Schools across the country have been actively disposing of bulky and unserviceable waste items as part of a nationwide clean-up exercise. The activity started on October 13 and ends today. It aims to ensure that all unwanted materials are properly removed from school buildings and compounds. Prior to this, health centres and hospitals in all regions conducted similar disposal exercises from September 29 to October 10, 2025, while regional administrative buildings are scheduled to carry out their clean-up activities from October 27 to November 7, 2025. This initiative forms part of the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development’s broader efforts under the National Beautification Plan, which seeks to promote environmental cleanliness, enhance public health, and ensure efficient waste management across all regions. (Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development photos)
News admits misrepresenting Venezuelan Ambassador’s statements on Mohameds
Indian folk-dance, music group celebrates Diwali in Guyana
A FOLK-dance and music group from Uttar Pradesh, India visited Guyana from October 16 to 21 to celebrate Diwali across the country.
According to a press release, the group concluded its tour with nine performances, at the Radha Krishna Mandir, Reliance, Essequibo; the
Anna Regina Car Park; the Saraswati Vidya Niketan, West Coast Demerara; State House, Georgetown; the Indian Monument Gardens, Camp and Church Streets; University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus; LBI Community Center Ground, East Coast Demerara; ISKCON, UG Road, Railway Embank-
ment; and the D’Edward Vighneshwar Mandir, West Coast Berbice.
The Vraj Sanskritik Group,which was part of this cultural delegation, showcased the beautiful folk culture of Brijbhumi.
A highlight of the tour was a prime performance at a special Deepawali
celebration hosted by His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana, and First Lady H.E. Mrs. Arya Ali, where they presented their unique Diya Dance and Mayur Nritya. The Honourable Prime Minister of Guyana, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, and the Honourble Vice-President of Guyana, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, also joined the celebrations, along with members of the Cabinet, the diplomatic corps, and other prominent Guyanese dignitaries.
The release said that the troupe’s visit was facilitated under the Cultural Exchange Programme signed during the historic visit of the Honourable Prime Minister of India to Guyana. It was sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), New Delhi, and hosted across Guyana in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, the High Commission of India, the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, and several Guyanese organisations.
These included the Radha Krishna Mandir, Reliance Essequibo, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Saraswati Vidya Niketan, the Indian Commemoration Trust (ICT) Guyana, the University of Guyana, ISKCON Georgetown, and the D’Edward Vighneshwar Mandir in Berbice. The group also received local sponsorship from the Bank of Baroda, KALPA-TARU, ENGINEERS INDIA LIMITED, RITES, and Ashoka Buildcon Ltd.
A folk-dance and music group from Uttar Pradesh, India, celebrated Diwali in Guyana. During their visit, they performed at various venues including at State House where His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana, and First Lady H.E. Mrs. Arya Ali hosted a special Deepawali celebration
First sitting of 13th Parliament set for November 3 – President Ali announces
PRESIDENT, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has announced that the first sitting of the 13th parliament is scheduled for Monday, November 3, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).
The President made the announcement on Thursday during a live broadcast.
Subsequent sittings will be held at the aforementioned venue.
For the 2025 elections, the PPP/C managed to increase its seats from the 33 it got in 2020 to 36, thereby widening its majority in parliament.
The new opposition configuration reflects a
Article 69(1) of the Constitution mandates that each parliamentary session be held at a location and time appointed by the President. President Ali said that the ACCC has been designated as the place where the inaugural session will be held from 14:00hrs.
significant political shift with newcomer We invest in Nationhood (WIN) emerging as the main opposition, displacing the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), whose most major member is the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR).
WIN gained 16 seats, while APNU gained 12 seats and the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) will occupy one seat in the 13th Parlia -
ment.
The National Assembly comprises a total of 65 seats, allocated on the basis of geographical constituencies using the Hare quota system.
In September, President Ali unveiled the PPP/C’s blend of experience and youthful energy with a 25-member cabinet and 11 parliamentary representatives.
The other parties too have since named their parliamentary picks.
Time to back the CCJ
–– AG calls on CARICOM nations to sign on to the premier institution
THE Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) stands as one of the region’s greatest achievements, yet it continues to suffer from the lack of full support, a situation Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs
Anil Nandlall, SC, has described as an “enigma,” while calling on the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) states to adopt the court’s appellate jurisdiction.
The Attorney-General made these remarks during his weekly programme, ‘Issues in the News,’ as he called on the Caribbean states to sign on to the premier institution to demonstrate greater regional integration.
Nandlall’s comments come following the swearing in of Justice, Dr
Christopher Arif Bulkan, the newest judge of the CCJ. A Guyanese legal luminary, Dr Bulkan was sworn in last Thursday as a CCJ judge, becoming the third Guyanese that will serve on the regional court’s bench.
Dr Bulkan took the oath of office before President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali during a formal ceremony at the Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, in Georgetown. The event was attended by CCJ President Justice Winston Anderson, members of the judiciary and the Guyana Bar Association and senior government officials.
Nandlall stated that during a courtesy call from the CCJ President, Justice Anderson spoke about the lack of support that the CCJ faces.
Lucia are the only Caribbean territories that have adopted the court in its appellate jurisdiction. Despite hosting the court’s headquarters, Trinidad and Tobago has not yet replaced the Privy Council, Nandlall highlighted.
The remaining CARICOM member states participate only in the court’s original jurisdiction, which deals with matters arising from the Treaty of Chaguaramas and other regional agreements.
not signed on and that’s a travesty. We often speak about regional integration. We passionately pursue regional integration. We passionately pursue our rights as sovereign nations. We passionately pursue issues such as regional unity.
The Attorney-General emphasised the importance of the court as a pillar of regional unity and judicial independence and stated: “I believe that Guyana has a duty to try to influence other members of CARICOM to sign on to the appellate jurisdiction of this court.”
Guyana was one of the first territories to adopt the court as its final court, therefore, cases starting in Guyana can go from the High Court to the Court of Appeal to the CCJ.
Guyana, Barbados, Belize, Dominica and Saint
The Attorney-General said: “So most of the Caribbean, independent Caribbean territories have
“We passionately pursue issues such as the creation of a Common Single Market and Economy, and here it is that we can’t get our acts together to support one of the most significant regional institutions in the Caribbean, the Caribbean Court of Justice; there is hardly another institution of greater significance than the CCJ.”
He said not signing on to the CCJ is an “oddity,” and highlighted how valuable the court has proven itself, especially in Guyana’s jurisdiction.
President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali
Reverend Dr. Joy Agness to host ‘Events International’ in Guyana
REVEREND Dr. Joy Agness of Joy Events International has planned a one-day certification workshop in Guyana, which will be held on January 13, 2026, at the World Trade Centre.
Dr. Agness, who is on a short visit to Guyana, briefed the media on Thursday morning at Room Three of the Royal Hotel on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown.
She talked about her plans for the event and the world-renowned speaker Preston Bailey, who will be invited to accompany her here in January to conduct the one-day session, themed, “Reshaping your mindset for success”.
The event on January 13, 2026, targets trailblazers in event planning, hospitality, entrepreneurship and branding.
Joy Agness Events International is a South Florida-Based global
events firm known for crafting exceptional experience, and providing entrepreneurial training with special focus on Caribbean professionals.
With an emphasis on detail, excellence, and empowerment, the company continues to redefine standards across event and business consulting.
Agness said as a developing country, Guyana is ripe for such an event where floral designer Bailey will share his expertise. All are welcome to attend.
She stated that the event aims to create an awareness of what events should be. and what is lacking. With the obvious need for training, Joy Agness Events International will be here to groom servers, hospitality staff and others in the tourism industry to provide adequate services in the sector.
Agness is also a breast cancer survivor, who detected the disease and was able to seek medical intervention before it was too late.
The mother of two, a Guyanese, was schooled in La Penitence, Georgetown, while she lived here, and wears multiple hats: Teacher, reverend and humanitarian.
She has spent much of life helping others, something she is always passionate about, and lending a helping hand describes her completely.
In December 2022, she was bestowed one of the most prestigious awards a humanitarian in the United States (US) can receive: The President’s Lifetime Achievement Award from President Joseph Biden.
Agness was honoured for the work she has been doing through her organisation, Angels Helping Hands Association.
FROM HOMELESS TO HELPING OTHERS
She remembered there was a time when she was homeless fol -
lowing a house fire and was in dire need of assistance. She was searching for food to feed herself and children back then.
Agness said it was during those moments of distress and uncertainty that she found the strength to push forward and become the humanitarian she is today. Being homeless had awakened something deep within her which propelled her to assist others.
In Guyana, Agness worked with many non-governmental organisations, community groups and churches to help vulnerable women and children. She also worked as an educator in East La Penitence, Georgetown.
