Guyana Times - Tuesday, September 22, 2026

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Guyana meets with OpenAI on delivering smarter, faster health care Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 6584

THE BEACON OF TRUTH TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026

“We’re not just cheering you on, we’re very proud to be your partner” – US EXIM …deepens Guyana partnership, backs Chair GtE-2, deepwater port, housing projects Page 3

PRICE $100 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

“We can’t operate like the Wild P7 West” – Bharrat …as Govt steps up crackdown on illegal mining, gold smuggling

Businessman P shot, robbed 10 while on cell phone in yard

US deportee P9 charged with 2015 murder of male sex worker

24-year-old woman now 4th Corentyne crash victim within P7 1 week President Dr Irfaan Ali on Monday during a discussion hosted by the FIU Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom at the Harvard Club of New York City

Global wheat prices surge, Guyana faces possible price increases …as global supply also tightens

…discharged from NA hospital, readmitted hours later, dies days later

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US visa security Local airlines call for checks continue better inspections, even after issuance perimeter security, – Embassy wildlife control at runways Airstrip incursions

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Husband, wife, farmer die in cutlass-and-knife brawl at Aranka See story on page 10

Bandits put P9 cutlass to child’s neck during Sheet Anchor robbery – Father

2 NEWS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Airstrip incursions

Local airlines call for better inspections, perimeter security, wildlife control at runways L

ocal airlines have called on the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and other stakeholders to ensure better inspections, perimeter security and wildlife control measures to address the issue of animal incursions at hinterland airstrips. The call was made via a statement issued on Monday by the Aviation Operators’ Association of Guyana (AOAG) and comes on the heels of an animal incursion forcing a Trans Guyana Airways (TGA) plane to run off the runway at Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini). According to the AOAG, “the recent aircraft occurrence at Mabaruma has again brought public attention to the issue of runway incursions.” It said while the circumstances of that occurrence are subject to investigation by the GCAA, the wider problem of animals and persons entering aerodrome operating areas has long been a concern to aircraft operators. “An aircraft taking off or landing is operating at a critical phase of flight. The sudden appearance of a dog, cow, horse, pig, bird, person, vehicle or other obstruction on a runway can

The Trans Guyana Airways plane after running off the runway in Mabaruma, Region One

leave a pilot with only seconds to react. Avoiding a collision may require a rejected take-off, go-around, emergency braking or evasive action, any of which can place passengers, crew and the aircraft at considerable risk,” the association emphasised. It explained that hinterland aerodromes are essential lifelines for many communities, providing access to medical evacuation, food and supplies, passenger transportation, Government services, tourism and emergency response. “Protecting these aerodromes must therefore be a shared responsibility,” the AOAG said. In this regard, the association urged residents living near aerodromes to

keep livestock away from airport boundaries, refrain from crossing runways or damaging perimeter fences, and immediately report animals, persons or other hazards observed within restricted airport areas. “We also encourage the relevant authorities, aerodrome operators and aircraft operators to continue strengthening runway inspections, perimeter security, wildlife-control measures and mechanisms for reporting and responding to hazards. The objective must not be to assign blame, but to prevent an avoidable tragedy,” the AOAG emphasised. According to the association, “a runway is not a roadway, footpath or grazing area. When an aircraft

is taking off or landing, even a few seconds can mean the difference between a normal operation and a serious accident.” The AOAG said it therefore calls upon communities throughout Guyana to help protect hinterland aerodromes and the lives of everyone who depends upon them. “The AOAG also calls upon the GCAA to assert its authority to ensure that all of our aerodromes are regulated to observe and meet the required safety standards,” the statement added.

Mabaruma crash

On September 17, a TGA Cessna Caravan aircraft with registration 8R-GCC was forced to run off the runway at Mabaruma as a result of an animal incursion onto the runway, causing considerable damage to the aircraft and endangering passenger safety, while the aircraft was landing. In a statement following the incident, TGA raised concerns about the issue of animal incursion on hinterland runways. “The matter of animal and, indeed, human invasion of hinterland airports owned and operated by the Government and currently under significant expansion and development, is of con-

File photo: In April a TGA aircraft was damaged after striking a capybara during landing at the Eugene F Correia (Ogle) International Airport Ogle

siderable concern to Trans Guyana Airways and, indeed, a continuing threat to all commercial and private aircraft utilising these aerodromes which are not under required supervision,” Trans Guyana said. In fact, the airline highlighted that it previously brought this matter to the attention of the GCAA on June 16, 2026 and September 9, 2026. Moreover, in the statement, TGA said it remains at the disposal of the GCAA, together with all other licensed aircraft operators, in collaboration with the AOAG, to have this matter urgently and satisfactorily addressed.

Capybara

In April, it was reported that a TGA aircraft was damaged after striking a capybara during landing at the Eugene F. Correia (Ogle) International Airport, Ogle. The aircraft, a Beechcraft 1900 bearing registration 8R-GAQ, had arrived from Suriname shortly when the incident occurred. Preliminary information indicates that the aircraft’s propeller made contact with the animal on the runway. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft and caused it to veer off the runway.

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENING

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, September 22 – 13:45h-15:15h and Wednesday, September 23 – 14:25h-15:55h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to light showers are expected during the morning and early-afternoon hours followed by sunny skies, with clear skies at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius. Winds: North-Easterly to Easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.47 metres. High Tide: 13:55h reaching a maximum height of 2.15 metres. Low Tide: 07:20h and 19:45h reaching minimum heights of 1.04 metres and 1.06 metres.

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COMMODITIES Indicators Crude Oil

US$ $101.10/barrel

Rough Rice

$288.36/ton

London Sugar

$507.50/ton

Live Spot Gold

Change %

+0.80 -0.25 -0.26 USD Per Ounce

Low/High

$4341.20 $4321.90

$4343.20 $4384.30

Change

-1.60

-0.04%

Bid/Ask

“We’re not just cheering you on, we’re very proud to be your partner” – US EXIM Chair …deepens Guyana partnership, backs GtE-2, deepwater port, housing projects

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resident Dr Irfaan Ali on Monday said the United States Export-Import Bank (US EXIM) has reaffirmed its commitment to Guyana’s development agenda, with discussions in New York focusing on the completion and financing of major energy, infrastructure and housing projects. Ali made the disclosure following a working meeting with US EXIM Bank Chair John Jovanovic, during which the two sides reviewed a portfolio of existing and proposed projects. The discussions included the Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Project, the proposed second phase of the initiative, the planned deepwater port, affordable housing, security, the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) and the Lethem Airport Project. Ali said the meeting demonstrated the strengthening relationship between Guyana and US EXIM, while noting that the bank was prepared to work with Guyana and other international stakeholders to find solutions for existing projects and advance new investments. “Today [Monday] we had another important meeting with US EXIM. I want to thank John and the entire team from US EXIM for the strong commitment and the strengthening of our relationship,” Ali said. He said that US EXIM had demonstrated its commitment to what he described as Guyana’s “transformative agenda” and to being involved in major projects ahead. A key area of discussion was the GtE initiative. Ali said the two sides discussed completing GtE-1 and securing financing for GtE-2, with US EXIM committing to be part of the financing arrangements.

“Deeply committed”

Jovanovic said the bank was “deeply committed” to ensuring that GtE-1 is completed and that GtE-2 is brought forward. “The vision that you have for transforming, industrialising Guyana all depends on reliable base electricity and power generation, and so we want to ensure that, that serves as a foundational backbone,” Jovanovic said. The proposed deepwater port was also among the proj-

President Dr Irfaan Ali and US EXIM Bank Chair John Jovanovic following a working meeting in New York on Monday

ects discussed. Ali said he was pleased with the outcome of the meeting and US EXIM’s willingness to participate in a structure that would facilitate investment in the port. “I’m very happy at the outcome of our meeting that EXIM would be part of a structure that would see the investment in this port,” Ali said. He added that US EXIM’s support and investment in Guyana was expanding beyond the energy sector into housing, security and other areas of national interest. The President also said the meeting addressed the proposed AFHP, including opportunities for US companies, as well as the de-

velopment of the Lethem Airport. US EXIM, he said, was honoured to be part of a group of international partners supporting Guyana’s infrastructure development. “Likewise, some of the more transformative projects that you have in mind, via the Deepwater Port and other critical infrastructure, we’re honoured to be a part of a broad-based group of other like-minded international actors who want to see you succeed,” he said.

Affordable housing

The bank’s involvement in affordable housing was also highlighted. He said US EXIM was advanc-

ing an Affordable Housing Construction Project in partnership with US companies and businesses, pointing to the importance of ensuring that the benefits of international partnerships reach ordinary Guyanese. “Every time I’m with President Ali, he always talks about the everyday Guyana and how they can benefit from these partnerships,” Jovanovic said. He said the housing project was intended to involve US companies and businesses, adding that US EXIM viewed America as a long-term strategic partner to Guyana. TURN TO PAGE 7

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Industrial Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

AI & Guyana’s healthcare transformation

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he decision to explore how artificial intelligence can be incorporated more deeply into Guyana’s healthcare system is an important leap in the country’s continuing effort to modernise the delivery of medical services. The significance of the engagement with OpenAI speaks to the question of how Guyana can use innovation, data and digital systems to build a healthcare system that is more accessible, efficient, responsive and capable of delivering better outcomes. Guyana’s health sector is already moving in this direction as artificial intelligence is operational at 21 health facilities, with plans for expansion, while AI-supported systems are being used to assist with the interpretation of X-rays, CT scans and ultrasounds. At facilities such as the Enmore Regional Hospital, the technology can identify potential abnormalities and pathologies within seconds, allowing medical professionals to prioritise cases for review. Such applications shows that AI, when properly deployed, become an additional tool for doctors, nurses, technicians and administrators, particularly in a country where specialist expertise and advanced medical services have historically been concentrated in Georgetown and other coastal centres. That potential becomes even more significant when AI is considered alongside Guyana’s expanding telemedicine network. Telemedicine has already been established in more than 130 locations, connecting healthcare workers in remote communities with doctors and specialists elsewhere in the country. The combination of telemedicine and AI could help reduce the geographical barriers that have long affected healthcare access. A community health worker in a remote village should increasingly be able to obtain specialist guidance without requiring a patient to undertake a costly and time-consuming journey to Georgetown. AI-supported diagnostic tools could provide additional information for consideration by qualified healthcare professionals, while telemedicine could connect those professionals to patients and frontline workers. This is where technology can have its greatest social impact by extending healthcare workers’ reach and strengthening their capacity. The continuing development of Electronic Health Records is another critical component of this transformation. The system has already been introduced at the Festival City Polyclinic and is being rolled out at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). More than 5900 patient profiles had reportedly been created at Festival City, while the GPHC has begun progressively digitising medical records. A properly-integrated electronic health record system can significantly improve continuity of care. Patient information can be accessed more efficiently, duplication can be reduced, treatment histories can be monitored more effectively, and clinicians can make decisions with a more complete picture of a patient’s medical history. The same principle applies to the management of medicines and medical supplies. The development of regional distribution centres, coupled with a digitised supply-chain management system, is intended to improve stock management, reduce waste, and strengthen distribution across the country. Guyana is also beginning to introduce drones and robotics into health care, showing that the transformation is not confined to software. The opportunity, however, must be accompanied by responsibility as the use of AI in health care requires strong safeguards for patient privacy, data security, clinical accountability, and accuracy. Artificial intelligence should support professional medical judgment rather than replace it. Systems must also be properly tested, monitored, and evaluated to ensure that technological advancement translates into measurable improvements in patient care. The engagement with OpenAI should be seen as part of a much larger transformation already under way. Guyana has begun building the digital infrastructure necessary for a more connected healthcare system. Technology cannot solve every healthcare challenge; however, it can help remove some of the barriers that have constrained access, efficiency and timely decision-making. The exploration of AI is about embracing a new technology.

