Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 16-11-2025

--Touts soaring non-oil growth and record investor confidence as data shows economy ‘strong, robust, full of energy’

President Ali declares Guyana’s

‘golden

age’ as economy surges ahead

--Touts soaring non-oil growth and record investor confidence as data shows economy ‘strong, robust, full of energy’

By Trina Williams

PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has affirmed that Guyana is entering its “golden age,” shedding the economic stagnation seen between 20152020 and replacing it with exponential manufacturing growth, rising investor confidence and an economy he describes as “strong, robust, and full of energy.”

The President made those remarks during the opening ceremony of GuyExpo 2025 last Thursday, where he explained how “leadership and vision” have directly shaped Guyana’s economic performance over the decades and how his administration reversed previous economic setbacks under the coalition government.

According to the Ministry of Finance’s mid-year report, Guyana’s economic growth expanded by 7.5 per cent for the first half of 2025, and the growth of the non-oil economy grew by 13.8 per cent. This marks five years of consecutive years of expansion.

Global institutions have also recorded and commended Guyana’s rapid development. Earlier this year, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) highlighted Guyana’s macroeconomic stability and praised the government’s commitment to fiscal discipline and inclusive growth.

In its Staff Concluding Statement for the 2025 Article IV Mission, it pointed out Guyana’s impressive economic growth, driven by a combination of rapidly expanding oil production, robust non-oil output, and substantial public infrastructure investment.

FROM DECLINE TO EXPANSION

Using long-term data to illustrate the impact of policies while providing context into Guyana’s manufacturing journey, President Ali recalled that in 1991 the total manufacturing output was estimated at USD13.1 million, but noted that it fell by 81.6 per cent when compared to 1981, which was US$71.7 million.

In spite of this deep slump, he noted that with sustained policy direction un-

der the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), the government grew that manufacturing output to USD161.58 million.

The PPP/C continued to push the sector upward, and from 2006 to 2014, the PPP/C grew the manufacturing output from US$161.58 million to US$249.57 million.

While stating that “leadership is important,” the President emphasised that the significant growth that took place within those periods, under the PPP/C, was pre-oil.

Fast forward to 2018, with oil emerging, President Ali noted that under the previous coalition administration, manufacturing input had fallen to US$223.51 million, marking a reversal from earlier gains.

“Leadership matters, governments matters, vision matters, confidence matters, and hard work is essential,” President Ali said.

Additionally, the President further pointed to several other indicators showing weakening performance of many industries under the then A Partnership For National Unity +Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) administration.

Between 2015 and 2020, the average decline in food manufacturing was 1.96 per cent, and the decline was sharper for other sub-sectors, like clothing, footwear, leather and wood products.

EXPONENTIAL GROWTH

Since returning to office in 2020, the PPP/C administration has overseen a strong economic recovery.

“Guyana’s manufacturing sector has experienced exponential growth at an average of 13.1 per cent annually. Leadership matters. Hard work matters. The government we elect matters, so too does the opposition you look at,” President Ali boasted.

According to the Ministry of Finance’s mid-year report, the 26.8 per cent growth of the manufacturing sector in the first half of 2025 was driven by growth across all subcategories.

Additionally, it should be noted that Guyana’s mo-

mentum is being reinforced by an ambitious range of infrastructural and economic projects, which are aimed at accelerating national development, job creation, and regional integration.

The major projects include: construction of a brand-new Berbice River Bridge, development of a bridge across the Corentyne River in collaboration with Suriname, establishment of a second gas-to-energy plant in Region Six, creation of an economic zone in Berbice, construction of a deep-water

pipeline and power generation, but about building the foundation for a diversified, production-driven economy. He noted that the integration of industrial facilities within the development zone will help create thousands of jobs, reduce operational costs, and boost competitiveness across multiple sectors.

The head of state recently disclosed that Guyana could soon become home to a major glass manufacturing industry, capitalising on the country’s high-quality sand to produce glass products for interna -

harbour, expansion of the Demerara Harbour, development of a national digital backbone under the Digital Guyana Project, and planning for fertiliser and natural gas plants to position Guyana as an industrial powerhouse in the region.

Central to this transformation is Guyana’s landmark gas-to-energy project, which is poised to fuel far more than affordable electricity but also serve as the foundation for the development of the expansive Wales Development Zone.

The 1,400-acre Wales Development Zone is the centrepiece of Guyana’s emerging industrial landscape and is set to host a range of new industries, including a fertiliser plant, data centres, and manufacturing facilities.

President Ali recently emphasised that the gas-to-energy project is not just about a

tional markets, including the automobile sector. He said the initiative forms part of the government’s industrial diversification strategy, which aims to leverage the nation’s natural resources beyond oil and gas.

RISING CONFIDENCE & INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

Dr. Ali stated that Guyana is “open for business,” and he referred to the more resilient investment climate that has been created for investors.

“You look at between 2021 and 2024 foreign direct investment, which totalled US$209.97 million, three times that of 2015 and 2020, three times the growth,” he said.

The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), in just two years (2021 to 2023), was also more than three times the FDI that the former AP-

NU+AFC government was ever able to attract during its five-year tenure in office.

The surge in investor confidence has also gathered global attention, as last month, global banking giant, Citibank, described Guyana as “a compelling opportunity.” The renowned financial powerhouse announced plans to establish a representative office in Georgetown.

The move underscored Citi’s growing confidence in Guyana’s explosive economic trajectory, fuelled by record-breaking growth in the oil and gas sector, infrastructure expansion, and increased export financing.

The PPP/C government’s efforts to strengthen public-private partnerships, modernise infrastructure, and diversify the economy have been pivotal in catalysing the nation’s investment boom.

However, the government has also been keen to ensure that the benefits of this influx of capital are felt across the economy, and notably, the expansion of the private sector, driven by foreign investments, is generating thousands of jobs and contributing to an overall improvement in the standard of living for Guyanese citizens.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH

At the opening ceremony of GuyExpo, President Ali also announced that the forthcoming Guyana Development Bank will be capitalised with a minimum of US$200 million and is expected to become operational before the end of the first quarter of 2026.

The administrative, legal, and regulatory framework for the institution is already being crafted. It will operate in close integration with commercial banks, with the goal of unlocking greater access to capital.

According to the President, a special incentive regime will be introduced to encourage commercial banks to expand lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), mirroring the incentives offered to banks in the housing sector.

In return, commercial banks will be required to

lower interest rates to below four per cent and reduce collateral requirements for SME borrowers. The Guyana Development Bank will also offer loans with no collateral requirement and a zero per cent interest rate up to a predetermined threshold, which will be unveiled in the 2026 National Budget.

A CONTRAST WITH 2015-2020

Guyana is on the cusp of a significant transformation that could reshape the nation into a regional leader, but this was not always the nation’s position, as President Ali highlighted.

According to a previous statement issued by the IMF, credit to the private sector only grew 2.1 per cent in 2017 due to a combination of weak demand and banks continuing to strengthen their balance sheets.

This documentation, along with other reports, showed low private-sector growth and weak investor confidence during the APNU+AFC term- an indicator that the private sector did not expand strongly between 2015-2020.

Additionally, tax hikes, budget cuts and bureaucratic obstacles have also been labelled as reasons private investment was low under the previous coalition administration.

The previous APNU+AFC administration has faced much criticism for its performance in office, especially for the stagnation of the local economy. In fact, the private sector frequently accused the APNU+AFC of creating significant barriers to investment, noting that the policy environment they created was not feasible.

The APNU+AFC implemented over 300 taxes and fees, including: 14 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on electricity and water, mobile internet, and private health and education services, which sparked widespread disgruntlement from business owners and consumers alike. The fees for small operators and businesses, including cart operators, were also raised significantly. Credit to TURN TO PAGE 4

President Dr. Irfaan Ali delivers the feature address at the opening ceremony of GuyExpo 2025

President Ali sets the stage for tsunami of investment in Berbice

By Kiana Wilburg

LED by President Irfaan Ali, Guyana’s long-term development strategy is poised to take a decisive step forward, given plans that were recently discussed at the Berbice Development Summit on November 11.

At that event, the head of State, along with senior officials from ExxonMobil, outlined a vision that aligns with the administration’s 20202025 plans to diversify the economy beyond oil, ensuring prosperity is shared across the country. What emerged from the forum was a clear message: Berbice is being positioned as a new centre of gravity in Guyana’s economic boom, with natural gas as the underpinning resource.

For several years, the administration has sought to ensure that the country’s economic boom extends beyond Georgetown and its surrounding regions. Billions of dollars from oil production are already reshaping coastal infrastructure, services and employment patterns in the capital and Region Three. But President Ali has consistently

stressed that the national development project cannot be distributed unfairly.

Berbice, historically underserved and often seen as receiving fewer major projects than other areas, has been elevated as the next major beneficiary of the country’s growing economic fortune.

The government’s vision for Berbice includes a gas-powered industrial hub featuring some of the largest and most sophisticated commercial developments ever proposed for the region, including a 2-gigawatt data centre, heavy industry plants, and a network of upgraded roads, ports, bridges and fibre infrastructure. Realising this vision requires upstream resources and alignment across energy, industrial planning, digital connectivity, logistics and investment.

That is precisely why ExxonMobil’s comments at the summit resonated so strongly. Paul Foster, ExxonMobil Guyana’s Commercial Manager, presented an assessment of Berbice that reinforced the government’s long-term strategy. He described the region as offering

rare locational advantages: abundant water, reliable energy potential and, crucially, a geographic profile that avoids the hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters that plague much of the hemisphere.

“Data centres don’t like hurricanes, floods or earthquakes,” he said.

Foster also said the region is close to major markets in the United States and Latin America, and noted that Guyana can establish subsea fibre links to North America and Europe at relatively modest cost. This is not a minor point. The government has placed a high priority on

developing a robust digital economy, and the presence of world-class fibre connectivity would make Berbice a competitive location for large-scale technological investments that simply were not possible a decade ago.

But Foster’s most important message centred on timing and coordination. For the Berbice hub to become commercially feasible, ExxonMobil and investors must align their plans with government policy and with one another.

“The whole value chain ultimately has to hang together,” Foster said, noting that early alignment ensures that

Guyana’s industrial vision for Berbice requires a reliable, long-term supply of natural gas, not just associated gas from oil fields. Longtail, set to start production in 2031, will be the country’s first non-associated gas development, but its volumes will need to be supplemented with what Haimara and Pluma could supply. Those fields are expected to represent the backbone of the Berbice industrial development strategy.

The emerging plan involves laying a subsea pipeline from these fields to Berbice, creating a reliable, high-volume gas supply that can support power generation, heavy industry, petrochemical processing, and the proposed 2-GW data centre.

no single participant carries disproportionate risk.

Natural gas upstream investments tend to require the support of downstream industries, ready investors, clear commercial agreements and operational preparedness.

This message aligns directly with the government’s push to unlock the natural gas resources offshore, particularly in the southeast portion of the Stabroek Block, where the Haimara and Pluma fields hold the most substantial gas potential discovered to date. While ExxonMobil has already brought four oil projects into production, raising output to around 900,000 barrels per day, and has oil, condensate and smaller-scale gas projects lined up through 2031, the administration has consistently urged the company to bring the massive Haimara and Pluma gas fields forward.

President Ali stated plainly that he is “not willing to push monetisation beyond 2030,” indicating that his administration expects the gas development decision to be made within his constitutional term, which ends in 2031. He called for minimal debt financing and greater participation from foreign, regional and diaspora investors, stressing development that is fiscally responsible and driven by the private sector. If the government succeeds in coordinating the gas supply, the pipeline, investor decisions, infrastructure upgrades and industrial planning, the result will be a transformation of historic scale. Berbice could shift from being a region long overshadowed by the capital to becoming a powerhouse of industrial activity. That is the tsunami of investment that the government is preparing the ground to facilitate.

Guyana’s private sector has been growing significantly, under the PPP/C administration, and this expansion is a result of government policies fostering investment and a robust financial environment.

UPWARDS TRAJECTORY

Given the findings that confirm Guyana’s economy is robust and energetic, the President cautioned citizens against what he termed the “bubble of social media” and politically driven misinformation.

“When you come to the facts and you examine the truth, you will have a full and

thorough understanding as to the development and the pace of transformation of our country,” the President told the large gathering.

While dismissing detractors, President Ali told citizens that the actual economic data shows a country undergoing rapid transformation, underpinned by both private and public sector leadership.

“Our economy has just undergone its half-year checkup. And what was the outcome of the half-year checkup of our economy? The checkup shows our economy is strong, robust and full of energy,” President Ali said.

Vice President and Commercial Manager of ExxonMobil, Paul Foster (left) and EY Global Partner, Jay Persaud, at the Berbice Development Summit at the Marriott Hotel, Georgetown, on November 11, 2025

Judge’s ruling effectively ‘cripples the State’s power to recover taxes’ - AG

-- Confirms ruling has

By Trina Williams

LABELLING the judgement as an “aberration,” Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall S.C., said the recent High Court ruling, which effectively bars the state from imposing post-clearance taxes, strips the state of its “sacrosanct” power to collect revenue and threatens the nation’s financial lifeblood.

