Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 16-09-2025

–– 120-day timeline set for completion of foundations, preparations underway for some 400 additional workers to speed up work

Load testing commences on new Demerara River Bridge

more persons to

Load testing commences on new Demerara River Bridge

By Trina Williams

LOAD testing has commenced on the new Demerara River Bridge, one of Guyana’s most ambitious infrastructure projects, which is nearing completion.

On Monday, the series of tests designed to verify the bridge’s structural integrity began, and according to Project Manager Patrick Thompson, the testing followed strict international standards set by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

Thompson told the Guyana Chronicle that not every bridge is built the same, and thus, the load testing, conducted by China Railway Construction Corporation, involves applying controlled loads to a bridge to measure responses, ensuring that the bridge can handle expected service loads without unacceptable

deformation or damage.

“So, they developed a model in the ‘lab’ of what the conditions of the bridge are, and then they came out here to replicate that model. The model that was developed in the ‘lab’ produced some outputs; outputs regarding the stress that is supposed to be realised when the bridge is tested, the displacement, the strain and the stiffness,” he said, adding: “So today (Monday), we are out here trying to see if when we load the actual bridge with the same conditions as were developed by the model… whether we would have the same results as was modelled or whether those results would be less or more.”

The load testing followed specific guidelines, and was conducted with five trucks, each weighing 40 tonnes.

However, for other parts of the bridge, the load test-

ing will differ, he said.

For the main cable stay bridge, the contractor will have to use 16 trucks as opposed to the five used on Monday.

Guyana’s transportation infrastructure will be

further boosted when the bridge is officially opened to the public.

With the bridge now entering its final stages of preparation, the President reiterated confidence that the long-awaited structure will be opened to the pub-

lic well before September ends.

The US$260 million bridge being constructed by China Railway Construction Corporation Limited will have a lifespan of 100 years, and offer toll-free access.

It will operate aroundthe-clock, and accommodate vehicles of all sizes and weights, with a maximum speed limit of 80

kilometres per hour. The new bridge features four lanes, and stretches 2.6 kilometres, linking Nandy Park on the East Bank Demerara to La Grange on the West Bank Demerara.

More than 50,000 daily commuters are expected to benefit from the new toll-free bridge, resulting in an estimated $3.5 billion in annual savings.

Load testing on the western end of Demerara River Bridge (Japheth Savory photos)

Project Manager Patrick Thompson

GtE project 68 per cent complete

––

120-day

timeline

set for completion of foundations, preparations underway for some 400 additional workers to speed up work

By Shamar Meusa

WORK on the landmark Gas-to-Energy (GtE) project is expected to be ramped up in the coming weeks to ensure that the promise of reduced energy costs to the populace is delivered soonest.

This was disclosed during a site visit, led by Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips and Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar, following the first meeting of the new cabinet held on Monday.

of the country during the latter part of 2026.

According to the Prime Minister, the project is perhaps the most important one for the people of Guyana and as such, the government is focused on delivering it to the people

“The people of Guyana will be benefitting from electricity at a reduced cost from this project, and as you can see during the tour here, we are happy that work is progressing nicely at this site,” he said.

He noted that he was happy to be provided with a progress report and, as

such, was given the assurance from the contractor, Lindsayca, that they will ramp up the work on site.

Meanwhile, Minister Indar stated that they were able to ask the contractor a number of questions.

Providing a detailed breakdown of the progress made, he stated that the foundation for the natural gas liquids facility and the

foundation for the gas turbines, are being built.

Most recently, the foundation was poured for the first one, and the second foundation will be poured in another week.

This will continue until the foundations for all turbines are complete.

“It’s a simple cycle, which is the gas element with the four turbines.

Each one [sic] of them I understand is 57 MW, so together all four of those will be 228 MW. Then the steam will add the remainder to bring it to 300MW,” he said.

With this, he said that the contractors have provided a presentation of the schedule and how

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips and Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar, during the briefing on Monday

A section of the ‘man camp’ that is being completed on site at the Wales Gas-to-Energy project

Trump says US struck another Venezuelan drug vessel, killing three

PRESIDENT Donald Trump said on Monday that the U.S. military carried out a strike on a Venezuelan drug cartel vessel that had been on its way to the United States, the second such strike carried out against a suspected drug boat in recent weeks.

He said three men were killed in the strike, adding that it occurred in international waters.

“This morning, on my Orders, U.S. military forces conducted a SECOND Kinetic Strike against positively identified, extraordinarily violent drug-trafficking cartels and narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

“These extremely violent drug-trafficking car-

tels POSE A THREAT to U.S. National Security, Foreign Policy, and vital U.S. Interests,” Trump said.

The post also included a nearly 30-second video, which appeared to show a vessel in a body of water exploding and then on fire. Trump provided no evidence for his assertion that the boat was carrying drugs.

The Venezuelan com-

munications ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The latest strike comes amid a large U.S. military buildup in the southern Caribbean.

Five U.S. F-35 aircraft were seen landing in Puerto Rico on Saturday after the Trump administration ordered 10 of the stealth fighters to join the buildup in the region. (Reuters)

U.S.

President Donald Trump arrives at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., September 14, 2025 (REUTERS/Aaron Schwartz)

Single mother of three gets new house

HAVING a place to finally call her own is now a reality for single mother, Colleen Benn, and her three children, ages 13, 14, and five.

After decades of renting and moving between relatives’ homes, Benn, on Monday, received the keys to her brand-new house at Lust-en-Rust, West Bank Demerara, under the Ministry of Housing – Central Housing and Planning Authority’s (CH&PA) Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility, Core Home Support Programme.

To date, 124 families have been selected to benefit from the Core Home Initiative on the

West Bank of Demerara. Of these, 51 homes have already been handed over, 50 are currently occupied, and 43 remain under construction.

Joining Benn in celebration of this milestone were Minister of Housing, Collin Croal, and Minister within the Ministry, Vanessa Benn, both of whom hailed the programme’s transformative impact on improving the lives of ordinary Guyanese.

Reflecting on her journey, Benn expressed heartfelt gratitude and a sense of relief.

“I had been renting for decades and also staying with relatives,

but those days are gone. I feel more relaxed now having my own space,” she said, having received the keys to her new home.

The Core Home Support Programme is designed to assist vulnerable families by providing them with safe, durable, and affordable housing solutions, while simultaneously promoting urban accessibility and community development.

For Benn and her children, the new home represents much more than shelter—it is the beginning of a new chapter filled with stability, comfort, and hope for the future.

–– through Core Home Support Programme

GtE project 68 per cent...

they will approach the construction progress.

“They’ve said to us by year-end the foundations for all components will be finished, and then you have the other aspects of the plant,” Indar added.

The minister noted, “The first task of the day is for us to come here to make sure that we communicate to the contractor that we want the plant to finish in 2026, so that the benefit of reduced cost can be felt by every Guyanese, can be felt by the manufacturers that

[sic] have been eagerly awaiting this [for] a lifetime.”

The project, he said, remains on top of the priority list of projects that the government intends to complete.

As part of the project, Lindsayca officials disclosed that they have implemented a 120-day schedule to complete the foundation works for the turbines the end of the year.

According to official Ruben Figuera, this timeline was set to bring the project up to speed with

the civil works among other things to prepare for the installations of turbines and other aspects of the project.

He told the PM, minister and other officials that they have acquired 90,000 metres of steel pipes to be installed in all the areas that are already on site.

The project encompasses two steam turbines and four gas turbines and the foundation for these should be completed by December. Further to this, it was added that by the end of

the year, they should be ready to install all the major equipment.

Meanwhile, as part of the ramping up of works, construction is moving apace on a ‘man camp’ which will cater for an additional 400 workers to be on site, working in various shifts to aid in timely completion of the project.

Already, there are talks to further increase the workers on site to some 700 workers, to be able to complete the project in keeping with the required timeline.

Having a place to finally call her own is now a reality for single mother, Colleen Benn, and her three children, ages 13, 14, and five

F

PNC/R’s Growing Losses

THE recent resignations of Shurwayne Holder and Mervyn Williams from the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) indicate much more than simple changes in personnel.

They further highlight the rapid decline of what used to be Guyana’s main opposition party. These resignations, which happened one after another, reveal the serious internal conflicts that have made the party unable to gain trust, even among its own leaders.

Williams, who received the second-highest number of votes at the party’s last Congress, announced his resignation during a live broadcast of his political show, Nation Watch. He referred to “unfortunate occurrences” that made it impossible for him to continue.

