GRA introduces official badges for customs officers P 14
Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com
Issue No. 6587
THE BEACON OF TRUTH FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026
PRICE $100 VAT INCLUDED
Venezuela border controversy
WHAT'S INSIDE:
ICJ ruling can usher in new era of GuyanaVenezuela relations –...saysPres Ali tells UN Guyana went to ICJ after decades of bilateral efforts
Govt to tighten regulations P11 on granting of Guyanese citizenship, land ownership by non-citizens
See story on page 3
Jaskaran maintains election report is accurate under P8 cross-examination
...urges Venezuela to abide by upcoming ruling as interim President calls for fresh negotiations
Full Court clears way for State to take possession of VAMED hospital sites
2020 election fraud trial
Page 7
WCD woman P2 busted with ganja during Police raid
Over 220 allottees begin land P12 identification at Hoff Van Aurich Artistic impressions of the Georgetown Paediatric and Maternal Hospital (GPMH) and the New Amsterdam Hospital Campus (NAHC)
Yarrowkabra teen drowns while crossing Siparuni River Pres Ali lobbies UNSC Permanent Members to support Amb Rodrigues-Birkett for UN top post
Private Sector has vital role in setting foundation for gas development in Guyana – Routledge Page 15
– says her experience uniquely positions her to navigate challenges confronting organisation
Page 12
Page 10
Linden motorcyclist abandons bag with ganja during Police P2 pursuit
2 NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
motorcyclist abandons bag WCD woman busted with Linden with ganja during Police pursuit ganja during Police raid
The cannabis found during the operation
T
he discovery of a large quantity of cannabis during a Police operation at Crane Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara (WCD), has led to the arrest of a female who was at the location at the time. Police stated that during the operation, ranks visited a premises in the area, where they contacted a woman and requested to conduct a search of her property. The search reportedly unearthed three bulky parcels and several small Ziplock bags of cannabis. Following the discovery, the woman was arrested and escorted to the Vreeden-Hoop Police Station along with the ganja.
The abandoned cannabis being weighed
P
The bag with the ganja inside one of the rooms
While the Police did not provide the weight of the marijuana, they confirmed that three large parcels, along with 31 small con-
tainers and 332 dime bags, were found to contain the cannabis. The suspect remains in custody as investigations continue.
olice have reportedly discovered approximately 2.325 kilograms (kg) of cannabis during a patrol in the Bosai Bauxite Mines area in Upper Demerara River, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). According to Police, the discovery was made on Wednesday at about 19:45h, when ranks were in the vicinity of the entrance to the airstrip and observed two males travelling on separate XR motorcycles, each carrying a bulky bag on their backs. Upon noticing the Police vehicle, the men reportedly rode in the direction of the airstrip, prompting ranks to pursue them. During the chase, one of
the suspects lost control of his motorcycle and fell. He
subsequently abandoned the motorcycle and fled into nearby bushes, leaving behind a camouflage bag. The second suspect managed to escape on his motorcycle. Ranks examined the abandoned bag and discovered a large parcel wrapped in transparent plastic containing a quantity of cannabis. The motorcycle, bag and suspected narcotics were taken to the Mackenzie Police Station, where the cannabis was weighed and found to amount to 2.325 kg (5.1 pounds). No arrests were made at the time of the incident. Police said investigations are ongoing.
The camouflage bag containing the ganja after it was retrieved
NEWS
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
BRIDGE OPENING
Venezuela border controversy
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, September 25 – 15:25h–16:55h and Saturday, September 26 – 15:55h–17:25h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY Sunny skies interrupted by midday thundery showers are expected during the day, followed by clear skies at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius. Winds: East-North-Easterly to East-South-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.47 metres.
ICJ ruling can usher in new era of GuyanaVenezuela relations – Pres Ali tells UN ...says Guyana went to ICJ after decades of bilateral efforts ...urges Venezuela to abide by upcoming ruling as interim President calls for fresh negotiations
W
ith the International Court of Justice (ICJ) expected to deliver a decision in the coming months on the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela, President Dr Irfaan Ali has renewed calls for the Spanishspeaking nation to abide by the court’s decision, saying that it will set the stage for new neighbourly relations. The Guyanese leader made remarks during his
the longest are those that emerge from bilateral negotiations. They last longer and function better than those imposed by external bodies.”
Recourse to World Court
But President Ali on Thursday reminded us that it was under that very Geneva Agreement that the UN Secretary General (UNSG) referred the border controversy to be settled by the World Court.
High Tide: 15:51h reaching a maximum height of 2.65 metres. Low Tide: 09:27h and 21:43h reaching minimum heights of 0.59 metre and 0.52 metre.
President Dr Irfaan Ali addressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly on Thursday in New York
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Interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez
address at the 81st United Nations General Assembly on Thursday in New York, United States. “We urge Venezuela to abide by the forthcoming ruling in accordance with their obligation under the UN Charter, as Guyana will do. We look forward to a new era of neighbourly relations in the interest of our peoples, the development of our countries, and the stability and prosperity of our region,” President Ali stated. His comments come just one day after his Venezuelan counterpart, acting President Delcy Rodríguez, called for the two neighbouring nations to return to the negotiation table to settle the decades-long border controversy, even as she reaffirmed her country’s claims to two-thirds of Guyana’s 83,000 square miles. “Here, I appeal to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to resolve the issue and to return to negotiations as stipulated by the Geneva Agreement,” Rodríguez stated during her address to the UN Assembly, even as she wore a brooch that contained Guyana’s Essequibo region as part of the Venezuelan map. According to the interim Venezuelan President, “Agreements that last
“The matter was referred to the International Court of Justice by the Secretary
General, acting pursuant to the Geneva Agreement... Recourse to the ICJ came after decades of efforts to resolve the controversy bilaterally, including through a mixed commission and the Good Offices of the UNSG. In full respect for international law, Guyana participated and encouraged Venezuela to participate in the proceedings of the ICJ. Now that we have both participated in the hearings, which were completed in May 2026, we urge Venezuela to abide by the forthcoming ruling.” “Guyana has always advanced the peaceful set-
tlement of the controversy regarding our border with Venezuela. Despite the historical truth – clearly outlined in the Arbitral Award of 1899 that determined the full, perfect, and final settlement of our border with Venezuela – we endured long and repeated provocations and aggression,” the Guyanese Head of State noted. Venezuela is seeking to claim more than two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass and a section of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). TURN TO PAGE 5
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026
guyanatimesgy.com
Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Industrial Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com
Mangrove & Guyana’s coastal defence
T
he expansion of Guyana’s mangrove coverage during the first half of 2026 is a significant development in the country’s ongoing efforts to strengthen coastal resilience and protect communities, agricultural lands, and economic activity from the effects of erosion and climate change. According to the Government’s 2026 mid-year report, mangrove coverage increased from 21,053 hectares in 2025 to 21,377 hectares by June 2026, representing an expansion of 324 hectares, or approximately 3.24 square kilometres. The increase provides further evidence of the value of sustained investment in nature-based approaches to coastal protection. Guyana’s geographical circumstances make the preservation of its coastal environment particularly important. Much of the country’s population, agricultural production, infrastructure and commercial activity is concentrated along the Atlantic coast, making coastal areas vulnerable to erosion, flooding and other climate-related pressures. In this context, mangrove ecosystems provide a natural layer of protection alongside conventional sea-defence infrastructure. Mangroves help reduce the energy of waves before they reach the coastline, while their extensive root systems trap and stabilise sediment. This contributes to the formation and retention of coastal soils and can help reduce the rate at which shorelines are worn away by waves, currents and tidal action. Mangrove vegetation therefore has an important role in limiting coastal erosion while strengthening the stability of vulnerable shorelines. Mangrove ecosystems provide habitat and breeding areas for a range of marine and terrestrial species, contributing to biodiversity and supporting the ecological health of coastal and estuarine environments. Healthy mangrove systems can also contribute to carbon storage, making restoration an important component of broader climate-resilience efforts. The latest expansion is particularly noteworthy because it combines natural coastal protection with engineered infrastructure. The Government’s 2026 Public Sector Investment Programme includes a $284.5 million Mangrove Management project, covering restoration between Number 39 and Number 59 Villages, together with the construction of armour rocks and rubble-mound groynes. The classification of the project as critical reflects the importance of maintaining effective coastal protection in areas exposed to erosion and other environmental pressures. Mangrove restoration cannot replace engineered sea defences in every location, just as sea walls, groynes, and other structures cannot provide the full range of ecological benefits delivered by healthy mangrove ecosystems. The combination of both approaches therefore provides a more comprehensive framework for coastal management. Sustained mangrove restoration should remain an important component of national development planning. Long-term monitoring, protection of established mangrove areas, appropriate management of coastal activities and continued assessment of shoreline conditions are necessary to ensure that restored areas survive and continue providing their protective functions. The increase recorded during the first half of 2026 also highlights the importance of measuring the results of environmental investments. Regular assessments of mangrove coverage can provide useful information on the effectiveness of restoration programmes and help guide future interventions. Such monitoring can also identify areas where additional restoration or complementary coastal-defence measures are required. The addition of 324 hectares in six months is an expansion of a natural coastal asset that helps protect the shoreline, reduce erosion, support biodiversity and contribute to climate resilience. Continued investment in mangrove restoration, together with the maintenance and upgrading of sea and river defences, should remain central to the protection of Guyana’s vulnerable coastal zone. This sustained and integrated approach will provide stronger protection for communities, productive lands and national infrastructure while preserving ecosystems that are an important part of the country’s natural defence against the sea.
President Dr Irfaan Ali and United Nations Secretary General António Guterres at the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) in New York
The FAO faces a new agricultural revolution By Rattan Lal
H
umanity faces a paradox. We have never had so much scientific and technological knowledge to produce food, yet the need to transform the way we produce it has never been more evident. The Green Revolution was one of the great successes of the 20th century. Increased agricultural yields made it possible to feed billions of people and avert the famines that many considered inevitable. But that success came at a cost. The intensification of agriculture also contributed to soil degradation, increased use of water and inputs, and environmental impacts. The challenge of the 21st century is different. We must produce more with less. More food with less land. Higher productivity through more efficient water use. Greater prosperity for farmers, but also more carbon stored in the soil, greater biodiversity, and healthier ecosystems. This transformation must be at the heart of the next phase of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Latin America and the Caribbean have much to contribute. The region is one of the pillars of global food security and a vast laboratory for agricultural innovation. Argentina, Brazil, and other countries have developed production systems that incorporate science, technology, precision agriculture, no-till farming, genetic improvement, and new natural resource management practices. The biome known as the “Brazilian Cerrado” is an extraordinary example. Scientific research and decades of innovation made it possible to transform a region once considered to have limited agricultural potential into one of the world’s major food-producing centres. The lesson is not to mechanically transplant that model to other regions. The lesson is that science can transform natural constraints into opportunities for development.
Africa today needs its own agricultural revolution. There is no universal recipe. But there is a universal principle: science must guide decisions. I have dedicated much of my scientific life to demonstrating that soil health is inextricably linked to the health of plants, animals, people, ecosystems, and, ultimately, the planet. There can be no lasting food security with degraded soils. That is why I consider the experience of “Living Soils of the Americas” to be particularly important – an initiative we developed together with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) during the tenure of Argentine Manuel Otero. The initiative brought together science, Governments, farmers, businesses, and civil society organisations around a fundamental idea: increasing production and protecting the environment are not conflicting goals. Healthy soils can store carbon, conserve water, strengthen biodiversity, improve resilience, and, at the same time, sustain agricultural productivity. The experience gained in the Americas then began to extend to Africa. Innovations developed over decades in places like Brazil’s Cerrado can offer valuable insights for the African savannas. This exchange epitomises what modern international cooperation should be: not imposing models, but sharing knowledge and building solutions. The FAO possesses an extraordinary combination of knowledge, international presence, and the ability to bring people together. But international institutions only fully justify their existence when that capital is transformed into concrete benefits for their member countries and for the people they are meant to serve. In agriculture, that means reaching the producer. The FAO of the future must be closer to farmers, scientists, businesses, universities, and decision-makers. It
must identify solutions that work, connect them with those who need them, and help adapt and scale them up. We need to bridge the gap between knowledge and the field. During my years of collaboration with IICA, I had the opportunity to work closely with Manuel Otero and observe his approach to agricultural cooperation. Otero promoted partnerships among scientists, producers, Governments, and the Private Sector, and advocated for international cooperation focused on concrete results. Our joint experience showed that an international organisation can act as a bridge between science and public policy and transfer knowledge from one region to another. This kind of experience takes on particular relevance in light of the challenges facing the FAO. The organisation needs to deepen its ties with its member countries, place farmers at the centre of its actions, strengthen partnerships with the scientific community and the private sector, and more effectively share best practices. Otero’s track record offers a concrete perspective on how to approach this transformation. His potential candidacy for Director General of the FAO would provide a comprehensive set of solutions to the challenges the organisation faces. But the challenge goes beyond any single individual. What is at stake is what kind of FAO the world needs. We need an organisation capable of leading a new agricultural revolution: one grounded in science, that enables us to produce more with less, that restores soils rather than degrading them, and that generates prosperity. The knowledge already exists. So do the examples. We need the ability to turn them into action. (Rattan Lal is the Director of the Lal Center for Carbon Management and Sequestration (C-MASC) at Ohio State University. World Food Prize laureate)
guyanatimesgy.com
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026
5
You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate, Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com
Guyana Development Bank and how Guyanese could access loans Dear Editor, The establishment of the Guyana Development Bank (GDB) is another great vision of His Excellency Dr Mohammed Irfaan Ali, which will be creating a new opportunity for Guyanese citizens who have viable business ideas but have traditionally struggled to obtain financing from commercial banks and/or other lending institutions. This is a new financing initiative which will certainly benefit our Guyanese entrepreneurs, farmers, and small businesses. The Bank is expected to be launched on October 5, 2026 (a significant month in Guyanese political history), following the signing and gazetting of the Commencement Order on September 16 by the Honourable Senior Minister Dr Ashni Singh. The Government has announced that the bank will begin with a US$100 mil-
lion (which is approximately GY$20 billion) capital injection. One of the central features is access to loans of up to GY$3 million with zero interest and without any collateral for eligible borrowers. This programme is intended particularly to assist small and medium-sized enterprises, young entrepreneurs, women, farmers, agro-processing, manufacturers, tourism, and other entrepreneurs. The Government has also stated that financing will be accompanied by business mentorship, training, technical assistance and support with business planning. This means the programme is intended to provide more than money. It is designed to give entrepreneurs assistance in developing businesses capable of generating income and repaying their loans. This PPP/C Government has also encouraged people
who are interested to begin preparing their business plans before the bank becomes fully operational. However, it is my view that while you do not have to present any form of collateral in the borrowing of the GY$3 million, you must have to present a good business plan which could convince the bank of your ability to repay the interest-free loan based on the bank’s repayment operating rules. Agriculture, for example, could represent one of the areas where the GY$3 million facility could have a significant impact. A farmer could potentially invest in areas such as: • Vegetable production • Poultry • Livestock • Aquaculture • Farm machinery • Greenhouses and shade houses • Hypophonic Agriculture
ICJ ruling can usher in...
