By Feona Morrison
SPEAKING at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday, June 19, 2025, Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Hugh Todd delivered a powerful address linking poverty and underdevelopment to global instability and conflict.
The minister was at the time leading an open debate convened by Guyana, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council.
The discussion was titled, “Poverty, Underdevelopment and Conflict: Implications for the Maintenance of International Peace and Security”.
“We meet today amidst immense challenges to international peace and security,” Minister Todd told the Council. “This is manifested in the unprecedented number of conflicts and growing tensions in many parts of the world where peace is becom-
ing increasingly fragile.”
He stressed that as challenges evolve, so, too, must global responses, emphasising the need to examine root causes. “Guyana has chosen to focus today’s debate on poverty and underdevelopment, and their implications for the maintenance of international peace and security,” he said.
Minister Todd expressed gratitude to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Assistant Secretary-General Kanni Wignaraja of the UNDP, and H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, for their insights on the topic.
Central to his address was the argument that peace cannot be achieved or sustained without addressing economic inequalities. “Peace and security cannot be divorced from development,” Todd stated.
“Poverty and underdevelopment are common features across many of the situations of which the Security Coun-
Minister
cil is seized. As a matter of course, the Council must also apply a development lens in carrying out its mandate.”
Citing a 1992 Security Council Presidential Statement, he reminded the Council of its own words: “Peace and prosperity are indivisible,
Warning of slow progress towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Todd noted that 83 per cent of the SDG targets are projected to be unmet, with 1.1 billion people still living in multidimensional poverty. He added that nearly half a billion of these individuals reside in countries affected by violent conflict, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
poverty and address underdevelopment. The world, therefore, stands at a critical juncture, where the interlinkages between peace, security, and development have never been more pronounced. This moment calls for collective and decisive action. In this context, I wish to proffer the following points for the Council’s consideration.”
and lasting peace and stability will require effective international cooperation for the eradication of poverty and the promotion of a better life for all in larger freedom.” He added, “This remains relevant today — perhaps even more so.”
He stressed that prioritising political solutions alone is insufficient. “It is equally critical to create conditions for socio-economic stability and well-being,” Todd said. “We must therefore address, inter alia, lack of economic opportunities, lack of access to education, unemployment and exclusion.”
Moreover, Minister Todd stated, “the 2025 World Social Report has warned that an escalation of ongoing conflicts—or the emergence of new ones—would lead to further setbacks in our global efforts to eradicate
In his appeal, Todd also highlighted the need to strengthen national institutions and renew efforts to reform global financial systems. “There is truth in the saying that being poor is expensive, since developing countries expend more to access finance,” he said.
“The global financial architecture should be more responsive to the needs of developing countries as a whole, particularly those transitioning out of conflict. This is critical for derisking and resilience building.”
He referenced an IMF
See page 4
DEPUTY Chief Election Officer (CEO) Aneal Giddings has given the assurance that Guyana’s upcoming general and regional elections will be “free, transparent and credible,” as the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) intensifies preparations ahead of Nomination Day, scheduled for July 14, 2025.
He updated the media on Thursday following a critical stakeholder meeting involving representatives from 28 political parties.
Giddings explained that the session was largely geared toward education and preparation, but it also exposed several long-standing concerns—particularly among newer and smaller parties—over procedural clarity and transparency.
The senior GECOM official said the meeting, attended by around 35 representatives, was intended to provide clarity on the technical and procedural requirements for contesting the upcoming general and regional elections set for September 1, 2025.
“This session was convened because we thought it best to address the political parties that have shown a desire to contest these elections,” Giddings explained. “And from the reaction of those who attended, I believe it was a success.”
Some of the small parties raised questions about the “Joinder of Lists” provision, a mechanism that allows smaller parties to combine their electoral strength.
According to Gid -
dings, this remains a burning issue yet to be addressed by GECOM. He promised to raise the issue at the Commission’s next statutory meeting.
Dr Mark Defrance, leader of ANUG, was among those voicing concern over the unresolved issues surrounding the joinder of lists, citing issues related to the 2020 Joinder arrangement among ANUG, TNM and LJP.
Another significant concern raised was the issue of communication and transparency. Several political parties said they encountered difficulties accessing information from GECOM in the past year.
Giddings acknowledged these concerns and pledged to push for regular engagements, although he emphasised that the Secretariat is bound by the Commission’s decisions.
“From the point of view of the Secretariat… we are actually going above and beyond
to provide information,” he said. “But issues that have to be addressed by the Commission, we will stay away from until we have such guidance.”
On the issue of electoral readiness, Giddings reported that GECOM is actively progressing through the pre-election checklist. The period for symbol submissions is currently ongoing, and approvals are expected by July 4, 2025. Claims and objections are wrapping up, and the preparation of the Revised List of Electors is underway. That list will be publicised for 21 days.
“During that time, the Secretariat is doing its work in identifying polling stations, ensuring the procurement of sensitive and non-sensitive materials…,” Giddings explained.
Regarding symbol submissions, Giddings clarified that while symbols are rarely disqualified, similarity between them can cause concern.
“If a party submits a symbol similar to one
–– says Deputy CEO after meeting with political parties ahead of Nomination Day
already received, they are usually asked to make adjustments.”
Concerns were also raised about the use of new nomination forms. Giddings confirmed that only the updated forms would be accepted, per Commission policy.
“We sent official emails—and, I believe, letters—to each and every party that has signaled an interest, to say that, based on a Commission policy, you’re required to use the forms that have been updated.”
As for the removal of deceased persons from the voters list, Giddings confirmed the process is ongoing.
Giddings reported that the Secretariat has received updated submissions from the General Register Office, resulting in the removal of over 1,000 names flagged as deceased from the voters’ list so far this year.
Giddings assured citizens that the Secretariat is on track for polls on September 1.
“Where we are with preparation, where we are with the work plan… I’m confident that we will deliver a free, transparent, and credible election.”
He concluded by expressing hope that the Commission will improve its communication strategy and support regular media engagements as the election timeline advances.
Meanwhile, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, representing the incumbent People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), expressed satisfaction with the meeting, describing the engagement as a standard and necessary part of the electoral process.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Nand-
lall noted that the briefing provided a clear overview of what is required under the law, particularly the Representation of the People Act.
“The meeting was about what the parties would be required to do, how they are going to prepare their list of candidates, and the rules and regulations governing all of that,” he explained.
When asked whether he was satisfied with how the session was conducted, Nandlall replied in the affirmative.
However, Alliance For Change (AFC) executive Beverley Alert called for the upcoming elections to be postponed, arguing that several concerns raised by smaller political parties—particularly regarding the joinder of lists—remain unresolved following Thursday’s stakeholder meeting.
GECOM’s Deputy Chief Election Officer, however, told the media that this issue will be raised at the Commission’s next statutory meeting.
Further, Carol Smith-Joseph of the People’s National Congress (PNC), wearing a shirt emblazoned with the words “Vote APNU,” described the meeting as “very informative.”
Referring to her party as the “mighty PNC” she asserted that they are always prepared and ready for the elections although the party’s former coalition partner is clamoring for a postponement of the election.
Joseph said: “We are pressing on in terms of our readiness for the first of September.”
AS Guyana observes World Sickle Cell Day today, medical professionals are urging that there be staunch support for those affected by the disease.
Director of the National Blood Transfusion Services, Dr Pedro Lewis and Dr Sherelyn Stanton, a consultant in the Paediatric Medicine Department at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), recently provided an update on Guyana’s efforts to the Guyana Today team, during which they also sought to bring awareness to the disease.
Sickle Cell is an inherited blood disorder where red blood cells become rigid and sickle-shaped, hindering their ability to take oxygen effectively, and causing blockages in blood vessels. It can lead to a number of health complications including pain, fatigue and organ damage.
Dr. Stanton explained that in Guyana, the statistics for Sickle Cell are the same as other parts of the Caribbean region.
“We have roughly about point three per every hundred thousand infected with a major haemoglobinopathy, meaning a blood disorder, and Sickle Cell is a major part of that,” she said.
Dr. Stanton remarked that there is a burden of new patients daily in that clinic, as well as in the chronic diseases clinic.
Speaking on her experience, Dr. Stanton replied, “It’s quite challenging because, no one wants to see a sick child. We all want kids to be healthy. However, this is an inherited disorder. It’s not something they choose to have, and when it does present [itself], it can present [itself] with quite significant pains.”
The doctor noted that
many times when they see children less than two-yearsold that have or will have severe diseases, they may present an insignificant amount of pain which is called ‘dactylitis’. She noted that with this condition, the hands or feet may swell, and they may need blood transfusion done.
In an effort to raise awareness about Sickle Cell, including the way we care and treat persons diagnosed with the disease, Dr. Lewis said the Continued Medical Education (CME) for medical professionals will be hosted soon to educate medical personnel about the disease.
Alongside this, he noted that there will be other activities that are still being planned. Dr. Lewis said that people with Sickle Cell need a supportive community.
He urged persons to visit the Guyana Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Associ -
Director of the National Blood Transfusion Services, Dr Pedro Lewis and Dr Sherelyn Stanton, a Consultant in the Paediatric Medicine Department (NCN photo)
ation’s Facebook page to become part of the Sickle Cell support community, and to be informed about Sickle Cell-related activities.
Moreover, once engaged, persons can be added to the Association’s WhatsApp group.
This year’s theme for
World Sickle Cell Day is, “Global Action, Local Impact: Empowering Communities for Effective Self-Advocacy.”
finding that for every US$1 spent on conflict prevention in post-violence countries, up to US$103 in costs can be saved.
“Sound macroeconomic policies and international support for these policies can play key roles in conflict prevention. This should be an element in the Council’s early recovery efforts,” Todd said.
The minister also called for greater inclusion of women and youth in peace and security frameworks. “Currently, the global youth population is the highest in history, with most young people concentrated in developing countries,” he observed.