His timing was particularly damaging, as he announced his departure while featuring Terrence Campbell. Campbell is now set to lead APNU’s parliamentary team, even though he is a political newcomer who once

threatened to “break the hands” of party leader Aubrey Norton during coalition talks with the AFC.

The next day, Chairman Shurwayne Holder resigned without giving a reason, further weakening Norton’s already shaky leadership. These consecutive departures highlight “growing internal discontent” within the PNC/R.

The announcement of the 12 individuals selected for APNU’s parliamentary seats has sparked criticism about the party’s internal issues.

Campbell’s rise—a former Alliance for Change (AFC) supporter who publicly criticised Norton’s leadership and said coalition talks were “untenable” just a year ago— shows a serious flaw in Norton’s judgment.

It is both ironic and tragic that Campbell, who was against Norton during coalition discussions, now leads PNC/R’s parliamentary delegation. This appointment does not show strategic renewal but rather a desper-

ate move, indicating a party so lacking in capable leaders that it must rely on former opponents for key roles.

The electoral losses before these resignations provide important context. APNU’s dramatic drop from 31 seats in 2020 to only 12 in September 2025 marks one of the biggest political failures in Guyanese history.

The party not only lost its position as the main opposition but also lost traditional strongholds like Region 10 to the new We Invest in Nationhood party.

This electoral defeat has revealed the complete failure of Norton’s leadership. His struggle to maintain basic trust from senior party figures like Holder and Williams, who likely knew him best, raises serious doubts about his ability to rebuild the party, as he declared he was doing.

When a party chairman resigns without explanation, and a longtime leader publicly mentions “unfortunate occurrences” as reasons for leaving, it points to failures that go

beyond just electoral strategy.

The current situation for the PNC/R goes beyond regular post-election reflection. It shows the complete breakdown within the party has been present during Norton’s time as leader.

The party that once earned the loyalty of many generations of Guyanese seems to have turned into a tool for personal ambition instead of public service, pushing away experienced leaders and welcoming opportunists.

The departure of Holder and Williams, following earlier resignations, show that PNC/R’s troubles go deeper than just losing an election.

They reveal a serious crisis in leadership, vision, and institutional integrity that Norton seems unable to resolve. Until the party honestly addresses these deep-rooted issues, it will continue to lose talent while heading towards further political irrelevance.

OP-ED

By Manuel Otero, Jorge Werthein and Sandra Ziegler

THE Latin American and Caribbean region is undergoing a rapid demographic transformation: falling birth and mortality rates, coupled with an increase in life expectancy, are resulting in an aging population.

In this context, the situation of rural youth becomes more relevant. Persistent rural-urban migration, far from declining, is intensifying, thereby increasing inequality and weakening rural communities.

This exodus stems from multiple causes. Historically, rural areas have been characterised by deficiencies in infrastructure, basic services, connectivity, and educational and work opportunities.

Moreover, young people enjoy limited representation in decision-making forums and there is a mistaken belief that equates urban life with progress. Thus, rural youth, with no prospects for

advancement, opt to migrate to mid-sized or capital cities or even abroad, where they must often work in informal or precarious employment.

This phenomenon not only affects those who leave, but also has grave consequences for the places they have left behind: loss of human capital, a disruption in generational succession in agriculture, weakening of the fabric of the community and the abandonment of productive land. Conversely, the receiving cities must grapple with an overload of services, unstructured expansion and new pockets of exclusion.

Given this panorama, there is an urgent need for a change in direction, with the adoption of concrete and coordinated actions that place rural youth at the centre of a sustainable-development strategy.

Reversing the exodus does not mean preventing the movement of people, but creating real alternatives so that remaining also becomes a desirable option. First, basic living conditions in rural ar-

A future for youth in rural Latin America and the Caribbean

eas will need to be improved, through investments in transportation, digital connectivity, health, housing, access to land and education.

The creation of a virtuous circle will not only require promotion of policies by the state, but also collaboration with the private sector, community organisations and international technical co-operation.

Secondary and technical education in rural areas will

be a fundamental pillar of this transformation, harnessing new knowledge developed on the frontier of science and the contribution of universities. Education should be relevant, of a high standard and aligned with the challenges of the 21st century, incorporating digital knowledge, agricultural innovation and a linkage to the productive environment.

Universities will play a key role as generators of knowledge and agents of territori -

al cohesion. Strengthening national science, technology and innovation systems in partnership with rural areas will enable the region to take advantage of the transformative potential of digital agriculture and new expertise in the biosciences and to apply them in rural areas.

Another essential component will be the development of an agribusiness ecosystem for youth. Policies must be implemented to spur produc-

tion, accessible financing, technical training and mentorship programmes. This ecosystem must facilitate access to land, infrastructure and markets, while providing frameworks for sustainability, the inclusion of rural women and community participation.

The private sector should be invited to partner in this process, assisting in job creation and economic revitalisation, whereas international co-operation can contribute by providing resources, training and technology transfer.

In summary, rural youth must be recognised as the protagonists of the future.

Developing their capacities, guaranteeing their right to determine where and how they live, and integrating them into rural-development strategies will be indispensable if we are to reverse current trends.

Investing in rural youth is investing in social cohesiveness, food security and sustainability throughout the region.

The time to act is now.

Guyanese educator honoured at New York City’s Inaugural Human Service Awards

GUYANA-BORN educator, Krystal Astwood, has been recognised at New York City’s inaugural Excellence in Human Service Delivery Awards (EHSDA), a landmark event that celebrated individuals and organisations making a difference in the lives of vulnerable New Yorkers.

The historic ceremony, hosted at Gracie Mansion by Mayor Eric Adams and the Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services, brought together leaders from across the nonprofit and public sectors. More than 100 nominations were reviewed, with honorees selected for their excellence in customer service, innovation, operational efficiency, and community impact.

Astwood, who resides in Brooklyn and is the Founder of the Reggio Emilia Mon-

ana, reflects not only her individual dedication but also the wider contributions of Guyanese women in global spaces.

“This award is a testament to the resilience, compassion, and vision of women from Guyana who continue to shape communities far beyond our borders,” Cummings said.

“Krystal Astwood embodies the very best of our diaspora: service, strength, and a deep sense of responsibility to others.”

Astwood holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Boston College and a Master of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. While her professional journey has been firmly rooted in the United States, she hopes to one day bring her expertise home by developing

programmes in Guyana to advance child development, strengthen education, and build social-safety systems.

Her recognition places her among an esteemed group of changemakers driving equity and support for underserved populations in one of the world’s most dynamic cities.

For Guyanese at home and abroad, her achievement stands as an inspiring reminder of the far-reaching influence of the nation’s women leaders.

The Excellence in Human Service Delivery Awards form part of NYC Nonprofit Week, which highlights the critical collaboration between nonprofits and city agencies to improve access to housing, healthcare, youth programmes, legal aid, and more.

Director General of IICA, Manuel Otero

Special Advisor to the Director General of IICA, Jorge Werthein

Specialist in Education and Rural Connectivity, Sandra Ziegler

tessori Center (REMC), was spotlighted among this year’s honorees for her commitment

to community service and innovation in the human services sector.

Her recognition, according to Iman Cummings, Vice President of AMCHAM Guy-

Guyana-born educator, Krystal Astwood (at right) with her Excellence in Human Service Delivery Awards (EHSDA) at the historic ceremony, hosted at Gracie Mansion by Mayor Eric Adams and the Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services

The PNC’s parliamentary picks are incredibly flawed

THE very selection of the PNC’s parliamentarians is an acknowledgement that Aubrey Norton, its leader, no longer sees the PNC as a historic organisation.

If he did then he would never have made that selection.

Here are the blatant wrongs in those choices.

Mr. Terrance Campbell has never had a relation with the PNC. For the 2020 election, he was with ANUG. Then, for the 2025 poll, he was part of an AFC-led machinery to bring about a consensus candidacy from outside the PNC. Weeks before the election, Campbell went over to the PNC.

It is unknown if he has a PNC party membership card, but why would the PNC choose him to lead its parliamentary entourage when he is not even in the PNC’s general council? The PNC has a Reform dimension, and, maybe, Campbell belongs to that wing. But the principle of the PPP and PNC is that the Civic attachment and the Reform component cannot be the leader of the party.

Why Campbell and not someone from within the womb of the PNC that has parliamentary experience? Or maybe the PNC is so denuded it hasn’t got such a person, thus the reliance on Campbell. Juretha Fernandes is a political failure. Unfortunately, Norton, who chose Fernandes for parliament, did not examine the Statements of Poll.

