'Every child will have a viable pathway to a successful future'
–– President Ali affirms, commissions modern Tuschen Secondary School to further boost education delivery
PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has hailed the commissioning of the $930 million Tuschen Secondary School as a transformative moment for Region Three and the nation, calling the state-of-the-art facility a “foundation of the new Guyana.”
Addressing a gathering at the new school Wednesday, President Ali said that the new infrastructure was not simply just a building but a new beginning for families and many children, which marks a significant step in providing equal access to quality education across the country.
“Today is about new opportunities here in Tuschen and in Region Three, adding to your regional asset, a piece of infrastructure that is second to none in our country,” the president declared.
The new institution, he emphasised, is not a half-measure but a worldclass facility capable of holding its own among the best. “We are delivering to the people of Region Three a school that can match any other such school in the entire CELAC region—that is, the entire Latin America region,” Dr. Ali stated.
The President outlined a
broader vision for education in Guyana, asserting that every child must have not only access to a secondary school but also a viable pathway to a successful future, whether technical, academic, or artistic.
“We want every single child of our country, of our future, not to just have a secondary school, but to have a viable pathway for a successful future… We are going to support that viable future of our children,” he said.
Dr. Ali underscored that education is not just another government initiative but the cornerstone of national development.
“Education is the single most important foundation upon which the future of our country will be built,” he declared. “When we build this school, we are not simply erecting another centre of learning. No, we are laying the foundation of the new Guyana.”
He posed a powerful rhetorical question to underscore the role of human capital in national progress:
“What sense will it make to have oil, gold, and agriculture but not have the people trained to manage it? What sense will it make to have all
of the natural resources but not have the scientists, the engineers, or the economists to multiply this value?”
Linking the investment in education to a broader developmental vision, the president said Guyana must become part of a new global frontier, one driven by knowledge and innovation.
“Education is a bridge from poverty to prosperity. It is the passport from struggles to success. It is a revolution that transforms a people from surviving to thriving,” he told the gathering.
The President also noted the government’s continued expansion of the national school feeding programme and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to supporting teachers.
“When every child can dream, a nation can rise,” he said. “Let’s face it, without teachers, there is no education. Without teachers, these walls will be empty shells and my brothers and sisters, we are not stopping here.”
Echoing the President’s sentiments, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, declared that by September 2026, every child in Guyana will have access to a secondary school.
“By September 2026, all over this country, children will be able to go to a high school to get a sound secondary education,” the Minister stated.
She noted that the government has aggressively pursued the building out of an equitable education sector, ensuring access to secondary education is available, especially in areas where it was previously inadequate.
“In three and a half
years, the government built 67 nursery schools and 45 primary schools across Guyana. We have built or are building 42 secondary schools,” Manickchand reported.
Highlighting the scale of development in Region Three, she added, “We have never had universal secondary education here in Region Three… From then to now, we have completed the Westminster Secondary and the
De Willem Secondary. By next year, Crane Secondary will be finished. That’s five secondary schools in your region alone for your children.”
The Tuschen Secondary School will serve as a central hub for hundreds of students in region three and marks another step toward achieving universal access to quality education, a core pillar of the government’s development agenda.
FGM goes to High Court over alleged ballot exclusion in hinterland regions
THE Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) on Wednesday disclosed that it has filed a fixed date application in the high court challenging the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) over what it describes as their omission from ballots for the up -
coming election in regions where they are not listed as contesting at the regional level.
At a press conference, leader of the party Amanza Walton-Desir told members of the press that the application seeks relief under Part 56 of the Civil Proce-
dure rules, “arguing that GECOM’s exclusionary ballot practices violate Articles 59, 149 and 160” of Guyana’s Constitution and the Representation of the People Act.
Walton-Desir noted that both her party and the Assembly of Liberty and Pros-
perity (ALP) were excluded from ballots in several regions.
She went on to add that the fixed date application contends that the omissions deny electors in those regions the right to vote for duly approved national lists, which the party says is in breach of constitutional guarantees on the right to vote and proportional representation.
Further to this, she added that indigenous communities predominantly inhabit the regions, and their exclusion amounts to discrimination.
Walton-Desir stated that the plaintiff in the matter is a candidate of the party, Krystal Hadassah Fisher, who is a registered elector in Region Nine.
The application filed by Attorney Vivian Williams seeks several declarations,
including a declaration that elections held without full party inclusion are null and void, an order restraining GECOM from excluding any duly qualified party from national ballots, and a directive for the immediate inclusion of the FGM’s candidates in Regions Seven, Eight, and Nine.
Following nomination day in July, GECOM officially approved the candidacy of six political parties to contest the upcoming election.
At that time, it was noted that only four of the six parties had submitted candidate lists for all ten electoral districts in the Regional Elections.
It was reported that the ALP will only contest in Districts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10, while FGM had opted to contest in Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10.
According to a lawyer, the legal action filed by the Forward Guyana Movement raises serious questions.
He explained that it seems unusual to demand a place on ballots in regions where a party has not submitted candidates.
Under Guyana’s electoral laws, inclusion on a regional ballot requires that the party first meets the established criteria—such as presenting candidates and obtaining the necessary backers in that region.
Without fulfilling those requirements, GECOM is not obligated to list the party. Expecting votes from regions where no candidates are contesting appears inconsistent with both the Representation of the People Act and the principle of proportional representation.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali joins a student of the Tuschen Secondary School for an experiment (Delano Williams photo)
President Ali outlines bold plan to deliver 40,000 new homes
– as part of PPP/C’s expanded housing programme for next term
AFTER surpassing its 2020 target of delivering 50,000 residential houselots, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has announced that a re-elected People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration will roll out an ambitious plan to build 40,000 new homes across the country, with a comprehensive strategy to expand and regularise housing areas while driving billions of dollars in investment into the economy.
The head of state made this known during a recent interview, during which he explained that the enormous demand for housing has necessitated a larger expansion of the government’s programme, one which he said will be executed in collaboration with the private sector.
“So we are seeing the
houses that we have built, there’s enormous demand for it. And because of everybody now, professionals and in the work environment, there’s a high demand for the homes,” he said.
He added that to achieve 40,000 homes, the government will have to build a lot of that with the support of the private sector, even as he noted that there will also be the opportunity for others to build.
This was set out in the PPP/C’s 2025 manifesto, which noted that the party would focus heavily on the construction of new homes through the provision of direct assistance to build in the most vulnerable families.
It also notes that the plan will also focus on the accelerated construc -
tion of core homes and young professional homes, along with the continued provision of incentives to encourage affordable home construction.
This is all with the aim of constructing 40,000 new homes over the next five years, according to the manifesto.
Dr. Ali, during the interview, noted that the scale of this plan will inject hundreds of billions of dollars into the economy.
Meanwhile, the President said that the plan for expanded housing will also focus on transforming and regularising existing settlements, providing critical infrastructure such as roads, water and other essential services.
With this, he used the development along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, the building of 500
homes and the homesteads at Yarrowkabra, regularising housing and organising housing along the highway to ensure those persons receive essential services and titles to their homes.
To this end, Dr Ali said a plan is already in place as there is now a proper
occupational survey with proper demarcation and the block planning is complete.
“So, it’s now moving into the final stage of letting people know which area, what and how we’re going to regularise them, but everybody will be in a housing setting that is of dignity and honour along the highway,” President Ali said.
Beyond the highway, he said that housing expansion will be rolled out nationwide, highlighting areas like Linden, Palmyra and Molsen Creek, among others.
“… Investing in the regions, Region One, Region Two, Region Nine, Region Eight. They all want settlement-style development,” he added.
To this end, Dr Ali noted that the groundwork has already been laid over the last five years, ensuring that the next phase of the housing expansion can move swiftly.
“A lot of work has been ongoing on this infrastructure layout for the next five years. So that is what you’ll see implemented at a rapid pace,” he affirmed.
New $930M Tuschen Secondary School to accommodate UG’s medical students in Region Three
THE newly commissioned $930 million Tuschen Secondary School will not only serve 800 secondary students but will also transform into a branch of the University of Guyana’s College of Medical Sciences (CMS) in the evenings, providing aspiring health professionals in Region Three with access to training closer to home.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by President Dr. Irfaan Ali during the commissioning of the state-of-the-art facility at Tuschen, Essequibo Islands–West Demerara.
The President explained that the UG medical branch will offer over 17 programmes in medicine and allied health sciences, giving residents from across the Essequibo and Demerara rivers, and as far as Leguan, Wakenaam, Liberty and Hogg Island, the opportunity to pursue tertiary medical studies without having to travel to Georgetown.
Students enrolled under the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarships will also be accommodated at the new Tuschen facility in the evenings.
“We are careful planners. When we spoke about second jobs and giving tax breaks for second jobs, the senior doctors working at the hospital, senior nurses, and technicians here in Region Three will now
have their tax incentive in their second job, lecturing at the College of Medical Sciences,” President Ali said.
ADDRESSING OVERWHELMING DEMAND
The President pointed out that UG has faced overwhelming demand for medical studies, noting that 206 students from Region Three applied this year, but only 86 were accepted at the Turkeyen campus due to space limitations.
The new Tuschen branch will absorb the remainder by year’s end.
“Whether you are from Leguan, Wakenaam, Liberty,
Hogg Island, anywhere in the Essequibo River, anywhere in the Demerara River on the West Bank or West Coast, Region Three—you will have your own medical college. “Your children will become pharmacists, doctors, medical technologists, nurses, everything in the medical field, studying right here on this soil of Region Three,” Dr. Ali said. This development comes on the heels of Dr. Ali’s recent announcement that the existing West Demerara Regional Hospital, which is more than 75 years old, will be repurposed into a teaching institution once the new $11.4 billion modern hospital is completed.
The newly constructed school is set to accommodate 800 students and is equipped with 24 classrooms, science and research centres, a multipurpose hall, cafeteria, and library (Delano Williams photos)
President Dr. Irfaan Ali
Projectised Governance
PRESIDENT Irfaan Ali’s announcement of a major government restructuring is an interesting attempt at reforming public administration.
This move could either speed up Guyana’s impressive changes or reveal the limits of technical solutions for complex governance issues.
While the ambition is commendable, the plan deserves both praise and scrutiny. The idea of “projectised governance” involves temporarily bringing together skilled teams to achieve lasting results within set timeframes.
This acknowledges a basic truth about modern development. Traditional bureaucratic systems often struggle to keep pace with the rapid changes needed in the 21st century.
Ali’s plan to reduce bureaucracy, use technology to minimise human bias, and hold public servants account-
able for their service aims to tackle long-standing inefficiencies faced by many developing nations.
Guyana’s strong economic position offers unique benefits for such a bold restructuring.
With oil production surpassing 650 million barrels and significant government revenues each year, the country has resources that many others lack in similar transitions.
The IMF expects Guyana to maintain the highest GDP growth rate in the world, averaging 14 per cent annually over the next five years.
This financial base could allow the government to attract top talent and invest in innovative governance technologies.
However, the plan does raise major concerns about how it will be implemented and its long-term sustainability.
The idea of speeding up projects that “normally take two decades” into shorter timelines is appealing but needs to be implemented carefully and strategically.
History shows that quick government restructuring can lead to unintended problems, such as loss of institutional memory, coordination issues, and pushback from established bureaucracies.
