Environmental, economic cooperation high on agenda for King Charles visit P13
Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com
Issue No. 6595
THE BEACON OF TRUTH SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2026
WIN’s MP accused of sexually assaulting minor ...resigns ... resigns from Parliament
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WHAT'S INSIDE:
Security guard slapped with attempted murder charge after setting wife on fire P10
Page 12
SOCU Head should be off-duty pending sexual assault probe – Home Affairs Minister
Page 7
…expired PSC leaves decision in limbo
P5 Mother, 2 sons among 5 charged for fisherman’s murder
Nephew P10 charged, remanded for uncle’s murder
“Late completion will attract P13 penalties” – Manickchand to contractors Matthews Ridge Airstrip completed: The 4,200-ft reinforced concrete airstrip in Region One (Barima-Waini) is now fully completed, with upgrades to accommodate larger aircraft and improve connectivity, emergency and medevac response, and economic activity. The project employed 60 Matthews Ridge residents and 15 skilled workers from Mabaruma (President Dr Irfaan Ali/Facebook)
Govt employs nearly 30% of Region One’s adult population – REO
Page 7
Frm Region 4 Chairman found guilty of assaulting ex-wife, remanded to prison Page 5
“Get up, get out, get active” – President Ali urges 30 minutes of exercise daily Page 3
$500M parking lot for trucks, auto zone facility completed P14 at Grove
33 warnings issued over racial slurs, derogatory remarks in 1 month – ERC P11
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BRIDGE OPENING
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Berbice – Saturday, October 3 – 09:35h–11:05h and Sunday, October 4 – 11:15h–12:45h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions are expected to turn to thundery showers by midday, easing to cloudy skies by evening. Clear skies are expected at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius. Winds: North-North-Easterly to North-Easterly between 0.89 metre and 4.47 metres.
High Tide: 08:11h and 20:25h reaching maximum heights of 2.33 metres and 2.40 metres. Low Tide: 15:04h reaching a minimum height of 1.14 metres.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2026
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COMMODITIES Indicators Crude Oil
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“Get up, get out, get active” – President Ali urges 30 minutes of exercise daily
P
resident Dr Irfaan Ali is urging Guyanese to set aside at least 30 minutes each day for physical activity, as concerns continue to be raised about cardiovascular disease and other non-communicable diseases affecting the population. Ali made the call on Friday morning in a video posted to his social media page, encouraging citizens to incorporate exercise and other forms of physical activity into their daily routines. “This morning [Friday], I want to encourage every Guyanese to get ready, wake up and make 30 minutes for your body. Take 30 minutes of your time for your body and for you,” the President said. He said the body is exposed to different levels of stress each day and should be prepared for the demands of daily life. According to Ali, physical activity can help provide the energy needed to start the day and contribute to maintaining a healthier and stronger body. “30 minutes to keep you healthy, to keep you stronger. 30 minutes to ensure that you give your body and yourself the chance of beating primary health care challenges and issues,” he said. Ali acknowledged that he too, has neglected dedicating 30 minutes each day to his physical health. “I’m telling you this because I know I’ve neglected giving the body that 30 minutes every single day,” he said. He encouraged Guyanese to use whatev-
er space is available to become active, whether in their yards or communities. “Get up, get out, in the yard, in the community, do something, get active. For 30 minutes, get active,” Ali said. The President’s call comes amid growing attention to non-communicable diseases and cardiovascular health in Guyana. In May, Head of Internal Medicine and Cardiology at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Dr Mahendra Carpen, raised concern over what he described as an apparent increase in sudden deaths among young adults in Guyana. Carpen said cardiovascular disease was a leading cause and noted that individuals in their 20s to 40s had been dying unexpectedly, including during sleep or while engaged in routine activities. Carpen identified several factors associated with serious heart disease, including blockages in the heart, inflammation or infection of the heart muscle, severe uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and smoking. He also urged people experiencing symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations or light-headedness to seek medical evaluation and encouraged regular health checks.
Greater attention
The President has previously called for greater
President Dr Irfaan Ali
attention to healthier lifestyles and prevention of non-communicable diseases. In February, Ali announced plans for Government to work with religious communities on public health and primary healthcare initiatives. He said the programme would involve health checks, counselling and efforts to change lifestyles and living habits, with initiatives involving temples, mosques and churches. Ali had also called in 2023 for a holistic approach to nutrition, arguing that healthier eating habits and health education should be
incorporated into the education system. At the time, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony highlighted unhealthy diets, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, smoking, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity as factors contributing to non-communicable diseases. On Friday, Ali again urged Guyanese to make physical activity part of their daily routine. “Give your body the energy, give your body the fuel, give your body the chance to be victorious. Give your body the chance to be optimal. Let us do this together, Guyana,” he said.
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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
Making 30 minutes a daily investment
P
resident Dr Irfaan Ali’s call for Guyanese to dedicate at least 30 minutes each day to physical activity is a simple message with important implications for the nation’s public health. At a time when non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes, continue to place significant demands on individuals, families, and the healthcare system, greater emphasis on prevention is both timely and necessary. The value of the President’s message lies partly in its simplicity as physical activity does not necessarily require expensive equipment, a gym membership or specialised facilities. Walking, jogging, cycling, exercising in the yard, or participating in recreational activities within communities can provide opportunities for people to become more active. The 30-minute appeal should be viewed as an accessible starting point for healthier living rather than an unrealistic demand on citizens already managing busy schedules. The urgency surrounding healthier lifestyles is underscored by concerns raised by medical professionals. Head of Internal Medicine and Cardiology at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Dr Mahendra Carpen, has highlighted cardiovascular disease as an increasing concern, particularly among younger adults. He has advocated earlier screening for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol, noting that risk factors can often be identified and managed before serious cardiovascular disease develops. The warning is significant because NCD prevention cannot rest exclusively on hospitals and medical professionals. Healthcare systems must provide screening, diagnosis, treatment, and specialised care, but individual lifestyle choices also have an important role in reducing preventable risk factors. The 2026 Budget provides for expanded preventive medicine programmes targeting diabetes, hypertension, and cancer, while the HEARTS protocol for cardiovascular care is being expanded to more than 400 facilities. Significant resources are also being directed towards new hospitals, medical equipment, and improved specialised healthcare services. Such investments demonstrate that prevention and treatment must advance together. A modern healthcare system must be capable of responding to serious illness while simultaneously reducing the number of people who reach advanced stages of preventable disease. The President’s message also fits within a wider public-health strategy that has increasingly placed healthier lifestyles at the centre of national discussion. Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony recently encouraged Guyanese to exercise regularly, make healthier dietary choices, avoid smoking and moderate alcohol consumption. He also pointed to the importance of physical activity in delaying or preventing some chronic illnesses. That approach deserves sustained national attention. There is also value in the President acknowledging that maintaining healthy habits can be difficult. The admission that 30 minutes of daily physical activity has not always been achieved provides a practical dimension to the message. The objective is not perfection but consistency. A healthier Guyana requires a culture in which physical activity becomes part of everyday life rather than something reserved for organised fitness programmes. Schools, workplaces, religious organisations, community groups, and families can all contribute to that culture. Communities can encourage walking groups, recreational activities and other forms of safe physical exercise, while workplaces can promote opportunities for movement during the working day. Government also has a responsibility to ensure that communities have environments that support active living. Safe roads, walkways, recreational spaces, playing fields, and community facilities can make physical activity more practical and attractive. Regular health checks, balanced nutrition, reduced consumption of excessive sugar and unhealthy foods, avoidance of tobacco, and responsible alcohol consumption remain important components of a comprehensive approach to NCD prevention. The expansion of Guyana’s healthcare infrastructure and specialised services is an important part of the national response. Recent investments in cardiac care, including specialised paediatric cardiac services, demonstrate the importance being placed on improving access to treatment. At the same time, preventing illness before specialised intervention becomes necessary represents an equally important objective. Thirty minutes may appear insignificant against the scale of Guyana’s health challenges. Yet national health improvements are often built from individual habits repeated consistently across thousands of households. President Ali’s appeal should be embraced as a practical reminder that a stronger Guyana depends on a healthier population capable of participating fully in the country’s social and economic progress. The challenge now is to turn 30 minutes from a presidential appeal into a daily national habit.
First Lady Arya Ali visited the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Friday, where she met with medical teams, parents, and children recovering from complex congenital heart surgeries. Ten open-heart surgeries were successfully performed through a collaboration between specialists from Apollo Hospitals in India and the GPHC medical team (First Lady Arya Ali/Facebook)
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Frm Region 4 Chairman found guilty of assaulting ex-wife, remanded to prison D
irector of National Border Patrol and former Region Four Chairman Daniel Seeram has been convicted of assaulting his former wife, nearly three years after he was charged in connection with the incident. Seeram, a former executive member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), was found guilty on Friday following a trial before Magistrate Abigail Gibbs at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court. Following the verdict, he was remanded to prison and is scheduled to return to court on November 2 for sentencing. The charge arose
from an incident on September 11, 2023, at the couple’s residence in Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown. Seeram was accused of assaulting his then-wife so as to cause her grievous bodily harm. He had initially pleaded not guilty and was granted $50,000 bail when he appeared before the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court in October 2023. According to reports published by the Guyana Times at the time, the incident followed a dispute between Seeram and his then wife. The disagreement reportedly escalated into a physical confrontation. Seeram was also ac-
Former Region Four Chairman Daniel Seeram
cused of brandishing a licensed firearm during the incident. His then-wife subsequently reported the matter at the Turkeyen Police Station, leading to Seeram’s arrest and charge. Reports at the time indicated that marks of violence were observed on the woman’s body. When the charge was first reported in October 2023, Seeram was serving as Region Four Chairman and was an executive member of the PNC/R. The assault case was not the first legal matter involving Seeram and allegations concerning firearms.
Prior to the 2023 assault charge, he had been charged with using threatening language against his father-in-law following an incident involving the two men and licensed firearms. In that matter, Seeram was placed on $20,000 bail. Reports at the time stated that both men had made separate reports to police concerning the incident, with each alleging that the other had produced a firearm. Their firearms and ammunition were subsequently seized by police. Guyana Times had reported in October 2023 that the legal status of that matter was unclear.
Mother, 2 sons among 5 charged for fisherman’s murder
F
ive Friendship Village residents, including a mother and two of her sons, were on Friday charged with the murder of 23-year-old Chittesh Sukhai, who was killed during an attack at
Mohan and Gowcharran Narine. All five accused are residents of Friendship Village. Police Prosecutor Sergeant Shennelle Matterson told the court that Sukhai died as a result
Gowcharran Narine (left) and Kumar Jailall (right)
Mahindra Budhram(left) and Mohan Narine (right)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2026
Dead: Chittesh Sukhai also known as “Rohan” and “Marsho”
Friendship, Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) earlier this week. The five appeared before Magistrate Tuanna Hardy at the Whim Magistrate’s Court, where the indictable murder charge was read to them. They were not required to plead. Charged are 22-yearold Mohan Narine, also known as “Anil”; his brother, 26-year-old construction worker Gowcharran Narine, called “Terry”; 19-year-old construction worker Kumar Jailall, called “Aji”; 29-yearold Mahendra Budhram, called “Spoil Pop”, who is unemployed; and 47-yearold housewife Zynette Baichu, called “Zen”. Baichu is the mother of
of multiple incised wounds and that cutlasses were used in the attack. She said the prosecution was awaiting the post-mortem examination (PME) report and an analysis report. The court granted the prosecution 45 days, and the matter was adjourned to November 9. All five accused were remanded to prison. Baichu and Gowcharran Narine are being represented by Attorney-at-Law Rian Crawford. Sukhai, who was also known as “Rohan” and “Marsho”, was killed at Friendship, Corentyne, on September 28. Police had reported that Sukhai was attacked and chopped several times
Remanded: Zynette Baichu during an altercation in the village. Police also reported that two cutlasses were recovered and that two males were initially taken into
custody as investigators continued their probe. Sukhai was taken to the Port Mourant Public Hospital, where he subsequently died.
