Minister Manickchand pledges completion of Bamia Primary School following meeting with contractors
Minister Manickchand pledges completion of Bamia
Primary School following meeting with contractors
FEWER than 24 hours after she was sworn in as Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand on Sunday visited the incomplete Bamia Primary School in Region 10, where she engaged the contractors responsible for executing the project.
The minister who had just completed a successful five-year stint at the helm of the education ministry, pledged that this project will be completed and promised that children will enjoy the benefits intended by the PPP/C government.
In a video posted on her Facebook page, Minister Manickchand said: “No ifs and buts. It WILL finish. The contractors have been made aware that they either finish the project in accordance with our newly set timelines or someone else will.”
She said the school is being built by the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry; however, it has been taking a while.
“This is a school that's going to take out its en-
tire catchment. Right now, what's happening is the children are on shift or sitting three and four on a bench …We can't continue that,” she said while standing at the site.
The Bamia Prima -
For some time, the project has been facing several challenges which include material shortages, rising costs, and labour shortages. The construction company was granted an extension to complete the school by late 2024. Subsequent reports in the media indicate that the project would have been completed in time for the September 8 start of the 2025 school year.
The facility is expected to accommodate some 800 pupils and is expected to be Region 10’s most modern school.
room; science lab and staff room.
Minister Manickchand in her post noted that during the meeting with the contractor and sub-contractors, a list of things that still needs to be done was discussed. She noted that the ministry will be assigning someone to the project to ensure that the works are finished in keeping with the agreed timeline.
ry School contract was awarded to St8ment Investment Inc in 2021 and was valued at $364 million. The contract-signing was facilitated by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.
Additionally, the school is being designed to include state-of-theart facilities such as a gymnasium; a main building with 44 spacious classrooms; an auditorium with a performance stage; a sick bay equipped with showers; two smart classrooms; modern restroom facilities; a library; a music
She said: “These children have to come into this school and we're looking at a date in October to begin this; so we're going to make sure we put a project manager on the premises and run down the things that have to [be] finished, and the contractors have been told that it's either they finish this or come off the project; so we're very clear about what we want for the children who are going to attend here. That's serious business for us.”
‘Agri’ Minister to consult rice farmers, millers as second crop commences
AS the second rice crop for 2025 gets underway, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, will commence a series of nationwide consultations with rice farmers and millers.
According to a press statement on Sunday, the outreach, which is being conducted in collaboration with senior officials from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to foster open dialogue and strengthen partnerships within the rice industry.
The consultations will take place across the country’s major rice-producing regions throughout this week.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the meetings aim to address key issues and concerns related to the current crop, as well as to provide stakeholders with updates and guidance on best practices.
It was previously reported that the rice industry’s target for the first crop of this year has already been surpassed, marking a strong start toward meeting the overall national goal of 824,000 tonnes for 2025.
The country’s production had reached a record high in 2024. The yield increased from 5.7 tonnes in 2020 to 6.6 tonnes per hectare in 2024 for the last four years.
This incremental increase in rice production has been ongoing since 2021, when production was at 559,789 tonnes. In 2022, it increased to 610,595 tonnes, and 653,706 tonnes in 2023. Mustapha had said: “Since the introduction of rice production in our country, we have surpassed the 700,000 tonnes, with an average national yield of 6.6 tonnes per hectare, the highest ever recorded in the country’s history.” Meanwhile, the country exported 425,490 tonnes of rice and byproducts to 30 countries at a value of over US$245,000,000 in 2024.
New markets were also unlocked with Guyana supplying rice to Africa and retaining other markets within the Caribbean and across the region.
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand, engages contractors at the site where the Bamia Primary School is being constructed (Photo: Priya Manickchand/ Facebook)
New faces ready to achieve targets set by PPP/C gov’t
- enhance lives of all Guyanese by remaining committed to the task
By Naomi Parris
SIGNALLING strong intentions to engage the public, strengthen legal and institutional frameworks, and accelerate development in their respective sectors, the new and youthful faces of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Cabinet have outlined ambitious agendas aimed at meeting the needs of a rapidly changing Guyana.
With an expanded portfolio of the Ministry of Labour, now renamed the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffth, a legal professional of almost a decade, is bringing agility, youth, and enthusiasm to his new role.
“I bring with this portfolio a strong legal background; I bring with it agility, a strong drive, youth and happiness to serve the people,” Griffth told the Guyana Chronicle in an interview on Sunday.
As he gets familiar with his responsibilities, high on his agenda is to immediately engage the stakeholders and advisers to establish his footing and continue along the trajectory of growth, ensuring that both employees and employers are supported.
“I want the public to know this is an interactive ministry. I will be an interactive minister, so they can come in anytime and they can meet with me, and I will hear what their concerns are,” the new minister asserted.
With the significant changes that have reshaped the local workforce, it’s essential to establish a robust legal foundation capable of addressing both current and emerging challenges as the labour landscape continues to evolve.
“I intend to critically examine the legal framework
which operates within the sector, and to see how it can be improved to ensure that the rights of employers and employees are upheld in a proper, legal, structured framework and manner,” he shared.
Griffth, has represented many persons in labour-related cases, and previously served on Guyana’s Youth Advisory Council.
INCLUSION,
EMPOWERMENT OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
Meanwhile, Sarah Browne, who now takes up the post of Minister of Amerindian Affairs, intends to focus on inclusive development, aligning national plans with the needs of Amerindian communities, especially women and youth.
“I would like my tenure to be one where we have inclusivity, in keeping with His Excellency’s One Guyana plan. I plan to build bridges to include everyone, because you know Amerindians, we have one thing in common [that] is to help people get better,” Browne said, adding:
“From me, you can expect I will work with everyone, youth, women, ensuring that we achieve what we set out to.”
Building on what has already been achieved, Browne disclosed that she hopes to ‘build bridges’ with communities and the ministry, ensuring continuous engagement and delivery of projects and policies for the Indigenous Peoples.
“I hope in the coming days I will be able to engage different sections of the Indigenous youth, hear from them, too, what they would like to see,” she said.
Browne, who hails from Region One (Barima-Waini), had served as regional vice-chairman and a par -
liamentary secretary before assuming the new role as a government minister.
EFFICIENCY
AMID
GUYANA’S RAPID DEVELOPMENT
Tasked with driving public sector efficiency amid Guyana’s rapid development, Zulfikar Ally will be at the helm of a new ministry. He is the Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency, and Implementation.
Ally, an attorney-at-law, told this publication that he aims to modernise the public sector with a focus on digital tools, accountability, and timely project execution.
With the government looking to take the country’s economy to new heights, there has been an exponential increase in public infrastructure projects aimed at improving living standards across the country and these vary from the building of hospitals to schools to bridges to new highways.
To this end, the new government ministry will serve to ensure that such projects are being executed efficiently through innovative tools and adopting newer technologies.
“Because of the development stage that Guyana is heading, and the trajectory Guyana is heading, it cannot be business as usual. Whereas we were doing 10 or 15 projects in one ministry, we
are now doing hundreds of projects in every ministry, so we have to develop the capacity; we have to build the capacity. People have to work more smartly; they have to use technology, they have to use AI so that we can get all of these projects on time and deliver on time,” he said.
ON-THE-GROUND INSIGHT INTO SPORTS DEVELOPMENT
Former athlete Steven Jacobs is bringing on-theground insight into sports development, now serving as Minister within the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Culture.
Jacobs shared that he brings passion and continuity to the ministry, with a focus on infrastructure, athlete engagement, and cultural promotion as key economic and social drivers.
Working in tandem with Senior Minister within the Ministry, Charles Ramson Jr., Jacobs is committed to the continuity and acceleration of the gains that have been made in sport development, youth engagement and cultural development.
“What you can expect is an athlete’s perspective and insight in relation to the sport section of our ministry. You can expect more opportunities for our youth, and also youth empowerment. Our culture section, you can expect a bottled approach to our unique
culture so that we can explore ways of incentivising,” the new minister said.
Jacobs, who had also served previously as a city councillor on the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown, expressed his eagerness and passion to serve once again the people.
“I am very appreciative of this role, and I would like to thank His Excellency (President Dr. Irfaan Ali) and the Vice-President of this country, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, and also every single Guyanese that I know will give me the support that is needed.
I will seek to engage every single Guyanese on the way forward in relation to sport and also athletes know that they have a friend in me,” Jacobs said.
HAPPY TO SERVE
Newly appointed ministers Vanessa Benn, Madanlall Ramraj, and Vickash Ramkis-
soon have expressed gratitude and enthusiasm following their swearing-in on Saturday evening. Benn now serves as Minister within the Ministry of Housing, while Ramraj takes up the role of Minister within the Ministry of Public Works. Ramkissoon has been appointed Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture.
Speaking to sections of the local media shortly after receiving their instruments of appointment, all three ministers conveyed their readiness to contribute meaningfully to national development and emphasised their commitment to working closely with the public.
Together, they conveyed a clear and unified message, being deeply honoured by the opportunity and fully committed to serving the people of Guyana with dedication and integrity for the next five years.