The reliance on technology as a cure for human bias, while progressive, oversimplifies the challenges of governance.
Effective public administration requires not just efficiency but also democratic accountability, transparency, and responsiveness to the varied needs of citizens – qualities that cannot be easily digitised or managed through project-focused efforts.
Ali’s vision for value-added manu-
facturing, industrial zones, and flagship projects like Silica City shows smart thinking about economic diversification.
However, the success of these initiatives relies not just on flexible governance structures but also on ongoing political commitment, support from stakeholders, and adaptable management – factors that go beyond organisational charts.
The restructuring plan’s success will ultimately be judged not by its theoretical appeal but by its ability to improve citizens’ lives while upholding democratic standards.
Guyana has a rare chance to lead with innovative governance models, but the country must balance urgency with caution to ensure its oil wealth leads to lasting prosperity for all Guyanese.
How much LCDS funding did Indigenous villages receive under APNU, Fernandes?
Dear Editor,
I recently came across a video of the Prime Ministerial candidate of the APNU, Ms Juretha Fernandes, criticizing the PPP for including in its manifesto the continuation of the 15 per cent share of LCDS funds to Indigenous communities across Guyana.
In her five-minute-long tirade, Ms. Fernandes said the PPP had the “audacity, boldness, [and] disrespectfulness that we’ve come to know… to put back in the 2025 manifesto that they intend to give back Indigenous leaders the same 15 per cent carbon credit”.
She went on: “The PPP has grown accustomed to disrespecting Indigenous communities and leaders and believing that they can give the absolute minimum and persons would not care.”
First, it is important to understand that Ms. Fernandes unceremoniously weaseled
her way out of the AFC and into the APNU — two parties that jointly held the seat of government between 2015 and 2020.
Now, I don’t particularly blame Ms Fernandes for the lack of policy – or even foresight – between that period, since she only served as a secretary to a government official.
However, it would have been prudent for Ms. Fernandes to examine her parties’ record in this particular area before launching her assault on the PPP.
Between 2015 and 2020, the LCDS was shelved by the APNU+AFC, and, coming to the end of its term in office, they presented the ‘Decade of Development’ – some form of policy framework it said would transform Guyana between 2020-2030. They were booted from office and so it was never implemented.
Interestingly, but not surprisingly, that document was terribly deficient and did not
contain a model for forest-based climate financing. Apart from a deficient policy, the APNU+AFC did not earn a single cent from climate services during that period.
So, while Ms Fernandes waxes lyrical now about revenues from climate services, it was during the tenure of her parties that Indigenous communities did not receive a cent from climate services due to their lack of foresight and technical capacity.
It was the PPP that, in 2022, reintroduced an updated LCDS, and secured US$750 million for the sale of carbon credits – 15 per cent of which goes directly to Indigenous communities for development projects.
To date, billions have reached more than 240 Indigenous villages where more than 800 projects have been implemented. The PPP is also targeting 5,000 new projects in Indigenous villages over the next five years, using revenues from the LCDS.
What should be even more embarrassing
for Ms Fernandes and her parties is the fact that the sale of these carbon credits (by the PPP) included legacy earning – i.e. funds earned for the period 2016-2020 – the period the APNU+AFC was in office – negotiated for by the PPP.
In other words, the PPP earned revenues from the sale of climate services even for the period Ms Fernandes’ parties held the seat of government.
I do not know Ms Fernandes to be an Indigenous rights activist except for the short election period, but I suppose the opportunity was ripe and she attempted to seize it. My only issue is that when she advocates for Guyana’s First Peoples, she ought not to do so opportunistically. She should be consistent and honest – even about her and her own parties’ failures.
Yours faithfully, Ravin Singh
GPHC launches online patient booking at Festival City Polyclinic –– first step in national eHEALTH rollout
PATIENTS at the Festival City Polyclinic can now schedule their appointments online, following the official launch of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s (GPHC) Online Patient Booking system Wednesday morning.
The new feature, which went live on August 20, marks the first phase of eHEALTH, Guyana’s National Electronic Health Records (EHR) system, spearheaded by the Ministry of Health. The Festival City Polyclinic was selected as the pilot site for this landmark initiative, which aims to modernise the country’s healthcare services.
Through the system, patients can book appointments and services remotely using a computer or mobile phone, significantly reducing waiting times at the facility. The booking platform is currently only accessible within Guyana.
“This is a major step toward transforming patient care in Guyana,” the GPHC said in its announcement. “By shifting from paper-based records to secure, electronic health records, we are improving the quality, availability, and confidentiality of medical information.”
Among the key benefits of the eHEALTH system are: Faster and more coordinated
patient care; Reduced waiting times at health facilities, and Strengthened public trust in the secure handling of health data.
Located at 1934 Blue Mountain and Aubrey Barker Road, Festival City, Georgetown, the polyclinic is one of four primary healthcare facilities managed by GPHC.
It offers a wide range of services, including adult vaccinations, asthma and COPD clinics, counselling services, family planning, general wellness, STI testing, and dental care.
HOW IT WORKS
Residents within the Festival City catchment
area can scan the facility’s QR code to access the online booking portal.
Appointments scheduled through the platform will be prioritised, while walk-in patients will continue to be accommodated based on availability.
Members of the public who wish to learn more about the service can visit the Festival City Polyclinic or call (592) 218-1001.
The Ministry of Health noted that this launch is part of a broader vision to integrate technology into public healthcare, ultimately improving efficiency and strengthening patient experiences nationwide.
Residents within the Festival City catchment area can scan the facility’s QR code to access the online booking portal
How the parties line up 11 days before
Dear Editor,
THIS is a whistle-take on how things look for the competing parties for the elections on September 1, 2025. Let’s do it in alphabetical order.
The AFC is basically finished. It has been wracked by an ongoing exit of top party personalities, and by poor-to-non-existent leadership. The AFC is barely visible in this election cycle.
The APNU will likely hold on to that part of its base that are over 50, and those die-hard David Hinds ideological types. The former will vote based on family loyalty; the latter based on radical ethnic
chauvinism. Please see Hinds’ social media posts.
The APNU has been hobbled by a mass-exodus of top leaders and activists, and is at its weakest point in history. If LFS Burnham were alive, he would probably disapprove of Norton.
The PPPC is in a commanding position. If crowd-size is a reliable indicator, then the PPPC will crush the opposition. Beyond crowd size, the PPPC has a strong record of promises made, and promises kept. It also has tested leadership in Ali, Phillips, and Jagdeo. $200,000 to school children, $60,000 to pensioners, free UG education; interest free loans for small businesses, and
other proposed measures are bound to find favour with voters. More than anything else, the PPPC has an ‘army’ of activists, who of their own free will, are maintaining the party’s momentum. This bodes well for massive voter turn-out on E-Day.
The WIN party is obviously in trouble because of its compromised leadership. It is doing okay for a ‘flare-up’ party but we have to wait and see if those blue shirts will actually go to the polls. The WIN costal demographics have a lower marginal propensity to show up at the polls on E-Day. In the interior regions, the WIN might not be the last visitor. Further, now that vote-buying is harder because of the new GECOM
Voters must remember history before believing
Dear Editor,
THE election period is often dubbed the ‘silly season’ because some politicians make outrageous promises they have no intention of honouring.
When it comes to making empty promises, you can bet your last dollar that the PNC will not disappoint. Indeed, since Independence, the PNC has been known for making promises that it is incapable of honouring or never intended to deliver. During the 1970s, this party promised to “feed, clothe, and house the nation”. However, by the end of their three decades in power, the country became one of the most impoverished in the Western Hemisphere, and squatting was the only viable means of obtaining shelter for countless citizens. This tragic history is well documented.
In his book titled From Autocracy to Democracy in Guyana, Odeen Ishmael provides a comprehensive account of the failure of the PNC’s “pie in the sky” five-year plan to feed, clothe, and house the nation. In the
area of housing, the PNC promised to build 65,000 housing units by the end of 1976. However, according to the statistics, only 4,167 housing units, or 6.5 per cent, were completed. Because of the colossal failure of the PNC’s housing programme, an estimated 108,000 people lived in squatter settlements during the early 1990s, according to the United Nations. In these squatter settlements, the citizens had no access to sanitary facilities, potable water, or essential infrastructure. Fortunately, the housing situation was reversed by the PPP/C when it was voted into office in 1992. During the first five years of the PPP/C government, more than 21,000 house lots were distributed, and by 2015, this figure had grown to 115,000. Beyond simply distributing house lots, the PPP/C made housing more affordable through various initiatives, including the lowering of interest rates on mortgages, offering housing subsidies, and providing mortgage interest relief (MIR), among other measures. Between 1991 and 2012, the housing stock
of the country increased by more than 42 percent due to the housing initiatives of the PPP/C.
In its new incarnation, the APNU-AFC, the PNC promised the electorate in 2015 to provide every Guyanese with access to affordable housing through innovative financing for housing, mortgage interest support, and incentives for aided self-help. However, staying true to form, the APNU-AFC not only failed to deliver on its promises but inflicted severe damage to the housing sector. The decimation of the housing sector was initiated with the conversion of the Ministry of Housing to a department of the Ministry of Communities. The party continued its destruction of the housing sector by shifting from the distribution of house lots and construction of homes to experimenting with attached houses (or duplexes) when no legislative framework existed for that housing model. The APNU-AFC also limited the Mortgage Interest Relief to $15 million and imposed VAT on building materials. Unsurprisingly, a new wave of squatting emerged.
E-Day
phone rule in the polling booth, WIN will likely lose the ‘Scrape-votes.’
The other two parties are basically irrelevant because the AFC might be the force for any ‘remainder’ seat. Amanza Desir’s fall is of historic proportions.
All told, the AFC is basically finished; APNU will make no gains; the PPPC is gaining momentum with lots of cross-overs in its corner; and the WIN is hobbled by a sanctioned candidate. It has no PM candidate to date, a sign that top participants are afraid of being implicated.
Sincerely Dr Randy Persaud
empty promises
Now that another election season is upon us, the PNC is once again promising to make housing accessible to citizens who have reached the age of 18, at no cost. Given its historical track record in the area of housing—33 years in power, from 1966 to 1992 and 2015 to 2020—this new pledge by the PNC should be taken with a “bag of salt” and not “just a pinch”. History shows that the PNC’s promises have repeatedly been honoured in the breach.
I urge all voters to remember our history. More importantly, I would like them to heed a sign in Jonestown that famously read: “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Let us heed this warning, think critically, and avoid being seduced by cheap political rhetoric.
In other words, avoid drinking the Cool Aid served by the PNC during this silly season.
Regards, Kevin Persaud
A brief history of disruption inside the PNC’s leadership
FORBES Burnham’s death anniversary coincided with the 2025 general election.
The diluted PNC leadership did not have time to plan any national and regional celebrations.
The weakened PNC leadership was occupied with saving itself from extinction so the death anniversary was not on the mind of the PNC’s collective leadership.
It is intense curiosity facing almost all Guyanese in and out of the land as to what Burnham is saying in his grave when he sees what the PNC has become.
Even Mr. Burnham’s son-in-law and a person whose presence in the PNC’s leadership Mr. Burnham deliberately maximised has endorsed the PPP for re-election.
