as country’s
‘We are bringing power to the people’
- Minister Griffith says gov’t will enhance all lives by continuing to fulfil its commitments
Over 90 graduate from Berbice Humanitarian Mission, urged to build brand with gained skillsets
cameras aid in ensuring ranks remain professional – Traffic Chief
Bank of Guyana refutes Mohamed’s claims, says facts ‘misrepresented’
- as country’s rapid digital
President, Dr. Irfaan Ali stated that his government is pursuing an ambitious national digitisation programme driven by a strategic focus on digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence (AI), cross-agency collaboration, and the integration of ICT systems, which will see most of government services fully digitised before the end of the second quarter in 2026.
The Head of State outlined his Government’s extensive transformational plans for realising digital Guyana at his first press conference after his re-election to serve a second term as President, on Monday, at the Office of the President.
“As you know, a few days ago I held a meeting with all the IT heads and outlined the digital transformation plan aimed at fully digitalising all government services before the end of the second quarter in 2026. I have announced the appointment of the Chief Technology Officer, who will be supported by the NDMA [National Data Management Authority], to manage the digitisation process and to implement a digital platform to monitor and track key performance indicators for government agencies, ensuring greater transparency, accountability, and efficiency.”
The President underscored that the aim is to have an integrated system that works on a common framework across agencies that improves efficiency, transparency and the ease of doing business.
“This will apply across all agencies, including the security agencies: the way in which you get a security clearance, the way in which you get your birth certificate, the way in which persons ap-
ply for a death certificate. All of these systems are actively being migrated onto a digital platform.”
Giving an update on the progress of some of the initiatives, the President noted that the online passport portal is in the final stage of development and is expected to go live before the end of the year. This system, he said, will eliminate the long lines and congestion at the passport office.
“We will have a decentralised system where appointments are booked online, and you will go to the nearest service centre to you.”
The President explained that the border control and e-gate system went live in January, while the e-passport issuance system went live in February of this year, and has resulted in improved security at airports and border crossings. It has also increased accuracy and reliability in the verification of traveller data.
These improvements, the President noted, align with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards.
“The e-passport provides the Guyanese citizen with a next-generation travel document full of advanced security features and functionalities to facilitate safer and more efficient international travel.”
The President spoke extensively on modernising and digitising the healthcare system in Guyana, a vision that he has articulated previously. He explained that one aspect of this includes the electronic patient health system. The initial phase involves digitising the records of all patients at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), which started in March 2025 and is expected to conclude by mid-2026, with patients’
records at GPHC expected to go live by the end of the first quarter in 2026.
“In addition, the Ministry of Health has launched a pilot online appointment system at the Festival City Polyclinic. This is a system under testing. As you know, we don’t want the lines that you see in the hospitals and clinics. We want to move the system into an app-based system where you have appointments, so you don’t have to waste your time or sit at these clinics for hours.”
The President added that this pilot project is expected to be fully implemented at GPHC within the first quarter of 2026, and then in all other regional hospitals and clinics across the country.
“Outside of this, the One Health Project, which is a US $15 m project, is being implemented. The aim of this is to enhance our disease surveillance, enhance our laboratory system to a level three system, and to enhance our human resource capacity through recruitment and training in pandemic preparedness.”
Modernising and digitising government sectors and services across Guyana is aimed at creating a transformational digital platform that will transform the everyday lives of every Guyanese and revolutionise government services, the President had said.
This new technologically advanced era, he explained, is grounded in innovation, inclusion and improving efficiency. Digital Guyana, he said, represents his government’s commitment to building a modern
state where technology is used to enhance efficiency.
“Digital Guyana is our commitment to building a modern state where technology makes public service faster, faster services, more accessible and more responsive.”
The objective is to enhance the quality of life for all Guyanese citizens, optimise public systems, and reducebureaucratic processes, thereby establishing a stable, resilient, and service-oriented infrastructure.
The platform will employ a unified access point through a website and mobile applications, enabling citizens to apply for passports, birth certificates, driver’s licences, and national identification cards, including the forthcoming e-identification cards.
Additionally, it will provide access to education records, enable tax filing, facilitate business registration, housing applications, and bill payments.
During a previous live broadcast where the President updated the public on his government’s expansive plans for creating digital Guyana, he said that the Government will also implement an ‘Ask Gov’ platform to facilitate 24/7 as-
sistance to the public.
“Powered by generative AI, AskGov can answer all government queries and solve problems without human intervention.”
In education, students and teachers will benefit from AI through personalised learning and interactive curricula, even in the most remote regions of the country. The health sector will also see advances, with AI supporting disease diagnosis and tracking.
The platform will also feature an integrated Geographic Information System (GIS), designed to map and monitor national infrastructure in real time. This will include 3D models of physical assets such as roads, bridges, kokers, drainage systems, underground conduits, utility poles and hydrants.
The GIS will provide a unified data layer for public and private sector use, enhancing planning, emergency response, and utility coordination. The approach will help eliminate traditional inefficiencies.
“We want digital Guyana to make life enjoyable. We want digital Guyana to make life easier, to make systems more efficient, to make systems
The Bank of Guyana (BoG) has rejected recent statements made by United States (US)-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed, making it clear that he misrepresented the advice given to him by the Governor of the Central Bank. In a comment Saturday, the BoG said:
“We wish to clarify recent reports concerning the matter between Mr. Azuridin Mohamed and the Governor of the Bank of Guyana. Mr. Mohamed has
misrepresented the facts on social media.”
The Bank clarified that at no point did Governor Gobind Ganga advise Mohamed to petition commercial banks to reinstate the accounts of members of his financial entity, WIN. Rather, the Governor’s guidance was that Mohamed should withdraw his case filed against the commercial banks and their affiliates.
According to the Bank, such a withdrawal would have al -
lowed the institutions to re-evaluate the accounts in qu estion within the framework of their anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT) risk assessments.
“The Governor advised Mr. Mohamed to withdraw his case against the commercial banks and affiliates to seek reevaluation of their money laundering/ terrorist financing risks, which is the responsibility of the commercial banks,” the BoG said.
The Central Bank under-
scored that the decision to open, close or reinstate accounts lies solely with the individual commercial banks, which are bound to comply with national and international AML/CFT regulations.
This clarification comes after Mohamed had reportedly publicly claimed that the Central Bank Governor had recommended he write to the banks to reinstate the accounts.
The BoG’s statement directly contradicts that assertion,
stressing that its role is to ensure that financial institutions comply with strict regulatory standards designed to safeguard the integrity of the financial system.
In a June 2024 statement, the OFAC stated, “Azruddin and Mohamed’s Enterprise evaded Guyana’s tax on gold exports, and defrauded the Guyanese government of tax revenues by under-declaring their gold exports to Guyanese authorities.
more reliable, to make doing business easier.”
AI-driven surveillance is anticipated to enhance the detection of criminal activities and emergency response capabilities. Concurrently, intelligent traffic management systems are expected to alleviate congestion and improve road safety.
Environmental sensors will be employed to monitor noise pollution, air quality, and illegal dumping activities. Furthermore, the improved sharing of data among law enforcement agencies will facilitate swifter and more coordinated responses, thereby fostering cleaner and safer communities.
These initiatives will complement other transformational projects, including the One Guyana Digital School, numerous telemedicine sites established across the country, including in hinterland and riverine communities, and the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarship programme, which has awarded more than 30,000 scholarships to students throughout Guyana.
Between 2019 and 2023, Mohamed’s Enterprise omitted more than 10,000 kilogrammes of gold from import-and-export declarations and avoided paying more than US$50 million in duty taxes to the Government of Guyana.”
Several local banks had severed ties with candidates of the US-sanctioned Mohamed’s political party, WIN, affirming that this action is aligned with their usual risk assessment procedures.
Guyana sits atop the global stage, balancing a unique title of being a leader in climate change solutions and a young oil-producing nation.
The fastest-growing economy in the world, led by President Irfaan Ali, just two weeks into his second term in office, was interviewed by David Gelles of The New York Times on how Guyana is balancing its oil industry with being a leader in climate change.
Here is an excerpt of the Q&A-style article:
NYT: Is the global community actually making the financing available so that nations like Guyana can undergo the energy transition?
President Ali: Absolutely not. It’s ridiculous sometimes to listen to the pledges, because none of the pledges is actualized. When you ask the devel-
oping world to adopt measures to limit the impact of whatever we are doing on climate, you’re asking us to transition when we have major issues on energy equality, energy poverty, energy access. And then to complicate issues, these very countries are asked to function in a digital world, so they are already suffering from immense poverty because they were never able to adapt to the Industrial Revolution. Now they are moving into the digital revolution with A.I. that they will never be able to catch up with. And at the same time, basic things like clean water, access to electricity — major segments of the population don’t have this. This is something that has severely impacted the quality and equity of global policy-making. And there is no clear path and no
clear plan as to how we are going to address these issues.
NYT: One thing that has not stagnated is temperature rise. What will this mean for the people of Guyana?
President Ali: If we did not have the type of revenue stream that we have now, it would have meant debt. It would have meant destruction. It would have meant our economy just falling apart. Guyana is a new oil producer, but we are using the resource to finance our energy transition, to build resilient infrastructure, to support the region that we are in, to invest in livelihood options that will keep our forest standing, which stores many gigatons of carbon. We’re investing in solar farms, hydro, natural gas, wind and biomass, all aimed at transitioning to a low-emission energy grid.
We are building off-grid systems, solar farms, wind farms for the hinterland community, where the Indigenous people live.
NYT: You talk about how, for Guyana, the answer to coping with a hotter world is in fact being funded by the production of more fuels that are causing that warming. That of course is sort of the conundrum in a nutshell, right?