0:00 Sign Off 6:00 TVG Devotional Hour 7:00 Evening News (RB) 8:00 Cartoons 8:30 Stop Suffering 9:30 KTLT 10:00 Movie - The Lion King (1994) 11:30 Movie - The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride (1998) 13:00 Movie - The Lion King 3: Hakuna Matata (2004) 14:30 TVG Music Break 15:00 Movie - Problem Child (1990) 16:30 Movie - Problem Child 2 (1991) 18:00 Evangelistic Hour 18:30 Hephzibah Ministries 19:00 Movie - Problem Child 3: Junior in Love (1995) 20:30 Movie - Jinxed (2013) 21:45 Movie - The Bourne Legacy (2012)
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Enumeration Listing outcomes selecting from two sets A coin is flipped and a spinner numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4 is spun. Write a list of the possible outcomes. 1. Use a single letter or number for each item to be selected. Use H (heads) and T (tails) for the sides of the coin and numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 for the spinner. 2. Determine the number of items to be selected. One item from each is to be selected. 3. Fix the first choice and list all the possible combinations with it. Then change the first choice and repeat the pattern until all possibilities have been listed. Start by fixing the coin and change the spinner number. H1, H2, H3, H4 Now change the side of the coin and repeat the order of the spinner. T1, T2, T3, T4 There are 8 outcomes in total. Listing outcomes selecting from three sets A meal offer at a restaurant gives you a choice of main, side, and drink.
CONT'D
By Alice Corbin Henderson
List the possible combinations of main, side and drink. 1. Use a single letter or number for each item to be selected. Use B, F, and P for the mains. Use G and S for the sides. Use J, L and C for the drinks. 2. Determine the number of items to be selected. One item from each is to be selected. 3. Fix the first choice and list all the possible combinations with it. Then change the first choice and repeat the pattern until all possibilities have been listed. Start by fixing the main, then the side, and change the drink, then change the side and repeat the pattern of the drinks. BGJ, BGL, BGC BSJ, BSL,BSC Now change the main, repeating the process for the sides and drinks: FGJ, FGL, FGC FSJ, FSL, FSC PGJ, PGL, PGC PSJ, PSL, PSC There are 18 outcomes in total.
Who was it built the cradle of wrought gold? A druid, chanting by the waters old. Who was it kept the sword of vision bright? • •
Glue Flowers
Instructions 1. Paint a vase on a sheet of cardboard. Let it dry. Decorate with stickers.
3. Cut out a triangular piece of cardboard. Glue it to the back of your vase painting to make a stand. Let it dry.
A warrior, falling darkly in the fight. Who was it put the crown upon the dove? A woman, paling in the arms of love. Oh, who but these, since Adam ceased to be, Have kept their ancient guard about the Tree?
4. Add the flowers by sticking the stems through the holes.
• • • • • •
Materials Cardboard Paint Paintbrush Stickers Pencil or pointed object Scissors
(Source: Poetry [December 1912])
2. Use a pencil or other pointed object to poke holes above the vase.
Write about a character who ignores every warning. (parents.highlights.com)
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SOCU Head should be off-duty pending sexual assault probe – Home Affairs Minister …expired PSC leaves decision in limbo
H
ome Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond has confirmed that a formal investigation is underway into the sexual assault allegations levied against Head of the Guyana Police Force (GPF)’s Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Fazil Karimbaksh. The complaint came from a female officer attached to SOCU – the white-collar arm of the GPF. According to Walrond, a special body has been set to probe the allegations against Karimbaksh, who is also a Deputy Commissioner of Police. “I’m informed from the Commissioner [of Police, Clifton Hicken] that a team has been set up to deal with this investigation,” the Home Affairs Minister said while appearing on the Starting Point Podcast. She added, “[The victim] has given a statement… The investigation entails getting statements from the other
Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond
persons whom they think would be appropriate to get statements, and statements from the accused.” The Minister further explained that as part of this process, there would also be a formal confrontation between the victim and the alleged accused. “The confrontation that would be held [by] the team that has been assigned; after that confrontation, then
the matter will be adjudicated. Whether it’s disciplinary action or criminal action, that would be for the criminal investigation department to determine, and this team that’s doing the investigation,” Walrond stated. Meanwhile, since filing the complaint, the victim has been transferred, upon her request, to another division within the Force.
But while the SOCU Head remains on duty, the Home Affairs Minister believes that Karimbaksh should be sent off pending the outcome of the probe. “The fact is that Mr Karimbaksh is at the helm of the Police Force. He’s a deputy commissioner. So, there is a particular procedure that has to be followed… It is my view, and I hold this strong view, that he should be sent on administrative leave pending the investigation,” she noted. Based on established protocols, the Police Service Commission (PSC) is responsible for disciplinary actions against senior officers, including placing them on administrative leave. However, the Commission has not been reconstituted since it expired in July this year. In the absence of a functioning PSC, however, Minister Walrond is expected to engage Commissioner
Head of SOCU Fazil Karimbaksh
Hicken on the way forward. “It’s a discussion we need to have, the Commissioner and myself, as to how we addressed that,” the Minister emphasised. Walrond went on to further assure in a Facebook post on Friday that these serious allegations will be properly investigated. “The allegations are serious and will be treated as such. The law will not be ignored, nor will due process be bypassed,” the Minister stated, adding that the matter will not be investigated
or tried in the court of public opinion. “I have confidence in the competence and professionalism of the investigative team. They must be allowed to do their work independently and thoroughly, without public interference or prejudgment. Let the evidence guide the process. Let the law take its course.” Meanwhile, calls have been mounting over the past week for the SOCU Head to be removed pending the outcome of the investigation.
Govt employs nearly 30% of Region One’s adult population – REO
N
early 30 per cent of Region One’s adult population is employed through Government-funded programmes and Ministries, with approximately 1800 staff and almost 1300 Pathway workers currently engaged across the region. This was revealed by Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region One (Barima-Waini), Dr Steven Cheefoon, during a recent social media engagement. According to Cheefoon, various Ministries continue to employ residents on an ongoing basis, as the Government continues its efforts to promote employment opportunities within the region. “On a rough account, we’re employing almost 30 per cent of the adult population within the region, which is a very, very big feat. We were able to pay all of our pensioners in their villages. These are things that never happened, but now, under this Government, these things are happening. The pension is going directly to the villages, and pensioners are benefiting directly there.” He added: “Of those 1,800 staff, that does not include our Pathway workers, almost 1300 Pathway workers. Our Community Infrastructure Improvement Project (CIIP) and the Community Service Officer (CSO) programme is also ongoing in
REO of Region One, Dr Steven Cheefoon
our villages. Through the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, and also the Ministry of Education, all of these Ministries, not forgetting Human Services and the other Ministries, continue to employ staff in Region One.” Citing what he described as a significant difference from previous administrations, Cheefoon said employed persons no longer have to travel by unusual means, as the Government has provided transportation to facilitate their commute. “They don’t have to travel in a canoe or a boat to come central to get the pension. It’s being delivered right in their villages. Likewise, the CSOs and Pathways, they’re being paid in the villages. Every single citizen in Region One is benefiting some way or the other from the Government’s initia-
tives that have been put in place.” Cheefoon said that following the recent Cabinet outreach, commitments made by President Dr Irfaan Ali have either been fulfilled or are in the process of being addressed. He also highlighted what he described as the proactive approach of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) in listening to residents and addressing their concerns.
Challenges facing residents
Meanwhile, the Region One administration has acknowledged the challenges facing residents, noting that measures have been outlined in the proposed 2027 Budget, which was recently submitted on September 18. Cheefoon also expressed that residents should remain confident that efforts are being made to address existing challenges and improve essential services
across the region. He pointed out that he has worked closely with communities throughout the region to ensure the delivery of healthcare services. He acknowledged that there may have been shortcomings in some areas but maintained that significant efforts have been made to improve healthcare delivery. The REO also said the administration is aware of the challenges facing residents and has put measures in place to address some of the longstanding issues.
“It’s not that we’re blinded to those challenges. We know that they exist. But we have a planned programme in fixing them. Sometimes things may take a while to get fixed, but we’re working on methods to mitigate those time-taking processes, the bureaucracies and all of that, to ensure that we deliver there. Upon recent, on the Cabinet outreach, people highlighted that they didn’t get to register for the cash grant programme because they didn’t have a passport or they didn’t have any identification.”
“We have sent in persons, we did passports, we did all of this, and we’re in the process now of establishing our offices doing the e-ID. We have literally gone to villages and we have broadcasted on the Government’s approach with the Guyana Development Bank (GDB). We think these are very big initiatives that, once you, the residents of Region One, access these opportunities given by Government, we will all enjoy the prosperity that this Government is offering for its citizens.”
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Thinkin’ of… … BG then, OIL now
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s he’d written, your Eyewitness was a great fan of Sparrow – a social commentator par excellence, as he showed in the BG War!! He wondered what Birdie would’ve thought of the country now – and this is what he came up with: Verse 1: “When I knew British Guiana, / Was sugar, rice and plenty drama; / Jagan, Burnham, union meeting, / Everybody quarrelling, nobody eating. / I sang of trouble, smoke and flame, / Neighbours frightened by a neighbour name. / Now I come back and hear the shout: / “Oil below!” – but what coming out? Chorus: “Guyana, look how you grow! / Everybody courting you now, you know. / Yesterday they couldn’t find you on the map, / Today every big man sitting in your lap! / Build the bridge and light the town, / But let some sweetness trickle down. / Oil can turn the whole world round / Keep both feet on Guyana ground!” Verse 2: “We hauled down Britain flag one day, / And told the Governor, ‘Go your way!’ / Then some who preached emancipation developed quite a taste for domination. / A ballot box should settle doubt, / Not need a struggle to count it out. / Freedom is more than flag and song. / The little man must tell you when you wrong!” Chorus Verse 3 – “I remember suitcase by the door: “‘Merica calling – I can’t take more!’” / Nurse and teacher, fitter, clerk, / Gone abroad to look for work. / Now cousin landing, full of grin: / “Which investment I could get in?” / Yesterday, “This country done!” Today, “I always was a loyal son!” Chorus Verse 4 – “New roads stretching, buildings high, / Hotel windows touching sky. / Ali moving from place to place / Even the cameraman can’t keep ‘e pace! / But a granny standing by the stall / Say, “Son, I glad to see it all; / Just make the pension and prices meet. / I can’t put a roundabout in me pot to eat!” Chorus Verse 5 – “Once cane was king across the land, / And sugar money ruled the hand. / Now offshore platforms take the stage, / And every fellow is an oil sage. / He can’t calculate change for bread, / But knows what Exxon should get instead! / Hear me, before the argument spoils: / Teach the children more than oil. Chorus Verse 6 – “Plant the rice and tend the ground, / Keep the workshop hammer sound. / Train the nurse, respect the teacher, / Don’t make every bright child a speechmaker. / When the oil cheque cease to flow, / What we built is what will show. / A nation’s wealth must still endure. / When the sea can’t send a barrel more!” Chorus Final verse – “And this old race talk – give it rest! / No oil well asking who ancestor best. / At rum shop, wedding, cricket ground, / Look how easy friendship found. / Then election come, some fellow say, “Put down your friend – come this way!”/ Tell him, “Boss, we know that game: you get the power; we get the blame!” Chorus …our air hub ambition A decade ago, when the Chinks started rebuilding CJIA, we’d hoped to become a regional air hub – but it never took off. This time, Pressie’s renewed invitation with Terminal Two being built is more persuasive than architectural drawings – an economy attracting international attention and travellers!! Passenger movements in 2025 are up 13.6 per cent over 2024 – since oil not only brings business travellers, visiting specialists, and commercial, but we don’t have to explain where Guyana is!! As Pressie proposed, we should seek an anchor airline with a credible connecting network while tying incentives to sustained services and measurable results!! Your Eyewitness thinks our strongest opportunity lies in a focused network linking the Guianas, selected northern Brazilian cities, and the Caribbean – supported by our own expanding international traffic!! Which saves passengers time or money – or both!! …man’s inhumanity Your Eyewitness is still reeling from the shock of hearing about that little six-year-old murdered by that SEVENTY-SIX old man – just because he had a money beef with the kid’s parents. And the kid was running to hug the fellow!! The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance
Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
Security guard slapped with Nephew charged, remanded attempted murder charge for uncle’s murder after setting wife on fire T
A
68-year-old security guard of Hampton Court, Essequibo Coast, was on Friday charged with the attempted murder of his wife following an incident at their home on Thursday. Munesh Ramnarine was arrested after the incident and appeared before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was read to him. He was not required to enter a plea and was remanded to prison until November 17, 2026. The victim, a
Charged: Munesh Ramnarine
59-year-old housewife, remains hospitalised after
she was set on fire. According to Police, at about 12:30h on Thursday, the woman was at home when a nearby resident heard screams coming from the house and rushed to her assistance. The resident reportedly found the woman on fire and managed to extinguish the flames. The injured woman was subsequently taken to the Lima Regional Hospital, where she was admitted for burns and other injuries to her body. Her condition was listed as stable.