What is Burnham saying in his grave about the way Amna Ali, whom he helped protégé in the PNC, has been treated? Ms. Ali died without putting pen on paper but if she had, she would have written of Mr. Burnham’s special treatment of her through her father and grandfather.
The former head of the army, Mr. Edward Collins, who became an adviser to President Granger, in a letter yesterday tried in a poor attempt to deny that he has some distance between him and the current PNC leadership. Mr. Collins must be unaware of how the Freudian mind works.
I will quote him to show him that he made a Freudian revelation in his letter. He wrote: “I took a deliberate decision not to run for any positions of leadership at the Biennial Congress. Notwithstanding that decision, I wish to categorically state that I remained and still am an active member of the People’s National Congress Reform.”
There are hundreds of educated people
who still retain their PNC membership card but are either silent or invisible with 2025 PNC leadership. Mr. Collins is not alone in removing himself from the PNC leadership; so are some large names. The list includes former President David Granger, former Minister of the Presidency Joseph Harmon, and Mark Archer, former Communication Director in the Office of the President.
What must be disturbing Burnham at a very deep level that may cause him to rise from the grave is the continuous exodus of leaders in the PNC whose talent the PNC cannot do without and will have to do without. There has never been a time in the 70 years of PNC’s existence that so much turmoil has occurred in its leadership.
There were three episodes in which the PNC had undergone severe internal stress. One is the period where the PNC was divided over what to do with the food ban. It was hurting the PNC’s hold on power but Burnham’s hegemony erased any dissent. The second moment was the threat of Walter Rodney. Again, Burnham’s larger-thanlife presence rallied the PNC’s leadership.
The third scenario was when he assumed the presidency; Desmond Hoyte felt he had to remove the presence in state power of the type of PNC leadership that he inherited because that leadership belonged to an ideological period that had passed. But there is a gargantuan but. But what Hoyte did was to remove the presence of the Burnhamite PNC from state power, not from the PNC leadership.
The PNC, as the ruling party from 1985 to 1992, did not witness relentless in-fighting and mass exodus. The reason being
that the PNC head on those three occasions cited above was president of the country. Presidential power preserved the PNC’s leadership. As soon as Hoyte lost the presidency, there was a huge outbreak of guerrilla warfare inside the PNC leadership led by Raphael Trotman and Deborah Backer. Guerrilla warfare diluted the leadership of the PNC under Robert Corbin, with Vincent Alexander and Aubrey Norton attempting episodic coups. This dissension in the PNC leadership so weakened Corbin that he lost five parliamentary seats in the 2006 general election.
The PNC experienced stable leadership because in 2015 it reverted to the atavism of presidential power inside the party. In 2015, the leader of the PNC was the president of Guyana. After Granger lost the presidency in 2020, the Corbin tragedy reemerged inside the PNC’s leadership. The PNC got a new leader, but unlike Burnham,
Hoyte, and Granger, he was not the president of Guyana at the time of securing the leader role.
So what Norton did to Corbin, others were prepared to do to Norton, with the lowest points being (1) an allegation against Norton for allegedly demanding checks from the then treasurer without the purpose of specific spending, (2) Roysdale Forde’s allegation of an improper and unaccountable congress, and (3) Vanessa Kissoon’s allegation of a sexual nature against Norton. By 2025, the year of a general election, by the time Norton looked over his shoulder, his army had gone and on Burnham’s death anniversary, the PNC is facing its own death.
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.
Every child to have access to secondary school by 2026 – Education Minister
WITH many secondary schools being built across the country, children will have a high school to attend for their secondary education by September 2026.
The declaration was made by Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, on Wednesday, at the commissioning of the state-of-the-art Tuschen Secondary School on the East Bank of Essequibo.
“By September 2026, all over this country, children will be able to go to a high school to get a sound secondary education,” she disclosed.
The minister recalled that the government undertook a massive agenda of building out secondary schools in Regions Three and Four to ensure students are comfortably accommodated. This was done to address inadequate access to secondary schools in both regions.
In three and a half years, the government built 67 nurseries and 45 primary schools across Guyana.
“We have built or are building 42 secondary schools across Guyana,” Minister Manickchanda noted.
Pointing to Region Three, the education minister said, “We have never had universal secondary education here in Region Three, and from then to now, we have completed the West Minster Secondary and De Willem Secondary… By next year, Crane Secondary will be finished. Five secondary schools in your region alone for your children.”
The $1.3 billion secondary school at Nismes will be furnished with all the necessary amenities to meet the needs of the students in the region.
The modern facility will serve over 500 students, offering academic
and technical education.
With the start of the new school term, all primary-top schools in Region Three will be closed. Secondary schools are being built and expanded in Regions One, Four, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine and Ten.
Since August 2020, the PPP/C government has commissioned 13 secondary schools nationwide.
Minister Manickchand said that the APNU+AFC government did not start or complete a single secondary school in its entire five years in office. (DPI)
Minister of Education Priya Manickchand at the commissioning of the Tuschen Secondary School, on Wednesday
GTA partners with Outlook Travel Magazine to launch Guyana Travel Guide Temporary closure of Demerara River Bridges navigational channels
THE Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) is teaming up with Outlook Travel Magazine to produce the upcoming Guyana Travel Guide, a publication aimed at positioning the country as a premier travel and business destination.
An entity under the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, the GTA has played a central role in Guyana’s recent tourism push, including registering tour companies, licensing and training tour guides, and representing the nation on global platforms.
The new guide will be featured across Outlook Travel’s magazine, website, social media channels, and newsletter platforms, as well as through the GTA’s own networks. It will highlight Guyana’s diverse offerings, from accommodation and activities to cultural and eco-tourism experiences, providing readers with practical insights to maximise their visit to Destination Guyana.
Sade Cameron, Communications and Public Relations Lead at the GTA, shared that Outlook Travel is a leading global lifestyle and
destination magazine with a readership of over 335,000.
“Outlook Travel works closely with tourism boards and associations worldwide, providing in-depth insights on where to visit, where to stay, and what to do,” she explained.
The collaboration will feature a 10-plus page guide in the December edition of
the magazine, anchored by an interview with GTA’s Director, Kamrul Baksh, who will discuss the authority’s core activities, strategic plans, and the broader growth of Guyana’s tourism sector. Additional contributions from GTA stakeholders will ensure the guide reflects the country’s rich diversity and strategic direction.
“This publication will raise Guyana’s profile internationally, reaching high-value audiences including business executives and avid travellers,” Cameron said. “It will strengthen our visibility, support marketing efforts, and ultimately attract more visitors to experience Destination Guyana.”
Earlier this year, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, described Guyana’s thriving tourism sector as a “tremendous success story,” highlighting the government’s bold strategy to elevate the nation’s tourism offerings. The country has seen a notable increase in visitor arrivals, with 242,655 recorded from January to July 2025, representing an 18 percent increase over the 205,646 arrivals during the same period in 2024.
The Guyana Travel Guide partnership with Outlook Travel Magazine is expected to further cement Guyana’s position on the international tourism map, showcasing the country’s natural beauty, cultural richness, and growing business opportunities.
Silver Hill receives new tractor to boost agriculture
THE community of Silver Hill along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway received a brand-new tractor with the necessary implements to bolster agricultural production.
President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali presented the tractor during a public meeting at the Silver Hill community ballfield on Tuesday. He was accompanied by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Mohabir Anil Nandlall S.C., Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy, along with several representatives from government agencies.
“I am pleased that we are able to deliver again on a commitment that we made with the tractor and all the implements for your community. It will help you with your farming and all the work you have to do in your community,” President Ali stated.
President Ali also an -
nounced that the government will allocate resources and support to encourage the involvement of women and youth in agriculture, enabling them to earn an income.
“I want you to know that we will be investing more in agriculture, investing in giving you the opportunities in agriculture to own the
shade houses that you want to increase production and for more women and young women to be involved in agriculture in a sustainable way.”
In addition to boosting agricultural productivity, the new tractor will improve transportation and assist in the overall development of
the community.
Rachel Latchman, a resident of Silver Hill, expressed her gratitude for the new tractor, stating that it will provide easier access for residents and enhance agricultural productivity, ultimately benefitting everyone in the community.
(DPI)
THE Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) has issued Notice to Mariners No. 136 of 2025, announcing the temporary closure of navigational channels at the New Demerara River Bridge and the Demerara Harbour Bridge.
The closures are scheduled on two occasions to allow for essential construction work on the new bridge.
Marine traffic will be restricted during the following periods: First Closure: 07:00 hours on September 4, 2025, to 20:00 hours on September 5, 2025. Second Closure: 07:00 hours on September 8, 2025, to 20:00 hours on September 9, 2025.
The temporary restriction is necessary for the removal of form travellers used in constructing the main cable-stayed deck of the New
Demerara River Bridge.
Officials note that this work represents a major step toward completing the bridge, which will allow ships to navigate the full length of the Demerara River more efficiently.
During the closure periods, all vessels are strictly prohibited from transiting the bridges or operating in the designated restricted areas.
MARAD has provided specific coordinates for the high span and retractor span areas affected by the closures, which are available in the official notice.
Mariners requiring further information can contact the Georgetown Lighthouse on VHF Channel 16. The notice was issued on August 19, 2025, by J. Hinds, acting Harbour Master.
President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali enjoying a light moment with residents of Silver Hill along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway on Tuesday
The New Demerara River Bridge
Guyana Travel Guide to position Guyana as a premier travel and business destination
‘Vote for those who look out for you’ – President Ali says to members of the Disciplined Forces
AS members of the Disciplined Services head to the polls this coming Friday, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, appealed to them to cast their vote wisely and consciously, and to consider the party that has always supported them.
The Head of State
made this appeal as he addressed a massive crowd on Wednesday evening in the farming community of Black Bush Polder.
When the then A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition government assumed office back in 2015, it stopped the one-month tax-free Christmas bonus for the Joint Services,
leaving thousands of families in distress.
“Vote with your conscious, vote with your dignity, vote with honour, vote for the party that gave you back your bonus. Today you have more scholarships, more access to training, access to housing [and] salaries.”
The one-month taxfree Christmas bonus is
a key initiative by the PPP/C government and has been in place since 2002. Through this initiative, members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Guyana Fire Service (GFS) and Guyana Police Force (GPF) receive more money at the end of the year.
Immediately after assuming office, President Ali moved to restore the bonus, and by 2024, thousands of ranks re -
ceived approximately $1.6 billion in bonuses.
Additionally, President Ali announced an increase in the minimum wage for junior ranks and officers to $130,000 earlier this year, to level the playing field among the various agencies within the Joint Services.
“You can expect in the next term continued support for home ownership, expanded increases in your salary, training,
support for your medical services and support for a quality of life [that] is second to none,” President Ali assured.
The Head of State called on members of the Joint Services to cast their ballot consciously, saying Guyanese will join on September 1 to deliver a victory for the PPP/C so that p rogress can continue and Guyanese can prosper.
President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali addressed the massive crowd in Black Bush Polder on Wednesday evening
A member of the GDF on Election Day
New Urban Hub at Molsen Creek, Major Investments for Region Six
By Bebi Shafeah Oosman
PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali on Wednesday evening told residents of Black Bush Polder that a new urban area will be developed in Molsen Creek as he touted the People's Progressive Party's plan for the next five years, which he said will trigger the return of citizens from Suriname and other countries.
