President Dr Irfaan Ali, along with Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, on Wednesday met with Cabinet members, incoming Regional Executive Officers, Permanent Secretaries, officers from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), and accounting officers from all administrative regions to reinforce the Government’s position on accountability, transparency and fiscal discipline in public administration.
During the meeting, the Head of State stressed that public office carries a “sacred trust” and said all public spending must serve the
welfare of citizens and support national development.
According to a statement from the Office of the President, the Government remains committed to ensuring that procurement systems, including regional tender boards, operate with full transparency and in strict compliance with the law.
President Ali also underscored the administration’s intention to use technology, including artificial intelligence, to strengthen oversight of procurement systems, improve efficiency and identify irregularities in the award and management of contracts.
He warned that breach-
es of financial and procurement procedures, including involvement with multiple companies in violation of regulations, would result in severe consequences, including dismissal from office where necessary.
Jagdeo also addressed the gathering, emphasising that every expenditure by the State must be evaluated based on its contribution to citizens’ welfare and the country’s development.
The VP said the Government continues to strengthen oversight systems aimed at reducing waste and improving accountability, efficiency and transparency across all levels of governance.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, May 14 –14:45h–16:15h and Friday, May 15 – 15:35h–17:05h.
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
Thundery showers are expected during the day and at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.
Winds: East-North-Easterly to Easterly between 3.57 metres and 5.81 metres.
High Tide: 14:49h reaching a maximum height of 2.61 metres.
Low Tide: 08:21h and 20:39h reaching minimum heights of 0.55 metre and 0.60 metre.
he United States’ Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg has said Washington sees strong potential for Guyana to emerge as a strategic trade corridor linking northern Brazil and the Caribbean, as he and President Dr Irfaan Ali discussed investment opportunities in bauxite, logistics infrastructure, tourism and regional connectivity.
Helberg was locked in discussions with the Guyanese leader at State House, with a key focus on strengthening Guyana-US relations, especially in areas of energy security and logistics.
The US official later told a press briefing at the US Embassy with members of the local media corps that the Trump Administration is in the process of identifying its strategic trading partners for the next 25 to 30 years and that Guyana presents significant opportunities for long-term economic and commercial cooperation.
“We are currently recalibrating our trading relationships and making very affirmative, deliberate decisions on who our most trusted partners are going to be, and we’re very excited to come here and really see first-hand for ourselves the breadth of opportunity that there is in Guyana. It was incredibly refreshing and energising to see the level of ambition and energy that President Ali brings to his economic agenda… We’re thrilled and excited to work with his government hand in hand on unlocking economic opportunities for infrastructure investments, to unlock opportunities for the energy sector, for data centres and technology, and for so many other opportunities, including agriculture and transportation and all the rest,” he expressed.
In fact, Helberg said the US Private Sector has over US$55 trillion of floating assets, which he described as “the single biggest pool of investment that will be most beneficial to Guyana” as well as America.
“So, we really spend a lot of time focusing on those incentives and what the right parameters would be to accelerate private investment,” Helberg said of his discussions with the Guyanese leader.
Bauxite trade corridor
A key area of discussion was investments in the bauxite sector, with Helberg noting that Guyana could expand global exports
through modern infrastructure.
“We talked about the opportunities around bauxite and expanding Guyana’s economic activities in the bauxite sector with additional private investment. We also talked about ways that infrastructure investments, especially in roads and potentially autonomous trucking technology, can actually be catalytic to get more Guyanese bauxite on the global market because, as you know, Guyana can have a lot of natural re-
serves, but Guyana needs a way to get those reserves into offtake agreements and to market,” the US official said.
This conversation, he noted, expanded into discussions on how Guyana could position itself as a regional logistics hub.
“…ways that Guyana can actually be a logistics hub for northern Brazil, which is densely populated in the northern part of South America, in order to allow ships to go to Panama much more efficiently than
the current route today that currently forces that trade in northern Brazil to go through a really substantial multi-week detour…”
“…connecting northern Brazil to the Caribbean through Guyana really has an opportunity to shrink time delays by several orders of magnitude. So, it was a very, very positive exchange on opportunities that could actually be unlocked fairly easily with the right level of business certainty,” Helberg explained.
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The Linden–Soesdyke Highway continues to serve as one of the country’s most vital transport corridors, linking the capital to interior regions, mining communities, and the international airport. Yet alongside its economic and logistical importance, a troubling and dangerous behavioural pattern has emerged that now warrants urgent national attention: intoxicated individuals lying on sections of the roadway during night-time hours, creating an unpredictable and potentially fatal hazard for motorists.
Recent reports from traffic officials indicate that multiple incidents of this nature have been recorded in recent weeks, particularly in areas where social activity is concentrated and where visibility is reduced after dark. The matter is a public disorder that has evolved into a serious road safety threat with implications for enforcement, personal responsibility, and the legal framework governing road use.
A roadway is designed for the movement of vehicles, not as a resting place for individuals impaired by alcohol or other substances. When persons, under the influence of intoxicants, place themselves directly in the path of moving traffic, a volatile and life-threatening situation is created. Motorists navigating such conditions are confronted with an almost impossible scenario: the expectation of full attentiveness in an environment where obstacles are unexpected as well as difficult to detect due to lighting conditions, road curvature, and ongoing construction activity along sections of the highway.
Traffic officials have repeatedly emphasised the need for heightened vigilance by drivers traversing the corridor, particularly during night-time hours. Reduced visibility, combined with the presence of roadworks and intermittent lighting, already demands increased caution. The addition of human hazards lying on the roadway compounds the risk exponentially.
However, while motorists are legally and morally obligated to exercise due care, the law does not operate in isolation from human behaviour. A central tension arises when reckless or irresponsible conduct by pedestrians or intoxicated persons becomes the catalyst for tragedy. In such circumstances, even where a driver may have had limited opportunity to avoid a collision, the legal burden often falls heavily on the motorist. Investigations into road traffic fatalities frequently examine speed, reaction time, and adherence to traffic regulations, sometimes without equal weight being given to the reckless positioning of the pedestrian.
This legal reality creates a troubling imbalance; motorists may face prosecution, emotional trauma, and long-term psychological consequences, even in cases where the initial act of irresponsibility originates from the pedestrian. At the same time, families of those who engage in such dangerous behaviour are often left to confront devastating grief and loss, a burden compounded by the preventable nature of many of these incidents.
The issue therefore speaks to a societal concern regarding alcohol consumption, public conduct, and the absence of personal accountability in high-risk environments. Public roads cannot be treated as extensions of social or recreational spaces. When intoxication reaches the level where mobility and awareness are compromised, personal safety is already severely endangered. To then remain in or near a busy highway constitutes a further escalation of risk that places both the individual and innocent road users in jeopardy.
At the same time every driver is bound by law to maintain control of a vehicle at all times and to anticipate potential hazards. Defensive driving is a fundamental requirement of road use. Even in the presence of reckless pedestrian behaviour, motorists must take every reasonable precaution to avoid collisions. This includes reducing speed in poorly lit or high-risk zones, maintaining heightened situational awareness, and responding cautiously to unexpected movements or obstructions on the roadway.
Yet, defensive driving has its limits when human beings are lying motionless or partially concealed on a darkened road. The law must therefore grapple with the complexity of assigning liability in situations where negligence is not one-sided. A balanced approach is required, one that recognises both the duty of care owed by motorists and the equally critical responsibility of individuals to avoid placing themselves in life-threatening circumstances.
Traffic enforcement agencies have a role to play in addressing this emerging hazard, including the removal of individuals found incapacitated on highways and the involvement of family members where necessary. However, enforcement alone cannot resolve a behavioural issue rooted in substance misuse and disregard for personal safety. Community awareness, public education on alcohol-related risk, and stronger social interventions are equally essential components of a sustainable response.
Motorists must continue to exercise caution, discipline, and adherence to traffic regulations. At the same time, individuals must recognise that intoxication does not absolve personal responsibility for safety, particularly in environments as unforgiving as a busy highway.
When these boundaries are ignored, the consequences are often irreversible.
By Kevon CampBell, logistiCs speCialist (CDema) anD Jan Willem WegDam, shelter aDvisor (iom)
The Caribbean is no stranger to generosity. But without coordination, even the best intentions can become a secondary disaster, slowing down response efforts when every minute matters. After major disasters, unsolicited and uncoordinated donations often overwhelm ports and warehouses: winter coats in tropical climates, expired food, mixed boxes nobody can sort, and tarpaulins too thin to withstand rain, all of which create waste and divert attention from urgent needs instead of helping people in crisis.
Experience from the Caribbean Disaster Management Agency (CDEMA) and its participating states shows that, without clear donation management policies, large volumes of inappropriate or unusable goods consume valuable time, personnel, and funding, placing significant strain on national logistics systems and delaying the delivery of essential items like food, water, shelter materials, and medical supplies. Moreover, up to 60 per cent of these unsolicited goods often go unused, ending up as waste, adding to environmental harm. These challenges are not just operational but human: when response systems slow, vulnerable populations wait longer for life-saving relief.
Why this matters now Between 2020 and 2025, more than 2.6 million people across 13 English- and
Dutch-speaking Caribbean countries were affected by floods, storms and volcanic activity. These disasters caused widespread destruction, disrupted communities, and placed sustained pressure on social systems and national economies, highlighting the region’s increasing exposure to complex and overlapping hazards.
As the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season approaches, alongside the growing intensity of tropical storms, the need for preparedness is more urgent than ever. Experience from recent disasters has shown that preparedness must extend beyond physical infrastructure and response capacity to include strong public systems capable of managing and effectively channelling incoming support – so that generosity strengthens response efforts rather than overwhelming them.
Donating responsibly
To raise public awareness about these issues, CDEMA
and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with regional and international partners, are advancing a regional Donate Responsibly Campaign, aimed at transforming how assistance is provided to disaster-affected countries.
This initiative, funded by EU humanitarian aid, is based on a simple but powerful principle: donations must be needs-based, coordinated, and aligned with national systems.
CDEMA has already laid critical groundwork through its Comprehensive Relief and Logistics Management Programme, supporting participating states to strengthen how aid is managed.
This includes developing national logistics plans, setting policies for donations and unsolicited goods, identifying priority needs, improving supply chains, and strengthening coordination through National Emergency Operations Centres. Tools such as logistics tracking systems are al-
ready helping ensure that assistance is driven by real-time needs, not assumptions.
Through the International Disaster Response Law (IDRL) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, CDEMA is supporting countries to strengthen frameworks that both facilitate and regulate incoming aid – ensuring it is coordinated, accountable, and aligned with real on-the-ground needs. This includes regulating incoming assistance, streamlining customs and clearance processes, and upholding quality and accountability standards.
Complementing this, regional coordination mechanisms co-led by IOM, CDEMA, and IFRC, such as the Emergency Shelter and Non-Food Items Technical Working Group and Relief and Logistics Thematic Working Group, are helping align partners around common standards and priorities.
President Dr Irfaan Ali has extended congratulations to Bahamian Prime Minister (PM) Philip Davis following his re-election for a second consecutive term, describing the victory as a reflection of the confidence the Bahamian people have placed in his leadership.
In a statement on Wednesday, President Ali said Guyana values its strong relationship with The Bahamas and looks forward to continued cooperation between the two Caribbean nations.
“I extend warm congratulations to Prime Minister Philip Davis of The Bahamas on his re-election for a second consecutive term. This renewed mandate is a clear reflection of the confidence
and trust the Bahamian people have placed in your leadership, vision and commitment to national development and progress,” President Ali stated.
He added that Guyana is committed to strengthening ties with the Bahamas through regional integration, economic collaboration and advancing the collective interests of Caribbean people.
“The Bahamas’ Prime Minister, Philip Davis, and his ruling Progressive Liberal Party have been re-elected, making him the country’s first leader to serve a second consecutive term in nearly 30 years,” according to a report published by The Guardian.
Apost-mortem examination conducted on Wednesday confirmed that taxi driver Oswin Lawson died from multiple stab wounds.
The examination was
performed by Government Pathologist Dr Vivekanand Brijmohan, who gave the cause of death as multiple incised stab wounds resulting in haemorrhage and collapsed lungs.
Lawson, 41, of Lot 46 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), died early Tuesday morning after the vehicle he was
driving plunged into a canal along the Edinburgh Public Road, East Bank Berbice.
Initial reports suggested that Lawson had lost control of the vehicle, collided with a roadside stand and ended
Before you donate
What Matters Most First: Cash is best. Financial contributions allow responders and governments to procure and donate exactly what is needed, when and where it is needed, while supporting local economies.