Keoma Griffith, the Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning
Sarah Browne, the new Minister of Amerindian Affairs
Zulfikar Ally, Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation
Steven Jacobs, Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport
Vanessa Benn, Minister within the Ministry of Housing Madanlall Ramraj, Minister within the Ministry of Public Works
Vikash Ramkissoon, Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture
Aspiring gynaecologist is UWI Mona Campus’ top matriculant
By Faith Greene
VRYHEID’S Lust teen, Lateisha McArthur has emerged as the top matriculant at the University of West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus, in Kingston, Jamaica, where she will be pursuing her Bachelor of Medicine on a full Government of Guyana scholarship.
Just last year, Lateisha earned second place in Guyana at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE). Before that, she earned 16 Grade Ones, and two Grade Twos at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, with top scores in Additional Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English A and B, Spanish and Agricultural Science.
The 19-year-old Guyanese scholar graduated from
Queen’s College (QC) as a valedictorian. McArthur founded Queen’s College’s STEM Robotics Club. Subsequent to this, she served as a captain and a driver for Guyana’s national robotics team at the first global competitions in Greece and Singapore.
Lateisha is also a certified advanced robotics student and STEM Lesson Planner with STEM Guyana. She has been involved in STEM for around five years.
Speaking exclusively with the Guyana Chronicle, Lateisha said she is elated to be this year’s top matriculant.
The brilliant, young Guyanese shared that she chose the medical field because she wants to help those in need; specifically, women.
“I chose the medical field because of what I saw going on with people around me. I want to be a help for those in
need, especially with women, seeing how many problems women face, and there's not much research and help going into the field of gynecology,” she expressed.
Gaining experience in the medical field, Lateisha was a medical aide at the National Public Health Reference Lab, where she supported diagnostic testing at the national level.
She strongly believes that robots can help in medicine. Although she is not as active in the STEM Club at QC, she is in STEM-Guyana.
Aside from academics and work, Lateisha is involved in a number of extra-curricular activities. These include volunteering with organisations such as the Peace Corps, Cognitive Initiative, and the Guyana Water Inc., using STEM education as a tool to uplift underserved youths; performing leadership roles in over ten student-led organisations,
and she served as the Public Relations Officer of the Youth Women Empowerment Movement, and as part of the media team at Freedom Life Ministries Church.
Additionally, she represented QC and Guyana in sports such as cricket, football, basketball, swimming, lawn tennis and track and field at the national level.
In giving words of encouragement to her peers, Lateisha said: “As it relates to doing the many subjects, you know, in Guyana, at first it may feel like, ‘oh my gosh, this is too much’, but at the end, you'll see how many rewards you could get, like scholarships upon scholarships; and it gets you highlighted to do more stuff and get more opportunities.”
She continued, “In the end, you'll feel so elated that you past your steps. It was a lot of work, but you won't even remember how many days you cried and how much hard work you had to put in. You just get to see the results.”
Offering a word of advice, Lateisha opined that it is important to find the study method that works best for you.
“The same thing, the thing that works for somebody won't work for you. I've tried different studying patterns and when I found out what worked for me, I got better and better and got better results overall,” Lateisha noted.
UWI’s top matriculant, Guyanese scholar, Lateisha Mc Arthur (Photo courtesy of Lateisha Mc Arthur)
Norton blames APNU’s poor elections performance on ‘internal undermining’
- persons who joined the party with own
LEADER of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Aubrey Norton has said that he believes his party did its best at the recently held elections, but attributed its dismal performance to internal discord and undermining, among other things.
Norton made this known during an interview on “Sources”, which was aired on Sunday evening.
As he reflected on the results of the elections, he admitted that there were areas the party could have improved on, particularly the formation of a coalition.
“Some people who
wanted a coalition became disenchanted, but again, it’s water under the bridge,” he said, adding that greater unity within the party structure could have made a difference.
Against this backdrop, Norton stated that he took over leadership of the party at a difficult time.
“I took it over, not in an environment that was friendly. I took it over in an environment where many people were appointed to Parliament who were never members of the party pursuing their own interests,” Norton explained, describing the period as turbulent.
Adding to this, the party leader said that
there had been deliberate efforts to weaken his leadership.
“Yes, it is true that a lot of people did undermine, where you would see some of them were already working with the PPP. I had known, for instance, that there was a plan to undermine and to ensure that I don’t succeed,” he said.
According to him, this culture of disunity stemmed from individuals who entered the party without being grounded in its principles, bringing their own “agenda and ambitions”.
Norton maintained that despite these challenges, he resisted moves to separate the
ambitions, interests
APNU and the Alliance for Change (AFC).
While the party only gained 12 seats in the 65-seat parliament, he said that he is stepping away from parliament, but will remain
at the helm of the party during this time.
He said that he will remain in the leadership role to ensure that the party is stable, and when new leadership comes, they will not be
abandoned. A seamless transition to new leadership can occur, he emphasised.
At the 2025 elections, the APNU performed poorly, receiving just approximately 17 per cent of the votes, putting them behind the newly-formed We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party.
Poor performances were recorded in several of its stronghold areas like Regions Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice), and because of this the party will no longer be the main parliamentary opposition. That position will now be occupied by WIN.
APNU leader, Aubrey Norton
Strategic Renewal
PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali introduced his new Cabinet on Saturday, representing both continuity and strategic changes.
This move further reveals his approach to governance and the PPP/ C's stance ahead of the elections, emphasising the focus on experience, youthful energy, and diversity.
The most significant
part of this Cabinet reshuffle isn't just about who got appointed; it’s about how these appointments were made. Newcomers, including Keoma Griffith, Sarah Browne, and Zulfikar Ally, show a real effort toward bringing in new talent. These faces are placed in newly created/enhanced roles, reflecting political evolution. The movement of Pri-
ya Manickchand from Education to Local Government and Regional Development is especially interesting. It appears to be a smart, strategic positioning, acknowledging the importance of local governance for better management and delivery of crucial services across the regions.
Manickchand’s successful record in education, with significant
I doubt the PNCR can survive beyond 2030
IT is not only Aubrey Norton that is destroying the PNRC; it is the PNCR itself. In which country on Planet Earth can a leader be ignominiously humiliated in a national election, and his party just goes about its business as if nothing happened and the disgraced leader continues as the head of the organisation?
I am telling the PNCR leadership that there is no such party in the world that would tolerate a leader like Norton after what Azruddin Mohamed did to him. This just does not happen in the real world.
At the time of writing this column, it seemed that no one among the PNCR’s parliamentary grouping and in the PNCR’s general council had the commonsense, intellectual capacity or possessed basic political knowledge to tell Norton that within his citation of Forbes Burnham asking his supporters to spend one more hour with him, lies the very reason why
Norton has to hand-over the leader position.
Norton cited Burnham’s imploration to his supporters at Bourda Green when he barely lost the 1961 elections to spend another hour with him. As I stated above, the fact that Norton can cite that event is a case for the PNCR’s war room to remove him.
Two factors of the 1961 plea compel the PNCR to dethrone Norton. One is the margin of defeat. Burnham got 89, 501 votes, the PPP got 93, 085 votes. Secondly, The PPP obtained 42. 63 per cent of the votes and the PNCR received 40.99. So, let’s express it in bold and graphic ways. Burnham lost by 4,000 votes and 1.63 per cent. The margin of defeat made Burnham emotionally uncontrollable.
But there was still a consoling factor for Burnham. He lost to a man that the people of colonial world saw as a hero and a man the international world of politics respected. Nor-
ton is staying on as leader even though the PNCR as a party knows the magnitude of the disgrace.
Let’s enumerate the horrible nightmare Norton endured at midnight on September 2.
1- The PNCR lost 16 seats from the 31 it had in 2020.
2- The PNCR lost all the regional government it had before 2025.
3- The PNCR lost the Office of Leader of the Opposition
4- The Statements of Poll showed in all parts of Guyana where African Guyanese voted for the PNCR since 1957, Azruddin ate into those votes and did so handsomely rather than just pipping the PNCR.
5- The WIN party of Mohamed at the time of the election was just three months old.
6 – At the time of the election, WIN had no party structure, no executive committee, no central committee, no bureaucratic
enrolment increases and modernisation efforts, suggests that this assumption is safe.
Creating three new ministries—Public Utilities and Aviation; Public Service Government Efficiency; and the expanded Labour and Manpower Planning—shows a real understanding of Guyana's changing governance needs in an oil-producing economy.
These additions are a sign of strong administrative skills, recognising that fast economic change requires specialised institutional support.
President Ali’s focus on "results, people-centred leadership, and efficient service" along with calls for continuous assessment sounds good.
This Cabinet reflects clever political management, enough change
to suggest renewal, but enough continuity to preserve institutional knowledge.
This strategic positioning aims to handle the challenges that arise in pursuit of better lives for all Guyanese. The real test of Ali's political skill will be whether this calculated approach works effectively in the critical next five years for Guyana.
order of priority in leadership, no established party head office, no established first and second tier of leadership.