President Ali: I don’t see it as a problem. Your question in the context of Guyana is quite different from your question in the Middle East, or your question in one of the industrial countries. For us, it’s quite different. How do you see away out? We have this standing forest that has been there for all our lives, which the world does not see a value in. It’s easy. If the world says, “We’re
going to pay a fair-market rate for the forests that have ecological and biodiversity sources that also have a price,” then it will allow countries like ours that are forested to then use the revenue from that to protect our land, to invest in health, to invest in education, human development and infrastructure,
to remain competitive and to build a strong and resilient economy. So the moral question is: Who can produce what the world needs in the least environmentally damaging way? Because let’s be clear on this too. We can’t be naïve. The world will need fossil fuel a long time into the future.
By Shaniya Harding
CREATIVE and decorative art, Guyanese cuisine, clothing, and craft are just a few of the highlights currently on display at Her Market Enterprise’s Celebrating Women in Business Expo.
The two-day event opened on Saturday at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) in Georgetown, drawing almost 40 women-owned businesses together to promote their products and services while networking with fellow entrepreneurs.
The expo marks the first major showcase hosted by Her Market Enterprise, and organisers say it is only the beginning of what they hope will become an annual addition to the business calendar.
For entrepreneur and event coordinator, Hazel Jackman, the expo represents the realisation of a vision that she had had for more than a decade.
“This is something that I wanted to start almost 11 years ago.” Jackman says she was inspired by the challenges women entrepreneurs face, adding, “Her Enterprise and this expo have been incubated in my spirit because of what I saw, and I saw women and their struggles. I ventured out and did it on a small scale over the years, but now it has mushroomed. It has blossomed.”
Co-founder Charmaine Coppin said the initiative was designed to provide a space for women entrepreneurs to gain exposure while encouraging collaboration.
“We're hoping to make it something annual. This is only the beginning. And we want everyone to be comfortable. Please share ideas with each other so we can get to know you, so we can support each other,” Coppin told the gathering.
She added that while the spotlight was initially on women-owned businesses, the wider goal is inclusivity.
“Her Market is not only about women. This is just the beginning. We're starting with women, but it's about everyone.’ Furthermore,
Coppin promises that day two of the event will see a number of added features, “I'm looking forward to tomorrow. We have a little more entertainment. We have a fashion show. We have live steel pan music. We have a book signing and reading. We have so many other things going on for the weekend.”
Vendors at the expo echoed the importance of such initiatives in helping women-led businesses not just survive, but thrive.
Sharon Dowden, who operates Garden Gaze, said she learned about the event through her church network and signed up immediately.
“I heard about this event through one of my fellow sisters from church. She encouraged me to come out and told me about it. So, I went right ahead and signed up for it. And I am anticipating good things today and tomorrow,” she said.
Highlighting similar ventures, Dowden emphasised that expos provide vital exposure for small businesses.
“Women-led businesses could really benefit from more expos. Because the last expo I went to is WE LIFT. That was also by the Ministry of Human Services. And that gave a lot of, especially the younger women, exposure. And from that, it encouraged others too. To say, well, I could do this.”
Food vendor Aleta Cran-
don, who operates Exotic Bites, said she travelled all the way from the Corentyne to be a part of the expo.
“I saw the ad on Facebook and I just decided to try it and see if it's actually real. Because sometimes some ads that you see, don't seem real. So, that’s why when I saw it for myself, I said that I'd be a woman and give it a shot.”
Despite being just a few hours into the event, Crandon said she was already receiving encouraging feed-
back on her products. “So far, so good. I just got my ice cream out, and I’ve had a lot of positive reviews about it.”
The expo is expected to continue on Sunday with additional entertainment, including music, a fashion show, and a book signing. Organisers believe the event will not only highlight the creativity and resilience of women entrepreneurs but also inspire others to take the leap into business.
THE nationwide launch of Guyana's new Physical Education, Sports, and Recreation programme is a significant move that should never be underestimated.
Minister of Education
Sonia Parag's leadership in rolling out this initiative in over 30 public schools marks the start of what could be the most significant wellness effort in Guyana's educational history.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali's decision to dedicate Friday afternoons to physical activity comes from a serious reality that we cannot ignore. The Ali administration
acknowledges what medical experts around the world are warning: Excessive screen time is leading to a generation of children living sedentary lives, thus harming their physical and mental development.
The partnership between the Ministry of Education and the Guyana Defence Force is a smart move in programme design. Colonel Kenlloyd Roberts has emphasised that the GDF's role is supportive; they provide structure, expertise, and training to help teachers conduct safe and enjoyable physical activities. This isn't about enforcing military
drills; it’s about using institutional knowledge to create a lasting framework for physical education in all regions.
What makes this initiative especially appealing is its broad approach to tackling the "device-led world" that President Ali has rightly pointed out is harmful to human development. The programme features a variety of activities—from warmups and dance to cricket, football, and obstacle courses—giving students options beyond the endless scrolling and gaming that have taken over their free time. Minister Parag's comment that, "You may never know what you
possess until you are able to do something different," highlights the programme's ability to awaken talents that remain hidden in children addicted to screens.
The timing of this rollout is crucial. Research shows that children aged 9-12 spend over five hours a day on screens, and many struggle with concentration, social skills, and physical fitness. The programme addresses these issues by creating chances for movement, teamwork, and face-to-face interaction that screens cannot provide.
However, success depends on effective execu -
tion and ongoing commitment. The Ministry's goal of achieving 100% participation across all public schools is ambitious but essential. Rural schools like Sand Creek Secondary in Region Nine are already showcasing creative adaptations, such as archery competitions, thereby proving that the programme can fit local needs while sticking to its main goals.
The wider implications of this initiative reach far beyond Friday afternoon activities. By making physical education a required part of public education, the government supports the overall development of Guyana's
human resources. President Ali's vision of developing "future leaders who are not only academically competent but also physically strong and socially conscious" reflects the long-term thinking that educational policies need.
This programme needs strong support from parents, communities, and stakeholders throughout Guyana. At a time when technology addiction threatens our children’s childhood, physical fitness, and social skills, the PE Fridays initiative offers a way back to balanced human development.
Griffith says gov’t
By Feona Morrison
Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith, the youngest member of President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s Cabinet, returned to his home community of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, on Saturday, in a walkabout aimed at bringing the programmes and services of the ministry directly to the people. Griffith, who has years of experience at the Bar before taking up public office,
explained that the activity was part of the government’s wider strategy to ensure that development in Guyana is not limited to infrastructure but extends meaningfully to human capacity building.
“It’s important for the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning to tell the people how they can be empowered, because that is the goal of the ministry—to drive this labour force to show the kind of development that we’re seeing in
Guyana,” Griffith said.
“We don’t only want to see development in infrastructure, but over the next five years, as you will know, the President has said that direct deposits will be made in the people, and those deposits will be knowledge and empowerment...”
He stressed that the ministry is “bringing the power to the people,” not only by informing them about available services but also by listening to their challenges.
“We’re telling them
about the facilities that we offer at the Ministry of Labour, as well as hearing from them their concerns— whether related to labour or generally how we could improve their living,” he said.
One of the main issues raised in the East Ruimveldt community, according to Griffith, is unemployment.
To address this, he was accompanied by the heads of the Board of Industrial Training, the Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency, the Labour Depart-
ment, and the Occupational Health and Safety Department.
“Basically, we are bringing to the people how they can get inv olved in the work,” he explained.
“So how we’re trying to meet the concern about unemployment is telling them how we can empower them—the training that they can get, the opportunities to start their own businesses, and all of that.”
Minister Griffith said that such initiatives are
geared towards equipping residents with the skills and opportunities needed to participate fully in Guyana’s rapidly expanding economy.
When asked about follow-up, the Minister was clear that this was not a one-off exercise.
“My team is expected to provide reports. All of my heads of department are expected to provide reports on Monday. But not just that—this is going to
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FOR the past five years, this country endured a political culture that did not have even an infinitesimal ounce of shame, even a modicum of moral righteousness and even a milligram of dignity. For the past five years, human callousness was on display in abundance in Guyana, and the citizens looked at it, reflected on it and rejected it on September 1, 2025. They showed these unacceptable humans what they thought of them.
From 2020 to 2025, this country witnessed the opened floodgates of the lowest base of human motives that came from three dimensions of society – mainstream opposition, civil society and the privately owned media. It was a period in Guyana’s physiology that, outside of the early sixties when the Western world used horrendous, immoral techniques to oust Premier Cheddi Jagan, it has no parallel.
For five years, the mainstream opposition, sections of civil society, and the private media have unleashed
an ensemble of evil human instincts whose reproduction will be difficult to see in the foreseeable future because of its inherent insane insensitiveness.
Every human atrocity conceivable in human society was thrown upon the Government of Guyana and, by extension, the people of this country since 2020. And as the years went by, the nation watched and reflected on these people, and they concluded they are not interested in progress and a future for Guyana, but Guyana is to be sacrificed on the altar of the anti-PPP crusade.
I have done an immense amount of analytical exposure since 2020 of these people and their anti-human conspiracies, the latest being my column of Thursday, September 18, 2025, titled, “Constant banging failed to dislodge the PPP.” For this column, I will look at the continuation of these evil instincts, and it is anyone’s guess where it will end.
Former AFC parliamentarian, Devin Sears, had this
to say on Friday about the PPP two weeks after the people of Guyana completely rejected the AFC: “A push towards one-party dominance and an authoritarian model of governance.” Mr. Sears is a silly fellow to speak of one-party dominance because within that thought lies a huge insult to the Guyanese people.
Two weeks ago, six political parties electorally competed for state power. How can there be a push for one-party dominance when the ruling party was elected with a majority, the historic opposition PNC was devastated, and Sears’ party did not get a seat? People voted for the PPP to continue despite five years of sermonising by hundreds of people with the mentality of Sears. Please see the lists of these people, like Sears, in my last Thursday article. Is Sears telling the Guyanese people they are stupid, unenlightened and ignorant, and elections have no social value because they voted for the PPP and not the AFC?
FROM PAGE 6
be a continuous process,” Griffith said.
