23rd June, 2025
‘We
have shown you what commitment looks like’
- admits that his numbers did not match what Mingo had declared - claims he begged Norton in a letter to ‘come clean’
- with more consortiums, industrial manufacturing and agro-processing hubs, investment vehicles on the horizon, President Ali says - thanks Granger, Harmon for opportunity to serve
- says AFC had requested its own ‘component’ in parliament - expresses his party’s willingness to make another attempt to form a coalition before September 1 polls
Almost two months after she was discovered dead in the swimming pool of the Double Day Hotel at Tuschen, Adriana Younge was laid to rest on Sunday. Scores of persons came out to pay their last respects and support her grieving parents and other relatives (Photo: Faith Greene)
After losing their home to a recent fire, the Ramlochan family from Mon Repos along the East Coast of Demerara now has a place to call home, thanks to the Men on Mission (MoM) initiative. Beneficiary, Sabita Ramlochan, who was overwhelmed by the government’s gesture, said that her family will now be comfortably accommodated in the new two-bedroom house. During the simple ceremony on Saturday, Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony explained that the Men on Mission offered to build a home for the family after learning of the Ramlochans tragic circumstances (DPI photo)
APNU+AFC lost the 2020 elections, former PNCR member Samuel Sandy says
- admits that his numbers did not match what Mingo declared - claims he begged Norton in a letter to ‘come clean’
REGIONAL
Vice-Chairman of Region Four and former People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) member, Samuel Sandy, in a revealing interview, has unequivocally stated that the APNU+AFC coalition lost the 2020 elections.
Sandy made this revelation during the most
recent episode of the Starting Point Podcast, where he spoke about his recent endorsement of the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) ahead of the upcoming 2025 elections.
He used some of the time to delve into the reasons for his exit from the PNC and unsettling issues
he has never spoken about before.
“I'll categorically state that in 2020, the APNU+AFC lost the elections,” Sandy asserted, as he addressed longstanding controversies surrounding the results.
“I was responsible for collecting all SOPs (Statements of Poll). I took pic-
tures. I kept them. I still have them. I went to the Ashmin's Building. I listened to the numbers being tabulated,” he continued, noting that he also looked at his numbers against those that were being tabulated.
Sandy expressed his personal dilemma during the tabulation process, recalling, “I thought to myself, where might this be going? It was more about choosing between supporting the hope of our large section of society and that of personal integrity.”
When asked about the aftermath of his findings, Sandy revealed the challenges he faced in confronting the discrepancies.
He noted that at the time he was residing in one of the stronghold areas of the PNC and was facing an internal conflict. “I live in Golden Grove, a stronghold of the PNC. How can I go home and say, hey, I just informed them that the numbers declared weren't the actual numbers that I shared with the party?”
Reflecting on the opposition's stance over the years, Sandy expressed scepticism about their claims regarding SOPs.
He said, “I challenge anyone to tell me different because like I said, [I have] dated photo evidence of what I submitted as opposed to what Mingo declared.”
When asked if he was afraid to speak out, he noted that he has always been afraid to speak out, but he has since made peace with himself in that regard.
He disclosed that he had written PNCR leader, Aubrey Norton begging him to be honest with the people of Guyana and to tell them that the party had lost the 2020 elections.
As the country heads into another electoral cycle, he was asked whether he believes it is incumbent on the part of the current opposition leader to face the nation and admit that for five years they have been fooling their support base about what transpired in 2020.
In his response, he said that the leader wouldn’t do so and from his observation, former President David Granger had no idea what was happening.
“If he [Granger] had any idea what was happening, he wouldn’t have
agreed to a recount,” he said.
A Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the events of the 2020 General and Regional Elections found that there was collusion and collaboration between senior Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) officials to divert votes to the APNU+AFC instead of safeguarding and preserving the integrity of the electoral system.
Chairman Stanley John and Commissioners — former Chancellor, Carl Singh and Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith made these findings based on evidence from the many witnesses who testified along with the reports of the international observers.
“…our inquiry reveals that there were, in fact, shockingly brazen attempts by Chief Election Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, Deputy Chief Election Officer (DCEO) Roxanne Myers and Returning Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo to derail and corrupt the statutorily prescribed procedure for the counting, ascertaining and tabulation of votes of the March 2nd election, as well as the true declaration of the results of that election, and that they did so – to put it in unvarnished language of the ordinary man – for the purpose of stealing the election,” the Commissioners said in their report.
The Guyanese electorate after casting votes on March 2, 2020, endured a five-month wait for the results as they witnessed alleged unlawful acts and a slew of legal challenges.
At that time, the patience of the electorate was tested, as they observed what were described as attempts by the then APNU+AFC administration to rip the democratic fabric of the nation with “delay tactics” which were openly criticised by Caribbean leaders and international observers.
Regional Vice-Chairman of Region Four, Samuel Sandy, who has resigned from the PNCR. He has since endorsed the governing PPP/C and President Dr. Irfaan Ali
‘We have shown you what commitment looks like’
- President Ali pledges ‘harder work’ to build prosperity, dignity
By Naomi Parris
PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali on Saturday vowed to redouble the efforts to build a prosperous Guyana for all, reinforcing the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government’s commitment to inclusive development.
The Head of State was at the time addressing a mammoth gathering at the Everest Cricket Club Ground where the party’s family fun day and fund-raising activity was being held.
Speaking directly to the electorate, President Ali noted that the upcoming elections are not just simply about votes, but rather about building on the momentum of Guyana’s global leadership, development and prosperity.
“These elections are about the safety of our country, it’s about moving forward, ensuring that we invest to make our people safe, to make every community safe,” he said, adding:
“[it’s about] moving forward to make home ownership easier, to make owning a business easier; to bring down the interest rates for loans, to give
you world-class education. To give you the world-class healthcare, to give you the best infrastructure and to give you a life of honour and dignity.”
He urged Guyanese to reflect on the progress and commitments that have been fulfilled to set Guyana on a path of prosperity and development.
The PPP/C administration since taking office has made strides in social welfare by restoring and increasing the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant to $50,000 and doubling the old-age pension.
Over 33,000 house lots have been delivered, and government scholarships have been awarded to some 50,000 individuals, reflecting a strong commitment to education and housing.
Healthcare infrastructure has been expanded with new regional health facilities such as the Diamond Regional Hospital and enhanced telemedicine services, improving access to quality healthcare, especially in hinterland regions.
“We are asking for the responsibility to work harder for your children; to work harder for our pensioners; to work
harder for every woman, every man and every child and to work harder always in the in-
terest of this beautiful country,” President Ali emphasised.
The PPP/C government’s
achievements over the past five years include significant infrastructural improvements; enhanced social welfare programmes; expanded healthcare and education services; job creation and sustainable development initiatives, all contributing to improved living standards and national progress.
“Leadership is about service; service is about people and all of it goes hand in hand.”
President Ali was also keen to point out the massive gains Guyana has made on the global stage, highlighting the country’s leadership in food security, climate action and energy security.
He noted too that PPP/C is the only national party with a national front that promotes unity and prosperity for all Guyanese.
“The PPP/C represents the coalition of the people, the coalition of the hearts, minds, and soul of the Guyanese people. Not the coalition of power seekers but the coalition of people coming together, united and strong.”
He added: “The work is far from done. We know there are still many of you who need your home, who need your loans, who need to be lifted.”
harder for our men and women in uniform; to work harder for farmers, our public servants; to
work
President, Dr Irfaan Ali addressing Saturday’s fund-raising event
PM Phillips highlights Guyana’s tourism growth, strategic vision at THAG 2025 awards
PRIME Minister Brigadier (Ret’d), the Honourable Mark Phillips has outlined the substantial progress Guyana’s tourism industry has made over the last five years, and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a world-class, sustainable tourism product.
In his presentation to stakeholders during the feature address at the Annual Awards, Dinner and Auction of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) on Saturday night at the Marriott Hotel, the Prime Minis-
ter described tourism as “a tool to create jobs, to earn foreign exchange, to develop rural areas, to protect our patrimony, and to tell our story; the Guyanese story, to the world”.
He acknowledged that Guyana’s journey in the tourism industry has not been without its challenges, referencing how the country once turned away from the sector altogether.