Ali told the energetic crowd of thousands gathered from the four polders in the area that the next five years are about extraordinary investments that will meet families in their homes and will raise citizens above every single difficulty, secure the livelihoods of farmers, create jobs, propel education, and guarantee world-class healthcare.
“The next five years are about a clearly defined strat-
egy, a strategy that we are going to pursue relentlessly until every family rise with prosperity.”
However, over the next five years, he said that there is a clearly articulated regional plan that includes investments “like you have never seen before.” He stated that “We have a plan that will give you a new Corentyne bridge linking Suriname with Berbice, we have a plan that will give you a new four-lane Berbice Bridge, and we have a plan that will build for you a deep-water port and bring a second gas line to Region Six and an economic zone.”
“We have a plan that will connect Region Six and the rest of Guyana to northern Brazil.”
As such, he said, the plan includes a new urban center in Molsen Creek that will bring back Guyanese from Suriname and other
- President Ali tells Black Bush Polder residents
Residents of Black Bush Polder listens to President Ali as thousands gathered from the four polders in the area
countries. “We have a plan that will guarantee the success of our country and the security of our country, a plan in which every woman will rise to the realisation of her full potential, and every
single child can aspire to be what he or she wants to be knowing that their government will invest in them.”
He stressed that “We have a plan that will lift you like you’ve never been lifted before.”
This, he said, also includes lowering cooking gas, cutting electricity cost by half, opening up more lands, “we have a plan that will invest in technology that will raise you up as a people living in fulfillment.”
He noted that the next five years will feel like ten minutes with the speed of implementation that is expected; “it will call for relentless work day in and day out,” adding that the new cabinet and government will have to work 24 hours a day to ensure it is implemented. “In our plan you will be able to stay in your bed and transfer money from one account to another account.”
“Our plan is not about talk and promise; it is about action, hard work, and achieving results that is what the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic… You know you can trust us to do it.”
Furthermore, he pointed to the joint services noting the development that will come is monumental as he urged them to vote with their consciousness, dignity and honour and for a party that returned their bonuses – the Peoples Progressive Party on Friday. “Vote for
those who look out for you, vote for those who trust you”, he told the Joint Services members.
“This Friday when you go to vote lead with your conscience, lead with honour and dignity, I am convinced that by the grace of God your hands will be led to truth, integrity, decency and the box next to the cup.”
He added, “Your vote is not for sale, it is not for granted, it is a representation of your will power to protect your family, democracy that is why a vote for the Peoples Progressive Party Civic is a vote for your family.”
Meanwhile, the President explained that Guyana is going to become the strongest country in the Western Hemisphere as he narrow down on Region Six stating that a facility to store paddy has to be built in the region. Additionally, he said that the system must be developed to allow that farmers pay for their paddy is secured and made on time, support with transportation, tools, equipment, technology are some of the things he highlighted adding “that is investment your government will make for you.”
Furthermore, he noted, that “We will establish an office for the Guyana Marketing Corporation” in the region which will have cold storage to store produce, process it and place it on the market.”
Additionally, he said support for business grants must be expected, while livestock farmers will be assisted with the expansion of the livestock industry “By building in the technology and creating the feed so that you can have quality feed going to your animal.”
In rallying the thousands gathered, Ali noted that there is only one way forward for a better and stronger Guyana that is together to ensure that in the next five years “your families will have more money in your pockets, you will own your homes, we will invest in giving you your houses, to ensure in the next five years you remain in a strong, stable, secure, democratic, and united Guyana under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic.”
He said, “We are going to build a strong, stable,” country as he guaranteed Black Bush Polder success. “You do what is right for Black Bush, for your family, for Region Six, for Guyana, you go out in your numbers and vote solidly for the Peoples Progressive Party.”
President Ali energetically assured, “We will not disappoint you, we will work for your success” as he thanked them for trusting the PPP/c and believing in the party, “we will walk with you side by side, we will lift you up, we will hold you up and together we will be victorious on the first of September.”
Timehri gets $125M state-of-the-art Police Station to boost public safety, service
THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) has strengthened its presence in Regional Division 4B with the official commissioning of the new Timehri Police Station, a modern facility built at a cost of approximately $125 million.
The development forms part of the Government of Guyana’s ongoing security sector upgrades, aimed at enhancing operational capacity, community service, and public safety.
The commissioning ceremony, held on Wednesday, was led by Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn and attended by Permanent Secretary, Andre Ally; Deputy Commissioner of Operations, Errol Watts; Regional Division 4B Commander, Superintendent Wayne DeHearte; Deputy Commander Rovin Das; Officer-in-Charge, DSP Clifton Davis; Head of the Community Policing Group, Reshi Das; senior officers, community leaders, and residents.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Benn underscored the critical role of infrastructure in improving policing services.
“We will not develop to the structure that we need if we don’t have better infrastructure, better Police…” he said, highlighting the Government’s commitment to equipping law enforcement with modern facilities.
Permanent Secretary Ally echoed the Minister’s sentiments, urging officers to serve with pride and dignity while ful-
ly utilising the upgraded station. He also emphasised the importance of traffic management and maintaining excellence in service, noting the crime challenges present in the division.
Regional Division 4B Commander, Superintendent DeHearte, described the station as “not merely a physical structure, but a symbol of progress, modernisation, and dedication to service.” Serving #3 Sub-Division, which spans from Garden of Eden to Moblissa and covers more than 35,000 residents, the facility is strategically positioned to improve response times and policing effectiveness in key areas, including Timehri North, Loo Creek, Splashmin’s Resort, and Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
The new Timehri Police Station features state-of-the-art amenities, including separate male, female, and juvenile lockups, a witness and ID parade room, armory and evidence room, a child-friendly area, a domestic violence interview space, and specialised offices for CID, Traffic, and the Officer-in-Charge. The station also includes senior and junior living quarters to support officers stationed there.
Minister Benn hailed the commissioning as a clear demonstration of the Government’s ongoing investment in law enforcement, stating: “A modern security infrastructure is vital to ensuring stability, confi-
dence, and above all, the safety of our citizens.”
The ceremony concluded on a memorable note with a vote of thanks delivered by five-year-old Nathan Davis in both English and Arabic, followed by the unveiling of a commemorative plaque, the ceremonial ribbon cutting, and a guided tour of the facility.
The Timehri Police Station represents a major step forward in enhancing security, fostering stronger community relations, and equipping the Guyana Police Force to better serve one of the country’s most expansive and strategically important regions.
Minister Benn Commissions
new $33.9M Command Operations Centre in Linden
MINISTER of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, on Wednesday, officially commissioned the newly constructed Command Operations Centre in Mackenzie, Linden, Region 10, a $33.9 million investment under the government’s ongoing security sector upgrade programme.
The facility forms a key part of the Safe City to Safe Country Expansion Project and is designed to provide an “eagle-eye view” of the region using advanced surveillance technology. T he Command Operations Centre aims to enhance crime-fighting efforts by enabling real-time monitoring, improving incident response, and facilitating faster operational coordination across Region 10.
Minister Benn was joined at the commissioning by Permanent Secretary, Andre Ally; Deputy Commissioner of Operations, Errol Watts; Regional Division #10 Commander, Assistant Com-
missioner Kurleigh Simon; Deputy Commander Superintendent Austin; Superintendents Alistair Roberts and Murugayya; Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Mr. Scotland; Assistant Superintendents Joseph and Matthews, as well as other special invitees. In his address, Minister Benn reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to modernising law enforcement infrastructure and expanding surveillance capabilities. He
emphasised that the facility equips the Guyana Police Force with the tools needed to strengthen public safety and build safer, more resilient communities nationwide.
The commissioning of the Command Operations Centre represents a significant step forward in Guyana’s security sector modernisation, aligning technology with proactive policing to better serve citizens in Linden and across Region 10.
Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn
The newly constructed Timehri Police Station
The newly constructed Command Operations Centre in Mackenzie, Linden, Region 10
Construction of Hyatt Place Hotel expected to be completed in early 2026
THE Guyana Office for Investment is facilitating an investment of more than $10 billion to bring a Hyatt Place Hotel to Providence on the East Bank of Demerara.
Located just 15 minutes from Georgetown, the property is situated near major landmarks, including the Amazonia Mall, the National Stadium, and the Demerara Harbour Bridge.
The hotel will feature 136 upscale rooms designed to international 4-star standards. Guests will enjoy modern amenities, including a restaurant, fitness centre, swimming pool, rooftop lounge, and both indoor and outdoor bars.
Located just 15 minutes from Georgetown, the Hyatt Place Hotel is situated near major landmarks, including the Amazonia Mall, the National Stadium, and the Demerara Harbour Bridge
investors. The Hyatt Place project is not just about building a hotel; it is about creating jobs, strengthening tourism, and ensuring that our economy continues to diversify and grow under the visionary leadership of His Excellency Dr Irfaan Ali and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic government. It stands as a symbol of confidence in Guyana’s future,” Dr Peter Ramsaroop, Chief Investment Officer said.
This landmark investment represents a significant boost to economic diversification, job creation, and tourism advancement in Region Four.
Situated at 2441 Plantation, Providence, the location ensures easy access to key residential and commercial hubs, as well as the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. Construction, which began in 2022, is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.
with Varaya Guyana Inc serving as the primary contractor.
The project is being developed by SIR Investments Guyana Inc.,
Beyond hospitality, the Hyatt Place Providence forms part of Guyana’s broader strategy to expand business tourism and
strengthen its Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events (MICE) sector.
It is also among several branded hotel properties scheduled to open nationwide, adding
to a rapidly growing accommodation stock of more than 2,000 rooms.
“This development demonstrates Guyana’s rising profile as a destination for international
It reaffirms Guyana’s commitment to positioning itself as the world’s leading eco-destination while building the infrastructure to support international business and leisure travellers. (DPI)
China’s role, insights in building clean, beautiful world
By He Yi
(People's Daily) IN
South Africa's Northern Cape Province, communities are adapting China's eco-village model to transform local resources into sustainable cultural and tourism offerings.
Uzbekistan's Nukus region has implemented a Sino-Uzbek pilot project combining solar power with smart irrigation for cotton farming, restoring saline-alkali soil while increasing agricultural productivity.
Peru's Chancay Port has established a wildlife conservation centre that carries out regular protection of marine and wetland ecosystems.
As countries and regions are recognising and adopting China's experience in advancing ecological progress, the principle that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" is offering Chinese solutions for global environmental sustainability.
Industrialisation has generated unprecedented wealth throughout human civilisation, yet simultaneously caused significant ecological damage. The enduring challenge lies in reconciling development with environmental protection.
China's guiding concept demonstrates the interdependence of economic growth and ecological conservation. It emphasises that economic development must not come at the cost of depleting resources and degrading the environment, and that environmental protection need not preclude economic progress.
Attila Grandpierre, research president of the Budapest Center for Long-Term Sustainability, believes the concept transcends narrow utilitarianism and short-termism.
Drawing from the ecological wisdom of China's rich traditional culture, it reflects deep concern for the idea that humans and nature form a community of life, imbued with profound philosophical meaning.
