GECOM delivered one of Guyana’s most credible, transparent elections – UNDP – highlights strengthened democracy & institutional trust during Guyana’s 2025 General and Regional Elections
- benefitting more than 135,000 residents from 253 hinterland, remote and riverain villages
$50B investment to build resilient communities along
- Gov’t accelerates housing, land
titans recognised as UG closes 2025 graduation ceremonies with prestigious honorary doctorates Minister Mustapha outlines agriculture development plans in Linden GDF, Brazilian Army conduct joint border patrols in Upper Takutu, Ireng sectors
The management and staff of GNNL congratulate a member of our team, Marketing and Distributing Officer, Onika Gentle, on graduating with a Bachelor of
GECOM delivered one of Guyana’s most credible, transparent elections – UNDP
– highlights strengthened democracy & institutional trust during Guyana’s 2025 General and Regional Elections
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has hailed the 2025 General and Regional Elections as a defining moment in Guyana’s democratic journey, recognising it as among the most transparent and professionally administered in the country’s modern history.
According to UNDP’s article, Strengthening Trust in Democ-
racy: UNDP’s Support to Guyana’s 2025 General and Regional Elections, the international development agency credits the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for demonstrating professionalism, impartiality, and a deep commitment to transparency while noting the pivotal support provided through UNDP’s technical assistance programme funded by the United
Kingdom.
According to the UNDP, elections are not merely the act of voting. They are a cornerstone of public trust, institutional credibility, and civic empowerment.
For Guyana, the 2025 elections represented a critical opportunity to reinforce the confidence of citizens in their democratic system.
UNDP’s technical
support to GECOM focused on increasing transparency, improving communication, strengthening logistics, and enhancing operational systems.
The Electoral Support Project deployed a multidisciplinary team of experts working closely with GECOM, ensuring assistance was timely, practical, and responsive to the Commission’s needs.
This support helped build long-term resilience and institutional capacity, beyond just election day operations.
Reflecting on the peaceful conduct of
the polls, smooth tabulation, and broad acceptance of results by political parties and observers, the Team Lead, UNDP Electoral Technical Support to GECOM, said: “As Team Leader… it is reassuring when your strategic advice is implemented to unlock bottlenecks throughout the process.”
Central to the success of the 2025 elections was a major transformation in how GECOM communicated with the public.
With support from UNDP, GECOM was able to:
Implement a comprehensive Communications Strategy
Develop a Branding Manual and Crisis Communication Protocol
Introduce a Media Code of Conduct and Media Policy
Train more than 100 journalists on electoral ethics and legislation
These measures ensured accurate, consistent, and timely information to citizens and stakeholders.
The programme also prioritised inclusivity, working with disability-representative organisations to
inform staff training and ensure accessible voter information that reflected Guyana’s rich cultural diversity.
“The strengthened engagement with all electoral stakeholders ensured the electoral process was more inclusive, credible, and widely accepted,” the UNDP Communications Specialist noted.
Supported by UNDP, GECOM:
Assessed 2,790 polling stations nationwide
Trained 13,925 polling staff
Ensured secure and transparent movement of sensitive materials
Strengthened systems across coastal, hinterland and riverine regions
The organisation says it looks forward to deepening its partnership with GECOM and other bodies to ensure every future election further strengthens transparency, unity, and civic trust.
Electoral support team from the UNDP
Voters lined up at the Parika Nursery School
Hampshire Solar Farm creates jobs, strengthens local energy infrastructure -
GUYANA marked a major step in its clean energy transition on Friday with the commissioning of a 3MW solar farm in Hampshire, Region Six. The facility, part of the Government of Guyana’s Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Program (GUYSOL), aims to diversify the country’s energy mix, provide renewable power, and support local job creation.
Joining Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips at the commissioning ceremony for a 3MW solar farm at Hampshire in Region Six was Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh described the project as “historic”, noting its importance in advancing Guyana’s clean energy transition, its contribution to local job creation, and its role in strengthening international, regional, and local partnerships.
“This project is part of a very important historic journey”, he said, attributing the achievement to the Government of Guyana’s drive
Dr. Singh says
to deliver sustainable energy solutions nationwide.
Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips, while delivering the feature address on behalf of President Irfaan Ali, pointed out that the commissioning of the facility sends a clear signal that Guyana is serious about transition
to cleaner energy sources as he asked, “If we do not fix energy, how can we fix the climate?”.
“Leadership is not what you claim. Leadership is what you do. Even as our forests perform the work of giants, we still invest, we still act. Climate Change does not wait on anyone,” the Prime Minister underscored.
“This commissioning sends a clear signal not only to our people, but to the Latin American and Caribbean region and the rest of the world,” Prime Minister Phillips added further.
Dr. Singh in his remarks recalled that in 2009, then President Jagdeo and the then Minister of Environment and International of Norway, Erik Solheim collaborated to sign a historic agreement between Guyana and Norway. Norway at the time pledged up to $250 million to Guyana for conserving its rainforest.
Minister Singh lauded the visionary initiative and global thought leadership provided by Guyana and by President Jagdeo in particular at the time as he led the call for Guyana to receive compensation for its stand-
ing forest since 2006. This, he noted, led to the country earning revenue under the original Low Carbon Development Strategy under the partnership with Norway and more recently under the LCDS 2030 which was launched by President Irfaan Ali shortly after he assumed office.
This financing is now supporting the implementation of various climate friendly initiatives such as solar farms which form part of Government’s policy towards a diversified energy mix and providing cleaner and renewable power countrywide.
“Guyana was providing climate services to the rest of the world free of charge and not being compensated, not earning any revenue for this important service that we were providing and he (then President Jagdeo) articulated and developed this idea in such an incredibly visionary way that had never been articulated at any other point in time anywhere else in the world,” the Minister added, pointing to Guyana now being recognised worldwide for its standing rainforest service.
The solar farm projects also have an impact on the local community in terms of job creation and other initiatives, and this was pointed out by Inter-American Development Bank Resident Representative in Guyana, Ms. Lorena Solórzano Salazar who also delivered remarks at the event.
“31 out of 50 women were trained in solar PV installation and gainfully employed in the first three years of the project execution through Regions Two, Five, Six and 10. Six persons with disability received training and are already working in GPL, “she explained.
The solar farm project commissioned today was done on the sidelines of President Irfaan Ali’s two-day Cabinet Outreach to Region Six and forms part of the GoG’s/Guyana Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Programme (GUYSOL) aimed at diversifying the country’s energy mix - a significant step towards cleaner, renewable power and a resilient energy
future for Guyana. GUYSOL, which falls under the Guyana Power and Light Inc, is funded through a Guyana/Norway partnership to the tune of US$83 million. Under this project, eight solar farms are being constructed to contribute 33 MWp of solar power across the country with three to be located in Region Six at Hampshire, Prospect and Trafalgar.
In its 2025 Manifesto, Government outlined its plans to continue its efforts to resuscitate the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) and install an additional 100 MW of solar power to further advance the diversification of the country’s energy mix. The Manifesto also highlighted the administration’s plan to continue to promote Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 globally as a model for balancing environmental protection and economic development, particularly through forest conservation and carbon credit financing, to foster new areas of innovation in conservation and financing for biodiversity and ecosystem services among other initiatives.
Much development groundwork for Berbice to become a second industrial hub in the country was done during the PPP/C’s 20202025 term in office and the Region now boasts a new modern Number 75 Regional hospital, new roads have been built across the Region, a new New Amsterdam hospital is underway, a new stadium is under construction at Palmyra, call centres operate in the Region and have allowed for more jobs for persons in Berbice, the Government plans to construct a new bridge across the Berbice River and in collaboration with its neighbour to the East, Suriname plans to construct a new bridge across the Corentyne River. Already, hundreds of Guyanese have been graduating in the area of oil and gas from the Guyana Technical Training College in Port Mourant.
Also in attendance at the Opening ceremony were Minister within the Ministry of Housing, Hon. Vanessa Benn and the Executive Management Leader of GPL, Mr. Kesh Nandlall.
Joining Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips at the commissioning ceremony for a 3MW solar farm at Hampshire in Region Six was Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh
East Berbice Corentyne roadworks to feature modern safety measures
- Gov’t moves to strengthen road safety, ease congestion
THE government has announced major road upgrades to the East Berbice Corentyne corridor aimed at easing congestion, improving safety, and enhancing the overall efficiency of the roadway as part of the ongoing four-lane highway expansion.
The project includes modern pedestrian and traffic safety features, updated road markings, and designated parking areas.
A major diversion will
also be constructed at Rose Hall and Corriverton to eliminate bottlenecks along one of the region’s busiest stretches.
In his address, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali said the roadworks are designed to prioritise safety first, noting that every Guyanese must be able to travel these roads safely.
A major concern raised by citizens was the presence of derelict vehicles and abandoned machinery along the roadway. This, he said, is
being tackled head-on:
“If we find that the contractors are not adhering to the contract in terms of the safety measures that are required contractually. At each of these sites, the AG [Attorney General] has been instructed to take legal action against such contractors, especially if that neglect leads to the death or injury of persons,” President Ali stated.
All primary upkeep will be carried out by the contractor(s), with the Ministry
of Public Works providing additional support where necessary. The government will also enforce a strengthened traffic management plan for each active construction site.
To support the public safety effort, the Ministry of Public Works will launch a public education programme focused on accident prevention at construction zones.
Additional oversight reviews will be conducted, and contractors will immediately install temporary lighting at
project sites to improve visibility and reduce risks.
The upgraded corridor, once completed, is expected to improve traffic flow,
Creative titans recognised as UG closes 2025 graduation ceremonies with prestigious honorary doctorates
THE University of Guyana closed its 2025 graduation season on a celebratory note Saturday, blending academic achievement with a tribute to cultural excellence.
As more than 500 students crossed the stage at the Turkeyen campus, the institution paused to honour three Guyanese creative icons whose work has helped shape global understandings of Caribbean identity: singer and cultural ambassador Terry Gajraj, and the celebrated literary duo John Agard and Grace Nichols.
Together, they became the latest recipients of the university’s prestigious honorary doctorates, and Agard and Nichols the first husband-and-wife pair to receive the accolade in the same year.
For Gajraj, whose 35year career has carried Guyanese music to audiences from Port of Spain to New York and New Delhi, the moment felt deeply personal.
Known for pioneering the infectious fusion of Indian folk traditions with Caribbean rhythms that helped define the Chutney genre, he used his address to remind graduates that success begins with embracing one’s roots.
“You guys are such brilliant minds graduating here from the prestigious University of Guyana,” he told the gathering, his voice filled with emotion.
“Over the years, I've received many remarkable honours in Trinidad, Bar-
bados, India, and around the world. But nothing, nothing beats home. Home, sweet home… I’ll be forever grateful for this.”
Gajraj spoke candidly about the lessons that guided him through his own journey as a migrant artist — lessons passed down from his parents.
He recalled leaving for New York as a young man and being instructed to carry his culture with him wherever he went. It was advice, he said, that anchored his identity through the challenges of diaspora life.
“You know, you always want to go foreign,” he reflected. “But believe me, it is only when you leave that you realise how much you love Guyana, how much you love your parents. I was able to convert that pain to power… and I know you graduates would do the same thing.”
While Gajraj delivered his remarks in person, poet and playwright John Agard joined virtually, bringing his familiar blend of warmth, wit, and lyrical
phrasing. Agard, whose inventive use of both English and Guyanese Creole has made him a beloved figure in contemporary literature, accepted his honorary doctorate with the humour that has long animated his performances.
“My big thanks to the University of Guyana for this wonderful surprise and the touching honour,” he said, adding with a smile, “I will attempt to be brief, but I know Guyanese are fond of what’s called speechification.”
The final honouree, Grace Nichols, offered a more reflective tone. The award-winning poet, whose work has become central to Caribbean and British literary traditions, traced her creative origins back to the landscape of her childhood. Growing up in High Dam on the East Coast — “an ironic name because it was very flat,” she joked — she found beauty in the ordinary and wonder in the world of books.
