




‘Any
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–– President Ali says, points to govt’s plans to negotiate with private tertiary institutions to ensure affordable rates for all
WITH the University of Guyana (UG) receiving over 20,000 applications for the academic year, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali has announced that the government will begin engaging private tertiary institutions to ensure students are not left behind or left out.
Speaking at a public meeting last week, President Ali said the administration is engaging with all private universities in the country, including new medical schools and international institutions, to discuss ways of supporting students.
“We have taken a decision that every single private university, all of the universities, whether it’s the new medical schools, whether it is international universities that we are going to negotiate with them, similar so that no child who wants a university education will be left without an education,” the President stated.
He noted that given the
‘We
number of applications to UG, alternative pathways must be considered and provided.
“We have trained more than 82,000 Guyanese, almost 40,000 alone, on the GOAL scholarship programme,” he said.
Starting with the 2025/26 academic year, tuition at the University of Guyana became officially free for all students, including those pursuing Diplomas, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD degrees.
This policy reflects a major PPP/C manifesto commitment fulfilled, designed to make tertiary education more accessible to students across UG’s campuses and online platforms.
The initiative took effect on January 1, 2025, with significant funding allocated in the 2025 national budget to support it.
Prior to full implementation, a phased approach was announced in 2024 to
transition into free university education, addressing existing student loan repayments first and then fully abolishing tuition fees.
The government has stressed that this initiative is a planned, structured effort contrasting with previous administrations which increased fees instead of providing free tertiary education.
The Head of State also highlighted the government’s efforts in expanding educational access through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL scholarship programme.
The programme initially promised 20,000 scholarships but has since expanded, distributing over 39,000 scholarships covering certificate to PhD-level programs. This initiative enhances access to education and lifelong learning opportunities for all Guyanese, irrespective of economic background.
The GOAL programme
partners with reputable institutions such as the University of the West Indies Open Campus, University of the Southern Caribbean, Indira Gandhi National Open University, and others, offering flexible
timelines from two months to three years.
The government also plans to modernise and expand technical and vocational training, implement digital and AI-powered personalised learning strategies, and increase financial support for students, including school transportation grants and expanded cash support programmes for families.
–– Jagdeo assures citizens; emphasises plans to further enhance disposable income of local households, address cost-of-living issues
MAKING life more comfortable for all and creating even more opportunities for citizens are at the heart of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C’s) plan for the next five years in office, as their agenda will focus on keeping essentials affordable while further expanding job creation, housing and social services.
With global prices still elevated because of global conditions, the Government of Guyana has taken real steps to absorb the brunt of these impacts.
In spite of the volatile global energy markets, the government has absorbed
significant portions of the costs of fuel, resulting in stable utility rates, among other crucial benefits.
However, Guyanese could expect electricity rates to be slashed even further with the government’s plan to bring the gas-to-energy project on stream.
In Essequibo, the government is already investing in solar plants which will lead to the residents’ rates being cut by 50 per cent.
GETTING FOOD PRICES DOWN
Lowering food prices and boosting food production is also on the agenda for the government’s next term. Although agriculture has been revitalised, the local concerns about food affordability is ongoing within the national discourse.
Some food prices from field to market are hiked and this is a focus that the government wants to address.
“We hear the concerns
This was disclosed on Saturday by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C’s) General Secretary and Guyana’s Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo during an election rally in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).
of people, but if we put more money in people’s pockets because of better jobs and giving poor families help, and we also help them, those who don’t have a house, to build a house, and we then work at reducing cost and subsidising many of the items, as we have done, then many of those families will get a better life, and that’s what we’re about,” Dr Jagdeo said.
The government’s strategy involves a combination of interventions to place more money into people’s pockets and support families.
Since assuming office in 2020, the government has spent billions of dollars to reverse the more than 300 taxes that were put in place by the previous government.
Moreover, the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant has been restored.
In fact, this year 205,000 children benefitted from the cash grant, which has been increased to $50,000 coupled with the $5,000 uniform allow-
ance.
In the education sector, there has been much emphasis to provide universal education and digitising learning materials.
The school-feeding programme is another initiative that has become a vital pillar in the nation’s education sector. The community-based programme targets attendance, learning outcomes, and nutritional status.
This programme has produced significant benefits as attendance rose by roughly four per cent, stunting declined in participating schools, and academic scores improved significantly for those receiving meals.
Dr Jagdeo said: “We need better and more jobs for our people across the country, including in this region [Region Two], and I promise you that you will get those jobs here in Region Two. We need to continue taking away cost from our people.
“We put more money in the pockets of many people, the pensioners, the public servants, and that will continue. The pensioners will continue
to get better benefits. They will continue to get the free water that APNU took away. The public servants will get increase[s]. Those on public assistance will get increase. There will be cash grants to families.
“We will make sure that you don’t have to pay for your children’s education. We’ve already started that process. The ‘Because We Care’ grant will be increased, every child will get a transportation grant every year, so we’ll assist the parents for them to send them to school; school-feeding programmes for our children, so they can get a nutritious meal.
“We have to get the best health care here; you know that we are building a new hospital and that will provide quality care, so you don’t have to spend your money on health care. You don’t have to spend your money on your children’s education. We will lower electricity price across the country when the gas to energy comes.”
With digital tools, student-centred support systems, and an emphasis on balance and well-being,
the education landscape is transforming, and the results are starting to show.
This year, Guyana recorded its best overall performance, with the pass rate moving from 49 per cent in 2024 to 63 per cent in 2025.
Additionally, access to education has become easier for many, especially single parents, full-time workers or those living in far-flung areas with the launch of the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL).
Since its launch in 2021, more than 30,000 Guyanese have received GOAL scholarships, with over 70 per cent of them being women.
He said: “Whether you’re Amerindian, Indian, Portuguese, or you’re Afro-Guyanese or mixed, we [are] going to push you very hard to be educated, to get the scholarship to study. We’re going to push you to own a home. We’re going to help you get a job.
We’re going to help you start a small business, because we’re establishing a development bank.”
A HIGH-PROFILE site visit to the building formerly used as the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) Command Centre is scheduled for Wednesday, as part of the ongoing 2020 election fraud trial.
The defendants include People’s National Congress/ Reform (PNC/R) member Carol Smith-Joseph; former Health Minister under the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) government Volda Lawrence; former GECOM Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield; former Deputy CEO Roxanne Myers; and former Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo.
Also charged are GECOM staffers Sheffern February, Enrique Livan, Denise Babb-Cummings, and Michelle Miller.
They are collectively facing 19 conspiracy charges in connection with alleged electoral fraud. All the defendants have been granted cash bail following their not guilty pleas.
The site visit will allow the defendants, along with lawyers of the prosecution and defence teams, to tour the Command Centre, which was housed at the Ashmin’s Building, located at the corner of High and Hadfield Streets in Georgetown.
The purpose of the visit is to provide context and clarify operational procedures relevant to key elements of the trial, which centres on allegations of electoral fraud during the tabulation of results from the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections.
The site visit is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.
“There will be no questioning or cross-examination—just pointing out positions, like ‘who was standing where,’” lead prosecutor Darshan Ramdhani, KC, told the court, while requesting that the day’s proceedings be recorded by a videographer from the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty, who is presiding over the matter, noted that she passed by the building last week and observed that some work appeared to be underway.
Both she and Ramdhani agreed that it would be best to conduct the site visit now, before the building’s owners make any significant alterations.
“I don’t know if they’ve
done so already, but we’ll see soon when we get there,” Ramdhani added.
While defence attorney Eusi Anderson raised no objection to the site visit itself, he expressed concern over the summary of the visit’s protocol as outlined by Ramdhani, stating it did not reflect what had been previously agreed upon.
“That’s my main concern,” he said, noting that there was still some disagreement over who would be allowed to be present during the visit.
He stated: “It is critical to determine who will be able to say where what was, and I think one of the things we were haggling about…
We formed the view that Lowenfield — who, to my view, was the administrative head of that building — being a defendant, cannot be compelled to testify or point out [anything] while he is there.”
He said they concluded that the most appropriate and responsible person to assist with that task would likely be the most neutral GECOM official, the Chairwoman, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh. Regarding those permitted to be present during the site visit, Ramdhani indicated that, based on his understanding of the law governing visits to the locus in quo,
neutral individuals or those with vested interests should not be part of the exercise.
He maintained that such persons have no role in a site visit, as determinations about credibility and bias are still pending.
In his view, the only individuals who should be present are those witnesses who have already provided evidence in the proceedings, as their testimony forms the basis for the visit.
Those who have testified thus far include Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Sonia Parag; Rosalinda Rasul; Kian Jabour of the A New and United Guyana (ANUG) party, and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Edgar Thomas.
During the 2020 elections, Parag served as a party agent for the PPP/C, Rasul participated as an observer with the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Assistant Commissioner Thomas was the Commander of Police Division 4 'A', and Kian Jabour acted as an agent for ANUG.
Magistrate McGusty agreed with Ramdhani’s position, noting that only individuals who have already given evidence should be part of the site visit.
The magistrate clarified that during the site visit, the defendants would not be
permitted to give evidence directly.
However, they could communicate any concerns to their attorneys, who would then be able to raise those matters with the court.
Anderson informed the court that he did not wish to make use of the police videographer’s services, stating that his clients have no trust in the police.
“I wish to put on record that I and my clients… we do not repose much confidence in the Guyana Police Force in respect of their impartiality, or whatever functions the prosecution is requesting that the police perform,” the lawyer stated.
Magistrate McGusty weighed in on the issue, assuring the court that all aspects of the site visit would be conducted in her presence, along with that of both the defence and prosecution at-
torneys.
A brief exchange followed between Ramdhani and Anderson. Ramdhani took issue with Anderson’s remarks, stating that it was inappropriate to make such a sweeping statement about the entire police force.
In response, Anderson asserted that he has a duty to represent his client’s interests, regardless of whether Ramdhani considers his comments appropriate or not.
At that point, Ramdhani referenced Rule Two, Subrule Five of Guyana’s Legal Practitioners Act, which stipulates that attorneys must refrain from making irresponsible allegations of corruption or partiality that could undermine or erode public confidence in legal institutions.
Prosecutors have argued that the Command Centre played a central role in the alleged attempts to manipulate the vote count in Region Four — the largest voting district — by presenting doctored spreadsheets and bypassing established tabulation procedures.
Defence attorneys have consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that their clients followed directives and acted within their legal remit.
The prosecution has argued that physically examining the layout and equipment at the Command Centre would assist the court in understanding how events unfolded during the controversial tabulation period.
Meanwhile, Magistrate McGusty was prompted to issue a stern warning to PNC/R member Smith-Joseph following a boisterous outburst in court during a legal discussion between the magistrate and counsel from both sides.
The discussion focused on the prosecution’s attempt to tender an additional statement from Dr. Josh Kanhai, a former Executive Member of
The New Movement (TNM), which was undated and reportedly given two to three years ago.
The defence strongly objected, contending that admitting the statement at this stage of the trial would be prejudicial and unfair to the defendants, particularly given that their defence strategy has already been prepared.
In response, Magistrate McGusty instructed both parties to file written submissions on the matter and directed that the statement be “shown” to the defence.
Following Smith-Joseph’s disruption in court, the Chief Magistrate firmly informed the defendant’s attorney, Nigel Hughes, that such behaviour would not be tolerated moving forward.
The trial resumes this morning, with the magistrate expected to rule on whether the media will be permitted to attend the site visit.
It is the prosecution’s case that each defendant had a “critical role” to play in the wilful endeavour to inflate votes for the APNU+AFC, and deflate votes for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). The prosecution is expected to call approximately 70 witnesses.
In the weeks that followed the March 2, 2020, vote, Guyana’s judiciary was inundated with multiple applications and appeals filed by various political actors over the electoral process.
The saga lasted five months before a national recount, led by GECOM and a delegation from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), confirmed the PPP/C’s victory and ultimately led to the swearing-in of President Dr Irfaan Ali on August 2, 2020.
The recount confirmed that the PPP/C won the elections with 233,336 votes against the APNU+AFC coalition’s 217,920.
The initial elections results, announced by former CEO Lowenfield, claimed an APNU+AFC victory.