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Students of President’s College using the school’s newly-renovated Home Economics lab (Education Ministry photos)

NEWS

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Bartica bids farewell to Mayor Anthony Murray

The late Mayor Anthony Murray

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ocal Government and Regional Development Minister Priya Manickchand and Minister within the Ministry,

Pauline Sukhai on Monday joined residents of Bartica in bidding farewell to the town’s late Mayor,

Anthony Murray, who died last week after suffering a heart attack. The Ministry, in a post on social me-

dia, said the farewell provided an opportunity for the township to reflect on Murray’s service and con-

Aubrey Retemyer is most simplistic regarding the deportee programme Dear Editor, Aubrey Retemyer descends to the level of a puny apprentice when he commented on the deportee programme that Guyana is now in compliance with (The deportee programme- Sep 20, 2026 Letters). He says that he is in “… disgust and disappointment…” as this “… marks a dark chapter …” in Guyana’s sovereignty, transparency, independence and democracy. Since print media is dying, and normally space is limited and reading long letters creates a horrible ennui, I will ask of Retemyer the following questions, since his accusation and suspicions were told as though they were actualities. 1-How come you know the Government had no choice but to accept ‘unconditionally’ the deportees. Please bring the evidence, as this will tell us who has sovereignty, or whether or not “Despite President Irfaan Ali boasting about Guyana’s sovereignty and independence, his administration

was allegedly bullied by the US to accept the first batch of four deported Cuban and two Afghan nationals who recently arrived in Guyana.” 2-Proof again is needed for my second question since you, Retemeyer, say that “…information has come to light that this might not be so.” Again, I say, bring me the evidence. 3-Your verbose tirade that Guyanese cannot trust this Government, amounts to verbal dung. Saying that the Government is shrouded in secrecy, cover-ups and does not believe that it is accountable to anyone…” self-debunks, as winning the last two elections, is the ultimate proof of trust, as ‘trust is reposed in winners of elections.’ 4-You stated that “Guyanese found out about the Cuban and Afghan arrivals only after they had already landed on local soil, and that these deportees are tinged with criminality, but again, “Where is the evidence?” Anecdotes and hearsays carry no weight.

Now I move to a few remarks that will hopefully instruct the likes of Retemyer. Firstly, as a result of The Burnham Legacy, people fled Guyana illegally, and the latest count approximates to some 1,236 Guyanese citizens living in the US with finalised, non-detainer judicial orders of deportation. The number climbs higher as overall the Guyanese-American community is estimated to be at several hundred thousand people, who are currently undocumented, primarily due to overstaying temporary tourist, business, or student visas. I cannot put this aside and say that the US is bullying Guyana. Secondly, the matter is not ad hoc concerning these deportees, as it is the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), who is handling the issue. The IMO is highly credible and is the leading intergovernmental organisation dedicated to migration. Its scope spreads over 100 countries with 175 member states.

Thirdly, this initial wave of merely six deportees falls under a one-year migration cooperation framework between Washington and Georgetown, and yes, Guyana can abort the programme at any time. This is because Guyana retains complete sovereignty and has a total “veto power”, as President Irfaan Ali explicitly stated. Finally, the shift of turn around, has nothing to do with bullyism as the shift represents a calculated diplomatic compromise, where Guyana has sovereign options to end it, and financing is the responsibility of the US. I apprise the public that only a few days ago, Greenland and Denmark granted Washington a high-profile “win” regarding Arctic defence, while successfully protecting Greenland’s right to govern itself. This position proves expedience and is mutually beneficial. Yours truly, Raymond Anderson

tribution to Bartica and its residents. Murray, a longstanding community figure in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), served as a councillor before becoming Mayor following the 2023 Local Government Elections. He suffered a heart attack on September 8 and was subsequently medevacked to Georgetown for medical attention. He died while receiving treatment. Following news of his death, tributes were issued by President Dr Irfaan Ali, the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Seven and other members of the community. President Ali had described Murray as someone who devoted himself to the service of Bartica

and its development. The President noted Murray’s transition from the business community into public service and his advocacy for infrastructure, economic opportunities and improved services in the township. The Region Seven RDC also described Murray as a public servant and community leader who contributed to the development and well-being of Bartica. In its Monday message, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development extended condolences to Murray’s family, loved ones, colleagues and the people of Bartica. “May his memory continue to be honoured through the community he served,” the Ministry stated.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 00:00 Sign Off 06:00 Islam for Guyana 06:30 TVG Devotional Hour 07:00 Evening News (RB) 08:00 HGTV 10:00 Stop Suffering 11:00 Documentary: Nat Geo Animals 12:00 Movie - Spy Kids 3: Game Over (2003) 13:30 Movie - Spy Kids 4-D: All the Time in the World (2011) 15:00 Cartoons 16:00 Indian Soaps 17:00 The Young & The Restless 18:00 TVG Music Break 18:30 Teaching the Truth in Love 19:00 The Evening News 20:00 Stop Suffering 20:30 GIT Perspectives 21:30 Movie - Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026

Foundation ◄

Page

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Venn Diagram probability cont’d Remember, in order to calculate probabilities from a Venn Diagram: 1. Determine the parts of the Venn Diagram that are in the subset. 2. Calculate the frequency of the subset. 3. Calculate the total frequency of the larger set. 4. Write the probability as a fraction, and simplify.

By Cynthia D ewi O ka Bless you, tiny blue-backed submarine, humming with war, humbling creatures five hundred times TO BE CONTINUE

the crescent of the left circle:

your size, who, for all their gates and locks and alarm systems can’t stop you from penetrating the rooms that for all the feng shui, and bleach, and curation by erasure (but does it spark joy?!) can’t hide from you the stench of waste that once throbbed with living. What we discard, finally, in shame or excess; what we cannot digest; what we’ve given up trying to resuscitate; what we break in rage, and refuse to

Venn Diagram probability examples Example 1: two-set Venn Diagram The universal set ξ={0 < x ≤ 20 x,is an integer }. What is the probability of picking a number from the universal set that is a multiple of 4, but not a multiple of 5?

grieve: you lay your eggs in. And while we stare at glowing screens in our hands, wishing for other 2. Calculate the frequency of the subset. The frequency of numbers within this subset is 4. 3. Calculate the total frequency of the larger set. The larger set is the universal set. The total frequency is therefore: 12+4+1+3=20. 4. Write the probability as a fraction, and simplify. 4 = 1. 20 5

1. Determine the parts of the Venn diagram that are in the subset. The subset of the multiples of 4 that are not a multiple of 5 is

versions of ourselves, your larvae hatch, and feed, and burrow into the open wounds of the world to grow their wings. When ready, just like you they’ll rudder, jeweled with pollen, through the liquid gray of cities raised on crushed hills, vaporized rivers, forests flattened to asphalt. What do you care about derision? About the old, impotent hatreds? Your conscience is clean. Small, brief god. You see me as I can never see myself: through many points of light. The marigold, peach, grasshopper I could become when you and even

I

n this fun and easy rocket science and space science experiment for kids, we’re going to figure out if your house is moving. A clear night

Materials:

Instructions: On a clear night, lie in your yard facing south with a corner of your house to your right. Pick a star that is close to the edge of the house and watch it closely. After several minutes, the star will disappear behind the house. How it works: Although the star seems to move, it is actually the house moving as part of the Earth’s rotation.

Make this a science project: Try to identify constellations in the night sky. Try to identify planets. Try to identify stars. (sciencefun.org)

smaller gods are done feasting, when the curtain rises on the other side of the quiet to which all stories return. (Source: Poetry [September 2026])

Write a starscape ballad. WORD SEARCH

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“We can’t operate like the Wild West” – Bharrat …as Govt steps up crackdown on illegal mining, gold smuggling

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he Government is intensifying its crackdown on illegal mining and gold smuggling, while strengthening gold traceability and enforcement measures to ensure miners sell their gold only to legitimate buyers and comply with established mining regulations as the mining sector expands. Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat made the comment during a recent social media interview, noting that the Government has seen an increase in the number of Guyanese entering the mining sector, including individuals who had never previously engaged in mining and those who had left the industry. “A lot of people have been getting into mining. People have never been in mining before. People who have left min-

ing, they’re going to get in mainly because of the price and all that. What we said to miners is that you must be compliant.” He posited that anywhere in the world, there are laws, regulations, rules and conditions that must be followed. He said the Natural Resources Ministry encourages mining and is willing to work with miners, whether they operate on a small, medium or large scale, or within communities, but stressed that they must comply with the laws of Guyana. The increase has been attributed, in part, to the prevailing price of minerals. However, Bharrat reminded miners that they must remain compliant with the relevant laws and regulations governing mining activities.

Wild West

“We can’t operate like the Wild West and say that, oh, ‘the Government is cracking, clamping down on the mining and the Government is putting pressure on us’... It’s not about putting pressure. It is about ensuring everybody is in compliance with the law. And I don’t see how difficult it is to comply with the law. If you’re a Guyanese, you should comply with the law. If you’re a foreigner and you come to our country, you have to follow our laws. Because we can’t go to another country and do anything illegal.” He added, by drawing other scenarios Guyanese tend to adhere to in other parts of the world. “We can’t go to another country and engage in illegal mining or smuggling gold. And

likewise, no one should be allowed to come to our country and engage in illegal mining.” Meanwhile, as part of efforts to regularise mining activities and ensure compliance with the law, the Government has been conducting a campaign targeting mining districts and communities. “So, we have been on a serious campaign to ensure that activities in the mining district or communities are regularised and are in

compliance with the law. The production or the produce, the gold produced are sold to a legitimate buyer and there are three categories of legitimate buyers when I say that.” Only recently, two water dredges and a quantity of gold were seized following the discovery and dismantling of yet another illegal mining operation, this time along the Puruni River in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni). During the exercise, the

Ministry related that the team focused on mining activities within the river’s buffer zone. Following the discovery of the illegal operation, three persons were arrested and taken to the Puruni Landing outpost, where they were interrogated. Earlier this month, several persons, including Venezuelan nationals, were detained following the discovery of an illegal mining operation in the Potaro mining district, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), as authorities continued their crackdown on illegal mining. It was reported that on September 10, several Venezuelans and other non-nationals were arrested at the illegal mining operation, resulting in the seizure of several pieces of mining equipment and a quantity of gold.

24-year-old woman now 4th Corentyne crash victim within 1 week …discharged from NA hospital, readmitted hours later, dies days later

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24-year-old Letter Kenny Village woman has died several days after she was injured and trapped inside a car that crashed into a trench along the Auchlyne Public Road, Corentyne. Reanna Ramkisson became the fourth person to die following separate accidents along the Corentyne Highway in just over one week. The accident occurred at approximately 22:20h on September 14, while Ramkisson was travelling in the front passen-

Dead: Reanna Ramkisson

ger seat of motor car, PYY 6384. The vehicle was being driven by a 25-yearold of Stanleytown, New Amsterdam. Information reaching this publication indicated that the car was travelling west along the southern driving lane at a fast rate when a donkey reportedly ran from south to north into its path. The driver reportedly swerved to avoid the animal but lost control of the vehicle, which crossed the roadway and ended up in a trench on the northern side. The

“We’re not just cheering... Catalyst for stability

Jovanovic also linked the partnership with Guyana to US President Donald Trump’s stated commitment to peace, prosperity and stability in the Western Hemisphere. “This partnership we have with Guyana is of critical importance,” Jovanovic said. “President Ali, your success is Guyana’s success in this regard, and Guyana’s success is our success in terms of bringing about peace, prosperity, stability throughout

the Western Hemisphere.” Guyana, he added, could serve as a catalyst for stability in the region. Ali said the discussions were the result of work undertaken by both teams over recent months and expressed appreciation for US EXIM’s continued engagement. “We look forward for a strong partnership, and I want to thank your team and our team for the work that they have been doing over the last couple of months to bring us to this position,”

FROM PAGE 3

Ali said. Jovanovic, in response, credited Ali’s continued engagement with US EXIM. “Well, it’s your tireless efforts, your tireless work,” he said, adding that there were “very few weekends” when he did not receive a call from the President on an issue. He also commended the Guyanese team for its commitment to implementing the President’s development agenda. “We’re not just cheering you on, we’re very proud to be your partner,” Jovanovic said.

driver managed to exit the vehicle, but Ramkisson remained trapped inside. She was subsequently removed with the assistance of public-spirited citizens and taken to the Port Mourant Public Hospital. Ramkisson was treated for fluid in her lungs and kept under observation before being discharged at approximately 11:00h the following day. However, about three hours later, she was taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital after complaining of feeling unwell. She

was readmitted and placed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where she remained for several days before her death. Relatives declined to comment when this publication visited the family following Ramkisson’s death. Police were informed of the accident shortly after it occurred and visited the scene. However, up to the time of publication, the Police had not publicly released information about either the accident or Ramkisson’s subsequent death. Her death

follows three other fatal accidents along the Corentyne Highway. Fourteen-yearold Giresh Lautan of Number 52 Village died following an accident at Number 50 Village, while 19-year-old Albion Sugar Estate worker Danesh “Brian” Prabudial lost his life when the motorcycle he was riding crashed at Albion. Headteacher Sonia Williams, 51, of Chesney Housing Scheme, was also killed in a hit-and-run accident at Rose Hall Town.