She recalled becoming a self-described “regular
bookworm” at the Carnegie Library in Georgetown, a habit that propelled her into journalism and ultimately into a literary career that has spanned more than four decades. Her acclaimed works, including I is a Long Memoried Woman, explore themes
of migration, memory, and resilience — themes she noted are as relevant to today’s graduates as they were to her younger self.
Together, the three honourees offered a tapestry of stories that underscored a single message: that Guyanese
creativity continues to resonate far beyond the country’s borders. Their recognition served not only as a tribute to their individual achievements but also as a reminder of the cultural power and global reach of Guyanese voices.
reduce travel times, and deliver a safer modern highway system for thousands of commuters daily.
H.E. President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali
Singer, songwriter, and cultural ambassador Terry Gajraj receives an honorary doctorate from the University of Guyana for his 35 years of promoting Guyanese music internationally
Poet and playwright John Agard, honoured for his innovative use of Guyanese Creole and English, is awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Guyana
Acclaimed poet and author Grace Nichols receives an honorary doctorate from the University of Guyana, recognising four decades of contributions to Caribbean and British literature
Engine of national transformation
President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s address to the University of Guyana’s newest graduates carries a message that extends far beyond the ceremony halls of Turkeyen and Berbice Tain.
It is a call to action, a reminder that the true measure of academic achievement lies not in diplomas, but in the tangible impact graduates make on their communities and their nation.
Nearly 3,600 students now join the ranks of the largest graduating class in
UG’s 62-year history.
With degrees in hand, they step into a Guyana in the midst of transformation, an economy expanding, infrastructure growing, and society evolving at a pace once considered impossible.
Yet, as President Ali rightly observes, the real engine of this progress is not oil, investment, or resources, it is people. It is these graduates, equipped with knowledge, skills, and values, who will shape the workforce, industries,
and society of a modern Guyana.
The President’s emphasis on lifelong learning resonates in a world where technology and global change reshape industries almost overnight.
Today’s graduates cannot rest on past accomplishments; their education is a foundation for continual growth, adaptation, and innovation. Competence, creativity, and resilience are now as critical as the degrees they receive. In this sense, education be-
The Mottley syndrome in Guyana’s 2030 election
MIA Mottley led the Barbados Labour Party to two successive general elections victories in which the opposition did not win a seat. Is it possible that we can see that in Guyana in 2030?
By 2030, Dr. Irfaan Ali would be riding away because of two-term presidential limits. By the time he bows out, Dr. Ali would have left a breathtaking legacy. My contestation is the personality of Dr. Ali played a crucial role in the PPPC’s 55 percent majority in the 2025 election. Unlike every previous president, his take of crossover voters was significant, and from now to 2030, we will see Dr. Ali shaping a legacy that will see a PPP party that will expand its multi-racial support in ways no other president came close to doing.
It is impossible, barring some disastrously incredible occurrence, for the PPP/C to lose in 2030 given the
groundwork that will be done by the Ali presidency. It is highly unlikely there can be a presidential candidate for the PPP/C in 2030 that is not Anil Nandlall.
There are three persons that are the face of the PPP/C – Irfaan Ali, Bharrat Jagdeo, and Anil Nandlall. Dr. Ali had two terms, Mr. Jagdeo had two terms, and it seems that Nandlall will be their likely successor. His status and stature in the PPP are so huge that it is virtually impossible for him not to be the PPP/C’s presidential candidate.
Mr. Nandlall has been crucial to the PPP/C’s success in overcoming the hurdles that were placed on the PPP/C in the 2020 elections. He has excelled as Attorney-General in past PPP/C governments and has proven to Guyanese that he is one of the most brilliant lawyers the Caribbean has produced. I said on the Freddie Kis-
soon Show last week that, in a global context, Mr. Nandlall is a top lawyer that could handle any case in any country in the world. His candidacy will ensure a PPP/C victory in 2030. So the opposition will be facing two impossible Sisyphean tasks in the 2030 election – the legacy of Irfaan Ali and the winnable ticket of Nandlall.
The tantalising question is what becomes of the opposition in the 2030 battle. Is it possible that there may not be an opposition after 2030 thus Guyana will have to live with the Mottley syndrome? I don’t think there is a human on Planet Earth that does not want a parliamentary opposition in the countries of the world. It is simply a story that will never be told. Countries must have opposition parties because it ensures that power is exposed and criticised when human nature goes astray.
comes not merely a personal achievement, but a public responsibility—a tool to empower communities, drive national development, and ensure that progress benefits all citizens.
Moreover, the introduction of free tertiary education marks a pivotal moment in Guyana’s nation-building efforts.
By removing financial barriers to higher learning, the government is sending a clear message: education is not a privilege; it is a stra -
tegic investment in the country’s future. Every graduate, regardless of background, now has the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to Guyana’s transformation.
As the nation celebrates this historic cohort, the challenge is clear: to apply knowledge with purpose, to innovate, to uplift others, and to embody the values that make education a catalyst for progress.
The future of a globally competitive, technologically advanced,
and socially responsible Guyana rests in the hands of these young citizens.
Graduates, as you cross this threshold, remember that the journey of learning has only just begun.
Let curiosity, dedication, and a sense of duty guide you. Guyana’s transformation is underway, but its true heartbeat lies in your efforts to learn, grow, and lead. Education has empowered you, now let your impact empower the nation.
The combined opposition has 28 House seats, and one can argue that though they might not all disappear, they will be a shell in 2030. But strange things happen in politics, and we see that there is no opposition presence in Barbados. The possibility does exist for the Mottley syndrome in Guyana for two reasons.
One is that WIN is going to collapse if Azruddin Mohamed is extradited, and the certainty of that is strong, and it will happen before the 2030 election. Mohamed has got no investment, no income from productive business, and no cash in the bank. He simply cannot go on pouring billions into WIN. He did that for the 2025 election, and as we move toward 2030, the money will dry up; maybe completely. His party will then disintegrate, and its
leaders will go their own way. WIN was a wind that strangely blew Guyana’s way and strangely will blow no more.
Can the PNC survive beyond 2030? The answer is yes and no. It is, yes, if between now and another year, a group of credible leaders emerges and does three things. Purge the PNC of David Hinds, Aubrey Norton, and Terrance Campbell. Secondly, reach out to the different cultures, religions, and races of this country. Thirdly, ensure a daily presence in Guyana in which the narratives, sermons, messages, and persuasion are relevant to a changing Guyana whose population is one of the youngest in the world.
The answer is no if the infamous trio, along with Sherod Duncan continues their anachronistic irrelevan-
cies. Terrence Campbell is being groomed to take over the leadership of the PNC. It will be a disaster for two reasons. Norton will dictate to him from behind the scenes. Secondly, Campbell will not bring decent deportment, moral thinking and practical solutions to the PNC. Campbell is both a loose cannon and a combination of Rickford Burke, Mark Benschop, Aubrey Norton, Sherod Duncan, and David Hinds. If he is such a combination, it is impossible for the PNC to survive. Norton killed the PNC. Campbell will write its epitaph.
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.
Looking at the EU observers’ report with raised brows
I AM very disappointed with the quality of the data that is contained in the 77-page European Observers Report on the 2025 elections. I am even more shocked that the leaders of the EU would be comfortable with releasing this illogical and nonsensical report to the public. There is much I could point out that is wrong with the report, from its methodology to its findings to its recommendations.
I will not labour the public with my analyses except to point out that the EU Report is short on facts and truth and big on lies, perceptions, and delusions of a grander nature. Its report appears to have been drafted and edited by one-sided and biased individuals who are political and possess a deep-seated interest in the We Invest in Nationhood Party (WIN), the A Partnership for National Unity Party (APNU), and the Forward Guyana Movement Party (FGM).
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP), dubbed the unruly guy, was certainly dealt a bad hand in this report. Even though the party’s Executive and General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo complained ad nauseam over several chilling occurrences, the observers just paid them no mind. In fact, they completely ignored these complaints to the point that they were omitted in the final report.
I stand by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s criticism of the report. I strongly believe that he was way too soft and diplomatic about the EU report. I would not be so kind to the EU’s report because I think it is quite absurd that they would seek to lecture us on elections when they have so many problems with respect to their laws, legislation and election offences occurring in EU territories.
In fact, electoral malpractices in the EU are diverse and complex, ranging from traditional issues such as the misuse of administrative resources and voter co-
ercion within member states to modern threats like foreign interference and disinformation campaigns across the entire bloc. It is none of my business, but I am just saying it like it is.
Additionally, the EU report did have one aspect of its analysis correct. The elections were peaceful and well-run, with election day and tabulation processes administered efficiently, since voters were able to cast their ballots in an orderly environment. It is an undisputed fact that those elections were fair and effectively run. But that was omitted from the EU observers' report.
And, while I could accept the observation that the legal framework was broadly adequate and despite some positive recent reforms, persistent gaps remain in party regulation and campaign finance, I do not accept its criticisms of the media environment that prevailed.
Firstly, the Stabroek and Kaieteur newspapers were anything but above board and independent in their coverage before, during and after the election cycle. The Guyana Times stood out as fair and offering its readers sound information and stories on the government, the main opposition, PNC-APNU, and WIN.
Any sane and objective observer would tell you that SN was far more hostile to the government and the PPP in terms of its coverage and portrayal of news pieces, opinions, columns, and cartoons. It was not practising ethical and fair journalism. And when the SN’s duplicity, hypocrisy, double standards, and fake news agenda were exposed by the PPP GS, they cowered and became silent at different points. The KN was, to a lesser extent, fairer and had less trash passed off as news. The findings in the report are comical, to say the least.
For the broadcast media, Capitol News and HGPTV Nightly News could be deemed to be carrying out the old-PNC and opposition agenda. The PPP was not afforded fair and balanced cov-
erage in these news media. They were not balanced, impartial, and fair. How come the EU observers missed that in their final report? A BLIND person could see and know how they tried to influence the electorate and block out the PPP message of hope and delivery.
Even the Demerara Waves, News Room, and Inews were fair and balanced when compared to other sites. The EU report insulted the intelligence of voters and Guyanese when it singled out News Source for positive attention. What? That news is inherently opposition – the APNU and WIN-focused. They are not balanced and fair. It appears that the observers bounced their heads and their meditation scattered. No facts are included. And no political party contesting the 2025 polls inquired about spots or the availability of time and space in the State Media. No one was denied access. The issue of access to the state media, therefore, simply could not be observed. Yet, still, the campaign speeches and activities of all parties were adequately and sufficiently covered by the NCN and Chronicle Newspapers. The DPI continued to cover the president, ministers of the government, government projects, and such, as it should.
A few journalists were
indeed shown some tough love. I disagree that the PPP or even APNU “singled out and verbally attacked”. The EU report is spewing propaganda. It does not understand the media-cultural and political environment here. As for the “few reporters who faced threats of legal action by government ministers, who considered their reporting as defamatory,” the EU observers should know that opposition parties and any Guyanese are afforded that right. The media is not a law unto itself. Anyone could challenge the information it gives to the public in a court of law.
Secondly, the EU report was messy because it failed to either name or document the facts in the cases where it observed “instances of unequal access and allegations of pressure on civil servants”.
There were no cases of undue advantage of the ruling party, misuse of state resources, or partisan media coverage that distorted the level playing field. These are just allegations and manufactured controversies. There are no facts. They just did not occur or where they were, in fact, breaches should have been reported to the relevant authorities – GECOM, police and the government.
The president has ad -
equately dealt with the report’s findings that his party benefited from some advantages of incumbency. I will not go there.
Thirdly, the unregulated campaign finance was a major issue in the 2025 elections. Yet, the EU observers' report omitted to mention it. WIN paid the electorate to support it and poured millions into people who ended up being the APNU’s supporters and party members. It was recurring foot soldiers like ‘Doggie and Fatta’ by the hundreds, and paying them daily. The EU was not really observing the elections.
Its party general secretary, Odessa Primus, admitted that WIN spent millions. How could observers conveniently leave this out? Why is the report so generous to the WIN party but would throw the others under the bus for hearsay and housewife gossip?