The Attorney General made those remarks during a broadcast interview with the News Room on Saturday, in which he contended that the ruling handed down by High Court Judge, Gino Persaud, in the civil tax case of U.S.-indicted Azruddin Mohamed borders on irrationality.

Justice Persaud, on Friday, ruled in favour of Mohamed that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) could not impose post-clearance taxes to the tune of $421 million on a Lamborghini and two other vehicles.

Nandlall defended GRA’s move to appeal the ruling. The state’s power to recover taxes owed and outstanding is vested in various pieces of legislation, including the Income Tax Act, Customs Act, Property Tax Act and Companies Act and according to the Attorney General, this ruling would render the state’s legal authority as ineffective.

“Taxes are the lifeblood of a nation. Taxes are what run a country, and that is why the state is invested with this

huge repertoire of power to assess taxes, and the state is given exceptional ability, in law and by law, to do things that may look extraordinary, in order to recover taxes. That is the nature of taxation and the state’s power to recover taxes.

What this judgement, in essence, has done is to render ineffective, to cripple the state’s power to recover taxes,” the Attorney General argued.

This judgement, according to Nandlall, has “nullified” GRA’s power, as he noted that it essentially means GRA would be permanently bound by a declaration made by a taxpayer once received, even if later the declaration has been proved fraudulent.

The Attorney General emphasised that every tax return or customs declaration includes mandatory legal forms, of which each taxpayer agrees to any potential reassessment.

Noting that GRA’s power is undeniable, Nandlall stated that post-clearance audits are an internationally-recognised mechanism and form part of the Kyoto Convention, which Guyana follows. He further noted that in 2017, the GRA established a special unit solely for post-clearance audits.

EVIDENCE OF FRAUD

Nandlall then pointed to the evidence of fraud as it pertained to the embattled businessman’s 2020 Lamborghini Roadster SVJ.

He said, “You had fraud

‘no

impact’ on extradition proceedings

being established, and fraud in law unravels everything. Once a taxing authority has evidence of fraud, there is no discretion anymore, but a duty crystallises on that taxing authority to go forward to get the right amount of taxes that should be paid. Recall that customs duties, for example, are ad valorem,

The GRA maintained that this omission leaves a substantive question unresolved, even though the broader matter may be considered academic following the withdrawal of criminal charges.

More significantly, GRA took issue with what it described as an “extraordinary pronouncement” by the court

meaning it is based upon value. The higher the value, the higher the taxes.”

In its statement, the GRA noted that Justice Persaud delivered his ruling on Friday at a time when the related criminal charges had already been withdrawn. As a result, the tax authority said the judgement is now “moot and now of academic importance only,” except for one critical issue that the court did not address.

According to the release, “the Honourable Court did not address itself to the issue of fraud regarding submissions supported with evidence made by the Revenue Authority.”

regarding the limits of the GRA’s statutory powers. According to GRA, the court “proceeded to make an extraordinary pronouncement to the effect that the Revenue Authority has no power to reassess taxes in the circumstances.”

The GRA firmly rejected that conclusion, stating that it is “of the respectful view that this latter pronouncement is wholly erroneous in law and not in line with the relevant provisions of the tax laws of Guyana.”

Nandlall is hopeful that the appeal by GRA will be filed quickly and that every effort will be made for a speedy determination.

EXTRADITION PROCEEDINGS

In light of the extradition request from the United States (U.S.) for Azruddin and his father, Nazar ‘Shell’ Mohamed, the Attorney General clarified that the recent High Court ruling does not affect the proceedings.

He said, “It has no impact whatsoever on the extradition proceedings. What would have had an impact on the extradition proceedings would have been the criminal proceedings in the magistrate’s court, which were duly withdrawn after careful consideration of the legal implications by the lawyers involved. So, there’s absolutely no connection.”

The U.S. government, on October 30, 2025, requested the extradition of the father and son under the extradition treaty between Guyana and the United Kingdom, which remains in force in Guyana under Section 4(1)(a) of the Fugitives Offender Act, Cap. 10:04, as amended by Act No. 10 of 2024.

The Mohameds are the subject of an unsealed indictment on October 6, 2025, by a U.S. Grand Jury in the Southern District of Florida, charging them with multiple offences, including wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, conspiracy, aiding and abetting, and

customs-related violations linked to an alleged US$50 million gold export and tax evasion scheme.

The indictment alleges that between 2017 and June 2024, the accused conspired to defraud the Government of Guyana by evading export taxes and royalties on over 10,000 kilograms of gold, using falsified customs declarations and re-used export seals to disguise unpaid duties.

The indictment also references “the attempted shipment of US$5.3 million in undeclared gold seized at Miami International Airport, and the alleged under-invoicing of a luxury vehicle valued at over US$680,000.”

In June 2024, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned the Mohameds and Mohamed’s Enterprise for alleged tax evasion, trade-based money-laundering, and gold smuggling.

In March 2025, the Guyanese Government received a comprehensive dossier of evidence from U.S. authorities under mutual legal assistance arrangements. The documents reportedly contained evidence of falsified customs declarations, gold export irregularities and undeclared shipments seized in Miami.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall S.C.

Strategy is working

THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) is closing 2025 with a performance record it has not seen in a decade.

From sharp declines in serious crime to unprecedented narcotics seizures and a doubling of cybercrime convictions, the latest statistics presented by Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum paint a portrait of a force that is not only evolving, but finally beginning to reap the benefits of a more modern, intelligence-driven approach to policing.

These are not minor shifts. They are structural.

Cybercrime enforcement, an area that just a few years ago exposed glaring deficiencies in training and technology, has nearly doubled in case volume and doubled in convictions.

Drug enforcement, often a bellwether of regional criminal networks, saw the GPF seize a staggering 233 kilogrammes of cocaine this year, compared to just six kilogrammes in 2024. That represents not simply improved interdiction, but a meaningful disruption in supply chains.

On the ground, the improvements are even more striking. Serious crime has fallen from 1,070 reports in 2024 to 801 in 2025, the lowest figure in ten years. Robbery, long one

of the public’s greatest concerns, has plummeted to its lowest point in a decade as well.

A crime category that once peaked at 1,237 cases in 2017 now stands at just 270. This is not a statistical blip; it is a transformation.

Even break-and-enter and larceny, crimes that tend to rise with urban expansion and holiday activity, have dropped to a decade-low of 190 cases, a far cry from the 1,287 logged during the peak years.

These are commendable outcomes. And they reflect a strategy that appears both deliberate and data-driven.

The GPF’s refined time-based deployment, informed by real-time analytics and grounded in intelligence-led zoning, has yielded impressive results across every block of the day.

The most vulnerable window, 6:01 p.m. to midnight, saw incidents fall from 174 to 111. Afternoon robberies dropped from 52 to just four, an almost unheard-of improvement. Such declines do not happen by chance. They are the product of targeted patrols, stronger inter-divisional coordination, better mobile capacity, and the increasing use of CCTV monitoring and real-time information

‘Guyana

flow. And they showcase what modern policing should look like: precision, agility, and proactive intervention, not merely reaction.

But this is where the editorial must take a sober turn.

The numbers, while encouraging, present the beginning of a larger challenge: sustaining the progress.

Guyanese citizens have long demanded a police force that is professional, consistent, and capable of protecting them without exception or excuse.

The GPF now has the momentum, the systems, and the results to demonstrate it can do just that. But momentum is a fragile resource.

It requires constant investment, not only in vehicles and technology, but in training, supervision, integrity systems, community partnerships, and internal accountability.

It is important to remember that Christmas is the most challenging season for any police force. High traffic, increased commerce, latenight shopping, and heightened social activity create fertile ground for criminal opportunity.

Crime Chief Blanhum is right to underscore that intensified patrols and enhanced visibility will be necessary to protect the gains made thus far.

Still, the biggest test of the GPF’s new strategy is not Christmas, it is the year after.

Will the intelligence-led model expand or stall? Will cybercrime capacity continue to grow, or fall behind evolving threats? Will deployment discipline be maintained once the holiday pressure eases? Will the culture of the organisation keep pace with its technology and tactics?

These are the questions that will determine whether 2025 was a turning point or merely an exceptional year.

For now, Guyana should recognise the positive trajectory. Crime is falling, sharply and demonstrably.

The Force is improving, structurally and strategically. And the public, for the first time in many years, can see evidence of a police service that is becoming more modern, more responsive, and more capable. But success must never lead to complacency.

If the Guyana Police Force is to maintain its stride into 2026 and beyond, it must treat these gains not as a destination, but as a foundation.

The next decade of policing starts now, and the expectations of the Guyanese public are higher than ever.

cannot afford a Pablo Escobar moment’

--Minister McCoy warns of U.S.-indicted Mohamed operating as if the law does not apply to him --emphasises Grand juries in the United States do not hand down indictments because of Guyanese politics

GUYANA faces a “ direct threat to the integrity of our state,” Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister Kwame McCoy has warned, alleging that U.S.-indicted Azruddin Mohamed and his family are attempting to infiltrate state institutions in a manner that mirrors that of Pablo Escobar, one of the world’s most notorious drug lords.

Saturday marked the International Day for the Prevention and Fight against all forms of Transnational organized crimes and the minister, in a broadcast, did

not mince his works when examining the “playbook” of Mohamed against that of the Columbian drug lord, whose criminal empire penetrated state institutions in the 1980s and had the country paying the steep price with national trauma, collapse and public violence.

“What we see is a poorly veiled, deliberate scheme to drag our prosperous and thriving nation down a path of collective self-harm, a path that looks disturbingly similar to the early stages of the Pablo Escobar playbook,” the Minister said. Minister McCoy while

highlighting the alarming chain of events noted that even with the Mohameds, specifically, Azruddin and his father, Nazar being indicted by the U.S. with multiple offences, including wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, conspiracy, aiding and abetting and customs-related violations linked to an alleged US$50 million gold export and tax evasion scheme, the family continues to flaunt their “ill begotten wealth in the faces of our people.”

The minister, while drawing attention to the fact that U.S-indicted Azruddin

is now a parliamentarian, alleged that he, along with his associates, is attempting to dictate how the law should operate.

“That is not politics. That is not democracy. That is the beginning of criminal authoritarianism. And let us be frank, their strategy is clear: buy influence, compromise institutions, sell a false narrative about their innocence through bought media houses and then pretend to be the victims. This is the Pablo Escobar playbook and it must be rejected without apology,” he said.

The minister then point-

ed out that the U.S has been actively investigating Azruddin and his family since 2017.

“There is nothing political about that. There is nothing manufactured about that. Grand juries in the United States do not hand down indictments because of Guyanese politics. They do so because they see evidence, evidence strong enough to support extradition for money laundering, wire fraud and mail fraud,” Minister McCoy said.

The U.S. government, on October 30, 2025, requested the extradition of father and

son Nazar and Azruddin, under the extradition treaty between Guyana and the United Kingdom, which remains in force in Guyana under Section 4(1)(a) of the Fugitives Offender Act, Cap. 10:04, as amended by Act No. 10 of 2024.

The U.S. indictment alleges that between 2017 and June 2024, the accused conspired to defraud the Government of Guyana by evading export taxes and royalties on over 10,000 kilograms of gold, using falsified customs declarations and reused export seals to TURN TO PAGE 7

Burnham and the fruit juice that cured blindness

THE online news outlet run by the TUC and the PNC, named Village Voice (PNC villages voted for WIN, not the PNC), has shouted out from the rooftop that President Ali is copying from President Forbes Burnham in the announcement of a glass factory at Wales, West Bank Demerara.

There are many visionary projects that Forbes Burnham implemented that the Ali presidency and other post-colonial countries should adopt. What these countries should do is move billions of miles away from the political canopy under which projects of self-sufficiency were conceived and developed by Burnham.

The researcher is simply dishonest to say that Burnham didn’t have vision. A plateau of visionary, nationalist projects that Burnham unleashed on Guyana were theoretically sound, but the political foundations and Burnham’s power intoxication killed them.

We will take one example of a visionary model that was relevant to post-colonial Guyana because of Guyana’s largeness, but failed and discuss one example of a political policy that generated dislike for Burnham from the population and had deadly consequences for all of Burnham’s visionary horizons except the NIS, Linden Highway and the Harbour Bridge.

I know of Burnham’s achievements and ignominious failures because I lived under the 20-year-old rule of Burnham, opposed his total-

These pathways, which were post-colonial embarkations away from the Western model of development, had phenomenal potential for transforming the economic future of the former colonies, but Burnham’s political style of governance prevented national embrace of these new directions. The Village Voice gave a number of reasons why the glass factory failed, but the role of Burnham’s dictatorial governance is omitted.

itarian instincts and suffered oppression for my activism. The National Service institution is of theoretical soundness and was relevant to Guyana. But one day, students arrived on the campus to find their names on the walls of the buildings requiring them to do National Service. This columnist was one.

It was compulsory for UG students, and the results were disastrous. Students were mistreated, had their religion and cultures insulted, and female students were coerced into having sex. The society came to hate National Service because of how Burnham implemented it.

