Guyana Chronicle E-Paper & GOAL 01-06-2025

-tosupporttheexpansionof agriculture,boostfarmers’incomes

President,DrIrfaanAliyesterdayinteractedwithchildrenwhoareparticipatingintheMinistryofCulture, YouthandSport’sroboticscampatAnnaReginaSecondarySchool.Thechildren,havesofar,completed

EssequibofarmersendorsePresident Aliforsecondterm

–commendhisstrongleadershipand transformationoftheagriculturesector

ByIndrawattieNatram

ANUMBERofricefarmers, cashcropgrowers,andfisherfolkfromRegionTwo(Pomeroon-Supenaam)havepublicly endorsedPresidentDr.Irfaan Aliforanotherterminoffice, citinghistransformativework andunwaveringcommitment totheagriculturalsector.

Atapublicmeetingheld attheAnnaReginaSecondary Schoolauditorium,scoresof farmersexpresseddeepgratitude totheHeadofStateforthesignificantstridesmadeunderhis administration,especiallyduring timesofeconomichardshipand marketuncertainty.

“We’veneverseenaPresidentworkthishardforfarmers,” saidveteranricefarmerKaydar PersaudfromAffiance.“When pricesdropped,PresidentAli didn’tmakeexcuses—heacted. The$300perbagsupportcame attherighttimeandsavedmany ofus.Ifullysupportanother termforhim.”

PresidentAli’seffortsinimprovinglandaccess,stabilising riceprices,upgradinginfrastructure,andintroducingmodern dryingandstoragefacilitieshave notgoneunnoticed.

CashcropfarmerTalesha

NarinefromAuroracommended theadministration’sresponsiveness:“Thisgovernmentlistens. Whenweaskedforbetterdrainageandaccesstoextensionservices,theydelivered.Today,my yieldshaveincreased,andIfeel proudtobeafarmer.IstandbehindPresidentAli100percent. NarinepraisedthePresident’svisionofsustainability andvalue-addedfarming,noting thatfarmerswerenolonger beingleftbehindinnationaldevelopmentconversations.FisherfolkalongthePomeroonRiver alsosharedtheirendorsement, citingimprovementstolanding sitesandeasieraccesstoglue.

“We’veseenarealchange underPresidentAli.Wenow havepropermooringsites,and thesupportfromtheMinistryof Agriculturehasbeenconstant,” saidfishermanRameshPersaud.“Thegovernmentisn’tjust talking—they’redoingthework. We’rebackingthePresidentall theway.”

Sincetakingoffice,PresidentAliandhisgovernment haveplacedagricultureatthe centreofnationaldevelopment—investingininfrastructure,machinery,markets,and moderntechnologyPersaud said.

DuringhisvisittoRegion Two,thePresidentannounced

theopeningof20,000acresof land,fullysupportedbygovernmentinvestmentinequipment, landdevelopment,andseed paddy.Farmerswillalsobenefit fromtwonewdryingandstorage facilities,withtendersgoing outinjusttwoweeks.Healso unveiledaco-investmentstrategyforfertiliserproductionand apricestabilisationsystemto shieldricefarmersfrommarket volatility.

“Youhaveagovernment that’swithyouthroughgood timesandbad,”PresidentAli toldthepackedaudience.“We arenotjustbuildingfarms—we arebuildingafutureoffood security,prosperity,andself-reliance.”

AClearChoiceforFarmers Fromricefieldstoriverbanks,farmersinRegionTwo saythechoiceisclear:theywant continuityandleadershipthat delivers.

“We’vehadgovernments inthepast,butthisonestands outforonereason—results,” saidcashcropgrowerMohini Deonarine.“PresidentAlihas kepthispromises.That’swhyhe deservesasecondterm.”

Thericefarmerswerevery appreciativeofPresidentIrfaan Aliandhisgovernment'seffortsinimprovingthefarming community.Ricefarmerssaid thattheyarenowgettingmore

marketsfortheirproduce,and theyarealsousingtheAgro processingfacilitytodrytheir mangoesandpineapplesasvalue-addedcrops.

MelroseHenryfromCapoeysaidthattherehave beentremendousagricultural opportunitiesintheCapoey community.Henrysaidthat CapoeyissupportingPresidentAliandhecalledonmore indigenousyouthstotakeup agricultureasacareerpath. Sheurgedthegovernment toconstructadormitoryfor studentstoattendtheGuyana SchoolofAgriculturebranch atCottonField.

ByIndrawattieNatram

PRESIDENTIrfaan

Alihasannouncedthat 20,000acresofland willbemadeavailable inthreeagricultural clustersacrossRegion Two(Pomeroon/Supenaam),providingnew opportunitiesandresourcesforricefarmers,cashcropgrowers,andfisherfolk.The Presidentmadethis announcementduring apublicmeetingheld attheAnnaRegina SecondarySchoolauditoriumonSaturday.

Addressingthegathering,PresidentAli emphasisedthathis governmentisactively workingonaseriesof forward-lookingpoliciesandinitiativesto strengthenGuyana’sagriculturesector.

“InEssequibo,land ownershipremainsa majorissue,withover 1,000farmerscurrently

-tosupporttheexpansionofagriculture,boostfarmers’incomes

shareresponsibilityfor theequipmentandwork togethertoreduceinput costs.

“Farmerswhoown 30acresorlesswill alsobegiventheoption tochoosebetweenreceivingcashorfertiliser,”thePresidentadded. “Youhaveagovernment thatstandswithyou throughgoodtimesand bad.Seetheopportunity inagriculture.”

ModernFacilities andSupportServices

Tosupportpost-harvestneeds,President Aliannouncedthattwo moderndryingandstoragefacilitieswillsoon beconstructedinRegionTwo.

“Intwoweeks,tenderswillbeoutforthe constructionofthese facilities,”hesaid.“This increaseincapacitywill addressdryingandstorageneedsinasignificantway,”headded.

Onthematterof extensionservices,the

advisedthatoneacre ineverytenshouldbe dedicatedtoahigh-valuecrop,addingthatthe

doit.Leadingacountry isn’taboutopenpromises—it’saboutunderstandingfiscalpolicies,

governmentisprepared tosupporttheseinitiativestoincreasevalue-addedproduction.

Hefurtherstated, “Thegovernmentwill co-investtomeetall fertiliserneeds.Wecan evenblendfertiliser basedonspecificcrop requirementstosatisfyouragriculturaldemands.”

hardwork,andexperience.”

MinisterofAgriculture,ZulfikarMustapha, echoedthePresident’s remarksandemphasised thattheagriculturesectorhasseensignificant transformationsincethe People’sProgressive Party(PPP)returnedto office.

Herecalledthattwo

Over70,000bagswere purchasedthroughthe GuyanaRiceDevelopmentBoardduringthis crop.

MinisterMustapha alsohighlightedthe transformationofthe cashcropsectorwith improveddrainageand irrigationinPomeroon. “WerecognisethatEssequiboandPomeroon areexcellentareasfor

thelackofstoragefacilities,towhichPresident Alireiteratedthegovernment’scommitment tobuildingthemsoon.

rentingland,”hestated. “Thegovernmentwill open20,000acresof newlandinthreeclusters.Wewillmakethe capitalinvestmentto developtheland,provideseedpaddy,and eliminatetheneedfor farmerstorent.”

Eachcluster,accordingtothePresident, willbeequippedwith machinery,includinga tractorandacombine harvester.Thesewillbe managedco-operatively bythefarmers,whowill

Presidentsaidthegovernmentisworkingto makesupportavailable 24/7throughthecreationofacentralcontrol centre.Thishubwill helpeducateandguide cashcropfarmersand supportasustainable agriculturalsystem.Extensionofficerswillalso operatefromsmallcontainerofficesstationed acrosstheregion,increasingaccesstotechnicalsupport.

Formedium-scale farmers,PresidentAli

Addressingchallengesintransportation andmarketvolatility, PresidentAliannounced plansforapricestabilisationbufferfund,developedincollaboration withmillers.

“Wewillcreatea paymentsystemwitha buffertoprotectagainst pricedropsintherice market.Theaimisto havepricepredictability andhelpreducetransportationcosts,”hesaid.

“Ifwetellyouwe’re goingtodoit,wewill

yearsago,theregion experiencedadecline inriceprices.“Atthat time,farmerswereearningthelowestpricesfor paddy.Wemadeacommitment,helddiscussionswithmillers,and negotiatedbetterrates,” theministersaid.

Thankstogovernmentintervention,pricesstabilised.Thisyear, thegovernmenthasprovideddirectsupport, subsidising$300perbag ofpaddysoldtomillers.

cashcrops,andwewill continuetosupport thoseefforts,”hestated. Alllandingsitesfor fisherfolk,headded, havebeenupgraded,and fertiliserdistribution programsareongoing. “Outof186countries, Guyanaisemergingas aleaderinagriculture,” Mustaphaconcluded.

FarmersExpress Gratitude,CallforMore Support

Duringtheengagement,severalfarmers raisedconcernsabout

FarmerKaydarPersaudexpressedappreciation:“SincethePPP returnedtooffice,prices havegoneup.Weare thankful.The$300per bagofpaddybrought hope.Whatwereally neednowismoreland andbetterprices.”

Farmersalsoexpressedthankstothe governmentforpurchasingpaddyduring thecurrentcropandfor reducingferrytransportationfees—measures theysaidsignificantly easedtheirburdens.

“Wearethankful foryourvisitandwe arehappywitheverythingthegovernment isdoing,andthisis verycaring”,farmer DyalNarinesaid.

President,DrIrfaanAliandMinisterof

Guyanaisbeing positionedasthe energyhuboftheregion

-PresidentAlipromisestoleverageenergysurplusfor jobcreation,bolsteringGuyana’snationalrichness, creatinghigher-valuegoodsandservices

ByTrinaWilliams

CENTRALtoPresident, DrIrfaanAli’svisionfor nationaltransformationis positioningGuyanaasan energyhubfortheregion andhehasalreadylaid outacomprehensiveplan, whichisaimedatimprovinglivesandbuildingon thecountry’seconomic prosperity.

ThePresidentemphasisedthisduringhisfeature addressontheeveofthe country’s59thindependence anniversary.

DrAlistated:“Weare buildinganenergyinfrastructureandtransforming ourenergylandscapetoensureenergysecurityforthe longterm,toimproveour competitivenessandtobuild prosperityineveryhomeand inthelivesofeverycitizen.

Weareadvancingouragenda forcleanerandmorerenewablesourcesofpower.”