With the expectation of creating a better life for herself and two children, she made the decision to migrate to Canada, for a fresh start.
The new voyage came with challenges but as a determined strong-willed woman, she knew that giving up wasn’t an option.
She worked at the Guyana Consulate in Canada for a while and always
Reverend Dr. Joy Agness at the media briefing held on Thursday at the Royal Hotel
felt she wanted to do more than work in an office. She felt stagnated.
In 1977, two years after leaving Guyana, Agness made the decision to migrate again; this time to the United States of America, where she pursued studies and became a registered nurse.
While her work as a nurse was fulfilling as she was able to tend to those in need, Agness yearned
to do even more to help others and to spread joy.
She fulfilled her craving to do more when she started her own business, Joy Agness Events International, catering for weddings and all events which soon became a globally recognised brand.
Agness believes that her story is far from ending and her visit to Guyana signalled the birth of something greater.
Safaris launched for Orealla, South Rupununi
–– Minister Rodrigues says new experiences highlight the evolution of local tourism
THE adventurer and the average Guyanese alike now have more options to discover Guyana’s beauty, one mile at a time, through the newly launched Orealla Safari and South Rupununi Safari.
and concerns all Guyanese. And we have to see it as one of the emerging sectors in our country. We have to see it as a revenue base generating income for our economy, and also in a way that
communities that support it,” she expressed.
Meanwhile, Managing Director of Rainforest Tours, Frank Singh explained that the safaris will give persons residing outside of these villages
Initiatives such as these safaris reflect how local tourism is evolving to connect to our people, landscape and culture in ways that deliver direct value and benefits to local communities (Delano Williams photos)
The launch of these experiences celebrates adventure, exploration and discovery, and is a collaboration between the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and Rainforest Tours.
The Orealla Safari is set to take place from November 14 to 16, 2025, charting an exciting route from Linden to Orealla, while the South Rupununi Safari is slated for November 22 to 30, 2025, and will allow participants to explore the breathtaking South Rupununi Region.
Both safaris embody the essence of adventure travel, and blend nature, community and discovery together, to offer participants a chance to discover Guyana.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce (MINTIC) Susan Rodrigues remarked that initiatives like these are more than excursions, as they reflect how local tourism is evolving to connect to our people, landscape, and culture in ways that deliver direct value and benefits to local communities.
“Tourism touches
promotes community development,” she said.
She affirmed that the Orealla Safari marks a historic moment in our tourism journey.
In a community with approximately 2,000 residents, where ecotourism is emerging and rooted in indigenous heritage, the minister said the safari represents a meaningful step in developing a market-ready tourism product that is built from within the community.
She noted as well that the already established and well-known South Rupununi Safari continues to shine as a central feature in Guyana’s adventure and nature tourism calendar.
“Situated amidst the vast savannas, rivers, and forests of the Rupununi region, a biologically-rich environment spanning thousands of square miles and home to countless species of birds and mammals, this safari offers a premium, authentic Guyanese experience in wilderness, culture, and nature. It delivers tremendous value, not just to the visitor, but to the hinterland
the chance to experience the culture and food, and share knowledge, in addition to learning more about and discovering more of Guyana.
Speaking specifically about Orealla, he stated that the safari is also a source of income for the village, as
villagers often clean up and rent it to those participating in the safaris.
Toshao of Orealla Village, Laurence Vandenburg said he is grateful that this opportunity is coming to Orealla once more.
up of the Kwakwani Trail, which we thank the government for going ahead with that project, we’ve had persons coming into the community almost every weekend.
“This brings in more
especially on an ATV or a bike. We went over there on Monday. Being on two ATVs on high speed is adrenaline rush. If you’re someone like that, I encourage you to once again be a part of the team.”
The village is located in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), just off the Corentyne River. Depending on the speed, persons can get there by road in around four hours, or persons can take a boat and arrive within an hour or an hour-and-a-half.
“Because of the opening
revenue for the village. From the village, we usually go right over to Kwakwani,” the Toshao said. He explained that it takes approximately two to twoand-a half hours to get there.
Describing this, he said, “It’s fun, and so if you want to go out on adventures, I encourage you to do so,
Vandenburg encouraged all to participate, and experience what Orealla is like, mentioning that the village still has cultural impact, accommodation, and its cool blackwater creek.
For more details, persons can visit the GTA, and Rainforest Tours online.
Minister Susan Rodrigues with Managing Director of Rainforest Tours Guyana Frank Singh
Deliberate, Strategic Planning
continues to command the world’s attention and admiration as one of the fastest-growing economies on the planet.
The latest International Monetary Fund (IMF) Regional Economic Outlook has once again placed Guyana at the top of global growth rankings, reaffirming not only the country’s strong economic fundamentals, but also the far-sighted management of its unprecedented development boom.
Speaking at the launch of the World Trade Centre Georgetown recently, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, reaffirmed what the data clearly shows: Guyana’s economic performance is exceptional by any global measure.
Since 2021, the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has expanded at an average of nearly 40 per cent annually, a figure that would seem implausible elsewhere, but has become a hallmark
of Guyana’s transformation story.
The IMF projects that this trajectory will continue, with the economy expected to maintain an average annual growth rate of roughly 25 percent over the decade, from 2021 to 2030.
To call these numbers impressive would be an understatement. They signal that Guyana has entered a new phase of its economic history, one marked not merely by extraction, but by deliberate reinvestment and diversification.
The oil and gas sector remains the principal engine of this expansion, but, as Dr Singh rightly stressed, its effects are now cascading across all sectors from tourism and hospitality to logistics, transport and advisory services.
There is, quite literally, more demand than domestic supply can meet, a clear indicator of the economy’s vibrancy and investor confidence.
However, what distinguishes Guyana’s growth model from that of other resource-rich nations is the govern -
ment’s conscious effort to avoid the pitfalls of overdependence.
Under the leadership of President, Dr Irfaan Ali, there is a clear policy commitment to using oil revenues as a springboard for building a globally competitive non-oil economy.
The administration’s investments in housing, infrastructure, education, technology and food security are not isolated acts of governance, they are pillars of a deliberate national strategy aimed at resilience and long-term prosperity.
This approach recognises that real development must be broad-based and inclusive.
It must translate into improved living standards, meaningful employment and opportunities for citizens across every region.
The IMF’s continued confidence in Guyana’s outlook, therefore, serves not only as validation of sound macroeconomic management, but also as an endorsement of the administration’s vision for a diversified, modernised economy.
The challenge and opportunity now lie in sustaining this momentum while keeping inflation in check, ensuring transparency in resource management and investing strategically in human capital.
As global investors continue to turn their gaze toward Georgetown, the focus must remain on governance, sustainability and equitable growth.
Guyana’s story is still being written, but the evidence is undeniable: this small South American nation has emerged as a major economic force, one that is not only rewriting its own destiny, but is also reshaping the regional and global development narrative.
The numbers tell one story, but the vision, discipline and execution behind them tell an even greater one. Guyana is not just growing; it is building deliberately, strategically and sustainably.
Crop Diversification and Climate-Smart Technology: A progressive step for Guyana’s agriculture
Dear Editor,
GUYANA’S agricultural sector is on the brink of a transformation, one that blends tradition with innovation.
The Ministry of Agriculture’s push toward crop diversification through the introduction of climate-smart technologies is a progressive and timely move that deserves national recognition and support.
For too long, our agricultural output has relied heavily on a narrow range of crops, such as rice and sugar. While these industries have served us well, climate change has exposed their vulnerabilities: rising temperatures, erratic rainfall and increased flooding threaten productivity and farmers’ livelihoods.
The ministry’s strategic focus on diversification, introducing crops such as corn, soya, coconuts, spices, and high-value vegetables, represents not just an economic adjustment, but also a climate- adaptation imperative.
What makes this initiative even more forward-thinking is its integration of climate-smart technologies. Across Guyana, we are seeing the establishment of shade houses, drip-irrigation systems and other controlled-environment farming methods. These technologies allow farmers to better manage water use, protect crops from extreme weather and increase yields year round. They are also fostering a new gener-
ation of young agri-entrepreneurs, who view farming not as backbreaking labour, but as a viable, tech-driven business.
Under programmes such as the Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme (AIEP), hundreds of shade houses have been established, giving small and medium-scale farmers access to modern tools that were once out of reach. The adoption of these innovations is not only improving productivity, but is also enhancing food security and creating new value-added opportunities in agro-processing and exports.
Guyana’s leadership in this regard is positioning the country as a model for sustainable agricultural development in the Caribbean. The ministry’s progressive approach
signals a clear understanding that resilience in agriculture comes from flexibility and foresight. By supporting farmers in diversifying crops and adopting smart technologies, Guyana is building a sector capable of withstanding climate shocks, while sustaining livelihoods and boosting rural economies. As a nation, we must continue to back these initiatives through public awareness, investment, and community participation. The future of agriculture in Guyana lies not in doing more of the same, but in embracing innovation to grow differently and more sustainably.