The idea of National Service involving the exploration of Guyana’s never-ending interior is one that is still relevant today. But it can only be successful if it is packaged with the consent and co-operation of its adherents. What Burnham should have done was to shape the UG curriculum to involve classes with students and professors in the interior,

Illicit wealth, influence thrive under the current status quo

Dear Editor,

GUYANA stands at a moment that demands far more vigilance, yet sections of our media landscape appear to be moving in the opposite direction.

At a time when allegations of money laundering, gold smuggling, and transnational criminal influence are drawing international scrutiny, one would expect our democratic guardrails—especially the press—to strengthen their resolve. Instead, what we are witnessing is a concerning erosion of critical distance.

This drift away from scrutiny is not merely a journalistic lapse; it is a democratic hazard.

The situation creates a permissive environment for those who benefit from confusion, ambiguity, and glamorised misinformation. In such an environment, illicit wealth and influence do not merely survive—they thrive.

History is replete with examples of states where criminal networks quietly infiltrated political, regulatory, and media institutions during periods of economic boom. The pattern is always the same: reputations are

sanitized, influence is normalized, and by the time the public recognises the scale of infiltration, the damage is already entrenched. Guyanese only have to look to Colombia for a lesson.

The press must ensure that it does not become a megaphone for individuals facing documented legal jeopardy. Journalism’s first duty is to the public’s right to an unsentimental, unvarnished understanding of the stakes.

To highlight these concerns is not to disparage the diligent reporters who continue to investigate and expose wrongdoing. Their work is essential. But their efforts are undermined when other outlets choose spectacle over scrutiny or prioritise access to power over accountability.

The question before us, then, is simple but urgent. Will the press act as a buffer between the public and those seeking to manipulate institutions for private gain, or will it continue to lower its guard at precisely the moment when vigilance is most needed?

Yours Truly, Attiya Baksh

where the interaction with the environment would have been a learning experience. Instead, Burnham forced students to go to the interior, where they engaged not in knowing the environment but in subordinating themselves to military exercises by military men and women who were uncouth and did not know the meaning of respect for people. National Service was one of the contributory factors in Guyana’s hatred for Burnham.

Think of what will happen in Guyana in 2026 if President Ali invents an interior project for Golden Grove youths, and the mother of one of the girls claims an official molested her. The high voltage confrontation from the opposition parties, the Guyana Human Rights Association, Transparency International, Guyana Chapter, Red Thread, Stabroek News, the TUC and the other anti-government bandwagons would begin immediately.

Now, for the political policy that made Burnham a

figure of hate. Forbes Burnham’s People’s National Congress in 1976 was made a paramount national institution of higher national value than state institutions. This came at a time when Burnham rigged national elections in which the more popular opposition party, the PPP, would have won. The ruling unelected party then became coterminous with Guyana itself.

Such a totalitarian government will inevitably receive intense hatred from the population, with the consequence being that anything the leader does, no matter how moral, humanitarian, innovative and transformational, will be rejected. This is why the visionary policies of Burnham collapsed. Every economic innovation that Burnham pursued was rejected.

People associated these new horizons with a man they did not trust, so they questioned everything he did. For them, if Burnham brings it in, then something is wrong with it. I lived through those days, and I can tell Guyana’s young generation that Burnham was so reviled that if he invented a fruit juice that cured blindness, Guyanese would have been suspicious and would have rejected it. Such was the dislike for Burnham.

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.

People criticised the NIS, hydro-power projects, agricultural schemes, the Harbour Bridge, the Mortgage Finance Bank, the Guyana Cooperative Bank, the Cultural Centre, the glass factory, the banning of certain foreign foods, among other things, even though as theoretical models, those things were relevant in post-colonial countries simply because a man they hated was the person behind them and the reason for disliking him was logical.

‘Guyana cannot afford a Pablo Escobar moment’

disguise unpaid duties.

The indictment also references “the attempted shipment of US$5.3 million in undeclared gold seized at Miami International Airport and the alleged under-invoicing of a luxury vehicle valued at over US$680,000.”

In June 2024, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned the Mohameds and Mohamed’s Enterprise for alleged tax evasion, trade-based money-laundering and gold smuggling.

In March 2025, the Guyanese Government received a comprehensive dossier of evidence from U.S. authorities under mutual legal assistance arrangements. The documents reportedly contained evidence of falsified customs declarations, gold export irregularities and undeclared shipments

seized in Miami.

Despite these grave allegations, Minister McCoy said the continued showing off of the under-declared luxury vehicle is neither “confidence nor status” but alleged that it is a clear declaration that Azruddin believes the laws of the land do not apply to him.

COMPROMISED

The Minister, while highlighting the Escobar effect, noted that the notorious drug lord was not dangerous because he trafficked narcotics, but “he was dangerous because he believed he could buy countries.”

The worrying signs are already here in Guyana, the Minister said, pointing to local actors, including media houses like Stabroek News, which issues constant appraisals of the U.S.-indicted businessman, and the Minis-

ter called it plain “PR briefs for Azruddin Mohamed rather than journalism.” McCoy argued that Guyana must not underestimate the dangers of criminal influence entering mainstream politics and noted that “once that line is crossed, it is very hard to uncross.”

“This is how countries lose control of their institutions. This is how the judiciary gets compromised, how the criminal justice system collapses, how political actors become clients of a wealthy criminal, such as what we’ve seen already,” he said.

While calling for there to be accountability and not for this to be downplayed, Minister McCoy warned the nation, “Guyana cannot afford a Pablo Escobar moment. Not now, not ever.”

Schooling WIN

WHERE is the main opposition political party, the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN)? Where are its parliamentarians and politicians? What is the main parliamentary agenda of WIN? Will it shed light on the motions that it is drafting? What will be the par-

ty’s main focus as it tries to hold the PPP/C Cabinet and party accountable? Who is the lead person for WIN or the opposition that is going to face off with the Prime Minister or Minister of Finance on matters of public finance and the budget? Who is leading the

other opposition MPs on parliamentary and political strategy?

From the look of things, WIN does not have a single plan of action for the parliament. WIN does not understand politics and how to read the public. WIN does not have a form or structure

to hold its members accountable or to ensure compliance. There is no discipline in WIN. WIN seems to be concerned about getting the extradition case against its principals dismissed and securing the constitutional post of opposition leader for him. WIN is not at all concerned

about the plight and needs of Guyana’s poor and helpless. WIN may be a façade and a temporary phenomenon that is not capable of withstanding any political wind, much less a storm that comes its way.

Let’s examine these political developments.

Firstly, the elections are over, and Guyanese have moved on. While its opposition political party, APNU and its members are out and about in the streets putting in the work and meeting with their constituencies, WIN is consumed with the extradition matter. The party, WIN parliamentarians, WIN surrogates and supporters are busy on social media, unjustly blaming the government for allegedly persecuting WIN Party Leader, Azruddin Mohamed. Each post after the other is more cringy about the Mohameds and not enough about the people’s business.

WIN is so fearful of losing the poster boy that everything it says or brings to the government’s attention is either old, being dealt with, or not an issue that should be placed on social media. They have not thought of a single issue that they want to highlight that is original or of national importance. Nothing WIN says causes anyone to take them seriously. They appear as jokers or clowns because the public cannot understand their rationale.

WIN has become Mohamed and vice versa. One cannot survive without the other. So, whoever is advising them needs to be fired immediately. WIN should distance itself from Mohamed and start highlighting the problems the ordinary Guyanese face. They should be going into the communities and meeting with the people.

After all, elections are a cycle. When that cycle concludes, parliamentarians and politicians hold several meetings to develop their strategies for parliament and party affairs. WIN has done nothing meaningful. It has been condemning Bharrat Jagdeo, Irfaan Ali, and the PPP from the top of its lungs for Mohamed’s legal troubles, but it would not devote as much energy to the parliamentary agenda or the people’s needs.

Secondly, WIN MPs must start to conduct themselves as parliamentarians and cease

being comedians, entertainers, dramatic, and cons (no pun intended). They must try to be fitting of the office they now hold and not be lawless men and women. They have to get their acts together and look as if they care about something aside from the dirty money and fame. WIN, at their first sitting of parliament, looked bewildered, confused and lost. The MPs must change that look, if they can.

They must host shows and podcasts of the WIN party to give the public a much-needed insight into the party and its plans for Guyana. And, they must reduce the alarmingly high dependence on ‘AI’ releases. They must prove their worth by discussing issues of national importance and arriving at solutions to complex problems. They should make appearances on shows with real journalists (not those they pay or are comfortable with), showing that they can work and defend the WIN party. WIN must work as the main opposition party. Forbes Burnham, Cheddi Jagan, Desmond Hoyte, Robert Corbin, David Granger and even Aubrey Norton worked when in opposition; the public demands that WIN works too.

It is sad that apart from Tabitha Sarboo-Halley and Natasha Singh-Lewis, who appear to be in everything, the other WIN parliamentarians are mum, speechless, and brainless yes-men, much like Mohamed. Even Odessa Primus knows nothing about everything, and she is not afraid to make it known on social media. So, what happened to all the other WIN parliamentarians and personalities?

Sure, Mohamed may have money, but he can never buy a brain or two so that one can understand how to be a real politician and parliamentarian in the context of Guyana. WIN must stop these one-off photo-ops with the vulnerable communities and get down to being a real opposition. WIN should work on analysing the reports and bills that are in parliament and complex legislation, so that the public knows WIN is capable of holding the government to account.

Thirdly, the scrapes and undesirables, and persons TURN TO PAGE 13

Azruddin’s moral disengagement takes centre stage

THE political posturing of Azruddin Mohamed and his team isn’t just juvenile and irritating, it’s a masterclass in shameless evasion. To even begin to decipher the spectacle of their behaviour, I had to excavate my notes from an undergraduate psychology course from the 1980s, searching for answers to a somewhat common affliction.

The world-renowned Canadian psychologist, Albert Bandura, referred to it as ‘moral disengagement.’ Allow me to explain why I believe the cap fits Azruddin and why Guyanese cannot let his behaviour go unchecked.

A U.S. Grand Jury has indicted Azruddin on gold smuggling charges. He has also been charged with money laundering, conspiracy, wire and mail fraud. That’s 11 counts of indictable offences in total. Instead of accepting agency and owning up to the charges, Azruddin deflects. Most men with a moral spine will, at some point, especially when the evidence is so overwhelming, admit to their crimes.

Some will seek to make amends and even get on the right side of the fence. Not Azruddin. He was not raised to be that kind of man. He would rather spout lines from Tony Robbins in front of a camera to make himself sound as if he is Guyana’s lifestyle coach. For people who don’t know better, that sort of stuff has mileage.

And while they’re distracted with the ridiculous and the shiny, Azruddin, his social media-savvy sister and a well-funded machinery of lies spin his criminal behaviour within wider narratives of political rivalry and socioeconomic inequality. The rationalisations of this sourpuss duo are: we haven’t done anything that our opponents haven’t done or that others in the system haven’t also done.

And when they do that, repeatedly, the majority of their fawning admirers don’t realise that they are externalising blame by referencing a broader perception of corruption to excuse their own ethical and moral transgressions. To be barefaced about it, you have to divest yourself of personal agency and refuse

to accept that your behaviour affects public morality and ethical standards.

Team Mohamed’s tactics don’t end with spectacle; the machine thrives on a relentless stream of misinformation and distortion. Azruddin boldly claimed his party won the September elections, all with a straight face, despite official results, drawing a swift rebuke from Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who labelled him “delusional.”

Yet Azruddin presses on, intent on deepening the legal crisis by steadily eroding public trust.

His mantra is simple: if he can’t profit from the system, neither should anyone else. Fortunately, even media outlets sympathetic to Team Mohamed and WIN refused to indulge in Team Mohamed’s fiction. Team Mohamed protests every day that they are victims of a malicious cabal out to get them. Their assertion rings hollow coming from one who dwells in opulence and drives a half-million-dollar undervalued car. The public is not easily deceived: the Gucci-wearing, Versace-sporting Azruddin, a politician more comfortable with a teleprompter than accountability, has always been the predator, never the prey.

I, like most Guyanese, pay thousands of dollars for car insurance. The insurance company knows the value of my vehicle, and God forbid, should it be involved in an accident, how much it would cost the insurance company to replace it. I respect the law and wouldn’t dare drive my vehicle without ensuring my documents were intact and stashed safely in the glove compartment, ready for inspection. Azruddin believes that because insurance companies have refused to insure his vehicle, which he has undervalued, he still has the right to drive on the roadways. His reasoning, ‘Guyana’s laws are for the ordinary, not for the Mohameds.’

Azruddin and Team Mohamed might be feeling upbeat this weekend. First, ‘The Guyanese Critic’ lost his appeal and was ordered to pay millions of dollars to the Mohameds. The Guyana Revenue Agency (GRA)

withdrew criminal charges against Azruddin involving his importation of a Lamborghini Roadster SVJ, which was used to cheat the system out of millions of dollars in taxes. A civil case involving

the seizure of the Lamborghini, brought to the High Court by Azruddin, got a favourable ruling from High Court Judge Gino Persaud on Friday. The judge ruled, erroneously, that GRA had no right to

seize the Lamborghini after it had processed the vehicle and allowed its entry into the country, a wholly prosperous judgement.

