faced Marufa's hat-trick ball at the start of the next over, and it angled in and straightened on her, but she

Bowling O-M-R-W

Marufa Akter 7-0-31-2

Nishita Akter Nishi 6-0-28-1

Nahida Akter 8-1-19-2

Fahima Khatun 7-1-32-1

Rabeya Khan 7-2-13-1

Shorna Akter 3.3-3-5-3

Bangladesh Women (T: 130 runs from 50 ovs)

Fargana Hoque lbw b Diana Baig 2 Rubya Haider not out 54

Sharmin Akhter lbw

b Rameen Shamim 10

Nigar Sultana (c)† c Diana Baig

b Fatima Sana 23

Sobhana Mostary not out 24

Extras (b 4, lb 1, w 13) 18

Total 31.1 Ov (RR: 4.20)

Bowlers, Haider propel Bangladesh to second win at World Cup

was able to keep it out, only to be beaten next ball.

At the other end, the tournament's youngest player, offspinner Nishita Akter, took the other new ball. The first boundary came off her when Muneeba clipped Nishita fine and then swept her away to deep backward square. The sweep quickly became Pakistan's go-to shot, as they scored 20 of their first 45 runs with it.

Left-arm spinner Nahida Akter was introduced in the eighth over, with Muneeba and Shamim, batting at No. 4 for the first time, starting to settle. Nahida removed both. Muneeba chased a wide Nahida delivery and cut it to Nishita at point, ending the third-wicket partnership at 42. In Nahida's next over, she tossed it up to Shamim, who chipped it straight back for the simplest of return catches. Pakistan were 47 for 4 in the 14th over.

Aliya Riaz and Sidra Nawaz launched a mini counterattack when Aliya

brought up the team's fifty with a slash through a backward point, and Nawaz hit back-to-back boundaries off Fahima. But Nawaz's stay at the crease was troubled. She was given out lbw to Fahima on 0 and reviewed. UltraEdge showed she had hit the ball. Three overs later, Nawaz was given not out off Rabeya Khan, and Bangladesh reviewed a close call. Replays showed the ball close to both the bat and the pad as it spun back in, and third umpire N Janani ruled it had hit the pad first.

Nawaz was out for 15.

Sana came in at No. 7 and hit the sixth ball she faced for four. She was the only batter to get Marufa to the boundary when she creamed her through point. But Bangladesh soon applied the squeeze again. Pakistan scored six runs off the next 24 balls, and pressure told: Aliya tried to hit Nishita over long-off but didn't get enough on it, and Marufa ran in from the rope to take a good catch. Sana didn't last much longer. Two overs later, she played down the wrong line against Fahima, was hit on the front pad and was given out. Sana reviewed immediately, thinking both bat and pad were close to the ball, but umpire Janani upheld the on-field decision.

Legspinner Shorna found bounce and turn and had Natalia Pervaiz caught behind in her first over. Pakistan were in danger of being bowled out inside 35 overs. They avoided that, but only just, and still lost their ninth wicket in bizarre fashion. Nashra Sandhu left a full ball from Shorna, and as her bat came down, she struck her own stumps to become only the second batter to be dismissed hit wicket in Women's World Cups.

No runs were scored off Shorna's first three overs before Diana Baig swept her for four, but the fun was short-lived. Sadia Iqbal holed out to mid-on halfway through the 39th over to end the innings with 69 balls remaining.

With a modest score to defend, Pakistan had to strike a balance between taking wickets and keeping Bangladesh quiet – Sana and Baig got it right early on. They found movement

and teased the edge, and Bangladesh had only scored seven runs off the first 22 balls of their reply. And then Baig struck. She beat Fargana Hoque with a ball that seamed in and hit her on the knee roll. Pakistan reviewed, and Ultra Edge confirmed there was no bat and the ball would have hit leg stump. Baig delivered a five-over spell upfront, through the powerplay, with an analysis of 5-3-2-1. Pakistan went for a double spin after the fielding restrictions were lifted, and offspinner Shamim got the next wicket. She had Sharmin Akter out lbw as she was hit on the back pad. Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana took ten balls to get off the mark, but when she did, it was in some style. She advanced down the pitch to turn a Sadia Iqbal delivery into a half-volley and hit it down the ground for four. The tension was broken in the next over when Shamim's first ball beat everyone for four byes, and then Sultana swept and reverse swept her way to two more fours.

Haider then got in on the action. She cleared the front leg to hit Shamim wide of mid-on for four and then took on Sandhu in an over that cost 14 runs. Haider swung Sandhu over mid-on, carved her through backward point and then charged down the pitch to hit her over mid-off. Sana brought Baig back on, and Haider sent her over to mid-on too as Bangladesh took control.

