Man sentenced to over 16 years for killing reputed wife
105 persons homeless in Berbice from 67 fires – Fire Service
Motorcyclist dies after collision at South Dakota Race Track
Essequibo man slapped with multiple charges during Police traffic campaign
2 drivers charged in connection with fatal Riverstown accident
Some US$350 million were earned by Guyanese from the burgeoning oil and gas sector, including in the 40 areas that are carved out in the Local Content Act (LCA) for citizens to benefit from. This was revealed by newly-appointed Director of the Local Content Secretariat (LCS), Michael Munroe, during an appearance in this week’s edition of the Starting Point podcast. According to Munroe, in excess of US$1.6 billion in revenues were generated over the last four years since the local content legislation was enacted in 2021, requiring foreign oil and gas companies and their subcontractors to procure goods and services in 40 areas from Guyanese individuals and Guyanese-owned companies. These include 90 per cent of office space rental and accommodation services; 90 per cent of janitorial services, laundry and catering services; 95 per cent pest control services; 100 per cent local insurance services; 75 per cent local supply of food; and 90 per cent local accounting services. Since the first year, Munroe, who previously served as the legal officer at the LCS, ex-
plained that there has been a year-on-year increase in earnings from the local content sectors. The first year saw Guyanese and/or Guyanese companies registered as local content certified earning more than US$440 million. This was increased to US$540 million in the second year and went up to US$704 million last year.
“This year from January to June, I think we're just about US$350 something million. And when you reconcile that with the year-todate numbers for last year, it was around US$316 million. So, we're seeing increases year on year,” the Secretariat Head noted. He added that there is also a ramp up in the level of procurement activity, which could see figures exceeding last year's numbers for these 40 carved out areas. “So, we will be north of US$704 million,” he said. Of this amount, United States (US) oil major, ExxonMobil, which operates the prolific Stabroek Block along with its co-venturers, has reported spending approximately US$419 million at mid-year.
This, Munroe explained, is because the oil company is not confining its spending on
the 40 areas but is reporting based on procurement beyond those identified areas.
“If you see reporting from us and the numbers are a bit varied from the reporting from other companies, not Exxon only, but the reason for that might be that they're not reporting solely on the 40 areas confined to the first schedule. But that is a good thing in my opinion, because it suggests that the companies are procuring beyond the first schedule. And that is the point I was trying to make…that since the enactment of the act, we have had a change in culture. These companies now want to be a part of Guyana's local content story,” the Director stated.
More benefits
In fact, Munroe pointed out that with each Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel that comes onstream creates new opportunities for Guyanese to benefit under the LCA. Currently, there are four FPSOs operating in the oil-rich Stabroek Block – Liza Destiny, Liza Unity, Prosperity and more recently, the ONE GUYANA In addition, the Guyana
Government is gearing up to sign Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs) with four new companies from its first bidding round. These new oil operations offshore will also open up more local content opportunities for Guyanese to benefit from. “We were looking at the level of procurement activity that we would have had for the last four years, thereabout, on the basis of just one producing block and the other companies that existed within the other blocks. But now we are expanding the entrants or the participants in the Guyana Basin and they too now have to comply with this [Local Content] Act. So, they too have to do accommodation, they too have to do transportation. Every single sector that is listed in the first schedule, they too will now have to comply with the obligation. So, there is tremendous opportunity for local companies currently participating to expand and grow their businesses, but more so allow other Guyanese who might have an interest to explore the opportunities… And that is what the act was created for, to incentivise Guyanese to participate,” he stressed.
Revising the Local Content law
Meanwhile, the Guyana Government has plans to revise the LCA 2021 to expand the first schedule beyond just those 40 areas and even widen the laws to capture other economic sectors in the country. Additionally, the Government is also looking to review the local content legislation with the aim of tightening up on various loopholes and expanding the service areas through which Guyanese can benefit. One option being considering is adding a residency requirement for companies claiming to be Guyanese-owned. Currently, under the Act, a “Guyanese company” is de-
fined as one incorporated under the Companies Act, beneficially owned by Guyanese nationals who hold at least 51 per cent of voting rights, and where Guyanese nationals hold at least 75 per cent of executive and senior management positions, and at least 90 per cent of non-managerial and other positions. In order to participate in the oil and gas industry, companies must register with the LCS and receive a Local Content Certificate. A criterion for receiving such certificate is for the company to be Guyanese-owned.
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, October 6 –03:55h–05:25h and Tuesday, October 7 – 03:55h–05:25h
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, October 6 –15:30h–17:00h and Tuesday, October 7 – 16:10h–17:40h
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
Sunny conditions during the day, interrupted by light to thundery showers in the mid-morning to mid-afternoon hours. Clear to partly-cloudy skies are expected at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius.
Winds: East North-Easterly to East South-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.47 metres.
High Tide: 16:02h reaching a maximum height of 2.85 metres.
Low Tide: 09:37h and 21:58h reaching minimum heights of 0.43 metre and 0.31 metre.
...bridge more than convenience: a magnet for transformation, launch pad for growth – Pres Ali
The newly commissioned US$262 million bridge across the Demerara River has been named after former President and current Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, in honour of his
deserve recognition, because visionaries deserve legacies…,” the Head of State declared to loud cheers from the thousands of persons who gathered on the eastern approach of the new bridge to witness the commissio-
years of service and dedication to the upliftment of Guyana and its people.
This announcement was made by President Dr Irfaan Ali during his feature address at the official commissioning of the bridge on Sunday evening.
Describing him as a giant in local politics and economy, President Ali said Dr Jagdeo has been a steady advisor, an architect and an anchor in the country’s development, working tirelessly to rebuild Guyana after dragging the country out from dark and violent times.
“A lesser man would have wilted, but Bharrat Jagdeo never blinked. He stood firm. He stood up to the bullies. He shielded democracy. He saved Guyana from being dragged back into the darkness of authoritarian rule. He was a strong spine and steady hands, that is Bharrat Jagdeo…”
“Bharrat Jagdeo is not a man who prays vanity. He does not seek monuments. He does not need limelight. But a grateful nation does itself an injustice if it fails to honour its heroes. And today, we set the record straight… Today, on behalf of a grateful people, I'm pleased to dedicate this bridge in the name of Bharrat Jagdeo. From this day forward, it shall be called the ‘Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge’ because great men
ning.
The new 50-metre fixed high-span cable-stayed Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge is a four-lane 2.6-kilometre (km) concrete structure with a cycle/
pedestrian lane that stretches from Nandy Park on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) to La Grange on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD).
Designed with a lifespan of 100 years and built by China Railway Construction (International) Limited with Politecnica as the supervisory consultant, the new bridge will operate toll-free, 24/7, with a maximum speed limit of 80 km/h.
The highly-anticipated superstructure is constructed to facilitate the continuous flow of vehicular and marine traffic, which will boost the transportation of products and services throughout the nation, drastically cut down on travel time and improve connectivity between Regions Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) and Four (Mahaica-Berbice).
It replaces the decades-old Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB), which President Ali said served faithfully, carrying dreams,
burdens and the daily journeys of thousands. However, he noted that the floating steel 1.85 kilometre structure’s time had long expired.
“Its steel plates grew weary. The bridge became a bottleneck, a source of frustration for commuters, business and families. Delays, breakdowns, traffic stalls and endless openings took their toll,” he noted.
More than convenience
According to the Guyanese leader, this new Guyana that is being developed needed a new bridge – a modern marvel that stands unshaken above the waters and is not just built for today and tomorrow, but a bridge that expands capacity, reduces congestion, lowers costs and fuels efficiency. A bridge that would be a lifeline for commerce, industry and people – something which he says that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic has delivered.
Editor: Tusika Martin
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The results of the September 1 General Elections, in which the 68-year-old People’s National Congress (PNC) was upended by the three-month-old We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party has challenged entrenched attitudes on our political culture which postulate that elections here were “ethnic censuses”. Political culture – a subset of our overall national culture – consists of the attitudes, beliefs, values and orientations about politics in a given population at any given time. The political choices we saw reflected at the polls had to have been actuated by significant changes in the foregoing factors. “Culture” in general – and political culture in particular – then lie at the heart of the earthquake that generated the forces to create such a seismic shift in political behaviour in such a short time.
Culture is our “way of life” and no matter how divided we may believe our country to be, there was a “Guyanese culture” and a Guyanese political culture subset. Political culture, structures and institutions are typically shaped by a nation’s history and evolve out of the interaction, disagreements and conflicts among social forces, as they attempt to resolve their common problems. In Guyana, however, the political culture, structures, and institutions were imposed by a colonial power – Britain – whose concerns were not to resolve the contradictions of the society but to extract resources most efficiently for its benefit. Their strategy was to “divide and rule”, and while lip service was given to the ideal of working for the “good of the country”, the emerging political forces mobilised along the ethnic/fissures and categories fostered by the British, who perpetuated the said divisions, which dampened our progress.
Culture – including political culture – however, is never static but evolves with changes in the society. For instance, during the early post-colonial era, there was what one anthropologist called a dominant “white-bias” culture. And even though we proudly called ourselves a “land of six peoples”, to a lesser or greater extent, we all strove to acquire the mores and manners of that culture. The earliest models were the “local whites” and coloured populace – with the phenotypically European Portuguese – soon joining their ranks to form a self-conscious elite that was looked up to by the rest of society. With the introduction of trade unions to agitate for workers’ rights – and so form a proto-political front – the early leader Hubert Critchlow was the exception to that elite being in charge.
The early political leaders – including the US-trained dentist Cheddi Jagan, whose ethos was governed by the International Communist Movement, and the UK-trained lawyer, whose ethos was governed by his drive to be “white” – were uniformly whitebias leaning. However, following the logic of the majoritarian democratic system they inherited and maintained with modifications, they mobilised along ethnic lines, which, therefore, became entrenched.
But changes in the demographics of the country gradually forced changes in the make-up of the political leadership and also their strategies for garnering majorities at the polls. The Churchillian-cadenced Burnham was succeeded by Hoyte, who had the same white-bias credentials, but the latter’s successor Corbin did not and he suffered defeat because of that. In the meantime, the demographics of the country had changed – its ethnic composition – and successful political parties after 2011 had to now practise populist policies that attracted support from all sections.
Corbin brought in the elitist Granger, but he lost the populist plot that placed him in government 2015-2020, as did Norton who did not even have the elitist credentials – and paid the price on September 1st. In the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Cheddi Jagan was succeeded by his wife Janet, who shared his communist proclivities and ethnic advantage as did her successor, Bharrat Jagdeo. The latter’s successor Donald Ramotar was a transitional ideological figure but was not populist enough with the altered demographics. Irfaan Ali – populist by nature – won in 2020 and 2025 even though the PPP still had not overcome its historical burdens.
The new party WIN with no historical baggage and a populist leader hived off most of its support from the PNC. Hopefully, this new populist political culture can be expansive as practised by the PPP rather than exclusivist as promoted by WIN and PNC.
By Dr Amit telAng, mD HigH Commissioner of inDiA to guyAnA
This week witnessed two interrelated and interesting developments in Georgetown, igniting- once again – an oft-repeated debate on health, nutrition and lifestyle. On one hand, a US fast-food chain Wendy’s became the latest entrant to Georgetown’s fast-evolving and vibrant food scene; on the other hand, Govinda’s – a pure vegetarian restaurant – opened its doors to patrons, offering a hightaste experience – with a theme: food not only for the body but also for the soul.
The debate, especially on the social media, certainly makes one wonder whether Guyana, like many other developing countries, would now experience a phenomenal transformation in diseases too? Development invariably means lifestyle modifications and such changes often tend to portend a dangerous trap of increasing disease burden and concomitant government spending. Before entering the critical realm of correlation between development and disease, we need to encourage an informed debate on this topic. It is imperative, since we often approach this topic through a simplistic paradigm that development automatically means well-being. Poverty and disease, in our mindsets, traditionally co-existed and the combination is so obvious that we tend to believe that development would automatically mean freedom from disease. Many developed countries
have proven this paradigm completely wrong.
This brings us back to the now accepted correlation between the pace of development and emergence of certain disease patterns. Even in the most developed economies, it is often the poorest who tend to catch such diseases predominantly due to their uninformed if not poor food choices. It doesn’t mean that executives and professionals do not succumb to the temptation of fast and comforting food preferences. A tired individual looking at something that would bring instant satiety invariably chooses a fast-food option. Such ‘comfort food’ culture perpetuates on the premise that the food must ensure instant satiety (now proven as sugar or dopamine surge) allowing an individual to feel re-energised enabling quick return to the usual chores. Depression and self-image, too, play a role, but that is an entirely different topic deserving separate discussion.
Food, today, has unfortunately become as much about display of affluence, peer pressure and prejudice as it is about ‘satiety’. Food has graduated from being a source of nutrition to a symbol of prestige and prominence. It would be inappropriate to malign any cuisine or dietary choice per se by boxing it into the ‘healthy’ or ‘unhealthy’ category. Every cuisine offers healthy and unhealthy choices. It has an inescapable link with culture and an unavoidable link with perceptions regarding development and progressive lifestyle.