There are no statutory limitations for GRA in cases

involving compelling evidence of fraud. Taxes are the lifeline of a state, and it must have the ability to recoup monies that have been stolen from its coffers. Otherwise, TURN TO PAGE 12

How technology is powering a safer, smarter oil and gas industry in Guyana

GUYANA’S offshore oil and gas sector is undergoing a technological transformation that extends far beyond extracting hydrocarbons from beneath the seabed. ExxonMobil Guyana’s growing deployment of advanced technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

is fundamentally reshaping how the industry operates, with profound implications for safety, efficiency and environmental stewardship. This evolution positions Guyana not merely as an oil producer, but as the paradigm for some of the most sophisticated industrial technologies

deployed anywhere in the world.

At the heart of this transformation lies AI-powered autonomous drilling, a proprietary system that ExxonMobil has deployed across its deepwater Guyana operations. This technology analyses vast streams of drilling

data in real time, determining optimal parameters that maximise safety and efficiency while minimising technical complications. The system operates in what engineers call a “closed-loop” automation mode, where AI controls the drilling process with minimal human intervention.

This frees rig personnel to focus on strategic oversight rather than constant manual adjustments, fundamentally changing the nature of offshore work.

When every hour of unplanned downtime can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and potentially compromise safety, the safety benefits prove particularly significant. Predictive maintenance systems, powered by real-time data analytics, continuously monitor equipment across the FPSOs operating in Guyanese waters.

Remote monitoring tools such as Discovery 6, one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers, enable engineers to track performance parameters and identify potential risks early, improving response times and ensuring continuous safe operations. These systems identify potential mechanical failures or performance degradation before they become critical issues, allowing engineers to schedule maintenance during planned downtime rather than responding to emergency breakdowns.

ExxonMobil has also implemented Marlin VTA, an AI-driven maritime awareness system that provides 24/7 monitoring of vessel movements in the offshore operational area.

This technology creates a comprehensive operational picture that enables informed decision-making and significantly enhances maritime safety. With dozens of support vessels, supply ships and other marine traffic operating in proximity to production facilities, this situational awareness proves critical for preventing incidents and coordinating complex offshore logistics.

Beyond immediate operational improvements, AI is enabling discoveries that expand Guyana’s petroleum potential. The technology assists in analysing deeper geological zones within the Stabroek Block, contributing to new reservoir identifications that continue to increase the country’s proven reserves. This demonstrates how advanced technology does not simply optimise existing operations but actively

creates new economic value.

These technological advances align remarkably well with the Government’s broader ambitions to position the nation as a regional technology hub.

President Ali recently met with the CEO of Cerebras, a company specialising in AI development and training. That engagement has since progressed to an MoU between the Government of Guyana and Cerebras for the development of a 100 MW data centre.

The planned facility would benefit directly from the natural gas pipeline supporting the Gas-to-Energy project, which is expected to provide reliable, behind-the-meter power to the data centre. Together, these developments strengthen the very vision discussed during those meetings, linking Guyana’s emerging energy infrastructure with its technological ambitions.

This convergence between industrial technology and the national digital development strategy accelerates and creates unique opportunities for Guyanese professionals. Young Guyanese pursuing careers in data science, engineering or technology fields now have tangible pathways into an industry deploying world-class systems locally, rather than needing to seek opportunities abroad.

Ongoing training programmes for local engineers, technicians and data specialists ensure that Guyanese workers are not merely operating advanced systems, but also gaining the expertise to manage and innovate with them.

As a result, when more oil and gas companies embrace advanced technology, Guyanese workers may find themselves ahead of the curve, having already gained practical experience with these systems. This investment in human capacity also ensures that as technology evolves, local expertise evolves with it.

Looking forward, the integration of AI and advanced technology into Guyana’s oil and gas sector represents TURN TO PAGE 11

Guyana targets top tier of global eco-tourism

By Trina Williams

GUYANA has set its sights on becoming one of the world’s premier eco-tourism destinations, as President Dr. Irfaan Ali has outlined a national blueprint that places climate action, biodiversity and sustainable tourism at the heart of the country’s plan to transform its natural eco-system into high-value chains.

Tourism is taking its place as a major economic pillar and this was highlighted by President Ali, last Thursday, during his feature address at the opening ceremony of GuyExpo 2025.

Notably, the positioning of the tourism sector is part of the government’s comprehensive plan to “shock-proof” the economy through diversification, which includes expanding nature-based solutions, so that it can be resilient enough to lead Guyanese citizens into a bright and prosperous future, according to the President.

With global certifications already elevating Guyana’s eco-lodges and new mega projects on the horizon, the nation’s tourism sector is poised to drive economic growth.

Speaking on the sixth pillar of economic growthtourism- the President said: “We have already sent out an expression of interest for nine areas where we want massive tourism projects of an international standard that are deeply integrated into the global eco-nature tourism market, because we are going to invest to position Guyana as a frontrunner in Eco and nature-based products.”

He also expressed optimism, noting that as the work

--President Ali highlights strategy that will bolster tourism sector with nature-based solutions

continues and the nation builds support, he will then be able to announce the application that the government has placed for Guyana to host of largest events in 2030. The President stated that there should be no illusion when it comes to the positive trajectory that Guyana is undertaking and noted that the path the nation has charted is “not a gentle stroll.”

“The next five years will require immense heavy lifting, and every single one of us, from the entrepreneur in the industrial park to the farmer in the field, from the coder in the tech hub to the student in the classroom, all of us would have to be part of this lifting. But look at what we’ve accomplished. Look at the strength and resilience we have built in five years; we must be proud. We must be proud of what we have accomplished. We must be proud of what we have achieved,” he told the audience.

The President has not only championed Guyana as a leader, locally, but on the global stage, and he has made it clear that Guyana intends to remain a leading voice for climate justice, innovation, and equitable co-operation across Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the wider developing world.

President Ali, in a recent televised interview at the sidelines of COP30 in Brazil, noted that transforming Guyana’s ecosystems into value chains is high on Guyana’s agenda. He expounded on the ongoing initiatives that are not only converting ecosystems into value chains but are also reducing carbon emissions while boosting local industries such as eco-tourism. As an example, he pointed to the Mahaica River tour.

Tourism is one of the fastest-growing industries worldwide and a significant source of income for many countries. It provides employment, revitalises local

economies, and connects people across cultures. For Guyana, the way forward is through sustainable tourism, with eco-lodges leading the charge.

Notably, Guyana is not just making a mark in the eco-tourism sector; it’s leaving a huge dent, one that places our country among the best eco-tourism nations in the world. It is rooted deeply in Indigenous heritage.

On that note, Minister

of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Susan Rodrigues stated recently that eco-tourism development in the Rupununi has been identified as a key driver of community liveliness, conservation awareness, and sustainable income generation. Guyana’s tourism model is uniquely positioned, built on sustainability, culture, authenticity, and nature-based experiences, which set us apart from traditional Caribbean destinations, the minister said.

Further, the minister affirmed that the pristine rainforests, our rich cultural diversity, among other areas, make Guyana a top, emerging destination for eco and adventure tourism, with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) leading the charge in promoting these assets and developing community-based tourism projects that ensure locals are at the centre of visitor experiences.

In an August 2025 edition of “The Environment In Focus” by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Guyana’s tourism sector was highlighted. The EPA had stated that Guyana has already taken important steps in the direction of Green

Tourism. In January 2023, five eco-lodges were awarded with the internationally recognised Good Travel Seal Green Destinations Certificate, an endorsement that is aligned with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and that reflects their commitment to responsible operations, including water conservation, wildlife protection, and sustainable management practices.

GREEN DEVELOPMENT

President Ali, during the interview, had made it pellucidly clear: “You cannot tell a community that we want to protect your ecosystem without telling them how we want to develop your infrastructure, how we are going to give you better health care, better education…”

Earlier this year, President Ali said that his government is in talks with the King Charles Foundation to establish an ‘Estate of Harmony’ in Moraikobai. The Estate of Harmony focuses on the creation of sustainable, inclusive and equitable environments that foster a sense of community. President Ali TURN TO PAGE 17

How technology is powering a safer, smarter oil and...

more than operational optimisation. It signals the advancement of a petroleum industry where data analysis, predictive systems and technological innovation become as important as traditional engineering disciplines. For a young nation building its industrial capacity, this represents an opportunity to leapfrog older operational models and establish worldclass standards from the outset.

The path ahead requires

continued investment in both physical infrastructure and human capital.

As AI systems become more sophisticated and data requirements grow, Guyana’s ability to support these technologies domestically through robust digital infrastructure and skilled professionals will determine whether the country captures the full value of this technological revolution or remains dependent on external expertise.

FROM PAGE 10

For now, the evidence suggests Guyana is moving decisively towards technological leadership in its most important industry, with benefits that will ripple across the economy for decades.

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.

Five 60-acre pastures developed for ruminant farmers in WCB

FIVE 60-acre pastures have been developed for small ruminant farmers on the West Coast of Berbice (WCB) as the government accelerates its plan to modernise Guyana’s livestock industry and strengthen opportunities for producers across Region Five (Demer-

ara-Mahaica).

On Saturday, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, met with small ruminant farmers to provide updates on investments, ongoing programmes, and the longterm vision for the sector in Region Five. During the engagement, Minister Mus-

tapha highlighted the major strides being made in pasture development, noting that 60 five-acre plots have already been fully established to support small ruminant production on the West Coast of Berbice.

He explained that this initiative forms part of

the broader national push to expand the livestock industry through structured, well-managed pastures, improved breeds, and enhanced farmer support systems.

Minister Mustapha reiterated that the government was steadfast in its mission to reduce Guyana’s reliance on imported mutton, especially imports from New Zealand, by cultivating a strong, recognisable Guyanese livestock brand capable of meeting both domestic and regional demand. A critical component of this drive is the ongoing partnership with Barbados under the Black Belly Sheep Programme, which continues to deliver improved genetics and longterm growth opportunities for farmers.

According to the agriculture minister, the distribution of Black Belly rams has commenced, emphasising that while government investment remains significant, the success of the programme depends equally on farmers following established guidelines and best practices. Adhering to these systems, he said, will

help ensure the programme meets its intended objectives and leads to sustainable expansion of the small ruminant subsector.

Reaffirming President Irfaan Ali’s vision, Minister Mustapha also said that the administration is actively working to transform Region Five into the livestock capital of the Caribbean. He urged farmers to stay engaged with the ministry’s technical teams, adopt improved management practices, and make full use of the resources and investments available to them.

Furthermore, he also underscored that the government has made a concerted, strategic effort to develop the small ruminant industry as part of its broader goal of making Guyana fully food-secure.

He assured farmers that continued investments, training, and infrastructural upgrades will open more income opportunities across rural communities, while positioning Guyana as a leading livestock producer within the region.

Azruddin’s moral disengagement takes centre stage

what purpose does GRA serve?

Albert Bandura’s insights into moral disengagement explain how figures like Azruddin Mohamed deflect blame and reframe wrongdoing, allowing impunity to flourish amid scandal. Global accolades earned Bandura recognition as one of psychology’s most influential minds, and his research on how people rationalise unethical conduct has fresh resonance in Guyana’s current crisis.

Azruddin’s evasions and public victimhood are not just legal strategies; they’re

textbook examples of Bandura’s theory in action. When public figures sidestep moral agency and exploit loopholes, they threaten collective values and erode public trust. In facing such predators, Bandura’s lesson is clear: only public vigilance can counteract moral disengagement before it poisons the core of civic life.

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.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, interacts with farmers in Region Five

Ally promotes free Upskilling Platform in Region Six

MINISTER of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation, Zulfikar Ally, held a series of outreaches in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on Saturday to raise awareness about the government’s recently launched Public Service Upskilling Platform.

Last week, President Dr Irfaan Ali launched the online platform, where he noted that it was built in collaboration with Coursera and represents a decisive shift away from outdated systems and towards digital adaptability and human capital development.

“We are not just launching a programme; we are building the revolution of the future in our Public Service,” the head of state said, highlighting the integration of cutting-edge technology, results-driven accountability, and skilled personnel as the foundation for this new era.

On Saturday, Minister Ally told the Sunday Chronicle that, “We want skilled and semi-skilled persons to sign up on it to share the services

that they have and for citizens to sign up to see the services that are online and request services that they need, so we’re putting both parties together, those who are services and those who need services.”

He continued, “It is free, it is online, and we want to build on this throughout the country, people have been signing up, so we are excited by the amount of people that have been signing up, we had no complaints so far, so that’s a good thing.

We will continue to improve it, we are hoping to get to a point now where we will be going out to find out from persons themselves, how they are benefiting from it.”

The programme will provide free and continuous learning opportunities to public servants across all regions and support efforts to modernise operations and improve efficiency.