Pakistan kept fighting as Baig and Sana tried their best to remove Haider and Sultana. Sana thought she had found Haider's outside edge and had her caught behind and sent it upstairs, but the ball hit her thigh pad on the way through. Soon Baig thought she had Sultana lbw and called for a review, but ball tracking showed it was sliding down leg. Eventually, the Pakistan pair combined when Sultana tried to shortarm jab Sana through short mid-wicket but bottom-ended to Baig.

Haider reached fifty off her 64th ball when she sent Ramim between point and cover for four. Bangladesh needed 29 runs from the last 24 overs and got there with 113 balls to spare. (ESPNcricinfo)

GDF, Police dominate again as Women’s League continues

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Women’s Football Club and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Women’s Club made up for last week’s hiatus in the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Women’s Division One League by deliver-

ing two commanding wins. Both sides overwhelmed their opponents with lopsided scores.

Action at the GFF’s National Training Center (NTC) in Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD), began on Wednesday evening with a clash between Police’s Women and Fruta Conquerors.

Fruta Conquerors held firm in the opening minutes, but a cheeky goal – a shot that slipped from the goal-

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced

a series of immediate and long-term reforms to strengthen West Indies cricket following an emergency meeting of the Cricket Strategy and Officiating Committee held in August. The meeting was convened after a run of disappointing results, including the historic defeat to Australia at Sabina Park in the final test of the series in July.

The session brought together a wide cross-section of key stakeholders, including West Indies legends Brian Lara and Sir Clive Lloyd, captains Shai Hope and Roston Chase, Head Coach and team management, and former players such as Anthony Grey and Ramnaresh Sarwan.

Challenges Identified

The Committee highlighted ten critical challenges affecting the state of West Indies cricket, including:

Declining quality of regional tournaments.

Technical, tactical, and mental skills deficiencies.

Underperforming franchise system.

Gaps in infrastructure and facilities.

Lack of specialist coaching support.

Limited ICC revenue share and financial constraints.

Fragmented player development pathways.

Inadequate fitness and conditioning standards.

Following a series of intense discussions during and in the weeks following the meeting, the Committee compiled a list of short-term and medium- to long-term action items and objectives focused on addressing these gaps, which were presented to and approved by CWI’s Board of Directors during their Quarterly Meeting on September 25.

Immediate Actions (0–6 Months)

Recruitment of Specialist Coaches: An internationally proven batting coach will be hired to work across the system, and a full-time sports psychologist/performance coach will join the senior men’s team. The women’s team role will also be upgraded to a full-time role.

High-Performance Centre Project: A capital project proposal will be advanced for a state-of-the-art facility at Coolidge Cricket Ground, including modern nets, a gym, and rehabilitation infrastructure.

Accountability and Standards: Franchise teams will now submit Individual Development Plans and meet new minimum standards. Player fitness will be closely tracked, supported by a new regional fitness leader board.

Further Actions (Medium to Long Term)

A National Cricket Development Framework unifying grassroots, school,

academy, and high-performance pathways.

Comprehensive franchise reform to ensure accountability for player development and consideration of alternative professional models.

Establishment of standardised academies for ages 11–18 to feed into the HighPerformance Program.

Completion of the HighPerformance Centre in Antigua as the regional hub for elite development.

Greater focus on finan cial sustainability, including lobbying for equitable ICC revenue distribution and new partnerships with gov ernments, private entities, and philanthropists.

A structured mentorship framework connecting cur rent and former West Indies players with emerging tal ent.

CWI’s Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, said, “These reforms rep resent decisive action to strengthen our systems, raise standards, and provide the next generation of play ers with the tools, facilities, and mentorship they need to succeed. While challenges remain, our commitment to cricket development across the region is unwavering, and all efforts will be made to prioritise the execution of these initiatives.”

CWI will provide ongo ing updates to stakeholders and fans as implementation begins across the regional cricket system.

keeper’s hands during the gather – gave Police their first strike. From that moment, the lawwomen never looked back.

Shanic Thornhill opened the scoring in the ninth minute, followed by Lakeisha Pearson, whose shot from outside the box found the back of the net in the 26th minute. Another long-range effort from Tiandi Smith in the 28th minute increased Police’s lead to 3–0 by halftime.

Thornhill added her second goal in the 42nd minute to open the second half, while Amanda McKenzie and S. Adams scored in the 44th and 60th minutes, respectively, sealing a 6–0 victory for Police.

form with a 16–0 thrashing of Western Tigers. Like Fruta Conquerors, Western Tigers started strongly, but their momentum dissipated when Abioce Heywood broke through in the ninth minute to score for GDF.