Second: Coordination is essential. Before donating, follow guidance from national disaster offices and
CDEMA and work through recognised partners, priority needs lists, and quality standards. Third: Supporting regional and national systems is equally important. All assistance must align with national and regional response systems and logistics plans –never bypass them. Responsible donating must support recovery, not create new burdens.
Donations should address needs and avoid creating waste and environmental harm or additional financial strain on small island states already on the climate frontline. Context matters. The Caribbean is diverse, and donations must be culturally appropriate, climate-relevant, and fit for purpose.
What helps in one setting may be ineffective, or
even harmful, in another. How we give is just as important as what we give. Before you give, ask yourself: is this donation needed, and is it coordinated?
Encouragingly, young people across the region are pushing for smarter, greener approaches to disaster response, and their message is clear: responsible giving is informed, coordinated, and sustainable.
up submerged in the canal. However, investigators later discovered that the driver had sustained several stab wounds before the crash occurred.
Police have since arrested the brother of Lawson’s fiancée, who reportedly admitted to inflicting the injuries during a confrontation. Investigators said the suspect has since provided a statement outlining his involvement, and legal advice is now being sought.
According to information gathered during the investigation, Lawson and his fiancée became involved in an
“The Bahamian people have spoken, and I receive their verdict with humility and gratitude,” Davis told Reuters, according to The Guardian. “This victory is a mandate to keep moving the Bahamas forward, to expand opportunity, strengthen security, ease the pressure on families, and deliver progress across our islands.”
The Guardian also reported that while elections were not constitutionally due until October, Davis called an early poll ahead of the Atlantic hurricane season. The 2021 elections, which brought Davis to office, were also held ahead of schedule.
The report noted that Davis described the outcome as a mandate to continue advancing development across the islands.
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argument after he allegedly accused her of infidelity. Investigators were told that Lawson had taken possession of the woman’s cell phone with the intention of going through its contents.
The woman, who operates a business, reportedly objected, resulting in a confrssontation between the couple. During the altercation, her brother allegedly intervened and stabbed Lawson several times to the chest.
Despite his injuries, Lawson drove away from the scene before the vehicle and, shortly after, crashed into the canal at Edinburgh. THURSDAY,
THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2026
06:00 TVG Devotional Hour
07:00 Evening News (RB) 08:00 Movie - The Munsters (2022)
Stop Suffering 11:30 TVG Music Break 12:00 News Break 12:05 Movie - Ainbo (2021) 13:30 Movie - Under the Boardwalk (2023) 15:00 Cartoons
16:00 Indian Soaps
17:00 The Young & The Restless
18:00 Documentary: Nat Geo Animals
19:00 The Evening News
20:00 Stop Suffering
20:30 TVG Music Break
21:00 Grey’s Anatomy
22:00 The Rookie
23:00 Modern Family
23:30
1. What is the value of the 6 in 7685? (A) 60 (B) 600 (C) 6000
2. Which of the following is a composite number? (A) 19 (B) 30 (C) 47
3. A prime number greater than 21 and less than 28 is: (A) 23 (B) 25 (C) 27
4. The highest common factor (HCF) of 8, 16 and 20 is: (A) 2 (B) 4 (C) 8
5. Which of the following statements is TRUE? (A) 6 X 6 > 9 X 4 (B) 3 X 8 > 6 X 10 (C) 2 x 7 > 15 – 3
6. The difference between two numbers is 85. The smaller is 237. What is the larger number? (A) 152 (B) 312 (C) 322
7. Question 7 refers to the sequence 5, 9, 13, 17, . . . The missing number can be obtained by computing (A) 4 X 5 + 1 (B) 4 X 5 – 1 (C) 4 x 6 + 1
8. Light M flashes every 4 minutes. Light N flashes every 10 minutes. If the lights flashed together at 06:00h, at what time would they next flash together? (A) 06:10h (B) 06:14h (C) 06:20h
9.
By LISEL MUELLER
When I am asked how I began writing poems, I talk about the indifference of nature. It was soon after my mother died, a brilliant June day, everything blooming.
12. The length of a water pipe is 7 m. How many m lengths can Jane cut from the pipe?
13. Rhonda completed her homework in hours. Jerry took hours to do the same homework. How much longer did Jerry take than Rhonda did, to complete the homework?
14. Mrs James is sewing tablecloths. Each tablecloth requires m of fabric. How many tablecloths can be made from 20 m of fabric? (A) 4 (B) 8 (C) 10
15. A length of wood is 9 feet long. Three pieces each of length 2 feet are cut off. What FRACTION of the original length of wood remains?
I sat on a gray stone bench in a lovingly planted garden, but the daylilies were as deaf as the ears of drunken sleepers, and the roses curved inward. Nothing was black or broken and not a leaf fell, and the sun blared endless commercials for summer holidays. I sat on a gray stone bench ringed with the ingenuous faces of pink and white impatiens and placed my grief in the mouth of language, the only thing that would grieve with me.
What’s something small that made you feel happy recently?
Acknowledging that American investments in Guyana require stability and security amid continued threats from Venezuela, the United States has said meaningful diplomatic progress can be achieved through private discussions.
This position was outlined on Wednesday by United States UnderSecretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg, who was in Guyana, where he held bilateral discussions with President Dr Irfaan Ali on a range of issues.
During a subsequent press briefing, Helberg was asked what mediatory role the United States could play as Venezuela continues to threaten Guyana while maintaining that it will not recognise any ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the decades-old border controversy between the two countries.
In response, Helberg said Washington will con-
tinue monitoring the border controversy case while also pursuing private diplomatic engagements on the matter.
“We’re monitoring that event at the ICJ very, very closely. We understand and agree that security is a precondition for prosperity, and ultimately a lot of those conversations right now will be private, and we believe that we can make progress through private conversations,” Helberg said.
His comments come on the heels of United States Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Affairs, issuing a statement sharply criticising Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez over continued threats to Guyana’s territorial sovereignty.
In the statement via X on Tuesday evening, Salazar said, “Delcy thinks she can trick President Trump the same way she and Maduro tricked and destroyed Venezuela. But President
Trump knows exactly who she is: another member of Ali Baba and the 40 thieves. You don’t deal with him through secret letters while trying to steal territory from a free and sovereign nation like Guyana. Unlike the Maduro regime, Guyana didn’t rob its people. They managed their oil wealth responsibly, created a sovereign wealth fund, and saw GDP per capita quadruple in just five years. Delcy should stop threatening Guyana and start learning from it.”
Salazar’s statement came one day after Rodriguez told the World Court during oral hearings that Venezuela will ignore its ruling on the border case.
“This Court was created to resolve conflicts, not to encourage them. Only a political and negotiated solution to the territorial dispute can lay a solid and stable foundation for good neighbourliness, cooperation, shared economic development, and the promo-
tion of secure investment in the region,” Rodriguez told the ICJ.
Guyana has already maintained that it will abide by the World Court’s ruling and has expressed hope that Venezuela stops further actions of aggression and follows suit.
“We will continue to address Venezuela in a spirit of peace, cooperation and friendship and as sovereign equals. We will respect Venezuela’s sovereignty, as we have always done, and insist that Venezuela refrain from trespassing on, or threatening, Guyana’s sovereignty,” the Guyanese Government, through the Attorney General Chambers, has said.
“Bad Day”
The US has continuously voiced its support for Guyana’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
In fact, during US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Guyana in March 2025, he made it clear that Washington
Guyana is actively developing a major trade corridor with northern Brazil to establish itself as a strategic logistics link between South America, the Caribbean, and beyond. Key plans include upgrading the Lindento-Lethem Road and developing a deep-water port.
According to Helberg, “connecting South America to the Caribbean Ocean through Guyana and making Guyana a logistical corridor using AI technology to make it a 22nd-century logistical corridor through AI and automation” is a very promising sector.
Other minerals
While bauxite was the primary focus of the discussions, Helberg said talks also explored the surveying of lands that may contain significant untapped reserves of other critical
minerals and resources.
“We did talk about things that were prospective, but obviously because the reserves of bauxite are known and there are already investments today, we talked a fair amount about those, but I think generally speaking, we both understand that Guyana is a country with a lot of natural resources, and so it’s not a leap to consider that there are probably many more types of minerals that could be available if proper surveying is done. Ultimately part of our strategy, with a focus on bringing more foreign investment into Guyana, is to make it a lot easier in order to actually do these types of surveying technologies,” he noted.
Working group
Helberg said discussions also focused on other areas of partnerships such as in
technology, tourism and agriculture.
“We talked about energy, we talked about minerals, we talked about data centres, we talked about agri-tech and food tech, and we talked a lot about entrepreneurship. We also talked about tourism and the megafauna and the natural attributes that Guyana possesses that really hold a lot of opportunity to bring tourism here. So, we really covered it was a very wide-ranging discussion,” he remarked.
He noted that technical discussions would follow Wednesday’s meeting.
“We may explore the establishment of a working group to ensure a certain level of cadence and follow-through, but ultimately there was perfect alignment on the goal, which was we want to accelerate private investment and real-
FROM PAGE 3
ly make Guyana one of the most prosperous economies in the western hemisphere, which it really has the potential to be,” he noted.
Helberg visited Guyana on Wednesday as part of a Caribbean-South American tour to advance American interests and strengthen partnerships on energy security and critical mineral supply chains in the region.
Accompanying President Ali and Helberg during these discussions, which took place at State House, were Ministers Dr Ashni Singh, Hugh Todd, Vickram Bharrat and Zulfikar Ally, along with Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud and Director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency Colonel Sheldon Howell.
The US ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, was also part of the discussions.
would respond with aggression if Venezuela launched an attack against Guyana or US-owned ExxonMobil’s operations offshore.
“It would be a very bad day for Venezuela if they were to attack Guyana, and ExxonMobil, it will be a bad week for them, and it would not end well for them,”
Rubio had stated in response to questions during a press briefing at State House in Guyana.
The issue of Venezuela’s and Guyana’s security was one of the key topics during discussions between Rubio and President Ali during last year’s visit.
During the press briefing, Rubio had acknowledged that Guyana has a difficult challenge on its hands amidst Venezuela’s
claims to more than half of its territory but assured the Guyanese people, “We will not allow illegitimate territorial claims to be an impediment to your dreams and to your right to develop this country…”
He added that the US has the resources required to address any aggression from Guyana’s neighbouring state.
“We have a big navy, and it can get anywhere in the world, and we have commitments that exist with Guyana, and we want to build on those, expand on those…but suffice it to say that if that regime is to do anything like that, it would be a very bad move, a big mistake for them,” Rubio had said.
Maduro’s capture
On January 3, US troops captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife in Caracas, taking them to New York to face several indictments on drug trafficking and narco-terrorism. The then Vice President, Rodriguez, has since been sworn in as Venezuela’s interim President.
Following the capture and subsequent departure of Maduro from Venezuela, Guyana’s Prime Minister Mark Phillips reassured citizens of the nation’s security.
Motorists traversing the LindenSoesdyke Highway are being urged to remain vigilant after traffic ranks raised concerns about intoxicated persons being found lying along sections of the roadway, particularly during night-time hours.
The issue was highlighted during Tuesday evening’s edition of the “Road Safety and You” programme, where traffic officers attached to Regional Division 4B warned that the dangerous practice is creating major risks for both drivers and pedestrians.
Inspector Rolex Scott, the officer in charge of traffic at the Highway Patrol Base, disclosed that several such incidents have been recorded recently along the highway.
“Recently, along the highway, we have had several issues in that regard. Persons or persons tend to imbibe in all sorts of activi-
ties, and on the way home, they tend to lie down right in the vicinity of Splashmins Resort and beyond and other areas along the highway,” the officer said.
According to Scott, the situation has become a serious road safety concern, especially at nights when visibility may already be compromised for motorists using the busy roadway.
“So, motorists need to pay keen attention or be more attentive when propelling a motor vehicle along the roadway,” he urged.
The traffic officer explained that ranks have
been taking action whenever persons are found lying on the roadway.
“But those said persons, once the ranks call those persons along the roadway, must have action taken against them. We take them either to the Police station or get the family relative involved, and we deal with them from there onwards,” he explained.
The warning came as traffic ranks continued to address several road safety concerns affecting the East Bank Demerara corridor and the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, where extensive
road construction is currently underway.
During the programme, Inspector Scott also appealed to motorists to slow down and exercise caution while traversing sections of the highway, particularly in areas affected by ongoing works.
“In relation to the lighting condition along the highway, it’s very lit. Take your time while proceeding along the Linden Highway,” he stated.