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Where’s… A

…the US$?

lot of business folks are getting very frustrated – even though more US$ are entering the economy than ever before, they just can’t get enough of them!! The numbers make the puzzle quite stark – Government says US$3.115B in foreign currency flowed through the financial system during the first half of 2026 – while commercial banks purchased US$2.279B and Bank of Guyana (BoG) foreigncurrency injections reached US$836M. Yet the banks report more than US$200 million in unmet demand!! Credit-card settlements alone reached about US$356 million in 2026 – showing how rapidly our demand for foreign goods and services is expanding!! The thing is, that US$3.115B of foreign-currency “availability” ain’t a pile of US$3.115 billion greenbacks sitting in bank vaults waiting for importers – it’s a flow!! Dollars enter and leave all the time through exports, imports, investment, debt payments, credit cards, profit repatriation and so on!! And Oil complicates the picture further. Our oil revenues don’t flow directly into the commercial foreign-exchange market – but first enter the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) handled by the BoG. The 2026 Budget permits approximately US$2.374 billion to be withdrawn from the NRF, which the BoG will transfer to the Consolidated Fund this year – in Guyana$$!! That distinction is critical. A US$ in the NRF ain’t the same thing as a US$ available at Republic Bank, GBTI, or a Cambio. Let’s say the Government withdraws US$100 million from the NRF to finance roads, schools and drainage. The contractors gonna be paid in Guyana dollars, but will need US$ for excavators, trucks, fuel, spare parts, etc!! Likewise, their workers will spend their increased incomes on imported food, cars, electronics, travel and online purchases!! The BoG would then sell the banks the US$ they need from the US$100M it held as reserves – after transferring the equivalent G$ to the Consolidated Fund!! Thus oil revenues can produce the apparent contradiction of increasing Guyana’s foreign assets while simultaneously generating even greater demand for foreign exchange!! The same applies to rapidly-expanding private credit – as of June 2026, private-sector credit was already 11.5% above December’s level, while household credit had risen 14.6%. More G$ circulating through a heavily import-dependent economy eventually means more people arriving at the banks asking for US$!! So the important question ain’t no longer, “Does Guyana have enough US dollars?” Clearly, we got those plenty at the BoG!! The pertinent question is how quickly are they entering the commercial banking system to satisfy demands for US$ by its impatient customers – and also to clear G$ piling up as deposits to create excess liquidity – since it doesn’t appear that the BoG is doing that by issuing T-Bills!! So, we got a situation of “US$, US$ everywhere – but not a US$ to spend”!! …the squealer? There was once a PNC Guyanese fella from Brooklyn who squealed that he was so thick with Democratic Congressional leader Hakeem Jeffries – who’s also a leader in the Congressional Black Caucus – that breeze couldn’t pass between them – literally!! A couple of years ago he inveigled the Congressman to support his hysterical line that the PPP Govt was discriminating against African Guyanese!! Well, since then, the PPP’s inclusiveness has become so deepened and widened that the shift in African Guyanese support for them must’ve been so obvious that even with Hakeem fighting for Democratic relevance against the Trump Juggernaut in the upcoming mid-term elections – had to take notice!! Your Eyewitness, therefore, wasn’t surprised to see him posing with PPP’s Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith last week at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, DC.!! Didn’t see the squealer anywhere in sight!! He also seemed to’ve teed off the local foaming-mouth extremists like Black Pudding Man – ‘cause they’ve blanked him!! …the hegemon? If Sanction Man’s daady’s to be believed, the PPP Government is so powerful that it’s able to order around the most powerful nation on Earth!! The fella’s insisting the recent visa yanking of a Judge was the PPP’s doing!! The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

NEWS

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Bandits put cutlass to child’s neck during Sheet Anchor robbery – Father …robbed of $375,000, 5 phones

A

32-year-old chef has said that armed bandits assaulted him and his two young children during an early-morning robbery at their Sheet Anchor, East Canje home, escaping with $375,000 and five cellular phones. The robbery occurred at approximately 03:00h on Sunday. Police reported that the victim and his children were asleep when two armed men confronted them. The chef said he awoke to someone choking him and saw three men standing beside his bed. He said none of the men wore masks. According to the father, one of the intruders pointed a gun at him and repeatedly demanded money. When he told them that he did not have any, one of the men allegedly struck his

son in the head, awakening the child. The chef said the bandits then turned their attention to his daughter. “They grabbed her and they put the cutlass to her neck and said if I can’t give them the money, they’re going to kill the child in front of me,” he related. The father said he then remembered that he had money which was to be given to his mother for safekeeping as it was a donation. The chef said the bandits took him and the children downstairs, where his son was forced to open a shop operated on the property. The attackers then removed money, packaged snacks and other goods from the shop. He further alleged that the men slapped his son while attempting to re-

US deportee charged with 2015 murder of male sex worker

Dead: Noel “Nephi” Luther and murder accused Ron “Andel” Forde

K

anand Ojha, who was reported from the United States of America (USA) on Friday, was on Monday remanded to prison for the 2015 murder of male sex worker Noel “Nephi” Luther. Ojha was arrested in Queens, New York, back in September 2025 by law enforcement officials and reportedly served time before being deported to Guyana. Upon his deportation on Friday, charges were instituted and he appeared before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Monday. He was not required to plead to the incident, which stated that he murdered Luther on July 22, 2015, at the intersection of Carmichael and Quamina Streets, Georgetown. As such, he was remanded to prison until his next court day, which is set for October 12, 2026. Ojha had been wanted since July 2019 in connection with the killing of Luther, a sex worker, who was shot in the chest during a confrontation with Ojha and his associate Ron ‘Andel’ Forde. Forde was al-

ready sentenced to 20 years in prison in June 2017 after pleading guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter. It was reported that on the

Charged: US deportee Kanand Ojha

night in question, Forde and Ojha confronted and shot Luther while he plied his trade in the area. The shooting followed an argument that Luther had with an unsatisfied client, who was a friend of Forde. Ojha had allegedly accused the sex worker of robbing him and had left only to return later, accompanied by Forde, who then shot Luther, who died from a single gunshot wound to the chest.

The ransacked house at Sheet Anchor, East Canje, Berbice

move a band from the child’s hand. The father said he was punched in the abdomen and head, stamped in the back and later tied inside a room. During the ordeal, he said, one of the bandits made a phone call and according to the victim, the person on the other end of the line told the attackers that he had money and urged them to shoot him. The attackers contin-

ued searching the premises before placing him in a room and leaving. About 15 minutes later, he managed to free himself and he said he took the children upstairs, secured them in a room and returned downstairs to ensure that the bandits had left before taking the children to their grandmother. Police said the perpetrators escaped with $375,000

and five cellular phones valued at a total of $333,000, placing the reported loss at $708,000. The victim also claimed that jewellery, shop goods and other property were taken. Those items were not included in the Police’s stated valuation. He said the incident has left him traumatised and unable to sleep. “I keep jumping up because

I keep seeing these three people in front of me,” he said. The children were sent to stay with their mother. Police said the chef was taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where he was examined, treated and discharged. Several persons were questioned, but no arrests have been made. Investigations are continuing.

10 NEWS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

US visa security checks continue even after issuance – Embassy

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he United States (US) Embassy in Guyana is reminding persons applying for US visas that all applicants are subject to security screening as part of

the visa process. In a social media advisory, the Embassy said that US national security remains a priority and that every traveler undergoes checks against law enforcement and counterterrorism databases. According to the Embassy, a visa will not be issued until any security

concerns identified during the screening process have been fully resolved. The Embassy also advised ap-

plicants who have been arrested in the past that they may bring documents to their visa interview showing the disposition of their case. These documents may include a police certificate or court records, such as a Certificate of Summary Jurisdiction. The Embassy noted however, that such documents are reviewed at the discretion of the interviewing Consular Officer. A poster accompanying the advisory further reminded applicants that security screening does not necessarily end once a visa has been issued. “Every US visa applicant undergoes extensive security screening, including checks against law enforcement and counterterrorism databases,” the Embassy stated. It added that visas may be revoked if a visa holder breaks the law or misuses the visa.

Husband, wife, farmer die in cutlass-and-knife brawl at Aranka

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hree farmers are now dead during an alleged brawl at Aranka Village, Baramita, North West District (NWD) Region One (Barima-Waini) on Saturday. The deceased persons are 40-year-old Joy John along with her husband, 38-year-old Amar Thomas, 38 and 62-year-old Tony Williams. According to reports received, on the day in question, Williams visited John’s camp and an argument erupted between them. Williams reportedly armed himself with a cutlass and dealt one blow to the woman’s neck. Thomas who was returning from his farm, subsequently confronted Williams thus resulting in an altercation during which they both inflicted injuries

on each other with sharp objects. However, John was later found dead in her camp, while Thomas was found about 50 feet away. Williams was later found dead along a track about 100 feet from where the incident took place. A team of detectives visited that area on Sunday and during inspection on the

bodies, a wound was found on John’s neck while Thomas sustained stab wounds to his left groin area and Williams suffered from a stab wound to the left side of his chest. Their bodies were transported to the Baramita Cottage Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination (PME) as investigations continue.

Businessman shot, robbed while on cell phone in yard

A

38-year-old businessman was on Saturday shot and relived of several pieces of jewellery while at his ‘A’ Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown residence, by

two armed men. According to reports, the businessman was in his yard on his cellular phone when he was approached by two masked men who were clad in reflective vests. One of them was

reportedly armed with a handgun. However, during the confrontation, the suspects attempted to relieve the victim of the chains he was wearing, but he put up some resistance. In retaliation, he was shot in his right leg above the knee, after which the men relieved him of the jewellery and made good their escape. The injured man was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he was treated and admitted in a stable condition. Detectives are reviewing CCTV footage as investigations continue.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana meets with OpenAI on delivering smarter, faster health care …as AI now in use at 21 health facilities; further rollout planned

H

ealth Minister Dr Frank Anthony, met with a visiting team from OpenAI to explore how this technology can help the Guyana Government deliver smarter, faster and better healthcare across Guyana. OpenAI is an artificial intelligence (AI) research and deployment company that creates advanced AI systems, most notably the ChatGPT conversational assistant. A brief statement from the Minister via his Facebook Page following the meeting noted, “from supporting our doctors and nurses to improving diagnostics, health data, training and patient care, the possibilities are significant. Our goal is simple: use technology responsibly to improve health outcomes for every Guyanese. The future of healthcare is here and Guyana will be ready”. No other information on the recent meeting was released to the press. Nonetheless, AI is currently operational at 21 health facilities across the country, with plans to expand the technology to 15 additional sites in the coming months. This is according to the recently released 2026 Mid-Year Report, which highlighted the continued use of technology to modernise the delivery of healthcare services. Already, AI systems have been deployed to interpret medical images (X-rays, CT scans, and ultrasounds). At facilities like the Enmore Regional Hospital, the AI software flags abnormalities and pathologies within seconds, allowing doctors to review priority cases rapidly. The introduction of AI complements the Government’s telemedicine programme, which is designed to bridge the gap between coastal regions and isolated hinterland or riverine communities. The Mid-Year report noted that some 50 new telemedicine sites were installed in regions One, Two, Seven, Eight, Nine and 10, to enhance the remote delivery of healthcare services with an additional 70 sites proposed for the second half of the year in regions One, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine and 10. Meanwhile,

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony during his meeting with representatives from OpenAI

as of efforts to modernise the health sector and improve access to healthcare, the Government has also begun introducing drone and robotic technology.

“We have begun utilising drone technology to deliver essential medical supplies along with the use of robotic technology to improve speciality care,” the report

outlined. Additionally, to ensure the timely and adequate supply and delivery of drugs and medical supplies, the Onderneeming and Bamia regional distri-

bution centres have been completed while three additional regional distribution centres in Mabaruma, Williamsburg and Lethem are slated for completion in the second half of the year. According to the Mid-Year Report, these centres will utilise a newly designed fully digitised supply chain management system aimed at reducing waste, improving logistics, stock management and distribution countrywide. Further embracing technology in healthcare, the Government has also launched an online portal for patient feedback to help strengthen service delivery and ensure accountability within the health system. Additionally, works are ad-

vancing on the Electronic Health Records (EHR). “In 2026, the roll out of EHR continued at the Festival City Polyclinic, where more than 5,900 patients’ profiles have been created to improve monitoring of patient treatment and reduce paper based medical records through digitalisation. Moreover, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) continued to expand their rollout with medical, surgical and paediatric records being digitally recorded by the end of 2026, while training and testing infrastructure readiness to reduce service disruption risks is ongoing,” the report highlighted.