7 – WIN’s leader displayed no understanding and knowledge of politics and could hardly field questions from the media. And it has a terrible past. Against this ghost-like background, there isn’t one person in the hierarchy of the PNCR that has the courage to say to Norton that against such a horror story, leaders like him must be compelled to do the decent, morally right, logical, rational thing and resign or be forced out.
It becomes an incredible thing seen in Guyana only that the leader of such a party that suffered such an unspeakable electoral
devastation could brazenly say that he is staying on to mould the PNCR and build it. No one in the PNCR leadership is yet to do the decent thing and tell Norton that at age 70, he should not be the person to build anything and to leave the building to others.
No one in the PNCR hierarchy has the courage to tell Norton it is a comical arrangement for a party leader not to be in parliament when that is the strategic place for a party leader to be. No one at the top of the PNCR’s pyramid has the courage to ask Norton who in this nascent youthful party that Norton is building is going to look up to him when his skills were nowhere to be seen on September I and to question whether Nor-
ton is left with any skills whatsoever.
No one in the PNCR’s hierarchy is capable of telling Norton that if he could only muster 12 seats in a country where he demonised the president and twice refused to shake his hand, what makes him think he will get even two seats in 2030. If the 12 PNCR parliamentarians are going to live with Norton as their leader at age 70 and when he will be 75 in 2030, then the PNCR may disintegrate long before 2030.
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.
OP-ED: GST reforms in India will strengthen IndiaGuyana economic and developmental partnership
By Dr Amit Telang, High Commissioner of India to Guyana
ON August 15, 2025, Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India would undertake far-reaching reforms in India’s Goods & Services Tax (GST) aimed at further simplifying the taxation system with significant, positive impact on India’s foreign trade, especially in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, agricultural commodities and equipment, textile and apparel and other commodities with major shares in India’s exports.
These reforms would come into effect from September 22, 2025, coinciding with the festive season in India. The new GST reforms envisage revamp of the GST structure by rolling out GST 2.0 based on three core pillars: structural changes, rate rationalisation, and procedural simplification.
The new GST regime seeks to streamline the system into two main slabs: five per cent and 18 per cent, besides a new 40 per cent rate for luxury and “sin” goods. The previous four-tier GST system, which commenced in 2017 and included higher 12 per cent and 28 per cent slabs, stands abolished. This
rationalisation is undoubtedly a bold step in tax reforms, reinforcing India's intent to emerge as a major exporter of commodities, including pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, agricultural commodities and equipment, textile and apparel. India has proven expertise and strengths in these sectors. The new reforms would facilitate new investment and growth, sustaining India’s impressive growth trajectory. It also signals to global markets that India has a predictable investor-friendly tax environment.
India's GST 2.0 reform, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is seen as a significant step in tax policy, aiming
to remove complications and establish a robust and reliable investor-friendly tax climate. The reform aims to simplify the GST system into two main tiers: five per cent and 18 per cent, with a new 40 per cent rate exclusively for luxury items. The GST system, which commenced in 2017, aims to create a more straightforward, equitable, and growth-focused tax system, enhancing the quality of life for citizens, facilitating business operations, and boosting economic development.
GST 2.0 also aims to make basic necessities more budget-friendly, enhancing accessibility to healthcare,
social security, medicines, and agricultural requirements. The reforms have reduced GST on tractors, farming equipment, and fertiliser components, directly benefitting household finances and promoting economic growth.
Stock markets reflected the positive sentiment among businesses and industry. GST 2.0 would foster growth, attract fresh investments, ensure compliance, and contribute towards Viksit Bharat by 2047, enhancing India’s heft in the global economy.
GST 2.0 is part of India’s broader push to simplify trade and boost global competitiveness, and as a growth enabler, it seeks to deepen trade ties with our reliable partners from the Global South, including Guyana and other CARICOM member states.
These reforms would create newer opportunities for trade and commerce with Guyana- India’s most important partner in the region. Guyana’s impressive economic growth trajectory and phenomenal developmental transformation have created new opportunities to intensify our trade and commerce. The tax simplification as part of GST 2.0 would boost competitiveness of Indian goods and services in Guyana, reducing transaction costs and avoiding supply-chain delays.
In particular, GST 2.0
would benefit export of tractors, harvesters, composters and fertilisers, which are crucial to implementing ambitious reforms and plans in developing Guyana as the food basket in the Caribbean region. It will also complement Guyana’s vision of emerging as one of the important global players in agriculture and food-processing sector. India, given our time-tested partnership, is looking at untapped potential to further intensify our engagement through exploring joint ventures or technology transfers in agriculture and food-processing industry.
Textile and apparel are among major sectors benefitting from GST 2.0. Importers would get quality products at affordable prices, boosting the ongoing trade in this sector. There is considerable demand for ethnic Indian garments and sustainable products including natural fibres and high-end textiles and apparel products among fashion-conscious people in Guyana, which would receive further impetus as part of GST 2.0. Pharmaceuticals and medical equipment sectors also significantly contribute to our bilateral trade with Guyana. These sectors, too, would greatly benefit from GST 2.0.
As President Irfaan Ali’s new government assumes of-
fice, India is looking forward to a productive and mutually beneficial engagement with Indian and Guyanese businesses and industries, intensifying our bilateral trade and commerce. We are confident that it would provide further impetus to our historical, people-centric, future-oriented partnership. India stands ready to join hands with Guyana as the new government embarks on a fascinating journey towards a brighter, inclusive, promising and sustainable future, based on the vision of One Guyana.
India, too, has made impressive strides in our transformational journey, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, emerging as one of the fastest-growing major economies with a strong foundation of an equitable, inclusive, progressive and sustainable society. I am confident that given our historically strong partnership and shared vision, India and Guyana are poised to begin an interesting journey of development and societal transformation, energised by the new reforms in the form of GST 2.0, as well as the vision shared by Prime Minister Modi and President Ali for a strong, sustainable and people-centric India-Guyana partnership.
Dr Amit Telang, High Commissioner of India to Guyana
My view on the political choices revealed by the various parties
I WILL take a brief excursion into the now public lists of the parties to the 13th parliament. The list which seemed to capture the greatest attention of the nation and created some degree of exasperation over the number of days it took for the president to make his list public.
There were several fake lists being circulated and many politically sumptuous speculations made the rounds on social media. There were also conspiracy theories that a major fight had erupted inside the PPP over naming the new cabinet.
My opinion was sought by many friends
and acquaintances about the expected changes in the cabinet. I said to them that given the huge success at the elections, the electorate has signalled that they liked the general direction and progression of the government.
Baring loss of political support or provable misconduct, major changes should not have been anticipated. The choices made with respect to the returning ministers are almost to the ‘T” in line with my predictions. There was, however, one appointment I did not see coming, that is, the appointment of Hon. Oneidge Walrond to Ministry of Home Affairs. I held
the opinion that the person to lead Home Affairs ought to have strong overt political pedigree and Minister Walrond comes over as a quiet, reserved apolitical professional. So, her candidacy for that post didn’t even cross my mind. I hope she does well.
I also accurately predicted those who did not return with the exception of Minister Gail Teixeira. I thought that given her age and her impressive political resume, she may have voluntarily walked away, and the President confers on her one of our highest national awards, at a time in her life when she could appreciate it. That
said, Minister Teixeira has amassed so much political capital that she should be allowed to go out on her own terms. One therefore cannot pout at any political role she wishes to play. I have no specific comment on the new appointments, except to say they are new and fresh and should be given every opportunity to serve. That said, I think President Ali’s cabinet has one omission. The government ran a bold and daring campaign. It took a lot of political audacity on the part of many non-traditional activists and voters who “crossed over” and came on board to turbo charge and make the campaign more exciting and hopeful. A large part of the success of the campaign was the breath of fresh political expectations brought by these crossovers. In the same vein, the President should’ve been just as bold and audacious in appointing at least one of the “political crossovers” to his cabinet. The cabinet is regular, safe and typical, but from the election season from which it flows, there is nothing about it that was safe, regular and typical. The cabinet should’ve reflected this reality, the positive symbolism it would’ve communicated to the nation is indubitable. However, Vice-President Jagdeo did say in an interview, that the term is a long five years and changes can be made depending on prevailing political conditions.
The MPs presented by APNU were difficult to predict because, for the first time in our history such a historical party was asked to field only 12 MPs. No other PNCR leader has ever been asked to condense such a mammoth organisation into 12 persons. Aubrey Norton’s calculations probably resembled that of an abacus. Regardless of which 12 he chose, there were bound to be those who genuinely
feel snubbed, his position is unenviable. I have three thoughts. First, with a quota of only 12, Norton has selected too many new commers, people who barely chalked up two months of direct connection or activism with the party. He should’ve kept that down to two or three. My prediction is that the PNCR will slide further into the migration abyss. Many more long-standing members will go AWOL, withhold participation or will resign outrightly.