Fourthly, nowhere in this report is social media mentioned. What? You mean that the EU did not monitor social media platforms or news pages that conveniently popped up for the election to try and influence the vote? There were fake news sites and more than 100 sites on social media. There are no findings of how they could have stolen the elections if it wasn’t for the PPP, that was
policing their constituencies.
The EU is not and was not serious about sending this election observer body if it was totally unaware of the impact of social media and fake news on the polls here. This report appears to have a lot to say on all of the complex legal and political things about Guyana’s 2025 election, but it goes mute or is selective with the media landscape and social media.
Finally, I will not lose any sleep over the EU election observers’ report because it is not a true reflection of the pluralistic, political, electoral, media, and legal environment that prevailed at the time. It is based upon some of the fallacies and election propagandistic lies. It is small on facts and big on far-fetched claims.
The report is, therefore, biased and one-sided. It seeks to hoodwink the government into accepting its halfbaked platitudes and stories, but I think the persons who did the report are to blame for misleading the EU bloc about Guyana's Elections. EU needs to come stronger and get their facts right!
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.
From Panama to Georgetown: A blueprint for electoral integrity
RECENTLY, I had the privilege of joining several distinguished Guyanese journalists on a study visit to an institution that stands as a beacon of robust democracy in the Americas: Panama’s Electoral Tribunal. While the Tribunal often surfaces in headlines, especially during Panama’s tumultuous 2024 presidential elections, nothing compares to witnessing the institution’s daily operations and physical presence firsthand.
For Guyanese observers passionate about electoral reform and institutional integrity, the experience was awe-inspiring. Every journalist in our cohort echoed a single sentiment: this is exactly the kind of institution Guyana should aspire to create if it hopes to safeguard and strengthen democracy for future generations.
Our visit was organised by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), a respected global body supported by the European Union, which connects journalists, election officials, and civil society actors from across the hemisphere in a bid to share best practices in democratic governance. From the outset, the transparency and openness of the Tribunal were striking, and its staff displayed both pride and humility in welcoming us to their headquarters.
The Tribunal’s headquarters is an architectural marvel that was inaugurated in November 2013 during the presidency of Ricardo Martinelli. It is strategically located on 3.2 hectares of well-manicured, publicly accessible grounds in Panama City. The main building, rising to five stories, is a physical embodiment of the transparency and accessibility
autonomous, independent institution with its own budget. The Tribunal comprises three magistrates, each appointed by a different branch of government (the Executive, Legislative, and Supreme Court), to serve staggered ten-year terms. This unique arrangement is a constitutional safeguard to protect its independence and minimise
the Tribunal strives to provide to citizens. Visitors are immediately struck by the sense of grandeur and civic purpose conveyed by the soaring columns and well-lit communal spaces. It is not merely an office; it is, arguably, the most impressive institutional building in Panama and a conscious signal of the Tribunal’s constitutional importance.
The Electoral Tribunal, established under Article 142 of Panama’s Constitution, holds sweeping powers as an
political interference.
With a full-time staff of about 3,500, the Tribunal’s purview extends across the entire civic landscape. Beyond managing national and municipal elections, it supervises the civil registry, producing official identity cards, birth and marriage certificates, death records, and processing adoptions. In 2025 alone, the Tribunal’s stateof-the-art printing facilities produced over half a million polycarbonate ID cards, each
embedded with QR codes for security and rapid identification, making them virtually impossible to forge.
The Tribunal’s role as a democratic safeguard is further reinforced by its Digital Media Centre, a 24/7 nerve centre staffed by 80 communications experts. This unit monitors the online activities of political parties and candidates, fights disinformation, an d rapidly counters fake news that could distort public discourse. Seven official social media accounts disseminate verified information to the public and rebalance the digital landscape during heated campaign seasons. Meanwhile, an in-house media team supplies original content to radio, print, and online news outlets nationwide, ensuring a constant flow of accurate electoral information.
Civil documentation is managed on a massive scale.
The Tribunal’s civil registry arm, the largest of its kind in Panama, includes 16 regional offices and 132 service kiosks. It employs around 800 staff who diligently document life’s milestones, from birth and marriage to death and adoption, for millions of Panamanians, maintaining not just the electoral roll, but
From Phelps to Gauff: Athletes speak out on mental health struggles
SINCE Michael Phelps went public with his mental health problems, athletes and entertainers around the world have been admitting to similar issues.
Black American tennis prodigy Coco Gauff, who was thrust into the limelight six years ago when she defeated 7- time Grand Slam winner, Venus Williams, has also spoken openly about her mental health challenges.
Guaff, who was just 15 years old when she beat her ‘idol’ in straight sets, said she felt pressured by all the publicity and the increased expectations following the match.
She discussed these feelings with fellow tennis star, Japanese Naomi Osaka and world-renowned gymnast, Simone Biles, who both stepped away from their respective sports to take care of their mental health.
The young American said she has developed strategies to manage her mental well-being, such as breathing techniques during matches to cope with panic attacks.
She retains perspective by considering herself privileged to be playing, professionally, the sport she loves and has come to realise that
she needs to play, not for the expectations of others but for her own enjoyment.
She has become a vocal advocate for mental health awareness, stating that it is “ invisible but it’s a very real issue”.
Earlier this year fellow tennis player, German Alexander Zverev, confessed to feelings of isolation and loneliness and a loss of love for the sport, following his early exit from the Wimbledon tournament.
The German said the feelings extended beyond tennis and admitted that for the first time in his life he contem-
the civil spine of the nation.
Housed within the Tribunal is the Institute for Democratic Studies (INED), a research and policy think tank. INED delves into every facet of Panamanian democracy, from technical election issues to the broader trends in representation, public opinion, and the evolution of electoral law. This academic partnership makes the Tribunal not just an election manager, but an engine of continuous democratic learning and adaptation.
The events of 2024, which once again elevated the Tribunal’s role to global prominence, bear mentioning. That year, the Tribunal made headlines when it disqualified former President Ricardo Martinelli, who, ironically, had commissioned the construction of the Tribunal’s new headquarters, from once again seeking Panama’s highest office. Martinelli, the founder of the Democratic Change party and one of Panama’s wealthiest businessmen, had been convicted of money laundering. The Tribunal, adhering to constitutional mandates that bar candidates with serious criminal convictions, ruled against his candidacy. The ensuing legal battle, which
culminated at the country’s Supreme Court, tested the Tribunal’s authority and the resilience of Panamanian democracy. Martinelli’s attempt to reclaim power became a national spectacle, marked by claims of political persecution, a dramatic flight into the Nicaraguan embassy, and, ultimately, asylum in Colombia.
While the headlines focused on political intrigue, behind the scenes the Tribunal played a steadying role. During pre-election technical disruptions, the Tribunal demonstrated agility by suspending problematic electronic voting and reverting to traditional ballot systems, prioritising transparency and the credibility of the vote. Through it all, the Tribunal’s constitutional powers helped sustain public confidence during a volatile period.
For Guyana, the example set by Panama’s Electoral Tribunal is both humbling and inspiring. Its blend of architectural openness, technological innovation, legal rigour, and a clear public mission offers a roadmap for nations seeking to renew trust in democratic institutions and build a resilient, inclusive electoral system for all citizens.
plated seeking mental health counselling.
He subsequently took a break from tennis, going on vacation with family and friends and on his return he undertook mental health therapy.
Zverev has now resumed playing and has announced that he feels “much better” and on the “right path” to recovery. His improved game and renewed enjoyment are clear evidence that he has indeed benefitted from the therapy.
“I took a longer period of time off after Wimbledon, which I haven’t done in a
very long time, which was very needed”, the world’s third-ranked male tennis player said.
“ I didn’t do any physical work, I didn’t play tennis for a longer time, which was the best thing for me to do and I enjoyed my time, mentally freed up, got some professional help as well...I’m happy to be back on court”.
What these stories have revealed is the fact that anyone, regardless of fame, wealth or social status, can be plagued by mental health issues.
The solution is not to keep them ‘bottled up’ or hidden but to talk about what is troubling you and, where necessary, seek professional help.
Panama’s Electoral Tribunal
Guyana’s unmatched acceleration
GUYANA has officially reached 900,000 barrels of oil per day, a milestone that not only places the country among the world’s major producers but also sets it apart for the unprecedented speed at which this achievement was reached.
In only six years from the first oil in 2019, Guyana has scaled production at a pace almost unheard of in the modern offshore industry. While most petroleum-producing nations take a decade or more to reach such levels, Guyana has redefined what is possible for a young energy sector.
The accomplishment becomes even more remarkable when viewed through an international lens. Countries such as Brazil and the United States experienced similar or slightly longer timelines from first discovery to first oil, but
they all required far more time to scale up to production levels comparable to what Guyana is delivering today.
Historical US data shows that the country took several decades after its first commercial well to surpass one million barrels per day, eventually crossing that threshold around 1920. Brazil’s deepwater production success began around 2009 and took approximately seven years of sustained investment, technological refinement, and operational maturity to reach about one million barrels per day.
Norway, considered one of the world’s most efficient offshore producers, discovered its major fields in the late 1960s and required more than a decade before its production grew beyond one million barrels per day. Against this backdrop, Guyana’s rise to
nine hundred thousand barrels per day in only six years stands out as an extraordinary acceleration unmatched in the modern offshore era.
This rapid climb was made possible by a unique convergence of factors. The geology of the Stabroek Block has proven exceptional, delivering consistent discoveries with high-quality reservoirs that support efficient development. Advanced technology has amplified this advantage.
A growing fleet of Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessels, known as FPSOs, which produce, store, and offload oil directly offshore, along with sophisticated seismic imaging, rapid drilling techniques, and real-time digital monitoring systems, have all allowed each new development to come online more smoothly and more efficiently
than the last.
Equally important has been the steady partnership between the Government of Guyana and the operator consortium, which has enabled disciplined project execution and predictable timelines, two ingredients essential for fast offshore scale-up.
Behind the technical accomplishments lies the human story. Thousands of Guyanese have now become part of the country’s rapidly expanding energy ecosystem, working as offshore technicians, engineers, logistics personnel, safety professionals and support staff. This surge in production is already translating into broad national benefits, fuelling investments in infrastructure, education, energy security and job creation.
For many families, the oil and gas sector represents
opportunity on a scale that simply did not exist a decade ago. Beyond employment, the growth of local service industries in areas such as catering, transportation and technical training is creating a ripple effect that strengthens the national economy and builds a skilled workforce for future generations.
Yet reaching 900,000 barrels per day is not an endpoint. It marks the beginning of a new phase in Guyana’s development. Projections indicate that Guyana is expected to have the capacity to produce around 1.7 million barrels per day by 2030, positioning it among the world’s top oil producers.
The momentum is clear. Guyana is not only an oil producing nation, but also a case study in how geology, technology, governance and human
capacity can come together to reshape a country’s future.
The lessons learned from this rapid expansion will influence how emerging producers approach offshore development, showing that with careful planning, investment and local engagement, a small country can achieve what many thought impossible.
Guyana’s rapid rise has already placed it among the world’s most compelling new energy frontiers. The momentum being built is more than production figures; it reflects a growing national capability, a confident industry and a country stepping into a new era of possibility. The way Guyana chooses to shape this moment will define not only the future of its oil sector, but also the broader path of national development in the years ahead.
Guyana Consulate in Toronto, GDF pay tribute to late Warrant Officer, celebrated diaspora leader
THE Guyanese community in Canada is mourning the passing of Warrant Officer Class One (Ret’d) Gordon Gabriel Winter, a widely respected former soldier and longstanding diaspora leader, who died on November 16.
His death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from the Guyana Consulate in Toronto, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), and members of the Guyanese-Canadian community, many of whom credit Winter with decades of service to both his homeland and its citizens abroad.
In a statement, the Guyana Consulate described Winter, who served as President of the Guyana Ex-Soldiers Association (Canada), as one of the diaspora’s most dedicated and active figures.
For years, he played a central role in organising and leading the hoisting of the Golden Arrowhead at the Consulate’s annual Independence and Republic flag-raising ceremonies, a responsibility officials say he carried out with pride and professionalism.