However, he noted that under the PPP/C Government, beginning in 1992, tourism was deliberately integrated into the National Development Strategy as a development pillar.
“When we sat down to craft Guyana’s National Development
Strategy all those years ago, we didn’t just think about bauxite, sugar, rice, gold, tim-
Commerce, as well as the creation of the Guyana Tourism Authority.
Major infrastructure projects that initially faced criticism, such as the construction of the Marriott Hotel and the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, were highlighted as foundational investments that have positioned Guyana to accommodate rapid growth and diversification in the tourism sector.
ber and diamonds. We thought about people; we thought about place. And we thought about promise; the kind of promise this country holds, including our amazing natural attractions and the unmatched hospitality of our people,” PM Phillips said.
He explained that the strategy emphasised tourism that is authentic, sustainable, and inclusive, placing value on protecting Guyana’s natural beauty, empowering Indigenous communities, and promoting investments in infrastructure, safety, and service excellence.
“The National Development Strategy emphasised tourism that respects who we are and what we have; the kind that brings the world to our doorstep without erasing our culture; without destroying our environment,” he said.
Prime Minister Phillips recounted that among the first steps taken in building the tourism industry from the ground up was the establishment of institutional structures within the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and
Additional developments, such as the construction of the Ogle municipal airport (the Eugene F. Correia International Airport) and the promotion of nature-based, cultural, and events tourism, were cited as critical components of the sector’s early development.
Over the past five years, the tangible results of ongoing efforts have become increasingly evident.
In 2024, Guyana recorded its highest-ever visitor arrivals, reaching 371,272; a remarkable 329 per cent increase over the 2020 figure of 86,503. This surge in tourism was complemented by a major boost in global connectivity, with nine international airlines commencing service to Guyana during this period, including British Airways, JetBlue, United Airlines, Avianca, and KLM.
Looking ahead, projections indicate that visitor arrivals will exceed 420,000 by the end of 2025. To meet this growing demand, the country’s accommodation capacity is rapidly expanding, with over 600 new hotel rooms expected by the end of the year. Notable projects currently underway
Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips interacting with persons at the Annual THAG Awards Dinner and Auction event (OPM photo)
National push strengthens as First Lady leads HPV vaccination drive at Kato
A GROWING national effort to immunise young people against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is gaining momentum, with First Lady Arya Ali spearheading a major vaccination drive in Kato, Region Eight.
The initiative, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, is part of a wider campaign to reduce cervical cancer rates in Guyana, particularly among Indigenous girls and women, who are disproportionately affected.
(HPV) is a very common group of over 100 related viruses that primarily infect the skin and mucous membranes. It is sexually transmitted and can lead to cervical cancer.
The vaccine prevents this. Young men are encouraged to take the vaccine as they too can be affected.
“Currently for this January to June half year, we are at 56 per cent coverage within the nine-16 age group, which is the age group we are targeting, but of course we are offering
“Currently we are doing daily HPV vaccines. Staff have been going out to the fields, going to schools, going to homes, going out to the communities and house to house to get the population coverage,” Lisa Augustus, Senior Health Visitor for Region Eight’s Maternal and Child Health Department told the Guyana Chronicle.
it to persons up to age 45 years, both males and females.”
Still, Augustus noted that some persons remain hesitant.
“We still have pockets of persons with a bit of hesitancy who haven’t decided if they want it, but due to this advocacy from First Lady, we will get more persons taking it.”
The campaign in Kato last week was led by First Lady Arya Ali, who praised the community’s response and encouraged others across the country to follow suit.
“Your commitment to protecting your children and your community is something that the entire country could learn from. By vaccinating our girls and
even our boys now, we are building a healthier more resilient future for our Guyana,” the First Lady said.
She was joined by Chinese Ambassador Yang Yang, who emphasised the broader significance of the effort: “Today’s initiative in partnership with the Ministry of Health delivers a powerful message that fruition is empowerment. Encouraging young girls to take the HPV vaccine will not only protect them from cervical cancer [but], we are investing in a healthier, more resilient future for generations to come.”
Meanwhile, Augustus stressed that early vaccination is critical to building immunity before potential exposure
to the virus.
“Why we are stressing on young people to get the vaccine, is because before initiation, before sexual contact we would like them to be inoculated and build that immunity,” Augustus explained.
“Studies have shown that cervical cancer is the leading cause of illness and death in
Amerindian girls and women of childbearing age,” Augustus said.
“It is [the] only way to prevent cervical cancer. The work that we are doing is evidence based, the vaccines have been very effective,” she added, urging those who may still be reluctant to consider taking the vaccine.
The campaign at Kato was led by First Lady Arya Ali, who praised the community’s response and encouraged others across the country to follow suit
Guyana’s Youth-Centred Economic Blueprint
PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan
Ali's bold plan to place young entrepreneurs at the heart of Guyana's economic change may be the best way to escape the "resource curse" that has caused problems for many oil-rich developing countries.
The opening of the World Trade Centre Georgetown and the announcement of support for small and medium businesses show a government that knows a key fact: Lasting success requires more than just pulling resources from the ground.
The timing of these efforts could not be more crucial. Since 2022, Guyana has the world's highest GDP growth rate, averaging an impressive 47 per cent each year, mainly thanks to its
booming oil sector. However, history warns us of countries that wasted similar opportunities. The Netherlands, which gave us the term "Dutch disease", saw its non-oil exports struggle when significant gas money entered the economy in the 1960s.
Nigeria shows an even more alarming example, where oil revenue per person rose from $33 to $325 between 1965 and 2000, yet the number of people living on less than $1 a day nearly tripled.
What makes Guyana’s plan convincing is its focus on economic diversification before the symptoms of the Dutch disease can fully appear.
The proposed industrial manufacturing and agro-pro-
cessing hub, supported by partnerships with global companies like Bloomberg Grain, represents a forward-thinking investment in infrastructure.
Successful resource economies like Norway and Botswana have used similar strategies. By building world-class facilities for small farmers and processors to meet international standards from the start, the government is creating the economic strength needed to avoid the pitfalls of the resource curse.
The emphasis on youth entrepreneurship deserves special attention. This approach addresses a major issue in small islands and developing nations.
The Pacific region, facing challenges similar to
those in the Caribbean, has noted that youth entrepreneurship is “a practical way to stop rising youth unemployment”, with young people often six times more likely to be jobless than adults.
Guyana's Youth Entrepreneurship Programme, which offers funding and mentorship to 60 students from various regions, puts this idea into practice.
The suggested co-investment model for small and medium enterprises shows a thoughtful approach to economic policy. Instead of simply handing out oil revenues, the government plans to lower financing costs and lending risks for financial institutions while keeping market order.
This approach is similar to successful diversification
efforts in resource-rich countries that avoided the curse through strong institutions and sensible policies. Some critics might say these plans are too ambitious or premature. However, waiting until oil revenues peak before seeking diversification has led to disasters in many resource economies.
The IMF predicts Guyana’s economy will keep growing at 14 per cent annually over the next five years, with the non-oil sectors also growing strongly.
This suggests that the economic basis for these transformative investments is solid. The World Trade Centre Georgetown, as CARICOM's first such facility, stands for more than just infrastructure development; it shows Guyana's aim to be
a regional hub rather than just another site for resource extraction.
By linking local businesses to a global network of 100 countries and over one million business contacts, the facility builds the important connections needed for sustainable economic diversification.
President Ali's vision of young Guyanese entrepreneurs taking "center stage" in the country's economic transformation gives real hope that this South American nation can tell a different story than many resource-rich countries before it.
The issue is not whether Guyana can afford these investments; it's whether it can afford not to make them.
Norton admits to early division in APNU+AFC
- says AFC had requested its own ‘component’ in parliament - expresses his party’s willingness to make another attempt to form a coalition before Sept. 1 polls
AS the September 1 polls draw closer, the division between the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) continues to deepen, with both parties now publicly acknowledging past and present tensions within the APNU+AFC coalition.
Appearing on ‘The Conversation Tea’ podcast on Sunday, PNCR Leader Aubrey Norton revealed that there were early signs of fragmentation within the alliance, citing a specific proposal made during his tenure as leader.
“I recall when at one time, some people in the AFC made a proposal… for the AFC to have its own component in Parliament and the PNC to have its own component.