Fernandes failed to get Amerindian votes, and failed to get Region Seven votes. The WIN party won Region Seven. She brought nothing to the table. She went over to the PNC weeks before the election, and on September

1 proved that she could not help the PNC win votes.

Her sidekick, Sherod Duncan, went over to the PNC weeks before the election, thus, in comparison with other PNC stalwarts, he should not be in parliament in front of many PNC architects. Why was Duncan chosen before Chris Jones, Ronald Daniels, Annette Ferguson and Ubraj Narine? Norton seems to be in a hurry to destroy the PNC.

The parliamentary choice is a violation of the Laws of Guyana and moral laws. The parties’ MP must be 40 per cent women. There are only three women of the 12. In terms of moral laws, there is only one Indian: Ganesh Mahipal. I have been told that Riaz Rupnarine is of mixed ethnicity. Of course, the shocking omission of Roysdale Forde must have upset David Granger and many former PNC leaders in the APNU+AFC government.

Mr. Forde is one of Guyana’s leading attorneys, and gave priceless service to the PNC. He told me last year that the long service was done pro bono. It boggles the mind that Forde could be overlooked for Dexter Todd, another newcomer to the PNC. Forde is a better lawyer than Todd, and has more political experience than Todd. How does Norton feel that the PNC will survive when he does stupid things like these?

The presence of David Hinds will certainly contribute to the eventual demise of the PNC. Hinds has not brought anything to the PNC’s campaign. Given his ethnic sermons over the past five years, the PNC should not have lost over 100,000 votes to WIN. Georgetown was divided among PPP, PNC and WIN.

The PPP got African votes in Georgetown; so did WIN. Obviously, Hinds’ ethnic hymns did not convert Region Four Africans.

The selection of David Hinds as a PNC parliamentarian is bound to further alienate PNC folks who will continue to stay home or vote for the PPP and other parties. In choosing Hinds for parliament, Norton has demonstrated a slow erosion of both his intellectual and political capacity.

David Hinds does not excite or stimulate African Guyanese. Norton is so steeped in street politics that it has imprisoned him. It is for this exigent reason Norton should be ousted immediately.

Norton is yet to realise that there is a new African generation in Guyana; they do not see Norman Browne, Rickford Burke, Mark Benschop, Tacuma Ogunseye and Hinds as representatives of the African Guyanese race.

An African leader is insulting the African

race in Guyana if he/she thinks that African Guyanese approve of the way Hinds, Burke and their acolytes behave. African Guyanese do not think that Leonard Craig and James Bond are backside kissers because they joined the PPP. They would welcome an intellectual discussion on why Craig and Bond went over. That is what they want; not cussing down from Burke, racial incitement from Ogunseye. By becoming a prisoner of street politics, Norton could not have made the transition to bureaucratic leader. Because of this ignorance, he was responsible for the PNC’s 2025 electoral journey into oblivion. He will destroy the PNC sooner than later.

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.

Technical support, expertise being provided for comprehensive repair of Wismar-Mackenzie bridge walkway

By Naomi Parris

FOLLOWING the collapse of a section of a wooden walkway on the WismarMackenzie bridge, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice), authorities have begun discussions for comprehensive repairs, with technical support and expertise being provided from the Ministry of Public Works.

This was according to National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Chief Executive Officer (CEO) RK Sharma, in an invited comment to the Guyana Chronicle.

He said the collapse was likely due to the long-term misuse of the wooden infrastructure.

“What I can tell you, we

are in discussion with the Ministry of Public Works to have technical support and expertise to oversee a comprehensive repair of that walkway and that, of course, would ensure that you don’t have such a reoccurrence,” Sharma said.

He said: “It’s a combination of the misuse of that very walkway, that was always meant to be a walkway, unfortunately, it should have been strictly enforced and only pedestrians should have used that walkway. Unfortunately, cyclists, motor cyclists, etc…, have been using it and in the process, there would have been some element of deterioration that would have occurred. It’s really not meant to carry that kind of traffic and weight.”

He noted that as repairs

take shape, there will be a greater need for reinforcement, ensuring that vehicle users adhere to the proper use of the infrastructure, preventing heavy traffic along the designated area for pedestrians.

The section of the bridge collapsed around 18:27hrs on Sunday evening, while an adult and child were riding an electric bike along the path. The two were swiftly rescued by public-spirited persons. They were subsequently taken to the Linden Hospital Complex. Sharma confirmed that the duo was discharged after extensive observations.

The government is constructing a new four-lane Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge in the vicinity of the existing one.

Lam testifies about ‘methodical’ altering of Region Four votes

By Feona Morrison

RONDHA-ANN Lam, Presidential Candidate and Leader of The Citizenship Initiative (TCI) in the 2020 General and Regional Elections, told a Georgetown courtroom on Monday that she vociferously objected to the tabulation process.

She characterised the March 2020 tabulation and verification of votes in Region Four, Guyana’s most populous district, as being plagued by fraudulent practices.

Lam testified before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty in the ongoing election fraud trial.

She recalled confronting then Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo and other Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) officials.

Lam said that she acted because she believed the lawful procedures were being ignored during the tabulation and verification process at the Ashmin’s Building at High and Hadfield streets, Georgetown, which at the time served as GECOM’s Command Centre and the Office of Returning Officer Mingo.

“I objected to when he [Mingo] was not [following] the prescribed SoPs procedure the then Chief Justice [Roxane George, SC] outlined. And I vociferously objected to him reading from a spreadsheet,” Lam said, referring to Statements of Poll (SoPs), the official documents required for tabulating and verifying votes.

She told the court that on March 4, 2020, after Mingo fell ill and was taken to hospital, the process was left in the hands of other GECOM staff.

That evening, she said she observed discrepancies in the figures, which led to frequent disputes among party members over incorrect SoPs numbers.

According to Lam, while over 300 SoPs had been independently verified by her and her team, she saw deliberate manipulation in the figures being

announced.

She testified that, based on the results they had independently verified, there was a deliberate pattern of adjusting votes, with increases benefiting the then incumbent A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) and decreases disadvantaging the People’s Progressive

Party/Civic (PPP/C)—the then opposition party.

“I observed based on what we had independently verified… there was a methodical raising and lowering of votes.

The raising of those votes were in favour of the incumbent APNU+AFC and the lowering was to the disadvantage of the PPP/C opposition party,” she testified.

Lam described heated confrontations inside the tabulation room, stating that she, other party agents, and election observers raised objections. She said the situation escalated, with

numerous people arguing heatedly and tensions rising sharply.

Lam also recalled that Enrique Livan, who was a GECOM Information Technology officer at the time, attempted to leave with GECOM’s flash drive, prompting objections.

She stated that the flash drive contained data on

votes cast across multiple districts within Region Four.

Later, she recalled that Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) Leader Lenox Shuman told her, “We found Mr Livan in a back room and he had the flash drive on the laptop.”

Lam said party agents were shouting that the elections were being rigged and that the flash drive was compromised. She recounted that persons were shouting phrases such as “They are attempting to rig the elections” and “The flash drive is compromised.”

The witness told the court that when Livan

called out figures, the same “methodical” lowering of numbers for the PPP/C and raising of numbers for the APNU+AFC” continued.

When asked by Prosecutor Madana Rampersaud how she responded to this, Lam said: “I objected because I had independently verified SoPs. Those numbers were incorrect.”

She testified that the irregularities followed a clear pattern, noting: “It was a pattern. What I saw were [increases] in increments of 10. I saw APNU+AFC votes being raised.”

She recalled that chaos escalated on March 5, 2020, when Mingo reappeared and tried to declare results without verifying all of the ballot boxes.

Lam said that around 1 p.m., Mingo entered the room and spoke about his illness.

“And when I thought that he was going to restart the verification process,

he started to make a declaration of results when all of the ballot boxes had not been verified. I was in shock because we had results declared when he had not verified all the ballot boxes,” Lam said.

She said that later that day, GECOM posted a document on Facebook declaring the Region Four results,

which was signed by Mingo and then Health Minister Volda Lawrence of the APNU+AFC.

Lam recalled that arguments erupted between government and opposition officials.

She added that sometime later, riot police arrived, and then Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers instructed everyone to leave the building.

She said she complied, and during that time, Dr. Josh Khanai of The New Movement (TNM) informed her that GECOM Chairman, retired Justice Claudette Singh, was being held against her will.