Back in March 2018, Guyana approached the ICJ seeking a final and binding affirmation of the 1899 Arbitral Award, which demarcated the boundary with Venezuela. The Spanish-speaking nation is laying claims to more than two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass and a portion of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), where over 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) have been found, and production as well as other exploration activities are ongoing. Back in 2018, and based on the recommendation of UNSG António Guterres following years of failed diplomacy between the two countries, Guyana had approached the ICJ, seeking a final and binding affirmation of the 1899 Arbitral Award, which establishes the boundary with Venezuela. The case wrapped up back in May of this year after both countries were given two opportunities to make arguments on the merits of their respective cases at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands. The ICJ is now deliberating on its decision, which is expected to be delivered early in the new year. President Ali had previously said that the ICJ’s pending ruling will give finality to the border controversy with Venezuela, and Guyana will wait with patience and dignity for that decision – which he is confident will be in his country’s favour.
Peaceful resolution of global conflicts
Meanwhile, Guyanese leader’s
the push
for a peaceful settlement of the border controversy with Venezuela aligns with Guyana’s longstanding position for the stability and prosperity of the region. In fact, he used the opportunity to call for an end to the crises facing countries within the Latin American and Caribbean region. In Haiti, he said resolving the multidimensional challenges remains central to achieving democracy, stability, peace, and prosperity for the Haitian people. According to Ali, the sustained support of the international community through the provision of key financial and material resources is critical to realising these objectives. However, he stressed that the future of Haiti must ultimately be Haitian-led and Haitianowned. Similarly, he reiterated calls for a viable solution for Cuba – one that is peaceful, people-centred, development-focused, and allows for the full aspirations of the Cuban people to be re-
alised. He underscored the Caribbean Community’s (Caricom’s) offer to play a meaningful role in achieving this objective. Turning his attention to ongoing conflicts around the world, the Guyanese leader renewed Guyana’s call for a just and lasting solution to
• • •
Crop production Storage Food processing such as fruit juice, pepper sauce, etc. • Packaging • Transportation A GY$3 million investment could potentially help an entrepreneur acquire small-scale processing and packaging equipment, block making, manufacturing, tourism, etc. The Development Bank is specifically intended to improve access to financing for young entrepreneurs. This could provide an alternative pathway for young Guyanese who want to become entrepreneurs rather than relying solely on traditional employment. Take another example: a trained electrician could establish an electrical contracting company. A trained mechanic could establish a repair workshop. A trained chef could establish a catering business. A
trained computer technician could establish an information-technology business. The fundamental requirement will be transforming the skill or idea into a viable business proposal, especially now in a fast-developing country where these essential services are urgently required. Women are also among the groups specifically identified as beneficiaries under this initiative. The facility could potentially support women operating or establishing businesses in areas such as catering, food production, garment manufacturing, beauty salons, etc. There have already been several outreaches by Government ministers and senior Government officials concerning the Development Bank and its benefits to the Guyanese people. For Region 10, my region, the financing opportunity could be particularly relevant as Linden and surrounding
communities seek to diversify beyond their historic dependence on bauxite and logging. Finally, a successful business venture can create employment, support farmers, provide services to communities, generate income for households and contribute to national development and economic activity. The forthcoming Guyana Development Bank represents a significant new financing mechanism for eligible Guyanese entrepreneurs and small businesses. With the bank scheduled to launch on October 5, 2026, the immediate opportunity for prospective entrepreneurs is to prepare carefully, develop realistic business plans and identify productive ventures capable of generating sustainable income.
tion,” President Ali posited. In the same breath, he also advocated for an end to the Russia-Ukraine war and the war in Sudan and for a peaceful resolution of all conflicts that continue to consume lives, uproot families, and extinguish the hopes of millions in other
parts of our world. “We have the possibility of silencing the guns through dialogue and diplomacy. The world does not need more sophisticated instruments of destruction; it needs a more sophisticated capacity for peace,” the Head of State noted.
Yours sincerely, Andrew Forsythe
FROM PAGE 3
the crisis in the Middle East that will not only bring an end to the suffering of innocent civilians but also recognise the Palestinian people’s legitimate right to self-determination and to a secure homeland of their own. “We reiterate our support for the two-state solu-
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 00:00 Sign Off 06:00 Islam for Guyana 06:30 TVG Devotional Hour 07:00 Evening News (RB) 08:00 HGTV 09:00 Stop Suffering 10:00 Food Network 12:00 Movie - An Aurora Teagarden Mystery: Dead Over Heels (2017) 13:30 Movie - Pets United (2019) 15:00 Cartoons 16:00 Indian Soaps 17:00 The Young & The Restless 18:00 Documentary: Nat Geo Animals 19:00 The Evening News 20:00 Stop Suffering 20:30 TVG Music Break 21:00 Heartland S4 E16 22:00 Movie - Anger Management (2003)
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026
Foundation ◄
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guyanatimesgy.com
Sets
CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY
Three-set Venn diagram using symbols A clothes shop is carrying out some market research. They want to find out what accessories people wear when the weather turns cold. The resulting tallies of hats, scarves, and gloves are shown below in a Venn diagram.
By a L ou Walton
Calculate P(SU(H∩G)) We want all the frequencies in the group S, or those in the intersection of H and G:
31 + 56 + 31 + 38 + 44 = 200 42 + 31 + 38 + 56 + 44 + 31 + 29 + 17 = 288 25 P(SU(H∩G)) =200 288 =36
Tea Bag Rocket Step 1: Take your tea bag and snip off the top with the scissors, empty out the tea leaves into the bin or a separate container. Step 2: Unfold the tea bag and hollow it out using your finger. Step 3: Stand your tea bag upright onto the plate and light both sides with the lighter/ match. Step 4: Stand back and watch the magic begin!
Tea bag Scissors Lighter or matches Plate
(Source: Poetry ([November 1957])
Start or end your story with a warning that nobody takes seriously.
Materials • • • •
It was an ill-appointed place That weather-cocked a face Straight to the north. Sun struck old timber Into gold, Meadow leafed over Green to cold; The weather she created Stayed winter unabated. Wind turned its arrow South or west, Blossom and sparrow, Crown and crest, Entered her parlor But to die Crossed on the retina Of her eye.
(pagingfunmums.com)
WORD SEARCH
NEWS
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
Full Court clears way for State to take possession of VAMED hospital sites
T
he Full Court has set aside five preservation orders made against the State in the legal dispute involving Austrian engineering company VAMED Engineering GmbH, clearing the way for the Health Ministry to take possession of the affected hospital sites, containers, and equipment. According to a press release issued Thursday by the AG’s Chambers, the Full Court on September 22, 2026, allowed the AG’s appeal against the preservation orders made by Justice Renita Singh on August 6,
tainers and equipment. The Health Ministry was further ordered to preserve contractors’ documents, property designs, plans, and intellectual property. In its decision, the Full Court found that the preservation orders could not stand, stating that they were inconsistent with Justice Renita Singh’s findings and that their legal foundation had not been adequately established. The Full Court held, “... the preservation orders cannot stand. They are inconsistent with the learned tri-
However, the Full Court’s decision did not disturb the High Court’s refusal of VAMED’s applications for conservatory and restraining orders. The High Court’s order referring the underlying contractual dispute to arbitration also remains in place. The Full Court awarded the AG $500,000 in costs. The AG’s Chambers said the ruling means the Ministry of Health is now cleared to take possession of the sites, containers, equipment, and associated construction materials and to
New Amsterdam Hospital Campus construction site
2026. The dispute concerns the Ministry of Health’s termination of construction contracts for the Georgetown Paediatric and Maternal Hospital (GPMH) and the New Amsterdam Hospital Campus (NAHC). The appeal was heard by Acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh and Justice Zamilla Ally-Seepaul, who issued orders directing the Ministry of Health to preserve the two hospital sites, along with 52 containers and equipment located at the GPMH site. The Ministry was also
al Judge’s findings. Their legal foundation was inadequately established, and their substantive effect was not properly considered.” The Full Court ruled that Section 16 of the State Liability and Proceedings Act prohibits injunctions against the State in proceedings of this nature. It found that the statutory prohibition could not be circumvented by describing orders regulating the State’s conduct as preservation orders or by relying on the Civil Procedure Rules. The Judges also found that the preservation or-
proceed with the projects as it sees fit. The State was represented by AG Anil Nandlall SC, together with Deputy Solicitor General Shoshana Lall, and attorneys Prithima Kissoon and Joshua Cullen of the AG’s Chambers. VAMED Engineering was represented by attorney Nigel Hughes. The Government terminated both hospital contracts with the Austrian company on July 23, 2026, citing breaches of the agreements and significant delays in the completion of the projects.
The incomplete Georgetown Paediatric and Maternal Hospital
ordered not to open or otherwise interfere with the containers or equipment. One of the orders has also restricted access to the GPMH site, allowing VAMED Engineering’s security personnel to enter only for the purpose of securing the con-
ders lacked the necessary statutory basis under the Arbitration Act 2024. They noted that the orders conflicted with the trial Judge’s findings that there was no urgency and that damages would have been an adequate remedy.
The Government had made repeated efforts to engage the contractor and have the works completed while also seeking to resolve the outstanding disputes amicably. However, those efforts did not result in the contractor fulfilling its con-
Acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh
tractual obligations. By the time the contracts were terminated, the works on both projects had fallen significantly behind the schedules stipulated under the agreements. Following the termination, the Government took steps to secure both hospital sites and the materials located there, in keeping with pro-
Justice Zamilla Ally-Seepaul
visions contained in the contracts. The Government also moved to call in the performance bonds associated with the two contracts. Each contract was backed by a €15 million performance bond, placing the combined value of the two bonds at €30 million. The bonds were issued by the
Bank of Austria. The two projects represent major investments in Guyana’s healthcare infrastructure. The US$161 million New Amsterdam Hospital Campus in Region Six is being developed as a 230-bed, Level Five healthcare facility, with advanced diagnostic services, specialised care, and five operating theatres. The €149 million Georgetown Paediatric and Maternal Hospital at Ogle is designed as a 256-bed specialised facility focused on maternal and child healthcare. The project includes surgical facilities, an intensive care unit, imaging services, and oncology services. The contractual dispute is to be resolved through arbitration, with the Paris, France-based International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) set to conduct the arbitration hearings in Guyana.
8 NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
2020 election fraud trial
Jaskaran maintains election report is accurate under cross-examination S
pecial Prosecutor Latchmie Rahamat on Thursday said forensic accounting auditor Terrence Jaskaran maintained the credibility, accuracy and completeness of his report as defence attorney Dexter Todd continued cross-examination in the trial arising from the alleged fraud surrounding the March 2020 General and Regional Elections. Providing an update on the case, Rahamat told reporters that Todd’s questioning challenged the credibility of the report prepared by the auditor. Jaskaran was initially retained by the Ministry of Home Affairs on August 21, 2020, as a forensic audit consultant attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters. His involvement in the specific election analysis came later when, on May 25, 2021, Police Officer Nigel Stephens requested that he conduct a tabulation and verification analysis of certified copies of Statements of Poll (SoPs) from the March 2, 2020 elections. He was asked to compare the figures recorded on the certified SoPs with the declarations contained in Forms 24 and identify any variations. Jaskaran subsequently conducted the exercise at CID Headquarters, using a laptop provided by the Guyana Police Force (GPF), and completed his report on July 28, 2021. “Mr Jaskaran continues under cross-examination. Today [Thursday], Mr Dexter Todd continued the cross-examination, and what he essentially challenged was the credibility of the report,” Rahamat said. According to the prosecutor, Jaskaran maintained during questioning that the limitations associated with his work were identified in his report and that the report was complete based on the certified SoPs provided to him. She said, “And on the cross-examination, Mr Jaskaran maintains the accuracy of his report, and he has indicated that in his report, any or all limitations were noted. She said Jaskaran was also questioned about whether his tabulation and report were complete. “He insisted when asked and probed in relation to whether his tabulation or his report was complete, that he did present a complete report based on all the certified SoPs that were given to him,” Rahamat added. Rahamat explained that Jaskaran compared his calculations for Region Four
Chartered Accountant Terrence Jaskaran
with declarations made on March 5 and March 13, 2020. “He did take those SoPs, the certified copies, and he compared the District Four calculations that he made with the declarations from the 5th and the 13th of March 2020.” The prosecutor also addressed questions surrounding the laptop Jaskaran used to conduct his work and the fact that he did not take the laptop or the certified documents home with him. According to her,
“This is important evidence because if a suggestion is made that the data that he placed into the laptop could have been tampered with, Mr Jaskaran has plainly rejected any such suggestions. He has maintained that he put a password on the police laptop and he made his checks to verify that the information that he had put in was accurate,” she said. The prosecutor also addressed questions surrounding five SoPs that were unavailable to Jaskaran
“And that was information that he confirmed. His report, he says, and insisted repeatedly was complete because he noted those limitations, and he termed it a limitation in his report.” Rahamat said Jaskaran continued to stand by the credibility and accuracy of his findings. “And so, he is insisting that the report he presented was credible and accurate and complete based on the certified copies of the SoPs that were presented to him,” she stated. Jaskaran faces further cross-examination when the trial resumes on Monday. Nine persons are currently before the court charged with offences ranging from conspiracy to commit electoral fraud in relation to the tabulation and declaration of votes for the 2020 elections. Those charged include former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, former Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers, former Region Four Returning Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo, former A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Minister Volda Lawrence and former APNU+AFC Chief Scrutineer Carol SmithJoseph. The other accused are former GECOM em-
The nine defendants
Jaskaran testified that the laptop was provided to him by the Guyana Police Force and that he placed a password on it that was known only to him. Rahamat said Jaskaran testified that he left the laptop at the GPF after completing his work each day, while the certified SoPs were also returned to Police Officer Nigel Stephens. Rahamat said the evidence was relevant to suggestions that the information entered into the laptop could have been altered.