“He was a professional soldier, a dedicated member of our Guyanese diaspora in Canada, and a true Guyanese patriot,” the Consulate said, noting that his passing represents “a great loss” to both the mission and the wider Guyanese-Canadian
community.
The GDF also paid tribute, highlighting Winter’s distinguished military career and continued leadership long after leaving active duty.
In a detailed remembrance, the Force described him as a soldier of “exceptional calibre, discipline, and leadership,” noting that he enlisted in 1966 and quickly rose through the ranks. His early promotion to Lance Corporal immediately after completing recruit training was viewed as the first sign of a promising future.
Among Winter’s most notable achievements was his historic leap from Sergeant to Warrant Officer Class Two—bypassing the rank of Staff Sergeant—a rare accomplishment acknowledged as proof of his outstanding competence and command ability. He later served as the Regimental Sergeant Major of Camp Ayanganna until his
departure in 1974.
During his service, Winter was awarded the Border Defence Medal and the Military Efficiency Medal, honours that recognised his commitment to duty, operational readiness, and the defence of Guyana’s sovereignty.
His leadership continued for more than two decades after his military career, as he devoted 25 years to the Guyana Ex-Soldiers Association (Canada), ensuring support, unity, and representation for former service members living abroad. Community members noted that Winter often served as a bridge between Guyanese veterans in Canada and national institutions back home.
The GDF extended condolences on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, officers, and ranks, emphasising that Winter’s “service will forever be honoured” and that
his memory will continue to inspire soldiers and veterans alike.
Winter will be laid to rest on Saturday, Novem-
ber 29, in Canada. His passing leaves a void in both the military fraternity and the diaspora community, who remember him as “a soldier’s soldier”—firm, fair, respected, and unwavering in his commitment to service. (Frederick Halley)
The late Gordon Winter
‘Akali’ gets 24 years for killing sister and niece in 2023 Linden house fire
UHALISI Moore, called “Akali” or “Ukali,” was on Wednesday, last, sentenced to 24 years’ imprisonment on each of two counts of murder, with the sentences ordered to run concurrently.
The sentence was imposed by Acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh at the High Court in Demerara after Moore had pleaded guilty to killing his sister, Cheryl Moore, and his niece, Eukeila Adams, in a 2023 house fire at Silvertown, Wismar, Linden.
Uhalisi, 39, had been indicted on two counts of murder contrary to Section 100 (1)(c)(iii) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01.
The indictment alleged
that on August 14, 2023, he murdered Cheryl Moore, 53, and, in a separate count, murdered 12-year-old Eukeila Adams, both “in the course or furtherance of arson in relation to a dwelling house.” He accepted the State’s case on October 27, 2025. The
matter was prosecuted by attorneys-at-law Christopher Belfield, Simran Gajraj, and Geneva Wills.
According to the facts, Uhalisi lived with his relatives, including the two victims, at Lot 112 Silvertown Second Street. On the
night of the incident, family members were awakened by a noise and the smell of kerosene. They investigated but did not initially treat the situation as serious. Moments after returning to their rooms, they felt intense heat and saw smoke inside the home, prompting efforts to escape.
Family members jumped from the verandah to safety but soon realised that Cheryl Moore and Eukeila Adams were still inside the burning building. Phillip Moore attempted to re-enter the house to assist but was unable to do so. Firefighters arrived around 00:30 hours and extinguished the blaze, but the house had already been destroyed. Cheryl’s body was discovered around 1:00 hours, and Eukeila’s body was located approximately four hours later.
Uhalisi was interviewed on August 15, 2023, at the Wismar Police Station in a video-recorded session. He confessed to setting the fire and stated that he had been hungry for two days and had been speaking to his siblings, whom he claimed ignored him. He told officers he moved out of the house, then doused the home with gasoline or kerosene before setting it alight. Family members told investigators that Uhalisi had previously said he would burn the house down.
Post-mortem examinations conducted on August 16, 2023, by Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh revealed severe burn injuries. Cheryl Moore was found with the top of her head and brain missing, completely burnt eyes, carbonised organs, and soot in the bronchial passages, indicating she was alive when the fire began. Similar findings were
reported for Eukeila Adams, whose lungs and organs were carbonised, and whose legs and feet were missing. Soot in her bronchial passages also confirmed she was alive when the fire started.
In aggravation, the State submitted that Uhalisi made a deliberate attempt to endanger the lives of all his family members at their most vulnerable point—while they were asleep—and that his actions resulted in the deaths of two persons and the loss of the family’s home, property, and long-accumulated belongings. The prosecution further noted that the family remains displaced and has not been able to rebuild their lives.
The State also highlighted that Uhalisi removed his belongings from the home before setting it on fire, describing the act as calculated. Prosecutors argued that the weaponisation of fire amounted to creating instant danger for all occupants and warranted a deterrent sentence, given the traumatic impact on surviving family members and the need to discourage similar offences.
A prison conduct report presented to the court stated that Moore was admitted to the Lusignan Prison on August 18, 2023.
According to the probation report, Cheryl reportedly had a mental disorder and did not have any children. Family members described her as a loving and caring person who shared a close bond with her niece, Eukeila. Eukeila, who had just celebrated her 12th birthday, was described as brilliant, ambitious, and loving, with a passion for reading and dancing in church.
Eukeila’s father said he deeply mourns her loss but has forgiven his brother, Uhalisi Moore, acknowledging his mental instability.
The probation report detailed Uhalisi Moore’s attitude toward the offence, noting that he had expressed deep remorse for his actions and wished daily that he could return to the moment of the tragedy to undo the deaths. He had expressed the desire to apologise to his family, particularly his siblings. The report indicated that Uhalisi, a father of two, had been socialised in a nuclear family with Christian values, maintained stable employment, and had good relationships within his community. It further recorded that, despite his documented medical and psychological challenges affecting his stability, family members and the community consistently described him as a person of good character. The report also noted that Uhalisi had been inconsistent with his medication and had engaged in substance use, which may have contributed to the actions leading to the deaths of his sister and niece.
Chief Justice Singh began with a starting point of 35 years for each count of murder, taking into account the gravity of the offences and the aggravating circumstances.
A one-third reduction was applied for Uhalisi’s early guilty plea, which amounted to approximately 11 years and eight months, bringing the sentence down to around 23 years and four months. The judge then allowed a further three years and four months deduction in recognition of Uhalisi’s expressed remorse. However, an additional four years were added to reflect the profound and lasting impact of the crimes on the surviving family members.
After these adjustments, the final sentence imposed on the convict was 24 years per count, to run concurrently.
Chief Justice (ag), Navindra Singh
Cheryl Moore
Eukeila Adams
Uhalisi Moore
Gold miner breakfast drive reaches thousands
WHEN Georgetown residents in several vulnerable communities received warm breakfasts over the last week, many greeted the gesture with gratitude, but for businessman and gold miner Paul Chow, it marked just one phase of his annual holiday goodwill tradition.
Chow, accompanied by his team of volunteers, began the initiative last Saturday, delivering 2,100 breakfast meals across neighbourhoods in Region Four.
It was the latest instalment of a personal outreach effort he and his wife, Rayana, have carried forward for years, one rooted in philanthropy, community pride, and what he describes as a deep commitment to the national spirit of unity.
For Chow, the outreach is
inspired in part by the government’s “One Guyana” vision, championed by President Dr Irfaan Ali.
He said the philosophy resonates with him because it emphasises a simple but powerful idea: that every Guyanese, regardless of background, geography, or circumstances, deserves a fair chance at growth and a meaningful place in the country’s development.
“This is the season of giving, but giving shouldn’t be seasonal,” he said. “If we want a unified nation, we must meet people where they are and help in whatever ways we can.”
The Chows’ goodwill work did not begin this year. Over time, they have built a quiet but consistent record of helping underserved communities, providing school supplies, warm
meals, and holiday gifts to both coastal and remote areas.
In December 2024, the couple travelled to Kaikan, a secluded Region Seven community near the Venezuelan border. There, they distributed more than 500 gifts to children, along with food supplies, fresh fruit, and ingredients for a traditional pepperpot breakfast. For many residents, such generosity—especially during the holiday season—was a rare and welcome surprise.
Their outreach has been similarly impactful in Georgetown. Over the last five years, the Chows donated dozens of school bags filled with notebooks, pens, geometry sets, and other essentials.
They also sponsored meals so students could begin the school year without the added
Motorcyclist dies, two injured in
Nabaclis collision
POLICE in Regional Division 4 ‘C’ are investigating a fatal accident on Friday night that left a motorcyclist dead and two others injured along the Nabaclis Public Road, East Coast Demerara.
The incident occurred around 21:15 hours and involved a black-and-red Honda XR motorcycle travelling west in the southern lane of the roadway.
According to preliminary reports, the motorcycle collided with a pedal cyclist who was crossing the road with an eight-yearold female pillion rider. The cyclist, 23, is a self-employed resident of Sideline Dam, Golden Grove; the child is also from Golden Grove.
All three were injured in the impact and transported to the Enmore Regional Hospital. The motorcyclist—whose name has not yet
been confirmed—was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor on duty. The pedal cyclist and the child were admitted for treatment and remain hospitalised.
The deceased has been taken to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home pending a post-mortem examination. Police say investigations are ongoing.
completed his week- long breakfast sharing supplies that marked one phase of his annual holiday goodwill tradition
worry of food insecurity.
Chow believes these investments contribute directly to strengthening communities.
“By investing in education, food security, and grassroots relationships, I am helping in compliance with the government’s agenda for the development of society,” he said. “Success in the extractive industries should come with a sense of responsibility.”
Those close to Chow say his generosity extends beyond his philanthropic projects. He is known as a lover of birds and often spends his early mornings feeding them, a simple habit that, he says, reminds him of the value of care, patience, and consistency.
“If you can start your day by tending to something small and living,” he once noted, “you’re already practising com-
passion. The same mindset carries over to how we treat people.”
For the Chows, these efforts are more than charity. They reflect a broader belief in mutual support and shared progress, a reflection of their own interpretation of the
‘One Guyana’ philosophy. And as long as the need remains, they say, their work will continue.
Businessman and gold miner Paul Chow in West Ruimveldt
Gold miner Paul Chow generosity extends beyond his philanthropic projects. He is known as a lover of birds and sometimes spends his early mornings feeding them
Haliborange Giving Tree Initiative returns to support children at GPHC
THE 2025 Haliborange Giving Tree Initiative was officially launched on Saturday at Massy Stores Mega, Providence, with First Lady Arya Ali placing the first ornament on the tree. Now in its second year, the initiative aims to support children receiving care at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
This year’s effort is focused on raising approximately GYD $1.5 million to construct an Indoor Mini Play Zone in the hospital’s paediatric ward. Hospital representatives highlighted the importance of play in reducing anxiety and supporting the emotional well-being of young patients. Construction is scheduled to begin in the new year.
Members of the public can contribute by purchasing Haliborange products from Massy Stores Mega
or Giftland. For each purchase, 5% of the cost will go to the Giving Tree fund, with Massy Stores (Guyana) Inc. matching the contribution. Proceeds will be handed over to GPHC on Christmas Day, along with care packages for patients.
During the launch, First Lady Arya Ali endorsed the initiative, noting the value of creating safe and nurturing spaces for children across Guyana.
Representatives from Massy Distribution and Massy Stores noted the initiative’s emphasis on community engagement. Last year’s Giving Tree campaign delivered support to children nationwide, and this year’s focus on the GPHC paediatric ward aims to provide longer-term benefits within the healthcare system.
Procurement Commission clarifies findings after misleading media report
THE Public Procurement Commission (PPC) has addressed a recent Kaieteur News article dated November 20, 2025, which suggested that the Commission had “slammed tender boards for hiding procurement minutes.”
In a statement recently released, the PPC said the characterisation misrepresents the intent and findings of its 2024–2025 Interim Report.
The Commission emphasised that there is no statutory requirement under the Procurement Act, Cap. 73:05, obliging procuring entities to publish tender-opening minutes.
While entities must provide minutes when formally requested, the PPC noted that its role is primarily monitoring compliance and promoting transparency, not
assigning blame.
