Issuu

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 6546

THE BEACON OF TRUTH SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026

El Niño conditions, growing customer base push GPL’s power grid to record demand See story on page 3

…major consumers switch to self-generation during peak hours

M&CC Councillor Wayne Maison meets PPP’s GS Page 13

PRICE $100 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Gun, ammo P11 found in home of dead man

Housewife accused of P11 unlawfully wounding man remanded to prison

MV Canawaima gets green light to sail after re- P16 inspection

…signals new political direction

Entirely unfounded, untrue – CCJ President fires back at claims of influencing judgments, panel fixing $614.5M Fire Service Senior cops HQ hit by defects just 18 implicated months after opening in alleged licence fraud Page 15

See story on page 12

Page 10

…after Berbice rank caught with competency letters, $564,000

Father of 5 found dead in P11 canal

Over US$52M in narcotics, contraband items seized during Operation P8 Eclipse

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENING

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, August 15 – 05:40h–07:10h and Sunday, August 16 – 06:15h–07:45h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Early morning thundery showers are expected to clear by midday, followed by clear skies at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius. Winds: East-North-Easterly to East-SouthEasterly between 3.12 metres and 5.81 metres. High Tide: 06:09h and 18:27h reaching maximum heights of 2.76 metres and 2.69 metres. Low Tide: 12:03h reaching a minimum height of 0.51 metre.

El Niño conditions, growing customer base push GPL’s power grid to record demand …major consumers switch to self-generation during peak hours …as Govt rolls out plan to conserve power, stabilise system

he current El Niño conditions, coupled with a growing customer base, have driven up electricity demand across Guyana, forcing the Government to implement a series of measures to not only enhance the power supply, but also conserve electricity and stabilise the aged national grid system. One of those interventions is having large consumers across the country be removed from the national grid during peak hours, when demand is high. Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar explained that though these large customers have self-generating capacity,

Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar and GPL’s Executive Management Committee Team Leader Kesh Nandlall at Friday’s press conference held at the Office of the Prime Minister

der to stabilise the aged-grid system. “But we do have a list, and we’re planning it based on the demand right now… in specific areas,” Nandlall stated.

Generation capacity

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026

LOTTERY NUMBERS L

11 13

21 22 24

FREE TICKET FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 2026

5 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

10 23 26

LUCKY 3

Afternoon Draw

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

14 18 19

SUPER

PAY DAY

PAY DAY THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2026

12 14 16 1

13 14 20

6 Afternoon Draw

2X Afternoon Draw

1 Evening Draw

FP Evening Draw

9554

DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

COMMODITIES Indicators Crude Oil

US$ $88.52/barrel

Change % +1.67

Rough Rice

$252.00/ton

-1.37

London Sugar

$511.20/ton

-1.29

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Low/High

$4375.60 $4310.20

$4377.60 $4397.70

Change

+25.30

+0.58%

Bid/Ask

Some of the Region 10 sawmill operators during the engagement with Government officials on rearranging their working hours

which is costly due to the soaring fuel prices, they are on the national grid to capitalise on the subsidised rates. “During those two hours from 07:00h to 21:00h, we’re asking them to come off the grid. And it’s only three customers; we’ve asked to stabilise voltage – two in Berbice and one on the East Bank [of Demerara],” Indar noted during a press conference on Friday. “The problem that you have is voltage levels at different points in the grid, where they have big customers that are using massive amounts [of power], and… the [transmission] lines can’t take the amount of power that is demanded in the area, so it trips. So, people get three to four [power] outages during the peak period.” Those three consumers that have agreed to come off the grid during peak hours utilise a combined total of approximately three megawatts (MW). Head of the Executive Management Committee at the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc., Kesh Nandlall, added during Friday’s press conference that they are assessing the high-demand

areas, and where necessary, they will similarly re-

move large consumers there during the peak hours in or-

Meanwhile, Indar went on to assure that GPL has adequate generation capacity to meet the growing demand across the country. Currently, there is a generation capacity of 256MW, while peak demand is at 242.64MW – a record high and an increase from last year’s 221MW. According to Indar, “… the increase is due to one, the weather, the hotness of the temperature, increased housing expansion in the country, commercial operations, as well as industrial customers.” TURN TO PAGE 7

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026

guyanatimesgy.com

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Industrial Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Mathematics education, teaching to the test

he renewed regional focus on Mathematics performances presents an important opportunity for Caribbean education systems to reassess how Mathematics is taught, assessed, and understood. The challenge confronting several Caribbean territories at its core is the need to ensure that students acquire the mathematical understanding, reasoning, and problem-solving skills required to apply knowledge beyond the classroom. Discussions at the 52nd Meeting of the CARICOM Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) on Education, hosted by Guyana from August 12–13, are therefore timely. Education Ministers and regional education stakeholders, including the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), have placed Mathematics improvement back at the centre of the regional education agenda. The recognition that several Caribbean countries are experiencing similar difficulties is significant. Rather than treating Mathematics performance as an isolated national concern, the regional approach creates space for Governments and education agencies to share experiences, examine successful interventions and develop strategies suited to Caribbean classrooms. Education Minister Sonia Parag has appropriately highlighted the importance of moving beyond an examination-driven approach. Preparing students to pass an examination is necessary, but it cannot be the ultimate objective of Mathematics education. A student who can reproduce a formula for an examination but cannot understand when or how to apply that formula has not acquired the full value of the subject. Mathematics should instead be presented as a tool for reasoning, decision-making and problem-solving. Students should be able to recognise mathematical concepts in practical situations, explain their reasoning, make connections between different areas of Mathematics and apply their knowledge to unfamiliar problems. Such abilities are increasingly important in a modern economy that depends on technology, science, engineering, finance and data-driven decisionmaking. The regional conversation must therefore extend beyond the question of how to raise examination grades. Higher grades are important indicators, but sustainable improvement requires stronger learning outcomes. That means examining teaching methods, curriculum delivery, teacher support, classroom resources, assessment practices, and the extent to which students are mastering concepts at each stage of their education. The emphasis on foundational learning is particularly encouraging. Weaknesses in literacy and numeracy at the primary level can become increasingly difficult to address as students progress through the education system. Early identification of learning gaps allows targeted interventions before those gaps become entrenched. Guyana’s introduction of literacy assessments at Grades Two and Four, along with plans to introduce a numeracy assessment between 2026 and 2027, represents a constructive step in that direction. Effective assessment should not merely classify students according to performance. Its greater value lies in identifying precisely where students are struggling, and providing teachers and schools with information that can guide appropriate interventions. Numeracy assessments, if properly implemented, can help establish a clearer picture of students’ strengths and weaknesses at an early stage. The resulting information can support targeted teaching, additional assistance for students requiring intervention and more informed decisions at the school and policy levels. At the same time, assessment must be accompanied by adequate support. Identifying a learning gap without providing the resources, teacher training and instructional strategies required to address it will have limited impact. Mathematics improvement therefore requires a comprehensive approach rather than a single intervention. The regional dimension of the discussion should also be strengthened as Caribbean countries share many educational challenges, including relatively small education systems, common examination structures and similar pressures on teachers and students. Regional cooperation can reduce duplication, encourage the sharing of successful practices and facilitate the development of approaches that reflect Caribbean realities. The involvement of CXC in these discussions is particularly relevant as examination bodies, Ministries of Education, teacher-training institutions, and schools must work in greater alignment so that assessment reinforces meaningful learning rather than encouraging narrow preparation for examinations. Improvements in Mathematics cannot be achieved through short-term initiatives alone. Strong foundations must be established early and reinforced consistently throughout primary and secondary education. Teachers must be equipped to explain concepts in ways that accommodate different learning needs, while students must be given opportunities to practise reasoning and application rather than memorisation alone. The current regional focus provides a valuable opening to make Mathematics education more purposeful. Success should ultimately be measured by how confidently they can use Mathematics when confronted with real-world problems.

The newest coconut plantation in the Pomeroon, Region Two (Pomeroon – Supenaam), spans more than 400 acres and is intercropped with plantain. It is being developed as a model farm, incorporating agricultural practices designed to adapt to changing climate conditions, improve efficiency, and reduce labour costs by more than 40% (President Dr Irfaan Ali/Facebook)

“Non-compliant” By Dr Joel Teelucksingh

he half-used insulin vial was wrapped in a stained cloth and tucked inside a small purse. She had carried it through the sweltering heat, on a maxi, and then on foot, to reach the clinic. “Doctor, I know the sugar high,” she said. “But tell me something. Where do you want me to keep this?” Her refrigerator had stopped working a month before. The repair price had to compete with rent, electricity, and food. On occasion, she stored her insulin in a neighbour’s refrigerator. Sometimes the gate was locked, dogs were roaming in his yard, or his wife gave her dirty looks. If the rain fell hard after dark, she decided to miss the injection. Needle phobia made the decision easier, and an “extra tablet” would suffice. Then the local hospital’s dispensary ran out of her usual insulin. She was told to try a private pharmacy, but it was too expensive. She still needed syringes and glucose-testing strips. So she did what patients do: she tried to make what remained last by reducing the dose herself. The syringes were also being reused and wiped with some alcohol. Her mood was gloomy, and the home blood pressure monitor had also stopped working. Her neck ached, and she assumed her pressure was just “high”. On paper, she was “non-compliant”. That word has become one of medicine’s most convenient hiding places. It is merely the bias of the doctor to create a label. The patient becomes

careless, difficult and “refuses” treatment. Yet, by the time an insulin dose is missed, many things may already have failed. “Missed three evening doses because insulin was unavailable” is useful clinical information. “Unable to refrigerate insulin” identifies a problem that might be solved. Insulin is a hormone that is vulnerable to extremes of heat and cold. Unopened insulin is generally stored in a refrigerator between 2°C and 8°C and must never be frozen. Many pens, once in use, may be kept outside a refrigerator for a limited period. The exact instructions differ by product. That nuance matters. “Room temperature” on a package insert is not necessarily the temperature inside a galvanised-roof home during a Caribbean afternoon. A closed room, a parked car, or a handbag near a stove may become far hotter than 30°C. An ice pack pressed directly against a vial may freeze and damage it. We rarely ask the obvious question: “Do you have a working refrigerator?” We send the patient home carrying an invisible second prescription: reliable electricity, safe storage, transport, needles, test strips, regular meals, and money to buy stocks when the system fails. For people with type 1 diabetes, insulin is required for survival. Many people with type 2 diabetes also eventually need insulin; missed treatment can lead to damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and feet. A patient discharged

with instructions to “check another pharmacy within the region” has been given a scavenger hunt, often while unwell, short of money, and dependent on public transport. She may be offered an odd vial or pen and be told, with the best of intentions, that it is “basically the same”. It may not be. Substituting one insulin for another, continuing the old schedule without proper instructions or borrowing someone else’s supply can send glucose dangerously high or low. When the body does not have enough insulin, it begins breaking down fat and producing substances called ketones. These can accumulate and cause diabetic ketoacidosis. The warning signs include relentless thirst, frequent urination, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, deep or rapid breathing, unusual exhaustion, and increasing drowsiness or confusion. The breath may even develop a strange fruity smell. This is particularly dangerous for people with type 1 diabetes and is a medical emergency. Low blood sugar can be just as dangerous. A person may begin sweating, trembling, or behaving irritably. As the glucose falls further, speech may become slurred, movements unsteady, and thinking confused. If the person is awake and can swallow safely, glucose tablets or another fast-acting source of sugar may help. If the person is unconscious, having a seizure or unable to swallow, nothing should be placed in the mouth. Emergency assistance is needed. Insulin alone is not dia-

betes care. A vial without a syringe or pen needle is unusable. Insulin without test strips or continuous glucose monitors can turn dose adjustment into guesswork. Insulin without education can be dangerous. Insulin without food can produce frightening episodes of low blood sugar. Newer drugs that protect organs and aid weight loss should be essential tools in the therapeutic armamentarium against the scourge of diabetes. Our patient already understood that insulin mattered. She was the one reorganising her life around a neighbour’s refrigerator. What she needed was a dependable supply, safe storage advice, the equipment to take it, and a health system willing to see the problem before her organs paid the price. We often speak proudly of free healthcare in Trinidad and Tobago, but medicine is not truly free if the patient must buy it due to dwindling stocks in hospitals. It is not accessible if obtaining it costs a day’s wages and three taxi fares. It is not usable if its safe storage depends on borrowing space beside someone else’s groceries. And it is not compassionate care if, after all of that, we write “poor compliance” in the notes. Of course, this is not an argument against personal responsibility, lifestyle changes, or the importance of adherence. However, insulin was discovered more than a century ago and no one should still have to gamble tonight’s dose against food availability tomorrow. (T&T Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate, Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Why Guyana’s cyber laws need an AI renaissance

