Issuu

Teachers’ Day 2026

Beyond the chalkboard – honouring those who taught little hands to reach for the world P19 Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 6596 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026

Saudi Arabia opens E-Visa, Visa-on-Arrival access to Guyanese passport holders

…comes as a result of intensified bilateral relations, discussions between 2 nations – Govt Page 3

Healthy Streets Initiative

Practical, aesthetic elements being balanced as Thomas Street Avenue works advance Page 7

PRICE $140 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

UMAMI takes Guyanese products to Gulf Market with 1st shipment P21 to Qatar

Convicted wife beater seeks High Court P11 bail, remains on bench at Sparendaam Police Station

Home Affairs P8 Ministry employee fired after assaulting female gas station attendant

– President Ali, Minister Manickchand updated on enhancement project

More than 3700 students to graduate at UG’s 60th Convocation Page 10

Father of 2 dies in 3-vehicle collision at Manchester Page 24

TGA to launch weekly nonstop flights to French Guiana under new Air Service Agreement Page 11

AI, Agriculture & technology take centre stage at 20th edition of Berbice Expo P23 Uncustomed alcohol found during CANU P22 operation at rented Windsor Estates property

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Berbice – Sunday, October 4 – 11:15h–12:45h and Monday, October 5 – 13:35h–15:05h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery showers are expected during the day, followed by clear evening skies and cloud coverage at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East-North-Easterly to West-North-Westerly between 1.34 metre and 3.12 metres. High Tide: 10:50h and 23:18h reaching maximum heights of 2.05 metres and 2.15 metres.

Saudi Arabia opens E-Visa, Visa-on-Arrival access to Guyanese passport holders ...comes as a result of intensified bilateral relations, discussions between 2 nations – Govt

ravel to Saudi Arabia has now been made easier for Guyanese passport holders, who no longer need to have a visa beforehand. Previously, Guyanese were required to go through an embassy or agent to obtain a visa before travelling to the Middle Eastern country or have a valid United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), or Schengen visa in order to qualify for a visa on arrival or electronic visa (e-visa). But through strength-

ing family or friends, or simply visiting Saudi Arabia for any other purpose.” Citizens travelling to the Middle Eastern country only need their Guyanese passports and the required visa fee/payment, for which they could apply for the e-visa or obtain the visa on arrival. According to the Foreign Ministry, this recent development is very symbolic and bodes well for the further fostering, promotion and consolidation of our bilateral relationship. It went on to say that

But even with this 55th ranking and visa-free access to 88 countries, the Henley Index highlighted that Guyana still does not have visa-free access to Europe’s Schengen area. The Schengen area, consisting of 29 European countries, includes Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and others, allowing for seamless travel across the region. For years, the Guyana Government has been pushing for visa-free travel to Schengen countries.

pushed for. Previously, Guyanese wanting to obtain a Schengen visa would need to travel to neighbouring Suriname to complete the application process. Back in May, French Ambassador to Guyana, Olivier Plançon, said his office is working to enhance the visa application and issuance process in the country. “Please also be mindful of the fact that the Schengen visa is a gateway to no less than 27 countries, and our visa policy has to be coordi-

ened bilateral relations between Guyana and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Guyanese will now benefit from the e-visa or visa on arrival without needing any prerequisites, according to the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry on Saturday. In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said this development is a consequence of the intensified bilateral relations and discussions between the two nations. This is further coupled with the two countries’ mutual interest in expanding and advancing cooperation in trade, economic partnerships, investments, tourism, etc, as well as the strengthening of their bilateral relations centered on people-to-people contact. As a result of this new development, Guyana is now the only country in South America whose passport holders can enter Saudi Arabia with a visa on arrival or an electronic (e-) visa, devoid of needing a US, UK, or Schengen visa in their passport. “That requirement is no longer needed,” Takuba Lodge said in the statement. “Consequently, this makes travelling from Guyana to Saudi Arabia much easier-whether you’re travelling for Umrah, tourism, visit-

the Guyana Government is determined and has been making concerted efforts to enhance features on Guyana’s Machine-Readable Passports, consistent with satisfying global standards and requirements and will continue in these endeavours. Over the years, the Guyana Government has been in talks with a number of bilateral partners, including Canada and India. Additionally, some countries like the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have also introduced visa-free travel for Guyanese passport holders. Guyana’s passport currently allows for visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to nearly 90 countries and territories around the world. The latest Henley and Partners Passport Index, released in July 2026, ranked the Guyanese passport higher than some of its major Caribbean neighbours. The index puts Guyana’s passport at 55th globally-a onespot drop from last year’s ranking of 54th with access to some 91 countries. But even though the country dropped one spot down from last year, the Guyana passport still ranked higher than some of its Caribbean neighbours that are major tourist destinations, including Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.

Back in November 2022, the UK’s Government lifted the visa requirement for Guyanese passport holders. President Dr Irfaan Ali subsequently disclosed that at least five European countries have agreed to support Guyana’s bid for visa-free travel to the Schengen area, but no further progress has been reported. Nevertheless, the opening of the French Embassy in Georgetown in September last year paved the way for the submission and processing of Schengen visa applications in Guyana, something that had long been

nated with all of them. That being said, we are constantly striving to streamline the visa issuance process and we are well aware that improvements are needed and expected,” Plançon noted. The French Ambassador had previously explained that while the long-term goal is visa-free travel between the two countries and the wider European Union (EU), the number of Schengen visas issued has doubled since the opening of the embassy here last year, moving from about 150 to now some 350.

Low Tide: 16:42h reaching a minimum height of 1.22 metres.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2026

LOTTERY NUMBERS B

12 14

18 23 24

FREE TICKET

16 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

19 21 24

LUCKY 3

Afternoon Draw

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

14 15

16 17 21

SUPER

PAY DAY

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2026

14 1

10 19

2 Afternoon Draw

2X Afternoon Draw

0 Evening Draw

FP Evening Draw

9554

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

COMMODITIES Indicators Crude Oil

US$ $102.25/barrel

Rough Rice

$295.20/ton

London Sugar

$531.50/ton

Live Spot Gold

Change %

-0.06 -0.70 +4.77 USD Per Ounce

Low/High

$4139.80 $4124.50

$4141.80 $4226.20

Change

-36.70

-0.88%

Bid/Ask

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 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

Guyana on the World Stage

ing Charles III's upcoming visit reminds us that there was a time when telling someone abroad you came from Guyana invited a discussion about Ghana. Today, oil has considerably improved the world's geographic perspicacity, and investors, airlines, and international institutions are discovering that this small country on South America's northern shoulder deserves attention. The Government is sensibly trying to turn that attention into something more durable than curiosity about another offshore discovery. International cricket, biodiversity diplomacy, investment promotion, and ambitions for an aviation hub form part of an effort to establish Guyana as a place where business, ideas, and people converge. Oil opens doors, but a country must still decide what to carry through them. Greater visibility can attract investment, widen export markets, recruit expertise, and build diplomatic relationships. For a small state facing Venezuela's territorial claim, international recognition also has strategic value since relationships developed through commerce, conservation, and diplomacy can strengthen the constituency interested in Guyana's stability. Among the strongest initiatives is the Government's attempt to establish itself as a leader in biodiversity conservation. The inaugural Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit in July 2025 and the agreement with Yale University supporting biodiversity research and a national information system give this ambition substance. They offer a route to scientific partnerships, conservation financing, and stronger management of our natural resources. This is especially valuable because our forests can sustain an international identity that outlasts our petroleum boom. But credibility requires consistency, and conservation leadership is being reflected in mining oversight, forest protection, and meaningful Indigenous participation. The world will eventually look beyond the speeches to examine what happens upriver. Cricket provides another promising platform. The Global Super League has explicitly positioned Guyana as a destination for international cricket and sports tourism. It draws on something we already possess: a cricketing culture that needs no consultant to invent it. Yet television exposure is only the beginning, and as the refocus on tourism emphasises, the developmental return will depend on visitors buying local food, taking local tours, using local transport, and extending their stay beyond the final over. The renewed aviation-hub ambition deserves the same combination of encouragement and scrutiny. In September, President Ali announced readiness to finalise negotiations with airlines interested in using CJIA's proposed second terminal as a hub. A successful hub could improve connectivity, support tourism, and open opportunities for cargo and agricultural exports. Guyana is right to seek a larger place in the world since remaining obscure is hardly a development policy. As the Government emphasises, the task now is to make prominence productive by converting today's petroleum attention into skills, institutions, markets, and enterprises that will serve us tomorrow. Our growing relationship with Washington also gives our international strategy a particularly consequential dimension. Our founding membership in President Trump's Shield of the Americas places us within a coalition pursuing security, economic, and diplomatic coordination, and President Ali's participation in the September meeting reinforces that visibility. The developmental question is what this cooperation delivers in intelligence, institutional capacity, and protection against transnational crime. Security matters to investment since businesses planning factories, ports, or tourism ventures need confidence that their assets will operate in a stable country. Cooperation against trafficking can support that confidence, provided commitments remain consistent with our sovereignty and international obligations. Membership should be assessed through its practical results and the responsibilities it entails. The relationship also has a substantial financing component. US EXIM's approximately US$527 million loan for the Wales gasto-energy project connects American commercial interests with Guyana's need for reliable, affordable electricity. Importantly, that agreement was signed in January 2025, before President Trump's second inauguration and before the Shield initiative. It therefore reflects a broader bilateral relationship whose development spans Administrations. Taken together, these relationships suggest that our increased prominence is opening opportunities with direct developmental significance. Their ultimate value depends on implementation, sound financing, and a foreign policy that preserves room for independent decisions. The measure of success is whether access abroad produces greater security, productive capacity, and opportunity at home.

The Guyana Police Force, in collaboration with the Guyana Association of Women Police (GAWP), hosted its Annual Cancer Awareness Walk on Saturday in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The walk commenced at Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary, proceeded to the Kitty Public Road roundabout and returned to the Sports Club Ground

andhi had been trained as a lawyer at the University College of London and was admitted to the bar at the Inner Temple in 1891 at his first sitting of the bar examination. He was interested in earning a decent income, which he was advised could be accomplished easily in South Africa. He could then maintain his adopted British culture and live comfortably. He went there in 1893 to take up an appointment with an Indian company. In South Africa, he experienced first-hand racial discrimination by white South Africans against Black South Africans and Indians living there. But his Ahimsa and Satyagraha philosophy, which were dormant, ended abruptly only after a humiliating personal experience. Transformation came suddenly on June 7, 1893. When travelling by train to Pretoria and in possession of a valid first-class ticket, he was kicked out of first class and off the train. Humiliated by how he was treated even while protesting that he was a Counsellor of the Queen (by virtue of being British-trained), he adopted the civil disobedience path to fight colour prejudice and injustice in South Africa. He returned to India in 1915 and expanded his campaign to include other issues across India. He achieved swaraj (independence) for the subcontinent but failed to keep it together as one nation. Decades later he was asked by a reporter, 'What was his religion?' He responded, "Truth and nonviolence are my God.” Gandhi would hold on to his beliefs until his assassination in Delhi on January 30, 1948. The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.” “When you are right, you have no need to be angry. When you are wrong, you have no right to be angry.”

Briefly

*Born October 1869. Died January 30, 1948 *Gandhi led the 240-mile, 24-day (March 12—April 6) Dandi March in 1930 to protest the British Salt Tax imposed on India. *The Hindu caste system was abolished on January 26, 1950. *India was partitioned to form India and Pakistan in

1947. Both gained independence on August 15 that year. By Chaitram Aklu (writer, educator, and union leader based in New York City)

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026

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

NATURAL Grief never ceases for Green’s fatalities LONGEVITY By Ryhaan Shah

s Guyana grows more affluent, are we reaching for prettily packaged foods and forgoing the fresh produce available easily and daily to us, thinking that this makes us more a part of the modern world? But could what we are putting into our food baskets shorten our life expectancy? There is good evidence of this from studies done in places like Okinawa, Japan, and Sardinia, Italy, where no one is following any antiageing regimen, yet boasts the highest global concentration of centenarians – centenarians who are well and active. For these small communities, there is no secret to their longevity. Their long life seems to grow out of dozens of small, unremarkable things: traditional food, constant low-level movement, tight family bonds, real roles for older people, and daily contact with the land. The people who live the longest are not more disciplined than the rest of us. They do not have more willpower, a stronger sense of personal responsibility, or some private talent for saying no. They are not waking up each morning and deciding to eat well, take a walk, and call their friends. They live longer because they happen to live somewhere that makes the healthy choice the easy choice and often the only one available. Their natural environment does the work that we expect discipline to do. For them, real, unprocessed food is what fills the kitchen, what the market sells, and what the holidays are built around, so eating well takes no decision at all. Nearly every errand comes with a walk because the house, the shop, the friend, and the church are all close enough that you go on foot. Most of them grow a good part of what they eat, which puts fresh vegetables on the table, and without anyone thinking of it as exercise, keep them bending, hauling, and moving for hours. They know why they get up in the morning, and they keep a role worth having well into old age. Their entertainment, most nights, is with other people. Friends and family are the social bond that comes naturally. So, longevity in such places is not a prize for effort. It comes from a place where the good choice is the cheap one, the easy one, and the one all your neighbours are making too. The elderly people of Sardinia and Okinawa are not showing heroic restraint but are being nudged gently and constantly by the shape of the world around them. This is the ground natural longevity stands on. The phrase is not another name for anti-ageing medicine, and it is not a swipe at medical progress. It describes something slower: the benefits that pile up when your surroundings are working for you – movement you never have to plan; food that comes with the culture rather than a label; company, security, rest, and the steady feeling of being useful. As life expectancy worldwide grows, more of us worry about holding on to our physical and mental sharpness, and time itself has quietly become the scarcest luxury of all. Adding years to life is one thing. Adding good, useful life to those years is now the goal. Our genetic makeup accounts for only a modest share of how long we live; the rest is lifestyle and the environment we move through every day. The twin studies people cite most often in this field put the genetic contribution to longevity at roughly a fifth, which leaves a great deal to circumstance and habit. That is not a formula. Living in the right place will not carry everyone to a hundred, but it tells you plainly that where you live, and the habits that place quietly permits, do a lot to shape how you age. More than where we live, it is how we live in our environment that could give us a longer and healthier life. Life in Guyana has changed significantly with what is called “progress and development”. Few people bother to keep any kind of garden – flower garden or kitchen garden – as yards are concreted over, and there are fewer green spaces around us. Just about everyone is hooked to a screen-a TV or cell phone-and spends hours being entertained as they snack on processed food and drink. Restaurants and fast-food joints flourish as we become more affluent. We will not want to put away all the ease and conveniences that the world today offers, but perhaps we could become more aware of the choices we make and try to regain some of the good that comes with living simply.