Highlighting his personal ties to the community, he added: “I intend to be on the ground in the East Ruimveldt community. As you know, this is where I have lived for a very long time. I can’t even express the kind of gratitude that I’m seeing from the people who have known me from the time I was a child. They’re coming, hugging me, shaking my hand, telling me how proud they are of me, and I’m extremely happy to be in this position to serve them and try to make some impact.”
Griffith emphasised that while politics inevitably plays a role, his commit-
ment is first and foremost to community development. “Of course, politics aside, I want to make some input.
Minister Griffith also noted that East Ruimveldt had suffered neglect under the previous A Partnership for National Unity +Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) administration, but that the Ali government has since invested heavily in the area.
“East Ruimveldt has really been neglected by the last administration for a very long time,” he said.
“There has been a lot of work that has been inputted under the People’s Progressive Party, under the Ali administration. In fact, the numbers will show there were significant increases
They voted Mr. Sears. Didn’t they? Just as they voted in India for Modi, in the US for Trump, in Trinidad for Bisssesar, in Barbados for Mottley, where the opposition didn’t win even one seat.
Is Sear saying that “Bajans” voted for one-party dominance? If they did, what is the alternative? No elections? The people of Barbados did not want the opposition to have a seat, so they voted for the Barbadian Labour Party to have all the seats in Parliament. Whether that is right or wrong, the people’s choice is supreme. Has it ever occurred to Sears that the Guyanese people did not see any credibility in him and his party, and that they didn’t want the PNC, and they didn’t listen to the Guyana Human Rights
Association and the Kaieteur News and the Stabroek News and Christopher Ram and David Hinds and Red Thread and the Guyana Press Association, and I can go on.
Yesterday, today and tomorrow, there will be accusations of undemocratic directions by the ruling party, and it will come from the long list of organisations, political parties and civil society groupings enumerated upon in last Thursday's column. But here is the point that is essential to understanding politics in Guyana.
Nothing is wrong with brutal, unsavoury condemnations of a sitting government by sections of society. That is their right to condemn once the language is not libellous and accompanied by violence, but in the end, that
sitting government becomes electorally vulnerable after the vast accumulation of accusations. That is how ruling parties lose elections.
The ruling Conservatives were devastated in the UK last year because of the sum total of accusations against them. This did not happen in Guyana, but on the contrary, the incumbent won, and its traditional ally was guillotined by the voters themselves. We have elections in Guyana, and a sensible electorate knows who is undemocratic and who is not.
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.
in the number of votes. That reflects the kind of work that has been put in this community, like many other communities—which is why, of course, we now have a majority in the Parliament.”
As residents warmly greeted him throughout the walkabout, Griffith said he felt both humbled and energised to serve. “I’m very happy to be in this position to help the people,” he concluded, before continuing his interaction with community members.
Residents welcomed Griffith’s visit, expressing appreciation for his engagement while raising concerns about local issues such as infrastructure, public services, and community development.
PRESIDENT Irfaan Ali’s Georgetown “City Revival Plan” would have made the Canadian visionary urbanist and grassroots activist who challenged conventional city planning with common-sense observations, proud. When Jacobs wrote “The Death and Life of Great American Cities” in 1961 without any formal training in the field, she influenced the view of cities as living, integrated ecosystems.
The plan to transform Georgetown into a “Garden City” is a gargantuan mission and one that will require all hands-on-deck. This is not the time for anyone, least of all residents of Georgetown, to sit idly “on their hands” and do nothing.
Cities are earthly symbols of paradise. I recall standing on the observation deck of the Toronto CN Tower and being amazed at how green the city appeared. At an elevation of 1,815 feet, the city was a jungle on the shores of Lake Ontario. Green lush gardens and water are vital necessities, but they are also a reflection of paradise that creates opportunities for spir-
itual reflection and meaningful social interaction.
I’ve been fortunate to have visited over a hundred cities around the world, and the most memorable ones all have vibrant waterfronts, stunning museums, impeccably maintained drainage and canals, abundant green spaces, walkways for pedestrians and designated zones for cyclists, such as Stockholm and Helsinki.
The president’s plan to beautify the Stabroek waterfront and market areas will certainly boost tourism, recreation and commerce, but it will also reflect the city's identity as an intersection of cultural diversity and national pride. Likewise, the Lamaha Railway Courtyard will be more than just a place of recreation but will also be a space for conversation and deep reflection.
The president spoke last week about the need for broad stakeholder participation and called on the private sector and for a more robust civil society engagement to ensure behavioural change. For Jacobs, this is the foundation of any successful transformation.
To drive the conversation and stimulate behavioural change over time, I believe the government should invest in sending small delegations of private and civil society stakeholders to visit and observe best practices in countries where residents are engaged in transforming cities defined by colonial legacies, particularly those that are adapting innovative techniques and policies to withstand the adverse effects of climate change.
In Caño Martín Peña, San Juan, Puerto Rico, they might witness how a Community Land Trust used grassroots planning and advocacy to transform a district that faced severe flooding, marginalisation, which was plagued by informal housing, into a model of community-driven resilience and urban justice.
In Durban, South Africa, they could observe how community organisations played a key role in upgrading informal settlements to help bridge the gap between the legacy of apartheid-era spatial segregation and a more inclusive urban development model.
In Mumbai, India, they will witness how the city’s
THE recent statement by Reporters Without Borders (RWB) is nothing more than an orchestrated attempt to create smokescreens and manufacture controversy over press freedom in Guyana.
Let me be absolutely clear: the Government of Guyana maintains a healthy, professional and respectful relationship with the media — both traditional and non-traditional. There is no hostility or antagonism toward the free press. There is no need for Reporters Without Borders to ‘help’ foster a more pluralistic media landscape. The government is already fostering its own budding relationship with the media, providing transparency and timely access to the entire press. Journalists and the press corps are treated fairly and are respected by the PPP/C Government.
The president and govern-
ment follow the Broadcast Act and do not threaten any member of the broadcast body. The government has not revoked any broadcast media licences unless there is sufficient evidence that a broadcaster has breached the terms and conditions of his/her licence. In other words, the media is not pressured or influenced by the government. Democracy is alive and press freedom is very much alive. Thve RWB is missing the point and seeking to present alternative facts, which are based on the lies and misrepresentations told to it by the Guyana Press Association (GPA).
The GPA under its former and current leadership is hostile to the government. They practise selective outrage about media issues and concerns regarding the treatment the media or an individual media house claims to have received at the hands of the
Redevelopment Scheme, working in tandem with organisations like the Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centres (SPARC), has resulted in land tenure, flood risk management and service upgrades for former slum dwellers, and directly confronting colonial land ownership structures and exclusionary planning.
In Camden, New Jersey, USA, although not a postcolonial city in the Global South, it demonstrates how a city with a legacy of economic decline and social inequality can be revitalised through strong nonprofit-local government partnerships, grassroots leadership, and collaborative community redevelopment, such as the Cooper’s Ferry Partnership.
There is also a lot to learn from cities in developed countries. Paris’s adaptive reuse of historic structures while transitioning away from car dependence aligns with Georgetown’s blend of heritage restoration and sustainable mobility upgrades.
The city of Medellín in Colombia managed to revit-
alise public spaces and build strong transit networks to improve social integration and urban safety, similar to the PPP/C Administration’s focus on civic landmarks and modern transportation.
The Lisbon “Green Plan” connects climate adaptation, biodiversity, greenways, and heritage conservation, a direct parallel to President Ali’s green urban enhancement and LCDS 2030 strategy.
Durban, South Africa’s inclusive approach to vendor and small business participation in the design of public spaces, compares to the president’s emphasis on stakeholder inclusion and community pride.
And New York City’s High Line Park, the transformation of disused railway infrastructure into a vibrant public space, mirrors the Lamaha Railway Courtyard project proposed for Georgetown.
Under the leadership of President Ali, Georgetown can and should be the venue for the World Urban Forum (WUF) in the coming years.
The gathering is the world’s
most prestigious annual conference on city planning and sustainable urbanisation, bringing together thousands of participants, including government officials, urban planners, academics and civil society from over 150 countries. Established by the United Nations-Habitat in 2001, WUF13 will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, in May 2026.
If President Ali’s vision is to be realised, Georgetown can become the stage for the power of local wisdom and collaboration. Our city could set a new standard for beautiful cities amid the great challenges of the 21st century. President Ali’s vision for the city’s transformation is not just policy; it is an act of hope and shared imagination, and I believe there is no better time to begin that journey than now.
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.
government. There is hardly any formal investigation or probing of the claim. There is no report produced that is presented to the sitting government. There is no room for a rebuttal or setting the record straight.
It is in this very context that the President criticises the media and rightly so over unfair coverage or biased coverage of him and the government. This is in no way an attack on free media or press freedom.
The truth is, in many flourishing democracies the media are criticised when they report false and misleading information about the government, state, and public and private institutions. The media corps is sharply rebuked if they lie to the public and are dragged through the mud to the judiciary to defend itself against libel and slander suits.
It is the same in Guyana.
We must be mature and responsible. If the media wants to be treated more professionally and be given much more respect, then it must uphold the tenets of the journalistic profession. It must be practical and accept constructive criticisms. It must report the truth and facts. It must not lie or spread alternative facts. It must show that it is unbiased. It is not beyond reproach, and the President, just like every other member of society, has his constitutional right to reply. They must have thick skins. If the media can dish it out, then they must be able to take it when it comes. The President, Vice President, Prime Minister, ministers,
public officials, and every politician could criticise the media or challenge the narratives set by the media.
No one could stop the President from being critical of journalists and the media. The media is not the law.
Second, the government will never seek to control or intimidate journalists. The government will not try to beat the media into compliance or conformity. Its role is to safeguard the nation and ensure that public information is true, wholesome and factual. The media environment is changing at an alarming pace, thanks to AI and digitisation. With the great and uncapped power given to the
media comes the need to be responsible and honest. The GPA must learn this during its temper tantrums. The media corps must learn this, too. It must not poke the bear. This RWB statement was premature and based on a series of alternative facts and imagined realities. They want to set the narrative, but complain when the president and other public officials are beating them to their game.