Essequibo Coast man on $50,000 bail for assaulting cop
T
wenty-two-year-old Vivon Tobin, a labourer of Charity Back Street, Essequibo Coast, Region Two, was slapped with two counts of assault committed on a peace officer. The charges relate to an incident which occurred on Monday, September 28, 2026, at Charity Public Road, Essequibo Coast, involving two police ranks attached to the Charity Police Station. Tobin, however, appeared before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, where the charges were read to him. He reportedly pleaded not guilty and was granted $50,000 bail. The accused will make his next court appearance on February 8, 2027.
Charged: Vivon Tobin
went y-six -year-old Joshua James of 14 Miles, Arakaka Backdam, North West District (NWD), was on Friday charged and remanded to prison for the murder of his uncle Morvin George. James was arrested on Tuesday at 14 Miles, Arakaka, NWD, and appeared virtually before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Port Kaituma Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was read to him. He was not required to plead to the indictment and was remanded to prison until November 10, 2026. It was reported that the dead man and his nephew were involved in an argument that escalated into a confrontation, during which the suspect armed himself
Charged: Joshua James
with a piece of wood and dealt George several blows to his body, rendering him motionless. George was pronounced dead at the scene while the suspect was sub-
sequently apprehended and taken into police custody. A cutlass and the piece of wood suspected to have been used in the fatal encounter were recovered at the scene.
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
33 warnings issued over racial slurs, derogatory remarks in 1 month – ERC T
he Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) issued 33 cautionary warnings over content of ethnic concern between August 25 and September 25, 2026, as it continued monitoring publicly available material that could contribute to ethnic tension, hostility or intolerance. The figure, the ERC said on Friday, is a decline from the 48 warnings recorded in August. Of the 33 warnings issued during the reporting period, 12 related to racial slurs, seven to racially derogatory statements and five to racially prejudiced remarks. The remaining matters involved racially insensitive, hateful and divisive content, along with individual instances of xenophobic, racially inciting and stereotypical content. The ERC said it continues to encourage responsible communication, particularly on social media, and reminded members of the public to exercise care and restraint when expressing views that
consideration, conciliation and other statutory processes. At the end of the reporting period, nine matters were pending SubCommittee review, eight were under active investigation, five were pending legal advice, two remained pending, one was awaiting a statutory decision and one had completed the conciliation process. The ERC also recorded 51 matters closed, seven completed and three withdrawn to date.
Harmony, tolerance & respect
could affect relations among Guyana’s diverse communities. According to the ERC, the monitoring activities are part of the Commission’s programme during September to promote harmony, good relations and mutual respect among Guyana’s diverse communities.
Consolidated caseload
Meanwhile, the ERC’s
Investigative Unit currently has a consolidated caseload of 87 matters. Of these, three from 2022–2023, 14 from 2024, 49 from 2025, and 21 were recorded during 2026 to date. One of the matters recorded in 2026 was received during the current reporting period. The Commission said matters are being advanced through investigation, SubCommittee review, legal
During the month, the ERC participated in the Indigenous Heritage Expo at the Sophia Exhibition Complex from September 1–5, where its team engaged patrons and students on the Commission’s mandate and the importance of harmo-
ny, tolerance and respect for Guyana’s diversity. The Commission also conducted Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) training sessions with the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission and the Public Service Ministry on September 9 and 30. The Commission also expanded its Harmony Clubs initiative, launching clubs at Kuru Kururu and Port Kaituma Primary Schools in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. According to the ERC, the initiative introduces young people to values of tolerance, mutual respect and appreciation for Guyana’s ethnic and cultural diversity. Community outreaches were also conducted in Kuru Kururu, Falls Top and Port Kaituma, where residents, educators and other stake-
holders were engaged on ethnic relations, social cohesion and community concerns. On September 23, an ERC delegation led by Chairman Shaikh Moeenul Hack visited Port Kaituma and met with more than 70 families, relatives and survivors affected by the MV Barima tragedy. The Commission said the engagement provided an opportunity to hear concerns, offer immediate support and identify matters requiring continued attention and follow-up. The Commission said it remains committed to working with communities, public institutions and other stakeholders to promote understanding, respect, peaceful coexistence and harmonious relations among Guyanese.
12 NEWS
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
2 wanted for murder of Cuban WIN’s MP accused of national surrendered to Police sexually assaulting minor T ...resigns from Parliament
W
e Invest in Nationhood (WIN) Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Andre Lewis has resigned from the National Assembly following his arrest on Wednesday evening in connection with sexual allegations involving an individual who was a minor at the time. In a resignation letter dated October 2, 2026, and addressed to Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir, the MP formally tendered his immediate resignation from Parliament. Lewis said his decision was prompted by the allegations and the ongoing police investigation. “I have taken this decision in light of allegations that have been made against me and the ongoing investigation into those allegations. Given the seriousness of the matter and the responsibilities attached to public office, I believe that resigning from the National Assembly is the appropriate course of action while the relevant processes are ongoing,” he stated in his letter. The former parliamentarian stressed that his
WIN MP, Dr Andre Lewis along with United States-sanctioned and indicted Azruddin Mohamed
resignation should not be interpreted as an admission of wrongdoing or guilt adding that he remains committed to due process and to allowing the relevant authorities to conduct their investigations. “I am grateful to the people of Guyana for the
opportunity to serve as a Member of Parliament and to We Invest in Nationhood for the confidence placed in me. I hereby submit this resignation in accordance with Article 156(1)(a) of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana,” the letter added.
wo men wanted in connection with the murder of Cuban national 23-yearold Dainier Vegas Infante, who was fatally shot in May 2026 at Forshaw Street, Queenstown, Georgetown, have surrendered to the police. Eighteen-year-old Nicholas Daby and 26-yearold Makhail Mario Joseph turned up at the Brickdam Police Station on Friday accompanied by their respective attorneys, Siand Dhurjun and Meshonn Persaud. However, apart from Daby and Joseph, police had also issued wanted bulletins for 33-year-old Olofi De Santos of Bagotville, West Bank Demerara (WBD); 28-year-old Jermaine Castello of Vigilance, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and 36-year-old Rodrick Thomas of William Street, Kitty, Georgetown. It was reported that the shooting incident occurred between June 30, 2026, and July 1, 2026, when four males were seen arriving in the area shortly before the shooting. One of the suspects, who was armed with
Dead: Dainier Vegas Infante
a handgun, reportedly approached two men who were seated outside the business place and engaged them in conversation. Investigators said Infante later exited the building and walked toward the group when the armed suspect allegedly discharged a round in his direction. The Cuban national was struck and fell to the ground. The gunman reportedly
escaped in a motor vehicle along Forshaw Street, while the other suspects fled separately. Detectives had reportedly identified and intercepted a motor vehicle believed to have been linked to the fatal shooting. The vehicle suspected to have been used in the shooting was impounded. Meanwhile, Daby and Joseph remain in custody as investigations continue.
Linden miner arrested after ganja, cash found hidden under bed
The ganja packaged in small parcels
A
29-year-old Wismar, Linden resident was taken into custody after a quantity of ganja was found at his home during a police operation at Blueberry Hill Back Road, Wismar, Linden, on Thursday evening. Police stated that the arrest was made during an intelligence-led operation in which detectives went to a premises in the area where
The weighing of the cannabis
the suspect, a gold miner, was contacted. A subsequent search of the premises unearthed a black plastic bag concealed under a bed in a bedroom, with 58 small transparent plastic bags containing ganja found. In addition, the sum of $5,500 in cash was also discovered in the black plastic bag. The suspect was arrest-
The cash suspected to have been acquired through sales of the illegal substance
ed and taken to the Wismar Police Station, where the cannabis was weighed and amounted to 79.51 grams. He remains in custody pending further investigations.
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
“Late completion will attract penalties” – Manickchand to contractors
L
ocal Government and Regional D e v e l o p m e n t Minister, Priya Manickchand, has warned Le Repentir Cemetery contractors, that late completion of projects will attract penalties. During an engagement on Friday with contractors, the Minister made it clear that persons who accept Government contracts
eryday lives of citizens and to ensure that all works are completed within the stipulated timeframe and to the required standard. It was also stressed that works are expected to be completed within one week of the signing of contracts, with signing anticipated within the next 48 to 72 hours. Particular emphasis was placed on improv-
gate poor conditions simply to reach them. Meanwhile the Minister also provided clear guidance on the execution of the works. According to her, no debris are to be burnt, with engineers expected to provide further instructions on its proper removal and disposal, existing trees are also to be preserved as far as possible and properly
Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Priya Manickchand alongside Le Repentir Cemetery contractors
Works ongoing at Thomas Street, Georgetown
must be prepared to fulfil the responsibilities attached to them. Contractors were urged to recognize the impact this project will have on the ev-
ing access for persons visiting loved ones, with Manickchand noting that persons already experiencing difficult circumstances should not have to navi-
maintained as part of the completed environment. In fact, a team from the Ministry is expected to be on the ground to clearly identify and mark the re-
spective lots, ensuring each contractor understands the specific area for which they are responsible. All contractors were selected from among persons registered on the Government of Guyana’s National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) portal for small contracts, joining more than 4000 persons who have already secured employment opportunities through the system. The Minister reiterated that accountability, timely execution and consideration for the people who ul-
timately use these spaces must remain central to the delivery of the works.