“The Commission did not allege, implicitly or explicitly, that tender boards are ‘hiding’ minutes,” the statement said. “The absence of
submissions was described as a procedural deficiency, not misconduct.”
The 2024–2025 Interim Report showed that several Regional, Ministerial, Departmental, and Agency Tender Boards did not routinely submit tender-opening minutes. Some entities responded to formal requests; others did not.
The PPC stressed that it did not attribute any motive or concealment to these omissions.
Data from the interim reporting period (July 7, 2024, to March 31, 2025) indicated partial adherence to submission requests. Seven out of ten Regional Democratic Councils
submitted minutes (70% compliance), and fourteen out of twenty Ministries complied—a notable improvement from previous years. Several ministries requested formal extensions, demonstrating willingness to cooperate.
The PPC also clarified that the figures reflect a nine-month interim reporting period, not a full operational year, explaining why submission totals were lower than in previous full cycles. Post-reporting follow-ups have shown improved co-operation, with additional entities submitting their minutes after March 2025.
“The publication of minutes remains im -
portant for contemporaneous record-keeping, verification of contract awards, audit trails, and transparency,” the PPC stated. The Commission stressed that its reports are diagnostic and educational tools, aimed at fostering a procurement environment grounded in transparency, compliance, and accountability, in line with its constitutional mandate under Article 212AA(1) (b).
The PPC reiterated its commitment to constructive engagement with procuring entities and to strengthening systems for fair, transparent procurement across Guyana.
From left to right: Steven Jacobs, Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport; Simone Savory-Jacobs, Store Manager, Massy Stores Mega; Her Excellency Arya Ali, First Lady of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana; Bhashkaranand Singh, Sales Director, Massy Distribution; Dileya Deonarine, Pharmacist / Product Specialist, Massy Distribution Health + Beauty Division; Christpen Bobb-Semple, Assistant Vice President & General Manager, Massy Stores (Guyana) Inc.
‘Never give up’: Mayor Mentore graduates after overcoming years of setbacks
- says learning is a lifelong journey
WHEN Georgetown Mayor Alfred Mentore stepped onto the University of Guyana’s graduation stage on Saturday, he did more than receive a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations; he closed a chapter he had started more than 20 years earlier.
For the city’s Chief Citizen, completing the degree was far more than an academic milestone. It brought clarity to the work he had already been doing for years.
“This degree made my job a lot easier,” he reflected in an interview with the University’s Department of Events, Conferences and Communication.
“It gave me a deeper perspective on how to apply my learnings to everyday matters and make more informed decisions as Council head.”
But the road back to academia had not been straightforward. Mentore first enrolled at UG in the late 1990s to study Economics.
In the early 2000s, he switched to Banking and Finance. Each time, however, life reshaped his priorities. Responsibilities increased, and the need to secure a stable livelihood took precedence.
“I had to shelve my aspirations,” he recalled, describing the years he spent building a career as a real estate investor and entrepreneur.
His focus had been on earning an income, expanding his business portfolio, and establishing partnerships that would sustain his future.
Public service eventually drew him in. Long interested in politics, Mentore rose through the city’s administration—first as a councillor, then as Deputy Mayor, and finally as Mayor of Georgetown. Even as his duties grew, the desire to finish his degree remained.
“Coming full circle… that has always been foremost in my mind,” he said. Completing his undergraduate studies felt like an essential first step in a larger personal journey.
“And I wasn’t stopping there—my master’s is next. Learning is a lifelong journey.”
His return to university took place during one of the most challenging periods in recent history: the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, he was serving as Deputy Mayor and was responsible for supporting citizens during the national health crisis while working with an
essential-service agency. At home, he was raising a young family, including two teenagers who still needed attention and guidance.
“It was hard and tiring,” he said. “I had to switch on and off between work and study and still put on a brave face every day.”
He credited his family and a circle of supportive individuals for helping him stay the course. One light-hearted motivation, he noted, was his goal to complete the degree before his daughter graduated: “I wanted bragging rights—and I wanted her to have her own moment.”
Mentore said his experience at UG strengthened his leadership capacity and broadened his worldview. He praised the lecturers for being informed and engaging.
“My learnings will truly shape how I see things locally, regionally, and internationally,” he shared. “My role will always be to find workable solutions for the greater good of the City and the nation.”
As he prepared for graduation, Mentore offered a message to working parents, public servants, entrepreneurs, and young people
who believed higher education was beyond their reach: “Never give up on your dreams. Keep your sight on the prize. If I could dedicate the time—while running the city—to complete this journey… why not you?”
He also spoke about the importance of certification.
“Many people are qualified for the job they’re doing, but not certified. And sometimes someone comes along with a certificate and gets your job—not because they’re more capable, but because they’re certified.”
With more learning avenues available, he encouraged others to pursue education through online or in-person opportunities, noting the government’s increasing support for such efforts.
His story served as a reminder that dreams do not have an expiration date. Delays, detours, and responsibilities might slow the path, but they do not have to end it.
The public was invited to join the University of Guyana’s graduation ceremonies, which were streamed live on the university’s Facebook page and UG Broadcasting Service, with coverage provided by local and international media.
Now in its 62nd year, the University of Guyana had produced more than 70,000 graduates, many of whom had gone on to serve at the highest levels across both the public and private sectors locally and abroad.
Georgetown’s Mayor, Alfred Mentore
Minister Mustapha outlines agriculture development plans in Linden
MINISTER of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, met with residents and farmers at the Christianburg Community Centre Ground, on Saturday, to present the ministry’s and government’s upcoming agricultural initiatives for the region.
Speaking at the community meeting, Minister Mustapha underscored the importance of agriculture to Linden’s economy, highlighting investments made under the PPP/C administration. He noted that the government has prioritised the sector’s development, with initiatives aimed at supporting both crop and livestock farmers.
The minister confirmed that a request from the Naibingi Association for a shade house had been approved and would be delivered in the coming days. He also pointed to Linden’s state-of-the-art hydroponic facility, which engages young people in modern
The minister confirmed that a request from the Naibingi Association for a shade house had been approved and would be delivered in the coming days while Linden’s state-of-the-art hydroponic facility, which engages young people in modern farming techniques is being utilised
farming techniques.
Minister Mustapha stressed the need for the region’s agro-processing facility to operate daily, noting that its full utilisation would enhance value for local farmers. He added that several large companies have already
expressed interest in collaborating with the ministry, and encouraged farmers to increase production to meet growing demand.
On livestock development, the minister outlined plans to expand the Black Belly Sheep programme in Linden, offering oppor-
tunities for local farmers to participate in breeding and marketing initiatives. He also emphasised crop diversification and building strong partnerships with government programmes.
Young people and women were specifically encouraged to engage in
agriculture, aligning with a presidential target of at least 38% participation from women and children in the sector. Minister Mustapha noted that increased milk production in Moblissa would further support Linden residents, creating additional economic oppor-
tunities within the region.
The meeting concluded with a call for farmers to seize available opportunities, increase productivity, and collaborate with the government to strengthen Linden’s agricultural output.
$50B investment to build resilient communities along the Corentyne
- Gov’t accelerates housing, land regularisation in Region Six
PRESIDENT Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali said that Region Six will require more than $50 billion in housing investment.
This includes new roads, bridges, drainage, utilities, community facilities, and social services. These are all essential for building resilient communities.
“Our plans are rooted in what people have told us,” he said at a press conference at Albion Estate, Region Six, stating that, “We are building communities, securing families’ futures, and ensuring every resident of Region Six has access to land, a home, and a path to prosperity.”
The government is intensifying efforts to expand housing access and fast-track land regularisation across Region Six.
President Ali outlined a comprehensive plan to meet the region’s rapidly growing demand.
The Head of State acknowledged that housing remains the number one priority raised by residents during
the government’s ongoing regional outreaches.
President Ali announced that the administration has already made significant headway, with more than 4,600 fully-serviced house lots available and over 8,500 active applications currently being processed.
“We are responding to the needs of the people, and housing is front and centre.. our responsibility is to ensure that families have access to land, titles and proper communities that support their well-being,” the President said.
Large-scale regularisation of informal settlements
A major component of the 2025–2030 housing strategy for Region Six is the large-scale regularisation of informal settlements.
Twenty-five communities, including Belvedere, Nigg, Kilcoy, Hampshire, and areas along the Corentyne, are being assessed and upgraded.
These areas will receive surveying, infrastructural
development, drainage upgrades, and proper community layout planning to ensure long-term sustainability.
SPECIAL PROJECT TEAM TO BE ESTABLISHED
To eliminate delays, resolve disputes and strengthen transparency, President Ali announced the establishment of: A special project team responsible for mapping, surveying and case resolution; a Cabinet subcommittee to oversee complex or longstanding matters; and a system to identify lands controlled by defunct co-ops, enabling state intervention and redistribution for housing
This integrated structure will significantly shorten the processing time for titles, transfers, and new allocations.
The president disclosed that 289 applications for agricultural and large-scale land use are in the system, but the total acreage requested far exceeds current availability.
As a result, the govern-
ment is pursuing access to 24,000 acres of new land to support housing, agriculture, and community expansion.
At the same time, new areas such as Mibikuri, Palmyra, Springlands and Number 77 Village are being assessed for future housing development.
HISTORIC LAND TITLES FOR LONG-STANDING FAMILIES
Significant progress is also being made in regularising generational land occupancy.
Seven families from Number 46 Village who have lived on the land for decades will receive their long-awaited legal titles by June 2026.
Twenty-five titles for other longstanding residents will be ready for distribution as early as January 2026.
In all such cases, President Ali emphasised that the state is absorbing 100% of the related costs, including: Survey fees, Mapping and technical assessments, Legal and deed processing, and Acquisition expenses.
“No family should bear
financial hardship to access what is rightfully theirs,” he affirmed.
The government is also addressing issues related to heavy-duty machinery parked in residential areas, with two dedicated truck parks soon to be established at Palmyra and Number 76 Village.
President Ali stressed that the region’s housing and land development agenda directly reflects the needs identified by residents themselves.
(DPI)
Govt achieves full connectivity under LEO
WiFiGY programme
THE Office of the Prime Minister through its facilitating agency the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) has successfully completed the roll-out of the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) WiFiGY service to all 253 indigenous villages across the country, which ensures that every hinterland, remote, and riverain community now benefits from public high-speed internet access for the first time in national history.
This milestone reflects the government’s digital inclusion mandate to expand equitable access to essential services, improve learning opportunities, and strengthen connectivity across Guyana.
- benefitting more than 135,000 residents from 253 hinterland, remote and riverain villages
The installations commenced on July 10, 2024, in the Moruca sub-district with the programme’s official launch in Kamwatta Village by Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d), Mark Phillips. Since then, technical teams
deployed across regions 1–10 under the coordination of the NDMA, have completed hundreds of national installation across the 253 sites.
To ensure consistent service in communities which are far-flung and
remote, the deployment teams applied a tailored model based on the geographic conditions of each location. This included the use of pole-mounted infrastructure featuring solar-powered systems with battery reserves,
marking the first time that villages such as Annisbisi (Red Hill) received 24/7 high-speed internet access.
Through this effort, schools, ICT hubs, health centres, community grounds, learning facilities, and administrative buildings are now connected.
This achievement has provided more than 135,000 residents with unhindered access to learning opportunities, including the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL). Residents now also benefit from digital skills training, remote medical consultations through telemedicine, expanded micro-entrepreneurship opportunities, and enhanced Government services.
Prime Minister Phil-
lips, in welcoming the completion of the initiative, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to national equity in digital access.
“This achievement reflects strong collaboration across government agencies, regional leadership, Village Councils and our technical partners.” He added that "with the completion of the programme, every Indigenous community is connected, and every Guyanese child, family and entrepreneur now has a pathway to digital opportunities that were once out of reach. This is how we build equity, strengthen national participation and continue moving Guyana forward.”