Dear Editor, We have officially crossed the uncanny valley, and Guyana’s political landscape is dangerously exposed. As our nation navigates an unprecedented economic boom and heightened geopolitical visibility, the democratisation of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has birthed a new era of frictionless fabrication. Today, creating a hyper-realistic depiction of a Guyanese public official takes mere seconds. We are no longer dealing with crude Photoshop jobs; AI is now routinely weaponised to generate fabricated audio and video of public servants engaging in illicit, humiliating,

or inflammatory acts, instantly broadcast across local Facebook pages and WhatsApp groups. In the face of this epistemic crisis, legislative inertia in Georgetown is no longer an option. It is imperative that our national laws – specifically the Cybercrime Act of 2018 and our older, colonial-era defamation frameworks – be urgently re-examined and revised to hold individuals accountable when they misuse AI to sabotage public officials. Historically, Guyanese law and the Constitution rightly protect free expression and political satire. However, generative AI breaks the traditional

bounds of parody through sheer verisimilitude. In a society historically vulnerable to ethnic and political polarisation, a synthesised WhatsApp voice note of a minister uttering a racial slur or accepting a bribe does not provoke thought; it provokes unrest. Yet, perpetrators continually hide behind antiquated legal shields, claiming their deepfakes are mere “digital jokes”. To understand the urgency of this statutory modernisation, we need only look at the global fallout of the past few months. In February 2026, France was rocked by the “Élysée Synthesis”, a scandal in which an AI-generated vid-

eo depicted the French Prime Minister accepting a cash bribe. Before the video was debunked, markets dipped and riots erupted in Paris. In response, the French Parliament swiftly passed a Digital Integrity Law, which explicitly criminalises the unconsented, malicious biometric cloning of public figures. Similarly, during South Korea’s April 2026 Parliamentary Elections, operatives utilised voice-cloning AI to release audio files of a prominent candidate using ethnic slurs. Rather than relying on sluggish civil defamation suits, Seoul updated its electoral laws to establish “algorithmic accountability”, holding indi-

vidual uploaders directly liable for synthetic election interference. By contrast, Guyana’s current legal framework is floundering in the face of this technology. Public figures are paralysed by traditional defamation standards that require proving actual malice and measurable damages. These standards were designed for print newspapers and traditional broadcasters, not a decentralised internet where anonymous prompt engineers can generate bespoke defamation at scale. Updating our laws to hold AI abusers accountable is not an assault on our constitutional right to free speech; it is the preserva-

tion of a shared civic reality. Parliament must introduce specific legal categories for “malicious synthetic defamation”, mandate digital provenance protocols, and ensure that those who maliciously engineer algorithmic falsehoods face strict liability. Democracy in a rapidly developing, diverse nation requires a baseline of empirical truth to function. If we refuse to edit our laws to punish those who use AI to poison that well, we are not protecting free expression. We are simply subsidising deception. Yours respectfully, Philip Inshanally

An open letter to US-sanctioned LOO I have listened to your recent commentary on Dr Paul Cheong and GuySuCo with a mixture of disappointment and disbelief. The office of Leader of the Opposition carries with it a duty that extends beyond politics. It demands integrity, discipline, and a commitment to truth. It requires one to offer constructive alternatives, and to foster national unity rather than deepen division. Regrettably, much of your public commentary and posture fall way below this standard. Instead of engaging in informed and responsible criticism, you chose to launch a personal attack on a man whose only «offence» is that he accepted one of the most difficult leadership assignments in this country and has committed himself to the challenging task of rebuilding an institution that has struggled for many years. Leading GuySuCo is not a comfortable job. It is not glamorous. It is not politically rewarding. It is the responsibility of managing an organisation of almost 8000 employees, while attempting to reverse more than a decade of operational decline, financial losses, deteriorating infrastructure, and deeply entrenched organisational challenges. Dr Paul Cheong did not inherit a thriving business. He inherited an institution that had been struggling for years. He accepted that responsibility, not be-

cause he needed the position, but because he believed that serving GuySuCo was another opportunity to serve his country. Those who know Dr Cheong understand that he did not walk into GuySuCo for a salary, prestige, or political favour. He came because he believed the Corporation deserved disciplined leadership, commercial thinking, and a renewed culture of accountability. That is precisely what he has been trying to deliver. While it is easy to produce speeches and social media commentary questioning his leadership, Dr Cheong has spent the better part of the last two years travelling from estate to estate, meeting with workers, confronting operational failures, demanding accountability, and implementing changes that many before him were unwilling to pursue. Transformation is never welcomed by everyone. When people become accustomed to operating without accountability, introducing discipline will always be uncomfortable. When expectations are raised, resistance naturally follows. Every organisation undergoing meaningful reform experiences this reality. GuySuCo is no different. That is why your attempt to portray Dr Cheong as distracted or disinterested is so detached from reality. Anyone who has worked alongside him knows the

countless hours he devotes to the Corporation, the difficult decisions he makes daily, and the personal sacrifices required to lead an organisation facing challenges of this magnitude. Leadership is not measured by how loudly one criticises from the side-lines. Leadership is measured by one’s willingness to accept responsibility for solving problems others have spent years describing and dodging. Whether one agrees with every decision Dr Cheong has made is a matter for debate. But questioning his commitment or integrity is something entirely differ-

ent. Integrity is not a slogan. It is a way of life. Those of us who have had the privilege of working with Dr Cheong know him as a man whose word means something – a man who accepts responsibility, a man who expects from himself the same standards he demands of others. That is why attempts to portray him as anything other than committed are not only inaccurate; they are deeply unfair. I find it particularly unfortunate that these attacks come as GuySuCo prepares to commence its second crop of 2026. At a time when every

employee should be united behind the task ahead, public attempts to undermine confidence in the Corporation›s leadership serve no constructive purpose. They distract from the work that must be done and diminish the efforts of thousands of hardworking employees who are committed to the industry›s success. Dr Cheong will not be remembered for political commentary. He will be remembered for whether he had the courage to challenge old habits, demand accountability, and attempt to build a better GuySuCo. From what I have witnessed, he has

done exactly that. My hope is that he remains undeterred by personal attacks and continues the difficult work of transforming the Corporation. Meaningful change is never easy, and those who challenge the status quo are rarely applauded in the moment. But history has a way of rewarding leaders who choose conviction over convenience. Dr Cheong, stay the course. GuySuCo needs your leadership. And many of us remain firmly behind you. Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026 00:00 Sign Off 06:00 TVG Devotional Hour 07:00 Evening News (RB) 08:00 Cartoons 08:30 Stop Suffering 09:30 KTLT 10:00 PAW Patrol: The Movie (2021) 11:30 PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie (2023) 13:00 PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie (2026) 14:30 Movie - The Magic Faraway Tree (2026) 16:30 Movie - The Curious Case of Dolphin Bay (2022) 18:00 Evangelistic Hour 18:30 Hephzibah Ministries 19:00 Movie - Skelly (2024) 20:30 Movie - Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit (2024) 22:00 Movie - The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026)

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026

Foundation ◄

Page

Lines In geometry, lines are one-dimensional figures that are straight and extend forever in opposite directions. For example,

When two rays share a common endpoint, they form an angle.

Lines can be broken down into many different parts. A line segment is part of a line that has a beginning and an end point. For example,

A ray is part of a line that has one endpoint and extends on forever in the opposite direction. They can be shown on their own. For example, They can also be shown within a line. For example,

guyanatimesgy.com

here are several ways in which fossils can form. One process is permineralisation. This begins when an organism dies in an area such as a wetland and its body is buried rapidly under layers of sediment, compressing the tissues. The tissues are gradually replaced with minerals from the water that percolates through the sediment. Gradually, over thousands to millions of years, the remains become petrified, or stonelike. Casts and moulds preserve a three-dimensional impression of remains buried in sediment. Water moving through the sediment gradually dissolves the original tissue of the organism. The mineralised impression of the organism left in the sediment is called a “mould”. The sediment that fills the mould also becomes mineralised, recreating the shape of the remains. This is called a “cast”. Soft tissues such as leaves, stems, seeds, insects, and feathers may be preserved through carbonisation. In this process, the remains are compressed, or flattened, between two layers of rock. Chemical changes in the remains produce a printlike carbon film on one layer of rock, while an impression of the remains occurs on the facing rock layer. An object embedded within a preserved material forms an inclusion fossil. Insects preserved in amber are an example of such fossils. The insect became trapped in the sticky resin of a tree and died. Over time, the resin hardened into amber when

The vertex of the angle, in this case A, is the end point of the rays. The rays that form the angle are ray AX and ray AG.

the tree was buried under sediment. Animals that were trapped in tar pits are also a type of inclusion fossil. Fossils of hard and soft parts that are too small to be observed by the naked eye are called microfossils. Examples of these include fossilised remains of algae, protists, and microorganisms. However, not all microfossils are from microorganisms – fossilised pollen, spores, sponge spicules, and fish scales also are examples of microfossils.

By Peter Balakian

The hills bunch on an empty page. A shade of rouge on a woman’s cheek. All day I’ve walked the streets of Capuya where the sun was a flute on fire burnishing a brown river. Pink and blue bed sheets flapped in the wind. The daily bread was fresh with light, and the trellised grapes of the terraced mountains hung like vases. If one could etch in wine, think of the white horizon! But the streets are narrow and crooked and take me down to the river with goats who pick at rubbish and live in stones and weeds. At my back the hills are distant, some red sand leaves dust on the page. (Source: Poetry [August 1989])

Centre your story on a character who works a regular job, but uses magic to help them. (Adapted from Britannica Kids)

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Gas-to-Energy Project to deliver 57 MW by year-end – PM Phillips …says 50% bill reduction will come after power plant fully online

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips

he highly anticipated Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Project is set to come onstream by the end of this year, delivering some 57 megawatts (MW) of electricity while the remaining power will be delivered during the first half of 2027, when Guyanese will start to benefit from lowered rates. A 300 MW combined cycle power plant is one of the main components, alongside a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility, of the GtE Project that will bring natural gas from the Stabroek Block offshore to the Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD) site. After missing several delays

in the past, the contractor, United States (US)-based Lindsayca, has committed to start delivering the gas-powered electricity by this yearend. “By the end of this year, we’ll see 57 megawatts. At least one of the turbines will be spinning and generating 57 megawatts and in the first quarter of 2027, we’ll have up to 228 megawatts,” Prime Minister (PM) Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips, disclosed during a press conference on Friday at his Camp Street, Georgetown, office. The power generation component will utilise four SGT-800 gas turbines paired with heat recovery steam

generators (HRSGs) and steam turbines operating in a combined-cycle configuration to produce generation capacity of approximately 300 MW. While the gas turbines are slated to all come online by mid next year, the full 300 MW capacity will be reached until the end of 2027 once the final combined-cycle configuration is completed. The system has been engineered with built-in redundancy, allowing individual turbines to operate independently and be phased onto the national grid, which will ensure continuous and reliable power supply as well as a 50 per cent reduction in electricity costs. According to PM Phillips, Guyanese will start benefitting from this reduction in electricity prices once the project is fully online – an election promise made by the governing People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/). “We said 50 per cent reduction at the end of the project and the project we’re talking about is Phase One. Phase One ends when we get 228 megawatts of power, and then you’ll get the full] 300 come from the steam [turbines] afterwards. So, when we achieve that,

El Niño conditions, growing...

FROM PAGE 3

But with demand projected to further grow over the coming months to some 266MW, GPL has already put systems in place to increase generation to approximately 280MW by the end of August. Nevertheless, the Public Utilities Minister pointed out that all the regions across Guyana have excess generation capacity except Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice), where power is being supplied by bauxite company Bosai Minerals Group. While Bosai generates some 14.1MW, heightened industrial activities across Linden have pushed peak demand to over 15MW. In fact, Indar noted that there has been increased sawmill operations in Linden, which have added pressure on the region’s electricity system.

Sawmill operations

Region 10 currently has about 32 sawmills operators, utilising equipment such as Wood Mizer and high-speed motors, thus placing significant demand on the grid. As a result, the Government has engaged the sawmill owners to shift their operations to off-peak hours so as to ease the burden on the system. “So, Linden has two peak periods. During the day between one to three pm, and then in the night as well, be-

tween seven to nine, there is another peak…[when] the demand spikes to a higher level. So, [the sawmill operators have] been asked to work between 22:00h to 06:00h… and it wouldn’t tax the grid further than it is already overtaxed, at this point,” Indar noted. Some of those sawmill operators have already agreed to this arrangement, while Minister Indar and the GPL Head, along with Guyana Forestry Commission Commissioner Edward Goberdhan and Chief Executive Officer of Hinterland Electrification Company Inc Horace Williams engaged the others on Friday to follow suit. Those discussions also focused on additional generation capacity for the region, and better coordination of commercial electricity use.