The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

Dear Editor, “Elder” Hamilton Green’s plaintive cry is that “if there is one drop of humanity left, if there is a tincture of love lingering in this (PPP) Administration, they will use the authority they have to free three men from behind bars, who, from all information available, neither plotted nor planned the privation of 72 fellow citizens on that fateful day, when they reported for work at the Transport and Harbours Department. So, on the same token, if “... there is one drop of humanity left, if there is a tincture of love lingering in this...” ELDER Green, he will come clean on a few things that have etched a sordid dent in the memory of all Guyanese. Editor, I grieve for the families and relatives of Jagan Ramessar and Bolanauth Parmanand, two

Indo Guyanese who were cruelly gunned down under the watch of Elder Hamilton Green during the infamous, “heavily rigged” 1973 General Elections. Under Elder Green’s supervision and instruction, utilising state security forces, the two hard-working, humble and honest “sons of the soil,” were riddled “only for being” part of a peaceful crowd, trying to prevent the military from the forceful and illegal seizing and tampering with ballot boxes. I ask, “Who was the ‘high-ranking Minister and organiser?’” It was Green; he was the commandeer, enacting “aggressive political strategy” that authorised security forces to use lethal force to ‘protect the fraudulent’ election machinery of the PNC. It is not too late for Green to visit Parmanand’s widow, Dhanmattie Bholanauth,

who is still alive and grieving. At the time of his demise, Parmanand was 42, and he left behind several children, who were forced to grow up without their father. His children and wider extended family still keep his legacy alive, as they are still to overcome what Green meted out to them. I am sure that Green has the wherewithal to offer some explanations and seek their forgiveness. Then there was Jagan Ramessar, who was only 17 years old when “authorised (by Green) state security forces gunned him down”, and up to this day, his siblings and extended relatives are numb. His parents, in grief, have since passed away. The grieving fraternity would love to meet Green, if only to see his face. Editor, the list of fatalities and casualties is quite long, so

I will only add Father Bernard Darke, who on July 14, 1979, was publicly stabbed to death on the streets of Georgetown. At the time, he was photographing an anti-government protest. Green, at the time, was using the House of Israel, a notorious and thuggish religious cult, which functioned as the ‘state-sponsored paramilitary arm for the PNC. Green was the medium who protected, funded, and deployed the House of Israel to violently suppress protests and strike down critics. Green’s rampage was tantamount to modern-day terrorism. So, he, Elder Green, needs to see if he has a “smidgen” of humanity left in him. If he has any, then he needs to offer some token of solatium to the bereaved. Yours truly, Hargesh B Singh

Dr Karen Cummings is so wrong – certainly not truthful Dear Editor, It is farthest from the truth that “Guyana is lagging in the Caribbean in terms of breast cancer survival, (despite its oil wealth).” This was the fulmination from Former Minister of Health, Dr Karen Cummings of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), who a few days ago “... raised concerns over Guyana’s breast cancer survival rate, highlighting a gap between the country’s rapidly growing wealth and the health outcomes of its citizens.” First, I clearly understand this outburst, as this is her role; she is “more political than medical.” In fact, Dr Karen Cummings is not a “specialist” in hard-core medical practice/medicine, but her training is in “being a public health specialist and a primary care physician.” She truly lacks the expertise in any kind of specialized clinical branch of medicine, like oncology or cardiology. Aside from being unsuited to make this assessment, she must be a bitter woman, as she did not succeed in her “attempted election rigging” when, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, she threatened to revoke the credentials of international election observers during the March 2020 general elections. Secondly, the mind is still fresh with her tenure when there were chronic medicine shortages across Guyana, and breast cancer staging and diagnostics remained heavily centralized. She did not touch that area. In fact, the entire public healthcare system relied on only a single mammography machine stationed at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). And will we ever forget the horrible inefficiencies in supply chain management that led to localized stockouts of critical drugs and equipment across most public medical centers? Honestly, I really find it unpalatable that many of her type, who bungled up when

they were in charge, are now freely criticizing the ‘betterment’ that confronts them. Editor, apart from her proven ineptitude and immoral stance on elections, hard facts show that Guyana is not lagging in breast cancer survival. Obviously, the ‘politician’ did not take time to observe and compare. Hopefully, this letter will motivate her. For one, Guyana now boasts mammography services outside of the GPHC-Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) – Essequibo Coast; Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) – Berbice; Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) – Linden; and Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) – Deep Hinterland. This resulted as the Ministry of Health, responding with immediacy to the need, was able to operationalize additional mammography machines across the country. Number two is that Guyana recently launched a collaborative partnership with surgical teams from the UK, Trinidad & Tobago, and Jamaica to perform breast reconstruction surgeries “right at the GPHC.” This is simultaneous with training local doctors to standardize this care. Add to this that Guyana is establishing cross-border agreements, such as the recent initiative with Martinique, to import advanced radioactive nuclear drugs and isotopes for targeted cancer therapies. So how dare we ignore or sideline these kinds of interventions and additions? Now, by way of informing instructively, it is a fact that the entire Caribbean region is struggling to cope with high breast cancer mortality-facing death rates up to two times higher than the United States. And yes, previously, Guyana’s historical lack of centralized tracking, limited equipment, and aggressive tumor biology did place it at a serious disadvantage. But in recent times, the MOH, under the Ali-led administration, has made aggressive

healthcare investments, and now there is a noticeable ‘narrowing of the gap’ between Guyana and the more medically advanced islands. But still, there is no need to disparage Guyana, as it is Barbados, The Bahamas, and Jamaica that lead the Caribbean in breast cancer mortality rates. The irony is that some of the wealthiest Caribbean nations, with better baseline infrastructure, suffer from the highest breast cancer mortality rates globally, and Barbados consistently records the highest age-standardized mortality rate for breast cancer in the world. I close by asserting that Guyana’s distribution in

breast cancer care is very commendable. Yes, as they say in the US, Canada, and Australia, for example, the highly successful five-year breast cancer survival rates are up to the 80th percentile, but there are noticeable “significant disparities” existing within these places due to “uneven access” to screening, differing healthcare budgets, and historical bottlenecks. I agree that Guyana has quite a way to go. We have to be patient and hardworking, and the Ministry of Health is indeed being assiduous. All I say is to keep up the good work and ignore the few Karens. Yours truly, Raymond Anderson

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026

0:00 Sign Off 6:00 TVG Devotional Hour 7:00 Documentary: Nat Geo Animals 8:00 Movie - Humraaz (2002) 11:00 Baby Geniuses (1999) 12:30 Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 (2004) 14:00 Baby Geniuses and the Mystery of the Crown Jewels (2013) 15:20 Baby Geniuses and the Treasures of Egypt (2014) 16:40 Baby Geniuses and the Space Baby (2015) 18:00 Maths is Fun 18:30 Week-in-Review 19:00 Merlin S1 E1 20:00 The Flash S3 E17 21:00 Heartland S5 E1 22:00 Movie - Jason Bourne (2016)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026

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Foundation lighting ongoing issues such as overcrowded classrooms and funding challenges.

Teachers around the world

teacher is a friend, philosopher, and guide who holds our hand, opens our mind, and touches our heart. Teachers have a very special and important job because they play a big part in helping children learn, grow and do well in life. On World Teachers' Day, on 5 October every year, we say thanks to teachers for all the hard work they do. UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, established World Teachers' Day in 1994 to honour educators and evaluate the state of the teaching profession. The theme for World Teachers’ Day 2026 is “Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing its status and shaping our futures.” The theme marks 60 years since the ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concern-

ing the Status of Teachers was adopted in 1966. It highlights the important work teachers do and the need to support and respect them. Historically, teaching has evolved from informal family-based instruction to a more structured and prestigious profession, essential for societal advancement. As education became more integral to civilisation, the demand for qualified educators grew, leading to the establishment of formal standards and protections for teachers and students alike. Each year, UNESCO designates a specific theme for World Teachers' Day, emphasising topics such as the right to education and the necessity of qualified teachers. Celebrations include local awards for outstanding teachers, symposiums, and community efforts to support educational initiatives, high-

Do you know how many teachers there are around the world? More than 90 million! That's a lot of teachers helping children learn. Education is a human right, and every child should have free education, but unfortunately millions of children in the world are not in school. Most of those children live in places where life is difficult – some live in poor areas or far away from cities and towns, or for some there is war in their countries. UNICEF says every child has the right to a quality education, and this cannot be achieved without well-trained teachers and child-friendly schools. One of the reasons that so many children can't go to school is that there aren't enough teachers worldwide. To make sure every child can go to school by 2030, we'll need an extra 69 million teachers in the world. Would you like to be a teacher one day? As teacher shortages worsen, public education systems come under increasing pressure, and educators face growing professional challenges, World Teachers’ Day 2026 is a timely moment to advocate for the policies and investments needed to strengthen the profession and guarantee every learner's right

to quality education.

How to become a teacher

To be a teacher, you need to study hard and

learn many things. Teachers go to college or university and do special training. They learn about different subjects and how to teach them to students. Teachers have to listen to their students and understand how they feel, so they need to be patient and kind. Many teachers are very creative and make learning fun for their stu-

dents. If you enjoy helping people learn, teaching might be a great job for you in the future!

teacher a card, some flowers or a small present. You could draw them a picture or write them a letter or a poem. Some schools orga-

Say thank you to teachers

Teaching can be a difficult job because teachers must help all their students, and every student has different needs. Often

nise special events, for example, where students do things like sing a song or do a dance for their teachers. Whatever you do this

there are a lot of children in a class. Teachers work long hours and have lots of responsibilities. So, take a moment to say thank you to your teachers this World Teachers' Day! You could give your

World Teachers' Day, be sure to tell your teacher how much you admire and respect them. Happy World Teachers' Day! (Adapted from britishcouncil.org, unicefusa.org, unesco.org)

NEWS

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Healthy Streets Initiative

Practical, aesthetic elements being balanced as Thomas Street Avenue works advance - President Ali, Minister Manickchand updated on enhancement project

President Dr Irfaan Ali and Local Government and Regional Development Minister Priya Manickchand receiving an update on the Thomas Street Avenue works

nhancement works on the avenue along Thomas Street in Georgetown are progressing, with emphasis being placed on balancing the aesthetic transformation with critical issues such as drainage. On Friday, President Dr Irfaan Ali, along with Local Government and Regional Development Minister Priya Manickchand and other officials, inspected the ongoing works, which extend from Lamaha Street to Church Street. The upgrade of Thomas Street Avenue is the first project being implemented

on his strong background in urban planning and development, the Guyanese leader also examined how elements being introduced along Thomas Street could inform the transformation of other avenues across Georgetown. Through the Healthy Streets Initiative, The King's Foundation is redesigning public spaces for better safety, green infrastructure, and climate resilience under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030. Minister Manickchand has reiterated the importance of keeping the project on schedule while ensuring

under President Ali's Healthy Streets Initiative – an urban renewal project being executed in collaboration with the United Kingdom-based The King's Foundation to create healthier, greener, safer, and more functional public spaces in the city. During the visit, engineers outlined both the practical and aesthetic elements guiding the transformation of the avenue. Particular attention was given to ensuring that the roadway, avenue, and drainage infrastructure function cohesively, with the President stressing the importance of appropriate levels between the road, drains, and avenue as works progress. Moreover, the Head of State also shared his vision for the completed space and provided input on several aspects of the design. Drawing

that its green character is preserved. She stressed that existing trees should not be unnecessarily boxed off as the avenue is developed, with the project intended to work with and enhance the existing natural environment. Following the engagement, President Ali and Minister Manickchand walked the length of the project area with lead engineers Raul Boyer and Satrohan Nauth, other engineers, Project Manager Gregory Sukull, and other officials to further assess the ongoing works and the progress made to date. Meanwhile, this Thomas Street project forms part of the government's broader efforts to transform Georgetown through sustainable urban development while creating public spaces that are more

accessible, attractive, and responsive to the needs of the people who use them. Only earlier this week, Minister Manickchand visited the Thomas Street project alongside representatives of The King's Foundation to assess ongoing works. These visits come on the heels of His Majesty King Charles' upcoming visit to Georgetown. The King, who founded the organisation back in 1990 and serves as its Royal Patron, will embark on a State Visit to Guyana from October 29 to 30. Among the events on his packed agenda, the British Royal will tour a garden in Georgetown and learn about the park's botanical features and ongoing conservation work within the city. His Majesty will also meet young Guyanese people from environmental clubs taking part in activities focused on sustainability and conservation. King Charles' visit to Guyana will also coincide with the Global Biodiversity Alliance Conference, set for October 30 and 31. There, he will meet scientists, Indigenous community members, and innovators to hear about their work on biodiversity, conservation, and restoration. His Majesty will also hear about the work of the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development, an organisation that manages roughly 371,000 hectares of tropical forest in Guyana, and of which His Majesty has been Patron since 2000, following a visit to the forest as Prince of Wales. The King will wrap up his engagements in Guyana along the Georgetown seawall, where he will engage participants from the Wilton Park Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Initiative Dialogue to hear about the practical steps being taken toward sustainable urbanisation ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda. Whilst at the seawall, His Majesty will also hear about the renewed focus on mangrove restoration and the work being undertaken to replant mangroves that help protect Georgetown's coastline and encourage wildlife to flourish. King Charles has long backed Guyana's environmental leadership and continues his support for sustainable development in the country through collaborations with The King's Foundation. These include the Georgetown Urban Framework Plan. Developed in collaboration with national and local stakeholders, the Framework Plan has been created by experts in The King's Foundation's

Projects Team. It sets out a long-term vision to transform Guyana's capital city, Georgetown, into a resilient, connected, and inclusive capital that balances heritage protection with modern, low-carbon growth. The plan addresses some of the city's most pressing challenges, including drainage and flood resilience, transport and mobility, urban expansion, and the protection of historic buildings. Working alongside the Office of the President and other key national stakeholders, The King's Foundation

Works on the avenue along Thomas Street in Georgetown are progressing

has helped shape a strategy that reimagines Georgetown as a garden city, supporting

walkable neighbourhoods and revitalising its historic waterfront.

8 NEWS

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Home Affairs Ministry employee fired after assaulting female gas station attendant prosecution. He is expected to face criminal charges early next week. The incident occurred after Ferrier reportedly purchased several cylinders of cooking gas from the station. According to the victim, Ashley Ramascindo from Kuru Kururu Squatting Area, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, she assisted Ferrier with his purchase but refused to help him load the cylinders onto his truck. She said that after she walked away, Ferrier Fired: Andika Ferrier

n employee of the Home Affairs Ministry has been fired following an assault on a young female service station attendant, which was captured on camera. This was confirmed by Subject Minister, Oneidge Walrond who stated that the employee, Andika Ferrier was terminated from his position at the Ministry after he was arrested in connection with the incident. Ferrier was reportedly arrested shortly after the assault and later released on station bail after being informed of the intended

The attended lying on the ground after being slapped

slapped her, causing her to fall. Ramascindo sustained injuries and was taken to the hospital after reportedly losing consciousness briefly following the assault. The incident has reportedly left her traumatised. The assault was captured on surveillance footage, which subsequently led to Ferrier's arrest and the disciplinary action against him by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Thinking…

… rich

ome folks are clearly stuck in the era when we used to be accused of going around the world with a begging bowl!! Looking at our Government’s borrowing has raised the alarm bell. I suggest the marshals are already approaching the seawall to garnish our country!! The fact of the matter is a country’s debt can’t be judged just by counting the zeros – you gotta examine its income, repayment obligations and what the borrowing actually builds!! Sure, our debt’s growing – public and publicly guaranteed debt was US$8.57 billion by June, up from US$7.74 billion at the end of 2025. While that deserves scrutiny, it doesn’t, by itself, establish that we’re borrowing beyond our means – which is increasing!! We gotta look at the repayment burden, where debt service absorbed 5.5 per cent of Government revenue in 2025, versus 8.5 per cent in 2020!! Similarly, overall debt was 28.6 per cent of GDP - waay below the 47.4 per cent in 2020!! What’s game-changing is the improvement in our oil entitlement, with Pressie announcing in August that we’re now entitled to 39.8 per cent of Stabroek crude production – following Exxon’s consortium’s recovery of accumulated investment costs!! That substantially strengthens our country’s revenue prospects and our capacity to repay development loans!! So, critics need to update their arithmetic – a debt burden assessed against yesterday’s revenues can give a misleading picture of tomorrow’s repayment capacity!! So why borrow when oil money’s flowing? Well, because infrastructure demands large upfront payments – while its benefits stretch over decades!! Affordable loans – and THAT’s the key – can allow us to complete essential investments sooner while retaining financial reserves!! Cause borrowing carries interest costs and preserving savings makes sense when the financing terms, project benefits and value of maintaining a buffer justify it – as it does!! After all, there’s a cost to waiting – farmers lose produce on miserable roads; businesses spend money generating their own electricity, and flooding destroys household savings!! Those losses don’t appear in the critics’ debt calculations, but Guyanese pay them all the same!! ' Cause the strongest defence of borrowing is therefore the productive economy it can create - reliable power, transport, drainage, education and healthcare can make businesses more competitive and citizens more capable. Oil revenues offer an opportunity to finance that transformation before petroleum income eventually peters out!! Now all of this doesn’t mean that the Government doesn’t have to be careful – it always should be!! But we gotta accept that we have stronger grounds for development borrowing than we had before oil!! The real debate, then, should be over affordability, execution and results – and there have been some valid criticisms here like with the Wales GtE project!! Let the critics examine those matters closely!! But shouting “debt” whenever a bridge or hospital is financed contributes precious little to building our country!! …about Ministerial ineptitude They say “moon does run till daylight, ketch am”, don’t they?? Well, it’s revealed that the Sanctimonious Gangster’s disastrous appointment of Minister of Agriculture ran deeper than we’d learnt!! And that’s saying quite a lot for a fellow who didn’t know the difference between a cane field and a rice field!! All he knew – from books – that they were members of the grass family!! - yet was put in a position to decide their fates!! And decide he did, didn’t he?? One industry was almost shut down – throwing thousands of workers into the bread lines – while the other saw its markets shrink and prices plunge!! But that pales in comparison to the revelation that the fella single-handedly torpedoed our Gilbakka trade to the US – leaving hundreds of thousands of our compatriots in New York suffering from withdrawal symptoms that are still manifesting themselves!! Seems the deskbound wonder received a questionnaire from the USDA about our Gilbakka processing – and faked the answers!! A failure in paperwork too!! …about Chinese funding It’s been revealed that the Chinese 76-year-old killer of the six-year-old kid owed US$3M to the kid’s parents. That's GY$660 Million!! Can you imagine the turnover these Chinese restaurants are having?? Guyanese eating out!! 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

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

10 NEWS

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

More than 3700 students to graduate at UG’s 60th Convocation

he University of Guyana (UG) is preparing to celebrate a significant milestone as it hosts its 60th Annual Graduation Ceremonies, with more than 3700 graduands set to receive their degrees, diplomas and certificates this November. The ceremonies will take place at the Turkeyen Campus on November 17 and 18, followed by the University of Guyana’s (UG) Berbice Campus on November 20, and the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE) Extra-Mural Programme graduation on November 28. The ceremonies will celebrate the achievements of students who are joining

the national, regional and international workforce. The institution is set to graduate more than 3700 students, making this one of the largest graduating cohorts in the institution’s history.