The definition of
‘healthy’ and ‘unhealthy’ depends not only upon body constitution, genetic makeup and local food availability, but also what people around you perceive as healthy or unhealthy. There lies the real challenge. A diet classified as healthy for one individual of a certain genetic makeup, gender and lifestyle, might be the unhealthiest choice for another individual. Yet, people tend to generalise it based on public perception. We seldom pay enough attention to inherent differences in body type and genetics as well as individual choices. Alongside prevalent stereotypes regarding physical appearances, food preferences have emerged as a scale of measuring development and upward mobility. To complicate it further, a rampant diet culture and absurd calorific choices overlooking the necessity of a balanced diet pose a serious lifestyle challenge even in the most developed societies.
Guyana is a multiethnic society. It is also a rapidly-developing economy. Guyana’s food culture has evolved over centuries, based on a multiplicity of factors. We must appreciate that like any other country, Guyana, too, has a complex genetic makeup and peoples’ food preferences have evolved out of ethnic influence, cultural practices and economic disparities. Societal pressure about physical appearance and tropes of perceived affluence tend to affect food preferences. Physical parameters need not be overlooked but they should not be to the detriment of over-
all health and well-being. Such superimposed food preferences endanger the young and working population and push them towards a deadly trap of development-induced diseases. Is it avoidable? The answer is definitely and fortunately, yes. But it requires concerted efforts and a well-researched healthcare policy, extending beyond the realm of curative and therapeutic approach to disease. Lifestyle modifications are mandatory to diffuse this ticking timebomb, but societal awareness is the real key to success. It is necessary to pay attention to this discipline, lest it might affect the future of a country poised to become the fastest-growing economy. Development should not come at the cost of a humongous disease burden.
It will require considerable effort and commensurate resource allocation to address this challenge. Guyana is well placed not only to address the challenge but to emerge as a shining model to be emulated. It would, however, require an informed debate. There is a need to graduate from simplistic classification of food or body types into good or bad, healthy and unhealthy, obese or slim, vegetarian or non-vegetarian. The subject demands a carefully-crafted approach to health and nutrition as a holistic discipline – going beyond tertiary healthcare. It is an immediate necessity because in all likelihood it would determine the future of the next generation.
Dear Editor, I read with interest the letter published on October 3, 2025, captioned “Measures announced by the President will do nothing to ease the pressure on the Guyana dollar.” As a student of international finance currently serving my country abroad, I noted with particular attention the comments attributed to Dr. Terrence Campbell regarding foreign exchange interventions and broader economic management.
For any national debate on such critical matters to be meaningful, it must rest on evidence rather than conjecture. In that spirit, I wish to respectfully clarify a number of inaccuracies in Dr. Campbell’s assertions.
First, the claim that the Bank of Guyana’s foreign ex-
change interventions signal “malignant” economic mismanagement is both inaccurate and misplaced. Central bank interventions are standard policy tools used globally to smooth short-term volatility and ensure exchange rate stability—particularly in rapidly expanding economies such as Guyana’s. The scale of intervention today reflects not weakness, but the extraordinary expansion of trade, investment, and capital flows.
In 2020, Guyana’s economy was valued at approximately US$5 billion; by 2024, it had grown fivefold to US$25 billion, and is projected to reach US$28 billion by the end of 2025. With such unprecedented expansion, it is entirely logical that the volume of foreign currency en-
tering the market would increase proportionately. That is why it is difficult to comprehend why these assumptions are being made by Dr. Campbell that attempt to make out the situation as some sort of mini apocalyptic occurrence. These interventions are possible precisely because of prudent fiscal management and strengthened reserves. These interventions are deliberate action following a tried and tested model.
Moreover, His Excellency President Irfaan Ali has not acted unilaterally, but has convened a team of experts and financial leaders to develop a structured response. The introduction of nine new policy measures aims to strengthen Guyana’s financial system, expand access,
and enhance oversight to ensure fairness and transparency in the foreign exchange market. Notably, these measures were well received by the banking community, reflecting their alignment with sound financial practice.
Second, the characterization of government spending as “reckless” or focused on “poor quality infrastructure” overlooks the transformational development underway across the country. Investments in farm-to-market roads, bridges, housing, schools, hospitals, and other public infrastructure are central to the Government’s clearly articulated national development plan. One only had to listen to Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo outline the strategy a week ago in a clear manner. Institutions such as the
Dear Editor,
I note with interest a report in sections of the media that Policy Forum Guyana (PFG)—a registered non-profit organization— has protested that it is being sidelined by the Government of Guyana (GoG).
Let me state unequivocally: this is a step in the right direction, and I commend the government for taking it.
The so-called NGO in question, established around 2015, has consistently operated as a political extension of APNU. If we are truly committed to transparency and accountability, then we must apply the same standards to these organizations that they so often demand of others.
The government ought not to continue engaging with NGOs that are themselves non-compliant. They
must adhere to basic governance principles:
• Their bylaws must be publicly accessible.
• Annual reports must be published consistently.
• Annual General Meetings (AGMs) must be held in accordance with their bylaws.
• Who are their Board Members? There is no such information on their website as to the governance structure, its members and Board members.
These are basic requirements to meet the bare minimum transparency thresholds that are evidently absent.
Failure to comply with their own rules—and more importantly, with the legislative and regulatory framework under which they operate—must be met with
appropriate penalties. Governance is not optional. It is a legal and ethical obligation.
Many of these entities are quick to criticize the Private Sector Commission (PSC), yet the PSC exemplifies transparent and accountable governance. It holds regular AGMs and publishes its annual reports without fail.
It is time for the relevant authorities—particularly the oversight bodies—to take decisive action.
They must enforce compliance, demand transparency, and hold these NGOs accountable under the law. Political masquerading under the guise of civil society must no longer be tolerated. The integrity of our democratic institutions depends on it.
Many of these NGOs—
if not most—operate under the guise of nonprofit status while failing to uphold the very principles they claim to champion. They solicit donor funding for projects, pay themselves inflated salaries, and exploit tax exemptions, all while delivering little to no meaningful outcomes.
This is not just unethical—it is a betrayal of public trust and donor confidence.
It is time to call out these sham organizations for what they are. We must demand full transparency, enforce accountability, and uphold ethical governance across the nonprofit sector. The days of hiding behind the nonprofit label while engaging in opaque and self-serving practices must come to an end.
Yours sincerely, Joel Bhagwandin
Our leaders and healthcare professionals have a responsibility to lead the charge. They can influence and motivate the nation, especially the young generation. In India, for example, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled his LIFE or Lifestyle for Environment initiative keeping in mind the need to create awareness about holistic health and wellness, especially among the youth, but also among the middle-aged professionals. Fitness doesn’t necessarily mean being physically attractive, especially if attention is paid to mere physical appearance with complete disregard to the need for a balanced and nutritious diet along with mental well-being.
Holistic health must guide our food and life choices, where overall health is equally if not more important than mere physical at-
tributes. PM Modi’s emphasis on Yoga and Ayurveda is not an exercise directed towards promoting Indian culture or food practices. It is about sharing the traditional wisdom where body and soul are in unison – in a state of perfect balance. A body and mind in complete harmony would more likely transform into a harmonious society, at ease with itself.
In recent years, Yoga and Ayurveda have gained universal attention. People might have some reservations about Ayurveda – as they tend to connect it with strict dietary practices and even religion, but, across various cultures and nationalities, traditional medicinal systems are increasingly acquiring prominence and recognition. Ayurveda is one of them. These medicinal systems have been critical in preserving age-
old wisdom that our ancestors and indigenous people painstakingly preserved and perfected over the centuries. Today, even Western scholars conclusively accept their obvious health benefits. The gold standard is preferring local over externally superimposed choices. Even leading universities in the West, like Stanford, are devoting significant attention and resources to salience of nutrition and its impact on immunomodulation in disease prevention and holistic health. Local produce that harmonises local food with local genetic make-up and prevalent cultural practices including food preparation are increasingly accepted as better for overall health compared to externally-superimposed dietary habits. Traditional medicine and lifestyle modifications
contribute towards achieving this goal. Appreciating the importance of traditional medicinal systems and lifestyle modifications, the Government of India created a Department of AYUSH dedicated to undertaking research and evolving specific protocols for practical applications. India is open and committed to sharing this knowledge with our partners.
Our traditional medicinal systems and knowhow that our ancestors and indigenous people preserved as conventional wisdom need mainstreaming and widespread recognition. It is not a burden or quackery; it is a valuable resource. Our collective heritage. It is a heritage of the entire humanity. A treasure inherited from our ancestry to be preserved and transferred to the posterity.
Inter-American Development Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank have repeatedly endorsed Guyana’s development drive as essential for long-term competitiveness and sustainable development. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) itself, in its most recent Executive Board report, commended the Guyanese authorities’ commitment to balancing development needs with prudent macroeconomic and fiscal policies. This evidence speaks for itself.
Third, the assertion that Government policy neglects the non-oil economy is contradicted by the data. Nonoil GDP continues to record double-digit growth—13% in 2024—driven by agriculture, construction, ICT, and services. Targeted investments in agro-processing, aquaculture, forestry, and tourism are expanding Guyana’s export base and diversifying the economy. The evidence points to deliberate and balanced diversification initiatives in the economy.
On the issue of gold smuggling, this is indeed a challenge faced by many gold-producing countries. However, here in Guyana, it is being addressed through stronger regulatory oversight, tightened licensing for traders, and centralized monitoring via the Guyana Gold Board. Interagency coordination and the introduction of technology-driven tracking systems are enhancing transparency and enforcement. While these
reforms take time to yield full results, progress is visible and measurable. To allege government complicity without substantiation is both unfair and counterproductive to the collective national effort to curb illicit activities.
Finally, Guyana remains fully compliant with international financial standards, including the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) 40 Recommendations. Our continued removal from both FATF’s “grey” and “black” lists is a significant national achievement, made possible through strong institutional reforms led by the Attorney General, Hon. Anil Nandlall, S.C., and his dedicated team. To suggest a return to the failed policies of the 1970s and 1980s is baseless alarmism that does not reflect the current strength of Guyana’s macroeconomic fundamentals or its robust fiscal discipline.
Constructive criticism is essential in any democracy and should always be welcomed. However, it must be rooted in fact and driven by the shared goal of national progress. To dismiss evidence-based policy measures while offering no credible alternatives contributes little to informed public discourse. Guyana deserves a higher level of debate—one that lifts the national conversation above partisanship and towards collective problem-solving.
Yours sincerely, Sasenarine Singh
Profit and loss depends on the cost price and selling price of an article.
Suppose, if a person buys an article for $70 and sells it for $100.
The cost price (CP) of an article is the price at which the article is bought = $70
The selling price (SP) of an article is the price at which the article is sold = $100
Since, the selling price of the article is more than its cost price; it is sold at a profit and, profit (gain) = $100 - $70 = $30
Thus, profit (gain) = selling price – cost price ie profit (gain) = SP - CP
Similarly, if a person buys an article for $100 and sells it for $90;
The cost price of the article = $100 and its selling price = $90
Since, the selling price of the article is less than the cost price; it is sold at a loss. and, loss = $100 - $90 = $10
Thus, loss = cost price - selling price i.e. loss = CP - SP
Exercises:
1. A man bought an article for $10.50 and sold it for $12. Did he make a profit or a loss? In what amount?
2. A boy bought a second hand bicycle for $570. After one year he sold it for $350. Did he make a profit or a loss? In what amount?
Note: SP is the short form for selling price and CP is the short form for cost price.
Agriculture is not only on the farm, it’s all around us! From the fruit and vegetables in your fridge to the plants in your backyard, agricultural science is a part of our everyday lives.
Supplies:
Avocado pit
Toothpicks Glass Water
Instructions 1. Carefully remove the pit from the avocado and gently wash it in warm water.
2. Determine the bottom of the pit: the bottom is wider and has a bump on it, which is where the new root will form.
3. Use toothpicks to skewer the top of the avocado pit so that it can balance evenly on the rim of the glass and the bottom
of the pit is submerged in water.
(If desired, you can peel the pit for faster germination).
4. Set the glass on a sunny windowsill and change the water every few days.
What will happen?
The seed will begin to sprout, and in threefour weeks it will be ready to be planted in soil. (farmers.org.au)
By Carrie NewComer
Someone’s most sacred ritual is interrupted. What happens next?
Described as an engineering masterpiece, the highly-anticipated new bridge across the Demerara River, named the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge, is now finally
open to the public.
According to the Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill, during Sunday’s grand commissioning ceremony, it is a dawn of a new era and a defining moment in
Guyana’s modern history.
“This engineering masterpiece is not only a marvel of design and durability, but also a symbol of progress, precision, and partnership,” the minister noted.