when he conducted his tabulations. Rahamat said Jaskaran had identified the five unavailable SoPs as a limitation in his report but nevertheless maintained that the report was complete based on the certified copies that were provided to him. Rahamat said, “So, what Mr Jaskaran told the court was that for the tabulations that he did for the certified SoPs for District Four, he found that there were five SoPs that were unavailable.”
ployees Enrique Livan, Sheffern February, Michelle Miller and Denise BobbCummings. The prosecution, led by King’s Counsel Darshan Ramdhani, alleged that the nine accused conspired to manipulate the tabulation of votes in Region Four and ultimately declare a false result in favour of APNU+AFC. It further alleged that the accused inflated the coalition’s votes, reduced those of the PPP/C and departed from the prescribed process for ascertaining the results.
Flaunting… W
…eye pass
earing the brooch with that map of Venezuela including Essequibo that has provoked so much criticism from Caricom and had us lodge a diplomatic protest, Devious Delcy showed up at the UN General Assembly, to address them as the acting president of Venezuela!! Your Eyewitness hopes the Guyanese delegation at the event walked out in protest – just as SEVENTY-SEVEN COUNTRIES did when Netanyahu took to the podium!! But Devious Delcy went way beyond chutzpah all the way to “rass pass” when – calling the UN “the very headquarters of international law” she urged Guyana to abandon the course set under the 1966 Geneva Agreement and return to bilateral negotiations over Essequibo!! Agreements made face to face, she suggested, work better than those imposed by “external bodies” – which in this case just happens to be THE UN body set up to settle disputes between nations!! Devious Delcy knows fully well that the 1966 Geneva Agreement gave the UN Secretary-General authority to choose a means of settlement – after bilateral talks and years of his “good offices” mediated by bigwigs like Norman Girvan went nowhere!! The good Secretary General chose the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – the UN’s own principal judicial organ – because the Geneva Agreement which Devious Delcy invoked to give authority to her ridiculous claim – stipulated that he had to pick a route from the UN Charter Article 33!! The ICJ then duly faced the threshold issue and ruled that it has jurisdiction!! It seems that to Devious Delcy, “international law” is the best thing since she got her job after her boss Mad Maduro was extracted – until it acquires judges!! She also praised President Trump for renewing relations with Venezuela and helping revive its economy and as such – even though she couldn’t say it!! – keeping her as president!! That makes her plea even more awkward since Washington has affirmed its support for Guyana’s sovereignty over Essequibo – while she courts American help!! One can thank the US for rebuilding the house, it seems, while hoping it’s gonna look away as one claims the neighbour’s yard!! With a ruling expected in early 2027, Devious Delcy’s sudden bout of affection for another round of talks has a sound familiar to we Guyanese – when the case is before the magistrate, leh we settle it outside!! But we have learnt our “sense” after Pressie gave Mad Maduro the benefit of the doubt when they crafted the Argyle Agreement after direct talks – and then went on to “annex” our Essequibo!! Fool me once….!! The case is already before the Court – and even if it didn’t look so favourable for us – we got no reason to trade that process for another conversation without an end date!!
…hysteria From the reaction of the Opposition – especially Sanction Man – to the US putting Judge Dino’s visa on pause, you’d think that our little, ole Guyana not only have influence on America – but also occupy the White House!! Maybe Pressie should’ve chaired that meeting with Trump?? They insist the PPP Govt is behind the action!! Being the conspiracy theorists, they are they see the PPP’s hand in everything that may have even the most tenuous connection with them!! And that puts them at odds with what they’re saying as to whether there’s actually a nexus between the good judge and themselves!! They insist that they’ve never met much less done the wining and dining these greases currying favour!! So why have they gotten their bucktas – slack or otherwise! – all in knots about the US action? Frankly in your Eyewitness’s estimate – and in the words of the Bard – methinks they doth protest too much!! There’s the old tried, tested and true folk wisdom that asserts “where there’s smoke, there’s fire”!! …anti-narco cred At the Shield of the Americas meeting in NY hosted by Pres Trump – the main item on the agenda was battling the narco-gangs in the hemisphere!! Guyana’s got a vested interest here – since the narcs intertwine with gold smugglers!! The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance
Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
Coordinated action, investment needed to strengthen global food security – Dr Singh tells UN forum
...highlights Guyana’s approach to tackling hunger
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inance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh reinforced the need for integrated and coordinated action across agri-food systems and sustained investment to build and strengthen resilience, as these are required to make healthy diets more affordable and accessible to all. He was at the time delivering remarks on Tuesday during a HighLevel Ministerial Dialogue at the United Nations Headquarters in New York under the theme “From Leaving the Hunger Map to Sustaining Progress in Latin America and the Caribbean”. Dr Singh, during his address, highlighted the measures that have been implemented by the Government of Guyana, which has allowed the country to be recognised as one of the countries from Latin America and
seen in years, growing 2.6 per cent in August and now 15 per cent above a year ago, while fertiliser has also seen record growth, with average urea prices over the first eight months running 31.3 per cent above the same period last year.” The Minister also pointed to the price of diesel, which he noted “is a critical input to agricultural production” and which “is also currently trading at historically high prices, more than 60 per cent higher than a year ago. These and other similar developments do not augur well for the global food security outlook in the near term.” It was here that the Minister urged the need for integrated and coordinated action across agri-food systems and sustained investment to build and strengthen resilience. Further, he zeroed in
Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh addressing the UN Forum
Guyana’s National School Feeding Programme that supplies fortified daily hot meals to combat short-term hunger and reduce stunting and wasting; and implementing a Comprehensive Child and Youth Health Programme and School
Participants at the forum on Tuesday
the Caribbean that have successfully reduced the prevalence of hunger and undernourishment to below 2.5 per cent, with Guyana noted for being “capable of self-sufficiently feeding its entire population across all seven essential food groups without foreign imports.” He noted, however, that despite this, Guyana has still not escaped the impacts of severe weather and geopolitical disruptions. “Guyana is proud to be one of those countries, and we congratulate all of the other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean – Brazil, Chile, and the Dominican Republic – who have achieved this major milestone,” he said, but noted that “as we heard earlier, despite some reduction in food insecurity across the globe, progress remains uneven and vulnerable to multiple shocks. An estimated 520 million people could still face hunger in 2030, rendering us off track in achieving the SDG 2 target of zero hunger,” Dr Singh explained. He added,”Stark as they might appear, these projections may in fact understate the magnitude of the problem, given the potential impact of the currently ongoing El Niño conditions and disruptions to agri-food systems resulting from geopolitical tensions. Wheat prices, for example, have surged in recent weeks to levels not
on the measures taken by Guyana thus far as a comprehensive approach to address the structural factors affecting access to healthy diets through the increase of supply via domestic production and trade and prioritising food affordability and nutrition, particularly for children. “Some of our measures include significant investments in growing and diversifying agriculture, expanding both production and exports, reducing production costs, and promoting economies of scale, including through investments in transport infrastructure to open more arable land and improve farm-tomarket connectivity, as well as a regional food hub with cold storage capability to facilitate trade.” Dr Singh added that the Government has also been promoting the use of more data-driven, scientific, climate-resilient methods in agriculture, including hydroponic and shade house technology; incentivising private investment in agriculture and crowding in private capital to agribusiness, including by removing corporate taxes on income earned by companies from agricultural activity; rolling out farmers’ markets nationwide as part of a broader effort to reduce inefficiency and improve competitiveness in the market for food items and ease food price pressures; continuing
Screening that is proactive and preventative, providing health screenings for nursery, primary, and secondary school children. He also highlighted the creation of new jobs in the country, as he referenced the 156,000 new jobs created in the past five years, as broadly, the Government has been ensuring broad-based, job-intensive economic growth in order to improve livelihoods, increase disposable incomes, and raise household ability to meet basic nutritional necessities. “These and other measures have helped to keep the incidence of hunger, undernourishment, and child malnutrition low over the last five years,” Dr Singh posited. Meanwhile, he stated that looking ahead, even as Guyana navigates volatile commodity prices, supply chain disruptions, imported inflation, and El Niño conditions, the country remains resolute with President Irfaan Ali’s leadership in continuing to spearhead the Caricom “25 x 2025 + 5” Initiative and in the pursuit of strengthening regional food security through increasing agricultural output and by ensuring more efficient intra-regional trade in agricultural output and food products, thereby reducing the region’s food import bill and improving the region’s food security outcomes in a lasting manner.
10 NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
Pres Ali lobbies UNSC Permanent Members to support Amb Rodrigues-Birkett for UN top post – says her experience uniquely positions her to navigate challenges confronting organisation
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resident Irfaan Ali appealed to the United Nations Security Council and the wider body to support Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett’s
Council, and every member here to look beyond the small country that nominated her,” the President said in his address yesterday morning in New York, as the
responsibility for recommending the next Secretary General rests, in the first instance, with the Security Council, and we therefore respectfully place before its
Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and other Guyanese Ministers of Government at the UN General Assembly
candidacy for Secretary General (SG), as she possesses the experience and leadership skills necessary to give greater voice to small States like hers and rebuild trust in an increasingly fractured international order. “In the humblest of ways, I call on the P5, the Security
81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) continued. “CARICOM, as a body, has endorsed her. And let us rise to the challenge of giving this Indigenous woman the chance to help us craft together the United Nations we want to see succeed. The
members the candidature of Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett ,” he added. And as Rodrigues-Birkett sat with Guyana’s delegation, the President reasoned that the organisation’s future credibility depends on leadership capable of championing multilateralism at a
time when geopolitical tensions, armed conflicts, widening inequalities, and global insecurity continue to test international institutions, and she embodies this inclusive, principled skill set. Embracing this “new and invigorated multilateralism”, he said, would see a UN capable of confronting the turbulence of the present era while defending the rules-based international order, but the reforms needed cannot happen without strong leadership. “The United Nations needs its next Secretary General to work with all member states to restore confidence in the organisation, mobilise its energies, and turn the language of multilateralism from aspiration into action,” he stated. Rodrigues-Birkett , he described, is a leader whose career and experience uniquely position her to navigate the challenges confronting the organisation. “It is in this spirit that Guyana has put forward the candidature of Her Excellency Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett for the office of Secretary General of
President Dr Irfaan Ali during his address to the UN General Assembly on Thursday
the United Nations,” he posited. Ali also highlighted her service to Guyana, her advocacy on behalf of developing countries, and her extensive work within the multilateral system. “She has served her country, represented the developing world, and worked within the multilateral system with a deep understanding of both its promise and its imperfections,” he told delegates. According to the President, her qualities align closely with the demands of the current moment. “We believe that her experience, her convictions, and her record of service speak directly to the kind of leadership this moment demands,” he said. Ali suggested that the significance of her candidacy extends beyond Guyana itself, presenting it as a symbol of the aspirations of smaller states and developing nations that seek greater inclusion within international decision-making structures. He noted that the UN requires leadership capable of bridging growing divides between rich and poor nations, major powers and smaller states, and the developed and developing worlds. “We need leadership capable of restoring trust without compromising principle; of listening without surrendering conviction; of building bridges across the widening chasms between North and South, between large states and small, and between the developed and developing worlds,” he said. The President further argued that the SG must be willing to uphold the UN Charter consistently and courageously. “We need a Secretary General who will defend the Charter not only when it is politically convenient but precisely when its principles are under pressure,” he stated. A significant portion of Ali’s appeal centred on Rodrigues-Birkett ’s personal story, which he portrayed as emblematic of resilience,
determination, and social mobility. Describing her as an Indigenous woman who emerged from a small Indigenous village to attain positions of national and international leadership, Ali said her life experience gives her a unique appreciation of the struggles faced by many across the developing world. “An indigenous woman coming from a small indigenous village, defying the odds – the odds against indigenous persons, the odds against women, the odds against poverty – defying every challenge and rising to the top amidst those challenges,” he said. Her character, he added, has been shaped by “struggle, sacrifice, and commitment”, while her achievements have been grounded in her sense of humanity. The President, whom Rodrigues-Birkett has said encouraged her to take up candidacy and who has been “very, very supportive” and has extended the blessings of his Government, stated that his personal assessment of Rodrigues-Birkett is that she is a figure of exceptional integrity and dedication. “This is an individual of exceptional qualities, not because she is Guyanese or because she comes from Guyana, but because I know her personally,” he said. He noted that many diplomats stationed at the UN were already familiar with her record and character. “The Permanent Representatives here in New York know her character, her integrity, her will, her commitment, her love for humanity, and her love for this world,” he said. And if the UN’s 193 countries want to ensure peace and security, the protection of human rights, and fostering international cooperation continue for generations to come, they would choose Rodrigues-Birkett . Said the President, “I know that this world will be a better place with Carolyn Rodrigues as the Secretary General of the United Nations.”