Thomas St healthy streets initiative
M e a n w h i l e , Manickchand visited Thomas Street, Georgetown project along with representatives of the King’s Foundation and Local Government Ministry officials to assess ongoing works on the first project being undertaken under President Irfaan Ali’s Healthy Streets Initiative. The Thomas Street project, which extends from
Lamaha Street to Church Street, was designed by the King’s Foundation in collaboration with the Government of Guyana and is part of efforts to improve Georgetown’s public spaces through healthier, greener, safer and more functional urban design. During the visit, the team examined the works completed to date and discussed the continued implementation of the project. Manickchand expressed satisfaction with the progress being made as the transformation of the avenue advances.
Environmental, economic cooperation high on agenda for King Charles visit
King Charles during his visit to Guyana in February 2000 as Prince of Wales
K
ing Charles will be travelling to Georgetown later this month, where he will embark on a series of high-level engagements to discuss key areas of bilateral cooperation between the United Kingdom and Guyana, including economic ties as well as collaboration on environment and sustainable development initiatives. The visit is part of Their Majesties The King and Queen’s Autumn Tour to the Caribbean from October 27 to November 4. During this time, the king will undertake a state visit to Guyana from Thursday, October 29, to Friday, October 30. The visit, at the invitation of the President of Guyana and at the request of
the UK Government, comes as 60 years of bilateral relations between Guyana and the UK are being marked. In a statement on Friday, Buckingham Palace said upon arriving in Georgetown, King Charles will meet President Dr Irfaan Ali at State House. Afterwards, they will attend a State Reception on the lawns of State House with representatives of communities in Guyana. The event will celebrate the 60-year strong bilateral relationship between Guyana and the UK. The following day, the King will attend a reception with British businesses in Guyana and other local stakeholders to hear about their partnerships and investment in the country. The
strong economic relationship between two countries will be spotlighted during the event. Also on that day, King Charles, as a Patron of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), will join members of the Guyanese community, including veterans and senior Government officials, at the Georgetown (Rabbit Walk) Memorial to lay wreaths, commemorating the shared loss and sacrifice of British, Guyanese and Commonwealth forces. The British Royal will also have the opportunity to meet elected leaders from the National Toshaos Council (NTC), which represents over 200 Amerindian communities across Guyana’s 10 administrative regions.
Nature and sustainability
The king will also tour a garden in Georgetown, during which he will hear about the park’s botanical features and ongoing conservation work within the city. His Majesty will then meet young Guyanese from various environmental clubs taking part in activities focused on sustainability and conservation. His Majesty’s visit to Guyana will coincide with the second annual Global Biodiversity Alliance (GBA) Conference, slated for October 30 and 31. The King has already backed Guyana’s environmental leadership and its pioneering GBA initiative that seeks to curb biodiversity losses. During the conference,
King Charles will engage scientists, Indigenous community members and innovators to hear about their work on biodiversity, conservation and restoration. Additionally, he will also be updated about the work of the Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development, an organisation which manages roughly 371,000 hectares of tropical forest in Guyana. His Majesty has been Patron of this body since his visit to the local forest as Prince of Wales in February 2000. The King will wrap up engagements in Guyana along the Georgetown seawall, where he will meet participants from the Wilton Park Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Initiative Dialogue to hear about the practical steps being taken towards sustainable urbanisation ahead of 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Whilst at the seawall, His Majesty will also be apprised about the renewed focus on mangrove restoration and work being undertaken to replant mangroves that help protect Georgetown’s coastline and encourage wildlife to flourish.
Commonwealth conference
The British Royals’ Autumn Tour also includes a visit to the Bahamas and will end in Antigua and Barbuda, where Their Majesties will attend the CHOGM from November 1 to 4 in St John’s. The King is the head of the
King Charles visited Guyana’s forest in 2000 as the Prince of Wales and subsequently became a patron of the Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development
Commonwealth group of 56 nations – mainly former British colonies. Under the theme: “Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth”, the conference will bring together leaders from the 56 Commonwealth countries, as well as representatives from business, civil society, and youth organisations. Their Majesties’ visit to the Caribbean comes as regional leaders heighten calls for formal apologies and reparations to be paid over the British involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. The British Government has already ruled out any such payments. In fact, this issue is expected to be raised during their visit. In fact, Buckingham Palace said, according to a Reuters article on Friday, that while reparations and apologies are issues for the British Government, King Charles, who is still the Head of State of both The Bahamas
and Antigua and Barbuda, would not shy away from the topic during the upcoming CHOGM. “There are important discussions taking place in various fora about colonial legacy and the intergenerational impact of the transatlantic trade in enslaved persons… The visit programme will therefore not shy away from ‘the darkest days of our past’, as His majesty has described them, but – in keeping with the wishes of our host nations – it will principally be orientated to the vibrant present and promising future of each country,” a Palace spokesperson said, according to Reuters. From the 15th to the 19th century, at least 12.5 million Africans were abducted and sold into slavery by European merchants, with Britain responsible for transporting an estimated 3.2 million people, making it the second most active European nation after Portugal.
14 NEWS $500M parking lot for trucks, auto zone facility completed at Grove SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
…works ongoing at Enmore, other locations plained that this initiative is in keeping with a commitment by President Dr Irfaan Ali in response to numerous requests from persons oper-
Those works are approximately 50 per cent complete. That second facility in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) is being developed
The newly completed Truck Parking and Auto Zone Facility at Grove, East Bank, Demerara
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orks on a dedicated heavy-duty truck parking and automotive service zone at Grove, East Bank Demerara, have been completed, and efforts are now being made to iron out utilisation of the facility. The Grove Truck Parking and Auto Zone spans approximately 14.1 acres and was developed at a cost of approximately $500 million with the capacity to accommodate at least 300 trucks. The facility will primarily serve the East Bank Demerara corridor, providing designated spaces for truck parking, vehicle repairs, and other automotive-related services. With the physical works
completed, the Government will now finalise the modalities and parameters governing the operation of the facility at Grove. This next phase will pave the way for automotive businesses and operators to access the site and commence operations. On Friday, Housing Minister Collin Croal inspected the newly completed facility ahead of its operationalisation. According to Croal, the facility will not only help alleviate concerns within residential communities but also create new economic opportunities for persons seeking appropriate spaces to conduct automotive-related businesses. The Minister further ex-
lots and are currently about 50 per cent complete overall, with the most advanced section approximately 80 per cent completed. According to the Housing Minister, works are expected to be completed before the end of November 2026. “This is the first phase completed for the first such area that we have in Region Four. The other one will be at Enmore on the East Coast, with this one at Grove targeting the East Bank corridor,” Minister Croal said.
Other facilities
Housing Minister Collin Croal engaging contractors at the Enmore facility on Friday
ating within the commercial and industrial sectors for appropriate spaces to park, service and repair trucks and other vehicles. The facilities are also intended to address concerns raised by residents about automotive activities, including vehicle repairs and spray painting, being conducted within residential communities.
on approximately 30 acres of land. Infrastructure works there were awarded in six
The development of these two facilities forms part of the Government’s broader approach to better organise commercial and automotive activities, reduce their impact on residential commu-
Enmore facility
Meanwhile, the housing Minister on Friday also visited a second truck parking and auto zone facility under construction at Enmore, East Coast Demerara.
Working ongoing on the Enmore Truck Parking and Auto Zone Facility on the East Coast of Demerara
nities and provide suitable spaces to support businesses and economic activity. In fact, works are currently ongoing for other truck parking and automotive service zones at Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara, and at Hermitage, West Bank Demerara – both in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara). In addition, another facility is being developed at Palmyra, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). Moreover, planned future works will see at least one other truck parking and automotive service zone on the Corentyne in the vicinity of the Number 75-76 Villages, as well as another in Region Four along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. These designated facilities will reduced roadside parking, especially by sand trucks and construction vehicles; improved traffic flow and reduced congestion on the roadways; protect public infrastructure, since heavy-duty vehicles have been damaging road shoulders and road edges; support Guyana’s expanding construction sector by creating an organised space for trucks and heavy equipment, and enhanced urban organisation and development planning through designated industrial parking zones.
Machines left idle as fuel concerns grip Region 6 – RDC hears …chairman acknowledges shortage; REO insists regional supply sufficient
The RDC 6 statutory meeting on Thursday (RDC 6 photos)
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everal machines in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne)
have been left idle because of a lack of fuel, Regional Chairman Junior
Basant acknowledged on Thursday, even as Regional Executive Officer (REO) Ronald Harsaywack maintained that the Regional Administration has sufficient fuel to keep its own equipment operating. The issue surfaced during Thursday’s statutory meeting of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), after Councillor Collin Moore questioned the administration over the fuel situation and its impact on machinery and communities across the region. Responding to Moore’s Notice of Question, Basant acknowledged that the fuel problem had already affected the operation of machinery. “We are aware that there have been several machines within the Region that are not in operation because of the lack of fuel,” the Regional Chairman told the Council. He said the REO had been directed to engage the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), with the two agencies expected to work out the logistics to ensure fuel is supplied to the affected machines so that services to
residents can continue. Basant also expressed concern about the situation, saying equipment should not simply be placed in the region without arrangements to keep it operating. “Much like you, I am very much concerned about the shortage of the fuel in the Region,” Basant said. “I agree that it shouldn’t be a case where machines are dumped in the Region. However, the REO was in-
structed and directed to have that sorted with NDIA, and that is in process.”
Distinction
Harsaywack, however, drew a distinction between machines for which the Regional Administration provides fuel and heavy-duty equipment being operated under arrangements involving the NDIA and private contractors. CONTINUES ON PAGE 15
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
Region 1 records zero N/A Prison escapee maternal deaths as healthcare jailed for 36 months services expand – RHO
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egion One (BarimaWaini) has recorded significant improvements in the healthcare sector through expanded services, improved infrastructure and increased training programmes aimed at enhancing the quality and accessibility of healthcare for residents, while improving maternal care and the availability of essential medical services. Regional Health Officer Dr Mitchell Pierre reported on Friday that there were no maternal deaths within the region, adding that the smooth delivery of babies highlights the strides made by healthcare officials in improving maternal health services. “The patients are in a better position to get quality healthcare, and that’s the fact. We can’t debate. Region One would have continued to excel and to expand in the sector of healthcare service delivery. We would have seen an increase in infrastructure, in human resources, in training programmes, healthcare programmes and service delivery, and also administrative coordination with the RDC.” He added, “the past two years. And that’s not all. Ever since the commence-
Regional Health Officer Dr Mitchell Pierre
ment of our waiting home programme, for 2025, we were awarded the Most Improved Maternal Care in this country. Mabaruma Hospital was awarded that. Why? They had 659 deliveries, and all were live births – no dead babies for 2025. It’s because of the initiatives of this Government.” Regional Executive Officer Dr Steven Cheefoon also highlighted that X-rays, which were never previously available in the region, are now being provided. “We’re in the process of getting people to do that. Pakira, who never had an X-ray before, now has X-rays. All three of our sub-regions, of our five hospitals, only one
Machines left idle... According to the REO, two contracts exist between private contractors and the NDIA for the operation of heavy-duty equipment in the Region Six backlands. Under those arrangements, he said, the contractors are responsible for fuelling, maintaining, securing and operating the machines. The Regional Administration also has a limited number of its own machines deployed in the backlands and provides the fuel for that equipment. Harsaywack said the NDIA had written to the Region approximately one or two months ago requesting assistance with additional machines and that the Regional Administration had since been supporting those machines. “The issue lies with, I believe, contract management with the private contractors and the machine operators,”
the REO said. He said those matters were being addressed by the NDIA and contractors, with input from the Regional Administration.
