165 healthcare workers begin training through GOAL –Medvarsity partnership as six new hospitals near completion
— Partnership delivers 300 online courses to nurses and doctors; hands-on training in India being explored for future programmes
By Shaniya Harding
HOLISTIC development continues to unfold across Guyana’s key sectors, with the most recent initiative coming from a groundbreaking partnership between the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) and India’s Medvarsity.
This collaboration has led to the launch of a new Health Services Programme, offering more than 300 courses to a new cohort of 165 nurses and doctors. According to Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, the programme is a critical next step in further developing Guyana’s healthcare system by investing in human capital.
Delivering the feature address at the virtual launch of the programme on Tuesday morning, Minister Anthony said the initiative is designed to address existing gaps in the health system and to help build a sustainable and efficient healthcare sector.
This partnership marks the first collaboration between GOAL and Medvarsity, one of Asia’s largest healthcare EdTech companies, accessible in more than 190 countries.
Speaking directly to the first cohort of students, Dr Anthony highlighted the programme’s role in building technical capacity among healthcare personnel, a key priority for the Government of Guyana.
The programme has already attracted significant interest across the country, with 84 per cent of the participants being nurses and 16 per cent doctors. Of the 165
students enrolled, 141 are women.
One of the programme’s highlights, according to Minister Anthony, is its approach. Participants will learn medical practices and techniques in keeping with international standards; skills that will be applied in areas such as the critical care units in new hospitals slated to open
ECGs, and among the nurses, the desire to learn more about critical care. Now, one of the things that we are doing is to open new hospitals. We have six hospitals that would be opened between now and the end of August,” Minister Anthony stated.
FUTURE TRAINING IN INDIA
starting with most of the courses that probably you can do all online, in the future we are hoping to pursue some of the courses that would be delivered in a mixed way,” he said.
He further explained that while this inaugural programme is currently entirely online, the Ministry and Medvarsity are looking to expand their partner -
across Guyana in the coming months.
The courses that they're taking are very pertinent to what we want to do, because I see a lot of people want to learn a little bit more about interpretation of
Looking ahead, Minister Anthony explained that GOAL and Medvarsity will adopt a ‘mixed approach’, allowing Guyanese students to participate in practical training in India. “While we are
ship to include international student exchange and training.
“You do the theory online, and then if there are practical things that need to be done or learned, we can send those persons
to India to get those types of practical skills. Because, you know, medicine, apart from knowing the theory, it's also a hands-on thing. So, you need to have some practical skills, and we look forward to sending some of our people to India to get those skills,” he added.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of Medvarsity, Gerald Jaideep, echoed the Minister’s vision of combining online education with real-world experience.
“Aligning with the Minister’s vision of online plus offline learning, the key impact of healthcare training happens at the bedside, beside the patient. And we're very excited to hear the Minister's vision of looking at that aspect of skilling and enablement, because that's where truly transformative healthcare outcomes happen,” he said.
He further added, “We are super excited to work in whatever form or manner possible, bringing our clinical expertise to Guyana, supporting Guyana's experts to come to India or other parts of the world to learn from the best of the best out there. And hopefully,
very soon with the six new hospitals opening, we can make Guyana the centre of medical excellence for the Caribbean region.”
GUYANA’S
HEALTHCARE VISION
Speaking on the broader development of Guyana’s healthcare sector, Minister Anthony highlighted the sector’s ongoing growth, new initiatives, and infrastructure, and emphasised the role that trained Guyanese professionals can play in a rapidly evolving landscape.
“We're expanding the health sector here. As I said, six new hospitals will be opened by August this year, and we have another six in the pipeline to be constructed and opened over the next two years. We're also going to be building an oncology centre, and there are lots of specialists that we would need in the area of oncology,” he stated.
The goal, Dr. Anthony said, is not just to create a better healthcare system, but to deliver the best possible care to Guyanese and make Guyana the Caribbean’s newest healthcare hub.
Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony
Gerald Jaideep, Chief Executive Officer of Medvarsity
‘He listens, he acts and he puts Guyana first’
– Popular businessman Beni Sankar endorses President Ali, PPP/C for re-election
POPULAR businessman
Beni Sankar has endorsed President, Dr Irfaan Ali for a second term, aligning himself with the governing People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).
In a public endorsement on Tuesday, Sankar, Chief Executive Officer of the Kayman Sankar Group of Companies, described President Ali as a leader who “listens, acts, and puts Guyana first.”
“I proudly endorse Pres-
ident Irfaan Ali for his outstanding leadership and tireless service to Guyana,” Sankar stated. “His government has delivered real progress— from expanding housing and infrastructure to improving healthcare, education, and agriculture.”
Calling on all Guyanese to rally behind the President, Sankar said now is not the time to “change course,” especially as the country continues to experience re-
cord growth and development under the current administration.
“President Ali has shown a clear vision for our future and the ability to get things done. I urge all Guyanese to support his continued leadership as we build a stronger, more united nation. VOTE PPP/C,” he said.
Sankar’s endorsement comes at a time when several former opposition figures and prominent civil society voices
have also pledged support for the President and the PPP/C.
Among them are former People’s National Congress (PNC) parliamentarians such as Geeta Chandan-Edmond and James Bond, former Deputy Speaker Lenox Shuman and regional leaders such as Daniel Seeram and Samuel Sandy.
Others include Asha Kissoon of The New Movement, AFC’s Ismail Muhammad-Al-Cush and David
Daniels and Dr Richard Van West Charles, son-in-law of former President Forbes Burnham.
Support has also come from former government ministers such as Sydney Allicock, activists such as Selwyn Pieters and public figures including Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle and medical professional Dr Nand Ram.
Additionally, the PPP/C has received public endorse-
ments from major organisations such as the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB); the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA); the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMRSC) and the Small Miners Association. This endorsement comes ahead of the September 1, 2025, General and Regional Elections, as President Ali and the ruling PPP/C seek re-election.
APNU scrambles to dismiss contradictory stance on sugar industry
TWO days after one of its members publicly dismissed the future of Guyana’s sugar industry, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) on Tuesday issued a statement seeking to clarify what it described as its “re-emphasised” position on Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), vowing instead to revitalise the sector if elected to government.
The party’s reaction
comes on the heels of controversial remarks made by APNU member Leon Saul during the coalition’s campaign launch on Sunday, where he declared, “Sugar done, hemp and cannabis in… hemp and cannabis is in when the oil done. Hemp and cannabis oil will give us more than fossil fuel oil.”
However, in an apparent effort to contain the fallout, the party on Tuesday distanced itself from Saul’s comments, insisting that it has no plans to close down
“Instead, as the next government, the APNU coalition will focus its effort on revitalising and reshaping the sugar industry,” the party stated, adding that its presidential candidate Aubrey Norton has identified diversification and new investment as critical pillars of that plan.
However, this latest pronouncement stands in contrast to statements Norton himself made just last month, when he proposed transforming GuySuCo into a construction giant.
Speaking at a June press conference, Norton said, “GuySuCo can become one of the largest builders of homes and communities in Guyana,” suggesting that the corporation’s vast landholdings and resources could be redirected toward the booming construction sector.
At the time, Norton also touted the potential for diversification through ethanol production, livestock feed, bagasse, and electricity generation using sugarcane by-products.
But that vision of GuySuCo as a multi-industry enterprise has done little to ease public scepticism— particularly among sugar workers and their families, who bore the brunt of APNU+AFC’s previous policy choices.
The coalition’s 2017 decision to close the Rose Hall, Skeldon, Enmore, and Wales estates left thousands of sugar workers jobless, sparking widespread criticism, protest action, and long-term economic hardship in the affected communities.
An APNU+AFC government-commissioned Commission of Inquiry had explicitly warned against further estate closures, calling instead for sustained financial support for the
sector.
The findings specifically warned against further estate closures “at this time”. Instead, it urged the State to maintain short-term financial support for the corporation while considering longterm divestment strategies.
President Irfaan Ali recently unveiled a sweeping diversification plan that stands in stark contrast to the opposition’s controversial past and present proposals for the sugar industry.
Speaking during an interview on June 23, 2025, President Ali described the State-owned GuySuCo as a “crippled sector” when his government took office in 2020. His administration, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), has since poured more than $40 billion into reviving what he called a “national asset”.
“We had to recreate that infrastructure, rebuild drainage and irrigation systems, clear fields that became forests… That was basically what it was, and then reinvest in capital goods,” President Ali had said.
The president now plans to take the industry into a second phase of modernisation and diversification over the next five years.
With a focus on technological innovation and new opportunities for workers, Ali aims to position GuySuCo not just as a sugar producer, but as a modern economic engine for the country.
“We are now looking at the entire ecosystem of GuySuCo; how it can support national development, how it can be part of our economic expansion,” he said, adding, “We must have technology, we must have modernisation, we must have more precision type of farming to have greater yield, greater production.”
the GuySuCo or abandon sugar altogether.