Protecting the environment is protecting productivity, and improving the environment is boosting productivity. Achieving a green transition in economic and social development is not only essential for building an ecological civilisation but also injects strong momentum into economic growth. In recent years, China's green industries, including new energy vehicles, photovoltaics, and wind power, have provided a
steady driving force for high-quality development.
While promoting its own comprehensive green transformation, China has also actively advanced international green co-operation, working with over 100 countries and regions on green energy projects, supporting the free flow of high-quality green technologies and products, supplying over 80 percent of the world's photovoltaic modules and 70 percent of wind power equipment, and helping reduce the average levelized cost of wind and solar power projects worldwide by more than 60 percent and 80 percent respectively.
Erik Solheim, former United Nations Under-Secretary-General, believes China's innovative practices and global demonstration effects in green development and environmental protection provide vital impetus for the world's green transition.
As the largest developing nation, China has proven that rapid development and environmental protection are compatible. Its anti-pollution campaigns have yielded visibly bluer skies, greener landscapes, and cleaner waters, translating ecological progress into tangible improvements in quality
of life.
on China, noted that China's climate policies prioritise human welfare while advanc -
ing equitable, efficient green development - a carbon-reduction model with global significance.
Aymara Gerdel, director of the Venezuelan Center of Studies
President Ali successfully ‘navigating the ship’ of Guyana towards prosperity Attorney General
PRESIDENT Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has successfully navigated Guyana towards an island of rapid development and prosperity over the last five years, declared Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Mohabir Anil Nandlall, at a public meeting in Leguan on Tuesday.
“I am proud to report to you that the man who navigated this ship of Guyana to put it in that important place, where it is now, providing regional security…is your own, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali,” he told hundreds of residents of Leguan.
Minister Nandlall reminded the residents that Guyana is at a very critical juncture in its development, and it is important that persons not gamble with the future by supporting other political parties that have no vision.
“This election is one of the most important elections in independent Guyana…if we make an error, if we become careless…we are at a precipice, and any slippage can cause everything that we are poised to achieve to become elusive,” Minister Nandlall said.
He pointed out that the Caribbean’s progress is tied to the development of Guyana, and we
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall S.C
must be careful not to put the region’s development at risk.
“We are now the most attractive destination for investments in the Western Hemisphere. We are now the fastest-growing economy on planet Earth. We are the leading voice in energy security in the Caribbean…the future of the region is tied inextricably to the future of Guyana,” the attorney general posited. (DPI)
Guyana strengthens immunisation cold chain with 10 new solarpowered vaccine refrigerators
MINISTER of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, on Tuesday, received 10 state-of-the-art solar-powered vaccine refrigerators equipped with remote temperature monitoring, a development set to bolster Guyana’s immunisation cold chain system.
With this latest addition, Guyana now boasts the largest fleet of these specialised refrigerators in the Caribbean, reinforcing the country’s commitment to ensuring safe and reliable vaccine storage, even in remote areas. The units are primarily allocated for hinterland health facilities,
many of which face inconsistent electricity supply, ensuring that vaccines remain effective and accessible to all citizens.
The Solar Direct Drive Vaccine Refrigerators/Ice-Pack Freezers (TCW120SDD) are designed to maintain vaccine integrity under challenging conditions, bridging gaps in cold chain coverage and supporting equitable access to essential immunisation services across the country.
Present at the handover were key health and development officials, including Dr. Oneika Scott, Maternal and Child Health
Officer; Deputy Permanent Secretary (F) Glendon Fogenay; Gabriel Vockel, UNICEF Representative; Joann Simpson, Health Officer at UNICEF; Shellon Eversley, Programme Associate, UNICEF; and Crystal Stoll, Communication Officer attached to UNICEF.
Dr. Anthony highlighted the significance of the initiative in strengthening Guyana’s public health infrastructure, particularly in remote communities, and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to improving healthcare access for all citizens.
Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, receives refrigerators from Gabriel Vockel, UNICEF Representative
GDF strengthens professional development through UK training partnership
THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is continuing to advance its professional development through strengthened
international co-operation, with a United Kingdom (UK) training team currently in Guyana for a four-day
engagement.
The visit follows the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between Guyana and the
The visit follows the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Guyana and the UK, underscoring both nations’ commitment to reinforcing their longstanding partnership
UK, underscoring both nations’ commitment to reinforcing their longstanding partnership. The collaboration focuses on knowledge sharing and specialised training, enabling the GDF to expand its capacity in key operational areas while advancing mutual security objectives.
Throughout the engagement, the UK team will work directly with several GDF units, pro-
viding technical expertise, sharing best practices, and promoting interoperability. According to the Force, such initiatives not only enhance the skills and readiness of its ranks but also strengthen defence and security institutions across the region.
The GDF welcomed the visit, noting that partnerships of this nature are vital for addressing evolving security challenges.
“This co-operation bet -
ter equips both nations to meet today’s defence needs while tailoring capabilities to their unique environments,” the Force said in a statement.
The training exercise represents the latest in a series of joint engagements between Guyana and the UK, reflecting a shared commitment to regional stability, resilience, and the professional advancement of military personnel.
First-ever aircraft maintenance training launched in Region Two
- as 224 residents graduate from technical, vocational training
A TOTAL of 224 residents of Region Two were on Tuesday officially certified in a range of technical and vocational disciplines during a graduation ceremony hosted at the Essequibo Technical Institute (ETI).
The graduating class, comprising 82 males and 142 females, included participants from both the Lower and Upper Essequibo Coast. Of the group, 104 beneficiaries from Lower Region Two completed training in Electrical Installation, Joinery, Welding and Fabrication, Small Engine Repairs, General Office Administration, and Cosmetology.
Meanwhile, 120 participants from Upper Region Two earned certification in Commercial Food Preparation, Cosmetology, Outboard Motor Repairs, Auto Mechanics, and Welding and Fabrication.
Delivering the feature address, Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, underscored government’s commitment to strengthening technical and vocational education across the country.
He highlighted the expansion of training opportunities under the Ministry of Labour’s Board of Industrial Training (BIT), noting the integration of new technologies to prepare citizens for a dynamic and evolving labour market.
In a landmark announcement, Minister Hamilton revealed that aeronautics training is now available in Region Two.
Already, 24 young people have commenced studies in Aircraft Maintenance Foundation at ETI—the first time such specialised training has been offered in the region. Within nine months, these trainees are expected to be fully certified.
The Minister also disclosed that a Fibre Optic Installation and Maintenance programme will soon be launched in Essequibo, broadening the scope of opportunities for young people to pursue technical careers in emerging industries.
Chief Labour Officer, Dhaneshwar Deonarine, explained that the government’s training initiatives form part of a wider human capital development strategy aimed at equipping Guyanese to benefit from opportunities in oil and gas, tourism, and related sectors.
Regi onal Chairperson, Vilma Da Silva, praised the graduates for seizing the chance to acquire lifelong skills that will open doors for employment and entrepreneurship. Technical Officers Lokenauth Rooplall and Mohammed Shaheed also presented the project report and congratulated the certified trainees.
The Ministry of Labour reported that an estimated $190,880,740 has been invested in training programmes for Region Two alone. Since 2020, a total of 1,746 residents—892 males and 854 females— have benefitted from BIT’s training pro -
grammes in the region.
(Seated second from left) Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton; Regional Chairperson of Region Two, Vilma Da Silva and CLO Dhaneshwar Deonarine and other officials with graduates (BIT Photo)
Capoey and Mission communities receive 190 water tanks to boost storage capacity
- residents thank Government for distribution
RESIDENTS of Capoey Lake and Mission in Region Two have expressed heartfelt gratitude to President Dr. Irfaan Ali and the Government of Guyana following the distribution of 190 black water tanks, fulfilling a commitment made earlier this year at the National Toshaos Conference.
On Tuesday, one hundred and ninety families from Capoey Lake and Mission received the tanks to assist with their household water storage needs. The initiative was led by Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, who was accompanied by GWI’s Hinterland Services Director, Mr. Ramchand Jailall, and other village representatives.
Both Mission and Capoey Lake already have functioning water supply systems, and the addition of the tanks will enhance storage capacity, reliability, and access to clean
water, especially during dry periods.
Minister Croal highlighted that the Government of Guyana has invested approximately $100 million in constructing water systems for riverine communities in Region Two. He also announced further expansions in 2025 for Capoey and Mashabo, aimed at boosting the quality of water services in those areas.
“Already this year, new wells have been completed in Dredge Creek, St. Monica, Karawab, Bethany, and Akawini, reflecting the government’s ongoing commitment to improving water access in hinterland and Indigenous communities,” the Minister said.
Village Toshoa, Wendy Francis, welcomed the initiative on behalf of her community, stressing that it was both timely and much-needed.
“Residents had challenges in storing water, so I requested the tanks for my village. Today, we are happy for this, and I must thank the Government of Guyana for delivering,” Francis said.
The distribution exercise is part of the Ali administration’s broader commitment to equitable development and improving living conditions across all regions, particularly in hinterland and riverine communities.
Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, with some of the residents that received the tanks to assist with their household water storage needs
Skyland residents gain access to reliable potable water with new $17M Well
RESIDENTS of Skyland, a small community in the Moruca Sub-region, Region One, are celebrating a major step forward in their quality of life following the commissioning of a new water supply system on Monday, August 19.
The $17 million project was officially commissioned by Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, alongside Guyana Water Incorporated’s (GWI) Director of Hinterland Services, Mr. Ramchand Jailall. It is part
of the government’s broader efforts to expand water coverage and improve living conditions in hinterland and riverine communities.
With a population of about 70 people, approximately 95 percent of Skyland’s residents will now benefit directly from reliable access to potable water. For years, villagers had to depend on creeks and rainwater harvesting to meet their daily needs, but this new development is expected to significantly ease that burden.
Prison Director urges vigilance, professionalism during elections period
Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot, speaks with prison officers urging them to maintain vigilance, confidence and professionalism in the execution of their duties throughout the elections period
DIRECTOR of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot, has urged prison officers to maintain vigilance, confidence, and professionalism in the execution of their duties throughout the elections period.
Elliot made the call on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, and Wednesday, August 20, 2025, during the introduction of bodyworn cameras to officers stationed at the Georgetown and Timehri Prisons.
Addressing the officers, the Prison Director emphasised the importance of impartiality and professionalism, reminding them of their critical role in ensuring both security within the prison system and the safeguarding of demo -
The project was executed through a partnership between Diamond Drilling and Supplies, which undertook the drilling works, and GWI, which installed the distribution system. Works included drilling a 6-inch PVC water well, installing 1.5 kilometres of distribution network, and constructing a photovoltaic pumping system to ensure sustainability. A 25ft by 25ft chain-link fence was also built to secure the facility, while 15 standpipes were installed across
the community to increase access points.
Minister Croal, in his remarks, underscored the government’s commitment to achieving universal access to clean water, noting that this project is one of many initiatives designed to bring equity in service delivery.
“We are working aggressively to ensure that by 2030, all Guyanese, regardless of their geographic location, will have access to safe and reliable water,” the Minister said.
Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, drinks water from the distribution network following the commissioning of a new water supply system on Monday
The commissioning of the Skyland well forms part of the Ali administration’s pledge to ensure sustainable development in
Indigenous and hinterland communities, bridging the gap between the coast and the interior.
cratic processes during elections.
“You are ultimately responsible for the safety, security, and supervision of inmates under your care, but during this elections period you must also uphold electoral integrity,” Elliot stated.
He further noted that officers must remain fearless and confident as they carry out their responsibilities, ensuring that the Guyana Prison Service maintains the highest standards of accountability and transparency.
The rollout of bodyworn cameras, Elliot added, is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen professionalism and accountability within the Guyana Prison Service.
- Chandan-Edmond says only the PPP/C can secure Guyana’s shared, prosperous future
Lancaster residents urged to vote conscience, not party lines
FORMER
Opposi -
tion Member of Parliamen t, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, has called on residents of Lancaster, East Berbice-Corentyne to look beyond party loyalty and instead cast their votes for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) at the upcoming elections.
Speaking at a public meeting held at Barrim Square on Tuesday evening, Chandan-Edmond, who once served as a parliamentarian for the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), delivered a passionate appeal for voters to choose progress and development over division.
She told the gathering that communities like Lancaster have long been neglected by those who claim to represent them, pointing
out that big promises are often made during campaign season but rarely fulfilled.
“Be honest with yourselves and ask: what has the PNC done
for you? Did they create jobs, improve schools, build roads, or lift your family out of poverty?
The reality is, instead, they imposed over 200 burdensome taxes while
failing to deliver meaningful development,” Chandan-Edmond argued.
She prai sed the PPP/C Government under President Dr. Irfaan Ali for its progressive agenda and the transformation taking place across sectors.
According to her, the difference between the two major political parties lies in vision and leadership: “The PNC thrives on division and race politics, while the PPP seeks to unite all Guyanese, whether red, green, or no colour, under a shared destiny of One Guyana.”
Chandan-Edmond, who broke ranks with the Opposition earlier this year, urged residents not to vote out of party loyalty, but to instead prioritise their families’
welfare and the future of their children.
She described Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton as “inexperienced” and incapable of holding his fractured party together, contrasting that with Dr. Ali’s leadership and track record in office.
“This is about breaking free from the shackles of the old politics of race and division. It is about looking at who is truly delivering the quality of life we all aspire to,” she said.
In a pointed critique of emerging political forces, Chandan-Edmond also dismissed the recently formed WIN party, led by businessman Azruddin Mohamed, as “born out of an attempt to cover the sin of gold smuggling.”
Her endorsement of
the PPP/C follows a series of defections from Opposition ranks, with several figures criticising the PNC’s leadership crisis and lack of clear vision.
Political observers note that Chandan-Edmond’s move underscores growing fractures within the Opposition and strengthens the PPP/ C’s campaign narrative of unity and transformation.
The Lancaster meeting, which also featured remarks from PPP/C campaigners James Bond, Mark Lyte, Intikab Subhanallie, and Kia Williams, forms par t of the governing party’s push to consolidate support on the East Coast as the September 1 elections draw closer.
Former Opposition Member of Parliament, Geeta Chandan-Edmond
Acquero Village celebrates access to potable water with $15M well project
RESIDENTS of Acquero Village in the Moruca Sub-region, R egion One, are now enjoying reliable access to potable water following the commissioning of a new $15 million well on Tuesday, August 19.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Housing and Water, in collaboration with Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), was officially commissioned by Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, alongside GWI’s Director of Hinterland Services, Mr. Ramchand Jailall. The commissioning ceremony was attended by community members, Toshao of Santa Rosa, Mr. Raul Hendricks, and Area Councillor, Ms. Tricia Rodrigues.
and the construction of a secure perimeter fence to protect the facility. Approximately 130 residents of Acquero will directly benefit from this new system, which marks a significant improvement in living standards for the remote community.
student cuts the ribbon officially commissioning the
The project includes the drilling of a six-inch PVC water well, installation of a photovoltaic pumping system for sustainability,
Minister Croal, in his remarks, underscored the government’s ongoing commitment to achieving universal access to safe water,
particularly in hinterland regions. “This project is another vital step in delivering equitable access to clean water for all Guyanese, regardless of where they live,” he said, noting that additional
expansions are planned to ensure every resident is served.
The commissioning of the Acquero well adds to the administration’s broader programme of investments aimed at improving water infrastructure across Indigenous and riverine communities, reducing reliance on creeks and rainwater, and supporting sustainable development in hinterland areas.
Joint Services reaffirm commitment to safeguarding national security, citizen safety
THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF), together with its partners in the Joint Services, has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to defending the nation’s sovereignty, protecting national security, and ensuring the safety of every citizen.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Joint Services emphasised that every mission undertaken—whether in border defence, law enforcement, or response to national emergencies—is car-
ried out with professionalism, integrity, and sacrifice.
The reaffirmation comes in the wake of recent public comments, including on social and traditional media platforms, which questioned the impartiality and dedication of the Joint Services. The statement rejected such criticisms, noting that they overlook the service and sacrifice of the men and women in uniform.
“The members of the Joint Services serve all Guy-
anese, without fear or favour, regardless of politics, religion, ethnicity, or social standing. This has always been and will remain a core component of the Joint Services as we continue to execute our mandate to serve our citizens,” the release stated.
The Joint Services called on stakeholders and commentators to engage in constructive dialogue, stressing that national security is a
shared responsibility and a cornerstone of Guyana’s independence and freedom.
As Guyana continues to navigate issues of border defence, internal security, and disaster response, the GDF and its partners reaffirmed their role as guardians of the nation’s peace and stability, committed to serving with impartiality and discipline.
A
new Well in Acquero Village in the Moruca Sub-region, Region One
Pakistani spinner Usama Mir joins Falcons for CPL campaign
NORTH SOUND, Antigua, (CMC) – The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons have moved swiftly to bolster their bowling attack, announcing the signing of Pakistani leg-spinner Usama Mir as a replacement for the departing A.M. Ghazanfar for the remainder of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League.
Mir, a seasoned campaigner known for his legbreaks and googlies, brings a wealth of experience to the Falcons’ roster. The 28-year-old has represented Pakistan in five T20 Internationals and boasts an impressive resume of 156
professional T20 matches worldwide.
The Falcons confirmed that Mir is available for immediate selection and could make his debut as early as Wednesday night.
He is in contention to face the powerful Trinbago
Selectors favour continuity over... (From
page 29)
reserves. Yashasvi Jaiswal, too, has been picked among the reserves despite scoring 559 runs and being part of India's triumphant 2024 World Cup squad.
There was a perception that it was a toss-up between Shubman Gill and Jaiswal, and the selectors opted for Gill, given his recent form. For the most part, they stuck to the status quo, choosing not to be overly swayed by IPL performances and retaining the core of the T20I squad that had won 16 of its 20 games since the 2024 World Cup triumph.
"With regards to Yashasvi, it's just unfortunate," Agarkar said, revealing the thinking of the selection committee. "With Abhishek Sharma... what he has done over the last few months or a year or so that he has been with the team, plus that he can bowl a little bit. (That) gives us some options if required by the captain. One
of these guys will always be going to miss out. It's just unfortunate that Yashasvi might have to wait for his chance."
SELECTORS BACK BUMRAH
Meanwhile, the selectors appear to have given a vote of confidence to Jasprit Bumrah, who has faced criticism for not playing all five Tests of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. As per the pre-series arrangement, he played three Tests in the series, but this led to outcry that the ace pacer was picking and choosing matches. Agarkar, however, maintained that nothing will change.
"There is no written plan. There is a nice break after the England series. We want him to be available for all the big games. The team management and physios are in touch with him. Most fast bowlers are monitored. Because he picked up injuries in the last 2-3 years, extra care is taken because of how unique and special he is. It won't change. "And it won't change - it won't change whether it's this series or maybe the next 6 months. As we go along, how he's feeling now, when we require him as a team, which is probably the most important thing. And along with the visuals and the play-dance, those things are monitored in place. We hope that he's available more often than not." (Cricbuzz)
before his departure.
The addition of Mir significantly strengthens the Falcons’ versatile squad, which is captained by all-rounder Imad Wasim and includes global stars like Shakib al-Hasan, explosive hitters like Rahkeem Cornwall, and a potent pace attack featuring Odean Smith and Obed McCoy.
Knight Riders in a crucial fixture at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, with play scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM local time.
Mir replaces fellow spinner A.M. Ghazanfar, who featured in two matches for the Falcons against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and the Barbados Royals
Antigua and Barbuda Falcons full squad: Imad Wasim (captain), Shakib al-Hasan, Odean Smith, Shamar Springer, Fabian Allen, Rahkeem Cornwall, Justin Greaves, Jewel Andrew, Amir Jangoo, Karima Gore, Bevon Jacobs, Kevin Wickham, Joshua James, Obed McCoy, Usama Mir, Jayden Seales.
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER
(Thursday, August 21, 2025)
COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)
Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 140 ODI matches (2) WI: 73
Today’s Quiz: (1) Which team won the inaugural CPL title? (2) Who was declared Man of the Tournament? Answers in tomorrow’s issue
Pakistani leg-spinner Usama Mir (Photo: PCB)
Players give valuable feedback during BCB's
'Share and Care' initiative
FOR the last couple of days, there has been a lot of anticipation regarding the value sharing session organised by Bangladesh Cricket Board titled 'Share & Care' at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka.
The hotel entrance literally was crowded with cameras from the morning as they were eager to take shots of players as they were all set to meet BCB president Aminul Islam, who initiated the move, aimed to strengthen internal bonds, encourage direct communication, foster open and honest dialogue, and collectively reflect on the shared values that guide both the team and the board.
Members of the Bangladesh national men's team, coaching staff, team management, BCB directors, and senior officials involved in team operations were invited to the session. The cricketers and members of the management were handed a form to fill so that they could express their state of mind.
Eventually it served as a platform to discuss findings from a recent internal survey and gather valuable feedback to help shape the board's
future direction and if sources are to be believed most players opted to give a minus tick mark on the paper where they were asked to evaluate the practice facilities.
Apart from that, the medical team gave a presentation explaining their activities, challenges, and shortcomings considering the fact the medical wing has faced criticism from players and coaches over issues of injury management and rehabilitation as many of them feel they fail to meet international standards.
While coming up with a roadmap to address the issues, BCB medical wing also did not shy away from presenting the real picture that includes lack of logistic support and modern facilities along with bureaucratic delays.
Top cricketing nations use state-of-the-art gyms and swimming pools and hydrotherapy facilities such as saunas and ice baths while it is not the case in Bangladesh which suggests they are lacking as far as basic infrastructure for recovery is concerned.
It seemed to be a reality
check for Aminul, who took over not long ago, and he seemed positive with the outcome as he insisted that they will conduct a meeting again in three months or so, to see how much progress has been made.
Highlighting the importance of the 'Share and Care' initiative, Aminul spoke with the media following the meeting.
"We - the red-ball and white-ball players, the supporting staff, the coaches, the board directors - have had a meeting today. The name of the program was 'Share and Care'. We think our players who play on the field are a team, those who sit in the dugout are a team, and we who work on the board are a team," Aminul told reporters afterwards.