The APNU+AFC coalition received 171,825 votes, while the PPP/C received 166,343 votes, according to Lowenfield’s election report.
Following the PPP/C’s return to office in August 2020, criminal charges were filed against the defendants.
GECOM made the decision to terminate the contracts of Lowenfield, Myers, and Mingo in August 2021, after the allegations of fraud came to light.
AS Guyana approaches the pivotal September 1, 2025 elections, a clear distinction has emerged in the political landscape.
While six political parties have been approved to contest the elections, only one—the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)—has demonstrated a serious commitment to policy-driven campaigning and has presented a comprehensive vision for Guyana’s future.
The PPP/C’s 2025-2030 manifesto stands as a testament to thoughtful governance planning. Central to their platform is job creation through targeted support for productive sectors, including agriculture, mining, and forestry.
The party has outlined specific initiatives such as establishing a development bank to finance small and medium enterprises, opening 100,000 acres of arable land for cultivation and expanding drainage and irrigation systems. These are not vague promises but detailed policy prescriptions rooted in economic reality.
In stark contrast, the opposition continues to peddle what can only be described as fiscal fantasy. The APNU’s promise of $1 million to every Guyanese citizen would cost over $800 billion annually—far exceeding the entire $511 billion national budget.
As General Secretary Dr Bharrat Jag-
deo astutely observed, these are “wild promises that have no basis in economic reality.” The opposition has failed to present any coherent macroeconomic framework, taxation policy, or sustainable funding mechanism for their grandiose pledges.
The PPP/C’s campaign launch showcased the party’s commitment to youth empowerment, featuring 27 candidates under age 25, including one who is only 18 years old. This is not tokenism, but a reflection of genuine investment in young Guyanese through policies such as the GOAL scholarship programme that has benefitted nearly 30,000 citizens, and free university education.
The party’s digital-transformation agenda includes implementing a national e-ID system, introducing an AI assistant called “AskGov” for 24/7 government services, and investing in tech parks and innovation hubs. These forward-thinking initiatives demonstrate a party that understands modern governance requirements.
While the PPP/C presents unified, detailed policies, the opposition landscape remains fragmented and policy-light.
The formal re-engagement between APNU and the AFC came only after their coalition collapsed, and even now, their collaboration appears more about power-sharing than policy coordination.
Norton’s pledge to “restore honesty to Guyana” rings hollow when his party cannot even present honest budget calculations.
Newer parties such as the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) have been exposed for producing manifestos showing “significant plagiarism” from other parties, particularly the PPP’s, manifesto. As investment chief Dr Peter Ramsaroop noted, WIN’s document represents “a combination of other people’s ideas,” lacking the competence to implement stolen policies.
The PPP/C campaigns on achievements, not just aspirations. Over 60,000 new jobs have been created since 2020, reversing the devastating job losses under APNU+AFC rule. Public servants have received wage increases, old-age pensions have doubled, and more than 40,000 families now own house lots. The party’s $9.6 billion investment in Region Two alone demonstrates commitment to agricultural development and infrastructure.
The opposition’s track record tells a different story. The APNU+AFC administration is remembered for firing workers, imposing over 300 taxes, and mismanaging more than $400 billion in public funds. Their promise of a “good life for everyone” in 2015 became five years of economic decline and sectoral collapse.
As Guyana’s electorate prepares to vote, the choice could not be clearer. The PPP/C offers detailed policies grounded in economic reality, a proven track record of delivery, and a vision that encompasses job creation, digital transformation, youth empowerment, and inclusive development. Their massive campaign launch drawing over 30,000 supporters reflects genuine, popular enthusiasm for substantive governance.
The opposition, meanwhile, continues to offer recycled rhetoric, financially impossible promises and fragmented leadership. They represent a return to the failed policies that Guyanese decisively rejected in 2020.
In this election, voters face a fundamental question: Do they want serious policy-making or populist pandering?
The PPP/C’s comprehensive manifesto and policy-driven campaign provides the answer. As General Secretary Jagdeo noted, “The internet does not vote, people do”—and the people of Guyana deserve leaders who take policy seriously, not parties that mistake volume for vision.
The path to election has revealed that only the PPP/C possesses the policy depth, proven competence and clear planning necessary to lead Guyana into its next chapter of development and prosperity.
Dear Editor,
IN recent public discourse, confusion has arisen around the concept of wealth—particularly in distinguishing between accounting, economic, and social definitions. I, therefore, wish to clarify these distinctions and contextualise a recent statement made by President Irfaan Ali of Guyana.
President Irfaan Ali stated: “We have seen around us countries that made the mistake of treating oil, of treating natural resources, revenue as wealth… revenue generated from natural resources must be invested to create wealth.”
Accounting Perspective: In accounting terms, wealth is typically defined as net assets. This is calculated using
the formula: Assets – Liabilities = Net Assets.
Assets are considered resources that can be used to generate future economic benefits. Financial ratios such as the asset turnover ratio are used to measure how efficiently firms utilise their assets to generate revenue.
Economic Perspective: From an economic standpoint, wealth is defined by
value creation. This refers to the process of using resources to produce goods, services, and innovations that contribute to economic growth.
Wealth creation in this context is dynamic and focuses on how effectively assets are deployed to generate new value over time.
Social Perspective: Socially, wealth is associated with quality of life and col-
lective well-being. It encompasses access to education, healthcare, social equity, and community resilience. In this view, wealth is not merely about ownership or production, but about how resources improve lives and foster sustainable development.
President Ali’s remarks highlight the importance of understanding wealth beyond its accounting definition.
His emphasis on investing resource revenues to create wealth aligns with both economic and social interpretations—focusing on long-term value creation and societal advancement. Clarifying these distinctions is essential for informed public debate and effective policy-making.
Sincerely, Joel Bhagwandin
BOTH Amanza Walton-Desir (AMD) and Roysdale Forde withdrew from the leadership race at the last PNC congress. Forde was unrestrained in talking about the illegitimate dimensions of the congress that made a legal and proper challenge to Norton impossible.
For a devastating critique of the conspiracy listen or watch Forde on the Freddie Kissoon Show two weeks before the congress. If anyone watched that episode, they would have known that Forde was going from the PNC. He and AMD were gone.
Forde was inactive and invisible. Once the legal face of the PNC, his name has been missing in any litigation involving the PNC since the congress last year. AMD moved on. She now has her own party. But out of the blue, Forde showed up and is on the PNC’s nomination list. Obviously, he will be a parliamentarian.
Why after such painful humiliation, Forde has stuck with the Norton hegemony? Because he is thinking in a certain direction that unfortunately AMD should have gone into. Either Forde or AMD would have become the PNC leader last year. I thought it would have been AMD. The woman factor would have favoured her. She has a dynamic style that Forde lacks.
Forde is no fool. He is thinking about 2026 and the next PNC congress. Even if Norton resorts to unprecedented bullyism and refuses to step down, the pressure on him to go will be enormous and that is a mild word. It is not humanly possible for a leader to face extreme humiliation at the poll and survive. It
does not happen in world politics.
The main instinct to force Norton to go will take the form of saving the PNC. The argument thrown at Norton will be simple – the PNC is a great historical institution which is part of the Guyanese psyche and we must not let it wither away. This will be the rallying cry of those that want Norton out and it will be persuasive among die-hard PNC supporters.
Norton will become wildly recalcitrant and insist he is not leaving. But it will only be a matter of time. If Azruddin Mohamed picks up votes from areas that have voted for the PNC since 1957, then Norton may not even survive politically for even a few months. Norton is one of the world’s most depressed politicians at the moment.
He has seen how Mohamed has embarrassed Tacuma Ogunseye, David Hinds, Mark Benschop and Rickford Burke. Those men have been bombarding African Guyanese the past five years with appeals to “stick with your own.”
It has a relentless preaching from those four men of “stick with your own.” But African Guyanese have moved over to Mohamed and the flock includes people who had an intimate relation with Black Power ideology, the biology of the PNC and the emotions of the Hinds bandwagon.
Norton should be careful with stress because the next month will be a nightmare for him. Once Mohamed takes seats from PNC constituencies, Norton may die an instant political death.
If he goes sooner than later, Forde is the
only recognisable name along with Ganesh Mahipaul to make a move. And this explains why Forde accepted his mistreatment and stayed.
There is Elson Low. But he has been relegated to the backburner since there was a subtle movement inside the PNC to have him made the consensus candidate after the PNC insisted that if there was to be a consensus candidate it must come from within the PNC.
The way Nigel Hughes was pressuring Norton to step down, Low saw the opportunity to make a move. Since Low did not come out and openly renounce any claim to be the consensus factor, then cat eat his dinner the same way Jermaine Figuera got sidelined after he shook the President’s hand.
AMD did not display astuteness. If she had stayed, I think she would have beaten Forde. I don’t think Mahipaul has sufficient delegates to become the PNC leader. There is
a precedent in CARICOM that AMD can turn to. Bruce Golding in Jamaica left the PNP and formed his own party. He was then accepted back into the PNP as leader.
AMD may move in that direction because I doubt she will get a seat. Her prime ministerial candidate is a wayside preacher who will have to pray every hour of the day for divine intervention for AMD to get a parliamentary seat.
Once she is embarrassed by the lack of votes, it will be hard for her to find acceptance back into the PNC. For all intent and purpose, AMD will leave politics after 2026 and Roysdale Forde will become the new leader of the PNC.
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.
Dear Editor,
IN this era of unprecedented social and economic transformation, it was refreshing to hear President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s pledge to build an economy that lifts all Guyanese through targeted social support initiatives during a Facebook Live last Sunday.
His plan to cut the cost of electricity by 50 per cent and cooking gas by more than 75 per cent, while providing subsidies to GPL, shows the clear intent of his government to address the cost of living over the next five years. These initiatives, coupled with his proposals to expand social safety nets and enhance access to essential services such as health, education, water, and housing, will also serve to improve the standard of living for every Guyanese, especially those from the working class.
Furthermore, the various initiatives outlined by the President will undoubtedly build on the success of successive PPP/C governments since 1992, as pointed out by Delisle Worrell in his recent research, which analysed Guyana’s development from 1990 to 2021.
In his study, published this year in the book “Economic Challenges in the Early 21st Century Guyana,” Delisle Worrell chronicles Guyana’s journey from being a country with one of the lowest Human Development Index (HDI) scores in the Caribbean to achieving an improved score in 2021.
According to Worrell, the country registered continuous development at a rate that exceeded countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as most developed small states. This performance was attributed to improvements in health, education, and average income, which
contributed 50 per cent, 24 per cent, and 10 per cent, respectively, to the improvement in the HDI score. Even more commendable was the fact that Guyana was one of only two countries in Central America and the Caribbean that improved its HDI score between 2019 and 2021. This improvement occurred at a time when the HDI score for Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the global average, declined by 1.8 per cent and 0.9 per cent, respectively.
Editor, these developments were not accidental but due to the successful implementation of ‘People Centred’ policies outlined in the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRSP) I and II and National Development Strategy (NDS) by successive PPP/C governments. Our development from 1990 to 2021 also provides important context for President Ali’s pledges, as it demonstrates that Guyana can achieve
meaningful gains when appropriate policies are developed and implemented. To succeed, our leaders must be able to match generous promises with appropriate policies and actions. If not, we risk repeating the past, similar to when the PNC government promised to ‘feed, clothe, and house the nation by 1976’ but instead transformed our country into one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere because it failed to match these grand promises with policies and actions.
Unlike the leaders of the opposition parties contesting the 2025 elections, the President and the political party he represents can be trusted to fulfil the promises he made last Sunday.
Yours sincerely, Kevin Persaud
RETURNING to her political roots with renewed conviction, former Opposition Member of Parliament, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, is standing firmly alongside the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), bringing a message of experience, unity, and progress to thousands across Region Six.
Over the past week, Chandan-Edmond addressed energised crowds at three major community rallies, spanning Fyrish to Tannery Dam, and from New Amsterdam to Rose Hall.
Her message was clear: under President Irfaan Ali’s leadership, the PPP/C has not only made promises but delivered tangible progress that is transforming lives across Guyana’s coast and hinterland alike.
Chandan-Edmond described her homecoming as more than symbolic; it is an act of service rooted in her deep love for Guyana and its people.