Lam told the court that a second attempt was made to declare the results on March 13, 2020. After presenting her evidence-in-chief, she was cross-examined by defence attorney Nigel Hughes. The trial is scheduled to resume today at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Those charged include Carol Smith-Joseph of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), former Chief Elections Officer

Keith Lowenfield, Lawrence, Myers, and Mingo. Also charged are former GECOM employees Sheffern February, Livan, Denise Babb-Cummings, and Michelle Miller.

Collectively, they face 19 conspiracy charges and are represented by a robust defence team.

Due to the charges arising from the same set of circumstances, the matters have been consolidated. Each defendant has pleaded not guilty to the charges and secured their release by posting significant cash bail.

The prosecution, led by King’s Counsel Darshan Ramdhanie, argued that each defendant played a “critical role” in the deliberate effort to inflate votes for the APNU+AFC and reduce votes for the PPP/C.

In the weeks that followed the contentious March 2, 2020, vote, Guyana’s judiciary was inundated with multiple applications and appeals filed by various political actors over the electoral process.

The saga lasted five months before a national recount, led by GECOM and a delegation from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), confirmed the PPP/C’s victory and ultimately led to the swearing-in of President Dr. Irfaan Ali on August 2, 2020.

The recount confirmed that the PPP/C won the elections with 233,336 votes against the APNU+AFC coalition’s 217,920.

The initial elections results, announced by former CEO Lowenfield, claimed an APNU+AFC victory.

The APNU+AFC coalition received 171,825 votes, while the PPP/C received 166,343 votes, according to Lowenfield’s election report.

Following the PPP/C’s return to office in August 2020, criminal charges were filed against the defendants.

GECOM made the decision to terminate the contracts of Lowenfield, Myers, and Mingo in August 2021, after the allegations of fraud came to light

Volda Lawrence

Clairmont Mingo Carol Smith-Joseph

Acting Chief Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty

Roxanne Myers

Rondha-Ann Lam

Keith Lowenfield

MINISTER of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand, has pledged strong efforts to tackle national solid waste issues amidst Guyana’s ongoing development boom.

National waste management capacity to be enhanced --Minister Manickchand says

Community sanitation and solid waste management remain one of the most pressing challenges affecting Guyana.

was invested in the Blairmont Landfill site, and it is designed to protect residents of Kildonan, Corentyne.

With that said, Manickchand affirmed that it is being looked at very carefully.

Guyana’s development has resulted in solid waste increasing from 400 tonnes to 1,200 tonnes per day, the minister said, adding that the number of trucks dumping at the site has also increased from 100 to 300-400.

“We have to now increase

The minister, on Monday, visited the Haags Bosch sanitary landfill site, where she addressed the matter of solid waste management, describing it as a major area that is a “big concern” for residents across the country.

our capacity of management,” Manickchand said, noting that efforts are underway to enhance management systems, particularly in collaboration with NDCs.

In addition to waste management strategies, the minister pointed to plans to partner with First Lady Arya Ali on her beautification project, which aims to enhance public spaces and promote cleaner surroundings.

That’s why the government has made significant improvements in the proper disposal of solid waste through a strategy that aims to effectively manage waste disposal, particularly at landfills.

The government has added a number of landfills designed to protect waste from polluting the environment, as well as several other projects to properly manage the disposal of solid waste.

An estimated $52 million

The investment saw a new access road, which allows residents of the Kildonan Corentyne easy access to the landfill.

That investment was $13.8 million. Another landfill at Charity in Region Two was constructed for $19 million.

An access bridge to another landfill was constructed for residents in Zorg-enHoop Canal, costing $6.246 million.

Constructing stormwater ponds that hold rainwater to stop flooding and reduce road erosion saw a further investment of $65 million.

The construction of the Landfill Gas Management System amounted to $42 million, which serves as an essential component for environmental and safety features due to the natural byproduct of organic materials at landfills.

Further, the Preparation of a Temporary Area to receive waste at Zorg-En-Vlygt in Region Two amounted to $112 million, and in Region Seven, another $17.835 million was invested in a similar area.

These Temporary Areas serve to minimise pollution, allowing for proper storage and the prevention of waste from contaminating the air, soil, and water.

Meanwhile, the landfills at Nerney, Region Six, which cost $13.9 million, and in Bon Success, Region Nine, costing another $19.6 million, were upgraded.

The closure of the Esplanade in New Amsterdam, which posed potential health hazards due to its proximity to residents in the area, cost $13.6 million.

Furthermore, the Lima dumpsite in Region Two was shuttered, and a new facility was added for $1.2 million. The Kara Kara dumpsite in Region Ten was upgraded for $39 million.

Two men jailed, fined for drug trafficking

TWO men who admitted to trafficking sizeable quantities of narcotics, were, on Monday, handed prison sentences and hefty fines following their separate appearances before magistrates.

At the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, Jason Bascom stood before Magistrate Azore and pleaded guilty to having 4.078 kilogrammes of cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

For the offence, he received a three-year prison sentence along with a fine of $30,000.

Meanwhile, over at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts, Colin Moore appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse and admitted to trafficking 16.784 kilogrammes of cocaine.

The court imposed a four-year custodial sentence and ordered him to pay a fine of $25,170,000.

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand during her visit to the landfill

Jason Bascom

Major works completed for Hope-like canals in Regions Five, Six

--work on other key components underway, Agriculture Minister says

By Clestine Juan

THE embankments for two major canals in Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) have been completed, paving the way for the construction of sluices and other critical infrastructure, according to Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha.

The project, aimed at improving drainage and flood control, forms part of the government’s broader effort to strengthen agricultural infrastructure and safeguard key farming regions.

“In Region Six, we have finished the entire embankment already; we are now in the process of doing the canal itself, the two canals from Number 51 and Manchester Lancaster area, and to take that canal out to the Atlantic,” Mustapha told the Guyana Chronicle in an invited comment.

The infrastructure will mirror that of the Hope Canal in Region Four (Demerara Mahaica). This facility, which has Guyana’s largest

sluice, aids in directing excess water towards the Atlantic Ocean. The massive drainage and irrigation infrastructure located in Region Four was commissioned back in 2014, and has eight doors that function as a drainage sluice. In Region Five, the embankment will stretch from Mahaica to Ithaca.

“I am anticipating that shortly, those canals will be completed and the infrastructure that we will put in stream; the sluices and so, will commence shortly. So,

a lot of works have already been completed,” he said.

“I am looking forward for this mega infrastructure. Also in the new term, you will see a number of other pump stations being completed; you have a number of works going at pump stations, so all those will modernise the entire drainage and irrigation system,” he added.

In a recent interview with this newspaper, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Chairman, Lionel Wordsworth, said the

the coast. Taking note of the direct drainage of excess water from the backlands and conservancy into the Atlantic Ocean through the Hope Canal, the government has recognised the potential benefits of implementing similar canals across the country.

This was also prompted by the extensive flooding in 2021, resulting in the near-total devastation of approximately 85 per cent of the agricultural industry.

conversancy at Hope stores high levels of water, and also aids in draining off excess water caused by rainfall and high tides, which would have otherwise affected farmlands and residential areas across several communities along

Region Five holds the responsibility for yielding a large portion of the nation’s agricultural produce, underscoring the need for appropriate drainage infrastructure to shield the farmers from any potential impacts.

Mustapha expressed his enthusiasm for the commencement and timely completion of the two canals in

their respective regions, aiming to enhance the well-being of farmers and local communities. According to Mustapha, it is crucial to alleviate the stress caused by flooding, and to maintain regular land drainage.

There have also been talks to harness the water being conserved in canals such as Hope, adding treatment facilities to the existing infrastructure and converting it.

Once the new infrastructure comes on stream, some 214,000 acres of land will be targeted in Region Five, while in Region Six, 188,000 acres of land will see better water management. A canal is also expected to be built in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) targeting some 28,000 acres of land.

Once completed, the massive canals will mirror that of the Hope Canal in Region Four

PNC/R rocked by resignation of chairman --more persons to depart soon, reliable sources confirm

THERE continues to be clear indications of discontent and internal struggles within the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R), with the latest blow to the party being the resignation of its Chairman, Shurwayne Holder, who also served as parliamentarian from 2020-2025.

The resignation comes just one day after veteran executive member Mervyn Williams cut ties with the party on his live programme, Nation Watch. The Guyana Chronicle understands that more resignations are expected to follow in the coming days.