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.
THE Gas-to-Energy (GTE) Project, a vital piece of Guyana’s development, is progressing closer to fruition. As of this writing, the project is more than 68 per cent complete with the 300-megawatt (MW) power plant component nearing 78 per cent completion.
The pipeline from ExxonMobil Guyana’s offshore fields has already been laid, work on the transmission lines is continuing, and foundation works for turbines are progressing under a 120-day schedule. To stay on track with delivery, the workforce has been expanded by about 400 employees to ensure work is being done around the clock. Alongside physical progress, the Government has made institutional changes to strengthen oversight. The establishment of the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation, led by Minister Deodat Indar, consolidates responsibility for electricity, water, and aviation. The aim is to reduce delays, strengthen coordination, and hold leadership accountable for delivery. Minister Indar made his expectations clear during his site visit at the GTE plant on September
15, noting, “When citizens flip a switch, the light must come on. When they turn a tap, water must flow. These basic expectations must be met without compromise.”
The benefits of the project are expected to be wide-ranging. Chief among them is the anticipated 50 per cent reduction in electricity costs, which is expected to ease financial pressure on households and improve competitiveness for businesses. The project also promises more reliable power, intending to eliminate blackouts that have long frustrated Guyanese. With natural gas piped directly from
offshore production, the country will rely less on expensive imported fuel, ensuring greater stability.
The development of the Wales site, where the plant is located, is also creating opportunities for new industries. Plans for a fertiliser plant, a glass factory, and data centres are part of the broader Wales Industrial Zone, as outlined by President Dr. Irfaan Ali during a recent briefing on the updated master plan. These industries will not only add jobs but also diversify the economy.
ExxonMobil Guyana is playing a pivotal role in delivering the pipeline in-
A FEW evenings ago, I came across an Australian film whose subtext focused on a soldier suffering from PTSD - post-traumatic stress disorder. The director made no effort to soften the suffering of the soldier's experience, whether he was in the field or reliving the traumatic events at home.
He had no control over when or where he would be thrust back into vivid scenes of his mission - very real to him - nor could he control his reactions. They would vary from screaming with terror to slumping on the floor after smashing everything he could get his hands on.
PTSD is defined as a mental health condition that can occur after someone experiences a traumatic event such as a serious accident,
assault or combat.
The soldier in the movie was constantly re-living the horrific scenes he experienced during combat, where he was the only survivor in a team of six men. His symptoms were even more intense because, as team leader, he felt responsible for the deaths of the others.
The condition can plague veterans returning from military service and is the most common cause of it.
However, it may surprise many to know that PTSD is only slightly more common among veterans than civilians, with 7 out of 100 veterans experiencing the condition and six out of 100 civilians in the US.
However, what is more alarming is the high rate of PTSD among police officers, which stands at 35 per cent, according to Stel-
la Mental Health. In addition, 31 per cent of officers suffer from depression, more than half consider leaving their jobs daily, while others have regular thoughts of suicide, and a disturbing proportion actually carry out the act.
While there are no statistics available for PTSD sufferers in the Guyana Police Force, there can be no doubt that the same thing occurs here, though the actual numbers may differ.
The fact that members of law enforcement in any country are regularly exposed to violent crime, traffic accidents, abuse and other trauma means they are much more likely to develop the condition than the general population.
But while members of the disciplined ser-
frastructure, which will ensure a steady flow of gas to the plant. The company has reaffirmed its commitment to the project, which sends a signal that it is also interested in further developing the lives of Guyanese.
Finally, attention must also be given to skills development. While construction has created hundreds of jobs, the longterm benefit will depend on training Guyanese workers to take up skilled roles once the plant is operational.
The GTE Project is more than just a pipeline and a power plant. It represents Guyana’s determi-
nation to use its natural resources to lower costs, expand industries, and create new opportunities for citizens. With over two-thirds of the work already done and strong collaboration between the Government, ExxonMobil Guyana, and contractors, the project is moving steadily towards completion.
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.
vices are usually the ones we think of first as sufferers, they are not the only ones, and the symptoms are not necessarily as severe or as obvious. Anyone who has been exposed to a traumatic event can be a sufferer. Car crashes, violent personal assaults, abuse, the sudden and expected death of a loved and even a burglary can lead to PTSD.
The symptoms can vary from person to person and in their intensity. But they generally fall into one of four categories - intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood and changes in physical and emotional reactions.
Some sufferers relive the traumatic event as if it were actually happening, like the soldier in the movie. Others avoid thinking
about it and stay away from places where the event occurred.
Many may feel detached or emotionally numb, and others may have trouble sleeping or concentrating, become easily frightened, experience sweating, rapid breathing or actual physical shaking.
While the more severe cases of PTSD are easily recognisable, some may be harder to detect and may well go unrecognised.
Experts at the Mayo Clinic in the US advise that you talk to a healthcare professional or a mental health professional "...if you have disturbing thoughts and
feelings about a traumatic event for more than a month, especially if they're severe.” This is all by way of taking care of your overall health, of which the mental aspect is an integral part. And, as with any condition causing physical or emotional distress, the sooner you deal with it, the better.
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.
THE Guyana Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), in partnership with the Centre for Global Health at Northwell Health, formally inaugurated the country’s first Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Clinic on Friday evening — a major milestone in advancing mental health care services.
ECT is a medical treatment used for severe mental health conditions such as major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and catatonia, particularly
when other interventions have not been effective.
A press release from the GPHC noted that Friday’s ceremony brought together Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, health professionals, GPHC administrators, and representatives from Northwell Health, who played a central role in establishing the programme.
In his remarks, GPHC’s Director of Medical and Professional Services highlighted the impact of the partnership. “Through this collaboration, ten
physicians and anaesthesiologists have received training and certification in ECT, ensuring we have the expertise to deliver this highly specialised service locally. Additionally, Northwell has generously donated two ECT machines to support the establishment of Guyana’s first ECT clinic,” he said.
The first ECT procedure was performed in September 2024, and since then, 28 patients with complex psychiatric conditions have been successfully treated. According to GPHC, the treatments have helped reduce suicide risk, shorten hospital stays, and offer renewed hope for families who had exhausted other treatment options.
Officials described the launch as both a clinical achievement and a significant step in strengthening
Guyana’s mental health system. “This demonstrates what is possible when international collaboration, local leadership, and institutional commitment come together in service of our patients,” the Director added.
The clinic is expected
to transform access to advanced mental health care in Guyana, reduce stigma surrounding psychiatric treatment, and position the country as a regional leader in innovative mental health services.
THE police in Regional Division 4C on Friday uncovered a cache of narcotics, ammunition, and cash during an intelligence-led operation at Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara.
The operation, conducted between 12:05hrs and 14:00hrs on September 19, began with a search of a corner shop at Sideline Dam, Beterverwagting, owned by 42-year-old David Mingo. According to the police, the search unearthed a large plastic sealer, plastic wrap, and several transparent and coloured Ziploc bags. No illegal substances were
found at the shop.
Acting on further intelligence, police ranks moved to a nearby plot of land east of the shop, which was covered in thick vegetation. There, they discovered a white salt bag hidden at the root of a palm tree and a small white bucket.
Upon inspection, the police found that the salt bag contained several transparent plastic wraps filled with leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis. The bucket contained three boxes with 60 live 7.62 x 39 mm rounds, one box with 50
live 9mm rounds, a quantity of creamish rock-like substance suspected to be cocaine, and $78,500 in cash.
The suspected narcotics and ammunition were taken to the Sparendaam Police Station, along with Mingo, who denied any knowledge of the items when questioned. The police said the suspected cocaine weighed 785 grams, while the suspected cannabis amounted to 3,895 grams.
The items were lodged as evidence and Mingo has been profiled as investigations continue.
POLICE in Regional Division 4C, assisted by ranks from the Special Branch, on Friday morning, seized over 92 pounds of cannabis during an intelligence-led operation at Haslington North, East Coast Demerara.
The operation was carried out between 07:00 and 07:30 hours on September 19, in the vicinity of the Haslington seawalls. Upon arrival, police observed a man and a woman of mixed ancestry in a boat docked at the seawalls. The duo immediately fled into nearby bushes and escaped.
Ranks searched the vessel — a wooden yellow-and-red boat named Paraboo (registration GA 0480/5) powered by a 48-horsepower Yamaha engine — and discovered four large, compressed parcels wrapped in transparent plastic. The contents were found to be leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis.
The parcels were taken to the Cove and John Police Station, but attempts to retrieve latent fingerprints were unsuccessful due to the type of wrapping material used.
The suspected cannabis was later taken to the Police Narcotics Branch at Eve Leary, Georgetown, where it was weighed and amounted to 41.75 kilograms (92.05 pounds), with an estimated street value of GY$37,577,860. Samples were taken for testing, and the parcels were lodged as evidence.
Police said the boat’s engine was removed and lodged at the Cove and John Station, while the vessel remains at the Haslington seawalls under police guard.
Investigators have since identified the suspects by the aliases “Black Boy” and “Lisa.” Efforts are ongoing to locate and apprehend them.
THE police are searching for 32-year-old Timothy Fraser, a businessman of ‘C’ Field, Sophia Squatting Area, who failed to appear in court after being charged with the rape of a child under 16.
Fraser was arrested on September 6, 2025, around 08:30hrs and placed in custody. He initially remained in custody for about six days, as he was unable to post the $200,000 bail that had been set. The bail was later reduced, and he was granted pretrial liberty on September 15.
The police said efforts were made to serve him with a court summons, but he could not be located at his Sophia home. Investigators believe he may have left for the interior.
A wanted bulletin is now being prepared for Fraser as the investigation continues.
According to the police, the investigation file was delayed while authorities awaited the Forensic Interview report. Once the report was received, legal advice was sought and the matter was filed on September 16. Fraser was required to appear in court the following day, September 17, but failed to do so.