12 NEWS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana’s growth, diversification opportunities outlined at Harvard Club

President Irfaan Ali on Monday during a discussion hosted by the FIU Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom at the Harvard Club of New York City

P

resident Irfaan Ali on Monday outlined Guyana’s strategic, economic and diversification opportunities during a discussion hosted by

Guyana continues to expand its productive capacity and develop new markets. The President identified energy, mining, agriculture, infrastructure, biodiversity and

existing sectors of the economy. Ali said collaboration with local companies would also be important as Guyana expands connectivity and strengthens its productive

the Florida International University (FIU) Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom at the Harvard Club of New York City. According to Ali, the discussion focused on key areas of growth and opportunity as

environmental sustainability among the sectors offering opportunities for further development. He also highlighted the Government’s focus on strengthening Guyana’s human capital to support both emerging and

capacity. “I also underscored the significant opportunities for collaboration with local companies as we expand connectivity, strengthen our productive capacity and position Guyana to access new

markets,” Ali said in a post on his social media page. The President’s comments come as Guyana continues to pursue economic diversification beyond the oil and gas sector, while investing in infrastructure, human capital and other productive areas. He said the discussions also highlighted the need to position Guyana to take advantage of opportunities in new and existing markets.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

More energy will not stop blackouts; redundancy will – GPL Head …as Govt seeks additional power generation ahead of GtE start-up

Team Leader of the Executive Management Committee of the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL), Kesh Nandlall

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hough the Gas-toEnergy (GtE) Project is expected to add some 57 megawatts (MW) of power to the grid by yearend, the Government is seeking additional generation in the interim to meet growing demand. This is according to Team Leader of the Executive Management Committee of the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) Kesh Nandlall, during an interview on the Starting Point podcast on Sunday. The GtE Project is set to come onstream by the end of this year, delivering some 57 MW of electricity while the remaining power will be delivered by the first half of 2027. But Nandlall said due to the growing demand and pressures on the grid, the Government is seeking additional power generation immediately. “We are currently looking at additional generation immediate, immediate…we are considering smaller units to plug in at the ends. And we are also considering a bigger solution. We have a number of options,” the GPL Head said. Nandlall did not disclose what are the options being pursued or how many MW of power is being sought. In an invited comment to this publication, he said whatever route is chosen must be capable of delivering power immediately. Peak demand currently stands at 255 MW, with a customer base of approximately 250,000. GPL’s generating capacity is about

270 MW. The interim power being sought is expected to play a significant role in meeting increased demand during the upcoming Christmas period. Another reason for the need for interim generation is to meet demand when existing generating sets are taken offline for maintenance. Nandlall explained that an engine requires maintenance after 12,000 hours. “And as you work them, they have to be taken down. If you do not, then they will trip and they can die…in the interim, we will normally, if we want to keep them ongoing, we will monitor them carefully. We will do additional maintenance to keep them going. But we cannot keep them going too long. So, we do have to take down engines intermittently. And perhaps for the next every month for the next year,” he highlighted. “And that is exactly the reason why, more so, that we have to seek additional interim generating capacity until we have the gas to energy,” he added.

Redundancy

The full 300 MW of power from the GtE Project should be available by June 2027. But even when this additional generation comes onstream, Nandlall emphasised that true stability in the power supply will depend on building a more ro-

bust and redundant system. Some US$800 million is currently being invested to do so, through the construction of new substations, transmission lines and more than 200 kilometres (km) of distribution feeders. Nandlall explained that until the system achieves full redundancy, which is expected by 2030, power interruptions may still occur. In this regard, he noted even with GtE, that blackouts can still occur “if somebody hit a pole, if we have to do maintenance work…because we don't truly have a redundant system as yet. That is further plan, a 2030 plan, to really truly have a redundant smart system. So, you're still going to have minimal interruptions, because you will have to do maintenance. You might have to take off a piece of a network to do actual emergency maintenance. You will have incidences against the network that we are currently faced with also. So, you will still have some amount of interruption, but not to this extent,” Nandlall outlined. And while investments are being made, he stressed that it takes time. “Investment in the power sector takes time. We cannot build transmission lines overnight,” Nandlall remarked.

Control Centre’s role

Meanwhile, he noted that the US$20 million National Control Centre at Goedverwagting will play a

significant role in alleviating blackouts in the future. “That National Control Center will carry with it modern SCAD equipment, where once a system is set up, we'll be able to monitor the grid from the generation to each substation, through the transmission lines to each substation, to each distribution feeders, to the transformers, to the customer meters. And we can see that power flow. And when an incident occurs, we will be able to identify that incident. Everything will be smart. They will have communication equipment in place at every single point of the grid. And you can actually, either the grid can be self-healing, or you can actually, with redundancy in the grid, reroute the power so that customers are not affected,” Nandlall noted. “Meters will be smart, so that you can see

lines that we're building out are double circuits. So, we're building that redundancy within the system to ensure that when we invest all of this, all these monies into our capital programme, that we get a proper infrastructure that provides reliable, resilient and cost-effective electricity to our consumers,” Nandlall explained.

New system

According to reports, power from the GtE plant will be transmitted to the new Goedverwagting substation at 230 kV, before being reduced to lower voltage levels for distribution across the network. That substation will also interconnect with GPL’s existing DemeraraBerbice Interconnected System (DBIS), including the Sophia substation. The new facility has been designed with additional ca-

at Chateau Margot, Enmore, Parika, and Kuru Kururu. Nandlall informed the podcast on Sunday that, “all these substations, they're also going to have feeders coming out of them, which we call medium voltage, which will then provide electricity and offload some of these circuits that we have pressures on right now.” “So, for example, in Goedverwagting, we will have a number of feeders coming out of there, that will help to offload around Georgetown, around the East Bank. In addition to that, we have a substation, we are upgrading the Good Hope substation, we are upgrading substations at Kingston, at Vreed-en-Hoop, and we are building new substations right around Georgetown. We're building one in Kuru Kururu, so that we can power the East Bank. We are building one in Princes Street, we are upgrading the new Georgetown substation, we are building a new substation at Parika, so that we can we can expand there as well. And all this carry feeders that's coming out, about 200 kilometres of distribution feeders, which will offload all these feeders and provide additional capacity to the system,” he said.

Demerara River

what you're consuming on a daily basis. You'll have an app, and you can see your manager consumption on a minute to minute, on a real-time basis. That's what really a smart grid is. And in doing so, we are building out redundancy,” he added. Other works being executed under the US$800 million investment is seeking to incorporate redundancy in the system. “All our transmission lines, the 230 kilovolts (kV) transmission lines that we're building out now from Goedverwagting to East Berbice are both double circuits. So, if something goes wrong with one circuit, we can fall back on the other circuit. All our 69 kilovolt

pacity to cater for future electricity demand. A new 69 kV transmission line will connect Goedverwagting to the Columbia substation, replacing existing infrastructure along the railway embankment. Monopoles for sections of that transmission network have already been constructed. A 230 kV transmission network will also extend east to Williamsburg, where another substation will reduce the voltage to 69 kV. That network will interconnect with the Onverwagt and Number 53 Village substations, while GPL said power can also be transmitted farther east to the Skeldon substation. Works are also ongoing on new substations across the country including

Meanwhile, another part of the plan is to install another cable from the Princes Street substation in Georgetown, running along the floor of the Demerara River, to the Vreed en Hoop substation. “We are now going 75 feet below the seabed and putting in, we call it HDD [Horizontal Directional Drilling], you're putting in a double circuit cable that will connect the Kingston to the Vreed-en-Hoop substation, that will now create redundancy. So, the gas to energy can come through, some of the power can come through Vreed-en-Hoop, go to Kingston and come and into Sophia, and some of the power can come at around Garden of Eden, to Goedverwagting, and we create a redundancy there. So that's the kind of redundancy we're building,” Nandlall explained.

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Scenes from the Amerindian Heritage Safari 2026 The Safari departed the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs in Georgetown on September 19 for an adventure along trails to Falmouth, Region 10 (DPI photos)

NEWS

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

US extradition request

Official Secrets Act prompted destruction of books – Special Branch Chief tells court

Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman

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enior Superintendent of Police Prem Narine on Monday told the court that he destroyed three books containing notes related to his duties involving United States (US) sanctioned and indicted Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, because he believed doing so was part of his obligation under the Official Secrets Act of the United Kingdom (UK). The UK Official Secrets Act is legislation aimed at protecting sensitive Government information by making certain unauthorised disclosures and the improper handling or retention of protected official documents criminal offences. Narine, Head of the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Special Branch Unit, made the disclosure while under cross-examination by Defence Attorney Siand Dhurjon during the ongoing extradition proceedings against

the Mohameds before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman. Dhurjon questioned Narine about the books he had previously acknowledged destroying by fire. Narine identified one of them as his personal diary containing personal notes, while referring to the other two as books in which he made records. The defence questioned Narine about the nature of the information he recorded in the books and whether he would only make entries about matters he considered important. Narine disagreed, telling the court: “In those books, I would have recorded anything, be it important or not important, once I feel the need to.” Dhurjon then questioned Narine about whether, as part of his police duties, he was required to record anything said by a person before, during or after an arrest. Narine said: “I don’t think it’s a duty to write down once I can recall what that person says.”

Narine was also questioned about the obligation he believed he would have breached had he retained the documents. Asked what he understood that obligation to be, he said: “I understand that I sign a declaration to keep … the nation’s secret.” The testimony came as Dhurjon continued to challenge Narine over the destruction of the books and his record-keeping practices as a police officer. The extradition proceedings will continue at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts today, with further cross-examination of Narine set to resume. According to Narine’s testimony on September 10, three books were destroyed in January 2026. He said he shredded them with a machine and then personally burned the shredded material at the Special Branch compound, in an area near a condemned furnace. He said he remained there until he was satisfied the material had been completely destroyed. The GPF later issued a clarification saying the destroyed material consisted of personal working notes that Narine had used while preparing his statement. The Police said the notes contained no information of evidential value and that relevant information had already been incorporated into his statement. It also said the notes were disposed of in an official incinerator under established procedures. Azruddin Mohamed

US-sanctioned and indicted Azruddin Mohamed and Nazar Mohamed and one of their lawyers leaving court

and his father are facing extradition proceedings in Guyana after the US formally requested their surrender in October 2025. A US federal grand jury in Florida indicted the two men on allegations including wire and mail fraud, money laundering, conspiracy and customs violations linked to an alleged US$50 million gold export and tax-evasion scheme.

US prosecutors allege that the men evaded taxes and royalties on more than 10,000 kilogrammes (kg) of gold through falsified customs declarations and reused export seals. The US indictment also states that Azruddin Mohamed evaded more than US$1 million in Guyanese taxes in connection with the Lamborghini’s importa-

tion. They have denied the allegations. The US is seeking their extradition so they can face prosecution. Pending the outcome of the extradition proceedings, the two men, who were arrested on October 31, 2025, were each granted $150,000 bail and ordered to surrender their passports and report to the Ruimveldt Police Station as directed by the court.

16 NEWS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Global wheat prices surge, Guyana faces possible price increases …as global supply tightens

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sian buyers are turning to Australian and Argentine wheat as disruptions to Black Sea exports, drought and rising production costs push global wheat prices higher, raising concerns for countries such as Guyana that depend on imported wheat for flour and other food products. Guyana could face further pressure on food prices as international wheat markets respond to disruptions in major exporting regions, with Asian importers already paying significantly more to secure alternative supplies. The latest developments come as wheat prices have reached their highest levels in about three years, ac-

ed that buyers were paying about US$315 to US$330 per tonne, including cost and freight, for Australian Premium White wheat, while Argentine wheat was being traded at about US$310 to US$315 per tonne. That compares with approximately US$260 to US$280 per tonne for many Black Sea cargoes scheduled for August and September arrival. The report said benchmark Chicago wheat futures had risen about 35 per cent since late June, driven largely by the shortfall in Black Sea supplies. Reuters also reported that CBOT wheat reached its highest level in threeand-a-half years after re-

cording to reports from international media, amid attacks affecting grain shipments from the Black Sea, unfavourable weather in major producing countries and higher energy and transportation costs. The developments are significant for Guyana since wheat cannot be grown locally on a commercial scale and the country depends on imported wheat for its flour supply.

ports that Moscow had rejected a proposed moratorium on attacks in the Black Sea region and following overnight strikes on Ukrainian port infrastructure. US agricultural commodity group ADM said a drone strike on August 31 damaged its UEP grain terminal at the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odesa, according to Reuters.