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
Govt to tighten regulations on Corriverton contractor granting of Guyanese citizenship, fined $80K for assaulting land ownership by non-citizens Police Officer
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ttorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall stated that the Government is moving to tighten regulations on the granting of Guyanese citizenship as well as land ownership by non-citizens. He added that the legal and regulatory frameworks governing immigration and citizenship in Guyana are under review. Non-citizens can currently purchase and own private freehold property and land in Guyana with the same legal rights as local citizens, though the Government announced plans in September 2026 to review and tighten regulations surrounding non-citizen land and property ownership. Speaking during his programme, “Issues in the News”, on Tuesday evening, he said this review is being conducted by the AG’s Chambers in collaboration with the Labour and Manpower Planning, Home Affairs, and the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministries.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall
“Of course, a large part of our citizenship laws is constitutional. A large part of our citizen regulatory framework, rather, is constitutional. So that can’t be changed by ordinary legislation. But the aspects of it that can be changed by ordinary legislation that is currently being reviewed are the objective, which is to restrict acquisition of Guyanese citizenship, to put checks and balances in place, to regulate with greater scrutiny the grant
of citizenship, and to regulate land ownership or property ownership in respect of non-citizens of Guyana.” He said the issue remains topical, noting that several key stakeholder organisations have made a case to the Government and continue to advocate for the initiative to begin. The AG explained that the process will be consultative, while outlining the Government’s intended approach to regulations in the areas of citizenship, labour, health and safety. Noting that these are very topical issues, Nandlall assured that the review process will be widely consultative. Further speaking on the Government’s legislative agenda, Nandlall noted that the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning is un-
dertaking two important exercises in relation to the country’s labour landscape. The first is a comprehensive review of Guyana’s existing labour laws. “And we have a consultant here, Justice Deborah Thomas-Felix, former president of the Industrial Court of Trinidad and Tobago, and another expert from the International Labour Organization, ILO. They are looking at the current landscape. They are identifying the gaps. And then they will submit a report, out of which we will draw recommendations of different types, including statutory outputs.” He noted that consultations are ongoing with stakeholders, including various Government ministries and agencies, as well as members of the private sector and wider civil society. The other important undertaking is a review of the country’s health and safety regulatory framework. “This is crucial to ensure the safety of our workers, in particular in areas in the new and emerging sectors in our country, where we have little or no relevant regulatory framework. So, this health and safety regulatory initiative is intended to address issues in that area. In terms of our immigration and citizenship laws, that is also the subject of a review by the ministries and of course, a large part of our citizenship laws is constitutional.”
Police Lance Corporal Odeal Cort and the accused, Nicolas Matthews
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3 3 - y e a r - o l d Corriverton contractor on Wednesday changed his plea to guilty in connection with the assault of an off-duty Police Officer and was fined $80,000 by Magistrate Tuanna Hardy. Nicolas Matthews of Number 77 Housing Scheme, Corriverton, was scheduled to begin trial at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court when he informed the court that he wanted to change his plea. Matthews subsequently pleaded guilty to unlawfully assaulting Police Lance Corporal Odeal Cort and causing him actual bodily harm. He was fined $80,000 and ordered to pay the fine by October 31, failing which he will serve two weeks’ imprisonment. Attorney-atlaw Vinay Punwa represented the Police in the matter, while Matthews was rep-
resented by attorney Ryan Crawford. The matter arose from an incident on June 1, 2026, at Number 79 Village, Corriverton. Matthews had initially pleaded not guilty when he appeared before the Whim Magistrate’s Court and was subsequently remanded to prison after Magistrate Hardy refused bail. The court had previously heard allegations that Cort, who was off duty at the time, had completed grocery shopping with his wife when Matthews allegedly confronted him with a baseball bat and struck him several times. The matter was subsequently transferred to the Springlands Magistrate’s Court, where the trial was scheduled to commence on Wednesday. Matthews instead changed his plea to guilty and was fined.
12 NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
Over 220 allottees begin land identification at Hoff Van Aurich – remaining lots to be ready within a month as infrastructure works 90% complete
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ore than 200 allottees at the Hoff Van Aurich New Housing Development on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), have accessed their residential lots, as the Housing Ministry through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) advances development works in the area. Subject Minister Collin Croal joined beneficiaries during the lot identification exercise on Thursday, which commenced with 214 residential lots that are ready to be shown to their respective owners. The exercise follows the Minister’s visit to the region two weeks ago, when he updated residents on ongoing infrastructure works and housing construction across the Essequibo Coast. Croal said infrastructure works at Hoff Van Aurich are approximately 90 per cent complete, with the remaining lots expected to be
Housing Minister Collin Croal and two residents after identifying their house lot
ready for identification within the next month. “We are pleased that persons are now able to identify and access their lots and begin the process towards construction,” the Minister said.
With the continued advancement of works, more than 500 beneficiaries are expected to have access to their respective lots before the end of the year. Electricity installation has also commenced within the
A section of the area under infrastructural development
development. The Minister further disclosed that the Ministry expects to commence the signing of Agreements of Sale before year-end, paving the way for beneficiaries to advance the processing of their ownership documents and
building plans. Meanwhile, works are progressing on the main access road that will eventually connect Hoff Van Aurich to the new housing development being prepared at Perseverance. The ministry is targeting an initial 1,000 allocations within that development as part of its wider efforts to address the housing application backlog in the region. Croal, however, urged allottees who have identified their lots to regularly monitor and maintain their properties to guard against encroachment and ensure that the boundaries identified by surveyors remain intact. He also encouraged beneficiaries to use this period to begin preparing their building plans and engaging financial institutions to determine mortgage requirements, including in-
come eligibility and the documentation necessary to secure financing. While building plans cannot yet be processed until the Agreements of Sale are signed, the Minister noted that completing these preparatory steps will allow beneficiaries to move more quickly towards financing and construction once their documentation is in place. Allottees were also encouraged to familiarise themselves with the Single Window Planning Approval System, through which building and planning applications are processed. The ongoing works at Hoff Van Aurich form part of the Ministry’s broader housing development programme on the Essequibo Coast, aimed at opening new lands, improving infrastructure and creating greater opportunities for homeownership.
Yarrowkabra teen drowns while crossing Siparuni River
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16-year-old boy from Circuitville, Yarrowkabra, along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, reportedly drowned in the Siparuni River in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) after allegedly disappearing underwater while attempting to cross the river. The teen, identified as Bentley Joseph Jr, had reportedly travelled with several others from their camp to an area known as “Tunnel” to engage in mining activities. Reports indicated that on Sunday, Joseph and his cousin were attempting to cross the Siparuni River on foot at an area known as Rock Bar when he fell into the rapidly flowing water. Although he reportedly attempted to swim, Joseph went under and did not resurface. An alarm was raised, prompting a search for the teenager. His body was discovered floating in the river on Tuesday. Police were summoned to the scene, and an examination of the body revealed
Dead: Bentley Joseph Jr
no visible marks of violence which suggested foul play was involved. Joseph’s body was subsequently transported to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination. Police investigations into the circumstances surrounding the teen’s death are ongoing.
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
China Railway First Group leads clean-up efforts at fire-ravaged Hope Children’s Home W
ith only a few months after a ravaging fire tore through the Hope Children’s Home in Enmore in July, China Railway First Group (Guyana) Inc stepped in to provide clean-up assistance at no cost, helping to clear
pany deployed workers and equipment to remove fire-damaged materials and construction debris, helping prepare the site for reconstruction. The fire caused extensive damage to the children’s home and left large amounts
The China Railway First Group (Guyana) Inc team
The team removed damaged roofing materials and wooden beams and cleared large quantities of construction debris from the site. Kenneth Finlayson, Director of Hope Children’s Home,
Clean-up works being done
the severely damaged facility and prepare the site for reconstruction. China Railway First Group (Guyana) Inc has provided clean-up assistance at no cost to Hope Children’s Home in Enmore after a fire severely damaged the facility in July. Over nine days, the com-
of burnt materials and debris at the property. With limited financial resources, the home was unable to undertake the clean-up on its own. Following coordination with the Chinese Embassy in Guyana, China Railway First Group mobilised personnel and machinery to assist with the work.
later expressed his appreciation to the company and its workers in a letter, describing their work as "excellent". He also thanked the Chinese Embassy in Guyana and Ambassador Yang Yang for
helping arrange the assistance. The initiative also reflects China Railway First Group’s continued participation in community and public-welfare activities in
Guyana. Alongside its infrastructure projects, the company has taken part in local initiatives aimed at supporting communities and fulfilling its corporate social responsibility.
14 NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
ERC engages Port Kaituma stakeholders, supports GRA introduces families affected by MV Barima tragedy official badges for
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he Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) held an interactive stakeholder engagement on Wednesday at Port Kaituma, North West District (NWD), Region One (Barima-Waini), bringing together more than 70 residents, community leaders, and stakeholders from across the Matarkai Sub-region. The delegation was led by ERC Chairman Shaikh Moeenul Hack and included Commissioners Norris Witter, Ashton Simon, Rev Rodwell Porter, Ras Khafra (Mr Deon Dick), Chandrowtie Sarran, and Pandit Krishn Sharma, alongside Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Oma Devi-Sukhu. The engagement provided a platform for stakeholders to share concerns, experiences, and perspectives on matters affecting ethnic relations, community development, and social cohesion. The Commission also used the opportunity to provide information on its constitutional mandate and functions while hearing directly from residents about issues affecting their communities.
Support for families affected by MV Barima tragedy
A significant component of the Commission’s visit was its engagement with family members and other persons affected by the MV Barima tragedy. The Chairman and Commissioners listened to their concerns and offered support as they continued to cope with emotional and economic challenges following the loss of loved ones. As part of this outreach, the Commission distributed hampers to bereaved families and other people affected by the tragedy, providing
customs officers
Families of survivors of the MV Barima tragedy receiving hampers from ERC officials
GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia hands over one of the badges to a customs officer
T practical assistance while reinforcing the ERC’s commitment to supporting affected communities during this difficult period. The ERC will continue to engage affected families as part of its follow-up efforts, including facilitating further engagement where necessary and assisting with matters that fall within the Commission’s mandate. Chairman Shaikh Hack, who is also a member of the Hope, Empathy, Aid, Resilience, and Trust (HEART) Initiative, a national framework established to provide long-term, sustained support to survivors and bereaved families of the MV Barima tragedy, noted that continued support will also be provided
through the initiative.
Harmony Clubs
The stakeholder engagement followed a series of educational and community outreach activities conducted by the ERC earlier in the week. On Monday last, a team from the Commission’s Public Education and Awareness Unit (PEAU) visited students at Falls Top Primary School, where they provided information on the ERC’s constitutional mandate, functions, and role in promoting harmony and good relations among Guyanese. This was followed by the launch of a Harmony Club at Port Kaituma Primary School on Tuesday, which
saw more than 30 pupils participate in activities focused on tolerance, mutual respect, and appreciation for Guyana’s ethnic and cultural diversity. Headteacher Leslyn Bobb welcomed the initiative and expressed support for the establishment of the club. The District Education Officer (DECO) for the Matarkai Sub-region, Oshelle Bartrum, speaking on behalf of the Education Ministry, also welcomed the Harmony Club as a complementary initiative that encourages students to develop positive relationships with their peers, families, and wider communities. The Port Kaituma launch represents another step in the ERC’s expanding Harmony Clubs programme, which has now reached hundreds of students across participating schools nationwide. Following pilot initiatives in the capital city of Georgetown at Stella Maris, St Gabriel’s, Comenius, St Ambrose, and North Georgetown Primary, the programme has expanded to Mahdia and Micobie in Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni); Kamarang in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni); Kuru Kururu in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica); and now Port Kaituma. Through the initiative, the ERC seeks to equip young people with values of tolerance, mutual respect, and appreciation for diversity while encouraging them to carry these principles beyond the classroom and into their homes, families, and wider communities. The ERC will continue its regional outreach and stakeholder engagements as part of its constitutional responsibility to promote harmony, peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and good relations among all Guyanese.
he Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Thursday stated that it has introduced official identification badges for Customs Officers, adding a new and important element to the professional attire of officers assigned to Customs, Excise and Trade Operations. The GRA, in a release, stated that while Customs badges are not new to the profession, as they were
first points of contact for persons entering the country through its borders and ports of entry. “Their appearance, conduct and overall presentation are therefore critical to creating a professional and welcoming first impression of Guyana. The initiative is also intended to help address growing concerns surrounding individuals impersonating customs officers to perpetrate fraud and oth-
The official custom officer’s badge
previously part of the officer’s uniform, changes to the dress code over the years saw their use discontinued. The reintroduction of the badges therefore forms part of the GRA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen professionalism, accountability, and public confidence in Customs operations. “The new badges were introduced following approximately two years of careful consideration and planning. They were designed with reference to international standards established by the World Customs Organization (WCO), providing members of the public with a simple and recognisable means of identifying and confirming the identity of Customs Officers,” the release added. Further, it stated that with Guyana experiencing rapid economic growth and an accompanying increase in visitor arrivals, customs officers are often among the
er illegal activities. The Customs Officer’s uniform remains an important component of Customs’ identity and representation.” The GRA stated that officers receiving their badges have been provided with guidelines governing its proper use, handling and care. Meanwhile, at a simple commissioning and distribution ceremony recently held at GRA Headquarters, Commissioner-General of the GRA, Godfrey Statia, encouraged the officers to wear their badges with pride and to recognise the responsibility associated with representing the Authority. Comptroller of Customs Rohan Beekhoo also urged officers to always remember the importance of exercising good conduct in the execution of their official duties, emphasising that the badge represents not only the officer but also the professionalism and integrity of the Customs Administration.