- now claims GuySuCo will be revitalised
Representatives from the Kingdom Liberal Movement and Legalise Cannabis Guyana including Ras Leon Saul and Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton
Parika Sawmills Ltd endorses President Ali for second term
PARIKA SAWMILLS LTD
has endorsed President, Dr Irfaan Ali for a second term in office under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), praising his administration’s transformative impact on the forestry and lumber sector.
In a statement issued by the company, management commended President Ali for his “visionary leadership and unwavering commitment” to the development and modernisation of Guyana’s forest-based industries.
“President Ali has not just supported the industry, he has transformed its potential,” the company stated, pointing to major infrastructural and financial support initiatives implemented under his government.
A major highlight of the endorsement is the administration’s investment in forest-access roads, which the company said has had a direct and lasting impact on its operations.
“These roads are not only
vital to community access and connectivity — they play a key role in enabling the efficient transportation of logs from the interior to sawmills like ours on the coast,” the company said.
Parika Sawmills Ltd also
company has established a modern kiln-drying facility, constructed a new warehousing complex and expanded its product line and operational capacity.
“These advancements have not only strengthened
praised the creation of the $900 million revolving fund designed to support forestry and value-added enterprises.
The company revealed that it was among the first to benefit directly from this initiative. Through this support, the
our company, but have [also] contributed meaningfully to job creation, downstream processing and the sustainable development of Guyana’s forest resources,” the statement noted.
Lauding the President’s
– Cites support to forestry sector, direct impact on jobs and expansion
pro-business policies, effective governance and foresight, the company said it looks forward to continued progress under his leader-
ship.
“For these reasons, and in recognition of his effective governance, foresight, and pro-business poli -
cies, Parika Sawmills Ltd proudly endorses President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali for a second term in office,” the company said.
True Regional Integration
AS the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) marks another year of existence, President, Dr Irfaan Ali’s message on CARICOM Day is both timely and urgent.
It is a clarion call to transform regional integration from a decades-old aspiration into a tangible, actionable reality, one that strengthens intra-regional trade, food security, energy resilience and collective sovereignty in the face of increasingly complex global challenges.
President Ali’s appeal for deeper intra-regional trade and economic linkages strikes at the heart of CARICOM’s unrealised potential.
Despite the formal establishment of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), the region has too often failed to translate policy into practice.
Fragmented markets, logistical hurdles and regulatory barriers continue to impede the free flow of goods, services, and people, limiting the region’s ability to act as a unified economic bloc.
But this year’s tone is different. The
rhetoric has matured into a sense of urgency.
President Ali was unequivocal: “Regional integration is no longer a lofty aspiration; it is an urgent necessity.”
Indeed, the ongoing threats—climate change; geopolitical volatility; supply chain disruptions and energy insecurity—have made the status quo untenable.
Guyana, with its rapidly expanding food-production sector and emerging energy resources, has offered itself as a catalyst for regional transformation.
From the Low Carbon Development Strategy to its leadership on the food-security agenda, Guyana is positioning itself as a bridge, both literally and figuratively, between aspiration and implementation.
President Ali’s commitment to helping secure the region’s food systems and diversify its energy sources is not mere diplomacy, it is an act of leadership in a time when bold regional action is required.
Equally important is the call for a
unified regional voice in global diplomacy. CARICOM must move as one, especially on matters of climate justice, international financing for vulnerable economies and the protection of small states from territorial aggression and transnational crime.
As President Ali aptly put it, CARICOM must remain “our collective shield and moral compass.”
Meanwhile, the efforts of other regional leaders such as Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, reinforce the growing resolve among CARICOM heads.
Her announcement that two member states are in the process of acquiring cargo planes, and the private sector’s move to establish a regional ferry system, signals that the region may finally be ready to overcome its transportation dilemma, a long-standing barrier to economic integration.
The incorporation of CARI Cargo Inc. in 2024 and the Caribbean Development Bank’s support for a maritime car-
go service are steps in the right direction.
The proposed deployment of Trinidad’s Galleons Passage to ferry agricultural goods and passengers across Barbados, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago is more than symbolic, it is a critical infrastructural investment that could unlock the region’s economic potential and empower Caribbean producers to supply their neighbours rather than rely on costly extra-regional imports.
But all of this depends on political will, the very currency that has too often been in short supply. As Prime Minister Mottley rightly said, “It is up to us to determine whether we have the political will to finally democratise travel in this region.”
President Ali’s message has laid out a comprehensive vision: trade, food, energy, climate resilience, and peace. The question now is whether the region’s leaders, together, will deliver. For the Caribbean, the time for talk has passed.
The time for action is now.
A tribute to Rickey Singh
Dear Editor,
THE doyen of Caribbean journalists is no longer with us, but the exceptional quality of his work, his bravery in speaking out against authoritarianism, and his mentorship of young journalists, especially in Guyana and Barbados, will never be forgotten.
He was not only a consummate professional but also a decent, courageous and compassionate human being.
When I was at the Guyana Broadcasting Service (GBS), Rickey and I shared the same trauma of having to leave Guyana suddenly during the dark days of June
1980, in order to be safe and to continue practising our profession.
We both ended up in Barbados, I unexpectedly, and we remained professional colleagues and lifelong friends.
I first met Rickey at the Guyana Graphic in the 1970’s, when I was a cub reporter learning the ropes of the profession. I admired and learnt much from him, not just about the basics of journalism but about the importance of integrity.
In Barbados, we both specialised in CARICOM issues, covered many Heads of Government conferences together and our articles appeared in the main newspapers across the region.
Rickey’s work over decades and the respect he gained from regional leaders, the business community, civil society, and the media, was recognised by the University of the West Indies which awarded him an honorary doctorate.
He also received the top media award from the Caribbean Publishing and Broadcasting Association (CPBA).
As President of the Caribbean Media Workers Association (CAMWORK), Rickey spoke out against ill treatment of journalists by the Governments of the day, including me at a CARICOM Summit.
I was touched and grateful to Rickey for sending a congratulatory message that
was read at the launch of my book “Caribbean Perspectives” last year.
It was with great pleasure that I and other former media representatives contributed to a video tribute to him on his birthday a few years ago. I was blessed to have Rickey in my life and value my enduring friendship with his daughter Wendy.
My professional and personal life was enriched through my association and friendship with him.
Thank you and farewell my friend.
Sandra Ann Baptiste
APNU must not be allowed to finish the incompetent job started in 2015
Dear Editor,
THE People’s National Congress, now parading under the lone banner of APNU, has returned with a dangerous sense of entitlement as if Guyana owes them another chance after the chaos they unleashed between 2015 and 2020.
Their recent campaign launch was not a bold new declaration. It was a reissue of the same failed promises, the same hollow speeches, the same empty rhetoric that led Guyana into stagnation and despair just a few years ago.
Under their rule, Guyana’s economy was sabotaged. They inherited over $13 billion in gold reserves. By the time they were voted out, it had been squandered
to less than $200 million. They sold our gold at the lowest market price, a move so reckless it would embarrass even a novice economist.
Major investors like RUSAL fled under their watch. No major new industries were built. No modernisation of agriculture. No energy expansion. No digital revolution.
What they delivered instead were mass layoffs in sugar and forestry, dried-up small business support and a tax regime that sucked the life out of working people.
And when faced with their own fiscal disaster, they did not trim waste. They taxed school uniforms. They taxed health benefits. They taxed the poor to pay for their incompetence.
The APNU met over US$780 million in
foreign reserves and left only $200 million behind.
And then came the moment that revealed the soul of APNU. A sitting minister declared that only PNC people must get jobs under her Ministry. Not Guyanese. Not qualified citizens. Just party loyalists. That is the philosophy of the PNC which embraces party paramountcy.
It explained the firings, the discrimination, the ghost contracts, the paralysed public sector.
The oil deal APNU signed was one of the most lopsided in the world.
At the dawn of our petroleum age, when the rest of the world would have been securing royalties and national wealth, APNU rushed to the table and
folded, handing over our resources for crumbs. They crippled the very future they now pretend to defend.
What APNU offers today is not a second chance. It is a second disaster. Without the AFC, without ideas, and without credibility, they are returning as a fractured relic of an already failed experiment.
No party that brought the economy to its knees, demoralised the public service, drove out investors and institutionalised discrimination has the right to ask this nation for another opportunity.
Guyana cannot survive another APNU government. Not now. Not ever.
Regards, Erin Northe
Of Norton, Hinds and Azruddin
A Reply to Christopher Ram
Dear Editor,
Mr. Christopher Ram has come out with high praise for Aubrey Norton, David Hinds and Azruddin Mohamed (July 8, 2025).
One would think that Ram, being an accountant and lawyer, would be more given to evidence. Instead, we are treated to statements that amount to a eulogy for Norton, puffery for Hinds, and flattery for Azruddin.
Ram thinks the APNU under Norton is “resurgent.” But nothing could be more
distant from the truth.
A long line of comrades not only openly criticised Norton for backward leadership but bolted from the PNCR.