The schedule of Graduation Ceremonies is as follows:

Tuesday, November 17, 9:00h – 11:30h: Faculty of Engineering and Technology; and School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation. Tuesday, November 17, 16:00h – 18:30h: Faculty of Natural Sciences; College of Medical Sciences; Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences; and Faculty of Agriculture

and Forestry. Wednesday, November 18, 9:00h – 12:00h Faculty of Education and Humanities. Wednesday, November 18, 16:00h – 19:00h Faculty of Social Sciences; UG’s Institute of Distance and Continuing Education; Institute for Human Resiliency, Strategic Security and the Future; and College of Behavioural Sciences and Research. Friday, November 20 at 15:00h University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC) Graduation Ceremony The four ceremonies for graduands of the Turkeyen Campus will be held at the Sattaur and Ameena

Students of the College of Medical Sciences at the University of Guyana’s 2025 Convocation Exercise at the Turkeyen Campus

Gafoor Multipurpose Auditorium. The ceremony for UGBC graduands will take

place at the University Lawns, Berbice Campus, Tain Settlement, while the IDCE Extra-Mural

Programme graduation will be held at the Sattaur and Ameena Gafoor Multipurpose Auditorium.

NEWS

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Convicted wife beater seeks High Court bail, remains on bench at Sparendaam Police Station

Life Practices A Roar by Ravi Dev

s Rambishoon settled into De Willem’s plantation life, he realised that the rhythm from the demands of “agreement”/Girmit had a most profound effect on the quality of his life. With only Saturday afternoons after getting paid and Sundays as his own, he was inducted one Saturday into visiting a rum shop on the De Willem Public Road, where a ramshackle village had coalesced by freed Africans, who had Ravi Dev departed the logies and built cottages on either side of the road. The Portuguese, preceding the Indians into indentureship, and the Chinese who followed, had quickly monopolised the rum shops as well as “salt goods” stores that did brisk business there. Time-expired Indian indentureds gradually joined them and started to build cottages modelled on the houses they had left behind in India. While Rambishoon was very lonely and enjoyed the camaraderie of the rum shop, he did not enjoy counting the money remaining that he could “put away” that week and resolved those rum shops were not his thing. After he married Sanicharie, he would occasionally purchase a “flattie” of rum the smallest bottle available and measuring an eighth of a pint – to drink before the special meal on Saturday evenings. His son, my Nana Ramlagan, would follow this practice, and I never saw him inside a rum shop in the years I lived with him before he passed. I purchased his “flattie” most Fridays from a side window of the Chinese rum shop, Chee-a-Tow. While being “religious” was an alien concept to Rambishoon and his fellow 19th-century indentured labourers, he was used to the practice of being the “jajman” of a village Brahmin who would be invited to perform various pujas in the family compound. “His Brahmin” family lived in a separate section, or “tola”, of Ishmailpur. This relationship was a hereditary one, and they had a tight web of reciprocal duties of which pujas were only one. There were the consultations regarding the suitability of brides and bridegrooms and the performance of weddings and other life-cycle rituals (the sixteen sanskaras), like the naming of children and the final immolation on the pyre. At De Willem, there were a few individuals preceding Rambishoon who had asserted their Brahmin lineage and started performing family rituals for individuals and families in the logies. They were typically time-expired immigrants or British Guianaborn, and bereft of texts, relying on memory and traditions passed down from parents and elders, adapted their practices to their new realities. One interesting adaptation was the formation of new “jajmani” relationships that slowly transcended the old, rigid caste distinctions. Sadly, anti-Chamar prejudices stubbornly persisted. One of the first rituals that Rambishoon witnessed was the burial rites (Anteyeshi) for the deaths that occurred almost weekly in Zeeburg-De Willem, where he realised to his horror that, legally, they could not be cremated but buried. They were interred in a burial ground immediately south of the Zeeburg Public Road. In Rambishoon’s Ishmailpur, recitations of the Ram Katha – the story of Sri Ram from Tulsidas’ Ramcharitmanas – written in the vernacular were quite popular, and everyone could chant favourite verses (Chaupis or dohas) that guided their lives. Rambishoon’s was “Karma pradhāna bisva kari rākhā | Jo jasa karai so tasa phalu chākhā – Action (karma/hard work) is the ruling principle of this universe. Whoever acts reaps the fruits corresponding directly to their efforts.” This Ram Katha tradition was continued in the logies informally during chantings in the evening gatherings after work in the logies or more formally on Sundays when collections would sponsor visits by Brahmin exponents – fiercely contested by local exponents. The Indian practice of parsad, or mohanbhog, being served, was continued along with communal feeding. Another practice that was transformed in Zeeburg-De Willem was the sponsoring by families – as in North India – of Satyanarayan Kathas, consisting of five chapters from the Skanda Puran, as an offering of thanks to the Supreme on full-moon (Purnima) nights. An exponent’s (Pandit’s) primary qualifications in the 19th century were simply the ability to chant the Ramayan and navigate the steps of the Satyanarayan rituals. To Rambishoon’s great consternation, the Chhath Puja, performed universally and ostentatiously by agriculturalists like Kurmis in the Bhojpuri belt for life-giving Surya (the Sun) for familial well-being, could not be replicated in De Willem – or the rest of British Guiana for that matter. Not requiring Brahmin participation, the rigours of the four-day festival, demanding days of complete fasting and the institutional memory of women, were made impossible by the procrustean plantation order. The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

Director of the National Border Patrol and former Region Four Chairman Daniel Seeram

irector of National Border Patrol and former Region Four Chairman, Daniel Seeram, who had been convicted of assaulting his former wife and remanded to prison until his sentencing hearing, has approached the High Court for bail. The application was made on his behalf by attorney Nigel Hughes on Friday after his court appearance at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court, where the presiding Magistrate, Abigail Gibbs, found him guilty of assaulting his former wife.

As such, High Court judge Justice Joy PersaudSingh ordered Seeram to remain in Police custody at

Defence Attorney Nigel Hughes

Sparendaam Police Station until his application is heard on Monday, October 5, 2026. However, Magistrate Gibbs had ordered a probation report, a victim impact statement, and submissions on aggravating and mitigating factors ahead of Seeram’s sentencing, which is set for November 2. 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 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 accused 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

Justice Joy Persaud-Singh

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-inlaw 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.

TGA to launch weekly nonstop flights to French Guiana under new Air Service Agreement

ays after Guyana inked a modernised Air Services Agreement with the French Republic, Trans Guyana Airways (TGA) welcomed the initiative, stating that it demonstrates the direct impact that progressive Government policy and aviation diplomacy can have on private-sector growth and national development. The first agreement was signed approximately 50 years ago, in 1976. TGA, in a statement on Saturday, stated that the modernised bilateral frame-

work will create new market access and, more importantly, will open a tangible commercial opportunity for a local operator to expand its international footprint, develop a new route, and contribute directly to greater regional connectivity. “The signing demonstrates that international aviation engagement can move beyond dialogue and translate into real opportunities for Guyanese businesses, travelers, and the wider economy,” TGA stated. However, under the

Agreement, TGA has been designated by Guyana to operate scheduled services between Guyana and French Guiana, which includes passengers and cargo. As such, TGA stated that it has already commenced the necessary administrative and regulatory preparations with the relevant authorities, with the intention of launching at least two weekly nonstop flights between Georgetown and Cayenne, subject to the required operating approvals. A journey that can currently take as much as 24

hours by existing surface connections could be reduced to approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes by air. Direct access to Cayenne can create onward connectivity opportunities through airlines serving French Guiana, including Air France, strengthening Guyana’s links with the French Caribbean, Europe, and other markets. It can also stimulate two-way tourism, business travel, investment, and trade while improving the movement of people and goods across the Guiana Shield. On this note, the airline commended the Government of Guyana for creating an enabling environment in which Guyanese private enterprise can convert national aviation policy into commercial activity, jobs, connectivity and economic value. “TGA looks forward to playing its part in turning this landmark agreement into an operating air bridge between Georgetown and Cayenne, bringing Guyana and French Guiana closer together and creating new opportunities for our people, businesses and region,” the release added.

12 NEWS 100 low-income homes at Le Reconnaissance Housing Development set for Jan 2027 completion SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

The houses under construction

he 100 low-income homes that are being constructed at the Le Reconnaissance Housing Development, East Coast Demerara (ECD) are approximately 15 per cent complete and

are expected to be completed by the end of January 2027 and handed over to the allottees. The two-bedroom units, valued at $5.6 million each have all been allocated and the eight contractors are

currently executing the works, with more than 120 workers employed on the project. Housing Minister, Collin Croal during an inspection of the works on Friday related that the de-

velopment forms part of the Government’s broader approach to increasing the supply of constructed homes, particularly as more applicants are expressing a preference for completed units rather than residential lots alone. “The demand for built units is high, and we have moved beyond just speaking about allocations. There are many persons who are working and want to have the finished product.” He explained that traditional construction will remain an important component of the housing programme even as the Ministry advances new approaches, including prefabricated and modular housing, to support the Government’s target of constructing 40,000 homes over the next five years. “The traditional way of constructing houses will continue. What we are trying to do does not displace the conventional type of housing construction,” the

Construction workers at the site

Minister stated. Croal also highlighted the employment opportunities being generated through the project. He noted that contractors continue to require additional skilled workers, including masons, demonstrating the wider economic benefits of the Government’s housing programme. The Minister further disclosed that another housing initiative will soon be announced to support persons who already own land but require assistance accessing con-

tractors to construct their homes. Overall, approximately 175 low-income homes form part of the housing programme at Le Reconnaissance. The 100 units currently under construction complement an earlier block of 75 homes. The visit forms part of the Ministry’s ongoing monitoring of housing projects countrywide to ensure that construction progresses within established timelines while expanding access to affordable homeownership.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

18 FEATURE

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

eauty in Black star Crystle Stewart has put Caribbean fashion in the spotlight by wearing a look by Caribbean designer Andrea Wilson for a photoshoot in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). Stewart wore a piece from the Guyaneseborn designer’s Eruption Collection – a gold and blue ripped maxi skirt paired with a matching hooded crop top with a deep V-cut front, along with a gold bikini – for the shoot at Long Bay Beach Resort in the West End of Tortola.

“She looks stunning,” shared the swim and resort wear designer from her Tortola studio and boutique. “The look captures the essence of Caribbean glamour, pairing resort wear with the crystal blue waters of the British Virgin Islands in the backdrop – that is Caribbean luxury.” The collection takes its inspiration from the volcanic eruptions that shaped the Caribbean islands, translating that influence into resort wear designed for the region’s sun, sea, and landscape.

For Wilson, the shoot brings together several elements of the fashion world she has spent a decade building around her Islander Swim Collection: Caribbean design, resort wear, destination imagery, and an international audience. The star of the hit Netflix show, produced by Tyler Perry and now in its third season, wore the resort wear during her visit to the BVI as the celebrity host of the territory’s

16th Annual Summer Sizzle BVI in July. The photographs were taken by acclaimed New York City photographer Michael William Paul, with the shoot produced by MWP Studios. Wilson has lived in the BVI for 25 years. Her Islander Swim Collection focuses on swimwear and resort pieces that draw on the Caribbean setting and her love for the Amazon in her homeland.

Over the years, she has made appearances beyond the BVI, with shows in the Caribbean and Los Angeles. This year, she made her debut in New York, the fashion capital, with her “I Landed In The Big Apple” show during New York Fashion Week in February. She also presented her first runway show at Origins, Guyana’s premier fashion event, in July, connecting her work with the country where her Caribbean story began. Stewart’s choice to wear Wilson’s Eruption Collection comes at a moment when the designer is expanding the reach of her Caribbean fashion label while remaining rooted in the BVI. The international attention surrounding Beauty in Black has also given Stewart a substantial global audience. The Miss USA 2008 winner shared moments from her trip in the BVI with her social media following, reaching an audience of nearly 5.6 million, with more than 2.6 million unique interactions. Her itinerary included a private sailing excursion to Virgin Gorda, with a visit to the Baths and lunch at Top of the Baths. “The British Virgin Islands were absolutely magical. From the fashion and photography to sailing through the islands, every moment was a celebration of beauty, creativity, and positive energy. I’m so grateful to Summer Sizzle BVI for such an unforgettable experience,” Stewart shared in a recent statement released by Summer Sizzle. Wilson thanked Stewart for choosing The Islander Swim Collection for the photoshoot and Summer Sizzle Founder Terry Donovan for helping make this moment possible. Founder and CEO of Summer Sizzle BVI, Terry Donovan, said, “Crystle was the perfect celebrity host for Summer Sizzle BVI,” adding, “Her star power, her connection to Beauty in Black, and her genuine appreciation for the British Virgin Islands helped bring an incredible international spotlight to the destination.” Summer Sizzle has provided a platform for Wilson and other Caribbean designers to present their work alongside international fashion talent, helping to position the BVI as a setting for regional creativity.