TRAFFIC Chief, Senior Superintendent Mahendra Singh, has credited the introduction of body cameras and the use of the government’s CCTV surveillance system as key tools in strengthening accountability, professionalism, and transparency within the Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department.
Singh, also an Assistant Commissioner of Police, explained that the deployment of body cameras has played a critical role in addressing long-standing concerns regarding the conduct of ranks in the execution of their duties.
“The body pack camera resolved much of that issue for us,” Singh said on a pro -
gramme aired by the police force, noting that the devices ensure that officers remain professional while interacting with members of the public.
The traffic chief also underscored the importance of the government’s national CCTV monitoring system, which he said has bolstered quality assurance within traffic operations.
“The use of the government’s CCTV system resolved much of that issue for us, because quality assurance in the system is guaranteed by way of remote monitoring,” the senior cop pointed out.
According to the traffic chief, the integration of modern technology into traffic management has not
The initiative is part of a broader effort to modernise the Guyana Police Force, with technology being utilised to reduce instances of misconduct, improve efficiency in traffic management and enhance public confidence in law enforcement.
Meanwhile, Singh said that the system is built in a certain way
only improved oversight, but has also provided an avenue for swifter, evidence-based resolution of disputes. He emphasised that the ultimate goal is to create a more transparent and credible traffic-enforcement system that both officers and the public can trust.
“We are leveraging the use of the updated technology to provide a more efficient and effective service, one with quality assurance at the forefront,” the Traffic Chief affirmed.
and has continued to improve over time.
“We have to be serious about the business of traffic so as to cause the public to realign their behaviour and change the culture that is prevailing out there.”
He warned that no citizen should call on any rank to support them or clear them from any wrongdoing. Singh stressed that the police are earning enough with their constant increases in salaries received from the force.
“MY voice wasn’t heard in APNU [A Partnership for National Unity]. I was there; I was only invited to two meetings before the elections. I wasn’t appreciated. As an Indian Guyanese, I wanted to know if I was unwanted in PNCR/APNU,” said former Georgetown Mayor and PNC/R member Ubraj Narine, reflecting on the party’s devastating defeat in the September 2025 General and Regional Elections.
APNU is a political coalition, primarily led by the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R).
The September 2025 elections were contested by six parties, but parliamentary power was concentrated among four. The 65-seat National Assembly were distributed as follows: People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) – 36, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) – 16, APNU – 12, Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) – one, while the Alliance for Change (AFC) and the Assembly for Liberty and Prosperity (ALP) failed to secure enough votes.
For the first time in modern Guyanese political history, the PNCR-led APNU will not occupy the position of the majority opposition. That role has now shifted to the recently formed WIN party.
APNU, under the leadership of Aubrey Norton, has conceded to suffering a heavy defeat at the recent polls. The decades-old party has pledged to focus on rebuilding and repairing its fractured organisation.
Appearing recently on the Freddie Kissoon Show, Narine emphasised that the party’s reduction to a mere 12 seats came as no surprise to him. He said he was not personally shaken by the outcome, stating that he was not “re-
covering from nothing.”
“I knew what was coming down because I am a grassroots politician. From listening to the vendors and the people out there, I knew what was coming down,” he said.
He attributed the defeat to the coalition’s lack of grassroots engagement and questioned the identity of the party itself.
“I want to make mention that I believe that there is no APNU. I believe that the PNC is the PNC. Yuh can’t rebrand something. It’s delusional for people to believe that, with a combined coalition that did no grassroots work, you can win an election,” Narine added.
The former mayor also criticised the party’s failure to utilise its members effectively in key communities. “You can’t have people like myself and don’t utilise us in the Indian communities. The dynamics of this country is evolving every day. People will no longer see race. And that is something that is continuing to happen on both sides of the major political parties. The people will gravitate to leadership.”
“You can pay a man money to get his votes but once you’re an outstanding leader, a leader with class, people will gravitate towards you. Money can’t buy that.”
Drawing historical parallels, Narine referenced leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, stressing that authentic leadership cannot be bought.
He was also critical of the internal management of the party. “The nonsense that took place in these elections, nobody undermined anyone. They undermined themselves,” he said, accusing party leaders of “micro-managing” and “undermining”
the party’s constitution, the Central Executive Committee, and the General Council.
Despite the heavy loss, Narine remains optimistic about the PNC/R’s potential to rebuild. “The party is an institution, and an institution will build back.”
Narine, who said he will remain a member of the PNC/R, warned that the party needs to stop being delusional, or it risks failing
Asked whether he believes Norton was the right person to lead APNU into the 2025 polls, Narine said, “I have great respect for Norton; I believe he is a wise guy and so on. But when you have people around you peddling dif-
ferent things in your ears, and you have yes-people who don’t put up challenges to you, you become delusional. You must be able to analyse certain things for yourself.”
Narine said they had all hoped for a younger presidential candidate, pointing to examples such as President Ali, WIN leader and United States-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed, and Amanza Walton-Desir, who resigned from the PNC/R to form her own party, Forward Guyana.
“I believe if we had put a younger individual and molded that person, we would have been in a different place,” he asserted.
as party tries to rebuild from crushing election loss
By Bebi Shafeah Oosman
AS Guyana continues its rapid development, vocational and technical skills training is emerging as a critical pillar of
national progress. This was the central message delivered at the second graduation ceremony of the Berbice Humanitarian Mission Guyana Inc., where over 92 students
were honoured for completing training in various practical fields, from hairstyling to computer literacy.
The ceremony, held in Port Mourant, Berbice,
celebrated the accomplishments of 25 students from the Basic, Summer, and Advanced Information Technology programmes; nine students from the Cake Decoration class; 12 students from the Hairstyling class; 28 students from the Nail Technology class and 18 students from the Makeup Artistry class.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha, highlighted the national importance of vocational skills. He encouraged graduates to embrace their roles in society and to take pride in their skillsets.
“Let’s be honest, all of you who are graduating here today will contribute not only to their country,” the minister said, acknowledging the wider social and economic impact of their accomplishments.
He emphasised that the government has recognised the importance of both formal education and technical skills training, especially in providing new opportunities for those who may have faced barriers in the past.
“We have had a number of skills-training programmes, we have the BIT, but more importantly, the government has increased the education budget,” Minister Mustapha explained.
With the wide range of programmes offered by the mission, from IT to creative and beauty services, the graduates are entering sectors that directly impact people’s everyday experiences. Minister Mustapha underscored the transformative power of
their skills and urged them to “build their brand.”
“You will enhance people’s personalities; these things are not about making up the hair, not just doing the colours, it is empowerment.”
He also called attention to the value of artistry and details in all professions, including culinary skills, “a perfectly designed cake isn’t just dessert, but rather it is a celebration of what you learnt.”
Addressing the IT graduates, the minister affirmed the importance of digital literacy in the modern economy, “ with basic training in information technology… your skills will be very important.”
Minister Mustapha also commended the Humanitarian Mission Guyana Inc for its continued commitment to community development through education and empowerment. He said, “You will take skills and turn them into service, you solve problems, you will make people feel seen, valued and celebrated.”
In closing, he reminded the audience that these skillsets are not secondary or supplementary, but essential: “Your skillset is very essential in today’s society as Guyana continues to develop rapidly.”
The ceremony served as both a celebration of achievement and a call to action, challenging the graduates to use their skills with purpose, passion, and pride, as contributors to a brighter, more inclusive future for all Guyanese.
Meanwhile, delivering the vote of thanks, Suresh
FOR years, Orlene Lewis, a hardworking mother and grandmother from the Charity Squatting Area, lived each day with uncertainty, unsure if she would ever have a safe place to truly call home. Her greatest wish was simple — a secure shelter where her children and grandchildren could live with dignity.
That dream has now become reality. Through the Men on Mission initiative, led by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, and carried out with the compassion of many hands, Lewis received the keys to her brandnew house.
The house was handed over on Friday by Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Madanlall Ricky Ramraj, in collaboration with contractor Vijay Persaud and Sons, whose partnership ensured that this project moved from promise to completion.
As she stepped into her new home, Lewis could not hold back her tears. With gratitude in her voice, she described it as “a dream come true.” For her, this was more than a house — it was a fresh start, a foundation of stability, and a symbol of hope for the next generation.
Minister Ramraj said that the handing over is a testament to compassionate leadership and grassroots governance. It reflects a government’s promise not just to build infrastructure, but to restore dignity, uplift families, and strengthen the very heart of communities. He urged Lewis to ensure that she takes care of the building.
“I am very thankful, I requested the home and it was fulfilled. I want to thank everyone for making this happen,” the mother said.
AGRICULTURE in Siriki Sands, New Heaven, Pomeroon River, received a major boost as Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Madanlall Ricky Ramraj, handed over a brand-new Mahindra 6075 tractor, fully equipped with a trailer, disc plough, and disc harrow (chipper) on Saturday morning.
The handover ceremony was held at the Regional Democratic Council D&I compound.
Minister Ramraj, accompanied by Regional Vice Chairman, Humace Oodit, Mayor Devin Mohan, and Regional Agriculture Coordinator Tamesh Ramnauth, handed over the new agricultural equipment to Sophie Ramdeen.
According to Minister Ramraj, the community requested the equipment; the new machine, he said, is expected to increase cultivation, improve land preparation, and reduce farmers’ costs, ensuring greater productivity in the Pomeroon.
Ramraj added that the investment comes on the heels of a mini
excavator recently delivered to the community, underscoring the government’s focus on strengthening the agriculture sector in hinterland and riverine areas.
He said the initiative was part of President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s wider vision of modernising agriculture and building food security for Guyana and the region.
Residents, led by farmer Sophie Ramdeen, expressed gratitude to the PPP/C government for providing the necessary tools that will help them expand farming, generate employment, and improve livelihoods.
“We are happy for this. Farmers in the community can be able to use this and help prepare their lands, it was very expensive to rent, now that this will be managed by a group, many will benefit,” Ramdeen said.