Through this effort, schools, ICT hubs, health centres, community grounds, learning facilities, and administrative buildings are now connected
‘Cookie’ sentenced to life for murder
TWENTY-SIX-YEAR-
OLD Anthony Ragnauth, called “Cookie,” was last week sentenced to life imprisonment with eligibility for parole after 28 years by Chief Justice (ag) Navindra Singh at the High Court in Demerara.
Ragnauth had previously pleaded guilty to the capital offence of murder.
Ragnauth, a taxi driver, was represented by attorney Latchmie Rahamat, while the prosecution was handled by State Counsel Christopher Belfield, assisted by State Counsel Simran Gajraj and State Counsel Geneva Wills.
The plea follows charges for the murder of 42-year-old Canadian national, Neil Whyte, who died following a violent incident at Guyana Goldfields Inc., Thomas Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown, on May 21, 2018. At the time, Whyte worked as a Supply Chain
Manager at Guyana Goldfields.
Agreed facts presented in court outlined that Ragnauth, of Lot 72 Middle Road, East La Penitence, Georgetown, had met Whyte of Adelaide Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, approximately five months prior to the incident while working as a taxi driver. The two reportedly communicated via text messages and socialised occasionally.
On the night of May 21, 2018, Whyte invited Ragnauth to spend time
with him at his apartment, during which they consumed alcohol. Security footage recorded Ragnauth arriving with Whyte around 22:00 hours and later leaving at 23:45 hours carrying a black haversack. Upon inspection, a security officer discovered Whyte’s naked and motionless body lying in a pool of blood on the bed and contacted the police.
Ragnauth was approached by police on May 23, 2018, while driving a black motor car and initially denied any involvement. However, after being shown footage linking his vehicle to the scene, he admitted his actions, telling detectives, “Officer, I will tell you everything, and I did not mean to kill him.”
In his caution statement, Ragnauth recounted that Whyte had expressed affection toward him and that the now-deceased had agreed to be restrained with plastic ties to enhance their sexual encounter.
Ragnauth said he then left briefly to retrieve a knife from the kitchen, after which he repeatedly
stabbed Whyte. Following the attack, he stole CAN $260, GY $25,000, and two mobile phones from Whyte and disposed of the victim’s credit cards, wallet, and phones at the seawall but retained the cash, knife, and haversack.
A post-mortem examination revealed that Whyte suffered 17 stab wounds to various parts of his body, including the neck, shoulders, arms, and hands. The injuries severed major blood vessels, including the jugular vein, and penetrated the trachea and larynx. The cause of death was identified as hemorrhage and shock due to multiple stab wounds.
Following the establishment of a prima facie case, Ragnauth was committed to stand trial.
Police hunt driver in fatal hit-and-run at Wallers Delight
POLICE in Regional Division Three have launched an investigation into a fatal hit-and-run accident that claimed the life of a 58-year-old pedestrian, on Friday evening, along the Wallers Delight Public Road, West Coast Demerara.
According to initial reports, the incident occurred around 18:10 hours when an unidentified silver motor pickup, travelling west along the southern side of the roadway, struck Anand Persaud, who police said had no fixed place of abode.
Persaud sustained severe injuries to his head and
body. Public-spirited residents rushed to his aid and transported him to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The body has since been taken to the Ezekiel Funeral Home, where a post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted.
Investigators are now searching for the driver, who fled the scene immediately after the collision. Police are urging anyone with information to come forward as the probe continues.
Anthony Ragnauth Neil Whyte
Chief Justice (ag), Navindra Singh
GDF, Brazilian Army conduct joint border patrols in Upper Takutu, Ireng sectors
THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Brazilian Army have strengthened cross-border security through a series of joint mirrored patrols in the Takutu and Ireng Sectors, reinforcing the close co-operation between the two forces.
On Thursday, November 13, 2025, command teams from both militaries convened to plan co-ordinated operations.
The resulting joint patrols involved air, mobile, and motorised units operating in Bonfim and Normandia in Brazil, as well as Kanapang and Chiung in Guyana’s Upper Takutu-Essequibo region.
During the operations, patrols targeted areas flagged by intelligence for suspected cross-border and environmental illicit activities.
Equipment used in illicit mining was seized, disabled, and destroyed, earning strong support from local communities.
The exercises also included high-level professional exchanges. The Commander of Brazil’s 2nd Jungle Infantry Company visited GDF facilities in Lethem, while Lieutenant Philipe Delmiro, Commander of the Takutu River Base, was hosted at the 1st Special Border Platoon in Bonfim.
Both visits featured interactions across ranks and the customary exchange of tokens. Follow-up visits involved Captain Lawrence King, Staff Officer Three Operations of the 3rd Infan-
In the Ireng Sector, the GDF collaborated with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission in an operation against illegal mining, conducted simultaneously with a parallel Brazilian Army effort.
try Battalion, and Sergeant Delbert Joseph, Second in Command of the GDF Border Detachment in Lethem, to the Bonfim post.
The joint activities underscore the GDF and Brazilian Army’s ongoing commitment to deepening bilateral co-operation, enhancing border security, and protecting the wellbeing of communities along the Takutu and Ireng frontiers.
Teen dead, several critical after minibus overturns on Number 62 Public Road
A 16-year-old student was killed and three others were critically injured, on Friday evening, when a minibus carrying teachers and pupils overturned along the Number 62 Public Road, Corentyne. Fourteen additional passengers were also hurt in the crash, which occurred around 18:05 hrs.
Police in Regional Division Six said the victim, Jodea Seline of Limlair Village, was among 18 occupants
The minibus that was carrying teachers and pupils overturned along the Number 62 Public Road, Corentyne
travelling in minibus BAB 7570 when the driver, a 31-year-old teacher from Brighton Village, reportedly lost control. The vehicle flipped onto its right side and was extensively damaged.
Public-spirited residents rushed to assist, transporting the injured to the Number 75 Regional Hospital. Seline was pronounced dead on arrival.
Three people—including the driver, a 13-year-old girl from
Brighton Village, and a 16-year-old from Cromarty Village—were later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation in critical condition. The remaining passengers were admitted at the Number 75 Regional Hospital, where they are being monitored and are said to be in stable condition.
Seline’s body is at the Number 75 Hospital mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination. Police investigations continue.
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Brazilian Army have strengthened cross-border security
Dead: Jodea Seline
ENGLISH RACING TIPS
EXETER
08:21hrs Apollon Forlonge
08:51hrs Katie’s Melody
09:26hrs Not So Woolly
10:01hrs Ambion View
10:36hrs Good Friday Fairy
11:11hrs Tashan
11:46hrs Harry Junior
WINDSOR
08:07hrs Tiddesley Wood
08:37hrs Independent Lady
09:08hrs Hello Cello
09:43hrs Sunshine Diamond
10:18hrs The Hardest Geezer
10:53hrs Faitque De L’isle
11:28hrs Low Expectations
SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS TURFFONTEIN
08:30hrs Espinoza
09:05hrs Unsolved Riddle
09:40hrs Monkey Puzzle
10:15hrs Max The Magician
10:50hrs Longsword
IRISH RACING TIPS
PUNCHESTOWN
08:13hrs Green Splendor
08:43hrs Joueur Masque
09:17hrs Feet Of A Dancer
09:52hrs Gustom Taylor
10:27hrs Fleur In The Park
11:00hrs Fact To File
11:35hrs It’s Only A Game
Magnificent Jordan fires Pride to comprehensive win over Hurricanes
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – A sensational spell of fast bowling from Akeem Jordan helped to spearhead the Barbados Pride to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over the Leeward Islands Hurricanes in their CG United Super 50 Cup encounter here at the Queens Park Oval on Friday.
The right-arm seamer bagged 5-29 from six overs to first restrict the Hurricanes to 138 in 25.1 overs, after which Zachary McCaskie and captain Kyle Mayers helped themselves to half-centuries to see the Pride home with relative ease at 139 for three.
The first master stroke from Mayers was at the toss, as he sent in the Hurricanes, with the decision bearing immediate fruit. In just the second over of the day, with just three runs on the board, Jordan shattered the stumps of opener Kofi James for a first-ball duck.
Four runs later, Jordan was in business once again. This time, Carlon Bowen-Tuckett was caught by Mayers for four, to leave the Hurricanes losing their storm force winds early. The Hurricanes would limp to 12 runs, but the disastrous start just got worse, as they lost their next four wickets for a mere two runs.
Left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop got in on the act, as he picked up the scalp of captain Karima Gore, who was caught for two. Jordan then bowled Tyrone Williams for a duck, before Bishop picked up his second and third wickets in the fifth over when he had opener Mykyle Louis caught for four and had Jewel Andrew caught for a duck.
At 14 for 6, a paltry score was always going to be on the cards; however, some brisk late order hitting from Jahmar Hamilton and Nathan Edwards helped to get the Hurricanes over the 100 run mark.
Edward got to 49 after facing 39 balls with 10 fours, but he went for one shot too many and was bowled by Javed Leacock. Hamilton used
up 51 balls in getting to 45, but he was the last wicket to fall with the score on 138. That score was never going to be enough on what was still a good batting surface, even as the Hurricanes got the early wicket of opener Leniko Boucher for nine at 19 for one. Skipper Mayers ensured that his team kept the run chase intact, as he and McCaskie put on a 111-run second-wicket partnership. Mayers got to 55, with three fours and four sixes, before he was caught off Edward. Five runs later, Edward struck again, as McCaskie followed his captain back into the pavilion after scoring a well-played 60 from 59 balls with five fours and two sixes. Kraigg Brathwaite, batting down the order, along with Kevin Wickham, scored three and four respectively to see the Pride over the line without further loss, at 138 for 3 in 23.3 overs. In the other early second-round encounter, the match between the Windward Islands Volcanoes and the Guyana Harpy Eagles at the UWI ground was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
Head century powers Australia past England
• From Page 24
Stand-in skipper Steve Smith, unbeaten on two, hit the winning run with a single punched to the off-side.
“Today was just incredible, wasn’t it?” said Smith.
“That innings from Travis Head was out of this world. He just played some outrageous shots, and even when he shanked it, he seemed to hit the gaps.
“It’s one of those days when you’re on, you’re on, and he made the most of it and got us home.”
England skipper Stokes agreed.
“I’m a little bit shell-shocked, I think that innings by Travis Head was pretty phenomenal,” he said.
“It’s quite raw, quite fresh at the moment, but sheesh that was some knock.”
England had quickly bowled Australia out for 132 to start the day, breaking the last-wicket partnership between Nathan Lyon and Brendan Doggett which added only nine to the side’s overnight score.
In a relatively sedate passage of play in the lead-up to lunch, the visitors added 59 for the loss of Zak Crawley, who suffered his second first-over duck of the match at the hands of spearhead Mitchell Starc, leading the attack in the absence of stalwarts Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
Boland, who stood up with 4-33 after going wicketless in the first innings, then ran rampant, breaking through in the second session when opener Ben Duckett was caught for 28.
The 36-year-old claimed two more in his next over, with Pope left punching his bat in frustration after being caught behind on 33 and Harry Brook trudging off for a three-ball duck having nicked to first slip.
One of the loudest roars of the day came when Joe Root, on eight, chopped-on Starc (3-55) from well outside off-stump.
Not even the boisterous support of the “Barmy Army” could lift the tourists, as Starc celebrated his first match-haul of 10 wickets in an Ashes test with a bouncy delivery that Ben Stokes, on two, popped to second slip.
On a painstaking review, Jamie Smith was adjudged to have feathered debutant Doggett (3-51) to keeper Alex Carey and England’s last recognised batsman walked off for 15 as the home side pressed their advantage.
Gus Atkinson and Carse put together a valuable 50-run partnership at the tail but Boland closed out the innings by having Atkinson caught in the deep for 37.
“We’ll obviously let this sink in,” Stokes added. “It obviously hurts, but we’ve got to get our head around (it) and move on to Brisbane and then hit the ground running there.”
Akeem Jordan bagged five wickets for the Barbados Pride against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes (Photo: CWI Media)
NBA Cup 2025: Raptors become first team to clinch knockout round
THE 2025 NBA Cup will see eight teams play in the upcoming knockout round. We now know who one of them will be.