Heywood completed her brace in the 21st minute, while Zoruna Ali recorded a hat trick with goals in the 43rd, 46th, 49th, and 51st minutes. Glendy Lewis also netted a hat trick, scoring in the 11th, 17th, and 23rd minutes.

Later, GDF’s Women continued their dominant

Braces came from Sandra Johnson (30th,

39th), Sarena Johnson (47th, 48th), and Jalade Trim (55th, 59th), while Niomie Williams added a single strike in the 21st minute to bring GDF’s total to 16 goals. The Women’s Division One League action continues this evening, Friday, October 3, at the same venue with another double feature. Santos FC will face Ann’s Grove United at 18:00h, while Rivers’ View will battle Mainstay Goldstars FC starting at 19:30h.

Young Rivals, Ogle open with victories in East Coast First Division 50-Over competition

The East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB)

Navens Construction First Division 50-Over Competition got underway last weekend with two entertaining matches. Fans were treated to a mix of powerful batting, fiery bowling, and tense run chases as Young Rivals secured a commanding win over Golden Grove, while Ogle edged Fairfield in a close contest on home turf.

Young Rivals won the toss and elected to bat first.

could only muster 125 in 26.3 overs. Lawrence Pellew (32) and Steven Mangal (23) showed some resistance, but the bowling duo of Mickel Sharma (five wickets) and Joel Seetaram (four wickets) proved unplayable. Young Rivals cruised to victory by 118 runs.

Hosts Ogle opted to field first after winning the toss. Fairfield’s innings was anchored by a fine knock from Wasim Mustapha (92)*, but with little support from teammates, they were

Iformance this home season, the first day's play went some way to allaying it. Weakened they might be with the retirements of three legends, wounded they might be after losing the last series here 0-3, but there is still plenty of fire. The West Indies came under it and couldn't really muster up a response. After choosing to bat, they were bowled out for 162 with time to spare for the tea break. At stumps, they were clinging on to a lead of 41. Mohammed Siraj picked up where he left off after his Iron Man efforts in England. He focused on pitching the ball up. He targeted the top of the stumps. He didn't give the batter any easy reprieves, and that was enough for him to pick up four of the first five wickets to fall. He thought he had a fifth – which would've been a landmark moment because he doesn't have a fivefor at home – but DRS took it away. Jasprit Bumrah, his

new man at No. 3. But Sai Sudharsan's dismissal for 7 off 19 only served as a reminder that this team is still transitioning and that without Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin and Rishabh Pant, who is only injured, there are vulnerabilities. KL Rahul papered over them with a no-nonsense half-century. It feels like he knows how to match his output with his ability now. Something the West Indies are struggling with. Their XI has nine centuries in it. Two of their top three have yet to contribute to that count. The other one has a double, but he was coming back to international cricket after a 20-month break. Tagenarine Chanderpaul would be sorely disappointed with his return – out for a duck, caught down the leg side. But there were others who had reasons to feel more guilty. Brandon King left a straight ball to knock down his middle stump.

Alick Athanaze looked steady, especially after he got through a nervous first few deliveries where it seemed like he was too keen to feel bat on ball. The West Indian No. 3 was just starting to gain confidence in his defence when Siraj decided to prey on his inexperience. He had seen the batter settling in nicely and decided to tease him with a fuller delivery. Had the length been shorter, Athanaze might have been more circumspect with his shot. The fact that it was pitched up had his juices flowing. He went for a big booming drive and was caught at slip.

Roston Chase and Shai Hope offered some resistance. Theirs was the lon-

gest partnership of the innings – 70 balls – and it pushed India to produce the two best balls of the day.

Kuldeep Yadav, who had spent a five-match tour of England on the side-lines, struck with his eighth delivery back, creating a gap between Hope's bat and pad with his drift and surging through it with his dip and turn. It is ridiculous how often wrist spinners make the stumps look like an easy target.

Chase was the victim of Siraj's wobble-seam variation, although the real genius of the wicket lay in the steep angle that the fast bowler created into the right-hander. The West Indies captain was suckered into closing the face of his bat so early that he was caught by the wicketkeeper off the leading edge.

India's bowling wasn't at its threatening best – there

were seven fours in the first 10 overs – but they were better at the basics than their opposition. Bumrah did have one bit of the spectacular in him. At the Asia Cup, he was partly bowling his team to victory and partly testing his fitness out for these Test matches. Early indications were that his rhythm is on point. He spotted Greaves' tendency to bat with a huge back lift, which also curved to the off side, and knew it would be vulnerable to his yorker, and it proved so the very first time he tried.