“To harness their full potential, they must be given adequate economic opportunities and be involved in decision-making on peace and security.”
Highlighting a 2023 UNDP report, Todd noted that economic motivation—not ideology—was the primary reason young people joined and later left extremist groups. “
“I also underscore that concerted and determined action that addresses the root causes of conflicts requires a comprehensive approach to women’s involvement in peace and security issues, as this Council has long recognised,” Minister Todd added.
Concluding his statement, Minister Todd reflected on the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations. “We must reaffirm equally the three pillars on which the organisation is built and recognise the interconnection between those pillars,” he urged.
In the context of the ongoing discussions on UN reform tied to the UN80 observance, Todd cautioned that “we should ensure that any recalibration does not result in reducing the UN’s role in global development, peace and security, and human rights.”
“The Security Council cannot operate in silos.”
By Trina Williams
FRUSTRATION is boiling over in Linden as residents are growing tired of the opposition spreading racist propaganda to maintain their dwindling support, People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has emphasised.
During a press conference on Thursday at Freedom House, Georgetown, the General Secretary reflected on his recent visit to the mining town located in Region 10.
Over $10 billion has been earmarked to boost infrastructural development in Region 10, promising to transform communities, create jobs, and bring financial security to thousands of residents.
During a visit to Region 10 last week, the General Secretary, who also serves as Guyana’s Vice-President, was accompanied by Minister of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill for the signing of more than 700 contracts under this initiative.
Speaking about his in -
teractions with residents, Dr Jagdeo disclosed: “They [residents] told me about the continuing racist propaganda being spread by the APNU+AFC leadership in the region. It seems as though in Region 10, we cannot get past or the leadership there cannot get past the question of race, and they are doing it quietly through a whisper campaign, and then often it gets into the public domain, where they do it overtly, unashamedly and
we have been very clear that this is something that we will fight against.
“And people in Linden are turned off by this vile propaganda, and they’re disgusted by it. They’re fed up with it.”
He once again reiterated that the PPP stands as the only multiracial political party in Guyana that carries the message of development for all- regardless of their beliefs or physical appearance.
–– Dr Jagdeo says
PEOPLE’S Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary and Guyana’s Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, is hoping that the truth will come to light regarding the brutal murder of Ricardo Fagundes, also known as “Paper Shorts.”
During a press conference at Freedom House on Thursday, he said: “I hope we find out the truth. The President spoke of this sometime ago and he said that, I think some new information have [sic] come to light, and I expect that they will do a professional job and explore this thoroughly [and] at the appropriate time finalise the investigation.”
In April, President, Dr Irfaan Ali had said that shocking developments in the murder investigation of Fagundes will soon lead to further questioning by the police.
President Ali disclosed that the investigation was
AFC to wallow in that,” he added.
Underscoring the billions in contracts awarded to Lindeners, including critics of the government, Dr Jagdeo reaffirmed the PPP’s commitment to progress and also highlighted other developments that are taking place in the mining town.
He noted that the PPP will be sidestepping attacks on APNU+AFC’s dismal track record to spotlight its own achievements.
Although the governing PPP is focused on development, the Vice-President said that the attempts to foster division will not be allowed to go unchecked.
“…We are focused entirely on what we have done and what we will do in the future, and so because we have plans to that future and we know what we are about,” he said.
“We’re not going to compete with APNU on racism.
Let’s leave them APNU/
While highlighting how the government is not discriminating as it carries development throughout the length and breadth of Guyana, the Vice President noted that even those individuals who are highly critical of the government benefitted from contracts.
Additionally, there has been significant enhancements to the road programme, which is aimed at empowering local contractors and
hope we find out the truth’
being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Fagundes, 42, was riddled with bullets by two men outside of Palm Court around 22:00hrs on March 21, 2021. According to the police, Fagundes was having drinks with a colleague in Palm Court when he received a call on his phone. Shortly after exiting Palm Court, the police said several loud explosions were heard and Fagundes was later found lying in a pool of blood on the road. His body bore several gunshot wounds. An autopsy later showed that Fagundes was shot
about 20 times about his body.
President Ali had said: “The FBI is doing the investigation, some aspect is coming back…What I’m advised by the police, there’ll be additional questioning that is required and that is a process.
“He mentioned that the investigation is being carried out by external, impartial sources, and even recommended that the Police Commissioner engage independent investigators.”
“We brought in the RSS for independence; we sent an important piece of evidence to the FBI,” President Ali said.
Four years have passed, but the pain remains as raw as the day Fagundes took his last breath, and his family continues to beg for answers and has said that all fingers point in one direction.
Earlier this year, his family stood in the area on Main Street where his life was snuffed out and continued their call for justice. Fagundes’ mother, Carol Fagundes, stood with other family members and called for justice.
“I need justice for my son,” she said, while holding a placard with her son’s face on it and the words “Justice for my SON!” plastered on it.
“We will always do it until we get justice,” his mother vowed. His sister, Tessa Fagundes, fought tears as she recalled how her brother’s life was unforgivably stolen.
She is adamant that all fingers are pointing in one direction and has urged the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to make the arrest.
“We see a lot of things happening on Facebook
ensuring equal opportunities, Dr Jagdeo said.
For instance, there has been a shift in the allocation of contracts under $15 million, now determined based on standardised rates rather than competitive bidding, he pointed out.
The change prevents a concentration of contracts among a few entities, fostering broader participation, the Vice-President explained.
With the new requirements that projects within a region must be executed by contractors within the same region, this has led to hundreds of contractors from the various regions to benefit, creating economic opportunities and strengthening local capacity.
The Vice-President also highlighted the opposition’s constant nitpicking at the government’s achievements, even in spite of their bleak stint in office, from 20152020.
and a lot of fingers are pointing in certain direction and nobody has been arrested as yet, I don’t know what they are waiting for,” she said.
AS Guyana approaches the September 1, 2025 general and regional elections, the opposition landscape has been transformed into a bewildering theatre of political musical chairs, with familiar faces donning new party labels, while clinging to the same worn philosophies and questionable track records that have repeatedly failed the Guyanese people.
The electorate must not be fooled by this elaborate game of political rebranding that seeks to obscure fundamental truths about governance, competence, and accountability.
The recent splintering of the opposition has reached almost farcical proportions, with former PNCR shadow minister Amanza Walton-Desir launching “Forward Guyana,” after complaining of being sidelined and AFC parliamentarians Juretha Fernandes, Sherod Duncan and Deonarine Ramsaroop marching over to APNU.
This fragmentation has created what analysts describe as an opposition landscape where “at best, it could be said with some liberties taken that the two opposition parties are there, and no more.”
What makes this political theatre particularly concerning is the glaring absence of substantive policy proposals from these newly minted parties and recycled politicians.
Opposition leaders continue making “ambitious promises to voters, pledging substantial increases in government spending,” without presenting coherent funding mechanisms or implementation strategies.
The PPP/C’s Dr Bharrat Jagdeo correctly observed that these politicians “are both going to make a series of promises to the electorate that they have no intention of fulfilling,” echoing their failed 2015 campaign slogan of delivering a “good life for everyone.”
Financial experts have warned that
opposition spending proposals could “rapidly deplete Guyana’s financial reserves, including its Natural Resource Fund.”
The electorate must remember that these same individuals and parties presided over what has been characterised as “the most corrupt” period in Guyana’s history during their 2015-2020 tenure. Their record includes procurement fraud, mismanagement of school-feeding programmes, dubious state lands transactions, and an unprecedented attempt to rig the 2020 elections that plunged the nation into months of political instability.
During their period of governance, healthcare services deteriorated because of underinvestment, infrastructural development was neglected, and Indigenous communities suffered as Amerindian Development Funds were slashed.
As voters watch this show of political self-interest, they should pay attention to real competence instead of empty talk.
The math of Guyana’s electoral system shows that when the opposition splits, unified parties gain an advantage. More importantly, good governance needs more than just slogans and promises.
The current PPP/C administration has shown real results in education, infrastructure and economic growth.
Guyanese voters deserve leaders who offer clear policy plans, not politicians who switch parties, while sticking with the same failed ideas.
The elections in September present a clear choice between those who have proven their abilities and familiar faces pushing the same failed beliefs under different names.
The voters need to make a wise choice. They should look past the political show and focus on past actions, solid policies and the key question of who can truly bring the progress Guyana needs during this transformative era.
Dear Editor,
THE breakdown of negotiations between the PNC and the AFC has done more than end the possibility of an opposition alliance. It has exposed, in broad daylight, what truly motivates these two parties. Not service. Not country. Not vision. But power. Naked, bitter, grasping power.
Over the last few days, Guyanese citizens have had a front-row seat to the unravelling of what was clearly never a coalition built on principle.
It began with a final proposal from the AFC, offering APNU a 65 to 35 split while reserving the prime ministerial post for itself. Within hours, Aubrey Norton rejected it. There was no interest in compromise. After all, he already had he wanted.
In response, AFC Leader Nigel Hughes was forced to admit that a joint list now seemed, in his words, “marginal at best.”
His disappointment was evident, but it came too late. By then, three AFC parliamentarians had already defected to join APNU.
In a revealing move, Sherod Duncan, Juretha Fernandes, and Ricky Ramsaroop all defected without waiting for the talks to formally end. Their loyalty, one can infer, was never to the AFC or to principle. It was to proximity to power.
And if any doubt remained about the nature of these negotiations, they were shattered when businessman Terrence Campbell publicly admitted to Kaieteur News on June 18 that he had promised to “break Norton’s hand” to force the PNC to accept a deal.
This is the kind of language that defined the talks. Not the language of partnership. The language of pressure. The language of desperation.
Even senior figures on the periphery of the opposition have grown alarmed. Just days before the final collapse, former President
David Granger called on his colleagues to “refocus on policy, not power.” But his words were ignored.
The quarrels continued. The leaks increased. And with every passing day, the public was treated to more evidence that this was never about the people. It was about positioning.