Mr. Ram should be reminded that Jermaine Figueira abandoned the PNCR and Norton for four reasons, namely, “erosion of the ideal of national unity,” “decline of internal ethics and honour,” “absence of visionary leadership,” and “failure to uphold national duty.”
This is what the record on APNU’s presidential candidate Norton shows.
The ill-begotten adoration of Hinds is
shocking given Ram’s own criticism of the $100,000 cash grant distributed to the Guyanese people by the PPP/C administration.
Ram thinks that this is inflationary. Yet, the ‘genius’ David Hinds wants to give out ten times that.
Here is a quick question for Chris Ram. If one hundred thousand is inflationary, what Sir, would be the effect on the economy of ten times that amount?
One must also bear in mind the words of Jermaine Figueira who categorically condemned the PNCR’s “alignment with elements espousing divisive ethno-political rhetoric.”
Ram also needs to be reminded that it was David Hinds who aggressively advo-
cated throwing out the results of the 2020 elections once the recount confirmed that the APNU-AFC was defeated.
Then, in an extraordinary display of historical brinksmanship, Chris Ram likens Azruddin Mohamed’s current display to that most gallant son of the soil – Dr. Walter Rodney. Azruddin’s sanction by the United States’ Office of Foreign Assets Control is completely ignored.
Rodney was known for his opposition to the PNC dictatorship; Azruddin is known for his electoral tourism.
Sincerely, Dr. Randy Persaud
Quality healthcare is not a privilege, it’s a right
THE $6.6 billion, 75-bed Enmore Regional Hospital opened on July 5, 2025, by President Dr Irfaan Ali, is one of six regional hospitals (Anna Regina, Diamond, Tuschen, Skeldon, Enmore, Bath) being constructed by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government.
President Ali emphasised that quality healthcare should be accessible to all, making it a right rather than a privilege.
Enmore’s 2017 sugar estate closure under the A Partnership for National Unity +Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government resulted in 1,500 job losses, impacting about 6,000 people.
The new hospital has revived local hopes for further progress and is part of a broader government initiative to deliver high-quality healthcare.
In 2025, the health sector received
G$143.2 billion—the second largest budget allocation—with the six regional hospitals projected to cost G$37.2 billion.
The PPPC administration recognises the significant impact that the closure of the Enmore as well as other sugar estates has had on affected communities, as highlighted in the 2022 International Labour Organization (ILO) study.
Sugar has been inextricably bound to workers’ culture, history, and lifestyle. Workers only knew one industry and that was sugar. Moving to other industries in search of alternative employment was hardly an option for most of them.
Enmore holds a significant place in Guyanese history, as five sugar workers were killed by police during a peaceful protest over working conditions and wages on June 16, 1948.
This event led Dr Cheddi Jagan to elevate
his union activities with Guyana Industrial Workers Union (GIWU) (now Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU)) and the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) to a national political platform, where he emerged as the first nationalist leader.
In addition, the Enmore Monument honours fallen workers and symbolises ongoing challenges in the sugar industry and Dr Jagan’s political ascent. Recognizing this, the PPPC government has been working to bring opportunities, including investments and jobs for residents at Enmore and surrounding neighbourhoods.
To address the closure of the Enmore sugar estate and the associated relocation of the US$12.5 million sugar packaging plant— which employed 42 individuals—to Albion, the PPPC designated Enmore as an industrial park with plans for substantial job creation.
In 2022, Guysons K+B (GKB) Industries executed an agreement to acquire 55 acres in Enmore for the establishment of a fabrication facility supporting the oil and gas industry. More recently, the President announced US$500 million in investments for projects such as a dairy processing plant, brewery expansion, a private university, an 89-unit condominium complex, and the development of a modern Shoreline Mall valued at US$25 million.
Enmore, Wales, and similar communities are experiencing economic growth as the PPPC government delivers on its promises. The Enmore hospital project team is commended for their contribution.
Yours truly, Dr Tara Singh
Christopher Ram’s understanding of politics
I CHECKED my cellphone around 7 AM yesterday (Tuesday) and saw I had a missed call.
It is routine for me to reply to every missed call. Someone had communicated. I returned the call, and the person asked if I had read a letter in Stabroek News (for Tuesday, yesterday).
I said no, since I hadn’t read the newspapers as yet. I get up early in the morning, and my routine is to feed ten—yes, ten cats. Then I go to the newspapers.
Here is what he said to me, “Freddie, I would like to see your reply to Ram. I would like to see how you handle it. You must do it.”
I read the letter and here is my reply. Unfortunately, Mr Ram’s contents in that public correspondence do not gel at all with the contents of his interview on The Freddie Kissoon Show three weeks ago on Father’s Day. Two things to note about those contents. Mr Ram asserted that David Hinds should not be sprouting racism and went on to make some damning criticisms of Hinds.
Secondly, Ram openly advocated for more tolerance, more reaching out between people of different political beliefs. Regrettably, the tone of his Tuesday Stabroek News correspondence does not travel along that pathway.
I will now look at the weaknesses in Chris’s outline. I will use the format of quoting him and placing my response alongside. Q is for quote. R is for response.
Q: “Aubrey Norton repeated the show
of its party’s resilience on Sunday evening with a huge turnout at its 2025 elections campaign.”
R: I simply do not understand what meaning Chris ascribes to the word “resilient.” Is a party in a resilient mode when it loses its talent and best-known faces like water from a cascading fountain? Is the PNC really in a resilient mode? Every independent and dispassionate analysis points to a denuded PNC that is facing an electoral crisis. But how resilient is a party in multi-racial Guyana when it lacks a multi-racial visage? Never in the history of the PNC has its Indian shelf been so bare.
Q: “With a huge turnout.”
R: Chris should never have used the word “huge,” because any schoolboy will tell you that when the PPP is ready to launch, you will have to find another word to describe that attendance.
Q: “Treat Norton with disrespect and you disrespect all the 217,920 persons who voted for the PNC.”
R: The 217,920 persons who voted in 2020 did not vote for Norton, because he wasn’t the face of the PNC. And what makes Ram think that, after five years and the damage done to the PNC under Norton’s tenure, those numbers will stick with the PNC? More importantly, if one disrespects Norton and, in so doing, is flippant about 217,920 voters— then by the same logic, Chris, in his constant disrespect for Irfaan Ali, is contemptuous of the 233,336 Guyanese who gave him their
vote.
Q: “It must trouble the PPP/C that for all… the demonising of David Hinds, that the PNC-R, or APNU could attract such a crowd.”
R: Has the PPP demonised David Hinds? I live in this country and, given the nature of my work, have to read what the Ministers say about other people. I don’t know any Minister that has demonised Hinds. If rebutting the “spouting of racism” (Chris’s own words about Hinds) is considered demonising someone who generates racist demagoguery, then I’m afraid they should be proud of their demonisation efforts.
Q: “The Ticket (his name for the APNU) … addressing this pillar (the Freedom of Information Act) will make the society more open, more democratic and more vibrant.”
R: That Ticket tried to stop Guyanese from having their votes counted in 2020 and if that Ticket wins, there will be no freedom, justice, or democracy in Guyana because there won’t be a free election in
2030. Even Chris Ram’s own newspaper that he is very embedded in, the Stabroek News, has opined in several articles over the past five years that the association with the 2020 attempted rigging will cost the PNC and AFC dearly.
Q: “Norton, Fernandes, Hinds and others will pose a serious headache for the PPP/C.”
R: So, the long-experienced PNC had to wait until June 2025 to get an inexperienced, non-achieving Amerindian woman to defect to the PNC to bring diversity to the party? It has to be a naïve understanding of Guyanese politics to say what Chris has uttered above.
If Norton, Fernandes, and Hinds can attract multi-racial votes, then we have to urgently redefine the definition of what a multi-racial organisation is.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.
‘We will not stop until every Guyanese feels safe’
— Crime Chief Blanhum reaffirms Police commitment to public safety
CRIME Chief Wendell Blanhum has reaffirmed the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) commitment to protecting citizens and reducing crime across the country.
In Episode 3 of the Safeguarding Our Nation series, Blanhum outlined a strategic framework centred on what he called the “Three Cs” — Crime Prevention, Community Presence, and Collaboration — to tackle both fear and criminal activity in Guyana.
Blanhum acknowledged that while statistics show a measurable decline in violent crimes, the public’s perception of safety remains a concern.
“Fear is shaped by ex-
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law Enforcement), Wendell Blanhum
perience and not numbers,” the Crime Chief said adding that, “In reality, even one violent crime is one too many.
High-profile incidents, like shootings or robberies, stay in people’s minds and fuel fear. They overshadow the progress we have made.”
He pointed to the main trends driving criminal activity across the country, including cybercrime, drug trafficking — particularly in border regions — disorderly murders, property-related offences, alcohol abuse, and domestic violence.
“These trends guide our priority,” Blanhum said, “The reality is that most of the crimes are committed by a small minority of the population. That is why our attention is focused on key offenders and the hotspots.”