Asian buyers & alternatives

The Black Sea is a major source of wheat for international markets, with Russia and Ukraine among the world’s leading exporters. Reuters reported that Asian grain processors had booked between 2 million and 2.5 million tonnes of Black Sea wheat for July to September shipment, representing between 30 per cent and 50 per cent of import demand in the region. However, shipping delays have raised concerns that some of those cargoes may not reach their intended destinations. Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and Sri Lanka are among the Asian buyers of Black Sea wheat identified in the Reuters report. Some millers have also turned to container shipments to meet immediate requirements, according to traders cited by the agency. The shift to alternative suppliers is signif-

Reuters reported that Asian wheat importers have purchased at least 500,000 tonnes of Australian and Argentine wheat in recent deals as buyers seek to replace Black Sea cargoes delayed by attacks on vessels and grain-export infrastructure. According to the Reuters report, importers including Indonesia, the world’s second-largest wheat buyer, are paying substantially more for alternative supplies. One Asia-based trader told Reuters that bulk deals for Australian and Argentine wheat had been concluded over the previous one to 10 days to meet urgent requirements, with importers seeking alternatives for shipments that had not arrived from Russia and Ukraine. The price difference illustrates the pressure being created by the disruption. Reuters report-

icant because Australian and Argentine wheat currently costs more to deliver than many of the disrupted Black Sea supplies. For import-dependent markets, higher international prices can eventually feed through to the cost of flour and products made from flour, including bread, pastries, biscuits and other baked goods.

Drought adds uncertainty

The Guardian reported that wheat farmers in the United States (US) are also facing uncertainty because of drought, erratic weather and high production costs. The newspaper highlighted the experience of Kansas farmer Merrill Nielsen, who farms about 2,500 acres. Although wheat prices have risen, Nielsen’s farm has also been affected by higher diesel costs, while weather conditions resulted in the loss of his entire wheat crop in the spring. The Guardian reported that drought has spread across the southern Great Plains, while drought conditions in parts of the US and Europe have affected harvests. Joao Lampreia, a market strategist at Lisbon-based Freedom24, told the newspaper that weather conditions were sending concerning signals for wheat production. The Guardian also reported that Australia’s wheat

raised concerns about agricultural conditions in the southern hemisphere. The weather phenomenon can have significant effects on agricultural production, although its impact varies by region. There is also a potentially positive side for some US wheat-growing areas. Mark Welch, an economist at Texas A&M University, told The Guardian that El Niño can bring wetter conditions to the southern Great Plains during the fall and spring. He pointed to the 20152016 El Niño, when the US recorded a record winter wheat yield. However, the uncertainty comes at a time when global wheat stocks are already under pressure. The Guardian reported that agricultural market researcher Dan Basse is concerned that the combination of weather-related

est level in three years, citing disruptions in the Black Sea and climate-related pressures. The publication reported that wheat prices had increased 2.6 per cent in August alone and were 15 per cent above their level a year earlier, based on the FAO’s food price index. Cinco Días noted that Russia and Ukraine account for about one-third of global wheat trade and that attacks on bulk carriers and port infrastructure have reduced exports. The report said France and the US had also experienced poor harvests following droughts, while higher energy and transportation costs were increasing production and shipping expenses. As supplies from traditional exporters become less certain, buyers are being forced to look farther afield.

Climate pressures

Cinco Días reported that heatwaves in Europe had reduced the value of grain production, with France among the countries particularly affected. The publication also reported that Spain’s latest wheat harvest was about 30 per cent lower than the previous year’s, according to Ignacio Huertas, a sector professional and member of the board of the Association of Small Farmers. Farmers are meanwhile dealing with increased energy and fertiliser costs. This means that higher wheat prices do not necessarily translate into greater profits for producers. The Guardian similarly reported that US farmers are dealing with higher input costs even as wheat prices rise. Vance Ehmke, a wheat-seed seller in southwest Kansas, told The Guardian that demand for seed had increased but that dry conditions were making it difficult for wheat to germinate.

Guyana

Black Sea supply under pressure

plantings had fallen by 12 per cent amid expectations of dry conditions and higher fertiliser costs. This creates an additional complication for importers because Australia is among the countries being relied upon to replace some of the wheat affected by Black Sea disruptions.

production losses and geopolitical disruptions could push global food prices higher. The newspaper also cited figures showing that the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Food Price Index was 2.5 per cent higher in August than a year earlier.

El Niño raises concerns

Global prices already rising

The Guardian also reported that the possibility of a strong El Niño has

Spanish financial publication Cinco Días also reported that wheat prices had climbed to their high-

Australia and Argentina have therefore become increasingly important alternative sources. But those countries face their own challenges. Cinco Días cited analysts who warned that Australia’s production could be affected by El Niño. Mobeen Tahir, director of economic analysis at WisdomTree, was quoted as saying that Australian production could fall by about nine million tonnes if the weather phenomenon has the anticipated impact.

In Guyana, the National Milling Company of Guyana Inc (NAMILCO) is the only flour mill that uses imported wheat from the US, Canada and other countries. The company has a production capacity of about 9.8 tonnes per hour, or 235 tonnes per day, and produces flour under its Thunderbolt and Maid Marian brands. Guyana has previously experienced the effects of international wheat shocks. In March 2022, NAMILCO announced a 15 per cent increase in its flour prices after the company said the price of wheat had risen by 40 per cent in the weeks following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The company also cited increases in freight, packaging, energy and other production costs. The Guardian reported that US wheat acreage has been declining for decades as farmers have increasingly found corn and soybeans more profitable to grow. The newspaper said harvested US wheat acreage was at its lowest level since 1877.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Regional

Brazil to withhold reciprocity Venezuelan delegation led by Rodríguez in US discussing debt, energy against US while trade A talks continue, Lula says

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he Brazilian Government does not intend to use its reciprocity law against the United States over tariffs ‌ imposed by Washington while negotiations continue, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Monday. Speaking via translator in an interview with CNN International’s Christiane Amanpour, Lula said Brazil could still reciprocate if trade talks fail. “I think those tariffs were based on lies,” Lula said. “While we’re still around the negotiation table, I don’t have to apply the reciprocity law.” The US Government

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Reuters/ Jean Carniel photo)

announced tariffs of 25 per cent in July on some

Brazilian goods, alleging unfair ‌ trade practices, as well as 12.5 per cent tariffs on goods from dozens of nations, including Brazil, linked to allegations of lax enforcement of forced labour bans. Brazil then opened a process that could result in reciprocal measures against Washington in August. Brazilian officials have called the higher levies unjustified and arbitrary. During an August call with US President Donald Trump, Lula said negotiations were the best way to resolve the dispute. (Excerpt from Reuters)

As lines grow at banks, Cuba tiptoes away from communism, but stability seems distant

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íctor Rodríguez, a 72-year-old retiree, rose before dawn to nab his spot in line at a bank in Havana several kilometres from his home. If he’d risked a later start, the bank might have run out of bills before his turn. Or the power or Internet could go out, shutting the branch down. Arriving at 7:30 in ‌ the morning, he hoped he would be done before the heat of midday. Around him, dozens of others, many also elderly, had made a similar bet — arriving early and hoping for their chance to take out the maximum daily allowance of 20,000 pesos, or about US$28 at the black market exchange rate. Such scenes have become a common sight in

Havana and around the country, where on top of long-running shortages of food, fuel and medicine there is now not enough cash to go around. The lack of hard currency has been exacerbated by soaring prices, with Cuba’s rapidly dollarising economy increasingly dependent on imports and the peso hitting a new record of 700 to the dollar on Wednesday, a roughly tenfold decline in value since 2021. The situation has led Cuba’s Government, communist since the 1959 Cuban Revolution, to introduce swaths of free-market reforms in order to try to bring the situation under control. Last week, the Government released new bills, in 10,000- and 20,000-

peso denominations, which officials said they hope will improve cash supply. Cuba also authorised last week the first private currency-exchange house, an unprecedented move in a country where the central bank has long controlled the exchange rate. The advent of private, legal exchange houses, the central bank says, will help inform the official exchange rate, making the process more transparent and tamping down on speculation. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has said Cuba is not renouncing socialism, but is responding to ‌the punishing effects of US sanctions, which have escalated under President Donald Trump. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Energy insecurity hurting Caribbean

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conomist Marla Dukharan is urging the Caribbean to do more to achieve energy sovereignty as the ongoing international oil market crisis gives the Region a reminder of its vulnerability. In her September Monthly Caribbean Economic Report, she called securing energy independence “the ultimate panacea against petropolitical shocks”, while lamenting the Caribbean’s limited progress in achieving it. Dukharan recommended that the region’s major stakeholders – the utilities, Governments, regulators, academia, and consumers, become aligned on “the outcomes we are trying to achieve”. This was “lower prices, better reliability, lower exposure to petropolitical shocks, less foreign exchange lost on imported

Marla Dukharan, an economist, has called the Caribbean’s reliance on foreign borrowing a major vulnerability (Internet image)

fuel”. There also needed to be a consensus on “the optimal way forward for the best possible outcomes to be realised, based on the data”, she said. With international oil prices back above US$100 a barrel given the war in

Iran and continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the economist pointed out that “ongoing petropolitical developments suggest that volatility and prices in excess of US$100 per barrel are likely to continue”. She noted that the Caribbean’s vulnerability to external shocks “stems mainly from our acute openness, dependence on international trade in general, made worse by the nature of that dependence – on imported food and fuel, most importantly”. “All the stuff our very existence depends on. Establishing and maintaining food and fuel security have been strategic goals across Caribbean nations individually and collectively for half a century. At least. Yet here we are, with very little to show for it,” she said. (Excerpt from Nation News)

Venezuelan delegation led by interim President Delcy Rodríguez that is taking part in the United Nations General Assembly this week began discussing energy, debt and mining issues with counterparties in the United States on ‌Monday, officials and sources said. The talks are expected to lead to the signing of agreements as part of US President Donald Trump’s plans to rebuild Venezuela’s key industries, according to the sources. Rodríguez arrived in New York early on Monday with her team. It was her first trip to the US after taking office as Venezuela’s interim President in January under Washington’s oversight, following the capture of then President Nicolás Maduro by US forces. The top US diplomat in Venezuela, John Barrett, received her at the airport, Venezuela’s State TV said. One of her first meetings was with Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) President Ilan Goldfajn. She later met International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, and World Bank President Ajay Banga, in separate meet-

Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez meets with InterAmerican Development Bank President Ilan Goldfajn ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, US, September 21, 2026 (Miraflores Palace/Handout via Reuters)

ings, according to State TV and sources. “Her visit will have a big focus on debt restructuring, funds and payments,” one of the sources said. Venezuela announced in May it would begin restructuring its sovereign debt and that of State oil company PDVSA, estimated by most analysts at between US$150 billion and US$200 billion. Last month, legal and financial advisers launched a committee to bring together companies with outstanding claims against Venezuela ahead of the planned restructuring. The initiative aims to

coordinate creditors’ participation in the process and secure representation for them in negotiations with Caracas. The IDB is drawing up a two-year engagement plan for Venezuela focused partly on electricity and social protection, Goldfajn told Reuters. The effort includes missions to examine the nation’s macroeconomic framework and data and to estimate investment needs across different sectors. Rodríguez was scheduled to meet with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres late in the afternoon, according to ‌his agenda. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US strikes on alleged drug boats could be crimes against humanity, says UN

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United Nations report has concluded that recent US airstrikes on vessels allegedly trafficking drugs breached international law and could constitute crimes against humanity. The report by Special Rapporteur Ben Saul said since September last year there had been at least 68 US strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific, outside US territorial waters, which killed more than 220 persons. Saul said that even if targets could be identified as members of designated terrorist groups, they had not staged an armed attack on the US, which would trigger a right

to self-defence under international law. The report comes two days after the US military said it killed four persons in a strike on a vessel in the Caribbean. “Confirmed intelligence revealed the vessel’s active involvement in narco-trafficking. The operation killed four narco-terrorists,” Southcom, which commands US forces in the region, said in a statement about the latest attack, which was accompanied by a grainy video. But in a briefing note released by the UN Human Rights Council on Monday, Saul said that “such attacks amount to serial extrajudi-

cial killings in violation of the right to life, being unjustified in national or personal self-defence or under international humanitarian law, the international law of the sea, narcotics suppression conventions, or international counter-terrorism law”. “There are reasonable grounds to believe that the reported 68 attacks that killed 223 people constituted crimes against humanity of murder under customary international law,” Saul concluded. BBC News has contacted the White House and State Department for a response to the report. (BBC News)

“We are being caged” – Port of Spain residents after Special Operations Bill passed

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ours after the Special Operations Bill (SOB) passed in the Lower House, a wave of concern swept through the communities of Beetham Gardens and Sea Lots, as residents said they now feel “caged” by the legislation. Coming out of a recently-ended State of Emergency (SoE), during which some residents were detained under Preventive Detention Orders without being charged, these two communities in Port of Spain said the bill has heightened their fears of another form of confinement. Shaquille Burke, the son of the late Sea Lots community

leader Cedric “Burkie” Burke, said having emerged from an ongoing SoE, residents are now faced with a reality where the threat of being mentally caged looms large. Surrounded by a group of men from the community, Burke felt that the SOB would be far worse than the SoE. “Because you’re imprisoning the free world now. You not behind a cage again, but the cage is mental now,” he said. he legislation replaced the Government’s defeated Zones of Special Operations (ZOSO) Bill, establishing seven policing districts across Trinidad and Tobago.