The Linden-Soesdyke Highway is one of Guyana’s busiest thoroughfares, linking Georgetown to interior communities, mining districts, and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
Police have repeatedly cautioned motorists against speeding and distracted driving along the roadway, warning that unexpected hazards, including pedestrians and intoxicated persons lying on the roadway, raise safety concerns.
They talk about rats deserting sinking ships!! But what are the rats supposed to do?? Go down willingly with the ship?? Ain’t that the job of the Captain?? And the last time your Eyewitness checked, he didn’t see anyone criticising the humans who insist women and children get first dibs on lifeboats when the ship is going down!! So let’s face the facts: all animals – much less humans!! – have a survival instinct when faced with death. They’re gonna do whatever it takes to live and see another day!!
So, when your Eyewitness saw the news that another seven high-profile members of the PNC/APNU – former MPs Rickey Ramsaroop and Dinesh Jaiprashad, exChairman Shurwayne Holder – as well as current Regional Councillors Ravoldo Birbal, Sheikh Yaseen, Prince Holder, and Gangadai Lloyd – waltzed over to the PPP, he didn’t give them much mind. He was more interested in the sinking ship – the PNC!! It seems that these seven had finally come around to accepting that after their party had taken such a drubbing from a rank newcomer – and a goldsmuggling, OFAC-sanctioned one at that!! – this ship was headed towards Davy Jones’s locker!! And since the PPP were offering lifeboats, they didn’t want to repeat the fate of the doomed passengers of the Titanic!!
Now, unlike those passengers like Bond and WaltonDesir who’d scampered off even before the MV PNC had hit that iceberg last September 1, these worthies had remained aboard!! Clearly, they’d expected Captain Norton to take measures to fix the extensive damage that had seen twothirds of the ship disappear. And clearly his deputisation of rank (ranked??!!) outsiders Black Pudding Man and Fried Chicken Man as fixers didn’t go down well with them!!
Here it was, Black Pudding Man kept harping about “race, race, race” as his proposed strategy for the PNC to rebuild!! The trouble was, he was stuck like a broken record in the past!! The PPP had undercut the racial discrimination card by opening up their fuel-fuelled development to all races – especially the erstwhile Afro-based traditional PNC base!! Captain Norton was basically ensuring the PNC would keep imploding – to eventually disappear into a black hole!! Chicken Man is yet to even get Parliament convened for him to steer the battered MV PNC!!
So how did Captain Aubrey react to the departures?? He snickered – no problemo!! Rejecting the recent advice of PNC technocrat Armstrong, he insisted the departees were driven by personal reasons – read: opportunism!! They wanted to share in the PPP’s largesse, which the PNC didn’t have to hand out!! And anyhow, opposition parties often face defections when out of power!! So there!
What this means for our politics is the PNC’s on the way to join the dinosaurs!!
…to annex Venezuela
There’s the old Guyanese folk wisdom, “Do fuh do na obeah”!! As Venezuela keeps working with increased energy – first under Mad Maduro and now with Dangerous Delcy – to annex our Essequibo, up comes US President Trump declaring on Saturday that he was “seriously considering” annexing the ENTIRE VENEZUELA!!! Following Delirious Delcy’s recent flaunting of a brooch with Essequibo appended to a map of Venezuela, President Trump likewise displayed a map of Venezuela overlaid with an American flag and labelled “51st State”!!
Now Devious Delcy had been blithely talking crap about rejecting the ICJ’s jurisdiction to pronounce on her gangsterism in Essequibo! And because she’s giving in to President Trump on exploiting Venezuela’s resources –thought they were besties!! She now huffed: “We will continue defending the integrity, the sovereignty, the independence, and our history, which is a history of glories of men and women that gave their lives to make sure that we were not colonies but our independent country”!! Who will she run to now??
…towards another pandemic??
That doomed cruise ship that was hit with the hantavirus – which, like Covid, none of us had heard of before!! – has triggered fears that we’re headed for another pandemic!! The WHO has said, “Not to worry.” Like with Covid??
As Guyana continues to face a massive construction boom amid the country’s unprecedented economic and infrastructure expansion, a newly established company – Demerara Cement Company (DCC) – is proposing to construct a major cement grinding and packaging facility at Alliance Road, Plantation Land, East Bank Demerara, Region Four.
The company is projecting for the facility to produce approximately 450,000 tonnes of cement annually, with monthly production estimated at 37,500 tonnes.
According to project details released by the company, the proposed project is expected to play an important role in supporting Guyana’s rapidly growing demand for cement and other building materials as the country undergoes one of the largest infrastructure transformations in its history.
“The clinker grinding project will enhance national cement production capacity, support infrastructure development, create employment opportunities, and reduce reliance on imported finished cement products. The project will contribute to economic growth while incorporating environmentally responsible industrial practices,” the company said.
The facility will produce cement through the grinding and blending of imported clinker, gypsum, and ap-
proved additives. The raw materials are expected to be sourced from international suppliers in Oman, Turkey, Dubai, and Brazil.
According to the company, the proposed plant will be established on approximately 11.47 acres of land within a 100-acre project site and will include a modular cement factory equipped with feed hoppers, a dosing system, a ball mill, and a classifier.
Cement produced at the facility will be packaged in 40- and 50-kilogram bags, while bulk loading options for 25-tonne to 40-tonne trucks will also be available.
“The project will operate as a downstream cement processing plant and support national construction and infrastructure development by producing and supplying cement for commercial and industrial applications,” the company said.
The announcement comes at a critical time for Guyana’s economy, which continues to expand rapidly due to oil revenues, major public infrastructure investments, and a booming private construction sector.
Across the country, large-scale projects including highways, bridges, housing developments, hospitals, hotels, shore bases, ports, industrial facilities, and commercial buildings are driving unprecedented demand for cement and construction aggregates.
The establishment of a
large-scale cement grinding and packaging operation is therefore expected to provide greater stability to the local supply chain while reducing dependence on imported finished cement.
A key component of the development is the construction of a dedicated wharf on an additional eight acres of land along the Demerara River. The wharf will facilitate the importation of clinker and other raw ma-
terials and serve as the primary transportation route for bulk materials and finished products.
The project is expected to create employment opportunities during both the construction and operational phases. DCC estimates that between 100 and 150 persons will be employed during the construction of the wharf facility alone, which is expected to take approximately 12 months.
The project will be implemented in two phases: construction and plant installation, followed by operations. Most structures and components will be prefabricated off-site and transported to the location for assembly and installation, with overall construction expected to be completed within six to twelve months.
The facility will have a raw material storage capacity of approximately 18,000
tonnes and is expected to require around 30,000 tonnes of materials monthly.
In outlining its environmental measures, DCC said dust emissions will be controlled using bag filters, enclosed conveyors, dust collectors, and water-spraying systems. The company also noted that a thick vegetative buffer surrounding the site will be maintained to reduce impacts on nearby sensitive receptors.
The Government of Guyana has announced a Sunrise Glorification Service: “To God be Praised”, an interfaith activity to mark the country’s 60th Independence anniversary.
The event is scheduled for May 25 at 06:00h on the lawns of State House.
According to the announcement, the service is intended to reflect the Government’s commitment to fostering unity, understanding, and collaboration among Guyana’s diverse religious denominations.
The programme will include prayers, exhortations, and moments of collective reflection and gratitude.
Religious leaders and devotees from across the country, along with representatives of various spiritual groups and members of the public, are expected to participate.
The Government said the observance is part of wider Independence Anniversary
activities and is aimed at highlighting Guyana’s multicultural, multi-ethnic, and multireligious composition.
Guyana’s 60th Independence Anniversary celebrations were officially launched in April under the theme “Homecoming”, marking a major milestone in the country’s history with a packed calendar of cultural, tourism, and heritage events.
The launch, held at the Railway Courtyard, set the tone for what officials described as a year of reflection and national pride.
Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Susan Rodrigues had said that the Diamond Jubilee observance is both a recognition of Guyana’s progress and a call for Guyanese across the world to reconnect with their roots.
She noted that the celebrations are taking place alongside continued growth in the tourism sector, point-
ing to record visitor arrivals and increasing international attention in publications such as Bloomberg, TIME, and The New York Times.
One of the key features of the programme is the return of the Guyana Festival, scheduled for May 15–17 at the Guyana National Stadium. The event will include heritage villages representing Guyana’s six peoples, cultural showcases, culinary experiences, and nightly entertainment.
The national calendar also includes “Taste of Guyana”, heritage site tours, and regional activities such as food festivals, lakeside camping, and riverine community showcases. Organisers say these events are intended to extend celebrations beyond the coast and into hinterland communities.
Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, who also spoke at the launching, had said that the anniversa-
ry provides an opportunity to reflect on national development. He pointed to achievements in governance, education, infrastructure, and the economy, describing the milestone as significant among nations that have reached six decades of independence.
Traditional observances, including the Independence
Flag Raising Ceremony and a national interfaith service, are also part of the official calendar, reinforcing themes of unity and reflection. The celebrations will culminate with Guyana Carnival Independence Weekend, organised in collaboration with Hits and Jams Entertainment, high-
lighting public-private partnerships in the cultural sector. Other events planned throughout the year include Origins, Guyana’s Fashion Festival, the One Guyana Worship Experience, and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference.
ABerbice man was on Wednesday sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment at the Berbice High Court for raping a child, with the court ruling that he will become eligible for parole only after serving 15 years behind bars.
Robert Campbell faced Justice Simone MorrisRamlall on Wednesday, and in handing down the sentence, the Judge said the offence was aggravated by the fact that Campbell occupied a position of trust and authority over the child.
The Judge explained that the court started with a base sentence of 19 years’ imprisonment. Two years were deducted after consideration of mitigating factors presented on Campbell’s behalf. However, one additional year was added after the court found that the breach of trust and responsibility
amounted to a serious aggravating circumstance.
That adjustment resulted in a final sentence of 18 years’ imprisonment.
During earlier sentencing proceedings, the court heard a victim impact statement from the teenager, who
said her life had “changed completely” following the incident. The statement outlined emotional trauma and ongoing trust issues, which she said continued to affect her daily life.
The court also received probation and related reports before sentencing was finalised. Earlier proceedings had been adjourned to facilitate the submission of those documents, including welfare-related assessments.
Campbell had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was tried before a mixed jury at the Berbice High Court. Following the trial, the jury returned a guilty verdict.
During the proceedings, the state called several witnesses, including welfare officials, relatives, police witnesses and medical personnel, as it sought to prove its case against Campbell.
The High Court has ordered the removal of vendors and other obstructions from the surroundings of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after the hospital obtained an Order of Mandamus against the Town Clerk of the City of Georgetown.
The order was issued on Tuesday by Justice Deborah Kumar-Chetty following a hearing in the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature.
The court ordered the Town Clerk, Candace Nelson, along with the
Mayor and City Council’s (M&CC) servants and agents, to remove or cause to be removed food and beverage vendors, hucksters, mobile trucks, carts and other encumbrances from areas surrounding the hospital compound by May 31.
The affected areas are Lamaha Street between Thomas Street and East Street, East Street between Lamaha Street and New Market Street, New Market Street between Thomas Street and East Street, and Middle Street between Thomas Street and East Street.
The order also covers vehicles, pushcarts, drays, barrels, boxes, dustbins, pallets, structures and other items left on parapets and pavements around the hospital.
The proceedings arose from a fixed-date application filed by the hospital on March 17, 2026, under the court’s judicial review jurisdiction. Attorneys-at-law Sase Gunraj and Jayaram Sanasie appeared for the applicant, while Everton Singh-Lammy and Angel Stephens represented the respondent.
According to court docu-
Four men are wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of a Cuban national outside a business establishment at Queenstown, Georgetown, early Sunday morning.
Wanted are 26-yearold Mikhail Mario Joseph, 25-year-old Nicholas Daby, 20-year-old Baraka Haraohn Bayneuzzi Garnett, and 19-year-old Javon Hodge.
The men are being sought over the murder of 23-year-old Cuban national Dainier Vegas Infante, who was gunned down on May 10, at Foreshaw Street, Queenstown, Georgetown.
According to reports, Infante, who worked as a janitor at the business place and lived at Alexander Village, Georgetown, was reportedly shot at about 05:45h after approaching a group of men outside the establishment.
Information released by Police stated that four males arrived in the area shortly before the shooting. One of the suspects, who was armed with a handgun, reportedly approached two men who were seated outside the business place and engaged them in conversation.
Investigators said Infante later exited the building and walked toward the group when the armed suspect allegedly discharged
a round in his direction. The Cuban national was struck and fell to the ground.
The gunman reportedly escaped in a motor vehicle along Foreshaw Street, while the other suspects fled separately.