Fuel in stock
Moore subsequently clarified that his concern was not about the privately contracted NDIA equipment, but machines under the Regional Administration’s control. “Our machines do have a shortage of fuel,” Moore maintained. “So, what I am asking is not about the contractors with NDIA. I am asking about our machines. Right now, in certain NDCs (Neighbourhood Democratic Councils), the machines are parked and they’re saying that they don’t have fuel.” The Councillor said the situation had been ongoing for several weeks and ques-
doesn’t have an X-ray, and we’ll send a portable to get all five hospitals offering X-ray. We need to understand from where we came; this is where we’re at. And if we could have done all of this in five years, well, now six, imagine what we can do in a couple more years. We will revolutionise care in Region One.” Region One has three district hospitals, one cottage hospital, four health centres and 52 health posts serving communities across the region. Over the past six years, the region has also recorded an increase in the number of general practitioners, or Community Medical Officers (CMOs), from 11 to 36. FROM PAGE 14
tioned whether a request had been made for additional fuel. Harsaywack responded that the Regional Administration had fuel in stock at its sub-office at Whim. “Up to, I think, about the day or two ago, we had about 3,000 litres of fuel remaining at those locations. And that will replenish before the end of the week,” he said. The REO maintained that the available stock was adequate for equipment under the Regional Administration’s control. “So, for our machines, we have a sufficient supply of fuel to carry on,” Harsaywack told the Council. He said the administration was also working closely with the NDIA to ensure that the other machines received the fuel they required in a timely manner.
prisoner, who escaped from the New Amsterdam Prison and was recaptured two days later hiding aboard a fishing vessel has been sentenced to 36 months in prison after pleading guilty to escaping from lawful custody. Budnarine Persaud, called “Kevin”, a 28-yearold fisherman of Lot 101 Block ‘D’, Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice (WCB) was sentenced on Friday. Persaud, who was charged on Friday, appeared virtually via Zoom before Magistrate Michelle Matthias at the Albion Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was read to him and he pleaded guilty. He was charged with escaping from lawful custody on September 21, 2026, at the New Amsterdam Prison, Penitentiary Walk, New Amsterdam. The charge was laid under Section 339 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01. At the time of his es-
Budnarine Persaud, called “Kevin”
cape, Persaud was serving a 24-month sentence for simple larceny. The Guyana Prison Service (GPS) had reported that Persaud escaped at approximately 13:00h on September 21 while working at the new Administrative Building with three other inmates under the supervision of a prison officer. Two days later, police, acting on information received, went to No. 65
Fisheries, Corentyne, where they searched a fishing vessel. Persaud was found hiding in the bow of the vessel and was arrested. He was subsequently taken to the Springlands Police Station and placed in custody. Police had also arrested six persons, four men and two women in connection with allegedly harbouring the escaped prisoner.
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
Guyana, Uganda sign aviation pact to strengthen safety, technical cooperation
T
he Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) to strengthen technical cooperation, knowledge sharing and civil aviation regulatory standards between the two countries. The agreement, signed on Thursday, establishes a framework for collaboration in areas including aviation safety oversight, aircraft certification, personnel licensing and training, aerodrome management and airworthiness. It also provides for cooperation on State Safety Programmes (SSP), Safety Management Systems (SMS), institutional strengthening, human resources development, and the regulation and economic oversight of air transport. The MoU was signed by GCAA Director General Lt Col (Ret’d) Egbert Field,
The MoU signed by GCAA Director General Lt Col (Ret’d) Egbert Field, A.A., and UCAA Deputy Director General Olive Birungi Lumonya
A.A. and UCAA Deputy Director General Olive Birungi Lumonya. Under the agreement, the two authorities will exchange information and expertise and may deploy technical experts and instructors for training and technical missions. They will also collaborate on studies and other initiatives aimed at supporting the development and management of civil aviation systems in both countries. The GCAA said each initiative will be supported by resources and personnel as mutually agreed by the two authorities. Field said the partnership would support efforts to improve aviation safety and operational standards in Guyana and Uganda. “This collaboration paves the way for improved aviation safety and operational excellence. Through this MoU, we are taking decisive action to raise the bar for civil aviation in both Guyana
and Uganda,” he said. The agreement also establishes provisions governing confidentiality and intellectual property, with both authorities required to conduct activities in accordance with their respective national laws and regulations. Any differences in the interpretation or implementation of the agreement are to be addressed through consultation. The Guyana-Uganda agreement comes as Guyana continues to expand international cooperation in aviation. On Wednesday, Guyana renewed its Air Services Agreement with France and signed a separate Air Services Agreement with Panama. The France agreement, first established in 1976, was renegotiated to reflect current international standards, while the Panama agreement establishes a formal legal framework for air services between the two countries.
Guyana also signed an MoU with the Dominican Republic on September 30 covering cooperation in sustainable civil aviation and decarbonisation. The agreements have been concluded against the
backdrop of the Third Global Regional Safety Oversight Organisations and Regional Accident and Investigation Organisations Forum for Aviation Safety, hosted by Guyana in collaboration with the International
Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The forum brought together aviation regulators, investigators and technical experts from about 60 countries.
GBTI expands ATM network with new installation at AC Marriott Hotel
T
he Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited (GBTI) has expanded its automated banking services with the installation of a new Automated Teller Machine (ATM) at the AC Marriott Hotel Georgetown. The new ATM, the bank said on Friday, is intended to improve convenience for hotel guests, residents, workers, business operators and visitors as commercial; residential and hospitality activities continue to expand along the East Coast corridor. According to GBTI, the installation is part of its efforts to extend banking services beyond its traditional branch network by placing ATMs in areas with significant commercial and visitor activity. The new facility also caters to international visitors, with all GBTI ATMs accepting both Visa and Mastercard, allowing local and international card-
holders to access cash while in Guyana. In addition to expanding access to banking services, the new ATM fea-
tures a design highlighting
Guyana’s natural heritage. The ATM is wrapped with images of Guyana’s flora and fauna, including the Canje Pheasant, the country’s national bird, the
Harpy Eagle and the Giant Water Lily, Guyana’s national flower. GBTI said the design is intended to promote Guyana through its ATM network and bank cards, incorporating elements of the country’s biodiversity into everyday banking experiences. The bank also noted that the AC Marriott Hotel location provides an opportunity to showcase Guyana’s natural heritage to international visitors, particularly those travelling for business or leisure. The bank said it remains focused on improving convenience and accessibility while promoting Guyana’s natural landscapes and identity through its services.
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
Guyana leads Amazon health talks on malaria, Indigenous health H
ealth Minister Dr Frank Anthony has convened representatives from Amazon countries to strengthen regional cooperation on malaria elimination, Indigenous Peoples’ health and disease surveillance. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 63rd Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), under Guyana’s Pro Tempore Presidency of the Special Commission on Health in the Amazon (CESAM). Guyana assumed the presidency of CESAM on September 8, 2026. Representatives from Guyana, Bolivia, Suriname and Venezuela participated in person, while Brazil joined virtually. PAHO and the Permanent Secretariat of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation (ACTO) also participated. Opening the discussions, Anthony called for regional dialogue to result in practical actions with measurable outcomes for communities across the Amazon.
Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony meets with representatives of Amazon countries during regional discussions on malaria elimination, Indigenous Peoples’ health and disease surveillance
The participants identified malaria, hepatitis B and C, Indigenous Peoples’ health, intercultural health and epidemiological surveillance as priority areas for cooperation.
Focus on malaria elimination
Malaria was a central is-
sue during the discussions, with participating countries examining opportunities to coordinate national strategies, share technical expertise and develop joint initiatives. Suriname’s Director of Health, Dr Rakesh Gajadhar-Sukul, outlined
CCJ to hold 1st ever itinerant sittings in St Lucia
CCJ President, Justice Winston Anderson
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he Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) will hold its first-ever itinerant sittings in St Lucia from October 7 to 8, 2026, as the Court marks the opening of the 2026/2027 Judicial Year. The sittings, the court said on Friday, will mark the first time St Lucia hosts the regional court since its establishment 21 years ago. The Court has previously held itinerant sittings in Barbados, Belize, Guyana and Jamaica. St Lucia became the fifth Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member State to accede
to the CCJ’s Appellate Jurisdiction in 2023. The CCJ’s itinerant sittings allow the Court to conduct proceedings in countries that are parties to the Agreement Establishing the CCJ. According to the Court, the practice is intended to bring the judicial institution closer to Caribbean citizens while allowing members of the public to observe its proceedings. CCJ President Justice Winston Anderson said the sittings also provide an opportunity for people across the region to interact with the Court.
“Itinerant sittings enable the people of the region to see us, interact with us, and realise that we are in fact their kith and kin, and part and parcel of the fabric of their society,” Anderson said. During its two-day visit to St Lucia, the full seven-member CCJ Bench will hear three matters originating from St Lucia, Guyana and Belize. The Court will also deliver judgments in two matters originating from Belize. As part of its programme, the CCJ will make courtesy calls on Acting Governor-General Felix Finisterre; Prime Minister (PM) Philip J. Pierre; Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Margaret Price Findlay; Attorney General (AG) Leslie Vincent Mondesir; and Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet. The public will be able to follow the proceedings through livestreams on the CCJ’s website, social media platforms and YouTube page. Details of the matters scheduled for hearing are available through the Schedule of Court Sittings under the Judgments and Proceedings portal on the CCJ’s website.
the country’s experience in eliminating local malaria transmission through community-based diagnosis, rapid response and timely treatment. Suriname indicated that it is prepared to share these practices with other ACTO Member Countries. The ACTO Permanent Secretariat is developing a proposal to facilitate the exchange, including the possibility of a technical workshop in Suriname with support from cooperation partners.
Indigenous health and disease surveillance
Bolivia’s Minister of Health and Sports, Marcela Tatiana Flores Zambrana, highlighted challenges affecting Indigenous popu-
lations and communities located far from health services. She also pointed to the health impacts associated with mercury contamination from gold mining. Brazil reaffirmed its commitment to cooperation on Indigenous health and infectious diseases, while Venezuela’s Vice Minister for Comprehensive Health, Dr Noly Coromoto Fernández Hernández, stressed the importance of culturally appropriate healthcare, traditional knowledge and community participation. Fernández Hernández also called for stronger regional surveillance and early warning mechanisms for malaria, dengue and onchocerciasis. PAHO indicated its willingness to continue providing technical cooperation, including support for disease elimination efforts that take into account the cultures and needs of Indigenous communities. Health data exchange on agenda The countries also discussed the development of a health module
for the Amazon Regional Observatory and the designation of national focal points to facilitate health data exchange and interoperability. According to the ACTO Permanent Secretariat, the priorities identified at the meeting are aligned with ongoing efforts to strengthen CESAM. The Commission’s guidelines have been approved, while its General Work Plan remains under discussion. A release from the Health Ministry on Friday stated that at the conclusion of the meeting, participants identified malaria as an area requiring closer regional coordination. They also agreed to continue cooperation on hepatitis and explore technical support and financing opportunities with multilateral organisations. Under Guyana’s leadership, CESAM is expected to advance the agreed priorities through practical regional actions aimed at improving access to healthcare, strengthening disease prevention and protecting the health of Amazon communities.