Notably,toaccelerate Guyana’stransitionandsolidifyitsroleasaglobal leaderinsustainableenergy production,thegovernment, inFebruary,hadoutlined ambitiousplanstoinvest $791.4millioninrenewable energyprojectsoverthenext threeyears.

Itwassaidthattheinvestmentwillfocusonavarietyoflarge-scalerenewable energyprojects,including theinstallationof21solar mini-gridsthatwillbenefit over240publicandcommunitybuildingsacrossRegions One(Barima-Waini),Three (EssequiboIslands-WestDemerara),Seven(CuyuniMazaruni),Eight(Potaro-Siparuni),Nine(UpperTakutu-UpperEssequibo)

and10(UpperDemerara-UpperBerbice).

Theprojectswillensure thatkeyinfrastructuressuch ashealthcentres,schools, andICThubsinremotecommunitiesreceivereliable renewablepower.President Alialsopromisedthepeople ofGuyanathatthegovernmentwillcontinuetowork tobettertheirlives,inthis case,hewasreferringto hisadministrationworking towardsreducingthecostof electricity.

AsGuyanastandsonthe brinkofatransformativeenergytransition,thegas-to-energyprojectnotonlypromisestoenhanceenergysecurity, butalsotocatalyseeconomic growthandenvironmental sustainability.

Heavyfueloilhaslong beenthefuelofchoicefor Guyana’selectricitygeneration,apracticethatis expensiveandunsustain-

President,DrIrfaanAligivinghisfeatureaddressontheeve ofthecountry’s59thindependenceanniversary

ableinitsecologicalimpact. Thegas-to-energyprojectis animportantsteptowards healthier,morestablesources ofenergybyusingnatural gas.

DrAliemphasisedthat developmentofthenation’s energysectorwouldnotonly benefithouseholdsandcommunities,butalsoposition thecountryasakeyplayer intheregionalarena.

Hesaid:“Wearegoing tocontinuetoworktoreduce thecostofelectricity,sothat Guyanesehouseholdsand businessescanenjoythefact thatweareanenergy-rich andsecurecountry.We're goingtoleverageourenergy

surplustocreatejobs,add valuetoournationalrichnessandcreatehigher-value goodsandservices.These aretheaspectsofourenergy transformationthatweare goingtocontinuetoinvest in,sothatwecanposition Guyanaastheenergyhubof theRegion.”

Thedevelopmentofthe energysectorcannotbedone inisolation,asthePresident saidthatitmustbefollowed byinvestmentsinclimate change.

Hetoldthenation:“We areinvestinginthefutureto ensureclimateconsiderations areapriority.Buildingour climate-adaptationinfrastructureforgreaterresilience, expandingourseaandriver defencesystem—toprotect ourcoastalland,toprotect ourfarmers,toprotectour businesses.”

TheHeadofStateunderscoredthatthegovernment planstostrengthendrainage

andirrigationsystemsand opennewagriculturallands toboostproductivity.

Anotherpillarofthe President’ssustainabledevelopmentplaniseconomic diversification,notingthat itispivotalinbolsteringthe country’scompetitiveness.

“Wecanbuildourglobal competitivenessnotonlyin theenergy-theoilandgassector,butineverysector ofoureconomy,”President Alisaid.

Further,lookingahead, thePresidentpointedto abrightfuture,asthenation’sinfrastructuresare transformed,withtheaim toconnectGuyanawithits neighbours,topromotetrade, removebarriersandbuildthe market.

“Thecomingyearswill bemarkedbyevenharder workaswecontinuebuildingtheblocksoftransformation,”hesaid.

ByTrinaWilliams

GeneralSecretaryofthe People’sProgressiveParty (PPP),Dr.BharratJagdeo hascalledoutsectionsofthe mediafortheir“deliberate distortion”oftherecently concludedNationalToshaos Conference(NTC)andthe government’sengagement withIndigenouscommunities.

Duringapressconference onThursdaylastatFreedom House,Georgetown,Dr.Jagdeodismissedareportinthe StabroekNews,whichhesaid attemptedtopaintthepicture thattheindigenouspeople arebeingneglectedunderthe rulingPPP/Cadministration.

“Soagain,theStabroek NewspredictablytriedtocharacterisetheNTCas,andthe ToshaosandtheAmerindians assufferingunderthePeople'sProgressiveParty/Civic periodinoffice,”theGeneral Secretary,whoalsoservesas Guyana’sVicePresident,said.

“Soitwas,it'sjustanegativeportrayalofeverything andadistortion,atotaldistortion,”hefurtherstated.

TheVicePresident,while rejectingthenarrative,highlightedtheoverwhelming sentimentsexpressedbythe Indigenousleadersduringthe conference.

TheVicePresidentsaid, “AlmosteveryToshaofrom everyareawouldstartoff bysaying,wethankyoufor alltheprogress.Thisisnot PPPtellingthemtodothat, becausetheycouldhavedone itunderAPNU,too…Inmy interactionswiththem,Ihadto say,‘thankyouverymuchfor sayingallthesegoodthings aboutthePPP,butcanweget ontotheproblems?’

“Becauseifeveryoneof youwilllistthelistofachievementsthatyouhavehadin yourcommunities,theroads andtheschoolsandthehealth centresandtheplayground andallofthat,livelihood issuesandthesupportofthe government,thenwe'llnever endtheconferenceandI'm heremoretolookatproblems.”

Dr.JagdeofurtherhighlightedthatnumerousToshaos evenvoicedtheirunsolicited supportforthePPP/Cgovernment,creditingthemforthe transformativedevelopment takingplacewithintheirvillages.

TheVicePresidentemphasisedthatthegovernmentwas

notfocusedonwhattheyhave donebutwhatmoretheycan doforthepeopleofthiscountry.However,hedidnotethe sensationalisingbycriticsof thehighfreightcosts,without evenprovidingcontext.

Dr.Jagdeosaid:“So, theygoandpickuponeissue likethecost-of-livingissue, thecostoffreight.Andyes, freightpricesarehigh,but theydon'tsaythattoAPNUon thehighfreightprices[which] hadvalueaddedtaxthatwe removed.Butflyingthings intothehinterlandwillhave acostbecauseoftheairline. Andwemadeitclearwe're goingtoaddressthis.Andif wecan'taddressitthrough cuttingthemarginsofthemiddlemen,whoarenowmaking mostofthemoneyfromwhat theairlinepeopletoldus,then we'regoingtodoitthrougha commercialarmoftheGDFto flythingsintosomecommunitieswherewecancutthecost offreightforthehinterland.”

Also,theVicePresident pointedtotherangeofinitiativesalreadybenefiting citizensandnotedthatthegovernmentisaimingtoexpand themevenfurther.

“Becausetheindigenous communities,somewillbenefitfromcheaperelectricity nowandfreeelectricity,but notallhavelikewhatwehave onthecoast.Sosubsidised electricity,subsidisedwater, subsidisedgasolineanddiesel, mostofit.Well,thatwould affecteveryoneontheCoast tokeepthecostoflivingdown, lowermortgagerates,andstuff likethat.Becausethat'swhat thegovernmenthasdoneon thecoasttoaddressthecost ofissues.”

TRANSFORMATION

Dr.Jagdeo,duringapreviousnewsconference,pointed tokeyachievements,suchas increasedemployment,infrastructureimprovements, andlandtitling.Theprevious government,henoted,spent $5.8billiononcapitalprojects acrossfourregionsoverafiveyearperiod.

Incontrast,thePPP/C government,accordingtoDr. Jagdeo,invested$6.5billion inasingleinitiative:thecashgrantdistributionprogramme. Thisamount,heemphasised, surpassedwhattheprevious administrationspentonkey infrastructuraldevelopmentin hinterlandcommunities.

“That’sthemagnitudeof thedifference.Wespendon capitalnow;wespendinasin-

gleyearmorethanwhatthey havespentinthefiveyearsin someoftheregions,”hesaid. Further,hesaidthegovernmentiscurrentlyconstructing foursecondaryschoolsinthe hinterlandareas,including placeslikeKwebana,Hosororo,andKarassabai.Thecombinedinvestmentinjustthese fourschoolssurpassesthetotal capitalbudgetallocatedacross allsectorsoverthepastfive

years.

That,accordingtoDr.Jagdeo,givesasenseofthescale ofdevelopmenthappeningin theseregions.Andthat’snot evenconsideringotherinfrastructure,suchastheroadworksincommunitieslike MaburumaSettlementleading toHosororo,ordevelopmentin theMorucaareaandbeyond.

Thislevelofinvestment reflectsastrongcommitment

toaccountabilityandhighlightsthescaleofourefforts. Inadditiontothis,$1.5billion isbeinginvestedinhousing. Approximately$32billion hasbeeninvestedthroughthe MinistryofAmerindianAffairs alone,excludingspendingon healthandeducation.

Thisfundingwaschannelledthroughinitiativessuch astheAmerindianDevelopmentFund,thepresidential

grant,andsupportprogrammes foryouthandwomen’sdevelopmentinthesecommunities. Thisfiguredoesnotinclude theadditionalinfrastructure work,suchasroadsalready completedintheseareas.

TheHinterlandScholarshipProgrammebyitself accountedforover$400 million.Hefurtherpointed toakeyinitiativethatexists todaybecauseoftheinnovationandleadershipofthe PPPgovernment:TheLow CarbonDevelopmentStrategy2030(LCDS2030).

Overthepastthreeyears, Amerindiancommunitieshave receivedsubstantialfunding throughthisprogramme, US$22.7million(orG$4.7 billion)inthefirstyear, US$23.27million(around G$4.8billion)inthesecond year,andanotherUS$22.7 million(aboutG$4.73billion) thisyear.

Altogether,thisaddsup tomorethan$14billionin support,enablingthesecommunitiestocarryoutnearly 4,000projectsaimedatlocal development.

GeneralSecretaryofthePPP/C,DrBharratJagdeowithmembersoftheNTC

ElectoralProspects

ASGuyanaapproachesthe September2025general andregionalelections,the politicallandscapepresents astarkcontrastbetweena governingpartythathas demonstrablydeliveredon itspromisesandanoppositionstrugglingtoarticulateacoherentalternative vision.

ThePeople’sProgressiveParty/Civic(PPP/C) beginsthiselectionperiod withanunmatchedrecord offulfilmentofmanifest commitmentsinhistory,with wellover90percentofits 2020-2025commitmentfulfilledtodate,asopposition partiesremainweigheddown byintrapartyconflictsand policylull.

ThePPP/Crecordingovernmenthasbeenphenomenallyimpressive.In2022,

twoyearsintotheirtenure, VicePresidentDr.Bharrat Jagdeomadeafirmstatement thatthegovernmenthadeffectivelymet80percentof itsmanifestopromises.

