Guyana Times - Thursday, August 21, 2025

“Vote for those who look out for you” – President Ali urges members of Disciplined Forces

As members of the disciplined services head to the polls this coming Friday, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, appealed to them to cast their vote wisely and consciously and to consider the party that has always supported them.

The Head of State made this appeal as he addressed a massive crowd

on Wednesday evening in the farming community of Black Bush Polder.

When the then APNU+AFC (A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change) coalition Government assumed office back in 2015, it abandoned the one-month taxfree Christmas bonus for the Joint Services, leaving thousands of families in distress.

“Vote with your con-

science, vote with your dignity, vote with honour, and vote for the party that gave you back your bonus. Today you have more scholarships, more access to training, access to housing [and] salaries,” Ali urged.

The one-month taxfree Christmas bonus is a key initiative by the PPP/C Government and has been in place since 2002. Through this initiative, members of the Guyana

Defence Force (GDF), Guyana Fire Service (GFS) and Guyana Police Force (GPF) receive more money at the end of the year.

Immediately after assuming office, President Ali moved to restore the bonus, and by 2024, thousands of ranks had received approximately $1.6 billion in bonuses.

Additionally, President

Ali announced an increase in the minimum wage for junior ranks and officers to $130,000 earlier this year to level the playing field among the various agencies within the Joint Services.

“You can expect in the next term continued support for home ownership, expanded increases in your salary, training, support for your medical services

and support for a quality of life [that] is second to none,” President Ali assured.

The head of state called on members of the joint services to cast their ballot consciously, saying Guyanese will join on September 1 to deliver a victory for the PPP/C so that progress can continue and Guyanese can prosper.

Region 6 to see investments like you’ve never seen before – Pres Ali

... outlines major infrastructural, economic, personal development

if reelected

Two days after the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) released its manifesto, President Ali explained its relevance and how it would dramatically and positively impact Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Outlining the plan for Guyana, Ali told the community of Black Bush Polder at Mibicuri, a mainly farming community, on Wednesday, that the PPP/C’s plans will see Guyanese from neighbouring Suriname and the diaspora returning to live in Guyana.

Focusing on Region Six, Ali said it is a carefully articulated regional plan that will see investments “like you have never seen before”.

“We have a plan that will give you a new Corentyne Bridge linking Suriname with Berbice. We have a plan that will give you a new four-lane Berbice Bridge just like the Demerara River Bridge.” Ali further detailed

that the plan will see the construction of a deep-water port and the country’s second gas-to-shore line coming to Region Six.

The Head of State, who is seeking a second term in office at the upcoming General and Regional Elections, noted that an exclusive economic zone for manufacturing and industrial development for the region is also included in the plan.

Additionally, plans are underway to connect the region and the rest of Guyana to northern Brazil.

Personal development for Guyanese

Ali also said that Region Six will have a medical school and opportunities for other academic pursuits.

“We have a plan that will give all your teachers, your nurses, and your children the ability to get a diploma, a degree, a master's, or a PhD right here in this region. We have a plan that will give you a

four-lane road from New Amsterdam to Moleson Creek. We have a plan that will develop a new urban centre in Moleson Creek. A plan that will bring back home the Guyanese from Suriname. A plan that will bring back home the Guyanese from Brooklyn, from Queens, and from Toronto. A plan that will bring our people back home,” the President assured.

He said the plan he speaks of will guarantee the success of the country and will guarantee the security of Guyana and will ensure that all women will rise to the realisation of their full potential.

“We have a plan in which every single child can aspire to be whatever he or she wants to be, knowing that their Government will invest in them to be whatever he or she wants to be. We have a plan here in Region Six that will give you your own international stadium, thousands of new houses, a nation-

al cultural market, your own entertainment complex, your state-of-the-art cricketing academy, and recreational grounds with lights across every single community and every single NDC [Neighbourhood Democratic Council]. We have a plan; we have a plan that will lift you like you've never been lifted before.”

That plan, President Ali noted, will also see the cost for cooking gas being almost the lowest in the world, while electricity costs will be cut by half. More lands, he said, will also be opened for housing and farming.

“That will give your young people land. We have a plan that will invest in the technology to raise you up as a people living in fulfilment.”

Ail referred to his next five-year term in office, if re-elected, as one that will be moving at a fast pace because of the amount of work to be done. Ali told Black Bush Polder.

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, August 21 –02:55h–04:25h and Friday, August 22 – 03:30hrs–05:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, August 21 –15:35h–17:05h and Friday, August 22 – 16:15h–17:45h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers and late-afternoon sunshine are expected during the day, and cloudy skies followed by thundery showers are expected at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East South-Easterly between 1.34 metre and 2.68 metres.

High Tide: 15:35h reaching a maximum height of 2.37 metres.

Low Tide: 09:05h and 21:22 reaching minimum heights of 0.76 metre and 0.84 metre.

$930M Tuschen Secondary commissioned

…800 students to be accommodated, science labs, TVET centre, recreational spaces

President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday officially commissioned the state-of-the-art $930 million Tuschen Secondary School, a major educational investment located on the East Bank of Essequibo in Region Three.

The facility, designed to accommodate more than 800 students, marks a significant milestone in the Government's commitment to building a knowledge-based economy. Enrolment has already begun, with 140 students registered for Grade 8, and 91 expected to enter Grade 7 when the new school year starts in September. With 23 teachers already on staff, the school will offer 25 subjects.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, President Ali described the school as "a new beginning for many families and many children", noting that it stands as a symbol of the Government's broader vision for national

cilities that will enhance student life, including a multi-purpose court, shade house, and space for an agricultural plot.

The fully reinforced concrete structure, topped with a dome roof, is equipped with comprehensive fire prevention systems, including fire alarms, extinguish-

ers, escape doors, and fire exits. The facility was designed with student wellbeing in mind, aiming to provide a safe, welcoming, and motivating environment for learning.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand, who also attended the event, praised the team behind the school's

development through education.

"Today we are delivering to the people of Region Three a school that can match any other in the Caribbean and Latin America," he said. "We are building an enormous future for Region Three. We want every single child to have a viable pathway to a successful future."

Emphasising the central role of education in Guyana’s long-term development, President Ali declared, "One day our natural resources will be depleted, but the minds of our children will never run dry. A knowledgeable economy is the economy of the future. This is not a dream deferred; this is a promise delivered."

The modern, one-flat structure features 24 classrooms, physics, chemistry and biology laboratories, a TVET centre with industrial and home economics laboratories, a canteen, a multi-purpose hall and cafeteria, a sanitary block, fire prevention systems, and an outdoor recreational area.

The school also includes a number of important fa-

development. "We have a beautiful new secondary school, and I want to congratulate the designer and the consultant and commend the contractors. It’s not just a secondary school; it’s a beautiful edifice where children will want to learn. This will be their oasis. Their place of safety,” she said. The school was designed by GR Engineering Company, which also supervised construction. The building process was divided into several lots and carried out by various contractors as follows:Lot 1 (Foundations): S&K Construction; Lot 2 (Superstructure Works): Singh and Son Construction; Lot 3 (Plumbing and Landscaping): Harry Chowtie Enterprise; Lot 4 (Electrical Works); Lot 5 (Finishes): K&S General Contractors; and Lot 6 (External Works): Harry Chowtie Enterprise.

Editor: Tusika Martin

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“Toe the line”

overseas but lawlessness on local roads

The recent observations by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) highlight a troubling and persistent reality: traffic laws in Guyana are treated as optional by far too many motorists. The phenomenon has become so normalised that even those who demonstrate exemplary discipline when driving abroad abandon that behaviour once they return home. It is an indictment on individual drivers and also on the wider culture that continues to tolerate recklessness on the roadways.

NRSC Chairman Earl Lambert captured the problem bluntly when he pointed out that Guyanese drivers “toe the line” overseas but revert to lawlessness on local roads. This inconsistency speaks volumes about a national mindset that undermines respect for authority, prioritises convenience over compliance, and disregards the rights of fellow road users. Illegal parking, reckless overtaking, speeding, and the chronic overloading of minibuses are not minor inconveniences; they are daily hazards that compromise road safety, endanger lives, and erode public order.

Inspector Mark Forde’s reminder that motorists cannot simply “park anywhere and go conduct business” underscores the scale of indiscipline, particularly in urban centres such as Georgetown. Illegal parking not only contributes to congestion but also exacerbates tensions between drivers and pedestrians, already strained by a lack of courtesy and respect. This indifference to rules, coupled with disregard for pedestrian safety, deepens the risks faced by some of the most vulnerable users of the road.

Authorities have turned to stronger enforcement measures, including clamping, towing, and ticketing, in an attempt to curb these violations. Technology is also being leveraged, with the Ministry of Home Affairs’ SecureEye app offering citizens a channel to anonymously report reckless drivers and illegal activity. Yet, while enforcement remains necessary, it will not by itself dismantle the entrenched culture of disregard. Changing behaviour requires a shift in public consciousness, where respect for traffic laws becomes a civic norm rather than an imposition.

The problem of road indiscipline carries broader implications beyond safety and convenience. Former President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Kester Hutson, rightly underscored the connection between road culture and the wider national image. Tourism, an increasingly critical pillar of Guyana’s development strategy, is vulnerable to the impressions visitors form the moment they traverse the country’s roads. For many tourists, the driving experience is not a side issue but a central part of how they perceive Guyana as a destination. A culture of speeding, chaos, and intimidation on the roadways sends a message of disorder, deterring repeat visits and tarnishing the very image the nation is working hard to project.

The private sector’s call for a collaborative approach is timely. Addressing road indiscipline requires more than police patrols and punitive measures; it demands coordinated action between government agencies, law enforcement, civic groups, and businesses. Sustained public education campaigns can reinforce the message that compliance is not optional, while schools can play a role in instilling a culture of road safety among the next generation of drivers. The business community, for its part, can lead by example, ensuring that corporate fleets and contracted transport providers operate with the highest regard for road safety.

Infrastructure development also plays a role in shaping behaviour. Road expansion projects currently underway offer an opportunity to integrate better traffic management systems, designated parking, and pedestrian-friendly designs. However, no amount of physical expansion will compensate for cultural indifference. The root issue remains behavioural, and until that is confronted directly, Guyana risks repeating the cycle of congestion, accidents, and fatalities.

The time has come for road safety to be treated as a national priority rather than a seasonal talking point after accidents or traffic campaigns. Respect for traffic laws is not a matter of convenience; it is a fundamental measure of civic responsibility. The double standard of strict compliance abroad but indiscipline at home must be called out for what it is: a failure of accountability and an affront to the rule of law.

If Guyana is to advance as a modern, safe, and competitive society, its citizens must take responsibility for their conduct on the roadways. Enforcement, education, and infrastructure are necessary, but they must be matched with a cultural shift towards discipline and respect. The stakes are too high, not only for the safety of road users but also for the nation’s reputation and economic prospects.

The culture of lawlessness on Guyana’s roads cannot continue unchecked.

GECOM must be complimented

Dear Editor, The Guyana Elections Commission must be complimented for the demonstrated and transparent consistency in the advancement of its works in preparation for National and Regional Elections on September 01, 2025.The globally recognised International Electoral Observer Mission, the Carter Center, along with other leading political and civil organisations in Guyana, hails Guyana's electoral reforms and readiness for these elections.

Guyana heads into this new election cycle with a reformed legal and electoral framework, which certainly improves transparency in the vote tabulation process and modernises voter registration. The Observer Missions have lauded the important transitional changes and reforms adopted in Guyana’s

enhanced legal and electoral system since the country’s last National Election in 2020. These reforms also have significant relevance, particularly in the areas of vote tabulation and voters’ registration. The Carter Center recognises the most substantial changes, including the sub-district tabulation in select regions and new requirements for simultaneous electronic public posting and transmission of polling station results, as well as the obligations of presiding officers to ensure transparency during the counting and closing procedures. Of recognised significance is the very important designation of continuous registration cycles, followed by the claims and objection processes, which give the nation an opportunity to remove the names of any proven deceased persons from the list.

During the Continuous Registration process, all the main political parties had the option of having scrutineers observing the process and signing off on all transactions. After, a thorough house-tohouse continuous registration along with the claims and objections period, which is verified by political parties' paid scrutineers, GECOM successfully produced the final list of voters. GECOM must be congratulated, along with the political party scrutineers, for a thorough job in producing the 2025 Official List of Electors (OLE), fully certified on July 29th. The OLE now registered 757,690 names, including 376,703 men and 380,987 women.