“Returning home has always been my mission, and I am proud to stand here, welcomed with open arms, to continue this purposeful work,” she told residents gathered at Fyrish.
At each rally stop, she reminded citizens of the stark contrast between years of neglect and the current wave of development sweeping Region Six.
“Look at Tannery Dam. Not long ago, this community’s roads were nothing but mud tracks—now they are paved and accessible because of the PPP/C. Today, families here have running water, better roads, and better opportunities,” she said to loud applause.
In New Amsterdam,
Chandan-Edmond drew sharp comparisons between the PPP/C’s track record and the lack of progress under the Opposition-controlled Mayor and City Council (MCC).
“When it comes to roads, housing, jobs—anything developmental—it’s the PPP/C government that has delivered. The MCC, under PNC control, has done nothing substantial for the town’s advancement,” she asserted.
She also highlighted transformative achievements under President Ali’s administration, from modernised infrastructure and upgraded health services to improved educational access and expanded digital connectivity.
“Development under the PPP/C is not just talk— it is visible reality. And it is people-driven and community-focused,” she said.
Addressing the crowd in Rose Hall, Chandan-Edmond zeroed in on the costof-living crisis affecting Guyanese households, praising the government’s decisive steps to support families.
She pointed to increased wages, cash grants, subsidies, and targeted relief measures
that have helped shield the most vulnerable amid global economic pressures.
“Guyana is advancing in ways we could only dream of—digitally, economically, socially—and every village, town, and community must share in that progress,” she told the gathering.
‘ONE
As the country edges closer to the next general election, Chandan-Edmond’s rallying cry is straightforward: build on the progress, reject empty promises, and vote for continued transformation.
“With the PPP/C, our roads are done, our children have better schools, our communities have water and services they never had before,” she declared. “One good term deserves another. On September 1st, let us stand proud, raise our voices, and re-elect President Ali to continue this journey of progress.”
Residents from across Region Six turned out in strong numbers, welcoming Chandan-Edmond’s clear and compelling case for the PPP/C’s re-election.
For many, her return symbolises dedication to the people’s real needs and a vision for a brighter, more prosperous Guyana.
FINDINGS from a rapid inventory of one of the most pristine and least-explored corners of the Amazon Basin were presented at the Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit in Georgetown, Guyana.
An international team of scientists and Indigenous experts surveyed the 1.5 million-hectare Acarai-Corentyne Corridor, in southeastern Guyana, discovering more than 30 species new to science and dozens more never before recorded in the country.
Guyana, a small country on the Caribbean coast of South America, has succeeded in preserving 99 per cent of its rainforests.
Many of these roadless expanses, however, have not been explored and their biodiversity hardly known.
Stretching more than half the length of the country, the Acarai-Corentyne Corridor was one such ‘unexplored biodiversity hotspot’ at the time of the November 2024 expedition.
The large multidisciplinary team documented
over 600 species of plants and over 1215 species of vertebrates.
Led by the Field Museum of Natural History and Guyana’s Protected Areas Commission, the biodiversity survey deployed scientific field techniques and technologies like environmental DNA sampling alongside time-tested Indigenous collection methods like poison vine fishing.
Also, the team documented local ecological knowledge in collaboration with the nearby Indigenous communities of Masakeñarî, Parabara and Cashew Island, recognizing the long-standing Indigenous stewardship of this landscape.
The team’s detailed biological, geological, and cultural findings serve as a foundational document for conservation policy, scientific research, and community-based stewardship in the region.
The summit in Georgetown also launched the Global Biodiversity Alliance, a group of countries, international organisations, private
sector representatives, and local communities aiming for innovative solutions to biodiversity conservation.
The Alliance aims to unlock greater biodiversity financing through better tools to monitor and measure biodiversity. One such tool is a dashboard built by Yale University’s Map of Life, which showcases the results of the Acarai-Corentyne Corridor rapid inventory combined with advanced modelling of species across South America.
Though this landscape was unexplored scientifically, Indigenous experts from nearby communities have travelled its rivers and rapids for generations. Their input shaped much of the research,
from the selection of campsites to the interpretation of results.
“For an outside scientist like me, the biodiversity of this area was a real black box,” said botanist Dr. Nigel Pitman. “For local experts, its plants and animals are incredibly well known.” Expedition lead and ichthyologist Dr. Lesley de Souza noted, “the team discovered dozens of potential new species of fishes, some of which were only collected using a vine fishing technique suggested by Indigenous experts. The idea emerged after documenting ancient petroglyphs on a travel day, including some with fishing designs, and turned out to be far more effective than
the typical research gear used by biologists.”
Residents of nearby Indigenous communities from the Waiwai, Wapishana and Trio peoples have norms for how often the technique is used – only for special occasions, and always with collective participation of the village –that helps ensure sustainable use of natural resources.
“The holistic perspective within this rich system of local ecological knowledge includes detailed observations of seasonal changes and the interrelations between species across habitat types built over generations,” said anthropologist Elliott Oakley.
“That allows local communities to notice small variations in the forest, an important cultural asset that also holds great potential for collaborative approaches to research and conservation efforts.”
The findings bolster national proposals to expand Guyana’s system of protected areas, particularly in the country’s remote southeast.
The Acarai–Corentyne Corridor is one of the last
vast, intact forest landscapes on the planet — an ecological treasure now positioned to serve as a global model for climate-smart, community-driven conservation.
“Guyana is redefining what modern conservation looks like,” said Mr. Robert Persaud, Chair of the Protected Areas Commission Board of Directors. “Through cutting-edge research and inclusive partnerships, we are safeguarding natural capital for all Guyanese and for the world.”
The inventory was supported by the Walder Foundation, Andes Amazon Fund, and Bobolink Foundation, alongside logistical and institutional backing from government agencies: Guyana Protected Areas Commission, Guyana Environmental Protection Agency, Guyana Defence Force and the Office of the President.
Key partners were Conservation International, Frankfurt Zoological Society, South Rupununi Conservation Society and the University of Guyana. (DPI)
By Bebi Shafeah Oosman
ONCE considered a firm
APNU+AFC stronghold, the community of Tannery in New Amsterdam is now throwing its support behind the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), citing long awaited development and an end to years of neglect.
Residents said their decision to back the PPP/C government is based on tangible improvements to their quality of life that only began after the party returned to office in 2020.
For decades, the people of Tannery were plagued by inadequate infrastructure, poor water access, and the absence of electricity issues which went unaddressed under the previous APNU+AFC administration.
That changed when PPP/C Regional Vice Chairman, Zamal Hussain, visited the area over two years ago.
His visit marked the beginning of an aggressive push for development, includ -
ing road construction, water access upgrades, and most recently, the extension of electricity to the community.
Works are currently ongoing to connect Tannery to the national GPL grid; this is a move residents said is “long overdue.”
“We now get proper roads, water, and light coming soon. This is what we were begging for, and finally, we’re seeing it happen under the PPP/C,” one resident stated.
Residents also claimed that their electricity connection was deliberately stalled due to interference.
They alleged that the APNU+AFC-led New Amsterdam Mayor and Town Council insisted that residents pay $800,000 in full for their house lots before any progress could be made on power supply.
However, several residents said that councillors attached to the same council were allowed to purchase lots for a mere $80,000. Now, with visible results
under the PPP/C and what they describe as years of broken promises under APNU+AFC, Tannery residents are ready to make their voices heard in the upcoming elections.
The shift in political support from Tannery adds to the growing list of communities across Region Six where the PPP/C has made inroads, largely due to its track record of delivering on development and addressing long-standing concerns.
Hussain, during a meeting with residents on Sunday evening in response to the community’s show of support, stated “The people of Tannery are finally being treated with the dignity they deserve. Development must be inclusive… This is the PPP/C’s promise, and we intend to keep delivering.”
Anthony De’guair stated, “We get the road under PPP government, we get water under PPP government and now we getting the lights, we thank Mr Hussain and Mr Irfaan Ali for what they doing
THE government has injected another $702 million for the upgrade of critical infrastructure at Port Kaituma in Region One, continuing its efforts to improve transport access and boost economic opportunity in hinterland communities.
This investment aims to convert 2.4 kilometres of laterite roads into concrete surfaces for safer travel and better access to essential services, helping to improve economic development in the region.
Thirty-five small contractors are working on the project under fixed-rate contracts, which provide price certainty and promote efficiency. These contracts were signed on June 9, 2025.
It has allowed local contractors to receive extra income, helping to grow local businesses and support entrepreneurship.
According to a report presented by the Ministry of Public Works on Monday, construction works have reached the halfway mark.
Among the roads under rehabilitation are the Magistrates’ Court Road, Fitzburg Playground Road, the Kaituma Hospital Road, and the Port Kaituma Airstrip Road, which also includes the construction of auxiliary parking facilities.
When complete, these vital thoroughfares will link seamlessly with Telegraph Hill Road, Ranch Road, and Teacher’s Quarters Road, which were recently modernised in a similar process.
Residents and community leaders have welcomed the improvements, pointing to
The government has injected another $702 million for the upgrade of critical infrastructure at Port Kaituma in Region One, continuing its efforts to improve transport access and boost economic opportunity in hinterland communities
enhanced safety, access to healthcare and education, and renewed economic confidence in the region.
As work continues, the government has reiterated its commitment to bridging the infrastructure gap between coastal and hinterland communities, ensuring even the most remote parts of Guyana share in the country’s development progress. (DPI)
for us, and we wish that we can get more and better more, right now we deh under the (APNU+AFC) council and they ain’t doing nothing for us.” He continued, “We are very thankful for Mr Irfaan Ali and Bharrat Jagdeo doing for us.”
Describing the community as once “bush and swamp”, De’guair said, “Nobody never know people living at the back here because council always get we under them foot and never bring nothing to us, now when we bring in PPP people, under PPP/C government the place gets
recognise that people living at the back here.”
Beverly Meyers, who has lived at the location for over 22 years said, “The place was bare mud, bare mud, we na had no water or road, and now we get everything and I just want thank the government for what they doing for us at the back here.”
Another resident, Kippie Dennis, said that now receiving electricity is a major development, “the main thing is that the children will get to do their homework and everything.”
He said, “It is unfair
how them treating we, them want we pay hundreds of thousands and them council people paying $40,000 and $80,000.”
According to Dennis, “APNU was in government five years and them never come and check us out at the back here, PPP come in and we tell them we need water and light and them give we water, light and road, and is na now it start but all the time it going on cause watch we road done build and everything, we done get water and we getting light now.”
APNU’s leader, Aubrey Norton, made false claims about public-health infrastructure during a public meeting at Bagotville, West Bank Demerara, on Saturday.
These types of statements by the opposition leader not only distort the facts, but also deny evidence of real progress for Guyanese.
Major investments within the health sector have resulted in substantial growth and increased capacity in both human resources and infrastructural enhancements since the PPP/C government assumed office in 2020.
Here are some of the investments made by the government to modernise Guyana’s healthcare:-
A total of six new regional hospitals have been completed at an estimated cost of $38 billion and are fully equipped with trained staff and diagnostic services.
The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and other health facilities, including the Lethem and Diamond Regional Hospitals, are equipped with mammogram machines, X-ray machines, MRI machines, CT Scanners, ultrasound machines and operating theatres, providing critical services to patients.
Mammogram machines are also now available at the Suddie Hospital in Region Two, New Amsterdam Hospital in Region Six, and the Linden Hospital Complex in Region 10. These machines provide screening services to detect breast cancer, which turns out to be the leading cancer among women in Guyana.
Additionally:-
400 health facilities were upgraded at an estimated cost of $12.5 billion
26 new health centres were completed
Construction works are ongoing for two nursing schools at an estimated cost of $1.9 billion
Three new simulation centres are under construction at an estimated cost of $650 million
Considerable investments have been made to train and qualify health professionals nationwide. In 2024, the largest cohort of health professionals graduated from the Georgetown School of Nursing as registered nurses, nursing assistants and midwives. They are currently working within the public health sector at hospitals across the country.