While neither Williams nor Holder offered specific reasons for their resignations, the Guyana Chronicle understands that the internal tension in the party grew after the announcement of businessman, Terrence Campbell, as the lead parliamentarian for the PNC/ R-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition.

APNU’s recent announcement of its 12 parliamentary picks sparked

debate, as controversial Working People’s Alliance (WPA) figure Dr David Hinds also made the cut, while key figures such as former Chief Whip Christopher Jones; Attorney-at-Law, Roysdale Forde; former APNU+AFC minister, Annette Ferguson among others, were left out. Dr Hinds, known for his provocative commentary on race and politics, has drawn ire for using terms like “lick

bottom” to insult African Guyanese who support the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).

Earlier this year, Hinds opened the programme by insulting the dignity of Afro-Guyanese. He hurled a series of grotesque insults such as referring to them as “lick bottoms” and “house slaves.”

There have also been criticisms about the absence of youth on the parliamen-

tary list.

While the list has left many raising questions regarding long-standing members being omitted and newcomer Campbell being the party’s lead Member of Parliament (MP) over APNU executives, APNU Chairman Aubrey Norton, on Friday, said it requires no public explanation.

During a virtual press conference, Norton publicly said he will not be heading to parliament nor seeking the presidency in the future. At the press conference, which was held prior to the resignations, Norton also said his focus is to “rebuild” the party.

APNU’s lead MP, businessman Campbell was the Alliance For Change’s (AFC)’s pick for presidential candidate had there been a new coalition ahead of the 2025 elections.

Campbell had said he would “break the hands” of Norton [make him concede to the terms] during the negotiations on a possible APNU+AFC coalition.

Just last year, Campbell publicly lambasted Norton’s leadership and declared the

opposition coalition process “untenable.”

Aside from Campbell, the other APNU parliamentarians are Juretha Fernandes, Ganesh Mahipaul, Dr Hinds, Sharma Solomon, Vinceroy Jordan, Nima Flue-Bess, Saiku Andrews, Coretta McDonald, Riaz Rupnarain, Dexter Todd and Sherod Duncan.

With the list of parliamentarians announced, Norton, who has stepped aside, said: “I will preside over the party and ensure that I put the mechanism in place, so that by the time we arrive at the next elections, we are well structured, we will be ready and the new blood in the party will take over the party.

I hope that is an indication that I have no intention of running for the presidency in the future.”

Norton, ran as the APNU’s presidential candidate in this year’s elections and was the former opposition leader.

The results of the September 1 2025 General and Regional Elections not only showed that APNU lost the elections to the PPP/C, but

also lost a majority of its support base to political newcomer, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN).

The WIN party is set to become the main opposition. It will have 16 seats to fill, based on the official results released by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

In the last parliament, the APNU and AFC held 31 seats in the National Assembly, forming the main parliamentary opposition, with 22 of those seats being held by APNU members.

Meanwhile, former APNU parliamentarian Amanza Walton-Desir’s party, Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), picked up one seat at the 2025 elections.

Six political parties contested the polls this year, but the PPP/C’s strong showing across the 10 administrative regions has solidified its mandate to govern for an additional five years.

Based on the results, the PPP/C will be returning to office with a substantial parliamentary majority, having secured 36 of the 65 seats.

New Home Affairs Minister pledges reset in service delivery

NEWLY appointed Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Walrond convened her first meeting with the Ministry’s Heads of Department Monday morning in the Boardroom, where she was warmly welcomed by senior officials and staff.

While expressing appreciation for the warm reception, Minister Walrond emphasised her commitment to collaborative leadership.

“This is an opportunity for a reset; a rethink of how we deliver services to our citizens in a growing country.

I want to hear from each of you, not only about the challenges but also about the solutions, so that together we can be better, do better, and ensure our nation benefits,” the Minister said.

She further highlighted

her legal and judicial background, particularly her work with juvenile justice, as an asset in shaping policy direction.

Permanent Secretary, Mr. Andre Ally welcomed the Minister on behalf of the Ministry’s staff, underscoring the team’s readiness to move forward under her leadership.

“Minister, you have before you a very talented and diverse team.

We do face many challenges, but we also have solutions.

With your leadership, and the support of Senior Adviser Mr. Benn, I am confident that we will be able to achieve our mandate.

We are fully behind you and committed to progress,” Mr. Ally affirmed.

In a symbolic handover,

Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond convened her first meeting with the Ministry’s Heads of Department Monday morning in the Boardroom

Former PNC/R Chairman Shurwayne Holder

Roadways see 1,819 traffic cases in one week

THE Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Traffic Department has reported that a total of 1,819 traffic cases were recorded between September 7 and 13, 2025, as law enforcement continues its heightened crackdown on dangerous driving practices and road-safety violations.

Of the cases logged during the period, 674 were directly related to common traffic offences, with speeding leading the list at 231 cases.

This was followed by 114 cases of motorcyclists failing to wear safety hel-

mets, 105 instances of vehicles with illegal tints and 87 cases of motorists failing to wear seatbelts. Additionally, 20 drivers were charged for driving under the influence of alcohol, while police also recorded breaches such as unlighted vehicles, faulty packing, and violations of prescribed fitness conditions.

ROAD SAFETY EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES

As part of its ongoing public education

–– GPF steps up education, enforcement, and safety initiatives

campaign, the Traffic Department visited 48 schools across 10 regions, including institutions in Georgetown, Linden, Bartica, Lethem, Moruca, Mabaruma, Port Kaituma, the Essequibo Coast, Berbice, and the hinterland. The schools included major institutions such as All Saints Primary (Region Six), St. Ignatius Nursery (Region Nine), Houston Secondary (Region Four B), and Matthew’s Ridge Secondary (Region One). Lectures and interactive sessions were held with pupils, teachers, and

parents, focusing on pedestrian safety, helmet and seatbelt use, and the dangers of speeding and drunk driving.

Traffic ranks also conducted 20 road lectures at busy public locations such as the Soesdyke Junction, the Mahaica Public Road, the Tuschen Public Road and the new Ogle Highway. These sessions were complemented by community outreach exercises at Mahdia, Tuschen, and Diamond, as well as flyers distribution at Lethem, where materials were provided to Brazilian drivers entering Guyana. A public-awareness radio programme was also broadcast on NCN 102.5 FM.

In addition to enforcement and educa -

tion, the GPF carried out a widespread repainting exercise of pedestrian crossings at schools and public roads. The works stretched across Regions One, Two, Four, Five, Six, Seven, and Nine, including key areas such as: Georgetown (Water Street, Robb Street, North Road, and Church Street, in partnership with Republic Bank Guyana); Rose Hall Town and JC Chandisingh Secondary (Region Six); Golden Grove and Mahaica public roads (Region Four C); Santa Rosa and Matthew’s Ridge (Region One); Aurora and Anna Regina Multilateral (Region Two); Bartica and Potaro (Region Seven);

and Arapaima Primary, Region Nine

The repainting initiative is aimed at boosting visibility and pedestrian safety, particularly for schoolchildren.

The latest statistics come at a time when road safety remains a major national concern. Despite intensified police presence, road accidents have continued to claim lives in 2025, underscoring the importance of citizen co-operation in observing traffic rules.

The GPF said it will maintain a zero-tolerance policy for violators, while continuing its outreach in schools, communities, and border entry points to foster a culture of responsible road use.

The GPF carried out a widespread repainting exercise of pedestrian crossings at schools and public roads and traffic ranks also conducted road lectures

Team work, efficiency, people-centred approach to guide work at Housing Ministry

–– ministers commit

THE Ministry of Housing and Water on Monday welcomed its newly appointed Minister within the Ministry, Vanessa Benn as she officially assumed her duties at the agency’s headquarters in Georgetown.

Minister Benn was received by the substantive Minister of Housing Collin Croal, along with Permanent Secretary Bishram Kuppen,

senior management, and staff. The team extended a warm welcome as she began her first day in office.

The Ministers toured several departments, where they interacted with staff before convening a management meeting.

During the session, both officials highlighted the importance of teamwork, efficiency, and maintaining a

people-centred approach to service delivery.

Minister Croal and Minister Benn reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the Ministry’s mandate in line with the vision of President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, which places strong emphasis on expanding access to housing, improving water services, and enhancing

the overall quality of life for citizens.

The Ministry of Housing has been at the forefront of the government’s development agenda, with thousands of house lots distributed, new housing schemes established, and ongoing efforts to ensure affordable housing and reliable water access across the country.