I rejected it because I said it will generate problems. I must put on the table that [Khemraj] Ramjattan [had] agreed, and we [worked] towards dealing with it,” Norton said.
He added, “Politics, unfortunately, and friendship are two different things, and I do believe that there was a lot of scope for us to work things out. But unfortunately, political playing fields are not like that.”
His comments come amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding whether the two parties can reach an agreement to contest the next elections under a unified platform.
Also speaking on the podcast was AFC Leader Nigel Hughes, who indicated that the difficulties extend beyond himself and Mr. Norton.
“I don't believe this is a question of personal commitment between Au-
brey and I,” Hughes said. “It can be narrowed to the question of commitment of the leadership, the fact that we have set up the apparatus, the various people that met, people have travelled from overseas, etcetera. So, I don't think it can be narrowed to personal commitment. There is a political dynamic, as in the political entities that we represent, that perhaps play a greater role in arriving at a solution.”
With the coalition's future still uncertain, the possibility of a united opposition front before September 1 remains in serious doubt.
When asked candidly if there is a possibility for a coalition, Norton responded with a definitive answer, stating that the PNCR is willing to try.
The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) leader, David Hinds, who also appeared on the podcast,
expressed his belief in the possibility of a coalition between the two parties, and admitted that he would concede to the requests of the two larger parties. Meanwhile, three AFC members have crossed over to APNU. These persons are Sherod Duncan, Deonarine Ramsaroop, and Juretha Fernandes, with the latter touted as the APNU-WPA’s prime ministerial candidate.
The go-between that reduced the quality of PNC and AFC
ONE of the enduring curiosities humans have about politicians is their experience. Most humans feel comfortable if they know their new country’s president or prime minister has experience in politics, whether at the local or central level. In the US, the criterion people are happy with is military service.
Americans like their Congress representatives, Senators, and Cabinet Secretaries to have had long service in the military. Americans feel that if you have military experience, then you can better serve the country. A candidate with no experience is at a disadvantage when competing with someone who served in previous governments and is familiar with the contours of governance.
I will return to devote entire columns to Azruddin Mohamed, but for now I will just note that he has introduced a weird concept never before seen in the CARICOM region -- a playboy who never worked a day in his life, suddenly found out that being a playboy and spending his father’s money like crazy could make people vote for him. More on this later, but let’s look at Terrence Campbell and the comicality of politics.
I have been around a long time and I never heard about a man named Terrence Campbell knocking around politics or taking an interest in politics. Suddenly, this billionaire has been catapulted into the political limelight by the PNC and AFC and those
two parties took Campbell seriously.
So, after discovering Campbell, the PNC and AFC allowed him the time of six months to bring the PNC and AFC into a coalition.
Campbell himself publicly said he spent six months with that endeavour. The Campbell factor as a go-between with the PNC and the AFC is unheard of in Guyanese politics.
How can you take a complete political novice and put him to be a serious negotiator with the PNC and AFC, when he belongs to none of them and has never served even for one week in the office of any political party in Guyana or had even a tiny relation with one of the governments the past 40 years. Aubrey Norton actually sat down for six months and listened to Campbell?
And what was Campbell telling Norton, one of Guyana’s most senior politicians and the most experienced name in the PNC at the moment?
When Norton sat across the table and listened to Campbell, what was going through the mind of Norton? Here was a man telling Norton about the permutations of coalition- building and he has never experienced a moment of political negotiations.
The fact that the PNC, not so much the AFC, tolerated that masquerade has proved the gradual withering away of the PNC under Norton. From day one, Norton should have made the same rejection with Campbell as he did with the AFC’s Alstrom Stewart. Norton had said
publicly that he was not negotiating with Stewart.
So why did Norton spend six months around the table with Campbell? Because Campbell was a money man. The PNC would not have ostracised Campbell because of who he was – a wealthy businessman. This is where the AFC played its card badly. Given the genetic class instincts of the AFC, it could not psychologically bring itself to ask a trade unionist, a journalist or a university lecturer to represent it in the dialogue with the PNC. The logical choice was a Mulatto/Creole personality.
Here is where the Deputy Vice-Chancellor comes in. She put out a Facebook post a few weeks ago in which she questioned if the Mulatto/Creole factor was not at work in the way Norton is seen by the AFC; more on that later. So was the failure of the dialogue after six months because of the presence of Campbell who lacked experience and finesse and appeared to the PNC negotiators as a political wannabee.
The reason why the dialogue disintegrated hardly had anything to do with the AFC’s chief negotiator. That is for another column, but Campbell’s lack of negotiation skills did not help to improve the intellectual atmosphere in the room. For the AFC, Campbell’s elevation is yet another reason why people dismiss the AFC as a quintessential elitist organisation that the electorate should not give a hundred votes to.
How does the AFC
explain its atrocity of putting a newcomer to politics as the point man in the confabulation with the PNC? Why did the AFC come up with the name Terrence Campbell when he was nowhere around the AFC since it was born in 2005? The answer is simple.
The same Nigel Hughes was in the room in May 2015 when he and other AFC leaders telephoned someone very closely related to Campbell and offered him the Ministry of the Environment. It did not matter if Campbell lacked political experience. He had class and colour.
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 AFC: Traces of Treachery
THE AFC was further diminished this week by a major act of treachery by three of its executive members who defected to their parliamentary partner, the PNC. There are a lot to unpack here, but let me start with the AFC itself before touching on external forces.
I have been a member of the AFC since its inception. In fact, I played a major role in getting it off the ground during its formation. As such, I am well placed to give insights into the nature of the AFC interpersonal metaphysical evolution, right up to the present. There may be a lot more to what I write today (that I may have personal knowledge of), but I will stick only to the information already in the public domain.
THE AFC has a history of and has flirted with major treacherous behaviours over the years. To the extent where it seems as if the rails upon which the AFC train runs are built on treacherous foundations, so the AFC cannot avoid any political destination not constructed by subversion and double-dealing. At the formation of the AFC, the three main founders who were elected to serve on the PPP, PNC and GAP tickets separately, refused to resign their seats despite repudiating their respective lists and being asked by their former parties to vacate. Treachery? You decide.
In the early days of the AFC, there was a
definitive agreement that the presidential candidature would be rotated between the two main co-founders, Ramjattan and Trotman. Trotman had the first outing in 2006, but as the 2011 season approached, Trotman reneged and began to make moves to be returned as the 2011 presidential candidate.
Despite Trotman being repelled by the African base in the AFC, his actions set in motion a series of internal haggling that took on some extremely strong racial overtones.
Trotman almost sat out the 2011 elections and Sheila Holder was slated to serve as prime ministerial candidate to Ramjattan. Holder subsequently fell seriously ill and Moses Nagamootoo crossed to the AFC and the dynamics, momentum and fortunes changed.
During the off-season, that intervening period between the 2006 and 2011 elections, Peter Ramsaroop joined the AFC and there were reports of him organising clandestine meetings with party groups to try to depose the party leader. As the story goes, the co-founders responded by double-crossing Ramsaroop’s ambitions and pushed him out.
Then we come to 2015. After the elections, the management committtee sat to assign ministerial portfolios and none was issued to Raphael Trotman. Based on what is contained in his book, it was an act of treachery against him.
I was nominated by the AFC to be Minister of the Environment. All the ministerial candidates were seated in the waiting/briefing room, which stood adjacent to the ceremonies/credentials room and had light banter while we awaited the president’s arrival. The only person (among those who were eventually sworn in that day) who was not in the briefing room was Trotman. When the president arrived and we were ushered into the credentials room, Trotman appeared from a separate location. As it turned out, my name was never called; the indignity of that moment is for an entire column. Word in the AFC had it that Trotman had a clandestine early morning meeting (unbeknownst to the rest of his executives) with President Granger, where a secret deal was worked out to have him installed as minister. Since ministerial portfolios were subjected to an accord-driven quota, there had to be a sacrificial lamb: I was ripe for the slaughter.
In 2016, during the preparation and campaign for the Local Government Elections, Nigel Hughes abandoned the AFC election campaign and worked with a Bartica-based group that used the sobriquet BIGA. Juretha Fernandes was a chief organiser and candidate. Because of Hughes’ involvement in BIGA and the general reluctance of the AFC to discipline its middle-class corps, the party
was forced to take a decision that its members can pursue independent groups. This means that both Hughes and Fernandes have a history of operating against their own party’s interest.