Additionally:
Specialisation provided to over 200 doctors in various disciplines
Over 100 doctors are employed, with an additional 100 planned in 2025
390 community health workers were employed across the country to support health centres
The recruitment pipeline was expanded to employ over 6000 employees in the next three to five years
In emergency and non-emergency transportation, 41 road ambulances, 64 all-terrain vehicles, 25 water-transport units, and other vehicles were added to the health sector to enhance the movement of patients and healthcare staff.
Over $2.1 billion was spent on medical evacuations, allowing for less than one per cent downtime for patient transport. These efforts are part of the government’s commitment to deliver high-quality health services to the public.
The government has supported patients directly by providing cash grants and vouchers to access additional health services.
$4.2 billion in cash payments for health services, including dialysis, heart and other care
Approximately $7.5 bil-
lion in vouchers for eye, HPV and non-communicable health screening has been set aside
A total of $1.6 billion in cash grants has been set aside for newborn babies
The country remembers that while in office, APNU seriously underfunded the health sector, highlighted by scandals such as the controversial $1.6 billion bond
rental at Sussex Street, which caused public outrage.
Norton boldly repeated the false claim of a lack of health infrastructure at the APNU’s campaign launch on July 6, when in fact, while APNU was in government, it built no new major hospitals.
Adding salt to the wound was the ongoing drug shortage caused by poor management of the health sector,
shown by many protests of healthcare workers. The President Aliled government has been progressively reshaping healthcare in Guyana by not only providing access to the most remote corners in the country, but also upskilling and incentivising a workforce that delivers quality healthcare for all Guyanese. (DPI)
Alliance For Change (AFC) executive member and son-in-law of former President, David Granger, Dominic Gaskin has acknowledged the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government’s aggressive investments and infrastructural drive as a step in the right direction.
Gaskin made this known
during an episode of the Starting Point podcast over the weekend, during which he noted that any fair assessment of the government’s progress must consider how public funds are being used.
“So, the current government has been spending money and spending a lot of money. Certainly, a lot more money than we were
records
$2.23B in after-tax profit for first half of 2025
--an increase of 24 per cent
THE Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited (GBTI) has announced that, for the first half of 2025, the institution’s after-tax profit reached approximately $2.23 billion.
This was according to a press release from the bank, which stated that this increase amounts to 24 per cent when compared to the $1.80 billion recorded for the
same period in 2024.
Chairman of the bank’s board of directors, Suresh Beharry, who took up the chairmanship just last month, noted that the strong performance was underpinned by strategic expansion of the bank’s loan and investment portfolios, along with enhancements in operational efficiencies, and favourable market conditions.
“Despite ongoing global economic headwinds, GBTI remains well positioned within Guyana’s rapidly growing economy,” Beharry’s statement read.
His statement went on to note that the bank continues to align its strategy with national development priorities, focusing on ‘customer-centric’ innovation, digital transformation and sustainable growth.
“As a systemically important financial institution, GBTI remains committed to promoting financial inclusion and responsible banking practices, while maintaining strong capital and liquidity positions to support Guyana’s socio-economic progress,” Beharry said.
--highlights infrastructural push, carbon-credit success and youth engagement
able to spend in our period in government. So, I guess any assessment of this government's progress has to do with how they're spending that money,” Gaskin said.
He pointed to major works and initiatives currently being rolled out across the country, noting: “I would say… building a lot of schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, sea defence, cash grants, salary increases, developing housing areas, airstrips.
So, a lot of infrastructure spending and also some spending directed at, you know, increasing disposable income. I think that's generally good.”
While pointing this out, he noted that the real measure
of success would be whether these investments deliver on their intended outcomes.
He said: “Generally, I think, that's where the money should be spent. So, I will treat it as a positive for now.”
On the government’s climate policy, Gaskin commended the progress made under the updated Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), particularly its success in the international carbon markets.
“I like the Low Carbon Development Strategy’s emphasis on monetising our standing forests and our ecosystems and our biodiversity,” he stated, adding that he is pleased that the country is able to update the LCDS to find a mechanism to get
carbon credits registered, certified and sold on international carbon markets.
He said: “It’s not something that gets around a lot, but we have actually earned money from it, and we will earn some more money from this. And that's why I’m raising it. If it were just a document on paper, and it didn't bring in any returns, I would have had to wait and see, but it's actually proving successful.”
The former APNU+AFC minister also praised the administration’s visible engagement with the public, particularly young people, along with its support for a wide range of activities such as cultural, business and sporting activities.
AS Guyana prepares to mark Emancipation Day in just three days, a stretch of Main Street in Georgetown has already come alive with the vibrant colours, textures, and stories of African heritage. Along the avenue, local vendors are proudly displaying African-inspired crafts, patterned tapestries, striking jewellery, and traditional clothing, all in celebration of the country’s deep-rooted cultural legacy.
For more than a decade, House of BoxBraids, tucked away at Stall Nine, Lane Eight at the New Vendors Arcade, has become a familiar name during this season.
The stall, also active on Facebook, has been a trusted source of authentic African print clothing and jewellery for 12 years. Chiaka, one of
its representatives, says it’s always a joy to share their creations with the Guyanese public.
Their display this year includes elegant headwraps, chains sourced from South Africa, and unique pieces from Nigeria and Ghana — all carefully arranged and ready for shoppers as early as 8 a.m.
Joining them on Main Street is Joscfric Classic Ventures, a business founded by a Nigerian couple that has been a fixture at the Emancipation exhibition since 2022.
Alongside stylish African print garments, they offer herbal remedies, African black soap, and a curated range of wellness products that connect tradition and modern living. Joseph, who represents the venture, de -
scribes the experience as uplifting. He encourages shoppers to visit their booth or find them online to secure unique pieces in time for Emancipation Day.
Another face among the colourful stalls is Lorane Sears, the creative force be-
hind Sears Styles, a homebased business with a loyal following. Lorane’s crafts goes far beyond African wear: she also makes school uniforms, detailed crochet hats for adults and children, and even crochet swimsuits decked out in the colours of the Guyanese flag.
“If you need that, you can get that,” she says with a laugh, gesturing to her neatly arranged display of African garments for men, women, boys, and girls.
For Diana Trotman, owner of Enchanted Gardens Boutique, the annual Emancipation exhibition is more than just an opportunity to sell.
Having participated for eight years, she sees it as a time to honour the struggle and resilience of her ancestors, while inspiring the next generation to keep fighting for what is right. Her boutique showcases delicately crafted necklaces, earring sets, and hair accessories — all infused with the spirit of cultural pride.
Drawing passersby with a magnetic charm is Donette Cummings of DC Styles, a seasoned vendor whose booth bursts with eye-catching outfits and custom designs for every age group. Cummings is confident that shoppers won’t leave empty handed.
“Just come down on Main Street, we got it lock here! What you won’t find nowhere else you will find on Main Street. Just come down, and me, you can’t miss me,” she urges, with a grin.
Together, these passionate entrepreneurs transform the avenue into a living showcase of African heritage, each stall a testament to craftsmanship, cultural pride, and the enduring spirit of Emancipation.
As the nation prepares to celebrate its freedom fighters and reflect on its history, Main Street reminds us that Emancipation is not just a day on the calendar — it’s a story we keep alive, stitched into every garment, woven into every braid, and polished into every bead on display.
A THREE-Day Emancipation Festival will unfold in Region Five this week to commemorate the abolition of slavery in Guyana.
A liberation event will be held on July 30 in Ithaca Village, Berbice, to begin the Emancipation celebrations. This event fulfils a promise made by President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali at last year’s Hope Town Soiree.
Director of National Events, Andrew Tyndall, made the revelation during an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Monday.
The festival will feature a Farmer’s Market Day, showcasing local agricultural produce including vegetables, meat and poultry.
It will explore the diverse culture and history of African traditions through art, crafts, fashion, and performances.
“This event is open to the public, and it’s a great way to support our farmers while immersing yourself in the rich history and culture of Ithaca,” Tyndall disclosed.
The festivities will continue on July 31 with the return of the Hope Town Soiree, the largest of its kind during the Emancipation
season.
The soiree being held at the Fort Wellington Secondary School will begin with a candlelight parade through Hope Town, accompanied by African drummers and a marching band.
On August 2, the celebration concludes with a national African Drumming Festival.
Tyndall disclosed that this initiative was introduced last year and received overwhelming support, and is on its way to becoming an annual event.
He noted that this year, 20 drumming groups from across Guyana will com -
pete for the top prize of $1 million.
It will also feature novelty prizes for best-dressed family, teenager, and best African headwrap.
Tyndall called on the public to attend and “celebrate the culture, strength and heritage of our African brothers and sisters.”
Emancipation Day in Guyana, celebrated on August 1, is a powerful reminder of the resilience and invaluable achievements of Guyanese people of African heritage.
This Friday will mark 187 years of liberation. (DPI)
AFTER a five-year hiatus, the Guyana Oil, Gas and Energy Conference (OGEC) is set to return on July 29 and 30, 2025, at the Georgetown Marriott Hotel, Kingston.
The highly anticipated event marks the third edition of the conference, which was first staged in 2018 and 2019, but was discontinued following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Open to all stakeholders in the oil and gas value chain, OGEC 2025 is expected to attract Guyanese professionals, government ministers and officials, students of the University of Guyana, both from within and outside the Engineering Programme, as well as international investors.
Guyanese Attorney-at-Law and Energy Consultant, Edwin Callender, who is the organiser of the conference, revealed that delegations from coun-
Attorney at Law
tries as far as Scotland and Spain, and as near as Colombia, have already confirmed their participation. This year’s conference will focus heavily on Guyana’s emerging natural-gas value chain, which Callender described as a potential game changer for national development. According to him, tapping into this
resource can significantly reduce electricity costs and bring other economic benefits to the country.
Callender added that OGEC 2025 will provide a critical networking platform for businesses to connect, explore partnerships and expand operations. The two-day sessions will offer international investors valuable insights into emerging business and investment opportunities in Guyana, briefings on the nation’s Local Content Law and other regulatory frameworks, and practical guidelines for doing business locally.
OGEC 2025 promises to be an important meeting ground for stakeholders to build connections and advance Guyana’s energy sector.
For more information on the conference, interested persons can visit https://guyanaogec.com/.
THE Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD), in partnership with the Department of Education Region Six and with support from ExxonMobil Guyana and the Board of Industrial Training, held the closing ceremony for the Independent Living Skills Day Camp for children who are visually impaired, on Friday.
The camp was held in the Empower Guyana Building in Palmyra, Region Six. Twenty children who are blind or visually impaired participated in the three-day camp.
According to a press release, the ceremony was attended and spearheaded by Lasawhna Prescott, Community Relations Advisor, ExxonMobil Guyana;
Ganesh Singh, GCOPD Programme Manager; Hulda Fraser, Special Education Needs (SEN) Officer – Region Six Department of Education; and Rosemarie Ramitt, GCOPD Programme Officer.
In his remarks, Singh underscored the importance of persons who are blind or visually impaired acquiring independent living skills, and the need for children
who are blind or visually impaired learning these skills in their formative years.
He also highlighted the importance of the GCOPD’s ExxonMobil Guyana-funded orientation and mobility programme on the lives of persons who are blind or visually impaired through which these independent living skills are taught.
In her remarks, Fraser provided an overview of the work of the Region Six SEN Unit and the impact of such activities on the lives of children with disabilities.
Prescott commended the GCOPD for consistently meeting the challenges set by ExxonMobil Guyana by adding new features that support inclusion and make a bigger impact on the special needs community.
“For people living with visual impairments, having access to resources, information, and support that encourage inclusion can truly change lives,” Prescott said.
She ended by thanking the GCOPD trainers, the Ministry of Education, and the Board of Industrial Training for their support and commitment to this initiative, which shows inclusion at every level.
The 20 participants were exposed to training in the areas of using the kitchen as a person with a vision disability. This session included special techniques to complete various tasks and talking kitchen devices.
The participants were engaged in a day of sports where they were introduced to blind cricket, blind football and goal ball. The par-
ticipants also benefitted from training in public speaking, various types of assistive technology, social etiquette among other areas.
The Independent Living Skills Day Camp for children who are blind or visually impaired is a component of the GCOPD ExxonMobil Guyana funded orientation and mobility training programme for persons who are blind or visually impaired.
