Guyana Times - Thursday, June 11, 2026

Traveller

US$75.8M

road expansion

24-hour construction ordered by Govt to fast-track delayed project

The East Bank Demerara (EBD) Road expansion project, which should have been 78 per cent complete, stands at 62 per cent – a development that will now force contractors to ensure teams work on a 24-hour basis in order to meet the December 2026 deadline.

In light of the project lagging behind, President Dr Irfaan Ali met on Wednesday

with China Road & Bridge Corporation (CRBC), consultant Sheladia Associates Inc, and engineers, where he emphasised the importance of the project and its timely completion.

The President underscored that the focus was on the contractor’s strategy to bring the works back on schedule. The project is currently about 62 per cent complete but should have been

closer to 78 per cent.

To address this, the contractor noted that teams are working on a 24-hour basis and that additional crews will be deployed at the extreme ends of the project from June 20, 2026, to accelerate progress.

The Head of State also directed that wherever subsurface works have been completed, those sections should be fully finished, and

he stressed the need to prioritise fixing encumbrances and entrances to residents’ homes expeditiously.

The project is expected to be completed before Christmas this year and will provide residents and commuters along the East Bank, especially those travelling to

and from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), with a faster and more efficient route.

Back in April, it was reported that the improvement project covering the stretch from Good Success to the Timehri Police Station was 50.96 per cent complete.

The site engineer had told the

that no section of the project has been fully completed, but Section B (Supply-Soesdyke Junction) was the most advanced, with 73.94 per cent of works already completed.

BRIDGE OPENING

JUNE

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, June 11 –13:15h–14:45h and Friday, June 12 – 14:15h–15:45h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers are expected during the day and at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East-North-Easterly to East-South-Easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 13:23h reaching a maximum height of 2.43 metres.

Low Tide: 06:53h and 19:13h reaching minimum heights of 0.72 metre and 0.78 metre.

US$300M Guyana fertiliser plant Brazil eyes buying fertiliser from Guyana ahead of 2027/2028 plant completion

ith Guyana looking to start manufacturing its own fertiliser, Brazil has already expressed its interest in importing the chemical from this country to support its massive agriculture industry.

This was shared by the Vice Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil, Cleber Soares, during a recent engagement with President Dr Irfaan Ali and other officials at the Office of the President in Georgetown.

Minister Soares explained that fertiliser in general, especially nano-fertiliser, is very important for the Brazilian agriculture sector as well as for the tropical food production system that is being built out between the two neighbouring countries.

In fact, the Brazilian official disclosed that last year alone, Brazil imported more than 90 per cent of the fertiliser that they used for agriculture – something which he says they can partner with Guyana on when the country starts to produce.

“Then why not we enhance our partnership between Brazil and Guyana to do different kind of commerce, different kind of market access? Like we can send how much you need [in] grains and fruits and vegetables, and they can do good market, good commerce…and combine with fertiliser. Then I’m sure that partnership have everything to be very strong,” the Vice Minister stated.

President Ali had long identified Northern Brazil as a major commercial hub for Guyana to tap into, adding during Tuesday’s engagement that the two South American neighbours can work together to leapfrog the regional food system.

“I’m very pleased of this level of cooperation and very pleased of the success that we’ve been able to achieve so far. There’s a lot of work to be done. We’re opening up tens of thousands of acres of new land, and we want a lot of the ideas.”

“Fifty years ago, Brazil imported more than 80 per cent of their food. Today, you’re exporting; you’re a net exporter to more than 190 countries. I think that we have been able to fast-track that over the last five years. We have three, four years more for this to mature out,

and I think that we’ll be a major player in the food market within the region, especially with the right partnership…we can really leapfrog the food production ecosystem to something that is scalable and [into] global industries,” the Guyanese leader stated.

Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Project

With the model GtE project being constructed, the Guyana Government is looking to use the natural gas that will be piped onshore from the Stabroek Block for a number of industrial facilities at the Wales, West Bank Demerara, site, including a fertiliser manufacturing plant.

The planned US$300 million facility will be designed to produce roughly 300,000 tonnes of ammonia and urea annually, using around 20 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) of gas from Phase Two of the Wales Pipeline.

The project, pegged at some US$300 million, is expected to be ready by 2027/2028, when the Gas-toEnergy Phase II will come on stream.

The proposed Guyana

Ammonia and Urea Plant (GAUP) will manufacture and sell fertiliser to the local and regional markets.

According to the Guyana Government, the objective of GAUP, a company to be set up, is to lower fertiliser prices for Guyana and the broader region, including Northern Brazil and the Caribbean.

Already, 10 proposals were received to design, engineer, construct and operate the ammonia/urea plant.

These include a proposal from United States-based Lindsayca Guyana Inc – the company that is constructing the highly anticipated Gasto-Energy Project at Wales.

Also interested in the fertiliser plant are several Chinese consortiums: China CAMC Engineering Co (CAMCE), China National Chemical Engineering Co (CNCEC) and Dubai-based East Consulting Engineering Company (ECEC), China Railway First Group Co Ltd and SEDIN Engineering Co Ltd, Hualu Engineering & Technology Co Ltd and China National Machinery Import & Export Corporation, and China Wuhan Engineering

Corporation Limited.

Phoenix Welding & Fabricating Inc, a Trinidadbased company operating in Guyana; Ideal Engineering Services Inc, a locally registered company in a consortium with Nigeria-based Montego Upstream Services Ltd; Northern EPC Alliance (NEA); Lee Kieswetter Heavy Civil (LKHC); and Valour EPC of Canada were also among the bidders.

Another consortium of Japan-based Morimatsu, Arkad SpA of Italy, and Netherlands-based CC7 Europe; and Kalpataru Projects International Limited, an India-based company operating in Guyana, also submitted proposals. These proposals, which were received in March of this year, are being evaluated.

Meanwhile, last October, Guyana introduced nano-fertiliser – a move that was described by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha as a game-changer in the local rice industry, promising lower production costs, improved soil health, and higher yields nationwide.

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Regional Science Hub & Drive of agri innovation

The establishment of the Caribbean Sustainable Agriculture Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Hub is an advancement in the region’s pursuit of agricultural transformation, food security, and climate resilience. Conceived through collaboration between the Government of Guyana, the Government of Brazil, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), and the InterAmerican Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the initiative signals a shift toward science-driven agricultural development anchored in cooperation, innovation, and practical application.

Across the Caribbean, agrifood systems continue to face structural constraints that undermine productivity and stability. Persistent reliance on food imports, limited domestic research capacity, climate variability, land degradation, and supply chain vulnerabilities have combined to expose the fragility of regional food systems. In this context, the STI Hub emerges as a tactical instrument designed to address long-standing systemic deficiencies through applied science and coordinated regional action.

A defining strength of the Hub lies in its operational model, which positions Guyana as a regional base for technology deployment, knowledge transfer, and innovation scaling. This arrangement elevates the country’s role within the wider Caribbean Community (CARICOM) framework, particularly in advancing agricultural modernisation and reducing dependence on external food markets. By hosting the Hub, Guyana becomes a focal point for regional research integration, enabling the translation of laboratory innovation into field-level productivity gains across multiple agroecological environments.

The participation of the EMBRAPA introduces a globally recognized scientific foundation to the initiative. With decades of experience in tropical agriculture, EMBRAPA’s research ecosystem provides a tested model for enhancing yields, improving crop resilience, and advancing sustainable land use practices. The integration of such expertise into Caribbean agriculture presents significant potential for technology adaptation, particularly in areas such as climate-smart farming systems, livestock productivity enhancement, and soil management innovation.

Equally significant is the role of the IICA in facilitating institutional coordination and technical cooperation. By aligning regional priorities with hemispheric knowledge networks, the initiative strengthens the capacity for policy harmonisation, agricultural modernisation, and inclusive development planning. The emphasis on innovation ecosystems reflects a broader recognition that agricultural transformation requires more than incremental adjustment; it demands structural reorientation supported by science, data, and coordinated investment.

For Guyana, the benefits of the STI Hub extend beyond institutional prestige. The platform is expected to enhance national research capacity through closer collaboration with international scientific bodies and regional agricultural institutes such as the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI). This triangulation of expertise provides a pathway for the development of locally adapted technologies capable of addressing specific soil, climate, and production challenges.

A central outcome of the initiative lies in strengthening food sovereignty by accelerating the development and adoption of locally relevant agricultural technologies. The Hub is expected to reduce import dependency and improve domestic production efficiency. This shift carries direct implications for national economic stability, foreign exchange conservation, and price stability in domestic food markets. Enhanced productivity in staple crops and livestock systems further contributes to improved rural livelihoods and income-generation opportunities.

The initiative also holds considerable promise for human capital development, as the integration of applied research, technical training, and innovation diffusion is expected to expand opportunities for agricultural professionals, researchers, extension officers, and young people entering the sector. The emphasis on modern agricultural systems creates avenues for the development of a more skilled workforce capable of engaging with precision agriculture, digital farming tools, and climate-resilient production systems.

Through coordinated research initiatives and shared technology platforms, Caribbean states stand to benefit from collective solutions to common agricultural challenges. Transboundary pest and disease management, climate adaptation strategies, and sustainable land-use planning are among the areas where shared scientific capacity can generate significant regional dividends.

The establishment of a Technical Working Group to oversee implementation shows a commitment to structured governance and phased operationalisation. This approach ensures that institutional arrangements, financing mechanisms, and technical frameworks are clearly defined prior to full-scale deployment. Such planning discipline is essential for sustaining long-term impact and ensuring that the Hub functions as a durable regional asset rather than a short-term project.

In a global environment defined by climate uncertainty and economic volatility, the Caribbean Sustainable Agriculture STI Hub is an investment in resilience.

Career Day 2026: Students of St Ignatius Secondary School in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) participate in Career Day, showcasing their future career aspirations through themed attire. The event featured presentations and interactive displays from the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) team, and stakeholders including the Lethem Fire Department, Agriculture Department, Health Department, National Insurance Scheme (NIS), and Lethem Police Department, providing students with valuable insight into a wide range of career opportunities (St Ignatius Secondary School/Facebook)

Unprecedented growth, development that will drive shared prosperity

Dear Editor,

In 2006, my friend Tarron Khemraj, who is now a professor, presented a paper at the Bank of Guyana where he demonstrated why the local banking system’s contribution to development was relatively small. In his study, later published in the Journal of Social and Economic Studies, he attributed his findings to the size of the economy and the banking system.

According to Professor Khemraj, due to a small economy, the volume of bankable business opportunities was sparse and relatively risky. Given the prudential regulations these institutions are compelled to observe, they targeted low-risk projects and invested their funds in safe securities (local and overseas). The remaining funds, described as excess liquidity, remained idle in the banks’ vaults, unremunerated. As a consequence, businesses were starved of capital, and the economy

did not fully benefit from the reforms implemented since the 1990s.

In his study, Professor Khemraj also noted that the banking system was highly concentrated. The high concentration explained the high lending rates and interest rate spreads. Apart from the banks’ collateral requirements, which are standard worldwide, the high interest rates served to lock many businesses out of the banking system.

Since 2020, the number of bankable business opportunities across sectors has grown exponentially, with SMEs poised to benefit from these emerging opportunities. However, the most significant constraint barring these businesses from taking full advantage of the investment opportunities is the high interest rates and collateral requirements.

Recognising this reality, the Government promised to set up a Development Bank. Within a few months of being re-elected, the Government swiftly moved

to establish the Bank. This institution, which was the missing link in Professor Khemraj’s study, will offer interest-free loans without collateral. SMEs that were either burdened by high interest rates or locked out of the financial system will finally be able to access affordable funds to finance their operations.

The Development Bank will also de-risk projects through a co-financing mechanism that will unlock the excess liquidity in the banking system. For the first time in our history, SMEs will benefit from affordable financing, something that decades of financial reforms couldn’t deliver alone.

We are just a few days away from being gifted with one of the most transformative initiatives in our post-independence history. Thanks to the vision of the Government and its ability to deliver a project of this magnitude in less than one year. Our Government has allocated the funds and is

in the process of enacting the Act to establish an important institution in record time.