Guyanese are accustomed to the “naysayers” of convenience who have sought to offer comments on the list. It was not too long ago that the legal basis for retaining the

names of persons not proven to be dead on the voters list was established. In fact, this position has its basis in the recent precedent ruling of the High Court, which cannot be ignored for superfluous suitability. In context, it is important to acknowledge the Carter Center comments on the issues to which it stated, “While the relative size of the OLE raises concerns for some persons, the Carter Center has not received evidence of inflation of the voter roll.” GECOM will now have to provide for the immediate online publication of Statements of Polls (SoPs). SoPs will now be available to all the relevant persons and will never again be a document to search for.

Guyana is now fully ready for free and fair elections.

Yours sincerely, Neil Kumar

How parties line up 11 days before E-Day

Dear Editor,

This is a whistle-stop tour of how things look for the competitive parties for the elections on September 1, 2025. Let’s do it in alphabetical order.

The AFC is basically finished. It has been wracked by an ongoing exit of top party personalities and by poor to non-existent leadership. The AFC is barely visible in this election cycle.

The APNU will likely hold on to that part of its base that is over 50 and those diehard David Hinds ideological types. The former will vote based on family loyalty; the latter based on radical ethnic chauvinism. Please see Hinds’ social media posts.

The APNU has been hobbled by a mass exodus of top leaders and activists and is at its weakest point in history. If LFS Burnham were alive, he would probably disapprove of Norton.

The PPP/C is in a commanding position. If crowd size is a reliable indicator, then the PPP/C will crush the opposition. Beyond crowd size, the PPP/C has a strong record of promises made and promises kept. It also has tested leadership in Ali, Phillips, and Jagdeo. $200,000 to school children, $60,000 to pensioners, free UG education, interest-free loans for small businesses, and other proposed measures are bound to find fa -

vour with voters. More than anything else, the PPP/C has an “army” of activists, who, of their own free will, are maintaining the party’s momentum. This bodes well for massive voter turnout on E-Day.

The WIN party is obviously in trouble because of its compromised leadership. It is doing okay for a “flareup” party, but we have to wait and see if those blue shirts will actually go to the polls. The WIN coastal demographics have a lower marginal propensity to show up at the polls on E-Day. In the interior regions, the WIN might not be the last visitor. Further, now that vote-buying is harder because of the

new GECOM phone rule in the polling booth, WIN will likely lose the ‘scrape votes’. The other two parties are basically irrelevant because the AFC might be the force for any “remainder” seat. Amanza Desir’s fall is of historic proportions. All told, the AFC is basically finished; APNU will make no gains; the PPP/C is gaining momentum with lots of crossovers in its corner; and the WIN is hobbled by a sanctioned candidate. It has no PM candidate to date, a sign that top participants are afraid of being implicated.

Yours sincerely, Dr Randy Persaud

Why the 2025 Voters’ List Is Credible: An evidence-based analysis on voter registration trends and legal context

Dear Editor, Guyana’s 2025 voters’ list, at 757,690, reflects lawful inclusion, demographic growth, and continuous registration – not bloat – confirmed by independent observers such as the Carter Center, underscoring the credibility of the electoral process ahead of the September 1, 2025, elections.

• 2025 mirrors 2020’s growth pattern: +16% (2015–2020) vs +15% (2020–2025) – representing a one-percentage-point decline over the previous cycle, not an outlier.

• Once registered, citizens cannot be removed from the OLE except by proof of death via a verified death certificate (CJ ruling ahead of 2020). Thus, overseas-based Guyanese who migrated after registering remain lawfully on the list.

• Continuous registration since 2005; multiple GECOM cycles since 2006 kept the roll current.

• Demographic pipeline: ≈256,000 from the 2012 Census cohorts matured into eligibility across 2015→2020 (160,000) and 2025 (≈96,000).

• Net return migration + new opportunities (oil & gas, concessions) expand the eligible pool. Bottom line: The 757k (2025) voters’ list reflects lawful inclusion, demographic growth, and ongoing maintenance – not “bloat”.

The debate surrounding the integrity of Guyana’s voters’ list is neither new nor fleeting. Over the years, questions have frequently arisen about whether the list is “bloated”, particular-

ly during and after contentious election cycles. One of the most prominent interventions came from businessman Mr Stanley Ming, who advanced the argument – backed by what he described as mathematical analysis – that the Official List of Electors (OLE) could not credibly contain over 500,000 registered voters. His reasoning implied that tens of thousands of ballots cast should be considered invalid, thereby challenging

the legitimacy of the electoral process.

That debate resurfaced most sharply during the national elections’ saga of 2020, where concerns about the size of the voters’ list became central to the political discourse. At the time, opposition figures argued that the Government’s electoral mandate rested on a “bloated list”. These claims were even conveyed to senior U.S. officials during their engagements with Guyanese stakeholders, where reference was made to the national recount which showed 460,352 ballots cast against 661,378 eligible voters.

Fast-forward to today, the issue has once again come into sharp focus as Guyana prepares for General and Regional Elections due on September 1, 2025.The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has published the current electors’ list, showing an increase from 661,378 voters in 2020 to 757,690 in 2025. Notably, the Carter Centre’s pre-election observer report, released on August 19, 2025, found no evidence of an inflated voters’ list, directly

challenging the recurring narrative of “bloating”. This assessment underscores the need to examine the matter through a longer historical lens rather than episodic political claims.

Against this backdrop, it is timely to revisit the issue, not as a matter of partisan contestation, but through a systematic analysis of voter registration trends over the last three decades. From 1992 through to 2025, the evolution of the voters’ list reflects demographic shifts, institutional reforms, and administrative practices. A careful trend analysis allows us to move beyond speculative arguments and instead ground the discussion in data and historical context.

Henceforth, this report provides a historical analysis of voter registration trends in Guyana from 1992 to 2025. The data illustrates the overall upward trajectory of the voters’ list, with notable declines in 2001 and 2011. These declines were tied to major electoral reforms such as the introduction of photo ID cards in 2001 and biometric house-to-house registra-

tion in 2008.The chart and table below contextualise these changes against continuous registration periods and population growth.

The trend: steady growth. The long run series (1992–2025) shows normal ebbs and flows, with two very similar growth intervals anchoring the recent period: 2020 vs 2015 at +15.9% and 2025 vs 2020 at +14.6%. That’s essentially the same growth band repeated, not an anomaly. And, as confirmed by recent diaspora studies and election observer analysis, Guyana’s exceptionally high emigration rate implies many eligible citizens reside overseas yet remain lawfully on the register –so a larger total, including the 2025 figure (≈757,000), is credible and justifiable. Furthermore, as one would recall, as well, that following the announcement of the national cash grant in 2024, many Guyanese abroad returned home to register for the same, which would have contributed to the higher level of registered voters.

Yours sincerely, Joel Bhagwandin

How much LCDS funding did Indigenous villages receive under APNU, Fernandes?

Dear Editor, I recently came across a video of the prime ministerial candidate of the APNU, Ms Juretha Fernandes, criticising the PPP for including in its manifesto the continuation of the 15% share of LCDS funds to Indigenous communities across Guyana.

In her five-minute-long tirade, Ms Fernandes said the PPP had the “audacity, boldness [and] disrespectfulness that we’ve come to know… to put back in the 2025 manifesto that they intend to give back Indigenous leaders the same 15% carbon credit”.

She went on: “The PPP has grown accustomed to disrespecting Indigenous communities and leaders and believing that they can give the absolute minimum and persons would not care.”

First, it is important to understand that Ms Fernandes unceremoniously weaselled her way out of the AFC and into the APNU – two parties that jointly held the seat of Government between 2015 and 2020.

Now, I don’t particularly blame Ms Fernandes for the lack of policy – or even foresight – between that period, since she only served as a secretary to a Government official.

However, it would have been prudent for Ms Fernandes to examine her party’s record in this particular area before launching her assault on the PPP.

Between 2015 and 2020, the LCDS was shelved by the APNU+AFC, and coming to the end of its term in office, it presented the “Decade of Development” – some form of policy framework it said would transform Guyana between 2020 and 2030. They were booted from office, and so it was never implemented.

Interestingly, but not surprisingly, that document was terribly deficient and did not contain a model for forest-based climate financing. Apart from a deficient policy, the APNU+AFC did not earn a single cent from climate services during that period.

So, while Ms Fernandes waxes lyrical now about revenues from climate services, it was during the tenure of her parties that Indigenous communities did not receive a cent from climate services due to their lack of foresight and technical capacity.

It was the PPP that, in 2022, reintroduced an updated LCDS and secured US$750 million for the sale of carbon credits – 15% of which goes directly to Indigenous communities for development projects. To date, billions have reached more than 240 Indigenous villages where more than 800 projects have been implemented. The PPP is also targeting 5000 new projects in Indigenous villages over the next five years, using revenues from the LCDS. What should be even more embarrassing for Ms

Fernandes and her parties is the fact that the sale of these carbon credits (by the PPP) included legacy earnings –i.e., funds earned for the period 2016-2020 – the period the APNU+AFC was in office –negotiated for by the PPP.

In other words, the PPP earned revenues from the sale of climate services even for the period Ms Fernandes’ parties held the seat of Government.

I do not know Ms Fernandes to be an Indigenous rights activist except for the

short election period, but I suppose the opportunity was ripe and she attempted to seize it. My only issue is that when she advocates for Guyana’s First Peoples, she ought not to do so opportunis-

tically. She should be consistent and honest – even about her and her own parties’ failures.

Yours faithfully, Ravin Singh

Line segments and rays

A line segment is a specific part of a line. It ends at two identified points.

A line segment is named by its two end points. Segment AB = Segment BA. AB = BA

A ray is a part of a line that extends from a specific point in only one direction. The specific point of a ray is called a vertex or an endpoint. However, to identify a ray, you must use one other letter along the line’s path.

Ray RS does not equalRay SR, because the first point named in a ray shows the vertex, and Ray SR goes in the opposite direction of Ray RS.

1) For the figure below, call the point of intersection of the diagonals O. List all the line segments in the figure.

2) For the figure below, count how many line segments there are. Do not include line segments that contain another point. For example, the line segment CF contains the point G.

2) Name two rays from the image below.

By Manny LoLey

Amanza Walton’s FMG makes last-minute court bid to delay elections

The Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) has filed a High Court challenge against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), accusing the body of excluding duly approved political parties from ballots in several hinterland regions ahead of the September 1 General and Regional elections.

In a fixed-date application filed by attorney Dr Vivian Williams, FGM candidate Krystal Hadassah is seeking urgent constitutional relief under Part 56 of the Civil Procedure Rules. The party argues that GECOM’s ballot design violates Articles 59, 149, and 160 of the Constitution, as well as provisions of the Representation of the People Act (ROPA).

According to the affidavit, both FGM and the Assembly of Liberty and Prosperity (ALP) were approved to contest the upcoming polls. However, their names were not from ballots in Regions Seven, Eight, and Nine, and ALP in Regions One and Two. The parties claimed that they satisfied all legal requirements to contest nationally.

The claimants argue that the omission denies electors in those regions the right to vote for all qualified nation-

Cold

al lists, thereby undermining the principle of proportional representation. FGM contends that the move disproportionately affects Amerindian-majority communities, amounting to discrimination on the grounds of race and place of origin.

As a result, the application asks the court to declare elections held without full party inclusion null and void, restrain GECOM from excluding duly qualified parties from national ballots, direct that FGM’s list be added to ballots in Regions Seven, Eight, and Nine, and guarantee voters in Regions One, Two, Seven, Eight, and Nine are not denied participation.

At a press briefing, FGM presidential candidate Amanza Walton-Desir described the matter as one that “cuts to the heart of inclusionary democracy”.

“The court – this court challenge rather, is not just about the technicality. It is about giving the people of Guyana the knowledge and fair choices they need to make the right choices come September 1 and indeed in any election we are going to have in this country. When voters are denied the full truth of their options, democracy itself is weakened. And so, the

storage facility,

Forward Guyana Movement stands possibly as David against the Goliath of the ruling PPP and a complicit GECOM, insisting that every Guyanese from the hinterland to the coast deserves a fair chance to choose their future,” Walton-Desir said.

Walton-Desir told reporters that while GECOM had previously issued guidance indicating all parties meeting requirements would be included in the national contest, the printed ballots contradicted that commitment.

She further stressed that the exclusion could distort national results, given that proportional allocation of seats depends on the total number of votes cast countrywide.

“What is the use of providing a minimum standard if you are going to then retract that and tell people you have to abide by the maximum? What is the use of saying to the electorate that in order to qualify to participate in the general elections, you must meet the threshold of being able to compete in six districts, and then you exclude them from the general elections? And so this cuts to the question of how our ballots are presented. It begs the question as to whether there

new

needs to be a national ballot, a geographic constituency ballot, and a regional ballot. So all of these matters are matters that we want clarified because the forward-gain movement does not intend to proceed just being dragged along. We want clarity, we want the courts to pronounce, and we want GECOM to get its act together,” she added.

Guyana Times was told that up to press time GECOM has not been served with any proceedings.