Secondly, the appointment of Terrence Campbell as the ‘Shadow Opposition Leader’ and a main cog in the rebuilding process will not yield any sweet fruits. Thirdly, given the spirit of unflinching, unreasonable, non-negotiable, hardline confrontations we have seen coming from Dexter Todd, Terrence Campbell, Sherod Duncan and David Hinds, they will not inspire the voting public.
Further, I find it hard to countenance the placement of David Hinds. I believe that his political sermons of division exist only on the fringe, it is exactly what the electorate rejected. One would assume that given his years in politics, he was selected to bring political depth, scholarship and guidance to the group. However, if Hinds has to be there in person for the knowledge transfer to be effective, the mission has already failed. A more effective resort should’ve been to bet on a person that will offer continuity and political currency beyond 2030.
Already a political dinosaur, Hinds will be a fossil by the time the next general election rolls around. His presence can only yield paleontological lessons. Political Jurassic Park is a scary place for the younger generation; they will not connect. APNU is courting political extinction.
Local government elections are nearly one
year away, and the leadership formula will be tested.
The list of MPs emanating from WIN contains some non-performers from APNU along with some newcomers. We can only wait and see what their contributions will be.
All the same, WIN seems to have started on the wrong foot. Word on the street is that Team Mohamed’s did not consult its electoral partner, ANUG, when putting together its list. In fact, WIN has already treated Mark DeFrance, Chairman of ANUG with disdain and he is currently a full outcast. He has no say and no place in WIN’s parliamentary picks. People voted for WIN because they wanted a breath of political fresh air. A more consultative moderate approach to governance.
WIN’s public posture has already demonstrated a form of crude and degenerate power drunkenness that goes beyond anything we have seen in recent political history; they have made a public call for the opposition-appointed commissioners of GECOM to resign without first engaging the commissioners directly or at least engaging their fellow opposition partner in parliament.
APNU still has a large 40 per cent stake in the opposition. It cannot be that WIN expects that it will be able to appoint all three commissioners. The WIN modus operandi is pig-headed, uncouth, stiff-necked, wild and decadent, much like its leader, it does not breathe any sense of positive expectations. There is a political price to pay for this approach.
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.
Chronicles of our heritage
By Vaneisa Baksh
LAST Sunday, Dr Mohammed Ir faan Ali was sworn in for another term as President of Guyana. That night, he attended the second of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) home matches for the Guyana Amazon Warriors, who had beaten the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) the night before. They were playing the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, a suffering team so far. The Warriors lost that match.
Dr Ali’s cricket enthusiasm and knowledge were on full display as he settled himself in the commentary box between Ian Bishop and Alex Jordan for a fairly long period of talk.
He spoke of his intention to construct a cricket academy and three new stadia soon. He has discussed this with Cricket West Indies (CWI), and the plan is to outfit them with the latest in equipment and technology.
Awash with oil money, Guyana has been spectacularly transforming itself over the past few years. Footage during the CPL matches has revealed an almost unrecognisable landscape that must be the pride of Guyanese people everywhere.
That the President has put his plans for the development of cricket out there for the world to hear gives some hope that he will indeed execute what he promises to deliver.
There is no doubt that he is passionate about cricket; his public statements have demonstrated that he has personally studied
the future of the game and its possibilities in terms of business success, but also that he is keen to see its branding as a West Indian legacy commodity.
Recall his thorough virtual presentation at the CARICOM conference on cricket in April 2024 in Trinidad.
Dr Ali is the current chair of the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on Cricket, and he certainly seems to have a different kind of energy to bring to the role. He is possibly the youngest regional leader to hold this position, but that is not the most significant aspect. He is obviously not afraid to challenge the status quo, or to stand up to colonialist sneers that still find their way to occupy the global media. He is now at the helm of a government so wealthy that it is being courted by international players, each seeking to dip their ladles in the Guyanese pepperpot.
The fact that he was re-elected to office would have given him the confidence to pursue his plans for Guyana’s future.
It is not unreasonable to assume that this declaration of intent with regard to cricket will come to pass. It is also reasonable to conclude that these plans are regional in scope, that his vision encompasses a rising force of West Indies cricket that will illuminate the faces of the next generation and the next, as he put it.
I was intrigued by his remarks at the match, and immediately my mind turned to an element which is of particular concern to me. I suppose it consists of multiple components.
An academy that offers all the training— physical and mental, and so on—should have a robust library. In the course of my own academic research, I had gone through probably more than a hundred autobiographies and biographies of West Indian cricketers going back a century. There are other books relating to West Indies cricket. I keep saying there is an astonishing corpus of literature relating to our crick et, and it doesn’t end there. Calypsoes, films, poetry, videos of all kinds, they tell our history.
Dr Ali has the resources to fill up a signature collection that doesn’t just house West Indian materials, but materials from the cricketing world. It could be an international repository.
A month ago, speaking after CWI held its emergency strategy meeting, director Enoch Lewis acknowledged it was important to raise interest in cricket by taking its history into the schools as early as the primary level.
I had become excited by the possible ways this could be rolled out. Given that this was meant to be a regional endeavour, I wondered how it could be introduced to schools, and how the various minis-
devised, using a mixture of stories and videos that tell our history. It could be really exciting for young minds. Technology makes delivery simple. The challenge is to construct the content.
tries of education would respond to the idea of putting regular sessions on the curriculum.
In my primary school years, weekly radio broadcasts, produced by the Government Broadcasting Unit, were regularly aired. Perhaps a syllabus of sorts could be
There is another aspect that I think is very important to rebuilding not just our cricket, but in preserving our records. We need a museum, an archive of our cricket heritage. I was trying to find out if CWI has something of that nature, or if it had considered digitising whatever materials it still has. My enquiry has been met with silence.
It’s a peculiar thing to me, this aspect of our regional culture. There is no interest in
archiving. I know I am particularly keen on this, but I genuinely can’t understand the indifference. Dr Nigel Camacho, Queen’s Park Cricket Club’s president, had been very excited about creating a virtual museum by digitising their collection of memorabilia. I fear it is languishing because of a lack of support for this worthwhile endeavour.
I know things are tight everywhere, but these pillars of a civilisation have been eschewed even in times of plenty.
It’s not just about cricket, but also about preserving and honouring our her itage. (Sunday Express)
Vaneisa Baksh
UN’s Guterres condemns gang attack in Haiti that killed at least 40
SECRETARY-GEN -
ERAL António Guterres on Saturday strongly condemned a deadly gang attack in Haiti that left at least 40 people dead, including women, children and the elderly, in the commune of Cabaret.
The overnight assault on September 11 is the latest in a string of brutal incidents and ongoing gang violence that have plagued the country since last year.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Guterres expressed “heartfelt condolences” to the victims’ families and urged Haitian authorities to pursue
Tens of thousands of people have been displaced in Haiti due to gang violence
justice. “The Secretary-General is alarmed by the levels of violence
(UNHCR/Juan Pablo Terminello)
rocking Haiti,” said Stéphane Dujarric. “He calls on Member States to expedite support for the Multinational Se -
curity Support mission to assist the Haitian National Police.”
Just two weeks ago,
Mr. Guterres addressed the UN Security Council, painting a grim picture of Haiti’s unravel-
ling state. “State authority is crumbling,” he said, as armed groups tighten their grip on Port-au-Prince and surrounding regions, forcing families to flee and disrupting daily life.
With six million people in need of aid and 1.3 million displaced, Haiti’s humanitarian crisis is deepening. Yet less than 10 per cent of the $908 million appeal has been funded. “Shamefully overlooked and woefully underfunded,” the UN chief said, warning that 1.7 million people may receive no assistance at all. (UN News)
Miner arrested for the alleged murder of ‘Cripple’
POLICE are investigating the alleged murder of Fitrawle McLeannon, called ‘Cripple’, a 28-yearold miner of Lot 106 Ocean Garden, Meten-Meer-Zorg, East Bank Essequibo.
The suspect, Shamer Tobin, called ‘Shortman’, a 24-year-old gold miner of Moruca, North West District in Region One has since been arrested, police said on Sunday.
The incident occurred between 23:45 hours on September 13, 2025, and 00:30 hours on September 14, 2025, at Blue Mountain Backdam in Region Seven.
Investigators, on arrival at the scene, observed the deceased with stab wounds to the abdomen, left hip and back.
Police in a press release said that the victim and the suspect were consuming alcohol prior to the inci -
dent.
“On the date and time mentioned, McLeannon and the suspect, along with other workers employed by Frankie Wessel, a 33-year-old miner and dredge owner of Meten-Meer-Zorg, went to another camp owned by Davan Melville. While at Davan’s camp, the victim and suspect consumed alcoholic beverages and engaged in conversation until about 23:45 hours, after which Frankie’s workers, including the now-deceased miner and the suspect, returned to their camp.
“At that time, one of Davan’s workers, while in bed, overheard a loud scream. Out of curiosity, the worker got up and observed McLeannon, known as Cripple, lying on the ground a short distance away from their kitchen area on the trail, bleeding profuse-
ly, while the suspect walked away from the scene.
“It was alleged that the victim had slapped the suspect three times, after which the suspect retaliated and stabbed him three times,” the police said.