Based on a paper that I recently co-authored with Professor Khemraj, the simulated benefits are clear. In that study, entitled “Bank Concentration, Interest Rate Spread and the Case for a Development Bank in Guyana”, we quantified the benefits the Development Bank will deliver. The results illustrated that Guyana will soon have a financial system that is aligned with our development aspirations rather than one that is not fully supportive of our country’s development. Thanks to the visionary policies of our Government, the story of our country is being rewritten from one of “gloom and doom” to one of “unprecedented growth and development that will drive shared prosperity.”

Yours sincerely, Sukrishnalall Pasha

24-hour construction ordered by...

This project, he had reported, was behind schedule, as the planned progress at this stage was 70.7 per cent. The projected completion date is March 31, 2027.

However, in light of recent downpours, he confirmed that the contractor is facing some delays.

The US$75.8 million project is divided into two sections. Section A runs from Good Success to Supply, while Section B continues from Supply to the Soesdyke Junction. The project was later revised to four lanes from the Timehri Police Station to the Soesdyke Junction.

Meanwhile, the road expansion works have been contributing to heavy traf-

fic congestion during peak hours. To address this, meetings were held with the contractor, and discussions were focused on better coordination between roadworks and traffic management to reduce delays for motorists who traverse the busy corridor daily.

Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken, and Traffic Chief, Mahendra Singh, summoned a meeting with the Region Four B Traffic Department where ranks were briefed on the need for continued traffic regulation and monitoring along the corridor to ensure safety and maintain order during the construction period.

In addition, ranks attached to the Madewini

Police Outpost were also brought up to date with the strategies for effectively managing the heavy traffic along the corridor.

The top cop had empha-

sised the importance of proactive traffic regulation, increased visibility, and coordinated efforts to ease congestion and ensure the smooth flow of vehicles.

“If yuh eye nah see, yuh mouth nah must talk”

Dear Editor,

I was intrigued to see the announcement for “Kiskadee Watch”. Guyanese at home and abroad badly need an objective digital newspaper. This is not it.

Where to begin? The EiC took a ship – the Stabroek News – well afloat and respected for decades and drove it into the rocks. Misreading the zeitgeist did not help, nor did the slow payment by the Government.

The advisory board is stacked with non-journalists. At least two of them live far away from the motherland and are virulent “anti-oilers”. They would leave the Guyanese people poor rather than monetise the national offshore gift. A third regularly swallows dictionaries and refashions them as elegant attacks on the elected Government. Day after day on several platforms

So, objective they are not.

Where are the distinguished citizens of the nation on that board? Absent. As to fundraising, The Guardian has only just cracked the begging bowl strategy after 10 years. The funds raised, though, never seem to be enough for the great multi-nation investigation of the Alan Rusbridger era. And NPR, another begging bowl media outlet, is struggling too. One of Trump 2.0’s first moves was to financially cripple PBS, NPR and the international services like the Voice of America. Too often now their begging bowls are empty.

I say “bonne chance”to those who sail the good ship Kiskadee, but they will need deep individual pockets and a wider agenda to avoid a second shipwreck!

Yours sincerely, John “Bill Cotton/ Reform” Mair

THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2026

Page Foundation

Dividing fractions

To divide fractions, we find the reciprocal of the second fraction, change the divide sign to a multiply sign, and then multiply the fractions together.

What is a reciprocal?

The reciprocal of a number is a number which, when multiplied by the number itself, equals 1. For example,

So, is the reciprocal of .

To apply this to dividing fractions in simpler terms, we multiply and upturn

For example

There are 6 pizzas eaten at a party. Each person eats half a pizza. How many people were at the party?

We need to find how many halves there are in 6 pizzas.

Let’s illustrate this with a diagram:

There are 12 halves so there must have been 12 persons at the party.

So, 6÷ =12

We notice that this is the same as 6 × 2, which equals 12.

So to divide fractions we multiply and upturn

We multiply And upturn

Now we can solve:

This cannot be simplified any further, so out final answer is .

To divide a fraction by a whole number, we put the whole number over 1, and once again multiply and upturn For example

Put the whole number over 1

Multiply

And upturn

Now we can solve:

This cannot be simplified any further, so out final answer is .

We can divide two mixed number fractions, too.

To do this, we change the mixed fractions into improper fractions, then as before we multiply and upturn For example

Change the mixed fractions into improper fractions

6÷ 6× = 12 persons. Example 2

Four hundred million years ago, the most advanced forms of life on Earth, the fishes, lived in the water. Plants and insects alone occupied the land until the appearance of the amphibians more than 350 million years ago. Almost all amphibians have features that fall between those of fishes and those of reptiles.

Although most have changed very little since they first began to breathe on land, some of the early amphibians were the ancestors of today’s reptiles, birds, and mammals.

The word "amphibian" comes from the Greek "amphi", meaning "both", and "bios", meaning "life". It describes cold-blooded animals with backbones that pass their lives both in fresh water and on land. Because amphibians live in water and on land, their natural environments are shores, ponds, marshes, swamps, and low-

lying meadows. There are more than 6500 existing species of amphibians. They are distributed throughout the world, except in regions covered with snow all year long. Some of the physical features of amphibians, such as scales, suggest their fish ancestry. Other characteristics are more clearly related to those of their descendants – the reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Amphibians are unlike fishes in that most types have limbs instead of fins and generally breathe through lungs and skin instead of through gills.

Unlike reptiles, amphibians lack a scaly or armoured covering and take in water and oxygen through their skin. Amphibians have developed in many different ways in order to survive in areas

with widely varying climates, dangers, and food sources. Today, amphibians remain an important part of ecosystems around the world and help scientists learn more about the history of life on Earth.

(Adapted from kids.britannica.com)

By RoBeRt B Shaw

Tending to lose your place?

At your age you may find a sentence (like a name, a date, a face) escapes the ranging mind. Stray points can be retrieved, to which end I’m engaged to lie at length among them, interleaved, until you’d have them paged. I serve as well for that as memory serves the young. It’s no great pain to tell you where it’s at by sticking out my tongue.

What are you

Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill

“Any register of sex offenders must be public” – Pres Ali

…instructs that proposed Bill be sent to Select Committee

Following criticism over the proposed legislation that seeks to establish a National Sex Offender Database that would be disclosed to the public, President Dr Irfaan Ali has intervened and asked that the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill be sent to the Parliamentary Select Committee with the aim of reviewing the proposed laws.

This was announced by Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo in a social media post on Wednesday.

According to the VP, the Guyanese leader and his Cabinet believe that any sex offender registry that is established in Guyana must be made public.

“President Dr Irfaan Ali has instructed that the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, presented in the National Assembly on June 5th, 2026, be sent to a select committee. He has also indicated that it is his view, and that of the Cabinet, that any register of sex offenders must be public. I strongly share this view,” Jagdeo said.

This move comes after days of public criticism online over the proposed Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill 2026, which seeks to establish a National Sex Offender Database that would not be accessible to the public and includes stiff penalties for public officials who leak unauthorised information about convicted sex offenders.

Only on Tuesday, the Human Services Ministry had defended the move to have a closed registry, explaining that it was the widespread public consultations that overwhelmingly advocated for the establishment of a closed model registry – something which subject Minister Vindhya Persaud, who tabled the proposed legislation, reiterated on Wednesday.

In a brief statement on her Facebook page, Minister Persaud noted that “…the Bill was crafted based on the view of the public consultations, which overwhelmingly suggested a closed register.”

Nevertheless, with plans now to send the bill

to the Select Committee and having shared the President’s view of an open registry, Persaud indicated on Wednesday that the proposed legislation will now benefit from further scrutiny.

“The President, I and the members of the Cabinet hold the view that this should be an open register… My intention as subject Minister is to propose to have the Bill taken to Select Committee in Parliament to have it further discussed by members. It will benefit from more scrutiny and views at that committee,” the Minister stated.

The Select Committee comprises members of Parliament from both the Government and opposition sides of the House.

This proposed Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill 2026 seeks to amend the 2010 Sexual Offences Act to reform the law relating to sexual offences and to provide for the establishment of a National Sex Offender Database –a centralised system of recording information about persons convicted of sexual offences under this act. It will include Guyanese who are convicted of a sexual offence by a court within or outside of Guyana as of May 2010 and who have completed or are serving their sentence.

The Bill says that the database, which would not be accessible to the public, would be established by

the Commission of Police with approval from the Home Affairs Minister. The Police Commissioner will maintain the database and ensure the information is entered accurately as well as implement measures to secure the information against unauthorised access, collection, distribution, alteration, disclosure and disposal.

Section Seven of the Fourth Schedule outlines the penalty for anyone who unlawfully disseminates information from the database. It states: “Any person who, having been granted access to the database, unlawfully distributes, transmits, or reproduces any information contained therein commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of one hundred thousand dollars or imprisonment for three years or both.”

The proposed legislation further noted that an application for information from the database, including about a specific sexual offender, would have to be made to the Police Commissioner and the Home Affairs Minister in writing, outlining the reason for the request.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is exempted from making an application to access the database.

It was noted that persons attached to a state or non-state institution working with children or vulnerable adults shall be pro-

vided with the information relating to a specific sexual offender identified on the database.

Meanwhile, in addition to these new insertions, there are also amendments to the existing law regarding the publication of information for persons not charged with any sexual offences.

Exempted

According to the Explanatory Memorandum of the proposed Bill, Clause Seven amends Section 62 of the Principal Act to prohibit the publication of information that could identify a person not formally charged with an offence under the Act.

Moreover, Section 91B provides that a person who was a child at the time of the commission of a sexual offence would be exempted from being listed on the database, as well as a person suffering from a mental disability that may have substantially impaired that person’s mental responsibility for their actions in relation to the offence.

At Section 91E, it caters for the court to order a person who is convicted of a sexual offence, on or after the commencement of this proposed legislation, to report to an officer in charge of the Police Station for the purpose of registering as a registered sex offender. For those who have appealed their conviction, Section 91F provides for the court

to withhold deciding on whether the sex offender shall register or report to Police pending the completion of the appeal. There is also a provision at Section 91G for a Guyanese to comply with these requirements when entering Guyana if that person does an act in a country outside of Guyana which, if it were done here, would constitute an offence under this Act.

Labourer slapped with armed robbery, damage to property charges

Twenty-five-year-old Kumar Persaud, a labourer from Annandale New Scheme, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was on Tuesday charged and remanded to prison on armed robbery and damage to property charges.

Persaud was arrest -

ed on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, for allegedly robbing a 30-year-old man from Mon Repos, ECD, which occurred on May 27, 2026.

He appeared before Senior Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court, where both charges were read to him.

He pleaded not guilty to the offence of armed robbery and guilty with explanation to the offence of malicious damage to property.

Bail was refused on both matters, and he was remanded to prison until July 20, 2026.

Kumar Persaud

Linden man busted with over 1.3 kg of ganja after Police chase

A31-year-old heavy-duty machine operator from One Mile, Wismar, Linden, was arrested on Tuesday following the discovery of a quantity of cannabis at Honey Camp Landing, Middle Mazaruni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Police stated that ranks were conducting an exercise in the area when they observed a man riding a Honda XR motorcycle in their direction with a haversack on his back.

However, upon noticing the Police, the suspect reportedly diverted into a

nearby trail and rode away.

The ranks gave chase and eventually caught up with him, after which he abandoned the motorcycle and ran into nearby bushes.

The suspect was pursued and apprehended. A search was conducted on the haversack, which unearthed six transparent plastic parcels containing the cannabis.

The suspect was arrested and taken to the Issano Police Station, where the ganja was weighed and amounted to 1317.6 grams. The suspect remains in custody as investigations continue.

Mocha Arcadia construction worker nabbed with ganja

A26-year-old construction worker from Mocha Arcadia Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was intercepted on Tuesday with a quantity of ganja at 45 Miles, Potaro Road, Essequibo River.

He was reportedly a backseat passenger of a motor car that was intercepted by the Police.

However, a search conducted on a black haversack he was carrying led to the discovery of a large transparent Ziplock bag containing a quantity of cannabis, along with seven small Ziplock bags, also containing a quantity of ganja.