Meanwhile, the governing People’s Progressive Party continues to do what it has always done. Work. Deliver. Build. While the opposition traded insults and bargaining terms, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo was in Region Ten launching over ten billion dollars in new investments, including job creation and infrastructure development.
While APNU and the AFC were writing press releases, President Irfaan Ali was confirming that the four-lane highway from Enmore to Ogle will proceed, along with the development of a new industrial zone that will transform the East Coast corridor.
There is a stark contrast before the nation. On one side, a government that remains focused on service and delivery. On the other, an opposition that cannot agree on who should sit at the head of the table, even as the table itself collapses beneath them.
The Guyanese people deserve better than petty quarrels and hunger for office. They deserve hospitals and schools. They deserve safety and housing. They deserve a government that puts them first. That is what the PPP has offered. That is what the PPP continues to deliver.
Let the country take note.
The opposition parties have, time and time again, shown us who they are. We would be wise to believe them.
Sincerely,
Dear Editor,
SOME years ago, I had predicted the destruction and demise of the Alliance For Change (AFC) and had predicted that the PNC will self-destruct.
In January 2022, I had written, “What is of public interest and continues to unfold is the greed for power, which is the trademark of the executives of PNC. Why is it that a party that wants to return to power continues to self-destruct? It is clear that, like the AFC, the PNC is now rapidly disintegrating to the point of no return, with members abandoning ship at regular intervals…. the name ‘PNC’ is itself a stigma, which Guyanese would like not to even repeat, and numerous baptisms have failed to remove it.”
The name AFC now has the same effectits top executive members are jumping ship in all direction. The names PNC and AFC are akin to the Mummy’s Curse to this country. It is clear that Norton and Hughes are now pretty lonesome. I can hear them singing the refrain, ‘There’s no one there to sing to in the end, I’m hummin’ on that lonesome song again (Jamey Johnson).’
I had also predicted that the Coalition, which primarily comprised of the PNC as the major party would die a natural death given its penchant for corruption, cronyism and lack of socio-economic vision for the country.
Undoubtedly, the AFC shares the same DNA. I made it clear that, they cannot continue to bellow on hills and mountain tops about marginalisation and discrimination, since their own supporters and members are faced with the stark truth that the APNU/AFC is the sinister architect and enforcer of marginalising and impoverishing its own flock.
This old and obsolete mantra has outlived its usefulness. The old corruption and marginalisation mantra will not work. “Blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear’ (Holy Bible).
I can recall that when the PNC’s abhorrent deeds were narrated to young Guyanese, they seldom believed, and received those historical facts with varying degrees of skepticism. Fortunately, they had a first-hand view of what the PNC is capable of during the Coalition’s term in office, and their rigging propen-
sities. Now these young people are shouting ‘No More’. Dr Jagdeo put this aptly when he stated that the APNU/AFC ‘attempted to steal a whole country’ in full view of the world.
Today these youths are convinced, and our people do not pledge blind allegiance to any political party; the party they voted for must deliver on its manifesto and promises to the people. The PPP/C has delivered from Day One and Guyanese of all walks of life have witnessed this. In fact, the PPP/C delivered beyond its Manifesto promises.
The PPP/C does not pay scant and flippant regard to this sacred agreement between the party and the people, unlike the APNU/AFC.
The PPP/C’s socio-economic programmes do not make exception to any race, class, or ethnic grouping, and supporters of the PNC and the AFC are not blind to this fact. President Ali’s One Guyana initiative is not mere vacuous rhetoric, but his government is meaningfully pursuing its major objective of uniting the Guyanese people.
The magnitude of this massive effort is unprecedented and is greatly successful. Therefore, the great exodus of the PNC and AFC members and supporters is not accidental but as a consequence of the inclusive policies of the PPP/C.
Today, when high profile members of the PNC and AFC are embracing President Ali and the PPP/C in massive numbers they are attacked and condemned in the vilest of terms. But these con-artists from the APNU and AFC should know that they cannot fool all the people all the time.
“Dis time na lang time” as the song goes. Anyone who wants to entertain the thought of a third party should do a study of the AFC.
The PPP/C has the Midas Touch whilst the PNC and the AFC has the opposite of that touch. The masses have witnessed the numerous times which the PNC and then its partner in crime the AFC, have destroyed this beautiful land.
Therefore, the Guyanese people are now saying in unison, ‘the days for partisan politics are over: either deliver or be kicked out’.
Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf
Dear Editor,
IN recent weeks, several letters have expressed concern about whether the economic benefits of Guyana’s newfound wealth are reaching ordinary households.
One area showing clear improvement is the healthcare sector. Thanks to increased resources, we are witnessing greater access to healthcare for all Guyanese.
This focus is a priority for the Government of Guyana and President Ali, who stated, “We are not building hospitals alone; we are building systems of care rooted in dignity, access, and equity for every Guyanese.” A critical indicator of Guyana’s economic and social progress is how effectively it delivers healthcare services to all citizens.
In economics. access to healthcare is a multifaceted issue that encompasses economic, social, and structural elements. Improving access requires targetted policies that address these diverse challenges, ensuring that all individuals can obtain the healthcare they need. We see that the current government is laser focused on this.
From 2015 to 2020, the APNU+AFC administration allocated an average of over G$25 billion annually to healthcare. In contrast, the current government allocated some G$41.7 billion in 2024. However, outcomes during the previous administration were troubling, with maternal mortality rates increasing, life-saving medications often unavailable, and trained professionals left the
public system at alarming rates. Major projects, such as the Specialty Hospital, were postponed, and promised upgrades to regional facilities never materialised, leaving rural and hinterland communities continually neglected.
Despite multiple assurances, service delivery was inadequate, leading to poorer health outcomes, and lengthy waits for essential care across the country.
Under President Ali’s leadership, healthcare investment has shifted dramatically, prioritising the well-being of the people in national development.
His vision goes beyond merely expanding services; it aims to fundamentally reshape healthcare delivery.
As he asserts, “Together, we are not just improving healthcare; we are redefining it.” This philosophy drives significant reforms designed to ensure that every Guyanese, regardless of location, can access timely, high-quality care without financial burden.
Since taking office in 2020, the PPP/C government has launched an ambitious campaign to build or renovate 12 state-of-the-art regional hospitals by 2028. Six of these hospitals are scheduled to be opened in 2025, located in Anna Regina, De Kinderen, Diamond, Enmore, Bath, and No. 75. These facilities will provide 24-hour emergency services, modern laboratories, advanced imaging suites, and fully-equipped operating theaters.
A flagship project within this initiative is the Paediatric and Maternal Hospital under construction at Goedverwag-
ting on the East Coast of Demerara. The aim of this G$31.9 billion investment is to enhance healthcare outcomes for women and children, featuring a 256bed, Level-Five facility designed for high-risk mothers and newborns.
Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony emphasised that the hospital will be equipped with “the most modern equipment to match the expected level of care”. This innovative approach has garnered interest from Trinidad and Tobago, which is considering a similar model for its maternal health initiatives. More than just infrastructure, this project aims to deliver essential care where it is most needed, safeguarding future generations’ health.
Additionally, Guyana has embraced digital innovations in healthcare. In partnership with Northwell Health and Mount Sinai, 84 telemedicine hubs have been established nationwide, delivering real-time specialist care to remote areas.
Equipped with modern diagnostic tools and staffed by trained professionals, these hubs have significantly improved healthcare accessibility. Previously, residents of rural areas often traveled hours for simple check-ups; now, care is closer to home.
Moreover, Guyanese can access care more quickly and efficiently. Diagnostic turnaround times at Georgetown Public Hospital have decreased from three months to just a few days. Thousands of patients have received cataract surgeries and free eyeglasses.
Over 900 nursing assistants have graduated from new training programs, while elderly citizens benefit from im-
proved home care services and expanded geriatric units, allowing them to live with dignity and comfort.
The Ministry of Health has also launched cancer screening campaigns and significantly boosted immunization coverage.
Today, our healthcare system is evolving from a struggling model plagued by shortages and inefficiencies into a robust component of a global network of medical excellence, supported by partnerships, upgraded facilities, trained personnel, and digital systems.
Dr. Frank Anthony has brought valuable expertise to the health ministry, overseeing regional reform efforts and national programs with professionalism and strategic insight.
In stark contrast, during the APNU+AFC government, Health Minister Volda Lawrence, an accountant with no formal training in medicine or public health, raised serious concerns about her ability to manage a complex healthcare system. Under her tenure, healthcare delivery, especially for hinterland residents, significantly regressed.
The PPP/C government is committed to positioning Guyana as a world-class healthcare destination by 2030, and they are making substantial progress toward this goal. Guyanese are benefitting from an improving healthcare system characterized by enhanced access and quality of care.
Sincerely, Dr. Tilokie Arnold Depoo Economist
Dear Editor,
IT would be recalled that since the split of the APNU+AFC coalition, Vice President and General Secretary of the PPP/C, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, had predicted that the AFC will, before the national elections, unashamedly crawl right back to the APNU begging to re-consume them into the façade of an APNU+AFC coalition. On June 18, 2025, that prediction manifested quite beautifully, though not surprisingly.
At the outset of the so-called coalition talks between the two parties, AFC had put to the APNU a presumptuous proposal demanding 55 per cent of the seats in the National Assembly, which was outrightly and correctly rejected by the APNU leader, Aubrey Norton.
Subsequently, in a bravado exhibition, the AFC embolden their presumptuousness by declaring that they will contest the elections alone, knowing full well to themselves that their demise at the polls would be guaranteed.
As the AFC’s internal divide and disen-
chanted members deepened, which played out on Wednesday with the defections of that party’s youngest members to the APNU, unknowingly to the party apparently, the AFC was forced into a retreat, which saw them “eating their vomit”, by running back to the APNU with a desperately downscaled proposal from demanding 55 per cent of the seats, down to 35 per cent, which was again, rightly and correctly rejected by the APNU in the circumstances.