With improved access to machinery, farmers in Siriki Sands are now better positioned to increase production, reduce dependency on manual labour, and contribute to Guyana’s role as the breadbasket of the Caribbean.
THE National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Alliance For Change (AFC) has moved to persuade party leader, Nigel Hughes, to remain at the helm despite his indicated intention to resign following the party’s electoral losses.
In a statement released on Saturday, the AFC said its National Executive Commit -
tee (NEC) met in an extraordinary session on September 19 to consider, among other matters, the “purported resignation” of Hughes. While acknowledging Hughes’ willing -
ness to accept responsibility for the party’s abysmal performance at the 2025 general and regional elections, the
NEC underscored that accountability does not rest solely on his shoulders.
“While recognising Mr. Hughes’ clear intention to act responsibly and uprightly by accepting responsibility for the Party’s electoral misfortunes, the NEC unanimously expressed its gratitude to him for his heroic efforts and invaluable contributions before and during the campaign,” the statement read.
It continued: “The NEC further affirmed that the responsibility for the party’s electoral performance rests collectively on the entire executive, and not on Mr. Hughes alone.”
As part of its response, the NEC has mandated that a delegation of its members meet directly with Hughes to appeal for him to continue serving as leader until a National Conference is convened to elect new leadership. In the meantime, the party’s Chairman, David Patterson, will perform the duties of leader.
The AFC emphasised that setbacks in politics are not permanent, noting that other movements have recovered from similar electoral wipeouts. “The party further notes that history is replete with examples of political movements reduced to zero seats in representative assemblies that have nevertheless managed to recover and return stronger,” the statement
added.
According to the party, it has already begun work on a comprehensive analysis of its performance. “Work has already commenced on a comprehensive SWOT assessment of the AFC’s 2025 electoral performance, with emphasis on identifying what is needed for the Party to regain its standing.”
The NEC also appealed to members and supporters to stand firm during what it described as a moment of renewal.
“We call on all members, supporters, and well-wishers to remain united, steadfast, and engaged as the AFC undertakes this process of renewal. Together, we will overcome this moment of difficulty, and together, we will ensure that the AFC rises again to play its rightful role in shaping a brighter future for Guyana.”
In the September 2025 General Elections, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) was re-elected to government with 242,497 votes; newcomer, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) garnered 109 ,075 votes, and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) got 77,988 votes.
The remaining parties received significantly fewer votes: Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) – 4,332 votes, AFC–3,607 votes, and Assembly for Liberty and Prosperity (ALP) – 969 votes.
POLICE are investigating a fatal accident that claimed the life of eightyear-old Supriya Khan on Friday afternoon along the Parika Backdam main access road, East Bank Essequibo.
The accident occurred at around 15:05 hours and involved a motor pickup, GAB 8162, driven by 22-year-old Arif Alli of Parika, and an electric cycle operated by 32-year-old Imran Khan of Naamryck Koker. Supriya, Khan’s daughter, was the pillion rider on the electric cycle.
According to police, the electric cycle was heading east when the pick-up, travelling in the
same direction, attempted to overtake. During the manoeuvre, the vehicle collided with the cycle, throwing both Imran and Supriya Khan onto the roadway.
The eight-year-old was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the De Kinderen Public Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Her father was also transported to the facility and admitted with a fractured skull.
Police said the body of the child has been taken to the Ezekiel Funeral Home, where a post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted.
Breathalyser tests conducted on the driver,
FROM PAGE 14
Sugrim, Founder and Head of the BHMGI, commended the resilience and dedication of the graduates while extending heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed to their success.
Addressing the newly certified professionals, Sugrim praised their perseverance and determination. “Whether you completed training in makeup artistry, nail technology, hair styling, cake decoration, or one of our computer literacy programmes, your commitment to learning and personal growth has brought you to this remarkable moment,” he said.
“You are the reason we are here today, and we are incredibly proud to celebrate your success.”
The graduates, many of whom come from underprivileged backgrounds, received hands-on vocational and digital skills training through the mission’s
Arif Alli, showed blood alcohol concentration readings of 128 and 134 micrograms — well above the legal limit. Investigations into the accident are ongoing.
expanding portfolio of programmes.
Sugrim then extended deep appreciation to the instructors who guided students throughout their learning journey.
“Thank you for your unwavering dedication, guidance, and belief in your students… You have not only shared knowledge, but also inspired confidence and empowered individuals to stand on their own two feet.”
He then acknowledged the crucial role of financial and community support, as he expressed sincere gratitude to donors and sponsors. “Your contributions enable us to deliver high-quality, accessible training and create life-changing opportunities,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Minister Mustapha also announced that he will direct NAREI to work along with the mission to implement a training programme at the location to the benefit of incoming students.
Sunday, September 21st, 2025
CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD -
83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)
Answers to yesterday’s quiz:
(1) Mohammad Rizwan-85 (vs GAW)
(2) Brandon King-98* (vs Falcons)
Today’s Quiz:
(1) What were the best bowling figures by a Patriots player in CPL 2025?
(2) What were the best bowling figures by a Barbados Royals player?
Answers in tomorrow’s issue.
ALEX Iwobi capped a dynamic display with a goal and an assist as Fulham came from behind to beat Brentford 3-1 and secure their second Premier League win of the season.
The Bees took the lead when a careless pass from Josh King on the edge of the box was intercepted by Mikkel Damsgaard, who struck a composed low finish into the corner of the net.
Fulham equalised after Sasa Lukic’s shot ballooned up into a congested box and the ball dropped for Iwobi to sweep
through the legs of Brentford skipper Nathan Collins and into the net.
The Cottagers then got themselves in front two minutes later and Iwobi was instrumental, bisecting the Brentford defence with a superb pass for Harry Wilson to fire home.
Fulham’s momentum continued into the second half and they increased their advantage when Ethan Pinnock misjudged a header from Ryan Sessegnon’s cross and diverted the ball into his own net off his shoulder blades.
Rodrigo Muniz thought he had notched a stunning fourth with a powerful angled half-volley that Caoimhin Kelleher could not stop.
However, referee Michael Oliver consulted the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and chalked it off for coming together between Muniz and Collins which left the Bees defender with blood pouring from his mouth.
Fulham’s win helped them climb up to seventh in the table while Brentford slip down a place to 17th. (BBC Sport)
• From Page 28
She said improving facilities, expanding opportunities for youth, and providing professional support where necessary, were among some of Government’s plans.
“Sport is not a pastime; it is a pillar of national development, shaping character, building unity, and instilling confidence.
“My government’s track record, past and present, bears testimony to this truth: from upgrading community grounds and lighting, to revitalising stadiums, to scholarships, stipends, and youth programmes that have empowered thousands,” Persad-Bissessar said.
AS LeBron James prepares for his 23rd season in the NBA, whispers of him walking away from the game and into retirement have become louder.
James set the record straight recently on “360 With Speedy,” during his tour of China for Nike. He was asked about retirement and hinted at calling it a career soon after fans noticed him picking up a new hobby, playing golf.
“I’m not hinting at anything,” James said. “Obviously, I know I’m on the other side of the hump, for sure. Come on now, I’m not about to play another 23 years, that’s for damn sure, and I’m not about to play another 10. I’m definitely gearing up to where the end is, I’m not there yet.”
At 40 years old, James has played more NBA seasons than anyone in the history of the league other than Hall of Famer Vince Carter, who also played 22 years.
If James plays the 2025-26 season as expected, he’ll have played longer (23 seasons) than any other player to ever step on an NBA court.
The number 23 has been an important part of James’ career. It’s the number James has worn for most of his time in the NBA; he’s entering season No. 23, and the reason he’s currently touring China as part of the “Forever King” promotional campaign is to celebrate James’ soon-to-be-released 23rd Nike sneaker.
While the four-time NBA champion and MVP has picked up new hobbies, he doesn’t sound like a guy who’s ready to hang up the sneakers.
“Listen guys, every time I pick up something new, it does not mean retirement,” James explained. “It’s just something I want to do, just a little hobby. But retirement is coming, it is coming. It’s just not here just yet.”
Even at 40 years of age, James is still one of the best players and most recognisable faces in the NBA. Last season, James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8
rebounds and 8.2 assists per game on 51.3% shooting from the field. James also made nearly 37.6% of his 3-point attempts last year, which is the fourth best of his career, and played in 70 games. James even finished sixth in MVP voting last season.
Although the clock is running down on the LeBron James era in the NBA, he’ll get his shot at making a few more great moments as the league calendar gets started later this month with the opening of training camps.
(Yahoo Sports)
SEPTEMBER 28 may be the big day for Indian cricket, when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will elect its next set of office-bearers, including the president, but it may not exactly be the D-day for finalising the candidate.
Cricbuzz can reveal that a meeting of the top BCCI bosses with ruling BJP members has been scheduled in Delhi on September 20, when the all-important decision is likely to be made.
The meeting, informal as it may be in nature, will take place at the residence of Home Minister Amit Shah, where the final contours of the next BCCI leadership are expected to emerge.
It was at a similar meeting in 2022 when former president N Srinivasan had famously lashed out at then BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly over his performance in the preceding three years. Ganguly could have continued for another term but the meeting eventually chose Roger Binny for the position.
Whether Ganguly will be invited to that meeting again can only be a matter of conjecture, but speculation continues to link him to the top post, along with his one-time teammate Harbhajan Singh. There has also been some talk about
Karnataka’s Raghuram Bhatt, the former India Test cricketer. Some chatter is also around Kiran More, the former India wicketkeeper.
The talk about More may sound unfounded at this stage as his name does not feature in the list of state associations representatives who can contest in the election but that is not exactly the case. There is a provision to alter the list.
As per September 6 notification of BCCI electoral officer AK Joti, the final date for the “Examination of Objections and Decisions Thereon (ii) Release of
Final Electoral Roll” is September 19. Which means, the state associations can change their nominees to the AGM within the next 24 hours.