Conservation measures

But even as the Government moves to boost generation capacity and stabilise power in light of the growing power demand, it has rolled out a series of conservation interventions ahead of the hottest months. Only recently, the Guyana Hydrometeorological Service advised the public to prepare for strengthened El Niño conditions from August through October 2026, that

will bring hotter-than-normal temperatures, prolonged dry spells, and up to 80 hot spell days instead of the usual 30. To this end, the Cabinet has taken a number of decisions to enhance conservation efforts, especially at the various Government Ministries and state agencies, where enforcement steps would be taken to ensure unused power is shut off outside of office hours. Similarly, households and businesses are also being asked to conserve power during this high demand period; turning off lights, appliances, and equipment that are not in use. Additionally, community sport grounds across the country will be monitored to ensure that floodlights are off when activities are not being held. “So, we’re asking the general public to just be aware that we have a hot season [and] the grid is taxed at this point – it’s literally at the highest on record. And so, we’re asking the general public to look into conservancy initiatives. Anything they can do in the households and the businesses to reduce their own bill and by reducing their own bill, they will reduce the demand on the grid,” Minister Indar posited.

The Gas-to-Energy Project at Wales, West Bank Demerara, is set to deliver first power this yearend

that’s Phase One,” he explained. Currently, customers are receiving power from the national grid at $43.43 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for residential use and $56.38 per kWh for commercial use. The PM noted these figures will be slashed in half when the GtE Project is fully operationalised. “[It will be] divided by two and that will be the new rate. So, the people of Guyana have to look forward to, whatever you’re paying now, you will pay half of that,” he posited. “It’s a manifesto promise made in the 2020 Manifesto…and it was repeated in the 2025 Manifesto. And the PPP/C, we have a history of delivering on our Manifesto promises to the people of Guyana. So, at the end of it all, electricity rates will reduce by 50 per cent minimum.”

Benefits already being seen

The GtE Project is a key part of the Guyana Government’s energy transition agenda, which has already seen renewable sources such as solar and hydropower being used for power generation across the country. In fact, Public

Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar pointed out during Friday’s press conference that the benefits are already being seen from these investments, especially in the hinterland regions. “We have already reduced cost of electricity in Bartica [Region Seven, CuyuniMazaruni] by 25 per cent. We’ve also reduced costs in Region One [Barima-Waini) by 30 per cent because we had solar that was complementing and displacing use of diesel. That savings, we used it and transferred it to consumers,” the Minister explained. Similar, Indar noted that the solar farms and mini-hydropower projects in Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) is also yielding benefits. Only recently, Head of the Guyana Energy Agency, Dr Mahender Sharma, reported that the 0.7 MW Moco Moco Hydropower Plant and 1.5 MW Kumu Hydropower Station have cut the use of fossil fuel for electricity generation in Region Nine by more than 20,000 drums. Nevertheless, it was noted that once the GtE Project comes on stream, the Government will phase

out fuel-generated electricity including from the two Turkish power ships that are operating in the Demerara and Berbice Rivers, adding over 90 MW to the national grid. Only a few months ago, the Government renewed the contract with Turkeybased Karpowership to continue producing power at a rate of $9.5 per kW/h. “At the point when the Gas-toEnergy comes on board and we have generative capacity to offset that we’d be the first to put those [contracts] out… because we’ve been using gas as the feedstock… Those vessels that we rent there, we use HFOs (High Fuel Oil), which is very expensive… So, we’d be the first to review those contracts based on the clause that they have for exist. But for now, if we didn’t have those two [power ships] this whole country would be in power outages,” the Public Utilities Minister stated. Currently, peak demand is approximately 242.64 MW with generation capacity at 256 MW, which will further increase to 280 MW by the end of August as more assets come on stream to accommodate the country’s growing electricity needs.

8 NEWS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Over US$52M in narcotics, contraband items seized during Operation Eclipse

…59 migrants intercepted at multi-point transit routes across air & sea corridors

Looking… T

Contraband items seized during Operation Eclipse

he Caribbean C o m m u n i t y ( C A R I C O M ) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), in coordination with regional and international partners, has successfully completed Operation Eclipse. Executed during the month of May 2026, the intensive, intelligence-led maritime operation disrupted multi-jurisdictional smuggling loops, and stripped transnational organised criminal groups (OCGs) of an estimated US$54.5 million in illicit assets and contraband. Supported by the United States’ (US) Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), the operation combined the regional forces of 14 CARICOM Member States, including Guyana, seven Associate Members, as well as key international allies, including Canada, Colombia, France, the United Kingdom (UK), the US, and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), to dismantle transnational

Narcotics intercepted during the operation

Some migrants taken into custody

…back at Fidel

here was a time when there was nary a soul across the globe who wouldn’t have recognised the name “Fidel Castro” – along with his sidekick, Che Guevara!! They exemplified the word “revolutionary” – in the age of overthrowing imperialism!! Well, it was his 100th birthday recently, and your Eyewitness figures he knows the man well enough to confidently predict that if he were around to blow out 100 candles on his birthday cake, he’d likely manage a three-hour speech on the revolutionary physics of candle combustion before getting around to the cake itself!! Fidel wasn’t a man of few words!! But for us, he should be known more for Jagan’s admiration of his Soviet-style communism – in an era when the US and USSR were duking it out for global supremacy!! When he not only survived the US-sponsored Bay of Pigs invasion but also humiliated the Yanks, President JFK decided they weren’t gonna tolerate “another Cuba” in THEIR hemisphere!! And Jagan was out like a light!! But Fidel survived – till a decade ago!! – and became a symbol of how the US could single-handedly unleash its wrath on enemies in their backyard!! Now over six decades since Washington first imposed its crushing economic embargo in 1960, the geopolitical landscape of Cuba remains a dark comedy of endurance!! The embargo was designed to turn Cuba into a cautionary tale of isolated economic ruin!! But interestingly, Fidel’s magnetism was so powerful that Burnham – Washington’s replacement for Jagan – seeking to burnish his reputation in the Third World, led T&T, Jamaica, and Barbados to break diplomatic ranks with the US in 1972 to recognise Havana!! He even allowed Cuban troops heading to support Namibian guerrillas to refuel here!! The Yanks had to hold their nose – since the alternative was still the red Jagan!! So, Cuba became a fixture of regional pragmatism as Washington exported sanctions and Monroe Doctrine rhetoric, while Havana exported thousands of doctors, teachers, and university scholarships!! We couldn’t resist!! Castro was the man who sent medical brigades to rescue our decrepit healthcare system – while Burnham flew in Castro’s plane to Non-Aligned Movement summits, feeling like a player on the Cold War chessboard!! Ironically, it was Cuban surgeons operating on his throat cancer at Big Hospital when he croaked on the table!! Today, Cuba’s battling severe power outages and economic strain under renewed American sanctions!! But they stand less as a grand strategic victory and more as an ancient, rusting monument to bureaucratic momentum – outliving the man, outliving the Soviet Union!! And leaving us in the Caribbean doing what we’ve always had to do – navigating the crossfire of bigger powers and trying to do what’s best for our development!! Allying with the Yanks!!

trafficking networks across the Caribbean Region. Operation Eclipse tracked maritime threats in real time by coordinating through a central fusion cell established at CARICOM IMPACS’ Joint Regional Communications Centre (JRCC). The four-week interdiction phase yielded substantial results, with authorities generating 82 active intelligence cases, monitoring 59 distinct vessels of interest, processing 17 critical intelligence reports, and executing 24 successful seizure operations. TURN TO PAGE 11

…at India’s challenge India’s broadcasting its goal of “Viksit Bharat 2047”, where it wants to achieve first-world status a century after independence. The country launches spacecraft, builds digital payment systems, and produces software engineers by the millions – and is busy explaining to the world that the 21st century belongs to India. But however, there’s one small non-technological problem left to solve: its social operating system, long known as the caste system!! First-world status ain’t measured by the number of billionaires, airports or skyscrapers – it’s measured by how efficiently a society allows all of its citizens to develop and deploy their abilities!! You can’t want to become a superpower while deliberately carrying hundreds of millions of people as excess baggage!! The irony is, India doesn’t need to abolish tradition – it just gotta abolish the idea that tradition should determine human potential!! Very simply, if India really intends to become a first-world country, it gotta begin with the evidently revolutionary proposition – to them – that a person’s parents shouldn’t be their genetic career paths by caste!! …for good leaders As we digest director Nolan’s take on Homer’s Odyssey, let’s remember Thucydides’ caution: “The nation that separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards – and its fighting done by fools.” The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

10 NEWS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

$614.5M Fire Service HQ hit by defects just 18 months after opening

Fire Chief Gregory Whickham

ust over a year after the new Guyana Fire Service (GFS) Headquarters on Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown, was commissioned, the Government is undertaking several repairs to address defects identified in the building. On January 8, 2025, the new GFS Headquarters on Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown, was commissioned. The building was constructed at a cost of $614.5 million by Mohamed’s Enterprise - a company now sanctioned by the United States (US) Government.

The company’s principals, US sanctioned and indicted, Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, are facing extradition to the US to face charges of wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering over alleged gold smuggling and tax evasion. In a video posted to the Fire Service’s Facebook page on Thursday, Fire Chief Gregory Wickham disclosed that since occupying the building, staff have encountered several issues. “The specific issue I wish to make it abundantly clear [is] that from the moment we began occupying this structure,

our headquarters, we have encountered several deficiencies and several issues that, over time, we had to be fixing in order to ensure that our staff have a good working environment,” Wickham said. According to him, the issues included a leaking roof, cracks in the walls and glass on the building, as amongst a vast majority of other issues. “Such issues are for example, leaking roof, cracking of the walls, cracking of the glass on the surface of the building, poor issues and several moments we had to be looking at the fixtures in our lavatory washroom area, the plumbing work, ever so often we had to be effecting repairs over the

years. At this point I wish to make it very clear that this building was constructed by Mohammed Enterprise,” Wickham said. In light of these issues, Wickham noted that the GFS, along with the Home Affairs Minister, decided to retender for the necessary works. The contract was awarded to Modern Engineering Supplies and Services at a cost of $7.2 million. “These matters have been addressed in a holistic manner to the fact that after these defects were absorbed over a period of time, the Guyana Fire Service Administration and the Ministry of Home Affairs retendered for these works to be done. That con-

Mohamed’s Enterprise’s principals, US-sanctioned and indicted Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed

GFS Headquarters on Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown

tract was won by a contractor and as of the 6th of August 2026, that contractor has begun work, not fixing but

changing those facilities that we had in the washroom areas. Like I said, that is a work in progress,” Wickham said. He also reiterated that the GFS has made significant

strides in ensuring that its staff are equipped, ready and fit to respond to emergencies. He noted that firefighters are now being equipped with personal protective equipment, including breathing apparatus sets that allow them to work in environments that would not normally support life or breathing. He said the Fire Service takes pride in the health and welfare of its staff and remains committed to ensuring that firefighters operate in a good working environment. Wickham urged members of the public to have confidence that issues raised by firefighters are being attended to and acted upon by the relevant authorities.

NEWS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Father of 5 found Gun, ammo found in home of dead man dead in canal

Dead: Otis Ferry

tis Ferry, a father of five, was found dead on Thursday, in a canal at Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara. When reporters arrived at the scene where Ferry’s body had been pulled from the water, one of his daughters, Dacia Holmes, broke down in tears while recalling how she learned of her father’s death. Holmes said she received a message that her father had fallen into a drain. “I got a message when I woke up that he fell down

inside a drain. I don’t know what else happened or what else could have happened. He was a very nice man. He helped a lot of people. That’s all I can say; he was a very nice man,” she sorrowfully stated. She said that just two days before his death, Ferry had called and checked on her. “Day before yesterday [Wednesday], he called me, and he was asking if I was alright,” Holmes said. Police investigations continue.

Housewife accused of unlawfully wounding man remanded to prison

wenty-eight-yearold Lynn Fredericks, a housewife of Kamarang Landing, Upper Mazaruni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), was remanded to prison on Friday, on an unlawful wounding charge. Fredericks was arrested and charged on Thursday, in relation to an incident involving a male at Kamarang Landing. She appeared before Magistrate Teriq Mohamed at the Kamarang Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was read to her. She reportedly pleaded guilty and was remand-

Remanded: Lynn Fredericks

ed to prison until August 28, 2026.

The firearm and ammunition found in the house

The box in which the firearm and ammunition were concealed

firearm and five rounds of ammunition were reportedly found in the home of a deceased 90-year-old Kuru Kururu resident on Friday.

ver-coloured revolver and five matching rounds of ammunition. As such, he contacted the Kuru Kururu Police Outpost and reported the matter.

Based on reports received, a 39-year-old craftsman was cleaning the home of his late relative when he discovered a brown cardboard box containing a sil-

The Officers subsequently took possession of the firearm and ammunition, which will be further examined as investigations continue.