“The benefits of this structure are obvious and immediate. Every commuter will feel it. Every business will benefit from it. Every investor will take note of it. The congestion that crippled productivity will ease. The hidden taxes of wasted fuel, lost hours and frustrated tempers will go slowly away. The bridge will open arteries of commerce and industrialisation…”
“It will fortify the link between Regions Three and Four. It will give Region Two a stronger outlet to the rest of the country. Supply chains will flow with greater ease. Goods will move with greater speed, costs will fall and competitiveness will rise. But this bridge is more than convenience. It is more than a transport solution. This bridge is a magnet for transformation. Beyond easing traffic, this bridge is a launch pad for growth,” the Head of State declared.
With the West Bank of the Demerara poised to become an industrial hub, President Ali noted that this new bridge will serve as both a gateway and an engine of that transformation as factories, logistic centres, housing developments and commercial hubs all rise in its shadow. He added too that it will open new corridors of development, putting jobs, investment and opportunities into communities that will flourish in its orbit.
“This bridge is therefore not just a crossing. It is a catalyst… What we have built here is one of, if not the, finest bridges in the Englishspeaking Caribbean and the CELAC region… This
bridge is more than a marvel of engineering. It conveys a statement carved in steel and concrete. You see, infrastructure is not merely a physical structure. Infrastructure is also a statement. It is a signal to the world that a nation is ready. And this bridge speaks loudly, declaring ‘Guyana is ready.’ Ready to modernise, ready to industrialise, ready to claim its place in the 21st Century of a world economy,” Dr Ali stated.
As a symbol of the new Guyana, prosperity being born and transformation in action, the President noted that importantly, the bridge represents a symbol of inclusion and will serve all Guyanese regardless of their class, region or creed.
Reminding that the new bridge was financed by wisely-managed oil revenues, President Ali says it a proof that his administration is not squandering the country’s resources.
“This bridge is proof that
our resources are not squandered. They are reinvested into the future… This bridge is your gift. It is a gift of a government that believes in the people. It is a gift of a generation to those unborn… Like the sea walls of the 19th century, this bridge will become a defining icon of Guyanese identity in the 21st Century. This bridge is our coming of age investment.”
“This bridge proves that Guyana can dream big and act boldly. This bridge is the evidence that the impossible is possible. This bridge is a monument of a nation rising and yes, let us say it without apology, it took the PPP Civic to make this bridge happen. Others talked, others puff and deluded themselves that they could build a bridge of this kind. Then there were those that doubted and delayed, but we acted. We dared. We delivered like only our government can,” President Ali asserted.
However, many have found ways to bypass this requirement through what is known as “rent-a-citizen” schemes.
According to Munroe, this practice, also referred to as “fronting,” often results in Guyanese persons not receiving the benefits that were earmarked for them.
“So, some of the things we're exploring is whether that person must be a tax resident in Guyana, and ensuring that these added layers of strengthening the intent of the Act will ensure that we kind of dis-incentivise these types of behaviour,” he noted. Moreover, the Director pointed out that there must be some level of practicality too in implement -
ing this local content regime, which requires them recognising that Guyana may not necessarily have the skill sets to meet some of the requirements in the Act. Munroe believes a wavier system on a caseby-case basis could address this issue. “Something that we are considering is how do we accommodate these types of situations where the Guyanese might not have, or we might not be able to find the requisite amount of Guyanese to fill this managerial structure. If we could perhaps create an avenue for waivers in that regard, because we have a waiver mechanism in place… That is, while the companies have a requirement to procure in these 40 areas…if there
doesn't exist local capacity, then the companies could be waived from having to comply with this requirement.” “This is something that would be subject to consideration beyond me, but maybe there can be a mechanism where we could waive the managerial structure, providing that there is justifiable reasons to do so, that is to say, we don't have enough local capacity, we don't have the expertise, and therefore we could bring in expertise, which would perhaps work along with Guyanese to allow that knowledge transfer, and maybe within a predefined period, those persons could then take up the leadership mantle in these companies,” he added.
The new US$262 million fixed, high-span cable-stayed Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge consists of four lanes and spans 2.6 kilometres, connecting Nandy Park on the East Bank of Demerara to La Grange on the West Bank of Demerara.
At its highest point, the bridge is 50 metres, which means Handymax vessels can pass uninterrupted comfortably underneath thus allowing for the free flow of vehicular traffic. With a lifespan of 100 years, the bridge is expected to mitigate current traffic woes and congestion.
engineers, craftmen and administrators, toiled on completing the bridge.
In its final stage, a se-
best practices,” he declared.
“The
It will operate 24/7, toll-free, and accommodate vehicles of all sizes and weights, with a maximum speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour.
Construction
Construction started in December 2022 by China Railway Construction (International) Limited with Politecnica as the supervisory consultant. At peak, more than 1,300 workers including
ries of load tests were conducted at various sections of the bridge, showing that the structural integrity of the fixed-high span, cable-stayed bridge exceeded required specifications.
According to the Public Works Minister, measures to ensure the soundness of the bridge were adopted throughout the entire process.
“Every stage of construction adhered to international
deliver proudly. But this is only the beginning. There are still bridges to be built, bridges of opportunities, bridges of equality, of connection. The Ministry of Public Works remains resolute in its mission to link every community, from the coast land to the hinterland, so that every citizen feels connected to the heartbeat of national development.”
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Twenty-five-yearold Roger Pearson of Mainstay, Essequibo Coast, was arrested and charged on Wednesday, October 1 for eight offences that include traffic offences, resisting a peace officer and assault. Pearson appeared before Magistrate Mohabir at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court where he pleaded guilty to an unlicensed driver charge and was fined $40,000. He pleaded not guilty to the remaining seven charges, and was placed on bail for each charge. For driving an uninsured motor vehicle, Pearson was placed on $25,000 bail; for the offence of driving an unlicensed motor vehicle he was placed on $10,000 bail; and for driving an uncertified motor vehicle, he was placed on $20,000
bail. In addition, for failing to do his duty to stop when required by police in uniform, he was placed on $20,000 bail. Pearson was further charged for having an obscured ID mark on the rear of his vehicle, and was placed on $50,000 bail. He was also charged for resisting a peace officer and placed on $20,000 bail, and charged with assault with intent to resist lawful apprehension, for which he was placed on $25,000 bail. In total, bail amounted to $210,000.
Pearson was charged for the offences while ranks of the regional Police Division No.2 traffic department were conducting motorcycle campaigns.
Awoman is now dead after she was struck by a loose rear wheel of a lorry on the Corentyne Highway, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
The incident occurred on Sunday morning at Alness as a Pastor and his wife were on their way to church. Dead is 65-yearold Donna Punch, a housewife of Alness Village and one of the leaders of New Jerusalem Church of Alness. The incident occurred as Punch and her husband were about to get into a car.
Pastor Leroy Punch told this
publication that he and his wife were normally the first to attend church. However, on Sunday, he was a bit late, and a member who was ahead of him called his phone, but at that time, he was already on the street, making his way to the public road to get a car to take him to church. The pastor said it was the member who stopped the car, and a passenger had just gotten out of the car when the incident occurred.
“So we hurrying up now to get in the car, and the next thing you know, I hear
this big truck coming. So I take a look at the truck and I see it coming. Something say, look again. And when I look again, I see this big wheel coming. Me right there, and my wife is next to me. I see this big wheel coming. She didn't see it because she was taking her umbrella down to get in the car. By the time this wheel roll and come to the edge of the road and bounce, the thing coming straight to me and I barely duck out. And this thing jump over me…”
Pastor Punch said when he looked around, he saw his
rolling away.
Reports are that it was one of the rear wheels of a ten-wheeler truck.
The Pastor believes that there was not sufficient emphasis placed on maintenance of the lorry, as the driver explained to him that the lug nuts could have slackened, causing the wheel to go loose. The incident occurred just before a turn on the road. As a result, when the wheel cut loose and kept rolling straight, the turn on the road meant that the rolling wheel went straight on to the other side of the road, where the Pastor and his wife were about to get into the car.
The matter is said to be under police investigation.
Some folks are wondering why the US is spending all that money to send eight warships, a squadron of F-35s, a Marine expeditionary force, etc, to the Caribbean. Well, a superpower’s work is never done, is it?!! Yet it’s a thankless job – as we can see from the second guessing and snarky comments from armchair generals!! Think about it. When the Brits were the superpower, they had to look after so many countries… er…colonies…the globe was speckled red to signal their responsibilities!!. That’s right…we natives just couldn’t get our act together – and the po’ Brits had to take up what they bravely called “the white man’s burden”. Kinda like Atlas with the world on his shoulder!!
OK…OK…Mad Maduro and his band of drug dealers in Venezuela mightn’t be the biggest supplier of drugs to the Caribbean and then onto the US and further north – but they DO ship drugs, don’t they?? You think those tons of cocaine in the big busts in Reg 1 were flown directly all the way from Colombia?? You gotta be living in la la land if you do!! The drug smugglers work with the generals in Mad Maduro’s Cartel of the Sun – and they actually control the trade!! So the US – as the lone super-power who’s fighting off the threat from China – is taking on the Venezuelan low-hanging fruit –while checkmating the bully in the Far East who’s been propping up Mad Maduro’s criminal enterprise dubbed “the Venezuelan Government”!! Two threats dealt with by one expedition!!
We should be thankful the Yanks aren’t following the Brits’ modus operandi and turn us in the Caribbean and Latin America into colonies under their starspangled banner!! No Siree, Bob!! We haven’t been asked to cough up a penny to deal with the existential threat from Mad Maduro!! The burdens…the burdens of being Big Brother!! That US companies are investing massively here and in T&T to help us get our oil and gas out from under the sea, of course, give the US Govt an incentive. But we can’t look a gift horse – much less an expeditionary force – in the mouth, can we??
The irony, of course, is Mad Maduro’s shamelessly weeping and wailing and gnashing his (big) teeth that the US is actually attempting to overthrow him – to get at Venezuelan oil reserves. Yes…the same man who’s waged continuous warfare against us for a decade to seize Essequibo – two-thirds of our national territory with most of our mineral and energy reserves!! So yes!! Your Eyewitness supports the US actions in the Caribbean Sea!!
And to those like Ralphie Gonsalves who suck up to Mad Maduro because they get a “freck” through the PetroCaribe fund they should take a flying leap into the Caribbean!!
…teachers
Yesterday was Teachers’ Day!! If it’s one good thing that came out of our British past, it was the respect inculcated in students for teachers. It really came out of the respect for education by our fore parents who came out of slavery – and later indentureship – as the tool to deliver real emancipation. As such, your Eyewitness is very disappointed to read about attacks on teachers by students with rising violence in schools. And the weapons these students now tote around!
But let’s face it…this behaviour’s coming straight outta Compton and other American inner city ghettoes. Sadly, it’s the culmination of the glorification of that ghetto culture by youths that’s taken over schools in what’re now called “hoods” and produces scrapes!! It started with the misogynistic Gangsta Rap to glorify and promote criminal activity, violence, drug use, scamming and weapons – that’s the first step. Look what happened in Jamaica – which had the same colonial background like us.
Bring back caning in schools!!
Beefing up our collaboration with the French – which just opened an Embassy here – is an important step in expanding our defence materiel capabilities to counter Mad Maduro’s machinations.
They also have a military base in French Guiana that can be mobilised!!
As Guyana opens the new Demerara Harbour Bridge, traffic officials are warning motorists that while the bridge promises smoother travel, old habits won’t fit the new system. Appearing on a recent Road Safety and You programme, Inspector Hayat Chunia, attached to Regional Division 3 (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) Traffic Unit, said the new facility marks a major upgrade, but will demand discipline from drivers. He noted that the bridge’s new layout would change how commuters’ approach and exit, particularly for those travelling from LaGrange and the western side.
“The southern driving lane will make it into one-way as you exit off the bridge,” he said. “It’ll become one lane merging into one lane. Then, you proceed west off the Harbour Bridge, and you merge into one lane. You’re going east onto the bridge, you merge into a single lane, and then you’ll have a slight diversion onto the northern driving lane.” The old traffic arrangement, which involved directional lane changes during peak hours, will no longer be in effect.
“With the new river bridge now, as long as you come in west across the bridge, you remain in the two lanes,” Inspector Chunia explained. “As you approach the end of the bridge, you will merge into a single lane for now to proceed to the roundabout.
Same thing as you go east across the bridge. So there’s no way that they’re going to be going back to the old ways.”
According to the inspector, the improved structure means no more bottlenecks or morning build-ups that once plagued commuters. “The old bridge used to have a double lane from 10 to 6, to 20 to 7 in the morning,” he said. “But with the new bridge, the traffic coming off the roundabout onto the bridge will merge into
a single lane, and as they go onto the northern driving lane, they’ll get back to two lanes.” He also said the transition will eliminate the need for temporary lane conversions. The new bridge, he added, will allow drivers to maintain a steady speed across the span. “With this new approach now, as long as you enter onto the bridge, you just accelerate and drive. Eighty kilometres (km),” he said. Police officers will be stationed to guide motorists through the
new routes. “We will have a system in place whereby cones and barriers will assist in the traffic,” he explained. “Police will be present to try to divert persons so that they will be familiar how to approach.” During the programme, National Road Safety Council (NRSC) Chairman Earl Lambert noted that this new setup would help curb the unruly behaviour often seen during rush hours. “Those who love boring, those who like coming from behind and then getting all of that, based on what the inspector is saying, the new road that is going to be put in place, it is going to accommodate the fastest movement,” he said. “Meaning that that lawless behaviour, I don’t think it will continue.” Lambert agreed, saying the bridge’s expanded design makes it easier to maintain order. “No, it [lawless behaviour] won’t,” he said. “Because it means that this is a wider bridge. It will be taking off two lanes. And the way our vehicles used to be using it, that will no longer be it. It’s easy to get on, faster getting on and getting off.”