According to the police, the suspect has since confessed to stabbing McLeannon before fleeing the scene.
“Police subsequently conducted a Cordon and Search Operation at Marawah Backdam, Cuyuni River, which is about two hours from the alleged scene, and during the operation, the suspect was seen, pursued and arrested. He was thereafter interviewed by the police, and he related what had happened and voluntarily gave his version under video recording,” the release said.
The suspect is in custody, assisting with the investigation.
CARICOM, PM Mottley pay tribute to Ambassador Harper
THE Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, have expressed deep sorrow at the passing of Ambassador Elisabeth Harper, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Harper passed on Saturday, September 13, 2025.
In a statement on Sunday, the CARICOM
Secretariat described Ambassador Harper as a “consummate diplomat who embodied the highest standards of professionalism, grace, and efficiency.”
The Secretariat noted that her “quiet but firm approach” and invaluable insights from decades of service made her a central figure in advancing the goals of the Community.
The statement added, “Her deep knowledge and unwavering commitment
made her a central figure in advancing the goals of our community. The Secretariat relied on her guidance, particularly in navigating complex regional and international affairs.”
Further, CARICOM noted that Harper’s legacy will serve as a blueprint for all on service with dignity, dedication and professionalism as Guyana and the wider region mourn the loss of a stalwart.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, hailed Harper as “the consummate professional and diplomat” whose approach to diplomacy was rooted in both competence and human connection.
Recalling interactions with Harper in the early 2000s while attending CARICOM’s Council for Human and Social Development meetings, Mottley remembered her as always
pleasant and jovial and greeted everyone with a warm smile.
“Guyana has lost a true daughter of the soil, and the region has lost one of the best examples of a true public servant,” Mottley said.
She underscored Harper’s steadfast advocacy for Caribbean integration, noting that her vision extended beyond national boundaries to regional co-operation and solidarity.
Ambassador Elisabeth Harper
Longstanding PNCR member, Mervyn Williams, cuts ties with party during live programme
MERVYN Williams, on Sunday, resigned from the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR), citing "unfortunate occurrences” which he said made his continued membership untenable.
Williams made the surprising announcement during a live broadcast of his political talk show, Nation Watch, which featured Terrence Campbell, who will be the PNCR-led A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) lead parliamentarian in the National Assembly when it reconvenes in a few weeks.
The timing and platform of the resignation further underscored the deepening rifts within the party leadership and indicates a clear breakdown at the level of the PNCR executive since the recent announcement of parliamentarians and Campbell's lead role.
“I now announce, regrettably, my resignation from the People's National Congress Reform. It was a difficult decision, but the circumstances dictate that I take this decision. It was
one that I contemplated even before September 1 [Elections Day). It was one that I contemplated in the run up to September 1 in fact, but my duty, commitment and loyalty to my party, did not allow me to do that, and I held my hand,” Williams, who was not named in the list of parliamentarians said.
He emphasised his importance in the party by pointing to his capturing of the second highest number of votes at the party's last Congress.
Williams’ departure marks the latest in a string of high-profile resignations that have rocked the party in the lead up to 2025 General and Regional Elections.
“And there were unfortunate occurrences after September 1,” Williams said, adding: “In fact, one of those two occurrences predates September 1, but came to my attention after. I have, in regard to those sets of circumstances and recognising the need for the party to go through its rebuilding process… I've had a good run, and I thank
Veteran PNCR executive member Mervyn Williams, on Sunday announced his departure from the party during a live broadcast of his political talk show, Nation Watch
every member of this party, every supporter of this party. I experienced only love from you, warm affection, tremendous support.”
Williams refrained from offering specifics on the incidents that led to his resignation.
His decision is also being interpreted as a fallout over him being sidelined despite his longstanding contributions to the party.
With Dr. Campbell, a political newcomer and businessman’s recent elevation to the leadership role in Parliament, questions
the AFC offering to settle for just 35 per cent of political representation. Now, he’s officially part of the team he once doubted.
In addition to Campbell’s ascension to Parliament, the returning parliamentarians are Coretta McDonald, A.A., Ganesh Mahipaul, and Nima Natacha Flue-Bess. Also joining the team are controversial commentator Dr. David Hinds, career educator and youth representative Riaz Zakeer Rupnarain, and Sherod Avery Duncan.
are mounting about the PNCR’s strategic direction, internal democracy, and leadership.
Last week, APNU’s leader Aubrey Norton named Campbell, a former member of the A New and United Guyana (ANUG), as the lead Member of Parliament to represent the party, following its crushing defeat in the September polls.
Just last year, Campbell publicly lambasted Norton’s leadership and declared the opposition coalition process “untenable.”
Campbell had served as an interlocutor between the AFC (Alliance For Change) and APNU during talks to revive the coalition.
Eventually the coalition talks fell through even with
Rounding out the lineup are Linden Mayor and former Regional Chairman Sharma Raheem Solomon, renowned attorney Dr. Dexter Todd, gospel artiste and entrepreneur Saiku Andrews; and PNCR Vice-Chairman Vinceroy H. Jordan.
Meanwhile, Norton confirmed that the party has begun a comprehensive review of its performance following its loss of the main opposition seat and several traditional strongholds to newcomer We Invest in Nationhood (WIN).
“We have started a review. All the candidates met. They have another review session this afternoon with a smaller group. We will review it and develop
our strategies and tactics,” Norton said during a press conference last Friday.
While he stressed that the process is urgent, no timeline has been set, and there is no guarantee that the findings will be made public.
Norton, APNU’s 2025 presidential candidate, compared the coalition’s loss to past setbacks, including the 1961 and 2006 elections, when the PNCR – APNU’s main component – also lost supporters to new parties.
The official results from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) confirmed WIN as the new main opposition, securing 16 seats. WIN also managed to secure the most votes in Region 10, PNCR/APNU’s stronghold.
APNU and AFC, which together held 31 seats in the last parliament, saw their representation drastically reduced this time around.
Meanwhile, Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), led by former APNU parliamentarian Amanza Walton-Desir, captured one seat.
The PPP/C maintained its dominance, winning 36 of the 65 parliamentary seats and securing a strong mandate to govern for another five years.
Seven Guyanese medics head to China for specialised training
SEVEN Guyanese medical professionals departed Georgetown’s Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on September 10 for a three-month specialised training programme at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital in China’s Jiangsu Province, as part of the China-Guyana Health Talent Cooperation Initiative sponsored by CNOOC Guyana.
Selected by Guyana’s health ministry, hailing from five fields—general surgery, ob-gyn, anesthesiology, orthopedics, and pathology—the clinicians were seen off by members of the 20th China Medical Team for Guyana, a press release said.
Members of the 20th China Medical Team for Guyana and the China-bound Guyanese doctors at the CJIA
The programme, a key deliverable of China-Guyana’s health cooperation agreements, selects frontline medical leaders from Guyana’s healthcare institutions. Participants will gain expertise in advanced medical technologies and hospital management through coursework, clinical rotations, and academic exchanges—skills aimed at boosting Guyana’s healthcare capacity.
“I’m eager to learn from China’s impressive healthcare advancements,” said general surgeon, Dr. Ramjoo, at the airport.
“Chinese hospitals handle
vast numbers of cases, and their doctors’ experience and insights are invaluable. I want to bring that knowledge back to improve care at home.”
According to the press release, Dr. Du Boxiang, head of the 20th China Medical Team for Guyana, emphasised the programme’s role in strengthening Guyana’s local talent pool. “We’ll stay connected with the doctors during their stay and offer support as needed,” he added.
China has sent 20 medical teams to Guyana since the two nations signed a health co-operation pact in 1993, training over 1,000 local healthcare workers to date. The latest initiative, jointly organised by both sides, reflects a “teach a man to fish” approach to sustainable capacity building—with plans to deepen health collaboration further, the press release added.
Payne presents PM with copy of debut novel, ‘Leech’
Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d), the Honourable Mark Phillips, was presented with a copy of ‘Leech’, the debut novel by Guyanese writer and editor, Ms Jasmaine Payne, at the Office of the Prime Minister on Camp Street. During the engagement, discussions focused on creative writing, the literary arts in Guyana, and Ms Payne’s future research and work. Prime Minister Phillips expressed his appreciation for the gesture, noting that the novel represents “a valuable addition to Guyana’s growing body of literary work.” With more than 15 years of experience in journalism and a passion for psychological thrillers, Ms Payne has become the first female Guyanese author to publish a full-length psychological thriller with the release of Leech (OPM photo)
World Bank appoints Susana Cordeiro Guerra as Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean
THE World Bank Group has announced the appointment of Susana Cordeiro Guerra as Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region, which takes effect today.
In this role, she will lead the bank’s engagement with 31 countries across the region and oversee a portfolio of US$41.5 billion in ongoing operations. She will be based at the World Bank’s headquarters in Washington DC
Ms Cordeiro Guerra—the first Latin American woman to hold this position— brings deep leadership experience in development effectiveness, institutional strengthening and innovative
finance. She will advance the bank’s agenda to deliver jobs-driven development, measurable results and stronger public–private collaboration across the LAC.