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Regional
US Coast Guard says it intercepted US halts consular services in Brazil ship carrying fuel to Cuba
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he US Coast Guard has announced that it intercepted a large cargo ship carrying fuel bound for Cuba, as the Trump Administration’s crippling oil embargo against the island nation continued. The vessel named Grace was stopped on September 5 in the Caribbean Sea between Cuba and Mexico while using tactics to evade authorities, the Coast Guard said. A Coast Guard team boarded the ship and es corted it to Mexico, where a Mexican navy inspection team “confirmed the presence of large quantities of fuel in the vessel’s ballast tanks”. The vessel was also carrying several contain-
US Coast Guard cutters escort the cargo ship, Grace, after intercepting it
ers believed to contain illicit fuel, the statement said. The Trump administra-
tion has openly stated that its goal is to change Cuba’s Government. A US-imposed
oil blockade implemented earlier this year has put the country under severe strain as it contends with fuel shortages and blackouts exacerbated by failing infrastructure. Oil shipments from Cuba’s traditional suppliers, Venezuela, and Mexico, ended abruptly after the US ousted the Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro, in January. US Coast Guard cutters patrol the waters off Cuba, while sanctions and threats have dissuaded tankers from even s etting sail. The statement did not say how authorities knew the fuel was headed to Cuba or how much fuel Grace was carrying. (Excerpt from The Guardian)
T&T court orders major Poll reveals Latin pay-out from Police to America sees China as family of 5 over “fabricated” marijuana charges more positive global influence than US T
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hina is perceived more positively as a global influence than the United States in Latin America, according to a new regional survey, in a first since the poll began in 1995. The 2026 Latinobarometro survey published on Friday found that 65 per cent of respondents in 17 countries saw China as a positive influence. That was compared with 57 per cent who said the same of the US. Support for China has risen sharply since 2020, when 48 per cent of respondents viewed its influence positively. The figure for the US has fallen from 60 per cent over the same period. Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic were the only countries surveyed where respondents viewed US influence more positively than China’s. Latinobarometro, a
Chile-based nonprofit organisation, conducts annual surveys across the region on issues including democracy, the economy, security and migration. The findings come during US President Donald Trump’s second term, as his administration has sought to strengthen Washington’s influence in Latin America, particularly through exercising more military might. That has included conducting strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats in the region, which rights groups have decried as extrajudicial killings, and abducting Venezuela’s then-leader Nicolas Maduro in Brazil. The 2026 survey was based on about 19,200 faceto-face interviews conducted in 17 countries between May 7 and June 17, with a margin of error of one per cent. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
he State has been ordered to pay more than $1 million to a Rio Claro Hindu pundit, his wife, and their three children after they successfully sued for malicious prosecution, claiming Police fabricated marijuana charges against them. The matter stems from a Police raid on the family’s home on September 18, 2010, at 09:40h. Police claimed they acted on information received from an informant. At the time, the pundit, his wife, and one child were at home. Their two other children were adults and did not live at the residence. Officers Navin Maharaj and Shane Rambhajan were among those involved in the operation. No drugs were found in the house. Once at the Police station, the family was placed in cells with no seating or bedding and were forced to use a foul-smelling hole in the ground as a toilet. Later that night, Maharaj
charged the pundit with gathering marijuana and charged him, his wife, and one child with possession for the purpose of trafficking. The claimants alleged Maharaj made false station diary entries stating that he had seen the pundit gathering marijuana, that a search warrant had been obtained, that marijuana was discovered behind a kitchen cupboard and that the pundit and one child had made incriminating statements. The couple’s two other children subsequently visited the station with attorney Kevin Ratiram. However, arrest warrants were issued, and they too were charged with possession of marijuana at their parents’ home despite insisting they did not reside there. The charges were dismissed in 2017 after a Magistrate upheld a no-case submission. The family then sued the Attorney General for compensation. (Excerpt from T&T Guardian)
Former Florida congressman sentenced to 10 years in Venezuela lobbying case
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ormer US Rep David Rivera was sentenced Friday to 10 years in federal prison for his role in a secret $50 million lobbying campaign on behalf of the Venezuelan Government during the first Trump Administration. Rivera, a former Florida congressman and long-time friend of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was sentenced in federal court in Downtown Miami after a jury convicted him in May on all counts following a seven-week trial. Rivera had remained in federal custody without bond since the jury returned the guilty verdict on May 1. His sentencing was initially scheduled for July 20 before being moved to October
Former Florida congressman David Rivera
2.
Rivera had faced a maximum possible statutory sentence of up to 60 years in federal prison and a potential $20 million asset forfeiture judgement.
Federal officials sharply criticised Rivera following the sentencing, portraying the case as a betrayal of the South Florida community he once represented. Charles Miller of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Florida Field Office said Rivera’s former position did not shield him from prosecution. Jurors convicted Rivera on all federal counts, including failing to register as a foreign agent with the Justice Department and conspiracy to commit money laundering. After Rivera was convicted, the jury also determined that properties he owned in Doral and the Florida Keys would be forfeited to the Government. (Excerpt from CBS News)
ahead of election, increasing tensions
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iting security concerns, the United States suspended consular services on Friday, prompting Australia to also close its embassy two days before the country’s presidential election, fuelling an already uneasy environment ahead of the high-stakes vote. Brazil’s Federal Police said on Friday afternoon they had carried out preventive searches in Sao Paulo and near Brasilia but had so far found no evidence of a threat or identified any suspects linked to criminal organisations. The State Department did not elaborate on the security issues or link them to Sunday’s election, which has been marked by tensions over alleged foreign interference and strains between Washington and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s Government. “We are working closely with our Brazilian counterparts to address the security concerns,” a department
spokesperson said in an email. The department did not say when the consular services would resume. “Consular Services in the US Embassy and Consulates in Brazil will be suspended starting Friday, October 2, due to security concerns,” it said in a statement Thursday. “ US citizens seeking emergency assistance during this time should not come to the Embassy, the Consulates, or other US diplomatic facilities.” Australia’s ambassador to Brazil, Sophie Davies, said on social media that the Australian embassy in Brasilia would also be closed on Friday due to security concerns, citing the alert issued by the US and advising Australians to avoid US embassies and consulates in Brazil. Brazil’s Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the matter. (Excerpt from Reuters)
American missionary charged with sexual misconduct involving minors in Haiti
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merican missionary Maylon Foshee is scheduled to return to federal court October 12 after being charged with illicit sexual conduct with minors in Haiti, where authorities allege the 23-yearold Louisiana man sexually abused children while working as a missionary in Gonaïves. Foshee faces up to 30 years in federal prison if convicted. The complaint was filed September 22, 2026, charging Foshee under a federal law prohibiting illicit sexual conduct with minors in a foreign country. According to an FBI affidavit filed with the complaint, investigators began looking into allegations against Foshee after receiving a complaint in March 2026. The affidavit says Foshee travelled to Haiti on mission trips between 2023 and 2025 and worked in Gonaïves, where he worked closely with children, helped send them to school, and allowed some to stay at his home. The FBI also reviewed Foshee’s travel records, which showed multiple trips between the US and Haiti from 2023 through February 2026. The travel dates placed Foshee in Haiti when two of the minors were 14 years old. The affidavit says agents interviewed at least three
Maylon Foshee
minors who disclosed alleged inappropriate sexual conduct involving Foshee. One of the minors, identified as MV1, lived with Foshee, who paid for his schooling. MV1 told investigators that Foshee allegedly engaged in sexual conduct with him while he was sleeping at Foshee’s home in Gonaïves. Another alleged victim, identified as MV2, also stayed at Foshee’s home. Investigators said MV2 told them he woke up with Foshee on top of him and touching him sexually. Foshee’s federal public defender and the US Attorney’s Office declined to comment. (Excerpt from The Haitian Times)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2026
guyanatimesgy.com
19
Around the World
OILNEWS OIL NEWS
Riot Police clash with students as education protests rage in France
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iot Police have clashed with protesters as thousands of students demonstrating over education standards disrupted more than 700 schools in France. Fires have burnt in the streets as high school pupils and others objected to a lack of teachers, overcrowded classrooms and run-down buildings. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said 1747 people were arrested on Friday. The protests began last week in the capital Paris and have spread across the country, with cities including Montpellier, Nantes and Marseille affected. Budget cuts planned,
A fire blazes in the street as protesting students carry out a blockade in Brest
which will impact education funding, have infuriated the young protesters. French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said things had ”gone from highschool student demonstra-
tions to a public order disturbance”. Darmanin said that 735 of France’s 3700 schools were now affected ”one way or another” by the violent protests.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Édouard Geffray said the movement had been hijacked by non-students. Earlier on Friday, a 17-year-old was arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide after protests in Belfort, north-eastern France, where a Police Officer was targeted. BBC Verify has now authenticated two videos that show the man, who was later identified as an officer by a Minister, being beaten up. At least 65 staff members have been injured in the unrest, the Education Ministry said. (Excerpt from BBC News)
Saudis plan assault on Houthis to break Red Sea chokehold
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audi Arabia is planning an offensive against Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen, with options being considered including a coastal
push to secure the Red Sea shipping route or an assault on multiple fronts, regional and Western officials told Reuters. The operation, expect-
Ebola death toll in Congo tops 4000
Medical workers work inside a mobile lab set up to test rapidly for the Ebola virus in Butembo, Congo
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ongo’s Ebola outbreak has now recorded more than 4000 deaths, authorities said as they struggle to contain the spread of the virus. The latest figures were released by the health Ministry on Thursday. They show that 4018 people have died from among 8300 confirmed cases in what has become the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history. More than 2000 patients have recovered from the disease, the Reuters news agency notes. Front-line workers have gone on several strikes since the start of the outbreak to demand payment, further hampering efforts to contain the disease. An aid worker with Médecins Sans Frontières, known in English as Doctors Without Borders, was infected with Ebola while working in Congo, the group said in a statement.