Yours faithfully, Jaishree Tilaknauth
GUYANA
The GTE project is a foundational intervention for energy insecurity
Dear Editor,
ECONOMIST Elson Low’s critique of the Wales gas-to-energy project overlooks the strategic necessity of the initiative. His call for disclosure and accountability is valid, but shelving the project over soil-stabilisation costs overlooks the long-term vision guiding it.
Public scrutiny is essential, and his queries deserve a response from the authorities. However, constructive dialogue is best built on shared facts, which are most reliably obtained through direct engagement with the relevant agencies.
For over 40 years, energy insecurity has been a primary barrier to Guyana’s progress. The GTE project is not merely a power plant; it is a foundational intervention aimed at resolving this chronic issue. Achieving a modern economy is inextricably linked to secure, low-cost energy. Dismissing its promised benefits as “fiction” disregards the strategic long-term analysis behind the initiative.
To provide a balanced perspective, let’s consider two key points:
1.The $100 million soil stabilisation
Framing the $100 million expenditure solely as a failure of due diligence ignores both global precedent and strategic context. Progressive nations have routinely transformed challenging terrains into engines of
growth, and the following two are among many other examples:
(a) The Battersea Precedent: The iconic Battersea Power Station in London was constructed on the reclaimed, marshy banks of the River Thames. The significant investment required to stabilise that site yielded a strategic asset that powered London for over 50 years.
(b) The Eemshaven Example: The Netherlands, a global leader in land reclamation, constructed the RWE Eemshaven Power Station on land reclaimed from the UNESCO-protected Wadden Sea. It is now a cornerstone of the Dutch energy grid.
Both of these projects had initial soil-stabilisation issues and unforeseen costs, but they confronted those challenges when they needed to be confronted in the interest of their national development. History will show both the United Kingdom, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands are better as a society because they persevered and made the hard decisions at the right time. Guyana is in the same position today; we must press on!
Guyana is undertaking several foundational projects on an unprecedented scale, with the GTE being one of them. The challenging, liquefaction-prone soils of our coastal region are a geographical reality. This stabilisation cost, while substantial, is a necessary, onetime investment to create a viable, stable industrial platform for the next 50 years. The
alternative—abandoning development due to complex geology—is not a viable path for a nation on the cusp of transformation.
In this regard, the contractor’s sobering warning about the facility’s risks if built improperly is not an argument against construction; it is a powerful justification for undertaking the correct engineering interventions, regardless of cost, to ensure long-term safety and integrity.
Furthermore, this project is the incubator for a much larger vision: the development of over 30,000 acres of undeveloped land on the West Bank of Demerara as a result of the planned transportation links from Bartica to the Timehri Docks and to the new Jagdeo Bridge passing the GTE Project. Therefore, the GTE is the anchor that makes this broader development—and its potential for cross-subsidisation—economically feasible. I encourage Mr Low to visualise the “BIG THINK.”
The delays and costs associated with these extensive geotechnical investigations have, in fact, provided Guyana with an invaluable repository of knowledge for executing future large-scale projects of a similar nature, since there will be many other projects of a similar scale that will add to the compendium of national assets to push our ambition at industrialisation. Thus, it is to our benefit that the developers are mitigating these extreme risks with the seriousness they deserve.
2. The “Dead-on-Arrival” prognosis is flawed.
The assertion that the site is now unsuitable is illogical. The soil stabilisation is the definitive solution that transforms the land into a stable asset. The GTE project, as the anchor tenant, will provide the cheap, reliable energy needed to overcome the single greatest barrier to Guyanese manufacturing, attracting the very industries meant to create the jobs and growth in question.
Guyana’s energy instability is a long-standing crisis. The GTE is the permanent solution; the current expensive power ships are interim measures. To blame the GTE for the costs of the crisis it is designed to solve is a circular argument.
The call to shelve this US$2 billion strategic project is misguided. It is the cornerstone of Guyana’s economic future. The path forward is not abandonment, but rigorous oversight and course correction. Abandoning it now would guarantee the loss of this strategic investment and the promise of a modern, industrialised Guyana for generations to come.
The cost of stabilisation, however high, pales in comparison to the cost of forfeiting our energy future.
Stabroek News’ repeated missteps undermine public trust in journalism
Dear Editor,
IT is truly alarming that Stabroek News, one of Guyana’s most widely read newspapers, has once again published false information, this time on a matter as sensitive as diplomatic relations involving Venezuela and individuals already under scrutiny.
In its recent report, the paper claimed that the Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana denied that Nazar ‘Shell’ Mohamed ever visited the embassy. That turned out to be completely untrue. The ambassador had only spoken about Azruddin Mohamed, not Nazar. Stabroek News later admitted this “error” and issued an apology but by then, the damage had already been done.
This kind of careless -
ness is not a small mistake. It speaks to a deeper issue of editorial irresponsibility. People rely on Stabroek News for facts, not fiction. So how can the public now have confidence in the accuracy of what it publishes?
Even more troubling is that the truth in this case was not hidden or complicated. There was video evidence of Nazar Mohamed leaving the Venezuelan Embassy, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs itself confirmed the visit in an official statement. How did such clear facts escape the editorial checks of one of the country’s oldest newspapers? That kind of lapse is not a mere oversight, it’s negligence.
Every time Stabroek News rushes to print misinformation and then hides behind a quiet “regret the error,” it chips away at its
own credibility and the broader trust in the media landscape. The truth matters and so does accountability. Guyanese readers should not have to second-guess whether the information coming from one of the country’s leading newspapers is accurate or not.
sincerely, Name and address supplied
Regards, Sasenarine Singh
Is Terrence Campbell a clone of David Hinds?
TWO developments within the elections period caused the PNCR to lose votes.
One is the jaded, aged political garment of Aubrey Norton. When asked about his opinion of David Hinds, he missed the commonsensical response.
This is what a normal, thinking politician would have conveyed: “The WPA is an independent coalition partner. We in the PNC would not like others to dictate to us, so we will not dictate for others.”
And he should have left it at that. That answer was neutral. He could not have been accused of siding with Hinds. He didn’t leave it alone. He went on to praise Hinds, a political tone that has no support among the races of Guyana and the Guyanese people, collectively. Hinds is so extremist that his own daughter left the WPA and ignored the PNCR and went straight to an Indian-led
party, WIN. Norton put the icing on the cake when he chose Hinds to be an APNU parliamentarian. You have to be a fool not to think that such an elevation of Hinds was not a self-destructive act. The other development was Hinds himself. Once he was on the APNU parliamentary list and he kept up his racial sermons, the cat ran away with the PNCR’s dinner. During the elections campaign, Hinds’ podcasts helped undecided voters to give their ballots to the PPP and WIN.
Enter Terrence Campbell. It looked good in the eyes of some people who didn’t know Campbell that he was an ameliorating face in the PNCR leadership that would dissolve some of the political miasma the PNCR carried with it. But Norton knew what he was doing when he selected Campbell to lead the PNCR in parliament. Norton understands and
appreciates one genre of Guyanese politicians – the soldier who is married to the trench and is a bully that can marshal the troops. Norton became a victim of that genre of politics because he was in it for too long and it took over his personality.
The psychological parallel was Hamilton Green. No matter what position the PNCR leadership gave Green, he was not happy with being outside his trench-warfare environment. Green found it impossible to adapt to the boardroom. When he was in the boardroom, he paid no attention to the meeting in the room, but looked outside on the street all the time. That was where he knew he belonged. Norton was the reincarnation of Green.
Norton was humiliated at the 2025 elections because he, like Green, is a congenital street fighter. So, who did he pick to go to parliament? The name Sherod Duncan, the Bellman, rings out loudly. Norton favours people like Duncan that is a king in the cuss-out game. He chose Campbell as the PNCR’s parliamentary leader and had the last laugh. While society thought Campbell was a more respected and respectable choice for leadership, Campbell is not far from Norton himself, Duncan and Hinds.
It was Campbell who first made it public that for months he was trying to get Norton to come around to a coalition with the AFC and have a consensus candidate. Campbell was meeting with Norton and the PNCR leadership didn’t know. If anyone would have known about the Norton-Campbell rendezvous, it would have been Ganesh Mahipaul, who is the most senior figure in the PNCR after Norton.
Mahipaul said on the Freddie Kissoon Show, he did not know of the months of special dialogue between Norton and Campbell. And the reason for this was because Norton and Campbell were friends long before the 2025 elections campaign began.
Norton knows Campbell
and he knows the political temperament of Campbell. He knows which wavelength Campbell will travel on and Campbell did not surprise Norton. Campbell went to the site of the accidental death of Adrianna Younge and praised the violent scrapeheads of April 28, 2025.