As the bridge opens, officers are also appealing to
the public for patience and cooperation, particularly in the coming days when adjustments are still being made. “There’s still some work being done on the west side,” he said. “But it won’t prevent you from using the bridge. It’s just that there will be a new approach, the new way of doing business, because some people would have gotten accustomed to the old way.” While the new bridge signals progress, Inspector Chunia reminded motorists that safety remains a shared responsibility. “Allow the police to do their work,” he said. “Be patient. Because at the end of the day, we are all part of the traffic system. Traffic is all of [our] business.”
As Guyana takes focus of its agricultural evolution, which recently earned it recognition as the only country among 186 that achieves full self-sufficiency in food production, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) is one institution working to ensure safety, quality, and consistency in the agricultural produce that is consumed both locally and abroad.
By developing and adopting agriculture-related standards, the GNBS helps farmers, agro-processors, and exporters to meet international benchmarks while preserving consumer trust.
According to the GNBS,
among the many available national standards are the GCP 21 – Code of Practice for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, GCP 25 – Code of Practice for Packaging and Transport of Tropical Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, and GYS 494 – Specification for Fruit and Vegetable Juices and Drinks and Fruit Nectars.
GCP 21 guides hygienic practices in the primary production and packing of fresh fruits and vegetables to ensure they are safe and wholesome for raw consumption.
Meanwhile, GCP 25 sets requirements for proper packaging and transport of fruits and vegetables to preserve quality and re -
duce losses.
GYS 494 outlines quality requirements to guarantee that juices and drinks derived from fruits and vegetables which are produced or traded within CARICOM are fresh, pure, and safe.
These are just a few of over 40 agriculture-related standards available at the GNBS, all designed to improve efficiency, food safety, and competitiveness in the sector.
By implementing these standards, local farmers and agro-processors not only guarantee consumer protection but also strengthen Guyana’s export potential.
Recently, Minister Mustapha highlighted the
introduction of more than 4,000 new agro-processed products, while traditional crop production continues to expand.
The GNBS complements this growth by ensuring that the food grown, processed, and exported meets the requirements of standards.
Whether it is a farmer in Pomeroon, a processor in Linden, or an exporter in Georgetown, standards provide the framework for consistency, safety, quality and success, the GNBS noted.
For more information on agriculture-related standards, contact the GNBS at 219-0062-66, WhatsApp 692-4627, or visit www.gnbsgy.org.
Edghill went on to commended the local team from his ministry and other government agencies that worked on ensuring this project comes to fruition as well as the dedication of the contracting and supervisory teams.
Meanwhile, Managing Director of the contracting company – CRCCL, Dongsiieng Li, in brief remarks, said more than 1,300 workers not only from China but nearly half of them from Guyana and neighbouring countries give this project their all, working through challenging conditions.
To meet the timeline, he said, they doubled engineers and workers without compromising on quality and safety. “These dedicated men and women are the true heroes of this project,” the Managing Director noted.
According to company official, “This was built by many hands and many hearts… It will have a positive impact on the daily lives of communities and families…and businesses on both sides of the river. It will stand for 100 years as a symbol of the national trans-
formation and the growing friendship between Guyana and China.”
Similar sentiments were expressed by Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Yang Yang, who noted that this new bridge stands as the largest and most technically sophisticated transport infrastructure project in Guyana to date.
Ambassador Yang noted that this project was completed after 900 days and nights of effort, with more than seven million hours of work, and the dedication of more than 1,300 personnel.
“It stands as a testament to the speed, technology, and high standards of Chinese construction. The design of the bridge also thoughtfully incorporates elements of Guyana’s local culture and demonstrates the strong commitment to protecting the natural environment. With its completion, this landmark structure will stand as a symbol for the entire Caribbean. It will significantly reduce travel time across the river, improve the daily lives of citizens, facilitate logistics and transportation, and provide
fresh momentum for regional economic development,” the Chinese diplomat noted.
Ambassador Yang stated that not only did the Chinese company build the bridge but also partnered to train hundreds of local technicians, while also partnering with numerous Guyanese suppliers, creating thousands of jobs and opportunities. She added that the company also gave back to communities, with its team helping surrounding neighbourhoods with road repairs, street cleaning and other community development initiatives.
“Undoubtedly, this project is not only a bridge of steel and stone, but also a bridge of friendship between China and Guyana—a milestone in the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation we are building together.
The successful commissioning of the New Demerara River Bridge—built to the highest standards of quality, safety, and efficiency—is not an end, but a new beginning. China stands ready to work with Guyana to deepen practical cooperation across all fields, to support the country’s
modernisation drive, and to help improve the well-being of the Guyanese people,” the Chinese Ambassador stated.
Head of International Business Development at the Italy-based Politecnica, Enea Sermasi, said his company is proud to have supervised
such a marvel of modern engineering. He too recognised that the bridge is more than, noting that it is a corridor of progress and opportunity.
“We're proud to play part in a promise made and a promise complete,” the official noted, thanking the Guyana Government for entrusting the company to oversee the project.
At the ending of the formal ceremony, several certificates of recognition were presented to key personnel whose roles were crucial to seeing the project to fruition.
The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has recognised a remarkable group of employees for their exceptional service and dedication through its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Trailblazer Awards, celebrating honourees from January to September 2025. The awards were presented on Friday, by CEO Robbie Rambarran during a special ceremony held at the hospital. The CEO Trailblazer Award is a monthly initiative that honours staff members who exemplify professionalism, dedication, and alignment with GPHC’s mission and values. The initiative seeks to highlight employees who have gone above and beyond in their respective roles, contributing to the hospital’s operational suc-
cess, positive culture, and patient-centred care. In his remarks, the CEO commended the honorees for their commitment, describing them as “inspirations within the hospital system.” He stated, “I know we put in a lot of work here at this hospital to keep it running, and sometimes, just hearing ‘well done’ means a lot. These awards are meant to highlight those who stand out in a given month — individuals who show initiative, passion, and commitment that inspire others.”
Among those recognised were professionals from a range of departments, including facilities management, general surgery, sanitation, nursing, paediatrics, information technology (IT), and communications. For January, Kirth
Samuels of the Facilities Management Department was honoured for his leadership in the preparation and installation of the hospital’s new steam plant, a project that transitioned GPHC from diesel to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), saving millions in operational costs. In February, Dr Shilindra Rajkumar was recognised for his outstanding work in general surgery, leading the Department of Surgery’s second Research Day and overseeing the in-house launch of the Smile Train Programme, which now allows cleft lip and palate surgeries to be performed several times a year at GPHC. The March award went to Devonna Bowman, an Operating Room Technician (ORT) known for her precision and exper-
tise in the Main Operating Theatre and Central Sterile Supply Unit. Nurse Alisha Tirbeni, attached to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), was the April honouree for spearheading the introduction of a Closed Suction System, now a standard practice that improves patient safety and ICU care. In May, Hazel Hodge of the Sanitation Department was commended for her exceptional pride and dedication, particularly her initiative in maintaining the hospital’s main drain — a task she performs voluntarily and consistently. Zakira Harif, Coordinator of Sanitation, received the June award for his leadership and tireless commitment to maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness across the hospital. Dr Winsome Scott, who leads
Neonatal Services, was named the July recipient for her passionate advocacy and leadership in improving the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), which earned the Hand Hygiene Excellence Award earlier this year. August’s honouree, Timothy Melville, GPHC’s IT Manager, was recognised for his role in driving the hospital’s digital transformation and laying the groundwork for the upcoming National Electronic Health Records (EHR) System. September’s award went to Stacy Peters, Communications Manager, whose leadership has transformed GPHC’s public relations, staff engagement, and event management, enhancing the hospital’s image and internal culture. Rambarran noted that some recipients were
personally selected by him, while others were nominated based on departmental recommendations. “The CEO Trailblazer Award is not just a mark of recognition,” he emphasised, “it’s a celebration of those whose daily actions reflect the highest standards of professionalism, empathy, and service. Whether on the frontlines or behind the scenes, these employees represent the very best of who we are.”
The GPHC extended heartfelt congratulations and appreciation to all awardees, noting that their dedication, initiative, and commitment continue to inspire excellence across the institution and reinforce the hospital’s mission to deliver safe, compassionate, and high-quality care to every patient, every day.
On Saturday, October 4, farmers of Nabruti Farmlands, South Pakaraimas, proudly
showcased their harvest in celebration of Agriculture Month 2025— from red peas, paddy, pumpkin, pep-
pers, watermelon, farine, cassava bread, corn, sugar cane, and fresh water coconuts to delicious local dish-
es like tuma, pepper pot, smoked fish, smoked powis, kari juice and more. Farmers also benefited
from the President’s ongoing fertiliser initiative and received fertiliser along with equipment, tools and
A47-year-old resident of Hill Foot, LindenSoesdyke Highway, Linden Jason Kellman, has been sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison for the killing of his reputed wife, Umadai “Samantha” Lall, following a violent domestic incident in December 2022. Kellman had initially faced a charge of murder, but he opted to plead guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter when he appeared before Justice Zamilla Ally-Seepaul in the High Court in Demerara.
The judge imposed a base sentence of 25 years, from which one-third was deducted in recognition of the guilty plea. No further deductions were granted, as the aggravating and mitigating factors
were deemed to offset each other. The case was prosecuted by State Counsel Nelissa Peterkin, assisted by State Counsel Praneta Seeraj and State Counsel Christopher Belfield, who urged the court to consider the gravity of the offence and its devastating impact on the victim’s family. According to the case presented, the fatal incident occurred between December 1 and 2, 2022, at the couple’s Hill Foot residence. Witness Rolston Melville, who lived in the upper flat of the same building, told the court that he heard Kellman assaulting Lall on the night of December 1. The following morning, Kellman contacted Lall’s brother and told him that she was unresponsive.
She was subsequently taken to the hospital, where doctors confirmed she was dead.
A Police Detective later testi-
The Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA), the country’s leading organisation for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), is celebrating 50 years of advocacy, service, and impact. Founded in 1973 by Olga Byrne and formally registered on October 4, 1975, the GRPA has been at the forefront of advancing health, rights, and justice for all Guyanese for half a century.
From its inception, GRPA has championed access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, including family planning, cancer screening, HIV prevention and treatment, gender-based violence response, and youth-friendly programmes. Notably, the Association played a pivotal role in shaping and supporting the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1995, which made Guyana one of the first Caribbean nations to decriminalise abortion. Through its clinics and outreach programmes, GRPA has since provided lifesaving abortion care and post-abortion counselling, empowering women and girls to access safe, legal, and dignified healthcare. Over the years, GRPA has built strong national and international partnerships. It is a partner organisation of Fòs Feminista, the International Alliance for Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice, and an implementing partner of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). GRPA previously served as a Member Association of
the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). These collaborations have enabled the Association to strengthen healthcare delivery, expand outreach to remote communities, and advocate for gender equality and inclusion, particularly among women, youth, Indigenous peoples, and marginalised groups. Throughout its five decades of service, GRPA has served hundreds of thousands of Guyanese across both urban and hinterland regions. The Association has been instrumental in advocating for progressive laws and policies such as the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, the National Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy, and the Policy for the Reintegration of Adolescent Mothers into the School System. It has also played a key role in Guyana’s HIV response as a recognised Care and Treatment Site and has advanced cervical cancer prevention through the introduction of Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
screening. GRPA’s health services now include cancer screening, contraception, HIV and STI testing, laboratory services, abortion care, and psychosocial support, while its ongoing advocacy has led national conversations on sexual rights, gender equality, and inclusion.
As GRPA marks its golden milestone, it is also looking ahead. Executive Director Kobe Smith described the anniversary as “both a celebration and a call to action.” “We pay tribute to the legacy of our founder, Olga Byrne, and to the brave advocates who fought for the rights we enjoy today,” Smith said. “Our next chapter will focus on breaking new ground in healthcare delivery and ensuring that every person can live with dignity, autonomy, and wellbeing.”
Throughout October 2025, the Association will host a series of commemorative events to honour the women, youth, and communities that have shaped its history and mission.
fied that Kellman, when approached by investigators, admitted that he and Lall had been involved in a fight and that she was motionless the next morning. During a recorded interview, Kellman said that he had hit his wife “a few times” after accusing her of drinking alcohol in front of their young child. He told investigators that the confrontation began after he returned from work and found the house in disarray and his wife consuming alcohol, behaviour he claimed had become frequent. He said he confronted her about the untidy home and the child’s exposure to that environment, and the situation escalated into physical violence. A post-mortem examination conducted by Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh revealed that Lall sustained multiple blunt trauma injuries to her head and chest, along with a lacerated spleen. The cause of death was given as haemorrhage and shock due to these injuries. Prosecutors argued that the attack was unprovoked and that Kellman’s failure to seek immediate medical assistance showed a “callous disregard for human life.”