Itthenjumpedtoanimpressive90percentby2024. Suchwholesalefulfilmentof campaignpromisesiseffectivelyunheardofinCaribbeanpolitics,whereelectoral pledgesremainunkeptacross entireterms.

Thesuccessofthegovernmentcutsacrossseveral keyareas,againshowing broad-basedgovernanceand notselectivepolicyexecution.Inhousingalone,the governmenthasinvesteda record$200billionintodevelopinginfrastructure,with 48,000citizensbeingawardedlandpreviouslydeniedto

DearEditor, Iamwritingasaproud citizenofGuyanatodeclaremysupportforthe People’sProgressiveParty/ Civicleadershipandto expressmyintenttovote intheirfavourattheupcoming2025Generaland RegionalElections.

Undertheparty’sstewardship,Guyanahasexperiencedremarkableprogress inareassuchasinfrastructuraldevelopment,healthcareexpansion,education,

jobcreationandnational unity.Thevisionforamodern,inclusive,andprosperousGuyanahasinspired many,includingmyself,to believeinthepromiseofour nation'sfuture.

Thecommitmenttoequityanddevelopmentacross allregionsandethnicgroups isatestamenttoitsintegrity anddedicationtoservice.I amconfidentthatasecond termunderPresidentIrfaan AliwillfurtherpropelGuyanaonapathofsustainable

them.

Theevolutionofthe healthcareindustryhasalso beennolessdramatic,with 12ultra-state-of-the-arthospitalproposalstobeconstructedacrossvariousareas, eightofthemtargetedfor deliverybefore2025.

ThedeploymentofICT infrastructuretohinterland communitiesandthelaunch oftelemedicineservices echoesagovernmentearnestlydevotedtodevelopment thatprioritisespeople.Contrarytothegovernanceofthe PPP/C,theoppositionitself remainsinwhatcanonlybe describedasutterdisarray.

ThePNC-R-dominated APNUandAFChavedevelopednotorietyasbeing“the worstoppositioninhistory” byanincreasinglyfrustrated

electorate.Thisadversejudgmentisnotoneofpolitical partisanshippersebutoneof sincereconcernatthefailure oftheoppositiontoperform asafunctioningdemocratic checkandbalance.

Thefailuresoftheoppositionreachbeyondorganisationalineptnesstoanoverarchinglackofpolicyinnovation.Havinghadfiveyears tocultivatenewwaysof doingthings,neitherAPNU norAFChascomeforward withmeaningfulpoliciesthat significantlydifferfromwhat thePPP/Chasalreadydone orhaspromisedtoprovide.

Theyofferedpromises intheir2015manifestofor education,employment,and energydevelopmentthat wereneverfulfilled.

Mostdamagingtooppositionlegitimacyhasbeen theirconductinandaround the2020elections,whenbald attemptsweremadetowreck democraticprocessesaround theglobe.Notonlyhasthis subvertedtheirinternational reputation,butithaspretty muchwreckedpublicfaith inthemasdefendersofdemocraticrule.

Withthreemonthstogo untiltheSeptemberelections, PPP/Cprospectsofwinning areremarkablygood.

Thecoordinationofrecordableimplementationof policy,oilrevenue-supportingeconomicgrowth,and oppositionconfusioncreates avirtuallyimpregnableelectoraladvantage.Thegovernment’sabilitytobeableto pointtovisibleachievements

fromhousingallotmentto hospitalconstructionprovidestangibleevidenceof effectivegovernancethat appealstovoterslooking forbettermentintheirdaily livingconditions.

AsGuyanapreparesfor itsnextelectionshowdown, thechoiceconfrontingvoters appearsblissfullysimple.The PPP/Cisofferingcontinuity ofestablishedgovernment, backedbyarecordofmanifestoexecutionthatspeaksto abilityandintegrity.

Theopposition,however,providesnocredible alternativesorevidence oforganisationalcapacitynecessaryforeffective government.Undersuch conditions,electoralsuccess forthePPP/Cseemsnot justprobablebutassured.

growthandsocialupliftment.

Asavoterandcitizen,I fullyendorsePresidentAli’s candidacyandGeneralSecretaryDr.BharratJagdeo’s leadership.ThePPP/Cwill continuetoleadGuyanainto abrightertomorrow. Withbestwishesfora successfulcampaign.

Yourssincerely, RajivKadarnauth RegionalCouncillor EssequiboIslands/ WestDemerara

DearEditor, SOME59yearsafterindependenceand52years afterthe1957electionin whichthepopulationbeganvotingbyracialidentityandpoliticalaffiliation,thecountryremains raciallydividedasever. Racialvotingisdeeply institutionalisedandremainsinthepsycheof thepopulation.ThePPP enjoysanadvantagefor victoryandremainsthe onlyorganisedpartythat hascrossracialappeal.

Travellingaroundthe country,engagingmany atrandom,peopleofall racesandallagegroups,

educationalbackgrounds, anddiverseclasses,the conclusionisthatthepopulationremainslargely stuckinracialvoting.The populationisimprisoned inracialidentityandcontinuestosupportapolitical partythattheyseeasbeing affiliatedwiththeirrace.

However,thereis cross-racialsupportfor PPPfromamongthetraditionalPNCbase.There isnosimilarcross-racial turnoverfromthetraditionalPPPbasetothePNC orAPNU.TheAFC’ssupportislargelyAfricanand Mixedwithsomecross-racialappealamongIndians

andAmerindians.Allothersmallorminorparties havelimitedappeal,strugglingfortraction. Theoppositionis deeplydivided,andpeopleareturnedoffby theirinternalsquabbling andinabilitytoputupa strongforce.Thepeople feelthePPPwillrun awaywiththeelections ifthingsremainthesame untilElectionDay.Ifthe forcesarethesameasin 2020,thePPPwillwina thumpingmajority,gainingseats.

Yoursfaithfully, VishnuBisram

ThePPPwillwin becauseitsopponents havenocredibility

Iwillincludeinthe PPP’sopponents,allthe oppositionparties(right nowthatwillbePNC, AFC,TeamMohamed, WPAandANUG),the privatemediaandthe anti-PPPcivilsociety groupslikeGuyanaHumanRightsAssociation (GHRA),Transparency International–Guyana, RedThread,amongothers.

Tounseatanincumbent,theoppositionmust presentitselfasembodyingtheleadershipqualitiesthatthepublicsees asacredibleandtrustworthyalternative.The oppositionmustappear aspeoplewhohaveaholisticpictureofthenation, andthepopulationmust believetheydescribethe factsfairlyandaccurately withoutresortingtobarefacedlytwistingthemso thattheyappeardishonest intheeyesofthenation.

Theanti-incumbent criticsmustbepeople withcharacterandcredi-

bilitythatthecountryrespects,andrespectsthem becausetheyseethemas politiciansandsociety’s actorsthatwilldoaplausibleandcompetentjobif votedintooffice,andthat theycanbetrustedwith thehumaneandmodest exerciseofpower.

TheConservativeslost toaLabourlandslidein theUKbecausetheywere seenaspeopletheUK populationnolongerfelt shouldbeinpower.The UNCwoninTrinidadbecause,whileintheopposition,theUNCwasseen asacrediblealternative.

Mr.Trumpwonbecause PresidentBidenandKamalaHarriswereseenas peoplewhotheAmerican peoplefeltdidnothave thesubstancetocontinue ingovernment.

Itwilltakeseveralcolumnstoanalyzethelack ofcredibilityoftheschool ofanti-governmentactors. Iwilljustrandomlyselect afewand,inthecoming weeks,expand.Ihonestly

findtheentryofAzruddin Mohamedsosurrealand comicalthatIwillnot spendtimeonhim.IsMr. Mohamedofsoundmind?

IbeginwithRed Thread’sleadingvoice–VandaRadzik.Thiscivil societyladywrotethe Presidentaspartofawidergroupdemanding(yes, demanding,notasking) thatGuyanagetoutofoil andgasimmediatelybecauseofclimatedamage.

WhentheBBCcame herelastyeartodoadocumentaryonGuyana,she wasselectedasaninterviewee.Whentheintervieweraskedforherpositiononoil,sheshowed nobackbone,noleadershipquality.Shedidnot mentionherpositionon oil.Shesimplytoldher hostthatinGuyana,there weretwospectrums(her words)–onethatGuyanashouldgetoutofoil andtheotherforabetter contract.

Shenevertoldher interviewerthat“I,Ms.

Radzik,standbymy convictionthatGuyana shouldnothaveoilproduction.”Arethesethe peoplewhosewordswe aregoingtoacceptwhen theycriticisetheAlipresidency?Let’smoveoverto GHRAandtheTransparencyInternationalfolks hereinGuyana.Should weeverlistentoanything thesepeoplesaywhen theychosedeliberatesilenceaboutoneofthe worstattemptsinmodern historytohijackalegal, nationalelection?

TheOppositionLeader becamemorbidlypetty-mindedwhenhedid notattendthefuneralof oneofthemosticonic leadersthePNCproduced inhistory–AmnaAlly. ShouldGuyanatrustthis mantoreplaceDr.Ali? Canthismanstandin Ali’sshoes?NextisNigelHughes,oneofthe numbersinthepotpourri ofMulatto/CreoleClass elites.

Mr.Hughes,instead

oftryingtostealDr.Ali’s thunderasacompetitorforDr.Ali’soffice, watchedthepeopleof Guyanawho,onApril28, sawtheircountryalmost beingharmedbyrampagingmobsandtoldGuyanesetherewerenomobs. Thoseviolentpeoplewho wantedtodestroyGuyana wereprovocateurssentby thePPP.

Finally,theStabroek News(SN).Pleasetellme ifyouhavethestomach totoleratethepoisonous, volcanicashthisnewspaper,alongwiththeKaieteurNews,spewsonthis nation?Iamconcluding thisarticleherewithan exampleofthestupidpeoplethiscountryhas,and anydecenthumanshould ignorethesepeopleaswe reachthepointofvoting onSeptember1.

InitsFridayeditorial,SNnotedthatwhen thePresidentcontacted GECOM’schairperson toaskifGECOMwould bereadybySeptember1

becausethatishischoice; thenewspaperwrotethat atthesametimethePresidentshouldhavedemandedfromthechairperson anobligationtoensure thatshemakesurethat thechaosof2020isnot repeated.