Here is Campbell’s latest racially inspired pronouncement. Here is what he wrote after Grenada accepts nurses from Ghana: “I doubt the Government of Guyana will accept Ghanian or Zimbabwean nurses.” Even a moron can see the subterranean racial implication there.
Who do those words remind you of? Of course, Aubrey Norton, David Hinds, Rickford Burke, Norman Brown, Mark Benschop and
Essequibo woman dies in motorcycle collision with cow
A 34-year-old woman, identified as Yolanda John of Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast, lost her life on Wednesday evening after the motorcycle she was riding collided with a cow along the Elisa Public Road, Essequibo Coast.
The police in Regional Division #2 reported that the fatal incident occurred around 19:30hrs
and involved a motorcycle (registration number unknown) driven by 23-yearold Leroy Prince, also of Dartmouth.
John, who was the pillion rider and Prince’s girlfriend, was returning home from work when tragedy struck.
According to a police release, Prince told investigators that while proceeding north along the
roadway, he noticed a cow on the western side of the road and swerved in an attempt to avoid hitting it.
“Despite his effort, the motorcycle came into contact with the cow, causing him to lose control,” the police report stated.
John was thrown from the motorcycle and sustained severe injuries. She was picked up and taken to the Lima Regional Hospital, where she died while receiving medical attention.
A breathalyser test conducted on Prince showed no trace of alcohol. The motorcycle has since been lodged at the Anna Regina Police Station to be examined by the licensing and certifying officer.
The 23-year-old mo -
Sherod Duncan. The humongous irony of it is that the PNCR lost over 100, 000 votes to a party headed and financed and administered by a rich, Muslim Indian family. But if Campbell is a clone of Hinds, then expect Campbell to reproduce the asininity of the utterance of Hinds three weeks ago, when he exclaimed that WIN is a Black people party. Terrence, I am asking you, as a successful businessman, do you believe that idiocy of David Hinds? I believe you do.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.
The motorcycle involved in Wednesday night’s fatal crash on the Elisa Public Road, Essequibo Coast
torcyclist remains in police custody assisting with the ongoing investigation. A post-mortem examination conducted Thursday by Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh confirmed that John died from multiple injuries consistent with a motor vehicle accident.
Electoral fraud trial… Prosecutors to call senior CID ranks
–– when voir dire continues Monday
THE high-profile electoral fraud case arising from Guyana’s controversial 2020 general and regional elections is set to continue on Monday, October 27 at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, with a series of witnesses being called to testify in a voir dire before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty.
The case has attracted international attention, with several high-ranking former officials facing serious charges, including misconduct in public office, conspiracy to defraud, and uttering forged documents.
Among the accused are former Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo; former Health Minister Volda Lawrence; People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) activist Carol Smith-Joseph; former GECOM CEO Keith Lowenfield; former Deputy CEO Roxanne Myers; and GECOM staff Sheffern February, Enrique Livan, Denise Babb-Cummings, and Michelle Miller.
Prosecutors allege that the defendants attempted to inflate votes in favour of the APNU+AFC coalition to subvert the democratic process.
During hearing on Thursday, a voir dire (trial within a trial) was called to determine the admissibility of evidence of the video-recorded interviews submit-
ted as evidence concerning Mingo.
Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Officer Sheldon Harvey testified during the voir dire about the evidence.
The matter was adjourned until Monday, when Deputy Crime Chief Superintendent Mitchell Caesar and Assistant Superintendent Nigel Stevens is expected to testify in the voir dire before going back on to the main trial.
The State’s case includes extensive documentary evidence such as flash drives containing Statements of Poll (SoPs) and Statements of Recount (SoRs), 73 witness statements, and a trove of official records.
The prosecution team is led by Special Prosecutors Darshan Ramdhani, KC, and Thomas Astaphan, KC, supported by Attorney-at-Law Latchmie Rahamat and State counsel from the Director of Public Prosecutions’ Office.
The defence is represented by a legal team that includes Nigel Hughes, Eusi Anderson, Ronald Daniels, and Dexter Todd.
The prosecution alleges that the accused inflated or facilitated the inflation of results for Region Four, Guyana’s largest voting district, to give the APNU+AFC coalition an illegitimate victory in the March 2020 elections. Official results
Health Minister, new EU Ambassador looking to strengthen collaboration
later confirmed that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had won by over 15,000 votes.
Initially, former CEO Lowenfield had submitted an election report claiming APNU+AFC had received 171,825 votes while the PPP/C secured 166,343.
However, a national recount—conducted under the supervision of GECOM and a high-level Caribbean Community (CARICOM) team—determined that APNU+AFC had actually received 217,920 votes, while the PPP/C had won with 233,336 votes.
The recount process also revealed that Mingo had allegedly manipulated the Region Four results to keep the APNU+AFC caretaker administration in power.
This led to GECOM’s decision in August, 2021, to terminate Lowenfield, Myers, and Mingo.
Since charges were first filed in late 2020, multiple postponements have stalled the case, primarily due to requests from the defence. The accused remains out on cash bail as the trial continues.
The trial has faced numerous delays due to objections and applications by the defence.
In April, 2023, the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the events of the 2020 General and Regional Elections found
that there was collusion and collaboration among senior GECOM officials to divert votes to the APNU +AFC, instead of safeguarding and preserving the integrity of the electoral system.
Chairman Stanley John and commissioners — former Chancellor Carl Singh and Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith — made those findings on the basis of evidence from the many witnesses who had testified, along with the reports of the international observers.
“…our inquiry reveals that there were, in fact, shockingly brazen attempts by Chief Election Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, Deputy Chief Election Officer (DCEO), Roxanne Myers and Returning Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo, to derail and corrupt the statutorily prescribed procedure for the
counting, ascertaining and tabulation of votes of the March 2nd election, as well as the true declaration of the results of that election, and that they did so – to put it in unvarnished language of the ordinary man – for the purpose of stealing the election,” the commissioners said in their report.
The report found that Lowenfield blatantly made decisions and employed procedures in direct contradiction to the law and the will of the people.
The findings revealed, too, that GECOM staffers ignored specific instructions from the court, used materials that were illegal and/ or manipulated and sided with APNU+AFC agents to berate observers whenever objections were raised.
After careful scrutiny, the CoI commissioners con-
cluded that there was a conscious and deliberate – even brazen – effort to violate the provisions of section 84(1) of the Representation of the People Act (RoPA).
In so doing, certain “senior GECOM officials” abandoned all need for neutrality and impartiality and demonstrated a bias for the APNU+AFC and, in the course of events over those days, showed an “open connection” with that party, and by their efforts sought a desired result for the coalition.
As such, the commissioners said that after consideration and analysis of the evidence, Lowenfield, Mingo and Myers “were principally responsible for clear and deliberate attempts to frustrate, obstruct and subvert the ascertainment of votes in electoral district No. 4.”
On Wednesday at his Brickdam Head Office, the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, welcomed His Excellency Luca Pierantoni, the newly appointed Resident Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, during a courtesy call. The meeting provided an opportunity for both officials to discuss areas of mutual interest and explore potential avenues for strengthening collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the European Union in advancing Guyana’s health sector (Ministry of Health photo)
Gender Affairs Bureau conducts training on shared responsibilities, breaking gender stereotypes
THE Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Gender Affairs Bureau on Thursday hosted a transformative one-day workshop on “Gender Roles, Shared Responsibility, and Challenging Stereotypes in the Home” at the Regional State House in Region Two.
The training focused on promoting equality within households, effective parenting, and breaking gender stereotypes that often shape family dynamics.
The interactive session was facilitated by Mr Narvendra Rohit, Gender Affairs Officer; Ms Amrita Singh, Gender Affairs Officer; and Ms Cassie Walcott, Senior Training Officer.
During her presentation, Ms Cassie Walcott emphasised the importance and benefits of sharing household responsibilities between partners. She noted that equitable distribution of home duties
helps ease family stress, reduces conflicts and allows couples more time to enjoy activities together.
“When couples share responsibilities, it helps to break away from gender stereotypes — for instance, the notion that men should only work outside the home while women manage household chores,” Walcott explained.
“It also gives couples an opportunity to achieve a fair balance at home,” she added.
Walcott shared practical tips on how couples can manage household chores efficiently and strengthen their partnership. These include deciding who does what, determining the tasks that need to be done and agreeing on who handles each, thereby creating a clearer picture of workload distribution.
She advised that couples divide chores and work as a team to support one another where needed.
Walcott also advised
that turns be taken regarding caring for children. She explained that partners can share responsibilities such as night-time feedings or diaper changes to ease the load on one person.
She urged that couples should stay united and meet in the middle when it comes to the ideals of parenting, discipline and household management to maintain harmony.