Further, I am also now alleging that it was some form of perceived treachery done to Nigel Hughes that led to his 2016 exit from the AFC, but its Hughes’ story to tell, not mine.
Then, of course, in 2018 there was the famous treacherous “Yes! Yes! Yes!”, of AFC’s Charrandass Persaud which reverberated around the world. There is more known about that than I could tell in a few lines.
Then in 2020, there was major artifice in an attempt to supplant the AFC’s official PM choice of Ramjattan with Moses Nagamootoo. An operation built on chicanery, instigated by elements in the PNC and supported by several senior figures in the AFC, for which Trotman is not, to my mind, an innocent bystander.
The subsequent naming of the list of AFC parliamentarians was
not without its own mire of double-crossing and treachery, and so too was the last party leadership contest.
It came as no surprise to me that Ramsaroop, Duncan and Fernandes defected to the PNC.
More than three months ago I told friends, including Freddie Kissoon, that if the coalition is not reconstituted by mid-May, the “fantastic three” will defect. It has to do with assuring their own political survival.
If the AFC goes on its own and they are sidelined, their political future will be uncertain. If the AFC goes into a coalition, then they can suck the cane on both ends, hide under the AFC’s name, while working in the coalition outfit; but more on the APNU side to ensure post-election extraction.
With no agreement and the clock ticking, it makes all the political sense in the world to cut a direct deal with the PNC. Now the PNC believes it can sell itself as having some form of legitimacy in referring to APNU as the coalition, with elements of
the AFC.
The remainder of the AFC leadership have themselves to blame. This was brewing since 2020 when they made no objections to Ramjattan’s use of all sorts of subterfuge to install the said “fantastic three”; rank opportunists who did not have a history of hard work and solid contribution to the party. They did not respond until the same trio, clearly honing their culture of subterfuge, was being used to essentially render the current founder-class middle-class executive membership impotent, with the blessings of Ramjattan. I have little doubt in my mind that Ramjattan had prior knowledge of the conspiratorial machinations of the “fantastic three.” I believe this trait will go with them and the script of their sojourn in the PNC will make an intriguing tale.
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.
PM Phillips highlights Guyana’s...
include AC Marriott, Hyatt Place, Courtyard by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, and King’s Hotel.
Additionally, the hospitality landscape has been recently enhanced with the completion of Pegasus Corporate Suites, Aiden by Best Western, and The Royal.
The Prime Minister also spoke of the dynamic growth in the types of experiences now available to visitors, with more than 65 new tours and products introduced since 2020. These include culinary tours such as the “Seven Curry” experience, adventure-based offerings like ATV riding and kayaking, and heritage tours exploring locations such as Jonestown. Guyana’s
standing on the international stage continues to rise, with eleven international awards earned between 2020 and 2025, and five eco-lodges achieving certification under the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
Recognising that a growing tourism sector must be matched by skilled human resources, the Prime Minister emphasised the importance of training and workforce development in sustaining momentum. The development of the Hospitality and Tourism Training Institute (HTTI), scheduled to be launched in 2026, he explained, will play a critical role in upskilling the local workforce and ensuring service excellence across the sector. These efforts are
being matched by an aggressive marketing and branding push to promote Guyana as a premier destination for both leisure and business travel.
As a result of ongoing training efforts, more than 8,000 Guyanese have already received certification in hospitality and tourism, contributing to an estimated 22,000 individuals now directly or indirectly employed across the sector.
Prime Minister Phillips also outlined the country’s push into emerging and niche tourism markets. These include medical tourism, which leverages cost-effective healthcare services; health and wellness tourism, capitalising on Guyana’s natural settings; and agro-tourism,
which offers both economic benefits for rural farmers and unique visitor experiences.
He also highlighted the potential for the development of cruise tourism infrastructure, and the growing success of sport and entertainment events such as Cricket Carnival and Global Super League, which have contributed significantly to in-
creased visitor arrivals.
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of strong partnerships across Government, the private sector, local communities, and international stakeholders.
“Guyana is undeniably crafting a worldclass tourism product to compete on the global stage,” he said.
Meanwhile, he congratulated the eve -
ning’s awardees, noting that their commitment and leadership have helped elevate the industry and inspire others. “Together, with shared vision and relentless effort, Guyana’s tourism sector is poised to shine brighter than ever on the world map. The journey has only just begun, and the best is yet to come.” (OPM)
‘It’s an exciting time for the young entrepreneur’
PUTTING Guyana’s youth at the heart of the nation’s economic transformation is being briskly pursued, as, according to President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, the building out of consortiums and an industrial and agro-processing hub and enabling easier access to low-cost financing, will allow young Guyanese entrepreneurs to take centre stage.
The President made these remarks, on Friday last, while delivering the feature address at the commissioning of the World Trade Centre (WTC) Georgetown, during which he outlined a strategy which anchors trade, investment and business development.
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will get the ideal opportunity to not only grow but also be able to operate at international trade standards, the President said. Guyana’s global economic footprint stands out in climate, energy and food security, he noted, while outlining some major achievements.
“That is why we're speaking now about scaled opportunities, some of the major transformative projects, whether it's for security, regional security, and fertiliser, or the distribution of gas, or the manufacturing and industrial opportunity that comes with cheaper energy. We now have to create that ecosystem to help our SMEs,” the Head of State said.
A fully outfitted industrial manufacturing and agro-processing hub was touted by the President, who explained that it will bring
- with more consortiums, industrial manufacturing and agro-processing hubs, investment vehicles on the horizon, President Ali says
together producers, processors and exporters.
The President said that Guyana’s partnerships with global entities such as Bloomberg Grain will further advance his plans for Guyana.
“So, our small farmers, our medium-scale farmers, our small processors, everybody will be part of this ecosystem that will be bringing all their input into one umbrella organisation…So, we satisfy financing, technology, regulations, market, human resource assets and all of that with just this one agreement with a world class player in the food and agricultural area and more of these partnerships will be pursued so that when we roll out the ecosystem that will support our SMEs, there's a strong mechanism there already that will help them to get to the international market.”
As the government moves to co-invest in
small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and improve their access to low-cost financing, President Dr. Irfaan Ali stressed that these efforts cannot occur in isolation. He emphasised the need to reshape Guyana’s commercial culture to align with international standards. Calling it “the most exciting time for the young entrepreneur in Guyana,” the President also outlined additional plans aimed at cultivating a new generation of globally competitive Guyanese businesses.
“We don’t want SMEs all to be battling in the same environment. The oil and gas and revenue from oil and gas and other logistics opportunities, really position our economy to have a series of additional benefits, and that is what we’re going to target.”
Meanwhile,
Execu
tive Director of WTC
-
Wesley
acknowledged
the long-awaited moment while emphasising
the strategic value of the centre.
WTC Georgetown, the first of its kind in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) region, is positioning itself as more than a commercial complex. WTC facilities are known for providing centralised spaces for international exhibitions, meetings and business connections. As such, it is expected to attract even more investment to Guyana while simultaneously facilitating easier alliances between local businesses and global companies.
“We are not here to replace any organisation,” he said, adding: “We are here to collaborate meaningfully with all stakeholders, with government.”
Georgetown,
Kirton,
President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Thursday last, met with a group of young Guyanese professionals at State House
Residents thankful as Region Two road upgrades reach phase three
By Indrawattie Natram
WITH Phase Three of the Essequibo Coast Main Access Road rehabilitation now underway, residents of Region Two are expressing deep gratitude for the PPP/C Government’s continued investment in regional infrastructure.
The long-awaited improvements, stretching from Supenaam to Adventure, Onderneeming to Affiance, Columbia to The Jib, and ExMouth to Charity, have brought renewed hope and daily convenience to thousands of commuters and residents.
Narinedatt Mahadeo, rice farmer from Affiance commended the Government for executing the project in his community, citing that the road improvements are needed.
“We are very happy for this project, and we want to thank the government especially President Irfaan Ali for this speedy interven -
tion,” Mahadeo said.
Others, like shopkeeper Indira Basdeo of Bush Lot, highlighted how the smoother roadway has improved business. “Delivery trucks can now reach us on time,” she said adding
Road work in progress
that the rehabilitated road will assist drivers and road users to conduct their business with more ease.