Rubbished

Meanwhile, one local attorney has since rubbished the legal action filed by the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), branding it one of the most illogical challenges ever brought before the courts.

According to the attorney, taking legal proceedings to be on the ballot in regions where a person is not contesting is illogical. He stressed that the law is clear: political parties must field candidates and meet prescribed requirements in each region if they wish to appear on that region’s ballot. Additionally, another attorney has since said that ballots are tied to regional participation, meaning

feed mill

that if a party does not contest in a particular district, its name cannot appear on the general election ballot in that region.

Ballots

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) recently confirmed that a total of 757,690 electors are on the voters list for the September 1 General and Regional Election.

Of that number, the Commission has also confirmed that some 10,481 members of the Joint Services will exercise their franchise this Friday ahead of the national polls, in keeping with longstanding practice to ensure they can be deployed across the country on Election Day.

The Commission is finalising arrangements to ensure a smooth process, including the establishment of 2790 polling stations across the country. Of this number, 62 polling stations will be located at private residences.

The GECOM has also confirmed that ballot papers for the September 1 polls have been dispatched to Guyanese diplomatic missions abroad, while local distribution to Returning Officers across the 10 administrative regions is actively underway. The move signals that the Commission is firmly on track with preparations as the country heads into the final stretch before Election Day.

coming to Black Bush Polder

…as major plans unveiled to boost rice, cash crop, livestock farmers in Region 6

The Government has plans in place to develop a cold storage facility in the Black Bush Polder (BBP), Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). This announcement was made by President Irfaan Ali when he visited the community on Wednesday. According to the President, his Government will provide support to all categories of farmers. Speaking to rice farmers, he said, “Here in Black Bush Polder, we have to build a storage facility for your paddy and for your rice here in Region Six so that we can have enough capacity to keep the product; so when the market price is better, we can unleash it on the market,” President Ali disclosed.

BBP is a vital farming community known for its significant contribution to the country’s agricultural sector. Primarily focused on rice and cash crop cultivation, it plays a crucial role in ensuring food security both regionally and nationally. The fertile lands and structured drainage and irrigation systems support large-scale farming, which

provides employment for hundreds of residents and boosts the local economy.

Black Bush Polder's agricultural output not only supplies markets within the region but also contributes to exports, making it an essential pillar in the country’s overall food production and economic development.

A cold storage facility is extremely important to the community, as it will help to preserve the fresh -

ness and quality of perishable produce such as fruits and vegetables. By extending the shelf life of harvested crops, cold storage reduces post-harvest losses and allows farmers to store their products longer, giving them the flexibility to sell when market prices are more favourable.

This not only increases farmers' income but also improves food security by ensuring a more con -

sistent supply of fresh produce throughout the year. Additionally, cold storage enables better planning and supports agro-processing industries, contributing to the overall development and sustainability of the farming community.

Rice farming President Ali said that his Government has to create a price stabilisation fund so that our farmers can be guaranteed a mini -

mum price for their paddy. This, he said, will allow them to stay in the business of farming.

“We have to ensure that the system allows them to be paid on time. We have to support them with a transportation grant so that their cost of transportation will come down. We have to support them in marketing – not only with fertiliser, but also by bringing our small and medium-sized farmers together and building them into a consortium and giving them the tools and the equipment, their combines, the plough, and the drones; and supporting them with the technology and the extension service and the capital,” the President pointed out.

This, he said, will make it cheaper and easier, enabling farmers to be viable.

Cash crop, livestock and GMC Focusing on cash crop farmers, President Ali noted that on many occasions, surplus produce has to be dumped.

“We must fix that! That is why we will establish an office for the Guyana

Marketing Corporation [GMC] right here in your community; we will build enclosed storage, and we will ensure that when you have overproduction, the Guyana Marketing Corporation can help you take that produce, store it, process it and put it on the market.”

The President told farmers that they can expect business grants so as to access capital as part of the Government’s support to them.

Additionally, he said the Government will be building a modern feed mill to ensure livestock has adequate feed, as the Government will be pursuing efforts to improve breeding stock by importing better breeds.

“So you can have better quality animals – and we want to help in the flock expansion project by bringing in high-yielding bred animals to support the expansion of the livestock industry.”

This, the President outlined, will require technical support for farmers, which he assured the Government will be providing.

Stanleytown resident granted bail on threatening language charges

Dwain King, a resident of Lot 165, Stanleytown, West Bank Demerara (WBD), was on Wednesday granted $20,000 bail after appearing before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

King, 41, faced two charges alleging that on August 14, at East Street, Georgetown, he used threatening language towards Faye Roberts and provoked her with the intent to insult or annoy.

The accused, who was represented by Attorney Domnick Bess, pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Magistrate Daly granted $10,000 bail for each charge, and the case was adjourned to September 10, 2025, for continuation.

While this is a new case, King is no stranger to the court system. His legal history spans nearly a decade and includes both convictions and notable appeals.

In 2018, King successfully challenged a 60-month jail sentence for attempting to smuggle 2.9 kilograms of cocaine via the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

Initially found guilty by Magistrate Judy Latchman,

King’s appeal to the Full Court of the Georgetown High Court resulted in his conviction being overturned.

The Court ruled that the prosecution’s case relied heavily on circumstantial evidence and noted

that the key witness, King’s then-girlfriend Vanessa Moore, had an interest in the matter, which required careful scrutiny by the lower court.

King has also had violent encounters during his time in custody. In 2017, he was the victim of a stabbing incident at Georgetown Prison, carried out by fellow inmate Calvin Bailey.

Reports indicated that King, who had previously been convicted for narcotics-related offences, was attacked with an improvised knife, resulting in injuries that required medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

Attorney Domnick Bess, representing King in the current matter, argued for bail pending trial, and Magistrate Daly agreed, citing the circumstances of the charges.

King’s next court appearance is scheduled for September 10, 2025.

Police seek public’s help to identify suspect in Vreed-En-Hoop break-in

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) is appealing to the public for assistance in iden-

tifying a suspect wanted in connection with an alleged break-in and larceny at the Cellphone King

Electronics store, Lot 29 Stelling Road, VreedEn-Hoop, West Coast Demerara.

The suspect caught on camera during the break-in

The incident reportedly occurred between 17:00h on Monday and 04:40h on Tuesday. During the break-in, a quantity of cell phones, laptops, and footwear valued at approximately $5.7 million was stolen.

Authorities have released photographs of the suspect and are urging anyone with information regarding the individual’s identity or whereabouts to come forward.

Members of the public can contact the Officer in Charge of Crime for Region Three at 632-1205, the Inspector in charge of the Vreed-En-Hoop Police Station at 628-3157, or Detective Sergeant Douglas at 602-6094.

The police have assured that all information provided will be treated with confidentiality.

Observing…

…the elections

In Guyana “Election Observers” is an established tradition – domestic and foreign folks who “observe” our voting process to report any hanky-panky observed. As with almost everything related to elections, it started with Burnham doing the dirty in every election he was involved in!!! The man didn’t just write the book on the subject; he revised the book at every opportunity he got – meaning EVERY single election!! Your Eyewitness thinks the most pungent report by an Observer team was for the 1980 elections when the British Parliamentary Observer team headed by Lord Chitness declared the elections were “more crooked than barbed wire”!! Observer Teams are to be distinguished from “Investigative Teams”, such as the one by the UK’s Granada Television that showed horses registered in England as “overseas voters” for the PNC’s inaugural 1968 elections rigging!!

One observer that’s been with us from the very first “free and fair” elections in 1992 – and in fact helped bring about that happy circumstance – is the Carter Center, founded by former US president Jimmy Carter. And they’re baaack!! They’d been made persona non grata by the APNU/AFC coalition during their 2020 rigging attempt when they were denied re-entry into Guyana to observe the recount of the ballots – after Mingo had done the dirty with his spreadsheets and (soiled) bedsheets!! As is their wont (fancy, eh?), they’ve already surveyed the lay of the (electoral) land, so to speak, and issued their findings. They concluded the Opposition’s creating a tempest in their (small) teacup by bloviating about the OLE being “bloated” – even though they know fully well that its comparatively large size is due to the constitutional stipulation that registered Guyanese citizens living abroad can’t be removed!! Barbados has the same situation but decided they don’t wanna disenfranchise overseas citizens – who contribute generously to the elections war chests!! APNU/AFC could’ve introduced the enabling legislation when they were in office – but didn’t!! The Center, however, has pointed out that the state-owned media don’t give equal coverage to the Opposition. Your Eyewitness’ view is that while that’s certainly true, it’s quite irrelevant since all Guyanese know the same situation existed when the now opposition was in office. As such, they don’t give much mind – in any!! – to the state media!!

Another big observer mission that’s been with us for the long haul is the OAS. This year its team is again being led by former Jamaican PM Bruce Golding – who was here for the 2020 fun and games!! He earned the ire of the PNC and was publicly cussed out by “Lil Joe” Harmon after he told the OAS general council, “I have never seen a more transparent effort to alter the results of an election.”

Let the games begin pronto!!

…WIN

To say your Eyewitness is looking CLOSELY at the WIN campaign is putting it mildly!! That’s because it’s being conducted in a vacuum left by the PNC – call it APNU or what you may! – and the AFC. Look at the persons that WIN has been attracting – these are almost to a man and woman folks who would’ve been in the latter camps. So if we want to understand the so-called Blue Wave, we should examine the implosions in the PNC and AFC.

And implosions they are!! What else can you call the literal exodus of second-tier leaders from the PNC to the PPP? That created such a whoooosh you could see the degutting in real time. That THEY did the same to the AFC by not just rejecting a coalition with them or their leader but snagging their PM candidate didn’t change anything cause the AFC had already become Dead Meat!!

So WIN expanded into this vacuum – but will disappear when a new PNC leadership emerges after Sep 1st!!

…actual voting

The Opposition screamed the Government wanted cell phones in voting booths, so persons who’re been “helped” would have to take pics of their ballots.

So what now that GECOM prohibited cell phones?? They’ll scream, “GECOM is independent”??

Linden gets new fire station, Command Operations Centre

…as modern $125M police station commissioned at Timehri

Public safety and security in Region 10

(Upper DemeraraUpper Berbice) has been bolstered with the two new modern and state-of-theart facilities – an investment of nearly $172 million.

Under the Government’s broader security sector upgrade programme, a newly constructed Command Operations Centre in Mackenzie, Linden, was constructed to the tune of $33.9 million.

The Command Operations Centre is a key component of the Safe City to Safe Country Expansion Project and will provide an eagle-eye view of Region 10 through advanced technology. The facility is designed

to enhance crime-fighting efforts by enabling real-time surveillance, better incident monitoring, and faster operational response across the region.

On Wednesday, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn commissioned the centre. He was joined by Permanent Secretary Andre Ally, Deputy Commissioner ‘Operations’ Errol Watts, Regional Division #10 Commander Assistant Commissioner Kurleigh Simon, Deputy Commander Superintendent Austin and other special invitees.

Benn reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to modernising law enforcement infrastructure, expanding surveillance capabilities, and equipping the

Guyana Police Force with the tools required to build safer, stronger communities nationwide.

The Home Affairs Minister also commissioned a modern fire station at Wisroc, Linden, on Wednesday.

Aimed at improving emergency response services, the Wisroc Fire Station represents a major investment, to the tune of approximately $138 million, in enhancing firefighting capacity and safeguarding communities within Region 10.

This new facility forms a crucial part of the Government of Guyana’s ongoing security sector upgrade programme, designed to improve emer-

gency readiness, disaster response, and public safety infrastructure across the country.

The Wisroc Fire Station will be equipped with stateof-the-art facilities to improve operational efficiency and personnel readiness. The design includes a waiting area and station officer’s office, subordinate officer’s office and sub-officer’s office, EMS office and storage room, IT room and finance office, administration office and training room, gym and laundry

area, fire prevention officer’s office, conference room and control room, and senior and junior living quarters for on-site staff.

The establishment of the Wisroc Fire Station will significantly enhance emergency response capabilities in Linden and neighbouring communities. With improved infrastructure, advanced training facilities, and upgraded accommodations for officers, the Government aims to deliver faster, more efficient firefighting services while rais -

ing public safety awareness across Region 10.

Accompanying Minister Benn at this commissioning were Deputy Chief Fire Officer Dwayne Scotland, Divisional Officer ‘Operations’ Andrew Holder, Assistant Divisional Officer – EMS Clean Thom-Fernandes, Station Officer Mark Schmidt of the Linden Fire Station, Section Leader Kelwin Yaw, other ranks, and special invitees.

TURN TO PAGE 14

UG Medical Sciences branch to open at new Tuschen Secondary

…night classes for GOAL scholars also planned

Abranch of the University of

Guyana’s (UG) College of Medical Sciences will soon be established at the newly commissioned Tuschen Secondary School, President Irfaan Ali announced on Wednesday.