They noted that Lall was left in distress throughout the night and that help was only sought after family members intervened the following morning. The court also heard victim impact statements from several of Lall’s relatives. Her eldest daughter,
Kulwantie Munilall, said her mother’s death had left a deep emotional scar, adding that caring for her younger brother served as a constant reminder of the loss.
Lall’s sister, Mahadai Lall, said she was heartbroken upon seeing her sibling’s lifeless body and lamented that the deceased’s young child would grow up without ever knowing his mother. Another sibling, Krishna Lall, said his sister’s death had “taken a piece” of him, describing the ordeal as “a brutal and senseless act.” The prosecution emphasised that domestic violence remains a serious societal concern and urged the court to impose a sentence that reflects both the gravity of the offence and the need for deterrence. They cited legal precedents such as Edwin Farfan v. The State, which underscores the court’s
duty to impose punishment that aligns with public condemnation of violent acts. A pre-sentence report provided insight into Kellman’s background. Before his arrest, Kellman worked as a self-employed welder and fabricator, supporting his three children. The report also described him as generally quiet, respectful, and cooperative during his incarceration, where he participated in educational and religious programmes, including psychology and Bible study. In his statement to the court, Kellman expressed remorse and embarrassment over the killing, saying he did not intend for his wife to die. He apologised to her relatives, asking for forgiveness. His Attorney, Edrianna Stephen of Hughes, Fields & Stoby, presented mitigating evidence and a character reference on his behalf, noting that Kellman had accepted responsibility for his actions. In delivering her ruling, Justice Ally-Seepaul acknowledged the remorse shown by the accused but stressed that the crime represented a severe breach of trust within a domestic setting. She said the sentence was intended not only as punishment but also as a message of deterrence against domestic violence. Kellman will serve 16 years and eight months behind bars, a punishment the court said reflects both justice for the victim and society’s ongoing fight against domestic abuse.
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) have launched a joint investigation into two separate but related incidents stemming from a land mining dispute in the Toroparo area, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni). The incidents occurred on September 23 and September 30, 2025.
According to reports, the first altercation on September 23, which was captured on video, featured the voice of Mitchell Watson, who is reportedly an involved personnel connected to miner Ronaldo Alphonso, as well as GGMC
rangers Marvis Hillman and Edson Carter. That encounter allegedly escalated into a confrontation during which members of Alphonso’s security team discharged firearms.
Just a week later, a second incident unfolded on September 30, also captured on video. In that footage, security agent Leon Wilkinson was seen as the main speaker, along with Ranger Edson Carter, security officer Randy Allen, and Juleth George, identified as a representative of GM Alphonso Mining, along with operator William Hill. The discussion appeared to reflect ongoing tensions and unresolved disputes
between the parties involved.
In response to both incidents, Police ranks from Region Seven moved in and arrested all individuals connected to the altercations. Law enforcement also seized the firearms believed to have been used in the earlier confrontation. Authorities have since deployed a joint operational team comprising Police ranks, led by an inspector, and GGMC officers, who remain in the area to maintain order and prevent further conflict. Investigations into the mining dispute and the circumstances surrounding the firearm discharges are ongoing.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha says the Government is pushing to ensure that brackish water shrimp production in Guyana becomes an industry. He disclosed this on Saturday while meeting with brackish water shrimp farmers from Albion, to discuss the progress of the project. Brackish water shrimp production in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) of Guyana has emerged as a promising component of the country's aquaculture development strategy. The region’s coastal geography, with its mix of freshwater and saline water sources, provides ideal conditions for cultivating species such as Penaeus vannamei (White leg shrimp). Some local farmers have increasingly turned to brackish water shrimp farming as a means of diversifying their income, especially in the face of challenges within the traditional rice and sugar industries. With support from Government initiatives and technical assistance from international partners, shrimp farms have been established or rehabilitated across coastal communities, helping to revitalise livelihoods and stimulate rural economies.
Over $600 million has already been invested in the brackish water shrimp programme, moving national production from 10,000 kg in 2020 to an impressive 120,000 kg today.
On Saturday, the Agriculture Minister told farmers that the Government acknowledged that while significant strides have been made between 2020 and 2025, several unresolved issues must be urgently addressed to ensure the project's continued growth and
Two Essequibo Coast drivers have been charged in connection with the fatal three-vehicle smash-up that claimed the life of 28-year-old contractor Kevin Bacchus of Queenstown, Essequibo Coast, earlier this year. The tragic accident occurred on June 4, along the Riverstown Public Road, Region Two (Pomeroon–Supenaam).
Appearing separately before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court on Friday, were Jairam Sukhu, 44, a driver of Maria’s Lodge, and Yougeshwar Persaud, 29, a truck driver of Columbia, Essequibo Coast. Sukhu was charged with Causing Death by Dangerous Driving, contrary to Section 35 (1) of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02, in relation to the death of Bacchus. The charge was read to him, and he was not required to plead at first. However, after the application of the Administrative of Justice Act (AJA) by the prosecutor, the charge was reread, and he pleaded not guilty. Sukhu was represented by Attorney Onassis Granville.
Although the prosecutor objected to bail, Magistrate Mohabir granted bail in the sum of $1 million, with the condition that Sukhu must report to the Suddie Police Station every Friday pending trial. The matter was adjourned to October 30 for
disclosure of statements. Meanwhile, Yougeshwar Persaud was charged with Dangerous Driving under Section 36 (1) of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02, for his role in the same collision. He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of $300,000, with a condition that he reports to the Anna Regina Police Station on the last Friday of every month until the trial concludes. His case was also adjourned to October 30, for the disclosure of statements. According to reports at the time of the accident, Bacchus was driving motor lorry GNN 4987 when he collided with an excavator track that was loaded on motor lorry GAJ 2185, driven by Sukhu. The impact caused Bacchus to lose control and crash into another truck bearing trade plate BMI-2, driven by Persaud.
Bacchus sustained severe injuries and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Suddie Public Hospital. His father, Ravi Bacchus, had told reporters that his son had been transporting materials between two nearby construction sites when the collision occurred. He alleged that the low-bed truck carrying the excavator was not properly positioned, with the tracks hanging off the side of the trailer, and that both trucks were reportedly speeding with blinding lights that may have impaired his son’s vision. Both Sukhu and Persaud were initially taken into custody following the accident as police launched a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to the fatal crash. The case remains before the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court, as the two accused await trial.
sustainability. Concerns were raised about inconsistent operator performance, lack of adequate supervision, and the need for fair distribution of resources.
Officials emphasised that all stakeholders who were initially part of the programme must have their work completed, and a comprehensive report is expected within a week.
The Government also committed to addressing infrastructural bottlenecks, such as sluice rehabilitation, and to ensuring value for public investment, especially as shrimp prices remain high despite increased production. The brackish water shrimp programme in Region Six has not only transformed the local aquaculture landscape but has also inspired interest across Guyana and even internationally. Due to its success, similar projects are now being considered in Regions Two, Four, and Five, with surveys already completed in
some areas. Remarkably, the model has also attracted attention from the Government of Barbados, which has begun implementing its own brackish water shrimp farms based on the Guyanese example. Addressing farmers on Saturday, Mustapha highlighted that this project is part of a broader national strategy to achieve food security, economic diversification, and rural development. The administration's efforts go beyond aquaculture, including massive investments in health, education, infrastructure, and energy – initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life for all citizens.
“This is one of the most successful projects we've launched, but it is not just about shrimp, it is about building an economy that benefits every Guyanese family. We are not investing for a few; we are investing so the entire country benefits,” the Minister added.
A58-year-old motorcyclist was killed on Saturday afternoon following a collision with a race car on the South Dakota Circuit at Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD). The deceased has been identified as Richard La Cuise of Timehri South Dakota Race Track Area, East Bank Demerara. According to Police reports, the incident occurred around 17:30 h and involved a Honda motor racing car, owned and driven by 49-year-old Andre Rochford of Herstelling, EBD. Investigations revealed that Rochford was
testing his car around the circuit when, upon negotiating a turn into a straight section of the track, he observed a motorcycle on the left side of the track. Police said the motorcyclist began swerving in and out of the car’s path, leading to a collision. As a result, La Cuise was thrown onto the track and sustained multiple injuries to his body.
Rochford reportedly stopped and picked up the injured man, taking him to the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Medical Centre, where he was examined and treated by a medic. He was later trans-
ferred by ambulance to the New Diamond Regional Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries around 20:15h while receiving treatment. La Cuise’s body was subsequently escorted to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where it awaits a post-mortem examination. Rochford was arrested following the incident. Police said a breathalyser test was administered, which showed no trace of alcohol in his system. He remains in custody at the Madewini Police Outpost assisting investigators. An investigation into the fatal collision is ongoing.
Police are investigating an alleged wounding incident that occurred early Sunday morning at Best Village, West Coast Demerara (WCD), leaving a Venezuelan man nursing a serious injury to his thigh. The injured man has been identified as Geraldy Angel, a Venezuelan national who was reportedly attacked by another man of Venezuelan nationality around 00:30h while at a bar in the area.
According to reports, Alianda Martin, a 20-year-
old Venezuelan woman from Vreed-en-Hoop, told investigators that she, her husband Osmel Figuera, and several family members were drinking at the establishment when an argument erupted between her and her husband. The dispute quickly escalated, and several other male Venezuelans at the bar became involved in a brawl.
During the altercation, one of the men reportedly armed himself with a cutlass and dealt Angel a chop to his left thigh, causing a
deep wound. The injured man was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) where he was treated by medical staff and admitted as a patient. His condition has since been listed as stable. Police said several individuals at the scene were questioned; however, no useful information was obtained due to the language barrier. Efforts were made to locate the suspect, but he has not yet been found. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
By Dr Tariq Jagnarine Family meDicine, enDocrinology/DiaBeTes
Breast lumps are very common. Fortunately, they’re not always a cause for concern. Ordinary reasons, such as hormonal changes, can cause breast lumps that appear and disappear on their own. Many women are screened each year for breast lumps; these tests show that up to 80 per cent of lumps are benign, or noncancerous. While it may be difficult to determine whether a lump is cancerous or not, learning how to do a breast examination and understanding some signs to look out for can help determine if a lump might be concerning and help to decide when to seek medical care.
A breast self-exam is a screening technique that can be done at home to check for
breast lumps.
A breast self-exam can help screen for:
• Tumours
• Cysts
• Other abnormalities in the breasts
NOTE:
A breast self-exam was once thought to be a good screening process for breast cancer. Now, a self-exam is considered to be less effective than other techniques, such as regular mammograms. This has led groups, such as the American Cancer Society, to deem breast self-exams optional. However, in Guyana’s setting, where services for ultrasound or mammogram may not be readily available, the breast self-exam can be a crucial tool in early diagnosis of breast cancer and other breast-related issues.
Breast self-exams help to familiarise women with the shape, size, and texture of their breasts. This is important because it can help to determine if the experience is normal or abnormal. This should also be reported to a healthcare provider.
The best time to do a breast self-exam is a few days after the monthly menstrual cycle ends. Hormonal changes can affect the size and feel-
ing of the breasts, so it’s best to perform the exam when the breasts are in their normal
• Changes in size, shape, or symmetry
• Dimpling( deep hole-
state.
Women who don’t menstruate should choose a certain day to perform the exam, such as the first day of each month.
A journal of the self-exams should be kept, which helps to track and record any changes that were noticed in the breasts.
Performing a breast self-exam
Start by standing topless in front of a mirror with your hands at your sides.
Visually inspect your breasts for the following:
like appearance on the skin)
Inverted nipples
Puckering
Asymmetrical ridges at the bottom
Check for these signs with the hands at the sides. Then, with the arms over one’s head, and again when lifting one breast at a time.
Using the pads (base) of the fingers, not the tips, inspect the breasts while lying down and again in the shower. The water and soap in the shower will allow the fingers to glide easily over the skin.
Using varying pres-
sure and with gentle care, massage the fingers over the breasts in a spiral pattern starting at the nipple. Make a way up to the top of the breast near the collarbone, to the centre by the breastbone, and to the sides near the armpits. Do this by putting one arm over the head while massaging the breast with the other hand.
• Lastly, gently squeeze the nipples to check for discharge.
Risks of a breast self-exam
There’s no medical risk involved in a breast self-exam. Finding a lump in the breast can be alarming, but a majority of breast lumps are not malignant or cancerous. They’re typically caused by other benign conditions.
Breast self-exams have also been associated with an increase in unnecessary breast biopsies, which are procedures that involve the surgical removal of breast tissue. Because most abnormalities in breast tissue are noncancerous, the extra surgical procedures put women at risk for rare complications, such as bleeding and infection.