The suspect was arrested and escorted to the Issano Police Station, where the cannabis was weighed and amounted to 339.5 grams. The construction worker remains in custody pending further investigations and charges.

Justice...

...for Henry boys

Well, almost six years after the gruesome murders of the two Henry cousins – Isaiah, 16, and Joel, 19 – in W Berbice, justice was served when a jury of 12 pronounced two marijuana cultivators – Anil Sanchara, 39, and Vinod Gopaul, 35 – who’d been charged guilty!! With the murders committed just a month after the General Elections that ousted the Granger PNC Government – he and his lieutenant, Joseph Harmon, rushed to W Berbice to cynically muddy the waters to remain in office!! Harmon declared the murders were “political” and the PPP must be removed forthwith!! Unrest along the Public Road segued into riots as enraged “protestors” robbed, beat, destroyed cars, burnt paddy trucks and created general mayhem against Indian-Guyanese!!

The country remained on edge for months as PNC elements kept up drumbeats of a racial/political nexus with the murders. At the funeral service – which was more like a political rally than anything else – the conclusion by Vincent Alexander summarised the mood: with absolutely no evidence, he declared, “The murders were a hate crime!” One 18-year-old youth – Haresh Singh – on whose family land the boys were found and who had been arrested and released – was then brutally murdered. Their relatives and all of Guyana prayed that these cases be solved ASAP – if for nothing else than bringing closure to the bereaved families.

The Guyana Police – assisted by the CARICOM RSS – conducted an investigation of the crime scene and determined that the murders of the Henry boys – whose bodies were brutally hacked and Xs carved into their heads – weren’t committed where the bodies were found. One of the most perplexing interventions was by the GHRA – emerging from its hibernation – demanding that a team of Argentinian anthropological forensic scientists be flown in to investigate!! Since that team focused on IDENTIFYING randomly discovered m urdered bodies and the three murdered youths were known, there was much head-scratching as to what exactly they could do!!

The Police finally arrested three men – the abovementioned two who were convicted and another named Akash – who turned state witness because he was there when the murders were committed and provided the smoking cutlasses, so to speak! It turns out there was never a political nexus, and the convicted men had been running a marijuana farm which was evidently destroyed by the Henry cousins. They ran into each other in the backdam, and after an altercation, the murders were committed!! They also arrested some locals for Haresh’s murder – one of whom confessed. It was a revenge killing!!

Now that justice has been done, your Eyewitness is waiting for those opposition worthies who pronounced on the political nexus to apologise for causing the deaths and destruction!!

…for humanity

As concerns rise over the impact of AI on employment of humans in the coming years – Meta has already sacked thousands – early assumptions that it’ll all lead to more leisure time for humans are being questioned!! Because it ain’t only layoffs – there are entry-level jobs for coders, editors, legal researchers and every job that involves ploughing through data!! There’s no need for all that training – and as such, it creates redundancy in colleges!!

We went through something similar back with the invention of the steam engine – which led to factories replacing every kind of employment that had a human physical input!! Like farming or weaving or transportation that literally used “horse” power!! But this time around there’s a huge difference!! The financing for the data centres that are necessary to support AI runs in the billions – and as such will immeasurably widen the wealth gap that’s already out of whack!!

Will there be a call for “Hum ans of the world, unite” – against AI??!!

…against garbage

Guyana should adopt an initiative just launched in Tokyo with the theme “If you throw trash, you lose cash.” They’ve hired officers who monitor the streets constantly and have been empowered to demand payment for the fines – on the spot!!

Heavy-duty trucks temporarily banned from some South Rupununi roads

modate such traffic.

Residents of South Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo), on Wednesday secured a temporary ban on heavy-duty trucks using sections of the region's road network, following growing concerns over severe road damage and a confrontation between community members and truck operators.

The decision was announced by the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) after an urgent meeting involving Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat, region-

al officials, representatives of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Rupununi Miners Association (RMA), and SRDC Chairman Nicholas Fredericks.

According to the SRDC,

residents have become increasingly frustrated over the condition of roads in South Rupununi, which they said has rapidly deteriorated due to the continued movement of heavy-duty trucks.

In a statement posted on its social media page,

the council said the roads serve as critical links for communities, providing access to schools, healthcare facilities, businesses and other essential services.

The council noted that

The latest developments follow an earlier appeal by the SRDC on May 18, when it called on operators of heavy-duty vehicles and machinery to

concerns about the damage had been raised repeatedly, but residents felt there had been insufficient action to address the issue. As a result, community members confronted truck drivers on Wednesday morning in an effort to draw attention to the situation.

The SRDC alleged that some residents were met with disrespect from truck operators during the confrontation, which it said further heightened tensions.

Following discussions among government officials, regional authorities and community representatives, several measures were agreed upon.

Effective immediately, heavy-duty trucks will no longer be permitted to use the affected road network. Small vehicles will continue to have access.

The RDC is expected to deploy two excavators from Thursday to begin repairs on damaged sections of the road between Katoonarib and Sawarab. The RMA is also expected to deploy two additional excavators on Saturday to support rehabilitation efforts.

The restriction on heavy-duty vehicles will remain in place until road repairs have advanced sufficiently and both officials and community representatives are satisfied that the roads can safely accom-

avoid using the back road from Karaudarnau to Katoonarib.

At the time, the council warned that continued use of the route by heavy equipment was causing rapid deterioration and creating challenges for residents, commuters and nearby communities. It urged drivers, contractors and companies to act responsibly to help preserve the road.

Meanwhile, the Natural Resources said Wednesday's meeting in Lethem was held in keeping with a commitment made by President Dr Irfaan Ali.

The Ministry stated that discussions focused on road maintenance in the Deep South of Region Nine, with machinery and other equipment to be provided to support rehabilitation efforts.

The Government, through the Ministry of Natural Resources and the GGMC, said it will continue working with regional authorities, the RMA and the SRDC to ensure the maintenance of roads in the South Rupununi.

Also attending the meeting were Regional Executive Officer Karl Singh, Regional Chairwoman Vania Albert and GGMC Deputy Commissioner (Technical) Jimmy Christian.

Man nabbed with suspected stolen bike, gel gun during Police patrol Engineer robbed at gunpoint at Parika

A25-year-old man was intercepted on Wednesday with a suspected stolen motorcycle and a suspected gel gun in the early hours of Wednesday at Flour Mill Road, Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Based on reports received, at about 04:20h on

the day in question, ranks from the Farm/Herstelling Police Station were on patrol along the Bagotstown/ Eccles Public Road, EBD, when they observed the man riding a motorcycle with trade plates.

The ranks signalled the motorcyclist to stop, but instead of complying, he al-

legedly rode away but later fell in the vicinity of Flour Mill Road, EBD. He was subsequently apprehended and taken to the Farm/Herstelling Police Station, where it was revealed that the motorcycle is suspected to have been stolen and is believed to be connected to a report made

in Regional Police Division Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara).

A search conducted at the man’s residence led to the discovery of a suspected gel gun. The motorcycle, a haversack with items belonging to the suspect, and the gel gun were lodged as investigations continue.

…taxi driver, teen arrested

A21-year-old engineer from Wakenaam Island was attacked and robbed by armed bandits on Tuesday evening at Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), in the vicinity of the Big Kiss Parking Lot.

Police stated that based on preliminary investigations, the victim was walking near the parking lot when he was approached by a lone gunman who held him at gunpoint.

Another man confronted the victim from behind and started to choke him, during which the first suspect relieved him of $200,000 in cash and a mobile phone.

The suspects then entered a black Toyota Fielder wagon and fled the scene.

However, a report was subsequently made at the Parika Police Station, and based on information received, police intercepted a black Toyota Fielder wagon. A search of the vehicle led to the arrest of a 30-yearold driver and the discovery of $59,060 in cash, suspected to be part of the sum taken from the victim.

Further, a 17-year-old labourer from Stewartville, West Coast Demerara (WCD), was later arrested and taken to the Leonora Police Station. He was found to be in possession of $65,000.

The motor vehicle and money recovered were lodged pending further investigation while the two suspects remain in custody.

Masked gunmen terrorise Good Hope family during home invasion

One day after robbing a 49-yearold Plantation Good Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD) resident, five persons suspected of being involved in committing the crime were arrested.

Based on reports received, on Monday at about 03:45h, the victim was at home with his wife and two daughters when seven masked males, armed with firearms, cutlasses, and knives, arrived at their premises.

The suspects allegedly struck the front door, and shortly after, loud explosions, suspected to be gunshots, were heard. The suspects then made their way into the house. During the ordeal, the victim, his wife, and one of his daughters were assaulted.

The suspects then ransacked the house and re -

lieved the family of a quantity of jewellery, two cell phones, cash, and personal documents.

Police stated that the victim later managed to escape and report the matter to the Police. The injured victims were escorted to the Enmore Regional Hospital for medical examination.

However, based on intelligence, detectives went to Phase Two, Good Hope, ECD, on Tuesday and con -

ducted a search on a property, during which two .32 pistols were recovered in a blue cookie tin.

In addition, a 21-yearold labourer and a 33-yearold taxi driver, both from the Good Hope Squatting Area, ECD, were taken into custody. Further investigations led to the arrest of three other suspects. The five men remain in custody and are assisting with investigations.

Man accused of theft burnt,

beaten to death in Region 7

Four persons are now in custody for beating to death a man whom they accused of stealing at Honey Camp Landing, Middle Mazaruni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) on Tuesday.

The deceased man was only identified as "Curry". Preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased, who had no fixed place of abode and did odd jobs at Honey Camp Landing, was allegedly confronted by several males and accused of stealing.

During the confrontation, a belt was placed around the victim's neck, and he was dragged on the ground, after which they reportedly dealt several lash-

es to his body with a spade, cutlasses, and pieces of wood. Not yet satisfied, they doused him with acid.

After committing the act, the suspects then left the injured man lying on the ground near an abandoned shop. Police were summoned to the area, where they found the motionless body of the deceased lying face down in the sand.

The body was examined, and what appeared to be abrasions and burn marks were seen on his body. Based on reports received, four suspects were subsequently arrested and are presently in Police custody assisting with the investigation. The Police are on the hunt for two others.

Thousands set to access business opportunities through Development Bank – Pres Ali

...says ecosystem being built to almost guarantee success

Thousands of Guyanese are expected to benefit from business and investment opportunities through the first phase of the Guyana Development Bank, according to President Dr Irfaan Ali.

He made these remarks on Wednesday during a video presentation from the lawns of State House, where he outlined the Government's vision for the institution, which is intended to support entrepreneurship, empower individuals and families, and create sustainable economic opportunities across the country.

Ali reminded us that the establishment of the Development Bank was a commitment made by the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in its manifesto and forms part of a broader strategy aimed at building prosperity, increasing incomes and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises.

“The first phase of the development bank would create opportunities for thousands of Guyanese,” the President said, add -

ing that those who access the programme must approach it with a positive mindset and a commitment to success.

He explained that the bank is intended to help ordinary Guyanese transform ideas into viable businesses while providing the support needed to ensure long-term sustainability.

“This is a business opportunity. This is a loan that is interest-free and collateral-free, but it's not a grant. It is meant to allow you to build a business, to build prosperity, to build an enterprise, to build off of your creativity, to build off of your ideas, to support your ideas, to support your entrepreneurial spirit,” Ali stated.

According to the President, one of the key features of the development bank will be the extensive support structure accompanying the financing.

Guaranteeing success

He said the initiative is designed around mentorship, financial literacy, training and business de -

velopment services, creating what he described as an ecosystem intended to help borrowers succeed.

“We are building an ecosystem that would almost guarantee success. An ecosystem that is there to hold your hands, to support you, to guide you, to anchor your investment, to advise you on further enhancement and development,” he said.

Ali explained that the programme will adopt a grassroots approach, with cabinet members, community leaders, business leaders and mentors engaging citizens across the country through cluster meetings and discussions aimed at identifying opportunities and developing viable projects.

Under the proposed structure, every region will have credit officers responsible for working directly with prospective borrowers. These officers, he said, will assist individuals in developing ideas, preparing applications and monitoring projects.

Facilitators will also play a central role by helping entrepreneurs

strengthen business concepts, improve management capacity and access available Government support programmes.