Since the commencement of the programme, approximately 700 persons who are blind and visually impaired including children were taught independent living skills such as how to use the “white cane”, smart phones with text-to-speech software, among other skills.
By CAO DESHENG in Shanghai
AS artificial intelligence technologies immensely reshape people’s lifestyles and profoundly influence the global economic and technological development landscape, China, as one of the leading countries in the AI sector, has continuously
contributed its wisdom to global AI governance to make AI technologies more secure, reliable, controllable and equitable.
Following President Xi
Jinping’s proposal of the Global AI Governance Initiative in 2023, the Chinese government has proposed the creation of a global AI co-operation organisation, and it is
tentatively considering establishing the organisation’s headquarters in Shanghai.
Premier Li Qiang announced the initiative about the organisation on Saturday in Shanghai when addressing the opening ceremony of the 2025 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance, a three-day event themed “Global Solidarity in the AI Era.”
Vice-Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said that the initiative is an important move that China has made to practise multilateralism and promote a style of global governance that features extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefits.
It is also a concrete action taken by China in response to the call of Global South nations to bridge the digital and intelligence divide, and to promote the inclusive development of AI and the use of AI for good, Ma added.
China expects that the organisation will serve as a platform for countries to deepen co-operation on innovation, promote pragmatic co-operation to fully unleash the unlimited potential of AI, and achieve common development and prosperity, Ma said, adding that China is ready to discuss relevant arrangements with countries that are willing to join the organisation.
Addressing the conference on Saturday, Premier Li said that the risks and challenges brought by AI development, such as machine hallucination, deep fakes and AI proliferation, have received widespread attention.
There is an urgent need to further consolidate a societal consensus on how to achieve a balance between development and security in the AI sector, he said.
Li highlighted that greater emphasis should be placed on collective governance to ensure that AI ultimately benefits humanity.
Given that global AI governance appears fragmented, it is essential to enhance coordination and alignment among countries around the world to establish a framework and rules for global AI governance with a broad consensus, the premier added.
Noting that China places great importance on global AI governance and actively
participates in promoting multilateral and bilateral co-operation in this regard, Li said the nation is willing to offer more Chinese solutions to the international community and contribute more Chinese wisdom to global AI governance.
China actively promotes open-source development and is willing to collaborate with countries around the world to promote progress in software and hardware technologies, intensify opensource initiatives and collectively propel AI development to higher levels, he said.
Also on Saturday, the conference adopted the Global AI Governance Action Plan, which calls on all parties to work in solidarity to advance AI development and governance.
In recent years, various Chinese “AI+” technological products and solutions have broken new ground, globally.
For example, in Brazil, the Bright Power Large Model developed by State Grid Corp of China has enabled the South American country’s state grid to achieve smart operation and maintenance.
When Sagaing, Myanmar, was struck by a 7.9 magnitude earthquake in March, the DeepSeek-based Chinese-Myanmar-English translation system joined international quake-rescue efforts, demonstrating the value of AI language models in emergency rescue situations.
In late 2022, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa began deploying Huawei’s AI-powered optical-visual linkage platform to fortify the security of the African country’s century-old railway network. Thanks to the AI knowledge intelligence project jointly developed by Huawei and PRASA, a smart app powered by DeepSeek has helped the country’s railway system to enhance its efficiency in operations and maintenance.
Meanwhile, in a landmark announcement at the 2025 World AI Conference on Saturday, the China Meteorological Administration unveiled “MAZU”, a comprehensive national early warning solution poised to reshape global disaster
By Shi Jing in Shanghai | China Daily |
AS up-to-date embodied intelligence technologies and products debuted at the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai, experts and industry insiders said that substantial development of the industry depends on the creation of an amiable industrial ecosystem.
During the three-day conference, which opened on Saturday, Hangzhou-based Deep Robotics debuted its industry-level quadruped robot, which can conduct full-process power inspections. It can accurately identify inspection targets, such as power-system pointer gauges and infrared temperature, and autonomously assess battery level and charge, achieving uninterrupted operation without human involvement.
Shenzhen Xborg Robotics showcased a heavy-duty robot, the first of its kind in China, that can lift 20 kilograms with one arm, while its own weight has been reduced by 62.5 percent by using aerospace-grade technology. More than 90 percent of its parts are domestically developed, with a failure rate lower than 0.1 percent.
Dalian Betop Culture Technology, a leading high-
China Mobile’s self-developed robot dogs and humanoid robot dance at the company’s booth during the 2025 World AI Conference in East China’s Shanghai, July 27, 2025 (Photo/Xinhua)
tech cultural tourism enterprise, attended the conference for the first time this year, showcasing its “AI super agent”. The learning-capable robot, which features a giant body, facial expressions and multimodal interaction, can support an entertainment ecosystem that seamlessly blends virtual and real experiences.
According to company founder Xiao Di, once-abandoned industrial parks can evolve into new tourist attractions by using this interactive AI technology, addressing China’s urban-renewal initiatives.
Shanghai-based Keenon Robotics released the latest model of its bipedal humanoid service robot. The robot can be used in restaurants and hotels and is capable of preparing and serving meals, as well as cleaning rooms, and can reduce human labour costs by more than 50 percent.
Keenon CEO Li Tong said that China now shows a large competitive edge in terms of the development of service-type humanoid robots. This is closely related to China’s highly efficient supply chain, experiences in algorithm innovation and data collection, as well as the rich
supply of local engineers, Li said.
He pointed out that the market share of the robot industry is still relatively small in China, and said more companies should be part of the market to improve the industry-penetration rate and stimulate demand.
Agreements were signed on Saturday between companies and the National and Local Co-Built Humanoid Robotics Innovation Center in Shanghai, aiming to create a training-co-operation ecosystem.
According to Jiang Lei, the centre’s chief scientist,
enabling humanoid robots to work will be the major trend in the next decade, so collecting data from various training grounds is crucial.
Experts from China International Capital Corp said that most humanoid robot orders now come from universities or large manufacturing companies, with the purpose of conducting experiments.
However, they said, industries incurring higher labour costs will be ready to introduce humanoid robots by 2030, when the robotics-penetration rate is expected to have reached 50 percent among the information technology, equipment production and logistics industries. The penetration rate in residential services, hotels and restaurants is expected to rise steadily after 2035.
Du Guangda, deputy head of the science and technology department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said that creating a sound ecosystem is inseparable from the introduction of industry and safety standards, deepened co-operation between cities, and continued financing.
Therefore, Pudong New Area in Shanghai launched on Sunday a two billion yuan ($279 million) State-backed AI seed fund, with initial funding coming in at 500 million
yuan. The fund, which aims to facilitate the development of frontier technologies and attract industry talent, will help startups to survive during their early days. This will encourage more startups, boost entrepreneurship and help to create an industrial ecosystem, said Pudong government officials.
Joined by seven Chinese universities and two research institutes, the National and Local Co-Built Humanoid Robotics Innovation Center also released on Saturday an open fund to nurture AI development, although the amount was not disclosed.
Defining humanoid robots as the best representation of embodied intelligence, Xu Xiaolan, chair of the Chinese Institute of Electronics, said that such robots will become the next disruptive products for household, production, warehouse, logistics and border-defence uses. Humanoid robots can also boost development along the industrial chain including in chips, sensors and new materials, Xu added.
According to a report released during an industry conference in April, China’s embodied intelligence industry will see its market value approaching 5.3 billion yuan by the end of this year, accounting for 27 percent of the world’s total.
preparedness.
Named after a revered sea goddess and protector against natural disasters in Chinese coastal culture, MAZU stands for “multihazard, alert, zero-gap and universal”. It is a proactive, AI-driven initiative designed to share China’s advanced meteorological technology and experience with the world, particularly focusing on developing countries that face the brunt of climate- change impacts.
Anne Bouverot, the special envoy of French President Emmanuel Macron for AI, spoke positively of China’s role in global AI governance, highlighting the
importance of international co-operation in AI development.
“There is an urgency for global action toward openness, accessibility and inclusiveness. For this to happen, a strong, inclusive global-governance framework for AI must be established,” she said.
During a “Fireside Chat” on Saturday at the opening ceremony of the World AI Conference, Harry Shum, former executive vice-president of Microsoft, and Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, underlined the need for transnational co-operation to set rules for global competition and collaboration in AI.
While explaining his view on Sino-US co-operation on AI, Schmidt quoted former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger, saying that “as long as both sides have common goals, they can reach an agreement.”
He pointed out that some key issues must be discussed. “We should sit down and clarify them, such as whether AI can control weapons, replicate itself and learn automatically.”
Schmidt added: “I’m a genuine optimist. China and the United States can build trust from the bottom, step by step.
It’s been done before, and it can be done again.”
By Faith Greene
A GREAT step has been taken in the early childhood sector, as the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (MHSSS) launched the National Integrated Early Childhood Policy, placing Guyana’s youngest citizens at the heart of development.
This was done on Monday at the Herdmanston Lodge, Georgetown, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Canadian High Commission.
A blueprint for action, the
newly launched policy aligns with all sectors, including public health, education, child protection, fire prevention, and social services, under a single unified vision: to ensure that all children from zero to three survive and thrive in our world.
Children at this stage need access to nurturing care, health and nutrition, responsive caregiving, early learning through play, and safe environments.
It is a significant turning point and represents a bold vision for Guyana: one where children, regardless of income, job, or ability,
‘Our children are our now, not just our future’
can grow up in these environments that are supported by trained caregivers and engaged communities.
With this policy come several guidelines. Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, said the guidelines had emerged after months of work, consultation, dedication, and discussions to ensure a policy that is comprehensive, progressive, and all-encompassing.
At the centre of the policy, Minister Persaud stated, were our children. Specifically, those from zero to three years old.
She highlighted that pivotal to the success of the implementation of the policy and its guidelines, we must ensure that there is always a robust partnership among the Ministries of Health, Education, Local Government, and Human Services to truly have the kind of impact that the Early Childhood Development Policy leads us to.
Minister Persaud remarked, “Early Childhood Development is very, very significant in the lives of children. It allows us to assess their developmental milestones. It definitely gives us a vantage point where we
can look at their emotional stability, overall well-being, definitely their mental health, and their health in general so that we can, at a very early stage, pinpoint where children require extra care, intervention, and, in many cases, the kind of intervention that involves not only their parents but also experts to ensure that they have a better quality of life.”
Through all of this, Dr. Persaud affirmed that we must have not only a policy but also the framework to implement and accomplish the goals of the policy.
In addition to this, the minister revealed that the ministry has registered over 400 early childhood centres and licensed more than 365 of these.
Within the Ministry, there was a collaboration where the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) trained thousands of persons across each region in child care and a special programme through the University of Guyana.
The Minister announced that the next step in development is in special needs education.
According to Dr. Persaud, “It speaks to a deep commitment by the government of Guyana when we say, as we’ve always said, our children are not our future, they are our now. And we must ensure that the investment is not only financial, but the investment is in such a way that it tangibly impacts and benefits every child across the length and breadth of Guyana.”
Urging Guyanese to stand united in this “sacred responsibility” to invest in our children with love, care, wisdom, and purpose, Minister Persaud told attendees that each child belongs to us all.
She announced that very soon, the Ministry will be opening its day and night care, and early childhood facilities, the first of its kind in Guyana and in the Caribbean and Latin American Region.
“This is a big deal, because what it does, it brings together all the persons who from the formative years of a child, are so necessary to that child’s growth and development to help the children achieve what we want, to have a happy, healthy, high-quality life through all the days of their childhood across the length and breadth of Guyana,”
"Until such infrastructural changes are made, continuing to host high-attendance events at the current location poses unacceptable risks to public safety, urban mobility and emergency preparedness," added the report.
The M Chinnaswamy Stadium is set to host the upcoming Maharaja T20 tournament, which will be played behind closed doors. The venue is also scheduled to stage several high-profile fixtures of the Women's ODI World Cup, slated between September and November, including the opening match, one of the semifinals, and possibly the final.
Meanwhile, the report put the blame squarely on the organisers, stressing that "reckless announcement" about the entry for the RCB celebrations was the main reason for the unfortunate turn of events.
"Stampede was triggered by the organizers themselves by not regulating the entry into the gates and making reckless announcement with regard to the entry into the stadium which in the opinion of the commission is the root cause for the stampede and the consequent death and injuries.