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
Private Sector has vital role in setting foundation for gas development in Guyana – Routledge – Min Indar pushes investment opportunities for Guyanese
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ocal private bodies are being called upon to play a greater role in efforts to create the enabling environment for investments in Guyana’s gas resources. This call was made by the President of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), Alistair Routledge, during the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (GCCI) 2026 Energy Luncheon held on Thursday under the theme “Beyond the Barrel: Oil, Gas, Growth, and the Guyanese Contractor”. The United States oil major has already laid a US$1 billion pipeline to bring natural gas from the Liza field offshore to the Gas-to-Energy (GtE) project site at Wales, West Bank Demerara, where a power plant and Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility are being built. The pipeline will start delivering gas later this year to generate power. However, the Guyana Government is pursuing another massive gas development project in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) that would require a much larger pipeline. Routledge had previously said this second pipeline would cost approximately US$2 billion – double the cost of the existing infrastructure. But the EMGL President
foundational investments in the pipeline to bring the gas onshore and all the associated infrastructure that goes with it,” Routledge noted.
Private Sector role
President of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, Alistair Routledge
noted on Thursday that before such a huge investment is made, the necessary foundation must be laid. “The paths that we’re on, with the Government, to bring that gas to shore at Wales and Berbice is a huge opportunity to deliver more jobs, more investments onshore – more industries – and to diversify the economic development of the country. But it’s complicated because you have to tie that offshore development and production through a pipeline to onshore demand.” “So, that is where we are. We’re trying to match up what some anchor gas purchases are, whether those are in data centres, aluminium melting, or more power generation for the country. We need some significant gas demand in order to make the
According to the ExxonMobil Guyana head, foreign investors will be looking for certain security before injecting their capital and expertise into the local market. These include certainty of gas supply, which industry to invest in, the investment terms, and who the potential partners are to work with in Guyana. This, Routledge says, is where local bodies like GCCI, the Private Sector Commission (PSC), and even the Berbice business chambers must step up. “[They] have a vital role to play. A vital role in helping those with capital and those with expertise to come into Guyana and deploy it wisely. Helping local businesses to be a part of it, the business associations and chambers are critical,” he posited. Similarly, important in laying the foundation to attract foreign investment is a clear roadmap for the industry, and according to the EMGL President, Guyanese business leaders must also be involved in this process. “There are a lot of discussions ongoing about where the development zone should
Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar
be [in Berbice]... because until we can say, ‘Here is the land where everything will be built; here is where the deep-water port will be’, there is not a lot of belief externally that there is a roadmap for how this will happen.” “We can call on the Government, and they clearly play a leading role, but we all have expertise and knowledge that should be part of and contribute to those decisions... So, I think a bigger discussion would be beneficial, but we do need to move quickly to bring clarity to what that location is,” the ExxonMobil Guyana boss emphasised.
Opportunities
Nevertheless, Routledge believes that there is massive potential and value to be had from developing
Guyana’s gas resources – a view that Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar also shared while delivering the keynote address at the Chamber’s Energy Luncheon on Thursday. Zoning in on gas development, the Minister called on businesses to study where the sector is heading, identify areas in which they can build expertise, and invest in the people, systems, and partnerships needed to compete. He cited opportunities expected to emerge from the Gas-to-Energy development, including gas utilisation, storage, transportation, and downstream industries. According to Indar, Guyanese companies should begin building the technical knowledge and capacity needed to participate. “If you don’t know about gas, you have to learn. You have to bring somebody who knows or find a partner who understands the business,” he said. “You have the C5+ [carbon five plus] gas, which are the aromatics and the pentanes that help to make gasoline. You have the isobutanes... that make deodorants that you spray. We haven’t even gone to that area as yet. We have refrigeration gas... fertilisers... so you have all of these things that you can do to monetise the gas.” While the Guyana Government is yet to explore
all the possible value-added products that come from gas, it has already moved ahead with plans to start bottling cooking gas, and proposals have already been received from companies interested in undertaking this. But with the impending Berbice gas development expected to bring a larger volume of gas, Minister Indar contended that many opportunities will be available for locals. “Berbice Development is a whole new ball game because that side will have more gas available for use on land... Just think about that: five times the amount of gas for use in Berbice. It tells you where gas is going... I don’t know if anybody in this room knows about installation and how to maintain the gas pipelines... but it is coming, and you have to have Private Sector people like yourself with partners to handle it,” he asserted. Further drawing on the theme of Thursday’s luncheon, Indar went on to encourage local businesses to look beyond oil production and position themselves for the growing range of opportunities emerging across the wider economy, including areas such as logistics, transportation, warehousing, construction, certification, specialised technical services, training, and waste management, among others.
One Communications mobile, Internet services restored at reduced capacity after destruction of fibre cables
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Chief Executive Officer of One Communications, Abraham Smith
ne Communications stated on Tuesday that its mobile data and fibre internet services were restored at a reduced capacity following a disruption caused by a private company carry-
ing out construction works along Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown. According to the telecommunications company, contractors damaged a critical section of its fibre network at approximate-
ly 15:16h on Wednesday, affecting both mobile data and fibre internet services. Technical teams responded immediately after the damage was identified, launching restoration efforts and implementing net-
work rerouting measures to reduce the impact on customers. Services were restored at reduced capacity approximately one hour after the incident, with temporary full restoration achieved at 12:05h. One Communications said the damaged cable remains in a temporary configuration, and its engineering teams are currently assessing the most suitable time to carry out a permanent repair while minimising any potential disruption to customers and businesses. “Telecommunications infrastructure is critical to modern life, supporting personal communications, businesses, financial services, healthcare, education, Government operations, and emergency communications. Protecting this infrastructure is essential to national resilience, public safety, and economic stability,” the company stated.
One Communications related that, as a long-standing partner in Guyana’s development and digital transformation, it remains committed to providing reliable connectivity to support economic growth, business operations and communities across the country. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of One Communications, Abraham Smith, expressed gratitude to the Government and the company’s technical teams for their support throughout the incident. “I would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Office of the Prime Minister, the Telecommunications Agency, and Minister Juan Edghill for their support and engagement throughout the restoration process. We are also deeply grateful to our engineers, technicians, and operations teams who worked tirelessly through the night to restore services as quickly and safely as possible. Their
dedication, professionalism, and commitment were instrumental in returning our customers to service.” Meanwhile, Community and Government Relations Manager Jasmin Harris underscored the importance of protecting critical telecommunications infrastructure. “Our telecommunications network spans communities and businesses throughout Guyana, with critical infrastructure located both above and below ground. Damage to these facilities can result in widespread service disruptions affecting thousands of customers. We encourage all contractors, developers, and individuals planning excavation or construction work to contact us before digging so that these assets can be properly identified and protected.” One Communications said it remains committed to strengthening and protecting the infrastructure that keeps Guyana connected.
16 NEWS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
27 technicians certified as GEA tackle growing EV skills gap
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he Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) has completed a two-week certification programme for auto electricians and mechanical technicians, aimed squarely at closing the skills gap opened by the rapid arrival of electric and hybrid vehicles into the local market. Held at the Mahaicony Technical and Vocational Training Centre (MTVTC), the training unfolded in two stages: a Level Three course from September 14 to 18, followed by a Level Four course from September 21 to 25. Successful participants will receive certification from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), a UKbased body whose credentials carry weight across the international automotive trade. This is GEA’s fourth cohort under this programme, and 27 auto electricians and mechanical technicians participated. The push to train local technicians comes as Guyana’s EV fleet grows at pace. GEA Chief Executive Officer Dr Mahender Sharma revealed in February 2025 that more than 220 electric vehicles had been imported into the country over the preceding five years, with 44 of those arriving in 2024 alone. By September 2025,
GEA reported the total had climbed past 280, suggesting the pace of importation has accelerated well beyond the previous year’s rate. That growth has been aided by Guyana’s tax incentives for EVs, which remain exempt from customs duty, excise tax, and VAT regardless of the vehicle’s age or power rating. The market has also gained a new entry point: in April 2025, GT Automotive launched as the exclusive Guyana dealer for BYD, introducing five electric and hybrid models to the local market. It is a trend that has not gone unnoticed by the people doing the training. Director of the UKbased REVAMP Training Company, Stephen Burr, led the instruction alongside fellow REVAMP educator James Sampson, who told the Guyana Times that the sheer volume of new vehicles arriving is the clearest justification for the programme. “There’s such an exponential growth now of EVs coming into Guyana with BYD and other manufacturers. They’re seeing a lot of new vehicle types, some of the older types of EVs and hybrids. Of course, the maintenance of that is critical in helping you remain safe.” He told this publication.
That growth, Burr explained, is about more than keeping vehicles on the road; it is about keeping the technicians who service them safe, given the high-voltage systems involved in EV battery work. “As vehicles increase, there will be a need for the technicians to repair
Level Four participants worked through a hands-on high-voltage battery exercise, learning to safely open an EV battery pack, identify and diagnose faulty cells, and carry out proper repair and reassembly procedures, practical application of the safe-isolation and battery-handling principles
that would bring in roughly 41 applicants who didn’t make it into this round. “We’ve already trained over 100 technicians over the last four years. In the next programme, we’ll see another cohort of potentially 41 additional who didn’t make it on this round of training,” he said.
and maintain these EVs as well,” he said. “That’s really the driver for training them technically and to support the younger Guyana technicians who are a little more entrepreneurial and wish to develop businesses in the repair of this equipment.” That safety-first approach played out directly in the workshop. According to a GEA press release,
built into the course curriculum. Interest in the programme far exceeded the spots available. GEA made the selections of candidates for the programme. “There were a lot of applicants, nearly 100,” Burr said. He added that REVAMP and GEA are already looking toward a further cohort, one
REVAMP’s initial Guyana training took place roughly four years ago, with earlier cohorts trained at other facilities before this year’s sessions shifted to MTVTC, a site Burr singled out for its practical workshop capacity. “We trained the rest of them down here... because they have the fantastic facilities that we can utilise to
lift the car, to take batteries off, and all of the things we need to do,” he said. Most of the technicians who came through this year’s programme had a strong technical foundation. “I would say 75 to 80 per cent of the students were from a technical background… Some have university degrees, not master’s-level degrees. Some were just technicians who work on heavy vehicles as well as some of the smaller light vehicles,” Burr said. He also pointed to a use for these skills beyond fourwheeled vehicles. Electric bikes and scooters, he explained, run on much of the same underlying technology as EVs, just at a smaller scale and lower voltage. “The technology of electric bikes is very, very similar to what’s on the vehicle on a smaller scale. Although the voltages are not considered high voltage, as these vehicles are, the theory and the mechanism of maintaining them are very similar,” he added. The programme reflects a broader push by the Government of Guyana, channelled through GEA and its international partners, to build the local technical capacity needed to support a vehicle market that, by every available measure, is only accelerating.
MoPW orders removal of derelict vehicles, coconut stalls in Kitty
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s the Government intensifies its campaign to remove derelicts and other encumbrances from roadways countrywide, the Public Works Ministry on Thursday called on owners of several stationary vehicles and coconut stalls
Some of the derelict vehicles and other encumbrances along Kitty Old Road
along the Old Railway Line in Kitty, Georgetown, to immediately remove them. The Ministry continues to remind the public that road shoulders are not designated storage spaces and must remain clear for the safety of all road users. “As standard procedure,
failure to remove these vehicles will see the Ministry stepping in to have them removed. Please note, the property of all owners who continue to relocate from one location to another and/ or continue to disregard the removal notices will be seized,” the Ministry add-
ed.
Furthermore, the Ministry stated it is not interested in permanently withholding property and, as such, advised that all costs associated with the removal, once done by the Ministry, will be the sole responsibility of the de-
faulting owner. Nevertheless, to reclaim any seized property, owners are required to visit the Ministry to settle the outstanding removal costs before the items can be uplifted. It was recently reported that some 50 persons have
already been hauled before the courts as the Ministry aggressively stepped up its campaign. The Ministry encouraged Neighbourhood Democratic Councils to take the necessary actions to remove derelict vehicles and other encumbrances.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026
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News
CDC warns of floods, forest fires as El Niño conditions expected to persist into next year
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he Civil Defence Commission (CDC) is warning communities across Guyana to prepare for both flash flooding and forest fires as El Niño conditions continue, stressing that the ongoing dry spell does not eliminate the risk of heavy rainfall and flooding. Deputy Director General of the CDC, LieutenantColonel Mark Thomas, issued the warning during a sensitisation consultation in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), part of a nationwide programme aimed at helping regional authorities and communities prepare for the effects of the weather phenomenon. Farmers’ groups, NDC members, regional council-
agement,” he explained during an interview on the consultations. He said the El Niño situation is expected to continue into the first quarter of next year, with October projected to be warmer than September, making preparation for water management particularly important. For farmers, Thomas said planning should include systems to harvest and store water when rainfall occurs, with livestock and cash crops among those requiring attention. But he cautioned that reduced rainfall does not mean communities can discount flooding. “Not because it’s a dry spell during this El Niño; you can also have flash floods
Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NCCs) and Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) have been advised to take a more proactive role, including ensuring that appropriate procedures are followed and firebreaks are established before fires are lit. The response also includes strengthening firefighting capacity in communities without regular fire-service coverage. The CDC has been providing basic firefighting training to volunteers and community members, including members of the Guyana Defence Force Reserve, while NDCs are being provided with protective equipment and other supplies.