These developments flied in the face of Nigel Hughes who fallaciously presented himself as an inspirational leader for the youths especially. Yet, under his leadership, he has failed to attract new members to the party. Instead, the inverse occurred.
Brief review of Nigel Hughes’ tenure since re-taking, by way of hijacking, the AFC’s leadership:
On June 29, 2024, Hughes won the AFC leadership at the party’s 8th National Congress. Thereafter, he immediately called for a 10–15-year national development plan. This was a plea made to other political parties whereby a special public request was made
by him for the leadership of the PPP/C to engage him on this front.
This was despite the AFC’s existence for some two decades, bearing in mind that he previously served as the party’s leader as well. This, in my assessment, was a subtle way of accepting that the AFC lacks the capability to develop an original national development plan, much less public policies.
One year following his election to the party’s helm, he publicly discouraged the trend of students sitting 20+ CSEC subjects. He also criticised the GOAL scholarship programme, despite its widespread uptake, arguing it doesn’t suit Guyana’s realities.
It would be recalled, too, that his dishonesty was exposed in connection with his contract with ExxonMobil Guyana (EMGL). When asked about this, he had disclosed, unequivocally should his client’s interest conflict with the country’s, his client’s interest shall prevail.
After being brutally criticised for this by the PPP/C General Secretary and this author, he then backpedaled—stating that he was not the attorney representing EMGL, which was
quickly disproved when a video surfaced of a Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) hearing in a case involving EMGL, wherein he was in fact the attorney representing EMGL.
Simultaneously, Nigel Hughes was actively working to undermine Norton with the hope that he would have been supported to somehow become a “consensus presidential candidate” to lead the APNU/AFC coalition.
Norton, being the smarter and more seasoned politician than Hughes, who is a fake sophisticate, survived Hughe’s machinations to have him ousted, thereby crushing Hughes’ ambition, thus, proving that Hughes is politically inept and daft.
As the national elections near with less than three months remaining, these developments in the political landscape are quite entertaining as they unfold, proving what we knew a long time and predicted, that Hughes is a fake sophisticate, lacks substance, discreditable, and hugely politically inept.
Yours truly, Joel Bhagwandin
Dear Editor,
WITHIN the last few days, I mulled whether to pen my thoughts on Walter Rodney, whom I first learnt about in 1974. At the time, I was pursuing doctoral studies at Kent State University, Ohio, where, one Friday afternoon, my friend, Subash, handed me a copy of Rodney’s book, “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa”.
Subash knew Rodney briefly while both taught in Tanzania.
While reading the book, I gradually developed a profound respect and admiration for the author, who eloquently presented the dynamics of development and underdevelopment, and did so with commanding analytical scrutiny and persuasiveness that left a reader in awe.
In 1977, as fate would have it, while employed as a lecturer at the University of Guyana, I was fortunate to have Patricia Rodney as a student in my Research Methods course. From her, I requested an introduction to her husband. Reluctantly, Pat agreed, but only after I persisted. This then led to a brief meeting one day when Rodney drove Pat to UG campus for her classes. After this initial meeting, I met Rodney almost every week as he went to pick up his son Shaka, and I, my nephew, Andrew, both of whom were students at Queen’s College at the time.
As we became increasingly acquainted, Rodney told me that the Burnham government was monitoring his whereabouts
twenty-four hours a day and that I needed to be careful of being seen with him. Since I had recently returned home upon my recruitment by UG, I was dismissive of his caution, and continued to engage him in discourse in full public view near Queen’s College.
While lecturing at UG, Cheddi Jagan and I met frequently at his request to discuss Burnham’s nationalisation and authoritarian policies. Prior to that, I had met Cheddi a few times through my brother-inlaw, the late Diah Singh, who was a PYO organiser in the 1960s, and who, along with C.V Nunes and others, were incarcerated at Sibley Hall for almost three years. Since I had written a few articles published by the Mirror under a pseudonym, Cheddi asked if I would tackle the issue of National Front Government - power sharing, because of his interest in this issue. Upon agreeing, I mentioned the request to Rodney, who, without hesitation, said Burnham would reject any form of power-sharing. Rodney reiterated his respect for Cheddi, whom, he said, was an “honest politician who cared for the well-being of all Guyanese”. Burnham’s “ego’ and lust for “absolute political power” would not acquiesce to any form of power-sharing, Rodney assured me. Despite my disagreement with Cheddi on the composition of such a government, I wrote the article, “National Governmental is Essential”. After publication in the Mirror, Rodney commended me, with the caution, “Be careful, Burnham’s spies are everywhere”.
He also fore-warned me about the scheduled anti-Burnham meeting at Bourda Market, which, he said his reliable sources informed him of pre-planned violence. As reported afterwards, Father Bernard Darke was stabbed and killed at this event.
Hurriedly leaving Guyana, I took up an appointment with the University of the Virgin Islands in St. Thomas. While there, the university’s student body invited Rodney to give a lecture on the History of Blacks in the Caribbean. During his speech, the room suddenly turned into utter darkness. Without a moment’s pause, Rodney continued to deliver his address while integrating the darkness with the frequent electrical blackouts in Guyana. At the end of his speech, the students stood up in what seemed like five minutes of thunderous ovation.
The day after the speech, aware that the university had not prepared for Rodney’s extended stay, Dennis, an electrical engineer of Guyanese background, and I, agreed for him to lodge with us. During the day, Rodney spent time with my family and I, and at night he slept at Dennis, who was alone in a two-bedroom apartment across the parking lot from us.
During his week’s stay, before dinner, Rodney regularly played with my two sons, Shashi and Shiv, who, at the time, were two, and four years old, respectively. One evening, on hands and knees on the floor, he had Shashi on his back chasing after Shiv, telling them he was the “horsie”. Whenever he stopped and pretended to kick, Shiv and Shashi burst out laughing
uncontrollably.
Throughout his stay, Rodney, my wife and I, engaged in after-dinner conversations late into the night. Struck by his humility and grace, my wife and I spent much time talking about him after he left our apartment to go over to Dennis to sleep.
On a few occasions during our conversations, I probed him on assassination, knowing that Father Bernard Darke was stabbed to death, Josh Ramsammy was shot and nearly died, and Vincent Teekah died mysteriously from a bullet wound. Without trepidation, Rodney acknowledged such possibility, almost always saying, “If dat happens, wah can you do”.
Rodney and I spoke late the day I drove him to the airport for his trip to the US, where he travelled to deliver a speech at a university, and arrange for the publication of his book, “A History of the Guyanese Working People”.
Awaiting the announcement for his flight, we chatted about the future of Guyana. “The unity of Afro and Indo-Guyanese is critical to the country’s development,” he said with conviction. And, as he stood to leave, I asked him when would I see him again. He stared out into the ocean as if in deep thought, and softly said, “I am not sure, brother”.
Regards Narayan Persaud, PhD
Professor Emeritus
AUBREY NORTON did the required first-year philosophy course at UG with Theo Morris before I started teaching that course.
I do not know if Morris had Arthur Koestler on his reading list. For all the years I taught that course, I had Koestler on my course outline.
Koestler remains one of my favourite learned humans that I have gained knowledge from. His essential contribution to ontology was that twist it or turn it, looked at from any angle, Homo sapiens is a flawed species and there is nothing society or science can do about it.
Former PPP Minister of Education, Dr. Dale Bisnauth (deceased) was not a fan of Koestler. Of course that is easy to understand. Dr. Bisnauth was a Christian theologian. About 30 years ago, Dr. Bisnauth wrote a scathing critique of Koestler’s work in the PPP’s newspaper, The Mirror. I asked students to juxtapose Bisnauth’s essay with the essential arguments of Koestler.
I don’t know if Aubrey Norton studied Koestler when he did philosophy with Theo Morris but Koestler is important in understanding the hypocrisy of Norton and his colleague, James Mc Allister who two days ago came to the rescue of (Norton’s rescue is impossible – Guyana’s politics is cruel) over the exit of Amanza Walton-Desir and those who are planning against Norton.
For those too young to remember, James McAllister, Aubrey Norton and Vincent Alexander did to the then-leader of the PNC, Robert Corbin, what those in the PNC are now doing to Norton. Three times in these columns of mine I noted that Norton was getting a taste of his own medicine.
As soon as he succeeded Desmond Hoyte after the latter’s death, Corbin had to contend with guerrilla warfare led by Norton, Alexander and McAllister. This triumvirate weakened the Corbin leadership of the PNC. It was this guerrilla warfare that pushed Corbin into the arms of Rupert Roopnaraine and led to the formation of APNU and the disappearance of Corbin.
Corbin fought back after Alexander challenged him for leadership. It was a sordid leadership battle that saw Corbin winning under questionable circumstances.
One of the manifestations of this sordidness took place on the street where I grew up –D’Urban Street. As time moved closer to congress, the PNC produced a number of delegates from the Wortmanville/Werk-enRust group.
The PNC announced a 66 membership of the group which was defunct and the building that housed the group was derelict. It was through this kind of corrugated process that Corbin staved off the challenge from Alexander.
Corbin removed McAllister from Parliament. He asked Alexander to resign as a PNC commissioner on GECOM. Alexander refused. This is an analysis for a forthcoming column.
While McAllister migrated and Alexander resigned from the PNC, Norton carried the fight to Corbin and it reached the High Court. It was an internecine battle that almost killed the PNC, saved only by the birth of APNU. It is unadulterated hypocrisy of McAlister to chastise Walton-Desir and others for internal fighting when McAllister and Norton almost gave Corbin a heart attack.
One of the persons close to the triumvirate at the time (and still do after all these years) was David Hinds. This is a man who does not own up to his past life and explains why he changed but simply denies things that he is on record of saying.
David told me that McAllister, Alexander and Norton were assertive in their demand that Corbin step down because he cannot be their leader. David told me that. I hope he has the decency, ethical structure and political bravery to acknowledge that he told me that these three men did not accept Corbin as the PNC leader.