Minister Benn’s ap -

pointment forms part of President Ali’s recent Cabinet reshuffle, which introduced new faces alongside experienced leadership to strengthen governance. Her entry into the Housing Ministry is expected to bolster the government’s ongoing work in one of its most critical service areas, particularly as demand for housing continues to rise.

Minister within the Ministry, Vanessa Benn (at head table) with Minister of Housing Collin Croal, along with Permanent Secretary Bishram Kuppen, and senior management and staff

Rodrigues to focus on elevating Destination Guyana

MINISTER of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues, officially assumed leadership of the ministry on Monday.

She was welcomed at her South Road office by newly appointed Permanent Secretary, Mr Roger Rogers; Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Kamrul Baksh; Executive Director of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards, Mr. Trevor Bassoo; Director of the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission, Mr Rabindra Kandhi; Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Bureau, Mr Shazim Ibrahim, along with other Heads of Department and staff.

In her remarks to the leadership team, Minister Rodrigues shared her passion for the sector, noting that it had captured her imagination long before her appointment.

“I could not have imagined a more fitting portfolio, because over the past few years, I have often reflected on ideas I would like to see realised in this ministry,” she said.

The minister emphasised her desire to see the sec -

tor evolve and outlined her vision of raising Guyana’s profile to align with the international stature achieved under President Irfaan Ali’s leadership. Part of that vision, she explained, is cultivating ambassadors who will champion “Destination Guyana.”

“We need to rebuild patriotism, instill it in the hearts of our young people and all Guyanese across all 10 regions, so that they themselves become our ambas -

sadors,” Minister Rodrigues highlighted.

She further underscored her commitment to improving the ease of doing business and enhancing government efficiency in line with the President’s vision and welcomed Permanent Secretary Rogers to the ministry.

“I am very pleased to be here. I am looking forward to working very closely with all of you as we advance this important sector together,” she added. (DPI)

Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce welcomes presidential meeting

--says priorities align with private-sector agenda

THE Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce

(SGCC) has welcomed the joint statement issued following the September 13 meeting in Nieuw Nickerie between Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, President of the Republic of Suriname, and Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

According to the joint statement: “The two Heads of State reaffirmed the strong bonds of friendship and co-operation that exist between Suriname and Guyana, rooted in their shared values and aspirations, cultural ties, and geographic proximity.”

renewables, and interconnection); enhanced connectivity through the Corantijn/Corentyne Bridge, agriculture and fisheries collaboration; the Canawaima Ferry Service

The SGCC congratulated both Presidents for taking this bold, forward-looking step to deepen co-operation across key areas, including strengthened economic ties and ease of doing business, energy security (oil & gas,

and structured follow through via the Strategic Dialogue and Cooperation Platform (SDCP).

“These are the exact priority areas identified by our members through SGCC consultations, and ones the chamber has consistently championed in its advocacy.

The SGCC stands ready to

support both governments in advancing these priorities and translating them into broad-based prosperity for the peoples of Suriname and Guyana,” the chamber said. These priorities will be further integrated into SGCC programming and platforms, including the International Business Conference (IBC) Guyana 2025, (slated for October 14-16 in Guyana, and in October, 2026, in Suriname), to ensure sustained public-private dialogue and tangible outcomes for businesses on both sides of the border.

The SGCC commended and echoed the Presidents’ dedication to “strengthening the bilateral partnership between Suriname and Guyana and to working together in the interest of their peoples and the wider Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and South America).”

--ease of doing business

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues, officially assumed leadership of the ministry on Monday

CPL 2025 Playoffs: Four Teams, One Trophy

THE Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League 2025 has reached its crescendo, with four teams—the de -

fending champions, St. Lucia Kings, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Trinbago Knight Riders, and Antigua and Barbuda Falcons—left to battle for the coveted title.

All remaining playoff matches will occur at the National Stadium in Providence.

Tonight’s high-stakes action sees a rematch between the four-time champions, the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR), and the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons. After a late-season slump that saw them drop three consecutive games and finish third, TKR will be desperate to regain

its form. Their opponents, the Falcons, have had the upper hand in their recent clashes, setting the stage for a fiery encounter in the Eliminator. The winner of this match will advance to Qualifier Two.

The action continues on Wednesday when the top two teams from the league phase, the St. Lucia Kings and the Guyana Amazon Warriors, face off in Qualifier One.

The winner will book their spot directly to the Grand Final, giving them a crucial rest day and a second chance at glory. The loser

Seville shocks Thompson, Lyles...

the first Jamaican man since Usain Bolt in 2015 to become world champion in the event.

“I feel really amazing and excited that the gold is coming home to Jamaica. I have proved that I am a true competitor, that I have the determination of a champion,” an elated Seville said after the race.

“But still, I was panicking, I didn’t know what was going on throughout the semi-final. Finishing strong in the last 30 to 40 metres was something I was struggling with the whole season, I just didn’t recognise it.

“Now I have perfected it, and I was confident that if I could do it in the final, I would win. I knew if I had a strong finish, the others will not catch me,” he added.

Meanwhile, despite finishing third in the women’s 100 metres, Saint Lucia’s Olympic champion Julien Alfred said she was satisfied with her performance.

In a race that saw the USA’s Melissa Jefferson-Wooden storm to victory in a championship record time of 10.61 seconds and Jamaica’s Tia Clayton grab the silver medal in a personal best time of 10.74 seconds, Alfred had to settle for bronze in 10.84 seconds.

Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson finished a disappointing fourth, in a season’s best 10.88, defending champion Sha’Carri Richardson of the USA was fifth in 10.94, while Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, competing in her final international meet before retirement was sixth in 11.03 seconds.

Alfred, one of the prerace favourites, admitted it was not one of her best performances.

“It’s a great opportunity. Every time I step on the track I’m blessed. I didn’t get a gold medal, but I’m still hap-

will get another shot in Qualifier Two.

The knockout schedule is as follows:

• September 16: Eliminator - Trinbago Knight Riders v Antigua and Barbuda Falcons (20:00h)

• September 17: Qualifier One - St. Lucia Kings v Guyana Amazon Warriors (20:00h)

• September 19: Qualifier Two - Loser of Q1 v Winner of Eliminator (20:00h)

• September 21: Final - Winner of Q1 v Winner of Q2 (20:00h)

(From back page)

py nonetheless,” Alfred said.

“I wasn’t in the right frame of mind, to be quite honest. Felt my hamstring a little bit in the warmup area before I came out to the final, so that threw me off a little bit. I have to go back to my team and see how I can get better.”

Fraser-Pryce, who at the age of 38 has made every

single World Championships 100m final since 2009, described it as a bittersweet feeling.

“I’m feeling so many emotions right now. To be able to walk away finishing sixth, for some people it’s bittersweet–and for me too. But to have been doing it for so long, I’m blessed,” Fraser-Pryce said.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Tuesday, September 16, 2025)

OF

Today’s Quiz:

PCB demands removal of match referee Andy Pycroft

THE handshake row may have just escalated, as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sought to intensify the situation in the Asia Cup.

A day after lodging a protest against the Indian team with the International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee, the PCB has now turned the heat on the ICC official himself. It has now demanded that Andy Pycroft be removed from the panel of match referees for the Asia Cup.

"The PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding violations by the Match Referee of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws pertaining to the

Spirit of Cricket. The PCB has demanded an immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup,"

Mohsin Naqvi, who is the chairman of the PCB, has said in a social media post Monday (September 15).

The PCB's primary grievance, apparently, is that Pycroft became a party to one side. Its contention is that as the match referee he could not have instructed the captains not to shake hands.

The

PCB has now turned the heat on the match referee Andy Pycroft

Sources say the PCB has taken its protest to the extent of threatening a boycott of its next game, against the UAE, on September 17, if its demand for the removal of the Zimbabwean is not met. Pycroft is the designated match referee for the Pa-

Sourav Ganguly back as CAB chief

"DON’T assume anything," Sourav Ganguly curtly told the media in Kolkata on Sunday (September 14) when asked about his chances of returning as President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

For now, he returns as president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), a position he previously held between 2015 and 2019.

The CAB elections are scheduled for September 22, when the association will hold its AGM. However, Ganguly's return as CAB president was confirmed after he filed his nomination for the post on Sunday (September 14).

With no other nominations submitted for the post, he will be elected unopposed. He succeeds his elder brother, Snehasish Ganguly, who has held the position since 2019.