Additionally, Ali announced that the school will also facilitate night classes for individuals studying through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarship programme.

The state-of-the-art secondary school, located along the East Bank Essequibo, will serve a dual purpose by transforming into a medical school during the evenings. The initiative is part of the Government’s integrated development plan for Region Three, closely aligned with the recent commissioning of the De Kinderen Regional Hospital.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Tuschen Secondary School, President Ali explained that senior medical staff from the new regional hospital will also take on second jobs as lec-

turers at the UG medical branch, enabling them to also be able to benefit from tax incentives that the Government has given for persons working a second job.

“Today, Region Three, I want to announce to you that this facility will be converted in the evening as a branch of the College of Medical Sciences for the University of Guyana,” Ali said. “The senior doctors, nurses, and technicians working in the hospital system here will now have their tax incentives in their second jobs

lecturing at the College of Medical Sciences right here in Tuschen.”

The move comes in response to growing demand for medical education. UG’s College of Medical Sciences currently offers more than 17 programmes, and since tuition was made free earlier this year, applications have surged. This year alone, 206 applications came from Region Three, but only 86 students were accommodated due to space limitations, leaving 144 applicants without placement. This new Medical Sciences branch will

remedy that.

“No more disappointment; today Region Three will have its own College of Medical Sciences,” President Ali assured.

“By the end of this year, those 144 students will study right here in this region. Your children will become pharmacists, doctors, medical technologists, nurses – every single thing in the medical field – studying it

Commonwealth deploys observer group

to

right here in Region Three.”

The President also disclosed that the Government will expand laboratory facilities at Tuschen to ensure students have access to the infrastructure needed to support their training.

He directed the Ministries of Education and Health to convene a joint meeting with the De Kindren Regional Hospital to coordinate services and resources.

monitor

…led by Tonga’s ex-Foreign Minister, team will assess polls

The Commonwealth will be deploying an Observer Group to Guyana to monitor the upcoming September 1, 2025, General and Regional Elections with a mandate to consider factors which could affect the credibility of the electoral process as a whole.

Led by former Foreign Affairs Minister of Tonga, Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) comprises eminent Commonwealth citizens with distinguished backgrounds in law, election administration, diplomacy, human rights, civil society, politics and media, among others.

The members will assess whether the elections have been conducted according to the standards for democratic elections to which all Commonwealth member states have committed themselves, with particular reference to the Commonwealth Charter, national legislation and other relevant regional and international commitments.

Announcing the team in London, Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey said, “The Commonwealth Observer Group is mandated to operate with impartiality and independence. It is empowered to offer recommendations on institutional, procedural, or oth-

er relevant matters that could support relevant stakeholders in enhancing the conduct of future elections. This commitment to impartiality and constructive feedback underscores our dedication to supporting democratic processes across our member countries throughout an election cycle.”

The Commonwealth Secretary-General also expressed gratitude to the Chairperson, who will lead the COG, and to each of the eminent experts who will participate in this important democratic exercise.

At the end of the exercise, the COG will submit a report containing their observations and recommendations to the Commonwealth

Secretary-General. This report will subsequently be shared with the Government of Guyana, the Elections Commission, political parties, and Commonwealth member Governments.

The COG will be in Guyana from August 25 to September 7, 2025, and will be supported by a six-member staff team from the Commonwealth Secretariat, led by Linford Andrews, Adviser and Head of the Electoral Support Section in the Governance and Peace Directorate.

In addition to Chairperson ‘Utoikamanu, the other members of the Commonwealth Observer Group to Guyana includes: Deputy Executive Director, Centre for Peace

and Justice, BRAC University – Bangladesh, Shahariar Sadat; Women’s rights activist – The Bahamas, Alicia Wallace; Chief Electoral Officer – Barbados, Angela Taylor; Former President of the Belize Senate and Mayor of Belize City – Belize, Darrell Bradley; Digital media strate-

“This is a Government that understands what a vision looks like and understands what building for tomorrow must look and feel like,” Ali emphasised.

The Tuschen branch of the UG College of Medical Sciences is expected to open its doors before the end of this year, providing expanded opportunities for aspiring healthcare professionals across Region Three

Guyana’s elections

gist and communications professional – Nigeria, Ademola Adeeko; Communication lecturer, and award-winning journalist – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Demion McTair; Former Member of Parliament –Sri Lanka, Dr Sudarshini Perpetua Fernandopulle;

Developmental specialist and human rights advocate –Trinidad and Tobago, Terry Dale Ince; Mediator and peace activist – Uganda, Robinah Rubimbwa; and Electoral Expert – United Kingdom, Ben Graham Jones.

“Never

again must they come close to power” –Ali blasts Opposition for slashing Leguan budgets

…unveils hospital, agriculture plans

President Irfaan Ali has sharply criticised the former coalition Government, A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC), accusing them of neglecting the needs of residents of Leguan Island, Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), and cutting vital budgets when they previously held a majority in Parliament.

Addressing a large gathering on the island on Tuesday, the Head of State reminded citizens of the Opposition’s track record, charging that they slashed allocations for agriculture, infrastructure and social

services, thereby limiting opportunities for growth and development.

“Leguan, do you remember in 2013 when they had

a majority in Parliament what they did? They cut your agriculture budget. They cut your D&I budget. They cut your infrastruc-

ture budget because that is what they're good for: spite the people when power is in their hand. They spite you when they had abso-

lute Government by taking away the ‘Because we Care’ grant; by taking away subsidies from the pensioner. They are careless in what they do. They're merciless.

They're brutal, and never again must they come close, ever, to the reins of power in this country because power is not about unleashing terror. Power is about responsibility, and we don't ask for power. We ask for the responsibility to build a stronger country, a stronger society and a better-quality life for all Guyanese,” the Guyanese leader said. The President emphasised that his Government’s pursuit of office is not about political power but about responsibility.

Scenes from the commissioning of the $930M Tuschen Secondary School

Expanding consular footprint, breaking trade barriers & tapping diaspora – PPP/C manifesto

As Guyana prepares for the next five years of rapid transformation, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is setting its sights on strengthening international relations and deepening Guyana’s presence in global markets.

In its 2025–2030 manifesto, the party outlined plans to lobby for the removal of non-tariff barriers to trade while simultaneously expanding the country’s diplomatic and consular footprint, particularly across Latin America.

According to the manifesto, safeguarding Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity remains the foremost priority.

Back in April, Guyana had been included on a

list of countries facing reciprocal tariffs from the United States (US), a measure that, once implemented, could have seen the cost of doing business increase and had resulted in the Government of Guyana reaching out to its partners in the US, seeking answers.

According to a chart US President Donald Trump read from, Guyana had a 38 per cent reciprocal tariff rate applied to its exports to the US in response to the 76 per cent tariff that Guyana was listed as imposing on US products.

Earlier this month, the White House announced that the 38 per cent reciprocal tariff announced for Guyana in April has been reduced to 15 per cent.

Vice President and PPP/C General Secretary

Bharrat Jagdeo has already disclosed that the Guyana Government plans to continue engaging the US – a move now being extended to other countries.

ing investment, trade, and wider economic opportunities for Guyana.

At the trade level, the Government has committed to identifying and pursuing opportunities in international markets for Guyanese products. It plans to provide market intelligence and guidance to local businesses on access requirements and competitive opportunities abroad. Central to this agenda is the PPP/ C’s pledge to continue lobbying for the removal of non-tariff barriers, which remain a significant obstacle for exporters in accessing new markets.

Consular offices

The PPP/C said it will continue to deepen ties with traditional partners while forging new relationships with friendly nations that share common values. A key part of this strategy includes the establishment of new diplomatic missions and/or consular offices across Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. These new outposts will focus on promot-

In addition, Guyana will continue to uphold its obligations under existing bilateral, regional, and multilateral trade agreements. The party also announced plans to develop a migration policy that balances the protection of Guyanese workers and investors with the need to attract foreign labour in areas where skills gaps exist due to the country’s rapid economic growth.

Beyond its international diplomacy, the PPP/C also pledged to strengthen engagement with the Guyanese diaspora. Recognising its vast potential in investment, innovation, and advocacy, the party plans to encourage greater diaspora involvement in national development, particularly in sectors such as oil and gas. Through targeted outreach and partnerships, the diaspora will be encouraged to play a more active role in Guyana’s transformation while maintaining strong connections with the homeland.

The manifesto underscored that these measures are part of a larger vision of positioning Guyana as an active and respected player on the regional and global stage. By expanding consular representation, breaking down trade barriers, and harnessing the strength of the diaspora, the PPP/C believes Guyana can secure its sovereignty while unlocking greater economic opportunities for its citizens.

Linden gets new fire station…

Prior to travelling to Region 10, Minister Benn earlier on Wednesday commissioned the newly constructed Timehri Police Station – a modern facility built at a cost of approximately $125 million. This project forms part of the Government’s ongoing security sector upgrade, aimed at strengthening public safety and improving the operational capacity of the Guyana Police Force.

In his address, Benn highlighted the critical role of infrastructure in improving policing services: “We will not develop the structure that we need if we don’t have better infrastructure, better police…” he said.

Meanwhile, Permanent

Secretary Ally echoed this sentiment, urging all ranks to serve with dignity and pride while making full use of the upgraded facility. He acknowledged the serious crime challenges in the division, emphasised the importance of traffic management, and called on officers to maintain excellence in service.

The new Timehri Police Station is equipped with state-of-the-art amenities, including separate male, female, and juvenile lockups; a witness and ID parade room; an armoury and evidence room; a child-friendly area; a domestic violence interview space; specialised offices for CID, Traffic, and the Officer-in-Charge; as well as senior and junior living quarters.

Among the officials at the ceremony were Deputy Commissioner Watts, Regional Division 4B Commander Superintendent Wayne DeHearte, Deputy Commander Rovin Das, Deputy Superintendent Clifton Davis, Head of the Community Policing Group (CPG) Reshi Das, other senior ranks, CPG members, and special invitees.

According to the Home Affairs Ministry, the Wisroc Fire Station, alongside the newly commissioned Timehri Police Station and Region 10 Command Operations Centre, reflects the Government’s holistic approach to strengthening the security sector and building a safer, more resilient Guyana.

Linden central to development in Guyana – Edghill

– Calls on residents to take advantage of vast opportunities opening up

With road networks to link Linden, Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) to the rest of the country as well as provide easier access to Brazil, Suriname and French Guiana upcoming. Public Works Minister Juan Edghill on Tuesday stated that in the development of Guyana, Linden is central.

Once these networks are fully completed, Edghill explained, there will be smooth travel from Brazil through Linden, as well as all the way to Suriname and French Guiana.

“You know what that means, ladies and gentlemen, captains of business, entrepreneurs that are in this room? Twenty million people in Northern Brazil have unhindered access to Guyana, and Guyana’s businesses have unhindered access to a twenty-million-person market in Northern Brazil. And the traffic will begin to flow,” he outlined during a meeting with members of the business community in the region.

Residents of Linden and surrounding communities must start positioning themselves to tap into a market of some 20 million people in Northern Brazil when the all-weather road to Lethem is realised, he added.

Linden, he highlighted, will soon have easier access to markets not just in Brazil but also all the way to Suriname and French Guiana.

“So, on that road, people have to get rest stops for the truckers. You have to get restaurants. When people are passing through or come to Linden, we have to get more rooms. We've got to get service stations. Are you all following me? … More taxis. We are developing Guyana. And in the development of Guyana, Linden is central,” Edghill emphasised.

Infrastructural projects

This is as a result of the ongoing infrastructural projects to connect Moleson Creek to Palmyra, linking it to a new four-lane bridge over the Berbice River, which will then connect to a new four-lane highway all the way to Sheriff Street, before branching out into various road connections leading to Linden.

“The entire LindenSoesdyke Highway is being refurbished, reconstructed and rehabilitated. The bridges are being expanded to make sure that pedestrians don’t have to walk on the path of the road; width is being given to ensure that if a truck or a vehicle has to park, there is continual two-lane traffic. And added to that, you can use the road day and night because we are installing 2900 street lights on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway. When you reach Linden, what are you crossing over on? A toll-free four-lane bridge between Mackenzie and Wismar. And then you start at the Linden-Mabura Road, which is under construction,” he noted.

Edghill explained that the Linden-Lethem all-weather road is divided into three other lots: Mabura Hill to Kurupukari, Kurupukari to Annai and Annai to Lethem.

He said works will soon begin on the AnnaiLethem stretch. From Moleson Creek, there will soon be unhindered travel to Suriname via a bridge over the Corentyne River, Edghill highlighted.

Abundant business opportunities

Further, with plans to develop a deep-water harbour at Palmyra, the opportunities will become more abundant, Edghill said.