It creates a framework for special operations to combat criminal activity. Within those districts, special locations can be declared “closed” areas where enhanced law enforcement powers can be exercised for limited periods. Those powers include curfews, cordons, checkpoints, road closures, restrictions on entry and exit and, in specified circumstances, searches without warrants. With the bill giving Police sweeping powers to lock down neighbourhoods, the residents wondered if they are truly free. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026

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Around the World

Yemenis flee across Red Sea as Houthis OILNEWS OIL NEWS and Saudi-backed forces escalate war

I Saudi Arabia ramps up Gulf oil exports after pipeline attack, data shows

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audi Aramco loaded about 14 million barrels of crude oil on seven supertankers inside the Mideast Gulf on Sunday, data from TankerTrackers.com showed, as the kingdom increased loadings from Gulf export terminals after an attack disrupted shipments via its eastwest pipeline to the Red Sea. The loadings add to signs of a partial recovery in Saudi shipments, with expectations of higher volumes weighing on oil prices on Monday and helping push the Brent benchmark below US$100 a barrel for the first time since September 9. The seven vessels are Very Large Crude Carriers, or VLCCs, TankerTrackers.com said. Satellite images seen by Reuters, appear to show seven tankers near Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura port on Sunday. An Aramco spokesperson declined to comment. The loading of seven tankers would suggest an increase in Saudi supplies. JP Morgan analysts said in a September 18 note that satellite data indicated Saudi oil moving through the Strait of Hormuz averaged 2.9 million barrels per day over t‌ he past six days, up from just 700,000 bpd in August. Drone attacks forced Saudi Arabia to shut its East-West Pipeline on September 13, halting crude loadings at the kingdom’s Yanbu oil port on the Red Sea. As a result, Aramco cancelled some crude cargo sales to European clients, while boosting sales to Asia for crude it loads at its eastern ports inside the Strait of Hormuz. (Excerpt from Reuters)

brahim Issa, 50, is from the Yemeni coastal town of Dhubab, right on the front lines of the war between Yemen’s Houthis and the Saudi-backed pro-government forces fighting them. Today he sits, surrounded by his family, on a tarpaulin spread over a sandy floor inside a vast open-sided warehouse at Markazi camp in Obock, northern Djibouti, packed with Yemeni families who have fled by boat across the narrow Bab al-Mandab Strait. After their sea crossing, Yemeni refugees have made their way by truck and on foot to this camp, jointly administered by the Government and the United Nations.

Ibrahim Issa escaped on his fishing boat with family and several goats

“How could I just sit there when my kids are screaming and shaking in terror?” says Ibrahim Issa. “When the sound of the planes start, and the kids hear the planes, they begin shouting and screaming. As parents it is our responsibil-

ity, what can you do when you see this? That is why we fled, to save them.” As a fisherman, Ibrahim Issa already owned a boat large enough to bring out his family from Yemen. He even brought several of the family’s goats which

I can now see nibbling at scraps nearby, foraging amidst the discarded canisters of cooking gas and empty plastic bottles. Some families have been able to bring small bundles of possessions with them from Yemen – one family has even brought a “jeraak”, a tall metal shisha pipe – but others have arrived, exhausted, in just the clothes they left in. In just the last few days more than 3000 refugees have arrived from Yemen, many entire families. The UN estimates that in all, more than 120,000 Yemenis have been displaced by the sudden surge in fighting along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. (Excerpt from BBC News)

State of world getting worse as UN Security Council paralysed – Guterres

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he state of the world “is getting worse” as wars multiply and become more complex, United Nations chief António Guterres has said, warning that growing geopolitical divides have paralysed the Security Council and leave the most vulnerable “in very dramatic situations”. In a wide-ranging interview with Al Jazeera on Monday, the eve of his final address as Secretary General

to the UN General Assembly (UNGA), Guterres discussed the major military conflicts happening in the world and whether the UN is still relevant in addressing today’s challenges. Guterres said the involvement of “superpowers” and key council members in the wars has created a crisis due to the continued violations of international law. “That creates an environment of impunity, in which

midsize powers believe that they can do whatever they want because nothing will happen to them,” Guterres said. The UN chief outlined the real-life impacts that the Russia-Ukraine war and the US-Israel war on Iran are having on people, particularly around food accessibility, rising fuel prices, and global inflation. “The combination of the war in Ukraine with the prob-

lems of exports of foods, fertilisers, and energy through the Black Sea, if you combine it with the difficulties in the Strait of Hormuz [in the Gulf], in the Bab al-Mandeb [in the Red Sea], and in the attacks [on] oil installations in several countries of the [Middle East] region, we are creating a situation that has a devastating impact on many economies around the world,” Guterres said. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

cide and six offences of aiding crimes against humanity in Rwanda, Prosecutors and local authorities said. “The charges relate to allegations that Dr Brown took part in the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda in 1994,” Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s counterterror division, said in a statement. “He is alleged to have directed and incited

acts of murder and genocide carried out by others.” “This is the first time charges relating to the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda have been brought in the United Kingdom,” the statement added. Brown was first arrested in 2006. His extradition to Rwanda, along with four other men, was refused by a UK court in 2017. Metropolitan police

war crimes investigators then began looking into the case in 2019 at the request of the Rwandan government. Several other countries have already prosecuted suspects in the Rwandan genocide. The Rwandan genocide saw an estimated 800,000 people, mostly Tutsis, killed in 100 days of slaughter. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Paramount settles lawsuit, clearing way for US$110B merger with Warner Bros UK Prosecutors charge 1st person for Rwanda genocide

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Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, California [Getty Images]

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aramount Skydance has settled a lawsuit with a dozen US states, paving the way for its US$110 billion merger with Warner Bros Discovery. Under the agreement, Paramount must produce at least 30 films a year and ensure a certain percentage are produced in the US, or face penalties including selling off parts of its business. The deal clears one of the final hurdles for the merger that is set to reshape Hollywood, combining legacy studios, major streamers, and national networks under one umbrella. Announcing the settlement, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the agreement was “not a vote of support for this merger”, while Paramount’s chief executive welcomed the resolution.

David Ellison said that now the state attorneys general and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) concerns had been addressed, “we have complete clearance for this merger and look forward to putting these commitments into action”. “Our shared aim was an outcome that best serves consumers, workers and – most importantly -the creative community so vital to the art of visual storytelling,” he said. The WGA said it continued to believe the deal “will cause damage to writers and the industry at large”. The guild said it was forced to settle its own lawsuit because, as a non-profit, it could not afford to fight the merger alone without Government support. (Excerpt from BBC News)

rosecutors have brought the first-ever charges in the United Kingdom against a man for his alleged role in the 1994 Rwanda genocide. After a seven-year investigation, Vincent Brown, a 65-year-old doctor who was formerly known as Vincent Bajinya, was arrested and charged on Monday with one count of conduct ancillary to geno-

FAA halts flights to major US East Coast airports amid outage

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he United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has halted flights to several busy East Coast airports amid an equipment outage, snarling more than 1000 flights. On Monday, the FAA issued ground stops at large commercial airports, including New York’s John F Kennedy International (JFK) and LaGuardia; Newark Liberty International in New Jersey, as well as Boston Logan and

Philadelphia International Airport. The flights were halted on the day that 130 world leaders and dozens of Ministers were arriving in New York for the annual high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a post on social media platform X that flights have resumed into New York’s LaGuardia and into Philadelphia, but that

ground stops werre still in effect at Newark, JFK, and Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. The ground stop has also been lifted in Boston. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford told reporters on Monday that it had “lost the primary circuit” at what is called Philadelphia TRACON, or Terminal Radar Approach Control, which controls air traffic into Philadelphia and airports across the busy northeast US airspace. Bedford said that the

backup fibre had a break and told reporters that it could take up to 13 hours to repair. He said the cut was between the city of New Brunswick, New Jersey, and Newark, New Jersey, which is home to Newark Liberty International Airport. “An Amtrak construction crew accidentally cut into a fiber line in New Jersey which caused a telecom outage and forced FAA to pause flights in the Northeast,” Duffy said in a post on X. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026

ARCHIE

19

DAILY HOROSCOPES Turn your dreams into a reality. Explore possibilities and open doors to new adventures. Your journey depends on your imagination and willingness to reach for the stars.

(March 21-April 19)

PICKLES

(April 20-May 20)

Think twice before you share your thoughts. Create your own dialogue in your head, and hold it in your thoughts until you are in a better position to get your point across without escalating the situation. Alter your routine, and fine-tune your schedule and plans to ensure you make the most of your time and your day. Lean on your experience and skills, and take nothing for granted.

(May 21-June 20) Put anger aside, and concentrate on what you can achieve. Working alone is in your best interest if you want to avoid interference. Domestic situations will require thought.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

High energy will encourage intense interaction with someone who wants to spar with you. You’ll have to use your ingenuity to meet mental challenges with peak performance if you plan to come out on top.

(July 23-Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Take the necessary measures to lock in what you want and map out a path that will help you discard what you no longer want or need. Be creative when making commitments. You’ll excel using charm, intellect and emotional filler that draws parallels between you and whoever you deal with today. Don’t exhaust your finances trying to impress someone.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Clarify what’s important to you before you make a gesture you might regret. Patience is necessary if you want to protect your reputation and your physical and emotional well-being.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Turn on your charm, step into the spotlight and dazzle everyone with your insight. Don’t be afraid to adopt a unique lifestyle if it satisfies your soul and addresses your intentions and plans.

When trying to win favors, you’ll make better decisions if you pay attention to what others say and do. Self-improvement that will help you excel professionally.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Take better care of yourself. Avoid putting yourself at risk physically, emotionally or financially. Be a good observer, and back away from situations that are volatile.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

(Feb. 20-March 20)

When in doubt, take a pass. It’s OK to say no or to change your mind. Put yourself first when dealing with pushy people. Go through your documents, update or cancel subscriptions, and address due dates to avoid penalties.