Supporting growth

The President said the development bank is designed not only to help individuals establish businesses but also to support their growth over time.

As enterprises expand, sector specialists and technical officers will be available to provide guidance and assist entrepreneurs in accessing larger financing opportunities through commercial banks.

“We are not leaving you alone to go to the commercial bank. We are going to support you with the technical services to get to the commercial bank, to scale up your business, to expand your business and to grow from where you started,” he pointed out.

Ali also said the initiative will provide the Government with an avenue to invest directly in the talent, creativity and ideas of Guyanese.

He pointed to examples of small-scale ven -

tures that have grown into successful enterprises through commitment and proper support, noting that the Development Bank will seek to replicate such successes across multiple sectors.

Patience and hard work

At the same time, the President cautioned that success would require dedication and perseverance.

“Patience and hard work are essential elements or pillars of creating a winning strategy, of creating winners. If you want to be a winner, you have to be patient. You have to work hard,” he said.

Ali stressed that while Government is putting

systems in place and preparing for the bank’s launch, prospective borrowers must understand that there are no shortcuts to success.

The legislation establishing the Guyana Development Bank is currently before Parliament, while work continues on the administrative and operational structures needed to support its rollout. According to the President, the institution is intended to create longterm prosperity by investing in individuals, families, and businesses while expanding access to opportunities for thousands of Guyanese.

Traveller from Guyana fined US$300 for undeclared seeds, meat in US

Atraveller from Guyana has been issued a US$300 penalty after the US’s Customs and Border Protection

(CBP) officers discovered undeclared agricultural items, including seeds and beef products, during an inspection at a US port of en-

try. According to a social media post by CBP’s Office of Field Operations, the traveller failed to declare

the items upon arrival in the United States, despite being given multiple opportunities to do so. The inspection was conducted by

agriculture specialists with the CBP Miami and Tampa Field Office, who identified the prohibited and restricted items. According to a photo posted by CBP’s Office of Field Operations on its social media page, the traveller also had a number of other frozen and seasoned items.

The incident highlights longstanding US agricultural entry requirements, which require all travellers to declare agricultural products upon arrival. Under regulations enforced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, items such as seeds, plants, soil, meat, and animal products must be declared and are subject to inspection by agriculture specialists.

Travellers arriving from

countries such as Guyana are required to complete customs declaration forms and verbally declare all food, plant material, and animal products. Certain seeds and plant materials may require prior approval or import permits from the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service before entry is allowed.

CBP on its website warns that failure to declare agricultural items can result in penalties, including fines, seizure of goods, and potential delays in processing. The agency also emphasises that undeclared agricultural products can pose risks to US agriculture due to pests and diseases.

Over 1000 recommendations for national anti-bullying policy

The Education Ministry has received more than 1000 recommendations as part of its nationwide consultation process aimed at developing a comprehensive anti-bullying and anti-violence policy for schools across Guyana.

The disclosure was made during the final consultation held on Tuesday at the Mahaicony Technical and Vocational Training Centre in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), where stakeholders put forward a range of proposals to address bully-

ing and violence within the education system.

Among the key recommendations, the Ministry said on Wednesday, were the establishment of anti-bullying clubs in schools, the development of peer advocates, the expansion and improvement of counselling services, and the implementation of stricter consequences for repeat offenders. Some participants suggested measures such as community service and the withholding of school cash grants for students involved

in chronic misconduct.

Parents attending the consultation also proposed community-led after-school programmes designed to encourage teamwork, positive social interactions and sportsmanship among young people.

Education Minister Sonia Parag said all recommendations gathered throughout the consultation process will be compiled and reviewed by a multi-agency task force comprising representatives from the Ministries of

Education, Home Affairs, and Human Services and Social Security.

According to the Minister, the most practical and impactful recommendations will be incorporat-

violence. She pointed to social exclusion and verbal attacks as forms of abuse that can negatively affect a child’s mental well-being.

Parag also highlighted the challenges posed by the

reported promptly to the Ministry. She expressed optimism that initiatives such as the Presidential Prison Avoidance Programme would contribute to fostering positive behaviour

digital age, noting that children are increasingly influenced by content and trends encountered online.

“Years ago, a child would be influenced by what happens in their homes, schools and neighbourhoods, but now, they are also influenced by social media and what happens online and

ed into a policy framework that establishes clear and standardised consequences for bullying and violent behaviour involving both students and teachers.

Parag noted that the proposed policy will address all forms of bullying and violence, including physical, verbal and social forms of abuse.

“What we’re seeing is not simply an act of bullying, but it’s also translating into violence, and it’s making our spaces that should be safe unsafe for our children,” she said.

The Minister stressed that bullying can have significant psychological effects on victims, even when it does not involve physical

the trends that dominate that space,” she said.

In addition to developing the new policy, the Ministry of Education is preparing to strengthen support services in schools through enhanced training for guidance counsellors beginning in September.

The training programme will place a greater emphasis on psychology and mental health, equipping counsellors to provide improved support for students dealing with issues arising from bullying, violence and other challenges.

The Minister also revealed that efforts are underway to improve supervision within schools and ensure that incidents are

among young people. Parag underscored the importance of a collaborative approach in addressing bullying and violence, emphasising that responsibility extends beyond schools alone.

While reminding educators that they serve as guardians during the school day, she also stressed that parents play a fundamental role in shaping their children’s behaviour before they enter the classroom.

The Minister urged parents to examine disciplinary practices within the home, arguing that children often adopt behavioural patterns observed from adults around them. She also raised concerns about children having unrestricted access to digital devices and online content without adequate supervision.

At the same time, Parag cautioned against the use of physical punishment, stating that discipline and abuse are not the same and that violence is not necessary to correct behaviour.

Regional Education Officer Selestine La Rose welcomed the strong participation at the consultation, describing it as evidence of the commitment among stakeholders to creating safer learning environments throughout the country.

The consultation concluded with an interactive session during which teachers, students and residents from across Region Five shared concerns and recommendations.

Parag said she hopes that once the anti-bullying and anti-violence policy is fully implemented, efforts can begin toward the development of supporting legislation.

Sewage leak raises health concerns at Berbice Human Services Ministry’s office

Concerns have been raised over conditions at the Human Services and Social Security Ministry’s office at Whim, Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), where a suspected sewage leak has reportedly created an unpleasant and potentially unhealthy environment for both staff and members of the public.

Visitors to the office at Whim are being greeted by

a strong, foul odour emanating from the compound.

The stench reaches nearby buildings, and small droplets of solid human waste can be seen floating outside of the septic tank when toilets are flushed, creating the most unhygienic environment.

Reports are that the source of the problem appears to be the facility’s septic system, with wastewater escaping from the ground and flowing across

sections of the property.

The issue is particularly noticeable near the front entrance, the primary access point used by members of the public seeking Government services.

Signs that the problem has existed for some time are evident throughout the affected area, this publication was told.

When this newspaper visited the area, green staining and discolouration could be seen on the con-

Electrician fined $300,000 for trespassing on Lethem airstrip runway

A43-year-old electrician of Culvert City, Lethem, Central Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), has been fined $300,000 after pleading guilty to trespassing on the Lethem Aerodrome runway, in contravention of Section 83(1) of the Civil Aviation Act.

Lennard Pompey appeared on Tuesday before Magistrate Omadatt Chandan at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was read to him and he pleaded guilty.

The court imposed a fine of $300,000, with an alternative of three months’ imprisonment if the fine is not paid.

Only recently an incident at the Lethem Aerodrome had come under heightened scrutiny following safety concerns raised by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority.

In a statement issued on May 31, 2026, the authority had condemned the deliberate placement of rocks by person/persons on the runway, describing it as a serious risk to aircraft operations and public

safety.

The Authority reminded us that under the Civil Aviation Act 2018, trespassing on aerodrome property is a criminal offence, carrying penalties of up to $1 million in fines and six months’ imprisonment.

Following the incident, the Aviation Operators Association of Guyana (AOAG) also urged greater public responsibility around airstrips and runways, noting that hinterland aerodromes are critical to transport, medical evacuations, and the delivery of essential supplies.

The Lethem Aerodrome remains a key aviation hub for Region Nine, where authorities have continued to stress the importance of protecting runway infrastructure from obstruction and interference.

crete walkway at the front of the compound, while stagnant water had collected near the entrance and around the septic system.

The building accommodates Government employees on its upper floor and serves members of the public from across the Corentyne who visit the office for assistance and oth -

er social services.

Reports indicate that complaints have been raised on numerous occasions regarding the situation.

Those complaints are said to have come from staff members as well as personnel attached to the security service assigned to the facility.

When this publication visited the facility, it was revealed that reports are that the issue has persisted despite repeated complaints.

Efforts to obtain a comment from officials within the Human Services and Social Security Ministry on the matter were unsuccessful up to press time.

Canadian air cargo service to begin weekly service to Guyana this week

Cargojet Airways Ltd is set to begin operations in Guyana on Friday, introducing a weekly non-scheduled air cargo service under a partnership with DHL Express USA.

The development follows earlier discussions between President Dr Irfaan Ali and Cargojet executives in Canada. Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar met with representatives of DHL, which

Retrial begins in

child sexual activity case at Berbice High Court

The retrial of Krishna Tulapersaud, also known as Krishna Tulerpersaud, commenced on Wednesday before Justice Simone Morris at the Berbice High Court.

Tulapersaud is indicted on two counts of sexual activity with a child family member. The first count alleges that the offence was committed during the month of February 2013, while the second count alleges that a similar offence occurred during February 2014.

State Counsel Marisa Edwards is presenting the state’s case, while attorney-at-law Arudranauth Gossai is appearing for the accused.

Accused: Krishan Tulapersaud

The court heard that the prosecution intends to call six witnesses during the trial.

The matter is being reheard after the Court of Appeal ordered a retrial. Tulapersaud had previously been found guilty of the offences and sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment.

However, he subsequently appealed the conviction, and the appellate court ordered that the matter be retried before a new jury.

Proceedings got underway on Wednesday before Justice Morris.

has contracted Cargojet for the service.

The airline will operate a weekly cargo route on the Miami (MIA), Caracas (CCS), Georgetown (GEO), Medellin (Colombia), and the Miami corridor. The service is intended to support DHL Express operations in the region.

Minister Indar congratulated DHL officials, including Executive Director Maurice John and DHL Aviation America’s Director of Business Development and ACS

Strategy, Xavier Cerruto, on the commencement of the new service.

According to the Ministry, the entry of Cargojet Airways reflects growing demand in Guyana’s air cargo sector, which has expanded significantly in recent years. Air cargo volumes increased from 7.6 million kilograms in 2020 to 14.4 million kilograms in 2025, an increase of 88.5 per cent.

Officials attribute the growth to increased imports of industrial equip-

ment and supplies linked to the oil and gas sector, as well as rising e-commerce activity and broader trade expansion.

The upward trend has continued into 2026, with cargo volumes reportedly increasing by a further 21 per cent year-to-date.

Since 2020, international cargo carriers, including LATAM Cargo and Avianca Cargo, have expanded operations in Guyana, contributing to increased capacity and improved regional connectivity.

WIN MP arrested for domestic violence, threatening wife with chopper

A31-year-old Member of Parliament (MP) from the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party has been arrested following an alleged domestic violence incident at Moruca, North West District, Region One (BarimaWaini) on Wednesday.

According to Police, the incident occurred at about 17:00h at the MP’s residence and involved his reputed wife.

While Police did not reveal the MP’s name, this publication was told that it is WIN MP Deon La Cruz, who was arrested.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the couple was at home when an argument allegedly erupted and escalated into a physical altercation.

Police said that during the incident, the MP allegedly assaulted a fouryear-old child, prompting the woman to intervene.

The woman further alleged that the MP dealt her several blows and pushed her to the ground, causing her to hit her head and briefly lose consciousness.

She also claimed that he later armed himself with a chopper and advanced towards her in a threatening manner, causing her to fear for her life and personal safety.

The matter was reported to the Acquero Police Station, where the woman made an official report. She was subsequently escorted to seek medical attention.

The MP was later arrested and placed into Police custody as investigations continue.