FEATURE

Teachers’ Day 2026

Vonetta Wills

here was once a time when you could not even tie your shoelaces properly, and someone was always there to bend down, take your little hands in theirs, and patiently show you how. There was a time when the letters on a page refused to make sense, when words stumbled from your lips, and a gentle voice was there to help you sound them out. How could you ever dare to forget the times when standing in assembly every morning felt like a chore, when each minute seemed like an hour? In fact, between those first letters that had no crutches, untied shoelaces and those long assembly lines, teachers were quietly preparing you for life – even when you could not get it right the first time. Written on the whiteboards of our hearts are permanent markers that teachers left in our lives – impressions that cannot simply be erased, no

Inspiration

In recounting the genesis of where she began teaching, Fiona Smith, who has been teaching for some 18 years, is currently a teacher at St Margret’s and reported that her nursery school teacher, Miss Roxanne, inspired her to become a teacher. She said Miss Roxanne had a lot of patience, zeal and zest, which she brought to her students. According to Smith, there was never a sad day for her at nursery school because of Miss Roxanne. “The journey wasn’t an easy one, becoming a teacher; however, because that is what I wanted as a child, I knew within me that I was going to take the necessary steps to become a teacher when I got older.” In fact, when she looks back at where her inspiration stemmed from, she says motherhood also strengthened her desire to

how some of her former and present students treat her. “And over the years that I’ve been teaching, my past students, my present students, and even my parents can attest to the fact that Smith goes above and beyond for her students in the classroom, as well as outside of the classroom. And it’s not just with my students. If my parents have a problem or a concern, they’re able to call me. We’re able to deal with whatever situation is going on with that child or with them or with others in society as well. So, seeing what my nursery school teacher would have modelled, I was able to model that same attitude, those same attributes that would have helped me today in the classroom.” Smith said she spent some of those years teaching in private schools and others in the Government school system while also reflecting on her

Francesca Melville matter how many years have passed. This Teachers’ Day, which is set to be celebrated on Monday, bears a different kind of memory, as Guyana Times caught up with several teachers who rolled back the hands of time, recalling where their own journeys began and the teachers who, in fact, helped the tiny hands of children take their first steps towards becoming who they are today.

teach. “And looking back, I have no regrets about making that decision. Well, as I got older and I had my son, what I wanted for him, I wanted for other children as well. So, the same patience, the same care and love that I would have stretched out to him – that is the care and love that I would have portrayed to all of my students.” This same blueprint, handed down from how she wanted to treat her son, has reaped many benefits, even in

most memorable moment in her teaching career, describing it as a significant experience that she could recall at the top of her head and share with others over the years. “There are so many moments that were amazing in my teaching journey, but off the top of my head, the recent class that I would have promoted to Grade Five, they wanted me to go with them. I would have taught them in Grade Three, and they wanted me to go over with them in Grade Four. I’ve never done

that, but I chose to because I saw that they needed that little – they needed that extra help. And I said, ‘You know what, I can’t leave them there,’” she stated, as a warm smile enveloped her face. “I would have moved from Grade Three with them to Grade Four, and I said to them, ‘I’m not going to Grade Five with you because I would have prepared you well.’” One day in the classroom, one of the students said, ‘Miss, we’re going to miss you. TURN TO PAGE 22

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Shequana Ambrose teaching

20 FEATURE

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

From L-R: Miss Teen India Worldwide 2nd Runner-Up - Janvi Mohanlall, Miss India Worldwide 1stRunner-Up - Dharmini Meghoo and Mrs India Worldwide 1stRunner-Up - Romona Singh

uyana has again made its mark on the international pageantry stage. Three representatives from Guyana secured three placements at the recently concluded Miss, Mrs and Teen India Worldwide 2026 pageant held in Trinidad and Tobago. The Grand Coronation took place on Thursday evening at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain Trinidad. Delegates from around the world gathered for an evening that celebrated beauty, culture, talent, confidence and excellence. The 2026 event was the Miss India Worldwide, the

9th Mrs India Worldwide and the 6th Teen India Worldwide. It was a milestone for this internationally recognised pageant. Guyana was represented by the reigning Miss India Guyana 2026 Mrs India Guyana 2026 and Teen India Guyana 2026 queens. Each queen delivered a performance and earned a place in the Top 3 finalists of their international competitions. Dharmini Meghoo, Miss India Guyana 2026 was crowned Miss India Worldwide 1st RunnerUp 2026. Romona Singh, Mrs.

From L-R: Natio nal Director, Ha shim Alli along with three Guya nese representa tive and Vice President – of th e franchise, Mel icia Partab

hind the scenes. From preparation and styling to logistics, sponsorship, travel arrangements and delegation support their combined efforts made Guyana’s international participation possible. For Meghoo, Singh and Mohanlall the experience was far more than competing for titles. They carried the culture, spirit and pride of Guyana while representing their country before an audience at

India Guyana 2026 earned the title of Mrs India Worldwide 1st RunnerUp 2026. Janvi Mohanlall, Miss Teen India Guyana 2026 secured the title of Teen India Worldwide 2nd RunnerUp 2026. These results are an achievement for Guyana. All three delegates finished in the Top 3 of their international competitions. Guyana’s delegation also earned two awards during the competition beyond the major titles. Singh received the Mrs Catwalk Award for her elegance, confidence and commanding presence on the runway. Mohanlall was honoured with the Teen Best Talent Award highlighting her talent and performance throughout the competition. Together the three queens brought home three international placements and two special awards. It was a night for Guyana. While the spotlight shines on the three queens Guyana’s franchise emphasised that international success came from an effort. A dedicated team and unwavering support from sponsors, partners, contributors, family members, supporters and wellwishers helped achieve this. Special recognition was given to Dianna Heralal, the delegation’s makeup artist and hairstylist. Her artist-

ry, professionalism and attention to detail helped the queens look and feel their best throughout the competition. Special appreciation was also given to Alicia Bess-Anderson of Prestige Pageant Management. Her expertise, mentorship, coaching and dedicated preparation gave the queens confidence, skills and poise to represent Guyana on the stage. The organisation also acknowledged individuals who worked tirelessly be-

the grand NAPA stage in Port of Spain. Their accomplishments reflect dedication, preparation, teamwork and perseverance. They also highlight the growing presence of pageantry on the international stage. With three 3 international placements and two special awards Guyana’s delegation returned home with achievements that will be remembered as a proud chapter, in Guyana’s pageantry history.

NEWS

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

UMAMI takes Guyanese products to Gulf Market with 1st shipment to Qatar

President Dr Irfaan Ali and First Lady Arya Ali along with Chair and Managing Director of Abu Dhabi‑based LuLu Group International, MA Yusuff Ali and other officials during their visit to Qatar last month

MAMI Incorporated has reached a milestone for Guyanese manufacturing and agro-processing as its first container shipment left for LuLu Hypermarket in Qatar. The container left Guyana at the start of Agriculture Month 2026, showing how local

products can enter markets abroad. The export comes after UMAMI launched officially in Doha in September, marking a move from introduction to steady commercial trade. Importantly, the shipment shows that a Guyaneseowned and Guyanese-made

brand can compete outside its own borders, as products made in Guyana by local workers reach Gulf consumers. For UMAMI, this shipment is more than one export as it highlights a chance for Guyana to add value to its farms by creating processed

and manufactured goods, building brands that compete worldwide, and opening new markets for local companies. President Dr Irfaan Ali welcomed the development, calling the shipment an example of Guyana turning economic promise into real trade. He stated that deliberate work has been done to strengthen business links between Guyana, Qatar and the wider Gulf region, and he urged the sector to grow trade through these new partnerships. According to the President, UMAMI’s first

commercial shipment shows what Guyanese manufacturers can achieve by investing in quality, meeting standards, building production capacity, and keeping longterm goals while partnering with established global players like LuLu to reach new customers. Every container of value-added products shipped abroad, he noted, helps strengthen Brand Guyana and creates opportunities for farmers, manufacturers, and workers. It also supports Guyana’s effort to move past exporting raw goods and toward a more varied, competitive manufacturing and ex-

port economy. The Guyanese Head of State during his visit to Qatar last month met with the Chair and Managing Director of Abu Dhabi‑based LuLu Group International, M. A. Yusuff Ali. During that meeting, the LuLu boss expressed his commitment to invest in Guyana and said a technical team will visit within 30 days to explore opportunities. LuLu Retail is one of the largest retailers in the Gulf Co‑operation Council (GCC), operating 267 stores across six countries with a global sourcing network spanning 85 nations.

DCP Budhram urges public to make use of Govt cancer screening initiatives

Breast Cancer Awareness Walk 2026

eputy Police Commissioner (DPC) for Operations in the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Ravindradat Budhram has sounded an urgent call for citizens to utilise several initiatives implemented by the Government that are currently available at their disposal to detect all cancerous ailments. He made this call during an awareness walk on Saturday to observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month under the theme “Every story is unique, every journey matters.” According to Budhram, this event was one that birthed deep remembrance for persons in Guyana who have suffered at the hands of cancer. “The significance of today’s walk was the remembrance of those who have suffered, who didn’t have sufficient health care as

compared to now; there are systems to check and ensure that there is all de-

He added, “We also want to remember those individuals who have con-

tection of the disease so that it can be prevented, treated, or addressed at an early stage. We want to appeal to the forces to utilise the facilities that are available for early detection and early treatment. Finally, discuss the issues with the doctors, the health care workers, and their relatives.”

tributed significantly to the initiatives, different programmes, and funding to ensure that life prevails.” Additionally, it was underlined that various events are planned for the awareness month, with the walk being inaugural. “So today, while the force has planned a num-

ber of activities, today is the first one. We would like to take the opportunity on behalf of the Commissioner of Police and the entire force to wish all those who are suffering a speedy recovery.” In February of 2026, it was reported that Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony stated that cancer screening, which stood at that time at 20,000, was low and needed to be increased in order for the disease to be detected and prevented at an early stage. Back then, he reiterated that by the end of 2026, the aim is to double that figure. However, he stressed that achieving this target will require the support and cooperation of stakeholders, including various

medical institutions and more importantly, the citizenry. While access to the programme is relatively easier along the coastline-where individuals can present vouchers and receive services-reaching residents in the hinterland regions remains challenging, the Minister stated. Meanwhile, the Government introduced

a Universal Health Care Voucher in 2025 to the tune of $10,000 to cover essential screening and laboratory tests. This $5 billion initiative targets some 500,000 persons with the aim of increasing the willingness of Guyanese to get screened for potential illnesses, thus enabling them to access preventative healthcare if necessary.

22 NEWS

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Uncustomed alcohol found during CANU operation at rented Windsor Estates property T

hree persons were arrested following the discovery of a quantity of uncustomed alcohol during an operation by the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) on Saturday at a rented property in Windsor Estates, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD). CANU, in a release, stated that the property is owned by Ernesto Choo-aFat, but was rented by one of the suspects. CANU also clarifies that Choo-a-Fat is not the subject of the operation, nor is he the subject of any in-

CANU ranks at the property on Saturday

vestigations being conducted by the drug enforcement body. Nevertheless, despite reports that a quantity of high-profile guns was seized during the operation, CANU stated that the officers did not find any narcotics during the operation. An investigation is underway. Meanwhile, Choo-a-Fat, through his attorney, Sase Gunraj, said the property had been rented for more than three years, and, as such, his client is neither in possession nor in control of it.

The statement was made in response to a social media post published by Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed on Saturday regarding an operation conducted by CANU. Gunraj contended that the statements contained in Mohamed’s post were false, malicious, and defamatory and had seriously damaged his client’s reputation. As a result, legal proceedings have since been initiated against Mohamed in connection with the alleged defamatory statements.

FROM PAGE 19

You’re not like those other teachers that are on their cell phones all the time. Miss, you work with me. Miss, you make sure that when you put the work on the board, Miss, we understand it. Miss, the other teachers, they don’t do that.’”

Distinct methodology

we should listen also, so as a young

“My experience thus far being a teacher, I would say, some days it’s good, some days it’s bad. But most of the time, I’m open-minded. Because at any given point in time, a situation comes up to us, and as teachers, they did not go out there looking for us to do the job; we went to them. So, open-minded. And it’s a learning process.” When asked what inspired her

It is clear, however, that different teachers Fiona Smith have their own distinct journeys. Francessa Melville, y activity ring a school fun da du ls pi who teaches a wide pu r he d an e Shequana Ambros range of subjects at St Margaret’s Primary School, person who highlighted that wants to pursue teaching, she is in love with working with children and patience is very important, helping them learn. and you must be able to “Watching them be curious to learn listen. You must be able to new things and to discover new things for communicate well.” themselves and helping them along that path... When asked about Wow, wow, wow. So, in terms of now where her best moment during challenges may come up, where it’s probably her teaching career, she hard for a child to learn a particular area – what highlighted the joy that subject do you teach? I teach all the subjects.” comes when students Speaking with her, it was easy to see the finally understand what glee on her face when she remembered her they are being taught. pupils. It can be fair to say that this is the “There’s so much. All reason why she enjoys going over topics with right. So, having a wow her students. moment is all teachers Her teaching method, she explained, is one Fiona Smith and he want. That’s what we r pupils centred on patience and repetition. long for. When our “For me, I usually go through things over, children can understand and over, and over. And for my children, I go and grasp concepts and things slowly so that they can understand. If things like that, and look at our pupils’ faces they don’t get it the first time I explain, I go when they get something right or when they to become a teacher, Ambrose pointed to her over it again. And if they don’t get it, then I call discover something new for themselves. That is mother, who is also a teacher. them to my table. I give them that one-on-one “My mom, she actually inspired me to one of the things I am really, really, really proud and see what the problem is. If it’s because I’m become a teacher. Growing up with a single of – to see the expression on their faces.” doing it in a large group setting or whatever the mom – well, she was a teacher. Well, not was. case is, I call them to my table, and I explain. She is currently still a teacher. You know, she Open-minded And most of the time they would get it. I wish was juggling her job and looking after three There is also a bright, shining light radiating I was a child again because, boy, I would have children at one time. And she did all she could from a new teacher on the scene. Do not, enjoyed that class.” within that profession to make sure that her for one minute, take your eyes off her. She is With the experience she has gained over children were okay. And visiting her classrooms helping to sharpen the young minds of Guyana the years, she strongly advised new teachers to and so on.” and has much to say about the teaching exercise patience as they begin their careers, Even at her young age, Ambrose relayed profession, having experienced it for herself. particularly as they take on the responsibility that Teachers’ Day is of much significance to Shequana Ambrose, who is also a teacher of guiding and educating young minds. her, as it provides an opportunity to recognise “I would say as long as you have patience, at the St Margaret’s Primary School, has been the work teachers do for children and their in the profession for approximately four years. as long as you’re good with communicating, families. Reflecting on her experience thus far, you have to be willing to listen and willing to “Well, to me, Teachers’ Day means Ambrose said teaching has presented both learn. As teachers, many times we feel like we appreciating the things that teachers do good and challenging days, but she remains go there, and we talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, all the for their children. As one of my colleagues time. The children should listen. But as teachers, open-minded and understands that every mentioned, not just the children, but the situation is an opportunity to learn.

parents as well. Teachers fill in so many gaps to help the parents in, you know, holding them.” Career paths Meanwhile, Vonetta Wills, a Grade Five teacher also at the St Margaret’s Primary School, reflected on what inspired her to become a teacher. Wills said that before completing high school, she was contemplating which career path to pursue. She recalled having a discussion with her aunt, during which she expressed an interest in becoming an air hostess. However, her aunt advised her that working as an air hostess would require knowledge of several languages. Wills said that at the time, she was not particularly strong in Spanish, which led her to reconsider her career choice. As a result, she decided to scratch becoming an air hostess off her list, which she described as one of the best decisions she has ever made in her life. “After I joined the profession, I recognised that this is something I love. The whole idea of having to deal with children and the uniqueness that each child comes with helped me to love the work, to love the profession. And I am a people person normally. And so, with that, as the children gravitated to me, I also gravitated to them and ended up loving the job as a teacher.” As for her encouragement to other teachers, Wills said, “What I would advise anyone who is interested in becoming a teacher is that if it’s something that you really want to do, you can go for it. For me, I find teaching has been very rewarding because it has really helped me to understand humans more, human psychology more, even after going through all of the training at CPCE and even the University of Guyana.” World Teachers’ Day is celebrated annually on October 5 to honour educators and recognise their vital role in shaping society and future generations.