Through the Coursera platform, public servants will have access to a wide range of courses, including foreign languages, beginner-to-ad -

vanced Microsoft Excel, project management, and website development. These courses are designed to strengthen job performance.

Meanwhile, during his outreaches, Ally also took the opportunity to educate those gathered about the roles and responsibilities of his ministry, which is a new one.

“On the government efficiency side, we are tasked with moving along the digitisation of government and the digitisation of services to the people of Guyana, especially to the people of Region Six, as well, to ensure that they don’t have to travel to Georgetown to get basic services.

“On the implementation side, we are looking to ensure that, especially for large projects and projects that they are finished on time and after they are finished, the services that are expected to come from those projects are delivered to the people.”

Additionally, Ally relayed that the digitisation process is being done throughout all

Schooling WIN

who were turned off by the PNC, APNU and Aubrey Norton might have voted for WIN at the last election, but their support is not axiomatic. It is convenient. When the public sees WIN has no depth, they will go home to the PNC. They are not loyal. They were just struck by the illusion that was created by WIN’s wealth and thought about what could be.

The APNU knows that the votes they lost can be brought back home, so they are not worried at all. Just like the WIN bought a large number of its support base, it still does not know that Guyanese moods change like the WIN and even quicker when you, as a party, are not holding the government accountable and not acting in the interest of the public.

WIN has made no connection with the needs of ordinary and black voters that can withstand the test of time. Mark my words,

WIN is not a third force in Guyana’s political landscape. It is a party that got lucky. WIN must understand that in Guyana, historical examples like the United Force (UF), Working People’s Alliance (WPA), and Alliance for Change (AFC) are cited as parties that had a temporary impact but ultimately struggled to sustain their influence against the two main parties. WIN is a temporary political phenomenon.

Let’s be clear, the public yearns for more sober attention from WIN. Shaking hands at select few parties, public engagements, and hinterland meetings does not address the people’s problems. WIN must do more for the Guyanese public.

WIN must get up off its backside and go into the communities across this country.

They must face the music for the promises they made and tell the people the truth

government agencies.

“Every aspect of government, especially those

FROM PAGE 8

about what is happening now before it’s too late. The Mohameds and the WIN outfit must stop complaining, crying, and playing with the public’s emotions. Finally, the strength of the PPP/C parliamentary lineup is VERY EVIDENT. WIN has to decide who will shadow the ministers in parliament.

The PNC/APNU is waiting for the chance to steal the spotlight. So, WIN, if serious, will get down to business by sorting itself out and putting the problems with the Mohameds on the back burner.

The clock is ticking… WIN must wake up and smell the roses!

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.

that interface with the people of Guyana, we want to make sure that it is very

smooth, very seamless, customer-friendly approach, so it’s every agency.”

Minister Zulfikar Ally meets with residents within the Central Corentyne area as part of efforts to promote the upskilling platform

‘Facts don’t lie’: President Ali highlights major gains in accountability under PPP/C

--says transparency at record high as APNU’s

By Trina Williams

PRESIDENT Dr Irfaan Ali, on Saturday, defended his administration’s record of transparency and accountability, contrasting it with what he described as widespread financial mismanagement under the former APNU+AFC government.

In a live broadcast on his Facebook page, he said the APNU was “distorting” the facts, pointing to official data, including the Auditor General’s 2024 report, which shows significant improvements in public accountability since the PPP/C took office, and a clear decline in governance breaches compared to the APNU+AFC period.

“The Auditor General reported that approximately 81 per cent of the recommendations made in 2023 were fully or partially implemented.

This is a marked improvement over the APNU+AFC’s term in office, where most of the recommendations remained unimplemented year after year, prompting repeated warnings from the Auditor General,” President Ali said.

To support his remarks, the President read the AG’s reports between 2015 and 2019, which repeatedly stated: “Overall, I’m concerned with the lack of action towards the implementation of these recommendations, since 83 per cent of the recommendations have not yet been fully implemented.”

The reports further read:

“In addition, in many instances, recommendations are repeated each year without appropriate action, and as a result, weaknesses and issues that impacted negatively on governments, governance and accountability mechanism continue to occur. Once

again, I encourage the government through the Ministry of Finance, the Accountant General’s department and the respective heads of budget agencies to take appropriate actions and put measures in place to address these recommendations.”

Drawing a stark contrast with the APNU+AFC’s record, President Ali said his administration has been “aggressively” implementing the Auditor General’s recommendations and addressing issues as soon as they arise, rather than waiting until the end of the fiscal year. As a result, he noted, the Auditor General has issued no warnings about poor implementation of past recommendations under the PPP/C.

He added that accounting officers have already begun acting on the 2024 recommendations and have been instructed that failure to fully

failures exposed

implement them “will carry consequences.”

President Ali also highlighted broader improvements in public financial management. In 2024, the Audit Office examined 829 contracts valued at $48.19 billion, with less than three

tions were not implemented.

Also, the Audit Reports note that the recovery rates for overpayments were extremely low between 2015 and 2018, which was under the APNU+AFC administration. For example, in 2015, only 7.49 per cent of overpayment was recovered and in 2017 and 2018, only 29.7 per cent and 12.1 per cent, respectively.

per cent flagged for overpayments, all of which were recovered before the Auditor General finalised his report. This is the third consecutive year in which every overpayment was recovered before the audit’s completion, a first in the country’s audit history.

Despite the low percentage of overpayments, the President said the government is pursuing even stricter measures to eliminate them.

“So, we are going to move to a system whereby we will have real-time audits of projects, project financing and disbursement, so that even during the project cycle and during implementation, we can see where overpayments are being made, and have those adjustments within the project itself.

We are going into fullscale project accounting as part of the project implementation framework, using technology, AI and predictive indicators,” the head of state noted.

THE FACTS

Responding to the APNU’s claims made at last Friday’s press conference, the President said they are “totally not within the facts and realities.”

In 2024, the Heads of Budget Agencies successfully implemented more than 80 per cent of the 179 recommendations made in the previous year, either fully or partially, the 2024 AG report stated, noting that this represents the third-highest implementation rate of recommendations since 2015.

The strong implementation rate in 2024 stands in stark contrast to the five years spanning APNU+AFC tenure, when approximately 41 per cent of recommenda-

Also, during the fiscal year 2024, the PPP/C Government worked with the AG and contracted auditors to advance its commitment to transparency and accountability by bringing the audited accounts of public enterprises, statutory bodies, trade unions, Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC), foreign-funded projects, and constitutional agencies up to date.

During the 2024 fiscal year, more than 254 audit opinions were issued for these agencies. This marks the third-highest number of audit opinions issued since 2015 and underscores the significant progress made by the government in expanding audit coverage.

All these audits resulted in unqualified opinions, indicating no material findings of any irregularities.

“In every single indicator we can point to marked improvement in transparency, accountability and good governance,” President Ali said.

Moreover, there was a marked reduction in procurement breaches, as reflected by the number of recommendations issued by the AG to address this issue.

Except for the Guyana Defence Force, National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), and Ministry of Public Works, the other agencies have displayed greater compliance with the Procurement Act and Regulations, the report noted, adding that the overall improvement may be attributed to the government’s efforts to ensure greater compliance with the Procurement Act and Regulations.

The President also noted that the report stated that the agencies resolved most of the queries before the Audit Report was finalised. Some 70.5 per cent of the queries in the management letters sent to the agencies were resolved during the period TURN TO PAGE 20

President Dr Irfaan Al during the live broadcast to the nation on Saturday

Businessman Paul Chow brings early Christmas cheer to vulnerable communities

BUSINESSMAN and gold

miner Paul Chow, alongside his wife Rayana, has launched his annual holiday goodwill campaign early this year by delivering breakfasts to vulnerable communities in Georgetown.

The initiative, carried out on Saturday, is just the beginning: over the coming days, the Chows plan to extend the effort across several neighbourhoods in Region Four with 2,100 breakfast meals.

The gesture is part of a long-standing tradition for the couple, who have used their resources to support underserved areas in this season of giving.

In previous years, Paul and Rayana have distributed school supplies, gifts, and meals to remote and coastal communities, a reflection of their belief in giving back.

BUILDING ON A LEGACY OF GENEROSITY

In December 2024, Paul

Chow and his team visited Kaikan, a remote community in Region Seven, where they handed out over 500 gifts to children, as well as food supplies, fresh fruit, and ingredients for a traditional pepperpot breakfast.

Their generosity brought joy to many residents who rarely experience this level of philanthropic attention during the holiday season.

Over the past five years, the Chows made other impacts in Georgetown. They donated dozens of school bags filled with supplies, notebooks, pens, geometry sets, to school children along with sponsoring meals so students could begin their school year without worry.

“By investing in education, food security, and grassroots relationships, I am helping to build social capital in compliance with governments agenda for the development of society,” Chow said. “Success in the extractive industries can

Guyana targets top tier of global eco-tourism

explained that Guyana is partnering with the King Charles Foundation to build an eco-lodge in Moraikobai to help boost the village’s tourism experience. This eco-lodge will mirror the one already created in Diamond, East Bank Demerara, which is proving to be successful.

Additionally, over the past five years, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government has invested billions of dollars in infrastructure projects across the city, including upgrades to public spaces.

The recently formed multi - agency team, which was assembled earlier this month to develop Georgetown’s Drainage Development Plan and to help restore the beauty of the capital city has already begun extensive works.

These efforts, President Ali via social media post on Friday, are part of a broader national strategy for sustainable urban development.

should come with a sense of responsibility.” Over the next few days, Chow said the breakfast distribution will continue in various neighborhoods in Region Four, targeting families in need.

The Chows plan to use their network of local volunteers to ensure the aid is distributed efficiently and respectfully.

FROM PAGE 11

Over the weekend, the team, which includes representatives from multiple agencies, commenced cleaning the alleyways.

The President also disclosed his vision for the area, which includes trees, green spaces, and recreational areas for families. This, he explained, could be achieved by mixing urban and green agendas, including the installation of special concrete boxes for plants and fruit trees.

“Our objective is to ensure that children grow up in inspirational settings,” he wrote in the post. The First Lady’s efforts to beautify both urban and rural areas have also been crucial in President Ali’s vision.

The Georgetown rescue plan is progressing smoothly since the establishment of the multi-agency Georgetown Drainage Development team and a new partnership with the UK-based King’s Foundation.

Businessman and gold miner Paul Chow, along with his wife Rayana, in Albouystown sharing out breakfast supplies within the community

Guyanese diaspora supports relief for Jamaica

MEMBERS of the Guyanese diaspora in the Greater Toronto (GTA) Area, supported by Honorary Consul, Mr. Mani Singh, last Sunday spearheaded a relief drive for the sister-CARICOM state of Jamaica, which was recently ravaged by Hurricane Melissa.

The small but significant event, which saw non-perishable foods, medical supplies, emergency kits, clothing, and other essential supplies being donated by mainly Guyanese and other friends of Jamaica residing in Toronto, was held at the Windies Restaurant & Sports Bar in Scarborough, Ontario.

Honorary Consul Singh delivered remarks on behalf of the government and people of Guyana, as well as the Guyana Consulate in Toronto. He commended Ms. Dessie Fanfair and other organisers for the important initiative, and informed that

the Government of Guyana recently dispatched a shipment of much-needed supplies to the Government of Jamaica, which included tarpaulin, chain saws and electrical generators.

“As Guyanese, we should take pride that even though Guyana is still a developing economy and a middle-income country, our Guyanese leaders have extended a hand of crucial support and solidarity in times of need to a sister Caribbean state in our region,” Mr. Singh remarked.

Referring to Guyana’s rapid development over the past six years, the Guyanese representative in Toronto contextualised it by quoting the words of Mahatma Gandhi, India’s freedom fighter and world-renowned teacher and human rights icon, that says, “success is not measured by the height to which one has climbed... but from the depth where one started from.”

The Honorary Consul also spoke of the negative effect on the environment caused by the human factor, like unnecessary and excessive emissions of carbon into the atmosphere and irresponsible waste disposal habits across countries, regions and continents.

Meanwhile, all the relief items donated to Jamaica will be sent to the island with the assistance of the Jamaican Consulate in Toronto and members of the Jamaican diaspora in the GTA.

Rotary Club of Stabroek, Woodlands Hospital and BROCODE to host men’s wellness symposium 2025

THE Rotary Club of Stabroek, in partnership with Woodlands Hospital and BROCODE, will, next week, host the Men’s Wellness Symposium 2025, an initiative aimed at strengthening men’s health, emotional well-being and community leadership across Guyana.

The event, scheduled for Wednesday, November 19 at Herdmanston Lodge, Queenstown, will run from 08:00 hours to 14:30 hours and is being held under the theme “Stronger Men, Stronger Families, Stronger Guyana.”

Club of Stabroek, Dr. Karen Gordon-Boyle, described the initiative as a transformational effort.

“This is more than a health event—it’s a movement,” she said. “We are creating a safe, structured space

by Kobe Smith.

Participants will also hear a virtual testimonial from prostate cancer survivor Jeremy Simmons, take part in small-group breakout sessions and engage in a closing rally titled “Brotherhood in Action” led by BROCODE founder, Andrew Douglas.

for men to reflect, connect, and commit to personal and societal transformation.”