Toddler found dead in pool of water near Region 9 home

Police are investigating the drowning death of a one-year-old child at Cracrana Village, South Pakaraimas, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) on Wednesday.

Dead is Ethan Christian.

According to Police, the incident occurred between 11:30h and 11:43h.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the child was at home with his mother when she reportedly left him lying on a bed inside the house and went to use a nearby toilet.

Upon her return, she discovered that the child was no longer on the bed. A search was immediately conducted in and around the house.

The child was subsequently found lying face down and motionless in a pool of water, approximately three feet deep and about 100 feet away from the house.

He was rushed to the Karasabai Public Hospital, where a doctor on duty pronounced him dead on arriv-

al. Police said the body was examined and no marks of violence were observed. The body is currently being kept at the Karasabai Public Hospital Mortuary.

Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death are ongoing.

Cuban national found dead along ECD Railway Embankment

Police in Regional Division Four C are investigating the discovery of the body of a 53-yearold Cuban national whose remains were found along the Railway Embankment at Coldingen, East Coast Demerara, on Wednesday morning.

Dead is Wilbur Fonseca of Eccles, East Bank Demerara.

According to Police, the body was discovered at about 06:31h lying motionless on the southern side of the embankment. Investigators visited the scene and conducted an examination of the body. Police reported that no visible marks of violence were observed.

A cellular phone was found in the deceased’s

pants pocket, while his driver’s licence and one boot were recovered nearby.

A doctor who attended the scene pronounced Fonseca dead, and his body was subsequently transported to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Police said investigations are ongoing.

Bandit killed, accomplice escapes after Chinese supermarket robbery

Asuspected armed robber was shot and killed on Wednesday night after an attempted robbery at a supermarket on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown.

According to preliminary investigations, the incident occurred at about 20:40h when three men entered the “People’s Choice” supermarket. Police said one of the men was armed with a handgun.

The suspects alleged-

ly held two unarmed security guards at gunpoint and ordered them to lie on the ground.

During the incident, a Police rank who was on mobile patrol reportedly observed what was taking place, and approached the suspects.

Police said the armed suspect discharged a round in the direction of the officer, who returned fire with his service pistol.

The suspects then fled the supermarket in different directions. The armed suspect subsequently fell into a nearby drain along Mandela Avenue.

Investigators recovered a .38 revolver containing three live rounds along with several spent shells at the scene. The suspect was later examined by a doctor on duty and pronounced dead. Police have launched an investigation.

Aguirre relives 1986 memories as Mexico prepare for World Cup opener today

Coach Javier Aguirre drew on memories of Mexico’s last home World Cup on Wednesday as he prepared to lead the hosts into the tournament opener against South Africa, four decades after taking the field as a player at the Estadio Azteca.

Mexico launch the World Cup today carrying the expectations of a football-mad nation, but Aguirre said no experience in his 50 years in the game compared with the emotions of a World Cup on home soil.

“I have not had a greater emotion in 50 years in football than a World Cup at home,” Aguirre told reporters on the eve of the Group A clash. “It is something unforgettable.”

Aguirre was part of Mexico’s squad at the 1986 World Cup and played in the opening match against Belgium, also at the Azteca, before later guiding the team at the 2002 and 2010 tournaments.

Now in his third spell as Coach, the 67-year-old said he had tried to pass on the confidence he felt as a player to a squad preparing to experience a home World Cup for the first time.

“I remember the confidence with which we went out to face Belgium,” he said.

“I want to transmit to the players that it can be a great

day for us, that it can be a celebration that will be remembered for decades.”

Aguirre said his team were ready for the challenges that come with opening the tournament in front of more than 80,000 fans, stressing “it is not only about football, it is emotional balance”.

Mexico are widely viewed as favourites to beat South Africa, but Aguirre said home advantage would only help if his players managed the pressure.

“You cannot go crazy,” he said. “Everyone wants to finish the game in the first half, but this lasts 90 minutes.”

Mexico will try to make history today, with the hosts

still seeking their first win in a World Cup opening match after seven previous attempts, a statistic Aguirre said he only learned when it was put to him at the press conference.

“Then we have one more reason to win tomorrow,” he said. “We will break that statistic.”

The World Cup, spanning Canada, Mexico and the United States, kicks off at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, which will become the first stadium to host matches at three men’s World Cups. FIFA has sold more than six million tickets for the tournament, which now has 48 teams. (Excerpts from Reuters)

108 Cubans intercepted in Brazil after attempted illegal crossing from Guyana

Brazilian Police have intercepted 108 Cuban nationals in a single day as they were being smuggled into the country through the border with Guyana.

The operation, part of Operation Safe Route, unfolded in three phases throughout the afternoon and evening, culminating in the immediate arrest of five individuals accused of human trafficking, known as “coyotes”.

In the first phase, agents detected a convoy of vehicles that disobeyed a stop order and fled along dirt roads.

During the night, a second operation allowed the identification of eight more Cubans being transported irregularly, and a driver suspected of participating in the scheme was apprehended.

The third phase was the most revealing: the tracking of a suspicious vehicle led agents to a residence in

Cantá, where they found 61 Cubans cramped together. An automobile was also seized at the location.

“According to the Federal Highway Police (PRF), this was the largest humanitarian rescue operation ever recorded in a single incident in Roraima,” the Ministry said, referring to one of Brazil’s 26 states.

Some 57.6 per cent of the Cuban immigrants living in Brazil are either in Roraima or Amapá, another northern border state.

Cuba has been facing a heightened humanitarian crisis in recent months, as it weathers a de facto fuel blockade imposed by the United States.

Since January, no foreign oil has been allowed to reach the Caribbean island, save for one Russian tanker. The US has threatened steep tariffs against any country that might seek to supply Cuba with oil, a necessary fuel for its fragile energy grid. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Hegseth warns Cuba arms procurement could invite confrontation

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned the Government of Cuba on Wednesday against seeking weapons that could strike the US homeland or US naval bases, saying it would invite a confrontation Havana could not withstand.

Hegseth, speaking to US troops during a visit to the US base, said he still hoped for a positive relationship with Cuba.

“It would be unwise of the Government of Cuba to try to procure or get access to the types of weapons that could reach this base or the American homeland,” Hegseth said, without offering more specifics about the weaponry in question.

Hegseth’s visit is the latest high-profile trip to the communist-ruled island by a senior American official as President Donald

Trump steps up pressure on Havana.

It came less than two weeks after the top US commander for Latin America, General Francis Donovan, visited Naval Station Guantanamo Bay and held discussions with a senior Cuban general at its perimeter. It also followed a rare visit to Havana by CIA Director John Ratcliffe in May. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Nazi arsenal seized from Argentine vendor’s home

Buenos Aires provincial Police on Wednesday announced the seizure of Nazi uniforms, weapons, ammunition and accessories from the home of a man who sold items on the internet, authorities said.

Officials said that on April 8 they learnt of a post on Facebook Marketplace in which a user under the name Fernando Martinsohn, featuring an image of a US military star, offered to sell military uniforms and accessories. Authorities identified him as Diego Fernando Martinez.

With a court-ordered search warrant, Police went to Martinez’s home in the suburbs of Buenos Aires, whose entrance hallway had floor tiles with swastikas, the authorities said in a statement. Among the items seized was a copy of “Mein Kampf” by Adolf Hitler and daggers with swastika insignia.

Argentine Police seized an arsenal of Nazi military uniforms, weapons, ammunition and accessories from a merchant in Buenos Aires province who was selling them online

Police did not specify what charges Martinez could face, but Argentine law prohibits the distribution of propaganda that promotes ideas of racial superiority.

Nazi-related discoveries occasionally pop up in Argentina, which after World War Two received both Holocaust survivors and dozens of Nazi

war criminals, including Adolf Eichmann and Josef Mengele.

Last year, retired Dutch systems specialist Paul Post’s examination of his father’s Nazi-era diaries led to Buenos Aires authorities charging the daughter of a high-ranking Nazi official with concealing an 18th-century painting looted during the Holocaust. (Reuters)

Prime Minister (PM) Kamla PersadBissessar is defending her Government’s move to seek a three-month extension of the State of Emergency (SoE), insisting the measure is temporary but necessary to protect citizens from violent crime after what she described as decades of bloodshed and insecurity.

Speaking ahead of today’s Parliamentary debate, where the Government is seeking what is essentially the second extension to its second SoE since coming into office, Persad-Bissessar argued that the country could not afford a return to the levels of violence experienced over the past quarter-century.

“For about 25 years, the country has been tormented by violence, over ten thousand murders, over twenty thousand reported rapes and sexual assaults, tens of thousands of robberies, beatings and other violent acts,” she said. “…These measures are temporary but necessary because we can’t have another violent 25 years.”

Since taking office in May 2025, the first nationwide

SoE was declared by PersadBissessar’s Administration on July 18, 2025, and remained in effect for exactly 197 days until it officially expired on January 31, 2026.

Following a brief period of normal policing, the Government instituted a second emergency framework that commenced at midnight on March 3, 2026.

Following a Parliamentary extension vote on March 13, 2026, this second measure is current-

ly legally bound to expire at midnight on June 17, 2026. However, the Government is scheduled to table an extension resolution in the House of Representatives, aiming to push the legal expiration date into mid-September 2026.

Counting today, June 11, Trinidad and Tobago will have spent a combined total of 297 days under a SoE since the current Administration took office. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

A34-year-old businessman has been charged after allegedly trying to enter the country with US$270,580 (J$42.8 million) in his luggage.

Shawn Walker, a business operator from Crawford District, St Elizabeth, has been arrested and charged with several breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), including failure to report to the designated authority the transportation of cash into or out of the country, possession of criminal proper-

Bajans

The number of cases of syphilis is on the rise in Barbados, and their Ministry of Health and Wellness is urging people to safeguard their health through safer sexual practices, regular testing and prompt treatment.

According to statistics from the Ministry, there were 14,835 positive tests at the Best dos Santos Public Health Laboratory in 2025 compared to 12,731 the previous year. There were 156 new cases in 2025, up from 107 in 2024.

Public testing has also shown an increase in the syphilis positivity rate, which ranged from 2.1 per

ty, and concealment of criminal property.

According to the Financial Investigations Division, Walker arrived in Jamaica on Sunday on a United Airlines flight from New Jersey in the USA.

During routine customs control activities, customs officers detected abnormalities in his luggage, which led to further checks and a manual search.

The search reportedly revealed a large quantity of United States currency concealed in 28 sealed boxes of bath soap. When the

boxes were opened and the cash was counted, the total amounted to US$270,580. Walker reportedly produced documents which could not sufficiently prove that the cash was legally obtained by him.

Following a question-and-answer session conducted on Monday, June 8, 2026, by officers from the Constabulary Financial Unit in the presence of his attorney, Donnovan Collins, Walker was subsequently charged and remanded in custody. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

cent to 4.1 per cent over the past five years, with an average positivity rate of 2.9 per cent.

“Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that is both preventable and curable, but many people may not realise they are infected, as symptoms can be mild or absent in the early stages,” said a release from the Ministry.

“If syphilis is not treated, it can cause serious irreversible long-term health problems, including damage to the brain, heart, and other organs. In pregnancy, untreated syphilis can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or serious illness in newborns.”

Syphilis can cause a painless sore at the genitals, anus, or mouth, or a rash later on, often on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet. Other symptoms may include swollen glands or lymph nodes, fever, fatigue, sore throat, or body aches.

Persons who are sexually active are encouraged to get tested for syphilis, especially if they have new or multiple partners. Testing is simple and available through public and private health services. A positive test result should be followed up with immediate treatment, and recent sexual partners should be informed. (Excerpt from Nation News)

Around the World

OIL NEWS

OPEC oil output lowest since 2000 as US blockade squeezes Iran

OPEC oil output in May hit its lowest in more than two decades, a Reuters survey found, as a US naval blockade cut Iran’s exports and Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz slashed exports by other Gulf producers.

Output by the 11-member Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries fell by 1.06 million barrels per day month-onmonth to 16.13 million bpd, the survey found.

The figures exclude the United Arab Emirates, which quit OPEC as of May 1.

Iran experienced the biggest drop, reflecting the impact of the US blockade which started on April 13, the survey found.

Iran’s exports of crude oil and condensate fell to their lowest in at least six years.