NEWS

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

AI, Agriculture & technology take centre stage at 20th edition of Berbice Expo

Berbice Expo has histor- ers, but its impact has also itors with the consumer ex– over 150 exhibitors, 180 booths on display the ically extended beyond the been reflected in public-safe- posure that remains at the

he 20th edition of Berbice Expo and Trade Fair opened on Friday evening with a record exhibitor turnout, bringing together more than 150 exhibitors occupying over 180 booths in a wide-ranging showcase of business, production, services, technology and entrepreneurship. Thousands of patrons moved through the Rose Hall Canje Welfare Ground, East Canje, on opening night, where established companies shared exhibition space with small businesses, agro-processors, manufacturers and entrepreneurs. Organised by the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (CCCC), the four-day exposition is being held under the theme, “Harnessing AI to Transform the Future While Enhancing Our People.” The diversity of the exhibits reflected how far the event has developed beyond a conventional trade fair. Agriculture and agro-processing featured alongside manufacturing, financial services, housing and construction, heavy machinery, motor vehicles, packaging, timber products, locally made goods and emerging technology. Agriculture, one of the traditional pillars of the Berbice economy, maintained a strong presence, with exhibits covering areas including fisheries, food safety and hydroponics. The displays also demonstrated the increasingly important relationship between production and technology. Agricultural and industrial machinery showed the role mechanisation can play in improving efficiency, while drone technology added another dimension to an Expo being staged under an artificial intelligence (AI)-focused theme. Large machines were among the equipment displayed outdoors, while Nand Persaud and Company showcased agricultural and industrial equipment, machinery and lubricants. Beyond primary production, agro-processing and locally produced foods and beverages showed how agricultural output can be transformed into finished products with greater commercial value. The Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) and

Guyana Shop showcased locally produced and processed goods, placing Guyanese products before the large number of consumers passing through the exhibition. Small producers For small producers, however, getting a product onto the market involves considerably more than producing the raw material. Processing, packaging, pre-

sentation and access to consumers all become part of converting that production into a commercially viable finished product. That link was reflected in the presence of Fullworks, which displayed containers and other packaging products. Timber exhibits provided another practical example of value addition. Dressed lumber was displayed alongside finished decorative pieces, including items fashioned in the shape of Guyana, demonstrating how a locally available raw material can acquire additional value through processing, craftsmanship and finishing. Small businesses and craft producers also occupied booths alongside larger companies, giving entrepreneurs access to the same crowds attracted by estab-

lished brands. That interaction is central to one of the purposes behind the Expo, providing smaller businesses with greater exposure and an op-

portunity to observe, interact with and learn from more established operators while introducing their own products to a wider market. Housing and construction added another dimension to the exhibition. Among the displays was a two-bedroom model or prefabricated house which patrons could enter and inspect. Complete with a fitted kitchen and bathroom, the house allowed prospective homeowners to physically examine what was being offered instead of relying only on photographs, plans or promotional material. Motor vehicles were also displayed, while banking and financial services were represented, including by the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI). The presence of financial institutions alongside housing, vehicles, machinery and businesses was particularly relevant, since ac-

cess to financing is often the bridge between a product being available and a consumer or business being able to invest in it. Massy Distribution was among the established companies represented, while numerous smaller enterprises operated throughout the exhibition ground. Taken together, the exhibits provided a practical snapshot of different parts of economic activity working alongside one another, from production and processing to packaging, financing, marketing, construction, retail and technology. For smaller entrepreneurs, the value of participating can extend beyond sales made during the fourday event. The Expo provides direct access to consumers, an opportunity to

receive feedback on products, establish contacts and potentially reach markets beyond their normal customer base. But the significance of

businesses operating inside the exhibition ground.

Special Projects

Over the years, proceeds generated by the event have been channelled by the CCCC into community-development projects across Berbice, leaving tangible benefits after individual Expos have ended. Among the major projects was the development of the Rose Hall Town Fire Station, which received financial support from proceeds generated by previous Expos and improved access to firefighting services for Rose Hall Town and surrounding communities. Expo proceeds have also supported rehabilitation works at the Felix Austin Police Training Complex and improvements at the Albion Sports Complex and Rose Hall Canje Welfare Ground. Schools have benefited as well, with more than $3 million from Expo proceeds used in one initiative to provide incinerators to 25 schools. Other educational and community initiatives have also received support over the years, reflecting the Chamber’s position that successful business activity should also contribute to the communities in which businesses operate. The use of Expo revenue for those projects gives added significance to the record number of exhibitors participating this year. The event functions as a marketplace for businesses and consum-

ty, educational, sporting and community facilities across Berbice. That record provides an important backdrop to the 20th staging of the event. On opening night, the response from patrons gave organisers an immediate indication of the strength of this year’s Expo. CCCC President Adrian Anamayah described the turnout as “spectacular” and thanked patrons and others who helped make the event

heart of a trade and commercial exhibition. In its 20th year, the Expo therefore brought together two elements that have defined its development: an increasingly diverse commercial platform and a record of returning some of the benefits generated by the event to communities in Berbice. The more than 150 exhibitors and 180-plus booths provided the scale. The range of businesses, products and services provided the sub-

possible. The ground remained packed as live entertainment continued, children enjoyed the rides and patrons moved among the booths and interacted with exhibitors. Anamayah also pointed to the giveaways being offered by participating companies and described the Expo as a “family event.” The entertainment and rides helped create that family atmosphere, while the large crowds provided exhib-

stance — from local producers and entrepreneurs to established companies, machinery and manufacturing, financial services, housing and emerging technology. And beyond the exhibition ground, the projects financed from previous Expo proceeds provide evidence of an event whose value has not been confined to the four days during which its gates are open. The 20th Berbice Expo and Trade Fair concludes on Monday.

24 NEWS Father of 2 dies in 3-vehicle collision at Manchester SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

The now dead Chatram Bridgbasie and his wife in happier times

father of two was killed in a three-vehicle collision along the Manchester Public Road, Corentyne, on Friday evening leaving a father of two dead. The dead man has been identified as 27-yearold Chatram Bridgbasie also known as “Tony,” of Lesbeholden North, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). The accident occurred at about 19:45H and involved a motorcycle, CH 298 which was at the time being driven by the now deceased and two motorcars, PAN 7003 and PAH 1597. Police said PAN 7003 was proceeding along the Manchester Public Road when Bridgbasie, who was

proceeding in the same direction with a 33-year-old pillion rider, allegedly attempted to overtake the vehicle. As such, the motorcyclist lost control collided with the right rear portion of PAN 7003. The motorcycle then swerved and collided with the right side of PAH 1597, which was travelling in the opposite direction. Bridgbasie and the pillion rider fell onto the roadway and sustained injuries. They were picked up and taken to the Port Mourant Public Hospital, where Bridgbasie was pronounced dead. The pillion rider was treated for lacerations before being transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital. Police said his con-

dition was stable. Police alleged that the motorcycle had been travelling at a fast rate before the collision and said Bridgbasie was not licensed to operate it. According to the Police statement, neither Bridgbasie nor Satram was wearing a safety helmet. The driver of PAN 7003 is a member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), while the 29-year-old Whim Village man who was driving PAH 1597 is a member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). Both drivers were contacted at the scene and escorted to the Whim Police Station, where breathalyser tests returned zero readings. Police said they were in custody assisting with the investigation. Meanwhile, Bridgbasie’s mother-in-law, Kavita Sookram, said his death has left the family devastated, particularly her pregnant daughter. Sookram estimated that her daughter is about four or five months pregnant. Bridgbasie and her daughter had been together for approximately 11 years and already have two children. The aggrieved woman related that she was returning from work at around 21:00h on Friday evening when a friend stopped her and asked whether she had heard anything. She knew nothing about the accident

The area where the accident took place

at the time. She was subsequently told that her son-in-law had been involved in an accident, but initially did not know which son-in-law the person was referring to. Then she was shown a photograph. “When she show me picture, then me say me sure that he’s dead,” Sookram recalled. Family members subsequently made their way to the mortuary and police station as they tried to come to grips with what had happened. For Sookram’s pregnant daughter, the loss of the man with whom she had spent approximately a decade and raised two children has been

particularly difficult. “Well, she’s sad. Everybody talking to her because she pregnant. Everybody tells her she got to live.” Sookram said Bridgbasie and her daughter had their “little ups and downs,” but nothing she regarded as serious. “Very good they living,” she said. For Sookram, the suddenness of the tragedy has also been difficult to comprehend. “I never expect. I never expect.” She described the relationship she shared with her son-in-law simply as “very good.” Sookram said she could shed little light on

Bridgbasie’s movements before the crash because she had been at work. Asked whether she knew where he was going or coming from, she replied: “No, no. Because me went there. Me know nothing of him. Me leave here, me have to reach work till one o’clock and come home nine o’clock.” His death now leaves his longtime partner preparing for the birth of their third child while raising the couple’s two young children. Police said Bridgbasie’s body was taken to a funeral home where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination (PME). Investigations into the accident are continuing.

GDF, Brazilian armed forces advance southern border security at 29th regional exchange

he Guyana Defence Force (GDF) continues to enhance its strategic partnership with Brazil following the recently concluded 29th Regional Military Exchange between the GDF and the Brazilian Armed Forces was held in Boa Vista, Brazil. Captain (CG) Vernon Burnett, MSM, and Commander of the 1st Jungle Infantry Brigade of the Brazilian Army, Brigadier General Roberto Pereira Angrizani, cochaired the meeting. The bilateral engagement brought together military representatives from both nations, all committed

to strengthening defence cooperation along the shared frontier. This annual forum enables both forces to align operational priorities and coordinate critical security measures along Guyana’s southern border. During the exchange, discussions focused on tackling pressing cross-border issues, including illicit trafficking, illegal mining, and transnational criminal networks. By sharing operational information and evaluating common border challenges, both delegations advanced their defence diplomacy, sharpened joint situational awareness, and reinforced

Members of the GDF and Brazilian Armed Forces

Captain (CG) Vernon Burnett, MSM, and Commander of the 1st Jungle Infantry Brigade of the Brazilian Army, Brigadier General Roberto Pereira Angrizani during one of the sessions

the long-standing professional relationship between the two militaries. Through continued dialogue and active collaboration, the GDF remains committed to safeguarding our Guyana’s borders and maintaining regional peace and stability. This comes several months after members of the GDF completed an intensive jungle life training programme conducted by the Brazilian Army’s First Jungle Infantry Brigade in Boa Vista, Brazil.

The five-day training had formed part of the XXIX Regional Military Exchange Meeting (RRIM), an initiative aimed at enhancing operational cooperation and strengthening the capabilities of both armed forces through the exchange of knowledge and professional expertise. Under the arrangement, Brazil hosted the first phase of the programme during the first semester of 2026, while the GDF is expected to host the reciprocal training later this year.

Training included combat shooting, navigation, immediate action drills, communications in jungle operations, explosives, tactical emergency medical care, military planning and briefing procedures, together with demonstrations of operational equipment and techniques employed by the Brazilian Army. The training was designed to enhance individual and collective proficiency while promoting interoperability between the two defence forces.

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026

Regional

Lula's lead over Bolsonaro Haitian-American designer Daveed Baptiste narrows ahead of Brazil vote puts New York street culture on Converse

Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro of the Liberal Party (PL) greets people during a campaign rally

razilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's lead over Senator Flavio Bolsonaro narrowed ahead of Sunday's first-round vote, a CNT/ MDA ‌ poll showed on Saturday, while also pointing to a tighter race in a likely runoff. In a first-round scenario, Lula would receive 43.1 per cent of voter support, followed by Bolsonaro (38 per cent), Augusto Cury (3.2 per cent), Ronaldo Caiado (three per cent) and Renan Santos (1.5 per cent), according to

the poll. A September 15 poll had Lula at 40.5 per cent, Bolsonaro at 30.4 per cent, Cury at six per cent, Caiado at three per cent and Santos at 2.7 per cent. Considering only projected valid votes, which exclude people telling the pollster they would leave their ballots blank or void somehow, Lula reached 47.8 per cent voter support against Bolsonaro's 42.1 per cent. If n ‌o candidate wins more than 50 per cent of valid votes in the Sunday first

round, the two frontrunners advance to a runoff on October 25. In a likely runoff, Lula would receive 47.3 per cent of voter support, compared with 43.1 per cent for the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, the poll said. In the previous survey, Lula led Senator Bolsonaro by 47.3 per cent to 40 per cent in the runoff. MDA surveyed 2007 persons from September 30 to October 2, with a margin of error of 2.2 percentage points. (Reuters)

n a recent September afternoon, Haitian American artist and designer Daveed Baptiste turned a SoHo shopfront into his own version of a New York City block for a three-day pop-up and Converse showcase centred on his Spring/ Summer 2027 collection. Baptiste made his entrance carrying a Converse sneaker tyre, introducing one of the show’s most noticeable visual motifs before the collection moved through graphic clothing, footwear and performance. The three-day presentation launched September 18 at 66 Greene St in SoHo featured Baptiste’s clothing alongside street-performance-inspired characters, graphic designs and references to the everyday life of New York. But the showcase was less important as a pop-up than as another step in Baptiste’s growing career. From his entrance carrying the tyre made of Converse sneakers to his graphic tees, street performers, together, the proj-

Street-performance-inspired characters appear throughout the Daveed Baptiste X Converse showcase. Photo by Quadir Ali Moore

ect shows a designer moving between fashion, art and the communities that have shaped his work. One of the collection’s recognisable pieces is the “Gap Tooth Tee", featuring Baptiste’s signature doublegap-tooth image. Other pieces included warped graphic tees and a denim button-up inspired by a barber shop poster. A Caribbean-inspired “Warp tank top” featured a wave motif that Baptiste described as a “classic iconic

St Lucian receives Veteran of the Year award in Britain

TTPS records 265 homicides in 1st 9 months of 2026

he Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) recorded 265 homicides between January and September this year, a 3.6 per cent decrease compared with the corresponding period in 2025 and a 44.2 per cent decline compared with 2024. The figures were released yesterday by the TTPS in its Third Quarter 2026 Public Performance Appraisal, which compares the service's performance over the first nine months of 2026 with the corresponding periods in the previous two years. The report also showed a decline in serious reported crime and road traffic ac-

cidents, with the Police service describing the figures as evidence of progress while acknowledging several areas requiring continued attention. Serious reported crime fell to 7,593 incidents, representing a 13.3 per cent reduction compared with the 2025 figure and a 17.3 per cent decrease compared with 2024. Road traffic accidents also declined, with 13,324 reported between January and September, 36.8 per cent fewer than in the corresponding period last year. Fatal road traffic accidents decreased by 27.2 per cent compared with 2025. The TTPS also placed the

homicide figures in a historical context, noting that the 265 murders recorded so far this year were lower than the corresponding ninemonth totals in 20 of the preceding 25 years, dating back to 2001. Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro said the release of the appraisal was part of the service's commitment to transparency, accountability and evidence-based assessment. He said the public was entitled to receive a clear account of the Police service's performance, including areas where it had fallen short. (Excerpt from T&T Guardian)

Miami-to-Jamaica deportation flights become commonplace

he flights form part of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations to return people who have been ordered removed from the United States. Flight-tracking records show Miami-toKingston removal flights on Wednesday, September 16, and Wednesday, September 23, 2026, indicating a regular pattern on the route. The number of Jamaicans

aboard each flight can vary, and publicly available flight information does not always provide a passenger count or details about the people being returned. ICE has confirmed that Jamaica is among the destinations served by its removal operations. However, the agency generally does not publicly disclose future deportation flight schedules, citing operational security. Jamaicans may be re-

moved from the United States for several reasons, including immigration violations and criminal convictions followed by deportation proceedings. The recurring Miamito-Kingston flights come as US immigration authorities continue enforcement and removal operations involving Caribbean nationals. (Antigua Newsroom)

print". The tank comes with a matching boxer set. He pointed to the denim button-up, laser-engraved with an image of a barber shop poster, as one of the standouts from opening night. Baptiste was raised in Little Haiti and living in Brooklyn. In 2025 he received the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s most prestigious honours, celebrating the designers, brands and cultural figures shaping fashion today. (Excerpt from The Haitian Times)

Lester Francois (left) receiving the Veteran of the Year award

ester Francois, a retired warrant officer of class one in the British Army, received the Veteran of the Year award last week at the Leavers to Leaders (LTL) Awards. This follows a 24-year career in the British Army, during which he received 10 medals and several commendations. The LTL awards recognise outstanding service leavers, veterans, and military community members from the UK and wider Commonwealth. “I was quite surprised when I heard that I was nominated for the award of veteran of the year and even more surprised to have actually won the award,” Francois told St Lucia Times. “As a Saint Lucian, it was quite an honour, knowing that I came from a small island, started at the bottom and moved to the top, where I was told that only about 25 per cent of those in my era make it to the top,” he said.