Iaskyouinallsincerityifthiswasnotamanifestationofcrassstupidity.HowcanaPresident orPrimeMinisterinquire oftheelectionadministratorsiftheyarereadyfor thedatehehasinmind, thengoontolecturethem aboutpreventingchaos? Commonsenseanddecencyshouldinformany sanemindthatisoutof protocolandPresidents andPrimeMinistersdo notdosuchthings.

DISCLAIMER:The viewsandopinionsexpressedinthiscolumn aresolelythoseofthe authoranddonotnecessarilyreflecttheofficial policyorpositionofthe GuyanaNationalNewspapersLimited.

RepublicBank(Guyana) Limitedhasannounced theresignationofitsManagingDirector,Stephen Grell,effectiveMay29, 2025.

Inabriefstatement,the bankexpressedappreciation forhiscontributions,stating,“TheBankisespecially gratefulforMr.Grell’sleadershipandserviceduring histenureinGuyana.”No reasonsweregivenforhis resignation.

Grell,acareerbanking professional,wasappointedtoleadRepublicBank (Guyana)LimitedonApril 26,2021.

Duringhisfour-year leadership,hehelpedguide theinstitutionthrougha periodofeconomicexpansionandtransformationin Guyana,bringingtothe

rolehisdeepunderstandingoffinancialservices, capitalmarkets,corporate finance,investmentanal-

ysis,accounting,andrisk management.

Histenurewasmarked bystrategicinitiatives aimedatstrengtheningthe bank’sroleinafast-growing economyanddeepeningits connectionsacrosssectors.

Beforeassumingthe postinGuyana,Grellserved asVicePresident–Banking, CapitalMarketsandAdvisoryatCitibank(Trinidad

andTobago)Limited.

Inthatcapacity,hewas chargedwithoverseeingkey relationshipsinthepublic sectorandfinancialinstitutionsgroupinTrinidadand Tobago,Aruba,Curaçao, andGuyana.

Hisextensiveworking experiencealsoincludes significanttasksinasset managementandinvestmentbanking.

Theseincludepositions

suchasManageroftheInvestmentBankingDivision atRepublicBankLimited, ManagingPartnerandPortfolioManageratGracchi CapitalPartnersLLP,SeniorInvestmentManagerat HartmannCapitalLimited, andInvestmentManagerat RepublicBank(Cayman) Limited.

Earlierinhiscareer,he

heldpostsasInvestment AdvisoratRepublicSecuritiesLimitedandSenior InvestmentAnalystatthe RepublicBankTrustand AssetManagementDivision.

GrellholdsaBachelor’sdegreeinEconomics andaMasterofScience inFinance,bothfrom FloridaInternationalUniversity.

StephenGrell

Timelyresultsandpolitical stabilitykeystosustainedgrowth

PRESIDENTIrfaanAli’s announcementthatGuyanawillheadtothepolls onSeptember1hasplaced thespotlightonceagainon theimportanceofpolitical stabilityandthetimely deliveryofcredibleelectionresults.AstheGuyana ElectionsCommissionbeginsitspreparations,the businesscommunitywillbe watchingclosely,notjustto seewhowins,buthowefficientlytheprocessunfolds. Investorscareaboutmore thanjustnaturalresources.Theyalsocareabout predictability,legitimacy, andstabilityingovernance. Guyana’sexperiencein2020 offersacautionarytale.The five-monthgapbetweenthe March2electionandthe swearing-inofapresident onAugust2severelyshook investorconfidenceback then.Thedelaystemmed fromeffortstomanipulate

theresults,includingtwo tainteddeclarationsforthe crucialRegionFour.One wasruledunlawfulbythe HighCourtandtheother wasdiscardedbytheElectionsCommissiondueto thesketchycircumstances underwhichitwasderived. Thistriggeredanationalrecount,multiplecourtcases, andwidespreadconcernthat Guyanamightveeroffthe pathofdemocracy.

Thebusinesscommunity wasnotimmune.Theuncertaintystifleddecision-makinganddulledmomentum atatimewhenthecountry’s economywaspoisedtoaccelerate.Whilethecoronaviruspandemiccertainly playedaroleinslowing economicactivity,thepoliticalturmoilhadadistinctand damagingimpactofitsown. Internationalcondemnation ofthethengovernment’s refusaltoconcede,com-

poundedbytalkofsanctions, ultimatelypressuredareturn todemocracy.

Butsomedamagewas done.OneoftheclearestexampleswasthedelayofExxonMobil’sPayaraproject, whichhadbeenslatedfor sanctionin2019.Afterthe governmentlostano-confidencemotioninDecember 2018,itenteredwhatshould havebeenalimitedcaretaker role.Electionsweredelayed untilMarch2020,andthe uncertaintybeforeandafter thatvotemadeitdifficultfor thegovernmenttomakekey decisions.

ThereviewofPayara, alreadyunderwaywithan independentcontractor,was stymiedamidcallsbycivil societyandmediaforrestraint.Onlyafteranew governmentwasswornin wastheprojectapproved,in late2020.Productionbegan inNovember2023,months

aheadofschedule,thanks toSBMOffshore’searly deliveryoftheProsperity floatingproduction,storage andoffloading(FPSO)vessel,butstillfarlaterthanit couldhavebeeniftheproject hadbeenapprovedandsanctionedearlier.

ThecontrastsinceAugust 2020hasbeenstark.Guyana hasapprovedthreemoreoil projects,kickingoffinvestmentspendinginexcessof US$30billionandfacilitatinganadditional750,000 barrelsofdailyproduction capacity.Othersectorshave alsobenefittedfromincreasedinvestorinterestand businessexpansion.This momentumistheresultof restoredcredibilityandsustainedpoliticalstability.

Inasignoflessons learnedfrom2020,theRepresentationofthePeopleAct, whichgovernstheconduct ofelections,wasamendedin

‘Glamping’inGuyana

"FromwhenIfirststarted,ithasbeenmyhopeto expandtoGuyana,"says ShayneStuart.Sheisreferringtoherplantobring 'glamping'toGuyana, explainingthattheword derivesfromtwowords -glamorousandcampingbeingcombined. Shehasalreadyestablishedaglampingsiteinthe stateofGeorgiaintheUnited States.Itissituatedbeside

Clark'sHill,thelargestlake inthestate,ona55-acre spreadshepurchased.Shayne isGuyanese,butgrewupin theUS.SheholdsaBachelor'sdegreeinBusinessEducationandaMasterDegree

demicin2020anddecidedto startherownbusiness.

Shesettledontheidea ofaglampingresort,having beenacamperforseveral years."Ispentthelast25 yearscampingwithmy(four)

inFinanceandAccounting. Afterworkingforsome17 yearsandgainingtheposition ofDirectorofthestateof NewJersey,shetookearly retirementattheageof50 becauseoftheCOVIDpan-

daughtersallovertheUS andCanadaandinGuyana, shetellsme.However,she recognisedthatwhilesome peoplewanttobeoutdoors, theyareloathto'rough'itand giveuptheirhomecomforts.

Glampingoffersallthe amenitiesofhomeinatrulysalubriousenvironment. Fromaglimpseofherbrochureadvertisingthesitein Georgia,theresort,comprisinggeo-domesandsafari tents,iswell-appointed.The interiorofthefacilitiesis spaciousandtastefullydecorated.

"Thisisforpeoplewho wouldliketogooutdoors butareintimidatedbyit,"

December2022tomodernise theelectoralsystemand safeguarditsintegrity.The reformsaimedtoenhance transparency,accountability, andefficiencyintheregistrationprocess,thecompilation ofthevoters'list,andthe overallelectoralmachinery.

Amongthekeychanges isarequirementforcertified StatementsofPolltobe providedtoboththeChief ElectionOfficerandthe GECOMChairperson,and forelectroniccopiestobe postedpubliclyontheCommission’swebsite.Thelaw alsointroducesstiffpenalties forelectoraloffences,with finesinthemillionsandprisonsentencesrangingfrom threeyearstolife,signalling aclearintenttodeterfraud.

Withthenextelections approaching,thestakesare high.Aslongastheprocess isexecutedsmoothly,with credibleresultsdelivered

promptlyandapeaceful transitionofgovernment, Guyanacancontinuetoattracthighlevelsofinvestmentandcementitsposition asarisingeconomicpower. Butanysignofinstabilityor electoralsubversioncould damagethehard-wontrust thatnowunderpinsthepeople’sdevelopment. Fortunately,theincumbentgovernmenthasbeen bluntinitsmessagingregardingitsrespectfordemocracy, theruleoflaw,andtherights ofpeople,specificallyand profuselycondemningthe infractionswhichcaused the2020electoralprocessto spiraloutofcontrol.

DISCLAIMER:The viewsandopinionsexpressedinthiscolumnare solelythoseoftheauthor anddonotnecessarilyreflecttheofficialpolicyor positionoftheGuyanaNationalNewspapersLimited.

shesmiles.Inordertobetter prepareherselfforsucha venture,duringherthreemonthstay,Shayneattended theGuyanaEnergyConferenceandSupplyChainExpo, heldinGuyanalastFebruary. Hereshemetandinteractedwithpeoplefromall overtheworldwhoalsocame toexplorethepossibilityof startingbusinessesinthis country.Whatshelearnedat theconferenceencouraged hertoremainlongerinthe country,seekinglandtobegin herbusiness.

Sheisparticularlyinterestedinestablishingare-

sortontheSoesdyke/Linden highway,thoughsheisopen tootherlocations.Giventhe country'sburgeoningeconomy,theinfluxofforeigners, ex-patsandvacationersand ourfast-growingtouristindustry,Guyanaisripefor thisalternativetotraditional camping.

Shayne,wholeftthe countrySaturday,plansto returninJulyandcontinue herhuntforlandonwhich tosetupherresortand bringglampingtoGuyana. Thosewhowanttofindout morecanvisitherwebsite, www.theglampinn.com.

Letthe gamesbegin

ONMonday,President,Dr MohamedIrfaanAliannouncedthatGuyanawill voteforwhoitthinkshas thebestplantotakethe countryforwardoverthe nextfiveyears.Henamed September1stthisyearas thedateforelections.

Thisdatecaughtsome politiciansbysurpriseas theywereexpectingthedate tocomelater.Theoppositioncommissionershelda pressconferencesoonafter,inwhichtheyaccused theGECOMChairofactingunilaterallyandillegally whenitcomestoadvising thePresidentonthetimeline GECOMwouldbeprepared fortheholdingofthepolls. Anumberofreasonswere advancedthatpaintedthe pictureofaGECOMthat wasunpreparedinternally andcorrupted.Simplyput, accordingtotheopposition GECOMCommissioners,the entityallegedlywasnotready forthepolls.