This situation was created by the organisers themselves due to the lack of preparation and hasty decision which tantamount to recklessness bor-
dering on gross negligence, for which the organizers should be made accountable. The organizers failed to make any arrangement for the safety and security of the invitees."
Among their key findings, the commission also noted that the organisers - RCB, DNA Networks and KSCAdid not obtain permissions to hold the victory parade celebrations, and that the event was unauthorised and hastily organised, with no proper security, crowd control, or emergency arrangements in place. The committee also blamed the police for failing to intervene despite knowing the event was unauthorised, and suspected collusion between organisers and police officials.
Justice John Michael D'Cunha's report also recommended action against RCB Vice-President Rajesh Menon, DNA Networks MD T. Venkat Vardhan and VP Sunil Mathur, as well as KSCA President Raghuram
page 29)
Bhat, former Secretary A. Shankar and ex-Treasurer E.S. Jairam - the latter two having resigned citing moral responsibility. The report held several senior police officials equally accountable, including Commissioner B. Dayananda, Additional Commissioner Vikash Kumar, DCP Shekhar H. Tekkanavar, ACP C. Balakrishna, and PI A.K. Girish - all of whom had been removed from their posts by the chief minister in the aftermath of the tragedy.
The Karnataka cabinet formally accepted the findings of the commission, and the government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, is preparing further legal action based on the report. Earlier, the government had its status report made public on July 17, two days after the Karnataka High Court directed its release. In that, the government held RCB, DNA Networks and the KSCA responsible. (Cricbuzz)
(Tuesday, July 29, 2025)
COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS
COMPANY
83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)
Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Jason Holder-1/28
(2) Adam Zampa-3/29
Today’s Quiz:
(1) How many WI have now captained the team in T20s against AUST?
(2) How many AUST have led the team in T20s versus the West Indies?
Answers in tomorrow’s issue
ENGLISH RACING TIPS
GOODWOOD
08:20hrs Castle Cove
08:55hrs Humidity
09:30hrs Jonquil
10:05hrs Illinois
10:45hrs Shagraan
11:20hrs Naval Light
11:55hrs Atlantis Blue
12:30hrs Dubai Treasure
BEVERLEY
09:10hrs Poet's Dawn
09:45hrs Rosso Levanto
10:20hrs Ancient Egypt
11:00hrs Hanney Girl
11:35hrs Perfect Price
12:10hrs Catch Cunningham
12:47hrs Mayberry Moon
RIPON
13:00hrs Shaham
13:30hrs Social Exclusion
14:05hrs Bosphorus Rose
14:40hrs Latin Five
15:10hrs Abloom
15:40hrs Beta Reader 08:15hrs Red Wave
08:50hrs Mauritius Kestrel
09:25hrs Easy Money
10:00hrs Afrique
10:35hrs Saint Brigid
IRISH RACING TIPS
GALWAY
12:05hrs La Note Verte
12:37hrs King Of Kingfield
13:07hrs Amelia Earhart
13:40hrs Norwalk Havoc
14:15hrs Collecting Coin
14:50hrs Imposing
LED by a brilliant undefeated 69 from Richard Driffield, defending champions GTA Storm trounced archrivals Toronto Blizzards by four wickets in the penultimate round of the 2025 Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs (OMSCC) Over-50 tournament last Saturday at Littles Park, Scarborough, Toronto, Canada.
The elegant left-hander’s rescue act was similar to his captain, Troy Gobin who stroked 72 not out the previous weekend when his team was in dire straits against Warriors.
Set 155 for victory, after
Toronto Blizzards were limited to 154 for seven in their allotted 20 overs on a sunlit Saturday afternoon, Driffield was pivotal in GTA Storm achieving the required target in 17.1 overs.
Driffield, who ended the 2024 season with back-toback Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards in both the Canada Cup and OMSCC final, entered the fray in the fourth over with the score on 23 following the run out of makeshift opener Rudy Bhopaul for nine. He then saw Ian Baldeo (18) departing with the score on 38, former Guyana Under-19 player Zaheer Haniff
MOHAMMAD Rizwan, Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi are back in the scheme for Pakistan as they are all set to tour the West Indies for a three-match T20I and ODI series commencing on July 31.
Following the T20I series loss against Bangladesh, Pakistan has strengthened their bowling line-up by going back to the experience of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali.
Faheem Ashraf, who impressed in the final T20I match against Bangladesh, retains his spot while Salman Mirza misses out.
Meanwhile, for the ODI series that will begin on August 8, Pakistan has gone with a fully experienced squad with Hasan Nawaz being the only uncapped player.
Mohammad Rizwan will be leading Pakistan in the three-match ODI contest that will be played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad & Tobago. The T20Is will be played at the Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium in
Lauderhill, USA with Salman Ali Agha continuing to lead the side.
Pakistan T20I squad: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wicket-keeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufyan Moqim
Pakistan ODI squad: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique,
Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufyan Moqim
West Indies v Pakistan schedule
First T20I - July 31, Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, USA
Second T20I - Aug 2, Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, USA
Third T20I - Aug 3, Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, USA
First ODI - Aug 8, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad & Tobago
Second ODI - Aug 10, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad & Tobago
Third ODI - Aug 12, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad & Tobago (ICC Media)
(seven) at 45, Ken Itwaru (three) at 48 and skipper Troy Gobin (one) with the scoreboard reading 53 for five after seven overs.
Driffield, who started off slowly, changed gears, dominating two important partnerships, adding 50 for the sixth wicket with Orlando Deonarine whose contribution was 11 and an undefeated 55 with Suren Persaud (18 with one four and a six) as GTA Storm eased to victory in 17.1 overs. Driffield’s unbeaten 69 was laced with seven fours and four huge sixes.
Bowling for Toronto Blizzards, Fazil Shakoor claimed two for 31 and Jai-
mini Singh two for 36.
Despite scoring 99 in the last 10 overs of their innings, after winning the toss and opting to take first strike, Toronto Blizzards eventual total hinged on their first 10 overs which saw the normally prolific Sunil Dhaniram struggling despite hitting 41 with two fours and three sixes.
The experienced Jaimini Singh, bolstered the middle-order with a top score of 43 which contained two fours and four sixes while captain Mohan Harihar supported with 23 (three fours). There were two wickets each for Jerry Brittania and Suren Persaud for 16 and 17 runs respectively.
The victory marked GTA Storm second over Toronto Blizzards for the season.
The final preliminary round matches of the 2025 season are set for Saturday, August 9 following a break for the Caribana holiday weekend. GTA Storm will oppose Canadian Legends, the only team they have lost to this season, at Dean Park; KC Stalwarts and Ramblers Rampage meet at Lester Pearson, Remax All Stars and Friendship battle at Littles Park Diamond and Warriors and Toronto Blizzards clash at Littles Field.
Ramoutar (8.216 – Suzuki Hyabusa) being faster.
Speaking to the media, Mohamed said, “Since we had that incident in Guyana, we’ve been working to get the car back to that standard, and, as we saw, that hard work paid off. To be able to come here and put down this time means that the car is back there or even better.”
“We of course want to thank the organisers of the
event here (in Trinidad) for inviting us and allowing us to participate. We see how high quality this event was and we can only hope to replicate that invitation when we host our international event later in the year.”
“With that being said, fans of the ‘J-Stang’ can expect to see it on show at the International Event in Guyana and we will be gunning for some of the big ones
idency was defined by “strong governance, strategic innovation, and an enduring commitment to cricket at all levels – from grassroots programmes to elite competition, including the women’s game.”
He recalled inheriting the leadership at what he described as “a critical juncture” for the organisation.
With the support of suc-
cessive boards, he oversaw expansions in youth engagement and spearheaded key infrastructural improvements. These efforts, Riley said, “not only elevated the standard of cricket within the country but also enhanced its reputation nationally and regionally.”
Expressing pride in his legacy, Riley stated that he hoped his presidency would
(From back page)
back home. We see a lot of guys getting faster and faster and we are letting them know that we are back,” Mohamed said.
I also want to thank my team and all the guys that put the work back into the car to have it where it is today, Wigman and all his guys that put hours and hours into this car and we cant wait to run back home in Guyana.”
(From back page)
be remembered as one that “fostered inclusivity and always focused on what was best for the development of the game.”
Riley thanked those who supported him, wished his successor well, and urged them to remain focused on advancing cricket regionally and internationally. (Extracted from Barbados Today)
By Sean Devers
A 15-member female Precision Sports Combined Forces team was selected yesterday to represent Guyana against the touring Hibiscus team from Trinidad and Tobago in a fivematch series from August 9-16.
The squad will be captained by national player Yonette Welcome, who will have as her deputy, Guyana batter Tilleya Madramootoo.
The strong team includes five senior national players along with five more who represented Guyana in this year’s Regional U-19 tournament, including Guyana’s lone West Indies U-19 selectee, Danellie Manns from Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club.
The final practice match for the Guyanese team is scheduled for the Malteenoes Ground, where all five games between the local lasses and the Trinidadians will be held.
The Hibiscus ladies will arrive in Guyana on August 7 and play a warm-up game at the LBI ground on the morning of August 8.
The official launch is scheduled for the Malteenoes pavilion at 05:00PM on August 8, before the tournament commences on Saturday, August 9.
A representative of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), special invitees, the sponsors and the media are also invited.
According to Trinidadian Nidia Andrews of Precision Sports, the team’s name, ‘Combined Force,’ was inspired by the fact that the players, from all three counties came together to form a potent force after several sessions in Demerara and Essequibo.
Nidia explained that the planned session in Berbice was called off due to the unavailability a ground there.
“The GCB has allowed
us to use the LBI facility from August 9, since the National U-17 team has to use the venue before they depart for Trinidad for the Regional U-17 tournament, which starts on August 11,” added Nidia.
“Despite the adverse weather, we are satisfied with our preparations. The team was presented with uniforms,
and a group photo was taken after the last practice match against the MSC U-19 boys. We had an opportunity to see where we had to work on. We were pleased with our bowling and fielding … our girls ran out three of their batters.”
“But apart from Naomi Barkoye and Anestecia Valenzuela, who both hit off
their fast bowler, our batting is the biggest worry. We have one more match to get that right,” continued Nidia, who is playing a massive role in this programme.
Precision Sports thanked the GCB, Malteenoes Sports Club and the sponsors for the support.
The squad: Varuni Pitamber, Naomi Barkoye,
Tilleya Madramootoo, Yonette Welcome, Anestecia Valenzuela, Cianna Barkoye, Crystal Durant, Tamar George, Tiea Isaacs, Afifah Wickham, Tremaine Marks, Shenesa Thomas, Danellie Manns, Analesia D’Aguiar and Shonette Belgrave. Rawle Merrel is the Coach, and Jamella Chesney is the Manager.
IT’S official. The Asia Cup is on and all roadblocks have been cleared. A championship, long mired in controversy, contention and debate, will now be played from September 9 to 28 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Cricbuzz was first to report the imminent announcement.
The announcement came from Mohsin Naqvi, the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). "I am delighted to confirm the dates of the ACC Men's Asia Cup 2025 in UAE. The prestigious tournament will take place from September 9th to 28th. We look forward to a spectacular display of cricket. Details scheduled will be out soon," Naqvi, who is also the president of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), said in a social media post on Saturday (July 26).
India and Pakistan are in the same group (A) which means, potentially, there will be three clashes between the arch-rivals. They'll clash in the league stage on September 14 first, and assuming the two qual -
Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the designated host, needed to sort out a few commercial details with its partners.
Clearance from the Government was essential, and it now appears to have been secured. There were doubts about whether the go-ahead would come at all, given the prevailing anti-Pakistan mood in the country. Not long ago, India had engaged in a military conflict with Pakistan, launching Operation Sindoor in response to a terror attack in Pahalgam.
ify for the next round - the Super 4s - on September 21. The final could potentially be their third meeting, on September 28.