Over US$52M in narcotics... During the operation, 5222.59 kilograms (kg) of cocaine worth over US$44 million and 1848 kg of marijuana worth over US$6.84 million were intercepted from go-fast boats, yachts, and inter-island cargo ships. In addition, over 6100 cases of illegal alcohol, 191 cartons of cigarettes, and 22 cylinders of banned refrigerant gas were confiscated at a combined value of over US$1.58 million. Further, interdiction teams seized two firearms, along with 65 rounds of ammunition, as well as 13 vessels and three vehicles utilised by smuggling networks, topped with the interception of 59 irregular migrants moving through multi-point transit routes across air and sea corridors. In a release issued on Friday, IMPACS related that contraband smuggling constituted the highest volume of activity, accounting for 32.9 per cent of active maritime cases, with cocaine trafficking following closely at 23.2 per cent. Enforcement efforts targeted the Eastern Caribbean, Guyanese waters, and transatlantic routes. Intelligence also re-

vealed a growing trend of clandestine aircraft dropping narcotics near borders for maritime pickup, which was tracked and disrupted using partner technology. “Biometric and document verification across the 99 records processed aboard intercepted vessels revealed an extensive international network, with the majority of individuals originating from Canada, China, Cuba, and Syria,” the release added. In addition to financial disruption, Operation Eclipse validated and refined the application of critical maritime frameworks, including the Treaty of San José and bilateral Shiprider agreements. Establishing CARICOM IMPACS as the principal regional centre for maritime domain awareness created

an adaptable template for future joint security efforts. Participating countries are now utilising the intelligence gathered during the post-operational review to shape long-term border policies and target persistent illicit networks in the Caribbean. Commenting on the strategic success of the operation, Executive Director Lt Col Michael Jones emphasised that regional unity was the ultimate weapon against sophisticated criminal syndicates. “Operation Eclipse proves that when our countries and partners pool their intelligence and operational capabilities, we can effectively dismantle the financial engines driving transnational crime. This multimillion-dollar disruption sends a definitive mes-

FROM PAGE 8

sage to illicit networks that the Caribbean Sea is not a safe haven for criminal enterprise. We are not just seizing contraband; we are actively securing our communities, protecting our youth, and building a fortified, intelligence-led defence system across the entire region,” he said. A State Department official noted, “INL recognises that our shared security challenges mean that Caribbean security is American security. Collaborative regional efforts like Operation Eclipse demonstrate the effectiveness of strong information sharing, which leads to coordinated interdiction and enforcement actions, and ensures that transnational criminal organisations are not able to benefit from their illicit activities.”

12 NEWS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Senior cops implicated in alleged licence fraud …after Berbice rank caught with competency letters, $564,000

Police Sergeant attached to the Licensing and Certifying Office at the Springlands Police Station, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six, was placed under close arrest to facilitate an ongoing probe by the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) into the operations there. Based on reports received, as part of the investigation, ranks from the unit visited the office on Thursday, where the relevant records and other documentation were secured for detailed examination. As such, the Sergeant attached to the office was subsequently placed under close arrest and is assisting investigators with the ongoing probe. According to information received, officers attached to SOCU, acting on information received, intercepted a motor car bearing registration number PAG 3344, which was at the time being driven by the Police Sergeant. However, a search of the vehicle unearthed a black haversack containing 94

Commissioner. He was reinstated to oversee the issuing of licenses at Springlands. His reinstatement reportedly put a halt to SOCU’s investigation. Meanwhile, as the probe continues into this latest development, SOCU is expected to arrest other Police Officers and civilians in the

coming days. The Guyana Police Force maintains a zero-tolerance approach to corruption, misconduct, and breaches of public trust. Any rank found culpable of criminal or disciplinary wrongdoing will be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law and the Force’s disciplinary procedures.

Charlestown miner charged, remanded for theft competence letters for different classes of vehicles and in separate persons’ names who were not from the Springlands Corentyne area but different parts of the county, along with GY$564,000 and US$40. Upon questioning, he could not provide a reasonable account for having the money, and as such, he was taken back to the Springlands Police Station Certifying Office, where a

search was carried out. This revealed two additional competence books with 61 competencies written for separate persons and classes of vehicles, showing that individuals did not complete the practical examination, but certificates of competence were already written in their names. These books, along with other books used at the said office, were seized. Further, the Sergeant was questioned

about selling licences but indicated that he was doing it for several senior officers within the force and that he was required to pay out over $1.5 million in bribes weekly. Guyana Times understands that he was arrested several months ago for corrupt practices by SOCU. At the time, he was reportedly placed in custody at TSU lockups and was allegedly released by the Police

tephon Marks, 38, a gold miner of Russell and Howes Streets, Charlestown, Georgetown, was on Friday remanded to prison on a simple larceny charge. Marks, who was arrested on Thursday, appeared before Magistrate Caressa Henry at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was read to him. Marks pleaded not guilty and was remanded to prison until September 3, 2026.

Remanded: Stephon Marks

13 M&CC Councillor Wayne Maison meets PPP’s GS NEWS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…signals new political direction

ormer People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) activist and current M&CC Councillor Robert Wayne Maison has met with People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary (GS) and Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, signalling a possible new political direction. Maison confirmed the meeting in a social media post on Friday, saying discussions centred on working with the governing party and contributing to the continued development of Georgetown and Guyana. “Today, I, Wayne Maison, met with Vice President and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo,” Maison said in the social media post. “During the engagement, we spoke about working with the Party and Government and contrib-

uting meaningfully to the continued development of Georgetown and our country.” The meeting follows Maison’s decision to leave the PNCR in September 2025 after decades of involvement in the party. His political association with the PNCR extended back to the era of former party leader, Desmond Hoyte. Maison remains an elected People’s Representative Councillor for Constituency Seven (Stabroek-Bourda) at the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC). At the time of his departure from the PNCR, Maison was also involved in the party’s mobilisation and outreach activities and had served as a liaison officer to Opposition

Current M&CC Councillor Robert Wayne Maison meeting with PPP/C General Secretary and Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo

Leader Aubrey Norton. His resignation in 2025 came amid internal tensions within the PNCR, with Maison expressing dissatisfaction with aspects of the party’s candidate selection process and leadership. He had also made clear at the time that he would retain his elected position at City Hall. Friday’s meeting with

Jagdeo now places Maison in discussions with the leadership of the governing PPP/C, although he has not publicly stated that he has formally joined the party. Maison’s reference to working with the PPP/C and Government, however, suggests that his political engagement is moving beyond his previous association with the PNCR.

14 NEWS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GPF rewards 215 top-performing children of Police Officers

Some of the students at the award ceremony Members of the GPF with a few of the awardees

ome 215 children of serving members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) were rewarded for their outstanding performances at the 2026 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), when the force hosted its Annual Bursary Awards on Friday. Held under the theme “Investing in Education, Inspiring Success”, the ceremony was Chaired by Assistant Superintendent Lynch-Davis, and celebrated the accomplishments of the students as they prepare to enter secondary school. During the opening ceremony, Deputy Commissioner (Administration), Ravindradat Budhram, encouraged the students to remain disciplined, committed, and diligent in their

education. He also spoke about the sacrifices made by their parents in the execution of their duties, and reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to supporting the educational development of their children through bursaries and other opportunities. Delivering the keynote

address, Education Minister Sonia Parag commended the GPF for prioritising the welfare of its members and their children. As the students prepare to transition into secondary school, Minister Parag encouraged them to remain resilient and to view challenges as opportunities for

growth. In addition, she congratulated the students and their parents and encouraged the awardees to make full use of the opportunities available to them, and work towards becoming positive contributors to their communities and country.

40 fire service ranks receive refresher training in heavy-duty driving

Education Minister Sonia Parag addressing the gathering

Some of the fire fighters and officials on Thursday

orty ranks of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) have benefited from refresher training in heavy-duty driving as part of the service’s ongoing efforts to promote safer driving practices and strengthen the operational readiness of its emergency vehicle operators. The training, facilitated by the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Traffic Department, was conducted on Thursday at the GFS Headquarters, Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown. Participants were drawn from Campbellville, La Grange, Eccles, and Diamond Fire Stations, and were refreshed on the general rules of the road, defensive driving techniques, and best practices for the safe operation and maintenance of emergency vehicles. The Course Coordinator

and Station Officer (Operations), Rovin Thomas, underscored the importance and timeliness of the training, particularly in light of recent incidents involving fire tenders while responding to emergencies. “Due to the recent occurrences of fire tenders being involved in accidents while responding to emergencies, rendering the appliances inoperable and significantly reducing our fleet, it was timely to conduct refresher training,” he said. He noted that the programme also served as an important reminder to drivers of their responsibility to the public and the need to carry out their duties in a safe and professional manner. Delivering brief closing remarks, Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Gregory Wickham encouraged the participants to

make safety a priority whenever operating the service’s vehicles. He emphasised that safe driving practices are critical, not only to protecting the lives of firefighters and other road users, but also to safeguarding the service’s vehicles and equipment. Emergency vehicle drivers have a significant responsibility, particularly when responding to incidents where every second counts. The refresher programme therefore seeks to reinforce the importance of balancing a swift emergency response with responsible and defensive driving practices. This training will be continuous to ensure drivers at fire stations throughout the country are given an opportunity to benefit. The ranks will also receive certification for this training.

15 Entirely unfounded, untrue – CCJ President fires back at claims of influencing judgments, panel fixing P NEWS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

resident of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Justice Winston Anderson, has rejected recent allegations of “panel fixing” at the regional court aimed at securing particular outcomes - something which he says strikes at the heart of judicial independence. On Friday, Justice Anderson issued a 9-page statement describing the claims made as “wholly untrue”. The issue, he explained, stemmed from the composition of a CCJ interlocutory panel constituted to hear a procedural preliminary application in a matter involving Trinidad and Tobago – D’Almada v Trinidad and Tobago. Justice Anderson said a fellow CCJ judge was removed from that panel over dress code concerns and had nothing to do with the merits of the case or the anticipated outcome. “At the time of the removal from the interlocutory panel and replacement by another colleague, I made it abundantly clear in writing that the Judge’s removal from that particular panel was based solely upon the issue of judicial attire and that it had nothing whatsoever to do with the Judge’s opinions, participation in judicial conferences or deliberations, or the expression of judicial views,”

the CCJ President contended. Pointing out that the composition of panels has always formed part of the administrative responsibilities of the court’s President, Justice Anderson contended that this long-established institutional practice aims at ensuring the orderly, efficient and impartial administration of justice, and was never exercised to influence the outcome of any proceedings. “Among the allegations that have recently surfaced publicly, perhaps the most serious wound is the suggestion that panels of the Court have been constituted or altered in order to secure a particular outcome in a case. Such an allegation strikes at the very heart of judicial independence and public confidence in the administration of justice. It therefore warrants a clear and direct response. The allegation is wholly untrue,” he emphasised. In fact, the CCJ President noted that during that panel hearing, all five Judges unanimously agreed that leave ought properly to have been granted to permit the substantive matter to proceed, and he directed the matter to Full Bench which includes the judge who had been removed.

CCJ President, Justice Winston Anderson

Unfounded and untrue

Nervertheless, Justice Anderson went onto outline that CCJ judges, over the past decades, have consistently discharged their constitutional responsibilities independently, impartially and without regard to national origin, political consideration or personal interest. He said suggesting otherwise not only undermines an individual Judge, but confidence in Caribbean justice itself. Contending that independence of the judiciary is the cornerstone upon the regional court was estab-

Injured Coast Guard rank receiving full care – GDF …rejects claims of inadequate support

n light of social media reports which accused the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) of not adequately supporting injured Coast Guard Lance Corporal Shamar Calder, the Force on Friday condemns those reports to be inaccurate and serving as a disservice – both to the injured rank and the men and women who continue to serve and protect. “Following an attack on May 29, 2026, the injured rank was medically evacuated to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he received immediate medical attention, and was admitted for observation. He was subsequently placed under medical supervision and specialist follow-up care through both the GPHC and the GDF Medical Corps,” the GDF stated in a missive to the media. Further, the release added that on August 1, 2026, the injured rank was readmitted to the GPHC, where the projectile lodged in his leg was surgically removed. “He was discharged on August 3, 2026, and is currently on authorised sick leave. In addition to his physical treatment, he con-

Injured: Lance Corporal Shamar Calder

tinues to receive psychological support through the GDF Medical Corps, while the relevant administrative processes concerning his welfare and that of his family are being addressed,” the GDF added. The Force stated that it remains committed to the care, welfare, and recovery of its personnel, particularly those injured in the line of duty, and will continue to

provide the necessary support throughout their recovery and rehabilitation. It was reported that Lance Corporal Shamar Calder and a team of GDF Coast Guards came under attack by Venezuelan troops while carrying escorting civilian vessels from Macapa to Eteringbang along the Cuyuni-Mazaruni border. During the attack, Calder Lance was shot to his leg.

lish, Justice Anderson asserted that no CCJ Judge can or should be restrained from expressing their judicial views or deciding any matter based on their independent assessment of the law and the evidence. “It is therefore with particular concern that I have

noted suggestions in the public domain that I have sought to influence the outcome of cases before the Court. Those allegations are entirely unfounded and untrue,” he stated. According to the CCJ President, judicial conferences in any appellate court usually involve spirited discussion, differing legal analyses and careful consideration of competing views before a final judgment is settled. This, he argued, is not evidence of disagreement but of Judges conscientiously performing their judicial functions. “Throughout my judicial career, both as a Judge and now as President, I have regarded judicial independence as inviolable. It is a principle that I have consistently defended and will continue to defend,” Justice Anderson declared. Moreover, he further strongly condemned in Friday’s statement the unauthorised disclosure and publication of confidential material relating to the in-

ternal deliberations and confidential correspondence of the CCJ – something which he says erodes trusts in the region court. In fact, Heads of Judiciary from across the Caribbean earlier this week expressing grave concern over the disclosure of the confidential internal communications among the court’s Judges. On Tuesday, the Heads of the Judiciary of Barbados, The Bahamas, Belize, Guyana, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago stated they would not comment on the merits of statements or allegations attributed to individual Judges, nor on matters arising from the court’s internal deliberative or administrative processes but reaffirmed their confidence in the CCJ. Further weighing in on the controversy, Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall also stressed that the CCJ is Guyana’s final court and, as such, must be respected.