All Walton-Desir, Roysdale Forde, Simona Broomes, Ubraj Narine, Annette Ferguson, Norman Browne and others have done to the leadership of the PNC under Norton is what the triumvirate and their acolytes did to Corbin. It is completely ghoulish how history is repeating itself in the PNC. Corbin became leader with senior PNC bigwigs saying you should not be leader.
Corbin then faced a rebellion from within and from without. The Mulatto/Creole class (MCC) said you cannot be our leader; class and colour are the things you don’t have and we are not giving you money, we will have our own MCC party and they did.
Norton faced a rebellion from within and from without. The MCC has told Norton since 2022 that he cannot be their leader and he has received not a cent from them since. Now another MCC party, Forward Guyana, has been formed to weaken the PNC.
The AFC stole six seats from Corbin. How many seats will Forward Guyana steal? McAllister and Corbin have proved Koestler right. We humans are flawed.
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.
By Trina Williams
WITH clear signs of trouble showing in the opposition camp, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has said that the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) are locked in a self-serving cycle where an obsession with positions over policies reigns supreme.
Dr. Jagdeo on Thursday during a news conference at Freedom House, Georgetown, gave his opinion on the recent chaos that has engulfed the opposition camp.
In a single day, the AFC crumbled under the weight of political infighting, defections, and failed coalition
talks. However, it was not alone, as the APNU faced its own battles. Adding to its wave of defections, Member of Parliament Amanza Walton-Desir left the party to form her own political movement.
With the September 1 General and Regional Elections looming, the opposition’s disarray leaves its future hanging by a thread.
Rather than presenting a cohesive vision, Dr. Jagdeo said the APNU and AFC are hinged on opportunistic politicking, with contradicting stories continuously emerging.
“You had a brotherhood in trying to rig elections, you had brotherhood with the disastrous policies of taking away the children’s grant
etc... At least get your story straight, and until now, every day as of today, we can’t know what took place; everyone has a different version of what took place in the talks, and who said what, and then they rebut each other openly, all the time,” he said.
The General Secretary also criticised the AFC for being desperate to join the APNU, even with Aubrey Norton as the leader; the same candidate they themselves dismissed as lacking national appeal just weeks ago.
While addressing the constant back-and-forth between the former coalition partners and their airing their dirty laundry in the public domain, the General Secretary said: “But behind
all the clownishness and this confusion is a tragedy, and people have to think through it. So, it reinforces our point that all along they were only negotiating about positions…”
The opposition’s strategy appears to be centred around recycling familiar faces rather than broadening their base, the General Secretary pointed out.
He said: “So, what we’ve seen now with the recent configurations in the last couple of days is a recycling of the same people within the same coalition; they just seem to be switching sides… When you are a political party, you look for momentum and growth;
‘five years of disastrous performance’
you want to bring people to you who are not part of your camp. If you are using people who are traditionally part of your camp to move to another part of your camp, then you’re not really focusing on addition, you’re just, you know, like stirring the same pot.”
Unlike the opposition’s fragmented approach, the PPP’s commitment to results and policies aimed at national development is evident, Dr. Jagdeo noted.
The overwhelming win for the PPP at the last Local Government Elections (LGEs) is a testament to this, he said.
Dr. Jagdeo stated: “In politics, it’s about bringing people to your vision; it’s about convincing people that
your vision and your plans for the future of the country and for their lives will be of benefit to them. That is what we have focused on.”
“We are ready in the PPP, not because of arrogance, but because people have seen them and discarded them,” he said.
“Desperation will force them together,” Dr. Jagdeo further opined on the current theatrics within the opposition camp.
The absence of a clear manifesto among the opposition was highlighted by Dr. Jagdeo.
While the opposition continues to squabble over power, the PPP is making inroads and putting in the work, the General Secretary emphasised.
–– Dr. Jagdeo says, touts bigger plans for regional development if re-elected
–– hemp cultivation on the cards for Region Two, 10 gineering services,” the Head of State said.
WHILE outlining the government’s transformative vision to catapult the agricultural sector, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has announced that every region will have its own innovation hub to support agricultural development.
During a press conference on Thursday at Freedom House, the General Secretary said that once the PPP/C is re-elected, every region will see implementations that blends innovation, infrastructure, and financial support to drive diversification and economic growth.
“In the next term, we made it clear that in every Region, so it’s not just production, we have to have the innovation hub. And so, every Region will have its own innovation hub, it will have its own diversification, support, technical centre. And then, so the innovation, the diversification support, So that means processing of the agricultural produce, and you’re getting the technical help for that,” he said.
Dr. Jagdeo also pointed to the development bank that the government plans to construct, which will provide zero interest loans to support those ventures.
“It’s all well thought out; well laid out. We have been talking about this for a very, very long time. The presi -
dent mentioned co-invest. In this year’s budget, we have 1.2 billion for co-investing. We’re already co-investing in ventures, building factory shells and production shells for people who are going to be doing this,” he further stated.
Adding to this, he outlined other areas which will be developed. For instance, the hemp industry.
In Regions Two and Ten, plans are underway to allocate a total of 4,000 acres for hemp cultivation, with 2,000 acres designated for each region. This initiative aims to empower approximately 2,000 farmers, granting each individual access to two acres of land to grow hemp.
Earlier this week, President Dr. Irfaan Ali spoke about the Government of Guyana examining plans to strategically reimagine the mandate of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).
Addressing a mammoth gathering at the 77th commemoration of the Enmore Martyrs on Monday, President Ali said the arable lands, infrastructure and knowledge base of GuySuCo could support the production of other crops like rice, corn and cassava, diversifying production to boost income.
He noted that GuySuCo’s mandate should now be reimagined to become a hub of rural economic development.
“Its land, infrastructure
and knowledge base can support all crops, like rice, corn, cassava, livestock operations, agro-processing hubs, farmer training and extension services, fabrication and en-
Dr. Ali believes there are exciting opportunities for crop diversification, skills diversification, and income diversification.
“Make no mistake, GuySuCo possesses the best ma-
chinists globally. The global machining industry historically recruited machinists and fabricators from GuySuCo. We have to leverage this human capital and human potential
“We don’t only want the sugar workers to rely on their income from sugar; we want to con -
vert acreage of land into high-yielding production, high-value production… Production that is owned by the workers; lands that are cultivated, and revenues that are generated but generated to support the income diversification of the workers,” he added.
ALLOTTEES of Block ‘A’ and Block ‘B’ at the Vive La Force Housing Scheme, part of the rapidly expanding Wales Housing Development in Region Three, were recently given a firsthand update on the status of infrastructure works during a site visit and virtual tour led by Minister of Housing and Water, Hon. Collin Croal.
The two blocks together span over 300 acres, and cater to 1,721 residential lots—978 in Block ‘A’ and 743 in Block ‘B’. First-phase infrastructure works commenced in mid-April 2025, and are on track for completion by November 14, 2025. Following this, the allottees can look forward to identifying their individual house
lots and begin constructing their homes.
Minister Croal highlighted the steady progress of the development, which includes road construction, pipe and drainage networks, culverts, etc. Block ‘A’ is currently 45 per cent complete, with $2.1 billion budgetted for its development, while Block ‘B’ has reached 50 per cent completion, backed by a $1.9 billion investment.
Minister Croal stated that this immediate rollout of infrastructure represents a significant and deliberate shift in government policy, since in the past, allottees had to wait until the following year’s national budget before any infrastructure works could begin.
“Anybody who has been
allocated in 2025 will wait no longer than one year. They will see their land in this very year,” the minister said.
He added, “By the end of 2025, Region Three will be on par with the allocations [and land access] versus what historically happened, and you had waited two years,” he said.
The scheme was designed to accommodate commercial plots and areas for recreational facilities and essential services. The landowners of Vive La Force will also benefit from treated water supplied by the new Wales Water Treatment Plant; an essential component of ensuring long-term sustainability in the new housing areas.
Vive La Force is among 93 new housing developments established by the ministry across Guyana since 2020. Of these, 18 have been developed in Region Three alone, accounting for ap -
proximately 13,947 of over 49,800 residential lots. To date, a total of $32 billion has been invested to provide critical infrastructure across these schemes in the region.
The site visit underscores the ministry’s commitment to transparency and active engagement with future homeowners as they prepare for the next steps in their homeownership journey. (MoHW)
(Xinhua) THE world's largest ice and snow theme park, Harbin Ice-Snow World, will introduce a range of new summer tourism offerings, including immersive performances and an international beer festival, to provide visitors with a uniquely refreshing summer experience.
The move marks a strategic expansion for the park, which is famous for its winter attractions, as it seeks to attract global tourists year-round.
Sun Zemin, deputy director of the marketing department at Harbin Ice-Snow World, noted that the park has built
an outdoor snow play zone at the Snowflake Ferris Wheel Square. By implementing advanced snow-making technology, it can create outdoor "snowfall" even in temperatures exceeding 20 degrees Celsius, enabling visitors to enjoy winter activities like snow slides, according to Sun.
Additionally, the indoor ice-snow facility -- which debuted last summer -- has been fully upgraded with new ice sculptures and interactive experiences, Sun added.
Certified by the Guinness World Records as the world's "largest indoor ice and
snow theme park," the facility maintains an indoor temperature of minus 5 to 10 degrees Celsius, with all of its amusement projects crafted from ice and snow.
Sun added that the
newly designed Sun Island Ice and Snow Art Gallery will open on July 1, showcasing classic snow sculptures from past Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Expos.
Beyond ice-and-
snow offerings, the park has also curated various entertainment and culinary offerings, including Meet Harbin, a large-scale immersive show that debuted last summer, set to return on June 26. The show
blends songs, dances, drama, aerial acrobatics, and water sports into a visual spectacle.
In addition, on July 5, the park will host the 23rd Harbin International Beer Festival.
Located in Harbin City, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Harbin Ice-Snow World boasts magnificent ice-snow sculptures in winter, making it one of China's top ice-and-snow tourism destinations.