Further, she said that couples should be open to change. Household routines may need adjustment as circumstances evolve, she said, adding that flexibility is key.
It is also important to show appreciation, which she said involves regularly acknowledging each other’s efforts. This helps to strengthen relationships and fosters teamwork in maintaining a functional home.
Throughout the day, participants engaged in meaningful discussions and group
The Gender Affairs Bureau conducted a one-day interactive session in Region Two
exercises that emphasised the importance of equality in domestic roles and parenting duties. Facilitators highlighted how traditional gender expectations can limit personal growth and community development, urging attendees to adopt more inclusive and
balanced practices in their homes and workplaces.
The workshop aimed to promote a deeper understanding of gender equity, foster mutual respect between partners, and build stronger family and community relationships grounded in shared responsibility.
Participants expressed their gratitude to the Gender Affairs Bureau for hosting such an empowering and thought-provoking session that encouraged positive change at both the family and societal levels.
Region 2 Regional Chairman meets with fisherfolk at Hampton Court
REGION Two Regional
Chairman Mr. Devin Mohan, on Thursday met with fisherfolk at the Hampton Court Fishermen’s Shed to discuss challenges affecting their daily operations.
Accompanied by Agriculture Coordinator Mr. Tamesh Ramnauth and the Fisheries Supervisor, Chairman Mohan attentively listened as the fishermen shared concerns ranging from equipment shortages to other operational difficulties.
During the meeting, the fishermen expressed their
appreciation for the Chairman’s presence and prompt attention, thanking him for taking the time to engage directly with them. He reminded them that the RDC will continue to represent their interest. They also voiced hope that the issues affecting their livelihoods would soon be addressed, trusting that the engagement would lead to tangible solutions.
Chairman Mohan reassured the community that the regional administration is committed to supporting them. He emphasised that immediate assistance
would be provided wherever possible and that other matters would be forwarded to the relevant agencies. Follow-up action should also be undertaken to ensure all concerns are addressed effectively.
The meeting concluded on a hopeful note, with the fisherfolk feeling encouraged and confident that their concerns are being taken seriously.
“We are very thankful for such an approach, and we look forward to all the issues raised be fixed,” one of the fishermen said.
Regional Chairman Devin Mohan engaging fisherfolk at Hampton Court in Region Two
Stabroek News admits misrepresenting Venezuelan Ambassador’s statements on Mohameds
AFTER erroneously reporting that Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana, Carlos Amador Pérez Silva had denied that Nazar ‘Shell’ Mohamed visited the embassy, Stabroek News has admitted to misreporting the key facts of the matter.
Stabroek News addressed its inaccurate statement in an article published on Thursday.
“… in Tuesday’s edition of Stabroek News under the headline, `Ambassador denies Mohamed ever visited Venezuelan embassy,’ Stabroek News erroneously reported that the ambassador had said that neither of the Mohameds had visited. This is not so as he had only spoken about Azruddin Mohamed. Stabroek News regrets the error and apologizes to the ambassador for any inconvenience caused,” the media house said.
There was video footage that was widely circulated of Nazar leaving the Venezuelan embassy. Adding to this, in August, the Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana was summoned by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Hugh Todd, to explain the frequent visits by the Mohameds.
The minister had raised an alarm over “grave concerns” for Guyana’s sover-
eignty, democracy and vital international partnerships. It later became known that Nazar, father of the businessman turned politician Azruddin Mohamed, was the one who visited the embassy.
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation (MOFAIC) issued a press release addressing recent comments made by the Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana concerning Nazar’s visit to the Venezuelan Embassy in Georgetown.
The ministry expressed concern over discrepancies between the Ambassador’s recent statements and previous accounts provided during a meeting with Min-
ister Hugh Todd.In the earlier meeting, the Venezuelan Ambassador had confirmed that Nazar visited the embassy and provided specific details regarding the documentation presented and the purpose of the engagement.
However, the Ambassador’s subsequent denial of this visit has raised questions about the consistency and transparency of the information provided,
The ministry emphasised the importance of honesty and professionalism in diplomatic relations and reiterated its expectation that all foreign representatives adhere to these standards.
The press release also included an invitation letter
GCAA refutes CJIA status downgrade claim
THE Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has refuted claims made in an article published on demerarawaves.com on Thursday titled “GCAA downgrades Cheddi Jagan Airport’s rescue and fire-fighting capacity but airport remains safe”.
In a press release, the Authority said that the headline and the implications contained within the article are misleading.
“Lt. Col. (Retd) Egbert Field, Director General of the GCAA, firmly states that there has been no downgrade of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport’s status from category 8 to category 5.
Furthermore, he has not signed any document to
suggest such a change.
The GCAA wishes to highlight that unnamed sources in the article, unfortunately, provided inaccurate and misinformation regarding the category rating of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
The GCAA does not disclose or discuss inspection findings and reports on avi-
from Corporación World Trade, dated July 1, 2025, addressed to Nazar Mohamed, inviting him to a seminar in Venezuela on July 25, 2025. The seminar, titled “Educating and Guiding Youth About Islam,” aimed to help young people strengthen their faith and become active members of their communities.
The inclusion of this invitation letter underscores the significance of the visit and the need for clarity regarding the events surrounding it.
This development comes amid ongoing concerns about the activities of Nazar Mo-
hamed and his family.
In June 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Nazar Mohamed, his son Azruddin Mohamed, and their businesses, alleging that between 2019 and 2023, they under-declared over 10,000 kilogrammes of gold exports, thereby defrauding Guyana of more than US$50 million in taxes.
Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has raised concerns about the potential links between the Mohameds and the Venezuelan government, par-
ticularly in light of the OFAC sanctions and the reported embassy visit.
He has called for further investigations into these matters to ensure the integrity of Guyana’s sovereignty and international relations.
The ministry’s call for transparency and consistency in diplomatic communication reflects the importance of maintaining trust and accountability in international relations, especially during times of heightened scrutiny and geopolitical sensitivity.
ation stakeholders with third parties,” the statement said. It added that the GCAA maintains its commitment to the highest standards of aviation safety and regulatory oversight and assures the public that Cheddi Jagan International Airport continues to operate safely and efficiently.
OFAC-sanctioned Nazar Mohamed and his son Azruddin
Former APNU+AFC MP remanded over Linden marijuana ‘bust,’ co-defendant gets four years
FORMER APNU+AFC
Parliamentarian, Devin Sears, was on Thursday remanded to prison after appearing before Magistrate Rushell Liverpool at the Linden Magistrates’ Court, charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.
Sears, 39, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded until November 11, 2025, for report and disclosure. His co-defendant, Albert Sandy, a 69-year-old farmer from Tacama Waterfront, Upper Berbice River, pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.
Region 10 Tourism Committee Inc.
According to the police report, Sears, who was driving the vehicle, began acting suspiciously and started “sweating profusely.”
When questioned, he allegedly told the officers he was transporting “tourism plants.”
A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered 22 bulky black plastic bags and four large brown canvas bags containing leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis.
Following the incident, Sears, who also served as an educator and political activist, tendered his resignation to the Region 10 Tourism Committee.
In a statement, the committee distanced itself from his alleged actions, noting that they were “personal and unrelated to the organisation’s mission of promoting eco-tourism and regional development.”
Sandy took full responsibility for the 310.71 kilogrammes of marijuana found in the vehicle, but despite his admission, Magistrate Liverpool nonetheless remanded Sears pending further proceedings.
Hughes and Bernard Da Silva.
Sears is being represented by Attorneys-at-law Nigel
The charges stem from a major drug bust that occurred on Monday, October 20, in the vicinity of the old Bamia
Police Checkpoint in Linden. The police on mobile patrol stopped a dark blue Toyota Hiace minibus bearing registration number BAJ 4486, which is registered to the
The narcotics, when weighed, amounted to 310.71 kilogrammes. Both men were arrested and cautioned. The police said Sandy admitted that the drugs belonged to him and that he had paid Sears to transport him to Parika.
Meanwhile, the Alliance For Change (AFC) said it would allow the judicial process to take its course, reiterating that all persons are entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
The party further highlighted its commitment to integrity, accountability, and lawful conduct among its members.
Police lance corporal shot dead by businessman at
35-year-old police officer, Lance Corporal Richard
was gunned down in broad daylight on Thursday morning during a confrontation with a businessman at Stelling Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara.
According to police reports, Hayes, who was attached to the Impact Base at the Brickdam Police Station, was shot around 09:00hrs by a 37-year-old businessman of Crane Housing Scheme.
The suspect, who operates a cellular phone stall and is a licensed firearm holder, has since been arrested.
Investigations revealed that Hayes and the suspect did not know each other.
The police officer had reportedly visited the businessman’s stall a day earlier to enquire about purchasing cellphones and returned Thursday morning, saying he came to buy a phone.