“Brazil, a landlocked country, where it takes them seven days, sometimes 21

days, through the Amazonia; especially when it is dry, it takes longer to get the water to ship their goods. [They] will do an 18- or 24-hour drive to Guyana and put their goods on our waterway to ship it out. So, you are going to be seeing haulers and containers – all [with] products – coming through northern Brazil, through Guyana, to the deep-water harbour. Can you imagine the traffic?”

This creates countless opportunities for residents of Linden, the Minister pointed out.

“So, if it’s mangoes you’re selling, you’ve got to start planting more mango trees. Because by the time four trucks pass, your basket of mangoes is done,” he said.

In further outlining the future that lies ahead, Edghill noted that these opportunities do not happen by chance.

“This is not hodgepodge planning. It is forward thinking,” he said.

With this projected traffic passing through the country, Edghill stressed that citizens must start looking for opportunities that can generate real income.

He referenced a tourism project in Tobago. “One of the biggest things that happens when tourists come out is they want their hair braided. And when you go on the beach, along the Tobago beachfront, people set up with a nice big umbrella… plaiting hair, and you ask the girls who are braiding hair on Tobago beach how much money they make. Plenty,” he said.

“You know what I am trying to tell you. The time has come when people must stop looking for a high-heelshoes job, and a suit job, and a tie job. And you start looking for opportunities where you can make real, real, real, real money,” the Minister asserted.

Government-Private Sector Partnership

Meanwhile, Edghill assured that the PPP/C Government will continue to work with the private sector to ensure their businesses grow.

“There has never been a Government that has been so much in partnership with the private sector to help the private sector to grow, develop, expand, and modernise like the People’s Progressive Party Civic,” Edghill expressed.

He highlighted that, over the last five years, the private sector has benefited from opportunities in “ways unimaginable”, such as improved access to financing and a favourable taxation system.

“We’ve put in place the single window system where you don’t have to grease anybody’s palm every place where you go to get a permit.

And put in place laws that if after a certain amount of time an application is made and nobody can deal with it, it is deemed granted,” he outlined.

“Because nobody can take your application and dock it until you come up with the money to make them look after it. If the law says if after a certain amount of days you don’t get back anything, it is deemed approved. We’ve taken away the bureaucracy.”

Edghill emphasised that the PPP/C understands how to work with the private sector and is able to generate real results.

“All of you knew what percentage you paid for loans to the bank. Just compare what you are paying now. Why is it that we are able to bring down interest rates? Because we are able to work with banks and financial institutions,” he said.

He further highlighted

that the PPP/C put in place policy environments to keep money circulating in villages to ensure that the distribution of wealth is not lopsided but among all of the people. For instance, he reminded us that “here in Region Ten, with the kind of infrastructure rollout and projects that are taking place, more than $150 billion has been expended in projects – money circulating in Region Ten. You know what that means? Hotels for the people who’ve got to come and work. Transportation for transportation providers. Restaurants are getting businesses. Hardware stores… All over, everybody selling.”

The party’s aggressive infrastructure plan for the next five years – with the building out of concrete drains in every community – will ensure this circulation of money continues, he assured.

“Never again must they...

He explained that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) seeks to build a stronger country, improve the quality of life for every citizen, and create a society grounded in opportunity, dignity, democracy, and development.

Ali told residents, particularly the youth, that opportunities available today were unimaginable to earlier generations.

With this in mind, the Head of State outlined several plans to further boost the Guyanese island’s development. These include the complete rehabilitation and modernisation of the local hospital to ensure mothers can give birth on the island, access to advanced healthcare such as digital x-rays, and an expansion of the agricultural sector.

He announced that the Government will construct an irrigation canal to reduce farmers’ reliance on rainfall and provide free transport for paddy and rice, along with support for seed paddy, fertiliser, drainage and irrigation.

To ensure profitability, Ali promised the creation of a price stabilisation fund for rice farmers, alongside the introduction of crop insurance. He also said fisherfolk and speedboat operators would benefit from the removal of duties on engines of up to 150 horsepower, while alternative income sources would be supported through aquaculture, cash crop farming, and other diversification efforts.

“We have to build that here to enhance the income of our fisherfolk, of

our women and our farmers here. We have to introduce crop farming so that we can have crops all year round, expand the market and support you in diversifying your income. That is what is going to make food production, agriculture and farming viable: giving you alternatives, giving you options, making it easier for you to have a sustainable livelihood… For the next five years we want to empower the residents of Leguan to be the owners of those opportunities. We must build the capacity here so that every building, every road, every koker, every drain, every bridge that we build on this island must be built by you, the people of Leguan, and that revenue must remain here with you, the people in Leguan,” he added.

PPP/C mulls expanding Local Content Act to include gold, bauxite sectors

The People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) will consider expanding the Local Content Act to cover other sectors such as bauxite and gold mining. “…especially in light

of imminent large-scale developments”, the party said in its manifesto.

The Local Content Act, enacted in 2021, aims to ensure that Guyanese nationals and companies benefit from the country’s petroleum sector.

The current legislation mandates that oil and gas companies and their subcontractors procure a certain percentage of goods and services from Guyanese entities, covering 40 different areas such as accommodation, food supply, janitorial services, laundry, catering, and pest control.

The PPP/C committed to reviewing the list within the next five years and, in consultation with the oil

and gas industry and with the non-oil private sector, and other stakeholders, identify opportunities for expanding and updating the schedule.

Additionally, the party said it will continue aggressive training and capacity-building efforts to equip more Guyanese nationals to be able to take up good-quality jobs in the oil and gas sector and equip more Guyanese companies to be able to compete for business opportunities in the sector.

Be vigilant throughout elections period – Prison Director urges officers

irector of Prisons

DNicklon Elliot has urged prison officers to remain vigilant and professional while on duty during the election period, emphasising that they must be fearless and confident in carrying out their responsibilities.

Elliot made the call on Tuesday and Wednesday, as he introduced body-worn cameras to officers stationed at the Georgetown and Timehri prisons.

Reminding the officers of the importance of confidence in the execution of their daily duties, Elliot also underscored the need for them to remain fully aware of their roles in the line of duty.

He stressed that professionalism, impartiality, and vigilance are essential in safeguarding democratic processes during this time.

“You are ultimately responsible for safety, security, and supervision of inmates that are under your care, but during this election period you must also uphold electoral integrity,” Elliot stated.

gears up for the polls.

Only a day ago, Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken urged policemen and women to remain neutral and professional in the execution of their duties as the Guyana Police Force

The Commissioner warned of consequences for any actions taken outside of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Force policies. He emphasised that professionalism, impartiality, and preparedness must be maintained at all times.

This week, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) confirmed its readiness for the Disciplined Forces voting scheduled for Friday.

Deputy Chief Election Officer, Aneal Giddings, reported that all logistical arrangements are in place, noting, “Yes. We are well poised for the conduct of these elections on Friday. All of the lo-

gistical arrangements have been made. At this point, there is nothing, aside from force majeure, that would prevent such conduct.”

According to GECOM, all election materials, including ballot papers, Statements of Poll (SoP) forms, and tally sheets, have already arrived from Canada. The Commission has since completed preparations for the

disciplined forces' balloting, with 10,481 ballots allocated: 6909 for the Police Force, 3106 for the Defence Force, and 466 for the Prison Service.

Members of the disciplined services who are unable to cast their ballots on August 22 will have another opportunity to do so on September 1 in their registered electoral district.

Commonwealth deploys observer...

The dispatch of this 2025 COG to monitor the upcoming polls in Guyana comes on the heels of the international community, including the Commonwealth, playing a crucial role in ensuring that democracy prevailed following the historic March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections. At the time, Guyana was plunged into a political deadlock for five months as a result of blatant attempts to steal the elections by some senior electoral officials with the aim of keeping the then A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition regime in power.

In its report, the 2020 COG, led by the late former Prime Minister of Barbados Owen Arthur, noted that

despite a smooth polling day on March 2 and tabulation process, “serious difficulties” arose during the tabulation of results for the most populous region – Region Four, which led to serious credibility concerns and ultimately, to the five-month delay to the conclusion of the electoral process.

Then Commonwealth Secretary General Baroness Patricia Scotland, QC, was very vocal during the 2020 election controversy, calling for local stakeholders to accept the results of the national recount that was conducted and confirmed that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic won the 2020 elections.

Commonwealth Secretary-General

Baroness Patricia Scotland, QC, has expressed her satisfaction with the Guyana Election Commission’s (GECOM) handling of the five-month fiasco that ensued after the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

During a visit to Guyana in January 2022, Baroness Scotland had met with the seven-member Election Commission in Georgetown and commended GECOM for holding it together during the five-month impasse. The Commonwealth of Nations, generally known simply as the Commonwealth, is a political association of 54 member states, including Guyana, almost all of which are former territories of the British Empire.

Drivers obey rules abroad, break rules at home – Police

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) are raising concerns about what they describe as a troubling double standard among Guyanese drivers: strict adherence to traffic laws when abroad, but rampant lawlessness once back on local roads.

During a recent episode of Road Safety and You, NRSC Chairman Earl Lambert did not mince words.

“When we leave Guyana and we go outside, we toe the line. When we’re in Guyana, we do as we like because we feel we own the place,” the officer claimed.

The remark came amid complaints about reckless parking, overloaded minibuses, and drivers openly flouting road signs and signals.

Police noted that many motorists who have no issue following rules in the United States (US), Canada, or the

Caribbean return home and immediately disregard regulations.

The situation, he said, is worsened by drivers who, according to Police, display a blatant disregard for pedestrian safety and other road users. Meanwhile, Inspector Mark Forde, who is attached to the Turkeyen

Police Station, stated that persons are in the habit of parking their vehicles anywhere.

“We cannot want to park our vehicle anywhere and go conduct our business. We need to abide by the laws laid down in terms of parking and stopping,” he explained, adding that illegal

Security guard fined $200,000 for discharging loaded firearm in public

A36-year-old security guard from Diamond New Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, has been fined $200,000 after pleading guilty to unlawfully discharging a loaded firearm in public.

The accused, Jesse Gibbs, was arrested on August 17, 2025, and formally charged three days later. He appeared at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court on August 20 before His Worship Teriq Mohamed.

Prosecutors alleged that Gibbs discharged a loaded firearm within 100 yards of a public way – a vi-

olation of Section 153(1) of the Summary Jurisdiction Act, Chapter 8:02.

When the charge was read to him, Gibbs admitted guilt, and the Magistrate imposed a fine of $200,000 as penalty for the offence.

Police officials have reminded the public that the reckless use of firearms, even by licensed holders, poses a serious danger to communities and will be met with strict enforcement under the law.

US orders amphibious squadron to deploy to southern Caribbean - sources

The United States (US) has ordered an amphibious squadron to the southern Caribbean as part of President Donald Trump's effort to address threats from Latin American drug cartels, two sources briefed on the deployment said on Wednesday.

parking remains one of the biggest contributors to congestion in Georgetown and other urban centres.

Police say they are stepping up enforcement, including the use of clamps, towing, and ticketing. But they admit that changing public behaviour is just as critical as law enforcement.

Authorities are urging citizens to play their part by reporting reckless drivers and illegal parking through the Ministry of Home Affairs’ SecureEye app, which allows for anonymous submissions of photos and video evidence.

With road expansion projects underway and traffic congestion at a peak, officials warn that unless the public shifts its mindset, enforcement alone will not fix the lawless culture plaguing the nation’s roads.

Just last year, the former President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Kester Huston, emphasised the critical link between road culture and tourism in Guyana.

Citing concerns over speeding and other road-related issues, Huston underscored how these factors could significantly deter tourists from coming here.

As the voice of the business community in

Georgetown, Hutson has shed light on this pressing issue, which extends beyond mere transportation logistics.

Speaking on the “Traffic and You” programme, he pointed out that the experience of travelling on Guyana’s roadways can form a crucial part of tourists’ overall impression of the country.

He said that the prevalent culture of speeding and other reckless driving on the roads significantly deters potential visitors.

Huston highlighted the need for a collaborative effort between the Government, law enforcement agencies, and the private sector to address these challenges effectively.

He suggested initiatives such as enhanced road safety awareness campaigns and stricter enforcement of traffic regulations to create a safer and more inviting environment for both locals and tourists.

The sources declined to detail the specific mission of the squadron. But they have said that recent deployments are aimed at addressing threats to US national security from specially designated "narco-terrorist organisations" in the region.

Trump has made cracking down on drug cartels a

The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the USS San Antonio, USS Iowa Jima and USS Fort Lauderdale could arrive off the coast of Venezuela as early as Sunday. The ships are carrying 4500 service members, including 2200 Marines, the sources said.

central goal of his administration, part of a wider effort to limit migration and secure the US southern border.