“As I begin this role, my priority is to support Latin America and
the Caribbean in creating quality jobs that are the foundation of inclusive growth and poverty reduction,” said Ms Cordeiro Guerra.
“Jobs not only provide income, they bring dignity, strengthen communities, and expand opportunity. By work-
Corentyne couple dies in suspected murder-suicide
POLICE are investigating the alleged murder of Alisha Narine, called ‘Tito’, a 36-year-old female Guyanese of Indian descent and domestic worker/vendor of Plot Z, Grant 1780, Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice.
According to the police, the incident occurred between 09:30 and 10:00 hrs on Sunday at Vishal Singh Sawmill Compound, Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice, allegedly by her reputed husband Ram Singh.
Investigations revealed that the couple who had been together for 15 years, were experiencing domestic problems, which had already engaged the attention of the court.
Police said that the woman’s cousin, Taramattie Joseph, called ‘Vanessa’, a 34-year-old US-based female Guyanese, was on a whatsapp video call with her when she was attacked.
“During the call, Joseph observed Ram Singh approach from behind, holding a cutlass in his hand. He took the phone away and told Vanessa, ‘Today, today I will murder her.’ He then ended the call. Vanessa immediately contacted her daughter and reported the incident.”
According to the police, the woman’s 18-year-old daughter, Felisha Narine, stated that she received a call from her neighbour, who informed her that Singh was assaulting her mother.
“ She then took a taxi to the Vishal Singh Sawmill Compound, where she observed her mother’s body lying motionless with apparent chop wounds to the left foot and right hand. She subsequently proceeded to Springlands Police Station and reported the matter.
“Upon arrival at the scene, police observed that the body of the deceased
ing with governments, the private sector, and local partners, we can create the conditions for investment and innovation that translate into more resilient economies and more prosperous societies.”
Prior to this appointment, Ms Cordeiro Guerra held senior leadership positions at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), where she led strategy on fiscal and economic programmes, advanced data-driven decision-making and promoted financial innovation. Between
2019-2021, she led Brazil’s National Statistics Office (IBGE), overseeing 12,000 staff and spearheading the modernisation of the country’s official statistics and national population census. Earlier in her career, she worked at the World Bank Group across multiple departments and regions on decentralisation and subnational development.
She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a Master’s in Public Administra -
tion and International Development from the Harvard Kennedy School, and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Studies from Harvard College. Her publications span innovation by front-line managers in the public sector, higher education and labour-market outcomes, and decentralisation and regional disparities.
She succeeds Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, who has been appointed Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific. (World Bank Group)
was lying in the compound, behind a heap of stones, clad in blue short pants, a red and white striped shirt, and a yellow T-shirt. The right foot, just below the knee, was almost severed, with additional injuries to the right shoulder and left hand.
“The scene was processed, and during a search, the suspect Ram Singh was found about 360 feet away in a sideline trench, under a tree. He was suspected of having consumed a poisonous substance. He was informed of the allegation, arrested, cautioned, and escorted to the No. 75 Village Regional Hospital, Corentyne, Berbice, where he was seen, examined and treated…While receiving treatment, he succumbed and was pronounced dead,” the release said.
Both bodies are at the Skeldon Public Hospital Mortuary, awaiting post-mortem examinations.
Susana Cordeiro Guerra, the new Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean (Photo: Fábio Motta/Estadão)
DDL records $2.2B in after-tax profit for first half of 2025
DEMERARA Distillers Limited (DDL) has posted an after-tax profit of $2.202 billion for the first half of 2025, reflecting a five per cent increase compared to the $2.101 billion recorded for the same period in 2024.
Chairman Komal
Samaroo, in the group’s interim 2025 report to shareholders, said the Group achieved a profit before taxation of $2.962 billion, repre -
senting a four per cent rise over the $2.845 billion earned in the corresponding period last year.
Turnover for the first half of 2025 stood at $14.585 billion, marginally higher than the $14.457 billion achieved in 2024. Samaroo noted that domestic sales grew by almost four per cent, while turnover in international markets fell by approximately 10 per cent.
According to the Chairman, the company’s international operations were affected by heightened uncertainty in global markets. A new tariff policy implemented by the United States in April placed a 38 per cent country-specific tariff on Guyana’s exports, which was later reduced to 15 per cent following negotiations. However, he pointed out that this remains above the 10 per cent minimum rate applicable to most of DDL’s regional and global competitors.
The war in Ukraine
and ongoing uncertainty over tariffs on European-manufactured exports to the U.S. also weighed on consumer spending, particularly in Europe’s premium and super-premium spirits segments. Samaroo said the Group would continue to pursue a strategy of widening and diversifying its international markets.
Despite this, DDL advanced several major capital projects during the period. On June 20, the company commissioned the remodelled and upgraded World Trade Centre Georgetown building, with plans to officially launch trade services there in October. Work is also progressing on
the expansion of the Beverage Production Operations, scheduled for completion in the last quarter of 2025, and on a new branch in Lethem, set to be completed by year-end.
Meanwhile, the Demerara Dairy Project remains on track for completion in the first half of 2026, and rehabilitation of the Demerara Shipping Wharf facilities has resumed, with full completion expected next year. Samaroo expressed appreciation to staff and the Board of Directors for their contributions to the Group’s ongoing expansion and diversification efforts.
POLICE are investigating a fatal accident that occurred at about 01:40 hours on Sunday on the No.11 Public Road in East Berbice, which claimed the lives of a motorcyclist and a pillion rider.
According to a press release issued by the police, the accident involved motor car #HC 4710, driven by Madray Ramsammy, a 48-year-old from Lancaster Village, Corentyne, and motorcycle #CP 8880, owned and driven by Kris Ramphal (now deceased), a 29-year-old from Lot 97 Fyrish, Corentyne, Berbice, with pillion rider Malcolm Pirtan (now deceased), an 18-year-old from Lot 135 Fyrish Village.
“Enquiries disclosed that the car was proceeding East along the northern drive lane while the motorcycle was proceeding in the opposite direction, allegedly at a fast rate, with both the motorcyclist and pillion rider not wearing safety helmets.
“It was alleged by the driver of the car that the motorcycle was without a headlight and was proceeding in his lane, approaching from the opposite direction. Upon seeing this, the driver said he tried to swerve right to avoid a collision, but despite his effort, the motorcycle collided with the left side front portion of his car on the northern drive lane.
“As a result of the collision, the motorcyclist and
pillion rider fell onto the northern side of the road, where they received injuries to their bodies. They were picked up by public-spirited citizens in unconscious conditions and were taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where they were seen and examined by a doctor on duty, who pronounced them dead on arrival,” the police said.
Both bodies are at the Arokium Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination.
The driver of motor car #HC 4710 was contacted at the scene. He is currently in police custody assisting with the investigation.
Two die in early morning Berbice accident
Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) Group chairman, Komal Samaroo
One dead, two injured in Essequibo Coast accident
A MOTORCYCLIST
tragically lost his life and two are nursing injuries following an accident on Saturday along the Charity New Road, Region Two.
Dead is 27-year-old Daniel Gray of Somerset and Berks, Essequibo Coast. He was at the time riding motorcycle bearing registration number CP 1974.
The accident occurred around 15:20 hrs and it also involved motorcycle bearing registration CP 9109, driven by 31-yearold Alex Jaigopaul of Essequibo Coast, and motor car bearing registration number PAC 697, driven by
DEAD: Daniel Gray
Charity fire leaves family of seven homeless
Clinton George’s building at Charity, on fire
A two-storey building was completely destroyed by fire on Saturday at Charity Squatting Area, Essequibo Coast, leaving six people homeless.
24-year-old Pastor Patrick Murray of Charity.
According to information, the motorcycles and car were proceeding east along the northern lane, with Murray’s car in front and the two motorcycles following side by side. Murray reportedly indicated he wanted to turn right into a
Chinese supermarket but as he was turning, the motorcycles collided with the right side of his car.
The impact tossed the two motorcyclists into the air. They landed on the supermarket’s parapet.
They, along with Murray were rushed to the Oscar Joseph Charity Cottage
Hospital, where Gray was pronounced dead on arrival.
Jaigopaul was admitted with multiple fractures to his left foot, while Murray sustained facial injuries. Both were later transferred to the Lima Regional Hospital for further treatment.
Police said investigations are ongoing.
The structure, owned by 59-year-old Clinton George, was occupied by himself and six family members. The building, which had a corrugated metal roof, and all of its contents were reduced to ashes.
received the call at 17:28 hrs and arrived on the scene at 17:35 hrs. Despite their efforts, the blaze engulfed the building.
Reports indicate that the fire was caused by children playing with matches. The Guyana Fire Service
Fortunately, no one was injured during the fire. Investigations are continuing.
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER
(Monday, September 15, 2025)
COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)
Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Scott Kuggeleijn-17 (Zouks) (2) Mohammad Nabi-5/15 (Zouks vs Patriots)
Today’s Quiz: (1) How many centuries were scored in CPL 2020? (2) Which Patriots player struck the most sixes in CPL 2020?