The worker arrived late Thursday night after being flown to the Netherlands on a special medical flight and was transferred to a high-level isolation unit, the Leiden University Medical Center said in a statement. More than 50 health workers have died after contracting the virus. The World Health Organization has recently raised the alarm regarding the rapid geographical spread of the virus into new health zones, stretching limited resources. Widespread mistrust of health workers and the authorities has hampered efforts to slow the Central African nation’s 17th Ebola outbreak. Authorities last month launched a village-centred approach, but those efforts are battling beliefs by some residents who dismiss Ebola as a hoax. (Excerpt from CBS News)
ed to be launched in the coming weeks, will be led by Yemeni forces on the ground, which are overseen by Riyadh, and supported by Saudi air strikes, according to six people with knowledge of the preparations. While the US is already providing intelligence to support Riyadh’s operations in Yemen, and some regional and European nations are providing mainly defensive military aid to the kingdom, the Saudi allies aren’t expected to play a direct role in combat operations, said the people who requested anonymity to discuss security matters. Saudi Arabia entered neighbouring Yemen’s civil war in 2015 at the head of an Arab coalition in support of the international-
ly recognised Government, which the Houthis had driven out of the capital, Sanaa. A truce agreed between the warring parties in 2022 largely held until this year when the Houthis launched missile and drone attacks on Saudi shipping and oil infrastructure in a spill-over from the Iran war. More than 100,000 Yemeni troops could be mobilised in the offensive, depending on the scale, the officials all said. Spokespeople for the Saudi and Yemeni Governments, the Houthi group and the US military didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment about the Saudi plans. (Excerpt from Reuters)
G7 countries agree on release of diesel, oil stocks after US pressure
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roup of Seven countries agreed on Friday to release 100 million barrels of diesel and crude oil from emergency reserves and pledged to refrain from energy export restrictions after pressure from US President Donald Trump. The US led a pressure campaign on the European Union to draw down emergency diesel inventories, with the Trump Administration warning that failure to act could lead to a US ban on diesel exports. Such a ban could sharply reduce supplies to Europe, which has become increasingly reliant on US diesel, and potentially inflict high economic costs on the bloc. Trump is seeking to cool surging fuel prices ahead of the November midterm elections. Trump told reporters at the White House before departing for Alabama that the US would not impose a diesel export ban. He said the plan was never really on the table, even though in the past two weeks he said several times that such a ban was under consideration and that he supported the idea. ”Europe has a lot of diesel, and they’re going to be making a major world contribution, and so are we. And we’re not going to be doing the export ban. We’re going to be doing what we’re supposed to do,” Trump said. The Iran war sparked the biggest emergency stock release ever, of 400 million barrels in March, coordinated by the International Energy Agency. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Sudan’s army says it captured RSF stronghold in North Kordofan
2 Iranian men charged over alleged terror plot targeting Manchester’s Jewish community
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wo Iranian men have been charged in relation to an alleged terror plot targeting Manchester’s Jewish community. Police say another man, most likely in Iran, was in contact with them as part of a plot to get a bomb to attack Jewish targets. They were arrested two Sundays ago in broad daylight on a Manchester street during the Jewish holiday period. Rahman Salehi, 34, from Salford, and Salam Ahmadyan, 36, from Liverpool, have been charged with preparing to commit an act of terrorism or assisting another to commit an act of terrorism. Police said the two men face charges that they gained materials and instructions to make a homemade
bomb, identified possible targets and carried out reconnaissance ahead of an attack. Police said: “It is alleged that the two men were in contact with an overseas third party who may be in Iran in relation to the plot.” Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Iran had a link to a weekend scare at RAF Fairford when five men were arrested close to the military base, along with three vans, one of which contained petrol in a barrel. Vicki Evans, deputy assistant commissioner and the senior national coordinator for counter-terrorism, said, ”This week also brought into sharp focus some of the wider threats being projected into the UK from Iran. (Excerpt from The Guardian)
Sudanese soldiers have been fighting the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group since April 2023
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he Sudanese Armed Forces say they have taken control of al-Mazroub in North Kordofan State following fierce battles with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), marking a significant gain in one of the war’s main battlegrounds. In a statement on Friday, the military said fierce battles resulted in casualties among the paramilitary RSF forces, as well as heavy combat vehicle losses. “The Armed Forces urge citizens in the liberated areas to rest assured and return to their normal lives,” the statement added. A Sudanese army source told Al Jazeera that al-Mazroub was the RSF’s largest stronghold in North Kordofan. Army Special Forces spokesman Mohammed Deidan
told the Anadolu news agency that the city links the states of North Kordofan and West Kordofan and that, by seizing it, the army was advancing its goal of cutting the RSF’s supply lines. Fighting in Sudan’s Kordofan region has intensified since late 2025, turning it into one of the main battlegrounds in the war between the army and the RSF, now in its fourth year. The vast region – which comprises North, West and South Kordofan states – lies where the two sides’ areas of control meet, between the army-held central region and the RSF-controlled Darfur in the West. Since the war began in April 2023, one in five recorded attacks in Sudan has taken place in Kordofan. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2026
guyanatimesgy.com
ARCHIE
DAILY HOROSCOPES
(March 21-April 19)
PICKLES
(April 20-May 20)
(May 21-June 20)
Plan your schedule around the activities and people you enjoy. Conversations and challenges will offer unique alternatives to ponder over. A change is imminent; however, making the right decision will require thought, planning and courage to make it happen. Distance yourself from people who cause trouble or bait you into an argument. Stick to your agenda.
(June 21-July 22)
(July 23-Aug. 22)
You can be forthright without being nasty. Your highest return will come from being honest and empathetic. Show how much you care and how sincere you are. Put your energy into finding solutions, not creating problems. Change comes with choice and directing your energy wisely. Keep your emotions and intentions to yourself. Home improvements are favored.
CALVIN AND HOBBES
(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)
(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)
(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)
SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE
Put an emphasis on honest conversations that resolve issues before they turn into arguments. Don’t let stubbornness lead you down a lonely path. Choose your words wisely, kindly, and with compassion and concern for a healthy outcome. Choose peace, love and being helpful over drama. A spending spree may elate you, but growing debt will deflate joy.
Entertainment will cost you more than anticipated. Joint ventures will cause a rift between you and your partner. Choose quiet moments, romance and activities that lead to personal growth. Refuse to let your emotions ascend into something you cannot control. Discipline is necessary if you want to avoid loss and regret. Search for innovative solutions that help maintain peace.
PEANUTS
SUDOKU
Put effort and energy into helping a cause or someone in need. What you perceive when dealing with partners and organizations that are giving back will encourage you to take a greater interest in community, family and regulating how you spend your time. Refuse to let your ego or emotional drama interfere with progress.
(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)
(Feb. 20-March 20)
If you mix business with pleasure, you’ll feel good about what you accomplish. If you use your charm and intelligence, you’ll motivate others to see things your way. Time spent making plans with someone you love will be rewarding and give you something to look forward to. Sharing intentions will lead to romance and commitment. Physical improvements are favored. Take time to sort through your thoughts and differences before revealing how you feel or what you plan to do next. Distance yourself from anyone showing aggressive or manipulative behavior. Turn your attention to new beginnings, and use innovative techniques that allow you to separate yourself from any competition you encounter. Don’t spend to impress. You can’t buy love. Do your own thing, and enjoy pursuing your dreams. Educating yourself to ensure you head in the right direction will put your mind at ease and deter interference. Pay more attention to your needs and how you can take responsibility for your happiness. Love who you are, and do what makes you feel good about yourself. Romance is favored. Take charge and make things happen. Declutter your space, visit surroundings you find inspiring and engage in pastimes that uplift you. A change of scenery, people and activities will offer insight into new possibilities. Avoid joint ventures or tenuous money connections. Adopting a minimalist lifestyle will ease stress and help you gain the freedom to follow your dreams. It’s time to rein in what’s out of control. Distance yourself from poor influences, and cap your spending. Pay more attention to how you use your skills and experience, and you’ll discover how to make the most with what you can do. If you choose triumph over fantasy, you’ll gain respect. Loving yourself first makes it easier to love others. Don’t let anger precede common sense. Choose kind words and get along. Gather information, and make moves that are smart, articulate and send a subtle message. Let your strength, resilience and courage carry you across the finish line with class, dignity and no malicious intent. Choose peace and kindness over anger and manipulation for the best results. It’s how you handle yourself, others and your money that matter. Don’t offer to pay for someone else’s mistakes. Be a good listener and offer solutions, but don’t do the work for someone who needs to learn a lesson. Do something that makes you feel good about yourself. Attending social events will lead to love, personal gains or a healthier, happier outlook.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2026
21
Sammy: Batting-friendly pitches no excuse for bowlers West Indies Head Coach Daren Sammy in action during a prematch training session
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ith the three-match O n e - D a y International (ODI) series already beyond their reach at 2-0, the West Indies will
look to salvage a positive result when they face India in the final match today from 04:30h at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh PCA Stadium. West Indies Head Coach Daren Sammy believes the series has provided a valuable assessment of where his side stands against the world’s number one ODI team, while also highlighting areas that require im-provement. “Every game against India is a massive event,” Sammy said. “It’s a great opportunity for us to measure ourselves against the number one ODI team in the world.” West Indies have pro-
duced impressive batting performances during the series, including posting a rec-ord 405-7 in the second ODI, but India chased that target with eight wickets in hand. Sammy acknowledged that the pitches have favoured the batsmen, placing greater demands on the bowlers to maintain discipline and execute their plans. “The pitches have been very good for our batters, but they’ve been really harsh on the bowlers,” he said. “We still need to find ways when wickets are not really offering any assistance to the bowlers to be disciplined in our lines and lengths and the plans that we put in.”
Despite the challenging conditions, Sammy believes the bowling group must adjust to the surfaces ra-ther than use them as an excuse. “If it’s a 400 pitch, it is your job as a bowling group. That means 400 is eight and over. So try to restrict the team to seven and a half or even eight; you make it par. Then you give yourself a chance,” he ex-plained. The Coach also challenged his bowlers to improve their consistency, noting that both teams are operat-ing on the same batting-friendly surfaces. “It is up to us to be a little bit more disciplined. Yes, they batted well, the pitch was flat, but were we
as consistent as we could be?” Sammy said. He also acknowledged the difficulty of winning in India, pointing to the West Indies’ long wait for a series victory in the country. “There’s a reason why it’s been o v e r 20 years since we’ve w o n a series here,” Sammy said. “But we had the belief if we do certain things right... we’ve not been able to do that.” With the series already decided, Sammy wants the final match to provide another opportunity for the West Indies to test themselves and improve their execution against one of the strongest ODI sides.
“It’s been a really bat versus bat contest,” Sammy said, challenging his players to produce a more disci-plined performance with the ball in the series finale.
Shallow: ICC revenue model Henry takes charge as puts pressure on West Indies Windies turn to T20Is
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ricket West Indies (CWI) President Dr Kishore Shallow has pointed to fundamental changes in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) financial model and the Caribbean’s limited commercial market as major factors behind the organisation’s ongoing financial restructuring. CWI announced last week that contracted players would be required to forgo 25 per cent of their annual retainer payments as part of measures aimed at reducing expenditure and restructuring the organisation’s finances and domestic cricket calendar. Speaking on the Super Over cricket podcast, hosted by former West Indies T20 captain Carlos Brathwaite and cricket commentator and journalist Nikhil Uttamchandani, Shallow explained that changes to the ICC’s revenue model had placed smaller cricketing nations at a disadvantage. “Previously, when you toured, you still earned money, you still generated, and we travelled to Australia, we travelled to England, and even to India. Although India wasn’t as lucrative then, we still generated money,” Shallow said. He explained that under the current model, members generate significant revenue primarily when they host international series, creating challenges for countries and regions with smaller populations and markets. “Once ICC changed the
CWI President Dr Kishore Shallow
model and put that you only generate revenue when you host series, it changed the game for members like the West Indies, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and even South Africa, a serious disadvantage as a result,” he said. According to Shallow, the financial realities facing CWI mean that reducing expenditure must be accompanied by efforts to generate new sources of revenue. “We have to reduce our expenditure significantly,” he said, while acknowledging the need to avoid increasing spending during periods when revenues improve. At the same time, Shallow said CWI must become more innovative commercially, par-
ticularly by looking beyond the Caribbean market. “Our commercial activities must improve,” he said. “We have to be innovative and find ways, even in our small market, to find ways.” He pointed to North and South America as potential areas for expansion, including opportunities associated with the Pan American Games and broader sporting initiatives. “There are fantastic opportunities there, but we just have to get it right now,” Shallow said. The comments come as CWI seeks to balance immediate cost-cutting measures with longer-term plans to strengthen the financial sustainability of West Indies cricket.
West Indies Women Head Coach Shane Deitz
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he West Indies Women will shift their attention to the shortest format when they face Zimbabwe on the opening day of a three-match T20 International series tomorrow from 07:00h, following their 2-1 triumph in the preceding One-Day International (ODI) series. With regular Captain and talisman Hayley Matthews unavailable due to personal leave, Chinelle Henry will take over the leadership duties as the West Indies look to carry their momentum into the T20I series. Head Coach Shane Deitz believes Henry is well equipped to lead the side,
pointing to her experience across different phases of the game and her franchise cricket background. “Along with Hayley, Chinelle’s got a great cricket brain and really understands the game. She’s played a lot of franchise cricket,” Deitz said. He highlighted Henry’s understanding of the demands of bowling at the start and death of an innings, while her role as a middle- and lower-order batter has given her exposure to different phases of matches. Deitz also praised her communication and leadership qualities, noting that she has already Captained the team on several occasions. “She’s a good communicator, a funny girl, and really popular within the team. The players will follow her, and her communication skills are really good,” he said. Henry, meanwhile, acknowledged that the team still had room for improvement despite winning the ODI series. “I still think individually players could have given a bit more personally. But as a team, I think it was a good outing,” Henry said. The Captain said the ODI series provided valuable exposure against
Chinelle Henry set to lead West Indies in the absence of Hayley Matthews
Zimbabwe, who the West Indies were facing in international cricket for the first time. With the focus now firmly on T20 cricket, Henry said the squad is ready for the change in mindset and the challenge ahead. “This is a new challenge, and we’re definitely looking forward to that,” she said.