After a breast self-exam
Finding a lump or abnor-
mality is not cause for panic. Remember that the vast majority of breast abnormalities turn out to be benign, or noncancerous. Besides cancer, breast lumps can be caused by:
• Fibro-adenoma, which is a benign tumour of the breast tissue
• Fibrocystic breast disease (changes), which is painful, lumpy breasts caused by hormone changes especially during breast enlargement.
• Intraductal papilloma, which is a small, benign tumour of the milk ducts
Mammary fat necrosis, which refers to lumps formed by bruised, dead, or injured fat tissue
Abscess – treatable
Cyst – Treatable Lipoma – Treatable Mastitis (Inflamed breast) – Due to infection or trauma, which is treatable with antibiotics
This doesn’t mean, however, that a lump or abnormality should be ignored. Finding a lump should motivate people to make an appointment with their healthcare provider to have their breasts professionally examined or undergo additional tests.
One hundred and five persons were rendered homeless from sixty-seven fires in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) and Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) between January and September 2025. Those figures were provided by Divisional Fire Officer Clive McDonald at a church service on Sunday to mark the beginning of Fire Prevention Month.
This year, Fire Prevention Month is being observed under the theme, ‘Let’s prevent fires for the development of a safer nation’.
He pointed out that as Guyana develops, fires impede development.
“From the loss of a home to the tragic passing of a
loved one, the devastation these disasters leave in the world is heartbreaking due to the mass destruction caused by the fire,”
McDonald pointed out. So far for the year, the department in the two regions, responded to 264 calls, 67 of which are private dwell-
ings. McDonald noted that those fires in dwelling places were of different causes.
“I encourage all citizens
of this division, Berbice, to install and maintain smoke alarms and fire extinguishers and to practice a fire escape plan that includes at least two ways out of every room,” the fire officer said. Noting that this current dry season is prone to wildfires, the fire officer is urging citizens to take action by clearing flammable vegetation and to practice fire safety in order to help reduce the occurrence of wildfires.
“As we mark Fire Prevention Month, by recommitting to prepare, we extend our thoughts and prayers to all those who have been affected by fire this year.”
He also took the opportunity to give tips on fire prevention at workplaces and schools.
“Keep flammable and combustible materials away from heat sources. Never leave cooking unattended. Check your active and passive firefighting systems. Use electrical equipment and devices according to the manufacturer's recommendations and make sure that they are properly installed, tested, and maintained to provide protection,” he advised. The goal of the fire department's fire prevention is to educate the public on the precautions that should be taken to prevent potential harmful fires from occurring, McDonald explained, as he cautioned persons not to let their dreams go up in flames, smoke, or ashes.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he has every authorization needed for U.S. military strikes on vessels just off the coast of Venezuela allegedly carrying illegal drugs.
Hegseth was speaking in a Fox News interview broadcast on Sunday. The United States killed four people in a strike in the Caribbean Sea on Friday, at least the fourth such attack in recent weeks.
"We have every authorization needed. These are designated as foreign terrorist organizations," Hegseth said in an interview on Fox News' "The Sunday Briefing."
He did not provide more details about the authorization.
Washington has cited the U.S. Constitution, war powers, designation of drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, the right to self-defense and international law on unlawful combatants as the legal basis for the strikes.
Hegseth and President
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks to senior military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, US, September 30, 2025
Donald Trump have not provided evidence for claims that the targeted boats were carrying drugs. Trump told Congress last week that he had determined the U.S. to be in "a non-international armed conflict" with drug cartels, without providing any new legal rationale.
"If you're in our hemisphere, if you're in the Caribbean, if you're north of Venezuela and you want to
traffic drugs to the United States, you are a legitimate target of the United States military," Hegseth said.
Trump on Sunday said the U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean had halted drug trafficking from South America.
"There's no drugs coming into the water. And we'll look at what phase two is," he told reporters at the White House. (Reuters)
Antigua & Barbuda
Prime Minister
Gaston Browne has called on health authorities to investigate reports of pollution caused by a local distillery, saying residents have complained about a strong odor coming from the facility.
Speaking on the Browne and Browne Show on Pointe FM, Browne said he instructed the Ministry of Health and the Central Board of Health (CBH) to take immediate action to assess the situation and ensure the company complies
with environmental and public health standards.
“I have asked the health authorities to look into it,” Browne said. “That distillery is polluting the environment — you can smell it from a distance, and that is not acceptable.”
The prime minister said the government welcomes private enterprise but warned that businesses cannot operate at the expense of public well-being.
“We support business, yes,” he said. “But no business should be allowed to pollute and make people
sick. They have to meet certain minimum standards.”
“We cannot have people suffering from the stench or any emissions from these facilities,” he said. “The CBH and the Ministry of Health must move swiftly on this.”
The prime minister linked the matter to his administration’s broader national cleanup and beautification campaign, which aims to improve sanitation, remove derelict properties, and promote a healthier living environment across the country. (Antigua News Room)
The Trinidad and Tobago government has secured Washington’s backing for offshore natural gas projects in Venezuelan waters.
In a statement published Tuesday, Trinidad Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar stated that she had received “support for the development of hydrocarbon cross-border resources” from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio following a meeting in Washington DC.
Caracas and Port of Spain had set up two joint initiatives in the Dragon and Cocuina-Manakin fields. The former, with four trillion cubic feet (Tcf) worth of reserves, is fully located in Venezuelan waters, while
the latter, with 1 Tcf, is split 34-66 between Venezuela and Trinidad. Shell and BP were chosen to operate the Dragon and Cocuina-Manakin projects, respectively. In a press release, the US State Department confirmed the meeting with Persad-Bissessar and Rubio’s “support for the government’s Dragon proposal.”
According to Reuters, the US Treasury Department could issue a new sanctions waiver for the project. It is presently unclear if the Cocuina-Manakin venture will also receive a green light.
The Venezuelan government has yet to comment on
the announcements and the prospects of resuming the natural gas projects, which already had geological studies and infrastructure development in motion.
Venezuelan state energy company PDVSA was not included as a shareholder in the offshore ventures, with the Dragon and Cocuina-Manakin projects’ stakes split 30-70 and 20-80 betweenTrinidad’s National Gas Company (NGC) and the respective corporate partner.
Under the agreed framework, Venezuela would only collect taxes and royalties, but it was not publicly disclosed whether in cash or in kind with gas shipments.
(Excerpt from CNW)
Police have arrested nine suspects, including a deputy director and two women, in connection with a large-scale fraud case at Melkcentrale NV (MCP), a Suriname dairy company, said to be ongoing since 2018.
A total of more than 4,000 bags of powdered milk, with an estimated value of SRD 17.1 million, were allegedly embezzled.
The Criminal Investigations Unit of the Herman E. Gooding Police Department (formerly Nieuwe Haven) uncovered the extensive fraud after a report was filed by the Melkcentrale on August 29, 2025.
The investigation was launched immediately, initially questioning several employees, but no arrests were made.
During a follow-up hearing on October 3, an employee made incriminating statements, after which police arrested eight people, including two women.
After consultation with the Public Prosecution Service, seven of them, including the two women, were remanded in custody. One man was released after questioning. Today, a ninth suspect, also an employee of the Melkcentrale, was arrested and remanded in custody.
Preliminary investiga-
tion reveals close collaboration between the warehouse manager, production staff, administration, and finance. Large quantities of powdered milk were retrieved from the warehouse at various times, loaded into refrigerated trucks, and resold to retailers.
According to police, the inventory shortages were camouflaged by administrative staff, who were paid to conceal discrepancies in the records. They also used a cunning storage method that obscured empty spaces in the warehouse.
Police do not rule out the possibility of further arrests. (Source: Suriname Herald)
A24-year-old British man who was allegedly held with cocaine valued at more than $30 million in his luggage at Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) in Kingston, has been denied bail.
Isun Shaka Haywood, a delivery driver of a London address, is charged with possession of cocaine, dealing with cocaine, attempting
to export cocaine and conspiracy to export cocaine.
Haywood, who was represented by attorney Odane Marston, was remanded to return to the Kingston St. Andrew Parish Court on October 16.
Investigators reported that about 11:30 a.m. on Monday, August 4, 2025, Haywood arrived at Norman Manley International Airport to board an outgoing
flight to Toronto, Canada. He was stopped, and during a search of his luggage, several rectangular packages containing a white powdery substance resembling cocaine were found.
The cocaine, which weighed 10.5 pounds, was seized.
Haywood was subsequently charged by the narcotics police. (Source: Radio Jamaica News)
After months of intense investigations, a soldier has been charged with three offences relating to the mysterious disappearance of close to 28,000 rounds of military-grade ammunition from an ammunition bunker at Camp Cumuto.
Senior Defence Force officials confirmed that the charges were linked to the alleged negligence of the warrant officer who had responsibility for securing the bunker and bringing the regiment into disrepute.
According to a senior officer familiar with the matter, the case will be heard internally and the Chief of Defence Staff Air Vice Marshal Darryl Daniel will have to direct whether the officer face a Court Martial after a summary of evidence is gathered.
In early February, it was discovered that the ammunition was missing from the armoury at Camp Cumuto.
The camp was locked down, and a desperate search was conducted between February 7 and 8 to find the estimated 35 missing metal cannisters of ammunition without success.
According to a July con-
fidential sub-report stemming from the board of enquiry set up to investigate the missing ammunition, there was evidence of a "potential cover-up."
The enquiry also found discrepancy in the "reclassification" of the ammunition from operational to training.
Further evidence also disputed a claim that the missing ammunition was used for training at the regiment shooting range in Chaguaramas.
The issue of regiment-stamped ammunition being found on crime scenes involving gangland murders
has reached the highest levels of national security as a source of grave concern.
Ammunition with police and Air Guard markings has also been found on various crime scenes. Weapons such as AR-15, commonly used by gangs, use 5.56 ammunition.
The disappearance of the ammunition from Camp Cumuto was among the factors discussed by the National Security Council in the lead up to the declaration of the state of emergency on July 18.
(Source: Trinidad & Tobago Newsday)
OPEC+ will raise oil output from November by 137,000 barrels per day (bpd), it said on Sunday, opting for the same fairly modest monthly increase as in October amid persistent worries over a looming supply glut.
The group comprising the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries plus Russia and some smaller producers has increased its oil output targets by more than 2.7 million bpd this year, equating to about 2.5% of global demand.
The shift in policy after years of cuts is designed to regain market share from rivals such as U.S. shale producers.
Brent prices fell below $65 per barrel on Friday, as most analysts predict a supply glut in the fourth quarter and in 2026 due to slower demand and rising U.S. supply.
Prices are trading below this year's peaks of $82 per barrel but above $60 per barrel seen in May.
In the run-up to the meeting, Russia and Saudi Arabia, the two biggest producers in the OPEC+ group, had different views, sources have said.
Russia was advocating for a modest output increase, the same as in October, to avoid pressuring oil prices and because it would struggle to raise output owing to sanctions over its war in Ukraine, two sources said this week.
Saudi Arabia would have preferred double, triple or even quadruple that figure - 274,000 bpd, 411,000 bpd or 548,000 bpd respectively - because it has spare capacity and wants to regain market share more quickly, sources said ahead of the meeting.
OPEC views the global economic outlook as steady and market fundamentals as healthy because of low oil inventories, it said in a statement on Sunday. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Rescue efforts are under way on Mount Everest after a snowstorm trapped nearly 1,000 people in campsites on the eastern side of the mountain, according to Chinese state media.
Hundreds of trekkers stranded by a blizzard near the eastern face of the mountain in Tibet were guided to safety by rescuers on Sunday, as unusually heavy precipitation including rain pummelled the Himalayas.
As of Sunday, 350 people had reached the small township of Qudang, while contact with the remaining 200-plus trekkers had been made, China Central Television (CCTV) reported.
Visitors to the remote valley of Karma, which leads to the eastern Kangshung face of Everest, were in the hundreds this week, taking advantage of an eightday National Day holiday in China.
Snowfall in the valley, which lies at an elevation averaging 4,200 metres (13,779 feet), began on Friday evening and persisted throughout Saturday.
The remaining trekkers would arrive in Qudang in stages under the guidance and assistance of rescuers organised by the local government, CCTV reported. Hundreds of local villagers and rescue teams had been deployed to help remove snow blocking access to the area, according to an earlier report by state-backed Jimu News.
Jimu News estimated that nearly 1,000 people had been trapped. The CCTV report did not say if local guides and support staff of the trekking parties had been accounted for. It was also unclear if trekkers near the north face of Everest –also in Tibet – had been affected or not. (Excerpt from The Guardian)
Landslides and flash floods, triggered by heavy rains, have killed at least 47 people, blocked roads and washed away bridges in Nepal.
Thirty-five people were killed in separate landslides in the Ilam district in the east bordering India, Kalidas Dhauboji, a spokesperson for the Armed Police Force, said on Sunday.
Nine people were missing after being washed away by floods since Friday and three others were killed in lightning strikes elsewhere in Nepal, he added, as relentless downpours pummelled eastern and central regions of the Himalayan nation.