A doctor later pronounced Infante dead at the scene. His body was subsequently taken to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination.
As investigations intensified, ranks of the Guyana Police Force Command Centre reportedly identified and intercepted a motor vehicle believed to have been linked to the fatal shooting.
A 45-year-old female manager of Little Diamond, East Bank Demerara, was
subsequently arrested and remains in Police custody as investigators continue their probe. The vehicle has since been seized and is being processed for evidence.
Investigators are also reviewing CCTV footage obtained from the area as efforts continue to determine the circumstances surrounding the killing and the movements of the suspects before and after the shooting.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the four men is being urged to contact the nearest Police station or call 911, 2271611, 268-2328, 268-2329, 226-3411, 225-8196 or 2271159.
Investigations are ongoing.
ments previously reported by Guyana Times on March 18, the hospital argued that the presence of vendors and other encumbrances had significantly obstructed access to the medical facility, affecting the movement of staff, patients and emergency vehicles.
The hospital also raised concerns about sanitation, alleging that waste and debris were being left along pavements and roadways surrounding the institution.
In the application filed by Attorney-at-law Sase Gunraj, the hospital contended that the M&CC had failed to fulfil its statutory duty under the Municipal and District Councils Act to keep streets and pavements
clear.
Court documents stated that the hospital had written to the council on April 30 and May 7, 2024, as well as January 5, 2026, requesting the removal of vendors and warning that legal action could follow if the matter were not addressed.
While the council had reportedly indicated a willingness to resolve the issue, the hospital claimed that no effective action was taken.
Earlier this year, Town Clerk Candace Nelson had told Guyana Times that some vendors appeared to be occupying the area during late afternoon, night-time and weekend hours in an apparent effort to avoid enforcement.
In an interview published on January 7, Nelson said she had observed only a few vendors in the area during morning inspections but noted that others operated during periods when the Mayor and City Council was not patrolling the vicinity.
The issue of unauthorised vending has also affected other businesses in Georgetown in recent years, with companies including Muneshwers Limited, Banks DIH Limited and Yhip’s Bakery previously taking legal action to have vendors removed from outside their premises.
The court further ordered that there be no order as to costs.
Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d)
Mark Phillips on Wednesday night welcomed the President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader Corona, on his arrival in Guyana at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
Prime Minister Phillips was joined at the airport by the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Hugh Todd, and the Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Guyana, Ernesto Torres Pereyra.
President Abinader is in Guyana for a twoday visit. During his visit he is expected to engage
in bilateral discussions with President Dr Irfaan Ali and other members of the government. A number of bilateral meetings and the signing of cooperation agreements with President Ali have been planned.
“The overall aim is to strengthen relations and expand cooperation between Guyana and the Dominican Republic,” a social media post from the PM said.
Relations between the Dominican Republic and Guyana have become closer in recent years, especially as both countries see opportunities in trade, energy, food production, and regional cooperation.
President Dr Irfaan Ali held bilateral discussions with US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, Jacob Helberg, at State House
…tells court cousins attacked after ganja crops found destroyed
The murder trial into the deaths of West Coast Berbice teenagers Isaiah and Joel Henry continued on Wednesday before Justice Simone MorrisRamlall at the Berbice High Court, with the state’s key witness Akash Singh giving a detailed and chilling account of the alleged killings and aftermath of the September 2020 attack.
Singh, who was initially charged in connection with the murders but later became the prosecution’s main witness, testified that he was with accused Anil Sancharra, called “Dan Pole” or “Rasta”, of D’Edward Village, West Coast Berbice, and Vinod Gopaul, known as “Magga”, of Yakusari, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, in the Cotton Tree backdam when
the two teenagers were allegedly attacked and killed.
The two men are jointly charged with the murders of cousins Isaiah and Joel Henry.
The prosecution is being led by State Counsel Marisa Edwards, while Sancharra is represented by Attorneyat-law Dr Dexter Todd and Gopaul by Attorney-at-law Chandra Sohan.
While giving evidence on Tuesday, Singh told the court that he had gone into the backdam with the two accused men to tend to marijuana plants and plant seedlings. He said they spent the night in a makeshift camp built using branches, bushes and cut manure bags.
According to Singh, about three weeks later they returned to the area and discovered that the marijua-
na plants and nearby crops appeared to have been destroyed by pesticides.
He testified that while discussing the damage, two teenagers approached the camp, and one of the boys allegedly laughed when the men spoke about the destruction.
Singh said Gopaul then questioned whether the teenagers knew anything about the damaged crops.
“The taller one run and Magga chop he, and Rasta chop the next one,” Singh told the court, adding that “it was plenty chops.”
He said he could not count the number of blows
inflicted on the teenagers.
The witness further testified that after the attack, the bodies of the teenagers were tied onto horses and removed from the area. Singh also claimed that Gopaul instructed him to mark an “X” on the foreheads of the two cousins before the bodies were taken away.
According to Singh, his role afterwards was to dispose of the cutlasses allegedly used in the attack. He said he threw the weapons and bloody clothing into a canal before changing into other clothes he had carried with him.
Singh told the court that both accused men threatened to kill him if he ever reported what had happened.
However, he said that after his arrest in January 2021, he disclosed the entire story to Police and later led investigators into the Cotton Tree backdam, where the killings allegedly occurred.
He also testified that after leaving the backdam following the killings, he informed his sister and two other persons about what had happened, but they did not believe him.
No promises in exchange testimony
During cross-examination by attorney Dexter Todd, Singh denied suggestions that Police had removed him from prison and placed him in a house. He maintained that he had been incarcerated for the past six years, although he could not recall the name of the prison where he was housed.
He also rejected repeated suggestions from the defence that he fabricated his account or that Police investigators had beaten him into making statements.
Instead, Singh claimed on Wednesday that while in prison, the accused men instructed him to falsely tell investigators that Police had assaulted him.
“I come out from prison to talk the truth,” Singh told the jury during intense cross-examination that lasted for more than two hours.
Attorney-at-law Chandra Sohan also questioned Singh about his appearance while allegedly being incarcerated, suggesting that his long hair indicated that he had not been imprisoned but was instead hiding elsewhere. Singh rejected the suggestion, saying prisoners were allowed to keep long hair.
He further maintained that no charges against him had been dropped and denied receiving promises from investigators in exchange for his testimony.
Singh also testified that he later showed Police where the cutlasses had allegedly been discarded, but investigators were unable to recover them.
Multiple chop wounds
Meanwhile, Government pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh also gave evidence before the court, detailing the extensive injuries sustained by both teenagers.
The pathologist testified that Isaiah Henry sustained multiple chop wounds to the head, neck and face, including injuries that severed the spine. He described several incised wounds to the forehead, head, nasal area, cheekbones and neck.
Dr Singh said Joel Henry also suffered numerous chop wounds to the hands, neck and head, including injuries to the fingers and palms which were consistent with defensive wounds.
According to the pathologist, Joel Henry sustained wounds to the back of the neck which severed the spine, along with multiple injuries to the head and neck.
The doctor gave the cause of death for both teenagers as haemorrhage and shock due to multiple incised wounds caused by a sharp weapon.
Blood-stained leaves, hair & cigarette butt
The court also heard evidence from Police Sergeant Demond John, who testified that investigators found blood stains on leaves, strands of hair and a cigarette butt in the backlands where the bodies were discovered.
John said investigators travelled some distance into the Cotton Tree backdam, where they observed crops including bananas, coconuts, watermelons and rice near the area under investigation.
However, under cross-examination by Todd, the officer admitted that no measurements were taken to establish the exact location where the bodies had been found and that there were no markings at the scene indicating where the bodies were positioned when investigators arrived.
The prosecution later called Sergeant Rodwell Sarrabo, who told the court that he led a Police team into the backdam in January 2021 as part of the investigation.
Sarrabo said investigators walked for several hours during the operation. He also testified that Assistant Superintendent Caesar was in charge of the Major Crimes Unit at the time, and therefore it was not necessary for him to provide statements in the investigation.
The Sergeant further stated that Akash Singh became a suspect based on what investigators considered credible information.
He also told the court that Police contacted Singh’s sister and two other persons after receiving information that Singh had spoken with them about the killings.
Under cross-examination, Sarrabo said he played a supervisory role in the investigation.
He is expected to return to court today as cross-examination continues.
Motorists using the East Bank Demerara (EBD) corridor and the LindenSoesdyke Highway are being urged to exercise caution as ongoing road construction continues to create dangerous conditions along several sections of the roadway.
During the “Road Safety and You” programme on Tuesday evening, traffic ranks from Regional Division 4B raised concerns about speeding, reckless overtaking, and drivers ignoring safety instructions within active construction zones.
Inspector Mohamed, who is stationed at Regional Division 4B and in charge of traffic at the Grove Police Station, said motorists continue to place themselves and others at risk by driving carelessly through work zones.
“Well, Region 4B division presently is a construction zone where there’s a lot of construction, and infrastructures are presently ongoing in that region. We have a lot of roadworks,” another traffic rank, Inspector
Mohamed, explained during the programme.
According to him, drivers traversing the East Bank corridor are encountering ongoing works in areas including Friendship, Garden of Eden, Brewery, Supply, and sections leading to the highway.
“Whenever you approach these construction zones, just slow down. Reduce your speed. Comply with the signs. Comply with the flaggers, even with the Police who may be assisted along the areas, because
they are there to guide you safely through these zones,” he said.
The officer specifically called out reckless overtaking by some drivers.
“Some drivers, especially the Linden drivers, I am pleading to you drivers that this is not a rush. When you approach any construction zone, slow down. Do not overtake a line of traffic and drive recklessly, because reckless driving can lead you to a serious accident, a serious collision,” he warned.
Meanwhile, Inspector Rolick Scott, who is attached to the Highway Patrol Base and has responsibility for traffic operations from the Linden-Soesdyke Junction to Moblissa Public Road, also urged motorists to plan their travel time better instead of attempting to speed through congested areas.
“You cannot leave late or arrive early. If you need to meet on time, kindly leave early so you can meet at your destination on time,” he stated.
The officer noted that although the speed limit along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway remains at 100 kilometres per hour, motorists must reduce speed significantly when approaching construction sites.
“When approaching the said construction areas, motorists, please take your time and look out for poor road movement, who may not be looking out for themselves,” Scott said.
The issue of improperly secured loads being transported by lorries along the highway was also highlighted during the programme after complaints were raised about stones and bricks falling from trucks.
Responding to the concern, Inspector Scott disclosed that Police recently carried out enforcement exercises targeting such vehicles.
“Recently, myself and ranks conducted enforcement in relation to those said lorries that have faulty packing of loads. And some of the drivers were placed before the court in that re-
gard,” he revealed. He added that traffic ranks continue to conduct weekly educational exercises with drivers.
“Regularly, on a weekly basis, myself and ranks again conducting lectures to the drivers, educating drivers about the posture when propelling along the roadway in relation to those said faulty packing of loads and so forth in terms of covering of the said load in the interior of the motor vehicle,” he said.
The officer further identified areas such as Swan Public Road and Yarrowkabra as locations where motorists need to be especially cautious due to ongoing works and loose construction material on the roadway.
Traffic congestion along the East Bank corridor has intensified in recent months as several major infrastructure projects continue simultaneously. Police are urging commuters heading to the airport, work, or other appointments to leave home earlier in order to avoid rushing through hazardous construction zones.
The Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) has reminded members of the public that it is illegal and unsafe to place any structures or objects on its poles and electrical infrastructure.
The company cited Section 5.4 of its Standard Terms and Conditions for Electric Services, which states that customers must not place any structures that interfere with the proper and safe operation of, or access to, GPL facilities.
signs, banners, wires, advertisements, cables, or any other objects on its utility poles and related infrastructure.
GPL said this includes erecting, attaching, placing, or installing structures,
According to the company, such actions can disrupt the safe operation and maintenance of the electricity network and may lead
to damage to infrastructure or interruptions in electricity supply. GPL also warned that unauthorised attachments to utility poles pose serious risks, including electrocution, severe injury, or death.
The utility company stated that individuals found engaging in such activities may be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
According to the power company, members of the public are being urged to
avoid interfering with GPL’s facilities and to report any unauthorised attachments or unsafe activities near the electrical network. Reports can be made to GPL’s call centre at 226-2600 or via WhatsApp on 608-9090.
The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has said that it is “undistracted” by another batch of its members who have now thrown their support behind the governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP).
Former APNU Members of Parliament (MPs) Ricky Ramsaroop, Shurwayne Holder and Dinesh Jaiprashad, along with current regional councillors Ravoldo Birbal, Sheik Yaseen, Prince Holder and Gangadai Lloyd, recently met with PPP General Secretary Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, where they expressed a desire to be associated with the party.