The award ceremony was held during the LTL Summit in Tidworth, Wiltshire, England, and celebrated nominees from nine Commonwealth nations, including Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Fiji, Ghana, Guyana, and Mauritius. Francois, who was born in La Fargue Choiseul, grew up in La Ressource, Vieux Fort, before migrating to the UK after being recruited to join the British Army in 2002. His distinguished military career started within the Royal Logistic Corps, specialising as a supplier. Through determination, professionalism, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to service, he progressed through the ranks to achieve the rank of warrant officer class one. During his twenty-four years of military service, he served across the UK and elsewhere, including Germany, Cyprus, Nigeria, Canada, Iraq, Afghanistan, The Gambia, and Belgium. He also served as a UN peacekeeper in Cyprus. Reflecting on his military career, he said it had served him well, motivating him, building his character, and shaping his discipline while broadening his worldview. Francois told the St. Lucia Times that although he is retired he keeps himself busy and now finds to travel without thinking of being deployed. He says he enjoyed St Vincent and Lucian Carnival this year, as well as Mexico. He plans to return to Saint Lucia soon, which he says will always be home. (Excerpt from St Lucia Times)

Jamaica man fatally shot by Police, firearm seized

man was fatally shot by the Police during an alleged confrontation near the Four Paths Police station in Clarendon on Saturday. His identity has not yet been ascertained. Preliminary reports are

that about midday, the man was accosted by cops on the Four Paths main road. Police said the man was about to be searched when he pulled a firearm, resulting in the lawmen opening fire on the suspect. The injured suspect

was taken to the May Pen Hospital, where he succumbed Saturday afternoon. Police said a firearm was seized during the incident. The Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom) is probing the incident. (Jamaica Observer)

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026

Around the World

Air ambulance missing on Ukraine will hit Russian refineries in response to Moscow’s flight from Bermuda to Boston airstrikes, Zelenskyy says

kraine will double down on attacking Russian oil refineries in response to a new policy of airstrikes by Moscow designed to force people to abandon Kyiv and other cities but will not target civilians, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. Ukraine’s intelligence services have obtained documents showing that Russian leader Vladimir Putin had issued a “new doctrine” of military attacks on a much broader range of civilian targets ahead of this winter, Zelenskyy said. “We saw documents, ‌and we know that they allow them to attack infrastructure, logistics, and especially to attack in the cities, in the villages, everywhere, roads, schools, and hospitals,” Zelenskyy told Reuters in an interview. “To pressure people to leave the capital and leave different cities: this is the goal of the operation.”

The Hamilton-based Gulfstream G100 air ambulance jet C-GRJP went missing early Saturday, the US Coast Guard said.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Driving the shift in policy, Zelenskyy said, was Putin’s desire to appear strong at a time when his military was losing ground in a key frontline region and sustaining higher levels of casualties. The Kremlin was not available to comment on Saturday. But in a statement urging for-

eign nationals to leave Kyiv, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow would continue to systematically hit targets in what it said were retaliatory strikes for Ukrainian attacks on Russia in recent months. Both sides deny deliberately targeting civilians. (Excerpt from Reuters)

n air ambulance has gone missing while carrying six people on a flight from Bermuda to Boston. The US Federal Aviation Administration told the coastguard early on Saturday that it had lost contact with the plane, a Gulfstream jet, ⁠a coastguard spokesperson told the Reuters news agency by email. The ⁠coastguard said it dispatched air and surface

crews to search for the plane near Nantucket, an island community south of mainland Massachusetts. The National Transportation Safety Board said it was gathering information about the situation on Saturday morning but had no further update to share. The Canadian-registered air ambulance jet had four crew members and two passengers on board when it departed Bermuda’s LF

Wade International Airport overnight for the flight to Massachusetts, according to a statement from the Bermuda airport’s operator, Skyport. Canada’s Minister of Transport Steven MacKinnon said in a social media post that four Canadians were on the plane. “We are closely monitoring the situation and are working with the relevant authorities as search and rescue ‌efforts continue,” MacKinnon wrote. The aircraft, registered to Latitude Air Ambulance, departed Bermuda at 12:41am local time (03:41 GMT), according to data from flight tracking website FlightAware. The plane was flying at 7300 metres for much of the flight before descending 3960 metres in about two minutes shortly before flight controllers lost contact, data showed. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

North Korea launches ballistic missile after 5 European nations follow US with Seoul demands apology over wounded soldiers plans for 3rd-country deportations

orth Korea fired a ballistic missile towards the sea on Saturday, South Korea and Japan said, a day after it rejected Seoul’s accusation of its mines wounding soldiers. The missile was launched from the Wonsan area at about 6.30am towards the East Sea – also known as the Sea of Japan – and flew more than 700km (434 miles), the South Korean military said. Seoul and Washington were analysing the test for details, it added. Japan’s coast guard, citing the defence ministry, said the object may have been a ballistic missile and appeared to have come ‌down, warning ships to take ‌precautions. South Korea’s military said it heightened its monitoring of any further missile tests and would share intelligence with the US and Japan. The South Korean presidential office’s national security council convened an emergency meeting on Saturday to assess the situation. Pyongyang’s Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of ruler Kim Jong-un, issued a state-

A TV screen shows a file image of a North Korean missile launch during a news programme at Seoul railway station in South Korea on Saturday

ment on Friday that dismissed Seoul’s demand for an apology for what it said were North Korean mines that seriously wounded South Korean soldiers in the demilitarised zone – the heavily guarded buffer between the two Koreas. South Korea’s president, Lee Jae Myung, had urged Pyongyang on Thursday to return to dialogue, despite his military demanding an apology a day earlier. Kim Yo-jong

responded by calling Seoul “really despicable” and ridiculing Lee’s latest overture, calling it “the climax of the farce that everyone should watch”. Kim also warned that Pyongyang was “ready for anything” Seoul might do over the mine blast – remarks followed the next morning by North Korea’s ballistic missile launch. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

Yemen’s Houthis say they attacked Aramco facility in Riyadh with missiles, drones

emen’s Iran-aligned Houthis said on Saturday they had targeted an Aramco facility ‌in the Saudi capital Riyadh with ballistic missiles and drones, saying the attack was in retaliation for Saudi attacks on Yemen’s Sanaa and other provinces. A large plume of smoke and fire was seen rising in the vicinity of an Aramco facility

in Riyadh earlier on Saturday, a witness told Reuters. There was no immediate confirmation from Saudi authorities of an attack on an Aramco facility. Aramco did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The reported ‌attack comes amid escalating hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, who have stepped up attacks on Saudi cities and en-

ergy infrastructure. The Houthis said last week they had attacked Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu with missiles and drones. Saudi Arabia said at the time that it had intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis towards Taif and the Yanbu area but did not report damage to Aramco facilities. (Reuters)

ive European Union countries are pushing ahead with plans to start deporting asylum seekers whose applications are rejected to third countries outside the bloc, potentially in Africa, after the EU approved new rules this week that clear the way for the practice. Greece, Germany, Austria, Denmark and the Netherlands have agreed on a common framework to establish “return hubs” outside the EU to which people who have exhausted their legal options to remain in Europe could be transferred if they cannot be sent back to their own countries of origin. “When it comes to return hubs, it’s progressing

very well,” Danish Interior Minister Morten Bødskov told reporters Thursday, according to AFP. “We are moving in the right direction.” He previously said Denmark was expected “to be ready to transfer the first irregular migrants to a partner country outside the EU within 2027.” Greek Migration Minister Thanos Plevris told Politico that Greece expects to have a pilot project in place in the first half of next year. No potential destinations for EU return hubs have been confirmed, although Rwanda has been reported as a possible partner in the project. A Greek Government statement on

the plans said the hubs would be established in safe third countries, “particularly on the African continent.” The EU itself has presented the idea of return hubs as a potential deterrent to irregular immigration. A discussion paper published by the EU’s governing European Council in October 2025 said the hubs could “incentivise voluntary returns”, because migrants who fail to comply with a deportation order could face transfer to a hub instead. It said the policy could also discourage people without a valid asylum claim from making dangerous journeys to Europe. (Excerpt from CBS News)

Homemade bomb part of alleged plot on Manchester’s Jewish community, court told

wo Iranian men have appeared in court charged with terror offences over an alleged plot to target the Jewish community in Manchester with a homemade bomb. Rahman Salehi, 34, of Salford, and Salam Ahmadyan, 36, from Liverpool, were accused at Westminster Magistrates’ Court of preparing to commit an act of terrorism or assisting another to commit an act of terrorism on or before September 20. One of the buildings they are alleged to have carried out reconnaissance at is the Heaton Park synagogue which was attacked on October 2, 2025.

Both men, who had arrived in the UK by small boat, were arrested in Manchester’s Northern Quarter on the eve of Yom Kippur – the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Salehi and Ahmadyan were remanded in custody by District Judge Nina Tempia until 23 October, when they will appear at the Old Bailey in London. As part of the investigation, searches were carried out at addresses in Epworth Street, Liverpool, and Lancaster Road, Salford. The Metropolitan Police said the men were alleged to have obtained instructions to make a chlorine bomb, acquired liquids and

other components to make an improvised explosive device. They are accused of using the internet to identify and research potential targets, acquiring images, plans and maps. Two British Jews, Melvin Kravitz, 66, and 53-year-old Adrian Daulby, were killed when Heaton Park Synagogue was attacked during last year’s Yom Kippur service. Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, drove into the gates of Heaton Park Hebrew Synagogue and began attacking people with a knife while wearing a fake suicide belt. (Excerpt from BBC News)

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026

ARCHIE

Don’t fool yourself into thinking things are what they are not. Put your emotions aside (March 21- and be realistic, and you’ll discover an outlet April 19) that far exceeds your expectations. It’s time to jump from what’s gone to what beckons you to make your debut. Simple, effective moves will lead to an unbelievable journey.

ARIES

Observation is necessary. If temper and

TAURUS stubbornness set in, you’ll face domestic (April 20- situations and partnership problems that leave May 20) you exhausted and in limbo. Be smart, say and

do little, and protect your heart, reputation, and physical and mental wellness. Time is on your side; walk away from confrontations. Peace of mind will come from enjoying your own company. A change of plans will favor you. Be open, GEMINI objective and smart in how you retaliate. (MAY 21Kind but clever responses will help you gain June 20) respect and the momentum you require to reach your goal. Helping others will assist you in more ways than you thought possible. New beginnings start with you letting go of what no longer works for you. Engage in activities and events that touch

CANCER you intellectually and physically. Anything that (June 21- can enhance your appearance and boost your July 22) spirits will encourage you to interact more

with people you find appealing. Refuse to let the past drag you down or stand between you and the happiness you desire. Take control and responsibility for what and who you want.

Proceed with caution. Don’t start something you can’t finish. Domestic and (July 23- partnership issues will surface if you are Aug. 22) too demanding. Use your Leo charm and make whatever you want others to buy into appealing. A dose of feel-good communitybased enthusiasm will help you gain support. A little love will go a long way.

LEO

Pickles

Check out vocations that interest you. Attend seminars, trade shows or events that (Aug. 23- offer insight into how you can use your skills Sept. 22) and attributes in ways more suitable to your lifestyle and enjoyment. Loving what you do will make you that much better, not to mention happier. Don’t let negativity get in the way of progress.

VIRGO

Discipline is your way to completion LIBRA and the freedom it brings, knowing that you (Sept. 23- did your best. Don’t let pent-up energy and Oct. 23) emotional angst dismantle your calm, leaving

room for mistakes and regret. Rise above, take the high road and turn your cheek to any negativity that comes your way. Be better, wiser and more efficient.

Live and learn. Don’t trust others to do things for you. Someone will make your life (Oct. 24- difficult by using pressure tactics to get their Nov. 22) way. Stand by your word, and follow the road that leads to your destination of choice. It’s up to you to steer things when it comes to your decisions. Make peace with yourself.

SCORPIO

Peanuts

Enjoy what you’ve worked so hard SAGITTARIUS to build. Make your home your retreat, (Nov. 23- entertain the people who enrich your life, Dec. 21) and cultivate the projects that satisfy you.

Calvin and Hobbes

Opportunity is apparent; examine and take advantage of situations that appeal to your senses. Avoid sharing expenses or space with anyone who doesn’t agree with your values or respect your budget. Distance yourself from those you can’t CAPRICORN count on or trust. Focus on tidying up loose (Dec. 22- ends and closing doors that no longer offer Jan. 19) resources you can use. Rethink your position, vulnerability and skills, and consider how to reconfigure your expertise to fit into a topic you want to explore. Don’t fall behind; select and position yourself for success. Assess your finances, then consider how AQUARIUS to lower your overhead. Setting a strict budget (Jan. 20- and checking into programs that enhance your Feb. 19) earning potential look promising. Keeping your energy flowing in a positive direction is key to your success. Don’t allow negativity or “poor me” syndrome to put a damper on your day. Strive for success, not regret.

An unexpected change will surprise you.

PISCES Be open to alternatives, and you’ll discover (Feb. 20- a positive path that will encourage you to Mar. 20) pursue what makes you happy. Put a budget in place, sell off items you don’t use to pay for what you need, and fulfill your heart’s desire. Love, romance and a commitment look promising.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026

All-rounder Claxton, bowlers set up WI’s win in 1st T20I against Zimbabwe

West Indies women looked dominant in the opening game of the series

n all-round show from Jahzara Claxton and three wickets from Karishma Ramharack set the West Indies up for an eight-wicket win against hosts Zimbabwe in the first T20I in Harare. Afy Fletcher, meanwhile, contributed by bagging two wickets and claiming four catches, the most by a West Indies fielder in T20Is, as the visitors took a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series. The West Indies opted to bowl and kept a leash on Zimbabwe’s scoring. Zimbabwe were 40 for three at the halfway stage, with Ramharack striking twice. For Zimbabwe, Beloved Biza and captain Josephine Nkomo’s fifth-wicket partnership of 24, which came at a run-a-ball, was the highest of the innings. The ten extras West Indies con-

ceded - there were eight wides and a no-ball – were the only blip in their bowling. Biza top-scored with 21 off 24 balls, while wicketkeeper-opener Modester Mupachikwa, who made 20, was much slower, as she took 33 balls. The innings had more than 60 dot balls and only seven fours, three of which came in the final five overs. In the chase, the West Indies were 12 for 0 in two balls – that included a six from Eboni Brathwaite and six wides bowled by Kudzai Chigora – and never looked back. Claxton was Brathwaite’s silent partner during their 38-run stand in 25 balls. After Brathwaite fell for 23 in 14 balls, Realeanna Grimmond smashed five fours and a six in her 34 off 25 deliveries. Claxton picked up pace late

in the chase to finish with 31*, and bagged the Playerof-the-Match award. Grimmond fell with scores tied before Stafanie Taylor hit the winning run

Karishma Ramharack picked up 100 international wickets during the game

off the only ball she faced. (Espncricinfo)

two

SCOREBOARD Zimbabwe Women (20 ovs maximum) Modester Mupachikwa †b Fletcher20 Sharne Mayers c Fletcher b Henry 0 Kelis Ndhlovu lbw b Ramharack 11 Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano c Fletcher b Ramharack 4 Beloved Biza c Fletcher b Ramharack 21 Josephine Nkomo (c)c Fletcher b Claxton 8 Nyasha Gwanzura c Ramharack b Fletcher 10 Michelle Mavunga run out (Glasgow/†Mangru) 8 Francisca Chipare c Ramharack b Claxton 2 Kudzai Chigora not out 3