Following the recent Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting in Dhaka - initially shrouded by controversy because of geopolitical and diplomatic tensions between India's two neighbours - Pakistan and Bangladesh - the Asia Cup announcement was only a matter of time. The declaration, however, was delayed as the Board of
However, the Indian government appears to have adopted a different stance on sporting ties with Pakistan. Recently, Sports Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, hinted that New Delhi has no objection to engaging with Pakistan in multilateral competitions, even if bilateral matches were to be out of question. With India targeting to host the Olympics in 2036, an accommodating approach towards international sporting events is deemed as a necessity.
The full schedule and
programme was announced on Saturday evening. The eight teams have been split into two groups and there will be 19 games in all, with the final on the month's last Sunday. The ACC has not announced the venues but Dubai and Abu Dhabi are likely to be the hosting centres.
Group A: India, Pakistan, UAE and Oman
Group B: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Hong Kong
The tournament kicks off with a clash between Afghanistan and Hong Kong. September 15 will have two games - the lone
double header in the tournament - and there are two rest days - September 22 and 27. Needless to mention, the tournament will be in the Twenty20 format, as it is ahead of next year's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
Schedule:
September 9: Afghanistan vs Hong Kong
September 10: India vs UAE
September 11: Bangladesh vs Hong Kong
September 12: Pakistan vs Oman
September 13: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka
September 14: India vs
in his prime or make another All-Star game, but when he's on the roster you can bet that everyone else in that locker room will walk away a bit smarter about the game of basketball.
Curry also shouted out his current teammate Draymond Green, who is always lauded for his basketball IQ and his ability to defend at a high level across the board. And
Pakistan
September 15: UAE vs Oman
September 15: Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong
September 16: Bangladesh vs Afghanistan
September 17: Pakistan vs UAE
September 18: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan
September 19: India vs Oman
Super 4 stage:
September 20: B1 vs B2
September 21: A1 vs A2
September 23: A2 vs B1
September 24: A1 vs B2
September 25: A2 vs B2
September 26: A1 vs B1
FINAL: September 28 (Cricbuzz)
(From page 29)
while Curry didn't throw his name in the ring for the conversation, he surely doesn't get enough credit for the high IQ he possesses as well. If we're talking about a singular talent and their ability to impact a game, there perhaps isn't a more difficult player to gameplan for than Curry. It's not just his shooting, it's his ability to read what the defence is giv-
ing him to figure out where to pick his spots, what angle to cut or how to find open spots on the floor while flying around the court navigating through screens. If there were a Mount Rushmore of basketball IQ players, certainly no one would have an issue with the three names Curry mentioned, as well as his own. (CBS Sports)
THE passing of Don Wehby, on Saturday, at the age of 62, has triggered an outpouring of tributes from government officials and sporting bodies, all of whom have acknowledged the former GraceKennedy CEO’s extraordinary influence on Jamaican life, particularly in sport, youth development, and corporate leadership.
In a statement issued Sunday, the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, praised Wehby for a life of purpose and transformational leadership.
“Don Wehby's visionary leadership and strategic insight doubled the size [of] GraceKennedy and through the company’s legendary support of the Inter-Secondary Schoolboys and Girls Championships (Champs), the lives of thousands of student-athletes were touched with financial support and inspiration and his commitment to sports also saw his involvement in cricket and horse racing,” Minister Grange said.
She also highlighted Wehby’s wide-ranging impact across disciplines.
“GraceKennedy’s sponsorship extended to ISSA schoolboy cricket with the urban area high schools playing for the Grace Shield and he saw himself as also having a duty to West Indies cricket, which led to his chairing a task force that produced the ‘Wehby Report’ on the governance structure of Cricket West Indies (CWI).
“He was unwavering in his personal involvement in Champs, rarely ever missing a final. He played a huge part in Champs gaining the reputation of being the most popular high school track and field meet in the world.
“He was definitely a strong advocate for youth development through sports,” she continued.
Minister Grange also paid tribute to Wehby’s stint in public service, noting:
“In addition to all his other commitments, Mr Wehby was also moved to serve his country in the political arena and so accepted an appointment to the Senate where he
der of Jamaica, last year and this year present him with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the development of youth and sports in Jamaica; to go with his Induction into the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica Hall of Fame and the other recognitions that he has been accorded.
“My sincerest sympathy to his wife Hilary and his children, Stephanie, Abigail, and Nicholas; and to his relatives, friends, and associates and to the GraceKennedy family.
served as Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance during the Bruce Golding administration.”
“For all his life, Don Wehby was highly passionate and driven in all of his undertakings, inside the boardroom and outside of it. His leadership style and vision demonstrated a commitment to excellence.
“The Government was most pleased to award him the National Honour, Or -
OVER the course of Stephen Curry's 17-year career he's played with and against some of the best basketball players in NBA history. Coupled with Curry's illustrious Hall of Fame career, he's surely a great judge of giving his opinion on some basketball debates everyone likes to converse about.
During an appearance on 360 with Speedy, Curry revealed who he believes has the highest basketball IQ he's ever seen, one of which is a former teammate.
"Between [Chris Paul] and [LeBron James], those two -- and it's the way they play, obviously, but the way they talk, the way they can orchestrate an offence," Curry said. "[LeBron's] the one that controls the tempo the greatest, and [Paul's] the one that every possession he knows what he's trying to get out of it. At [Paul's] peak it was insane, he could get his bucket, could get somebody a lob, drop down pass. …
Those two are top of mine with highest IQ."
Those certainly aren't controversial answers, as both James and Paul are considered some of the greatest basketball minds in league history. Like Curry said, the way James can control every aspect of the game is unlike anyone we've seen before. With Paul, there likely isn't another player in league history that knows all the intricacies of the game like he does. He's one of the single greatest point guard's ever who has shown time and time
again that he's capable of elevating everyone around him.
The way he was able to carry a young Oklahoma City Thunder team to a postseason appearance during the 2020 Orlando bubble. Or how he immediately made a significant impact on the lowly Phoenix Suns, turning them from basement dwellers to championship contenders.
There's a reason at 40 years old Paul is still garnering interest from teams around the league. He may not put up the numbers he did
(Turn to page 28)
“Jamaica has lost a truly great son with the departure of Donald George Wehby, who is gone too soon.
“Rest in Peace Don.”
The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) also expressed its sorrow in a message issued by President Garth Gayle, who called Wehby a pillar in the sporting community.
“The JAAA and the entire track and field fraternity are deeply saddened by the passing of distinguished statesman and renowned
business leader, the Honourable Don Wehby," Gayle said.
"Mr Wehby was a cornerstone in the building of our sport. His tangible support to our teams, individuals, and development programmes ensured continuous success.
A passionate sportsman himself, Mr Wehby was always delighted with Jamaica’s successes and was willing to lend a hand in times of need.
Sincere condolences to his family and the Grace family. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) also offered a heartfelt tribute, citing the unique role Wehby played in strengthening the organisation and its events.
“The Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) is deeply saddened by the loss of Mr. Don Wehby, former CEO of GraceKennedy.
“Over the past two decades, Mr Wehby has been instrumental in providing corporate sponsorship for various ISSA competitions,
notably the ISSA Boys and Girls Champs and Schoolboy cricket.
“His contributions extended beyond sponsorships, as he played a significant role in helping ISSA develop its brand through Greenfield Media. He also assisted in building our organisational structure and leadership capacity. Mr Wehby’s unwavering support for National and Youth Development, particularly through sports, made our partnership a special one.
“We hope to meet you again, Sir Wehby!
“We extend our sincere condolences to the Wehby family and the entire GraceKennedy Family.”
Wehby’s support for Grace Shield cricket, his instrumental role in producing the Wehby Report on governance at Cricket West Indies, and his commitment to elevating Champs into one of the world’s most admired youth track meets are just part of a rich legacy that has left an indelible mark on Jamaican society. (Sportsmax)
Government committee declares Chinnaswamy Stadium 'unsafe for large-scale events'
BENGALURU’S M Chinnaswamy Stadium has been declared "unsafe for largescale events" by the Justice John Michael D'Cunha Commission appointed by the Karnataka government following the stampede on June 4 which left 11 people dead and over 50 injured. The panel's findings, submitted to the government, cast doubt over the stadium's eligibility to host marquee events.
The committee, which investigated the stampede, pointed towards inadequacies in the stadium which was selected as the venue for Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) victory celebrations a day after their maiden IPL title win.
"The design and structure of the stadium was unsuitable and unsafe for mass gathering. All the entry and exit gates were directly opening into the public footpath. Spacious and organized holding area for crowd were not provided at the entry, as a result, the
audience were forced to queue up on the footpath or the road obstructing and endangering the pedestrians and vehicular movements as well as giving scope for the miscreants to join the crowd, aggravating the risk especially in the absence of proper security management.
"...Given these systematic limitations, the commission strongly recommends that stadium authorities consider relocating events that are expected to attract large crowds to venues that are better suited
for such large gatherings. Any future venue should adhere to international standards, including: Purpose - built queuing and circulation zones separated from public roads; Adequate entry/exit gates for mass entry and exit (ingress and egress); Integrated public transport access points and tourist hubs; Emergency evacuation plans compliant with international safety norms; Sufficient parking and drop off infrastructure to handle attendee volumes.
(Turn to page 26)
INDIA’S cricketers began last week at Manchester United's training ground.
Red Devils manager Ruben Amorim could have done without a grilling from spinner Kuldeep Yadav about his continued use of 3-4-3.
But he will be wishing his squad could show the same grit and determination India did during their trip to the north west, as their epic rearguard action in the fourth Test prevented England taking a decisive 3-1 lead in the series.
They are proud of their entertainers on the red side of Manchester.
The Holy Trinity. Sir Alex's flying wingers. The one they still call King Eric. India's performance was a tribute to one of this area's other favourite sons, Lord Atherton of Stoic Defiance.
This Test came four years after India's previous visit to Old Trafford.
On that occasion India pulled out of the fifth Test after a positive Covid-19 result and flew home with the series there to be won, given their 2-1 lead.
Shubman Gill was playing in his first Test against England in England when
the hosts swept to victory in the rearranged match in Birmingham the following summer.
Now captain, Gill ensured that if England are to get the result they want from this summer's contest, they will have to sacrifice an inch from their height in doing so.
Without Gill's 103 runs scored across 24 hours, England's bowlers would have celebrated victory on Saturday afternoon and spent Sunday on the golf course.
Walking out at 0-2 after only five deliveries, following a draining 157.1 overs as leader in the field, his head must surely have been spinning.
In the first innings he was out for 12 shouldering arms, seemingly having played all of his shots in the pre-match news conference a day earlier by suggesting England had broken the spirit of cricket.
By Friday, there were murmurings of discontent in the India camp - questions of whether it was Gill or coach Gautam Gambhir calling the shots.
That night bowling coach Morne Morkel took blow after blow in a news conference. 'Why was player A picked? Why did player
Gill brings up
B not bowl?' an unrelenting press contingent asked.
That only made the resistance of Gill across the weekend, a 25-year-old a month into a gruelling first tour as captain, even more remarkable.
He has spoken a lot this summer about wanting to wear his 'batter cap' when doing the day job. He has wanted to leave his metaphorical captaincy equivalent in his kitbag until he comes to field.
In this knock he had to wear both to show the dressing room - one without the
experience of three legends in Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin and Rohit Sharma, who all retired within the space of six months over the winter - the way forward was to fight.
Gill now has 722 runs in this series with four centuries.
Only Graeme and Steve Smith, of South Africa and Australia, have scored more than 700 runs in a series against England in the UK this century.
Protea Smith was another young captain when he dominated the summer of 2003. His run-haul set him on the way to being one of the great leaders of the modern era, but he already looked a grizzled leader when taking the reins at 22.
Gill, in contrast, is softly spoken.
Where his first captain Kohli held court with an aura the size of his social media following, Gill answers questions with a disarming smile.
Still, when India needed their captain to front up this week - with the bat and when Ben Stokes offered his hand for the draw with 15 overs to go - Gill did so, just as Kohli would have before.
GLENN Maxwell has opened Australia’s T20I batting order in the absence of Travis Head but does not expect to be in the role going forward.
Maxwell does not expect to open Australia’s white-ball batting order in the future.
The big-hitter has opened in each of the last three T20Is against West Indies alongside Mitchell Marsh, with Travis Head rested for the series and Matt Short out injured.
Maxwell averages 42.76 when playing as an opening batter, his highest average at any position, and scores at an impressive strike rate of 181.