“The group praised the party’s stewardship of the economy, inclusive approach to governance, and the scale of transformation taking place across the country. They noted that the PPP has demonstrated the leadership, capacity and technical expertise required to effectively manage the country, sustain growth, and improve the welfare of every Guyanese, regardless of race, religion, or any other differentiating factor,” a statement from the PPP disclosed on Tuesday.
The APNU subsequently issued a statement, noting that the members are entitled to switch political allegiance.
“The APNU notes the recent decision to cross over to the PPP/C by certain former candidates and mem-
bers associated with the APNU. Every individual in a democracy has the right to choose their political path, and we see it as their right. Anyone who was paying attention will not be surprised by the individuals who chose to switch party allegiance, since they telegraphed it by their statements and actions,” APNU said.
The party also noted that it is “undistracted” by their departure. “The APNU is resolute in its defence of the Guyanese people. We will continue to fight for the interests of the people of this nation, undistracted by their departure because they were not selected to go to Parliament. We wish
them the best”, APNU said.
The APNU, which primarily comprises the Peoples National Congress (PNC), continues to see members leaving, most of whom have gone on to join or support the PPP.
Among the resignations were Members of Parliament Jermaine Figueira and Amanza Walton-Desir.
Figueira was an executive member of the PNC, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), shadow Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, and the PNC’s Chairman of Region 10Ten – one of the party’s strongholds.
APNU’s Regional Chairman and Vice
Chairman of Region Four, Daniel Seeram and Samuel Sandy, had also resigned.
Other persons who have resigned from the PNC/ APNU are Dr Richard Van-West Charles, Thandi McAllister, James Bond, and Geeta Chandan-Edmond.
APNU’s Georgetown Councillor, Robert Maison, as well as PNCR Executive,
Mervyn Williams, also tendered resignations. In fact, Williams strikingly made his resignation announcement during a live airing of the party’s weekly programme “Nation Watch”, which he hosted for a number of years.
The thinning of the herd has included the resignation of many longstanding
stalwarts, including former General Secretary the late Amna Ally, who resigned in 2025 shortly before her death.
Former Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Green and City Councillor Trichria Richards resigned in 2023 ahead of the local Government elections that year. They both debut as members of the PPP.
Longstanding party member Ronald Backer, and party Treasurer Fiaaz Mursaline resigned in 2022. Dawn HastingsWilliams, a former General Secretary, had also resigned.
APNU’s political standing was significantly diminished at the 2025 elections; it no longer holds the position of the main Parliamentary opposition. In fact, the main Parliamentary opposition now comprises the We Invest Nationhood (WIN) party, which was formed by US-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed.
Meanwhile, in its statement, APNU said the regional councillors who now support the PPP must resign from their positions, “since they occupy those seats because of votes from APNU supporters”.
Permanent Secretary of the Human Services and Social Security Ministry, Dr Erica Forte, on Tuesday reassured that pensioners are still set to receive their $20,000 transportation grant that was appropriated in the 2026 Budget, noting that it is currently awaiting approval in order to move ahead with distribution.
However, a date has not yet been set for the distribution. Speaking with Guyana Times, Dr Forte confirmed that the distribution of the grant had not yet commenced but reassured that it is imminent.
“It will definitely be distributed; specifically, on which date I can’t say. I’m awaiting directive. But there is no need to worry; it will definitely be distributed,” Dr Forte noted.
“It is on the docket… The distribution has not commenced yet, but May isn’t finished yet. We already have preparations in place for it. We are just awaiting approval to go ahead.”
It was during the 2026 Budget presentation in January that Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh announced that the Government will be introducing an annual oneoff transportation support grant of $20,000 for each old age pensioner in Guyana, in addition to their monthly
pension of $46,000.
Back in February, Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud, during a live social media broadcast, had announced that the grant was expected to be available from May. Details surrounding the pay-out of the transportation grant are expected to be made available later.
However, the distribution of the grant is expected to take the same mode via which the pensioners al-
ready receive their pensions. Dr Forte explained that those pensioners receiving their monthly payments electronically via their bank accounts or via the MMG wallet will also receive their transportation grant via these methods.
Meanwhile, pensioners receiving payments via their pension books may be expected to use one of the two additional pages reserved in their books for such purposes.
Aphotographic exhibition highlighting Guyana’s journey to independence and the contributions of Dr Cheddi Jagan has officially been launched at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre.
The exhibition aims to help Guyanese better understand the country’s independence journey through a series of pictorial displays and accompanying narratives. The displays highlight key moments in the struggle for independence, particularly the role played by Dr Cheddi Jagan in the quest for nationhood.
The photographs and exhibits are arranged in chronological order to provide visitors with a clearer and more coherent understanding of Guyana’s independence struggle.
The public exhibition is intended to place the nation’s fight for independence in its proper historical perspective and is expected to benefit the wider public, particularly schoolchildren who will visit the displays over time.
Speaking at the event, organiser Indra Chanderpaul stated that schools will be actively engaged in the exhibition through organised visits and educational participation.
“And I must tell you, we did not invite a lot of people because, as you came, you noticed we didn’t put too many chairs. We wanted people to walk around and see the exhibition. But this is only the beginning because, as of tomorrow, we already have schools that have indicated an interest
in coming. And that is what we’re interested in – getting schools to come and see the exhibition, as well as the media, because there are periods in our history that no one wants to talk about.”
“As we say, the elephant in the room, we just ignore it, but there are things that we need to talk about in this nation in order for us to heal,” she stated.
Chanderpaul further noted that the exhibition is intended to educate schoolchildren about Guyana’s history and encourage them to share the experience with others. She added that books documenting historical events of the 1960s are also available at the exhibition for informational purposes.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Ramotar
highlighted the significant efforts undertaken by President Dr Cheddi Jagan during Guyana’s journey toward independence, noting the importance of his leadership in the struggle for nationhood.
“Dr Jagan raised the question of independence almost immediately after he came back from the United States. And you have to understand what was happening in the world at that time. There was a ferment after the end of the Second World War. The national liberation movement was gaining momentum, and many wars of liberation, particularly in Asia, were also gaining momentum.”
Ramotar also noted that Dr Jagan was not opposed to the Private Sector, a view which was contrary to what
many people believed.
“Dr Jagan was not against the Private Sector, as a lot of people talked about. What he was against was one company having so much power that it could practically dictate to the state. He wanted to transform the country from being one that only produced raw materials. For more than 300 years, we had been producing sugar.”
He ended his speech by urging Guyanese to reflect on the struggles faced during the fight for independence and democracy.
“So at this time, as we look forward to celebrating our 60th anniversary of independence, let’s take courage and heart from the struggles that the second generation of the PPP endured to bring our country
to where it is today. Even though we did not achieve the type of independence we had hoped for, and after independence we entered a neo-colonial stage and had to fight for democracy and regain democracy in 1992, independence is still one of the most important achievements in the history of the Guyanese people.”
Guyana gained independence from the United Kingdom on May 26, 1966, transitioning from British Guiana to an independent nation within the Commonwealth, with Forbes Burnham serving as its first Prime Minister. The country later became a republic on February 23, 1970. This year, Guyana will celebrate its 60th anniversary of independence on May 26.
Ahomeless labourer accused of stealing $750,000 worth of female clothing was on Tuesday remanded to prison when he appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, while a painter charged with stealing two cellular phones valued at $117,000 was granted bail in a separate matter before the same court.
Gopaul Ramjattan appeared before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty to answer to a charge of simple larceny.
The charge alleged that between April 6 and April 7 at Regent and Alexander Streets, Georgetown, Ramjattan stole a quantity of female clothing valued at $750,000, property of Jewel Moore. Ramjattan pleaded not guilty to the offence.
During the proceedings, the Magistrate questioned the accused about his background and living
arrangements. Ramjattan told the court he is originally from Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, but relocated to Georgetown approximately three years ago following the death of his mother.
He further disclosed that he has been living on the streets since then.
Asked about his occupation, Ramjattan stated that he works as a labourer, taking jobs from anyone willing to hire him in order to earn money.
The prosecution objected to bail, arguing that the accused has no fixed place of residence and no stable employment, making it difficult for law enforcement to locate him if released.
The prosecutor further informed the court that Ramjattan allegedly admitted to the offence in a video statement made to Police investigators. The court also heard that investigators possess video evidence linked to
the matter, although efforts are still being made to obtain a clearer image of the suspect’s face.
After considering the submissions, Principal Magistrate McGusty refused bail, and Ramjattan was remanded to prison. The case will continue on June 3.
Meanwhile, in a separate matter before the same court, painter Vickash Sunil was granted $80,000 bail after denying a charge of simple larceny involving two cellular phones.
Particulars of the charge alleged that on May 9, at High Street, Georgetown, Sunil stole a Samsung cellular phone valued at $32,000 and an iPhone 12 valued at $85,000, totalling $117,000, the property of Melody Grant. Sunil pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution objected to bail, citing concerns relating to the protection of public property and the manner
in which the alleged offence was committed.
The court heard that a security guard attached to a nearby business had briefly left her guard hut to carry out another task. Upon returning, she reportedly observed Sunil picking up the phones and immediately raised an alarm.
Persons in the area reportedly responded and apprehended him before Police arrived at the scene.
According to the prosecution, when confronted by Police officers, Sunil allegedly stated, “Officer, I’m sorry. I gave back the phone.”
During the proceedings, the Magistrate was informed that the cellular phones had been recovered and lodged at the Brickdam Police Station. Sunil later appealed directly to the court to be released on bail.
In granting bail, Principal Magistrate McGusty warned the man
Philip Davis will hold onto his seat as Prime Minister (PM) of the Bahamas after the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) scored a victory in early elections.
The results were announced late on Tuesday, and the win marks the first time since 1997 that a political party in the Bahamas has won a General Election twice in a row.
Early tallies show that the PLP is slated to win more than 30 of the 41 seats in the Bahamian Parliament. Official results have yet to be released.
Davis is therefore on track to become the first PM to retain his post for a consecutive term in nearly three decades. Hubert Ingraham of the Free National Movement (FNM) was the last Prime Minister to pull off the feat.
It is unclear, however, if the current opposition leader, Michael Pintard of the
Free National Movement, will step down after his loss on Tuesday. Pintard conceded his party’s defeat in a phone call to Davis.
“The Bahamian people made their choice,” Pintard told supporters. “In a democracy, that is the only voice that ultimately matters.”
The snap election was the second time in a row that a vote had been called early.
According to officials, the earlier election this year was intended to avoid any disruptions that might be caused by the Atlantic hurricane season in October, when the vote was expected to be called.
Davis and his party had also triumphed in an early election in 2021, which was held in September of that year. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
Saint Lucia is equipped with a new rapid PCR testing platform capable of detecting multiple infectious diseases in under two hours, boosting the island’s ability to identify outbreaks faster and respond to potential public health threats.
The announcement came from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), which said the island is among 10 member states where new Molbio rapid testing platforms have been successfully installed under the Pandemic Fund Project.
Installations were completed as of March 26 in Barbados, The Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Trinidad and Tobago. The next phase is routine testing across all the countries, with data to be shared weekly with CARPHA through the Molbio reporting system.
CARPHA said this will support the timely integra-
The Molbio rapid testing platform
tion of data into regional surveillance systems, ongoing monitoring of the testing platforms and faster responses to emerging public health threats.
According to CARPHA, the technology strengthens the region’s ability to rapidly test for several pathogens of major public health concern, including SARS-CoV-2, influenza, cholera, malaria, HIV, hepatitis, tuberculosis, salmonella, leptospirosis and rabies.
The systems can also test for pathogens with pandemic
potential, including Nipah virus and norovirus.
Alongside the rollout, CARPHA said more than 50 laboratory professionals across participating countries have been trained to operate the systems, strengthening technical capacity within national laboratory networks.
The agency said the upgraded systems are expected to improve outbreak detection and response, strengthen regional surveillance and enhance the resilience of national health systems. (Excerpt from St Lucia Times)
A&B cannot absorb large numbers of
Antigua and Barbuda (A&B)’s Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders, says the country is facing pressure from Washington to accept more third-country nationals than the Government originally offered to accommodate.
Speaking on the issue, Sir Ronald said A&B had made a limited offer to assist the United States as a “gesture of good faith and good friendship”, but stressed that the
twin-island nation could not take on numbers beyond its capacity.
“We put forward a certain number,” he said. “We will play our part in trying to relieve the United States of the burden that it is facing. But we can do no more than that.”