“Rescue efforts for the missing persons are going on,” said Shanti Mahat, a National Disaster
Risk Reduction and Management Authority spokesperson in Nepal.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has declared Monday and Tuesday as public holidays nationwide, exempting emergency ser-
vices and disaster response teams, as the government battles the crisis.
Meteorological authorities have also placed more than a dozen districts on red alert, with department chief Kamal Ram Joshi
warning the residents near waterways to evacuate immediately, The Kathmandu Post newspaper reported. The alert covers major population centres, including parts of the capital, Kathmandu, with Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini and Madhesh provinces expected to bear the brunt of continued downpours through Monday morning.
Transport infrastructure has suffered extensive damage, with landslides cutting all major routes into Kathmandu.
The crisis has been compounded by its timing, striking as hundreds of thousands of people return from their homes following the Dashain celebrations, Nepal’s most important religious festival. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
US President Donald Trump on Sunday authorised the deployment of 300 National Guard troops to Chicago to address what he says is out-of-control crime, hours after U.S. Border Patrol personnel shot an armed woman in Chicago on Saturday, the Department of Homeland Security said, as scores of protesters faced off against federal immigration agents on the city's southwest side.
No law enforcement officers were seriously injured in the incident in which a group that included the woman rammed cars into vehicles used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a
DHS spokesperson said in a statement. The woman, a U.S. citizen who was not identified, drove herself to the hospital, according to the statement.
James Bond has been disarmed by Amazon, with all guns removed from promotional material for the franchise.
The streaming giant, which recently acquired the rights to the Bond franchise, has stripped 007 of his sidearm in new images advertising the films online.
Stars including Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan appear empty-handed in the promotional pictures.
The company’s revised online posters now feature images from the films themselves, though none of the promotional images show 007 with a weapon.
Amazon’s initial online promotional material also
No additional information was immediately available about the woman's condition. ICE agents fired pepper spray and loaded rubber bullets as part of
heated exchanges with protesters on Saturday.
State and local leaders have for weeks criticised Trump's deployment plans and called it an abuse of power. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said Trump was "attempting to manufacture a crisis".
The announcement came as a federal judge on Saturday temporarily blocked Trump from deploying 200 Oregon National Guard troops to Portland.
While it's unclear whether troops have arrived in Chicago, any such deployment would likely be met with legal challenges. (Source: Reuters, BBC News)
did away with any hint of 007’s female companions, instead showing digitally-enhanced images of various Bond actors standing alone.
However, the company appears to have accept -
ed that Bond always gets the girl, and revised online material for the Bond franchise now features 007 alongside various love interests.
While guns are not visible in the current view-fac -
ing promotional material online, anyone who decides to watch a Bond film on Amazon, and clicks on a given title, will soon see 007 armed in various images and sequences.
The motivation for Amazon removing guns from the Bond posters is not clear, but the practice of removing weapons from promotion material is not new.
In 2018, Disney removed a laser gun from the promotional poster for its Han Solo film, with the Star Wars character shown without one. This year, the company removed several guns from the poster for the action film Thunderbolts.
(Excerpt from The Telegraph)
Hit the reset button and take redesign how you use your talents. Implement good work and health ethics into your everyday routine.
Plan your actions with finesse and the intent to do what’s right and best for everyone, including yourself. Resolve financial or health issues that stand between you and your ambitions.
When in doubt, do what makes you feel good about who you are and how you help others. Participating in activities support a cause you believe in will make a difference.
Go beyond your expectations by using your talents to create something that brings people together. Socializing faceto-face will lead to growth, creativity and getting back to what truly matters.
Reach out to those who have something to offer and to the people or organizations that can help fund your plans. A problem will help you see the possibilities.
Discussions will spin out of control if anger or frustration set in, so stay calm, offer realistic solutions and be upfront and willing to do your part. A partnership looks promising.
Keep an open mind, but refrain from hesitation when action is necessary. Step up, make suggestions and follow through with your plans. Actions speak louder than words.
Wear your badge openly and toot your horn so others can recognize who’s in charge and what you bring to the table. Choose intelligence over bragging, and you’ll gain support and recognition.
There is a fine line between being vulnerable and being soft. Trust and believe in your instincts. Doing the right thing won’t be easy, but it will be rewarding.
It’s time to listen, observe and configure a workable plan to alleviate explosive situations. Know your strengths and weaknesses, and create opportunities that offer hope. Love conquers all.
Divvy up your schedule to ensure you get things done and have time to spend with people you love. Consider making a domestic change that enhances your space or lowers your overhead.
Pay attention to how you look, feel and live. Tweaking your routine to incorporate more fitness and health-oriented habits will pay off. Making your dreams come true is a matter of taking control.
Seamer Kranti Goud led the way for India with 3 for 20 as they dismissed Pakistan for 159 in their chase of 248 in the Women's World Cup at Khettarama.
The result extended India's dominance, making it 12 wins in 12 OneDay Internationals (ODIs) against Pakistan. It also took India to the top of the points table, ahead of Australia, while Pakistan have lost both their games in the tournament so far.
India were sloppy in the field, but Pakistan failed to capitalise on it, never quite keeping pace with the required rate during their chase. Sidra Amin held one
India Women (50 ovs maximum)
Pratika Rawal b Sadia Iqbal 31
Smriti Mandhana lbw b Fatima Sana 23
Harleen Deol c Nashra Sandhu
b Rameen Shamim 46
Harmanpreet Kaur (c) c †Sidra Nawaz
b Diana Baig 19
Jemimah Rodrigues lbw
b Nashra Sandhu 32
Deepti Sharma c † Sidra Nawaz
b Diana Baig 25 Sneh Rana c Aliya Riaz
b Fatima Sana 20
Richa Ghosh † not out 35 Shree Charani c Natalia Pervaiz
b Sadia Iqbal 1 Kranti Goud c Aliya Riaz
b Diana Baig 8 Renuka Singh c †Sidra Nawaz
b Diana Baig 0 Extras (b 1, lb 1, nb 1, w 4) 7
Total 50 Ov (RR: 4.94) 247
Fall of wickets: 1-48 (Smriti Mandhana, 8.6 ov), 2-67 (Pratika Rawal, 14.5 ov), 3-106 (Harmanpreet Kaur, 24.4 ov), 4-151 (Harleen Deol, 33.1 ov), 5-159 (Jemimah Rodrigues, 34.6 ov), 6-201 (Sneh Rana, 44.2 ov), 7-203 (Deepti Sharma, 45.3 ov), 8-226 (Shree Charani, 48.2 ov), 9-247 (Kranti Goud, 49.5 ov), 10-247 (Renuka Singh, 49.6 ov)
Bowling O-M-R-W
Sadia Iqbal
Diana Baig
10-0-47-2
10-1-69-4
Fatima Sana 10-2-38-2
10-0-39- 1
Rameen Shamim
Nashra Sandhu
10-0-52-1
end up with 81 off 106, offering Pakistan a glimmer of hope, but her dismissal effectively ended Pakistan's resistance. They were eventually bowled out in 43 overs.
er India batter found it difficult to score, Richa Ghosh crashed 35 not out off 20 from number eight, lifting India to 247 – the highest total without a fifty-plus stand in women's ODIs. Harleen Deol top-scored for India with 46, with Pakistan's five bowlers never letting the momentum go India's way on what Jemimah Rodrigues described as "not an easy pitch" for batting during the innings break.
Pakistan opened the bowling with left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal after putting India in under grey skies, but soon went back to their usual new-ball pairing of Diana Baig and Fatima
Pakistan Women (T: 248 runs from 50 ovs)
Muneeba Ali run out (Sharma) 2 Sadaf Shamas c & b Goud 6
Sidra Amin c Kaur b Rana 81
Aliya Riaz c Sharma b Goud 2
Natalia Pervaiz c sub (RP Yadav)
b Goud 33
Fatima Sana (c) c Mandhana b Sharma 2
Sidra Nawaz † c & b Rana 14
Rameen Shamim b Sharma 0
Diana Baig run out (Kaur) 9 Nashra Sandhu not out 2 Sadia Iqbal c Mandhana
b Sharma 0
Extras (lb 1, w 7) 8
Total 43 Ov (RR: 3.69) 159 Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Muneeba Ali, 3.6 ov), 2-20 (Sadaf Shamas, 7.3 ov), 3-26 (Aliya Riaz, 11.1 ov), 4-95 (Natalia Pervaiz, 27.1 ov), 5-102 (Fatima Sana, 30.5 ov), 6-143 (Sidra Nawaz, 37.6 ov), 7-146 (Rameen Shamim, 38.3 ov), 8-150 (Sidra Amin, 39.5 ov), 9-158 (Diana Baig, 42.2 ov), 10-159 (Sadia Iqbal, 42.6 ov) Bowling O-M-R-W Renuka Singh 10-1-29-0 Kranti Goud 10-3-20-3 Sneh Rana 8-0-38-2 Shree Charani 6-1-26-0 Deepti Sharma 9-0-45-3
Sana. Pakistan lost a review early after an lbw shout against Smriti Mandhana was not given, with the replays indicating that Baig's delivery had pitched outside leg. Mandhana, however, struggled to get going, especially against Sana, who mostly bowled tight lines, not allowing her to score on the off side. She eventually fell lbw to an inswinger from Sana for 23 after burning a review in the process.
The introduction of spinners squeezed the scoring even further. Though Deol walked down the track to hit Rameen Shamim for a six, Pakistan kept building up the dot-ball pressure. Pratika Rawal scored 31 off 37 balls before she was undone by a Sadia Iqbal arm ball. By the end of 20 overs, India had played out 78 dots.
With Captain Harmanpreet Kaur too falling without making any big impact, leaving India 106 for 3 in 25 overs, the onus was on Deol to build on her start. India seemed to have found themselves in more trouble after Baig had Rodrigues caught behind for 2, but it turned out to be a no-ball. Rodrigues then smashed the free-hit to the midwicket boundary.
Rodrigues and Deol added 45 in 51 balls before Shamim had Deol hole out to long-on in the 34th over. In the next over, Nashra Sandhu then had Rodrigues lbw for 32 after overturning an on-field not-out decision. In between those two overs, there was a 15-minute delay while the playing area at Khettarama was fumigated to clear it of a swarm of insects.
India sent in Sneh Rana at number seven, ahead of Ghosh, and their struggle to up the ante continued. She holed out for 20 off 33 while struggling to break free, which brought Ghosh to the middle. Ghosh went on to punish the fast bowlers, smashing Sana's slow-
er delivery over wide longon though wickets tumbled around her. She took 13 runs off Baig in the 48th over, and then Goud contributed with two boundaries in the final over of the innings to take India to an above-par total.
India burnt a review with the very first ball of the chase, trying to overturn an lbw decision against Muneeba Ali. Pakistan's openers, however, struggled to score against new-ball bowlers Goud and Renuka Singh, who came into the XI in place of Amanjot Kaur.
In the fourth over, Muneeba was run-out in unusual circumstances. Muneeba, batting out of her crease, was not attempting a run when India appealed for an lbw off Goud's bowling. As that appeal went up, Muneeba had promptly grounded her bat behind the crease before the throw from Deepti Sharma came in from the slip cordon. But replays revealed she had very briefly raised her bat off the ground again without having grounded any other part of the body behind the line when Deepti's throw had dislodged the bails. The decision caused a brief stoppage with Pakistan Captain Sana seen chatting with the
fourth umpire near the rope.
Goud continued to keep India in control, mixing her lengths and pace superbly.
After having Sadaf Shamas caught and bowled, she had Aliya Riyaz caught at second slip, leaving Pakistan at 26 for 3 in 11.1 overs.
Amin, getting off the mark with a boundary, had luck going her way. She escaped an lbw shout with India not opting to review while batting on eight; the replays later showing three reds on ball-tracking. Ghosh dropped an edge off her shortly after. She was also nearly caught and bowled by N Sree Charani while batting on 12. Amin, however,
couldn't score freely against India's quicks.
Amin, though, seemed to gain in confidence with the introduction of spinners as she hit Rana for a six over long-on. It was Pakistan's first-ever six in an ODI against India. She then found able support from Natalia Pervais who made 33 off 46. Amin went on to bring up her fifty off 82 balls, but by then Pakistan's required run rate ballooned towards eight. Amin fell under the pressure of that asking rate, leaving Pakistan at 150 for 8, and it did not take long for India to wrap up Pakistan's innings.
(ESPNcricinfo)
National Boxing Coach Lennox
Daniels has sent a clear and urgent message to local pugilists as they prepare for the impeding Terrence Poole National Intermediate Championship scheduled for later this month.
Daniels has been encouraging gyms across the country to “sharpen their skills through the Guyana Boxing Association’s Developmental Programme”.
Declaring that the upcoming competition, from
October 25 to October 27, will be no walk in the park, Daniels envisioned that the event being held in honour of the late and legendary coach Terrence Poole will be a tough, action-packed bout of talent.