Chinelle Henry during her opening spell

Jahzara Claxton took wickets, and scored 31

Extras(lb 1, nb 1, w 8) 10 Total 20 Ov (RR: 4.85, 87 Mins) 97/9 Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Sharne Mayers, 2.6 ov), 2-29 (Kelis Ndhlovu, 7.1 ov), 3-37 (Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, 9.3 ov), 4-41 (Modester Mupachikwa, 10.3 ov), 5-65 (Josephine Nkomo, 14.3 ov), 6-77 (Nyasha Gwanzura, 16.5 ov), 7-87 (Beloved Biza, 17.5 ov), 8-91 (Francisca Chipare, 18.4 ov),

9-97 (Michelle Mavunga, 19.6 ov) Bowling Chinelle Henry Shawnisha Hector Karishma Ramharack Afy Fletcher Stafanie Taylor Jahzara Claxton

O-M-R-W 3-0-7-1 3-0-20-0 4-0-17-3 4-0-18-2 3-0-18-0 3-0-16-2

West Indies Women (T: 98 runs from 20 ovs) Eboni Brathwaite b Chare Jahzara Claxton not out Realeanna Grimmond c & b Biza Stafanie Taylor not out

23 31 34 1

Extras(b 1, lb 1, w 7)9 Total 12.5 Ov (RR: 7.63, 57 Mins)98/2 Fall of wickets: 1-38 (Eboni Brathwaite, 4.1 ov), 2-97 (Realeanna Grimmond, 12.4 ov) Bowling Kudzai Chigora Nyasha Gwanzura Michelle Mavunga Olinder Chare Beloved Biza Francisca Chipare

O-M-R-W 2-0-27-0 2-0-11-0 1-0-12-0 4-0-22-1 1.5-0-10-1 2-0-14-0

Henry, Marshall score as Riddim Squad defeat Pele

Pele FC

oals from Keshawn Henry and Jashawn Marshall gave Riddim Squad Football Club (FC) a 2–0 victory over Pele FC in the Guyana Football Federation/ Georgetown Football Association (GFF/GFA) Youth Ensemble Under-17 tournament at Parade Ground on Saturday. Henry opened the scoring in the 33rd minute before Marshall doubled the advantage in the 53rd, securing victory in the second fixture of the day. Earlier, Beacon FC were awarded a walkover against Vengy FC in the opening fixture, receiving three points

and three goals. Riddim Squad made two substitutions during their win. Tyrell Grant replaced Dequan James in the 56th minute, while Keon Henry came on for Marshall in the 68th minute, shortly after the goalscorer received a yellow card. Pele also made two changes, introducing Malachai Cumbertch for Ryan Sobers in the 60th minute before Romario Higgins replaced Adrian Davis in the 69th. Three players were cautioned during the contest. Riddim Squad’s Kenny Yam received a yellow card in the 20th minute, followed by teammate Marshall in the

The victorious Riddim Squad team.

67th. Pele’s Davis was booked in the 68th minute, one minute before being substituted.

The tournament’s final round of matches will be played next weekend.

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026

Hope: “Just look at the process” in record chase West Indies' Captain Shai Hope plays a shot during the third ODI

est Indies Captain Shai Hope continued his remarkable run of form against India, smashing his second consecutive century to lead

the West Indies to a record run chase and a five-wicket victory in the third One-Day International (ODI) yesterday at the PCA International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh. Hope's unbeaten 162 not out gave him back-to-back ODI centuries, his 21st in the format and fifth against India, as West Indies successfully chased India's imposing 351 for seven, with 352 for five in 48.2 overs. Reflecting on the record chase after the match, Hope said he drew on advice from former India Captain MS Dhoni while remaining focused on the process rather than the size of the target. “Well, firstly, we were a batter down, probably two if you count Vitel Lawes as well. So it would always be a challenge and something that I had a great chat with the great man MS Dhoni. He was telling

me that you always have more time than you think,” Hope said. “Just trying not to focus too much on the end result. Just look at the process, try to break the game down as best as I can and find ways to get the boundaries in the back end.” Hope also explained how he assessed India's fielding restrictions while constructing his innings. “I even thought about the overs that the Indian team were behind. So I know they would have to bring a couple of fielders in the back end. So it's always tough when you're trying to defend a score and you've got to have five men in the ring. So all those things I calculated when I was batting. It just so happened that everything worked out for us in the back end.” The victory gave West Indies a 2-1 series result after India won the opening two matches. Hope said the series provided valuable lessons, particularly for the

Clarke calls on ICC, Big 3 to help save West Indies cricket

Former Australia Captain Michael Clarke

ormer Australia Test Captain Michael Clarke has called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the sport’s three most powerful nations – India, Australia, and England – to provide greater support to West Indies cricket amid concerns over player remuneration and the financial challenges facing Cricket West Indies (CWI). Clarke made the comments while hosting on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, a global cricket talk show and livestream, as he reacted to CWI’s decision to reduce contracted players’ annual retainer payments by 25 per cent as part of its financial restructuring. “I’m really concerned for West Indies cricket,” Clarke said. “This is where I think, firstly, the ICC, but even if it's the Big Three, India, Australia, and England need to come together to save West Indies cricket.” The former Australian Captain believes the financial gap between West Indies players and their internation-

al counterparts could make it increasingly difficult for CWI to retain its leading players on central contracts. “At the moment, look, if the West Indies are not the lowest-paid nation, they're in the conversation,” Clarke said. He pointed to the early years of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as an example of the financial dilemma facing West Indies players. Clarke recalled the criticism Chris Gayle received when he chose to play in the IPL instead of representing the West Indies, despite the significant difference between his international retainer and his IPL earnings. “When the IPL started in its first or second year, when Chris Gayle copped criticism for choosing the IPL over the West Indies, he was the highest-paid West Indies player on a $100,000 a year, 12-month contract,” Clarke said. He noted that Gayle had been offered around US$1 million for a much shorter IPL tournament, making the decision financially difficult

to reject. “How could he say no to that deal? You couldn't have a go at Chris for making that decision,” Clarke said, while stressing that Gayle continued to give his best for the West Indies. Clarke believes the latest 25 per cent reduction could further encourage players to prioritise lucrative franchise opportunities around the world. “These West Indies players, they're already getting paid, like I say, the lowest amount or close to it. You take 25 per cent of their money away,” he said. He warned that players could increasingly choose to become full-time franchise cricketers rather than commit to central contracts. “How do they not just turn into a franchise player, play five or six different franchises around the world and say, Unfortunately, we'll play for the West Indies, but we're not going to sign a central contract?” Clarke questioned. The former Australia Captain said players could hardly be blamed for making such a decision given the financial disparity. “You can't blame them. I just think they need help,” Clarke said. Clarke ultimately urged the ICC and the three leading cricket nations to find a sustainable way to assist West Indies cricket before the financial pressures lead to further erosion of the international game. “The ICC and the three big nations have just got to find a way, in my opinion,” he said.

bowling group, despite the West Indies producing strong batting performances throughout. “I think we played some really good cricket in patches. The batters are scoring some runs. That's what we really wanted to do. Something that we've

been doing really well for the last two or three years,” he said. “The batters have been more consistent. We asked them to put big scores on the board. It's always difficult bowling in these conditions. We know India is more batting friendly.”

With the ODI series now completed, West Indies will shift their attention to the three-match T20 International series against India, which begins on Tuesday, October 6, from 09:30h at the Ekana Cricket Stadium B Ground.

Verstappen takes 1st 2026 pole ahead of Hamilton

ax Verstappen took his and Red Bull's first pole position of 2026 with an imperious performance in qualifying at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, ahead of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen, whose last pole and victory were at the season finale in Abu Dhabi in 2025, was 0.298 seconds quicker than Hamilton after topping all three sessions of qualifying. Red Bull's Isack Hadjar was third fastest but has a five-place grid penalty, which will promote runaway championship leader Kimi Antonelli to third place. The Italian's closest rival, teammate George Russell, could manage only eighth fastest. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was fifth fastest, ahead of the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Fernando Alonso, fresh from confirming he will stay in F1 for at least another year in 2027, gave Aston Martin their best qualifying position of the year with 12th place, behind Alpine's Pierre Gasly, Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto and Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson. The second Aston Martin of Lance Stroll was 14th, split from Alonso by Williams' Carlos Sainz. Where have Red Bull (and Ferrari) come from? Red Bull introduced an aerodynamic upgrade at the last race in Azerbaijan, and it has proved to be a major step forward at the demanding Sepang track, hosting this race after it was postponed earlier in the year because of the war in the Middle East. Verstappen has had a difficult year, struggling for pace and balance for much of it, but he is on a strong run of results after steady improvements to the car. "Fantastic," he said. "We have been trying many Grands Prix to get pole, sometimes a bit closer than others. But to finally get it from where we started the season, pretty incredible." Hamilton's position on the front row revives memories of their bitter title

Max Verstappen took his and Red Bull's first pole position of 2026 (Getty Images)

battle in 2021, when the seven-time champion was at Mercedes, and whets appetites for the grand prix on Sunday. Hamilton said, "It's so hot here. That's made it a massive challenge for the cars, the tyres, the mechanics in the garage. "Because the tyres are sliding, it's so hard to find a good balance, and we made one change, and we finally hit the sweet spot." Merc's major upgrade takes them backwards Mercedes have brought their first major upgrade since the Canadian Grand Prix in June, but it has not proved the step forward hoped. Unusually, Antonelli went into qualifying with only four new sets of soft tyres rather than the usual five and compromised his programme by having his first lap in second session deleted for going beyond track limits. That meant he had to use another set of tyres in the session, which left him only one for the final shootout. He went out in the middle of the session, after the others did their first runs, and ended up with a time of 0.501 secs from pole, much further away than Mercedes would have hoped. Antonelli said, "It's a shame because with only one set, there's big pressure. I did what I could, but with another set we could have fought for the front row. Not P1, because Max was too quick today." But he fared better than Russell, who was lacking pace compared to his teammate all day, and ended up 0.240 secs off Antonelli.

The Briton said: "It's the most demanding circuit on the tyres, so we don't know exactly why we didn't have the pace. From Friday it was clear we weren't on the pace of the Red Bulls, and we haven't really progressed. The others have caught up and overtaken [us]." It was also a difficult day for McLaren, who were tipped by Russell as the potential frontrunners going into the weekend because of their car's strong recent performances on tracks that share characteristics with this one. But they lacked pace all weekend, and Norris could manage only a best lap of 0.627 secs off the pace. For Aston Martin, though, this was confirmation that changes they have made to their car in recent races have borne fruit. They struggled in Italy and Azerbaijan because their Honda engine remains the worst in the field, despite two recent upgrades. But on a track where power sensitivity is lower, the improvements to the chassis made in terms of aerodynamics and weight since the summer added up. A lap by Alonso that was 1.524 secs off the pace is by far their strongest performance of the year, and a suggestion that the veteran's faith they could step forward significantly in 2027 has some foundation. "It was definitely one of the best qualifying of the year," Alonso said. "1.5 secs to top of Q2, so smallest margin. It seems this circuit is a little better for our package, and let's see tomorrow if we can take advantage of this." (BBC Sport)

30 Greene leads Guyanese sweep at Tour de Bim GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026

Guyana’s Briton John (left) finished fifth in the Elite race on Friday night

ndre Greene led a Guyanese sweep of the top three places in Saturday’s Division Two race at the Tour de Bim in

Barbados, while Kwame Fortune secured a stage victory in the Masters 50+ category. Greene, representing

Kaieteur Attack Racing Cycling Club (CC), finished ahead of Continental CC rider Alexander Leung and Alex Mendes (KARCC), who placed second and third, respectively. The result gave Guyana a strong showing on Saturday, alongside Fortune’s victory in stage two of his category. The success followed a disrupted Friday night programme. The Division Two race was nullified after a crash in which a member of the organising team suffered a broken ankle. In Friday’s Elite race, Briton John finished fifth. John is competing alongside fellow Guyanese Ajani Cutting and Aaron Newton in that category. Saturday’s Division Two podium featured riders entered across three categories. Greene is contesting the senior category, where Guyana is also represented by Christopher Griffith. Leung is competing in the Junior category, while Mendes is among the Masters 35–49 entrants. Kwame Ridley and Segun Hubbard complete Guyana’s representation in the Masters 35–49 category. Fortune and

The Division Two cyclists are under starting orders on Saturday

Mark Spencer are competing in Masters 50+, while junior rider Tandeia Noel is representing Guyana in the female competition. Since its debut in 2023,

the Tour de Bim has brought local and overseas cyclists together on Barbados’ roads. The event takes its name from “Bim”, a familiar nickname for Barbados, and com-

bines international cycling competition with the island’s sports tourism programme. The Guyanese cyclists are scheduled to return home on October 6.

YBG schoolboys set for international test in St Maarten

Navin and Sons Construction backs GT/ECD Zone $500K top prize in One Guyana T10 Tapeball Youth Basketball Guyana’s (YBG) Under-15 School Boys Select Team will represent the organisation and Guyana at the Paradise International Basketball Tournament in St Maarten

Ganeshram Deokissoon (left) of Navin and Sons Construction hands over the sponsorship to Shamar Grey

he Georgetown/East Coast Demerara (GT/ ECD) zone of the Lotto/Let'sBet One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast has received a major financial boost, with local firm Navin and Sons Construction coming on board to sponsor the $500,000 first prize for the upcoming zone champion. Expressing gratitude for the partnership, Romario Samaroo of the One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast commended the company for backing the tournament's broader ambitions for local sports. "We are extremely grateful to Navin and Sons Construction for aligning with our vision," Samaroo said. "Their support is a testament to the community impact of the tournament, and having corporate partners step up in this manner

ensures that our local players are recognised and rewarded for their hard work on the field." Representing the sponsor, Ganeshram Deokissoon highlighted the tournament's rapid trajectory and reaffirmed the company's commitment to supporting regional development. "As a business operating out of the East Coast of Demerara, we have been thoroughly impressed with the growth and organisation of the One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast," Deokissoon stated. "We wanted to play an active role in driving this momentum forward, and we look forward to continuing our support for sports and youth development across the region." Beyond the local silverware, the stakes remain high as the winner of the

GT/ECD zone will complete the final four line-up for the national finals, scheduled for October 11 at the Anna Regina National Stadium. In addition to the $500,000 winner's purse sponsored by Navin and Sons Construction, the zone's runner-up will walk away with $200,000 in compliments of Camille’s Academy. The two losing semi-finalists will receive $50,000 each courtesy of OGN, while the losing semi-finalists from Saturday’s fixtures were awarded $25,000 each through sponsorship from Scoop Ride Inc. The GT/ECD zone culminates this Sunday at the Enmore Community Centre Ground, with matches scheduled to bowl off at 10:00h. Admission is free to the public.

outh Basketball Guyana’s (YBG) Under-15 School Boys Select Team will represent the organisation and Guyana at the Paradise International Basketball Tournament in St Maarten, scheduled for October 3–7, 2026. The 11-member squad comprises promising student-athletes from seven schools that competed in this year’s National School Basketball Festival (NSBF). The tournament will give the players international experience while helping YBG assess the standard of junior basketball in this part of the Caribbean. Head Coach Warren Wilson leads the team, with support from Assistant Coaches Judah Stephney and Calix Bernard. Leona Kyte is the team chaperone, while Chris Bowman serves as team manager. The players have completed several weeks of intensive training and preparation. According to YBG, bringing together boys from different schools and communities has also helped build friendships, unity and a shared sense of purpose. The organisation hopes the tour will become a model for regular overseas opportunities at an important stage of player development. Its broader aim is to establish a dependable grassroots sys-

tem that uses basketball to develop character and create opportunities beyond competition. However, preparations included a late travel concern involving five members of the delegation. A day before departure, their passports and visas had not yet been returned following processing by the Netherlands authorities in Paramaribo. YBG credited Ambassador Depoo, Elizabeth Haylings and the team at the Guyana Embassy in Suriname with helping resolve the situation, allowing the affected boys and coach to make the journey with the rest of the delegation. The organisation also acknowledged the financial and practical support that made the tour possible, led by principal partner G-Boats Guyana. The company committed to providing almost half of the tour’s budget after the proposal for an overseas youth trip was shared. YBG said G-Boats remains an important development partner, supporting competitions, coaching and player development, with international exposure now added to that contribution. The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport also provided financial assistance towards the team’s participation. Parents and their wid-

er networks played a significant role, with some extending their support beyond their own children to assist the entire team. YBG singled out Mr and Mrs Hillaire, Oslyn Richards and James Singh for their contributions. Further assistance came through a fundraising barbecue, donations and other support. YBG thanked the Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force for help with transportation to the airport and the management of the Royal Hotel for allowing the team to use its facilities ahead of departure. While the players will seek strong performances in St Maarten, YBG said its measure of success extends beyond victories and championships. The organisation views the experience as another opportunity to help young people succeed on and off the court while representing their schools, YBG and Guyana.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026