The BCCI will hold its elections on September 28, and there has been speculation that Ganguly could also return as BCCI president. He had held that position between 2019 and 2022 before being succeeded by Roger Binny. Ganguly has been nominated to the AGM by the CAB as its representative

which means he remains in fray for the BCCI role theoretically. His name, thus, is expected to remain linked to the BCCI post until nominations are filed on September 20-21. "I would like to thank everyone for their support. At CAB, there is no opposition, everyone is a part of this Association. We will all work together to take CAB & Bengal cricket ahead. There are important events coming up at - Eden Gardens - India's Test match against South Africa, T20 World Cup, Bengal Pro T20 League. I will try and do my best," Ganguly said after being elected.

The unopposed panel that filed nominations Nitish Ranjan Dutta (Vice-President), Bablu Koley (Secretary), Madan Mohan Ghosh (Joint Secretary) and Sanjay Das (Treasurer).

Speaking about his team, Ganguly said, "Bablu Koley is very experienced. It's important to have someone with his experience and knowledge. Nitish Ranjan Dutta, Madan Mohan Ghosh and Sanjay Das are also experienced and have been in this field for a long time. All their experience will be immensely helpful for Bengal cricket." (Cricbuzz)

kistan-UAE game. Although this information could not be independently verified, it is understood that the PCB has mentioned this point in its letter. Incidentally, Naqvi is also the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

Naqvi has also commented on the Indian team without taking names. "Utterly disappointing to witness the lack of sportsmanship today. Dragging politics into the game goes against the very spirit of sports. Let's hope future victories are celebrated by all teams with grace," the PCB chief wrote on social media on Monday night.

Pycroft (69) has been at

the centre of controversy for allegedly not acting on the PCB's protest against the Indian team, which refused to shake hands with the Pakistan players after they beat the arch-rivals by seven wickets at Dubai International Stadium on Sunday (September 14). Cricbuzz has reached out to the ICC as well as the PCB for a formal comment. Pycroft is one of the most experienced match referees, having been on the ICC Elite Panel since 2009. Along with nominating Pycroft, the ICC had also forwarded the name of West Indian Richie Richardson for the Asia Cup. The Elite Panel currently includes

three other match referees - Javagal Srinath of India, Jeff Crowe of New Zealand, and Ranjan Madugalle of Sri Lanka.

Earlier on Monday night, the Pakistan team management lodged a protest with Pycroft against the Indian players' behaviour. "Team manager Naveed Cheema lodged a strong protest against Indian players' behaviour of not shaking hands. It was deemed as unsporting and against the sport of the game. As a protest we did not send our captain to the post match ceremony," the Pakistan team management said. (Cricbuzz)

Aussies not worried by calf issue to Perry ahead of CWC25

AUSTRALIA captain Alyssa Healy has revealed the calf injury that caused experienced all-rounder Ellyse Perry to retire hurt during the first ODI against India on Sunday is of no concern heading into the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup.

Perry received some treatment on her calf during her innings as Australia registered an impressive eight-wicket-triumph over India in New Chandigarh, but Healy suggested the issue was just cramps and she only retired hurt as a precaution.

With Perry sidelined, young opener Phoebe Litchfield stepped up with a superb innings of 88 from just 80 deliveries as the seven-time World Cup champions displayed their prowess by chasing down India's total of 281/7 with more than five overs remaining.

“She is just old, she is fine,” Healy said of Perry after the match.

“We want to push the limits when batting first and no different while chasing. We have the same intent like we are setting a big total.

“Phoebe was outstanding, and everyone contributed beautifully and kept the scoring rate up.”

Litchfield took a liking to the Indian attack through-

Aussie

out the run chase, using her switch-hit to her advantage on numerous occasions before it led to her downfall with a century in sight.

“The conditions over here are nice for batting. You get some really flat pitches,” Litchfield said after collecting the Player of the Match award.

“A lot of practice has gone into that (switch-hit) shot. As a group, we came out there with a definite plan to get on top. Our bowlers bowled really well on a pretty nice wicket to hold the stumps and to keep them to 280. To chase it down with balls to spare is a really cool thing.”

Harmanpreet Kaur was left to rue a host of dropped catches in the field, while the

India captain also suggested her side finished just shy of a par total after they won the toss and elected to bat first at Maharaja Ellyse Perry Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium.

"We were 20-30 runs short," Harmanpreet admitted.

"Our bowlers were trying to create opportunities but we were not able to capitalise on those opportunities and they played really good cricket.

"They played better than us but next game is important, we want to stay positive and looking forward to the next game."

India and Australia will meet again at the same ground in the second match of the series on Wednesday.

Sourav Ganguly succeeds his elder brother, Snehasish Ganguly, who has held the position since 2019

all-rounder Ellyse Perry

England head coach says captain Ben Stokes progressing well ahead of Australia series

ENGLAND head coach

Brendon McCullum backed Test captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Mark Wood to be fit in time for the Ashes, describing this winter's series as an "unbelievable opportunity" for the side.

England are looking to regain the Ashes for the first time in 10 years and, at the same time, address their dismal record in Australia since their successful 2010/11 tour - having failed to win a single Test in 15 attempts, losing 13.

Stokes missed the final Test of this summer's drawn series with India due to a shoulder injury, while Wood has been out since February after having knee surgery.

But McCullum is optimistic over the prospects of both, adding that he'd be keen to unleash a pure pace attack also containing Jofra Archer for the first Test in Perth on November 21 in a bid to "land an early blow".

Jofra Archer claimed the wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal

with just his third ball after a four-year absence from Test cricket for England.

"Stokes is progressing well," McCullum told Sky Sports during the washedout third T20 international between England and South Africa at Trent Bridge on Sunday.

"Everyone knows Stokes' thirst for hard work and his enthusiasm to captain En -

gland, to lead the team down to Australia for the challenge that awaits.

"I anticipate that he'll be fully fit and ready to go in that series; he's progressing well and he's excited about what's ahead."

McCullum described Stokes as 'once in a generation' and details what to expect from him during the Ashes.

WPL Season 4 set to kick off in first week of January

SEASON 4 of the Women's Premier League (WPL) will commence earlier than the previous seasons and, in all likelihood, will start in the first week of January.

With the WPL getting a dedicated window in the women's Future Tours Programme - similar to other women's competitions like the Women's Big Bash League and The Hundred for Women - the 2026 edition of the WPL is likely to begin on January 6 or 8.

The date of the final is not clear, but with only 22 games in the league, the BCCI is unlikely to need more than 26-27 days, which means the tournament should end by early February. Season 1 ran from March 4 to March 26, Season 2 from February 23 to March 17, and Season 3 from February 14 to March 15.

The venues are still undecided, and it remains to be seen whether the BCCI will spread the league across more centres than last year. After staging the entire first season in Mumbai, the second season was played

in Bengaluru and Delhi. Last season, the matches were held in Baroda, Bengaluru, Lucknow and Mumbai.

The most eagerly awaited decision from the BCCI is about the auction - and it is not only about the date, venue and salary cap, but also the size. With three seasons completed, there may be a decision to hold a mega-auction, similar to the IPL, but that important call is still awaited from the BCCI and WPL authorities. At this

stage, opinion is divided on whether or not there should be a mega-auction with one section wanting changes and another seeking continuity.

The five franchisesMumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, UP Warriorz, Gujarat Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru - are the competing sides. Mumbai Indians are the two-time winners and defending champions, while RCB won the second season. (Cricbuzz)

Day one abandoned in all but one County Championship game

HEAVY rain and strong winds meant no play was possible on Day One in eight of nine County Championship matches.

The Division One topof-the-table clash between Surrey and Nottinghamshire was the only match to see any action as the championship headed into its penultimate round of matches.

The Division Two match between Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire at Bristol was the first match to be abandoned without a ball bowled at around 14:00 BST, followed soon after by Lancashire versus promo -

tion-chasing Middlesex at Old Trafford.

Derbyshire, who must realistically beat second-placed Glamorgan at Derby to keep their own promotion hopes alive, were left frustrated as the weather ruled out any cricket on Day One, and there was also no play between Leicestershire and Kent.

In Division One, Durham's hopes of picking up a vital win against fellow relegation candidates Worcestershire were also delayed until at least the second day at Chester-leStreet.

Durham are six points adrift of safety, while anything less than victory for bottom side Worcestershire will confirm their descent to Division Two.

Play was also abandoned for the day at Hove, where both Sussex and Yorkshire were looking to secure their safety from the drop, while Hampshire, who sit just six points above second-bottom Durham, were also denied any play at Taunton.