Answers in tomorrow’s issue
RACING TIPS
Kuldeep, Axar and Abhishek lead India to thumping win
(ESPNCRICINFO) - India extended their dominance over Pakistan to 11-3 in T20Is with a comfortable seven-wicket win in the first of three possible meetings at the Asia Cup. It was one-way traffic right from the time Hardik Pandya removed Saim Ayub with the first legal ball of the match.
India's superior bowling attack proved to be too much for Pakistan, who were frequently forced to play low-percentage shots to be able to score at a respectable pace. Still, 63 balls went unscored off, the scoring rate went past a run a ball only in the last over of the innings, and 128 was hardly a target for a power-packed India line-up.
Kuldeep Yadav took three wickets, Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel two each, and Hardik and Varun Chakravarthy one apiece in a performance with no let-up.
Hardik, Bumrah strike, but Farhan fights
Taking the new ball ahead of Bumrah, Hardik started with a loose delivery, but Ayub hit him straight to Bumrah at backward point.
In the next over, Mohammad Haris tried to impose himself on Bumrah, and managed only to hole out to Hardik at long leg.
Sahibzada Farhan, though, went on to do something no Pakistani had ever done: hit a six off Bumrah in an international match. He then hit another in the final over of the powerplay, making him only the sixth batter to have hit more than one six off Bumrah in all T20Is.
However, 42 for 2 was still only a strictly fighting score for a powerplay. It was to be Pakistan's last bit of joy in a long time.
India's spin strangle
The trio of Varun, Kuldeep and Axar immedi-
ately shut out all the scoring after the powerplay. It took Pakistan 31 balls to hit their first boundary after the powerplay. In the intervening period they scored just 12 runs for the loss of two wickets. Both were shots borne out of desperation, resulting in the wickets of Fakhar Zaman and Salman Agha.
These two wickets came
off slogs, but Kuldeep now began to go past defensive shots as well, his wrong'un to consign Mohammad Nawaz to a golden duck leaving him on a hat-trick.
Pakistan's struggles were summed up by their best-looking batter, Farhan, going into the death overs on 40 off 43, and getting out off the first ball of that
Crawford stuns Alvarez in ‘Vegas’
(BBC) - History-maker
Terence Crawford stunned Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez on points in Las Vegas, becoming the first male fighter in the modern era to hold undisputed titles in three weight divisions.
In front of 70,000 fiercely pro-Alvarez fans at Allegiant Stadium, Crawford - jumping up two weight divisions - delivered a masterclass, underlining his status as boxing's pound-for-pound star.
The unbeaten 37-year-old showcased his full arsenal of skill, defence, power and timing, leaving Alvarez, 35, clinging on at the final bell and silencing the partisan crowd.
Despite the judges scoring it tighter than expected - 116-112, 115-113, 115-
113 - the verdict capped off a defining performance, on the grandest stage, that will be remembered long in the sport's history.
"I'm not here by coin -
cidence," said Crawford, draped in the WBA (Super), WBC, WBO and IBF super-middleweight titles.
Crawford dropped to his knees as he was announced
the winner, visibly emotional. Despite the victory, the Omaha fighter did not rule out retiring after his 42nd straight professional win.
"I don't know, I've got to
phase. Shaheen Shah Afridi snatched that honour away from Farhan immediately with some clean striking for a personal T20I best of 33 not out off 16 to give Pakistan some hope.
Abhishek, Gill end Pakistan's hopes
That small ray of hope was snuffed out immediately by Abhishek Sharma, who charged at Afridi first ball and hit it back over his head for four. He then hit the second for a six over long-off. Shubman Gill then hit successive boundaries off Ayub. Even though Ayub got his own back with the wickets of both openers, India had raced away to 41 for 2 in 3.4 overs. India themselves struggled to score freely once their second-best powerplay against Pakistan ended, but the quality difference between the sides was still palpable. Pakistan's bowling didn't ask as many questions as India's did, and India's batting was able to keep finding runs.
sit down with my team and we'll talk about it," he added.
Fighting on Mexican Independence Day weekend, Alvarez - who loses for the third time in his 68th bouthad his status, pride and the hopes of a nation on the line, but came up against a generational great.
"I feel great to share the ring with great fighters like him. If we do it again then it'll be great," he said.
"My legacy is already there and I like taking risks because I love boxing."
Crawford masterclass lights up ‘Vegas’
In a provocative move, Crawford made his ringwalk to a mariachi band.
Unaware, Mexican fans sang along - until a grinning 'Bud' appeared on the big screen.
The seven overs immediately after the powerplay produced just 39 runs and Tilak Varma's wicket, but India were still comfortably placed. All it took was a small final push from Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube to seal the win with 4.1 overs to spare.
Alvarez followed with his own mariachi entrance, brass and strings echoing as he soaked in the rapturous adoration.
After a cautious opening round, Crawford began to assert himself, using his reach and movement while counter-punching with precision.
Some wondered whether he could absorb Alvarez's power, but when Alvarez landed single shots to the body in the fourth, Crawford fired back with two uppercuts and a right-hook combination. He showed no signs of intimidation.
Alvarez landed a heavy right in the closing seconds of the round, but Crawford merely smiled dismissively. Gliding across the ring, he landed a beautiful combination in the sixth.
This was the 21st time Alvarez had fought in Las Vegas - a city where he has built a fortress over two decades - but it was clear he had his work cut out by the halfway stage.
Shubman Gill was stumped (Sep 14, 2025,Associated Press)
Crawford - fighting at super-middleweight for the first time - silenced a pro-Alvarez crowd with a masterful performance
Massy WCPL…
Royals beat Warriors in dress rehearsal of Wednesday’s final
By Sean Devers
LED by Player-of-thematch Chamari Athapaththu and an unbeaten 46 from Chinelle Henry, Barbados Royals beat the Guyana Amazon Warriors by three runs yesterday at Providence.
The match was a ‘dress rehearsal’ of Wednesday’s Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League final.
Athapaththu scored 37 with six fours as the Royals reached 132-6 and returned with the ball to capture 3-25 as the Warriors replied 129-8.
Despite a polished 63 from 50 balls with nine
fours from the Massy WCPL leading scorer, 19-year-old Amy Hunter and 40 from Shemaine Campbelle, the warriors were unable to bag the win. Hunter became the tournament's leading run-scorer when she reached 36, surpassing Realeanna Grimmond’s 99 runs. Invited to bat in scorching heat and fast outfield, the Royals, watched by a handful of fans, got a fair start from Athapaththu and Qiana Joseph. The pair took the score to 26 before Joseph (8) was removed by fast bowler Cherry-Ann Fraser. Georgia Redmayne
Republic Bank CPL
joined the Sri Lankan Athapaththu, who looked set, and together they took the score to 50 from 5.1 overs.
Australian off-spinner Laura Harris got rid of Redmayne (10) and Courtney Webb (1) in the space of two runs to leave the Royals on 55-3.
Guyanese leggie Nyia Latchman then bowled Athapaththu for 37.
Kycia Knight joined Chinelle Henry after Athapaththu’s demise at 77-4 and with positive batting, Henry drove Chedean Nation for a boundary to bring up the 100 in 15.5 overs.
After the 100 was post -
ed, two quick wickets fell when Knight (15) and Aaliyah Alleyne (1) departed in the space of three runs to leave the Royals on 111-6.
Afy Fletcher (6) and Henry added 21 to take their team to 132-6.
Henry was left unbeaten four runs from her fifty.
The 35-year-old Harris had 3-28 for the Warriors, who lost Grimmond, for four at 16-1.
With the experience of 147 T20s under her belt, Skipper Campbelle joined Ireland’s U-19 Keeper Hunter, and the pair brought up the 50 in 8.2 overs.
At the halfway point,
the Warriors were 60-1 with Hunter on 28 and Campbelle on 26.
Campbelle was willing to use her feet against the spinners, while Hunter was unafraid to play scoops and ramp shots as the partnership progressed.
Campbelle used her feet once too often and yorked herself, and was bowled by Athapaththu at 89-2. Her 40 included the only six in the innings.
Harris (8) provided Athapaththu with her third wicket at 93-3 before Britney Cooper (3) was bowled by the burly Joseph as the Warriors slipped to 104-4 in the 17th over.
Fletcher got rid of Dane van Niekerk for a duck before dismissing Cherry-Ann Fraser off the next ball to be on a hat-trick as two wickets tumbled at 104.
The elegant Hunter danced into the 38-yearold Fletcher and straight drove her for four to reach her 50 from 42 with seven boundaries. It was the fifth half-century for the Women’s CPL so far.
Hunter stroked Athapaththu for a couple of fours to move into the 60s, but was lbw to Aaliyah Alleyne for 63 at 122-7.
Latchman (1) was run out with four needed from the final ball.
‘Hetty’ is back with a bang as the Warriors beat the Royals by 64 runs
By Sean Devers
A FANTASTIC 68 from Man-of-the-Match Shimron Hetmyer and an entertaining even fifty from Quentin Sampson coupled with 5-21 by left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, powered the Guyana Amazon Warriors to a 64-run win over Barbados Royals in the final preliminary round of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) at Providence last night.