MMG says additional agent fees “not sanctioned” by company

obile Money Guyana (MMG) has made it pellucid that it has not authorised additional fees being charged by some of its agents for transactions, including deposits, amid growing complaints from consumers. Responding to questions on reports of agents imposing separate cash fees on customers in addition to the standard transaction costs, MMG said the charges are not sanctioned by the company and that its official fee structure has remained unchanged for the past year. “This is not sanctioned by MMG. There is a fixed commission, no changes were made to these,” the company said. The response comes as consumers increasingly raise concerns over fees being imposed by agents for transactions that were previously not subject to additional charges, including deposits. MMG maintained that of this is being done then the agents are operating outside the company’s approved fee structure when imposing the additional charges. However, the unauthorised charges have been causing much complaint among consumers, who described the fees as inconsistent, unclear and in some cases, sprung on them without warning at the point of transaction. “I was recharging my wallet to pay a utility bill. I handed the agent the cash and I was asked if I wanted to have the fees taken from the amount or if I would pay separately.

The fee was $200. I have never deposited at this particular agent before. In the past, I had done withdrawals,” MMG customer, Gary Foo, recalled of his recent experience of being charged an additional fee for a transaction for the first time three weeks ago. The company noted that it had not changed its fee structure for deposits and withdrawals in the past year, with the last changes being made three years ago, when it was sanctioned by the Bank of Guyana (BOG). “This was done approximately three years ago and this is a direct proportion of approved fees by Bank of Guyana,” the company said. Originally created as a subsidiary of GTT, MMG has been operating since 2013 as a regulated mobile money provider. It was launched as the country’s first electronic wallet and offers a secure platform for payments, shopping, money transfers, phone topups and more. The platform charges no monthly fees. As Guyana’s only mobile money provider, MMG is regulated by Guyana’s

central bank, the Bank of Guyana. The company confirmed it does not currently plan to adjust the commission rates agents say are driving the practice, citing rising operating costs, “There is a rise in cost of operation for MMG. Last November MMG installed a new Mobile Finance System with upgraded technology and capabilities, however this comes at higher cost to support as well.” According to several consumers the Guyana Times spoke with, the arbitrarily applied fees range from $100 to as much as $3,000, depending on the monetary value of the transaction. However, small agents are defending their unilateral decision to start charging their own fees, claiming that the commissions paid by MMG are unviable. However, in light of the current situation of complaints from consumers, the company noted that it will shortly be publishing the current fee schedule for deposits and withdrawals that consumers can reference. For consumers with an account, the fees are automatically deducted from a customer’s wallet balance. To recharge their accounts, customers can make a deposit at agents, transfer money from local bank accounts, or deposit using Visa cards. Visa deposits incur a fee of 5 per cent, while direct deposits through an agent were previously free of charge.

16 NEWS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MV Canawaima gets green light to sail after re-inspection

he MV Canawaima has been cleared to continue operating between Guyana and Suriname following a reinspection on Thursday, just eight days after Surinamese maritime authorities claimed that the majority of previously identified deficiencies aboard the vessel had not been remedied. Surinamese online publication Waterkant reported Thursday that the threatened sailing ban was lifted following a reinspection of the vessel on August 13. The ban had been due to take effect at midnight on August 14 if stipulated safety requirements were not met. The ferry was operating at Moleson Creek on Friday, removing, at least for now, the prospect of an

interruption to the vital cross-border service used by passengers, transportation providers and businesses moving goods between Guyana and Suriname. According to the report, Canawaima Ferry Service Inc (CFS) and Canawaima Management Company NV (CMC) said the ferry was reinspected and was again permitted to sail. The companies said the safety of passengers, crew and the vessel remained paramount and indicated that technical follow-up of the MV Canawaima would continue in keeping with arrangements that had been made. However, the announcement did not detail which of the deficiencies identified during an August 5 inspection were subsequently cor-

rected, what work remains to be completed under the continuing technical follow-up, or whether the vessel was granted a temporary exemption from mandatory dry-docking.

No prolonged interruption

The development has been welcomed by persons whose businesses depend on the ferry connection, even as they supported the insistence by Surinamese maritime authorities that the vessel satisfy the required safety standards. President of the Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce and former Mayor of Corriverton Hemchand Jaichand, speaking in his personal capacity as a businessman, said passenger safety must take pre-

cedence. Jaichand said that based on his understanding of the arrangement between the two countries, Suriname has responsibility for areas including inspection and dry-docking of the vessel. “I agree that the boat should have certain prerequisites in the interest of safety,” he said. Jaichand said he has received complaints on several occasions about problems affecting the ferry and welcomed the intervention. At the same time, he stressed that any prolonged interruption to the service could have implications for trade between the neighbouring countries. “I believe the Canawaima playS an integral part in it, in terms of transportation. Vehicles that come with goods and services from Suriname, likewise Guyana, travelling to Paramaribo. So if there is a downtime with the Canawaima, it definitely would affect commerce,” Jaichand explained. Transportation provid-

He pointed out, however, that an interruption to the ferry service, including when the Canawaima eventually enters dry dock, could directly affect the livelihoods of transportation providers who depend on passengers travelling through Moleson Creek.

Lifting threat of sailing ban

hull and cofferdams. A positive report was required before consideration could be given to a temporary exemption from mandatory dry-docking. The company had also been required to provide an action plan containing a timetable for rectifying the identified deficiencies, carrying out major repairs and undertaking the planned dry-docking of the vessel. While Thursday’s reinspection removed the immediate threat of the Canawaima being prohibited from sailing, the information released following the inspection has not provided a detailed accounting of the remedial work undertaken between the August 5 inspection and the August 13 reinspection.

The lifting of the threatened sailing ban follows weeks of concern over the condition of the ferry and a warning from MAS that it could be prohibited from operating unless specific safety requirements were addressed. According to reports based on correspondence from MAS, the authority had written to CMC on July 26, requiring the company to submit within one week an action plan addressing deficiencies identified during an inspection of the vessel. MAS carried out another inspection on August 5, and found that the majority of the previously identified deficiencies had still not been

The issue had prompted a response from Guyana’s Ministry of Public Works on Tuesday, which pointed to the division of responsibilities under the joint venture governing the ferry service.

remedied. Two days later, on August 7, MAS gave the company a final opportunity to act, setting August 13 as the deadline for several safety requirements to be satisfied. Failure to comply would have resulted in the ferry being prohibited from sailing from midnight on August 14. Among the requirements, all legally prescribed safety equipment had to be aboard the vessel and ready for use, while firefighting equipment had to be present, inspected, and immediately usable. The fire-detection and firefighting systems also had to be fully operational. MAS further required crew members to possess valid Basic Safety Training and Crowd Management certificates. Where certificates were outstanding, written proof had to be provided showing that the relevant training would be completed within one month. Additionally, an independent, recognised ship surveyor was required to inspect and assess the watertight integrity of the vessel’s

The Ministry said that under the agreement, Guyana provides the fuel, lubricants and batteries necessary for the ferry’s daily operations, while Suriname is responsible for maintenance and dry-docking. At the time, the Ministry said the Guyanese side of the joint venture had been engaging its Surinamese counterparts over the preceding several days and anticipated that those engagements would result in a resolution. Guyana also reaffirmed its commitment to the joint-venture agreement and to ensuring that the two countries maintain a safe transport link through an efficient and seaworthy ferry. The planned dry-docking of the Canawaima was already under discussion before the latest safety concerns became public. In July, officials from the two countries had discussed the planned dry-docking and an overhaul of the ferry’s main engines, with arrangements for a replacement vessel during the maintenance period also contemplated.

Joint venture

The MV Canawaima

ers who depend on passengers using the ferry had also been closely following the possibility that the vessel could be prevented from operating. Donald Shepard of Donald Transportation Service said operators had concerns when information emerged that the vessel could be grounded if it failed to satisfy the requirements imposed by the Maritime Authority Suriname (MAS). Shepard said transportation providers subsequently received information that the ferry would continue operating and were at Moleson Creek on Friday providing their normal services. Another transportation provider operating at the crossing said the possible suspension had caused concern but maintained that safety could not be compromised simply to keep the service running. “Safety comes first, and safety comes last,” he said, adding that maritime authorities were within their rights to insist that the necessary requirements be fulfilled.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Springfield Haitians detained World Bank disbursed US$200 million to Colombia by ICE as encounters spike T for quake response

he World Bank on Friday said it had disbursed US$200 million to Colombia for its emergency response to ‌a deadly August 10 earthquake that left hundreds dead. The multilateral development bank said it was working with the Colombian Government and development partners, financial institutions and the private sector to address immediate needs while laying the foundations for recovery. The bank said it had also launched a Global Rapid Assessment of Damages from Earthquakes (GRADE) to provide the Colombian Government with an early assessment of damages and economic losses to help Bogota ‌prioritise aid and reconstruction efforts. Efforts were underway to

People affected by the earthquake rest at a temporary shelter camp in Olaya Herrera Park in Pereira, Colombia

channel financing to affected communities and businesses, including support for public health, housing, and small and medium-sized enterprises, the bank said. The 7.4-magnitude quake struck shortly after 07:30h on Monday, toppling

apartment blocks and damaging homes, schools and hospitals across western Colombia. Authorities on Friday said that 285 persons had been killed and nearly 4000 injured. Nearly 400 others were still missing. (Reuters)

he Haitian community in Springfield faced a rapidly developing immigration enforcement operation Thursday afternoon, with residents contacting local leaders to report several instances where US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents stopped and detained family members, The Haitian Times has learned. Two Springfield Haitian community leaders, Mia Perez and Vilès Dorsainvil, confirmed to The Haitian Times that ICE officers were in the town Thursday picking up Haitians. “ICE has picked up more

than 30 people at their homes,” Perez, founder of Voices of Immigrants, said Thursday afternoon. Dorsainvil, executive director of the Haitian Support Center, told The Haitian Times that residents were being stopped, including his younger brother, and asked for proof of lawful status. Agents asked the brother to show proof of his green card, which is issued to those who have permanent residency. ICE agents also picked up at least one person at their home’s parking lot as he was arriving from work, which is authorised under his pending asylum case,

Dorsainvil said. One couple from a local church was also detained by ICE. The Haitian Times has not independently verified accounts of federal agents conducting door-todoor immigration checks. ICE and the Department of Homeland Security have not responded to confirm the operation, the number of people detained, or the actions authorities are taking following detention. The reports come amid heightened immigration enforcement affecting Springfield’s Haitian population following the termination of TPS for Haitians. (Excerpt from The Haitian Times)

T&T: 7 cops arrested in probe into theft of guns, ammo from PoS Station

Son of Mexico’s former President alleges US revoked his visa

he son of former Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has accused the United States of revoking his visa in a politically motivated manoeuvre. Andres Manuel Lopez Beltran made the allegation late on Thursday in a public letter addressed to US President Donald Trump and posted on social media. He accused US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his deputy, Christopher Landau, of ordering the visa revocation.