Saudi Arabia had a further decline, although Iraq was able to increase supply due to increased domestic use, sources in the survey said.

Venezuela and Nigeria also pumped more.

Eight members of the OPEC+ producer group, which includes OPEC plus allies including Russia, had agreed to raise production in May, but the Iran war and US blockade made that impossible. The Reuters survey is based on flow data from financial group LSEG, information from other companies that track flows, such as Kpler, and information provided by sources at oil companies, OPEC and consultants. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Trump targeting immigrants from countries hit most by climate shocks

Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown is largely targeting people from the countries most vulnerable to displacement from climate-driven disasters, a Guardian analysis shows.

As the Trump Administration pushes policies to boost planet-heating fossil fuels, millions of people are being forced to flee their homelands due to storms, floods and droughts worsened by the climate crisis.

Of the 39 countries from which the Trump Administration has fully or partly restricted entry to the US, 22 are ranked within the most vulnerable quarter of nations in the world to climate impacts, according to a Guardian analysis of data from the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative, which assesses how prone jurisdictions are to the climate crisis.

“Nearly all of the most vulnerable countries are on a ban or visa pause,” said Danielle

US launches new strikes on Iran after Trump vows to “hit hard”

The US military launched an additional round of strikes on targets within Iran early Thursday morning local time, US Central Command said, hours after President Trump vowed to hit Iran ”hard” in a bid to force the country to agree to a deal on the administration’s terms.

CENTCOM said on X that it hit ”multiple targets in Iran ... in response to Iran’s unwarranted

and continued aggression. ”It described the strikes as self-defensive. The operation targeted key Iranian facilities such as ammunition depots, command-and-control nodes and warehouses, according to two US officials familiar with the airstrikes.

Iranian media outlets reported that explosions were heard or air defences were activated in multiple cities.

The latest strikes could put new stress on an alrea-

dy brittle two-month-old ceasefire between the US and Iran, which has prevented most large-scale attacks but hasn’t stopped the two countries from exchanging fire.

For weeks, Iranian and American negotiators have held indirect negotiations on extending their ceasefire, ending a US naval blockade of Iranian ports, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and launching talks on the

thorny longer-term question of Iran’s nuclear programme. But a deal has proven elusive. Iran’s foreign ministry accused the US earlier Wednesday of sending contradictory messages and ”damaging the diplomatic process” with the strikes.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the goal of the latest round of strikes is to force Iran to the negotiating table. (Excerpt from CBS News)

Bill Gates testifies Epstein pressured him using knowledge of his affairs

Bill Gates told members of Congress on Wednesday that he ”did not fully understand the extent” of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes when he associated with the late convicted sex offender to raise money for his philanthropic foundation.

Gates also testified that he never witnessed any criminal conduct from Epstein. He accused Epstein of blackmailing him over his extramarital affairs.

”These affairs had nothing to do with my interactions with Epstein, but they were painful for my family,” Gates said, according to a copy of his opening sta-

tement. ”Epstein was working to use information about my infidelities – in

World’s largest

addition to many lies that he layered on top – to pressure me to re-engage with

him.”

Congress has been investigating the US Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein case. The billionaire’s testimony concerned his contacts with the convicted sex offender who ensnared women and girls from poor or unstable backgrounds.

The Microsoft Corp cofounder testified privately to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which is investigating possible federal mismanagement in the cases against Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell and related issues. (Excerpt from Reuters)

whale graveyard dating back 5 million years discovered

Wood, an associate professor at Notre Dame. Immigrants from Chad and Niger, the two most climate-vulnerable countries in the world according to the index, are now fully barred from the US, as are people from Sudan, Somalia and Sierra Leone, also among the 10 countries most exposed to climate impacts.

Among the most vulnerable half of countries is Honduras, which has seen stronger rainstorms, droughts, floods and coastal erosion in recent years. When Hurricane Mitch crashed into the country, it killed 7000 persons.

The Administration has also sought to terminate the temporary protected status (TPS) of people from Honduras and 12 other countries who already reside in the US, with nearly half of these countries ranked by Notre Dame as among the most climate-vulnerable places in the world. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

An enormous whale graveyard around 1200 kilometres (km) long has been discovered in the south-eastern Indian Ocean.

The site, which is 7km deep, has been found in the Diamantina fracture zone, a range on the sea floor of ridges and trenches.

But it is the age of the remains – some from 5.3 million years ago – that has prompted huge excitement in the scientific community.

The underwater necropolis, which was discovered by a team of researchers from China, Italy and New Zealand, is teeming with organisms and species that ”may be new to science”, according to the journal Nature.

One of the study’s authors, Xiaotong Peng of the Chinese Academy of

Sciences, said: “Discovering a necropolis of this scale was completely unexpected. The size of distribution, the depth and the age ran-

ge were far beyond anything we had imagined.”

A five-metre-long Antarctic minke whale’s carcass was the largest discovery made.

A new species which the team has called Pterocetus diamantinae, after the site, was also uncovered. (Excerpt from BBC News)

During 32 dives to the site, explorers collected samples from 485 whale-fossil sites and active whale falls and found a treasure trove of remains, including one extinct whale’s skeleton. The beaked Pterocetus benguelae, which is 5.3 million years old, was discovered to be one of the fossilised skulls in the graves.

India summons US envoy over attack on ship carrying Indian sailors off Oman

India has summoned a senior US diplomat after US forces fired on a Palau-flagged vessel with 24 Indian sailors on board off the coast of Oman, leaving three Indian seafarers missing.

India’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to Al Jazeera on Wednesday that it had summoned Jason Meeks, the US Embassy’s deputy chief of mission in New Delhi.

The US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) said it carried out a “precision” strike on a vessel, the Settebello, as it transited the Gulf of Oman transporting Iranian oil on Tuesday evening, claiming the crew failed to comply with instructions from US forces.

The ship was a chemical/oil products tanker which reported an engine room fire 20 nautical miles (about 37 km) northeast of Oman’s port

of Sohar, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said.

The Omani navy responded to the Settebello distress call, British maritime risk management group Vanguard said.

Twenty-one Indian sailors have been rescued and three remain missing, India’s Foreign Ministry said, condemning the violence and calling for an end to attacks on commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region.

The incident has intensified legal and ethical questions surrounding the US naval blockade of Iran, which has negatively affected Washington’s allies. It could also further damage India-US ties, which experts say are already at their lowest point in decades. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

HOROSCOPES

Discipline is the way forward. Focus on what you want and need to achieve, and let your relentless drive take over. Don’t let an emotional incident or criticism stand in your way or cost you. Changing how you handle your cash or use your skills will help you let go of what wasn’t working while pursuing something new.

Formulate and execute your plans swiftly, and positive change will unfold. It’s emotional matters that will slow you down, causing negative thoughts and actions. Dismiss what irks you, and press forward with what’s doable and will encourage you to distance yourself from drama and other people’s problems. Turn your attention to your needs and goals.

Consider your options and how you can use your experience and skills to change your life for the better. The more time you spend decluttering, the better you’ll feel about the prospects that lie ahead. Don’t labor over what you can’t change. Walk away from negativity and toward what brightens your day. Curb emotional spending.

Take a moment to breathe; let whatever is going on around you dissipate. Say no without feeling bad. Say yes to nurturing and taking care of yourself for a change. Look for opportunities to expand your interests, implement a new look or make a healthy lifestyle change that encourages you to be the best version of yourself.

You may want to expand your research before you share your findings. It’s apparent that missing information will lead to a misunderstanding that hinders your progress when dealing with associates, institutions, authority figures or government agencies. You may desire change, but making claims you can’t fulfill will leave you scrambling. Concentrate on presentation and verification.

Think before you act. What you do will be under scrutiny by those you deal with personally or professionally. Take more time to sort through your thoughts and how best to resolve pressing issues that affect others as well as yourself. Making wise decisions or holding off on revealing your thoughts will buy you precious time. Romance is brewing.

A social event or creative conversation will spark your imagination and encourage you to dig deeper and find out more. Whether it’s pursuing someone of interest, a new pastime or a job that points you in a direction more suitable at this stage in life, the results, although challenging, will offer greater opportunity moving forward.

Concentrate on what you want, and move your schedule around to fit your needs. An open gesture will set your intentions in motion. Follow up by sharing your plans, and you’ll find out exactly where you stand and how to make the most of your day. A creative idea will turn into something spectacular. Romance is favored.

Introducing innovative ideas and changes to meaningful relationships, investments and how you use your attributes personally and professionally will bring the highest return. Update documents that are time-sensitive, and make changes to your living arrangement to ensure you aren’t paying for or putting up with things you don’t use. Find an outlet for your stress.

Refuse to let anyone talk you into something you don’t want to do. Let your actions lead the way, and put a force play in place to ensure you get what you want. Opportunities are apparent with domestic matters that can benefit you and your relationship with someone close to you. Romance is in the stars.

Pay attention to how you look and feel. Get active and be aware of what’s trending and the styles that suit you best. A makeover will boost your ego and encourage you to engage in events that offer connecting with people who share your beliefs, common interests or are heading in a similar direction professionally.

Get out and about. Feed your mind with new possibilities, and engage in events and activities that stretch your imagination and encourage you to develop a plan or pursue a project that makes you feel good about what you can offer and how much you can earn. Market and present what you can do.

Clarke’s century, Bandara’s 50* balance academy contest after 3 days

est Indies

WAcademy Captain Rivaldo Clarke brought up a sparkling century on Wednesday, on Day Three of their four-day encounter with Sri Lanka’s emerging team, batting his side into a first innings lead. In pursuit of 356, the West Indies Academy resumed the day at the Mahinda Rajapaksha International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota, on 273-5 with Clarke and Amari Goodridge at the crease. Their partnership eventually got the West Indies past the 300-run mark, while another partnership between the Captain and Johann Layne saw the visitors cut-

ting down Sri Lanka’s first innings score, leaving a slim 25-run lead.

Goodridge had his stumps rattled by Nisala Abeyratne for 28 off 69 deliveries, while Shakthi Udara claimed the prized wicket of Clarke for 127.

The West Indies Academy Captain faced 218 balls in his classy innings, slamming 11 fours and one six. Layne was the visitors’ last defence with the bat, hitting a brisk 35 off 54 balls, consisting of six fours and one six.

Eventually Udara would have the last say, removing Kelvin Pittman for a duck to complete his six-wicket haul. Udara ended with

figures of 6-102 from 36.4 overs.

Abeyratne and Chamod Battage had two scalps each as the West Indies were eventually bowled out for 381 in 103.4 overs.

The hosts wasted no time in slimming down the deficit, but Layne struck regularly with the ball to ensure they would stifle their opponents. Similarly to the first innings, the Sri Lanka openers struggled, with Asitha Wanninayake, Ravindu Rasantha, Dinura Kalupahana, Sahan Kosala and Sharujan Shanmuganathan returning scores of 14, 2, 25, 1, and 11, respectively.

However, an 82-run partnership between Anjala Bandara and Pulindu Perera saw the hosts through to stumps. Bandara is unbeaten on 57 from 122 deliveries, while Perera is also unbeaten on 50 from 64 balls.

As such, Sri Lanka ended Day Three on 173-5 with a 148-run lead.

Layne has so far claimed 3-34 from eight overs, while Jediah Blades and Ryan Bandoo share the remaining wickets.

Heading into today’s final day, West Indies will be looking to clean up the remaining Sri Lanka wickets quickly, leaving a moderate score to chase for the win.

GMR&SC mourns passing of motorsport legend Victor Pires

The Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club

(GMR&SC) has extended its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and the wider motorsport fraternity on the passing of veteran racer and respected motorsport stalwart Victor Pires.

Pires, whose contributions to motorcycle racing in Guyana spanned more than five decades, passed away on Monday, leaving behind a legacy that will forever be etched in the history of local motorsport.

Widely regarded as one of the country’s most accomplished and knowledgeable motorcycle racers, Pires excelled in both the 125cc and 250cc classes and was revered by generations of riders for his skill, dedication and passion for the sport.

GMR&SC President Mohamed Shairaz Roshandin paid tribute to the late racing icon.