GECOMfiredback, throughitsChairpersonJusticeClaudetteSingh,dismissingeverythingthattheoppositionCommissionerstold themedia,brandingitasan attempttounderminethesystemandGECOMitself.The stronglywordedstatements outlinedhowtheGECOM Chairarrivedatthetimeline providedtotheHeadofState.

Atthispoint,Azzrudin Mohamedhadindicatedthat heisrunningforpresident andwouldnotbecoalescing withthePPPnorthePNC.He madeitclearthathewould announce,inacoupleofdays, hisbroadteamofmembers, whichwouldbemadeupof defectorsfrombothparties. Afterall,hewaschargedwith taxevasion,anditisaknown factthattheUSgovernment hassanctionedhimandhis familyforbeingpartofa massivegold-smugglingring intheCaribbeanandcheating thegovernmentoutoftaxesin billionsofdollarsinrevenue. Thisdidnotstophimfrom declaringthathewantedto changeGuyana’sfuture.

PPPGeneralSecretary,Dr BharratJagdeo,saidhisparty ispreparedandreadyforthe polls.Hesaiditwillmaintain itsholdonpoliticalpower andformthenextgovernment afterdemocraticelections.He didnotshyawayfromannouncingplentyofsurprises duringtheupcomingweeks. Hewasconfident,almostex-

cited,tosaythePPP/Cwould defenditsastonishingrecord inofficeandgladlycompare ittoitsmaincompetitorsfor thepublictodecide.

Then,theleaderofthe PNCandChairmanofAPNU, AubreyNorton,announced hispartywasreadyforthe pollsandbelieveditwould unseatthePPP/Cgovernment. Nortonimmediatelywentinto partyelectionmode,saying hispartyhadtherightplans forGuyana.Thepartyalso announceditscoalitionwith theWPApartyasthiscolumn hadpredictedmonthsinadvance.TheAFCfollowedin theusualway,statingittoo wasreadyforthepollswith partyleaderNigelHughesannouncingacoalitionofbroadbasedsupport.Hughes,too, believesthattheAFCwould formthenextgovernment.

Allinall,thepresident hasseteverythinginmotion now.Allpartiesarereadyand thenationalparliamentwillbe dissolvedafterMonday.

Firstly,thenextthree monthswillbeinteresting. Guyanesewillhavethepowertochoosewhoeverthey believecouldsetthecountry ontheroadtoachievingmore successandstrength,making Guyanamoreoftheenvyof theworldintermsoftheunprecedenteddevelopmentthat wouldoccurhere.Guyanese willlistentotheirleaders intentionallyduringthistime andfranklylisteverything theywanttoseeaddressed. Guyaneseknowthattheir votesmatteranddemocracy matters,sotheywillbeinthe positiontovotefreelywithout fearforthenextgovernment.

That,ofcourse,isnot tosayGuyanesemustnot bewaryofallthefakeand gloomypromisesthatpoliticianswillmaketoseekto capturetheirvotes.Objectivityandtruthfulnessmust betheironlychoicesduring thisperiod.Guyanesemust beboldenoughtoputtheir ethnicitiesandraceasideand voteonthebasisofissues. Theymustnotethatanethnic cardwouldnotworkandany divisionthatisdeliberately madethesepeoplemustbe sharplyrejectedastheyare one,justdifferentpreferences forwhichpartyshouldlead.

Secondly,thedatechosenbythepresidentisboth constitutionalandlegal.The presidentwasnotmisled bytheGECOMchair.The GECOMchairmustcontinue

tohavethesameenergyand responsestoquicklyanswer themisinformationthatisand willbeswirlingaroundabout GECOManditswork.

PresidentAliknowswhat heisdoingbysettingthat date.Heisdeliberateandstrategic.Afterall,thePresident isalwaysworkingforthepeople,andthiscampaignwillbe atestforhimtoknowhowhis policiesandmeasureshave impactedthepopulacesofar. Thiselectionwillprovetothe presidentwhetherpopularity andhardworktranslateinto success.Hemustdemonstrate thathehasconfidence,this timeround,inGECOMand itssecretariat.Hemustalso ensurethatthepollsarefree andfair.

Thepresidentshouldbe mindfulofeverythingthat isasecuritythreattothe elections.Hemustensure thatGECOMisoperatingaccordingtothelawandhasthe dutytoensureasmoothand peacefultransferofpower, shouldthatbethecase.

Thirdly,Jagdeohasevery reasontowelcomePresident Ali’selection-dateannouncement.Heknowsthathisparty hasdonewellsinceittook office.DrJagdeoknowstoo thatthepolicieshaverevolutionisedlifeinGuyana,modernisingthewayoflife.He haseveryrighttobeecstatic becausePresidentAliandhis groupofministershavedone thepeople’swork,achieving everythingtheypromisedand saidtheywilldofrommaking theUniversityofGuyana free,givingGOALscholarshipsto39,000studentsto theireconomicpolicieswhich saweverycategoryofpeople benefittingfromcashgrants ofsomesortortheother. Butheknowswhatheisup

against.Heknowsthatthe misinformationandliesabout hispartywillformabigpart ofthiscampaignandhemust befrontandcentretocorrect it,byensuringthathemakes surethevotersarearmedwith thefactsandtruth.

DrJagdeohasmanaged tokeepthepartyincheck andfirmlytogether.Hehas unifiedthePPP/Candmadeit moreappealingtothemasses, especiallythenon-traditional groups.Forthefirsttime, Jagdeo’spartyistrulydiversified,attractinglargepockets ofpeoplefromotherethnicitiesregardlessofage,gender, socialclassandcreed.

Hehastomakesurethat thePPP/Cimproveshisparty’selectionvictory,asjusta simplemajoritywillnotdo. HemustmakesurethePPP winstheelectionshandsomelyandhislegacydependson this.

Fourthly,Mohamedenteringtheracewaspredictable. Anyonewhohastheirbacks againstthewallandwhofears theirempireiscrumbling rightbeforetheireyeswould lookforawayout.Hehas sealedwhatcouldbeseenas hisproverbialtombinthis country.Hehasenteredpoliticsandopenedhisfamilyand lifetoattacksfromallsides. Andthepublicknowsthe storyoftheMohamedsisnot squeakyclean.Inthecoming weeks,thepublicwilllook forwardwithbatedbreathto hearingfromMohamed.He willhavetofacethetunesof themediaandthepeople.

Noonewillspeakfor himandtellhimhowtosay therightthings.Itwillbea pageantrightbeforetheeyes ofthepublic,andthepublic willseeMohamedinpossibly clearandunfilteredlightlike

neverbefore.Also,popularity, likesandsharesdonottranslateintovotesorguarantee electability.Philanthropyalso doesnotmeananythingin therealmofthenastyand brutishgameofpolitics.The Guyanesepublicopinioncan changewithinasecondfrom beingentertainedtoserious. ThisisnottheUS,andcertainlytheTrumpeffect,with allduerespect,willnothappenhereinlocalpolitics.

Fifthly,theoppositionis inabadstate.Nortonwas dealtasecondwaveofrejection.Nobodywantshimother thanthePNC,andthatisa stretch.Heishangingonfor dearlifeandhehasresorted togivingrelevancetothe WPAbycoalescingwithit. Howdesperatearebothparties?Verydesperate,itwould appear,becausethefounder ForbesBurnham'sPNCkilled thefounderWPA’sWalter Rodney,andyettheyfindit ‘cute’tobecomebedfellows totryandchanneltheirlust, loveandthirstforpolitical powertodefeatonesingle partyatthepolls.

Intheirworld,theend justifiesthemeans.There isnoroomforjusticeor morality.But,theWPAin theformofDavidHindsis nodifferentfromNorton whenitcomestojustifying the‘scrapehead’mentality.

And,theAFCisdead. Thiselectionresultwill provethisifthepartyis stupidenoughtogotothe nationalpollsalone.Ithas alreadybeenrejectedat

thelocalgovernmentpolls. Now,evenwithmoneyand so-calledresources,theAFC isaclownshowbecauseit islaughableandhasasense offalseconsciousness.It needsthePNC,anditdoes notrealisethis.Clingingto supportfromcivilsocietyis notenough.

Finally,readingthe moodofthepeoplecorrectlyisonething,andknowing howtoadaptisanother.If electionswereheldinGuyanatomorrow,thePPP/C wouldsingle-handedlydefeatanyofthosechallengers handsomely.MohamedIrfaanAliwouldbepresident andAzzrudinMohamed wouldgocrawlingback intohiding.ThePNCwould continueastheopposition andprobablychangeitsallianceandnameagain.The AFCwouldberifewithinternalproblemsandHughes wouldsuddenlygobackto thelegalprofession--fulltime.

But,intheend,the PPP/Chasshowntimeand timeagainthatitiscompetentandafighter.Itisready todobattle.Itisreadyto win.Thegameshaveofficiallybegunaftertomorrow’ssittingofparliament.

DISCLAIMER:The viewsandopinionsexpressedinthiscolumnare solelythoseoftheauthor anddonotnecessarilyreflecttheofficialpolicyor positionoftheGuyanaNationalNewspapersLimited.

BuildingoutAIecosystemcrucialin rapiddevelopment

ByTrinaWilliams

ARTIFICIALIntelligence

(AI)israpidlychanging theworld,andPresident, Dr.IrfaanAlihastaken noteofthis,pledgingto investinbuildingoutanAI ecosystemwhileensuring itshumanresourcesare digitallyliterate.

ThePresidentexplained howdigitalliteracyisthe doorwaytounlockingopportunitiesduringhisfeature addressontheeveofGuyana’s59thIndependenceAnniversary.Guyanahasbeen undergoinganunprecedented transformationsincethegovernmentassumedofficein 2020,andPresidentAlihas continuouslysetthebarhigher,vowingtofosteraunited anddevelopedGuyana.

Onthatnote,heunderscoredthatinthefuture, Guyanamustbeanexporter ofeducationalandhealth services.Hetoldthenation: “Wemustinvestinmedical

tourismwithGuyanaasa preferredproviderofworldclasshealthcare.Wehaveto doallofthiswhilstcreating opportunitiesforourdiasporatoalsoparticipate.”

However,tosupporta futureoftransformation,in whichcitizenshavevalues thatareheldinhighesteem, technologicaltransformation iskey,thePresidentsaid.