It is an invite-only forum targeting professionals, advocates and community leaders working to improve men’s wellness and promote positive social change.

Organisers say the symposium will address a broad range of issues affecting men, including reproductive and preventive healthcare, mental health challenges, domestic violence, and men’s role in fostering safer, more resilient communities.

President of the Rotary

Full Programme of Dialogue and Action

The symposium will open with remarks from Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Hon. Dr. Vindhya Persaud, and will feature a series of plenary presentations. These include: Reproductive and preventive care – Dr. Chris Prashad; Stress, anxiety and depression – Dr. Griffith; and Domestic violence in Guyana – Facilitated

The event will provide attendees with opportunities for health screenings, networking and interactive group presentations.

Exhibitor booths and preand post-event health checks will also be available.

According to the organisers, the symposium is designed not only to increase early detection and mental health literacy, but also to challenge gender-related stigma and promote empathy and accountability among men.

The initiative aligns with ongoing national efforts to strengthen domestic violence prevention, community engagement and holistic wellness programming.

Honorary Consul Mani Singh (third from right) and others during the event

Johanna Cecilia Secondary School wraps up agriculture month with ‘Agro Fair’

JOHANNA Cecilia Secondary School ended its Agriculture Month activities on October 31 with a vibrant Agro Fair that highlighted not only the creativity of its students but also the dedication of Agriculture Science teacher Davin Misir, who played a pivotal role in inspiring their efforts.

Throughout the month, Mr. Misir worked closely with students, guiding them

as they cultivated crops, prepared value-added products, and cared for livestock. His hands-on teaching approach and constant encouragement helped students develop confidence in their skills and a

Students participate in the ‘Agro Fair’ at the Johanna Cecilia Secondary School in Region Two

deeper appreciation for agriculture. Many students noted that his enthusiasm made the subject more enjoyable and motivated them to put extra effort into their displays.

At the fair, the results of his mentorship were evident. Students proudly showcased their produce and exhibits, demonstrating the knowledge and techniques they learned under his guidance.

‘Facts

Teachers and community members who attended the event praised not only the quality of the projects but also the evident dedication of the teacher who supported them every step of the way.

Mr. Misir expressed pride in the students’ accomplishments, noting that Agriculture Month provides an important opportunity to expose young people to the

they were given to respond to the Audit Office.

Moreover, the report noted that the strong internal controls contribute to improved accuracy of financial reports, compliance with regulations, and detection and/or prevention of fraud.

“We have seen significant improvement in transparency, accountability, good governance and financial performance between the period 2020 and 2024, and we are still

not satisfied.

possibilities within the sector. His commitment to nurturing their interest has earned him the admiration of colleagues, parents, and students alike.

The Agro Fair served as a fitting close to Agriculture Month at Johanna Cecilia Secondary School, celebrating both the students’ hard work and the teacher whose passion helped bring their projects to life.

FROM PAGE 14

That is why we are going to issue performance indicators for permanent secretaries and other heads of agencies that they will be measured against to ensure that we continue to fully implement the recommendations of the Auditor General and to comply with the financial regulations governing public accounts, accountability and good governance,” President Ali firmly stated.

Onverwagt prawn project scales up as gov’t targets large-scale aquaculture industry

THE Ministry of Agriculture’s prawn production project at Onverwagt, Region Five (Demerara-Mahaica) is advancing at a rapid pace and has emerged as a key component of the government’s drive to expand and diversify the aquaculture sector.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, last week, visited the project where he explained that the initiative aims to establish a sustainable prawn industry capable of meeting the country’s demands as well as the possibility to export, as he expressed satisfaction with the progress to date, noting that the venture has already attracted strong private-sector interest.

According to him, the model farm, designed as a blueprint for similar developments countrywide, comprises ten one-acre ponds, five of which are currently stocked. Each pond can accommodate roughly 600,000 prawns.

“We have some here, some that are 21 grams in size and some that are bigger. This here is the Ministry of Agriculture prawn project.

“What we are doing now, we are inviting the private sector and other private persons to get involved. Here, we have another private investor that will build a twenty-acre pond, which has a lot of potential,” Minister Mustapha said.

The Onverwagt initiative forms part of the government’s broader plan to build a modern aquaculture industry capable of supplying local markets and eventually expanding into export. To date, the government’s investment has also included funding for an on-site hatchery and feed mill to lower production costs and improve efficiency.

Noting that the area has tremendous potential to develop into a major industry,

similar to Ecuador and other Latin American countries where prawn farming has grown significantly, the agriculture minister emphasised that the project aligns with Guyana’s wider goals of food security and economic diversification.

“We are expanding this initiative nationally to attract more people into aquaculture. Our goal is to secure large investors so Guyana can become a major producer and exporter of prawns,” he added.

For now, prawns harvested at Onverwagt are mainly supplied to the local market, where demand has been strong.

“The response has been excellent, and the prawns are very affordable,” Mustapha said, adding that at this stage, restaurants and households are being supplied with the upscaling, expecting to target export markets in the Caribbean and beyond.

Meanwhile, beyond production, the project is also generating employment and training opportunities for residents of Region Five in the form of pond management, feeding practices, and water-quality monitoring, critical skills for sustaining a growing aquaculture industry.

Minister Mustapha highlighted that the prawn initiative represents not only an aquaculture milestone but also a glimpse into the future of sustainable agriculture in Guyana.

“We are not just focusing on rice and sugar, we’re developing aquaculture and other high-value crops as part of our plan to make Guyana a regional leader in food production,” he noted, adding that complementary initiatives such as onion cultivation and high-yielding crops are also advancing across the country.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha

Spain on verge of qualification after thrashing Georgia 4-0

FORMER winners

Spain took a massive step towards qualifying for the 2026 World Cup with a convincing victory in Georgia.

Luis de la Fuente’s side are three points clear with one match remaining in Group E and only a sevengoal loss at home to secondplaced Turkey on Tuesday will deny Spain automatic qualification.

Spain, the 2010 world champions, continued their dominant qualifying campaign and only needed 11 minutes before they scored their first goal in Tbilisi,

thanks to Mikel Oyarzabal’s penalty following a handball from Giorgi Gocholeishvili.

Arsenal midfielder

Martin Zubimendi doubled Spain’s lead 11 minutes later by lifting the ball past Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, with former Manchester City striker Ferran Torres adding a third before half-time from Oyarzabal’s pass.

Torres then provided a curling cross in the 63rd minute which was headed in by Oyarzabal for his second goal and Spain’s fourth.

Spain, top of Fifa’s world rankings, have won all five

Suriname 90 mins away from first World Cup

From Page 32

Knowing the importance of a victory, Suriname approached the match with visible confidence and quickly seized control.

El Salvador, ranked 94th in the world, struggled to contain Suriname’s fluid attacks and almost found themselves trailing midway through the first half when Tjaronn Chery struck the crossbar with a curling effort.

Moments before halftime, the 37-year-old Chery got the breakthrough, converting his first international goal from the penalty spot in the 44th minute after being brought down in the box.

Richonell Margaret then punished a defensive blunder in the 74th minute to fire in Suriname’s second, and less than two minutes later, he doubled his tally by finishing off a precise cross from Ridgeciano Haps. The home crowd erupted once more when late substitutes Jay-Roy Grot and Dhoraso Moreo Klas combined for the fourth goal in the 83rd minute, with Klas placing the final touch.

The importance of the win was highlighted when Suriname President Jenny Simons and vice-president Gregory Rusland, who were among the dignitaries in attendance, visited the players in the locker room to congratulate them on the milestone victory and to encourage them ahead of the decisive match in Guatemala.

Defender Djavan Anderson described “a feeling of release, relief and, above all, pride,” while Chery reflected on fulfilling a late-career dream.

“If someone had told me two years ago I’d still have a chance of playing at a World Cup, I would’ve called them crazy,” Chery said.

Despite the victory, head coach Stanley Menzo maintained that the job was not yet done.

“We must stay aware that there is one more match to play. We want to win there as well, to make sure qualification is in our own hands,” he said.

of their qualifiers, scoring 19 goals in the process and without conceding. They would have secured automatic qualification if Turkey had dropped points against Bulgaria, but Hakan Calhanoglu’s penalty and Atanas Chernev’s own goal gave Turkey a 2-0 win.

But, with a goal difference 14 worse than Spain’s, Turkey need to win by a seven-goal margin in Sevilla on Tuesday to deny the Spanish automatic qualification for next summer’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States. (BBC Sport)

Sunday, November 16th, 2025

Curry’s 49-point night stuns Spurs

THE third night of 2025 NBA Cup play saw some high-flying games in both the East and West as group play nears its midway point. But nothing was more epic than what Stephen Curry did.

We’re at the point where it looks like it will never get old watching the Golden State Warriors star come alive down the stretch. On Friday, his victims were the San Antonio Spurs.

The damage: 49 points on 16-of-26 shooting. In the process, he tied Michael Jordan for the most 40-point games after turning 30, with his 44th.

Only one other Warrior, Jimmy Butler, scored more than 10 points.

The Spurs had the Warriors on the ropes late with a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter, but that just turned out to be the setup. San Antonio had one last chance to win it, but a De’Aaron Fox miss sealed the game.

Every team in Group C of the West is now 1-1 in group play, which is exactly the kind of chaos you want in group play.

The longest game of the night was in Dallas, where the Los Angeles Clippers outlasted a still-shorthanded Dallas Mavericks team in double overtime, thanks to a 41-point triple-double from James Harden. L.A. led by as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter, but a late-game collapse pushed it into extra time.

The game appeared to be on the verge of ending in the first overtime when Mavericks big man, Daniel Gafford, was called for a goaltend on Harden, but the NBA’s balltracking review found the ball was still ascending.

It was simply a spectacular block. That staved off defeat for Dallas, but

Andy McBrine’s 52 moved him into second place on Ireland’s highest Test run-scorer list

Bangladesh seal first-Test win over Ireland

BANGLADESH wrapped up a comprehensive first-Test victory over Ireland in Sylhet by an innings and 47 runs.

The tourists started day four in an ominous position at 86-5 in their second innings - still facing a 215-run deficit, but fought to make the hosts bat again.

However, Bangladesh continued to take Ireland wickets and sealed their thumping win after lunch.

• (Scores: Ireland 286: Stirling 60; Miraz 3-50 & 254: McBrine 52; Murad 4-60 vs Bangladesh 587-8 dec: Joy 171, Shanto 100; Humphreys 5-170. Bangladesh win by an innings and 47 runs)

with his fifth Test half-century which moves him into second place on the Ireland men’s Test run-scorer list to complement his status as their highest Test wicket-taker.

McBrine survived a couple of scares when given out in successive balls which were overturned on review, but batted with confidence which saw Ireland through to lunch.

Matthew Humphreys had chipped in earlier with 16, before McBrine and Balbirnie produced a 66-run stand - with the captain moved lower down the order to allow his injured finger time to rest.

However, Balbirnie was out lbw to Test debutant Hasan Murad who then caught McBrine off the bowling of Nahid Rana.

didn’t save it. A lineup led in scoring by 28 points each from Naji Marshall and D’Angelo Russell off the bench fell behind early in double overtime and didn’t come back.

The other overtime game was an epic between the Milwaukee Bucks and Charlotte Hornets, in which eight different Bucks scored in double figures to counter a pair of 32-point nights from Miles Bridges and rookie Kon Kneuppel, the latter of whom hit the game-tying 3-pointer to force OT.

However, like the Clippers’ win, the Bucks shook off the would-be gut punch and won big in OT. They are now 10-0 in NBA group play over the three years of the in-season tournament. Assistant coach Darvin Ham, formerly the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, is also still undefeated overall, in one of the funniest narratives of the event.

Back in the realm of games decided in regulation, the Detroit Pistons won their ninth straight with a 114-105 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, despite being without several key players.

Cade Cunningham (hip), Tobias Harris (ankle), Ausar Thompson (ankle) and Jalen Duren (ankle) were all on the sideline, but players like Javonte Green (team-high 21 points, nine rebounds) and Daniss Jenkins (19 points, eight assists) stepped up.

There was also the high-scoring game between the Miami Heat and New York Knicks. The Knicks won 140-132 behind 39 points from likely hero Karl-Anthony Towns and 36 points from unlikely hero Landry Shamet off the bench.

Norman Powell continued a career year with 38 points for Miami, but couldn’t stop New York from pulling away late. (Yahoo Sports)

The second match of the two-Test series starts in Dhaka on Wednesday - and Ireland’s captain, Andrew Balbirnie, said his team must be “better for longer”.

“That was tough for us,” said the 34-yearold Dubliner.

“Bangladesh were just better than us in every aspect of the game. They showed us how to get a big first innings score and we were always on the back foot.

“What we wanted to do was fight for as long as possible and I thought we showed that in glimpses, but if we are going to compete a bit better, we are going to have to be better for longer.”