The suspect told investigators that Hayes began behaving aggressively and was asked to leave. It is alleged that Hayes then threw a cellphone heater gun at the businessman, striking him in the chest.
The suspect then drew his licensed .32 Taurus pistol and discharged one round, hitting Hayes in the right side of his chest.
Hayes’ brother, Ron Hayes, who operates a nearby barbershop, heard the gunshot and rushed to the scene. He transported his injured brother to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where the officer later succumbed.
Police said the suspect’s firearm and licence were seized and he was processed for gunshot residue. He remains in custody as an investigation continues.
A
Marvin Hayes,
DEAD: Lance Corporal Richard Hayes
Medical professional donates more medical books to UG Library
DR. KEITH Cummings, a Guyanese medical professional, on Thursday made a valuable donation of medical books to the University of Guyana’s library at the Turkeyen Campus, adding to his previous substantial donations.
Dr. Cummings once studied pharmaceuticals in
to UG through donations of medical books and journals to improve the quality of education, research and training for new physicians.
According to Dr Cummings, UG students can and will receive the same level of medical knowledge, access to quality resources, and achieve the same clinical
Guyana before he became one of the first interns to be sent to Grenada. Subsequent to this, he returned to study medicine as a family physician. He moved to St. Kitts and Nevis in 1994, and then returned to Guyana to study medicine, graduating in 2003.
The donation is valued at GY$1 million and will add great value to UG’s library holdings in areas such as plastic surgery, internal medicine, and medical education.
The acting University Librarian, Dr Simone Bernard, said medical textbooks are the cornerstone of teaching and learning in the field of medicine, despite the influx of digital resources.
Ensuring accuracy and reliability, textbooks will help the learners to understand how theoretical knowledge applies to real-world clinical settings, by integrating current clinical practices.
Since 2016, Dr Cummings has been giving back
behalf was Professor Emanuel Cummings, the Deputy Vice Chancellor.
Professor Cummings noted that these books are another addition of Dr Cum-
competencies as a physician in Canada, the United States, or anywhere else in the world.
The learning resources, along with other initiatives by the university, will create opportunities for students to be clinically sharper, in terms of skills and knowledge, and able to embrace and function at a higher level.
Additionally, Dr Cummings praised the quality of education he received from UG, stating that it has not only laid the foundation for him to become a clinician and teacher on an international stage, but has also blessed him and his family tremendously.
“The impact of UG’s education on my career has been profound. From even the first patient I saw as an intern in Grenada, to the thousands of patients I care for, it’s because of my foundation at UG,” he remarked.
Accepting this generous donation on the University’s
mings’ continued contribution to medical education.
“Dr Cummings, we’re very grateful. We’ll forever be grateful to you, and I hope that both faculty and staff
will make the best use of these resources. They were specifically placed in the library, because we thought that it would be better managed here,” the professor said. It was stated that Dr Cummings’ contribution complements the government’s vision of expanding local medical education.
Dr Keith Cummings, who donated a quantity of medical books to the University of Guyana on Thursday (Delano Williams photo)
Fisheries Research Symposium held as part of Agriculture Month activities
–– officials express confidence that sub-sector will continue to grow
THE Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the University of Guyana’s Faculty of Natural Sciences and Faculty of Agriculture, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, hosted a
rum was a long overdue activity. He expressed hope that it will grow annually, attracting more participation.
Noting that there are various agencies in Guyana that are related to fisheries, he said it is good when they can all share experiences, research, activities, and re-
Guyana’s continued commitment to building the fisheries sector, that is both people-centered and innovation driven.
Every policy of our government is aimed towards building our people, he said, adding that if policies are people centered, then Guyana will grow.
Fisheries Research Symposium, in celebration of Agriculture Month 2025.
Held under the theme, “Empowering Communities: Fisheries as a Catalyst for Inclusive Agri-Food Transformation,” the event saw presentations from persons who hold various positions in this sector. The challenges were highlighted and suggestions for advancement of the local fisheries sub-sector were made.
Among those present at the event were UG’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin; Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Vickash Ramkissoon and Chief Fisheries Officer Denzil Roberts.
The symposium featured opening remarks by Roberts, who said the fo-
sults, using the information to contribute to the sustainability and development of the fisheries sub-sector.
Professor Paloma echoed similar sentiments, noting that the role of fisheries in the agriculture sector is vital. It is a vital source of income and employment, and it provides food for coastal communities across the region.
She stated that the research presented only represents a tiny part of the work that has continuously been done by the university with regards to agriculture, fisheries, and in the marine and aquatic space.
In closing the opening ceremony, Minister Ramkissoon underscored that we must recognise that the theme of the symposium reflected the Government of
According to Minister Ramkissoon, the government recognises that for fisheries to be sustainable, management must be grounded in evidence-based decision-making and establishing a strong partnership between the Fisheries Department and the University of Guyana is an essential component of this process.
He outlined that over the last five years in the agricultural sector, government has placed a lot of emphasis on making the sector resilient, sustainable, and innovative.
“So, the sector is moving at a very fast rate, very speed [sic] rate, because we are using modern technologies, and we are using innovative tools to ensure that we become food secure,” the minister said.
He continued, “It’s important. So, in terms of fisheries, it remains very vital to our national development agenda, our food security and also as a source of employment and community livelihoods.”
The minister emphasised that science, technology, and research are the pillars of transformation, stating that without them, transformation, for the good, for the betterment, for the improvement, cannot be possible.
The Guyana Government continues to place tremendous emphasis on making the fisheries sub-sector resilient, sustainable and innovation driven (Ministry of Agriculture photo)
Rawal and Mandhana tons seal India’s semi-final spot
(ESPNCRICINFO) - India overturned a sequence of three straight losses to beat New Zealand in style to seal the fourth semi-final spot in Navi Mumbai on Thursday. The winner of Saturday's game between South Africa and Australia will determine their lastfour opponents.
Harmanpreet Kaur lost the toss, but India bettered their previous World Cup best of 330 - achieved earlier in the tournament against Australia in Visakhapatnam - courtesy centuries from Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal, and an excellent unbeaten 76 from Jemimah Rodrigues, who returned to the XI, replacing allrounder Amanjot Kaur.
India's 340 for 3 in 49 overs was then DLS-adjusted to a target of 325 in 44 overs for New Zealand, asking them to achieve the highest-ever chase in women's ODIs, after over two hours were lost due to rain. While
there were no weather interruptions for the rest of the evening, New Zealand's
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER
(Friday October 24, 2025)
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Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) BANG won by 74 runs (2) Rishad Hossain (BANG)
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(1) What was the result of the second ODI in the recent WI/BANG series?
(2) Who was voted Man of the Match?
Answers in tomorrow’s issue
timid approach left them too many to get (168) in the last 15 overs.
Brooke Halliday constructed an 81-ball 84, but New Zealand couldn't flex their muscle at any point. This was partly down to losing wickets at regular intervals, and partly to India's spinners making it difficult for their batters after Renuka Singh took the early wickets
of Georgia Plimmer and Sophie Devine, both bowled off devious in-duckers.
Halliday put on 72 for the sixth wicket with Isabella Gaze, who brought up a career best, unbeaten 76, but they merely delayed the inevitable as New Zealand's innings petered to a predictable close; they eventually finished at 271 for 8.
nuka and Kranti Gaud in the first powerplay - they didn't concede a single boundary in the first six overs of New Zealand's chase - allowed India a little bit of leeway, considering they were playing with just five specialist bowlers. Rawal, who topscored with 122, her second ODI century, played the role of sixth bowler, and even picked up a maiden World Cup wicket when she dismissed Maddy Green off a miscue.
But all that paled in comparison to what Rawal did with the bat. She and Mandhana overcame a slow start - India only scored 18 in their first six overs - to put together their seventh century stand, the joint-most by an Indian pair in Women's ODIs. They shifted gears effortlessly to raise the century stand in 17.4 overs, with Mandhana and Rawal bringing up their half-centuries off 49 and 75 balls respectively.
Mandhana wasn't up and running until the seventh over when she brought out the sweep at the first sight of spin, against Eden Carson. Seemingly keen on dominating the slow bowlers, she was quick to step out and deposit Carson over wide long-off in her second over.
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Pratika Rawal hit 13 fours and two sixes • AFP/Getty Images
Marathon record holder Chepngetich given three-year ban
(BBC) - WOMEN'S marathon world record-holder
Ruth Chepngetich has been banned for three years after the Kenyan admitted to anti-doping rule violations.
Chepngetich was provisionally suspended in July following a positive test for Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) - a banned diuretic used commonly as a masking agent - on 14 March.
Chepngetich's achievements which pre-date that sample - including her world record time of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds in Chicago in October 2024will still stand.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) had sought a fouryear ban but the 31-year-old's punishment was reduced to three years because she admitted to the violations.