“...Thecreationofdigital infrastructuretopromoteuniversalaccesstoeveryaspect ofICT;universalITliteracy, ITliteracyforGuyanese

ofallages,digitisationfor moreefficientGovernment services,incubatingdigital innovation,creatinganartificialintelligenceecosystem toleveragethebenefitsofAI acrossallsectors.Theseare theareasofthefuturethat wewillinvestinheavilyto ensuretheprosperityand sustainabilityofourcountryandourpeople,”Dr.Ali stated.

Further,theHeadofState saidthatallofthismustbe onabedrockinwhichGuyanesearesecureandsafe.

Turningtoday’schallengesintotomorrow’stech-poweredopportunitieswiththe useofAIisastrategythat waspreviouslyproposedby PresidentAli,whocalledon globalleaderstouseopenAI anddigitalaccesstobridge thedivide.

Dr.Aliprovidedadvice ontheuseofAIwhiledeliveringthefeatureaddress attheSpring2025Berkeley InnovationForum,California,UnitedStates.

“AImustserverather thanreplacehumans.Itmust empowerratherthanexploit andupliftratherthanmarginalise.OnlythroughsuchareimaginedvisionwhereAIis directedtowardsthecommon goodcanweensurethenext eraofglobalisationisoneof conversion,notdivision,” PresidentAlifirmlysaid.

AsthePresidentreflectedonthedigitalrevolutionthroughouthistory,he pointedoutthat“bigdata,” roboticsandtheinternetare

shapingeconomiesatanunprecedentedspeed,concentratingtechnologicalpower inafewhands.

Owingtothechallenges oftoday,PresidentAliunderscoredthatAIispoisedto usherinanewerathatcould redefinehumancivilisation.

TheGuyaneseHeadofState saidthattheremustbeapositiveapproachtoAI.

TACKLINGTHEDIGI-

TALGAP

WhilethePresident spokeextensivelyonhow AIcouldbeusedtotarget someoftheworld’smost prominentissues,hedidnot strayawayfromaddressing thedigitalgapindeveloping countries.

Hegavehisproposalon howanAIstrategycanbe developedtoaddressthe digitaldivide.

“Itisessentialforthese countriestoadoptadual approachastheyworkto digitisetheireconomies… Bydoingso,theycanbypass

outdatedsystems,accelerate theirdevelopmentandharnessthefullpotentialofAIto driveprogressinkeysectors likehealthcare,education andinfrastructure,”President Alisaid.

Hethenoutlinedthatone ofthepowersofAIisthatit allowsforinvestmenttoday, tomeettomorrow’schallenges,butinawaythatis futuristic.

ThePresidentthenproposedthepromotionofopensourceAItoolsandmodels, notingthatdevelopingcountriescouldaccesscutting edgetechnologieswithout theprohibitivecostofproprietarysoftware.

HesaidthatthisapproachallowsthesenationstoadoptAIsolutions tothespecificneedsand context,whetherinhealthcare,agricultureoreducation,therebyfosteringlocal innovationandreducing dependenceonexpensive technologies.

Mansentencedtotwoyearsforfatalchoppingatminingcamp

A28-year-oldminerwho admittedtokillingafellow workerduringadisputeat abackdamminingcamp wasrecentlysentencedto servetwoyearsinprison byJusticeNavindraSingh attheHighCourtinEssequibo.

SeanLindore,also knownas"Samuel,""Leather,"and"Tallman,"formerlyofThreeMilesBartica, PotaroRoad,hadbeenin-

dictedformurderbutchose topleadguiltytothelesser offenceofmanslaughter.

Inhandingdownthe sentence,JusticeSingh startedat18yearsbutmade deductionsforLindore’s earlyguiltyplea,hisgenuineexpressionofremorse, afavourableprobationand prisonconductreport,and thedeceasedbeingtheaggressor.

Lindore’stimespentin pre-trialcustodysinceNovember2023willbecreditedtowardhissentence, makinghimeligiblefor immediaterelease.Accordingtotheprosecution'scase, theincidentoccurredonOctober8,2023,atSandHill Backdam,whereLindore andthedeceased,42-yearoldShermanPhillips,also knownas"SunnoSherman,""Sunno,"and"Sunno Boy,"werebothemployed asminersonneighbouring dredges.

Atthetimeofhisdemise,Phillipsresidedat RedHill,Karau,Lower Mazaruni.

Ataround5:30p.m.that day,PhillipsreportedlyconfrontedLindore,whowas workingasajetman,over howclosehewasoperating toPhillips’dredge.

Lindorelaughedin response,whichescalatedthesituation.Phillips thenarmedhimselfwitha cutlass,dealtLindoretwo

chops,andthrewtheweaponathischest.

Lindoreclaimedthat Phillipsalsothrewsand inhiseyes,afterwhichhe retaliatedbyusingthesame cutlasstoinflictmultiple chopsonPhillips.

Duringtheassault,Phillipsreportedlypleadedfor hislife,saying,“Don’tkill me,”towhichLindorereplied,“Rolloutfromthere.” Phillipsthenleftthescene.

Phillipswaslaterassistedbyanotherminer,LawrenceBasdeo,andhiswife, IndraSingh. Theytransportedhim fromthebackdamtoItaballiLandingandthentothe BarticaRegionalHospital. Duetotheseverityofhis

injuries,Phillipswaslater transferredtotheGeorgetownPublicHospitalCorporation(GPHC).Initially treatedasawoundingcase, thematterescalatedtoahomicideafterPhillipsdiedon October25,2023,17days aftertheattack. Apost-mortemexaminationconductedbyGovernmentPathologistDr.Nehaul SinghrevealedthatPhillips diedfromsepticshockdue tomeningitisandbronchopneumonia,bothresulting frommultipleinfectedinjuriessustainedduringthe assault.

PoliceConstableAmitaabhSukhdeoarrestedLindoreatSandHillBackdam. Whentheallegationof murderwasputtohim, Lindoreresponded,“Officer,he[Phillips]firstchop metomyhand,finger, thenhepeltthecutlass andstickitinmychest, andItakehiscutlassand chophimback.”Lindore hadvisibleinjuries,includinga12-centimetre lacerationonhisleftarm, andafour-centimetre chestwound.HewastakentotheBarticaRegional Hospitalfortreatment.

SeanLindore

Region3BusinessChamber electsfirstfemalepresident

INalandmarkvoteheld onMay30,2025,business leaderandManaging DirectorofWestCentral Mall,BhabitaAlbert,was electedPresidentofthe RegionThree(Essequibo Islands-WestDemerara) ChamberofCommerce andIndustry(R3CCI).

Shebecomesthefirst womantoleadthechamber sinceitsformationin2000. Albert’selectionushersin aboldnewdirectionfor thechamber,focusedon transparentgovernance, inclusivegrowth,andstrategicregionaladvocacy.

“Wearenotheretotake sides—weareheretotake action,”saidAlbert.

“RegionThreedeserves achamberthatshowsup— locally,regionally,and nationally—withclarity, courage,andcompetence.”

Albertpreviously servedasVicePresidentof R3CCIandisbestknown forspearheadingthedevelopmentofWestCentral Mall,RegionThree’sfirst

commercialandentertainmentcomplex.

AccordingtoastatementfromR3CCI,her leadershipisgroundedin bothentrepreneurialexperienceanddeepcommunityties.

Albertcampaigned onaplatformfocused onmodernisingR3CCI’s bylawsandgovernance structures,championing womenentrepreneurs andsmallbusinessesand aggregatingregionalservicestomeetoilandgas sectordemandincoordinationwiththeCentreforLocalBusiness Development(CLBD).

Shealsopledgedtoreclaimthechamber’srole innationalandregional decision-making.

R3CCIPresidentBhabitaAlbertpicturedalongside membersofthe2025–2026ExecutiveCommittee

everyone,”saidAlbert. Thenewlyelectedteam thankedDrHaimwantPersaud,outgoingpresident, andthepastexecutive membersfortheircontributions,notingthattheir continuedinvolvement throughcommitteeservice willbekeytoasmoothand productivetransition.

NayteramRamnarine, ExecutiveDirectorof thePrivateSectorCommissionofGuyana,officiatedovertheelections.

“Wemustbecomethe chamberthatwalksthe roadswiththefarmer,supportsmemberstosignexportdealswithinvestors andanswersthecallof everysmallbusinesstrying tosurviveandthrive,”she added.

Thenewlyelected 2025–2026Executive Committeefeaturesablend ofseasonedbusinessleadersandfreshperspectives.

Themembersare:Vice President,PremendraParsanofSemakiahSupercenter;Secretary,TheonAlleyneofEICCIOAdvisors; Treasurer,JoshuaHammichandofMJMAccounting andManagementInstitute,

Inc.;AssistantSecretary/ Treasurer,BharatBasdeo ofBasdeo’sEngineering Services;andCommittee Members,LaltaDigamber ofCountrysideAgriCenter andDavendraRampersaud ofDada’sRealtor&MarketingInc.

Withnewhighways, agro-processingzones,and privateportdevelopments reshapingthelandscape, itnotedthatAlbert’sleadershipcomesatacritical juncture.

“We’recommittedto ensuringR3CCIbecomes acrediblepartnerinGuyana’sdevelopment—and achamberthatworksfor

TheR3CCIsaidthat RegionThreeisinthe midstofhistoricgrowth, drivenbymulti-billion-dollarinvestmentsin infrastructure,housing,and industry.

TheEssequiboIslands–WestDemerara ChamberofCommerce andIndustry(R3CCI) isamemberofthePrivateSectorCommissionofGuyanaand representsbusinessesandentrepreneurs acrossRegionThree.It servesasaplatformfor advocacy,networking, capacity-buildingand economicdevelopment, workingtocreateopportunitiesthatbenefit allsectorsofsociety.

Moremarkets comingfor Mainstay pineapples

–PresidentAli

–GMCteamtoassistfarmers withharvestingseasonunderway

PRESIDENTIrfaanAlihas assuredpineapplefarmers fromMainstay/Whyaka thathisgovernmentwill secureadditionalmarkets fortheirproduce,especially asthepineappleharvesting seasongainsmomentum.

Thecommitmentcame duringarecentoutreach whenLuiana,afemalepineapplefarmerfromthevillage,raisedconcernsabout thelackofavailablemarkets forthelargevolumesof pineapplescurrentlybeing harvested.

“Wehavetractorloads ofpineapplescomingoutof Mainstay,butwedon’thave enoughbuyers,”shesaid.“I

havesixacresundercultivation,andwewanttogetgood pricesforourproduce.We arealsoaskingforduty-free concessionsforpineapple farmers.”

Inresponse,President IrfaanAliemphasisedhis administration’scommitmenttoensuringnofarmer isleftbehind.Heannounced thatateamfromtheGuyanaMarketingCorporation (GMC)willvisitthevillage shortlytoworkdirectlywith farmers.