Blanhum emphasised that in a relatively small country like Guyana, crime incidents often feel more intense due to their proximity.
“In a small country like Guyana, incidents feel big-
ger because they are close to home. We therefore urge members of the public to remain vigilant, to avoid spreading false or misleading information and always verify with official police sources.”
“We must keep in mind that when it bleeds, it leads to newspapers’ headlines,” he pointed out.
To combat crime more effectively, the police are increasing their efforts in all three strategic areas: crime prevention, community presence, and collaboration.
On the issue of crime prevention, Blanhum said the Guyana Police Force (GPF) continues to utilise crime data to identify and focus on high-risk areas.
By understanding crime patterns and geographical hotspots, he explained that the Force has been better able to allocate resources and respond proactively to criminal activity.
A key part of the strategy is increasing the visible presence of police officers.
Blanhum noted that
ranks are now being deployed more consistently across crime-prone areas.
“The goal is to ensure that criminal elements do not take advantage of vulnerable persons. We must do more to show the public what has been happening behind the scenes,” he said.
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We will not...
Blanhum highlighted ongoing public awareness programmes aimed not only at promoting safety but also at curbing the spread of misinformation. “We are here to work with you,” he said in an appeal to citizens.
The final pillar — collaboration — is central to the GPF’s approach.
Blanhum explained that co-operation with local communities and international agencies is helping to tackle both everyday crimes and more sophisticated criminal operations.
“We are working with
community groups and international partners to combat crimes at all levels,” he stated.
He added that the Force has also significantly increased its engagement with youth groups, aiming to strengthen ties with the younger population and prevent criminal behaviour through education and mentorship.
Addressing concerns about youth crime, Crime Chief Blanhum acknowledged that it remains a serious issue for both the police and the wider community.
He pointed out that the
Police are taking a proactive and collaborative approach to engage with young people across the country.
“Youth crime worries us all and the Guyana Police Force is actively engaged,” said Blanhum, an attorney-at-law. “We meet regularly with youth groups,
schools, and community groups nationwide. We do not just talk; we listen to their concerns,” Crime Chief said.
He highlighted the Force’s support for youthled initiatives, including a recent soccer tournament held in various communities, spearheaded by Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken and other senior officers.
According to Blanhum, activities like these are not
one-off events but part of a broader strategy that will continue into the future.
Despite improvements in statistics, Blanhum acknowledged that trust must be earned and maintained.
“We as police must do more,” he admitted, “and that includes increasing visibility, community awareness, and public awareness.”
In his closing remarks, Blanhum offered a clear message: “We are listening,
we are working, and we will not stop until every Guyanese feels safe.”
“We urge citizens to work with us. Share your concerns with us. Together, we can make Guyana safer. Together, we can work with the public to close the gap between perception and reality. Policing is about protecting every citizen—ensuring that they feel safe in their homes and communities,” the Crime Chief added.
Police ranks conducting community outreach in Mahaica and Cane Grove
Police rank hosted a youth engagement activity at Mahdia Police Station recently
‘A Monument to Corruption’
— McCoy calls out APNU on Durban Park silence
candal resurfaces as APNU launches campaign in its shadow
MINISTER within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy, has called out Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton for launching A Partnership for National Unity’s 2025 campaign at Cuffy Square, within close proximity of the infamous Durban Park, without addressing the major corruption scandal that continues to haunt the former coalition administration.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, McCoy described the act as “one of those moments in politics” that forces the public to question “whether the people involved are being wilfully dishonest, or if they genuinely believe the public has forgotten.”
Durban Park, located just a few feet from the launch site, “is the most glaring monument to the corruption of the coalition he represents,” McCoy stated, adding that the site should have prompted Norton “to speak carefully, or better yet, acknowledge the wrongdoing and apologise.”
McCoy also pointed out the strategic stage placement by Norton’s team, “They deliberately placed the actual stage north, breaking with the usual tradition of placing it eastward. One can only assume it’s because they didn’t want the crumbling Durban Park project to feature in every campaign photo.”
He warned that “no stage direction can hide the truth. Whether they face the crowd north, east, or anywhere— even they must know the project still stinks of corruption.”
McCoy slammed the A Partnership for National Unity +Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) administration’s handling of the Durban Park project, calling it “a deliberate cover-up, wrapped in secrecy and funded through a shady special-purpose vehicle called Homestretch Development Incorporated.”
He pointed to the involvement of then-Minister of Education, Rupert Roopnaraine, who sat in Cabinet while simultaneously being a director of the company receiving state funds.
“By any standard, that is unethical and an outright abuse of power,” McCoy said.
According to the Public Affairs Minister, more than $1.1 billion in taxpayers’ money was funnelled into the project, with $600 million still unaccounted for.
“Payment vouchers couldn’t be found. Contractors couldn’t be traced. The Audit Office spent years trying to piece together what happened, only to hit wall after wall. To
this day, the $600 million that disappeared remains unaccounted for,” he said.
McCoy also referenced APNU+AFC’s controversial “forensic audits,” which he said were “handpicked and sole-sourced” in a failed attempt to tarnish the PPP/C.
“These audits were meant to pin corruption on the PPP/C, but ended up turning up empty. Still, they cost the taxpayers dearly, and more importantly, they were illegal.”
He added that, “If Norton wants to be taken seriously, he needs to stop pretending the past doesn’t exist. He needs to look the people of this country in the eye and explain why a billion-dollar stadium project has turned into a national embarrassment. He needs to say why the records are missing, why the contractors are gone, and why he continues to ignore this while elephant,”
The Durban Park project, launched by the former APNU+AFC administration in 2015 to commemorate Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary in 2016, has long been embroiled in controversy, with $1.1 billion in taxpayer dollars still unaccounted for.
According to multiple Auditor General reports, a private company—Homestretch Development Incorporated (HDI)—was created to manage the project, and $500 million was funnelled to it in 2017 without proper documentation or accountability.
One of HDI’s directors at the time was then Minister of Education, Rupert Roopnaraine, who also sat in Cabinet—a clear conflict of interest.
Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has also weighed in on the issue over the years, most recently stating that authorities are still unable to locate many of the contractors who received payments under the Durban Park project.
He has repeatedly cited it as one of several examples of deep-rooted corruption during the APNU+AFC’s time in office.
The Durban Park “stadium” has been featured in the news for years with substantiated claims being that the $1.1 billion was not properly spent. Jagdeo noted that the missing contractors received some $600 million.
The project was again featured in the Auditor General (AG), Deodat Sharma’s report.
Sharma noted that his office undertook a special audit in accordance with Section 26 of the Audit Act 2004, on the construction of Durban Park and an interim report was
issued on December 7, 2018.
He said that construction commenced in 2015 in preparation for Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary to be celebrated in 2016.
A private company named Homestretch Development Inc. (HDI) was created to implement this project. As of December 31, 2017, amounts totalling $1.150 billion were expended.
Sharma noted that payment vouchers to support expenditures incurred by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, now public works, totalling $70.610 million were not produced for audit examination.
“As such, the completeness, accuracy and validity of this amount could not be determined,” the report stated.
In addition, Sharma not-
ed that some $500 million was paid to HDI in 2017 by the ministry to enable HDI to meet its obligation to its creditors.
However, there was no documentation attached to the payment vouchers to indicate the works done, supervisory checks carried out on the works, as well as certification that the works were satisfactorily completed.
“Only the list of HDI creditors and government’s proposed payment allocation to each creditor was attached to the payment vouchers. In the circumstances, the correctness, accuracy, and validity of the payments made could not be determined”, the report noted.
The AG mentioned that his office had written the then Permanent Secretary, Ministry of
Public Infrastructure on July 19, 2018, requesting documentation detailing the works done, supervisory checks of the said works, as well as certification that works were satisfactorily completed.
On March 11, 2019, the Audit Office also made a request to the ministry for additional documentation for the project.
Some documents have since been submitted.
However, years later, the Audit Office stated, “At the time of reporting in September 2024, this matter remained the same.”
The ministry told the Audit Office that it was not involved in the operations of HDI. Hence, it did not have any information detailing supervisory checks or their methodology of determining that works were satisfactorily completed.
Leader of the APNU, Aubrey Norton and in the background, the infamous Durban Park
Over 400 surgeries successfully completed at Suddie Hospital in first half of 2025
By Indrawattie Natram
SURGICAL services at the Suddie Public Hospital continue to be a cornerstone of quality healthcare delivery on the Essequibo Coast, with an impressive 406 surgeries successfully performed from January to June 2025.
Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr Ranjeev Singh,
commended the hospital’s dedicated team for sustaining high-quality surgical services despite operating with only one main surgical theatre.
He explained that both emergency and elective procedures have been handled efficiently across key specialties, ensuring roundthe-clock access to critical interventions.
Providing a breakdown
of the procedures, Dr Singh noted that the hospital performed 204 surgeries in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (OBGYN), 155 in General Surgery, 101 Orthopaedic procedures and 42 paediatric cases spanning multiple specialties.
Dr Singh said the surgical department remains fully active, managing both emergency and elective (cold case) surgeries.