However, the AIU will continue to investigate evidence from Chepngetich's phone which it found indicate "a reasonable suspicion that her positive test may have been intentional" - including messages dating back to 2022.
Brett Clothier, head of the AIU, said: "The case regarding the positive test for HCTZ has been resolved, but the AIU will continue to investigate the suspicious material recovered from Chepngetich's phone to determine if any other violations have occurred."
'Nobody is above the rules'
When interviewed in
April by the AIU, Chepngetich, the first woman to run a marathon in under 2:10, could not provide an explanation for the positive test.
While HCTZ has a minimum reporting level of 20 nanograms per millilitre (ng/ mL) in urine, Chepngetich's sample showed an estimated concentration of 3,800 ng/ mL.
Traces of HCTZ below the minimal reporting level were also identified in a sample collected from Chepngetich two weeks earlier, on 28 February.
At a later interview on 11 July, Chepngetich was presented with the aforementioned suspicious evidence acquired from her phone. In the meantime, contamination had also been disproven by
the AIU.
Chepngetich changed her explanation on 31 July, claiming that she had taken her housemaid's medication - marked as being HCTZafter becoming ill two days before the positive test.
The AIU had "serious reservations about the credibility of the new version of events" and, in the context of the sport's anti-doping rules, such "recklessness" is considered "indirect intent, for which an increased four-year sanction applies".
An automatic one-year reduction was applied after Chepngetich admitted the anti-doping rule violations within the 20 days required.
The three-year ban com-
menced on 19 April - when Chepngetich accepted a voluntary provisional suspension - with the athlete's results, awards, titles, appearance and prize money since 14 March forfeited.
AIU chair David Howman said the case underlined that "nobody is above the rules".
"While disappointing for those who put their trust in this athlete, this is how the system is supposed to work," Howman said.
"The road-running industry should be commended for collectively funding anti-doping efforts capable of uncovering doping violations committed by elite athletes in their events."
Ruth Chepngetich surpassed Ethiopian Tigst Assefa’s previous women’s marathon world record by nearly two minutes at the Chicago Marathon in 2024
Short, Connolly, Zampa guide Australia to series victory in Adelaide
(ESPNCRICINFO)
- MAT-
THEW Short made India pay for sloppy fielding on his BBL home at Adelaide Oval before Cooper Connolly showcased composure at the death as Australia clinched the ODI series on a day where Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma had contrasting fortunes with the bat.
Chasing 265 under lights, after player of the match
Adam Zampa took four wickets with the ball, Australia were in trouble at 132 for 4 before Short and Connolly steadied the ship with a half-century partnership. Short, in his 17th ODI, made a career best 74 off 78 while inexperienced allrounders Connolly and Mitchell Owen helped secure Australia's series triumph on the back of a seven-wicket victory in the first ODI.
There was a late twist with Australia losing three quick wickets, but Connolly's calmness ensured the third ODI in Sydney will be a dead rubber.
The performances of Short, Connolly and Owen will please Australia's hierarchy, looking to build depth with an eye towards the 2027
World Cup. Owen blasted 36 off 23 balls in his debut ODI innings, while Connolly finished 61 not out from 53 balls as Australia reached the target in the 47th over. Connolly had only made 10 runs in three previous ODI innings, but has shown a knack of performing in big moments in his fledgling domestic career.
Even though they fought to the end, it's been a disappointing return for India in the 50-over format in a shaky start to Shubman Gill's ODI captaincy reign.
After being sent in under sunny skies at the Adelaide Oval, India - sticking with the same XI - could not quite get going despite teasing on several occasions with Rohit
and Shreyas Iyer threatening with a 118-run third-wicket partnership.
For the first time in his legendary ODI career, Kohli has fallen for consecutive ducks but Rohit fared much better with 73 off 97 balls as he overtook Sourav Ganguly into third place on India's ODI runs list.
Australia's trio of quicks
conjured movement off the surface, with swing bowler Xavier Bartlett proving an inspired selection having replaced a resting Nathan Ellis.
After Josh Hazlewood bowled without reward in his opening spell, Bartlett rocked India's top order with the dismissals of Gill and Kohli in the seventh over.
Bartlett and legspinner
Zampa claimed seven wickets between them, but Hazlewood again was the standout despite not taking a wicket after conceding just 29 runs from 10 overs.
After a new-ball assault in Perth warmed the hearts of Australia's hierarchy ahead of the Ashes, Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc continued their strong start to the international summer with probing bowling.
Hazlewood started with two maidens in a seven-over burst and particularly troubled Rohit, but was left frustrated after two unsuccessful reviews.
There has been a lot of pressure on Rohit with his future uncertain as India start building towards the 2027 World Cup.
After a scratchy 8 in Perth, Rohit was almost run out in the third over by a direct throw from Owen only to scramble back just in time. Rohit could do little against the unrelenting accuracy of Hazlewood, who targeted a fuller length with plenty of seam movement on offer. At one stage Rohit went 17 balls without scoring a run against Hazlewood.
Adam Zampa took four wickets • Getty Images
Pierre added to West Indies T20 squad against Bangladesh
CMC – Left-arm spinner
Khary Pierre has been added to the West Indies’ T20I squad to help bolster their bowling unit for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh.
Pierre, who featured in both the two-match Test series in India and the just concluded ODI series against Bangladesh, was named as a replacement following injuries to pacers Shamar Joseph and Jediah Blades. Joseph reported some discomfort in his shoulder
during the first training session ahead of the opening ODI against Bangladesh on Saturday, while Blades suffered a stress fracture to the lower back and will return home to undergo rehabilitation.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) confirmed Pierre’s addition in a press release issued on Thursday.
“Left arm spinner Khary Pierre has been added to the West Indies T20I squad for the three-match series against Bangladesh in Chattogram, starting on Monday
Bangladesh seal 2-1 series win in style
(ESPNCRICINFO) - BANGLADESH blazed a hole through West Indies in a 179-run win in the third ODI, achieving their first series victory since March last year. Saif Hassan and Soumya Sarkar put together a scintillating 176run opening stand which provided the backbone for Bangladesh's 296 for 8. The visitors lasted 30.1 overs, getting bowled out for 117 in reply.
Rishad Hossain claimed three wickets to take his series haul to 12, becoming the first Bangladesh bowler since 2015 to take more than ten wickets in a bilateral ODI series. Nasum Ahmed also picked up three wickets while Tanvir Islam finished with 8-0-16-2.
Bangladesh got off to a fast start, unusual for this series as it was played on mostly dark, cracked, spin-dominated pitches. Sarkar (91 off 86) and Saif (80 off 72) went on a boundary spree that lasted 25 overs. The two stylish batters matched each other stroke for stroke as they raised Bangladesh's second-highest opening partnership in ODIs and the first century opening stand at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in 10 years.
Saif struck Akeal Hosein for two fours in the first over, followed by his first six in the left-arm spinner's next over. That inside-out strike over the covers set off the big-hitting spree. Sarkar
struck Roston Chase for two sixes, both reverse-hits early in the innings.
Saif focused on hitting straight, blazing Chase for his second six before he overturned an on-field lbw decision when he was on 28 and extended his innings.
Justin Greaves broke a sequence of 59 consecutive overs of spin from West Indies, across two matches, and Sarkar welcomed him two fours through fine leg. Saif, then, played the shot of the innings. He charged Greaves who tried to cramp him, but the batter backed himself and the result was a lovely high-elbow loft that went for a big six down the ground.
Saif struck two boundaries in the 16th over, one bringing up Bangladesh's 100-run opening stand, and the next one taking him to his maiden fifty.
Sarkar wasn't done at the other end. He slammed Khary Pierre for a straight six before he went after Motie with a six and four in the 25th over. Just like that he was into the nineties.
Chase ended the opening stand in the 26th over when he had Saif caught at longon. Sarkar was left distraught when he also holed out in the deep, at midwicket, nine short of his fourth ODI ton.
The rest of the Bangladesh batters couldn't quite do justice to the Saif-Sarkar double act. Najmul Hossain Shanto and Towhid Hridoy added 50 runs for the third
wicket. Alick Athanaze took a tremendous catch to remove Shanto, running back from his bowling mark before diving full length.
West Indies had a bit of respite when Hosein removed Mahidul Islam, Rishad and Nasum, all in the 46th over. Still, Bangladesh's 296 - which included a record-equalling 14 sixeslooked like a formidable total on the Dhaka surface.
West Indies never got their chase going, as they ran into Nasum who took their first three wickets. Athanaze fell lbw trying to paddle Nasum in the fifth over, before Ackeem Auguste, playing a similar shot, also fell lbw for a duck.