The Trump Administration designated Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel and other drug gangs as well as Venezuelan criminal group Tren de Aragua as global terrorist organisations in February, as Trump stepped up immigration enforcement against alleged gang members. (Reuters)

Regional

Former T&T Central Bank governor to sue state for $9.86M for unlawful dismissal

ormer Central Bank

Fgovernor Dr Alvin Hilaire has indicated his intention to initiate legal proceedings against the State for the unlawful revocation of his appointment in June this year.

Attorneys representing Hilaire dispatched a pre-action protocol letter to the Cabinet secretary and the attorney general yesterday following the breakdown of out-of-court settlement discussions.

The pre-action protocol letter includes a demand for damages totalling $9.86 million, citing breach of constitutional rights, emotional distress and loss of earnings for the unexpired term of his appointment.

Hilaire’s attorneys have been instructed to pursue, with urgency, a claim for judicial review of the advice of the Cabinet to the President to revoke Hilaire’s appointment as Governor on June 24.

“Since that time, discussions initiated by the State towards an out-ofcourt settlement have been inconclusive,” Hilaire said.

He added that as a re-

sult of the lack of resolution, legal proceedings will now be brought before the High Court, seeking what he described as “material declarations and orders against the State, including damages.”

The letter outlines for the first time that Hilaire’s appointment as governor was revoked pursuant to section 12 (e) of the Central Bank Act (that is, that he was guilty of misconduct in relation to his duties) and section 12 (g) of the Act (that he failed to carry out the duties and

functions conferred or imposed on him under the Central Bank Act).

Hilaire served as Governor of the Central Bank of T&T from December 2015 to June 2025. He replaced Jwala Rambarran, whose appointment was terminated by the previous administration. Hilaire was due to serve until December 2026.

Up to press time, there was no official response from the Office of the Attorney General. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

B’dos insurer seized after “regulators find serious breaches in operations”

The Barbados Financial Services Commission (FSC) has seized management and control of Equity Insurance Co. Ltd, following what the regulator says are “serious breaches” in its operations.

Recent examinations concluded that the insurer’s internal systems, controls and governance needed significant strengthening, the FSC announced.

The FSC also announced the appointment of highly experienced restructuring professional Craig Waterman, of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) SRL, as the insurance company’s manager effective Tuesday “until further notice”.

The Commission noted that his role is to oversee day-to-day operations, work closely with Equity’s staff and guide the company through the next phase of enhanced supervision.

In July two FSC notices were sent to Equity Insurance Co. Ltd: one of its intention to seize man -

agement and control of it and to appoint a manager pursuant to the Financial Services Commission Act, 2010-21, and the other to advise the insurer “of its right to make representation in writing to the Commission by or before August 4, 2025, demonstrating just cause why the Commission should not take the relevant enforcement action,” the FSC stated.

“Equity Insurance Co Ltd submitted a letter of objection dated August 4, 2025, as well as a supporting independent assessment conducted by Compass Advisory Services Inc.”

The FSC said it carefully considered the submis -

sions and determined that Equity “has not sufficiently remediated its serious breaches of the Financial Services Commission Act, 2010-21, the Insurance Act, Cap. 310, Guidelines and established international best practices.

Efforts to get a response from the management team responsible for Equity Insurance before Waterman’s appointment were unsuccessful.

The FSC also said in its press statement that while policyholders and intermediaries may continue to conduct business as usual, “there will be no new business written during this time of enhanced supervision.” (Source: Nation News)

Jamaica: 9 inmates escape jail, 3 recaptured

Nine inmates at Jamaica’s Constant Spring Police Station lock-up escaped in a major jailbreak Tuesday morning.

“The prisoners escaped by cutting their way through a grille and a door made of metal…” the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) said on its Instagram account Tuesday afternoon.

One of the escapees was quickly recaptured the same day by the cops, while two others were recaptured Wednesday.

The remaining six escapees range in age from 18 to 31 years old.

Police say their offences include murder, rape, possession of a prohibited weapon, identity theft, wounding with intent, shooting with intent, malicious destruction of property, burglary, larceny, and possession of a prohibited weapon and unauthorised ammunition.

Residents of the Cassava Piece community of St Andrew near the prison expressed concern on Tuesday about possible threats to their safety and peace of mind following the escape.

They expressed fear because they do not know where the escapees could be

hiding and fear that police operations to recapture the escapees could restrict free movement throughout the community.

One of the nine who escaped early Tuesday morning was subsequently recaptured in a section of their Cassava Piece community, residents claimed.

Observer sources shared that the escapee who was allegedly found at a location in Cassava Piece was taken back into custody, while the people who were at the premises with him were taken in for processing. (Source: Jamaica Observer)

Haiti: “Suicide” drone explodes at SWAT base; 2 cops killed, 2 seriously injured

Two national police officers were killed and two others seriously injured on the evening of Tuesday, August 19, 2025, when a “suicide” drone exploded at the base of the specialised SWAT units (Gipnh) in Kenscoff (east of Port-auPrince), several sources confirmed.

According to an official statement consulted by AlterPresse, the device was transported by residents "in a gesture of good faith" before

the accidental detonation.

Directed by Prime Minister Alix Didier FilsAime, a task force has since March been operating explosive-laden "kamikaze" drones to help police fight powerful armed gangs that have taken control of most of the capital.

For its part, the Haitian National Police Union (SPNH-17) questioned the official version, believing that "the situation is more worrying than what is presented."

This incident comes a

week after the deadly attack of August 12, 2025, during which two police officers from the Departmental Operations and Intervention Brigade (BOID) were killed and three others injured, also in Kenscoff. Several armoured vehicles belonging to the PNH and the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMAS) were also set on fire by gangs, who are increasing their attacks in the area. (Source: Reuters, AlterPresse)

DR authorities capture, deport one of Panama's most wanted fugitives

The Panamanian most wanted by authorities in his country for various crimes and linked to Operation Jericho was captured in the Dominican Republic and repatriated.

Eduardo Lionel Martínez Collins (Ameba) was arrested by special units of the National Directorate of Drug Control (DNCD) and Immigration Inspectors (DGM), supported by the Panamanian Police, Interpol, and agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The foreigner is linked to a criminal organisation dedicated to drug trafficking and money laundering.

"The 43-year-old Panamanian also has an international arrest warrant from the Metropolitan Superior Prosecutor's Office

of Panama for homicide and femicide," the DNCD said in a statement.

"The foreigner, who was among the most wanted fugitives in his country, was part of a criminal organisation known as Operation Jericho and had a Red Alert issued against him by the International Police Force (Interpol) for charges of crimes against public secu-

rity, conspiracy to commit drug-related offences, and money laundering." The fugitive was transported to Las Américas International Airport (JFPG) by DNCD tactical units, where he was handed over to Panamanian officers who transferred him on a commercial flight to his country to answer the charges against him.

(Source: Listin Diario)

Six severed heads found on road in Mexico

Six severed heads have been found on a road in central Mexico, in an area not normally associated with cartel violence.

Local authorities made the discovery early Tuesday morning on a route that links the broadly peaceful states of Puebla and Tlaxcala.

Police have not given a motive for the killings or said which of the criminal groups operating in Mexico might have carried them out.

Local media has reported that a blanket was left at the scene with a message issuing a warning to rival gangs and apparently signed by a group called "La Barredora", meaning "the sweeper".

It is the same name as a little-known criminal group operating in the western state of Guerrero, but it isn't clear if they were behind the attack or why.

The local prosecutor's office said the heads found in

Tlaxcala were those of men, and it has launched an investigation into the killings, according to news agency AFP. As well as drug trafficking, there is an issue in the region with fuel smuggling, known as “huachicoleo”, which generates billions of dollars a year for the groups behind the illegal activity. So far, federal authorities have not commented on the killings. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Around the World

OOIL NEWS

Oil prices climb 2% on drop in US crude inventories as investors focus on Ukraine peace push

il prices climbed about 2 per cent on Wednesday on a bigger-thanexpected weekly drop in US crude inventories as investors awaited the next steps in talks to end the Ukraine war, with sanctions on Russian crude remaining in place for now.

Brent crude futures were up $1.05, or 1.6 per cent, to settle at $66.84 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 86 cents, or 1.4 per cent, to settle at $63.21.

The US Energy Information Administration said energy firms pulled 6.0 million barrels of crude from inventories during the week ended August 15. That was bigger than the draw of 1.8 million barrels forecast by analysts in a Reuters poll and the decline of 2.4 million barrels that market sources said the American Petroleum Institute trade group cited in its figures on Tuesday.

"Much of the choppy price action has been driven by daily updates to the Ukraine/Russian negotiations that have gone back and forth from bearish to bullish as far as the impact on future oil balances is concerned," analysts at energy advisory firm Ritterbusch and Associates said in a note.

Russia was the second-biggest producer of crude in 2024, behind the US, so any agreement that could ease sanctions on Moscow should boost the amount of Russian oil available for export to global markets.

Russia said it expects to continue supplying oil to India despite warnings from the US, Russian embassy officials in New Delhi said on Wednesday, adding that Moscow hopes trilateral talks will soon take place with India and China.

India's state-run refiners Indian Oil and Bharat Petroleum have bought Russian oil for September and October delivery, resuming purchases after discounts widened, two company officials aware of the matter said on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Iran was the third-biggest producer of crude in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 2024, behind Saudi Arabia and Iraq, so any agreement to ease sanctions on Tehran should boost Iranian oil exports to global markets.

In Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, crude exports slipped in June to their lowest level in three months, according to data from the Joint Organisations Data Initiative (JODI).

In Norway, the second biggest oil producer in Europe after Russia, combined oil and gas production exceeded an official forecast by 3.9 per cent in July, according to the Norwegian Offshore Directorate (NOD). (Source: Reuters)

Trump Administration to vet immigration applications for "anti-Americanism"

President Donald Trump's administration has said it will assess applicants for US work, study and immigration visas for "anti-Americanism" and count any such finding against them, sparking concern about implications for free speech.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services said in a "policy alert" dated Tuesday that it gave immigration officers new guidance on how to exercise discretion in cases where foreign applicants "support or promote anti-American ideologies or activities" as well as "antisemitic terrorism."

Trump has labelled a range of voices as anti-American, including historians and museums documenting US slavery and pro-Palestinian protesters opposing US ally Israel's military assault on Gaza.

"Anti-American activity will be an overwhelmingly negative factor in any discretionary analysis," USCIS said.

"America's benefits should not be given to those

Israel begins invasion of Gaza City

Israel entered the first stages of its invasion of Gaza City on Wednesday, the Israeli military spokesman said.

Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) soldiers have taken control of the outskirts of the city, one of Hamas’s last strongholds, spokesman Brig Gen Effie Defrin said.

Following a clash with Hamas south of Khan Younis in Gaza on Wednesday, he said, “We will deepen the blows to Hamas in Gaza City, a terror stronghold…”

We will deepen the blows to the terror infrastructure above and below ground and disconnect the reliance of the population on Hamas.”

He said the IDF “is not waiting”, and preliminary operations are under way in the area, with Hamas now “battered and bruised”.

“We have begun the preliminary operations and the first stages of the attack on Gaza City, and already now IDF forces are holding the outskirts of Gaza City,” he said.

Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the army to “shorten the timelines for seizing the last terror strongholds

and for the defeat of Hamas,” he said in a statement. It did not specify the new timelines.

The renewed offensive comes as the army called up 60,000 reservists as the Gaza war looks set to continue amid flailing ceasefire talks.

World leaders have

strongly condemned the Israeli security cabinet’s decision to send forces into the city because of the potential to worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian situation for the Gazan people. But Israel Katz, the Israeli defence Minister, rejected the criticism and said on Wednesday that plans had been approved to push into the city, which would include extending the service of an additional 20,000 reservists currently serving.

Hamas agreed on Monday to a 60-day ceasefire in return for releasing around half of the hostages it took in its raid on Israel on Oct 7. Israel’s Government spokesman hinted that it would reject the proposal, saying it was not interested in “partial deals”. (Excerpt from The Telegraph)

At least 78 people killed as bus collides with fuel truck in western Afghanistan

Seventy-eight people have died in western Afghanistan in a collision between a bus carrying Afghans who had recently been deported from Iran and two other vehicles.

The bus hit a motorcycle and a truck transporting fuel on Tuesday night, causing an explosive fire in Guzara district, Herat province. Two of the three survivors later died of their injuries, officials said on Wednesday.

who despise the country and promote anti-American ideologies."

The announcement did not define anti-Americanism. But the policy manual refers to a section of federal law about prohibiting naturalisation of people "opposed to Government or law, or who favour totalitarian forms of Government."

The full text mentions supporters of communism or totalitarian regimes and people who advocate the overthrow of the US Government and violence against Government officers, among other factors.