Phase One, which focused on Somerset, Berks, New Road, and Charity, and Phase Two,
recently completed on June 14, covered major villages such as Bush Lot, Cotton Field, Better Hope, Perseverance, Aurora, Spring Garden, and Supenaam. These upgrades done by the Ministry of Pub-
lic Works have already transformed the road into a safer and more reliable route for all.
“I usually use this road daily to take my kids to school and also, I drive to work. At least I don’t have to worry
about potholes or depression in the road; it’s a smooth ride,” Yogeeta Persaud from Spring Garden said.
Meanwhile, Regional Vice-Chairman Humace Oodit at the recent Regional Democratic Council statutory meeting told councillors that the RDC has welcomed the road enhancement project, emphasising that it supports the broader vision of equitable development across all communities.
He said it is being done based on the requests of residents. Further, he pointed out that representation was made to ensure that they enjoy safer roads.
Oodit added that the RDC will continue to represent the best interest of residents in the region which will aid long term development. He said that since the People’s Progressive Party took office several roads were upgraded in the region with priority focus on safety.
Adriana Younge laid to rest
Scores of people from all walks of life came out on Sunday to bid farewell to 11-year-old Adriana Younge, who was discovered dead on April 24, 2025, in the swimming pool of the Double Day Hotel at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE). Three internationally respected forensic pathologists conducted a post-mortem examination and a comprehensive investigation was led by a retired Canadian homicide investigator. It was determined that she died by drowning and that there was no evidence of foul play. These Faith Greene photos were taken at the Vergenoegen Cemetery where a viewing and the funeral service were held before she was buried at the Vergenoegen Cemetery
Natasha Singh-Lewis resigns from PNCR, Parliament
- thanks Granger, Harmon for opportunity to serve
OPPOSITION Member of Parliament and Shadow Minister of Human Services Natasha Singh-Lewis, in a shocking turn of events is the latest person to resign from the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and the National Assembly.
Singh-Lewis is the third senior opposition member in recent weeks to part ways with the party. Her resignation
comes just days after that of PNCR member Amanza Walton-Desir.
In her Letter of Resignation, which was seen by the Guyana Chronicle, she stated, “It is with profound regret, but driven by deep-seated conviction and an unwavering duty to the people who entrusted me with their vote, that I tender my immediate resignation.”
With this, she thanked former President Da -
vid Granger and former Leader of the Opposition Joseph Harmon for their confidence in her, which allowed her to serve the 12th Parliament. She made no mention of the current opposition leader, Aubrey Norton. Her resignation follows a series of defections from the PNCR, the most recent being Walton-Desir, who resigned last week and launched her own political movement.
Additionally, former MP, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, two weeks ago, also resigned with immediate effect. She has endorsed President Dr. Irfaan Ali and the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) for the upcoming elections.
Further, Regional Chairman for Region Four and former PNCR executive member Daniel Seeram also endorsed the PPP/C.
In a public Facebook
post, Seeram expressed his support for President Ali and Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo, stating, “After fruitful discussions and careful considerations on matters of national and regional development, I am pleased to endorse President Irfaan Ali and Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo for a second term to lead the Co-operative
Republic of Guyana.” James Bond, a key figure in the PNCR, has also thrown his support behind President Ali. These developments and defections further point to internal strife, and continues to cast doubt on the PNCR’s stability ahead of the September 1 General and Regional Elections.
Police probing shooting incident near Minister Edghill’s South Ruimveldt home
CRIME sleuths are currently investigating the alleged discharge of a loaded firearm which occurred at about 20:10hrs on Saturday evening at Sugar Cane Road in South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, by an unidentified male (name, age, ethnicity, address unknown) who was in a black Mercedes Benz vehicle.
According to a police statement, investigations revealed that there was a 'social' at the home of Richard Austin, a 69-year-old businessman of Sugar Cane
- 19 spent shells recovered, suspect yet to be arrested
Road, South Ruimveldt, with several students who had recently written
the CXC examination. They were invited by Austin's 16-year-old son,
a student who also wrote the CXC exams.
“According to
eyewitness reports, a 15-year-old female student who was at the 'social' and the suspect were standing next to a black Mercedes Benz vehicle parked on the road, and they were hugging. Shortly after, the suspect entered the car and drove off at a fast rate. As the car was moving, the suspect pointed a handgun through the driver's side window, discharged several rounds in the air, and continued to drive heading west until the vehicle disappeared,” the release said.
The registration num-
ber of the car was not seen.
The release added that the scene was processed by detectives, and 19 9mm spent shells were found.
“When questioned, the 15-year-old female student refused to disclose the identity of the male (suspect) she was with,” the release said, adding that efforts are presently being made to locate the suspect and the motor car.
The shooting incident occurred near the home of Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill.
Natasha Singh-Lewis
Police investigators at the scene on Saturday night
Natural Resources Ministry blasts KN over ‘misguided’ article
The following is the full statement that was released by the Ministry of Natural Resources on Sunday:
“The Ministry of Natural Resources notes with concern a Kaieteur News article, headlined ‘Jagdeo skirts question on Guyana’s 50% profit share with Exxon’ (June 17, 2025).
The article is based on questions posed to Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, at his June 5, 2025, press conference by a Kaieteur News reporter, pertaining to Guyana’s 2024 oil revenues in comparison to the reported profits of ExxonMobil and its Stabroek Block co-venturers, Hess and CNOOC.
The reporter asked, “Can you explain Exxon and its partners reporting that their profits for 2024 being $10 billion, but Guyana only got $2.6 billion despite being a 50-50 profit-sharing?”
This question reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the issue.
‘Profit oil’, as per the Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), is the portion of annual production shared between Guyana and the Stabroek Block companies after they take out 75% to recover their expenses. ‘Profit’, as reported by a company under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), is the amount that remains after it subtracts expenses from revenue for a given period.
The US$10 billion cited by the reporter represents the combined profit of ExxonMobil, Hess, and CNOOC, as reported under IFRS in their respective financial statements.
Guyana’s share of profit oil aligns with the companies’ profit oil. However, Guyana’s revenue from the sale of its profit oil is not supposed to align with the Stabroek Block companies’ IFRS profits.
For the sake of clarity:
Guyana’s profit oil = Oil
companies’ profit oil
Guyana’s profit oil ≠ Oil companies’ IFRS profits
The only commonality between ‘profit oil’ and ‘IFRS profit’ is that the two terms include the word ‘profit’, but they are separate concepts from different accounting systems. It is also crucial to note that the recovery of 75 per cent of annual production, called ‘cost oil’, is a feature of the Stabroek Block PSA and is not accounted for in the financial statements of the oil companies.
The values of the companies’ ‘cost oil’ and ‘profit oil’ are lumped together to determine their revenue and subsequent profit calculation, which explains why their reported IFRS revenue and profit are significantly higher than Guyana’s oil revenues in the same period. Guyana does not invest money into the Stabroek Block developments and, therefore, has no ‘cost oil’ to receive.
Importantly, IFRS statements are compiled in accordance with a set of rules and assumptions that make it problematic to compare the numbers therein with those derived from the Stabroek Block PSA’s fiscal terms.
Guyana is, in fact, receiving the correct amounts of profit oil and royalty revenue as stipulated under the Stabroek Block PSA. The Government continues to scrutinise and ensure compliance with the agreement and to safeguard the interests of the Guyanese people.
Vigilance in oversight remains a cornerstone of the Government’s commitment to ensuring the country benefits meaningfully and transparently from its petroleum resources.
The lack of understanding by Kaieteur News is causing this issue to rear its head every year after the Stabroek Block co-venturers post their financial statements.
Kaieteur News needs to get its act together and en-
sure its reporters understand concepts before venturing to report on them.
Even more concerning was the reporter’s follow-up question to the Vice-President, asking him to explain “what the formula is” for determining Guyana’s share from oil production.
The reporter said, “You’ve spoken a lot of times before about this formula… Can you give us, like, an idea of what the formula is?”
When asked to indicate which formula she was referring to, the reporter said, “With the profits for Exxon and Guyana.”
This is not only disappointing, but also absurd. The so-called “formula” is a basic feature of the PSA, which has been publicly available for years and has been covered extensively by Kaieteur News itself. Its reporters have attended numerous backgrounders with ExxonMobil, where the same questions are asked over and over again. That a reporter from that very newspaper appears unfamiliar with the central mechanism governing Guyana’s share of oil production is nothing short of alarming.