Ganguly, Harbhajan, Bhatt, More or perhaps a surprise name - the decision is expected to be made on Saturday night in Delhi. The ruling BJP is not known to directly intervene in the day to day affairs of sports bodies, but it has a known policy of ensuring that accomplished athletes head national sports bodies.
Selectors interview underway
Meanwhile, the BCCI is conducting interviews for the new national selectors on Thursday (September 18). The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) with Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjpe as members, are holding the interviews online. Sulakshana Naik, the third member of the CAC, is no longer part of it and the BCCI may have to appoint a new member to the body.
The CAC will pick seven candidates in all - two members for the Ajit Agarkar-led men’s national selection committee, one for the national junior committee and four for the national women’s committee. The new selectors will take charge after the September 28 AGM. (Cricbuzz)
THERE is no end to the drama surrounding the Pakistan team in Dubai as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) seems grappling to come to terms with its unfulfilled demand for the expulsion of match referee Andy Pycroft.
It is now engaged in a war of words with the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the September 17 fiasco with the breaches by the Pakistan team of the guidelines in the Players & Match Officials Area (PMOA) area coming to light.
The ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta pointed out the lapses in a letter on Thursday, particularly by the Pakistan team media manager, who was seen using the mobile phone in the PMOA area, a big no as per the anti-corruption guidelines. The PCB, though, has argued that no line was crossed.
“The team’s media manager is part of the squad and has authorised access to the PMOA. His presence there is not a violation. ICC protocols include provisions that allow media managers to use cameras. If the SOP was not followed, the ICC should question the match referee on whether he reported the matter to the ACU official,” the PCB wrote to the ICC on Friday, a day after the ICC CEO sent the ICC objection to the Pakistan team.
The PCB argument is questionable and seems a little weak on the facts since the mobile phone is not allowed to be used in the PMOA area. The PMOA regulations outline the Media Managers’ authority to have possession of their mobile phone, but they are not allowed to use it for any purpose because the PMOA is the most restricted and is considered an inviolate zone in the stadium.
The incident in focus is when Pycroft, whose role in the handshake row had been questioned by the PCB, called for a meeting with the Pakistan team management on Wednesday, just minutes before the delayed match against the UAE at the Dubai International Stadium. Attending the meeting were Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha, coach Mike Hesson, manager Naveed Cheema, and media manager Naeem Gillani, along with ICC General Manager Wasim Khan. The meeting was recorded by the media manager.
It was at this brief and impromptu conclave that the PCB claimed Pycroft had apologised to the Pakistan team management over the handshake controversy, although the counter-version maintained that the match referee merely expressed regret over any miscommunication. The PCB later circulated the video of the meeting to the media, albeit without audio.
Earlier, the PCB had demanded an inquiry into the handshake controversy. The ICC responded by asking on what grounds such a probe should be ordered and requested Pakistan to provide any supporting documents. However, sources say the PCB has not submitted any evidence to back its demand.
The last word on the matter may not yet have been spoken, and further drama cannot be ruled out, particularly in the build-up to Sunday’s second marquee clash of the ongoing Asia Cup, between India and Pakistan. (Cricbuzz)
THE International Cricket Council (ICC) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have launched a bold new global marketing campaign – Catch the Spirit – igniting excitement ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which will take place on home soil next summer.
Featuring world-class stars Ellyse Perry (Australia), Hayley Matthews (West Indies), Lauren Bell (England), and Richa Ghosh (India) — with a special cameo from cricket legend Andrew Flintoff — the campaign showcases the infectious energy a country feels when a World Cup comes to town.
The tournament is set to offer hundreds of thousands of fans the chance to see the world’s best cricketers in action at world-class venues up and down the country, and is a huge opportunity to propel women’s cricket firmly into the mainstream.
England fast bowler Lauren Bell said: “For me, Catch the Spirit means big crowds, big moments and big energy! Watching the girls win the 2017 World Cup is what motivated me to become a cricketer, and the opportunity to inspire fans across the country next summer is huge.
“We’ve seen the amazing impact the
Lionesses have had on football, particularly after their home Euros, and we want this to be cricket’s moment!”
Australia’s all-rounder, Ellyse Perry, added: “World Cups are not just about the action on the field; it’s about the vibe it brings to
cities, communities and families. Any world cricket event is special and next year’s tournament promises to be incredible. Fans won’t want to miss out!”
From packed stadiums to grassroots celebrations, Catch the Spirit invites fans to
embrace cricket’s atmosphere, energy, and inclusivity. India’s Richa Ghosh shared: “It’s all about the fans; the energy, the cheering, the noise. It’s going to be amazing to play in England and feel that vibe.”
West Indies all-rounder Hayley Matthews summed up the tournament’s mainstream appeal: “Once upon a time, people used to say ‘Watch women’s sports to support it’, whereas now I feel like people have recognised that it’s entertaining in its own right! It’s fun, it’s exciting and this World Cup is going to be huge.”
Mr. Jay Shah, ICC Chairman said: “This campaign captures the energy of a World Cup and the spirit of global competition, brought to life by some of women’s cricket’s biggest stars and the unmistakable charisma of Freddie Flintoff. With world-class players from across the globe, and an incredible atmosphere that England and Wales will bring, next year’s tournament promises unforgettable moments for fans everywhere. This campaign is a celebration of that infectious spirit!”
Tickets are now on general sale and selling fast. Fans can get ready to catch the spirit by purchasing tickets to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 here. (ICC Media)
WORCESTERSHIRE beat Hampshire by three wickets with two balls to spare in a rain-affected thriller in the One-Day Cup final at Trent Bridge.
Chasing a Duckworth-Lewis-Stern target of 188 off 27 overs, the Rapids needed 13 off the last, bowled by Brad Wheal.
Matthew Waite scrambled a two, struck a big six, ran a single and then Henry Cullen hooked the only ball he faced for a match-winning boundary as Kyle Abbott lost his bearings on the rope.
It was a first trophy for Worcestershire in seven years since they won the T20 Blast and came only three days after they were relegated from Division One of the County Championship.
For Hampshire, it was a second lost final in consecutive Saturdays after defeat to Somerset in the T20 Blast at Edgbaston seven days ago.
They scored 237-7 in an innings of three stages and reduced to 45 overs with Ali Orr scoring 110 but despite Scott Currie’s brilliant 5-34, big-hitting from Ethan Brookes with 57 and the last-over drama saw the Rapids over the line. For long periods of the day, completing a game of cricket seemed unlikely and even less so such a compelling finish.
But it was a glorious outcome for Worcestershire, a county used to overcoming the odds as they showed lots of spirit and no little skill, all the while wearing shirts in memory of their former player Josh Baker, who died last year aged just 20.
Captain Jake Libby won the toss and asked Hampshire to bat as Orr set his stall out from the beginning as he cracked the first ball of the innings from Tom Taylor for four.
The opening stand between him and captain Nick Gubbins had risen to 82 before captain Gubbins was squared up by Waite and caught at backward point for 38.
went off after 22 overs for the first stoppage at 106-1 and in the second chunk of 8.5 overs, Hampshire added 35 runs for the
loss of
for
When the innings started for a third time, it was reduced to 45 overs and Worcestershire picked up the wickets of Toby Albert for 13 and Ben Mayes for two to make it 169-4. But Orr carried on, going from 87 to his century in three balls off Waite - six, four, four
- to bring up his third One-Day Cup hundred this year from 118 deliveries. However once Orr departed, Hampshire’s knock lost impetus as they managed only 24 in their last five overs as the Pears’ all-seam attack did a fine job of keeping control. (BBC Sport)
AUSTRALIA beat India in a remarkable series decider in Delhi which set a new record for the most runs scored in a women’s one-day international.
Beth Mooney hit a career-best 138 on Saturday, reaching her century off 57 balls - at the time the joint second-fastest hundred in women’s ODIs.
• (Scores: Australia 412 (47.5 overs): Mooney 138 (75), Voll 81 (68), Perry 68 (72); Reddy 3-86
India 369 (47 overs): Mandhana 125 (63), Sharma 72 (58), Harmanpreet 52 (35); Garth 3-69)
Opener Georgia Voll, who was dropped three times, struck 81 off 68 and Ellyse Perry
added 68 off 72 to help the tourists post 412 - their joint-highest ODI total - despite being bowled out with 13 balls left.
India opener Smriti Mandhana surpassed Mooney by smashing a century off just 50 deliveries, but her 125 and half-centuries from Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma were not enough as the hosts were dismissed for 369 to lose by 43 runs.
The aggregate of 781 runs scored across both innings is a record in women’s ODIs, beating the 678 shared by England and South Africa at Bristol in 2017.
It is also the highest aggregate total in all women’s List A cricket, going past the 779 accumulated by Bengal and Haryana in India’s Senior Women’s One-Day Trophy at Rajkot in 2024.
The highest aggregate total in both men’s
ODIs and List A matches is 872 between South Africa and Australia at Johannesburg in 2006.
Australia’s 412 is the joint sixth-highest total by a side in women’s ODIs, equalling their national record when they made 412-3 against Denmark at the 1997 Women’s World Cup in Mumbai.
Mandhana also hit a century in India’s thumping 102-run to level the series in the second ODI. She is the second batter to hit back-to-back ODI hundreds after England’s Tammy Beaumont.
Only former Australia captain Meg Lanning has made a quicker century in women’s ODIs - off 45 balls against New Zealand in 2012.
The 111 boundaries - 99 fours and 12 sixes - hit at the Arun Jaitley Stadium is also
BANGLADESH’S wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim is all set to become the first Bangladeshi cricketer to reach the landmark of 100 Test appearances after Cricket Ireland agreed to play a two-match Test series against Bangladesh, scheduled to start from November 10.
Initially, the tourists were reluctant to play two Tests in Bangladesh and wanted to play a one-off Test, but later changed their stance after discussions with the host board.
“Initially, Ireland wanted to play
only one Test but later changed their stance and both boards agreed that the two-Test series would go ahead,” a BCB official confirmed to Cricbuzz on Thursday.