“TheGMCteamwill comehereandworkwith youtosecurereadymarkets foryourpineapples,”PresidentAliassured.“Wewill

ensurethateverypineapple harvestedinMainstayfinds abuyer.”

Mainstayhaslongbeen knownforproducingsome ofthesweetestpineapplesin Guyana,andthefruithasbecomeakeysourceofincome formanyresidents.Local farmersexpressedpridein theirproduce,notingthat withbettermarketaccess,the villagecouldbecomeamajor suppliernotjustlocally,but alsotoregionalandinternationalmarkets.

“Thisisourlivelihood,” onefarmershared.“With governmentsupportandaccesstonewbuyers,wecan domore,earnmore,and

expandourfarms.”

Alongsidetherequestfor markets,farmersalsocalled forduty-freeconcessionsto helpthemreinvestinequipmentandexpandoperations. PresidentAlinotedthatsuch requestswouldbeconsidered withintheframeworkofagri-

culturaldevelopmentpolicies aimedatempoweringsmall andmedium-scalefarmers.

ThePresident’svisit underscoredhisadministration’songoingeffortsto strengthenruralagriculture,ensuremarketaccess, andpromoteagro-process-

THEUniversityofGuyana(UG)has announcedthereturnofitshighlyanticipatedMoneyWeek,scheduledforJune3 to5,2025.

AfterabriefhiatusduetotheCOVID-19 pandemic,theinitiativeisbackinfullswing, offeringadynamicthree-dayseriesofforums,workshops,anddiscussionsunderthe theme:“BuildingYourProsperity:Dollarby Dollar.”

HostedattheTurkeyenCampusfrom 10:00hoursto17:00hoursdaily,Money Week2025isaface-to-face,free-of-charge eventopentostudents,faculty,alumni,and thegeneralpublic.Sinceitslaunchin2017, MoneyWeekhasbeendedicatedtoadvancingfinancialliteracyandempoweringattendees,especiallyyoungpeople,withthetools andknowledgeneededtomanagemoney, buildwealth,andnavigatethefinancialworld withconfidence.

Thisyear’seditionpromisestobeespeciallyimpactful,withastrongemphasison technology,investing,andinnovation,includingsessionsoncryptocurrencyandfintech. Oneofthemajorhighlightswillbeaforum ledbytheJamaicaStockExchange(JSE)on Wednesday,June4,featuringDr.Marlene StreetForrest,ManagingDirectoroftheJSE.

TopicstobecoveredattheJSE-ledforum include:TheJamaicaStockExchange:A Safe,Secure&TransparentStockMarket; TheRoleofFintechinPromotingFinancial InclusioninDevelopingEconomies;MakingYourMoneyWorkforYouontheStock Market;andapaneldiscussion:“Financing yourBusinessforGrowth–Whatarethe Options?”

ingandexportopportunities.AsharvestingcontinuesinMainstay,pineapple farmersarehopefulthat thegovernment’sinterventionwillbringmuch-neededreliefandopennew doorsforgrowth.

Attendeeswillgainpracticalinsights intomanagingpersonalfinances,making soundinvestmentdecisions,andcreating generationalwealth.Additionally,businessesandentrepreneurswillhavethechance tonetworkwithfinancialserviceproviders, learnaboutfundingopportunitiesforSMEs, andgetexpertadviceonaccessingcapitalfor businessgrowth.

Localinvestmentbrokers,commercial banks,WalletWisdom,OneCommunications,ActionCoachGuyana,andHerVenture areamongtheentitiesthatwillbepresent.Interactiveconversationswithsuccessfullocal businessiconswillalsoaddarich,real-world perspectiveforaspiringentrepreneurs. Anotherkeyfeaturewillbeaccessto UGRecruit,theuniversity’sin-housedigital platformthatconnectsjobseekerswithemploymentopportunities.

Organisersareencouragingearlyregistrationduetolimitedspace.Registrationcan becompletedviathefollowinglink:https:// forms.gle/hzNRA7eMqvrJAw5G7 MoneyWeekispoweredbyUG’sSchool ofEntrepreneurshipandBusinessInnovation(SEBI)andtheOfficeofPhilanthropy, AlumniandCivicEngagement(PACE)inthe Vice-Chancellor’sOffice.

Formoredetailsandthefullschedule, visitwww.uog.edu.gyorfollowtheUniversityofGuyana’sofficialsocialmedia pages.

Chinesemedicalteam,GPHC performcomplexlife-savingsurgery

TheChinesemedicalteam andateamoflocaldoctorsattheGeorgetown PublicHospitalCorporation(GPHC)recently performedalife-saving surgeryona41-year-old primaryschoolteacher fromLethem,whoisnow ontheroadtorecovery.

Accordingtoapressrelease,theteacherwhobenefitedfromtherareandcomplexlaparoscopicpancreatic tumourresectiontoldmedicalconsultantDr.QianYi thatsheisfeelinggreat.The surgerywasperformedtwo weeksago.

“Atfirst,Ifeltalumpin myabdomen,anditwould achefaintlywhenIwasworn outfromwork,"she[name withheld]recalled,adding: “So,IgotaCTscanatLethemHospital,andthedoctors toldmetherewasatumour.”

Althoughsheconsidered travellingtoBrazilfortreatment,thelanguagebarriers ledhertoexploreoptions inGeorgetowninstead.In Georgetown,shehadanadvancedMagneticResonance Imaging(MRI)examination.Dr.WangLin,aChinesemedicalconsultantin GPHC'sradiologydepart-

Dr.QianYi(right),Dr.AdhikarRamjoo(middle)andDr.MiguelQuevedo (left)performingthesurgery

ment,quicklyreviewedthe images.

“It'smorecomplicated thanwethought,”Dr.Wang explained,adding:“Although themassshowsnoobvious invasionsigns,foranearly 10-cmpancreatictumour withuneveninternalcomponents,themalignancyriskis significant.”

AfterconsultingDr.Qian Yi,aChinesegeneralsurgery expertatGPHC,theChinese doctorsagreedthatsurgery wasthebestoption.

Becauseofthelargesize andlongexistenceofthe mass,whichadheredclosely tosurroundingstructures likevitalbloodvessels,it greatlyincreasedthesurgicaldifficultyandrisk.Once learningofthepatient'swish todiscussthecondition,the medicalteampromptlyarrangedameeting.

“Anentiretreatmentprocesscanbeintricateand professional,coveringmultidisciplinarypreoperativediscussions,thesurgeryitself,

follow-upplansbasedon pathology,andpostoperative rehabilitation,”Dr.Wang noted.

Dr.Wangalsostatedthat doctorsencourageandwelcomepatientsandtheirfamiliestoparticipate,emphasisingthatsuccessfultreatment hingesonpatientcooperation andfamilysupport.

“Iwasextremelyscared then…I'mreallygratefulto myfamilyforaccompanying metoGPHC.Iclearlyrecall askingaboutthesurgical

risks.Thedoctorsassuredme they'ddotheirutmostnotto damagesurroundingorgans andbelievedremovingpart ofthepancreaswouldn't affectitsnormalfunction. Theysaidsuchlaparoscopic surgeriesareverymaturein China.Theyseemedhighly professionalandconfident.I toldmyselfIcouldtrustthem withmylife,”shesaid,accordingtothepressrelease.

InGPHC'spathologydepartment,ChineseconsultantDr.ShiChaoandlocal pathologistDr.Swarastie Persaud-Etwariaanalysedthe teacher’sresults.

“It'sapancreaticsolid pseudopapillarytumour…a rarelow-grademalignancy,”Dr.Persaud-Etwaria explained.

Beforeleavingthehospital,theteacherpraisedher careteam.

“Dr.Qianandhiscolleaguescheckedonme everydaypost-op—even weekends—tomakesureI wasokay,"shesaid,adding: “Thatgavemesomuchconfidence.Theygavemehope. They'reamazing—thankyou, Dr.Qian,andeveryoneinvolved.”

Thisyearmarksthe31st

yearofGuyana-Chinamedicalcooperation,withChinese doctorsbringingadvanced diagnosticconceptsandmedicaltechniquestoGuyana. Thereleasestated:“As GPHC’sCEODr.Robbie·RambarrantoldChina MediaGroup,‘Giveaman afishandyoufeedhimfor aday;teachhimtofishand youfeedhimforalifetime. That'sthephilosophyguiding theChinesemedicalteam here,trainingourstaff,buildingcapacity,andtransferring skills,andthey’recommitted tocontinuingthiswork.’As partofthispartnership,Dr. Ramjoo,Dr.Persaud-Etwaria,andfiveotherGuyanesephysicianswillvisit toChinainSeptemberfora three-monthclinicaltraining programataleadinghospital.”

Withdeepeningcollaboration,theChinesemedicalteam’svisionof“leavingasustainablemedical workforceforGuyana”is steadilymovingfromaspirationtoreality,andthis promisingdevelopmentis settosignificantlyboost healthcareforGuyanese citizens.

Pharmacyassistantdiesinaccident

GHANESHChrisRagubir,awell-knownpharmacyassistantattached totheSuddiePublicHospitalandaresidentof AdventureVillage,lost hislifeinatragicroad accidentonSaturdayafternoon.

Thefatalincidentoccurredaround15:00hours ontheQueenstownPublic Road.Accordingtoreports, RagubirwasridingmotorcycleCJ7634whenhe wasstruckbyasand-laden truckdrivingalongthe sameroadway.Eyewitnessesindicatedthatthe truckwasspeedingwhenit collidedwiththemotorcyclist,flinginghimseveral feetontotheroadway.

Ragubirsustainedsevereheadinjuriesandsuccumbedatthescene.The driverofthetruckreportedlyfledimmediatelyafter theaccident,abandoning thevehicleandleaving bystandersinshock.Residentsinthearearushedto offerassistance,butitwas toolatetosavetheyoung man’slife.

Dead:GhaneshChrisRagubir

Policehavesince launchedafullinvestigationintotheincident andareactivelyworkingtolocatethedriver. Ragubirwasdescribed bycolleaguesandfriends asadedicatedhealthcare professionalandakind, soft-spokenindividual. Hisuntimelypassinghas sentshockwavesthrough boththemedicalcommunityatSuddieHospital andthewiderEssequibo Coast.

GDFrecoversbodyofsoldier whofelloverboardduring patrolinCuyuniRiver

THEGuyanaDefence Force(GDF)hasconfirmed therecoveryofthebody ofLanceCorporalStefon Tudor,whowentmissing duringaroutineriverpatrolonThursday,May29, 2025.