He helped Australia chase down a target of 206 in their last match with a score of 47 from just 18 balls, smashing six maximums at the start of the innings.
Despite also scoring a quickfire 20 off seven balls before being run out in the
match prior, Maxwell insists he is just filling in for Head.
“[I’m just] warming up Heady’s seat until he comes back,” said Maxwell. “It is certainly good fun being up the top; we always talk about, in middle order, how exciting it is to get up the top and have a bit of fun in the powerplay.
“I think the way we're probably going to set up our T20 side heading forward is
you've got Travis up the top, you've got Mitch Marsh, who is captaining us brilliantly at the moment.
“Ingo [Josh Inglis] is doing a great job at number three and the rest of the order falls into place around that.
“We've got some unbelievable power hitting at the moment, we've seen some guys really put their hands up – Tim David, Mitchell Owen and Cameron Green –
It would have been easy for Gill to accept Stokes' offer when England's captain looked to the dressing room. Worse would have been to shrug and put the pressure on to inexperienced teammate Washington Sundar, who stood 20 runs short of a maiden Test century.
Gill held firm - a stern look before his smile returned soon after.
This was typical Gill and those in the ranks remember when their leaders front the resistance.
This is not to say Gill has been perfect in his first four matches in charge.
Not bowling Sundar until the 69th over of England's first innings was a clear tactical mistake. There have been strange selections too.
In a country of 1.4bn, medium pacer Anshul Kamboj cannot be the best option to take the new ball in England, while the series finale begins on Thursday with Kuldeep, the best spinner on either side, yet to make an appearance.
This is where he needs Gambhir's assistance.
The former India opener is Gill's antithesis.
Combative and scowling, a news conference after a
semi-final win in the Champions Trophy in March became a 20-minute argument. Another after the first Test at Headingley was similar. Gambhir could be The Spiky One.
Captain and coach do not have to come from the same pod, a la Stokes and Brendon McCullum. Jos Buttler and Matthew Mott failed at the head of England's white-ball team because they were both playing the good cop.
But if Gambhir is willing and able to plug the gaps, Gill has shown he has both the personality and batting prowess to take this side forward.
Kohli's aggressive approach gave this generation an edge and athleticism that remains long after he has gone. With his softer nature, and the ability to light a fire when needed, Gill can be the ideal captain for this latest generation.
The words United's iconic former manager Sir Alex Ferguson once (almost) said half a mile up Sir Matt Busby Way now apply to India.
"Your job is to stand by your new captain."
This week in Manchester could be the making of India's new skipper. (BBC Sport)
(From page 31)
throughout the middle.
“They're three pretty big blokes with big reach and they hit the ball an absolute mile, so it's great to have guys with that extra bit of power in the middle order.
“It's not something we've had an abundance of over the years, and to have that at our disposal at the moment is pretty exciting.”
Australia have one match left in their T20I series against West Indies and are currently leading the hosts 4-0.
In fact, Australia have won every single game during their tour, including a whitewash in the three-match Test series.
Maxwell is hoping to end the series on a high on Monday, with one more big performance in his temporary role.
“It's been a nice shift up to the top and hopefully one more game and I can get a few more,” he added.
12-year Test career. The 140 overs Stokes has bowled in the series is also the most of his career.
Fears about his fitness were raised at Old Trafford when he did not bowl any of England's 63 overs on the fourth day. He did bowl at the beginning of the fifth day, ultimately sending down 11 overs as India batted throughout Sunday to claim an unlikely draw.
India began their second innings 311 behind and were reduced to 0-2 before lunch on Saturday. Centuries from captain Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar took the tourists to safety on 425-4 when a draw was agreed.
England were in the field for 143 overs across Saturday and Sunday, a huge amount given the short time between Tests. Across the series, England have fielded for 222 overs more than India.
Seamers Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse have played all four Tests for England, while Jofra Archer has played the last two after more than four years out with injuries.
All three would be candidates to be rotated at The Oval. Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson were in the England squad for the fourth Test and Jamie Overton could be added as cover.
"You look at how long we have been out in the field and the overs we have bowled, everyone is going to be pretty sore and pretty tired," said Stokes. "There will be an assessment of everyone and hopefully we can use these next days of rest wisely.
"We might have to make a few decisions to get some fresh legs in, but that won't be decided until we get closer to the last game.”
(BBC Sport)
EIGHTY-ONE enthusiastic children turned up at the historic Georgetown Cricket (GCC) ground, Bourda, to be a part of the Queensway sponsored GCC Summer Camp. This year’s Camp commenced on July 21 and ends on July 31. It runs from 09:00hrs and concludes at 13:00hrs from Monday to Friday.
Under the watchful eyes of Coaches - former FirstClass batter, Rabindranath Seeram; former West Indies Women’s pacer, Sabrina
Munroe; former National U-19 opener, Peter Persaud and the experienced Orin Bailey, the children are being taught the basics of cricket in ‘a fun environment.’
When Chronicle Sport visited the venue where West Indies won its first Test match in 1930, there was a large gathering of parents present.
President of GCC, Jonathan Yearwood, said that, during the long vacation from school, the club organises camps to keep the kids occupied and hopefully spark an
interest in them for Cricket.
“I must say a big thanks to our sponsor, Queensway, since, without them, this would not be possible. Thanks also to the Club’s Head Coach, Peter Persaud and three coaches and three assistants for the hard work they are putting in.
I hope this programme can produce some girls who join the other programmes at GCC so we can start a female team since Women’s cricket is getting bigger now” stated Yearwood.
(Sean Devers)
ENGLAND’S captain, Ben Stokes, says it is "very unlikely" he will miss the decisive final Test against India at The Oval.
All-rounder Stokes struggled across the final three days of the drawn fourth Test at Old Trafford, repeatedly feeling for the top of his legs and right bicep.
The 34-year-old has a chequered injury history and has had surgeries on his left knee and hamstring in the past two years.
He is also in superb form. He took 5-72 with the ball in India's first innings in Manchester, then followed up with 141 with the bat, becoming only the fourth England man to take a five-wicket haul and score a century in the same Test.
There is a short turnaround to the fifth Test, which begins on Thursday.
"I don't want to eat my words, but the likelihood I won't play is very unlikely," said Stokes. "Mentally, I'm decent. Physically, I've been better."
England’s captain, all-rounder Ben Stokes
While Stokes has historically struggled with injuries to his left leg, he said the problem with his right bicep has been "stirring away" for some time.
"It's been a pretty big workload so far in this series," said the Durham man.
"It was another big week in the third Test at Lord's, the same again this week. Pain is just an emotion, so it's just one of those things.
"It's my bicep tendon. It's had a lot of workload through it. It's a lot of time in the middle doing my job. It didn't get
Powell passes Gayle to become West Indies’ second-highest run-scorer in T20Is
WEST Indies batsman Rovman Powell has gone past the legendary Chris Gayle to become the team's second-highest run-scorer in T20 Internationals.
Powell reached the milestone during the fourth T20I against Australia at Warner Park in Basseterre on Saturday.
After a string of low scores—1, 12, and 9—in the first three matches, Powell found some rhythm, scoring 28 off 22 balls with two fours and two sixes.
With this innings, Powell now has 1,925 runs in 99 T20Is at an average of 25.66 and a strike rate of over 141.
His T20I record includes one century and nine half-centuries in 87 innings, with a highest score of 107.
Chris Gayle, who was instrumental in West Indies’ T20 World Cup triumphs, had scored 1,899 runs in 79 T20Is at an average of 27.92 and a strike rate of 137.50, with two hundreds and 14 fifties. His best score was 117.
Topping the chart for West Indies is Nicholas Pooran, who has amassed 2,275 runs in 106 matches at an average of 26.14 and 14 and a strike rate of over 136, with 13 fifties and a best score of 98. (Sportsmax)
any worse. Hopefully it settles down and will be as good as gold for the last game."
Stokes' importance to the England team as a player and leader is paramount. He has been in particularly fine form with the ball this summer, regularly England's best bowler, while his century at Old Trafford was his first in a Test for more than two years.
He is the leading wicket-taker on either side in the England-India series with 17, which is also his most successful with the ball across a
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on the attack for Avinash
EMOTIONS ran high and the tension was palpable as Mahdia (Movements Family) triumphed over the star-studded Avinash All-Stars in a nail-biting final to claim the Essequibo zone title of the Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast.
Under the lights of the Anna Regina Ground, Mahdia held their nerve to secure the $300,000 zone prize, while Avinash All-Star walked away with $100,000.
The bigger picture is that Mahdia has qualified for the national playoffs.
After setting a target of 112-9, Mahdia's bowlers showcased remarkable discipline to restrict Avinash
All-Stars to 104-5. This was no small feat, especially with West Indies firepower in the opposition ranks.
Barbadian import Kyle Mayers unleashed an unbeaten 53 off just 25 balls, featuring four fours and four sixes, while fellow countryman Marlon Goodman added 25.
However, the Mahdia attack, spearheaded by captain Raydon Austin's excellent 2-11 from two overs, proved too much to overcome.
Earlier in Mahdia's innings, despite the efforts of Ronsford Beaton (2-23) and Ameer Mohamed (2-24), who bowled well to contain the scoring, a counter-attacking 40 from just 16 balls (1x4,
5x6s) provided the crucial impetus to reach a competitive total.
In the semi-finals, Avinash All-Stars made light work of Aurora Knight Riders, restricting them to 68-7 with Carlos LaRose bagging 3-8, before chasing down the target in a mere 4.5 overs.
Mahdia's journey to the final saw them defeat Renegades Cricket Club by 17 runs, posting 114-7, thanks to solid contributions from Ricardo Adams (40) and Andrew Gibson (27).
With all four zone champions now crowned, the stage is set for the national semi-finals at the National Stadium, Providence, on Sunday, Au-
FRESH off its recent rebuild, the J-Stang of Rameez Mohamed recorded the fastest time at the weekend in Trinidad during their Wallerfield Championship Final (WCF) Round three. The BM Soat/Renegade Race Fuel sponsored Ford Mustang equipped with the Toyota JZ engine earned it the name J-Stang and it lived up to that with an 8.32 second run down the quarter mile on Sunday. It was the fastest car on
of the day with only a superbike time from Mark
gust 3.
Defending champions Titans All-Stars will face Mahdia in the first semi-final, followed by a clash between Montra Jaguars and Eccles All-Stars in the second.
The day's cricketing extravaganza will kick off at 13:30h with a female exhibition match, followed by semi-final one and two, before the grand final, scheduled to begin at 19:30h.
The stakes are considerably higher in the national final, with teams vying for a massive $1.7 million grand prize.
The national runner-up won't go home empty-handed, pocketing $700,000 along
with a trophy and medals, while even the losing semi-finalists will be rewarded with $300,000 each.
Individual brilliance won’t go unnoticed either, with a host of prizes up for grabs, including MVP ($150,000 + motorcycle), Most Runs ($100,000 + trophy + TV), Most Wickets ($100,000 + trophy + TV), Man-of-the-National Final ($75,000 + trophy + TV), Highest Strike Rate ($35,000), and Best Economy ($35,000).
The Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast has garnered support from: Kares Engineering Inc, the Office of the President, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and
Sport, KFC Guyana, Star Rentals, Banks DIH, ENet, Guyana Lottery Company, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Impressions, Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal, Shawn’s Mini Mart, Giftland Group of Companies, Kris Jagdeo Construction Company, Montra Restaurant & Lounge, Windsor Estates, The New Doctor’s Clinic, GuyOil, ANSA McAL, SuperBet Guyana, Digital Technology, Camille’s Academy, Navin and Sons Construction, Demerara Mutual Life Insurance, Continental Transportation, and Environmental & Technical Solutions.
Outgoing BCA president reflects on legacy after deciding against re-election
OUTGOING President of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA), Conde Riley, has spoken out about his decision not to contest the presidency after serving in the post since 2017.
In a statement issued on the matter, Riley admitted the decision, though difficult, was ultimately the right one.
“Over my tenure on the board, I would like to think that I have played a pivotal role in the growth, development, and success of the organisation and the sport of cricket within Barbados but also the wider region,” reflected Riley, who served three terms.
He noted that his pres-
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