“There is no reason whatsoever to justify such an arrogant action,” Lopez Beltran wrote to Trump. “It is worth emphasising that these officials have no evidence against me regarding any immoral or criminal act.” The US State Department has not publicly responded to his claim. His letter comes as part of a trend of visa revocations from the US. Several Mexican officials, across the political spectrum, have had their visas cancelled as part of what the Trump admin-

istration characterises as a broad crackdown on individuals linked to drug cartels. The 39-year-old Lopez Beltran is a prominent politician in Mexico, having recently stepped down from the leadership of the left-wing Morena party. His father founded the party in 2011 and went on to govern Mexico as its President from 2018 to 2024. Lopez Beltran is expected to run for a seat in the Chamber of Deputies next year. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Stolen Matisse artworks recovered by Police in Brazil

ight illustrations by French artist Henri Matisse that were stolen from a library in São Paulo have been recovered by Police in Brazil. The works, which have a combined estimated worth of about $200,000 (£148,000), were found on Thursday at a home in the town of São Bernardo do Campo, a suburb to the south of the city. A 44-year-old man was arrested at the scene. During the heist at Biblioteca Mário de Andrade on December 7 last year, two thieves overpowered a security guard and an elderly couple who had been visiting the library before making off with the artworks through the main entrance on foot. Three other people were previously arrested in relation to the case. Five engravings by the Brazilian artist Candido Portinari that were also taken during the robbery have not yet been recovered. Police in

The Henri Matisse illustrations were estimated to be worth a combined US$200,000

São Paulo said they suspected the works had been sold. João Paulo Linhares de Araujo, the man arrested on Thursday, is suspected by Police of having stored the Matisse artworks on behalf of those accused of being involved in the theft, as well as illegal possession of a firearm. Laéssio Rodrigues de Oliveira, 53, described by Brazilian media as a prolific art thief, is suspected of having planned and directed the crime, according to Brazilian news outlet Globo. He has been in custody since April after being arrest-

ed in relation to another case. Another man and a woman have also been arrested over the library heist. The thieves targeted the exhibition, entitled From Book to Museum, on its final day. They reportedly entered the library by its main entrance mid-morning and headed towards the nearest metro station following the heist. Investigators said the thieves placed the stolen artworks in a canvas bag to flee the scene. (Excerpt from BBC News)

The Central Police Station on St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain

even Police Officers have now been arrested in connection with the disappearance of three firearms and a quantity of ammunition from the Central Police Station at St Vincent Street, Portof-Spain. Senior Police officials confirmed the major twist in the probe yesterday, saying the officers, who were of varying ranks, would have been on shift the night when the arms and ammunition went missing. According to senior Police, the officers were

being questioned up to late yesterday, but no charges had yet been laid. The missing items include three Glock pistols, three magazines and 45 rounds of .9 mm ammunition. The items were lodged at the Central Police Station for safekeeping by municipal Police officers attached to the Portof-Spain Division around 15:47h on August 10. However, a firearms check around 03:40h the next day (August 11) revealed the arms and ammunition were missing.

An investigation was immediately launched. Preliminary information suggested that an “administrative error” may have been responsible for the guns and ammunition being unaccounted for. However, during a T&T Police Service media briefing on Wednesday, corporate communications manager Joanne Archie declined to say much, urging people to allow the investigation to proceed without undue speculation. (Excerpt from Trinidad and Tobago Guardian)

High Wind Advisory issued for A&B, Montserrat, St Kitts & Nevis, Anguilla, BVI

high wind advisory has been issued for Antigua and Barbuda (A&B), Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands (BVI), as Tropical Disturbance AL92 moves through the region. The advisory will take effect at about 20:00h Friday, and remain in place until approximately 14:00h on Saturday, according to the A&B Meteorological Services. Forecaster Dale Destin

said the passage of AL92 is tightening the pressure gradient across the area, resulting in strong, gusty winds. Exposed coastal waters and elevated and open areas on the windward sides of the islands are expected to experience the strongest conditions. Easterly winds of 28 to 44 kilometres per hour (km/h), or 17 to 28 miles per hour (mph), are forecast, with gale- to stormforce gusts reaching approximately 69km/h, or

43m/h. The most intense winds are expected between midnight on Friday and midmorning on Saturday. Air travel could be affected, while marine transportation is expected to face the greatest risk of disruption. Motorists should drive cautiously, and members of the public should avoid exposed elevated locations while the advisory remains in effect. (Excerpt from Antigua Newsroom)

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Abandoned Russian tanker leaks oil off Oman coast

Russian tanker carrying millions of gallons of oil has run aground off the coast of Oman – and now risks breaking apart, potentially causing an environmental disaster on the scale of the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill. The Caroline Bezengi, which has been linked to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet to move sanctioned oil around the world, was damaged by an unexplained explosion on June 8. The tanker had departed Russia, travelled through the Suez Canal and entered the Gulf of Oman when its crew abandoned ship. Left adrift, it eventually grounded on a rocky outcropping near a

The damaged and half-sunken oil tanker Caroline Bezengi

small, uninhabited island. Satellite images showed the first signs of an oil leak on June 30. An expert estimates that hundreds of thousands of gallons had spilt by August 7. Five of

the tanker’s six cargo holds were filled with oil, meaning the vessel could have been carrying as much as 40 million gallons. The ship’s owner has given no public indication that

it is responding to the accident, and the tanker may not have adequate insurance. That has left Oman with responsibility for containing the spill and preventing a far larger disaster. The Government has deployed aircraft, divers and specialised personnel to assess the vessel and prepare mitigation efforts, according to Greenpeace. Safely removing the remaining oil will require a complex operation, and according to Hanen Keskes, regional campaigns lead at Greenpeace MENA, the full extent of the leak may not be known until that work is completed. (Excerpt from CBS News)

Mangione admits killing healthcare CEO, pleads guilty to federal charges L

uigi Mangione has admitted to killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson after pleading guilty to federal charges of interstate stalking resulting in death. “I shot Mr Thompson in Manhattan, and he died,” the 28-year-old admitted in Manhattan federal court on Friday. Thompson, a 50-yearold father of two, was shot from behind on December 4, 2024, as he walked into a hotel in midtown Manhattan. Following the plea hearing, his family issued a statement calling it “an important step toward justice for Brian and for our family”. Mangione faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. He also faces state charges, although his lawyers are seeking to get those dismissed following his

Hormuz traffic slows further after US threatens more economic pressure on Iran

ransit through the Strait of Hormuz appeared to grind to a near standstill on Friday after two more ships were attacked there and the United States said it could maintain a naval blockade of Iran indefinitely. A senior Iranian source said on Wednesday that there had been no progress in talks to b ‌ uild on a June agreement to end the war. Since the ceasefire renewed in the June deal broke down, Iran has resumed attacks on ships it accuses of trying to transit the strait without its permission. The United Arab Emirates’ Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said two of its vessels were attacked transiting the strait

on Thursday evening. The UAE Government blamed Iran, which made no immediate comment. Two vessels passed through the narrow waterway on Friday; a grain ship entering Iranian waters and an empty dry bulk ship going in the other direction. A separate empty liquefied petroleum products tanker was sailing into the Gulf via the strait, the data showed. There were no crude oil shipments visible on Friday. Nine vessels passed through the strait on Thursday, up from five on Wednesday but below the average of 12 for August. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Oil climbs over US$1 on tanker attacks, no progress on peace

rude oil futures climbed over US$1 a barrel on Friday on tanker attacks and a lack of progress on a peace agreement between the Trump administration ‌and Iran’s leadership. Brent futures settled at US$88.52 a barrel, up US$1.45, or 1.67 per cent. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures finished at US$82.40, up US$1.15, or 1.42 per cent. Brent and WTI were on track for weekly gains of 6.0 per cent and 5.4 per cent, respectively. “We’re getting a rally going into the weekend after new attacks on tankers and lack of progress on a ceasefire agreement,” said Andrew Lipow, President of Lipow Oil Associates. A “day of reckoning” may come if traffic in the strait of Hormuz remains constrained, through which 20 per cent ⁠of global supply can pass, Lipow said. “Crude oil prices might be US$80 a barrel, but diesel prices are US$180 a barrel and gasoline is US$130 a barrel, and that’s what’s hitting the consumer,” Lipow said. On Thursday, the US said it could maintain a naval blockade of Iran indefinitely and increase economic pressure on Tehran in response to stalled ceasefire talks. “Watch this space for more announcements coming next week because we are going to apply measures like have never been seen in the history of economic isolation of a country,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Newsmax’s “Rob Schmitt Tonight” programme. (Excerpt from Reuters)

American missionary kidnapped in Niger Trump dismisses mental freed after 9 months

Luigi Mangione after his arrest in 2024

guilty plea. Mangione had initially pleaded not guilty in both the federal and state cases against him for the shooting death of Thompson. At a hearing in Manhattan federal court on Friday, Mangione’s lawyers announced that he intended to plead guilty to the two federal charges against him.

for December 18. Prosecutors have recommended Mangione serve between 24 and 30 years in prison. But Judge Margaret Garnett said in court that she ultimately decides his sentence. Garnett explained to Mangione that the recommendation is not binding and that the maximum sentence is life in prison along with financial penalties. There is no parole in the federal system. (Excerpt from BBC News)

OILNEWS OIL NEWS

The sentencing for the federal charges is scheduled

health concerns on USS Lincoln aircraft carrier

nited States President Donald Trump has dismissed concerns about conditions on board the USS Abraham Lincoln during its lengthy deployment as part of the US-Israel war with Iran. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump rejected the assertion that the families of those on board the aircraft carrier are worried about their loved ones. When asked if the aircraft carrier had been deployed too long, Trump replied, “No, no, no, not nearly enough.” His remarks follow a series of reports this week, documenting supply shortages and mental health strain on the USS Abraham Lincoln. That includes accounts of individuals attempting to jump from the ship. The aircraft carrier left in November from a base in San Diego, California, and it has since been involved in January’s military operation against Venezuela and, more recently, the war against Iran. Its deployment was expected to end in May, but

that timeframe has been extended. It has spent more than 250 days at sea without a port stop, setting a record for the US Navy. More than 5000 sailors and Marines are housed on board. Several US lawmakers have since called for an inquiry into conditions on board the ship. One Democratic senator has also called on the Navy to allow a bipartisan delegation to visit the ship for assessment. Still, the Trump Administration has repeatedly denied worsening conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln. On Friday, a US official told Al Jazeera the Navy had “not observed an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship”. The official added that there were five chaplains, one psychologist, one social worker, three “behavioural health technicians”, and one “embedded integrated prevention coordination (EIPC) counsellor” on board the vessel. There is also an emotional support dog on board. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

The American missionary Kevin Rideout is said to now be in safe hands

n American missionary who was kidnapped in Niger in October has been released, his organisation has said. Serving in Mission International, Kevin Rideout “is in good health in the care of US officials and would soon be reunited with his extended family.” Donald Trump, who claimed to have helped secure Rideout’s release, later said he was “back in United States Custody” on Friday. The 50-year-old missionary Pilot was kidnapped in the West African country’s capital, Niamey, on October 21 by three armed individuals. No armed group claimed responsibility for the abduc-

tion. Other details about his rescue remain unknown. The US President’s Administration had made the release of Rideout a priority in its latest strategy on African Sahel states, after years of fighting extremism found limited success. Rideout had been working in Niger for 19 years as a missionary before the incident. “I am proud to announce that Kevin Rideout, a wonderful Christian missionary, is back in United States custody,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Friday. “Kevin, the United States of America looks forward to welcoming you HOME. Glad to have helped!” (Excerpt from The Guardian)

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026

ARCHIE

DAILY HOROSCOPES

(March 21-April 19)

PICKLES

(April 20-May 20)

(May 21-June 20)

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

(July 23-Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

Listen to your inner voice, address issues of concern and express your emotions with unfiltered truth. Positive change is about to unfold regarding work, money and relationships. Mix business with pleasure, and you’ll ignite a host of unexpected opportunities. Love, romance and greater security are yours to discover. Put greater emphasis on looking and feeling your best. Chip away at projects that ease stress and give you room to breathe. Jumping into competitive or social settings will lead to anxiety and a tendency to overreact. Don’t indulge when your time and effort can lead to a new you. Say less and embrace physical activities that require discipline. Don’t stew over what you cannot control. A new look, personal project or form of entertainment will change how you view your lifestyle. It’s in with the new and out with the old. Embrace what motivates you to follow your heart. Home improvements that help you establish something you enjoy doing in your daily routine will be uplifting. Love, romance and creative endeavors are favored. Don’t overdo it or get into a frenzy over things you cannot change. Worry and anxiety will wear you down physically, causing chronic health issues or leading to other repercussions. Bide your time, think matters through, ask experts for advice and leave yourself breathing room. Take a moment to establish what you want and how to obtain it. Don’t stop setting goals until you satisfy your appetite for what you desire. Use your charm and finesse to captivate attention and to propel you to the forefront of whatever you pursue. Take the initiative to create and complete what you want to achieve, and you’ll make an impression on someone who is connected and able to help. Take a moment to size up situations that offer too many choices. Don’t feel pressured to follow someone else. It’s up to you to reevaluate and research to avoid making a mistake. By putting your credit cards in a safe place, you’ll save yourself from purchasing items that don’t live up to their promises. Don’t let anger take over. Taking on too much will cause you to fall short. Risk will lead to anxiety, not profit or pleasure. Pay attention to how others treat you. Someone will take advantage of you if given the opportunity. You can be charming without giving in to someone’s demands. Change only what’s convenient and beneficial. Press pause and rethink your strategy. Trying to break down barriers will be costly in lost time, effort and money. Learn from your experiences in order to dodge an emotional setback. Trust your instincts, not what someone tries to convince you to believe. Keep documents current, and abide by rules to avoid intervention. A physical outlet will ward off anxiety. Kindness and courtesy are your tickets to getting what you want. If you size up your work situations and mix business with pleasure, you’ll score points with someone who can help you excel. You have plenty to gain if you are up to date with the latest and greatest technology or whatever motivates your professional gains. Romance is favored. Keep your thoughts to yourself. Being a good listener will give you the advantage when you need it. Anger solves nothing, and addressing issues prematurely will lead to regret. Press pause and observe. What you discover will help you navigate your way forward with less aggravation and more common sense and practicality.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