“Motorsport has definitely lost a pillar in Victor. His work in the sport, and more so the motorcycle aspect, cannot be overstated. He brought tremendous value to motorsport in Guyana, and his legacy will live on for generations to come,”

Roshandin stated.

“To his family and friends, know that Victor will continue to live on through the sport he loved and helped develop.”

Pires began his racing career in the early 1970s during the formative years of Guyana’s grass track racing scene, competing alongside notable figures such as Kamil Haniff, Peter Da Silva, Clive Ng Kien, Rene Carrega and Terrence Clarke.

He quickly rose through the ranks, capturing championship honours before transitioning to circuit racing.

Representing Team Solo and Guyana on several occasions, Pires established himself as one of the country’s premier riders, competing against some of the sport’s most respected names, including Frank Van Sertima and Stanley Ming.

Following a period in Canada, Pires returned to Guyana in the 1990s and once again made an immediate impact. After returning to grass track competition, he moved back to circuit racing, where he dominated the 125cc category aboard specially prepared machines.

His pursuit of excellence saw him acquire a Honda 250 Grand Prix motorcycle, with fellow racing legend Stanley Ming serving as his mechanic. The pair competed at Daytona in Florida before bringing the machine to Guyana, where Pires successfully challenged much larger motorcycles in the 600cc and 1000cc categories.

Throughout his illustrious career, Pires competed against and alongside some of the finest riders of his era, including Wayne Vieira, Mike Correia, Kevin Graham, Lennox Beckles and Aubrey Archer, among many others.

Beyond his achievements on the track, Pires was respected for his vast knowledge of motorcycle racing and his willingness to share his experience with younger competitors, helping to shape the sport’s continued growth and development.

The GMR&SC joins the entire motorsport community in mourning the loss of a true champion, mentor and ambassador of motorcycle racing.

His remarkable contributions and enduring legacy will continue to inspire racers for generations to come.

PC, Plaisance Secondary advance to YBG East Coast regional final

President’s College (PC) and Plaisance Secondary booked their places in the Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) East Coast “Country” regional final after recording semi-final victories in contrasting fashion on Tuesday.

PC secured the most dominant result of the day, defeating Golden Grove 54-0 to advance to Thursday’s championship game at the PC Hard court in Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara. Plaisance Secondary, meanwhile, had to work much harder for their place in the final, edging Hope Secondary 20-17 in a closely contested encounter.

In the opening semi-fi-

nal, Plaisance Secondary held off a determined Hope Secondary side to claim a three-point victory. Trevor James was named Player of the Game after pulling down 11 rebounds while contributing five points. Christopher Ram led the scoring for the winners with seven points, while Prince Mars added six points and four rebounds.

Hope Secondary was led by Dion Moore, who recorded a game-high 10 points along with eight rebounds. Asaiah Browne chipped in with six points, but it was not enough to prevent Plaisance from securing the win and a place in the regional final.

The second semi-final was a one-sided affair as

PC overwhelmed Golden Grove from start to finish. Romarion Wolfe earned Player of the Game honours after producing 17 points and five rebounds. Dontrell Ross provided strong support with 14 points, while Terron Mohabir added nine points as President’s College cruised to victory.

The results set up a showdown between PC and Plaisance Secondary for the East Coast “Country” regional title today, Thursday, June 11, at the PC Hard court.

The regional competition is sponsored by Edward B Beharry Ltd, G-Boats Inc, the National Sports Commission, the Ministry of Education and Banks DIH Ltd.

Berbice Football Association questions GFF’s installation of interim committee

By Michelangelo JacoBus

Documents obtained by Guyana Times Sport indicate that the Berbice Football Association (BFA) has raised concerns about the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF’s) decision to install an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to oversee football administration in the county while seeking clarification on the basis and process used for the intervention.

The development stems from a May 18, 2026 correspondence in which the GFF informed affiliated clubs that an Interim Management Committee had been established for Berbice. According to the Federation, Sean McDonald was appointed chairman of the committee, while Shauna Hutson and Quason Liverpool were named members.

The GFF stated that the IMC assumed responsibility for the daily operations and administration of football in Berbice from May 18 and would remain in place for a minimum period of one year. The Federation said the measure forms part of its commitment to strengthening football administration and ensuring the continued development and effective management of the sport in the region.

The move follows an earlier notice issued by the Federation on November 25, 2025, informing clubs that the GFF Council had decided to install an IMC under Article 51 of the GFF Statutes. In that correspondence, the Federation said the BFA had been unable to demonstrate that it possessed a functioning, duly elected executive committee capable of administering the Association’s affairs.

The GFF further stated that the BFA had failed to submit required administrative, financial and statutory documents, including executive committee meeting minutes, activity reports, financial statements and a Member Association Financial Assistance Programme (MFAP) report. According to the Federation, those deficiencies affected the integrity of football activities in Berbice and ne-

cessitated intervention to ensure stability and continuity.

The Federation said the IMC would be responsible for administering the Association’s affairs, reviewing governance structures, regularising administrative processes and organising elections for a new executive committee at an appropriate time.

However, correspondence dated May 19, 2026, and obtained by Guyana Times Sport shows that the BFA formally objected to the installation of the IMC and requested clarification on several aspects of the decision.

Among the concerns raised were the statutory basis for the committee’s appointment, the process used to determine its minimum one-year duration, whether any reports or assessments informed the decision and the extent of consultations conducted with clubs and stakeholders before implementation.

The correspondence also contends that the Federation has continued to engage with BFA officials through football administration activities, development programmes and Congress participation. It notes that one of the BFA’s Vice Presidents currently serves on the GFF Executive Committee, while another Vice President recently participated in a GFF training programme.

The document further argues that the Federation has continued to recognise football activities conducted in Berbice, including club participation, competitions and Congress representation, and questions whether those actions are consistent with the assertion that the Association lacks a functioning executive structure.

The correspondence additionally references previous disagreements between the BFA and the GFF regarding the Member Association Financial Assistance Programme and the reassignment of a FIFA Goal Project that had originally been earmarked for the development of an artificial turf facility on land leased to the BFA through a partnership involving the GFF and the New Amsterdam

Town Council.

The BFA also noted that in 2024 the Association reportedly had only three remaining executive members after a series of resignations, but no interim body was installed during that period.

Contacted for comment by Guyana Times Sport, GFF President Wayne Forde defended the Federation’s decision and said the matter followed an extended period of engagement with the Berbice Association.

“The Guyana Football Federation does not ordinarily externalise or publicly discuss its confidential administrative engagements with Member Associations. Matters relating to governance, compliance, and oversight are generally addressed through the Federation’s established internal processes and in accordance with the relevant statutes and regulations governing football in Guyana,” Forde said.

He added that the decision to appoint the IMC “was not taken lightly” and followed what he described as a prolonged period of engagement concerning governance and compliance issues.

According to Forde, the Federation identified “significant failures to satisfy fundamental constitutional and statutory obligations, including obligations relating to administration, accountability, record-keeping, and reporting”.

Forde said the Federation engaged the Association through the appropriate channels and provided multiple opportunities for outstanding matters to be addressed but maintained that the required level of compliance was not achieved despite repeated requests and reasonable timelines.

“The GFF Council subsequently reviewed the matter and, having considered the circumstances, exercised its authority under the applicable statutory provisions to install an Interim Management Committee. This action was taken in accordance with the Federation’s governance framework and established pro-

cedures, with the objective of protecting the interests of clubs, players, officials, and the wider football community in Berbice,” Forde told this publication.

He said the appointment of the IMC is intended to restore good governance, ensure compliance with statutory obligations, strengthen accountability mechanisms and facilitate a stable pathway toward the normalisation of the Association’s affairs.

Forde further stated that the Federation remains committed to transparency, accountability and good governance, principles which he said are required under the GFF Statutes as well as the regulatory frameworks of FIFA; the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF); and the Caribbean Football Union.

“The Federation expects all Member Associations to honour their constitutional and statutory obligations and will continue to apply its governance standards consistently and fairly across the football ecosystem,” the GFF President added.

In its correspondence, the BFA requested clarification on the legal basis for the intervention, access to any reports or findings that informed the decision and details regarding consultations and the committee’s mandate. The Association also indicated that fur ther review may be pursued through the appropriate channels if its con

Windies Women stumble in final World Cup warm-up

In spite of another solid knock from Deandra Dottin, the West Indies women fell victim

to a dominant Australia on Wednesday in their final warm-up match before the International Cricket

aaa SCOREBOARD

3-0-16-1

West Indies Women (20 ovs maximum)

Qiana Joseph c †Mooney

b Hamilton 5 Hayley Matthews (c) b Wareham 15

Aaliyah Alleyne b Molineux 10

Deandra Dottin run out (Wareham) 46

Jahzara Claxton c Sutherland

b Hamilton 15

Chinelle Henry c Gardner

b Carey 9

Jannillea Glasgow not out 8

Shemaine Campbelle † c Sutherland b Perry 2

Mandy Mangru c Garth

b Gardner 6

Zaida James c Sutherland

b Gardner 0

Afy Fletcher b Garth 5

Extras (b 2, lb 3, nb 2, w 3) 10

Total 20 Ov (RR: 6.55) 131

Did not bat: Shawnisha Hector, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor

Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Qiana Joseph, 1.3 ov), 2-30 (Aaliyah Alleyne, 4.1 ov), 3-52 (Hayley Matthews, 7.1 ov), 4-97 (Jahzara Claxton, 13.3 ov), 5-109 (Chinelle Henry, 15.6 ov), 6-112 (Deandra Dottin, 16.3 ov), 7-114 (Shemaine Campbelle, 16.5 ov), 8-124 (Mandy Mangru, 18.5 ov), 9-124 (Zaida James, 18.6 ov), 10-131 (Afy Fletcher, 19.6 ov)

Bowling O-M-R-W Kim Garth

Lucy Hamilton

2-0-13-1

3-0-19-2

Ellyse Perry

Sophie Molineux 3-0-19-1

Alana King 2-0-21-0

Nicola Carey 2-0-11-1

Georgia Wareham 2-0-10-1 Ashleigh Gardner 3-0-17-2

Australia Women (T: 132 runs from 20 ovs)

Georgia Voll not out 77

Beth Mooney † retired out 4

Ellyse Perry c Henry b Ramharack 5 Ashleigh Gardner b Joseph 7

Georgia Wareham c Ramharack b Matthews 1

Annabel Sutherland not out 6

Extras (w 2) 2

Total 15 Ov (RR: 8.80) 132/4

Did not bat: Tahlia McGrath, Phoebe Litchfield, Kim Garth, Alana King, Grace Harris, Sophie Molineux (c), Megan Schutt, Lucy Hamilton, Nicola Carey Fall of wickets: 1-48 (Beth Mooney, 5.6 ov), 2-60 (Ellyse Perry, 7.3 ov), 3-93 (Ashleigh Gardner, 10.4 ov), 4-94 (Georgia Wareham, 11.1 ov)

Bowling O-M-R-W

Shawnisha Hector 2-0-9-0

Hayley Matthews 4-0-35-1

Jahzara Claxton 1-0-12-0

Deandra Dottin 1-0-11-0

Afy Fletcher 2-0-23-0

Karishma Ramharack 2-0-19 1

Qiana Joseph 2-0-6-1

Jannillea Glasgow 1-0-17-0

Council (ICC) Women’s T20 World Cup bowls off.

At Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, Wales, on Wednesday, West Indies Women won the toss and opted to bat first against Australia’s Women, going on to post a less than impressive 131 all out.

The Maroon Women’s shaky start began with Qiana Joseph departing for five while Captain Hayley Matthews and Aaliyah Alleyne went back to the dugout for 15 and 10 runs, respectively.

At 52-3, Dottin, alongside Jahzara Claxton, looked to steady the innings in a 45-run stand for the fourth wicket. Claxton contributed 15 and Chinelle Henry nine, before Dottin

was unfortunately run out in the 17th over, four runs short of a half-century.

Dottin’s 46 came in 38 deliveries, punctuated by six boundaries. No other West Indian was able to stand up to the Australian bowling, being routed for 131 in their 20 overs.

Both Lucy Hamilton and Ashley Gardner claimed two wickets apiece for the Australian side.