This weekend, the GBA’s Developmental Programme returned to the Andrew “Six Head” Lewis Gym in Albouystown, a venue that has already seen plenty of punches traded following last weekend’s successful card.
According to Daniels, gyms from Berbice domi-
nated the last clash, taking the lion’s share of the 11 bouts on the night, with the others going to the “Six Head” Gym.
He credited the hard work being put in across the Ancient County, particularly in New Amsterdam and Rose Hall.
“We’re seeing real enthusiasm from the gyms, and hopefully this week we’ll see full cooperation from all corners of the country,” Daniels said.
According to Daniels, “the boxers are eager to show what they’ve been
Lando Norris says "anyone on the grid" would have made the move that led to renewed tension and controversy between the Briton and his McLaren teammate and title rival Oscar Piastri at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Norris slid into Piastri on the exit of the third corner at Marina Bay after a bump with Max Verstappen's Red Bull ahead of him knocked his car sideways.
The incident threatens to derail the harmony that McLaren, through careful, thoughtful and open management, has so far managed to maintain between the two drivers.
Norris trailed Piastri by 25 points before the race, and narrowed that lead by only three points after he finished third behind winner George Russell's Mercedes
training for, and honestly, we’ve got a good problem on our hands at the GBA; if we had to select a national team right now, it would be tough because the level of talent is that strong.”
The upcoming National Open and Intermediate Championships will not only showcase Guyana’s best fighters at those levels, but also serve as a fitting tribute to Poole, a man regarded as one of the finest technical minds in Caribbean boxing.
During his tenure as Technical Director of the GBA, Poole was the chief architect of these very championships, turning them into a proving ground
for boxers hungry to step up in class.
Adding to this year’s programme, the GBA has announced the Terrence Poole Memorial Tournament, an international fixture that will see Caribbean boxers step into the ring against Guyana’s best.
It will be a card worthy of the man whose name it carries, bringing regional fighters together in the spirit of competition, respect, and development.
October 2 marked one year since Poole’s sudden passing at a medical facility in Georgetown, a loss that sent shockwaves through Guyana’s sporting community and the
Caribbean boxing fraternity at large.
A former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) stalwart, Poole’s service went far beyond the ropes; he was decorated with the Medal of Service (MS) for his contribution to sport and national development.
In 2014, Poole made history when he became Guyana’s first International Boxing Association (AIBA) ThreeStar Coach after completing the elite coaching course in Kazakhstan, the highest level attainable for amateur coaches. It set him apart, with only Sebert Blake later joining him at that standard in Guyana.
it, of course, and see if there was something I could have done better.
"The last thing I want is to make contact with my teammate, especially because all I get is questions from you guys.
"I'm the one that can't afford anything compared to him. I would put myself at risk just as much if that kind of thing happens. But the
and Verstappen, with Piastri just behind in fourth.
The Briton insisted he had done nothing wrong in getting past Piastri.
"Anyone on the grid would have done exactly the same thing as I did," he said. "So if you fault me for just putting my car on the inside of a big gap, then you shouldn't be in Formula 1.
"I don't think I did anything wrong. Of course, I misjudged a little bit how close I was to Max, but that's racing.
"Nothing happened otherwise, and I'm sure I still would have ended up ahead of Oscar anyway, because I was on the inside and he would have had the dirty side of the track on the outside.
"So, I need to go review
FIA obviously thought it was fine, and the team did, too. So, that's it."
Norris denied he had been aggressive with Piastri. "I touched Max," he said, "so I wasn't aggressive on my teammate."
“No concerns” that Norris may be getting preferential treatment Piastri was unhappy about the incident. He said over the team radio that the team's decision to do nothing about it was "not fair".
After the race, he was more circumspect, saying he needed to watch the incident before commenting on it further.
"The main thing is the two cars coming together," he said. "It's never what we want, so I'll go and have a
look at it in more detail."
The Australian has already been the driver to lose out in at least two controversial situations this year.
In Hungary in August, he was the lead McLaren driver early in the race, but Norris was allowed to use a divergent strategy to beat his teammate, a decision insiders in rival teams have questioned.
And in Italy in September, Piastri was ordered to let Norris back past him for second place after the Briton was delayed by a slow pit stop. Piastri complained that he thought there had been an agreement that a slow pit stop was just a part of racing that had to be accepted, but acquiesced anyway.
Behind the scenes, he was not happy about that situation, and he and the team held talks to resolve it.
But asked after Sunday's race in Singapore whether he had any concerns that Norris may be getting preferential treatment, Piastri said: "No."
Did he think the team had been fair all season?
"Ultimately, yes," Piastri said. "Could things have been better at certain points? Yes, but ultimately it's a learning process with the whole team and I'm very, very happy that the intentions are very well meaning, if that makes sense."
The incident is the second time the McLaren drivers have collided this year, after Norris ran into the back of Piastri while trying to overtake him in Canada in June and had to retire. (BBC Sport)
Cricket West Indies (CWI) has issued a statement on the passing of Trinidad and Tobago all-rounder Bernard Julien, hailing him as a “quiet legend of the 1975 World Cup”.
The Board wrote, The passing of Bernard Julien invites reflection on both the brilliance of his cricketing life and the complex times through which he lived. His career reminds us that the story of West Indies cricket is not only about triumphs on the field but about the choices and circumstances that shaped generations of players and the Region itself.
Bernard Julien was one of the quiet legends of the 1975 World Cup, a tournament that fifty years ago brought this region joy like no other as the West Indies lifted the first men's world title in the history of the game. His skill and composure were central to that victory. He took 4 for 20 against Sri Lanka, 4 for 27 against New Zealand, and 2 for 38 in the final at Lord’s, along with a vital 26 not out that helped seal the championship.
In all, Bernard played 24 Test matches for the West Indies, scoring 866 runs at an average of 30.92 and taking 50 wickets at 37.36. In
One-Day Internationals, he claimed 18 wickets at 25.72.
As a left-arm swing bowler, his delivery was smooth and rhythmic, capable of moving the ball both ways. With the bat, he combined balance and control with understated confidence. He was admired for his calm temperament and thoughtful approach to the game, a player who brought intelligence and integrity to every performance.
His international career came to an end following his participation in the 1982-83 and 1983-84 tours to South Africa, during a period when the world of sport was sharply divided by the moral and political challenges of apartheid. Those decisions reflected the difficult realities of that era and the pressures faced by players navigating competing demands of opportunity, conscience, and circumstance.
As we honour Bernard Julien, we also recognise the importance of reflection and inclusion. The time has come to view that chapter of our history not through exclusion but through understanding. Cricket West Indies believes that all who have contributed to our regional game, in whatever context, are part of our shared story. Therefore, the
day will be deeply significant when Caricom, with grace, undertakes a regional act of acknowledgement and pardon, embracing both the living and the departed, as a quiet but profound tribute to the full journey of West Indies cricket.
To the family, friends, and loved ones of Bernard Julien, we extend our deepest condolences. His passing reminds us that a life devoted to purpose never truly leaves us. Cricket West Indies stands with you in this moment of loss, and we hope Bernard knew he was valued and loved by the cricketing family he helped to shape, and that he found peace knowing his contribution will always endure. May he rest in peace.
nown for competing ahead of her years, 15-year-old Jasmine Billingy did it once again on Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), but this time for the ultimate prize, as she copped the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) National Women’s Singles
Billingy cruised through the competition, which culminated in a nail-biting final between herself and Samara Sukhai which fea-
tured a gripping second set.
She overcame Seona Barker 3-0 and Naveah Clarkson 3-1 on her way to the final, in which she triumphed 3-0 over Sukhai.
Sukhai had also breezed through the early stages of the competition, overcoming Cassidy Ann Singh 3-0 and Akira Watson 3-1 before the final.
The soft-spoken table tennis ace Billingy shared exclusively with Guyana Times Sport after the final, “It feels really good.
It was another round of entertaining Under-11 primary school football when the Courts Optical Pee- Wee U11 tournament, coordinated by the Petra Organisation continued on Saturday at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground.
Region Two’s Charity Primary got the second round of the group stage off to a thrilling start, downing St Aloysius Primary 6-0. Troy Boston netted a hattrick in the 9th, 18th and 23rd minutes, with an identical feat from Adon Holmes in the 25th, 26th and 28th minutes for Charity’s win.
Potaro Primary met some resistance from Smith’s Memorial but still came away with a 3-1 victory.
Lamon Telemaque had a brace for Potaro in the 7th and 15th minute, alongside a lone strike off the boots of Marek Timmerman in the 9th. Derick Holder had earlier netted Smith’s Memorial’s
nine unanswered goals past Ann’s Grove Primary. Aaron Christian was the star of the show, netting a glut in the 13th, 16th, 20th, 24th and 29th minutes. His display was backed up by a hattrick off the boots of Neymar Edwards in the 2nd, 4th
consolation in the 11th.
A Dominic Dickson strike in the ninth minute was all it took for Tucville Primary to needle Batavia Primary 1-0.
Then, Agatash Primary put on a show, steamrolling Clonbrook Primary 5-0. It was only in the 17th minute that Carlos Paul opened the scoring, going on to complete his brace in the 27th minute. Goals off the boots of Justin Calvan (18th), Deon Tracey (21st) and Jake Calvan (29th) accounted for the remainder of their tally.
However, St John the Baptist Primary did it bigger and better in the following contest, sending
and 9th minutes while Alex Pearson had a lone goal in the 30th.
Georgetown International Academy enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 victory against St Stephen’s Primary. Zakaria Zemmit netted a brace in the 9th and 13th minutes while Caleb Tan added the cherry on top in the 20th.
Another unchallenged victory went the way of Leonora Primary, who overcame St Pius Primary 2-0, in a shocking encounter. Goals off the boots of Elyon Hyman (9th) and Adrian Harry (18th) helped Leonora secure the win against last year’s
third-place finishers.
North Georgetown Primary got the better of Goed Fortuin Primary by a similar 2-0 margin. Avion Lynch was the marksman to watch, scoring in the 6th and 25th minutes.
An Omari St Hill strike in the 14th minute later got Winfer Gardens Primary past Redeemer Primary in a 1-0 affair.
Then, West Ruimveldt Primary showcased their prowess with a 5-0 win over Sophia Primary. Ceon Rajkumar netted two in the 2nd and 28th minutes while Jaseen Paris (4th), Chappelle Daniels (18th) and Yanique Cadogan (25th) added one each to the score.
Stella Maris Primary also enjoyed a big win, defeating St Mary’s Primary 4-0. Heeds Schultz and Clevon Jacobs got things going with goals in the 2nd and 3rd minutes respectively while Kenyeatha Junor netted two in the 20th and 25th minutes.
In drawn encounters on the day, last year’s runners-up Marian Academy and St Gabriel’s Primary played to a stalemate while Genesis and St Theresa’s Primary settled for a 1-all draw.
I-Shent Ouderk netted for St Theresa’s in the 20th minute, but unfortunately St Theresa’s also conceded an own goal resulting in the shared points.
I’ve been training a lot for this competition, I recent ly came off an injury, so it’s good to know that my training has paid off and achievements making prog ress.”
Adding to Billingy’s weekend of bliss, she teamed up with fellow teenager Sukhai to clinch the Women’s Doubles title on Saturday. Billingy and Sukhai got the better of Watson and Barker in the women’s doubles final, 3-1 for the national title.
Santos Football Club’s women’s team pulled off a hard-fought victory on Friday night to rebound from a prior loss in the ongoing Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Women’s Division One League.
Santos pulled themselves from a deadlock with Ann’s Grove United’s women to end with a 2-0 win at the GFF’s National Training Centre at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) in the first of a thrilling double-header.
Following a stalemate in the first half, Alliyah France capitalised on some chaos in the box to slip one past the Ann’s Grove keeper, breaking the ice in the 37th minute of the contest.
Though Ann’s Grove’s
defences looked to hold on, Kristy Daniels sent one blasting past the keeper from outside the box in the 59th minute to seal the victory for Santos. Also part of the double-header on Friday was an engrossing, last-minute draw between the tournament’s two hinterland teams, Mainstay Goldstar FC and Rivers’ View FC.
Ashley Cozier handed Mainstay Goldstar the lead early on, making the most of a mistake on the goalkeeper’s part to slip the ball into the net in the 16th minute. However, it would not be easy going for the Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) side in the remainder of their attack as Rivers’ View held them off on every other attempt.
At the next end of the pitch, Rivers’ View could not seem to find the net, relin-
quishing a handful of opportunities. That was until the final minute of the contest when a Mainstay defender handled the ball in the box, granting the Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) outfit a lifeline.
Varinah Daniels made no mistake, lobbing the ball into the top-left corner of the goal for the equaliser in the 60th minute. In dramatic fashion, the whistle went off when play was restarted, resulting in the 1-1 draw.
The Women’s Division One League will continue on Wednesday, October 8, with another exciting double-header. At 18:00h, Den Amstel FC take on the Guyana Police Force (GPF) FC while at 19:30h, Fruta Conquerors go toe-to-toe with the unbeaten Guyana Defence Force (GDF) FC.