20

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026

South American Games…

Guyana’s archers prepare to take the field in Rosario A team of three Guyanese archers, alongside their Coach, are preparing to take the field today in the XIII South American Games Santa Fe 2026, being held in Argentina. The team comprises Devin Persaud Permaul, Mehandra Chatargum and Trevaughn Waldron, accompanied by Coach Ryan McKinnon. The archery competition will take place in Rosario from today, Tuesday, September 22 through Friday, September 25, as part of the Games, which bring together athletes from across South America and the wider region. The Games are being hosted across the three Argentine cities of Rosario, Santa Fe and Rafaela, with 43 sports and 60 disciplines on the programme. The Guyanese archers form part of the 44-mem-

ber Team Guyana competing across eight sporting disciplines under the umbrella of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA). Guyana’s delegation includes athletes competing in athletics, archery, boxing, esports, squash, table tennis, taekwondo, and tennis. For Archery Guyana, participation at Santa Fe 2026 represents another important opportunity for Guyanese archers to compete at a major multi-sport international event, gain experience against athletes from across the region, and continue developing within Guyana’s high-performance pathway. The participation also forms part of a particularly active international year for Guyanese archery. In 2026, Guyanese archers have represented the country at major regional competitions, while

Trevaughn Waldron, Mehandra Chatargum and Devin Persaud Permaul with Coach Ryan McKinnon

the federation continues to develop athletes, coaches, and officials for sustained international participation. Archery Guyana noted that it recognised the important role played by the GOA in facilitating Guyana’s partici-

pation in the South American Games and in providing national federations and athletes with opportunities to compete on the international stage and in that regard, extended thanks to GOA President Godfrey Munroe

and his Executive Committee. The GOA has identified the South American Games as part of Guyana’s broader preparation and development pathway towards future major multi-sport competitions, including the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The Santa Fe Games are particularly significant for Archery Guyana as the federation prepares to welcome the archery family to Guyana later this year for the inaugural Caribbean Archery Championships and eighth Caribbean Development Championships, scheduled for October 22–25, 2026 at the Guyana National Stadium. Archery Guyana President Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon expressed pride in the team’s participation, stating, “It is always a proud moment to see

Guyanese archers take their place on an international field representing our country. Santa Fe provides another valuable opportunity for our athletes to test themselves, gain experience, and continue building their international careers.” She added that participation in major games must be viewed as part of a continuing development process. “Every international competition adds another chapter to an athlete’s development. Our responsibility as a federation is to ensure that these opportunities translate into experience, knowledge and a stronger pathway for the athletes who will follow.” Archery Guyana extended its best wishes to Devin, Mehandra and Trevaughn, as well as Coach McKinnon, as they prepare to take the field in Rosario.

Vickery set for historic Team Guyana Trinidadian cricket enthusiast donates bats to Guyana youth cricket project debut at South American Games

Sachia Vickery

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rofessional tennis player Sachia Vickery is set to make her debut for Guyana at the 2026 South American Games in Rosario, Argentina, marking a significant milestone for both the player and tennis in the country. Vickery, who has extensive international and Grand Slam experience and reached a career-high singles ranking of number 73 in the world, is seeded seventh in the women’s singles competition. She received a first-round bye and advanced directly to the

Round of 16, where she will face Paraguay’s L Brítez Risso for a place in the quarter-finals. The appearance marks Vickery’s first Olympic-cycle Games and the beginning of a new chapter in her international career as she seeks to represent Guyana in her pursuit of qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. During a recent visit to Guyana, Vickery held discussions with the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) and Guyana Tennis Association (GTA) about her

interest in representing the country. The GOA subsequently welcomed her commitment and supported her plans to pursue Olympic qualification. Vickery’s arrival adds considerable international experience to Guyana’s tennis contingent, as she has competed at the highest levels of the sport during a career that has taken her onto the Grand Slam stage. Her participation also represents a landmark moment for the GTA, as it marks the first time the association has fielded a senior athlete at an Olympic-cycle multisport games. Vickery travelled to Rosario accompanied by her mother and is scheduled to hold her first practice session earlier in the week as she prepares for her opening match. Her debut is expected to further raise the profile of tennis in Guyana while providing an opportunity for local players to draw inspiration from an athlete with extensive experience on the international circuit. As Vickery begins her journey under the Golden Arrowhead, her participation at the South American Games signals a new chapter in her relationship with Guyana and the country’s tennis programme.

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rinidad and Tobago businessman and cricketer Amzad Mohammed has donated two bats to the “Cricket Gear for Young and Promising Cricketers in Guyana” project, which has directly assisted 108 male and female players across the country’s three counties. Mohammed made the donation during a recent visit to Guyana with the Valley Boys masters cricket team of South Trinidad. The initiative is jointly managed by Guyana’s Anil Beharry and USA-based Kishan Das. A medium-pace bowling all-rounder who participates in goodwill tours across the Caribbean and North America, Mohammed said he had been following the project and was impressed by its reach, particularly among young people. He also supports charitable activities in Trinidad and Tobago. The organisers thanked Mohammed for his contribution, noting that continued support helps provide equipment to promising players while encouraging young people to become involved in sport. Since its establishment, the project has received $843,146 in cash, along with donated or purchased equipment including 51 bats, 40 pairs of batting pads, 48

pairs of batting gloves and 36 pairs of cricket shoes. Other contributions include protective gear, uniforms, bags, cricket balls, training accessories, and 28 footballs. Former national wicketkeeper-batsman Sheik Mohamed separately contributed equipment valued at more than $600,000. Cash contributions are used to purchase requested equipment that the project does not have available. Direct assistance to the 108 players has included cash, 43 bats, 39 pairs of cricket shoes, 23 pairs of batting pads, 42 pairs of batting gloves and other equipment. According to the organisers, some beneficiaries have gone on to represent the West Indies at various levels. Clubs, schools, and cricket organisations have also received assistance, extending the project’s reach beyond individual players. Beneficiaries span communities in Pomeroon, Leguan, Wakenaam, Lethem, Demerara and Berbice, with support reaching youth programmes, school teams, and male and female hardball and softball players. Among those assisted are the Essequibo Cricket Board; West Demerara Cricket Association; Malteenoes Sports Club; Tucber Park, Blairmont and Port Mourant cricket clubs; St Cuthbert’s

Mission and several secondary schools. Contributions have included balls, bats, uniforms, protective equipment, and other supplies. New and used equipment is distributed free of charge. Cricketing ability, discipline, and commitment to education guide the selection of recipients, while club leaders help identify promising players across Guyana. Well-managed clubs with youth programmes are also eligible for support. The organisers acknowledged the backing of individuals, businesses, and cricket clubs in Guyana and overseas. Supporters include West Indian Sports Complex, P and P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Ltd, Cricket Zone USA, Trophy Stall, Star Sports Awards and Trophies, Cricket Equipment Guyana, Regal Sports Store, Rockaway Group of Companies, NALICO/NAFICO and Valley Boys, alongside numerous other donors. The project will continue distributing equipment as part of its effort to support young cricketers and encourage positive involvement in sport. Anyone wishing to contribute can contact Anil Beharry on 623-6875 or Kishan Das on +1 718-6640896.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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Powell proud of Kingsmen despite final defeat

Captain Rovman Powell receiving the runners-up cheque(CPL T20 photos)

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amaica Kingsmen Captain Rovman Powell admitted his side felt they were 10 to 15 runs short at the halfway stage of their Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) final against the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, but remained proud of the team’s journey throughout the tournament. The Kingsmen posted 170 for nine after being sent in at Kensington Oval, with Maaz Sadaqat scoring a sensational century. However, the Falcons chased down the target with 20 balls to spare to secure their maiden CPL

title. Powell felt the Kingsmen had failed to make the most of a strong start, particularly after reaching 100 for two at the halfway point. “I think at the halfway stage we felt as if we were 1015 short, to be honest,” Powell shared at the post-match interview, “We know that it’s a pretty good batting wicket. Credit has to be given to our batters who bat the first 10 overs. I think Maaz played fantastic for us and the partnership that he strengthened with Saim Ayub carried us to 100 for two in 10.” The Captain acknowl-

edged that the Kingsmen were unable to maintain their momentum after losing four wickets in the middle overs, and their bowling attack also struggled to contain the Falcons during the power play. “I think as a batting group,… we lost four wickets in the middle overs, four of our main or key batters, or batters that are supposed to put the impetus on the game on the last 10 overs. And as a bowling group, we didn’t control the power play as well as we wanted to.” Despite the disappointment of falling short in the final, Powell reflected positively on the Kingsmen’s campaign, noting that the team had overcome a difficult start after losing their opening two matches. “I honestly felt it’s a proud journey for us,” he explained, “We have accomplished a lot of things. We set out to be in the finals....” Powell highlighted that the Kingsmen gradually built momentum, particularly after returning home to Jamaica, before producing an important performance in Trinidad that further strengthened their belief.

Jamaica Kingsmen fell one hurdle short

He noted, “It’s a slow start to the competition. We lost our first two games. We built a little bit of momentum with our crowd, with our home crowd back home in Jamaica. “We went to Trinidad. It’s a difficult place to play cricket. We played a very good game down there, and that confidence kept on building within the team.” According to the skipper,

reaching the final four gave the Kingsmen further belief in their ability to challenge for the title, with contributions coming from across the squad. “We know as soon as we squeeze into the last four of the competition how dangerous our team can be,” he said, “And guys just kept chipping in.” Powell credited the players for responding to the lead-

ership provided by himself and Head Coach throughout the campaign and said he was proud of the group despite their final defeat. “Credit has to be given to them throughout the entire competition. They listened to the leadership that myself and the Head Coach provided them. I’m actually proud of the boys,” the Kingsmen Captain concluded.

BCB/KSM Investment 50 Overs 1st Division Tournament…

Anderson, the Sinclairs lead RHT NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour into semis N

Junior Sinclair did well with bat and ball

ational players Kevlon Anderson, Kevin Sinclair and Junior Sinclair spearheaded Rose Hall Town NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour to a comfortable 183-run victory over the Berbice Police Team in the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)/ KSM Investment Inc 50-over tournament. The emphatic victory secured a semi-final berth for the team in the tournament after an easy victory last Saturday over Upper Corentyne at the Number 69 Ground to reach the quarter-finals. Playing at the Area H Ground in sweltering conditions, the home team won the toss and elected to take first strike. They were rocked early when West Indies Test player Kevin Sinclair was brilliantly caught at slip off the bowling of off-spinner Rocky Hutson for 8 in the first over with the score at 8 for 1. National senior player Junior Sinclair and national Under-16 player Leon Reddy then added 103 for the second wicket in 16 overs before Reddy was runout for a well-played 35, featuring five fours. Junior Sinclair was then caught at the long-on boundary for 69 at 127 for 3 in the 20th over. Junior’s innings contained two sixes and five

fours. Anderson later contributed a classy 74 with four fours and three maximums, and was supported by former national player Eon Hooper, who scored an even fifty. National youth player Raffel McKenzie added 22 as Rose Hall Town NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour ended their innings on 304 allout, off 50 overs. Hooper and Anderson added 60 for the eighth wicket. Hooper struck one six and five fours in his responsible knock. The best bowlers for the lawmen were Hutson with 3 for 61 from 9 overs and left-arm spinner Joel Seitaram, claiming 2 for 46 from 10 overs. Needing to score 305 runs from their allotted 50 overs to secure their first-ever FirstDivision victory over Rose Hall Town, the visitors were given a good opening stand of 53 in eight overs by the attacking Vishal Williams and Aldy Grant before 14-yearold left-arm spinner Jayden Grant trapped Grant leg before wicket for 23. Kevin Sinclair then dismissed Ravindra Beharry for nought with his off spin as the lawmen slipped to 55 for 2. They never recovered as Sinclair spun webs around the remaining batters. He dismissed Vishal Williams, formerly of the Port Mourant Cricket Club, for a wellplayed 33, Simeon Gaffoor for 6, Philserg Wilburg for 38, Leroy Williams for 3, and Paul James for 2 to bowl out

Police for 121 in 25.3 overs. The talented Sinclair ended with 6 for 31 from 9 overs while he received support

mainly from fellow off-spinner Junior Sinclair with 3 for 15 (3.3 overs). The victory ensured the

powerful Rose Hall Town NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour team ended as winners of Group A.

Elite League 2026/27…

Western Tigers roar past Police in top 4 showdown

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estern Tigers Football Club sent a strong warning to their rivals in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League after crushing the Guyana Police Force (GPF) FC 4-0 in a top-four battle on Sunday night at the National Training Centre (NTC), Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD). Midfielder Michael Oie scored twice, while Mark Jhalu and Kevon Woodley added one goal each as Western Tigers produced a commanding performance against last season’s runners-up. Jhalu opened the scoring in the 13th minute, giving Western Tigers an early advantage before the two teams entered the halftime break with the score at 1-0.

The Tigers increased the pressure after the restart, and Oie doubled their lead in the 51st minute. Woodley made it 3-0 in the 65th minute before Oie completed his brace in the 76th to seal the convincing victory. The result underlined Western Tigers’ potential as they continue their pursuit of a place among the league’s leading teams. Western Tigers Head Coach Jamal Pedro recently said his squad was filled with talent and that his focus was on helping the players translate that ability into strong performances on the field. The Elite League will now pause for the FIFA international break, with competition scheduled to resume after the break ends on October 6.