In reply, an unbeaten 77 off the bat of Georgia Voll helped Australia boss the chase in just 15 overs. Beth Mooney retired after slamming a quick-fire 34 from 18 deliveries, while Gardner had the next best score of seven.

Captain Matthews, Joseph and Karishma

Ramharack found them selves among the wickets for the West Indies’ bowl ing.

The Caribbean side will now look to turn their for tunes around on the big stage as the Women’s World Cup bowls off on Friday, June 12.

The West Indies women will meet their first test when they take on defending champions New Zealand on Saturday, June 13.

The Maroon Women are in Group Two alongside hosts England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland and Sri Lanka. They will need to finish among the top two teams in the group in order to move on to the competition’s semi-finals.

“You can call me the powerplay man”

Mayers discusses Windies players’ impact for Vipers at ExxonMobil GSL

West Indies batting all-rounder Kyle

Mayers believes the Desert Vipers have got a fantastic Caribbean contingent for the upcoming ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL).

Mayers, from Barbados, is one of four local players who have been recruited to represent the Vipers in the July tournament, the others being Trinidad and Tobago’s left-arm spinning all-rounder Khary Pierre, and fellow Barbadians left-arm fast bowler Ramon Simmonds and 19-year-old batting sensation Zachary Carter.

Speaking to the Vipers Voices podcast, Mayers said the West Indian players’ local knowledge of conditions would be a huge asset to the Vipers. Mayers himself was part of the Rangpur Riders of Bangladesh in the 2025 edition of the GSL and said that experience was significant.

“Playing cricket in Guyana could be very tricky. It was tough for some of the foreign players. And it is a short tournament, so there is not much time to get acquainted with conditions and play a few games to see how the conditions are. So, it is ‘hit the ground running’.

“I think that playing with them (Rangpur Riders) last season was a great experience. I got to see how the competition goes. I got to play against the strongest side, too, which is Guyana (Amazon Warriors). Guyana always put up a very good team, and the support there is unreal. So, playing against them was a great experience just to see how this tournament is evolving.”

Mayers has played 18 Tests, 28 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 41 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) for the West Indies, and while he has not played Tests or ODIs for the West Indies since 2023, he remains in the wider T20I pool.

In addition to his international quality, the left-handed batter and right-arm medium-pacer will bring an abundance of franchise experience to the Vipers table, having played in the Pakistan Super League, the Bangladesh Premier League, the Indian Premier League, the SA20 in South Africa, the T20 Blast in England and Wales, and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), and he said he could not wait to help the Vipers succeed.

“I guess this journey has helped me gain a wealth of experience,” he said. “I am always happy to share, because I am that kind of person who likes to teach or share information. I think travelling and playing these tournaments, playing in different conditions, playing against so many players is a great thing, and (I have) a great wealth of experience to share with the team. I am looking forward to doing that.”

As for his own strengths, Mayers was very clear about where he saw himself fitting in the Vipers line-up:

“power play. Both bat and ball. I always like to take on the game from the start.

“Recently I have been moving around the order in different franchises, obviously to accommodate different players and different tactics and stuff like

that. But I think my strengths, if you look at the statistics, are probably batting in the first three; it’s where I am at my best.

“Obviously bowling the new ball too is where I am at my best to get the ball to shape around, especially in these Caribbean conditions that I grew up playing in.

“I guess you can call me the powerplay man.”

Mayers also gave Vipers Voices the benefit of his knowledge concerning the three other Caribbean-based players joining the franchise.

On experienced slow left-armer Khary Pierre, who has played in all three formats for the West Indies, Mayers said he was a force to be reckoned with.

“I think he is one of those players who you look past very fast. It is sad because he always performs in local cricket. He has always been competitive in local tournaments, whether it be the CPL or the First-Class tournament. He is a top performer in those. I think he is very underrated as well. I would say efficient player; gets his job done and is a very good fielder as well.

“He is quiet but should be a handful, especially in those conditions in Guyana (because) spinners always do well down there. He is a great character to have for the Vipers.

“Also, he was picked up in the draft for Guyana too, so it would be a good start for him to get to play some games in his new home.

nessed that while playing for the Barbados franchise in CPL. We had one year where I had to Captain the team in the absence of David Miller, and he was my goto bowler, and he was the youngest, so it just goes to show. That was three years ago.

“Teams usually use him in the power play, where he is very effective, but I think with his ability he is capable of bowling at any stage of the innings. I think he is a very smart bowler, but he is tricky. So, he is not that typical left-arm spinner where he looks for spin and bounce and turn; he just operates with what he sees in front of him.

“He has been very good since then, despite being injured and coming back. He had a brilliant First-Class season the year before this (in 2025). Unfortunately, he did not get a chance to play this season because of injury, but I think he is one for the future.

“He is a unique kind of bowler, a wicket-taker, a fighter. I think he is one of those bowlers that people say (has) got the golden arm.

bowling tight overs.” Mayers said Ramon Simmonds, the 24-year-old left-arm seam and swing bowler recently named as the Barbados franchise’s breakout player in the retention list for the upcoming CPL, had a great future ahead of him.

“I think he a bright spark coming through in West Indies cricket,” Mayers said. “He is a class bowler. I wit-

celled in the latest edition of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 Cricket World Cup for the West Indies.

“He is my clubmate –we represent the same club back home, the Carlton Club, and he is a very exciting player.

“I saw Zachary one evening at club training – big lad. I was expecting him to tell me that he was 25, but

he actually told me he was 18. I was excited to see what he was capable of doing.

“He started off bowling some left-arm spin, and then, when he went to bat, it was like this kid packs a punch. A few weeks afterwards, he ended up playing for the club team. He scored 80 runs in 30 balls in a 50over game.

“He then ended up playing us a few weeks afterwards. Some of the guys who played for my club have actually played First-Class cricket, and he beat us to a pulp. He scored 80 not out off 40 balls.

“From there, everyone was just talking about Zach and his ability to hit the ball. He got the chance to represent Barbados in the Under-19s, and then he got a chance to play for the West Indies, and he showed his ability and his capabilities to play cricket at a big stage and showcase his talent.

“I think he is one for the future for sure. I think he will be a force to reckon with, so I am looking forward to seeing him play senior cricket. I think he is capable of doing it.

“I know he is a very confident player too. He is looking forward to playing for his first franchise team [the Desert Vipers] so he does not keep quiet about it. He always talks to me about it, and he is very excited to get to Guyana.”

The Desert Vipers ExxonMobil Guyana GSL squad reads: Captain Chris Green (AUS); Daryl Mitchell (NZ); Bevon Jacobs (NZ); Kyle Jamieson (NZ); Shadab Khan (PAK); Vriitya Aravind (UAE); Khuzaima Bin Tanveer (UAE); Matiullah Khan (UAE); Sanjay Pahal (UAE); Andries Gous (USA); Kyle Mayers (WI); Khary Pierre (WI); Ramon Simmonds (WI) and Zachary Carter (WI).

P“Baptism of fire” – Guyana’s sport product takes international spotlight in July

With this season fast approaching, Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr Jr is “feeling the pressure” as he highlighted the magnitude of those events.

“How do I feel? Pressured, and that’s just coming off of Independence,” Ramson Jr shared cheekily. “So, what I can tell you, it’s courageous being able to host those four major, major tournaments where the global spotlight is there.”

He continued, “That’s at the international level. It almost doesn’t get any bigger than that unless we’re talking, like, let’s say you’re hosting the World Cup or Commonwealth Games.”

resident Dr Irfaan Ali has long preached about his intentions to transform Guyana into an international sporting hub, making Guyana the premier destination for international sport events in the Caribbean region.

As sport associations adopt the President’s vision and work towards a common goal, this July will be the ultimate test for Guyana’s capabilities on the international front.

The proverbial “baptism of fire” will see Guyana hosting the GT Challenge de las Americas at the South Dakota Circuit, Timehri; the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Men’s Championships at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH); New Zealand’s ODI tour of the West Indies; and the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League, both at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Ramson Jr Jr, speaking on the side-lines of another event, addressed what will be a fiery baptism for Guyana’s sport sector in hosting, attributing the success of being chosen to host such events to the partnerships they have formed with associations over the years.

“In terms of the international and global organisations having to approve that these tournaments are going to be held here, that is already a baptism for the country, an international baptism for the country,” the Sport Minister admitted.

“We could never have dreamt of hosting these tournaments, with the exception of the West Indies series – we’ve done that for decades; that was our big international event. Now, in different areas, we’re doing that in one month,” Ramson Jr shared. “What does that say for the various sports, is that all of the partnerships that are important are moving in the right direction. We could not do this without having a strong relationship with the Basketball Federation, motor rac-

ing association, GCB [Guyana Cricket Board] and CPL [Caribbean Premier League]. It takes time to build those relationships.”

Touching on the topic of investment, the Minister justified those made by his Ministry, especially in infrastructure, as renovations (some minor) are being carried out at each of the host venues currently.

“It’s not just making the investment; it’s making the investment that is right and then, at the same time, that fits our budget,” Ramson Jr explained.

He delved deeper. “There are lots of countries that have far more money than us, and they can go and spend billions of US dollars for a sporting facility, and that makes sense for them. We’re not there yet. I mean, I would love it one day, that we got there, but I know what we can afford now.”

“What we can afford now, we’re making these events happen here at a relatively low budget, comparatively speaking, and it gives us an opportunity to sell the country but also bring a lot of money into the country, a lot of direction into small businesses and all of

the spin-off benefits, getting Guyana on the map,” he added.

Keen on presenting a good product to the wider world, Ramson Jr Jr shared how impactful a good impression will be for visiting athletes, fans and stakeholders.

The Minister said, “When they leave there, when they leave these events, they’re now a marketing agent for us. Without having any direct contract with them, paying any money but the experience they get from what we do, in terms of the investment.”

The GT Challenge de las Americas race is set for July 11 and July 12, while the CBC Men’s Championships will run from July 8 to 12. The West Indies will take on New Zealand in three ODIs on July 11, 13 and 16, while the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League runs from July 23 to August 1.

With high hopes, it is left to see whether Guyana’s sports fraternity will rise from the ashes of their fiery baptism like a phoenix, fulfilling a vision that has already been clearly set out by the Head of State. (Jemima Holmes)

GHB’s Diamond Jubilee Cup bullies off today

Today, the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD), will open its doors to a different kind of sport action as the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) ignites the premier sporting ground with elite hockey action in the Diamond Jubilee Cup. Hosted in observance of Guyana’s 60th Independence Diamond Jubilee celebrations, the tournament, which is fully supported by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS), was initially slated for May, but was later rescheduled following a hectic period of Independence sport tournaments. As such, the competition gets underway today, June 11, with round-robin group stage matches, starting from 18:30h. The top two teams from the round-robin stage will advance to the final on June 15, with the championship showdown kicking off at 18:30h under the lights of

the National Stadium. The men’s competition is brimming with talent that is sure to captivate fans from the first whistle.

Recent Most Valuable Player Omar Hopkinson brings his award-winning form to the tournament, while Junior National Captain Shaquan Favourite will look to assert his leadership on the biggest

stage. Hikers’ dynamic star Jamarj Assanah is expected to dazzle crowds with his explosive style of play, and the skilful Jabari Lovell of Saints Hockey Club rounds out a field packed with class and flair.

The women are not to be outdone. Old Fort Captain Carolyn Deane leads her side with the poise and ex-

perience befitting a seasoned skipper. Georgetown Cricket Club’s (GCC)’s Abosaide Cadogan, the reigning Most Valuable Player, promises to light up the tournament with her outstanding performances. At the same time, Saints’ shot-stopper Sarah Harry will be the last line of defence, marshalling her goal with the expertise that

has made her one of the most respected goalkeepers in the game. The Diamond Jubilee Cup is more than a sporting event; it is a celebration of national pride, athletic excellence, and Guyana’s enduring spirit. With an action-packed schedule and star-studded line-ups on both the men’s and women’s

sides, this tournament promises to be a landmark occasion in the country’s jubilee year. Fans, supporters, and sport lovers across the nation are being encouraged to come out in their numbers and be part of history, celebrating 60 years of independence, with a stick, a ball, and national pride.