To clarify what Kaieteur News should already know: under the current Stabroek Block PSA, the oil companies are entitled to recover up to 75 per cent of production annually as cost oil, allowing them to recoup the billions of dollars invested in exploration and development. The remaining 25 per cent of crude is categorised as profit oil, which is then split equally between the Government of Guyana and the consortium.
This results in the Government receiving 12.5 per cent of total crude production as profit oil. In addition, the government receives a 2 per cent royalty on the total value of oil produced and sold. In effect, Guyana receives approximately 14.5 per cent of the total value of production
each year.
This line of questioning from Kaieteur News raises serious questions about the quality of the newspaper’s reporting on the oil and gas sector.
While the publication has styled itself as the sector’s harshest critic, it increasingly engages in speculative commentary and misinformation rather than rigorous, fact-based journalism. Its publisher, known for making frequent, inflammatory, and often baseless claims, has presided over what has become a revolving door for oil and gas reporters. Several capable journalists have departed the paper, citing frustration with
how coverage of the sector is being handled.
This has left Kaieteur News with a constantly changing group of inexperienced reporters who are thrust into complex technical territory without the necessary background.
These reporters then approach press conferences unprepared, ask misguided questions, and mislead the public with coverage that lacks substance and clarity.
The Guyanese people
are the ones who suffer from this lack of journalistic responsibility.
The Ministry of Natural Resources remains committed to transparency and public engagement.
We encourage all media practitioners to approach their role in this critical sector with the seriousness it demands. The oil and gas industry is too important to be obscured by misguided opinions, confusion and sensationalism.
88 Region Two residents benefit from free vision-enhancing surgery
By Indrawattie Natram
A total of 88 Essequibians suffering from various vision impairments are seeing life more clearly now, thanks to a successful eye surgical outreach hosted at the National Ophthalmology Hospital in Port Mourant, Berbice.
This initiative, which marks the first eye surgical outreach for 2025, was made possible through the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Regional Democratic Council (Region Two) and the National Ophthalmology Hospital.
cased what can be achieved through collaboration, compassion, and commitment.
The free surgeries brought renewed hope to the residents, and show -
The initial screening and evaluation of patients was done in April at the Suddie Public Hospital and Oscar Joseph District Hospital at Charity, under the care of the region’s dedicated optometrist, Dr.
Angelina Lall.
Of the 101 patients screened, 88 underwent successful surgeries earlier this month. The procedures included 52 cataract surgeries, 18 pterygium surgeries, five laser surgeries, seven cataract and laser surgeries, one pterygium surgery and retinal consultation, three cataract surgeries and retinal consultations and two retinal specialist consultations.
Surgery for five patients was postponed following re-evaluation and will be accommodated in a subsequent batch. Four patients missed the trip— three due to communication issues and one due to illness, while four others had scheduling conflicts and will be contacted again.
To ensure smooth access to care, free transportation for ten patients was organised by the region’s Regional Health Services and they were accompanied by nursing staff to ensure their comfort and safety on the long journey from Essequibo to Berbice.
Dr. Ranjeev Singh, the Regional Health Officer, emphasised that the outreach was part of the Government of Guyana’s continued commitment to accessible health care.
He extended heartfelt thanks to Dr. V. Khirodar for her vital role in the programme’s organisation and praised Dr. Lall for her tireless dedication, noting her willingness to work be-
Patients getting their eyes screened in April
yond regular hours to serve both vision clinics with professionalism and care.
Patients travelled from communities as far as Charity to access this opportunity. Among them was Liloutie Janne of Golden Fleece, who shared
her gratitude after her cataract removal surgery.
“I’m so happy I got my eyes cleaned. Everything was smooth. I give all praises to the Government of Guyana for this chance,” an emotional Janne said.
‘Killa’ allegedly fatally
stabs truck porter at Port Kaituma
POLICE are investigating the alleged murder of Rayon Lall, a 23-year-old truck porter of Port Kaituma, North West District, which occurred on Sunday at the Port Kaituma waterfront in Region One.
“Investigations revealed that at approximately 05:00 hrs this morning (Sunday) Lall was brought to the Port Kaituma Police Station by Ewart Mingo, a 26-year-old porter. Lall sustained a stab wound to the left side of his chest.
“A Police rank promptly escorted Lall to the Port
Kaituma Hospital for medical attention. However, while receiving treatment, the victim succumbed. The body was subsequently placed in the Port Kaituma Hospital Mortuary, awaiting a post-mortem examination,” a police release said.
It added that acting on information received, ranks proceeded to Train Line, Port Kaituma, at around 16:30hrs on Sunday, where they arrested the suspect, Mark Junior George, also known as 'Killa', a 24-year-old gold miner of
Albouystown, who had previously served a three-year sentence for a narcotics offence.
“The suspect was informed of the allegation against him, cautioned, and informed of his rights. In response, he told the Police:
‘The man violated me.’
“He was arrested and taken to the Port Kaituma Police Station, where he was processed and placed in custody. He was wearing the same clothing with which he allegedly committed the act,” the police said.
Essequibo-born Justice Navindra Singh amazed at Region Two growth
RETURNING to his roots on the Essequibo Coast, Justice of Appeal Navindra Singh was visibly moved as he addressed the gathering at the opening of the Children’s Court at Charity.
Born in Zorg Village, Jus-
with heartfelt pride. “The development is remarkable— new infrastructure, more opportunities and a court like this for children… it’s something I never imagined possible back then.”
Justice Singh, who walked
tice Singh used the opportunity to reflect on the incredible transformation of the region and the justice system’s commitment to supporting vulnerable youth.
“This is not the Essequibo I grew up in,” Singh remarked
the dusty roads of Zorg as a young boy, reminisced about a time when life was simple and opportunities were limited. He recalled how fear of parental discipline often kept children in line, but noted that today’s generation face more complex social challenges.
Belle Vue accident leaves driver, pedestrian dead
POLICE are investigating a fatal accident which occurred at about 05:40hrs on Sunday on Belle Vue Public Road, West Coast Berbice.
The accident involved motorcar #PAD 9544, driven by Davin Daniels, a 29-year-old from Hopetown Village, West Coast Berbice, and pedestrian Mark George, a 49-year-old from Lot 2, Belle Vue, West Coast Berbice.
“Children today are different. They’re exposed to more, they endure more—and some stumble. But now, instead of being thrown away, they have a court that sees their potential and gives them a second chance.”
He praised the establishment of the Children’s Court as a milestone for the Essequibo Magisterial District, made
possible through collaboration between the Judiciary of Guyana, UNICEF and the Government of Guyana.
The court operates under the Juvenile Justice Act of 2018, which focuses on rehabilitation rather than punishment.
“As someone born and raised right here, I feel proud,” Justice Singh said, adding:
“We are investing in our children, in their future. This court isn’t just a building—it’s a message of hope and change.”
He also commended Chancellor (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards for her visionary leadership and the government for supporting such progressive initiatives in Region Two.
“Let’s stand behind our
youth. Let’s show them that even if they fall, they can rise again—right here, in the same villages that raised us.” Justice Singh said that he is a proud Essequibian and there is no place like home. He said while visiting the region, he has witnessed growth and an evolving justice system that is meeting the needs of children.
The pedestrian was pinned under the bus shed while the driver was pinned in his vehicle. The driver and pedestrian received injuries to their heads and bodies and were picked up by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Fort Wellington Public Hospital, where they were seen and examined by a doctor on duty, who pronounced them dead on arrival.
The bodies are presently lying at Bailey’s Funeral Home, awaiting a post-mortem examination. (GPF)
Enquiries disclosed that the car was proceeding east along the northern side of Belle Vue Public Road at a fast rate when the driver lost control of it, swerved to the southern side of the road, and collided with a 'greens (vegetable) stand'. The car reportedly continued further east and collided with a bus shed where the pedestrian was sitting on a wooden seat. The car then continued further east and collided with a utility pole on the southern side of the road, where it came to a halt. As a result of the collision, the light pole broke and fell, in the process crushing a wash bay shed.
Justice of Appeal Navindra Singh
Teams for knock-out round...