The Toronto Raptors became the first team to clinch the next round of NBA Cup play on Friday, via a dominant 140-110 win over the Washington Wizards. The win improved their record in group play to 3-0, with an East-best plus-53 point differential.
Having already beat the second-place Cleveland Cavaliers, who are now 2-1, the Raptors clinched Group A of the East. Every win was by double digits.
Friday’s game saw Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Sandro Mamukelashvili all score between 23 and 24 points against the Wizards, who hold the worst record in the NBA at 1-14. Immanual Quickley also chipped in 17 points and seven assists.
There basically wasn’t a facet of basketball where the Wizards were better than them during the night. The win is also Toronto’s sixth overall and 10th in their past 11 games, after a 1-4 start.
In the West, the Dallas Mavericks stayed alive with a 118-115 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, via a career night from Cooper Flagg.
The 18-year-old posted a career-high 29 points on 12-of-19 shooting, plus 7 rebounds, 5 assists
and 2 steals. It was as comfortable as he’s looked since the beginning of the season, and he did it with the Mavericks still short-handed.
The Mavericks are still a longshot to emerge from group play at 1-2 and score differential, but the team’s bigger goal this season is developing Flagg at this point. Which made Friday a good day for them.
The biggest howler of the night belonged to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who were leading the Phoenix Suns by eight points with 50 seconds left in the game. The rest of the night didn’t exactly go their way.
It was a brilliant game for Anthony Edwards up to that point, with 41 points, but there’s no redeeming an ending like that.
“We lost our minds. Poor execution,” Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said after the game. “Just didn’t stay locked in for the last 90 seconds.”
The loss is a costly one for Minnesota tournament-wise. Previously in first place in Group A of the Western Conference, the T-Wolves fell into third place behind the Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder, who took care of business and then some against the Utah Jazz. (Yahoo Sports)
Bangladesh close in on series sweep
AFTER dominating yet another day in the Test and the series against Ireland, Bangladesh find themselves four wickets away from a 2-0 sweep. Starting the fourth day with an overnight lead of 367, Bangladesh lost opener Shadman Islam and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto early. Islam was trapped in front by Andy McBrine whereas Shanto fell five balls later, edging a lifter from Jordan Neill to gully. That’s when Mominul Haque (87) and Mushfiqur Rahim (53*) got together to add 123 runs for the fourth wicket.
Mominul looked steady during his knock, completing his 25th half-century in Tests and his third in the series to hand Bangladesh complete control. Mushfiqur at the other end chanced his arm and even registered a six over deep midwicket against McBrine. By Lunch, Bangladesh had added another 124 runs to the total, ballooning the lead to 491.
Mushfiqur got to his 28th fifth early in the afternoon session but saw his partner Mominul perish to a catch at cover. Bangladesh declared immediately, setting Ireland a near impossible 509 to chase and draw the series.
Ireland’s chase started with some early promise, with Paul Striling hit-
ting back-to-back boundaries against Ebadot Hossain but soon found himself walking back to the pavilion after edging a Taijul Islam ball to short leg. His opening partner Andrew Balbirnie was the first wicket to fall, trapped in front by Taijul who went on to become Bangladesh’s leading wicket-taker with that scalp.
There was a fifty-run stand between Cade Carmichael and Harry Tector but it was broken as soon as Hasan Murad came into the attack, striking first ball to pin Carmichael
Cariah’s hat-trick spins T&T to victory over Scorpions
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Leg spinner Yannic Cariah snared a rare hat-trick to bowl Trinidad and Tobago Red Force to their first victory of this year’s CG United Super50 Cup, courtesy of a 75-run win over the Jamaica Scorpions in second round action here on Friday.
Half centuries by Jason Mohammed and Cephas Cooper were the mainstay of T&T’s total of 256 for eight off their 50 overs after being sent in to bat by the Scorpions at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.
Cariah then took centre stage, claiming the wickets of Abhijai Mansingh, Jeavor Royal and Marquino Mindley with successive deliveries, as the Scorpions were bowled out for just 181 in 39.4 overs.
The visitors were put on the backfoot early on in their chase, thanks to a three-wicket haul by off-spinner Jyd Goolie.
Goolie dismissed Kirk McKenzie for 39, had Romaine Morris caught and bowled for 16 and also picked up the wicket of Javelle Glenn cheaply for two, to see the
Scorpions slip to 79 for four.
Led by captain Brad Barnes’ knock of 40, the Scorpions recovered to 166 for six before Cariah weaved his magic.
He first had Mansingh caught at cover by Goolie for 18 with the first ball of the 38th over and followed that up by bowling Jeavor Royal with a beautiful googly that breached his defense and trapping Mindley plumb in front with a similar delivery.
Cariah finished with 4-24 while Goolie took 3-15.
Earlier, Mohammed scored 87 from 103 balls with five sixes and two fours and Cooper made 72 off 78 balls with 11 boundaries, to spearhead the home side’s batting.
The pair added 62 runs following the early losses of Kjorn Ottley and captain Joshua Da Silva to carry T&T to 106 for two.
And when Cooper was stumped off the bowling of Barnes, Mohammed shared a 65run partnership with Goolie, who made 14, to ensure T&T got up to a competitive total.
For the Scorpions, Mindley took 3-39, Barnes 3-43 and Khari Campbell 2-69.
England U-19s fight back with 130-run victory over West Indies
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, (CMC) – In a powerful display of all-round cricket, England’s Young Lions roared back to life, securing a comprehensive 130-run victory over West Indies Under-19s in the third Youth OneDay International here at the National Cricket Stadium on Friday.
The resounding win injects fresh drama into the seven-match series, which the West Indies still lead 2-1.
Asked to bat first, England posted a competitive total of 249 for 9 from their 50 overs, built on the back of a consistent team batting effort.
lbw with a slider.
Tector scored a fighty fifty but fell to a loose out, running down the pitch and mistiming the Mural delivery to deep midwicket. Khaled Ahmed accounted for Lorcan Tucker with tight lines that ensued an outside edge behind the wicket.
Stephen Doheny, dropped by Ebadot in the deep early on, then became Taijul’s third wicket of the innings but the play had to be called off with two overs to go due to poor light. (Cricbuzz)
They got off to a decent start with 43 runs on the board inside 11 overs, before medium pacer Matthew Miller sent back opener, Isaac Mohammed, for 18.
Opener Ben Dawkins helped himself to a handy 41 runs, but the Jamaican left-arm wrist spinner Vitel Lawes picked up the next three wickets, including Dawkins, to peg back the visitors.
While no single batter managed a half-century, valuable contributions helped to spruce up the
England total, as Caleb Falconer top-scored with a patient 43, with Ralphie Albert weighing in with 37, and Ben Mayes 36.
Lawes was the pick of the bowlers with an impressive 4 for 30 while Jakeem Pollard provided able support, chipping in with two wickets.
The hosts’ run chase, however, never found its footing, as the English bowling attack, led by their spin trio, sliced through the West Indian batting lineup with clinical precision.
The innings collapsed to 47 for 5 early on, and the home side could only muster 119 all out in just 30.3 overs.
Farhan Ahmed 3-22, Albert 3-24, and Jack Nelson 3-26 shared the spoils, exploiting the conditions perfectly to dismantle the batting order.
Only Matthew Miller, 37 not out, and opener Tanez Francis, 34 offered any significant resistance in a disappointing batting display for the regional youth side.
The two teams will meet again at the same venue tomorrow for the fourth ODI.
Raptors’ Scottie Barnes in action on Friday night
Mominul Haque scored 87 in the second essay
Corneal: ‘Dying passion’ cost T&T World Cup dream
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – In a damning and frank assessment of Trinidad and Tobago’s failed 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, former Technical Director Anton Corneal has pointed to a critical lack of “dying passion” within the squad and raised serious questions over the financial feasibility of retaining head coach Dwight Yorke.
Speaking on the i95.5fm ISPORTS programme with host Andre Errol Baptiste on Thursday, the well-renowned FIFA Technical Coaching Officer did not mince words, labelling the recent Concacaf second-round exit a “missed opportunity without a doubt.”
Corneal, whose expertise is respected across the globe, dissected the campaign by highlighting spe-
cific moments where the national team let precious points slip through their fingers.
“When you look back at the games, you can say, you know what, we probably should have beaten Curacao in Trinidad and in Curacao, that’s six points,” Corneal stated, emphasising the magnitude of those two results alone.
He also pointed to misfortune in the away loss to Jamaica, noting, “We were unlucky in Jamaica, not to have gotten any of those disallowed goals, and of course, through VAR it did show that they were offside.” However, he was quick to add that the team failed to create its own fortune, repeating, “We did not make our luck.”
Beyond tactics and luck, Corneal identified a deeper, more con-
JFF turns to Speid after McClaren exit
KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) – In a swift response to the sudden resignation of Steve McClaren, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has named local football stalwart Rudolph Speid as the interim head coach of the national senior men’s team, the Reggae Boyz.
The announcement, made on Friday afternoon, follows an emergency JFF meeting convened to address the leadership vacuum after McClaren’s departure on Tuesday. The federation confirmed that Speid was one of two candidates interviewed for the post earlier today. Speid, who has served as the team’s technical advisor for the past four months, will officially take the reins on December 15, 2025.
His contract is set to run until March 31, 2026, a period that crucially encompasses the team’s final shot at qualifying for the FIFA World Cup.
The JFF also revealed that discussions are underway with Miguel Coley, the other can -
didate interviewed for the head coach position, to return as assistant coach.
Coley, a former Reggae Boyz assistant now based in Iraq, is a familiar face within the national setup.
Speid’s appointment places the team’s fortunes in the hands of a proven winner on the domestic stage. As the head of Cavalier FC, he has engineered a period of remarkable success, securing three Jamaica Premier League titles in the last four years and clinching the 2024 Concacaf Caribbean Cup.
His immediate and monumental task will be to galvanise the squad for their last-ditch World Cup qualifying campaign at the Inter-Confederation Playoffs in March. The Reggae Boyz will face Oceania’s New Caledonia in a semi-final showdown.
A victory there would set up a winner-takes-all final against Africa’s DR Congo, with a coveted spot in next year’s global tournament on the line.
cerning issue plaguing the national setup.
“If there’s an area where I sit on the outside looking in, that dying passion to get a result might have
been missing,” he revealed. He described this essential ingredient as a “passion that’s based on desire, commitment that must come from the heart.”
The conversation then turned to the future and the uncertain status of head coach Dwight Yorke. Corneal suggested that the decision to keep the former Manchester United star and his staff may not be purely a footballing one, but a financial one.
“People will have to understand what are all the pros and cons. I can’t say that I know financially. What will be the setback if we can even continue with somebody that probably demands a little bit more money?” Corneal questioned.
He directly linked the funding of the senior men’s team to government support, asking, “Are we able
to approach the government to say, is this someone that we can afford to pay? I don’t know the financial situation. So, in saying that, that will be a setback.”
Corneal concluded that the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) now faces a pivotal crossroads, weighing the cost of a high-profile coach against the urgent need to rebuild. “We have to think about whether we are prepared to build a team from now, or if we are going to wait. So there are so many areas.”
The Soca Warriors finished their Group B campaign with one win, four draws, and one loss, scoring seven goals and conceding six for a total of seven points, a return that Corneal and many fans believe was well below the team’s potential.
India nose ahead with regular strikes on opening day in Guwahati
IT was a day of promising starts and a couple of 80-run stands but the opening day of the Guwahati Test ended with India nosing slightly ahead. Each of the top seven batters got into double digits but only Tristan Stubbs and Temba Bavuma crossed 40 as India made regular incisions to ensure South Africa did not get away.
Kuldeep Yadav bagged three while Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja picked up a wicket apiece to leave the visitors at 247/6 at the end of the first day’s play at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium.
Opting to bat, South Africa got off to a good start, with their openers adding 82. Aiden Markram had an early reprieve, put down at second slip by KL Rahul off Bumrah when he was on 4.