Brandon King, who struck a six and two fours, was Nasum's third wicket, bowled for 18. Shai Hope fell for just 4, mishitting Tanvir Islam in the 14th over. Sherfane Rutherford became Rishad's first wicket, when he inside-edged one to Mehidy Hasan Miraz at midwicket, having made 12. He had a particularly poor ODI series.
West Indies' lower half caved in steadily. Rishad bowled a full toss and had Chase out for a duck, before trapping Gudakesh Motie for his third. After winning the first ODI and losing the second in a Super Over, the emphatic victory in the third match sealed the series 2-1 for Bangladesh.
October 27.
“Shamar Joseph and Jediah Blades who were originally included in the squad, were ruled out due to injuries,” the release stated.
Guyana secures seat on global anti-doping fund committee
GUYANA has been elected to the Approval Committee of the Fund for the Elimination of Doping in Sport, marking the nation's first successful bid for a leadership position on a significant global anti-doping body.
The election occurred during the 10th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP10) to the International Convention against Doping in Sport, held this week at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport,
Charles Ramson Jr, represented Guyana. According to government officials, the appointment signifies an increased international profile for Guyana within global sports administration.
Guyana will now help oversee and decide on allocating funds for anti-doping projects worldwide through the Fund for the Elimination of Doping in Sport.
Established in 2008, the Fund provides financial and technical support to countries developing anti-doping initiatives, prioritising youth
education, policy advice, and capacity-building.
Since its inception, the Fund has invested more than USD $5 million in over 200 projects globally, with a specific focus on assisting Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
This successful bid coincides with Guyana's inaugural attendance at the conference, positioning the nation as a key voice in shaping future anti-doping strategies for developing sports nations.
Guyana to host WADA-backed anti-doping training for Caribbean region
GUYANA is set to host a three-day regional anti-doping training programme this week, facilitated in partnership with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (Caribbean RADO).
The initiative is intended to strengthen compliance and testing standards across the region.
The Doping Control Officer Training Programme
will run from October 24 to 26, 2025, and is being facilitated locally by the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA). Expert trainers from the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) will lead the sessions.
The workshop will include delegates from ten countries.
The primary objective is to build regional capacity by training participants to execute sample collection processes confidently in ac-
cordance with the World Anti-Doping Code.
The training timing is considered crucial as Caribbean nations prepare for a congested 2026 international sporting calendar that includes the CAC Games in the Dominican Republic, the Commonwealth Games in Scotland, and the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal.
The GOA will host the opening ceremony for the programme today at Olympic House in Liliendaal.
Final preliminary round set to take place this weekend in BMC Tourney
- Latif and Samaroo only centurions thus far
THE last eight preliminary round matches are scheduled for this weekend of the 2025 ‘BIG MAN CRICKET’ Over-40s T20 tournament, with unbeaten Albion Masters, North Soesdyke Masters and Vintage Strikers already booking their spots in the play-offs of tournament in which only Richard Latif (166) and V Samaroo (131) scored centuries.
Following this weekend’s league stage, four teams from each pool will advance to the quarterfinals, leading to the semifinals and ultimately the championship match.
Albion Masters, North Soesdyke Masters and Vintage Strikers are leading the points table in their respective pools.
Both Albion and Jai Hind have completed their league fixtures, with Jai Hind Jaguars suffering just a single loss against Albion, placing them in the top two positions in Pool A. Meanwhile, Ex Berbice Police have had a challenging run, narrowly losing all four of their matches; they will need to win both of their remaining games this weekend to have a chance at qualification.
The competition for the fourth spot will be fierce among Enterprise Star Sports, Legend Rangers, and Ex Berbice Police, as Blairmont Hunters, with three wins, appear to have locked in their spot, though they aim to secure the third position with a strong performance in their final match.
The most anticipated match this weekend will feature Everest Masters taking on West Bank Warriors at Canal on Saturday.
Both teams have faced two defeats, but Everest still has two matches to play. North Soesdyke and Vintage Strikers have already clinched their spots in the next round, making their upcoming clash significant for final positioning, as both teams boast impressive net run rates.
Albion Masters, North Soesdyke Masters and Vintage Strikers are leading the points table in their respective pools.
Both Albion and Jai Hind have completed their league fixtures, with Jai Hind Jaguars suffering just a single loss against Albion, placing them in the top two positions in Pool A.
Meanwhile, Ex Berbice Police have had a challenging run, narrowly losing all four of their matches; they will need to win both of their remaining games this weekend to have a chance at qualification.
The competition for the fourth spot will be fierce among Enterprise Star Sports, Legend Rangers, and Ex Berbice Police, as Blairmont Hunters, with three wins, appear to have locked in their spot, though they aim to secure the third position with a strong performance in their final match.
The most anticipated match this weekend will feature Everest Masters taking on West Bank Warriors at Canal on Saturday.
Both teams have faced two defeats, but Everest still has two matches to play. North Soesdyke and Vintage Strikers have already clinched their spots in the next round, mak-
Richard Latif has made the highest score of 166
ing their upcoming clash significant for final positioning, as both teams boast impressive net run rates.
This Weekend’s Fixtures: Saturday, Oct 25th - 13.00 hrs. Teams -Pool A Grounds
13.00 hrs. Legend Rangers vs GT Royals Jai Hind
13.00 hrs. Enterprise Star Sports vs Blairmont Hunters Blairmont
Round 7- Saturday, Oct 25th Teams- Pool B
10.00 hrs. Vintage Strikers vs VNS CC Police
13.30 hrs. Vintage Strikers vs North Soesdyke Masters Police
13.00 hrs. Everest Masters vs West Bank Warriors Canal
Round 8- Sunday, Oct 26th Teams-Pool A
13.00 hrs. GT Royals vs Ex Berbice Police Jai hind
Round 8- Sunday, Oct 26th Teams-Pool B
10.00 hrs. Everest Masters vs Black Hawks Enterprise
13.30 hrs. Enterprise Star Sports vs Legend Rangers Enterprise matches; they will need to win both of their games this weekend to have a chance at qualification.
Peter Lewis Contracting and Asphalting Services, Diamond Fire and General Insurance, Ready-mix Concrete and Permaul Trading and Distribution are the sponsors of this tournament which has attracted some former West Indies players in Sewnarine Chattergoon, Davindra Bishoo, Assad Fudadin and Royston Crandon. (Sean Devers)
PMTC teams wing out to St Lucia for goodwill tournament
THE Port Mourant Training Centre (PMTC) Male and Female volleyball club departed Guyana on Thursday to represent Guyana in a Club goodwill championship.
The 24-member contingent will return on the October 27. Captain Devendra
Latchman representing the males and captain Rennia Liverpool representing the females along with coach Levi Nedd are positive that the PMTC will represent Guyana with high standards.
The teams are set to come up against U-23 nationals in St Lucia.
Petra presents prizes to ExxonMobil U14 school football 2025 champions
EXXONMOBIL
Guyana on Thursday delivered on their promise and presented the winning schools of the 2025 edition of the ExxonMobil Boys and Girls football competition with their prizes.
The team were allowed to choose a project or items the money could be spent on for the school.
The top schools were provided with all types of sports gear, water dispenser, television, water coolers, stationary, uniforms, football boots, text books and some of the schools fabricated goal post for their schools.
The winning teams got items totaling $400,000, with $200,000 for second place, $100,000 for third and $75,000 for fourth place schools in both categories.
Petra Co-director Troy Mendonca says the ceremony signifies the end of an amazing competition.
“It was hard work from the inception, from meeting with sponsors to coordinating the tournament, all the different logistics, imagine having over 50 teams at this facility for three Saturday’s, that would have not been possi-
ble without the support of the kids, sponsor, Ms. Latiff and her crew… on behalf of the directors, we really want to thank everyone that was involved,” he said.
The director said the support of ExxonMobil goes beyond co-operate social responsibility but play a very vital role in the lives of all the boys and girls in the tournament. Community relation advisers of ExxonMobil Ryan Hoppie said this is another demonstration of their investment.
“Over a decade, we have been committed to youth development, educational initiatives as well as community investment across Guyana, not just in Georgetown, this tournament reaches, 8 regions across Guyana, and we are very excited that over 50 school teams were allowed to be this year apart of the tournament.”
He says they have ensured that in everything for the youth is balanced.
“When we talk about the development in sports we are talking about balance, we are talking about ensuring we balance sports with education because we know that
both sports and other form of education are important and necessary for the develop-
ment of our young people.” Chase academy won the Boys segment of the
competition after beating Three Miles Secondary in the finals with Bartica sec-
ondary claiming the win in the Girls competition after defeating Chase Academy.
The male and Female Port Mourant Training Centre teams
Guyana secures seat on global anti-doping fund
Justin Greaves resisted but had to walk back
The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, represented Guyana
Petra and ExxonMobil Officials with the winning schools (Japhet Savory Photo)