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GUYANATIMESGY.COM
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2026
Leonora faces St Pretorius 188* breaks Gayle’s record for Gabriel’s as Courts highest T20 score Optical Pee Wee action resumes
South Africa’s Lhuan-dre Pretorius has broken Chris Gayle’s longstanding record for the highest men’s T20 score as he blazed away to an unbeaten 188 off just 79 deliveries (File/Sportzpics)
S The Courts Optical Boys Under-11 Pee Wee football competition continues with Round Three on Saturday, at the Ministry of Education Ground
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efending champions Leonora will face St Gabriel’s when the Courts Optical Boys Under-11 Pee Wee football competition continues with Round Three today, at the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue. The champions are scheduled to take the field at 14:00h during a nine-match programme that begins at 11:00h. The day’s fixtures
cover matches 31 to 39, with the final two encounters set to start at 15:00h. Agatash and Pakuri Primary will open proceedings at 11:00h, with both teams scheduled to return for a second appearance later in the afternoon. Two matches follow at noon, when Colaaco meets St John and Belladrum take on Soesdyke. At 13:00h, GIA 2 will play
St Aloysius, while Agatash returns to face Goed Fortuin in their second assignment of the day. Pakuri Primary will then take on Redeemer at 14:00h, sharing that time slot with the encounter between Leonora and St Gabriel’s. The programme closes with West Primary facing FE Pollard and Marian Academy meeting GIA 1, both at 15:00h.
outh Africa’s Lhuandre Pretorius has broken Chris Gayle’s long-standing record for the highest men’s T20 score as he blazed away to an unbeaten 188 off just 79 deliveries for the Titans against the Knights in the CSA T20 Challenge in Bloemfontein. The 20-year-old fell just 12 runs short of what could have been a historic first T20 double century. Pretorius, with his third T20 century, surpassed Gayle’s 175 not out for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against the now defunct Pune Warriors in 2013. Pretorius got off to a
quick start, reaching his fifty in 24 balls. It took him only 16 more balls to get to his century. He got 150 off 158 deliveries. Pretorius also tied with Aaron Finch and Marcus Stoinis for the longest innings in men’s T20s in terms of balls faced. The left-handed opening batter hit 13 sixes and 15 fours as he tore into the Knights bowlers, all of whose economy rates were 11 or higher. Titans finished on 267 for three, the
second-highest score in the competition’s history, behind their own 271 for 3 against the same opposition in 2022. That match also boasted of the highest individual score in the CSA T20 Challenge – Dewald Brevis’ 162 – before Pretorius’ epic. Titans now hold the five highest team totals in CSA T20 Challenge history. This was Pretorius’ first game of the 2026-27 season, and he came into the competition on the back of some destructive form. In his last two matches, he had scored 94 and 101, respectively, against Zimbabwe and Namibia in a tri-series in September. He has played just 22 internationals across formats, but this was Pretorius’ 91st T20, a format in which he strikes at 150.44. (ESPNcricinfo)
Rovin Dookie T10 tournament rolls on this weekend
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he East Bank Demerara Cricket Association (EBDCA) Rovin Dookie Annual T10 Tournament continues this weekend with matches scheduled across Farm, Canal #2 and Laluni
grounds, as teams battle for progression in the fast-paced competition. At the F a r m Ground on Saturday, Soesdyke XI will face Eccles from 10:00h, followed by Providence taking on the los-
er of the opening match at noon. Providence will then meet the winner of the first game at 14:00h. Canal #2 will host Little Diamond against Peter’s Hall at 10:00h, with A Village playing the loser and winn e r of that opening fixture a t
Rickey Sargeant of Herstelling A
12:00h and 14:00h, respectively. At Laluni, the 10:00h fixture will see Laluni oppose Patrewta Sawmill before Herstelling A plays the loser and winner of the first game at noon and 14:00h. Sunday’s action at Farm will begin with Sandpipers against the Under-23 side at 10:00h. Demolition will then face the loser and winner of that fixture at 12:00h and 14:00h. At Laluni, Uprising will meet Silverbullet at 10:00h, followed by Uprising against Timehri at noon. The weekend’s fixtures follow an entertaining round last Saturday and Sunday. Herstelling B defeated Herstelling A after posting 99/7 in their 10 overs, with Chemroy Kendell making 38 and Pernall London 26, before restricting Herstelling A to 88/8. Herstelling A
counter, Herstelling CTI edged Demolition, chasing 77/7 with 79/1 in 7.1 overs. Jeremiah Hohenirk topscored with 30 not out. On Sunday, Herstelling CTI produced the day’s highest total, making 159/4 in 10 overs against Patrewta Sawmill, with Jeremiah Hohenirk hitting 42 and Ewart Samuel 32. Patrewta replied with 58/7. Demolition also recorded a win over Patrewta Sawmill, scoring 137/3 before restricting their opponents to 61/8. Damian Vantull led the way with 44 not out, while Corwin Austin contributed 33.
Anand Bharat of Herstelling A
bounced back against Sandpipers, successfully chasing 99 with 101/1 in 6.3 overs, led by an
unbeaten 68 from Rickey Sargent. Quzim Yusuf added 29. In another Saturday en-
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Ketwaroo double powers Three Mile into ExxonMobil U18 group stage
Riley Ketwaroo (right), Eric Stephens, and Isaiah Daniels scored for Three Mile Secondary
The victorious Three Mile Secondary School team
R
iley Ketwaroo scored twice as Three Mile Secondary defeat-
ed Bartica Secondary 4–0 to advance to the group stage of the inaugural
ExxonMobil Guyana U18 Schools Football competition on Friday afternoon.
The opening match at the Bartica Community Centre Ground in Region Seven launched the tournament organised by the Vurlon Mills Football Academy (VMFA). Ketwaroo put Three Mile ahead in the 12th minute, scoring the only goal of the first half as his team
took a 1–0 advantage into the break. Bartica Secondary remained within a goal until the 68th minute, when Ketwaroo struck again. His second goal began a late scoring burst that saw Three Mile find the net three times in six minutes. Eric Stephens extended
the lead in the 71st minute before Isaiah Daniels completed the scoring in the 74th, sealing Three Mile’s progression. Another group-stage place will be decided on Saturday, October 3, when Kwebanna Secondary meets St Nicholas Primary Top at the same venue. Kick-off is scheduled for 16:00h. VMFA will announce fixtures for the other participating regions in the coming week, with the wider nationwide programme of matches beginning on October 9. The competition will feature 68 male teams and 50 female teams from eight of Guyana’s 10 Administrative Regions. With 118 teams involved, it is one of the country’s largest grassroots school football initiatives in recent years.
“Super Saturday” showdown in Lotto/ GCB engages Campbell to strengthen Let’sBet T10 Tapeball set for Lusignan support for national teams
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At stake is more than just regional bragging rights; victory punches a ticket to Sunday’s zonal finals at Enmore and keeps alive the dream of claiming the ultimate GY$2 million national bounty at the Anna Regina National Stadium on October 11
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apeball cricket takes centre stage at the Lusignan Ground as eight remaining heavyweights lock horns in a blockbuster Super Saturday quarter-final slate in the Georgetown and East Coast Demerara zone of the Lotto/ Let’sBet One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast. With three zone champions already safely tucked into the national phase, the region’s top local contenders earned their stripes across the Demerara Cricket Club and Lusignan grounds to keep their campaigns alive. At stake is more than just regional bragging rights; victory punches a ticket to Sunday’s zonal finals at Enmore and keeps alive the dream of claiming the ultimate GY$2 million national bounty at the Anna Regina National Stadium on October 11. Defending national champions Titans Rams headline the morning session as they step out at
09:30h to face a hungry Pure Entertainment side in the opening fixture. Titans Rams arrive with the target firmly on their backs, but their championship pedigree will be tested immediately in this high-pressure 10-over sprint. The action rolls seamlessly into the mid-morning clash at 11:30h, where Diamond Gunners gear up to square off against SVC/ AJM CC in a high-stakes duel. As the afternoon heat peaks, the tension only amplifies. Better Hope CC take on Team Corruption at 13:30h in a contest where big hitters on both sides will look to seize momentum early. Wrapping up the Super Eight schedule at 15:30h, Housing Warriors collide with Avinash All-Stars in a blockbuster finale to determine the last semi-final slot. For local cricket enthusiasts, the atmosphere at Lusignan promises to be
electric with free admission across the venue, though spectators should note that coolers will not be permitted into the ground. Beyond the shot at the national crown, significant monetary rewards are up for grabs throughout the knockout round. Navin and Sons Construction has sponsored the zone champion prize of $500,000, while Camille’s Academy has put up $200,000 for the runners-up. The two losing semi-finalists will pocket $50,000 each, compliments of OGN, and every losing quarter-finalist will receive $25,000, compliments of Scoop Ride Inc. The four surviving sides from Saturday’s frantic slate will head straight to the Enmore Community Centre Ground on Sunday, October 4, starting at 10:00h, where the semi-finals and zonal final will decide who advances to represent the zone on the grand stage at Anna Regina.
he Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has engaged psychologist and behaviour modification consultant Wil Campbell to strengthen support for players and national team personnel, as part of its continuing modernisation programme. Announcing the engagement on October 2, the Board said the initiative will help cricketers, coaches, managers and other team members prepare for the psychological, emotional and professional demands of high-performance sport. Work has already begun with at least one player, for whom the GCB has facilitated a professional assessment and ongoing remedial procedures. The engagement reflects the Board’s view that cricket development must include more than technical
skills, physical conditioning and tactical preparation. It is also placing greater emphasis on the mental and psychological wellbeing of players and support personnel as they manage the pressures and expectations
The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has engaged psychologist and behaviour modification consultant Wil Campbell to strengthen support for players and national team personnel
of competitive and professional cricket. GCB President Bissoondyal Singh welcomed Campbell and expressed confidence that his expertise would con-
tribute to the development and overall preparedness of players, coaches and team management personnel. Campbell is an academic at the University of Guyana and a practising psychologist licensed by the Allied
Health Professions Council of Guyana. His professional work includes psychological intervention, anger-management therapy, grief therapy, behaviour modification and psychosocial capacity building. His consultancy experience includes work with local and international organisations, among them the Organization of American States, USAID, ExxonMobil Corporation, the Guyana Prison Service and the Ministry of Human Services. The Board considers the engagement an important step towards establishing a more comprehensive and professional support structure for Guyana’s cricketers. In welcoming Campbell, the GCB said it looked forward to a productive relationship as it continues to strengthen its high-performance and player-development programmes.
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Sport is no longer our game, it’s our business
Ketwaroo’s double powers Three Mile into ExxonMobil U18 group stage Pg 23
Three Mile Secondary’s Riley Ketwaroo celebrates after completing his brace at the Bartica Community Centre Ground on Friday
“Super Saturday” GCB engages Campbell showdown in Lotto/Let’sBet to strengthen support T10 Tapeball set for Lusignan for national teams Pg 23
Pg 23
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