Western Tigers #10 Michael Oie scored a brace

22 Drayton, Sam win as Guyana suffer 6th-round Olympiad defeats GUYANATIMESGY.COM

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026

The Open team fell 3-1 to Wales with FIDE Master Anthony Drayton taking the sole victory for the Guyanese

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nthony Drayton and Kataleya Sam recorded individual victories, but Guyana lost both sixthround matches at the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Monday.

The Open team fell 3-1 to Wales, while the women suffered a narrower 2½–1½ defeat against Japan despite Sam’s win and a draw from Jessica Callender. Both Guyanese teams enter the break with two wins

and four defeats, leaving each on four match points. The competition resumes on Wednesday, September 23, when the Open team face Togo and the women meet Laos. FIDE Master Drayton secured Guyana’s lone point against Wales on board four. Playing with the black pieces, the 2003-rated Guyanese defeated Candidate Master Alex Bullen, rated 2096. Wales won the remaining three games. On board one, Guyana’s Candidate Master Sachin Pitamber lost with white to International Master Jose Collados. Kyle Couchman, playing with black on board two, was beaten by Candidate Master Ifan Rathbone-Jones. Candidate Master Taffin Khan lost with white to Iwan Cave on board three. In the women’s section, Sam overcame a 258-point rating disadvantage to defeat Japan’s Kanako Kinoshita on board two. Sam, rated 1525, played with white against her 1783-rated opponent. Woman Candidate Master Callender added half a point

Guyana’s women suffered a narrow 2½–1½ defeat against Japan despite 13-year-old Kataleya Sam’s win and a draw from Jessica Callender

on board four, drawing with white against Ami Kato. Callender entered the game rated 1552, compared with Kato’s 1755. Japan secured the match through victories on boards one and three. Woman Candidate Master Aditi Joshi lost with black to Woman Candidate Master Azumi Sakai. Ciel Desiree Clement also played with black and was defeated by Woman Candidate Master Rikka Mitsuyama.

After six rounds, Guyana stood 148th overall in the Open competition and 150th in the women’s section. In the separate Americas Open standings, Guyana sit 28th out of 42, with two wins, no draws, and four losses. In the Americas Women rankings, Guyana sit 30th among 41 teams. Drayton leads Guyana’s Open individual scoring with 2½ points, followed by Pitamber and Sandiford

on two each, Couchman on 1½ and Khan on one. Joshi heads the women’s scoring with three points, ahead of Clement on two, while Sam, Shariff, and Callender have 1½ each. The Open side, captained by Aleksa Strikovic, and the women, led by Georg Mohr, have five rounds remaining in the 11-round tournament, which concludes on September 27.

South American Games… Pace and Power, NA Boxing Academy ready to rumble at GBA Novice Championships Mixed bag of results as

Pace and Power’s Clifton Barker alongside the young pugilists from his gym

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he Pace and Power Gym of Albouystown, Georgetown and the New Amsterdam Boxing Academy, Berbice, are putting the finishing touches on their preparations for the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) National Novice Championships, scheduled for September 25-27 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), Homestretch Avenue. The three-day tournament is expected to bring together some of the country’s most promising amateur boxers, all eager to showcase their skills, gain valuable competitive experience and make their mark on the local boxing scene. With the championships providing an important platform for developing talent, both gyms are determined to ensure their boxers enter the ring well-prepared and ready to make an impression. Pace and Power, under the guidance of experi-

enced Coach Clifton Barker, has been working tirelessly in Albouystown, with the trainer targeting a strong representation at the championships. Barker revealed that he currently has approximately 15 boxers in his programme, including four females, and hopes to bring at least 10 competitors to the tournament. He noted that the female boxers will be given the chance to test their skills, as he continues his efforts to contribute to the development of women’s boxing in Guyana. A number of Barker’s boxers hail from Sophia, outside the gym’s Albouystown base. The Coach said he was pleased with the dedication shown by the youngsters, despite the challenges involved in getting them to and from training. “I’m glad that they’re all showing the interest and the commitment. It’s difficult, you know, I have

to pick them up daily, and take them back home, but they’re always eager to learn,” Barker said. Meanwhile, the New Amsterdam Boxing Academy, led by former national champion Jeff Roberts, is preparing a smaller but highly-motivated contingent. Roberts said he is working with at least five boxers, but made it clear that his boxers will be entering the competition with ambitious targets. The Berbice-based academy has a proud tradition of producing national and Caribbean champions under Roberts’ guidance. The upcoming championships will provide an opportunity for the gym to introduce another group of promising boxers to the national amateur boxing circuit. The tournament has generated considerable interest, particularly with the return of the Republican Gym, adding further competition to an already highly-anticipated championships. GBA President Steve Ninvalle said he was pleased with the efforts being made by gyms across the country to participate in the event. Ninvalle noted that the strong response from Coaches and boxers reflected the continued development of amateur boxing in Guyana. He also commended the Coaches for their dedication to nurturing young talent and keeping the sport active and competitive.

squash, table tennis serve off

Guyana’s women’s squash players at the South American Games: Mary Fung-A-Fat, Ashley Khalil, and Kirsten Gomes

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uyana’s squash and table tennis teams at the South American Games in Rosario, Argentina experienced mixed results on Monday as the two disciplines commenced action. On the squash courts, Ashley Khalil suffered an opening loss in the women’s singles round of 32. Khalil went down to Ecuador’s Maria Buenano 3-0 (3-11, 3-11, 5-11). Fortunes were the same for Kirsten Gomes in the same division, taking on Chile’s Giselle Delgado. Delgado won 3-0 (11-3, 11-2, 11-1). However, Mary Fung-AFat kept hope alive in the division with a 3-0 win over Bolivia’s Michele Arnez. Fung-A-Fat prevailed 11-2, 11-4, 11-3. Over in the men’s singles round of 32, Samuel InceCarvalhal was not as fortunate, losing in straight sets to Peru’s Rafael Galvez 6-11, 9-11, 6-11. The script was the same for Nicholas Verwey, who suffered a 3-0 defeat at the

hands of Ecuador’s Javier Romo (8-11, 3-11, 5-11). However, Daniel Ince came out on the winning side of his Round of 32 matchup with Paraguay’s Andres Acosta. Ince won 3-0 (11-8, 11-6, 11-4). The Guyanese were unable to find success in the doubles categories. Ince and Fung-A-Fat teamed up for the mixed doubles, but were defeated 0-2 by Ecuador’s David Costales and Maria Moya (5-11, 2-11). In the men’s doubles, Ince-Carvalhal and Verwey joined forces, but fell 2-1 (1110, 9-11, 6-11) in a valiant effort, to Jeremias Azana and Roberto Pezzota. Ince and Fung-A-Fat were scheduled to continue their campaigns in the men’s and women’s singles, respectively on Monday night. In the table tennis arena, Chelsea Edghill and Shemar Britton suffered a mixed doubles round of 16 defeat, 3-0, at the hands of Santiago Lorenzo and Camila Arguelles of Argentina. Those

sets unfolded 14-12, 11-5, 11-3 in the Argentines’ favour. Britton later teamed up with Elishaba Johnson for the men’s doubles round of 16 but the result was, unfortunately, the same after a gritty contest with Uruguay’s Pablo Palou and Sebastian Timbal (1-3). The Uruguayan team took the first two sets 11-8, 11-7 before Britton and Johnson fought back in the third, 8-11. However, the Uruguayan duo would seal the match with an 11-7 win in the fourth set. Today, the table tennis contingent will turn their attention to the singles’ events.

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GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Falcons’ triumph “special”, “amazing” – Moeen and Shadab

Captain Moeen Ali described the Falcons’ triumph as special (CPLT20 photo)

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just their third year as a franchise, the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons have conquered the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL), pulling off an eight-wicket victory at the Kensington Oval on Sunday night to lift the 2026 title.

In spite of another Maaz Sadaqat century for the Jamaica Kingsmen, there was never any doubt about the Falcons’ ability, as they made every aspect of the game seem effortless on their way to victory. As the team prepared to receive the coveted CPL trophy for the first time and kick off their celebrations, Captain Moeen Ali described their triumph as special. Ali shared in a postmatch chat, “Very special, I think more for the franchise, the players and the coaching staff and everybody that was involved. It’s been a tough journey, but a great journey, the time’s gone quick for us, because we’ve enjoyed each other’s company.” “And you can see, on the field, the way we played. I thought tonight was an outstanding performance again. But yeah, really, really pleased with the way we performed throughout the competition and it was a decent final in the end.

The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons lifted their first Republic Bank CPL trophy after just three years in the tournament(CPLT20 photo)

I mean, the dew made a big difference, but it was a great toss to win,” the Captain added. Quizzed by Darren Ganga about when he knew they had a shot at the CPL title, Ali recollected, “Honestly, that game I played in St Lucia, we were only defending 57 off 10 overs and we almost won that

game and from there, I saw fight and I saw great determination from the guys and I thought there’s at least something great to work with and it was just getting the guys r i g h t . Having two wrist spinners, two pace guys up top, two death bowlers, it’s not always easy to combine. But I think, you k n o w , the biggest difference

was the players that came in and out for a couple of injuries in between, Karima Gore and Fabien Allen, it wasn’t easy but they made a huge difference. Quality players that always give everything.” The Falcons skipper later talked about opting to go with pace over spin, in a tactical move on Sunday night. “The way Maaz was playing, I didn’t want to open with an off-spinner because he does play off-spin quite well and he takes it on. I wanted someone with pace to bowl at him. Two guys with good pace and we just felt like the wicket may have a bit of bounce which it did,” the skipper admitted. Meanwhile, Player of the Tournament Shadab Khan talked about his performance throughout the season and the franchise’s first chip. Shadab told Guyana Times Sport exclusively,

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Player of the Tournament Shadab Khan described their win as amazing

“Alhamdulillah, very happy. I came a little bit late, but obviously when I came, I got an opportunity to perform on a first game and after that, my confidence was getting better and better. So, I’m very happy and most importantly, the team won, so it’s always win-win situation.” “It’s amazing. Because we saw the emotion when we were there as well, when we played the home game. We saw the emotions from the crowd, from the fans and this is the first title for them and hopefully, many more to come.”

Hetmyer reflects on “bittersweet” century, GAW exit T

he Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) were 20-2 when Shimron Hetmyer walked to the crease in Qualifier 2 of the Republic Bank

Caribbean P r e m i e r League (CPL) on Friday last at the

Kensington Oval in Barbados. Hetmyer went on to craft his record-second century of the season, slamming four fours and eight

sixes for an unbeaten 102 off 48 balls. But in the end, it was not enough for the local franchise who went on to suffer a five-wicket loss to the Jamaica Kingsmen. Reflecting on the game, Hetmyer was not afraid to give the Kingsmen credit for the manner in which they played. Hetmyer told <<<Guyana Times Sport>>> exclusively, “I think it was just one of those games where you never know what could happen and it was just swinging both ways, to be honest.

I think they had a brilliant start and also coming down, they just kept going with the run-rate. I think that was crucial in a chase like this one and kudos must go to them for the way they actually chased down the score tonight.” The Berbician went on to highlight the power play as a crucial phase in the contest. “ I thought so, but playing in Barbados, for as long as I could remember, it’s always important in the power play,” he explained, “I think the power play is where most things happen. I think they actually won with just losing one wicket and I think they ended up with 80 odd or something like that in the power play. So, I think from there it was a little bit difficult to pull it back, but like I said, kudos must go to them – the way that they played.” Hetmyer later admitted that there was still hope of pulling off a win

Shimron Hetmyer has described his second century this CPL season as bittersweet

in the final overs. “To be honest, yeah. I still think that a couple dot balls, a wicket, you never know what could’ve happened,” the left-handed batter conceded. Reflecting on his knock, on Friday night, Hetmyer could only describe it as bittersweet. He shared candidly, “I think it’s up there, but not lifting the trophy at the end; it’s kind of a bitter-

sweet feeling to be fair.” The Guyanese batsman ended the CPL season as the second highest run-scorer overall with 367 runs from 12 innings. Barbados Tridents’ Quinton de Kock was the only batter to outscore Hetmyer with 392 runs in 11 innings. Jamaica Kingsmen’s Maaz Sadaqat rounded out the top three with 363 runs, also hitting two centuries.

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026

Sport is no longer our game, it’s our business

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South American Games…

Mixed bag of results as squash, table tennis serve off Pg 23

Pg 22

Guyana’s men’s squash players at the South American Games: Daniel Ince, Samuel Ince- Carvalhal and Nicholas Verwey

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