According to Sanders, discussions between A&B and the US are ongoing, but the country remains firm that accepting migrants from countries with which Antigua and
Barbuda have no established relationship could create serious social and economic pressures.
“The Prime Minister’s offered a certain number that he would be prepared to absorb,” Sanders said, adding that the Government could not make decisions that would “put strain on our resources to the point where our own people would say, ‘No, no, no, we’re not doing that’.” (Excerpt from Antigua Newsroom)
The humanitarian impact on civilians from Colombia’s armed conflict reached its worst level in a decade in 2025 due to increased hostilities and armed groups’ disregard for humanitarian law, an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) report said.
Colombia has endured an internal conflict for six decades, with state forces battling leftist guerrillas and criminal gangs fighting for territorial control of strategic drug trafficking routes and illicit gold extraction.
At least 235,619 persons
were individually displaced; 87,069 in mass displacement events, and 176,730 were confined, such as when an armed group imposes curfews or limits mobility.
Individual displacement grew 100 per cent, mass displacement 111 per cent, and confinement 99 per cent compared to 2024. The 2025 annual report recorded 965 persons injured or killed by explosives, mostly civilians, and documented 308 new disappearances.
Deaths or injuries from explosives like mines increased 34 per cent in 2025, while disappearances rose 22 per cent. The report also recorded 282 violent acts on health workers related to the armed conflict.
“The humanitarian situation in 2025 results from progressive deterioration that the ICRC has warned about since 2018,” said Olivier Dubois, the organisation’s regional chief in Colombia’s capital, Bogota. Civilians also faced homicides, disappearances, threats, sexual violence and recruitment of children and adolescents, the report said. (Excerpt from Reuters)
More than 68,000 Haitians were repatriated from several countries during the first quarter of 2026, according to figures released by the Support Group for Repatriates and Refugees (GARR), which warned that worsening insecurity and poverty in Haiti are fuelling migration while making deportees’ reintegration increasingly difficult.
The organisation presented the data during a May 6 press conference in Port-auPrince, noting that deportations during the first three months of 2026 exceeded those recorded during the same period last year, when
more than 55,000 Haitians were returned.
“These figures clearly show how difficult the humanitarian situation is,” said Stenley Orbruth Doriscar, GARR’s Communications Officer. “With the current crisis, we are not in a position to help such a large number of people truly reintegrate after being deported to Haiti.”
According to GARR, most deportees were returned from the Dominican Republic, though repatriations also came from the US, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica, Canada and Puerto Rico.
For March alone, GARR recorded more than 22,000
deportations to Haiti.
The Dominican Republic accounted for more than 21,000 of those returns through the four main border crossings at Ouanaminthe, Belladère, Malpasse, and Anse-à-Pitres.
Among the deportees were many vulnerable people, including 121 pregnant women and 246 breastfeeding mothers, who GARR said were forcibly returned from the Dominican Republic. The organisation also identified more than 100 persons living with disabilities and 229 unaccompanied minors among those repatriated in March. (Excerpt from The Haitian Times)
Trinidad “will not recognise” Barnett as Caricom Secretary General after August
Prime Minister (PM) Kamla PersadBissessar says Trinidad and Tobago will not recognise Dr Carla Barnett as the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretary General (SG) after August when her first five-year term ends, even as regional countries maintained that she had been reappointed to the position for another five years.
“Trinidad and Tobago only recognises Barnett as SG until the end of her term this August 2026. All Caricom leaders could do as they please, but Trinidad and Tobago will not recognise her as SG for another term. That’s not going to change,” Persad-
Bissessar told the Trinidad Express newspaper.
The newspaper reported Wednesday that representatives from the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs had raised objections, noting that the PM and Minister Sean Sobers were not present because of the official visit of India’s Minister of External Affairs and other Parliamentary obligations.
Last week, Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said as far as he is concerned, the Belizean economist has been reappointed and that Dominica had supported the decision.
In March, in a brief statement, the Caricom Chairman
and St Kitts and Nevis PM, Dr Terrance Drew, said that Barnett had attained the “required majority” from among regional leaders regarding her re-appointment at February’s Caricom summit held in Basseterre. But PM Persad-Bissessar has publicly challenged the reappointment process. She told the Trinidad Express that while her country remains committed to the regional integration movement, it will not stay silent on what she said was the “dysfunctional and chaotic state” of the 52-year-old organisation and on Barnett’s reappointment. (Excerpt from Nation News)
Global oil supply will fall short of total demand this year as the Iran war wreaks havoc on Middle East oil production and drains inventories at an unprecedented pace, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Wednesday, upending its earlier outlook calling for a surplus.
The US’s and Israel’s war with Iran, the subsequent damage to Iran’s and its Gulf neighbours’ oil infrastructure and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz have caused the largest oil supply crisis in history in the IEA’s view, sending oil prices skyrocketing.
“With Hormuz tanker traffic still restricted, cumulative supply losses from Middle East Gulf producers already exceed 1 billion barrels, with more than 14 million barrels per day of oil now shut in, an unprecedented supply shock,” the agency, which advises industrialised countries, said in a monthly report.
“The world is drawing oil inventories at a record pace as importing countries confront unprecedented disruptions to Middle Eastern supply,” it said.
OPEC, in a report on Wednesday, also highlighted falling output as the Iran war constrains exports from some of its top producers in the Middle East.
The IEA forecasts imply that supply will come in 1.78 million bpd below total demand in 2026, erasing a 410,000 bpd surplus projected in last month’s report and a close-to-4 million bpd surplus in its December report. (Excerpt from Reuters)
“One of the longest” Russian attacks kills at least six in Ukraine
At least six persons have been killed and dozens injured in “one of the longest, massive Russian attacks against Ukraine”, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, despite renewed claims from the Russian and United States Presidents that the war may be nearing an end.
Zelenskyy said the barrage began on Wednesday morning and lasted for hours, striking Kyiv and the Black Sea port of Odesa, among other areas.
“Our soldiers are defending Ukraine, but Russia’s obvious goal is to overload air defences,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram, warning that cruise and ballistic missile strikes could follow the drone attacks.
In the southern region of Kherson, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said a
woman was killed when a Russian drone struck a bus in the town of Bilozerka.
Another drone attack in the western region of Rivne killed three persons and injured four, according to Governor Oleksandr Koval.
In the Kharkiv region in north eastern Ukraine, authorities said a 60-yearold man was killed when Russian forces attacked a community near the city of Zolochiv with first-personview drones. Police said two homes and several outbuildings were damaged.
The latest attacks were carried out as US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that the more than four-year war could be approaching an end.
Trump said on Tuesday that he believed Moscow and Kyiv would “soon reach a deal” to end the fighting.
(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
US President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday evening and was greeted with pomp and pageantry ahead of a high-stakes summit with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.
During his two-day visit, the global superpowers are expected to discuss tariffs, competition over technology, the war in Ukraine, and America’s relationship with Taiwan.
Trump returns to a more assertive China than the one he visited in 2017 as he faces mounting scrutiny over his military campaign in the Middle East.
The trip had originally been scheduled for March but was postponed because of the war with Iran, a conflict that continues to unsettle the global economy.
Trump was greeted on
the red carpet by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, one of China’s top leaders.
The move is being read as a show of respect for the US President from Beijing after a lower-level leader
received Trump on his last visit.
He was accompanied by his son Eric Trump and a slew of US tech industry titans, including Tesla’s Elon Musk and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang among them.
On Thursday, Trump is scheduled to participate in a welcome ceremony with Xi at China’s Great Hall of the People, a state banquet, multiple bilateral meetings, and a “friendship photo” in Beijing’s Zhongnanhai Garden. He will leave China on Friday, following tea and a working lunch with Xi.
(Excerpt from BBC News)
Lutnick testified he knew little about Epstein, his next-door neighbour
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said he was unaware for years that his next-door neighbour Jeffrey Epstein was a registered sex offender, according to a transcript of testimony released Wednesday by the House Oversight Committee.
Lutnick recounted that conversation as he voluntarily testified before the committee behind closed doors on May 6, facing questions about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and his evolving statements about their history.
The files revealed that Epstein and Lutnick were in business together as recently as 2014, investing simultaneously in a now-shut-
tered advertising company called Adfin.
Lutnick said during the deposition that he was
Moroccan armed forces find body of 2nd missing US soldier in Cap Draa
Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces (FAR) said on Thursday that search teams working in coordination with US forces had found and recovered the body of a US servicewoman who had been missing since May 2 in the Cap Draa area.
The armed forces added in a post on X that the body was located on May 12 at a rocky cliff site in the area following intensive search operations.
On May 3, two US service members were reported missing near Tan-Tan in southern Morocco by US and Moroccan officials.
US, Moroccan and other partner forces launched coordinated search-and-rescue operations, including ground, air and maritime assets, to find the service members, who went missing near the training site, the two militaries said in sepa-
rate statements.
“Initial reports indicate the two soldiers may have fallen into the ocean,” a US defence official told Reuters by email. “I can confirm this incident is not related to terrorism.”
On May 10, the US Army reported the recovery of the first body.
Moroccan searchers found the remains on Saturday, May 9, in the water within a mile (1.6 km) of where the soldier went missing, the US Army said in a statement.
The army identified him as 1st Lieutenant Kendrick Lamont Key Jr, a platoon leader in an artillery unit.
The US service members were participating in African Lion, the US Africa Command’s largest joint exercise between US forces, NATO allies and African partner nations. (Excerpt from Reuters)
unaware Epstein was also an early investor in the company.
Lutnick has for years insisted he had little relationship with Epstein, who was his neighbour in New York City, but has more recently acknowledged visiting Epstein’s private island
Magnus the
with his family in 2012 –after the files documenting the trip were made public.
Lutnick, his wife, and their children visited Little St James, Epstein’s Caribbean island, not long before both men invested in Adfin.
Lutnick, the former Chairman of the financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, has previously said he cut ties with Epstein in 2005, three years before Epstein entered a guilty plea to state prostitution charges in Florida.
Lutnick told the committee he purchased the property next to Epstein’s home in 1997 but didn’t move in until after renovations were complete in 2005. Lutnick said he met Epstein just three times, including his family’s island visit. (Excerpt from CBS News)
Aperipatetic walrus who became a local celebrity as he toured the north-east coast of Scotland has now been spotted in Norway, bringing to an end his Celtic sojourn.
The young male was christened Magnus after he first hauled his estimated 2.5-metre frame out of the sea on to Stronsay pier in Orkney on 16 April.
Although walruses usually prefer to rest on sea ice, Magnus has been found snoozing on piers and pontoons along the Moray coast after swimming 200 miles south to the Scottish mainland.
Police asked the public to report sightings of a wandering walrus, and his ap-
pearances drew hundreds of spectators as he swam from Lossiemouth to Macduff, Fraserburgh, Findochty and then Hopeman, entertaining crowds with his vigorous itching and – in a move surely conceived for Instagram – accidentally rolling off a harbour wall.
While walruses are known to be highly social animals, by April 21 Police took the step of erecting a cordon at Lossiemouth marina to contain his admirers.
The Orkney Marine Mammal Research Initiative said this was “a genuinely rare event” and only the third time a walrus has been sighted in Orkney in the last decade. (Excerpt from The Guardian)
Your speed, positive attitude and what goal you accomplish will make others pause in wonder. Put your talents to work for you, and the sky’s the limit. Don’t fear being different.
Say no to responsibilities that don’t belong to you. Your time is best allocated to something that makes a difference to you, your attitude and your personal, physical and financial well-being.
Own whatever situation you find yourself in, and implement positive change. Volunteer for a position of leadership where you can make a difference to those you reach out to.
Stand your ground, but don’t invite unwarranted trouble. Overreacting will be to your detriment, especially when dealing with professional associates or those you count on for assistance.
Gather information that helps you find your happy place. A lifestyle change that helps you spend less and experience more will change your mindset and give you something to look forward to.
You’ll retain information. Set yourself up to learn, research and integrate with teachers and those who can assist you in padding your brain, attributes and physical skills with new possibilities and capabilities.
Be careful what you agree to or promise. Situations will escalate quickly if you aren’t precise regarding your wants and desires. Pay attention to detail, and question anything that appears problematic.
Whether you are eager to learn or engage in technology that can make your life or skills useful moving forward, the improvements will pay off by keeping you competitive.
Stand up and be counted. Take an energetic approach to life, love and your happiness, but stay within your budget. You don’t have to impress anyone by paying their way.
One step forward and three steps back. Take a moment, reorganize your thoughts and map out a plan that’s doable. Be aware of those eager to stand in your way or take advantage of your time.