"What the performance of these three teams is, we asked them eight questions. Then we analysed the data from their replies and shared the possible areas of improvement with them," he said, adding that the players were highly involved when it came to sharing their views with the board.
"The players have shared
Brentford reject new £40m Newcastle bid for Wissa
BRENTFORD have turned down Newcastle's improved bid of £40m for striker Yoane Wissa.
The Magpies were proposing a £35m initial fee plus a further £5m in addons.
Newcastle reopened talks with Brentford on Wednesday but sources told BBC Sport that the latest bid fell below the Bees' valuation of Wissa.
It is understood Wissa held talks with Brentford's owner Matthew Benham on Tuesday, a development that prompted the discussions.
The Magpies' previous bid for the 28-year-old was worth up to £30m.
Earlier this week, Wissa removed all association with Brentford from his Instagram account, external as his future took a fresh twist.
The DR Congo forward wants to join Newcastle but so far Brentford have refused to sanction his exit. He scored 19 goals in the Premier League last season. BBC Sport were first to reveal that Wissa had flown home early from their
Members of the Bangladesh national men's team were invited to the session
their thoughts with an open mind and given some suggestions. Thus, we came to know where we are, and we will work accordingly. Interestingly, the players were eager enough to take the mic and share their thoughts openly, going beyond our agenda. It felt really good and seemed that we are a team together. And we can progress if we work together - that's what we saw today,"
he said.
"We have conducted a survey among the players, where they have written their thoughts alongside marking. What really felt good is that they were physically present today and shared their problems, successes, and even said that they were happy with the support they are getting from BCB at different levels. But there are some areas of improvement.
"What felt good to me is making everyone realise that, at the end of the day, we are a team and when the team loses, the officials lose as well as the players," he said.
"Today, we had fixed questions in the survey and did not go beyond those. Later, some important senior players talked about domestic cricket. They also talked about the solution for going to BKSP to play in the DPL. We listened to them and the respective directors replied. Overall, everybody is happy," he said.
"The players have shared their thoughts. We had a marking system in our survey - from 1 to 5 - that is from 'worst' to 'best'. We got the results from analysing the report and found that we have many improvement areas," he concluded.
Whether BCB can take a step towards reaching the long cherished goal of providing good governance remains to be seen but one thing looks certain that at least they are well aware where they are lagging behind that prevents them to progress. (Cricbuzz)
Selectors favour continuity over IPL form
pre-season camp in Portugal in July after which he threatened not to play or train for the club again if they did not sanction his protracted move to St James' Park.
Since then there had been a slight thawing of relations resulting in Wissa returning to first-team training while continuing to make absolutely clear he wanted to join Newcastle.
Wissa believed that Brentford would sanction his transfer north once they signed his replacement.
Indeed, Wissa has been expecting Brentford to agree his move to Tyneside this week after the west London side completed the signing of Dango Ouattara from Bournemouth.
Brentford have already lost fellow forward Bryan Mbeumo this summer to Manchester United. (BBC Sport)
ABHISHEK Nayar, a member of the Indian team's coaching staff, wondered how the selectors could have left out Shreyas Iyer from the Asia Cup squad.
"I can't fathom or understand what reason could justify Shreyas Iyer not being part of the 20-member squad (including the reserves). I'm not even talking about the final 15, but the 20 itself, which sends a clear message, that Shreyas Iyer is not in the selectors' scheme of things, at least from a T20 perspective," Nayar, a former India all-rounder, said while speaking on JioHotstar.
Iyer led Punjab Kings with inspired batting and captaincy, guiding them to a rare IPL final. He amassed an impressive 603 runs batting in the middle order, with an average of over 50 and a strike rate of over 175. The 30-year-old batter, sixth on the IPL batting charts, is a seasoned international with 135 games for India (across
The core of the T20I squad that has won 16 of its 20 games since the 2024 World Cup has been retained
formats) under his belt.
"With regards to Shreyas, I mean, we'll have to tell you who he can replace. Again, no fault of his, nor is it ours. It's just that we can only pick 15 and at the moment he will have to wait for his chance," the chief selector said, explaining the non-selection of Iyer, who was one of India's standout performers in the Champions Trophy earlier this year and at the World Cup in 2023. It was not just Iyer; the selectors overlooked several other notable IPL performers as well. Sai Sudharsan, the league's highest scorer with 759 runs, missed out, while Prasidh Krishna, the leading wicket-taker of the IPL season with 25 scalps, could be selected only among the
(Turn to page 28)
Yoane Wissa was left out of Brentford's squad for Sunday's 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest
Key takeaways from India’s Women’s
Cricket World Cup squad
HOSTS India have announced their squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, set to be staged from September 30 to November 2 on home soil.
Here are a few key takeaways from the 15-member unit.
India will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur, who takes charge in her first 50-over World Cup as captain.
The experienced batter brings both energy and bigmatch temperament, having guided India through several crucial campaigns in the past, including her scintillating unbeaten 171 against Australia in the semi-finals of the 2017 edition.
Smriti Mandhana, appointed vice-captain, adds a steadying influence with her batting consistency, ensuring India’s think-tank is in strong hands.
With a combined experience of playing in over 250
ODIs, the duo will be aiming to go all guns blazing to try and lift the coveted trophy at home.
The 15-member squad strikes a careful balance between seasoned campaigners and exciting fresh talent.
Stalwarts such as Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma provide stability, while youngsters like Pratika Rawal, Kranti Gaud and Sree Charani signal India’s investment in the next generation. This combination not only strengthens India’s chances in 2025 but also lays the foundation for the years ahead.
Rawal, who made her debut in December 2024, boasts a stunning 703 runs from just 14 innings at a stunning 54.07 average at the top.
Gaud, meanwhile, shone in the England ODI series, grabbing a crucial six-for in the final ODI as India
went on to claim the series honours.
The biggest talking point is the absence of Shafali Verma, whose aggressive batting at the top has often provided India with flying starts.
Despite her flair, inconsistent returns meant she was overlooked for the World Cup squad, sparking plenty of discussion.
The 21-year-old was part of the T20I leg of the recently-concluded series against England, where she returned 176 runs from five innings, and ended as the second highest run getter of the fivematch tour.
Despite her good form, she was dropped for the 50-over-leg with India opting for Rawal and Mandhana as openers.
India have opted for dual wicket-keeping options in Richa Ghosh and Yastika Bhatia, giving the side flexibility in selection and batting order.
On spin-friendly home surfaces, the team boasts a rich variety with Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Radha Yadav and newcomer Sree Charani all included.
Their presence ensures India will be well-equipped to exploit conditions in the subcontinent, which favours turn on the surface.
New comer Shree Charani, who made her debut in April this year in the Sri Lanka tri-series, has also been impressive with the ball, returning nine wickets from eight matches with her left-arm spin.
Several new faces in the squad have impressed in domestic cricket and the Women’s Premier League, making strong cases for selection.
Pratika Rawal and Kranti Gaud, in particular, bring energy and momentum after standout performances in recent months.
At the same time, the form of senior players like
Crawley, Rashid star as Superchargers crush London Spirit
...Hosts pay price for underwhelming batting effort as Superchargers cruise home with 18 balls to spare
NORTHERN Superchargers returned to winning ways under the lights at Lord's to romp home past hosts London Spirit and climb to third in the table in The Hundred men's competition.
Zak Crawley took most of the plaudits for 38-ball 55, but it was a batting effort that owed a debt of gratitude to his colleagues with the ballthe Superchargers attack impressive as they limited Spirit to just 135 for 3 batting first.
The win takes Superchargers to 16 points, level on points with defending champions Oval Invincibles and Trent Rockets, with a gap threatening to open up underneath fourth-placed Southern Brave on 12 as the race for qualification hots up.
(Scores: Northern Superchargers 138 for 2 (Crawley 55*) beat London Spirit 135 for 3 (Pope 52) by eight wickets)
The Lord's faithful might have hoped to see a performance from Aussie superstar David Warner but it wasn't his night, departing for a four-ball duck. Jamie Smith
and Ollie Pope scored 41 and 52 respectively but no Spirit batter was able to get away and really open their arms, and at the interval the visitors would have fancied their chances of chasing down the total.
Crawley lay a marker down immediately, demonstrating his class against Dan Worrall's opening salvo with a couple of stand-and-deliver boundaries through the offside and that was much the
story of the reply, with Spirit never able to build sufficient pressure with the ball.
It was left to Crawley's captain, Harry Brook, to slap the winning runs over midon, with 18 balls still remaining, to signal a comfortable win and keep Superchargers right in the hunt for qualification.
Meerkat Match Hero Crawley said: "It was an important game for us to get a win tonight, so the boys are
Mandhana - now the fastest Indian woman to 4,000 ODI runs - gives India a reliable core to build around.
On the other hand, skipper Harmanpreet, who smashed a brilliant hundred in the final ODI against England also heads into the marquee ICC event on the back of good returns over the last few months.
The top order featuring Mandhana, Rawal and Deol appears solid, while the middle-order firepower of Rodrigues, Kaur, Ghosh and Amanjot has the firepower to provide India with the spark it needs.
The 2025 Women’s
World Cup, scheduled from September 30 to November 2 with India opening against Sri Lanka after an ODI series at home against Australia.
Eight years after their heartbreaking near-miss in the 2017 final at Lord’s, India now have the chance to script history at home.
Squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Yastika Bhatia, Renuka Singh Thakur, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud. (ICC Media)
Ireland thump Germany in first World Cup qualifier
very pleased with that win and it was a good all-round performance.
"I try and keep the fundamentals the same whether playing red-ball or whiteball cricket and then maybe premeditate a little bit more in white-ball cricket than I would in a red-ball game, but I try and play similar shots. I think that's what I've done a bit better this year than I have done in previous years.
"When you've got great players coming behind you, you can just be a bit free at the top and today it wasn't as easy after the powerplay. It felt good in the powerplay - really good - and then definitely got harder. So it was nice to have that cushion behind with those boys coming in.
"I'm surprised to be standing here, to be honest, I thought Rash [Adil Rashid] would be the Meerkat Match Hero. He bowled unbelievably tonight and so did all the other lads to keep them to 140. We felt like we could chase that and it definitely got easier under lights."(ESPN Cricinfo)
Ireland cruised to a 10-wicket victory over Germany in the first match of their European T20 World Cup qualifiers in Rotterdam.
Germany won the toss and elected to bat, but only Christina Gough with 28 reached double figures as Laura Delany led the Irish bowling attack with four wickets for just nine runs.
(Scores: Germany 62 (18.2 overs): Gough 28 (39) Ireland 63-0 (7.3 overs): Hunter 31* (23), Lewis 29* (22); Delany 4-9
Set a target of 63, Ireland openers Amy Hunter and Gaby Lewis made light work of clinching victory, doing so in just 7.3 overs.
Wicketkeeper Hunter scored 31 off 23 balls, while skipper Lewis managed 29 from 22 deliveries.
The double round robin competition, which also includes Italy and the Netherlands, will see each team play six times and concludes on 27 August.
After beating Pakistan
Wicketkeeper Amy Hunter was the top scorer in the match with 31 runs
in a three-game series this month, Lloyd Tennant's side, who are next in action against the Netherlands on Thursday (10:00 BST), are firm favourites to be one of the two who will advance through to the global qualifiers.