Last winter, it received a record 3.56 million visitors, representing a 31.4 percent year-on-year increase, hitting a new record high.
MODEC has announced that it has received the 2024 Local Content Certificate of Compliance from the Local Content Secretariat, as well as approval for its 2025 Local Content Annual Plan.
These achievements reflect the significant
efforts MODEC has made in advancing local-content initiatives over the past year in Guyana and underscore the company’s ongoing
commitment to fulfilling the requirements of the Local Content Act, 2021, a press release from the company said. It added that in
2024, MODEC recruited 18 Guyanese and launched its inaugural onshore trainee and internship programmes to support the development of local professionals.
Additionally, MODEC publicised 45 procurement opportunities and invested over US$3.4 million in the procurement of goods and services from local suppliers. The company also made substantial investments in community initiatives focused on education, technology and the environment.
The release added that this year, the company will continue to recruit and train Guyanese, invest in community-development initiatives and offer more than 100 procurement opportunities to local suppliers.
“MODEC remains committed to supporting the growth and development of Guyana’s local workforce and economy, in alignment with national priorities and the Local Content Act,” the company said.
According to the information provided, MODEC has been a leading provider of floating offshore solutions for the oil and gas industry for more than 55 years. The company was founded in Japan and is present in over 15 countries.
In its global operations, MODEC has delivered over 50 floating units, always working to value the local expertise, develop partnerships, transfer knowledge, and boost the country’s economy.
THE future leaders of tomorrow are at the heart of Guyana’s national development and according to the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) General Secretary, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, the government, recognising this, continues to push its youth policy that complements this vision.
While commenting on the opposition’s attempts to use window dressing to create a façade that they cared for the youths while in office from 2015-2020, the General Secretary on Thursday during a press conference at Freedom House, Georgetown, expounded on how the government has integrated youths into its shared vision for a brighter Guyana.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali stands as a manifestation of how the administration prioritises youths, instead of creating a leadership of fossils, Dr. Jagdeo pointed out, emphasising that young people are genuinely integrated into the development of the PPP and government.
The General Secretary also highlighted how youth mobilisation efforts have catapulted the membership of the PPP’s
youth arm- the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO).
Now, the party boasts 15,000 youth members, representing every region and race in Guyana, he disclosed.
While the initial target was 5,000, this target has been tripled even as the governing PPP continues to encourage more youths to play an active role in Guyana’s development.
He stated that some political party’s notion of a youth policy is narrow and only focuses on culture and sports.
However, this is not the case for the PPP, as the General Secretary reaffirmed the government’s commitment to empowering young people.
Dr. Jagdeo said: “We believe young people are a part of the entire vision for the country, because they have interest in education, they have interest in health care. They want to own their own home, they want to get a good paying job, they want to have recreational time to travel. They want to live in secure homes.”
Understanding how important youths are for development, the General Secretary said that
Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud (MHSSS photo)
AS part of ongoing efforts to connect directly with citizens and ensure that everyone has access to critical support services, the Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud on Wednesday hosted a community meeting and open day in Rasville, Georgetown.
Held at the Rasville Tarmac, the event brought residents together for an open and engaging discussion about the range of services offered by the ministry.
For the past weeks, Dr. Persaud has been heavily involved in community outreaches organised by her ministry to meet openly with people who may be living in vulnerable communities.
Minister Persaud highlighted key areas including childcare and protection, assistance for domestic and gender-based violence victims, the work of the Hope and Justice Centre, and training opportunities available through
this is why the government does not “pigeonhole young people into the corner.”
“We don't do it as window dressing like some political parties. Some don't even do the window dressing like the last government was, as I said, before, a gerontocracy like only old people could have made it into the government.”
Dr. Jagdeo also commended the enthusiasm of youths from diverse backgrounds, who have rallied to support the party's efforts.
the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN).
Rasville residents also took part in an informative session on the recently enacted Family Violence Act [2024], helping to raise awareness and understanding of this important piece of legislation.
In addition to the group discussion, Minister Persaud met individually with residents to listen to their concerns and provide guidance on social services such as old-age pension, public assistance, and permanent disability support.
This community outreach reflects the minister’s deep commitment to being on the ground, listening to the people, and taking action to ensure their needs are met.
Since 2020, the Government of Guyana has placed strong focus on building a more inclusive and connected society. This event, according to the ministry, is another step in that direction.
students and their teachers (MoE photos)
MINISTER of Education, Priya Manickchand, on Wednesday visited the Christ Church Secondary School, where she met with the school’s administration and saw first-hand the final preparations that are underway ahead of the students’ return.
The work being done includes the placement of furniture and other final arrangements, the ministry said in a Facebook post.
The school was maliciously set on fire in early 2023, displacing more
than 500 students along with teachers. Plans to reconstruct the school were subsequently finalised and involved seven contracts amounting to $688.159 million.
The new three-storey building containing 20 classrooms was built at the same
site and will accommodate the teachers and students who are currently being housed at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), Turkeyen.
The new school has modern amenities including science and IT labs, and modern classrooms.
While a commissioning date is yet to be announced, Minister Manickchand said that teachers are assisting the ministry with setting up the new learning facility.
“You may recall we had this awful experience where
it was lit afire and destroyed, but out of bad cometh good.
And so now, we have a really beautiful, well-appointed, brand-new building for our students, and so today we’re moving in,” the minister remarked.
With the help of the teachers, who are working with great passion and excitement, the school will be filled with the necessary tools to help students to excel in their new learning environment.
She expressed, “The children who were placed
here are children who got 95 and 94 per cent at NGSA, so this has always been a very good school. And we see that in the CXC results, so we hope to see and expect to see even better [performances] now that they have been given all these facilities. And of course we're going to keep our eyes on it, but I'm really really glad that we're finally moving in and our children are getting this brand-new school, and all of this is done in love from us to you.”
- National Protected Areas Chairman warns; says the Jaguar symbolises national strength, unity and must be respected
CHAIRMAN of the National Protected Areas Commission Robert Persaud has emphasised that Guyana’s national symbols must not be turned into a political brand but should be respected at all times as they tell a story of our history, culture and national pride.
“Guyana’s national symbols represent all of us. They reflect our shared history, culture, and pride. Using them for political purposes undermines their meaning and divides the very people they’re meant to unite,” he said in a Facebook post that appears to be a direct response to the use of the Jaguar by US-sanctioned businessman and presidential hopeful, Azruddin Mohamed.
It was revealed on Thursday that Mohamed has named his party ‘We Invest
Chairman of the National Protected Areas Commission and Guyana’s Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud
in Nationhood’ or WIN and is using the Jaguar as the party’s symbol.
Persaud, who is also Guyana’s Foreign Secretary, did not hide his annoyance at this move and reiterated that
such national symbols ought to be honoured.
“The Jaguar is more than a powerful animal. It speaks to who we are as Guyanese; resilient and deeply rooted to this land. For generations, the Jaguar has stood as a symbol of national strength and unity. Turning this national symbol into a party logo strips it of that shared meaning and tries to turn it into something small, partisan, and representing only a few.”
“In Guyana, national symbols like this aren’t just decoration. They carry weight. They tell stories. And they deserve care. Instead of turning the Jaguar into a hollow political brand, let's honour our national symbols by keeping them where they belong, with all the people of Guyana,” he said.
AS part of the Guyana Defence Force’s ongoing health initiative, dental professionals Dr. Oral McAllister and Dr. Rodwin Brandon successfully conducted a dental outreach mission in the New River Triangle.
The initiative catered to both military personnel stationed at Base Camp Jaguar and the civilian population of Cashew Island, a remote village located in the southernmost region of Guyana.
The outreach was conducted entirely in an outdoor setting, an approach that underscores the adaptability and mission-readiness of the Force. Operating without a traditional clinical environment, the dental team worked diligently to deliver quality care in dif-
ficult terrain, reinforcing the GDF’s commitment to flexibility, innovation, and people-centered service. This outreach high -
lighted the Force’s ability to respond effectively in challenging environments
while remaining focused on wellness. It directly reflects the leadership
philosophy of the Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, MSS, who champions adaptability, agility, and awareness as key principles of modern military effectiveness. His vision continues to shape the GDF’s drive toward operational excellence and service beyond traditional boundaries.
In addition to addressing urgent dental needs, the outreach also provided essential education on oral hygiene and preventative care, supporting longer-term health in one of the country’s most remote communities.
The initiative stands as a strong example of the GDF’s commitment to national development and the well-being of both its ranks and the wider population. (GDF)
GUYANA surpassed regional expectations for agricultural production, achieving approximately 88% of production targets one year ahead of schedule.
The evidence for this was spelt out in a detailed press release from the Ministry of Agriculture on Wednesday, describing it as an opportunity to “provide clarity and context on the policy measures, data trends, and production outcomes” related to Guyana’s impressive achievement.
Referencing two articles that pointed to CARICOM’s goal of reducing the region’s food import bill by 25 per cent by 2030, the ministry’s Advisor on CARICOM Agrifood systems, Richard Blair, pointed out that Guyana has been massively surpassing its targets.
“Guyana’s performance was nothing short of exceptional, exceeding the region’s average achievement rates,” Blair posited.
In 2022, Guyana produced nearly 899,000 metric tonnes of food. By the end of 2024 that number climbed to 1.26 metric tonnes.
This increase was supported by the skyrocketing of rice yield, brackish water shrimp (which recorded a more than 1,000 per cent increase), corn and soya, and prawns.
The advisor attributed these achievements to
tangible and measurable policy decisions that catapulted the food production outputs between 2024 and 2025.
“These outcomes did not occur by chance, but were primarily driven by robust supply-side interventions, underpinned by a comprehensive strategy [to improve] infrastructure, technology, and policy reform,” Blair explained.
He also pointed out that this information can be found in several publicly available documents.
One such example is the Bank of Guyana’s Statistical Bulletin and Quarterly Report.