USCIS said it expanded the types of applications that have social media vetting, and reviews for "anti-American activity" will be added to that vetting.

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, said the step harkened to the 1950s when Senator Joseph McCarthy hunted alleged communists in a campaign that became synonymous with political persecution. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Seventeen children were killed, according to the army spokesperson Mujeebullah Ansar, though a provincial police source put the num -

ber at 19. Many of the bodies were unidentifiable, said Mohammad Janan Moqadas, a chief physician at the military hospital.

“There was a lot of fire … There was a lot of screaming, but we couldn’t even get within 50 metres to rescue anyone,” Akbar Tawakoli, a witness, said. Cleanup teams were working to remove the torched shell of the bus and twisted wreckage of another vehicle on the roadside early on Wednesday.

“I was very saddened that most of the passengers on the bus were children and women,” another witness said.

China snaps up Russian oil as Indian demand drops following Trump tariffs

Chinese refineries have placed new orders for Russian crude that will be shipped from ports that typically supply India, as demand from the South Asian country for Moscow’s crude slips following US President Trump’s tariffs.

At least 15 cargoes of Russian oil have been secured by Chinese refineries for October and November delivery, analysts said.

China and India emerged as the top buyers of Russian oil following Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which prompted Western countries to shun its exports.

As of last week, China’s state-owned and large private refiners had pur -

chased around 13 cargoes of western Russian crude for October delivery and at least two cargoes for November, said Muyu Xu, senior crude oil analyst at Kpler, which tracks commodities and shipping data.

The 15 cargoes of oil, each typically ranging from

700,000 to 1 million barrels, will be loaded from Russia’s Arctic and Black Sea ports – supplies that usually go to India instead of China, given its distance, Xu said.

Reuters reported earlier this week that China had secured 15 Russian cargoes

for the same period, citing analysts.

Xu said the buying reflected an “opportunistic” move, with the price of Russian oil remaining at least $3 per barrel cheaper than Middle Eastern alternatives.

Xu said China is unlikely to make up for the shortfall in India’s purchases of Russian oil, as India buys around 1.7 million barrels per day from Russia, while China purchases only about 1.2 million barrels of seaborne Russian oil per day.

“If India keeps holding off on buying, that’s going to be a real problem for Russia – China just can’t take on all of India’s volume by itself,” she said.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

SUDOKU

Participation is essential if you want to receive valid input on what to do next. Conversations with experts will help you verbalize your thoughts and enable you to support your plans.

Avoid stubbornness and arguments with people who can affect your life. Listen carefully, and you’ll figure out who is looking out for your best interests and who is trying to exploit you.

A home improvement, office or designated workout space can significantly enhance your life. Focus your energy on research and expanding your knowledge, skills and interests.

Think big, but budget wisely. Keep a record of what you eat, drink and spend. Too much of anything can be detrimental, physically, emotionally and financially.

Give and get. Take the good with the bad and turn it into something unique. Don’t pay for the mistakes of others or agree to participate in someone else’s journey if it might cost you.

Keep tabs on your finances and use your skills constructively to ensure you enhance your popularity with those who can help you reach your goal. Stick with and trust those who share your values.

Take the high road. Don’t let temptation win or anyone put you in a vulnerable position. Procrastination is the enemy, and lucidity and action are the path to victory.

You can’t change others, but you can spare yourself the grief of trying. Channel your energy into something constructive. Concentrate on what will help you achieve your goal.

Take pride in where and how you live. Make adjustments that suit your lifestyle and help you perform at your best. Look for opportunities that offer a chance to learn and explore new possibilities.

Don’t get angry when action is necessary. Assess the situation and take the steps to achieve optimal results. Direct your energy acutely, set aside your ego and do your best.

Pull everything together. Rise to the occasion, and you’ll bring about positive changes that will surprise you and everyone else. A partnership or agreement will lead to monetary gains.

An event offering insight into a novel way to use your skills will encourage you to add upgrades that help you stand out. Your charm and contributions will lead to new connections.

Brave scrape home to seal top-three finish

Top-of-the-table

Southern Brave continued their unbeaten start to this year’s women’s competition in the Hundred and guaranteed themselves a top-three finish with a nervy penultimate-ball victory over a spirited Welsh Fire.

Needing six runs from the final five, Mady Villiers was run out coming back for two from the first delivery of the set, before Georgia Adams was almost brilliantly caught in the deep as she and Rhianna Southby scampered back for two and got Brave over the line with a ball to spare.

Put in to bat, Welsh Fire lost the big wicket of Hayley Matthews early, lbw to Sophie Devine for a first-ball duck.

Sophia Dunkley looked to be continuing her form from The Kia Oval on Saturday, starting brightly

and hitting four commanding boundaries.

Brave made another important strike when Lauren Bell had Tammy Beaumont (7) brilliantly caught by Maia Bouchier at mid-on as the Fire reached 32 for 2 at the end of the powerplay.

The impressive Tilly Corteen-Coleman returned to the attack to see the back of Dunkley (31), the spinner inducing a false cut shot to have the England batter caught behind by Southby.

Georgia Elwiss reached a run-a-ball 36 not out as the Fire closed their innings on 111 for 6. Bell changed her pace and length expertly to finish with figures of 2 for 21.

Bouchier and Danni Wyatt-Hodge played positively and untroubled, taking the score to 32 without loss after the powerplay and reducing the runs re-

A19-ball half-century from Hilton Cartwright led Southern Brave to victory over Welsh Fire in a tight game in The Hundred.

Cartwright made an unbeaten 51 to help Brave rally to 129 for 8 before Brave’s bowlers closed the game out with the ball in a topsy-turvy chase.

Electing to bowl first in helpful conditions, Welsh Fire’s new-ball pairing of David Payne and Matt Henry were exceptional, bowling 20 of the first 25 deliveries.

Henry in particular was relentless, dismissing Leus du Ploy and Jason Roy on the way to a remarkable re-

quired to just 80.

Fire then struck back to stay in the game. WyattHodge (18) was caught fantastically by Jess Jonassen at mid-off off Georgia Davis, and Jonassen then came into the attack and removed Bouchier (35) and Laura Wolvaardt (3).

Devine countered with a huge slog-swept six off Davis to relieve some pressure, and Freya Kemp then deposited Freya Davies into the stands to take Brave closer to their target. But Kemp (17) fell soon after, caught by Shabnim Ismail at long-off off Jonassen.

Chloe Tryon then went for a duck as Jonassen finished with exceptional figures of 4 for 10 before Devine (25) skied Matthews to Davies to leave her side needing 10 from the last 10 and then six from the final five.

Meerkat Match Hero

Devine said, “Credit has to go to the Welsh Fire there. We were probably cruising at the halfway stage, and the way that they were able to fight back and take it to the last set, full credit to them. It wasn’t our best day today; we’ll be the first ones to admit that. To get over the line is really pleasing, and now we move forward.” She continued, “I’m really pleased we were able to restrict them to what we did and finally get over the line there with the bat. We wanted to get ahead of the run rate, and Dan and Bouch were outstanding and put the pressure back onto the Welsh Fire. Then we probably got a little bit of the wobbles, unfortunately, but to be able to get over the line and for people to keep their heads there at the end was really pleasing.” (ESPNcricinfo)

Hilton Cartwright, Jofra Archer keep Southern Brave in knockout mix

turn of 2 for 5 from 20 balls – the second-most economical figures in the short history of the

Brave skipper James Vince dug in, helping his side recover to 53 for 3 at halfway before eventually falling when he pulled a short ball from Chris Green straight down Saif Zaib’s throat at deep midwicket for 29.

Enter Cartwright. The Aussie big-hitter went on the attack immediately, hit-

ting five sixes, mixing power and innovation, as he reached a 19-ball half-century, finishing 51 not out as the Brave made 129 for 8.

In the run chase, Jonny Bairstow came out swinging, hitting Craig Overton for two fours and a six in the first set. He then smashed Reece Topley for two fours as the Fire raced to 23 for 0 from the first 10 balls before he fell for 22, skying Overton to du Plooy in the ring.

The chase ebbed backwards and forwards, and

with 20 balls left, Fire needed 27 to win with three wickets in hand and just the tail for company for Tom Kohler-Cadmore.

Five wides from Jordan took some of the pressure off before four were taken from Jofra Archer’s final five, including Laurie Evans putting down David Payne behind the stumps to leave 16 required off 10.

Kohler-Cadmore (25) then found Cartwright in the deep off Coles, leaving Payne and Henry – Fire’s heroes with the ball at the top of the day – to find the crucial 12 runs to take Fire to victory from the final five to be bowled by Jordan. He delivered a fine last five to ensure it was the Brave who got over the line.

“That was an absolute thriller. It ebbed and flowed that whole second innings. “The crowd got a bloody good game tonight,” Cartwright said. “I took the game on, and it paid off, thankfully... It was an all-round team effort tonight. I thought the bowlers did an outstanding job to defend a small total.”

(ESPNcricinfo)

Brilliant Ganpat leads RHT Poonai Pharmacy into semi-finals

Defending Berbice Under-13 champions Rose Hall Town (RHT) Poonai Pharmacy easily defeated Upper Corentyne by eight wickets to ease into the semi-final of the Berbice

Cricket Board (BCB)organised Singh Brothers Under-13 tournament. The team which has, to date, won three of the five tournaments by the BCB, won the match with 16 overs to spare in the

30-over match.

Playing at the Area H ground, the visitors elected to take first strike after winning the toss. They lost Soloman Hercules for naught when he was bowled

Raducanu & Alcaraz out as polarising US Open event starts

Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz might have lost in the revamped US Open mixed doubles – but they certainly won the hearts of the New York crowd.

In a party-like atmosphere at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Britain’s Raducanu and Spain’s Alcaraz saw their chances of claiming a $1m winning prize ended by fellow Briton Jack Draper and Jessica Pegula, who have reached Wednesday’s semi-finals.

Despite the presence of home player Pegula, it was the losing pair who were heavily backed by a sizeable crowd at Flushing Meadows.

Pegula and Draper won 4-2 4-2 in the new shortened format, which is part of the US Open’s reimagination of the mixed doubles.

As well as the huge financial incentives, the event has also been moved forward to the week before the singles main draws to attract the stars.

Raducanu and Alcaraz teaming up for the glamorous event – which has controversially deviated from its traditional format and polarised opinion – created many of the pre-tournament headlines.

There was a fear they might not turn out at all, given Alcaraz played in the final of an ATP event in Cincinnati on Monday.

But the pair walked out together on the US Open’s main show court a little over 24 hours later to a euphoric reception of screams and shouts.

An excitable atmosphere continued as the fans – who paid between $25 (£18.50) and $145 (£107) for what British doubles player Jamie

Murray described as a “glorified exhibition” – danced to tunes played by an on-court DJ and acted up when appearing on the big screen.

Alcaraz and Raducanu smiled and laughed throughout in a fun tune-up, illustrating how the stars are using the event to tune up for their greater priority of the singles.

For some, it underlined the view of the doubles specialists side-lined that a Grand Slam tournament had lost value.

Pegula, who has been ranked world number one in the women’s doubles, and Draper were also a scratch pairing but had too much quality against opponents with little experience in tour-level doubles.

For Draper, it was third time lucky with Pegula – having seen previous planned partners Zheng Qinwen and Paula Badosa withdraw through injury.

Pegula and Draper’s mutual will-to-win was more evident than some of the pairings, looking focused as they later beat Mirra Andreeva and Daniil Medvedev to reach the last four.

The Russian pair earlier knocked out 24-time major singles champion Novak Djokovic and his fellow Serb Olga Danilovic in the first round.

There was the loss of another star name before Tuesday’s play started, when men’s world number one Jannik Sinner withdrew through illness.

“We’re playing for all the doubles players not here”

When the news about the US Open’s plans emerged in February,

reigning mixed doubles champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori labelled the decision “a profound injustice”.

Their thoughts have since been echoed by many doubles specialists, who also gripe about losing a crucial earning opportunity after being pushed out in favour of the stars.

Errani and Vavassori were eventually given a wildcard to play in the 16team event but were the only specialist doubles pairing in the draw.

The Italian pair opened the day’s play on Louis Armstrong Stadium –the second show court at Flushing Meadows – and competed like they had a point to prove.

Passionate roars were loud and clear throughout their 4-2 4-2 opening win over big-name pairing Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz.

More emotion was shown when they reached Wednesday’s semi-finals with a 4-1 5-4 (7-4) victory against Karolina Muchova and Andrey Rublev.

“We’re also playing for all the doubles players that could not be here, so we tried to do our best,” said Vavassori.

Errani and Vavassori face the American pair

Danielle Collins and Christian Harrison – who signed in on Tuesday morning to replace Sinner and Katerina Siniakova – in Wednesday’s semi-finals.