Dr Singh said that the Ministry of Health is committed to ensuring that surgeries are available within the region and persons don’t have to travel outside of the region.
Dr Singh said Emergency operations are facilitated 24/7, while elective surgeries are scheduled through the hospital’s specialised outpatient clinics.
These outpatient clinics
A dedicated surgical team at the Suddie Public Hospital successfully performs one of over 400 procedures completed in the first half of 2025, showcasing the hospital’s ongoing commitment to quality healthcare delivery on the Essequibo Coast.
ensure that patients are thoroughly assessed, optimised and safely prepared for surgery.
Specialty clinic days are assigned to specific disciplines: General Surgery on Mondays, Orthopaedic on Tuesdays, Gynaecology on Wednesdays, and Paediatrics on Fridays.
Similarly, the Operating Theatre follows a set schedule with Gynaecology surgeries held on Mondays and Fridays, General Surgery on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Orthopaedic cases on Wednesdays. Paediatric surgeries are conducted as needed across the week.
Dr Singh explained that the Ministry of Health remains committed to decentralising surgical services, reducing the need for patients to travel outside of Region Two for operations that can now be safely done at Suddie.
“Some of these services were not previously available in the region and the current government is ensuring that they are now accessible to the people of Essequibo,” Dr Singh said.
Residents with surgical concerns are encouraged to visit the hospital’s outpatient clinics for evaluation and inclusion in the surgical programme.
Dr Singh also expressed sincere gratitude to the medical team, saying their dedication continues to elevate healthcare de-
livery and outcomes in the region.
Additionally, residents of the Essequibo Coast and along the Pomeroon River will soon have access to world-class, reliable healthcare services with the completion of the $6.6 billion Lima Regional Hospital which will be commissioned soon.
As the first hospital of its kind on the Essequibo Coast, the Lima Regional Hospital will include a CT scanner and a range of other diagnostic tools, which will eliminate the need for residents to travel to Georgetown for specialised services.
The facility will serve as a primary healthcare hub, improving patient access to advanced imaging and other vital services.
It would feature two operating theatres; multiple outpatient clinics; ultrasound machines; 75 beds, a 24-hour accident and emergency service, a modern laboratory, digital X-rays and living quarters for health practitioners.
Additionally, Lima and Georgetown medical institutions will form a collaborative network, allowing coastal physicians to consult with Georgetown specialists on complex cases.
The Suddie Hospital is also undergoing a $40 million upgrade to improve its wards and washrooms to better accommodate patients.
President Ali urges renewed commitment to UN Charter on 80th Anniversary
–– Calls for global unity amid rising conflict, inequality and climate crises
PRESIDENT Dr Irfaan Ali has called for a renewed global commitment to the principles of the United Nations (UN) Charter, describing it as a vital guidepost for cooperation and the collective pursuit of a better world.
The Head of State made these remarks in a video message, on Tuesday, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter.
Dr Ali extended congratulations to the UN for upholding its mission and values across generations and continents.
“The UN Charter is more than parchment and ink; it is the bedrock of global cooperation, a mor-
al compass forged to steer humanity towards peace, justice and shared progress,” President Ali said. He added that it is a clarion call to protect the dignity of all peoples, to uphold the rule of international law and to champion human rights without exception or excuse.
Eighty years after its creation, the President noted, the world still depends on the Charter’s guidance amid the rise of prolonged conflicts, climate catastrophe, growing inequality and energy and food insecurity.
As such, the principles of the Charter of Peace, Freedom, Solidarity, and Development remain the best hope.
“The Charter’s en -
during promise is that dialogue must triumph over discord, peace must prevail over provocation and power, right must rise above might, and collective action must outpace narrow self-interest,” he asserted.
President Ali stressed that this milestone should remind the world that the United Nations was created not for the easy times, but for moments such as these.
“May the Charter of the United Nations continue to serve as a lighthouse for humanity, an unshakable pillar of resolve, cooperation, and of the unfaltering belief that together, we the community of nations, can collectively shape a better world,” he said.
The UN Charter, signed on June 26, 1945, was born out of a bold global commitment to dialogue, diplomacy, and cooperation.
It outlines the structure, functions, and principles of the United Nations and officially came into force on October 24, 1945, after ratification by the five permanent members of the Security Council and a majority of member states.
President Dr Irfaan Ali
New Enmore Hospital seen as turning point in regional healthcare
- residents highlight the hospital’s impact on jobs, access and community well-being
LAST week saw Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali commission yet another state-of-the-art medical facility, equipped with 75 in-patient beds, a modern accident and emergency unit operating on 24-hour basis and several operating theatres for emergency and elective surgeries.
The Enmore Regional Hospital is just one of many projects that are revolutionising Guyana’s healthcare landscape.
For years, residents of Enmore relied on a small polyclinic in the area or travel to Georgetown or Mahaicony to seek treatment, often facing long waits and high travel costs. With the opening of the new hospital, community members say they finally feel seen and supported.
“This hospital is a great initiative,” said Leroy Smith, a former Enmore resident now based in the United States.
“I came here last Saturday and today I heard about the opening. I must say thanks to the government. I drove around a lot and I see a lot of things going on, so it's great. It would be a great service to this community and the surrounding area.”
The hospital will serve not only Enmore, but also the wider Region Four communities, including Buxton, Victoria, Nabaclis, Golden Grove, and beyond.
Shawn Baynes highlighted the relief it brings to people who previously had to endure long waits and added transportation costs.
“It is a great relief to the people within Region Four and the East-West corridor. You don't have to go to Georgetown or Mahaicony and wait long to be served. I must say thanks to the government, our President, and our Minister of Health for this gesture for the people of Guyana,” he said.
The hospital also represents more than just healthcare to some.
The Enmore Regional Hospital is equipped with 75 in-patient beds, a modern accident and emergency unit operating on 24-hour basis and several operating theatres for emergency and elective surgeries (Ministry of Health photo)
For Deoraj Nauth, a lifelong Enmore resident, the new hospital will diversify the local economy by creating what he calls much-needed jobs for the community.
“As a born Enmorean, it would help to reduce unemployment that was caused by the closure of the sugar industry. It would be a boost to the entire East Coast where people would get treatment at a higher degree of expedition.”
For others, it’s about comfort, convenience and community pride.
Shurwyn Stewart, who previously worked at the Enmore estate, said, “I know a lot of the people personally who are around here, I see a lot of friends who are here and who are happy that the hospital is here, so it's going to be very convenient for them. They don't have to go to Georgetown. It's going to improve the general health of the community.”
Munindra Seeraj also praised the project, calling it a “significant improvement” from what had existed before.
“First of all, the hospital here at Enmore, it's a significant improvement to what we had before. As you would know, there was a polyclinic that couldn't serve all the members within this community and our neighbouring communities.
“However, with the stateof-the-art hospital here, we are now capable of addressing each and every community member as well as our neighbours within this district and leading on to the outskirts of it.”
Highlighting impact, Sandra Sukhu noted that thousands would benefit from the hospital.
“Thousands of people would benefit from this hospital, and I know that it would be a great relief, so we don't have to go to Georgetown anymore. We can come right here and do all our tests. “
Kuntie Tekchand added that the hospital is not only a gift to Enmore, but to Guyanese across the region.
“This hospital is very accommodating for us I must say. I thank the Government of Guyana, Dr Irfaan Ali for such a wonderful thing for everyone and I think each and every one of the Guyanese will be beneficial for this hospital wherever region you are from, you could get assistance.”
The Enmore Hospital forms part of the government’s broader plan to improve health infrastructure across the country. Residents are hopeful that with more initiatives such as this, healthcare in Guyana will become more modern, accessible, and reliable.
Shurwyn Stewart Deoraj Nauth Sandra Sukhu
Commentary: Echoes of Marco Polo Bridge
––
China’s unforgettable contributions to World Anti-Fascist War victory
By Cao Pengyuan and Ren Ke (Xinhua)
(People’s Daily) FOR the Chinese people, the July 7u Incident in 1937 remains as unforgettable an episode of World War II (WWII) as Nazi Germany’s Blitzkrieg invasion of Poland or Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbour is for westerners.
Eighty-eight years ago, on that very day in July, Japanese troops attacked the Chinese garrison at Lugou Bridge, also known as Marco Polo Bridge, located in what is now the Fengtai District of Beijing, under the pretext of searching for a missing Japanese soldier.
While Japan’s aggression against China began as early as 1931, the July 7 Incident marked its escalation into a full-scale invasion and the start of China’s nationwide resistance.
No less heinous than fascist war crimes in Europe, such as the killing of at least 1.1 million people by Nazi forces in the Auschwitz concentration camp, Japanese troops inflicted a series of atrocities on innocent Chinese people in the course of their invasion.
On December 13, 1937, following the capture of then Chinese capital Nanjing, Japanese troops began more than 40 days of slaughter. About 300,000 civilians and unarmed Chinese soldiers were brutally murdered and over 20,000 women raped.