The CDC is also preparing for a worst-case scenario, with Thomas noting that Guyana had to seek outside assistance after being overwhelmed during the 2024 floods. He said the country remains in contact with the Caribbean Disaster Agency, Brazil and the United Nations should international assistance become necessary. The heat component of the El Niño conditions is another concern, particularly for people who spend long periods outdoors. Thomas said young children, construction workers and employees of utilities such as Guyana Power and Light and the Guyana Water Authority need to be proper-
gion’s dependence on agriculture. He said the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) is developing an action plan that includes increased public awareness through stakeholder engagements and community consultations. Phillips said the campaign will address heat-related health concerns and water and energy conservation, while attention will also
Dry conditions persist across the country
lors and residents turned out Thursday for a consultation hosted by the CDC in the region as part of a nationwide sensitisation drive during the El Niño period. The exercise has already been held in Regions Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) and Four (Demerara-Mahaica), with Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) being held today and Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) set to follow next week, before the Commission moves into the hinterland regions. Thomas said the CDC is taking a proactive approach, with consultations being held with regional officials, Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, village councils and other Government agencies across the country. “We want to have a proactive approach to disaster risk man-
because of rain. There will be rain.” Thomas said heavy downpours can still occur and may result in flash flooding, particularly in low-lying communities. He urged regions to put systems in place now to respond if those events occur. The CDC is also warning of an increased risk of forest fires during the dry period. Thomas said Guyana experienced numerous forest fires in 2024 and referred to a recent fire at Kukwani. Thomas added the slashand-burn land preparation remains common in some rural and hinterland communities, but farmers must take precautions before lighting fires. “The problem is, once you light a fire and the necessary systems are not put in place, the fire can get away.” He further stated that
At the national level, Thomas said the National Emergency Center is being supported by regional emergency systems that will allow problems to be reported so assistance can be coordinated.
Deputy Director General Lieutenant Colonel Mark Thomas
ly educated about maintaining hydration while working outside. In Region Five, where the latest consultation was held, Chairman Ricardo Phillips said the exercise was particularly relevant given the re-
be given to elderly persons, shut-ins and persons with disabilities who may be more vulnerable to the effects of the heat. “This consultation here today is very timely because many of the sector agen-
cies that are here are presenting mitigative plans for how the region can mitigate the effects of the El Niño period... we have a variety of groups here, a wide range of stakeholders, we have farmers’ groups, members of all NDCs, regional councillors, and residents of Region 5,” the Regional Chairman explained. Region Five is a low-lying coastal region built largely on rice, sugar, cash crops, and cattle, making it particularly exposed to shifts in rainfall and temperature. Phillips said the RDC is now building out an action plan of its own, starting with a public awareness campaign that will roll out through community consultations across the region. “We will be sharing health tips and how to mitigate the effects of this heat and of the weather, and also we’ll be sharing other water conservation and energy conservation measures across the region,” he noted. Meanwhile, Thomas’s message to communities is that preparation now can reduce the difficulty of the months ahead. “If we stay proactive and we discuss and we put systems and plans in place, then this period should not be a difficult period for us.”
Scotiabank Guyana recognised for digital banking, mobile app excellence S cotiabank has been named Guyana’s Best Consumer Digital Bank 2026 by Global Finance and has also earned the award for Best Mobile Banking App in Guyana. The double recognition marks the third consecutive year that Scotiabank has been honoured for its digital banking leadership, underscoring the bank’s continued investment in secure, convenient and innovative banking solutions
for clients. The Global Finance Best Digital Bank Awards are among the most respected in the financial services industry, recognising organisations that demonstrate excellence in digital strategy, customer adoption, product offerings, innovation, and user experience. Winners are selected based on their success in attracting and serving digital customers, growth in digital users, measurable benefits delivered through
digital initiatives, and the functionality of their web and mobile platforms. Founder and Editorial Director of Global Finance Joseph Giarraputo related that “digital banking has become one of the most important areas of focus for the financial industry, as banks expand their use of AI, automation and advanced data analytics. Rising expectations for speed, personalisation and seamless digital experiences are pushing banks
to innovate while strengthening security, resilience and regulatory compliance. Global Finance’s World’s Best Digital Banks 2026 are the institutions setting new standards for digital banking worldwide.” Meanwhile, Country Head of Scotiabank Guyana Nafeeza Gaffoor stated that the bank was honoured to once again be recognised by Global Finance for its digital banking capabilities. “These awards reflect our continued investment
in solutions that make banking simpler, safer and more convenient for our clients. As our clients increasingly choose digital channels to manage their finances, we remain focused on delivering intuitive experiences backed by the security, reliability and service they expect from Scotiabank. We thank our clients for their trust and our employees for their ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence.”
Country Head of Scotiabank Guyana, Nafeeza Gaffoor
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026
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Regional
Trump rallies Latin American T&T: End of SoE does not mean end of intensified policing – Police allies against drug cartels
US President Donald Trump participates in a Shield of the Americas event on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly
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nited States President Donald Trump has pledged to use “unmatched military might” against drug cartels in the Western Hemisphere during a meeting of the Washington-led Shield of the Americas coalition in New York City. In a meeting with leaders and foreign ministers from the anti-cartel alliance, Trump urged member countries on Tuesday to join the US in targeting 24 criminal organisations,
which he earlier described as the “ISIS of the Western Hemisphere”. The meeting took place on the side-lines of the annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City. The coalition’s 15 Governments later issued a joint statement saying they intended to impose asset freezes and visa restrictions on members and supporters of the groups and to pursue criminal charges against them.
At the top of the list are two groups that have been declared “terrorist” organisations by Washington: Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) – one of Central America’s most powerful criminal gangs – and Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang that is also active in Colombia, Peru, and Chile. The list also includes major Mexican cartels, Colombian armed groups such as the National Liberation Army, Brazil’s Primeiro Comando da Capital and Comando Vermelho groups, and Peru’s Shining Path. The coalition is made up of Governments closely aligned with Trump, including Argentina, Ecuador, and El Salvador, whose leaders he has praised or endorsed. Colombia and Peru joined after Trump-aligned Presidents took office in recent months. Brazil and Mexico have not joined. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
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he Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) Police Service (TTPS) has reinforced its promise to protect and serve all citizens across T&T, regardless of where they reside. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Operations, Suzette Martin, yesterday assured, “We will continue to perform our duties within the law, professionally, proportionately and responsibly.” Fielding questions during a media briefing at the Police Administration Building, Port-of-Spain, Martin addressed safety and security concerns following the end of the State
of Emergency (SoE) last week. The third SoE, which ran from March 3 to September 17, saw thousands of officers participate in sustained operations during the 199-day period. Martin said the end of the SoE did not mean a return to what existed before. Stressing that the SoE’s conclusion did not mean a reduction in Police vigilance, visibility or operational activity, she said there had been a seamless transition from the SoE into a strengthened post-SoE policing posture. Martin endorsed the operationalisation of three
Hurricane Polo expected to make landfall on Sunday night
Venezuela’s interim President promises election
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enezuela’s interim President, Delcy Rodríguez, has announced that elections will be held as part of a transition to “full democracy” but did not specify a date. Rodríguez was sworn in just days after her predecessor in office, Nicolás Maduro, was seized by US forces and taken to New York to face drug-trafficking charges. She has enjoyed the backing of the Trump Administration despite her previously close ties to Maduro. The Opposition in
Venezuela has slammed her for not setting even a tentative date for elections. Critics of her Government have long denounced the 2024 election, after which Maduro was declared President and she Vice President, as fraudulent, and say they have vote tallies to back up their claim. Speaking at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Rodríguez insisted that “there will be elections in Venezuela” and that the Venezuelan people would determine “the right moment” when to hold them.
The interim President, who was a close ally of Maduro and served as his Vice President until his ouster by the US, did not mention the jailed former leader once. Less than nine months after the US raid on the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, in which the Presidential couple was seized and about 100 persons killed, she thanked US President Donald Trump “for his willingness to take the path of diplomatic relations and cooperation”. (Excerpt from BBC News)
A&B Cabinet approves detection dogs for ports to find guns, ammunition
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he Antigua and Barbuda (A&B) Cabinet has approved the acquisition of detection dogs for deployment at the ports as part of the islands’ effort to stop illegal firearms and ammunition from entering the country. Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant said at the post-Cabinet news conference that the dogs would be trained to help port authorities detect firearms, ammunition and currency. He did not say how many dogs would be acquired, what the programme would cost, or when they would be deployed. The Cabinet called for greater scrutiny during container clearance and directed customs officials to speed up the acquisition of portable scanning equipment and urged faster progress toward
Residents place sandbags as a protective barrier against strong waves generated by Hurricane Polo
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eavy surf and rain lashed southwestern Mexico as “extremely powerful” Hurricane Polo crawls northwest offshore the mainland, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in a bulletin on Thursday. With maximum sustained winds near 250 kilometres (km) per hour. Polo has been classified last as a Category Four storm, a notch down from Category
bringing the port’s container scanner fully into operation. Merchant did not give a timetable for those measures. The dogs would add another way to check cargo and other areas at the ports as authorities work to identify weapons before they enter circulation. During the meeting, Cabinet extended condolences to the family of Saquania Anthony, who was killed in a
shooting in Bathlodge, and expressed concern for two others who were injured. Merchant said the attack underscored the urgency of confronting gun violence in Antigua and Barbuda. Cabinet also instructed Police to intensify enforcement and intelligence-led operations against criminal activity. (Excerpt from Antigua Newsroom)
Five, the highest level on the Saffir-Simpson scale, which it had previously reached. As the NHC keeps adjusting the storm’s force, it said it could see some near-term strengthening and is expected to remain a major hurricane for the next few days. AccuWeather, a private forecaster, expected Polo to make landfall late Sunday night into Monday, to lose some steam and to reach
a Category Two hurricane as it tracks across the Baja California peninsula north of Cabo San Lucas, where local authorities have already begun restricting beach access and closing the local harbour. The NHC said that Polo’s outer rainbands are spreading onshore and producing heavy rains. Tropical-storm-force winds are likely occurring along the coast of southwestern Mexico, it said. Polo’s hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 65km from the centre, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 205km. Additional rainfall totals of two to four inches, with isolated maximum totals up to six inches, are expected across coastal portions of the Mexican states of Michoacan, Colima, northern and southern Jalisco, and Nayarit. (Excerpt from Reuters)
St Lucia: Criminals modifying guns as firearms fuel homicides
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A handler guides a detection dog through a port inspection
micro Police units at Tarouba, Grand Bazaar and Tacarigua, which, she said, had attracted positive feedback from the public thus far. Formally opened on the same day the SoE ended, officers at the three posts have so far conducted a combined 247 patrols, supported by 14 drone surveillance patrols, Martin said. Martin said the TTPS would soon commission two micro Police units in Tobago but was unable to say if and when any further units would be established in Trinidad. (Excerpt from T&T Guardian)
olice say more criminals are using modified firearms, including guns with extended and high-capacity magazines. Guns continue to play a major role in killings on the island. Of the 48 homicides recorded between January 1 and September 23, 36 involved firearms, making up 77 per cent of the cases. The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) says homicides are down from 59 during the same period in 2025. Investigators have solved 22 homicides so far this year, including one case carried over from 2025.
The figures formed part of a broader crime update presented at the RSLPF’s monthly press conference on Thursday by Superintendent Delvin Mathurin, who is in charge of the Central Intelligence Unit and the Gangs, Narcotics and Firearms Unit. Mathurin said Police remain very concerned about the ongoing use of guns in homicides and attempted murders. Police recovered 46 firearms during the period under review, 37 of which were classified as lethal and nine as “less lethal”.
The homicide figures also showed a significant gender disparity among victims, with males accounting for 94 per cent. Five female homicide victims were recorded during the period. Of this year’s total, 2483 crimes were recorded in the Northern Division, 3633 in the Central Division and 3945 in the Southern Division. Mathurin said those seizures are giving Police further insight into the types of weapons being used and traded. (Excerpt from St Lucia Times)
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026
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Around the World
OILNEWS OIL NEWS
Netanyahu defends Israeli military action as delegates walk out before UN speech
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sraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has fiercely defended his country’s military campaigns in Iran, Gaza and elsewhere in the Middle East in a speech to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) .After dozens of delegates walked out in protest as he took to the stage, Netanyahu vowed to continue fighting: ”We’re going to win. We have no other choice.” In response to the walkout, he said, ”If there are any other moral cowards who haven’t left the hall, please do so now.” The Israeli leader also rejected accusations that Israel is committing geno-
cide in Gaza. Hours earlier, in a recorded message, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told the UN that Israeli policies – in particular the illegal expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank – threatened ”the very life and existence of the Palestinian people in their homeland”. He also said it jeopardised the two-state solution, which is an internationally backed formula for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. The Palestinian leader was addressing the annual gathering via a video link because he had been denied a US entry visa.
Oil prices settle up 3% as Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia lifts supply fears
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the UNGA
The Israeli military launched a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip after the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack against Israel, in which about 1200 persons were killed and 251 others taken hostages.