Don’t dawdle when you have so much to achieve. Consider how you earn your living or manage your money and what you can do to up your game. A change at home will encourage you to lower your overhead.
Protect yourself from unsavory situations that can result in debt or liability. Taking on too much or overpaying for something will set you back. Study your options when time and money are at stake.
After back-to-back ducks in his last two innings, Virat Kohli showed most emphatically that he had merely been out of runs and not out of form, scoring his ninth Indian Premier League (IPL) hundred to lead Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to the top of the IPL 2026 table with a commanding win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Raipur.
Kohli’s unbeaten 60-ball 105 was a vintage effort in a run chase – smooth, controlled, and full of both relentless sprinting between the wickets and gorgeous stroke-play, particularly at either end of his innings. That he never seemed stretched, however, was perhaps the story of the match – it may have been decided by the relative quality of the bowling attacks, particularly the seamers.
RCB’s bowlers did a superb job to keep KKR down to below 200 even though they only lost four wickets, and KKR’s inexperienced seam attack simply couldn’t match them for discipline and ability to extract misbehaviour from a slightly twopaced surface – with the caveat that it may have eased up a little during the second innings.
Bhuviwood plus Duffy
This was the first time RCB had fielded all three of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy and Josh Hazlewood – the leg-spinner Suyash Sharma made way. This suggested RCB expected conditions to play similarly to their previous game in Raipur, against Mumbai Indians, with seam movement and inconsistent bounce throughout.
came clear that this was a much better pitch to bat on, but there was still something in it for the seamers.
Bhuvneshwar showed this with a cross-seamer that nipped away to nick off Finn Allen in the third over, and Hazlewood showed this by getting a short-of-length ball to rear at Ajinkya Rahane and having him caught and bowled off a miscued pull in the fifth over.
KKR still scored 56 in their power play, though, and 31 of those runs came in two overs from Duffy, who took the new ball ahead of Hazlewood and didn’t do too much that was obviously wrong, but Allen, Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi were good enough to put away marginal errors in line and length.
Raghuvanshi and Rinku threaten big finish that doesn’t materialise
Raghuvanshi and Cameron Green put on 68 for the third wicket, starting slowly and finding it tricky to time the seam -
the wicket may have come at the ideal moment for KKR because Rinku Singh walked in and began to find the boundary almost immediately. Raghuvanshi too stepped up a gear, playing some eye-catching shots, including a short-arm jab off Duffy and an effortless inside-out six off Krunal to rush from 21 off 16 to 57 off 35. At the 16-over mark, KKR were 153 for three, seemingly poised to get past 200. But Bhuvneshwar, Hazlewood and Rasikh put on a
with. KKR only scored 39 off their last four overs.
Debutant Dubey’s magic over KKR handed a new cap to Saurabh Dubey, the 28-year-old Vidarbha leftarm seamer who had re placed the injured Akash Deep in their squad, brought him on as their impact play er, and gave him the brandnew ball. And he began with a thrilling first over in which he found seam movement in both directions, beat Jacob Bethell’s outside edge three times in the first four balls, and conceded just one run off the bat – a single to get off the mark that Kohli marked with a self-depre cating fist pump.
When the match began – after a rain delay of an hour and a quarter – it be-
ers but making a concerted effort to go after the left-arm spin of Krunal Pandya. Raghuvanshi used the slog-sweep to try and put him off his length, and Green tried to do the same thing by using the depth of his crease. Krunal started by conceding just five in the eighth over, but his last three went for 34.
Rasikh Salam then sneaked a skidder through Green in the 13th over, and
Kohli takes over
The chasemaster Virat Kohli was back at his best, scoring an unbeaten century
for six in the sixth over and ending that phase on 30 off 14. From there, it was just
Angkrish Raghuvanshi had an entertaining half-century
Kolkata Knight Riders (20 ovs maximum)
Ajinkya Rahane (c)
c & b Hazlewood 19
Finn Allen c †Sharma b Kumar 18
Angkrish Raghuvanshi † run out (Padikkal/Kumar) 71
Cameron Green
b Rasikh Salam 32
Rinku Singh not out 49
Extras (lb 1, w 2) 3
Total 20 Ov (RR: 9.60) 192/4
Did not bat: Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Kartik Tyagi, Vaibhav Arora
Fall of wickets: 1-23 (Finn Allen, 2.3 ov), 2-48 (Ajinkya Rahane, 4.4 ov), 3-116 (Cameron Green, 12.2 ov), 4-192 (Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 19.6 ov)
Bowling O-M-R-W
Bhuvneshwar Kumar 4-0-34-1
Jacob Duffy 4-0-48-0
Josh Hazlewood 4-0-35-1
Rasikh Salam 4-0-35-1
Krunal Pandya 4-0-39-0
Sunil Narine carrom ball forced a miscue from Patidar; Manish Pandey took a flying one-hander at point to send back Tim David – were mere blips in RCB’s otherwise silky-smooth ride. And as the end neared, Kohli grew more expansive, playing two of his most eye-catching shots –a straight six off Anukul Roy with barely any follow-through and a whipped six of iron wrists off Tyagi –to hurry towards the century mark. He got there with a single off Arora in the 19th over, and Jitesh Sharma finished the game soon after, flat-batting Dubey past longon to bring up victory with five balls remaining. (ESPN cricinfo)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (T: 193 runs from 20 ovs)
Jacob Bethell c & b Kartik Tyagi 15
Virat Kohli not out 105
Devdutt Padikkal c Rahane b Kartik Tyagi 39 Rajat Patidar (c) c Rahane b Narine 11
Tim David c Pandey b Kartik Tyagi 2
Jitesh Sharma † not out 8
Extras (lb 4, w 10) 14
Total 19.1 Ov (RR: 10.12) 194/4
Did not bat: Venkatesh Iyer, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rasikh Salam, Josh Hazlewood Fall of wickets: 1-37 (Jacob Bethell, 3.2 ov), 2-129 (Devdutt Padikkal, 13.1 ov), 3-157 (Rajat Patidar, 15.6 ov), 4-180 (Tim David, 17.5 ov)
Bowling O-M-R-W Saurabh Dubey
2.1-0-21-0 Vaibhav Arora 4-0-48-0 Kartik Tyagi 4-0-32-3 Sunil Narine 4-0-31-1 Cameron Green 2-0-22-0 Anukul Roy 3-0-36-0
Aishalton will be ground zero today, witnessing the kickoff of what will become a nationwide hosting of the third edition of the Blue Water Girls Under-15 Football Championships.
80 schools, with several new faces already geared up for competition.
A signal of growth for the Federation, this expansion was discussed by GFF President Wayne Forde during the launch.
Spearheaded by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), this year’s Blue Water tournament was launched on Wednesday afternoon at the National Training Centre (NTC), Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
This time around, the tournament has already attracted 70 schools from across the country, with the GFF hoping to get up to
The GFF boss said, “What began as an ambitious vision to make football more accessible to young girls across Guyana is steadily becoming one of the most impactful youth programmes in our country. This tournament is not only growing in size, but it’s also growing in purpose, reach and national significance.”
“I wish to extend our sincere appreciation to Blue Water Shipping
for their invaluable investment in this competition and, more importantly, in the future of young women in Guyana.”
Forde went on to reveal, “This year, we’re especially pleased to announce that three additional schools from Region Nine will be participating in the tournament. Bringing the total number of participating schools from the region to nine. We’re also excited to welcome Mahdia Secondary, which will make their debut in the competition under the generous patronage of the Rights of the Child Organisation.”
“Ivan Madray was not only my uncle, but he was my cricketing idol and mentor. It is a special privilege for me to honour his memory with this tournament and also to open opportunities for the younger generation to follow in his footsteps.”
Those were the words of General Manager of Muneshwers Limited, Chandradat Chintamani as he launched the ninth edition of the annual Ivan Madray T20 cricket tournament, in partnership with the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB).
The simple renewal took place last Thursday at Chintamani’s office in Water Street, Georgetown, and was attended by BCB President Dr Cecil Beharry and officials Balram Samaroo and Angela Haniff. Chintamani stated that he was very pleased with the BCB’s organising skills of the last eight tournaments and the high standard of play he has witnessed in every final over the years.
BCB President Beharry hailed the renewal of the sponsorship as another redletter day in the ongoing development of cricket in Berbice.
The tournament will be played on a knockout basis with 12 teams participating. The competing teams include West Berbice, Blairmont, Police, Tucber Park, Rose Hall Canje, Berbice River, Rose Hall Town NAMILCO Thunderbolt, Albion Community Centre, Port Mourant, Skeldon and Upper Corentyne.
The BCB President stated that the winner would be decided in a grand final, and the winning team would take home $100,000 (one hundred thousand dollars) and a trophy. Matches are expected to be set across Berbice, with venues like
the Canje Welfare Centre Ground, Albion Community Centre Ground, Area H Ground, Port Mourant Ground and No 69 Ground slated to host matches. The final will either be played at No 69 or the Albion Community Centre Ground depending on who the finalists are.
Samaroo, BCB Competitions Committee Member, disclosed that the board is totally dedicated to playing the game at all levels.
Samaroo noted that financial sponsorship has been secured for every level of cricket for both juniors and seniors, including females.
The Board expects West Indies players Shamar Joseph, Romario Shepherd, Gudakesh Motie, Veerasammy Permaul, Shimron Hetmyer, Kevin Sinclair and Kevlon Anderson to be a part of the tournament.
Additionally, national players like Jonathan Rampersaud, Zeynul Ramsammy, Sylus Tyndall, Junior Sinclair, Isai Thorne, Adrian Sukwah, Anthony Bramble, Jonathan Foo, Rampertab Ramnauth and Nial Smith are also expected to compete. Promising youth players like Romesh Bharrat, Rampersaud Ramnauth, Azral Budhoo, Richardo Ramdeholl, Romario Ramdeholl, Adrian Hetmyer, Nathaniel Ramsammy, and Rafell McKenzie will all be looking to impress the senior Berbice selectors during the tournament.
Haniff, BCB Office Administrator, assured the sponsor that the tournament will be well-organised and completed by the end of August 2026. Ivan Madray was the third Berbician to play Test cricket for the West Indies, following in the footsteps of his Port Mourant clubmates John Trim and the legendary Rohan Kanhai. He died in 2009 at the age of 74.
The growth of the tournament was also highlighted by Blue Waters’ manager, Rowena Elliot.
“For Blue Water Shipping, this partnership is much more than football. It is more about investing in girls, supporting discipline and teamwork and helping to create pathways for young female talent to be seen, nurtured and to be developed across Guyana. The tournament has already proved its value, as the inaugural championship was described as Guyana’s largest girls’ football tournament,” Elliott expressed.
The Blue Water Manager added,
“That is a growth that definitely matters, and it tells us that with the right structures, partnerships and, of course, opportunities once they’re in place, girls will show up. They will not only show up to compete, but they’ll definitely show up to build their confidence, their leadership skills and their belief in what is possible.”
Meanwhile, the tournament received the blessing of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and, by extension, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS), as Assistant Director of Sport (ADoS), Melissa Dow-Richardson voiced her endorsement.
Superbet Guyana has renewed its partnership as a primary sponsor of the One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast ahead of the tournament’s fourth edition, providing another major boost for grassroots cricket in Guyana.
The agreement was finalised ahead of the 2026 season opener, which is scheduled for August 8 in Berbice.
In a statement, Superbet said the decision to continue its involvement was aimed at rewarding loyal customers while also contributing to the development of sport across Guyana. The company noted that the partnership has produced consistent success and expressed pride in supporting a tournament that has become popular among cricket fans nationwide.
Tournament Director John Ramsingh welcomed the continued backing from the betting company, describing the renewed sponsorship as another sign of the competition’s growing impact on local cricket.
“Having a partner like Superbet return for a fourth year is a testament to the impact this tournament has made on the local landscape. Their commitment allows us to dream bigger and provide a professional platform for tapeball cricketers who are often the heartbeat of our communities,” Ramsingh said.
The 2026 edition will feature a revised registration process and a phased approach to squad submissions. Team captains can immediately secure places in the tournament with a G$35,000 entry fee and finalise player selections closer to their zonal start dates.
Registration forms are available through the tournament’s social media pages and via WhatsApp at +592-635-2235.
Organisers have also announced increased financial incentives for teams and players this season. Every team reaching the quarter-final stage within their zone will receive prize money, beginning at $25,000 for losing quarter-finalists. Zonal champions will earn $500,000 and advance to the National Finals.
At the national stage, the winning team will collect a $2,000,000 grand prize, while the runner-up is set to receive $1,000,000.