However, a more united and unyielding China emerged from the burning ashes and rubble caused by Japanese bombardment and gunfire.
United as one under the banner of the Chinese united front against Japanese aggression, which was advocated and established by the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people launched a relentless struggle against the brutal Japanese militarists.
Even in the face of death and destruction, China still strove to preserve its intellectual and cultural vitality.
Scholars and students relocated from Japanese-occupied territories to China’s remote southwest, where they rebuilt top-tier institutions, such as the National Southwestern Associated University.
China was not alone in this anti-fascist struggle. In the darkest hours of the war, the Soviet Volunteer Group, part of the Soviet Air Force, came to Nanjing, Wuhan and Chongqing to fight alongside the Chinese people.
Many sacrificed their lives during aerial combat.
In 1941, the American Volunteer Group, famously known as the Flying Tigers for its winged-tiger emblem, was formed to assist the Chinese Air Force. With a 2,000-plus death toll, these pilots shot down over 2,600 Japanese fighter planes and opened up the Hump Route for transporting emergency supplies.
In 1942, the Chinese Expeditionary Force, comprising over 100,000 soldiers, was dispatched to Myanmar and India to fight Japanese forces alongside the Allies.
During the mission, nearly half of the Chinese soldiers were killed or injured.
It strongly supported and coordinated with the Allied campaigns against Japan, as well as the anti-Japanese resistance of the Southeast Asian people.
Doubtlessly, China played an indispensable role in the World Anti-Fascist War, and their fight started the earliest and lasted the longest.
During 14 years of resistance from 1931 to 1945, China engaged and tied down more than two-thirds of Japan’s ground forces -- resulting in over 70 percent of Japan’s wartime military casualties.
This monumental effort greatly supported the United States and the United Kingdom in the Pacific, and enabled the Soviet Union to concentrate on its campaign against Nazi Germany without fear of a Japanese assault from the East.
However, China’s sacrifice was also staggering. Of
the more than 100 million casualties in the global war against fascism, over 35 million were Chinese soldiers and civilians.
About four months after Victory in Europe Day, Japan formally surrendered aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945 -- marking the end of WWII.
Following the Allied victory, China actively participated in founding the United Nations (UN) and building the post-war international order.
China was among the first to sign the UN Charter, which enshrines the principle of sovereign equality and affirms that all nations, irrespective of size, strength or wealth, are equal. That became the cornerstone of the post-war international order.
Through its contributions and sacrifices during the war, China earned its status as a victorious nation of WWII and a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Therefore, the rights China hold as a WWII victor should be respected and not challenged, especially concerning Taiwan’s restoration to China, which was an integral part of the post-war international order.
To remember the struggle of past generations is not to perpetuate hatred, but to create a better future for generations to come. Humanity must learn from WWII, resolutely oppose all forms of hegemony and power politics, and firmly uphold the post-war international order -- with the UN at its core.
Today, amid a complex and turbulent international landscape, it is all the more essential to uphold and defend the authority of the UN, firmly uphold the UN-centred international system, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and steadily promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation.
Reconstruction of Anna Regina Police Station ahead of schedule
–– Minister Benn commends progress, modern facility expected to be completed by August
By Indrawattie Natram
RESIDENTS of Region
Two will soon benefit from improved access to justice and enhanced security services as the reconstruction of the Anna Regina Police Station nears com-
pletion, months ahead of schedule.
The $185.8 million project, a key investment in the country’s law enforcement infrastructure, is now expected to be completed by August, much to the satisfaction of government
officials and community members.
Last Saturday, Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, along with Permanent Secretary Andre Ally, visited the project site where they met with the contractor and engineering
team to assess the progress of works.
The project was awarded to Builders Hardware General Supplies and Construction with the contract valued $185,865,689 and is part of the government’s broader drive to modernise security infrastructure nationwide.
During the site visit, Minister Benn expressed his satisfaction with the quality and pace of construction, noting that the project is a critical investment in the region’s law enforcement infrastructure.
“I am very pleased with the progress being made here at Anna Regina, with the pace the project will finish in August” Minister Benn stated.
Originally scheduled for completion later this year,
the police station is now expected to be finished by August, a development that has been welcomed by the Guyana Police Force and members of the local community. The upgraded facility, once completed, will feature modern amenities and improved space for both officers and members of the public, aligning with the Ministry of Home Affairs’ commitment to enhancing safety, service delivery, and working conditions for law enforcement personnel.
Permanent Secretary Andre Ally highlighted that the rapid progress is a direct result of effective planning, diligent on-site management, and timely mobilisation of materials and labour.
Ally said that the Min-
istry of Home Affairs has invested 62 per cent more than the previous government and emphasised that transparency and accountability remain key pillars in the Ministry’s infrastructure development agenda. The reconstruction of the Anna Regina Police Station is part of a broader effort by the government to strengthen security infrastructure across the country, particularly in underserved and high-growth regions like Pomeroon–Supenaam. As the completion date draws near, residents and officers alike are eagerly anticipating the return of a fully functional, modernised station that will serve as a cornerstone for maintaining law and order in the region.
A view of the ongoing reconstruction works at the Anna Regina Police Station, which is now well ahead of schedule and set for completion in August.
Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn (centre), and Permanent Secretary Andre Ally engage with the contractor and engineers during a site visit to the Anna Regina Police Station project last Saturday.
Taxi driver remanded for fatal stabbing of mechanic in road rage incident
A 30-year-old taxi driver was on Tuesday remanded to prison for the murder of Jamal Green, a 26-year-old mechanic who was fatally stabbed during a road rage altercation at the intersection of Robb and Albert Streets in Georgetown last Friday.
Keon Belgrave, of the Sophia squatting area, appeared before acting Chief
Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for the capital offence.
Belgrave was not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that on Friday, July 4, 2025, he murdered Green.
He was remanded to prison until July 30, 2025. Belgrave is being represented by attorney-at-law Dawn Cush.
Police Headquarters reported that Belgrave was driving motorcar PXX 7379 south along Albert Street while Green was riding motorcycle CN 9595 behind him.
It is alleged that Green rode up alongside Belgrave’s vehicle and remarked that Belgrave “should have hit him.”
Green then proceeded a
short distance, stopped his motorcycle, and Belgrave also stopped nearby.
According to a 30-yearold eyewitness who was at a nearby store, Green was holding an iron object and struck Belgrave in the back.
In response, Belgrave reportedly retrieved a knife from his car and confronted Green. A scuffle ensued, during which Green was
Keon Belgrave Jamal Green
stabbed three times and collapsed.
Emergency responders transported Green to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he was pronounced dead while receiving treatment. Both the knife and iron bar were recovered at the scene. Investigators also retrieved closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage capturing the altercation.
Kusal 124 forms the centrepiece of Sri Lanka’s series victory
(ESPNCRICINFO)
-
Kusal Mendis crashed 124 off 114, Sri Lanka's seamers took three wickets apiece, and Sri Lanka surged to a series win, defeating Bangladesh by 99 runs in the deciding ODI.
The centrepiece of Sri Lanka's batting was the 124run partnership between Kusal and Charith Asalanka, who made 58 off 68. Bangladesh's bowlers did well either side of that partnership, particularly at the death, conceding only 62 off the last 10 overs.
But Sri Lanka's 285 for 7 was too much, and Sri Lanka's bowlers too penetrative.
Bangladesh never really seemed to be on top of the chase, 20 for 2 in the fourth over, then 62 for 3 in the 14th. Towhid Hridoy made a half-century, but the required rate kept climbing, and Bangladesh could not mount a substantial enough partnership. They were all out for 186 in the 40th over.
Asitha Fernando was again the best of Sri Lanka's bowlers, finding three wickets for 33 runs off seven overs, as he continued to target the stumps, as he has done all tour.
Dushmantha Chameera attempted the shorter lengths, but found success with the fuller ones, bowling Hridoy with an especially memorable seaming delivery. He finished with 3 for 51 off eight overs. Wanindu Hasaranga and Dunith Wellalage took two apiece.
Bangladesh will be proud of their bowling to the top order - they had Sri
Lanka 100 for 3 at the end of the 21st over. And they also claimed four wickets in the last 10.
But in between, Kusal and Asalanka put serious meat on the bones of this Sri Lanka batting effort.
The highlight of Kusal's innings was his severity on length. Anything short was punished, and though the seam bowlers tried repeatedly, they could not get their bouncers high enough to really test him.
He used his short-armjab pull to devastating effect, hitting both spinners and quicks through square leg with spectacular timing.
Seven of his 18 fours came behind square on the leg side.
And all up 82 of his runs (66 per cent) came on the legside. Sweeps of various description - the hard flat one, the paddle, and the slog sweep, were also productive shots for him.
There was never a time in the innings when Kusal seemed to be in discomfort. He eased through the powerplay, hitting 25 off 26 in that period, and though there was a little slowing down as he approached fifty, the same cannot be said of his getting to triple-figures. It took him six balls to scam-
per through the nineties. He got there off the 95th ball he faced.