Courts Optical Pee Wee

Melvin, Thomas net hat-tricks as Leonora and Belladrum secure wins

St John the Baptist players celebrate a goal during their 2-1 win over Colaaco

efending champions Leonora Primary registered a commanding 5–1 victory over St Gabriel’s Primary, while Dextroy Thomas scored all three goals in Belladrum Primary’s 3–1

win over Soesdyke Primary as the Courts Optical Pee Wee football championship continued on Saturday, October 3. Johnathan Melvin led Leonora’s attack with a hattrick inside the opening seven

minutes, helping his team record the biggest victory of the nine matches played. Melvin struck in the first, second, and seventh minutes, with Neron Persaud adding another in the 17th minute and Elyon Hyman completing Leonora’s scoring in the 37th. Nathan Melville scored St Gabriel’s lone goal in the second minute. Thomas was equally important to Belladrum’s success. He opened the scoring in the fifth minute and doubled his tally in the 29th before Soesdyke’s Judon De Jesus reduced the deficit in the 32nd. Thomas then completed his hat-trick in the 34th minute to secure the 3–1 result. West Ruimveldt had to recover from an early setback before overcoming FE Pollard Primary 2–1. Malik Thorington put FE Pollard ahead in the fifth minute, but Kenneth Douglas equalised two minutes later. Jamiel Favourite scored the winner in the 18th minute. St John the Baptist also secured a 2–1 victory, defeating Colaaco after establishing

Part of the action on Saturday at the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue

an early advantage. Elianna Grant scored in the first minute, and Chrystian Haly added a second in the 10th. Zahir Critchlow pulled one back for Colaaco in the 35th minute. GIA 2 kept a clean sheet in their 2–0 win over St Aloysius Primary. Langdon Paulson broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute before Esa Mirza added the second in the

39th. Meanwhile, Agatash Primary and Pakuri Primary each finished with one victory and one defeat from their two appearances. Miles Schuman’s seventh-minute goal gave Pakuri a 1–0 win over Agatash. However, Pakuri were subsequently beaten by the same score-line when Giddian

Baechues struck in the 37th minute for Redeemer Primary. Agatash recovered to defeat Goed Fortuin Primary 1–0, with Vishnan Charls scoring the decisive goal in the 37th minute. In the other encounter, Yoseph Rivers scored in the 18th minute as GIA 1 edged Marian Academy 1–0.

New champion to be crowned in Lotto/ Plaza Court Hotel boosts OverLet’sBet T10 Tapeball tournament

new champion will be crowned in the Lotto/ Let’sBet T10 tournament 2026 as the competition moves to Enmore on October 4, with four teams vying for the last spot in the national final four. The winner of this zone will complete the lineup for

the grand finals scheduled for October 11 at the Anna Regina National Stadium. Action at Enmore begins at 10:00h with the first semi-final pitting giant killers Pure Entertainment against SVC/AJM CC, followed by the second semi-final at 12:00h featuring Team Corruption and Avinash All-Stars. An exhibition clash between East Coast PYO and GLC All-Stars is scheduled for 14:00h before the zone final takes centre stage at 15:30h. The zone winner will walk away with $500,000

c o u r t e sy of Navin and Sons Construction, while the runner-up pockets $200,000 in the compliments of Camille’s Academy. The two losing semi-finalists will receive $50,000 each from OGN, adding to the $25,000 awarded to Saturday's losing quarter-finalists by Scoop Ride Inc. Pure Entertainment earned their semi-final spot with a comfortable chase against defending champions Titans Rams in Match One of the quarter-finals. A new champion will be crowned in Titans Rams were bowled the Lotto/Let’sBet T10 tournament 2026 as the competition moves out for 106 in 9.5 overs, a total Pure Entertainment erased to Enmore on October 4, with in just 8.3 overs, finishing on four teams vying for the last spot in the national final four 106 for three. In Match Two, SVC/ AJM CC defended 92

for eight to beat Diamond Gunners by 26 runs. Kemol Savoury led SVC/AJM CC with a top score of 41, supported by Jonte Thomas (27) and Jonathan Fernandes (17), despite Mavendra Dindyal's figures of three for 11. Diamond Gunners were then restricted to 66 for five in their 10 overs as Keyon Sinclair turned in a match-winning spell of three for six, receiving tight support from Nial Smith (one for 11) and Ojay Shields (one for 27). Match Three saw Team Corruption pull off a seven-wicket victory over Better Hope with nine balls to spare. Better

Hope posted 112 for six in 10 overs, led by Moin Persaud's 56, but an unbeaten 58 from Treatlon Liverpool and 21 from Dejourn Charles carried Team Corruption to 116 for three in 8.3 overs. In the final fixture, Avinash All-Stars delivered a powerhouse batting performance, posting 149 for eight in 10 overs thanks to explosive knocks from Kadeem Alleyne (47) and Ronaldo Alimohamed (44). Alimohamed then returned with the ball to claim one for three, alongside Kyle Mayers' one for 16, restricting Housing Warriors to 63 for four to complete an 86-run win.

40s World Cup preparations

laza Court Hotel has joined the IMC Over-40s World Cup Guyana 2026 as a Silver Sponsor, providing accommodation and hospitality support as organisers prepare to welcome the international cricket community. The tournament, hosted by the Caribbean West Indies Masters Association (CWIMA), will bring together 16 international teams for 72 matches across Guyana from October 17 to November 1, 2026. In a press release, CWIMA said the hotel has been working closely with its organising committee on accommodation arrangements, guest requirements and tournament logistics. That assistance will support the staging of matches across several venues and regions. Guyana is preparing to receive teams, officials, invited cricket legends and tournament personnel from around the world. According to the association, reliable accommodation and local hospitality are important parts of ensuring the competition runs smoothly. CWIMA Secretary Roy Singh welcomed the partnership, highlighting the work required away from the cricket field to host an international tournament. “Hosting a World Cup requires much more than cricket grounds. It requires partners who are willing

Plaza Court Hotel’s Navin Prashad (left) and CWIMA Secretary Roy Singh (right)

to work with us behind the scenes and help take care of the people who make the tournament possible,” Singh said. “Plaza Court Hotel has been responsive and supportive, and we sincerely appreciate the role they are playing in welcoming our international cricket family to Guyana.” The association said the hotel’s contribution extends beyond supplying rooms, with its involvement in planning helping organisers coordinate the needs of those attending the World Cup. CWIMA also highlighted the value of partnerships

with Guyanese businesses, saying such support helps improve the experience of international visitors while demonstrating the country’s ability to host major sporting events. Alongside the competition, the World Cup will provide an opportunity to showcase Guyana’s hospitality, culture and passion for cricket. The event celebrates competitive masters cricket under the theme "Reignite the Fire. Relive the Passion.” Further tournament information is available at worldcup.windiesmasters. org.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026

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Hope 162* beats Rahul 129* as West Indies pull off record chase KL Rahul made 129 not out, his highest ODI score

and over was at the end of the 38th over. That was also the time when Hope was struggling with his fitness. Unable to put pressure on the fielders or manage the big hits, Hope went 42 balls without a boundary in this period. The bringing up of his 21st ODI century gave him little joy. Among his team-mates, past and present, only Chris Gayle has more. However, much like Amir Jangoo had done for the second wicket, Paul dominated the scoring and made sure Hope could bide his time and aim to gather a second wind towards the end of the match. Paul had also taken the big wicket of Rohit Sharma on 92 in the 25th over, when Rohit was done with the struggle and threatened another big hundred. Had he got there, it would have been his third in four innings. Rohit used all his experience after Jayden Seales, West Indies’ best bowler of the series, took out Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli in successive legal deliveries to reduce India to four for two. Gill gloved one down the leg side, and Kohli missed a straight ball, losing his middle

hai Hope spent the entirety of this seemingly never-ending match on the field, hobbling for the last third of his innings after having kept for 50 overs, and sealed West Indies’ highest success in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) after they experienced the agony of losing despite scoring 405. That West Indies chased down 352 with remarkable ease despite losing one of only five specialist bat-ters to injury even before Hope started to struggle leaves us with a tantalising “what if”. Not to mention a controversial decision against Sherfane Rutherford, which necessitated an excellent innings of 44 from Keemo Paul, batting in the top five for the first time in ODIs. This was the only time the West Indies got to chase in this series, and the chase-friendliness of the con-ditions in New Chandigarh was even more stark. After the first 10 overs of the match yielded 28 for two, with India deciding to challenge themselves by batting first after winning their third toss, the rest of the match produced 675 runs at 7.64 per over. Despite all the batting records India posted, including KL Rahul’s personal best in this ODI, their bowling in the abstump. sence of Jasprit Bumrah India needand Hardik Pan-dya will ed all the skill give them little confiof Rohit and dence less than a year Rahul and before the World Cup. then some, givWhat if they hadn’t en how batwon all the tossting seemed es and the West easy once Indies had got to Shai Hope became the first the pitch chase sooner in wicketkeeper-Captain to setthe series? score 150 in men’s ODIs Led by Hope’s 162 off 143, this tled was a superbly down. It is paced chase: remarkable that the first West Indies won not time the just despite the inasking juries and the quesrate tion-able selection, but went also despite at least six past dropped catches, ordieight

India extends its world record to 14 consecutive ODI series wins against a single opponent

nary ground fielding and the bowling going to pieces when Rahul decided it was time to maximise the last few overs. Rahul added 40 and 61 with debutant Anshul Kamboj and No. 9 Gurnoor Brar after executing a second rebuild of the innings when Rohit and the incredibly lucky Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was dropped four times, fell within 19 runs of each other. Gaikwad’s luck took a nasty lurch from Seales to end for 57 off 69. Rahul stayed calm, went deep into the innings, and fully cashed in on the last three overs bowled with an extra fielder in the circle thanks to a tardy over rate. He scored 42 off the last 12 balls he faced as India took 50 off the last three overs. This was Rahul’s ninth ODI hundred, fourth in just 36 innings from No. 5. If the dropped catches were not enough, one that stuck, from Naman Dhir, who looked promising in his 30 off 21, injured the opening batter Jewel Andrew so badly that he had to go to hospital for scans. No fracture was revealed, but the pain was so bad it was decided Andrew would bat only if needed. As it turned out, he wasn’t. Even though the returning Mohammed Siraj bowled last match’s centurion John Campbell with a wob-ble-seam ball early, the start from West Indies was good enough to stun India and the crowd. The reve-lation of the series, Jangoo, relished a move

up to No. 3, getting to now exploit the field restrictions as well. Dropped on 34 by Kohli no less, Jangoo scored 67 off 56 in a 109-run second-wicket stand with Hope. The pair batted with ease, hit others and milked Kuldeep Yadav for a run a ball, but a run-out off a mis-field by Kohli ended Jangoo’s series at 239 runs off just 176 balls. Just one wicket away from bowling to all-rounders and bowlers, having played a significant part in the run-out of Jangoo, Hope, 62 off 62 at this point, had to regroup if the West Indies were to have any chance in the chase even though 202 in a little under 30 overs looked straightforward looking at how the last 60 overs had gone. Hope responded with three fours in the next eight balls he faced. During this onslaught, India lost Brar momentarily to a calf injury. In his absence, Dhir did a decent job, but Hope kept getting the boundary whenever needed, the most notable one of them being a straight back-foot six as a response to three straight dots to Dhir in the 26th over. Rutherford joined the party soon enough, but when given out on the field for 24 off 25 to make it 206 for three in 30 overs, the DRS review failed to convince the third umpire that the ball had not hit his bat even though replays did confirm the bat hitting the pad at the same time. The third umpire couldn’t see a “clear gap” between bat and ball needed to overturn the

on-field call, but many an observer felt otherwise. An ask of 146 in 20 overs with seven wickets in hand is a cakewalk in this era, but the West Indies didn’t have Roston Chase, who was left out for Gudakesh Motie and still ended up spending half the bowling innings on the field after Vitel Lawes walked off injured. Aided by Paul’s leg-glancefilled innings, Hope decided to take the game as deep as he could, even aware that

India’s over rate was slow and that India would also need to bowl with an extra fielder in. Despite the slowdown in the intervening period once Brar came back to get the wicket of Paul, Hope made sure he was there and able to play a lone hand at the end. The highest the asking rate got was 11.2 for the last five overs, and Hope was not getting much support from Motie at the other end. Hope had himself scored just 38 in the last 48 balls. Then he started to pull the trigger. After hitting a straight six off the first ball of Kuldeep’s last over, he achieved another small win by sweeping a wrong’un, a ball that had got him out in both the previous matches, for four. India had to bowl the last four overs with the over-rate penalty in play, and it was their turn to go to pieces. Hope sliced a couple of fours off Brar in the 47th before Gill chose to bowl Kamboj in the 48th even though Siraj had two overs left. Kamboj looked to reprise his IPL method of going round the wicket and bowling wide yorkers to right-hand batters, but not only did he miss, he also bowled a no-ball to finally give Hope a helping hand now that he didn’t really need it. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD India (50 ovs maximum) Rohit Sharma c Andrew b Paul 92 Shubman Gill (c) c †Hope b Seales 1 Virat Kohli b Seales 0 Ruturaj Gaikwad c Campbell b Seales 57 KL Rahul †not out 129 Naman Dhir c Andrew b Motie 30 Nitish Kumar Reddy c †Hope b Paul 9 Anshul Kamboj run out (Joseph) 17 Gurnoor Brar not out 8 Extras (lb 1, w 7) 8 Total 50 Ov (RR: 7.02) 351/7 Fall of wickets: 1-3 (Shubman Gill, 2.3 ov), 2-4 (Virat Kohli, 2.4 ov), 3-141 (Rohit Sharma, 24.4 ov), 4-160 (Ruturaj Gaikwad, 28.5 ov), 5-225 (Naman Dhir, 35.6 ov), 6-250 (Nitish Kumar Reddy, 40.6 ov), 7-290 (Anshul Kamboj, 45.4 ov) Bowling O-M-R-W Jayden Seales 10-0-62-3 Matthew Forde 6-0-26-0 Alzarri Joseph 10-1-70-0 Keemo Paul 9-0-71-2 Gudakesh Motie 10-0-67-1 Vitel Lawes 5-0-54-0

West Indies (T: 352 runs from 50 ovs) John Campbell b Mohammed Siraj 10 Shai Hope (c)† not out 162 Amir Jangoo run out (Kohli/Naman Dhir) 67 Sherfane Rutherford c †Rahul b Naman Dhir 24 Keemo Paul c Nitish Kumar Reddy b Gurnoor Brar 44 Matthew Forde c Naman Dhir b Kuldeep Yadav 7 Gudakesh Motie not out 19 Extras (lb 9, nb 2, w 8) 19 Total 48.2 Ov (RR: 7.28) 352/5 Fall of wickets: 1-41 (John Campbell, 4.1 ov), 2-150 (Amir Jangoo, 20.4 ov), 3-206 (Sherfane Rutherford, 29.6 ov), 4-271 (Keemo Paul, 40.1 ov), 5-290 (Matthew Forde, 43.3 ov) Bowling O-M-R-W Mohammed Siraj 8-0-52-1 Anshul Kamboj 9-0-82-0 Gurnoor Brar 9.1-0-64-1 Kuldeep Yadav 10-0-62-1 Nitish Kumar Reddy 6.5-0-50-0 Naman Dhir 5.2-0-33-1

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