Underscoring that there is much more to be achieved by Guyana and the region by 2030, Blair said that the challenges being faced are global in nature. He said that there
has been a shift in focus from nominal reductions in food import bills to the measuring of more inflation-adjusted import reductions.
In other words, although the quantity of goods imported may not have increased, factors such as the Russia-Ukraine war and disruptions in global food supply chains have caused the prices for regularly
imported goods to increase, giving the appearance that progress has not been made.
“The extension of the CARICOM’s 25 per cent by 2025 initiative to 2030 reflects a strategic shift towards achieving concrete production targets rather than relying on reductions in the nominal food import bill,” the advisor explained. (DPI)
HIS Excellency Sasenarine Singh officially presented his Letters of Credence to His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on June 18, 2025.
The ceremony took place in The Hague, the capital of the Netherlands, a release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation said. It added that this presentation marks the formal completion of Ambassador Singh’s accreditation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana to the Kingdom of the Netherlands (non-resident).
“The occasion reaffirms the longstanding and friendly relations between Guyana and the Netherlands,” the release said adding that Guyana looks forward to deepening bilateral co-operation in several key areas, including agriculture, renewable energy, and coastal zone management.
(ESPNCRICINFO) - Partnerships were the name of the game for Sri Lanka as every top-order batter chipped in to whittle away at Bangladesh's healthy first-innings total of 495. By stumps, Sri Lanka's deficit had been trimmed to just 127.
A majority of it was cut down courtesy of Pathum Nissanka, who struck a career-best 187 off 256 balls. It was his first ton on home soil and a knock that had seen him dominate from the first new ball to the second. He would have been eyeing a maiden Test double hundred - to go with one in ODIs - but that second new ball and the unpredictability of a wobble seam combined to dislodge him, as Hasan Mahmud sneaked an inducker through bat and pad late in the day.
That wicket may end up keeping Bangladesh's heads from dropping heading into
day four, after the Sri Lanka batters had spent the majority of day three steadily shaking out any confidence the visitors may have gathered during their dominance on the opening two days.
Nissanka was part of four steady stands, alongside Lahiru Udara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews and Kamindu Mendis, which were worth 47, 157, 89, and 38, respectively. More pressingly for Bangladesh, the scoring during each of these stands came at a fair clip, with Sri Lanka's run rate consistently hovering around
four an over.
But even following Nissanka's dismissal, any respite seemed short lived as Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu already sped to a stand of 37 off 45 deliveries by the end of play. For Bangladesh, the four wickets were shared equally among Mahmud, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan and Mominul Haque.
But with three of the five bowlers employed going at over four runs runs an over, it was a tough day out for the visitors. On a surface that had started showing signs of deterioration - but one that
was still good for batting by Galle's usual day three standards - Sri Lanka's batters showed Bangladesh where theirs had faltered. Well, as much as you could falter having scored 495. Bangladesh had spent the first two days content at progressing at a touch above three runs an over, rarely shifting pressure on to the Sri Lanka bowlers. In the end, it proved to be the difference between a total of near-500 and perhaps 600.
Fine margins, usually, but with Sri Lanka knocking off 75% of Bangladesh's
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total in just three sessions, there now lies the very real possibility that Bangladesh could be asked to bat out day five - rain allowing - just to save the Test. And while this Galle surface has been more batter-friendly than usual, the ball misbehaved occasionally, and you imagine that will only get more frequent over the next two days. That said, Sri Lanka still have work to do to make that possibility a reality. But you wouldn't back against them judging by how they went about their batting across the day.
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CMC –WEST INDIES
all-rounders Chinelle Henry and Deandra Dottin have been snapped up in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) Overseas Player Draft, set to bring their explosive talents to Australia’s premier T20 competition.
The Brisbane Heat secured Henry, marking her first appearance in the WBBL.
The 29-year-old, known for her powerful right-handed batting and handy medium-pace bowling, has been in sensational form across all
formats this year.
H enry’s standout performances in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) for UP Warriorz, where she played alongside Grace Harris, caught global attention.
She equalled the tournament record for the fastest fifty, which came off just 18 balls and finished with a staggering strike rate of 196, the highest in the competition.
At the Heat, she will team up with India’s Jemimah Rodrigues and South Africa’s Nadine de Klerk.
Meanwhile, veteran power-hitter Deandra Dottin will return to the Melbourne Renegades for a second consecutive season.
The hard-hitting all-rounder will partner with England’s rising star, Alice Capsey, as the Renegades look to improve on last season’s campaign.
The Renegades suffered a setback with the news that Hayley Matthews, another West Indies star, will miss the upcoming season due to a shoulder injury, denying fans a potential Caribbean duo in Melbourne.
(Friday, June 20, 2025)
CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD., 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel:225-6158)
Answers to yesterday’s quiz:
38 matches (2) 8 captains Today’s Quiz:
(1) Which West Indian compiled the most runs in the recent WI/ENG T20 series?
(2) Which ENG player scored the most runs? Answers in tomorrow’s issue
CMC – WEST Indies women’s cricketers Aaliyah Alleyne and Qiana Joseph have been penalised for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the second ODI against South Africa here at the 3Ws Oval on Tuesday.
The pair were found guilty of violating Article 2.8, which covers “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision” during an international match.
Alleyne, who reacted to her dismissal with visible frustration, gesturing with open arms and delaying her
exit, was fined 10 per cent of her match fee and handed one demerit point.
Meanwhile, Joseph committed a more severe offence and faced stiffer consequences of a 50 per cent match fee fine and two demerit points.
Both players admitted to the charges and accepted the sanctions imposed by match referee Akhtar Ahmad of the ICC International Panel, avoiding a formal hearing.
The charges were brought by on-field umpires Jacqueline Williams
and Nimali Perera, along with third umpire Candace La Borde and fourth umpire Maria Abbott.
Under Level 1 breaches, penalties range from an official reprimand to a 50 per cent match fee fine and up to two demerit points. Accumulating four or more demerit points within 24 months leads to suspension, with two points equating to a ban from one Test or two limited-overs matches.
The demerit points will remain on the players’ records for two years before being expunged.
The full lineup of teams for the knockout rounds of the ‘One Guyana’ King and Queen of the Sand Football championships in Linden will be confirmed on Saturday night when the final round of the group stages is completed.
In the male/king segment of the competition, only Groups B (top 2) and D (second team) are to be decided as Groups A and C along with the female qualifiers have already been confirmed.
Group B is interestingly poised with three of the five teams locked on 7 points each, the top two on goal difference (GD) are set to play their final matches and will both be seeking wins to advance. Spaniards are top with a +6 GD and will face bottom of the table UDK Victors.
Second in the group is Young Gunners with a +2 GD and they will oppose Lil Ballers who are just above UDK Victors, both out of the race. Foundation Family is also on 7 points with a -2 GD but they have exhausted their quota of four matches.
The other undecided group is Group D with one spot on the line as Bomberz have already qualified having accumulated 9 points from 3 wins and 1 loss.
YMCA and Goal IQ have all to play for as both have a chance of being the team to join Bomberz in the knockout round.
YMCA (+5) are ahead of Goal IQ (+4) by a single goal with both on six points from two wins each and a loss, so this showdown which is the final match of the night is expected to be a humdinger
of a clash.
The other teams already qualifying are: Group A (Hard Knocks and One Syde), Group C (LA Ballers and Team Minerals) and Group D, Bomberz to date.
In the Queens competition, GDF with a game in hand have already booked their place in the semi-finals and they are joined by Hururu as the top two in Group A. Over in Group B,
Iconic Ballers have topped the group with a perfect three wins from as many matches. Meanwhile, defending champions, Speightland, having won one of two matches are set to face the pointless Rockstone in their final game on Saturday.
Barring any major complications, the defending champions will most likely take care of business to seal the other spot in their group.
Final group stage matches for Saturday, June 21st, 2025.
Time Team Team
18:30hrs Young Gunners vs Lil Ballers
19:10hrs GDF vs Circuitville (Queens)
20:00hrs HH Ballers vs Turf President
20:50hrs Speightland vs Rockstone (Queens)
21:40hrs Spaniards vs UDK Victor’s
22:30hrs LA Ballers vs Team Mineral
23:20hrs YMCA vs Goal IQ
By Sean Devers
PRECISION Sports Training Camp, organised by female Inter-County Cricketer Trinidadian Nidia Andrews, will head to the historic Albion Sports Complex ground in Corentyne, East Berbice.
The two-day camp is set for tomorrow and Sunday from 10:00hrs, and will conclude at 15:00hrs on both days at a venue where the West Indies beat Pakistan in 1977 in the inaugural ODI in the West Indies. “We got permission from the President of the Albion Sports Club, Vemen Walters, to conduct our sessions on their ground.
“Interested players are encouraged to make the effort to show up, and can contact Precision Sport on 627-1295,” Andrews said.
After the rain-affected session in Demerara was held at the National Gymnasium, Andrews disclosed that the weather in Essequibo was better, and facilitated both indoor and outdoor work, including sessions with the bowling machine at the indoor nets.
“Our sessions in Anna Regina were a success de-
spite some unexpected hiccups that didn't allow a few eager Berbice players to attend,” she said, adding:
“Players focused on batting against spin bowling on Saturday, then switched to facing pace on Sunday, when we took full advantage of the bowling machine to carry out batting drills.
“On both days, the players were afforded outdoor fielding drills at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground, which is being transformed into a stadium.
“On Sunday morning, a few players were present
from as early as 06:30hrs for an optional 07:00hrs for a batting session with coach Rawle Merell ahead of the scheduled 10:00hrs, since most of the players were staying in the hostel provided by the Essequibo Cricket Board. “From 11:00 hours to noon, a classroom session was conducted by Coach Parmesh Persaud, who was also present on both training days.
“A test was given on fielding positions in which Tilleya Madramootoo (the only Demerara player in attendance) aced and was
The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Pushpargha Chattopadhyay as its new General Secretary, who will arrive on August 1, 2025 to commence his duties.