Asalanka was not in such good touch by comparison, but nevertheless found ways to make runs. He manufactured sweeps against the spinners at times, and used his feet to find lengths that he could score off. He too was stronger on the legside, finding six of his nine boundaries in that direction.
Bangladesh's bowlers hit back nicely after that partnership, though. It was Taskin Ahmed that separated them, even if not with an especially good ball.
He sent down a low full toss, and Asalanka miscued his attempted six over wide long-on, sending it into the hands of Mehidy Hasan Miraz at mid-on instead.
Kusal hit one more boundary, and was out playing a tired hoick off Shamim Hossain in the 46th over. Sri Lanka's bowlers hunted as a pack in the chase. Asitha had Tanzid Hasan caught behind in the third over, Chameera got Najmul Hossain Shanto playing on to his stumps with one that jagged in the fourth, and then the spinners imposed themselves. Wellalage and Hasaranga took two wickets apiece, making breakthroughs through the middle overs. Sri Lanka had Bangladesh 124 for 5 at the start of the 28th over.
The spinners having exposed the lower order, Sri Lanka's quicks came back to wipe out the innings. Aside from Hridoy, no Bangladesh batter crossed 30.
Quiz:
What was the result of the second Test of the current WI/AUST series?
Who was voted Man of the Match?
Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation holds Annual...
From page 26 auditing services. Four proposed motions for constitutional amendments were tabled and carried unanimously by the membership.
These changes aim to strengthen the Foundation’s governance structure and align it with best practices in sport administration. Elections were conducted under the impartial oversight of Mr. Javin Singh, Press and Information Officer at the Delegation of the European
Union to Guyana, Suriname, and with responsibility for Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten.
The GSSF welcomed the presence of Mr. Kame Prashad who served as an independent observer.
Dr. Pravesh Harry was elected President with the Vice-President being Ryan McKinnon, Secretary David Dharry, Treasurer Ray Beharry, Assistant Secretary & Treasurer Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, Chairman
– Steel Challenge Lt. Col. Lancelot Khan, Chairman – Practical Shooting Sadiq Rahat, Chairman – Trapshooting Matthew Phang and Internal Auditor Raphael DeGroot.
In his address to members, Dr. Pravesh Harry, who now begins his second and final consecutive term as President, reaffirmed the Foundation’s dedication to integrity, innovation, and inclusion in the sport shooting community. He also thanked his fellow outgoing and in-
coming executive members for their service, with a call to members to “step forward with ideas, energy and action.”
Following the conclusion of formal proceedings, members were invited to enjoy light refreshments. The meeting provided an opportunity for fellowship, strategic discussions, and renewed commitment to the Foundation’s mission of advancing responsible and disciplined sport shooting in Guyana.
Kusal Mendis recorded his sixth ODI century • AFP/Getty Images
Dominant South Africa wraps up 2-0 sweep inside three days
(ESPNCRICINFO) - A complete mismatch of a Test in Bulawayo ended within two sessions on the third day, as Wiaan Mulder alone scored only 23 runs lesser than what Zimbabwe's entire line-up managed across two innings. But even that happened when, at nine wickets down after being asked to follow-on, an outside edge off Wellington Masakadza dribbled away for four wide of the slips.
The tenth-wicket stand between Masakadza and Tanaka Chivanga frustrated South Africa for nearly nine overs but couldn't prevent an innings defeat. South Africa comprehensively won by an innings and 236 runs to wrap the series 2-0 after confining Zimbabwe to their heaviest defeat by runs in the first Test of the series. It was South Africa's tenth Test win on the trot, including their victory over Australia in the WTC
2025 final last month. Zimbabwe started day three of the Bulawayo Test trailing by a massive 405 runs, with nine wickets in hand. While an innings defeat was inevitable given the deficit and the time remaining in the Test, a middle- and lower-order collapse of 6 for 31 after lunch hastened the eventual result.
But before that, overnight batters Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Nick Welch negotiated the seven overs from Codi Yusuf and Corbin Bosch to start play by mostly blocking and leaving the deliveries. The first over of spin though, got South Africa the breakthrough. Off his second ball, Senuran Muthusamy had Kaitano chipping to cover for 40 in the 24th over. Welch, at the other end, struggled to tick along. His first 45 balls fetched him only 14 runs, and one of his two boundaries came earlier in the day when he
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14:10 hrs Pure Artistry
14:40 hrs High Decree
15:10 hrs Galactic Glow 15:40 hrs Cogical
SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS
SCOTTSVILLE
08:05 hrs Lucienne
08:45 hrs El Capitan
09:18 hrs Hodgepodge
09:55 hrs Royal Invitation 10:30 hrs B Fifty Two
IRISH RACING TIPS FAIRYHOUSE
11:00 hrs Spent All Me Money
11:30 hrs Stella Amorosa
12:00 hrs Krasimir
12:30 hrs Londonofficecallin
13:00 hrs Goodie Two Shoes
13:30 hrs Shakazia
14:00 hrs Exquisite Acclaim
14:30 hrs Clon Ma Cash AMERICAN RACING TIPS
outside-edged Yusuf between third slip and gully. In the 26th over, however, Welch swung Muthusamy for a huge six down the ground. Next ball, he went for a hoick across the line, and the ball missed both the bat and the leg stump. But that didn't prevent Welch from keeping his counterattack going. He punched Mulder wide of gully for four, had a difficult chance dropped by David Bedingham at backward point off Muthusamy, was beaten and nearly stumped next ball, and repeated his massive hit for six off Muthusamy - all these in the space of facing nine balls.
It was Mulder's Test, though, and come the 29th over, his heel was just within permissible limits as he cleaned Sean Williams up for 11. Welch slowed down after that wicket, looking content to push for singles and bat time. He raised his fifty just before lunch when he flicked Prenelan Subrayen for two to fine leg , before both Welch and Craig Ervine went unbeaten at the interval. At the time, Zimbabwe were still another 313 runs behind South Africa.
However, Welch and Ervine didn't last long enough. Muthusamy got a leading edge from Welch, who was caught by Mulder at slip for 55 in the third over after lunch. That began the slide, as 153 for 3 soon turned out to be 184 for 9. Yusuf got among the wickets when he trapped Wessly Madhevere in front for 5 in the 53rd over. Ervine and Tafadzwa Tsiga strung together plenty of dots as the scoring stalled, before Yusuf had Tsiga chipping to short midwicket to end his stay on 1 off 20 balls.
At six down, Masakadza joined Ervine, and kept South Africa waiting for more. Masakadza edged one just short of second slip off his first ball, and had a tight stumping decision go his way. It was Bosch who ended the fiverun union in almost six overs when he had Ervine edging behind for 49 to start the 65th over. Three balls later, Bosch bowled Kundai Matigimu for a duck to bag his third wick-
et. In the 69th, Bosch had Blessing Muzarabani edging to third slip without scoring, with Zimbabwe trailing by 272 runs.
It was a matter of time before South Africa wrapped up victory, but while last man Tana-
ka Chivanga had some fun, Masakadza too hung around to annoy South Africa. Chivanga scored 22 off 26 balls, with three boundaries and a six, but was the last man to fall when Muthusamy had him top-edging to slip. Fittingly,
it was Mulder who took the winning catch, having stood in as captain for this Test, and being named Player of the Match for his marathon 367* and Player of the Series for scoring 531 runs overall and bagging seven wickets.
Senuran Muthusamy struck in his first over on day three • Zimbabwe Cricket
Warriors ready to make it right at 2nd ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League
CAPTAIN of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, Imran Tahir, says that the Guyana Amazon Warriors have again assembled a solid team and are intent on representing Guyana well when they battle some of the best T20 franchises from around the world in the second edition of the Global Super League.
After a poor showing last year, fans were left disappointed in the home side of the ExxonMobil-sponsored tournament, but the GAW captain has asked fans to rally around the outfit.
“We didn't play the standard of cricket we wanted to (last year), and we let a lot of people down, including obviously myself and the people that put faith in us.
So this year, we just plan it would be nice to come earlier and get together, and now we know who are all the players, just a couple are missing. For me, it is going to give us a bit of a benefit with a better squad than last year from a planning point of view," Thair said.
He added they have been able to attract top-quality players because of the lure of the competition for world-
class players.
“It's always nice to come earlier and get together for a couple of days, and you know what your squad is and how you want to play and how you want to put them in to play, and that is the plan we have. Obviously, last year was a disappointment.”
"(I want to) Give credit to all the guys who put this league together. I want to wish them all the best and hope we will plan ourselves this year and give the result that people are expecting."
Meanwhile, Chairman of the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League, Sir Clive Lloyd, said this year will be bigger and more exciting with the top teams battling for a million-dollar prize.
He said that he was satisfied with the organization of the competition last year and commended the ground staff for their work as they look to host the second installment.
Tournament Director Michael Hall says they have set out to improve their organization from the inaugural season, thanks to the dynamic team working to execute the competition.