Six-time Grand Slam singles champion Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud, a three-time major finalist, meet Pegula and Draper. (BBC Sport)

by medium pacer Disham La Cruz in the first over. Upper Corentyne never recovered, as the Rose Hall Town bowlers never eased up the pressure. Poonai Pharmacy skipper Jayden Ganpat spun a web around the Upper Corentyne batsmen. The talented left-arm spinner took four wickets for ten runs from six impressive overs as the visitors were bowled out for a meagre 73 in 20.2 overs. The only batters to offer resistance to the rampant Rose Hall Town bowlers were Chandhani Rahiman with 12 and Aden Moore with 10. Another left-arm spinner, Khemraj Bharrat, supported Bharrat with three wickets for twenty runs, while

Devash Narine, Lacruz and Akieam Fraser took a wick et apiece.

Needing to score 74 runs from 30 overs to reach their sixth successive semi-final, the home team eased to 76 for 2 from fourteen overs. The batsmen dismissed were Disham LaCruz (8) and Akieam Fraser (9). Royston Crandon, the namesake son of the former West Indies ODI player, was unbeaten on 31.

Meanwhile, Ganpat completed a fine all-round match with 15 not out when victory was achieved. Soloman Hercules and Aden Moore ended with one wicket apiece for 18 and 14 runs, respectively.

Arsenal move ahead of Spurs in race with £60m Eze

Eberechi Eze is expected to join Arsenal for £60m after the Gunners reached an agreement in principle to sign the forward from Crystal Palace.

Sources have told BBC Sport that Eze favours a move to Arsenal, with whom he started his youth career, despite north London rivals Tottenham having been in talks to sign him.

A deal for Spurs to sign Eze had been agreed between the clubs after talks lasting 10 days, sources said, but it was not finalised.

The Gunners have concerns over a knee injury sustained by attacker Kai Havertz, and Eze, 27, would offer Mikel Arteta a fresh option in advanced areas.

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner said on Wednesday that Eze would start in Thursday’s UEFA Conference League playoff tie against Fredrikstad, along with Liverpool-linked Marc Guehi, as they remain “committed to the team”.

Sources have told BBC Sport that Eze wants to join Arsenal before the transfer window closes on September 1.

Eze had a goal ruled out when Palace began their Premier League campaign with a draw at Chelsea on Sunday.

The England international has an expired release clause in his contract which was worth an initial £60m, plus a further £8m in addons.

Palace benefited hugely from Eze’s 14 goals across all competitions last season, which included a strike in their 1-0 FA Cup final win

against Manchester City.

Eze joined the Eagles from Queens Park Rangers for £19.5m in 2020, and his current deal runs until the summer of 2027.

One of the moments of the transfer window for Arsenal If Arsenal beat their rivals Tottenham to complete the signing of Eze, there is little doubt it would be one of the standout moments of the transfer window.

confident of completing a deal.

It’s certainly a moment their fans will revel in.

Spurs would have thought they had their man almost signed and sealed, but things can change quickly in football.

Arsenal had been actively looking at options in the market and had been monitoring Eze for a long time.

With Ethan Nwaneri signing a new deal and the signing of Noni Madueke adding to the options provided by Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, signing another forward was not a pressing need.

However, Kai Havertz’s knee injury has changed things, and although the Gunners do not yet know how long the German will be out of action, a reinforcement was needed.

A blow for Spurs

For Tottenham, news that Eze is on the brink of joining Arsenal will be a major blow.

New boss Thomas Frank had targeted Eze after losing James Maddison to injury, and the club had been

Club insiders at Tottenham insist there is nothing more they could have done to sign Eze, and the fact that he was a boyhood Arsenal fan who was in the club’s academy until he was 13 meant that once the Gunners came in for him, there was only one place he would end up. (BBC Sport)

Rizwan signs for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots for remainder of CPL 2025

Mohammad Rizwan has agreed to a deal to join the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots for the remainder of the Caribbean Premier League 2025 (CPL). ESPNcricinfo understands the signing will be officially confirmed by the league in the next 24 hours.

The former Pakistan T20I captain has been signed as a replacement for fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi, who is set to link up with Afghanistan ahead of the tri-series in the UAE involving Pakistan and the UAE.qw3

It is not yet clear whether Rizwan will be available for the Patriots’ match on Thursday against the Barbados Royals. But with Pakistan leaving him out

of their T20 squad for that tri-series as well as the Asia Cup, the path to Rizwan’s involvement elsewhere has been fully cleared. It is understood an NOC (no objection certificate) from the PCB, which enables players to take part in overseas leagues, is a formality.

It is the first time the wicketkeeper-batter will play in the CPL and adds to a growing Pakistani roster in the tournament. It was announced earlier on Thursday that leg spinner Usama Mir had signed for Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, while the Patriots already have two Pakistanis in their squad: fast bowlers Naseem Shah and Abbas Afridi. Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir

and Salman Irshad are also part of this year’s competition.

The signing also means that Rizwan will use up his quota of two overseas T20 leagues the PCB has stipulated as the maximum number of centrally contracted players can take part in over a 12-month period starting in July. Earlier this year, he was confirmed as a signing by the Melbourne Renegades for the Big Bash League.

The Patriots got off to a rocky start, following a win in their first match with three successive defeats, and sit second from bottom on the points table. They won the CPL in 2017 and 2021. (ESPNcricinfo)

Bleachers, washrooms to be upgraded in Waramuri Community Ground with $10M enhancement

While Waramuri benefitted from a spanking new, $434M secondary school on Wednesday last, education was not the only sector boosted during the visit of Government officials to the Region 1 village.

During his time there, President Irfaan Ali shared that the village would receive $10m for upgrades to their community ground, which the village council wasted no time in planning for.

During an exclusive chat with the Guyana Times Sport, village council member Zimri Peters divulged some of the plans for the recently announced funds.

“The plan is – which is already being finalised by the village and the sports club in the village – we have decided that we will be building some bleachers around the ground with some sanitary facilities, and we also want to get our pitch upgraded so we could host hardball cricket, and we also want to get the grass mat so we could also host football on the same ground,” he revealed.

Peters went on to disclose, “Also, along with those things that I’ve mentioned, we’ll be doing two original signboard for the playground so the playground can be identified as soon as you enter the village.”

Speaking to the signif-

icance of the investment, Zimri highlighted how important sport has been to the community.

The Village Council member emphasised,

“Sports is helping the young people a lot, having the facilities, having the care, having the coaches. I see sports is being loved by young people, and it’s beneficial when it comes to the community to see young people get themselves occupied in something meaningful, doing something where they could socialise and not lingering around the place where they could find other things to do.

Sport has been helping a lot in this community.”

“I must say thanks to the Government for providing the necessary resource that we’re having now, and sports has been developing in this community.”

He further broke down some of their recent achievements in sport, especially with regard to cricket and football.

Van Lange, Boodhoo

named in Windies U19 team for Sri Lanka series

Cricket West Indies (CWI) on Tuesday announced the West Indies Men’s Under 19 team that will host their Sri Lankan counterparts in a seven-match Youth ODI series from August 25 to September 16 in Antigua.

“As a village in general, we have been excelling in football in Georgetown, through the schools’ football programmes. So far, we have some persons who were identified for trials to be on the national team. Yes, we are so proud of the kids starting from young ages, training to play football, and we can see improvement. We can see that sport in general is doing a wonderful job for the young people growing up in this village,” Peters shared.

He further enlightened, “It’s a game that we’ve been playing for a long while, but only softball and tape ball, and recently, over the past two years, we’ve introduced leather ball cricket in the community, and so far, we have provided three to five national players in the junior category, under-15, under-17, and under-19.”

While individual talents like Makayah Holmes have been called up to national teams for cricket, Waramuri Primary’s boys’ and girls’ teams are currently the reigning Courts Boys’ Pee-Wee and MVP Sports Girls’ Pee-Wee Champions. Meanwhile, both Waramuri Secondary’s Under-14Boys’ and Girls’ teams recently finished third in the ExxonMobil Boys’ and Girls’ U14 Schools’ football tournaments.

Guyanese U19 Captain Jonathan Van Lange and Afraz Ali Boodhoo have been called up to the regional squad.

The highly anticipated series will showcase the Caribbean’s most promising cricket talent as Barbadian Joshua Dorne leads the squad against Sri Lanka at two of the island’s premier venues.

The opening four matches will take place at Coolidge Cricket Ground, and the series will conclude at the iconic Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.

Dorne, a dynamic batsman, recently led his countrymen to the Rising Stars Under-19 title while earning MVP honours along the way with a tournament-high 328 runs.

He leads a well-balanced squad featuring a unique blend of batting firepower and bowling skill, comprised of the best performers from the recently concluded regional Under-19 tournament.

This series serves as vital match preparation for the side ahead of the 2026 ICC Men’s Under 19 World Cup to be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia next January and represents a key component of CWI’s ongoing commitment to youth development by providing emerging stars with invaluable international experience against quality opposition.

The regional side will also contest a tri-series with England and the USA lat-

er in the year to aid their preparation for the international showpiece at the turn of the year.

Sri Lanka’s Under 19 team, with its proud tradition of producing international stars, will arrive in Antigua on August 25 for five days of preparation before the opening encounter.

Cricket West Indies Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe commented, “We are delighted to welcome the Sri Lanka Under-19 team to the Caribbean for what promises to be a highly competitive and rewarding series. Encounters like these are invaluable to our cricket pathway, as they expose our young players to different styles of play, varying conditions and the intensity that comes with international opposition.”

“Beyond the immediate competition, this tour represents a development opportunity for both teams— allowing our players to test their skills, build confidence and understand the standards required to excel at the next level.”

“Hosting Sri Lanka reinforces the strong bonds we share across the global cricketing community, and we look forward to an engag-

ing and fruitful series that will aid the development of both sets of players.”

All seven matches will commence at 9:30 AM and conclude at 5:00 PM, providing cricket fans with full days of compelling action. Live streaming will also be available on the Windies Cricket YouTube Page, with a live scorecard provided for each game on the www. windiescricket.com Match Centre.

The tour concludes with Sri Lanka’s departure on Tuesday, 16 September.

The West Indies Under 19 Squad reads: Captain Joshua Dorne, Shaquan Belle, Brendan Boodoo, Tyriek Bryan, Afraz Ali Budhoo, Zachary Carter, Earsinho Fontaine, R’Jai Gittens, Micah Greenidge, Vitel Lawes, Pajay Nelson, Matthew Miller, Isra-el Morton, Jakeem Pollard, Aadian Racha and Johnathan Van Lange. Team Management Unit:

Head Coach – Rohan Nurse

Assistant Coach –Jerome Taylor

Assistant Coach – Dalton Polius

Physiotherapist –Kwayne Dalrymple

Strength & Conditioning Coach – Shayne Cooper

Manager – Clint St Hill

Match Schedule:

1st ODI – 30 August –

Coolidge Cricket Ground

2nd ODI – 2 SeptemberCoolidge Cricket Ground

3rd ODI – 4 SeptemberCoolidge Cricket Ground

4th ODI – 7 SeptemberCoolidge Cricket Ground

5th ODI – 9 September –Sir Vivian Richards Stadium

6th ODI – 12 SeptemberSir Vivian Richards Stadium

7th ODI – 15 SeptemberSir Vivian Richards Stadium

Another night, another pulsating match. Antigua & Barbuda Falcons and Trinbago Knight Riders locked horns in the seventh game of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, and the Falcons took the spoils in the last over of the match, winning by 8 runs.

Needing 14 off the final over, and with the mighty Kieron Pollard well set and with his eye in, the Knight Riders looked set

to complete the victory. Enter Shamar Springer. The right-arm quick held his nerve with a mixture of short and full balls that Pollard failed to send to the fence.

Four off the last ball was not enough for Pollard or the Knight Riders, the win seeing the Falcons head to the top of the table and Nicholas Pooran’s side languishing second from bottom.

Pooran won the toss and inserted the Falcons; this looked to have worked out very nicely, as the

Knight Riders bowled tightly to reduce the hosts to 77/5 in the 14th over. A counter-attacking knock by Fabian Allen from the lower order saw him strike 45 off just 20 deliveries, including three fours and

three sixes. The runs were crucial and hauled the Falcons to a respectable total of 167/6.

Southpaw quick bowler Obed McCoy earned the Player of the March award for taking 4/39 with the

ball, keeping the Knight Riders at bay. The dangerous Colin Munro guided to short third for 44 after getting the Knight Riders off to another rattling start with the bat, McCoy pocketing him and the dangerous Alex Hales in the same over.

Pooran, Keacy Carty

and Darren Bravo chipped away but couldn’t stay at the crease long enough to make a match-winning contribution. Pollard then smashed seven boundaries to get Knight Riders back in the contest, but ultimately couldn’t get his side over the line at the last.