Mr. Chattopadhyay brings with him more than 15 years of experience in football administration, capacity building, and strategic leadership within some of the most dynamic football environments in Asia.
This appointment is the outcome of a comprehensive international recruitment process jointly conducted by the GFF and FIFA. The position attracted applications from over 40 candidates representing five of the six FIFA confederations. Through a structured, multi-phase evaluation, including interviews, technical assessments, and detailed background checks, a shortlist of six top candidates was established. Mr. Chattopadhyay was selected based on his outstanding credentials and clear alignment with the GFF’s strategic direction. As a distinguished football executive and senior sports consultant, Mr. Chattopadhyay previously served in various leadership capacities at the All India Football Federation (AIFF), including as Head of State Development, Head of Clubs and Licensing, and Head of Administration within the Technical Department.
Speaking on the appointment, GFF President Wayne Forde said: “We are delighted to welcome Mr. Chattopadhyay to the Guyana Football Federation. His vast experience working at both national and international levels, including with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and FIFA development programmes, makes him uniquely suited to lead the GFF Secretariat at this important juncture. His appointment signals our commitment to strengthening governance, improving operational efficiency, and delivering enhanced services to our members and stakeholders.”
As General Secretary, Mr. Chattopadhyay will be responsible for the day-today administration of the Federation, supporting the execution of the GFF’s strategic priorities, and ensuring alignment with international best practices and regulatory frameworks.
rewarded for her excellence.
“Anastacia Valenzuela won a catching competition on Saturday, and was also rewarded. “Yonette Welcome, who hails from Warapoka, Moruca Sub-district, Region 1, demonstrated leadership qualities and proved to be a motivator, not just throughout the Essequibo sessions but even during the Demerara sessions.
“We will continue to assess everyone's performance and attitude as we approach the practice games and selection process.”
During his tenure, he led the implementation of national development programmes under the FIFA Forward initiative, coordinated high-level licensing and regulatory activities, and played an instrumental role in grassroots development and capacity-building initiatives across 36 member associations in India.
Most recently, Mr. Chattopadhyay held the post of Chief Executive Officer of the Indian Football Association (West Bengal), where he spearheaded an organisational transformation and developed new intellectual properties to strengthen the association’s financial and operational footing. He also served as a Senior Project Consultant in the Sports Advisory division of Ernst & Young LLP, leading key projects focused on sports development and institutional reform.
Mr. Chattopadhyay stated: “It is an honour for me to be appointed as the General Secretary of Guyana Football Federation (GFF) at such a pivotal time and phase in its growth and development. I would like to thank the GFF President, Mr. Wayne Forde along with the members of the GFF Council for showing their faith in my leadership, experience, and management acumen and entrusting me to take the helm of football administration at GFF.
My vision aligns with the Federation’s commitment to progress by fostering collaboration, professionalism, and accountability, and build sustainable systems that serve every level of the game. The possibilities of growth are many and what lies ahead is hard work through unity to achieve our collective goals and take Guyana’s football to new heights.”
Mr. Chattopadhyay holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Vancouver Island University in Canada and a Master of Science (MSc) in International Business from the University of Hertfordshire. He speaks English, Hindi, and Bengali fluently.
The GFF Council extends its best wishes to Mr. Chattopadhyay as he assumes this important leadership role in Guyana’s football journey.
ENet, Guyana’s only 5G network, has reaffirmed its commitment as a key partner for the third season of the Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast, which is set to commence on June 28 in Berbice.
The telecommunications giant will enhance the fan experience by gifting three cellular phones to lucky spectators over the course of the tournament.
As is customary, ENet, a leading provider of digital cable television, internet, information technology, and media services, will provide extensive broadcast coverage, airing the zonal semi-finals, finals, and the highly anticipated national finals.
Nichola Parasram, Trade Mobile Coordinator at ENet, underscored the company's
dedication to grassroots sports.
"We are always happy to support and play our role in development and giving youths a platform to showcase their talent, and this is just another step in that process," Parasram stated.
She expressed enthusiasm for the tournament's growth and encouraged community support for the matches.
Yusuf Ali, Co-Director of the Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast, extended gratitude to ENet, highlighting that their support extends beyond the direct giveaways.
He emphasised that ENet's wide-reaching network enables the tournament to be viewed globally, significantly broadening its audience.
For more information about ENet’s products and
services, visit www.enet.gy.
This year's tournament has undergone a significant expansion and aims to feature up to 80 teams, marking a substantial growth in its third iteration.
The preliminary rounds will be held across four distinct zones: Berbice: June 28-29; East Bank/West Demerara: July 5-6; Georgetown/East Coast Demerara: July 19-20 and Essequibo: July 26-27
The competition will culminate in a grand finale on August 3 at the National Stadium, Providence, where the ultimate champions will be crowned.
The stakes are high, with lucrative prize money on offer for participating teams. Zonal winners will earn G$300,000 and secure
THE defending champions, Rangpur Riders, have officially named their squad for the highly-anticipated 2025 ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL), set to take place at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence from 10 to 18 July.
In 2024, the Rangpur Riders were without a point after their first three matches, but found their form and eventually won their last three contests to emerge champions.
With a combination of dynamic batting, disciplined bowling, and strong leadership, the Riders proved to be deserving champions of an action-packed competition.
The Rangpur Riders, one of the leading franchises
in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), bring a rich pedigree to the GSL. Having won the BPL championship in 2017, the Riders have consistently been a playoff contender over the last three seasons, showcasing their reputation for excellence and resilience.
The Riders are eager to defend their GSL title, and have retained key players to help their cause. The defending champions will once again be led by inspirational captain Nurul Hasan. The tournament’s leading run scorer in the inaugural season, Soumya Sarkar is back, as is Kamrul Islam Rabbi, who spearheaded the bowling attack. To aid the local stars, the Riders have included West
a coveted spot in the national finals.
The ultimate national champion will walk away with an additional G$1.7 million, while the runners-up will receive a handsome G$700,000.
Even losing semi-final -
ists and zonal finalists are set to be rewarded, with purses of GY$300,000 and GY$100,000, respectively.
Registration for the tournament is currently open, with a fee of GY$30,000 per team. Organisers are confident of reaching their target
of 80 teams, given the early surge of interest. For registration and further information, interested teams can contact Akeem Greene via WhatsApp at +5926352235 or visit the “One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast” social media pages.
BEVERAGE powerhouse Banks DIH Limited has announced a significant sponsorship deal for the sixth edition of the highly anticipated ExxonMobil Under-14 Boys and Girls Schools’ Football Championships.
The tournament, a cornerstone of youth football development in Guyana, is organised by the Petra Organisation and is now set to kick off on Saturday, June 21, 2025.
Indian top-order batter Kyle Mayers, South Africa’s leftarm wrist spinner bowler Tabraiz Shamsi, Pakistani all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed, and Afghanistan’s top order batter Abrahim Zadran.
The squad reflects a good mixture of youth and experience, with an eye on the conditions.
The Rangpur Riders squad is as follows: Nurul Hasan Sohan, Soumya Sarkar, Mohammed Naim, Sheikh, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Mohammed Saif Hassan, Abu Haider Rony, Rakibul Hasan, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Kyle Mayers, Tabraiz Shamsi, Ibrahim Zadran, Iftikhar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Harmeet Singh, Khawaja Nafay.
Under its popular I-CEE soft drinks, Malta Supreme, Rainforest Water and Tastee Snacks brands, Banks DIH has pledged its support, a move lauded by the organisers as a massive boost for the competition. The partnership was highlighted at the tournament's official launch at Cara Lodge, where the vibrant future of schools football was celebrated.
Clayton McKenzie, Brand Manager for I-CEE soft drinks, speaking on behalf of Banks DIH, expressed the company's enthusiasm for supporting youth development through sport.
Troy Mendonca, Co-Director of the Petra Organisation, extended his heartfelt gratitude to Banks DIH for their "overwhelming support." He emphasised the crucial role such partnerships play in providing a platform
for young talent to flourish.
"We are delighted to have Banks DIH on board once again," said Mendonca.
"Their commitment to the development of our young people is evident, and this sponsorship will go a long way in ensuring the successful execution of this tournament.
The ExxonMobil U-14 tournament is a critical part of our youth football pathway, and with the support of corporate partners like Banks DIH, we can continue to create opportunities for the next generation of football stars."
The month-long tournament will culminate in the finals on July 12 at the Ministry of Education Ground on Carifesta Avenue.
This year's competition will see 32 boys' teams and 24 girls' teams vying for top honours.
The teams will initially compete in a group-stage format before advancing to the knockout rounds.
Notably, teams from Regions Eight and Nine will not be participating in this edition.
The defending champions heading into the tournament are Chase's Academic Foundation in the Boys' division and President's College in the Girls' division, who will be keen to defend their
titles against a host of aspiring challengers.
A significant aspect of this year's tournament is the emphasis on player-welfare and safety.
The Petra Organisation recently partnered with Demerara Mutual to provide insurance coverage for all players and officials and conducted a comprehensive Child-Safeguarding course for coaches and teachers.
The stakes are high, with attractive prizes for both individuals and teams. The top four teams in both the male and female categories will receive substantial financial assistance for school projects.
The winners will receive G$400,000, with the second, third, and fourth-placed teams pocketing G$200,000, G$100,000, and G$75,000 respectively.
Individual excellence will also be rewarded, with the Most Valuable Players, highest goal scorers, and best goalkeepers each receiving a trophy and school supplies valued at G$60,000.
The support from Banks DIH and title sponsor ExxonMobil ensures that the 2025 edition of the U-14 Schools' Football Championships will be a memorable one for all participants.
‘One Guyana’ King and Queen of the Sand Football…
Final three male quarter-finalists to be known; female teams already known
Banks DIH joins supporting cast for ExxonMobil U-14 Schools Football