"We did have, I think, a
bit more time to play with this year. For us, the biggest challenge has been, and it's not ours, but it's, in a sense, for the teams to get players who they want to come when they want them to be here. We have key people from CPL working with us, which I think only augers well for the future of the GSL."
The 2025 Global Super League tournament will feature five teams competing in 11 matches, all held at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence from July 10 to 18, 2025.
The competing teams for the 2025 tournament will be the New Zealand champions Central Stags, International League T20 winners Dubai Capitals from the UAE, Australian Big Bash League winners Hobart Hurricanes, Defending champions Rangpur Riders from Bangladesh, and former Caribbean Premier League champions Guyana Amazon Warriors.
The league gets started with Central Stag playing Dubai Capitals at 10 hours, with Guyana Amazon Warriors taking on defending champions Rangpur Riders in the feature clash at 19 hours.
THE National Federation is pleased to announce the staging of the National Outdoor Archery Championship 2025, set for July 12–13, 2025, at the Leonora National Track and Field Centre.
This annual tournament represents the pinnacle of local outdoor target archery competition and brings together the nation's best and emerging archers across divisions and age categories. Spanning two intense days of qualification and elimination rounds, the Championship will feature disciplines in Recurve, Compound, and Barebow, across Men, Women, Under-21 Men and Under-21 Women classes.
On day one, will feature Qualification Rounds (9:00 hours to 17:00 hours) while day two will feature Elimination and Final Rounds (9:00 hours to 17:00 hours).
Athletes will compete across three groups: Beginners, Developmental and Amateur.
Shooting distances will vary by group and equipment class, ranging from 30M to 70M, with target
face sizes adjusted accordingly. Notably, all Recurve Amateur archers will shoot at 70M using a 122cm target face which is the Olympic standard.
To uphold the integrity of rankings and competition progression, athletes who have medaled or excelled at a lower class are mandated to compete at the next higher class. This step-wise approach supports skill development and encourages athletes to grow within the sport.
NATIONAL RANKING AND TEAM SELECTION
Performances at this championship will be recorded in Archery Guyana’s National Ranking System and will contribute toward selection for high-level training squads and future national team consideration. Athletes must also comply with sport integrity standards including WADA, RADO, and NADO requirements.
Format of
Play:
Qualification Round: 72 arrows shot in 12 ends
Sport Shooting Foundation holds Annual General Meeting
Elimination Rounds: Recurve & Barebow: Set system (first to 6 points) Compound: Cumulative score (max 150 points over 5 ends)
President of Archery Guyana, Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon stated; “We are proud to deliver another nationally significant event that embodies our mission of sporting excellence and athlete development.
The organising team is all set—the field crew, certified national judges, and our IANSEO scoring officials are in position and ready.
I invite all archers across the length and breath of Guyana to take this opportunity to test their skill, grow in competition, and enjoy the camaraderie that archery uniquely offers.”
Archery Guyana extends sincere appreciation to Director of Sport, Mr. Steve Ninvalle, and the National Sports Commission for their unwavering support and partnership in advancing the sport of archery across Guyana.
The Board also expressed thanks to Honourable Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Minister Charles Ramson, for his support and permission to use the Prestigious Leonora Track and Field Centre. Thanks are also expressed to CEO Mr. Samuel Arjoon of Guyana Beverages Inc. and Oasis Water as the official beverage sponsor.
The Board of Directors also wishes to acknowledge the support from Dr. Shannon DaSilva of DaSilva's Optical, Mrs. Alana King and Management of Toucan Distributors and the Management of El Dorado Security Service for their contribution towards procurement of the targets.
Archery Guyana encourages all eligible archers, clubs, and supporters to participate or attend this exciting national event, which continues to raise the bar for competitive archery in Guyana.
ExxonMobil U-14 football competition set to continue with round 4 today
THE highly competitive ExxonMobil Boys and Girls U-14 Football Tournament will continue today with pulsating action at the Ministry of Education’s ground on CARIFESTA Avenue.
Fifty-two more matches are carded as teams battle for supremacy in the countrywide competition.
The games kick off from 10:00hrs and feature 26 boys’ and 26 girls’ fixtures with the top schools in the competition collecting three hundred thousand dollars towards a school project of their choice after winning the 2025 title.
Meanwhile in round three on Sunday, Chase Academic Foundation kicked off the day’s proceeding against Abram Zuil Secondary girls’ side.
Chase had a Leandra Henrito goal which gave them the early advantage before a double from Thea Rodrigues sealed the win 3-nil.
Bartica Secondary also stormed past Dolphin Secondary 8-nil with Kelys Wil-
liams scoring a hat trick and a double from Virlerkys Simon.
Marian Academy also soundly defeated St Joseph High 7-nil with Skylar Denobrega guiding them with a triple while there were doubles from Haley Haberkorn and Kaleigh Todd.
Former ExxonMobil U-14 champions Waramuri Secondary girls’ team also achieved a 10-nil win over Good Hope Secondary.
Shanesa Thomas got things going with a pair of goals, but it was Zabita Harris that took the game away from the Region One side with her hat trick.
Breanna Henry also played well to record a double.
Other girls’ team winners on the day were Vreed-enHoop Secondary, Bush Lot Secondary, East Ruimveldt Secondary, Vryman’s Erven and New Central High.
Over in the boys’ segment, St John’s College led by a Jasiah Nedd hat-trick defeated Charity Secondary 5-4 while Cotton Field Secondary then got past New
Amsterdam Secondary 3-nil with Daron Romeo leading from the front with a double.
St Joseph High clinched their match-up with Hope Secondary 6-1 and Joel Stephen was the star of the show with goals in the 18th, 20th and 22nd minutes.
Bush Lot Secondary also
went down to West Demerara Secondary 1-nil while West Ruimveldt Secondary defeated Marian Academy 2-1.
Bygeval Secondary got past New Central High 1-nil and Dolphin Secondary defeated Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary 3-nil.
Defending champions Chase Academic Foundation battered Brickdam Secondary 8-1.
Chase was led by a Jadan Christian hat-trick and a Jashan Haynes double.
Charlestown Secondary also won their match against Westminster 3-1 and Waramuri Secondary overcame Leonora Secondary 2-nil. Lodge Secondary lost to Annandale Secondary 1-nil and South Ruimveldt were beaten by Christ Church 3-2. Three Miles Secondary also took a win on the day along with L’Aventure Secondary.
Serious discussion on Brathwaite’s future for Jamaica Test
(ESPNCRICINFO) - West Indies coach Daren Sammy says there will be a serious discussion around Kraigg Brathwaite's position ahead of the Jamaica Test, while remaining hopeful that his struggling batting group can find a way to back up the performances of the fast bowlers, following a series-conceding defeat to Australia in Grenada.
West Indies were bundled for 143 in the fourth innings, chasing 277 to win, on the fourth day with the margin of victory flattered slightly by Shamar Joseph's late-innings hitting in the same manner it was in the first Test in
Barbados. The hosts' top order was again steamrolled by Australia's relentless fast-bowling cartel, slumping to 33 for 4 at lunch on the fourth day.
But while West Indies' top-order struggles have mirrored Australia's, the middle and lower-orders were unable to rescue them as Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood ripped the game away in a six-over burst in the middle session to leave West Indies 99 for 7 and without a recognised batter left.
Sammy acknowledged that there was pressure on former captain Brathwaite, who is the only West Indies batter not to
reach double-figures in the series to date.
His 100th Test was a forgettable one, with scores of just 0 and 7 following 4 and 4 in Barbados. Brathwaite averages 18.68 in his last 35 Test innings with just three half-centuries.
"He hasn't looked good this series, and in a team where you are searching for performances, you get very close to say 'okay, do we give somebody else a chance?'" Sammy said after the loss in Grenada.
"But we will really have a good discussion, myself, the selection group, and the captasin himself, about that particular situation."
Sammy conceded that it was a tough ask for his batting line-up to handle Australia's attack on the two pitches that have been presented in the series so far, and noted that most of the new-look line-up were at the start of a journey to becoming a more reliable Test batting unit.
But he cited the example of Steven Smith in terms of how to make technical adaptations on a difficult surface to have success.
"But I do understand the journey that I took on, and Rome is not going to be built in a day. So a little bit of patience, a little bit of reality as to where we are at
is something that we are aware of, and then continue to put in the work.
"The way the guys have bought into what we're trying to do, yes, the results have not shown, but some of the attitudes that are changing and understanding what we're trying to do, it gives me hope."
"When you look at the surfaces that we play on, it's hard. If you look at all the averages, we barely have guys averaging 40-plus in [first-class] cricket. Those type of pitches, it doesn't allow you to come up technically sound, because you're really unsure"
More matches are carded for today in the ExxonMobil U-14 football competition
(Japhet Savory Photo)
Warriors ready to make it right at 2nd
Global Super League Chairman Clive Lloyd, Amazon Warriors captain Imran Tahir, and GSL tournament director Michael Hall
Kraigg Brathwaite made 0 and 7 in his 100th Test