Bumrah now has 50 Test wickets in India, and he got there in record time, a full 521 balls quicker than the previous mark set by Mohammed Shami. (ESPNcricinfo)

Historic Brazilian, Bahamian teams lined up for sixth KFC Goodwill tournament

In a historic move for a locally organised schools’ football tournament, schools from Brazil and the Bahamas will travel to the Land of Many Waters in December for the sixth edition of the KFC Goodwill International Schools’ Football Competition.

The major announcement was made on Wednesday evening at the Cara Lodge Hotel in Georgetown, where the Petra Organisation and sponsors KFC, alongside other stakeholders, gathered for the tournament’s launch.

This year’s competition will feature defending champions Chase’s Academic Foundation, Annai Secondary (Region Nine), and the winner or runner-up of the Republic Bank Secondary School League –all representing Guyana.

From Trinidad and Tobago, St Benedict’s College will compete. Kingston College of Jamaica, Anglican Central Education Authority (ACEA) Select of the Bahamas, Monteiro Lobato School of Boa Vista, Brazil, and Suriname’s Schools’ Championship winners will add to the tournament’s international flair.

The international expansion was highlighted by KFC Guyana CEO Paul Subryan, who hailed it as a major achievement.

“For your unwavering commitment to sports, to youth and to football in particular, I think that you guys have done a fantastic job, and by your hard work and commitment for what is near to us at KFC, we have no hesitation in coming on board with you guys for a 6th consecutive time,” the KFC Guyana CEO expressed.

Subryan opined, “This tournament, ladies and gentlemen, is going places, and we have now gone international. That is a big, big achievement.”

Meanwhile, Petra Organisation Co-

tion, camaraderie and cultural celebration,” Mendonca later added.

Also speaking at Wednesday evening’s launch was Assistant Director of Sport Franklin Wilson, who pledged the government’s support for the initiative.

Director Troy Mendonca revealed the tournament dates and format, which will see competition in a round-robin/knockout style, running from December 14 to 21.

Mendonca went on to share some rationale behind the tournament, also voicing his expectations.

The organiser shared, “We also use this tournament as a platform for these young footballers to showcase their talents, which positions them for scholarship and developmental opportunities.”

“I must say, the sixth annual Goodwill tournament promises to be an exciting and impactful event, and as such, we look forward to an unforgettable week of competi-

GBF receives “Award of Excellence” from CBC

The Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) continues to make waves in regional and international basketball, earning high praise from the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) for its outstanding leadership and development work.

During the CBC Assembly, held on the opening day of the FIBA Americas Assembly in Mexico City, Mexico, GBF Vice Presidents Rawle Toney and Jermaine Slater, along with General Secretary Patrick Haynes, proudly received an award recognising the Federation’s impact on the sport.

Leslie Collymore, CBC President, lauded Guyana as a “model federation within the CBC”, highlighting the country’s consistent commitment to both grassroots and elite-level basketball.

He noted that Guyana has gone beyond its borders to uplift Caribbean basketball, emphasising that the entire CBC benefits from the GBF’s initiatives.

Collymore further highlighted Guyana’s role as a trailblazer, becoming the first English-speaking Caribbean nation to host a FIBA 3x3 Quest event.

Collymore further recognised Guyana’s role as a trailblazer, becoming the first English-speaking Caribbean nation to host a FIBA 3x3 Quest event. He also highlighted Guyana’s up-

coming hosting of the FIBA Women’s Caribbean Championship, a tournament returning to the region after several years, as evidence of the GBF’s ability to stage landmark events.

Collymore added that Guyana and the GBF have stepped up when the region needed it most, hosting key internal tournaments and proving they can deliver at the highest level.

In response, the GBF expressed gratitude for the recognition, emphasising that the honour belongs to everyone involved in developing the sport locally.

“We are happy that the work done in Guyana is being recognised both regionally and internationally,” the Federation said in a statement.

According to the GBF, their efforts “extend beyond the shores of Guyana, and the CBC itself is benefiting from the growth initiatives we’ve put in place.”

The Federation also dedicated the award to its affiliates and partners, giving special acknowledgement to the Government of Guyana and the Guyana Olympic Association for their support.

With continued investment in both traditional basketball and the fast-growing 3x3 format, Guyana has positioned itself as a leader in Caribbean basketball, shaping the future of the sport across the region.

“It’s not easy; many have tried to pull together a few teams over the years, but we’ve seen it fizzle out over time, but Troy and Marlon, I think, because of their deep-rooted love for the game and the fact that they want to see organised football in Guyana, they’ve stood strong, and they have succeeded so far,” ADoS Franklin Wilson shared. Wilson reaffirmed, “The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, and by extension the Government of Guyana, as well as the National Sports Commission, will continue to lend its support to this tournament.”

This year’s tournament activities will once again feature a Cultural Night at the Umana Yana, providing a cultural immersion and exchange opportunity for the participating schools.