(From page 3)
of the competition.
The final two matches in the queens competition went as anticipated with the GDF ending as the top side in Group ‘A’ with a perfect record of three wins from as many matches whilst defending champions Speightland have also gained their place in the next round as the second place team in Group ‘B’ following a huge 11-0 hammering of Rockstone.
The quarter finals will kick off on Friday and this will see only winners advancing from this stage. The semifinal line-up amongst the queens has already been confirmed and will be played on July 5th.
Iconic Ballers will take on Hururu while defending champions Speightland will face their toughest opponent yet in the GDF as they seek to earn a place in the final.
Following are the results of the final group stage matches.
Game 1
Young Gunners 6 vs Lil Ballers 2 Omarion Ramsammy 6th, 13th Rashawn Pitte 18th
Kelvin Hintzen 15th, 20th
Randy Ramdihol 19th
Selwyn Barnes 19th, 5th
Game 2 – Queens
GDF 6 vs Circuitville 1
Glengy Lewis 3rd Euclin Ashby 8th
Jalade Trim 12th, 17th, 18th
Glendy Lewis 13th
Shenessa Cornelius 22nd
Game 3
HH Ballers were awarded a walkover from Turf President
Game 4 – Queens
Speghtland 11 vs Rockstone 0
Lakeisha Pearson 4th, 6th, 12th, 15th, 19th
Tennacia Williams 13th, 14th
Sasha James 18th, 23rd
Nikita Wayne 21st, 23rd
Game 5
UDK Victors were awarded a walkover from Spaniards
Game 6
LA Ballers 8 vs Team Minerals 3
Marcus Tudor 1st, 2nd, 5th, 26th, 27th Kelroy Anthony 11th
Kevin Gentle 14th, 19th
Delon Charter 12th
Mickle Jeffers 23rd Dermain King 22nd
Game 7
YMCA 1 vs Goal IQ 3
Jamal Bentick 22nd Deshawn Joseph 9th
Donovan Francis 15th
Shane Haynes 25th
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER
(Monday, June 23, 2025)
COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD
83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)
Answers to yesterday’s quiz:
(1) Rovman Powell-79* (3rd T20, Southampton.)
(2) Jos Butler-96 (1st T20, Chester-le-Street)
Today’s Quiz:
(1) Which West Indian claimed the best bowling figures in the recent T20 series against ENG?
(2) Which ENG bowler had the best figures in a match?
Answers in tomorrow’s issue
Brook 99, Bumrah five-for set up one-innings thrash
(ESPNCRICINFO) - Harry Brook threw his head back in despair after picking out long leg but his innings of 99 set up a tantalising one-innings match at his home ground. India had three first-innings centurions to England's one and Jasprit Bumrah completed a dazzling five-for to prove he is a class above any other bowler on show, yet only six runs separated the two teams after eight sessions.
Reprieved before he had scored a run on the second evening thanks to Bumrah overstepping, Brook made India pay for their profligacy. He was dropped twice - on 46, then 80 - but played several outrageous shots as he approached his first Headingley Test hundred, only to fall into a short-ball trap by pulling Prasidh Krishna down Shardul Thakur's throat.
But England's lower order ensured that they raced towards parity. Where India had lost their last five wickets for 24, England added 189 in 35.5 overs, with Chris Woakes pulling back-to-back sixes to reach 2,000 Test runs. Bumrah cleaned up his stumps, then Josh Tongue's, to clinch his third five-wicket
haul in England and a slender, single-figure lead. It meant the first Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy would be determined by both teams' second innings, and KL Rahul batted with characteristic class to lay the early foundations for a steep England target. But Ben Stokes' late wicket of Sai Sudharsan, three overs before rain brought an early close, left the match in the balance heading into the final two days.
After his near-miss on Saturday night, Brook made his intentions for Sunday morning clear by cutting Prasidh for four then swiping him over midwicket for six in the very first over, then charging down to slap Bumrah's first ball through cover. It was audacious batting, but underpinned by Brook's trust in the reliable bounce of his home pitch.
Ollie Pope could only add six runs to his overnight 100 not out, fiddling Prasidh behind off a short, wide ball, but Jamie Smith joined Brook and matched his attacking tempo. India rotated their seamers from one end while Ravindra Jadeja kept things tight at the other, and it was
Jadeja who had Brook put down first, Rishabh Pant failing to gather an outside edge. Smith was given out in single-figures, but successfully reviewed an lbw decision after being hit on the shin by a full toss; Thakur thought he had dismissed him, but remained largely anonymous and leaked 38 runs in the six overs he bowled. After three days, Shubman Gill must rue
the decision to leave Kuldeep Yadav carrying the drinks. India resolved to test England's patience with a bouncer barrage, and Smith could not resist the temptation. He crunched Prasidh over square leg for six with a vicious pull, but miscued a wider short ball two balls later and fell to a smart relay catch as Jadeja parried the chance up to Sai Sudharsan in
Matthews, Fletcher star in WI series-levelling win
HAYLEY Matthews' unbeaten 63 and two wickets each from Afy Fletcher and Karishma Ramharack helped West Indies beat South Africa and level the series 1-1 ahead of the decider on Monday. Six of South Africa's batters got to double figures but no one scored more than 21, which helped the West Indies keep the score down to 113 before Matthews iced the chase at the Three Ws Oval in Barbados.
Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits got South Africa off to a good start after being put into bat. Wolvaardt hit Jahzara Claxton and Shawnisha Hector for boundaries in a 30-run opening stand before being
dismissed for 16. Matthews, who had opened the bowling, returned in the sixth over to knock over Marizanne Kapp for a duck. Fletcher, the pick of West Indies bowlers, bowled five dots in her first over and dismissed Brits for a 21-ball 14 in the seventh, as South Africa lost 3 for 10. She kept Nadine de Klerk quiet but the batter got the tempo up at the other end. De Klerk hit the only six in the innings off Aaliyah Alleyne and put on 29 off 26 balls for the fourth wicket with Karabo Meso, taking South Africa to 69 for 3 in the 13th over.
Fletcher got de Klerk's wicket in her final over, which caused another slump of 3 for 10 as Ramharack
got wickets in successive overs. Annerie Dercksen joined Meso and they had an unbeaten 34-run stand which picked up pace gradually. Both boundaries in the stand came in the final two overs that went for 18, taking South Africa to 113 for 6.
Qiana Joseph started the West Indies chase with two boundaries off Nonkululeko Mlaba. Matthews, with 9 off 17, was slow to start but saw off Kapp's three-over opening spell. Ayabonga Khaka came on in the eighth to get Joseph for 17 and end the 41-run opening stand.
Matthews was stable in the middle overs but her partners either got stuck or fell cheaply. Mlaba and
Khaka contained Shawnisha Hector before she was dismissed by Masabata Klaas for 3 off 12 balls. Matthews hit three fours in the next six balls before Mlaba, the pick of South Africa's bowlers, got Shemaine Campbelle (7) and Chinelle Henry (3) in successive overs to leave West Indies on 77 for 4, needing 37 off 35 balls.
Jannillea Glasgow and Matthews kept West Indies ticking despite there being no boundary between overs 13 and 18. With 16 needed off 12, Matthews - fresh off a run-a-ball 50 - whacked Khaka for a six and a four. The 13-run over was the most expensive of the innings. Glasgow then hit the winning runs off de Klerk.
the deep. It was an ill-timed brain fade: the new ball was due at the end of the over.
Brook resolved to use it to his advantage, blazing consecutive boundaries off a fired-up Mohammed Siraj, who let him know what he thought of his aggression. Bumrah covered his eyes in frustration when Yashasvi Jaiswal shelled Brook at gully, and Siraj soon backed
off when Brook launched him over long-on for a towering straight six.
On 99, Brook lined up his opportunity to reach three-figures with a boundary; instead, he was left to drag himself off the field. That prompted Woakes to become the aggressor, taking only 36 balls to add 50 for the eighth wicket with Brydon Carse before Siraj and Bumrah (twice) left the stumps splayed.
Woakes held his back hip while receiving treatment during his 38, and his average speed with the new ball dipped below 80mph. But Carse cranked it up to 90mph running up the hill, and struck an early blow with a snorter to Jaiswal which angled in from around the wicket, bounced steeply and took the outside edge.