The opening Test will take place in Sylhet from November 10-14, while the landmark Test for Mushfiqur, who has currently played 98 Tests, is slated to be played in Dhaka from November 18-22.
Mushfiqur, who made his Test debut as an 18-year-old at Lord’s in 2005, becoming the second-youngest to play a Test at the venue after Sachin
Tendulkar, is the only Bangladeshi batter with more than 6,000 runs in the longest format, with a highest score of 219 not out against Zimbabwe in 2020 - still the country’s highest individual Test score.
Following the two-match Test series, Bangladesh will take on Ireland in three T20Is.
The first two matches of the series will be played in Chattogram on November 27 and 29, while the final game will be played in Dhaka on December 2. (Cricbuzz)
a record in women’s ODIs.
Victory extends Australia’s run of winning every bilateral ODI series of the 11 they have played against India.
Australia have won nine consecutive ODI series since they lost 2-1 to England in the 2023 Women’s Ashes.
A thrilling series, which started with a formidable win by Australia before India hit back with their own comprehensive victory and concluded with this run-fest, underlines why the sides are the two favourites for the 2025 Women’s World Cup.
The 50-over tournament, hosted by India and Sri Lanka, starts on September 30, with the hosts facing each other in Guwahati, before Australia begin their title defence on October 1 against New Zealand in Indore. (BBC Sport)
TOKYO, Japan, , (CMC) – A botched handover on the final leg of Jamaica’s men’s 4×100 metre relay summed up a mostly disappointing day for Caribbean athletes on the penultimate day of the 2025 World Athletic Championships here on Saturday.
With the Jamaicans struggling to make up ground in the opening heat following a slow start on the first two legs by Ackeem Blake and 100 metre champion Oblique Seville, third-leg Ryiem Forde failed in his attempt to hand over the baton to Kishane Thompson on the last leg, resulting in them not finishing the race.
However, Jamaica’s female quartet of Jodean Williams, Tia Clayton, Tina Clayton and Jonielle Smith made no mistakes on their way to securing a berth in the women’s final after winning Heat 1 in a season’s best time of 41.80 seconds, well ahead of Spain (42.53) and France (42.71).
In the men’s 4×400 metres event, Jamaica’s team of Bovel McPherson, Jevaughn Powell, Jasauna Dennis and Delano Kennedy advanced to the final
disappointed
after placing fourth in Heat 2 in a season’s best 2:59.13. Their female team of Dejanea Oxley, Stacey Ann Williams, Roneisha McGregor and Nickisha Pryce also qualified for the final by winning Heat 1 in a world leading time of 3:22.77.
Navasky Anderson of Jamaica finished seventh in the final of the men’s 800 metres in a new national record of 1:42.76, breaking his own record of 1:43.72 which he set in the semifinal.
On the field, Jamaica’s trio of Chad Wright (62.87 metres), Fedrick Dacres (60.54) and Ralford Mullings (56.82), all failed to advance to the final of the men’s discus throw.
Lloydricia Cameron of Jamaica (17.77 metres) was eliminated in the heats of the women’s discus throw along with Dominica’s Treneese Hamilton (17.68) and Grenada’s Kelsie Murrel-Ross, whose effort was measured at 16.19 metres.
REAL Madrid’s perfect start to their La Liga campaign continued with a hard-fought victory against Espanyol on Saturday to make it five wins from five. Espanyol set up with a low block, and, for the most part, it nullified Real’s attacking threat, preventing them from being able to make the most of their trademark fluid football.
It took a moment of individual bril-
liance from Eder Militao to open the scoring when the Brazilian defender sent a 30-yard rocket into the top corner after 22 minutes. A defensive lapse of concentration from Espanyol then allowed Kylian Mbappe to deliver the second goal just after the break, the Frenchman being left unmarked on the edge of the box to fire inside the near post after being set up by Vinicius Jr. It was Mbappe’s seventh
YOUNG and promising fast bowler, Kelvin Henry of New Amsterdam based Tucber Park Cricket Club, was the recipient of a brand new pair of cricket shoes, compliments of “Project Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana, the joint initiative by former Berbice senior all-rounder and long-serving cricket administrator, Anil Beharry of Guyana and Kishan Das of the USA.
Tucber Park Cricket Club is the home of Shamar Joseph, Romario Shepherd and Niall Smith, three outstanding fast bowlers. The 13-year-old Henry, was recently selected in the Berbice Under-13 squad to participate in the GCB Inter County tournament. He is a student of Berbice High School and only recently started playing the game.
Total cricket related items received/purchased so far:
$730,000 in cash, 13 coloured cricket uniforms, one set of stumps, two trophies, 36 pairs of cricket shoes, 39 pairs of batting pads, 48 cricket bats, 47 pairs of batting gloves, 29 thigh pads, three pairs of wicket-keeping pads, six arm guards, two chest pads, two boxes, 14 gear bags, 13 bat rubbers, seven helmets, one fiber glass bat, one pair of floppy hat, 16 boxes and four of white cricket balls, 13 boxes of red cricket balls, one bat cone, one batting inners and 28 footballs.
Mbappe
goal in six games in all competitions this season for Real.
England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who had surgery on a long-standing shoulder issue in July, made his first appearance since this summer’s Club World Cup, returning as an 89th-minute substitute.
Defeat brings to an end a good start to the campaign for Espanyol, who had won three and drawn one of their fixtures before Saturday. (BBC Sport)
To date, 102 cricketers from all three counties of Guyana have benefitted directly from cash, nine gear bags, two trophies, four arm guards, 39 bats, four boxes, six helmets, 37 pairs of cricket shoes, 21 pairs of batting pads, 25 thigh pads, one bat grip, 40 pairs of batting gloves, one pair of wicket-keeping pads and four pairs of wicket-keeping gloves with one pair of inners.
Cricket related items, used or new, are distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients. Talent spotting is being done across the country and club leaders also assist to identify same. Progressive and well managed cricket clubs with a youth programme, will also benefit.
Anyone interested in making a contribution can contact Anil Beharry on 623-6875 or Kishan Das on 1-718-664-0896.
THE 2025 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) season culminates tonight at the National Stadium, Providence, as the home side, Guyana Amazon Warriors, faces the Trinbago Knight Riders in a highly anticipated final. Both teams are poised for a classic showdown, with coaches from both sides expressing confidence in their players’ readiness for the monumental occasion.
Speaking ahead of the clash, Amazon Warriors Head Coach Lance Klusener and TKR Assistant Coach Ottis Gibson confirmed their players understand the magnitude of the task and are ready to leave it all on the field to lift the title.
The Amazon Warriors are gunning for their second CPL title, having reached the final an impressive eight times. Meanwhile, the formidable Trinbago Knight Riders are in their sixth final, chasing a fifth championship and their first since
2020. The match is set to begin at 20:00 hours local time.
The final pits two of the tournament’s most in-form players against each other: the evergreen Shai Hope and the sensational newcomer Usman Tariq. Once pegged as a Test and ODI specialist, Hope has successfully reinvented himself as a T20 run machine. He has consistently earned high-profile gigs in T20 leagues worldwide, including the IPL and the BBL.
He has been a rock at number three for the Amazon Warriors, topping the tournament’s run-scoring charts with 479 runs in 11 innings at an average of over 50 and a strike rate of over 130.
His form gives his team a significant advantage and bodes well for the West Indies as they prepare for next year’s T20 World Cup.
Conversely, Usman Tariq has emerged as a rare talent, often outshining even the great Sunil
Narine with his off-spin. Tariq’s unique delivery action, which sees him come to a near-complete halt before releasing the ball, has made it incredibly difficult for batters to pick him.
Having also stepped up to bowl at the death, the spinner quickly established himself as a key weapon for TKR in his first T20 stint outside the PSL.
The Amazon Warriors are unlikely to change their winning formula unless pace sensation Shamar Joseph is deemed fit. If he gets the nod, he could replace Hassan Khan. There are also concerns over Dwaine Pretorius, who is nursing a niggle, but Klusener is confident the South African all-rounder will be “fine” for the final.
IN a landmark meeting at State House, President Irfaan Ali, Chair of the CARICOM subcommittee on cricket, recently convened key stakeholders to discuss a collective effort to reposition and strengthen the sport across the region.
The gathering featured a mix of cricketing legends and government officials, including former West Indies stars Dwayne Bravo, Roger Harper, and Courtney Walsh. Ministers Charles Ramson Jr., Steven Jacobs, and Hugh Todd were present, as was Cricket West Indies Chief Executive Officer Chris Dehering.
It is understood that part of the discussion centered on President Ali’s vision to revitalise West Indies cricket, focusing on grassroots development and long-term sustainability.
The President reportedly emphasised that the government is not merely a passive supporter but an active investor in the future of the sport.
A cornerstone of this strategy is the ambitious development of cricket academies within Guyana. Currently under construction, these facilities are being built not just for Guyanese talent but with an opendoor policy for athletes from across
the CARICOM region.
The academies aim to provide a state-of-the-art environment for young players to hone their skills, receive top-tier coaching, and benefit from structured training programmes.
The President plans to create a talent pipeline to nurture the next generation of West Indies cricketers, ensuring the region remains a powerhouse in the sport for decades.
By investing in these regional academies, Guyana is signaling its commitment to a collaborative approach to solving West Indies cricket’s challenges.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – PRIME Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, has announced that World champion, Keshorn Walcott and silver medalist Jereem Richards will be rewarded for their exceptional efforts at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
In a statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister on Friday, a day after Walcott captured gold in the men’s javelin and Richards sprinted to a silver medal in the men’s 400 metres, Persad-Bissessar revealed that Cabinet had agreed to
compensate both athletes.
“Our athletes carry more than medals; they carry our spirit, our resilience, and the image of our nation before the world.
“Accordingly, after due deliberation and Cabinet consultation, both athletes will be aptly and appropriately rewarded by the State for bringing such immense honour and glory to our country,” Persad-Bissessar said.
The Prime Minister also gave the assurance that Government would continue to throw its full support behind the country’s athletes.
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