Those will be held in Nepal in January where the final four places for next summer's T20 World Cup in England will be decided.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, left, and her deputy Smriti Mandhana
Tom Lawes and Harry Brook celebrate the wicket of Jamie Smith (Getty Images)
McCalla’s header powers
ten-man Mount Pleasant to gritty opening win
KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) – THE Mount Pleasant FA showed immense character and resilience here on Tuesday night, securing a hardfought 1-0 victory over Suriname’s SV Robinhood in their opening Group A match of the 2025 CONCACAF Caribbean Cup at the National Stadium.
The Jamaican champions’ task was made monumentally harder just ten minutes into the contest when midfielder Warner Brown was shown a straight red card, forcing his side to play over 80 minutes a man down.
However, rather than fold, Mount Pleasant rallied. The breakthrough came in the 35th minute from an unlikely hero.
Midfielder Sue-Lae McCalla rose highest to meet a perfectly delivered corner kick from Gadail Irving, thumping a powerful header past the Robinhood goalkeeper to send the home crowd into a frenzy.
That solitary goal was all the hosts needed, as goalkeeper Tafari Chambers and a resolute defensive line stood firm against Robinhood’s pressure.
In the night’s other Caribbean Cup fixture, a highly an-
ticipated rematch of the 2024 final saw Cibao FC of the Dominican Republic claim a commanding 2-0 victory over defending champions Cavalier FC at Estadio Cibao FC. Eager to avenge last year’s defeat, the Dominican side took control early. In the 20th minute, a slick attacking move saw Ernesto Trinidad burst down the right wing before cutting a pass back to Omar De La Cruz, who calmly finished to score the tournament’s opening goal. Cavalier struggled to find a response, and Cibao sealed the victory in the 73rd minute when Carlos Ventura found
the net to double the lead. The action continues next week. In Group A, SV Robinhood will look to rebound when they host Trinidad and Tobago’s Central FC next Tuesday, while Mount Pleasant FA travels to face Moca FC of the Dominican Republic next Wednesday.
In Group B, Cibao FC will aim to build on their momentum with a trip to face Barbados’s Weymouth Wales FC next Tuesday. Meanwhile, Cavalier FC will seek its first points of the tournament when it hosts Haitian side Juventus des Cayes next Thursday.
Australia spinner Zampa guilty in breach of ICC
Code of Conduct
AUSTRALIA leg-spinner
Adam Zampa has been reprimanded after he was found guilty to have breached Article 2.3 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “use of an audible obscenity during an International Match.”
One demerit point has been added to Zampa’s disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.
The incident took place during the 37th over of South Africa's batting innings in their first ODI against Australia in Cairns, when Zampa used inappropriate language after a misfield and overthrow off his bowling, which was picked up on the stump microphone and broadcast.
Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points. There was no need for
Seales, Chase and Hope on the move in latest ICC rankings
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, (CMC) – West Indies cricket received a significant boost this week as several key players made impressive gains in the latest MRF Tyres ICC Men’s Player Rankings, announced on Wednesday.
The updates, following the conclusion of the enthralling ODI series against Pakistan, highlight a team on an upward trajectory.
The most dramatic climb came from young pace sensation Jayden Seales, whose career-best performance has sent shockwaves through the bowling rankings.
Seales’s devastating spell of six wickets for just 18 runs in the series decider against a formidable Pakistani batting lineup has been rightfully rewarded.
The 22-year-old quickly skyrocketed 17 places to break into the world’s top 20, now sitting comfortably at a career-high 19th position. His meteoric rise signals the arrival of a new,
potent force in international cricket.
Seales was not the only Windies bowler to make headway. Off-spinning all-rounder Roston Chase also enjoyed a positive move, climbing seven places to 67th in the Bowling Rankings, underlining his growing value and consistency with the ball.
The good news extended to the batting department,
where captain Shai Hope continues to lead from the front. Hope’s masterful, unbeaten 120 in the final ODI, a match-winning knock that sealed the series 2-1 for the hosts, propelled him two places up the charts.
The wicketkeeper-batter is now ranked seventh in the world, solidifying his status as one of the most reliable and prolific batsmen in the 50-over format.
Rizwan signs for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots for remainder of CPL 2025
…He joins the team as a replacement player for Afghanistan's Fazalhaq Farooqi
MOHAMMAD Rizwan has agreed to a deal to join St Kitts and Nevis Patriots for the remainder of the Caribbean Premier League 2025 (CPL). ESPNcricinfo understands the signing will be officially confirmed by the league in the next 24 hours.
an official hearing, as Zampa admitted to his offence and accepted the official sanction as proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees.
The first ODI between the two sides ended with South Africa clinching a win by 98 runs. Zampa contributed 11 runs with the bat and returned with bowling figures of 1/58 for Australia.
South Africa are currently in the midst of a white-ball tour of Australia, with the two sides having played four games thus far. While the hosts took the T20I series 2-1, the Proteas fought back in the opening ODI contest, and have a 1-0 lead with the second game to be played in Mackay on August 22. (ICC Media)
The former Pakistan T20I captain has been signed as a replacement for fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi, who is set to link up with Afghanistan ahead of the tri-series in the UAE involving Pakistan and the UAE.
It is not yet clear whether Rizwan will be available for the Patriots' match on Thursday against the Barbados Royals. But with Pakistan leaving him out of their T20 squad for that tri-series as well as the Asia Cup, the path to Rizwan's involvement elsewhere has been fully cleared. It is understood an NOC (no objection certificate) from the PCB, which enables players to take part in overseas leagues, is a formality.
It is the first time the wicketkeeper-batter will play in the CPL, and adds to a growing Pakistani roster in the tournament. It was announced earlier on Thursday that leg-spinner Usama Mir had signed for Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, while the Patriots already have two Pakistanis in their squad: fast bowlers Naseem Shah and Abbas Afridi. Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir and Salman Irshad are also part of this year's competition.
The signing also means that Rizwan will use up
his quota of two overseas T20 leagues the PCB has stipulated as the maximum number centrally contracted players can take part in over a 12-month period starting in July. Earlier this year, he was confirmed as a signing by Melbourne Renegades for the Big Bash League. The Patriots got off to a rocky start, following a win in their first match with three successive defeats, and sit second from bottom on the points table. They won the CPL in 2017 and 2021. (ESPN Cricinfo)
Mount Pleasant players celebrate after their win
Mohammad Rizwan is set for his first CPL stint (AFP/Getty Images)
Aussie leg-spinner Adam Zampa
West Indies pacer Jayden Seales
for T&T
2025 Republic Bank CPL
Ice-veined David snatches victory from Patriots in last-ball CPL thriller
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, (CMC) – In a heart-stopping finish that epitomises the drama of the Caribbean Premier League, the Saint Lucia Kings emerged victorious by a mere three runs after a spectacular final-ball catch from Tim David broke the hearts of the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots here on Tuesday night.
In a match that swung like a pendulum until the very last second, the Patriots, inspired by a fairytale debut from Breakout League pick Navin Bidaisee, needed four runs off the final delivery to pull off a stunning chase of the Kings’ total of 200-8.
Veteran bowler David Wiese, who had been impeccable with his yorkers throughout the tense over, finally missed his mark by a fraction, offering a half-volley in the slot.
Bidaisee, who had played a heroic maiden innings to give his team a chance, connected cleanly and sent the ball soaring towards the long-off boundary.
Bascombe blazes to golden glory for T&T in the 100m
ASUNCION, Paraguay, (CMC) – Shaniqua Bascombe announced herself on the international stage in spectacular fashion late Tuesday, scorching the track to claim a historic gold medal in the women’s 100m and rewrite the record books for Trinidad and Tobago at the 2025 Junior Pan American Games here in Asuncion, Paraguay.
The Trinidadian speedster left the competition in her wake after exploding from the blocks. Bascombe powered down the stretch to stop the clock in a blistering 11.19
seconds, securing the country’s first-ever title at the games.
The victory was one of sheer dominance as Bascombe finished well ahead of silver medalist Liranyi Alonso of the Dominican Republic, 11.40 seconds, and Puerto Rico’s Frances Colon, who claimed the bronze medal in 11.46 seconds.
Her gold is the first of the games for the Trinidad and Tobago contingent, transforming its tally from eight bronze to a now more prestigious collection of one gold and eight bronze medals.
For a moment, it seemed the game was tied. But soaring into frame was the towering Tim David, who clung onto a pressure-packed, ice-veined catch to secure a famous victory for the Kings and snatch the win from the Patriots’ grasp.
The Player of the Match was undoubtedly Roston Chase, whose all-round excellence laid the foundation for the Kings’ total. He top-scored with a dynamic 61 off just 38 deliveries and then turned to his wily spin, taking a crucial 2-27, including the wickets of the dangerous Rilee Rossouw, who went for 11 and Patriots skipper Jason Holder, who top-scored with a blistering 63 from 29 balls.
Opener Johnson Charles and David also made useful contributions with the bat, scoring 52 and 46 respectively, against two wickets each for Kyle Mayers, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Waqar Salamkheil.
“It was a bit nerve-racking”, a relieved Chase admitted after the match. “I think we made it a hard victory. I thought we could have won it a bit more outright, but I’m still grateful for the two points.”
The loss is a bitter pill for the Patriots, who fought valiantly thanks to Bidaisee’s brilliant 50 off 36 balls, which carried the host to 197-6.
It marks their third consecutive defeat, leaving them with just one win in four outings. For the Saint Lucia Kings, the dramatic two points propel them to the top of the CPL table on net run rate.
Jamaica’s Seville storms past USA’s Lyles at rain-hit Lausanne Diamond League meet
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, (CMC) — On a track more suited to kayaks than sprinters, Jamaica’s Oblique Seville delivered a statement performance, powering through a downpour to defeat Olympic champion Noah Lyles at the rain-soaked Athletissima Wanda Diamond League meet here on Wednesday.
Defying a flooded track and steady rain, Seville blasted to victory in a remarkable 9.87 seconds, proving his recent win over the American was no fluke.
The time was just one-hundredth of a second off his winning mark in London last month, where Lyles also finished second.
“We can perform even in hurricanes,” a triumphant
Seville remarked after the race. For me, it’s just execution and to show my dominance, to separate myself from the field once again.”
For Lyles, the race was a case of what might have been. The U.S. star, building form in an injury-delayed season, suffered a disastrous start out of the blocks.
He spent the rest of the race clawing back time, eventually chasing down Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake to clock 10.02 seconds and secure second place. Blake was awarded the same time for third.
The result marks Lyles’ third consecutive Diamond League loss in the 100 meters, casting a shadow just one month before he is set to defend his world title in Tokyo.
After the race, Lyles was direct in his assessment, pointing to the start as his sole undoing.
“I just had a horrible reaction to the gun. Physically, I feel great, and I am confident every race will get better and better.”
Shaniqua Bascombe blazed down the track to secure gold
at the 2025 Junior Pan American Games
Navin Bidaisee of Saint Kitts and Nevis Patriots expresses disappointment losing the Men’s
League match 6 between Saint Kitts and Nevis Patriots and Saint Lucia Kings at Warner Park. (Photo by Randy Brooks/CPL T20 via Getty Images)
Jamaica’s Oblique Seville