The 28-year-old Hetmyer smashed eight fours and three sixes from 39 balls to register his 31st T20 fifty and second in this year’s CPL, while 25-year-old Quentin Sampson hammered three fours and four sixes in a 36-ball 50, his second in two nights.
Shai Hope who made 31 from 19 balls with three boundaries, which included a six, shared in a 51-run second wicket stand with Sampson, who was again asked to open the batting.
A cameo 20 with a couple of sixes from Romario Shepherd also helped the Warriors to 189-6.
The Royals were bowled out for 125 in 18.2 overs despite Sherfane Rutherford’s 27 with a four and two sixes.
Motie grabbed 5-21.
Shamar Joseph and Dwayne Pretorius took two wickets each, while Imran Tahir had 1-16 to take his tally to 18. TKR and Falcons will clash tomorrow in the Eliminator from 20:00hrs.
The Warriors will face defending champions St Lucia Kings in Qualifier 1 from 20:00 hrs on Wednesday, while the Massy WCP final between the Warriors and the Royals will be played from 14:00hrs.
Shaqkere Parris and Rutherford carried the score to 83 before Joseph was trapped Lbw for 27. It was 84-5 when Imran Tahir got rid of his opposing captain, Rovman Powell (1), before Parris (15) fell to Motie two runs later.
Motie bowled Daniel Sams (1) and the Royals were wobbling on the rope at 88-7.
The 100 was posted in the 16th over as Chris Green and Kofi James tried to prolong the contest. Both were removed by Motie.
Earlier, the Warriors were asked to bat under a clear night sky, a good track and fast outfield and for the tenth time in the tournament, the opening pair failed to reach 40.
After making 75 in the opening game, 30-year-old Australian Ben McDermott’s highest score has been 30. And last night was no different.
With a run rate of 9.5 to win their third game, the Royals slipped 28-2 as Dwaine Pretorius removed Kadeem Alleyne (11) and Quinton de Kock (12) while Rassie van der Dussen (4) was bowled by Joseph (back in the side in place of Hassan Khan) without addition to the score.
Sampson, on the back of a blistering 76 on Saturday, lofted left-arm pacer Ramon Simmonds for six and smashed off-spinner Chris Green for four.
McDermott (2) was run out by half the length of the pitch, when Sampson failed to respond to a call for a run to cover at 13-1.
Hope and Sampson had shared in a 66-run second wicket against the Kings, and last night, with the large crowd rocking, the pair reached 41-1 in the Power-Play and brought up the 50 in 6.2 overs.
Hope, the leading run-scorer with 447 runs, fell to Motara for 31 from 19 balls with a four and two sixes with the Warriors on 64-2 in 8.1
Shimron Hetmyer was cheered by the fans when he got off the mark following ducks in his last two innings.
Sampson kept going and clobbered leg-spinner Zshan Motara for six and followed it up with another
to race to 48. The Warriors were 88-2 after 10 overs.
Hetymer struck Motara into the stands before stroking Green for four.
The vocal crowd was dancing to the pulsating music from the sound system, Tassa drums and waving Guyana and GAW flags.
The left-handed Hetymer deposited Motara for six and hit him for four, and the atmosphere was absolutely fantastic.
Sampson pushed his countryman, Rutherford, for a single to reach his second 50, which lasted 35 and included three fours and four sixes before he skied a catch to the keeper in the same over at 114-3.
Romario Shepherd joined Hetmyer, who clubbed Daniel Sams for six over mid-wicket.
Shepherd dumped Green for six while Hetymer smashed him for four, and the crowd roared.
Hetymer looked back to best and elegantly clipped Simmons for four
while Shepherd hit a full toss from Simmons into the stands before he was bowled by Sams at 155-4
Hetmyer soon reached his second 50 in this year’s tournament from 32 balls with three fours and three sixes, and the fans loved it.
Pretorius (2) was removed by Simmons at 1605 before Hetmyer brutally hit him for consecutive boundaries.
Hetmyer lofted Rutherford six to go past his highest score of 65 in this year’s tournament and celebrated with his third six before he fell in the same over for 68 at 182-6 in the final over.
With 65 and 49 being his only double-figure scorers in his last nine innings, Warriors’ fans are hoping that Hetmyer is his best for last and last night’s magnificent innings signals a return to form.
Moeen Ali (7) then hit Rutherford for six to leave the Royals to get 190 to win. Rutherford took 2-35.
Lewis setting up building blocks for Green Machine Olympic qualification
NATIONAL Rugby head coach, Steven Lewis, said that his initial stint with the national ruggers which will conclude this coming week is to evaluate and set a foundation for the team’s effective preparation for the Rugby Americas North (RAN) 7’s campaign in November.
Coach Lewis told Guyana chronicle that he is here ‘To sort of put in the building blocks and foundation in preparation for RAN 7’s that is the purpose of this two weeks and the two weeks immediately prior to the tournament”
Lewis said that he was buoyed by the talent of the locals some of whom he had seen over the years working with other Caribbean territories and they were aiming for the next Olympics.
‘If you are looking at a three-year cycle with the 2028 Olympics in Los An-
geles, so between now and then is it possible to qualify, it absolutely is. The Olympic qualification is regional, so we basically need to dominate the Caribbean, which means we have to beat Trinidad, Barbados and Jamaica and that is all
GFF Elite League season 7
perfectly possible; the tricky part will be Canada and potentially the USA……. The first step upon this journey is winning this November that qualifies you for the challenger’s series which give you three international tournaments free of charge…… to win in November is the
short time goal, reaching the Olympics is the longterm goal’
He added that it is important to have an active eco-system with the rebirth of the female programme as well as the continued growth of the youth programme which will aid in
building the sports and the men’s programme going from strength to strength.
Steven Lewis will take over from Claudius butts who led the men’s national teams.
The regional 7’s competition is set for November 22-24 in Trinidad
and Tobago Lewis has hit the group running with a number of assistant coaches since arriving in Guyana last week working with the men’s team and the women’s team which will be making their re-entry to the regional after a number of years.
Slingerz inch closer to second title with 11-0 thrashing of Fruta Conquerors
KEMAR Beckford showed his class with another hattrick this season as Slingerz FC marched closer to their goal, a second elite league title, with an 11-nil demolition of Fruta Conquerors.
It was another exercise in goal scoring with Kemar Beckford opening the flood gates eight minutes into the contest.
Beckford soon continued to announce his intension with his second in the 24th minute of play, then entered Kelsey Benjamin who tripled the advantage making it 3-nil in the 29th minute of play.
Derrell Garcia then recorded a pair of goals in the 45th and 53rd minutes, while Beckford also added to his tally with goals in the 30th and 54th minutes as Slingerz pulled away.
Goals from Darron Niles, Solomon Austin and Raushan Ritch sealed the 11-nil victory. Fruta Conqueror’s lone goal was into their own net,
Moore to break the deadlock but after a tough period of play, Chris Macey came to the fore in the 71st minute to again level score 2-2. The scored remained to the end of regulation time as the teams took a fair share of the spoils.
Season seven sees 10 of the country’s top teams battling for over six months
through 90 games to determine the top Elite League side.
The winners will cart off bragging rights and two million in prize monies. The bottom two teams will face relegation.
Games are being played at the GFF National Training Centre and the Leonora Stadium.
Coach Butts going through drill with Green Machine Green Machine head coach, Stephen Lewis
Slingerz FC are a step closer to lifting the GFF Elite League crown
Kemar Beckford
‘Hetty’ is back with a bang as the Warriors beat the Royals by 64 runs
Shimron Hetmyer of Guyana Amazon Warriors bats during the Men's 2025 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League match between Guyana Amazon Warriors and Barbados Royals at Providence Stadium on September 14, 2025, in Georgetown, Guyana. (Photo by Ashley Allen - CPL T20/CPL T20 via Getty Images)
Quentin Sampson of Guyana Amazon Warriors hits six runs during the Men's 2025 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League match between Guyana Amazon Warriors and Barbados Royals at Providence Stadium on September 14, 2025, in Georgetown, Guyana. (Photo by Ashley Allen - CPL T20/CPL T20 via Getty Images)
Chamari Athapaththu of Barbados Royals celebrates with teammates after getting the wicket of Shemaine Campbelle of Guyana Amazon Warriors during the Women's 2025 Massy Caribbean Premier League match between Barbados Royals and Guyana Amazon Warriors at Providence Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Georgetown, Guyana (Photo by Ashley Allen - CPL T20/CPL T20 via Getty Images)
Gudakesh Motie of Guyana Amazon Warriors celebrates with teammates after getting the wicket of Kofi James of Barbados Royals during the Men's 2025 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League match between Guyana Amazon Warriors and Barbados Royals at Providence Stadium on September 14, 2025, in Georgetown, Guyana. (Photo by Ashley Allen - CPL T20/CPL T20 via Getty Images)