Andy McBrine led the fight on Friday

Number nine Jordan Neill added 36 before Murad dismissed him for his fourth wicket of the innings, while Taijul Islam sealed victory for the hosts by removing Barry McCarthy for 25 as Ireland were all out for 254.

“We are aware of how good a team Bangladesh are in their own conditions and skills-wise they are really good, but our players are going to show fight,” Balbirnie added.

“From a skills point of view, we have to get to them as soon as possible and that will come by playing as many matches as we can in these conditions which are testing.

“I’m really proud of how we’ve gone about it the last four days, but we want to be better going into the next match.” (BBC Sport)

Hazlewood ruled out of first Ashes Test

AUSTRALIA’S Ashes buildup has taken another hit with Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the first Test in Perth, compounding the absence of regular captain Pat Cummins. What was initially assessed as a minor concern earlier this week has now escalated, with repeat scans confirming a hamstring strain.

Hazlewood’s first round of imaging on Wednesday had shown no muscle damage, but follow-up tests on Friday revealed the strain. Cricket Australia noted that early scans can sometimes underestimate lowgrade injuries, and the pacer will not travel to Perth.

In his absence, Michael Neser has been added to the squad for the series opener.

The Queensland seamer comes in as cover not just for Hazlewood but also for Sean Abbott, who also picked up a hamstring strain in the same Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales

and Victoria. Neser, who debuted in Adelaide during the 2021 Ashes and has two Tests to his name, now slots in as Australia look to patch up a fast-bowling unit suddenly stretched thin ahead of the series opener.

Australia are worryingly short on fastbowling options, with Sean Abbott, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, and Spencer Johnson, besides Cummins and Hazlewood, all sidelined at the moment.

This is set to open the door for a debut for Brendan Doggett, the 31-year-old who has impressed this season with 13 Sheffield Shield wickets at 14.69 since returning from his own minor hamstring setback. Meanwhile, Cummins continued his rehabilitation at the SCG on the sidelines of the said Shield fixture, working towards full fitness in a bid to be available for the second Ashes Test, starting at the Gabba on December 4. (Cricbuzz)

Stephen Curry in action on Friday night

KKR release Russell as big-name cuts set tone for IPL mini auction

KOLKATA Knight Riders made the most striking calls ahead of the IPL miniauction, headlined by the release of Andre Russell and Venkatesh Iyer from their roster.

Russell’s exit brings an end to a long and influential stint for the West Indian allrounder, while Iyer was their most expensive pick at last year’s Jeddah mega auction.

KKR freed up both purse and overseas slots by parting ways with Quinton de Kock, Anrich Nortje, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Moeen Ali, and Spencer Johnson.

With Mayank Markande traded to Mumbai Indians, and Chetan Sakariya and Luvnith Sisodia also released, the two-time champions now enter the auction with a commanding purse of INR 64.3 crore and 13 slots (including six overseas) to fill.

CSK, meanwhile, followed up the highprofile Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran trade by releasing Matheesha Pathirana and the New Zealand pair of Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra.

Rajasthan Royals, who moved out Sanju Samson and Nitish Rana earlier in the window, continued their overhaul by letting go Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana. Fazalhaq Farooqi, Akash Madhwal, Ashok Sharma and Kumar Kartikeya were among the other RR departures, leaving them with a purse of INR 16.05 crore and nine spots to fill.

Punjab Kings’ release list was headlined by Josh Inglis and Glenn Maxwell, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru opened up their overseas slots by releasing Liam Livingstone, Tim Seifert, Lungi Ngidi and Blessing Muzarabani.

Mumbai Indians, who brought in Sherfane Rutherford and Shardul Thakur via trades, released nine players, including Reece Topley,

Lee,

LIZELLE Lee’s unbeaten 59 anchored Hobart Hurricanes’ 16-run DLS win over Brisbane Heat in a rain-hit clash at Drummoyne Oval in Sydney on Saturday, extending their perfect start to WBBL 2025 and leaving Heat winless after three games. Hurricanes, asked to bat first, were flying even before rain arrived. Lee struck six fours and three sixes in her 45-ball knock, controlling the innings across both the pre and post-PowerPlay phases of play.

After a franchise-best opening best stand of 91 in the last game against sixers, Lee and Danni Wyatt-Hodge added 109 before the latter, who smashed 44 off 26, the stand ending only in the final over. When delay shortened the innings to 12 overs, Hurricanes had surged to 114 for 1.

Chasing a steep DLS target of 125, Heat slipped as regular wickets stalled their progress. Grace Harris (28 off 21) tried to keep them in touch with the rate, but Hurricanes’ attack, led by Molly Strano (2 for 17), Heather Graham (2 for 25) and Nicola

Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Arjun Tendulkar (traded to LSG). Delhi Capitals saw Faf du Plessis and Mohit Sharma top their list of exits, while Lucknow Super Giants moved on from David Miller, Ravi Bishnoi and Shamar Joseph after trading in Mohammed Shami. Sunrisers Hyderabad, having traded out Shami, parted ways with Adam Zampa, Rahul Chahar and Wiaan Mulder among others, while Gujarat Titans released Gerald Coetzee, Dasun Shanaka and Mahipal Lomror in addition to trading out Rutherford. Punjab Kings rounded off their cuts with the

of Aaron Hardie, Kuldeep Sen and Praveen Dubey. (Cricbuzz)

LIST OF PLAYERS RELEASED

Kolkata Knight Riders: Andre Russell, Venkatesh Iyer, Moeen Ali, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Andre Nortje, Spencer Johnson, Mayank Markande (traded to MI), Chetan Sakariya, Luvnith Sisodiya

Chennai Super Kings: Ravindra Jadeja (traded to RR), Sam Curran (traded to RR), Matheesha Pathirana, Devon

Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, Vansh Bedi, Andre Siddarth, Shaikh Rasheed, Kamlesh Nagarkoti

Rajasthan Royals: Kunal Singh Rathore, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Akash Madhwal, Ashok Sharma, Kumar Kartikeya, Sanju Samson (traded to CSK), Nitish Rana (traded to DC)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Liam Livingstone, Swastik Chikara, Tim Seifert, Manoj Bhandage, Lungi Ngidi, Blessing Muzarabani, Mohit Rathee, Mayank Agarwal

Mumbai Indians: Satyanarayana Raju, Vignesh Puthur, Reece Topley, Bevon Jacobs, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Lizaad Williams, Karn Sharma, KL Shrijith, Arjun Tendulkar (traded to Lucknow Super Giants)

Lucknow Super Giants: Aryan Juyal, David Miller, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Akash Deep, Ravi Bishnoi, Shardul Thakur (traded to MI)

Delhi Capitals: Faf du Plessis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sediqullah Atal, Manvanth Kumar, Mohit Sharma, Darshan Nalkande, Donovan Ferreria (traded to RR)

Gujarat Titans: Dasun Shanaka, Mahipal Lomror, Karim Janat, Gerald Coetzee, Kulwant Khejroliya, Sherfane Rutherford (traded to MI)

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abhinav Manohar, Atharva Taide, Sachin Baby, Wiaan Mulder, Simarjeet Singh, Rahul Chahar, Adam Zampa, Mohammed Shami (traded to LSG): Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie, Glenn Maxwell, Kuldeep Sen, Praveen Dubey.

Hurricanes past rain and Heat for third straight

Lee

Carey (2 for 10) proved too clever through the middle overs. A last-ball six from Sianna Ginger only carried Heat to 108 for 9.

The defeat marked Heat’s third straight loss to start the season, while Hurricanes stayed on top with their third consecutive win.

Sixteen-year-old Caoimhe Bray took a hat-trick as the Sixers claimed the Sydney derby at the Drummoyne Oval with a

comprehensive 24-run victory. Bray dismissed Thunder captain Phoebe Litchfield with the last ball of her second over, and then dismissed Anika Learoyd and Laura Harris off the first two balls of her next as Sydney Thunder slipped to 42 for 6 in a chase of 142. Lucy Finn scored an unbeaten 49* off just 34 balls to reduce the eventual margin of defeat.

win

Thunder, looking for their first win of the season, opted to bowl and managed to prize out Ellyse Perry early in the innings. But Sophia Dunkley and Alyssa Healy put on a brisk 60-run partnership off just 35 balls. Healy struck two sixes and an equal number of fours before falling for a 15-ball 26.

But, like in the game against the Hurricanes, the dismissals of Healy and Dunkley (43 off 35) triggered a middle-order collapse as the Sixers quickly were reduced to 108 for 6. Mady Villiers scored a useful 19-ball 24* to take the total past 140.

Thunder were never in the chase once they lost Georgia Voll in the first over. Maitlan Brown dismissed Tahlia Wilson and Heather Knight in quick succession before the young Bray took over to rip apart the spine of the Thunder line-up. She added the wicket of Chamari Athapaththu to finish with figures of 4 for 15, keeping Thunder winless from three games while taking her own side to second place in the standings.

departures

Wyatt-Hodge power

Andre Russell headlines big-name cuts ahead of mini auction.

Lizelle

scored 59 not out

Spinners give India command in opening Test

ON a day when he officially ended his long-standing association with Chennai Super Kings, Ravindra Jadeja starred with the ball on a fastmoving day to put India in command of the opening Test against South Africa in Kolkata.

On a surface where the spinners ran riot, India folded for 189 in their first innings, fetching a slender lead of just 30 runs.

However, India’s left-arm spin trio of Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel ran through the South African lineup to keep their lead to just 63 by stumps on the second day.

India kickstarted the day on a watchful note with bounce being the key factor to negotiate on this surface.

Both Washington Sundar and KL Rahul were solid in their approach and slowly brought the deficit down. Having settled down, Washington even lofted Keshav Maharaj over long on for a six as the visitors desperately searched for a breakthrough.

After the drinks break, the wicket finally arrived as Simon Harmer bowled a beauty to take Washington’s outside edge. India were then dealt a blow when Shubman Gill walked back retired hurt in the same over after hurting his neck.

Even though Rahul broke the shackles in the very next over with a

six and Rishabh Pant followed suit with one over the ropes two overs later, South Africa grew in confidence with the pitch playing tricks. Eventually, they turned the tide when Maharaj ended Rahul’s vigil. Pant was sent back to the pavilion immediately after he raced to 27 and Harmer stopped Dhruv Jurel’s charge post lunch.

The left-arm spinner continued to make incisions as India dragged themselves past South Africa’s first innings score. With Gill eventually not coming out to bat, India had to settle for

a meagre lead of 30.

However, by the time South Africa knocked those runs off, they already lost their openers. Kuldeep trapped Ryan Rickelton lbw on the stroke of Tea and once play resumed in the final session, it was the Ravindra Jadeja show.

After getting rid of Aiden Markram, Jadeja dealt the visitors a double blow by dismissing Wiaan Mulder and Tony de Zorzi in the same over to leave South Africa reeling at 40/4. Bavuma tried to keep the scorecard moving with a few boundaries but post the drinks break, Jadeja bowled a ripper to breach Tristan Stubb’s defence and hit the top of off stump.

With Bavuma being the key at this point, South Africa were let down by Kyle Verreynne’s shot selection as he attempted a wild slog against Axar, only to lose his stumps.

After managing to overturn an lbw decision first ball, Marco Jansen hammered a six off Axar to extend South Africa’s lead past 50 but Kuldeep eventually rounded off the day with the bowling allrounder’s wicket to leave Bavuma stranding.

Despite the pitch playing tricks, South Africa would still need a massive effort from their skipper and the lower order to post a fighting total against the home side on the third day. (Cricbuzz)

Gabriel suffers groin injury in Brazil friendly win

BRAZIL Manager Carlo Ancelotti says Gabriel will be assessed today after the Arsenal defender suffered a groin injury in a friendly win over Senegal in London.

The 27-year-old pulled up off the ball just before the hour mark and received treatment to his right thigh before being substituted.

Gabriel has formed a key part of the Arsenal defence as they top the Premier League table, having conceded just five goals in 11 league games.

The Gunners face North London rivals Tottenham on 23 November before welcoming Bayern Munich in the Champions League the following Wednesday.

“Bad? I don’t know. He had an injury in his adductor,” said Ancelotti. “The medical staff has to check tomorrow.

“We are really sorry for this, really disappointed. When a player has an injury, you hope they can recover well and soon.”

Brazil beat Senegal 2-0 at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium through goals from Chelsea’s teenage winger Estevao and Manchester United midfielder Casemiro.

Meanwhile, Italy boss Gennaro Gattuso says Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori has left the international camp. He did not play in Italy’s World Cup qualifying win over Moldova on Thursday, having been following an individual training programme for load management.

“We tried Calafiori, he had a few issues,” Gattuso told Sky Sports Italia, external before Italy’s match against Norway today.

“I thank him for his commitment. He stayed here for a week, he could have played perhaps, but it wouldn’t have been fair to him or Arsenal.”

A source told BBC Sport that Calafiori has not returned to Arsenal for any treatment. (BBC Sport)

Gill hospitalised after suffering neck spasm

SHUBMAN Gill’s participation in the remainder of the Kolkata Test is in doubt after he was hospitalised as a precautionary measure with neck spasm.