During the Israeli military campaign, more than 73,920 persons have been killed in Gaza, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry. (Excerpt from BBC News)
Rebels against Ethiopian army stoke fears of return to civil war
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here are growing fears of a return to civil war in Ethiopia after an offensive by fighters from Tigray into the neighbouring states of Afar and Amhara and the formation of a new rebel alliance aimed at overthrowing the government of the prime minister, Abiy Ahmed. About 600,000 died between 2020 and 2022 during a devastating war
between the Ethiopian army and the political party and paramilitary group the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Both sides are now accusing the other of triggering a return to open conflict. On Sunday, seven armed groups from around the country, including the TPLF, announced the formation of the Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival, aimed at deposing the governme-
nt in Addis Ababa. Then, on Wednesday, the TPLF seized control of three airports from federal police. The state-owned carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, said it had suspended flights to the region “due to the current situation”. The TPLF also launched attacks into Afar and Amhara. A humanitarian source in Afar told Agence France-Presse there were heavy artillery attacks by the
group on Thursday as they attempted to take control of the town of Yallo, near the Tigrayan border. The TPLF’s Vice President, Amanuel Assefa, told AFP, ”We are in the situation of full-blown war now.” He confirmed Tigrayan forces were fighting alongside local armed groups in Afar and Amhara. (Excerpt from The Guardian)
il prices climbed about three per cent on Thursday to a one-week high after a Houthi missile attack on Saudi Arabia revived fears of supply disruptions, but trade was volatile, and prices came off session highs after reports the US and Iran discussed reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Brent futures rose US$3.52, or 3.4 per cent, to settle at US$106.60 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude rose US$2.45, or 2.7 per cent, to settle at US$94.61. At their session highs, both contracts were up about five per cent. Brent notched its highest close since September 15. It was the first rise in days for WTI, which was down 13 per cent over the prior six sessions. Saudi Arabia intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis, thwarting attacks on the southern province of Taif and the Yanbu area on the Red Sea, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said. Iranian airlines were barred from neighbouring countries, including the UAE and Oman, in response to new US sanctions, the first big impact of a shift in US policy to target companies in third countries that do business with Iran. With the US-Israeli war against Iran largely stalemated for months on the battlefield, Washington has announced an extension of its financial sanctions, targeting companies from third countries that do business with Iranian firms, a practice known as ”secondary sanctions”. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Accused 105-year-old Nazi POW camp guard under investigation in Germany
Trump-Xi meeting features great fanfare, but low expectations
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S President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House on Thursday for a lavish state summit that was heavy on symbolism but light on substance, with no sign that a closed-door meeting yielded breakthroughs on thorny issues such as AI, trade, Taiwan and the war with Iran. During a bilateral discussion in the afternoon, Xi urged the US to oppose ”Taiwan independence”, according to a readout from the official Chinese news agency Xinhua shortly after it concluded. The White House did not im-
Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump
mediately provide its own summary of the talks. Xi had been expected to press Trump this week to halt arms sales to Taiwan. Following his visit to
China in May, Trump said he was holding in abeyance an arms package to Taiwan worth some US$14 billion and called it a ”very good negotiating chip”.
That move left some US allies in Asia and even some of Trump’s fellow Republicans concerned that he may be tempted to soften Washington’s support for Taipei in exchange for economic wins. China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has not ruled out using force to gain control over the island. In remarks after Xi’s arrival on Thursday, Trump emphasised his ”truly great friendship” with Xi, rather than focusing on policy differences, and said the two powers had made strides on trade since his trip to China in May. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Croatian court approves extradition in Nord Stream bombing case
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Croatian court has approved the extradition of a Ukrainian man wanted in Germany in connection with the 2022 undersea explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines. The man was arrested on a European warrant in the northern Croatian town of Pula in August while reportedly working on a Hollywood dramatisation of the attack, according to the AFP news
agency. On Thursday, his lawyer, Ljubo Pavasovic Viskovic, said the court approved the extradition on September 18. German prosecutors identified the man as Vladimir Z. They said the suspect was a “trained scuba diver” who was part of a team that allegedly “planted explosives” on the Nord Streams One and Two gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea near the Danish is-
land of Bornholm. Prosecutors accuse Vladimir Z of working closely with another Ukrainian identified by German prosecutors as Serhii K. The undersea blasts on September 26, 2022, damaged the pipelines, which had been built to carry natural gas from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea. The Nord Stream attacks came months after
Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, destroying three of the four pipelines of the major energy link at a time when European countries were trying to gradually wean themselves off Russian energy. Serhii K is due to face trial at the Hamburg Higher Regional Court on October 14, and the proceedings could continue through February 2027. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
30,000 Soviet prisoners of war are buried at Stalag 326 in Senne
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105-year-old man is being investigated for possible crimes committed at a Nazi prisoner-of-war (POW) camp during World War II, German prosecutors said on Thursday. The man is ”accused of being an accessory to multiple murders through his activities there.” The case was first reported by the Bild newspaper, which said that another former guard at the same camp had recently been investigated but had died in the interim. The Senne camp housed between 180,000 and 200,000 Soviet prisoners of war between 1941 and April 1945, when it was liberated by American troops, according to the memorial which now stands there. ”Of the approximate-
ly 5.3 to 5.7 million Soviet prisoners of war who were taken into German captivity overall, between 2.3 and three million did not survive,” the memorial says. Last year prosecutors in Dortmund also opened an investigation into a 100-year-old former guard suspected of taking part in executions between December 1943 and September 1944 at another WWII prisoner of war camp. Another alleged guard at the camp was charged in 2023. Josef Schuetz, a former guard sentenced in June 2022 to five years in prison, died less than a year later at the age of 102. At the time, he was the oldest person ever to stand trial for crimes committed by the Nazi regime. (Excerpt from CBS News)
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PICKLES
(April 20-May 20)
(May 21-June 20)
PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)
(July 23-Aug. 22)
CALVIN AND HOBBES
(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)
SUDOKU
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(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)
SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE
(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Taking a direct approach to whatever you desire is necessary if you want to finish what you start. Having too much information will lead to interference from those less likely to take a risk. The best way to open a window of opportunity is to allow your results to be your calling card. Networking events will encourage excellent insight and connections. Be aware of what’s unfolding around you. Prepare to move out of the way if risk comes into play. Too much of anything will cause problems. Avoid overspending or promising the impossible. Nurture meaningful relationships, and back away from aggressive or negative people. Micromanage every move to ensure you are following the rules and regulations. Gravitate toward what and who interests you. A change will help you understand the logistics behind getting what you want. Take responsibility for yourself, your responses and connecting with the people who can help you reach your destination. Refuse to let your ego or emotional attachments stand between you and your goal. Avoid physical or emotional risks. Take more time for people and pastimes you feel passionate about. Be honest with yourself and those you deal with regarding what you are able and willing to do to make your relationship and lifestyle more accommodating. Set boundaries regarding shared expenses or joint ventures. Don’t offer false hope or an inaccurate version of what you can contribute. Set a schedule that allows you to learn something new or upgrade your skills. Broadening your awareness and focusing on qualifications that ensure a better position will lift your spirits. Domestic problems will grow if you aren’t willing to meet in the middle. Getting along with those you live with or near will make your life easier. Reach out and do something nice for someone, and the returns will far exceed your expectations. How you make others feel about themselves and their contributions will make you look good and put you in a leadership position. Take time for selfimprovement and spending time with someone special. Share your feelings and intentions. Romance is on the rise. If you let your mind wander and your imagination take over, you’ll discover something about yourself that will help you be more decisive. Having an innovative outlook will help you try something new and explore what piques your interest. Change will be a learning experience you don’t want to miss. Embrace the future with enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. Test your physical skills. Participate in events that offer a competitive edge. Your ability to rise and shine when challenged will help you go the extra mile. Learn from experience, and you’ll know what and when to let go of certain situations. Trust your instincts, not what others do or say. Romance is favored. Sort through emotional differences so you can get on with your life. Whether it’s you alone having the problem or it’s with someone you spend time with, small steps will not suffice. Speak up and implement positive change, and the relief you feel will encourage you to put the past behind you and enjoy what lies ahead. Choose peace over chaos. Look for alternatives when faced with opposition. Arguing is misleading and a waste of valuable time. Do something physical, and what you accomplish will shadow any negativity you receive from outside influences. Position yourself for success by choosing a direction that encourages you to hone your skills. Do your own thing, and let others do as they please.
(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)
Go over your financial situation carefully and set a budget that will help you lower stress. Lower your overhead through smart living. Talk to experts, set up interviews and take courses that give your qualifications a healthy boost. Avoid taking risks. Protect your physical and emotional well-being. Put your energy into improving your surroundings, not negativity and senseless arguments.
(Feb. 20-March 20)
Set a budget and have some fun. Social events will encourage making new friends or reuniting with someone from your past. Taking a genuine approach to who you want to become and what you enjoy most will help you align yourself with those heading down a similar path. Don’t shy away from an invitation to spend more time with someone.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026
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Preparations ongoing as Kashif and Shanghai tournament returns to Linden C
Kashif Muhammad (left) and Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major alongside as the A-team
o-director Kashif Muhammad says the organising team is already in full preparation mode for the return of the Kashif and Shanghai football tournament to Linden, with site visits to key venues forming part of the early groundwork. The Kashif and Shanghai Organisation’s “A-Team” inspected the Mackenzie Sports Stadium and Bayrock National Stadium on Wednesday, as preparations gather momentum for the 2026 tournament, which is scheduled to kick off on Sunday, December 13. The visits focused on assessing the facilities and reviewing logistics, venue operations and other requirements necessary for the successful staging of the tournament. Speaking during the visit to the Mackenzie Sports Stadium, Kashif Muhammad said the pur-
pose of the exercise was to ensure that the entire organising team shared a common vision ahead of what he described as an ambitious return to Linden. “Today we’re here putting together the Kashif and Shanghai tournament. As you all know, the tournament will be starting on Sunday the 13th of December 2026, and I and Shanghai, we’re here with our team, the A-team, just to get everything organised,” Muhammad said. He explained that the team was examining the details at each venue before moving on to the next stage of preparations. “We’re coming back to Linden, and we’re coming and doing something really, really, really huge,” Muhammad said. “Today we’re doing a site visit where we are at McKenzie Sports Stadium, and we’re coming to discuss all the details and all the logistics in putting it together.” Following the inspection at Mackenzie, the or-
ganising team proceeded to Bayrock National Stadium to conduct a similar assessment. Muhammad said the early start to preparations was intended to ensure that the tournament is properly organised and that the venues are ready to accommodate the competition when it begins in December. “We have to do the same thing there, check the venue out, check out and see all the logistics of it, and we’re having a fantastic start,” he said. With the tournament still several months away, the organisers have already begun putting the necessary structures in place as the Kashif and Shanghai competition prepares for another chapter in its long-standing football tradition. He urged supporters to look forward to the tournament, adding, “Look forward for us; we’re coming in December, so we’re up and running right now.”
Port Mourant Clash at the Big Port Mourant secures rare Yard horse race postponed
win over Albion Cricket Club
– new race date October 18
Romeo Deonarine led the way for Port Mourant
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The new race date is October 18
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he return of horse racing action at Port Mourant Turf will be delayed further due to the current shortage of feed for the horses and ongoing remedial work at both tracks in Region Five, West Coast Berbice (WCB). The management of Port Mourant Turf Club, in the interest of fairness and good accountability, decid-
ed to shift the race date from September 27 to October 18, 2026. The board of Port Mourant Turf Club apologises for the inconvenience this postponement caused but stands for a level playing field. On October 18, the new horse race will now be titled Showdown of Champions Stakes and Clash at the Big Yard Stakes.
General Admission is $3000, and 10 exciting races are on the cards. The juvenile invitational two-year-old will be in honour of the late Carlton Blackmouth Pluck. The feature race will be the Doodnauth Shook Sivmangal Memorial Clash at the Big Yard stakes, where the total purse is GY$1.6 million. All of the top horses will
be fresh and ready for the first competitive race since the Guyana Cup back in August. Guyana Cup winner Sand Pipes will be the horse to watch. The top horses from Js Racing Stables, Slingerz Racing Stables, Master Z/ Jumbo Jet and Jagdeo Racing Stables are expected to showcase thrilling battles on October 18.
he ever-improving Port Mourant Turf Club recorded a major win against powerhouse team Albion Cricket Club in a thrilling Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) FirstDivision fixture at the weekend. Playing at Albion, the home team posted 162 all out in 33.5 overs after opting to bat first. Afrizal Kadir led Albion’s batting with a well-played 60, while former National player Jonathan Foo hit 51. The Port Mourant bowling attack was led by a
top spell from Balram Chappelle, who produced an outstanding performance with the ball claiming a five-wicket haul. In his six overs, he claimed 5-26. Paul Tyndall had 2-24, and Dimitri Cameron had 2-56. Port Mourant replied with 164-6 from 42.2 overs, claiming a famous four-wicket win. Romeo Deonarain stood tall for his unbeaten 68, while the big fast-bowler Dimitri Cameron supported with 39 not out. Feaz Baksh had 3-50 in a losing cause.
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026
South American Games…
Horatio lands bronze in 200m event
Shamar Horatio captured Guyana’s first medal in athletics, a bronze, at the ongoing South American Games (file photo)
S
hamar Horatio copped Guyana’s first medal in Athletics at the ongoing South American Games in Argentina. Competing in the Men’s 200M final on Thursday evening, Horatio clocked a personal best 20.53 for the bronze medal. Colombia’s Ronal Longa took the gold in 20.43s while Ecuador’s Katriel Angulo secured silver in 20.50s. Horatio’s compatriot Tishawn Easton, did not finish the race, seemingly pulling up with an injury. In the preliminaries on Wednesday, Heat 1saw Horatio clocking 21.03s for 4th place. Colombia’s Longa took the win in 20.83s. Over in Heat 2, Easton stopped the clock at 21.20s for second place, only bested by
Ecuador’s Angulo in 20.96s. In the distaff, Kenisha Phillips took on Heat 2, stopping the clock at 24.67s for 4th place. Ecuador’s Gabriels Suarez took the top spot in 23.86s. However, Phillips narrowly missed out on a spot in the final with the slowest qualifier clocking 24.50s. Simeon Adams then capped off Wednesday’s performances with a 6th place finish in the men’s 400m final. Dams stopped the clock at 47.5s while Brazil’s Alison Alves took gold in 44.61s. Javier Gomez of Venezuela copped silver in 45.48s while Chile’s Martin Kouyuomdjian completed the podium in 45.99s.
Tennis
Tennis player Sachia Vickery had a debut to re-
member on Wednesday in the Women’s Singles Division as she recorded an unassailable win in Round 2. Vickery made the most of her bye to the second round, downing Paraguay’s Leyla Britez 2-0 (6-3, 6-3). Then on Thursday, she replicated the performance against Chile’s Antonia Vergara, this time with a 2-1 win (6-2, 3-6, 6-4) in the Quarterfinals.