Warwickshire and Essex will also look to get their match under way at Edgbaston today. (BBC Sport)

England captain Ben Stokes

The scene at Bristol where no play was possible on Day One

Mumbai Indians have won the competition twice while RCB have won it once

Butcher: Yorke must resign if T&T is to have any chance of qualifying for World Cup

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC ) – Former Trinidad and Tobago footballer Kenneth Butcher believes that the national side will fail to qualify for the 2026 World Cup under head coach Dwight Yorke and has called on him to resign.

T&T are currently in third position in Group B on one point from their two matches, having lost to Jamaica and drawn with Curacao in the final round of qualifying for the Men’s World Cup.

Jamaica currently leads the group with six points from their two matches, while Curacao sits in second on four points.

Speaking on Isports on i95.5 FM on Saturday, Butcher, who also served as Minister of Sport and is now a football analyst, said Yorke, who was specifically hired by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) to help the national team qualify for the World Cup, was not the man for the job.

“I’m not ok with Dwight Yorke staying on. We have to go on track record and Dwight has played two games and we have one

point. We need 12 points to advance.

“Something like this happened before with Bertille St. Clair, who was removed after three games with one point and we brought in [Leo] Beenhakker and Beenhakker was the person who carried us to the World Cup,” Butcher pointed out.

“…When you are talking about inspirational leadership, I think Dwight is comfortable with that…but when it comes to tactical intelligence, based on his performance so far in terms of the selection of the players,

the pressure of the players, playing in transition, all of those things are left wanting right now after the 12 games we have played so far.

“Based on analysing the pillars that require us to succeed at that level, I graded Dwight on seven particular areas and from my markings he got about 75 out of 100 per cent and therefore, that is not good enough…” he added.

Butcher said tough decisions had to be made in the best interest of the team.

“If I were in Kieron Edwards’ [TTFA president] place, I would get word to Dwight to tender his resignation.

“When Dwight tenders his resignation, it’s up to the TTFA Executive to accept it or reject it. If they reject it, the onus is on the administration to take the blows if they don’t qualify.

If they accept it, what it does for Dwight is that it gives him an integrity standing in the world that the other nations will see that this fella has some character, he was doing a job, he realised it was difficult, and he has tendered his resignation,” Butcher said.

Alfred pulls out of 200m due to injury

TOKYO, Japan, (CMC )–Saint Lucia’s hopes of capturing gold at the ongoing World Athletic Championships are now over after sprint queen Julien Alfred was forced to withdraw from the women’s 200 metres due to injury.

Shortly after placing third in the women’s 100 metres on Sunday, the 24-year-old Olympic gold medallist revealed that she had strained her hamstring in the moments leading up to the race.

The Saint Lucia Athletics Association (SLAA) subsequently confirmed that Alfred would be taking no further part in the Championships after sustaining a Grade 1 hamstring strain.

“On the advice of medical professionals and in consultation with her management team, our Olympic champion and 100m World Athletics Championships

bronze medallist, Julien Alfred has been withdrawn from the women’s 200m at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo,” said the correspondence from the SLAA.

“Julien sustained a Grade 1 hamstring strain. The decision to withdraw prioritises her health and long-term career.”

The SLAA said Alfred remained a world class athlete and wished her a speedy recovery.

“We remain confident in Julien’s resilience and are proud of her outstanding performances to date at these Championships,” the released added.

“Her determination and excellence continue to inspire Saint Lucians everywhere and reaffirm her status as a world-class athlete.

“We extend our gratitude to the Saint Lucian public,

West Indies to face Nepal, India, Bangladesh and New Zealand to close out 2025

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC )– The West Indies senior men’s team will embark on high profile overseas tours to complete a busy year of international cricket for 2025 following bumper home series against Australia and Pakistan.

A historic three-match T20 bilateral series against Nepal in Sharjah at the end of September will kick off the 22 international matches scheduled for the rest of the year across all formats.

St Lucia’s sprint queen Julien Alfred

regional and international supporters, and our partners for their continued encouragement and well wishes during this time.

“The SLAA, alongside Julien’s management team and medical staff, will provide updates as necessary on her progress and recovery.”

The Windies will commence their second fixture of the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship cycle, taking on India in Ahmedabad (October 2-6) and Delhi (October 10-14), the team’s first Test tour to India since 2018.

A white ball tour against Bangladesh follows shortly after, featuring three One Day Internationals and three T20 Internationals from October 18 to November 1.

The regional team closes

out the year with an all-format tour of New Zealand from November 5 to December 22, comprising five T20 Internationals, three One Day Internationals and three Test matches.

FIXTURES

Nepal vs West Indies T20I Series (All Matches @ Sharjah, UAE):

• 1st T20I: September 27

• 2nd T20I: September 29

• 3rd T20I: September 30

West Indies Tour of India 2025

• 1st Test: October 2-6 @ Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

• 2nd Test: October 10-14 @ Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi

West Indies Tour of Bangladesh 2025- venues to be announced

• 1st ODI: October 18

• 2nd ODI: October 20

• 3rd ODI: October 23

• 1st T20I: October 27

• 2nd T20I: October 30

• 3rd T20I: November 1

West Indies Tour of New Zealand 2025

• 1st T20I: November 5 @

Eden Park, Auckland

• 2nd T20I: November 6 @ Eden, Park, Auckland

• 3rd T20I: November 8 @ Saxton Oval, Nelson

• 4th T20I: November 9 @ Saxton Oval, Nelson

• 5th T20I: November 12 @ University of Otago Oval, Dunedin

One Day International Matches

• 1st ODI: November 15 @ Hagley Oval, Christchurch

• 2nd ODI: November 18 @ Mclean Park, Napier

• 3rd ODI: November 21@ Seddon Park, Hamilton

Test Matches Schedule

• 1st Test: December 2-6 @ Hagley Oval, Christchurch

• 2nd Test: December 9-13

@ Basin Reserve, Wellington

• 3rd Test: December 17-21

@ Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui

Zion Hickerson gets offers...

son. However, a move to the United States will have to wait. His father, Orin Hickerson, said they are in discussions to push back his entry until the 2026/27 season to allow Zion to first complete

his National Grade Six Assessment.

The St. Gabriel's Primary student is also preparing to captain his team in the upcoming Courts Optical Pee Wee Football Competition in Guyana.

(From back page)

In a display of his diverse sporting talent, Hickerson is also a promising tennis player. He is scheduled to compete in the Little Mo International tournament in Florida in December.

The West Indies have a hectic schedule to end the year

T&T head coach Dwight Yorke

From left: Nicholas Pooran (Trinbago Knight Riders), Romario Shepherd (Guyana Amazon Warriors), David Weise (St. Lucia Kings) and Imad Wasim (Antigua and Barbuda Falcons) with the prized trophy ahead of the playoffs in the 2025 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League

CPL 2025 Playoffs: Four Teams, One Trophy

Seville

TOKYO, Japan, (CMC )– Oblique Seville captured his first senior men’s title in sensational fashion when he upset the field in the men’s 100 metres at the World Athletic Championships on Sunday.

Seville shocks Thompson, Lyles to win 100 metres gold

...Julien Alfred ‘happy’ with bronze medal

The 24-year-old Jamaican ran a lifetime best of 9.77 seconds to claim the gold medal ahead of compatriot and pre-race favourite Kishane Thompson (9.82) and the USA’s Noah Lyles (9.89), who finished second and third respectively.

In a race that saw Botswana’s Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo disqualified, Thompson seemed on track to make up for his silver medal at last year’s Paris Olympics after flying into the

lead following a good start.

But Seville, running on the outside, overtook his fellow Jamaican at the 90-metre mark before crossing the line comfortably ahead.

In doing so, he became

(Turn to page 20)

Zion Hickerson gets offers from Juventus and Borussia Dortmund

TEN-year-old Zion Hickerson, a multi-talented athlete from Guyana, has attracted the attention of two of Europe's footballing giants. The young prospect from the Vurlon Mills Football Academy has received offers to join the youth academies of both Juventus and Borussia Dortmund in New York.

Hickerson showcased his abilities at a recent Juventus Academy tryout held on Randall's Island, New York, where he made an immediate impression on the attending scouts. Both academies are keen to have him on their rosters for the 2025/26 sea-

Zion Hickerson (Turn to page 23)

Oblique

(right) is congratulated by countryman Kishane Thompson after winning the men’s 100 metres at the World Athletic Championships in Tokyo