He capitalised on the miss as he and Ryan Rickelton helped South Africa add 34 in the first hour without any damage. The pair grew in confidence as their partnership progressed, getting regular boundaries. Nitish Reddy, one of two inclusions for India in this game, did not have the best of starts, going for 21 in his first four overs, as the South African openers raised their second half-century stand in this series. There was bounce on offer, and some spin too, but the openers negotiated that well and looked set to take South Africa through the first session unscathed. However, Bumrah came back towards the end of the session and just on the brink of Tea, got Markram (38) inside-edging onto the stumps attempting a drive away from his body. This left South Africa at 82/1 heading into the Tea break.
Kuldeep got the other set opener right at the start of the second session, with Rickelton edging to the keeper to depart for 35. But India had to contend with another stubborn partnership as Bavuma and Stubbs showcased their application to keep the Indian bowlers at bay for the rest of the session.
The pair also did not allow the scoreboard to stagnate, ensuring they cashed in on the loose deliveries and rotated the strike well.
Bavuma struck two successive fours in an over off Siraj, while Stubbs wasn’t afraid to go aerial despite a fielder being placed in the deep as he struck a six off Kuldeep.
India, meanwhile, lost a review when Bavuma missed a sweep off Jadeja, with replays revealing the ball was sliding down. Bavuma went on to bring up 1000 Test runs as captain, getting there in his 20th innings which made him the joint second quickest for South Africa.
Both Bavuma and Stubbs entered the 30s, extending the partnership past 70, as they took South Africa to 156/2 at Lunch.
Stubbs and Bavuma began pos-
itively after the break, striking a boundary apiece before the South African skipper decided to give the charge to Jadeja and ended up lofting it to deep mid-off, ending a partnership worth 84.
Stubbs closed in on a half-century with a four off Bumrah and a six off Jadeja. But Kuldeep ended his stay on 49, finding the outside edge to leave South Africa at 187/4. It became 201/5 as Kuldeep struck again, with Wiaan Mulder handing a catch to mid-off trying to go over the top.
Tony de Zorzi ensured South Africa continued to add to their tally despite losing quick wickets, as the left-hander hit a four and a six in an over off Kuldeep. Senuran Muthusamy, coming in for Corbin Bosch, gave good support from the other end and also managed a couple of boundaries off Washington Sundar.
However, yet another promising knock came to an end in an abrupt fashion as de Zorzi fell to the second new ball, poking at a delivery that seamed away from Siraj in the final over before stumps. (Cricbuzz)
Former Technical Director Anton Corneal
Rudolph Speid
Mohammed Siraj struck late in the day with the second new ball
Henry, Chapman ensure New Zealand complete whitewash
HAMILTON, New Zealand, (CMC) – West Indies’ fragile batting was exposed once again by New Zealand’s bowlers, with their efforts setting up a comfortable four-wicket victory in the third and final One Day International and a sweep of the three-match series here on Saturday.
Fast bowler Matt Henry snared four wickets, while Jacob Duffy and Michael Santner claimed two wickets apiece as the visitors were bowled out for a paltry 161 in 36.2 overs after electing to bat first at Seddon Park.
Facing a straightforward chase, Mark Chapman scored a breezy half century, and Michael Bracewell hit an unbeaten 40 as New Zealand romped to 162 for six in 30.3 overs.
The result was never in doubt once the home side’s bowlers, led by Player-ofthe-Match Henry, reduced West Indies to 95 for seven.
Openers John Campbell and Akeem Auguste actually gave the Windies a decent start during a partnership of 31 in under four overs, with the latter thumping Henry for two huge sixes in the third over.
But Henry got his revenge in the next over by having him caught at mid-on for 17, and two balls later he bowled Keacy Carty for a duck off the inside edge as he attempted to shoulder arms.
Campbell struck Kyle Jamieson for two fours and a six in the eighth over, but
was undone by a ball from the same bowler in his next over, which found the outside edge and flew to Michael Bracewell at slip to leave them 55 for three. They fell further into trouble when captain Shai Hope was caught down the legside by the keeper for 16 and when Sherfane Rutherford, Justin Greaves and Matthew Forde fell for the addition of just four runs, West Indies were in dire straits at 95 for seven after 19 overs.
It took a fighting knock of 38 off 55 balls from Roston Chase and an unbeaten 22 off 34 balls by Khary Pierre to get the Windies up to their eventual total.
Henry ended with figures of 4-43, while Duffy and Santner both grabbed 2-27. West Indies gave themselves a chance of pulling off an improbable victory when Jayden Seales had Devon Conway caught on the boundary attempting a hook shot and Forde bowled Rachin Ravindra off the in-
side edge to reduce New Zealand to 27 for two.
And when Khary Pierre pulled off a tremendous catch at short cover to send Will Young packing five runs later, the match was evenly poised.
However, Chapman added 38 runs with Tom Latham and then a further 75 runs with Bracewell to put his side back in control.
Chapman brought up his half century off 58 balls by clobbering Forde for a four and six off consecutive deliveries in the 27th over.
With the match all but over at 146 for four, the Windies claimed the wickets of Chapman for 64 off 63 balls, inclusive of eight fours and two sixes, and captain Mitchell Santner for nine, before Zak Foulkes joined Bracewell to seal the deal.
In all Bracewell faced 31 balls and hit six boundaries in his unbeaten knock.
Seales (2-35) and Forde (2-46) were the best bowlers for the West Indies.
Everest teams join Suriname for Independence jubilee celebrations
THE Everest Cricket Club (ECC) is in Suriname where they will play a total of four cricket matches in Paramaribo.
Everest Masters and Everest Second Division teams have accepted the invitation to take on Suriname A and Suriname B respectively in back-to-back T20 matches yesterday and today at the Dr Snellen Park. The goodwill cricket series forms part of the 50th Independence celebration of Suriname and marks a new chapter for Everest Second Division side.
Everest Second Division side is being led by former national youth left-arm spinner, Javed Rasheed with wicket-keeper Denesh Mangal as his deputy.
Also included are promising youth leg-spinner, Nityanand Mathura, seasoned all-rounder Ariel Tilku, solid batters Varun Mangla, Anthony Sanchara and Stuart Hoppie. Travis Mohamed is performing the role of Player/Coach. Skipper Rasheed is anticipating an exciting and action-packed weekend, The tour will serve as an ideal opportunity for the young squad to gain valuable experience and playing time on foreign soil. It also serves as
an opportunity for the squad to gel and bond together as we aim to strengthen our camaraderie on and off the field.”
Meanwhile, Rajesh Singh, Captain of Everest Masters said, “We are looking forward to playing in Suriname again. The hospitality is usually exceptional, and the cricket is competitive. Some of the core players are unavailable for various reasons but the touring guys are ready to be good Guyanese ambassadors once again.”
• Everest Second Division team: Travis Mohamed (Player/Coach), Javed Rasheed (Captain), Feeyad Lakeraj, Stuart Hoppie, Ariel Tilku, Denesh Mangal (Vice Captain and wicketkeeper), Varun Mangla, Anthony Sanchara, Orwin Jordan, Ruel Prashad, Nityanand Mathura, Anek Hemnarine and Anesh Hemnarine. (Source: Everest)
Mark Chapman made a half-century • ( Getty Images)
Head century powers Australia past England in chaotic two-day Ashes blitz
PERTH, (Reuters) – Makeshift opener Travis Head scored a brilliant 83-ball 123 to lift Australia to an astonishing eight-wicket victory inside two days against England today, powering his side to 205-2 late in the final session of the Ashes opener at Perth Stadium.
The manic style of cricket, which produced the shortest Ashes test by overs-bowled to deliver a result since 1888, kept the crowd enthralled as both sides gained and relinquished the ascendancy throughout.
England had set Australia a target of 205 after being bowled out for 164 by tea on day two, losing nine second-session wickets in the wake of a Scott Boland seam masterclass of four for 33. The tourists had made 172 in their first innings.
Head, taking the place of opener Usman Khawaja, who gingerly left the field in England’s 27th over with back trouble, got Australia’s run chase off to a rollicking start, giving England a taste of their own ‘Bazball’
medicine in the third session.
The near 50,000-strong crowd came to life when Head slashed Brydon Carse (2-44) for six over third man to bring up 50 for his side, and later roared their approval when he peeled four boundaries off Ben Stokes’ second over.
Marnus Labuschagne added an impressive 49-ball 51 after debutant Jake Weatherald (23) had fallen to Carse, but the moment belonged to Head, who brought up Australia’s equalthird fastest century with a risky upper-cut and a scurried single.
The fourth innings raced to a conclusion with Head clubbing four sixes and 16 boundaries before launching Carse to Ollie Pope at deep midwicket, hugging Labuschagne and soaking in the applause as he walked off. • Continues on Page 20
Squash champ Lowe lands ENet deal
THE road to professional squash and the Olympic dream just got a significant boost for 14-year-old sensation Kaylee Lowe.
Lowe, the reigning Girls’ Under-15 Caribbean champion, has officially secured a corporate sponsorship deal with ENet, Guyana’s leading digital service provider, just days before she steps onto the senior stage at the Senior CASA Championships this week on home soil.
Regarded as one of Guyana’s brightest and most determined prospects, Lowe’s new partnership with ENet— the corporate sponsor of the Guyana Squash Association (GSA)—is explicitly aimed at funding her journey to transition to professional status and ultimately representing Guyana at the Olympic Games. Lowe, fresh off capturing the Girls U-15 title at the Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Junior Championships in the Cayman Islands earlier this year, understands the weight of the support.
“I am elated to be a part of the ENet Family,” Lowe said. “I’ve worked incredibly hard to reach this moment and having my efforts acknowledged means more to me than words can express.
I sincerely appreciate ENet’s belief in me, and I’m excited, grateful, and proud to represent a company that has given me this opportunity.”
For ENet, the move reinforces their commitment to investing in high-potential young athletes, particularly female role models in competitive sports.
Robert Hiscock, Head of Mobile Networks at ENet, underlined the significance of backing Lowe’s ambition.
“ENet is proud to support Kaylee Lowe as she continues to represent Guyana on the regional and international squash stage. As a rising female athlete in a highly competitive
sport, Kaylee exemplifies resilience and determination, and continues to inspire young girls across Guyana. She embodies the qualities we champion, and we are honoured to stand behind her journey,” Hiscock said.
This sponsorship follows ENet’s consistent efforts in sport, which were recognised by the National Sports Commission (NSC) for the second consecutive year. Lowe will now showcase her newly backed potential as she features for Team Guyana, who aim to defend their regional title at the Senior CASA Championships, kicking off this weekend at the National Racquet Centre in Georgetown.
Green Machine crash out in RAN 7s quarters
THE country’s national rugby team, the Green Machine, fell short of their expectation on Saturday when they battled Barbados in the quarter- final stage of the Rugby Americas North 7’s Championship being held in Arima, Trinidad and Tobago.
Playing the quarter-final clash on Saturday, the Guyanese went up against Caribbean neighbours Barbados where they lost 36-5 as the Bajans hammered them to advance to the semi-finals.
Earlier on Saturday they placed themselves in the
final after beating Cayman Islands 24-5 in their final group clash.
On the opening day on Friday the Guyanese had one of the most epic battles against top rivals Trinidad and Tobago, as each side went toe to toe as the locals showed great resolve and grit to hold the Trinidadians to a 14-14 draw.
The men then narrowly lost to arch-rivals Jamaica 19-12 before winning against Cayman Islands to reach the quarter- finals.
They will now play for 4th and 5th place.
On the women side they suffered a heavy lost to T&T 39-0 and Mexico 43-0.
The women’s lone win was against Barbados 10-5. They will play Bermuda and Jamaica and are still in with a chance to finish in third or fourth place.
The top three men’s teams excluding Canada, and top two women’s teams will qualify for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games being held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Last year Canada beat T&T in the Cup Final 38-0 win.
National rugger Godfrey Pollydore in action for Guyana
Australia’s Travis Head raises his bat as he walks after losing his wicket, caught by England’s Ollie Pope off the bowling of Brydon Carse (REUTERS/ Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Robert Hiscock (Head of Mobile Networks at ENet) and Kaylee Lowe conduct a ceremonial handover to signify the support