Gill was stretchered from the stadium to a private hospital for scans at the end of the second day. He was spotted wearing a neck brace and was accompanied by the team doctor and a security liaison officer out of the stadium.

Gill felt discomfort three balls into his innings after unfurling a sweep to get off the mark with a boundary off Simon Harmer, and immediately called for the physio as he clutched the back of his neck.

Gill was quick to leave the field, retired hurt, and didn’t return to bat as India were bowled out for 189.

“Shubman Gill has a neck spasm and is being monitored by the BCCI medical team,” the BCCI said after the first session.

Before the day’s play, Gill was spotted by the broadcasters doing neck exercises in front of the coaching staff and a member of the medical team. In October 2024, too, he missed a Test against New

Zealand due to neck stiffness.

Terming the injury as “unfortunate”, India bowling coach Morne Morkel ruled out major concerns when asked about Gill’s workload and participation.

“Gill is a very fit guy, he looks after himself very well,” Morkel said. “So, it’s just unfortunate this morning that he woke up with a stiff neck and that carried him into the day, which was crucial for us. Another sort of partnership with him batting around was going to be needed for us at the time and... just bad timing.”

If he returns to bat in the Test, it may not be at No. 4 since it wasn’t an external injury.

Gill’s injury scare comes at a time when his workload has been under constant monitoring. He has played non-stop cricket across formats since IPL 2025 and was among four Test players who flew to Kolkata straight from Australia after the T20I series.

In Gill’s absence, Rishabh Pant captained the side during South Africa’s second innings.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

Ravindra Jadeja picked a four-wicket haul

India captain Shubman Gill

Bravo, Pollard officially appointed as National Sports Ambassadors

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC)– In a formal ceremony held on November 12, Trinidad and Tobago’s cricket icons Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard were officially appointed as National Sports Ambassadors.

The instruments of appointment were presented by Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs, Dr Sean Sobers, at the ministry’s headquarters in St. Clair.

The appointments fulfil a government commitment to honour the nation’s most distinguished athletes, whose accomplishments on the global stage serve as an inspiration to citizens and elevate Trinidad and Tobago’s international profile.

“These appointments reflect the Government’s commitment to honouring outstanding national performers, whose achievements inspire our citizens and advance TT’s presence worldwide,” a ministry statement confirmed.

The path to this honour began in early September when Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Phillip Watts, first announced plans to appoint Bravo following a postcabinet meeting.

That decision was swiftly validated on the field, as the Trinbago Knight Riders, coached by Bravo, clinched the Caribbean

Premier League title on September 21, defeating the Guyana Amazon Warriors in a thrilling final in Providence.

The championship victory sparked a wave of national celebration. Just two days later, on September 23, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar hosted the triumphant TKR squad, along with World Athletics Championships medallists Keshorn Walcott and Jereem Richards, at the Diplomatic Centre in St. Ann’s.

During that event, the Prime Minister not only announced that the TKR team would receive the prestigious Chaconia Gold medal but also named TKR captain Nicholas Pooran, star all-rounder Pollard, and javelin champion Walcott as Sports Ambassadors.

While the official appointment dates for Nicholas Pooran and Keshorn Walcott remain to be finalised, the government has expressed great anticipation for its new collaboration with Bravo and Pollard.

The ministry’s statement concluded, “The ministry looks forward to working with Mr Bravo and Mr Pollard as they champion the values of excellence, teamwork and national pride at home and abroad as well as promote TT’s brand internationally.”

Archer gives England ‘firepower’ for Ashes battle

FORMER England selector

Ed Smith says Jofra Archer’s explosive pace has provided captain Ben Stokes with the “firepower” he needs to win back the Ashes.

Archer was brought into the England fold in 2019 during Smith’s time as national selector between 2018 and 2021.

Barbados-born Archer played an integral part in England’s famous 50-over World Cup win that year and left an impression on the Ashes series that followed.

He endured a torrid period through injury in subsequent years but the 30-year-old has been carefully managed to ensure he was fit for this highly-anticipated series.

“I think everyone who watched Jofra Archer at Lord’s on debut against Australia saw how he can influence matches,” Smith told BBC Sport.

“England currently have access to pace and firepower which could

be very important. So, to see him [Archer] fit at the start of the tour is very exciting.

“Smith also said the decision over whether Ollie Pope or Jacob Bethell should bat at number three in the opening Test in Perth is likely to be more complex than is widely thought.

He added: “I wouldn’t start with who am I am going to put here, who am I going to put there. I’d start with how do you take 20 wickets? How do achieve an element of superiority?

“My view of cricket selections is a bit different to most people. I don’t start with ‘who’s your three? Who’s your five?’

“Rather than individuals, I’m typically more interested in balance and how a team adds up to more than some of its parts.

“I think that they will be having those [selection] conversations now and then the names will fall out of them.” (BBC Sport)

Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Sean Sobers(C) stands alongside newly-appointed sports ambassadors Kieron Pollard (L) and Dwayne Bravo, at the ministry’s headquarters in St Clair, on November 12. (Courtesy Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs).

Yorke ‘disappointed’ with T&T’s exit from World Cup qualifiers

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Trinidad and Tobago head coach, Dwight Yorke said he is disappointed after failing in his quest to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

T&T needed a win in their penultimate match against Jamaica on Thursday, but only managed a 1-1 draw, which left them no chance of finishing among the top two teams in the group.

In their five games played in the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers, T&T have won one, drawn three and lost one match.

Yorke, who was hired last November and given a mandate by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) to qualify for the World Cup, admitted he was saddened by the result.

“I can tell you that we’re disappointed with the results, but I can’t tell you how proud I am about these players, what they’ve given over the past year since I have taken this job.

“It’s hard to think that we are not where we want to be because of the points system,” Yorke said following the match against Jamaica.

“It’s been that sort of campaign for us, where we dominated teams, but somehow, we came up a little short. But it’s very encouraging; as a coach, you’ve got to be happy.

“It felt like a defeat; it felt like a dig in the stomach. It’s not easy to swallow that when you know you’ve dominated teams like Jamaica.”

Despite the results not going in their favour, Yorke said he was proud of the performance and determination shown by the team throughout the campaign.

“We haven’t been able to close the games off, but in terms of football, anyone who watched T&T play football, certainly from the time I’ve taken the job to where we are, you’ve got to be proud of these guys.

“They’ve left everything out there; they’ve given everything. The fans, the people of T&T, came out in their numbers to support the team.

“We just came up a little bit short, but I’m over the moon by the team’s performance and what we’ve been able to do at this point,” Yorke said.

Teddy Bishop at the helm of Volcanoes’ Super50 Cup team

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, (CMC) – ONE of Grenada’s emerging talents, Teddy Bishop has been chosen to lead the Windward Islands Volcanoes at the upcoming CG United Super50 Cup.

The Windward Islands Cricket Board named the 22-year-old Bishop, a top order batsman, as captain when it unveiled its 14-member squad earlier this week. Bishop has played a solitary ODI for the West Indies and also represented the West Indies Under-19s.

He will have fellow countryman Johann Jeremiah as his vice-captain for the tournament, which bowls off in Trinidad on November 19.

A noticeable inclusion is Saint Lucia’s Kimani Melius, a former West Indies Under-19 captain who

is making his return to List A cricket after a two-year absence.

The squad features a blend of experienced players and emerging talents who will be looking to carry the Volcanoes to their fifth title. They will begin their campaign next Wednesday against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

• SQUAD WINDWARD ISLANDS

VOLCANOES: Teddy Bishop (captain), Johann Jeremiah (vicecaptain), Sunil Ambris, McKenny Clarke, Darel Cyrus, Kenneth Dember, Shadrack Descarte, Daniel McDonald, Dillon Douglas, Keon Gaston, Kimani Melius, Kirsten Murray, Darron Nedd, Stephan Pascal.

Suryavanshi, 14, hits 144 off 42 balls for India A

Suryavanshi scored a 35ball century for Rajasthan Royals earlier this year in the IPL

TEENAGER Vaibhav Suryavanshi smashed an astonishing 144 off just 42 balls in India A’s victory over the United Arab Emirates in their Asia Cup Rising Stars T20 match.

The 14-year-old, who shot to fame by becoming the youngest player and century-maker at the Indian Premier League earlier this year, reached his century in 32 balls.

It is the joint fifth-fastest hundred in all men’s T20s.

His second T20 century included 11 fours and 15 sixes as he propelled India A to 297-4 in Doha, with his side going on to win by 148 runs.

Suryavanshi hit the fastest century on record in youth one-day internationals, off 52 deliveries, in victory over England in July.

It followed his staggering 35-ball hundred for Rajasthan Royals in only his third IPL match in April, which also made him the youngest centurion in men’s T20s. (BBC Sport)

Trinidad and Tobago head coach, Dwight Yorke

Teddy Bishop will skipper the Windward Islands Volcanoes in the Super50 Cup

SURINAME ON BRINK OF HISTORY!

One win away from first-ever World Cup berth

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, (CMC) – Suriname stands on the brink of an unprecedented achievement after qualifying for its first-ever FIFA World Cup, following a dominant 4–0 victory over El Salvador on Thursday night at the sold-out Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadion.

The emphatic win keeps ‘Natio’, as the national team is affectionately known, unbeaten and atop Group A in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying campaign.

With one match remaining, Suriname and Panama both have nine points, but the former leads the group with a superior goal difference.

With Panama edging Guatemala 3-2 on Thursday, both El Salvador and Guatemala have been eliminated from World Cup qualification.

Suriname only needs now to defeat Guatemala in their final game on Tuesday to qualify top of the group and book their spot at next year’s World Cup, while Panama would have

to win by a large margin against El Salvador.

Should Suriname qualify, they would become the lowest-ranked nation ever to reach a World Cup.

Currently 126th in the FIFA rankings, Natio would surpass the record set by North Korea, which qualified for the 2010 World Cup while ranked 105th. • Continues on Page 26

GMRSC PREPARES FOR DRAG WARS 4: SEASON FINALE SET FOR NOVEMBER 30

UNITY SOFTBALL CUP REDUCED TO ONE-DAY TOURNAMENT TODAY

THE Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMRSC) has shifted its full attention to the final event on its 2025 calendar — the Drag Wars 4 International Showdown, scheduled for Sunday, November 30, at the South Dakota Circuit.

The event will serve as the decisive finale of the 2025 drag racing season, where champions across multiple classes of the GMRSC Drag Racing Championship will be officially crowned.

Organisers are anticipating more than 100 competitors, making it one of the largest participant turnouts in recent years.

A significant highlight of this year’s edition is the expected arrival of a large Surinamese racing contingent, preparing to challenge the Guyanese competitors in an intense quarter-mile showdown. Their participation adds a strong international element to the event, enhancing regional rivalry and raising competitive expectations.

Racing is scheduled to begin at 8:30 AM, with organisers promising a full day of high-speed action, technical displays, and crowd-pleasing matchups as drivers push their machines to the limit in pursuit of season-ending glory.

Admission for the event is $3,000 for adults and $1,000 for children.

The GMRSC notes that Drag Wars 4 will conclude a successful year of motorsport activities, marking the final opportunity for fans to witness top-tier drag racing for the 2025 season.

THE prevailing inclement weather has forced the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) Inc to reduce the Unity Softball Cup to a one-day affair set for the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary, today. Originally planned for last month end, the GSCL had to postpone the tournament due to the unavailability of grounds.

However, the GSCL has decided to stage a one-day tournament instead, starting at 10:00 hours.

Today’s action will see Regal Legends opposing archrivals Parika Legends in the Over-50 category while Regal Masters will clash with Essequibo Masters in the Masters Over-40 and Success All Stars opposing a Select X1 in the day’s finale in the Open class.

Among the players expected to be on show for Regal Legends are Uniss Yusuf, David Harper, who will be making a return to competitive softball after a break of more than one year and Eon Abel.

Parika Legends will include Dubraj Singh and Ramo Malone.

The powerful Regal Masters lineup includes Patrick Rooplall, Lennox Mark, Ejaz Mohamed and Keith Fraser while former Gyana Under-19 player Latchman Rohit will lead the Essequibo Masters charge.

Trophy Stall, through its proprietor, Ramesh Sunich has once more agreed to support the GSCL and will be providing all the trophies to be distributed today when it’s also expected that Vice-president Dr Bharrat Jagdeo will be on hand to officiate in the presentation.

Also on board are Regal Stationery & Computer Centre, Premier Insurance (Guyana), M. Sookhai & Company (Audit/Advisory/Tax) and Nafeeza’s Kitchen Catering Service.

The one-day tournament follows closely on the successful staging of the recent One Guyana Unification extravaganza, and brings the curtains down on the GSCL activities for the 2025 season.

Apart from the several trophies which will be up for grabs, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in each category will take away a32-inch Smart television, compliments of Regal Stationery & Computer Centre.

President of Suriname Jenny Simons and vice-president Gregory Rusland (centre), celebrate with the Natio players in the locker room after their victory over El Salvador

Lilyana Reve Quesada, a representative of Trophy Stall poses with one of the trophies up for grabs in today’s tournament