The four national finalists will also qualify to represent Guyana at the Global T10 Tapeball Blast. Individual awards have also been expanded. The tournament’s Most Valuable Player will receive $150,000 and a motorbike, while the leading run-scorer and top wicket-taker will each collect $100,000 and a television set.
The tournament schedule will begin with a 16-team Berbice leg from August 8 to 9 before moving to East Bank/West Demerara and Essequibo in the following weeks.
Organisers confirmed that the competition will pause during the Caribbean Premier League season to maximise fan engagement before resuming with the Georgetown/East Coast Demerara leg.
The tournament will conclude with the National Grand Finale on October 11 at the Anna Regina National Stadium in Region Two, marking the first time the venue will host the championship decider.
“This Blue Water Shipping Under-15 Girls’ tournament is really significant because in its third year, we’re seeing continuity, consistency and we’re seeing expansion. Expansion that has inclusivity across the 83,000 square miles, across the ten regions,” the ADoS noted.
“For the Federation, for the Ministry of Education, this is what we want. We want the sports in school. And it’s a representation of this tournament, young girls who’re going to have an opportunity. Now, it’s almost 80 schools; this is expansion, this is inclusivity and this is what we want to endorse.”
Richardson went on to address the players present, stating, “To the young girls who’re participating in this tournament, I want to say to you, congratulations for making the right choice. You’re making the right decision to choose sport. The things that you’ll learn, the experiences that you’ll have in this tournament will help you to inculcate life skills. Like skills that will empower you.”
Following round-robin play within the respective regions, the successful teams will move on to the Round of 16 as they vie for the national title.
Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) produced a commanding allround performance to defeat the West Indies Academy by an innings and 21 runs on the fourth and final day of their West Indies Championship contest at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua.
Resuming day four on 655 for eight with a lead of 170 runs, the Harpy Eagles added just eight runs before being bowled out for 663 in 159.5 overs.
Thaddeus Lovell added only two runs to his overnight score before he was trapped leg before wicket by spinner Zishan Motara for six, leaving the Harpy Eagles on 663.
Richie Looknauth, who resumed unbeaten on 71, added six more runs before he was caught behind off Amari Goodridge for 77, the final wicket to fall. His innings came from 118 balls and included six fours and one six.
Motara was the standout bowler for the Academy, claiming 6-202 from 46 overs in a lengthy spell. Goodridge, Nathan Edward, Giovonte Depeiza and Captain Rivaldo Clarke supported with one wicket each.
Facing a substantial first innings deficit of 178 runs, the West Indies Academy struggled in their second innings and were dismissed for 157 in 42 overs during the post-lunch session.
Mbeki Joseph top-scored with 28 from 26 balls, striking four fours and a six, while Maverda Dindyal made 41 from 55 deliveries with six boundaries. Depeiza contributed 34 from 76 balls, and Captain Clarke scored 24.
However, no batter was able to convert their start into a
substantial innings as the Harpy Eagles’ bowlers maintained control throughout.
Looknauth capped a memorable match with the ball, taking 6-36 from 12 overs to dismantle the academy batting line-up. He removed Dindyal, Depeiza, Carlon Bowen-Tuckett, Goodridge, Raneico Smith and Kelvin Pitman.
Gudakesh Motie supported with 2-27 from 10 overs, dismissing Clarke and Edward, while Lovell claimed 2-56. Veerasammy Permaul also kept things tight with figures of 0-16 from seven overs.
Earlier in the match, the West Indies Academy won the toss and elected to bat, posting what had looked like an imposing 485 all out off the back of Clarke’s 180, a Goodridge century and 60 from Joseph.
However, with Matthew Nandu’s career-best 237, along with a century on debut from Jonathan Van Lange (133) and Looknauth’s 77, GHE swiftly turned the tide.
Meanwhile in the playoff match between Barbados Pride and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, the latter defeated Barbados by 140 runs to seal a place in the final. Red Force had won the toss and elected to bat, making 333 before returning with the ball to dismiss Barbados for 296 to retain a slender lead. Batting a second time, Red Force were dismissed for 280, setting Barbados 318 for victory. In response, Barbados were skittled for 177, losing by 140 runs.
The Harpy Eagles will now turn their attention to defending their West Indies Championship title against traditional rivals
Guyana Football Federation
(GFF) President Wayne Forde has revealed that the departure of Golden Jaguars Head Coach Thomas Dooley was not unexpected, noting that the Federation had already begun preparing for the possibility of his exit before the official announcement was made.
In a statement issued Tuesday night, the GFF confirmed that Dooley had decided to pursue opportunities outside of Guyana, bringing an end to his ninemonth tenure after taking charge of the national programme on September 9, 2025.
Speaking on the side-lines of an event on Wednesday, Forde said the Federation had maintained close communication with Dooley and was aware that the coach was being considered for another role internationally.
“No, it was not a complete surprise, as I’m sure you’re aware, the GFF maintains very, very good relationships with every member of staff, and because of that good relationship, we typically have early warning of any opportunity they might be considering,” Forde said.
“That way we are prepared to start thinking what the future will be. I have had very, very good conversations with Coach Dooley over the past couple of days after he was engaged by an organisation that I wouldn’t name until he makes that announcement or the organisation makes that announcement.”
Forde acknowledged that Dooley’s growing reputation in international football made it difficult for Guyana to compete financially with larger Federations, particularly during a World Cup cycle when there is a demand for
experienced coaches.
“The truth of the matter is that Coach Dooley is a high-profile coach. We saw clearly what he is capable of doing, and this is why we brought him. It was my hope that he would be with us for two years, but there is a lot of excitement in world football because we are in a World Cup year, and as a small Federation, we cannot compete with larger Federations,” Forde explained.
“So, when someone is made an offer that we are unable to compete with, the best we can do is thank them for their service and wish them well. It’s not the end of it; this is all part of international football. Coaches will come, coaches will go.”
During his tenure, Dooley guided the Golden Jaguars to victories against Bonaire (21), Antigua and Barbuda (4-1), Dominica (2-0), and Belize (3-1) between November 2025 and March 2026.
Forde said those results demonstrated clear progress within the national programme and insisted the Federation is already preparing for the next phase.
“Over the next couple of days, I will meet with the council, and we will deliberate what the next steps are. I think the evidence is clear that the programme is growing; Coach Dooley was able to register four good wins, and we will do everything we can to build on that,” he stated.
“To the fans, it could be a bit alarming, but we are well prepared for his exit.”
Looking ahead, Forde said the Federation’s immediate objective remains securing promotion back to League A of the Concacaf Nations League.
“We are always thinking about continuity, consistency and stability, and we have a massive task starting September; we are determined to do everything we can to get back to League A,” he said.
“We will look both inside and outside to make our own early assessment to determine whether we have the right personnel in place to achieve that, but there has been no decision as yet because it requires some deliberation at the level of the council first.”
Forde also addressed concerns surrounding the trend of foreign coaches leaving the Golden Jaguars setup after relatively short periods.
Protecting the Federation’s position, Forde noted that international football contracts are structured to allow flexibility for both parties.
“The interesting thing about international football and head coaches is that the Federation also wants to have the right to release that person quickly and immediately if they are unable to deliver the results,” Forde said.
“International and national team football are resultsorientated, and so the contracts have to be built in such a way that both parties can exercise their right to move on. It is not fair for us to try to lock someone into something when we ourselves would want to get out of it if it were not delivering the expectations of the nation and the national Federation.”
Despite the departure, Forde repeatedly praised Dooley’s contribution to the national setup and admitted it was disappointing to see the American coach leave before completing his two-year agreement.
GHE all-rounder Richie Looknauth capped a brilliant effort with 6/36, consigning the West Indies Academy to an innings and 21 runs defeat
Following the official launch of the Youth Ensemble Programme over the weekend, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) distributed equipment and operational support to the nine Regional Member Associations (RMAs) in preparation for the upcoming U13, U15 and U17 Boys’ Championships, a missive from the Federation recently divulged.
The materials distributed included footballs, bibs and refereeing equipment such as jerseys, flags, cards and whistles, all aimed at ensuring the smooth and professional execution of the competitions across the respective regions. In addition, the GFF will provide financial contributions to assist with ground rentals, payment of medical personnel and coordinators, refreshments, and other match-day operational and logistical requirements.
The initiative forms part of the Federation’s wider commitment to strengthening youth football competition structures within the regional associations and ensuring that young players across Guyana are provided with the resources and opportunities needed to develop and compete
at a high standard. Over the next four years, the programme is expected to target approximately 130 clubs and directly impact more than 3000 boys across multiple age categories.
The President of the Guyana Football Federation, Wayne Forde, applauded the commitment shown by the regional associations and expressed gratitude for their continued dedication to the development of youth football nationwide.
“I want to thank the regional associations for their hard work, commitment and unwavering support as we continue to build stronger foundations for youth football across Guyana. Your efforts are critical to the successful implementation of the Youth Ensemble Programme and to creating meaningful opportunities for our young players,” Forde stated.
The Youth Ensemble Programme continues to represent one of the most significant investments in the future of football development in Guyana, with a strategic focus on expanding structured competitions, improving player development pathways and strengthening the overall football ecosystem.
In a major announcement on Wednesday, the Government of Barbados and the Royals Sports Group (RSG) revealed that the iconic “Barbados Tridents” franchise will be making a return to the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) as part of an ambitious One Barbados initiative. This historic three-year partnership is intended to be part of a much larger national movement, where the newly-relaunched Barbados Tridents will serve as a beacon of national pride, reaffirming the franchise as a year-round national asset and introducing what is believed to be a first-of-its-kind public–private partnership in elite franchise cricket.
our national colours, with a name that speaks to who we are.”
She continued, “We want to make sure that the Barbados Tridents are at the heart of our national story – inspiring our young people, strengthening our global presence, and demonstrating how sport can serve the wider national interest. We welcome this innovative public–private partnership that presents a new model for collaboration between Government and professional sport, as well as the renewed commitment of the Royals Sports Group to Barbados, our people and our future.”
relevance across sport, tourism, investment and innovation.”
Majority ownership and day-to-day management of the franchise will remain unchanged, with the team continuing to operate as part of the Royals Sports Group, one of the world’s leading multi-team sports ownership platforms. The One Barbados partnership signifies RSG’s deepening commitment to Barbados and the Caribbean Premier League, underpinned by a partnership underpinned by ambition, long-term stability and a clear focus on success on and off the field.
After five years as the Barbados Royals, the franchise will return to its national colours in a brand-new, redesigned matchday jersey in recognition of the country’s deep cricketing history and enduring national pride.
Speaking on the historic announcement, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley pointed to the significance of the One Barbados partnership as the island prepares to celebrate 60 years of independence.
“As Barbados marks its 60th year of independence, the One Barbados partnership encapsulates everything that we, as a young nation, have accomplished thus far,” stated Mottley. “The return to the Barbados Tridents reflects our confidence, our pride and our ambition as a nation as we begin to chart the path towards our next 60 years. Cricket has long been a core pillar of our national identity and self-determination. As such, it is incredibly fitting that through this partnership, we will see ourselves represented, in
Through the partnership, the Government of Barbados and the Royals Sports Group have agreed in principle to the Government becoming a minority co-investor in the franchise, subject to the relevant approvals. This strategic alignment is designed to reinforce the team’s role as a national asset and a pillar of Barbadian pride, while aligning public purpose with privatesector expertise in elite franchise sport. The partnership also represents the Royals Sports Group’s renewed long-term commitment to Barbados, with a multi-year commitment designed to deliver year-round impact well beyond the CPL season.
Manoj Badale, Lead Owner of the Royals Sports Group, affirmed the Group’s commitment to the franchise, stating, “One Barbados is a landmark partnership and, we believe, a first-of-its-kind public–private collaboration in elite franchise cricket. It reflects our long-term belief in Barbados – not only as a cricketing powerhouse but also as a nation with deep global
“Relaunching the franchise as the Barbados Tridents, playing in the national colours, is a powerful statement of pride and intent,” continued Badale. “We remain fully committed to Barbados, to the CPL, and to one clear ambition: sustained success, with both the men’s and women’s CPL titles brought home to the island.”
The RSG’s longstanding affinity with the colour pink, which originated through its charitable initiatives including support for cancer awareness and women’s empowerment, will continue to be proudly embraced by the relaunched Barbados Tridents. As part of One Barbados, the franchise will host a dedicated charity match during the CPL season, raising funds for Barbadian charitable causes and reinforcing the team’s commitment to social impact alongside on-field success.
Under the Barbados Tridents name, the franchise had won two titles in 2014 and 2019.