(Feb. 20-March 20)

Push for what you want and give something back. A fair and honest approach will help you move forward without regret. Getting along and being willing to meet in the middle is half the battle when you face a dispute. A social event or celebration will lead to unexpected opportunities for new beginnings. Romance is in the stars. What you do to make your space more functional will encourage you to expand your interests. Avoid interacting with those putting pressure on you to change. When criticism comes your way, walk away. Don’t let someone else decide who you are or what you should be like. You are your best critic. Size up and choose justifiable self-improvement projects.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026

Premier Insurance to be DCB T10’s first franchise P

reparations for the Demerara Cricket Board’s (DCB) upcoming T10 tournament have received an important boost, with Premier Insurance becoming the first corporate entity to officially confirm its participation as a franchise team. The eight-team tournament is scheduled for November 22 this year, at the La Bonne Intention (LBI) Ground, East Coast Demerara, and is being organised as part of the DCB’s wider effort to strengthen corporate involvement in cricket while generating additional support for its developmental programmes. Premier Insurance’s entry represents an encouraging start to the franchise component of the tournament and underscores the

DCB Assistant Secretary Ronald Williams (2nd right) accepted the company’s support on behalf of the Board

growing interest from the business community in supporting cricket development in Demerara. The company’s franchise will be captained by talented all-rounder Yeudistir Persaud, with the remainder of the squad expected

to be finalised ahead of the tournament. At a presentation ceremony held at Premier Insurance’s High Street, Georgetown office, DCB Assistant Secretary Ronald Williams accepted the company’s support on behalf of

the Board. Williams expressed the DCB’s appreciation to Premier Insurance for becoming the first franchise partner and said the Board is particularly encouraged by the company’s willingness to invest directly in an

Hawks crush Crows by 204 runs in DCB U13 competition

Aiyan Persaud contributed 52 for the Hawks Hamesh Latif (left) and Aiyan Persaud (right) took two wickets each for the Hawks

for just 57 in 22 overs, to complete the one-sided win. Bastian led the Hawks’ batting with 59, striking eight fours, while Persaud contributed 52 with one boundary. Xavier Dodson added a brisk 32, which included six fours, as the Hawks built a challenging

total. Jared Kadir was the Crows’ leading bowler with two wickets for eight runs. Rajesh Kishan, Sudesh Chandra, Karan Khemraj, and Issac Hussain claimed one wicket apiece. The Crows struggled throughout their reply, with Kyle Dodson’s eight,

the GY$1 million first prize. Under the tournament structure, each franchise will consist of 15 players, with at least 12 players required to be from Demerara. A maximum of three players from outside the county will be permitted. In keeping with the DCB’s developmental focus, every franchise must also include two Under-19 players, with at least one Under-19 player included in the playing XI. The DCB believes this requirement will ensure that emerging players are provided with valuable exposure alongside more established cricketers. Matches are scheduled to commence at 10:00h, and continue into the evening under lights, with admission set at GY$1000.

Guyana’s John Lee moves closer to historic International Arbiter title

Caleb Bastian led the Hawks’ batting with 59

alf-centuries from C a l e b Bastian and Aiyan Persaud powered the DCB Hawks to a commanding 204-run victory over the DCB Crows in the Demerara Cricket Board Developmental Under-13 competition. After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Hawks compiled an imposing 261 for six from their allotted 40 overs. They then dismissed the Crows

initiative designed to benefit cricket at several levels. He noted that the tournament is not only intended to provide an exciting competitive format but also to create meaningful opportunities for young players while assisting the DCB in sustaining its youth and female cricket programmes. Premier Insurance General Manager Anil Singh also reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting cricket and youth development, noting its previous involvement with cricket organisations in Guyana. The Premier Insurance franchise will be aiming to make an immediate impact when the tournament bowls off, with captain Persaud already setting his sights on the championship and

including one four, being their highest individual score. Persaud completed a strong all-round performance by collecting two wickets. Ayden Ori and Hamesh Latif also took two wickets each, while Seren Wills, Bastian and Neymar Kissoon picked up one apiece.

ohn Lee is moving closer to becoming Guyana’s first International Arbiter after successfully completing the International Arbiter Certification seminar examination conducted by the International Chess Federation (FIDE)’s Arbiters’ Commission. The achievement represents an important step in Lee’s pursuit of one of the highest qualifications available to chess officials. He must now secure the required arbiter norms from four qualifying tournaments before an application for the title can be submitted to FIDE. FIDE classifies International Arbiter as its advanced title for chess officials. Candidates must demonstrate a strong knowledge of the Laws of Chess, competition and rating regulations, pairing systems, fair-play procedures and the operation of electronic clocks. They must also display objectivity and possess the ability to communicate in English. International arbiters are qualified to officiate at major international competitions and are entrusted with ensuring that events are conducted fairly and according to FIDE

John Lee is moving closer to becoming Guyana’s first International Arbiter

regulations. They are required to rule on disputes, monitor playing conditions and manage other technical aspects of tournaments. The title would be a historic achievement for Guyana and could strengthen the country’s ability to host and manage international chess events. Once awarded, the International Arbiter title is valid for life. The Guyana Chess Federation congratulated Lee on his success and thanked him for his dedicated and continued service to the development of chess in Guyana.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Briton John targets Tour de Guyane title after strong season G

Guyana’s national road race champion Briton John will begin his bid for the Tour de Guyane title today, Saturday, in French Guiana (file photo/franceguyane)

uyana’s national road race champion Briton John will begin his bid for the Tour de Guyane title today, Saturday, August 15, in French Guiana, aiming to improve on his second-place finish in the prestigious event two years ago. John, widely regarded as one of Guyana’s leading cyclists, missed the 2025 edition but returns as one of the main contenders following an impressive start to the 2026 season in the French territory. The Guyanese rider, who is now mainly based in French Guiana, has already won two stage races over there, the Grand Prix

de la CACL and the Grand Prix de l’Ouest. He also secured victory in the Grand Prix France Pare-Brise, underlining his strong form ahead of the nine-stage tour. John will represent Sinnamary Cycling Club and is expected to receive valuable support from teammates Owan Nubul and Patrice Ringuet, who are also capable of challenging near the front of the race. His ability to manage hilly stages, limit time losses in individual time trials, and remain well positioned during decisive moments could make him a serious threat throughout the com-

petition. Consistency will be important, particularly as the riders tackle varying terrain across French Guiana. John has previously shown that he can compete with the leading riders at the Tour de Guyane. His runner-up finish in 2024 remains one of his strongest performances, and his experience gained over subsequent seasons could help him mount another challenge for the overall title. The 35th edition of the Tour de Guyane will run from August 15 to 23, and feature 111 cyclists representing 19 teams. The competitors will contest nine stages across French

Guiana. The event will begin with a 126.32-kilometre loop from Cayenne, passing through Matoury and Macouria before returning to the starting city. The field includes leading local teams and international riders from Great Britain, the Netherlands, Canada, Belgium and neighbouring Caribbean islands. Defending champion Oscar Hutchings of SchilsDoltcini Racing Team will return in search of another title, while reigning Guiana champion Benjamin Bousquet is also expected to be among the main challengers.

Pedro sharpens coaching Ross leading Guyana’s skills ahead of CFU U14 series jockey standing with 11 wins

uyana Football Federation (GFF) Under-14 Boys National Team Head Coach Jamal Pedro strengthened his technical knowledge ahead of the CFU Under-14 Boys Challenge Series, by participating in the Elite Youth Coaches Workshop in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The two-day programme, held on August 12 and 13, formed part of

FIFA’s Talent Development Scheme and supported the Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF)’s efforts to improve Coaching and youth player development throughout the region. Pedro joined Coaches from across the Caribbean and wider CONCACAF region for sessions focused on the demands of elite youth football. The workshop al-

lowed participants to share ideas, discuss best practices and take part in practical learning activities The knowledge gained is expected to assist Pedro as he continues preparing Guyana’s Under-14 boys for regional competition. His participation also supports the GFF’s drive to develop technically equipped Coaches and establish stronger pathways for young Guyanese players.

Mt Sinai crush Tucber Park in BCB Under-13

Nine-year-old left arm chinaman bowler Lomar Williams bowled with incredible control and skill beyond his age and finished with figures of 5-15 from seven overs Lomar Williams claimed five wickets against Tucber Park

t Sinai Cricket Club, from Angoy’s Avenue, crushed the favourite team, Tucber Park, in the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Under-13 tournament. Playing at the Rose Hall Canje (RHC) Community Centre Ground, the Mt Sinai

team displayed all-round skill to record a 112-run win to top Zone B, and qualified for the quarter final. Batting first, Mt Sinai scored 191-9 from their allotted 40 overs. Jovel Dejonge led all batters with a classy 63, and Darwin Williamson scored 33.

In response. Tucber Park was bundled out for 79. Nine-year-old left arm chinaman bowler Lomar Williams bowled with incredible control and skill beyond his age, as he spun webs around the Tucber Park batsmen and finished with figures of 5-15 from seven overs. Justin Southwell supported well with 2-14. Elijah Bhandan, Melroy Grant, and Shawn Hubbard took one wicket each. In the opening round, eleven-year-old Justin Southwell Brilliance led Mount Sinai to an impressive win against RHC. RHC made 90 all out in their backyard as Justin Southwell led with 3-18 from eight overs, and Melroy Grant Jr made 3-22 from five overs. Mt Sinai cruised to 96-1 in 16 overs with Justin Southwell scoring a fine 43 not out and Alden Hope hitting 26 not out as Mt Sinai defied all odds to claim backto-back wins.

fter a scintillating Emancipation Cup earlier this month, jockey Colin Ross is enjoying a comfortable lead on the points table. Ross has 11 wins this season. with five second spots for a total of 73 points. His total earnings from races this season are GY$1,210,500. Young jockey Yovin Kissoonchand has recorded eight wins and five second spots in his 36 starts this season with 66 points; seven points behind Ross. Ronaldo Appadu, in his 31st start, has six wins and nine second spots. Bharrat Ramnarain is fourth on the jockey table, with four wins and three second places, followed by Quinton Kellman in fifth. The other riders in the top 10 heading into the Guyana Cup are Michael Semple, Dillon Khelawan, Arvin Dhanraj, Delwin Anderson, and Drepaul

Jockey Colin Ross

Yhap. A total of 14 races will be running at this year’s Guyana Cup, and more than GY$66 million in cash and prizes will be paid out. The Banks Guyana Cup feature race will fetch a purse of GY$22 million. General admission tickets are GY$5000, VVIP experience is GY$25,000, and private VIP decks are

GY$500,000. A brand new four-door SinoTruk pick-up will be up for the taking from the raffle exercise. The raffle ticket locations are located at the Jumbo Jet office in Smyth Street, JS Supermarket, Js Outlet, and Poonai’s Pharmacy. The raffle ticket cost GY$2000. This Guyana Cup will be one of significant differences, with the event being for the entire family. A kid zone will be in place, and a host of prizes will be rewarded on the day. The Guyana Cup also has additional parking and more screens at the venue to offer a more visible and enjoyable race day. The races will be only a 45-minute ride away from Georgetown, and fans from across the Caribbean are expected to be in attendance to witness the most high-profile racing event in Guyana’s history.