Squash
Over on the Squash courts on Wednesday, both Guyana’s men and women secured victories against Bolivia, 2-0 and 2-1 respectively in the Teams’ Round of 16. In match one, Mary Fung-A- Fat rallied but came up short 2-3 against
Andrea Fuertes (11-3, 11-9, 9-11, 6-11, 11-13). However, Kirsten Gomes levelled the contest with a 3-1 win over Michelle Arnez (11-8, 1012, 11-5, 11-9). Then, Ashley Khalil secured the game winner with a 3-0 victory over Rebecca Valverde 11-5, 11-4, 11-6. The men followed with Daniel Ince recording a 3-0 win over Gabriel Torrez (11-9, 11-4, 11-8). Nicholas Verwey then sealed the deal with another 3-0 win over Alvin Rios (11-2, 11-6, 11-8). However, neither team could replicate their success on Thursday in the Quarterfinals. The men went down 0-3 to Peru while the women were ousted from the competition by Colombia, by an identical margin. In the men’s quarters, Verwey went down to Thiago Cabrejos 0-3 (811, 3-11, 1-11). Ince fell to Alonso Escudero 0-3 (5-11, 6-11, 1-11) while Rafael Galvez got the better of InceCarvalhal 2-0 (11-2, 11-4).
Sachia Vickery pulled off back-to-back victories
For the women, Kirsten Gomes opened with a 0-3 loss to Andrea Soria (5-11, 3-11, 3-11). Lucia Bautista overcame Fung- A- Fat 3-0 (11-5, 11-3, 11-6). Khalil
Colts, Pacesetters open GABA Legacy with wins
Team CAMS using this race weekend as test for November
Team CAMS will be using this weekend’s competition as a test
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eam CAMS (Caribbean American Motor Sports) is officially on board with this weekend’s opening round of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) National Championships. The two-day event begins on Saturday with qualifying before Sunday’s 10:00h race day start. And the CAMS team, according to team leader Afraz Allie, is using the September 26 and 27 event as a gauge for the November 1 season finale. “The team is going to be competitive because we’re putting our best foot forward, treating this just like November, like I said. You know, we need to push the cars to the extent of where we want to be for November and then see how things line up, if something breaks
or whatever happens,” he said.
other two classes. “We’re going to be giving it our all, and we expect to be very competitive. So, we just hope everything works out as planned, but it should be fun. Looking forward to this,” he added. The team also has Neil Persaud driving a Honda Civic in group two and a Honda CRX in group three, Kemal Rahaman driving the Sport Tuner Class (1600cc) Class in groups two and three, and Damian Singh in groups two and three. Admission is $4000 for adults and $2000 for chil-
Colts Basketball Club got a W on the opening night
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he Georgetown Amateur Basketball A s s o c i a t i o n (GABA) Legacy Knockout Tournament got underway at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) on Wednesday night with two competitive opening-round matchups, as the Colts and Pacesetters emerged victorious in the Under-23 and Senior divisions, respectively.
Colts hold off Eagles in U-23 opener
CAMS Team Leader Afraz Allie in action
According to Allie, the team, which includes him in Groups Two and Three and the Starlet Cup classes, is gearing up for competition. The team will use a Honda Civic in Group Two and a Toyota Starlet in the
dren. The 2026 championship is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, One Guyana, GUYOIL, Enet, KFC, and Tropical Shipping.
fought back in the third match but fell short 1-2 to Maria Tovar. Khalil won the first set 11-7 before Tovar prevailed 11-8, 11-3 in the following sets.
The Under-23 Division tipped off the tournament with the Colts defeating the Eagles 75–69 in a hardfought contest. The Colts established an early advantage and maintained control through much of the opening stages. The Eagles responded strongly in the third quarter, finding their rhythm and cutting into the deficit. The Colts, however, remained composed down the stretch and held on for the
six-point victory. KimoL Grimmond led the Colts with 24 points, while Carmelo Mansohing added 17. Jaden Simon contributed 13, with Domitre Rankin scoring 12 and Kellon Phillips adding nine. For the Eagles, Gevon Ross paced the scoring with 17 points. Derron Venture and Leandre Abrams scored 11 points each. Alafin Joseph scored 10, while Brandon McKay finished with seven.
Pacesetters rally past Mambas
The night’s Senior Division encounter provided another closely contested battle, with the Pacesetters overcoming the Mambas 71– 65. The Pacesetters controlled much of the game and built a steady lead, but the Mambas fought back during the fourth quarter to make the finish competitive. The Pacesetters ultimately held their nerve to secure a six-point victory.
Jared Sears led the Pacesetters with 13 points, followed by Nathan Samuels with 12. Tafawa Daly and Jaheel Duke each contributed eight, while Troy David also scored eight. The Mambas were led by Jether Harris, who scored 14 points. Jafar Gibbons added 12, Mourad Belhachan scored nine, and Judah Stephany and Shayne Joseph contributed seven apiece. With two entertaining games setting the tone, the GABA Legacy Knockout Tournament continues its campaign under the banner of community, development and opportunity, with teams in both divisions looking to advance through the compe-
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De Rosario helps Golden Jags needle Puerto Rico G
uyana’s senior men’s national football team, the Golden Jaguars, on Thursday afternoon pulled off a gritty 1-0 victory over Puerto Rico at Windsor Park in Dominica to get the CONCACAF Nations League 2026/27 campaign off to a winning start. Marco Bonofiglio, in his first assignment as Head Coach, opted for a starting XI that included goalkeeper Quillan Roberts, Jalen Jones, Nathan MoriahWelsh, Nathan Ferguson, Osaze De Rosario, Omari Glasgow, Liam Gordon, Isaiah Jones, Raushaun Ritch, Terrence Vancooten,
Osaze De Rosario (centre) netted the game winner for Guyana (File Photo)
and Elliot Bonds. It was a goalless first half between the familiar foes, with Glasgow making two attempts at goal. However, in the second, a foul in the area from Puerto Rico saw Guyana being gifted a penalty opportunity. De Rosario converted cleanly, sending the flat shot into the right corner of the goal for what would become the game winner in the 78th minute. The Golden Jaguars will turn their attention to Cayman Islands now, who they will face on Sunday, September 27, at the same venue from 15:00h local
time. The Golden Jaguars were drawn in Group A of League B, alongside Puerto Rico, Dominica and the Cayman Islands. If the Golden Jaguars are to top their group, they will advance to the league’s championship to compete for the title of League B Champions and seal promotion to League A. In addition, the top four teams [group winners] will directly qualify for the 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cup, while the two best group runners-up will secure a spot in the 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cup Prelims.
Biza and Makusha finished with one each as they managed to prevent the West Indies from reaching what would have been just their second score of 300 or more. Zimbabwe’s openers got off to a good start, with Sharne Mayers going six, four, four off Aaliyah Alleyne, albeit with a couple of thick outside edges. But she was caught at deep square leg trying to flick Jannillea Glasgow, giving the West Indies their first breakthrough. Mayers’ opening partner, Modester Mupachikwa,
then fought a lone battle as Zimbabwe continued to lose wickets at the other end. She found some support from number four Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano for a 49-run stand, but Zimbabwe went on to lose their remaining eight wickets for 100 runs, with Mupachikwa the last batter to fall, bowled by Alleyne for 86 off 106. Alleyne finished with three wickets, while Glasgow, Ashmini Munisar and Afy Fletcher all chipped in with two strikes apiece. (ESPNcricinfo)
Matthews’ record-breaking 182 sets up 99-run win for West Indies
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SCOREBOARD
West Indies Women (50 ovs maximum) Hayley Matthews (c)b Makusha 182 Realeanna Grimmond c †Mupachikwa b Biza 53 Stafanie Taylor b Chipare 2 Shemaine Campbelle †lbw b Gwanzura 13 Chinelle Henry b Chipare 19 Jannillea Glasgow not out 5 Jahzara Claxton run out (Chipare/†Mupachikwa) 2 Aaliyah Alleyne not out 1
H
a y l e y Matthews’ scintillating 182 off 156 set up a commanding 99-run win for the West Indies over Zimbabwe in the first women’s One-Day International (ODI) in Harare. Matthews’ knock powered West Indies to 299 – their second-highest ODI total – and their bowlers bowled Zimbabwe out for 199 to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Matthews and her fellow opener, Realeanna Grimmond, laid down the
West Indies women take a 1-0 series lead
platform for the West Indies with a 128-run stand. The partnership was a steady one, with Matthews the brisker batter. Grimmond hit seven fours and a six as she brought up her third ODI 50 in her ninth match. She was finally caught behind off Beloved Biza in the 24th over for 53 off 70. From there, it was the Matthews show as she racked up 120 of the 171 runs that the West Indies scored from there. She brought up her cen-
tury off 108 balls and then got her next 50 runs off 32 balls. She only continued to up the ante, scoring her final 32 runs at a strike rate of 200 before being yorked by quick Tendai Makusha on the first ball of the final over. Matthews’ 182 became the sixth-highest individual score in women’s ODIs and the highest by a West Indian, going past Stafanie Taylor’s 171 against Sri Lanka in 2013. Medium pacer Francisca Chipare finished with two wickets for Zimbabwe, while
Extras (b 1, lb 1, nb 2, w 18) 22 Total 50 Ov (RR: 5.98) 299/6 Fall of wickets: 1-128 (Realeanna Grimmond, 23.2 ov), 2-139 (Stafanie Taylor, 26.1 ov), 3-187 (Shemaine Campbelle, 36.5 ov), 4-258 (Chinelle Henry, 45.3 ov), 5-294 (Hayley Matthews, 49.1 ov), 6-296 (Jahzara Claxton, 49.3 ov) Bowling Michelle Mavunga Tendai Makusha Francisca Chipare Nyasha Gwanzura Olinder Chare Beloved Biza Sharne Mayers
O-M-R-W 10-0-64-0 8-0-57-1 10-2-57-2 7-0-41-1 6.1-0-20-0 8-1-51-1 0.5-0-7-0
Zimbabwe Women (T: 300 runs from 50 ovs) Modester Mupachikwa †b Alleyne
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Sharne Mayers c Grimmond b Glasgow 21 Kelis Ndhlovu c Henry b Munisar 15 Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano c Munisar b Fletcher 26 Beloved Biza c Taylor b Fletcher 11 Josephine Nkomo (c)run out (Taylor) 10 Nyasha Gwanzura c Henry b Munisar 3 Michelle Mavunga lbw b Alleyne 6 Olinder Chare b Alleyne 2 Francisca Chipare lbw b Glasgow 0 Tendai Makusha not out 5 Extras (w 15)15 Total 43.3 Ov (RR: 4.59) 200 Fall of wickets: 1-34 (Sharne Mayers, 6.1 ov), 2-51 (Kelis Ndhlovu, 9.6 ov), 3-100 (Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, 21.5 ov), 4-118 (Beloved Biza, 27.3 ov), 5-152 (Josephine Nkomo, 33.6 ov), 6-158 (Nyasha Gwanzura, 35.5 ov), 7-166 (Michelle Mavunga, 37.2 ov), 8-175 (Olinder Chare, 39.6 ov), 9-181 (Francisca Chipare, 40.6 ov), 10-200 (Modester Mupachikwa, 43.3 ov) Bowling Jannillea Glasgow Aaliyah Alleyne Ashmini Munisar Jahzara Claxton Karishma Ramharack Afy Fletcher Stafanie Taylor
O-M-R-W 8-1-37-2 6.3-0-44-3 8-0-27-2 2-0-15-0 7-0-24-0 7-0-31-2 5-0-22-0
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026
Sport is no longer our game, it’s our business
F
ollowing another hugely successful Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) season, which featured the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons winning their first trophy, CPL announces that Pete Russell, who was part of the original founding team of CPL, has decided to step back from his current full-time role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). CPL evolved from an ambitious start-up concept into one of the most successful, highly regarded T20 cricket tournaments globally and a fan-centric, worldclass sporting and entertainment product. CPL has an experienced and dedicated management team in place, and Pete will remain in place until a new CEO is appointed and will continue to support the Board and leadership team. In the last year, the group has expanded to seven franchise teams, launched its own production company (Live and Louder Productions); its own linear TV channel (RUSH Live & Louder); a
CPL CEO Pete Russell is stepping back from the position
streaming app and an events business. The Board and Management are excited about the future of the business, further opportunities and the continued growth and success of the tournament.
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Commenting on Pete’s contribution to CPL over the past 14 years, Chairman Richard Bevan, OBE, expressed, “On behalf of the Board and everyone across CPL, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Pete for his leadership, commitment, and contribution during his tenure as CEO.” Denis O’Brien, owner and founding investor of CPL, shared, “Pete has been a fantastic leader of CPL and overseen its expansion into new areas, including media and events, over recent years. While we are naturally sad to see him step away from his current role as CEO, we are delighted that the business is poised for future growth and Pete will remain involved as part of the wider group.” Speaking about his decision to step back, Russell said, “I am incredibly proud of CPL’s growth and international standing. I believe its greatest achievement is in bringing fans back to cricket across the Caribbean and providing a platform for generations
The 14th edition of the CPL recently concluded with Antigua and Barbuda Falcons emerging as champions
of young West Indian players to showcase their talent, express themselves on a global stage and pursue their cricketing dreams. CPL reignited a passion for the game, filled stadiums with energy and excitement, and created unforgettable memories for many
people throughout the region and around the world. I want to thank the fans, the players, franchise owners, sponsors, broadcast partners, regional governments and the dedicated CPL team. It has been the privilege of a lifetime to be part of this journey.”
Preparations ongoing as Kashif and Shanghai tournament returns to Linden
record-breaking 182 sets up 99-run win for
West Indies
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