To the backdrop of a boisterous Western Terrace, much livelier than it had been through the first two days, Rahul was the calmest man at Headingley. He drove Carse for two fours in three balls: the first down the ground and the second pinged through cover, and seized on Shoaib Bashir's early drag-down.
Look what Jasprit Bumrah did to Chris Woakes (Getty Images)
Former National off-spinner Adjodha Persaud dies in the USA at 75
By Sean Devers
Former Everest, Demerara, Guyana and President’s Eleven Off-spinner Adjodha Persaud passed away recently in the USA at the age of 75.
Persaud took 60 wickets in 28 First-Class matches between 1971 and 1978.
Persaud, played when West Indies’ best off-spinner, Lance Gibbs, was spinning webs around international batters, but was still good enough to represent Guyana against England in 1974, Pakistan in 1977 and Australia in 1978 at the First-Class level.
Persaud was born on August 7, 1949, in Cumberland, Berbice, but later moved to La Jalousie on the West Coast of Demerara.
He was employed in the lumber sales department of Toolsie Persaud Ltd. where he worked until migrating to the USA in 1979.
Persaud played for Everest in the Case Cup (first division) and Rothmans Knockout Cup, winning both com-
petitions. He played under the captaincy of David Persaud and Lal Munilal before ascending to the captaincy of the Camp Road Club.
Persaud was widely regarded as a top-class off-spinner and probably the best of his era, apart from Gibbs, whose long and enduring presence in the West Indies team prevented Persaud from possibly representing the West Indies.
In his younger days he represented the West Coast Demerara under-16 side and was known as ‘Boy Wonder’. He excelled in his various
encounters with opposition throughout the country and decided to join the Everest Cricket Club to try and climb the steep ladder to get onto the national team, which he managed to do.
He played first-class cricket for Demerara, Guyana, and the West Indies President’s eleven (1977 and 1978) as well as representing Warwickshire’s second eleven in the UK circa 1972.
On one memorable occasion in the 1976 Jones Cup Inter-County finals, Adjodha, along with Keith Glasgow set a West Indies first-class batting record for the eighth wicket. The Inter-County final was afforded First-Class status until 1990.
Before migrating, Adjodha was offered a contract to play in the Yorkshire Cricket League in England. However, he decided to go to the USA with his family.
Lloyd Harper, Ovid Glasgow and Mark Harper are some of the players still in Guyana who played with the talented off-spinner before he migrated.
Slingerz Racing’s ‘Galo White’ finishes fifth at historic Brazil Grande Premio debut
GUYANA’S Slingerz Racing Stable made history as their standout colt, Galo White, crossed the wire in fifth place at the 93rd running of the Brazil Grande Premio (Grade 1), Brazil’s most prestigious horse-racing event.
Breaking from post position 15 in a highly competitive international field, Galo White showed early speed and took command from the break, setting the pace through the opening
stages.
However, with approximately 120 metres to the finish, the Guyanese runner began to tire, ultimately holding on gamely to secure a respectable fifth-place finish.
This marked the first time a horse representing Guyana competed in the elite South American classic; an historic feat for the nation’s racing fraternity.
The Brazil Grande Premio annually attracts world-
class entrants, and Galo White’s qualification and performance underscore the rising prominence of the Vergenoegen-based Slingerz Racing Stable on the global stage.
The stable, fresh off dominating the Guyana Horse Racing scene behind Olympic Kremlin and John Bull, continues to build a formidable reputation both at home and abroad.
Galo White is expected to return to Guyana.
Roach not in West Indies plans for future
CMC – Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe has revealed that veteran pacer Kemar Roach is not in the West Indies’ plans for the future.
The 36-year-old Barbadian was not included in the 16-man squad to face Australia in a three-match Test series, which bowls off on Wednesday at Kensington Oval.
Along with regular fast bowlers Jayden Seales, Alzarri Joseph, and Shamar Joseph, selectors opted to go with uncapped 21-year-old Johann Layne as the fourth seamer in the attack.
Roach’s 284 wickets in 85 matches makes him the fifth highest wicket taker for the West Indies in Tests.
He has also played in 95 One Day Internationals where he has taken 125 wickets.
There were reports last year that Roach was in discussions with CWI regarding a potential dual playing and coaching/mentorship role as he plans the next stage of his career.
However, speaking in a recent interview on QFM Dominica, Bascombe said while Roach had made a tremendous contribution to West Indies cricket, he believed now was the best time to move on.
He said himself and head coach Daren Sammy had spoken with Roach about their plans to move forward without him.
“Kemar has been excellent for West Indies and we had the conversation with him, and we spoke to him and we let him know the direction that we wanted to go.
“It was no slight on what he has done for West Indies
cricket, but again, we are planning [for] World Test Championship 2027 on to 2029 and at some point, we have to be able to really put down some markers that we have planning for the future,” Bascombe said.
“It wasn’t the easiest of conversations to have and it’s difficult in one breath to tell someone that you’re moving on, but in the same breath try to get them to understand that it’s no slight on their contribution to West Indies cricket.
“But like I said, I just wanted to ensure that we had that conversation out of respect for what he did. So, myself, the head coach, we were part of that discussion, but I think that at some point we had to move on and at the start of a new Test Championship is as good a time as any,” he added.
Adjodha Persaud
‘Galo White’
Singles category of Caribbean Regional TT Championship…
Van Lange reaches round of
16 as local men crash out
Guyana’s Jonathan Van Lange reached the furthest on Sunday in the singles category when action concluded in the men’s singles category at the Caribbean Regional Table Tennis Championships in Bridgetown Barbados.
Van Lange battled Puerto Rico’s Angel Naranjo in the best of 7 sets contest at the Sir Garfield Sobers Sports Complex.
He lost the first and second sets 11-6 and 11-5 before putting in a stiffer
‘One
challenge afterwards but still lost 11-8, 11-9 in straight sets 4-0.
While on Saturday Van Lange won his round of 32 clash when he faced Barbados’ Romario Gill in a match that went the distance.
It was a see-saw encounter up until the 7th set with the games leveled 3-3 before Van Lange showed pedigree and fitness to clinch the final 11-5.
Shemar Britton lost his round of 32 clash to Dominican Republic’s Ramon
Vila 4-2.
He lost the first set 11-4 but found his touch to win the second 11-9.
He however lost the third 11-4 but won the fourth 1311, with Vila upping the ante to win the remaining set and claim the game.
Niran Bissu also lost his round of 32 match up 4-1 to Dominican Republic’s Rafael Cabrera.
While in doubles action Guyana men’s doubles pairs crashed out at the round of 16.
Guyana’ King and Queen of the Sand Football
and Jonathan Van Lange after advancing to the round of 16 could not overcome Cuba’s
Adrian Perez and Diomar Arguelle.
The Guyanese won the first two sets 11-8 and 11-9 but were unable to keep the momentum as they lost the next three sets 11-5, 13-11 and 17-15.
Niran Bissu and Elishaba Johnson also lost in straight sets to Barbados’ pair Kevin Farley and Tyrese Knights, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Mikael Hazelwood and Tykel Pierre, to bow out at the round of 16.
Teams for knock-out round confirmed following end of group stages
The line up for the knockout rounds are now confirmed following the completion of the group stages of the third-edition of the One Guyana Kings and Queens of the Sand Football Competition in the Bauxite Mining Town of Linden.
Goal IQ ahead of their final Group ‘D’ game was languishing in the third place on 6-points behind Bomberz (9 points) and YMCA (6 points) but put in a blistering display to trounce YMCA 3-1, knocking them out of the next round and taking over the top group spot based on a better goal difference of +6 to +4 ahead of Bomberz, the two ending on 9 points each.
Also booking a place in the knockout round having found themselves in third going into their final group match was HH Ballers who shoved out One Syde also on goal difference, +4 to +3. Turf President were scheduled to face HH Ballers in their last match but failed to show up which handed Ballers 3 points and 3 goals, this was enough to upstage One Syde and send them out
Shemar Britton
Jonathan Van Lange
From right, GDF's Jalade Trim, Shenessa Cornelius and Glendy Lewis
Matthews, Fletcher star in WI serieslevelling
File Photo: Hayley Matthews led West Indies home with 63* (PA Photos/Getty Images)
Kemar Roach