The races for the Guyana Cup 2026 are: Banks Guyana Cup (One Mile) – Total purse: GY$22,500,000

Jagmohan F-Class (One Mile) – Total purse: GY$1,875,000

Peter Lewis Guyana Cup Sprint (5 ½ furlongs) – Total purse: GY$7,500,000

ARONCO H-Class (One Mile) – Total purse: GY$1,875,000

Forrester’s Imported Derby (One Mile) – Total purse: GY$7,500,000

CI H3 NW3 (One Mile) – Total purse: GY$1,875,000

Mohamed’s Excavating Sir Balaji Derby (One Mile) – Total purse: GY$5,625,000

Avinash Local Maidens (One Mile) – Total purse: GY$2,812,500

J’s Imported Juvenile Fillies Sprint (5 ½ furlongs) – Total purse: GY$3,750,000

Big G’s J-Class (One Mile) – Total purse: GY$1,875,000

BM Soat Locally Bred Dash (5 ½ furlongs) – Total purse: GY$2,812,500

Garen Pro K-Class (One Mile) – Total purse: GY$1,875,000

P Jagdeo E-Class (One Mile) – Total purse: GY$2,812,500

Sawh L Class Sprint (One Mile) – Total purse: GY$1,875,000

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026

Guyana boxing officials set for international certification T

he Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) is moving to sharpen the standard of officiating in local amateur boxing with an international certification programme designed to bring referees and judges in line with the latest global requirements. The programme begins on Saturday, August 15, and concludes on the morning of August 20, and will be conducted by Trinidad and Tobago’s James Beckles, one of the Caribbean’s most accomplished boxing officials. A three-star referee and referee assessor, Beckles has operated at some of the sport’s biggest international competitions and will lead the local certification exercise as Guyana prepares to host the Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors

GBA President Steve Ninvalle

Dem Life Golf Tournament returns to Lusignan Golf Club

LGC Secretary Chet Bowling receives the sponsorship cheque from Micheal Hing, Sales and Marketing Representative

he Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) will host another staging of the Dem Life Golf Tournament on Saturday, August 15, as Demerara Mutual Life Assurance Society continues its longstanding commitment to the development and promotion of golf in Guyana. The tournament is scheduled to tee off at 12:30h, following an assembly time of 12:15h, with competitors set to play 18 holes under the medal-play format. Speaking at a simple presentation ceremony, DemLife Sales and Marketing Manager Dave Persaud reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting sporting activities and its partnership with the Lusignan Golf Club. “At DemLife, we always support sporting activities.

Golf has been a developing sport in Guyana, and we always aim to give back at every opportunity. We saw partnering with LGC as a way of our corporate social responsibility, as we have done in the past with the club. Hence, we are continuing the tradition,” Persaud said. Golfers will compete in three handicap flights: 0–12, 13–18 and 19–28, with first-place prizes up for grabs in each category. Additional prizes will be awarded for the Senior Flight, provided there are at least three participants. Competitors will also vie for the Overall Best Net, Best Gross, Nearest to the Pin on hole eight, and Longest Drive on hole one. The partnership between Demerara Mutual and the LGC has deep roots, with the company having sponsored tourna-

ments at the club for decades. Historical records show Demerara Mutualsponsored events dating back to at least the 1990s, while in 2016 the company was recognised for having supported golf in Guyana for nearly 25 years. The partnership has remained strong in recent years, with the Dem Life Golf Tournament returning in 2025. Patrick Prashad emerged victorious in last year’s tournament after recording a gross score of 76 and a net score of 66. Demerara Mutual Life Assurance Society, commonly known as DemLife, was incorporated under Ordinance 19 of 1891 and has more than 130 years of experience in the insurance industry. The company provides a range of life insurance solutions aimed at helping individuals and families safeguard their financial futures, including whole-life, endowment, critical illness, mortgage protection and universal life plans. Beyond its role as a corporate sponsor, DemLife’s continued investment in golf provides an important platform for competition, networking and camaraderie among golfers, corporate partners and members of the wider community. The LGC is anticipating a competitive field as players seek honours across the various handicap flights and special prize categories. The club has also expressed appreciation to Demerara Mutual Life Assurance Society for its continued partnership and commitment to supporting golf and sporting development in Guyana.

Boxing Championships from August 20-22 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. GBA President Steve Ninvalle said close to 40 participants are expected, with officials from across the country set to take part. The Guyana Police Force, Guyana Prison Service and Guyana Defence Force have also indicated their intention to send representatives. Ninvalle stressed that the programme is particularly important as Guyana continues its transition to World Boxing, the international governing body now recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). “With Guyana operating under World Boxing, it is imperative that our officials are certified using the rules and regulations of the new international federation, just as we previously did under the International Boxing Association [IBA],” Ninvalle said. World Boxing was established in 2023 following a prolonged governance dispute involving the IBA, which subsequently lost

IOC recognition. National federations, including Guyana, have since aligned themselves with World Boxing to ensure their athletes remain eligible for international competition and the Olympic pathway. For Ninvalle, bringing Beckles to Guyana represents more than a routine certification exercise. Widely regarded as one of the Caribbean’s leading certified boxing officials, Beckles has officiated at the Olympic Games, World Championships and Commonwealth Games, in addition to numerous continental and regional tournaments. “We wanted someone with unquestionable international credentials to lead this programme, and James Beckles was the obvious choice,” Ninvalle said. “He has officiated at the highest level of amateur boxing and understands exactly what is required under World Boxing. Our referees and judges will benefit tremendously from his knowledge and experience, and ultimately our

Leeward Islands sink Guyana by 4 wickets

athletes will also benefit from having better-trained officials.” Ninvalle believes developing officials must be treated with the same urgency as developing boxers if Guyana is to make sustained progress. “If we are serious about developing boxing in Guyana, we cannot focus only on the athletes. Coaches, referees, judges and administrators all have to develop together,” he said. “This certification programme is another important investment in the future of Guyanese boxing.” The initiative comes at an important time for the sport, with Guyana preparing to welcome young boxers from across the Caribbean for the Schoolboys and Juniors Championships. The tournament, conceptualised and first staged in Guyana in 2016, is named in honour of 1978 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Winfield Braithwaite. It has since become one of the region’s leading developmental boxing competitions. Several participants from the championships have gone on to represent their countries at the Olympic Games and World Championships, reinforcing the tournament’s role as an important launching pad for Caribbean boxing talent. headline options.

CLASSIFIED ADS VACANCY

Guyana’s under-19 women suffered another defeat to Leeward on Friday (file photo)

he Leeward Islands Under-19s Women secured a four-wicket victory over Guyana Under19s Women in Round Five of the Cricket West Indies Rising Stars Women’s Under-19 Championship. Guyana won the toss and elected to bat first, but struggled to build momentum, posting 97 for nine from their allotted 20 overs. Opener Jada Fraser topscored with 19 from 18 balls, while Allia Henry contributed 13 from 22 deliveries. However, regular wickets prevented Guyana from establishing a substantial total. Quinya Dasent and Sanjana Bhoojraj were the chief destroyers with the ball for the Leeward Islands, claiming three wickets apiece, while Aaliyah Weekes supported with two for 11.

Chasing 98 for victory, the Leeward Islands reached 98 for six in 17 overs to complete the win. Jahkazia Smith anchored the chase with a patient 21 from 42 balls, while Weekes added a valuable 18 from 21 deliveries to help guide her side over the line. Guyana’s Shenesa Thomas was the standout bowler, producing an excellent spell to finish with four wickets for 22 runs. Christina Jackson and Danellie Manns claimed one wicket each, but their efforts were not enough to prevent the Leeward Islands from securing victory. The result saw the Leeward Islands Under19s Women complete a four-wicket win, while Guyana were left to reflect on another challenging outing in the championship.

Superior Woods Inc. is inviting applications for the following positions: Moulder Operator (3), Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanic (4), Mill/Resaw Operator (3), Forklift Operators — (5), Labourers — (10). Location: Yarrowkabra, Linden-Soesdyke Highway. Contact: 642-3828/ 6262138. Email: superiorwoods.gy@ gmail.com. Superior Blocks and Pavers is inviting applications for the following positions: Blocks Machine Operator (3), Forklift/Front-end Loader Operator (3), Labourers — (6). Location: Yarrowkabra, LindenSoesdyke Highway. Contact: 6423828/ 626-2138. Email: vickash@ superiorblocksandpavers.com

BUS SERVICE NEED A BUS TO HIRE CALL MATTHEW BUS SERVICE 639-2663 OR 673-2348 2 BOOKING A SURINAME TOUR OR GROUP TRIP CALL OR WHATSAPP 639-2663 OR 673-2348

SURINAME TOURS SUMMER TRIP TO SURINAME FROM AUGUAST 18TH – AUGUST 21ST FOR BOOKINGS CALL OR WHATSAPP MATTHEW BUS SERVICE 639-2663 OR673-2348

WANTED One handy man tel# 731-2125

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Leung, Newton to represent Guyana at Caribbean junior cycling championships

Alex Newton

Coach Brentnol Carmichael

Alexander Leung

lexander Leung and Alex Newton will represent

Guyana at the Caribbean Cycling Union Caribbean Junior Road Cycling

Championships in Belize on August 22 and 23. Leung, who rides for Continental Cycling Club, and Newton of KFC Evolution will compete in the junior men’s individual time trial and road race. The individual time trial will be contested over 20 kilometres (km) along Trial Boom Road on August 22, while the junior men’s road race will

cover 93.6km on the Philip Goldson Highway the following day. The road race will comprise 12 laps. Both cyclists will enter the championships after completing a twoweek training programme at the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) World Cycling Centre Continental Development

Satellite in Couva, Trinidad and Tobago. Leung is in his final season at the junior level and has produced several strong performances recently. Newton has also shown good form and is regarded as a strong competitor when at his best. National cycling coach Brentnol Carmichael will accompany the riders to Belize. Carmichael also recently completed a UCI Level Two Coaching

Course, strengthening his technical knowledge ahead of the regional assignment. The trip was confirmed after support from the Guyana Olympic Association and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport helped to meet the team’s expenses. The championships will bring together the Caribbean’s leading junior cyclists for two days of competition.

Beharry Schools U19 T20: Covent Garden Nabi offering Presidential excellence advance after Essequibo Islands disqualified

to Guyana Amazon Warriors

orty-one-year-old Mohammad Nabi has been an excellent performer for Afghanistan over the years, and he is continuing his Presidential excellence for the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW). From being named MVP in the recently concluded Global Super League, Nabi started this year’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a player of the match performance. He claimed 4-22 and scored 19 runs as the Amazon Warriors cruised to a six-wicket win against t h e

J a m a i c a Kingsmen. Captain of GAW, Imran Tahir, showered praise on Nabi and the value he brings to the team. “He is an experienced guy. So I think we knew our plan before we came, where we need to bowl. And, yeah, I think once you come and you bowl a couple of balls, you need to

adjust with the conditions quite quickly,” Tahir said. Meanwhile, Nabi reflected on the game and conditions, stating that there was some turn and bounce on offer. “We practised three sessions there, and planning for bowling from that side ... bigger side, and also against wind, and targeting the leg side Mohammad Nabi claimed 4-22 and scored 19 runs as GAW cruised and to a six-wicket most win against of the the Jamaica Kingsmen time (CPL T20) bowl-

with gle, it it’s gowicket, spin, to hit.” “ I know.

ing top s p i n . Because that anlooks like ing to midbut it’s top it’s tough d o n ’ t It’s a neg-

ative mentality about most of the coaches or something like that. But it depends on the situation a n d pitch condition,

grounds, and bigger size as well. If the bowlers are clever and use the condition accordingly, and pitching the ball on the right area, it’ll be tough to hit,” Nabi explained. “Yeah, with the new ball, it was a little bit skiddy, and after the 10 overs, there was a little bit of hold. There was a little bit turn and bounce as well. That’s why we bowled on a line and length to get wickets and bring them under pressure,” Nabi said. The Guyana Amazon Warriors will play their next game on Wednesday, August 19, against St Lucia at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground.

Covent Garden Secondary School will now compete in the play-offs following the disqualification of Essequibo Islands Secondary School

ovent Garden Secondary School has been awarded a place in the play-offs of the Beharry Holding Inc Schools Under-19 T20 Cricket Tournament, following the disqualification of Essequibo Islands Secondary School for fielding an ineligible player. The Ministry of Education’s Unit of Allied Arts investigated an official protest submitted by Covent Garden concerning the eligibility of Dennis Crossman, who repre-

sented Essequibo Islands during the tournament. The investigation determined that Crossman had completed his secondary education in 2025 and was therefore ineligible to participate. Essequibo Islands were subsequently removed from the competition for breaching Rule One, which governs player eligibility. Covent Garden will now face Annandale Secondary in the Eliminator on Sunday from 10:00h at the Queen’s College Ground.

The winner will remain in contention for a place in the final, while the losing team will be eliminated from the tournament. Later in the day, Berbice Educational Institute will battle Abram Zuil Secondary in Qualifier One from 14:00h at the same venue. The winner of that encounter will advance directly to the final, while the losing team will receive another opportunity to qualify.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026

Sport is no longer our game, it’s our business

Pg 23

Beharry Schools U19 T20: Covent Garden advance after Essequibo Islands disqualified Nabi Leung, offering Newton to Presidential represent excellence Guyana at to Guyana Caribbean Amazon junior cycling Warriors championships Pg 23

Pg 23

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - marketing@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.