Accordingtoastatement issuedbytheGDFonSaturday,Tudorfelloverboardin

thevicinityoftheMakapa RapidsalongtheCuyuni River.

Immediaterescueefforts werelaunchedbyhispatrol team,followedbyasustained searchoperationledbyGDF unitswithassistancefrom localpartners.

Hisbodywasrecovered onSaturday,approximately

800metresfromthepoint wherehewentoverboard. LanceCorporalTudorwas attachedto1InfantryBattalionandwasdeployedat LocationEteringbangatthe timeoftheincident.

“Heservedwithprofessionalism,discipline,and commitment,”theGDFstated.

TheForceextendedits deepestcondolencestoTudor’sfamily,friends,andcolleagues,andsaiditcontinues toprovidefullsupporttohis lovedonesduringthistime ofgrief.

“TheForcestandsinsolidaritywithallranksaswe mournthelossofasoldier whodiedinthelineofduty,”

thestatementread. ABoardofInquiryhas beenestablishedandhas commenceditsinvestigationintothecircumstances surroundingtheincident.

Modernarbitrationlawboostsinvestor confidenceinGuyana -Gaico’sCEO

ByFeonaMorrison

THErecentpassageof Guyana’smodernArbitrationActhasdramaticallyimproved thecountry'sappealto foreigninvestors.Itis alsopavingthewayfor strongerinternational partnerships,according toprominentbusinessmanKomalSingh,Chief ExecutiveOfficer(CEO) ofGaicoConstruction andformerChairmanof thePrivateSectorCommission(PSC).

Arbitrationisaformalmethodofdispute resolutioninvolvinga third-partyneutralwho makesabindingdecision. Thethirdpartyneutral (the'arbitrator','arbiter'or 'arbitraltribunal')renders thedecisionintheformof an'arbitrationaward'.

Speakingduringarecentappearanceonthe GuyanaDialogueprogramme,Singhemphasisedthattheupdatedlegislationwaslongoverdue andhasalreadybegunto restoreconfidenceamong foreigncompaniesseekingtodobusinessinGuyana.

Reflectingonthechallengesofattractinginternationalbusinessinthe past,Singhrecountedhow Guyana’soutdatedArbi-

CEOofGaicoConstructionandformer ChairmanofthePSC,KomalSingh

trationActonceserved asamajordeterrentto foreigninvestment.

“Whenweweretrying toformpartnershipswith foreigncompanies,they hadnotwantedtosign upwithGuyanaasthe locationforarbitration intheeventtheyhadany disputes,”Singhsaid.

“So,mostofthecontractswesignedpriorto thenewArbitrationAct, wehadtouseNewYork, UnitedKingdom,andotherpartsoftheworld,”he said.Henotedthathaving togooutsideofGuyana forthearbitrationprocess notonlyaddedunnecessarycostsanddelays butalsounderscoredthe lackofconfidenceinthe locallegalframeworkat thetime.

Thepreviousarbitrationlegislation,Singhnoted,wasoutdatedandout

ofsyncwithinternational standards,leavingforeign investorswaryaboutlegalredressandcontract enforcementwithinGuyana'sborders.

However,theenactmentofthenewArbitrationAct,whichaligns Guyana’slegalframework withglobalbestpractices, hasbroughtawelcome change.

“Nowcountriescan comfortablysigncontractsanduseGuyanaas acountrywheretheycan doarbitrationbecausethe lawnowmeetsinternationalstandards,”Singh explained.

TheCEOlaudedthe legislationasalandmark achievementforGuyana, madepossiblethrough meaningfulcollaboration betweenthegovernment andthelocalprivatesector.

“Thatwasabig achievementfortheGovernment…workingwith theprivatesectortobring thatonboard.Wearevery proudthatthegovernmentwasabletodothat becausemanyforeign investorshadconcerns wherethatisconcerned.”

Guyana'snewArbitrationAct,passedasAct Number6of2024,isdesignedtoenhancecommercialdisputeresolution byestablishingamodern frameworkforbothdomesticandinternational arbitration.

Itaimstoposition Guyanaasahubforcommercialarbitration,promoteitsuseasanalternativetocourtlitigationand facilitatejobcreationand revenuegeneration.

NorthAmerica. AttorneyGeneraland LegalAffairsMinister, AnilNandlall,SC,has beenakeyfigureinpromotingtheActandemphasisingitsimportance forGuyana'seconomic development.

Sincethepassageof thenewAct,thegovernmenthasfacilitated severalworkshopsaspart ofongoingeffortstobolsterthelegalexpertiseof Guyaneseprofessionalsin thefieldofinternational arbitration.

TheActrepealsan olderArbitrationActof about150years,which hadcomplicatedtheprocessofsecuringinvestmentandjointventures, especiallyinhigh-stakes sectorslikeoilandgas, construction,andlogistics.ItreflectsamodernisationofGuyana'slegal infrastructurerelatedto disputeresolution.

ThisnewActisthe firstincarnationofamodelCaribbeanlegislation recentlyproduced.But mostimportantly,ithas hadtheinputofmany arbitrationexpertsinthe UnitedStatesofAmerica, includingtwoofthemore establishedlawfirmsin

TheActisintended tohelpGuyanabecome arecognisedcentrefor internationalarbitration, particularlyrelevantgiventhecountry'sgrowing oilandgasindustryand increasedinternational investment.

Thegovernmenthas alreadyestablishedan ArbitrationUnitwhich includesmembersfrom theAttorneyGeneral’s Chambers,theBarAssociationofGuyana,the PrivateSectorCommissionandtheBerbiceBar Association.

ThisArbitrationUnit liaiseswiththejudiciary andkeystakeholdersat periodicintervals.

Sincebeingelected tooffice,thePeople’s ProgressiveParty/Civic(PPP/C)government hasembarkedonarigorousagendatotransformGuyana’sarchaic legalsectorbyupdating outdatedlegislationand craftingamodernlegal architecture.

LanceCorporalStefonTudor

GUYANAtookanother boldsteptowardsustainabletransportationand modernisationonFriday withtheofficiallaunchof theall-new2025Honda ElevateSUV.

Theevent,heldatthe

PegasusHotel,brought togethergovernmentofficials,privatesectorrepresentatives,international partners,andautoenthusiaststocelebratethearrival oftheelectric-ready,fuel-efficientvehicleintothe localmarket.

Deliveringthefeature address,MinisterofPublicWorks,BishopJuan Edghill,underscoredthe significanceofthelaunch inthecontextofGuyana’s widerdevelopmentaltra-

jectory.

HewelcomedrepresentativesfromHondaMotors JapanandBrazil,applaudingtheircommitmentto strengtheningpartnerships withGuyana.“Yourpresenceherenotonlysignifiesyourinterestbutalso reinforcesthestrongand growingpartnershipbetweenyourcompanyand ourcountry,”Edghillnoted.

DescribingHondaas a“householdname”with overfivedecadesofleadershipintheautomotive industry,theMinisterdrew parallelsbetweenHonda’s journeyofinnovationand resilienceandGuyana’s ownpathoftransformation.

“Thisismorethana productlaunch.Itisastep towardabetter,greener futureforourcountry,”he said.

TheMinisteremphasisedthegovernment’s pushtowardelectricmobilityandhighlightedthatthe newHondaElevate,which fallswithinthe1500cccategory,offersagame-changingopportunity,particularlyforpublicservants whobenefitfromduty-free concessions.

“Imaginepayingthe samepriceyouwouldfor

areconditionedvehicle, butgettingabrand-new, electric-poweredalternative—withlowemissions andmodernfeatures,”he explained,addingthatthis alignsseamlesslywith Guyana’sLowCarbon DevelopmentStrategy (LCDS).

Edghillalsocalledfor greaterawarenessaround urbancongestionissuesand advocatedforbetterparkingpracticesandsmarter urbanplanning,notingthat cleanvehiclesalonecannot solveallmobilitychallenges.

DirectorofMaricsand CompanyLimited,JonathanPermaul,alsoaddressedthegatheringand proudlyreaffirmedMarics’ roleas“theHomeofHondainGuyana”forover50 years.“AtMarics,weoffer qualityproductsranging fromHondapowerproductstomotorvehicles.We strivetodeliverexceptionalcustomerserviceevery time,”Permaulsaid.

HighlightingHonda’s globalvisionforacleanerplanet,Permaulstated, “Hondastartswiththis simpledesire—toleave blueskiesforourchildren.” Heemphasisedthe2025

HondaElevate’sblendof sophisticatedstyle,premiuminterior,largecabin space,andadvancedsafety features,callingitaperfect fitforthemodernlifestyle.

TheHondaElevateis marketedasbothadurableandreliableoption andastylish,fuel-efficient crossoverSUVdesigned withadventure,safety,and comfortinmind.Known foritslowemissionsand efficiency,theElevatereflectsHonda’songoing commitmenttoeco-friendlytransportation.

Customerscanexpect thefollowingpricepoints: Duty-Free:G$4.8million, Duty-Paid:G$6.85million.

Asthelaunchconcluded,theaudiencewastreated toadetailedvideopresentationshowcasingtheElevate’sfullrangeoffeatures. Thevehicleisavailableat Marics’showroomlocated at186CharlotteStreet, Lacytown,adjacenttothe MarajBuilding.

Withthearrivalofthe HondaElevate,Guyana inchesclosertoitsvisionofacleaner,smarter transportationfuture— whereinnovationmeets accessibilityandsustainability.

DirectorofMaricsandCompany Limited,JonathanPermaul

MinisterofPublicWorks, BishopJuanEdghill

TNMLeaderDrAshaKissoonjoinsPPP/C -Callsoutoppositionfordismaltrackrecord

LEADERofTheNew Movement(TNM), DrAshaKissoon,has thrownherunequivocalsupportbehindthe rulingPeople’sProgressiveParty/Civic (PPP/C),notingthat herdecisionisrooted inputtingtheGuyanesepeoplefirst.

Inastatementon Saturday,shesaid:“As LeaderofTheNew MovementandDeputy SpeakeroftheNational Assembly,myguiding principlehasalways beentoputGuyanaand itspeoplefirst.Ientered politicswiththebelief thatleadershipmust bepurposeful,people-centred,androoted inaccountability.Today (Saturday),Ireaffirm thatbeliefbyannouncingmydecisiontoformallyalignmyselfwith thePeople’sProgressive Party/Civic(PPP/C).

“Thisdecisioncomes afterdeepreflection onthepathourcountryistaking—andthe kindofleadershipthat isneededtosecurea brighterfutureforall Guyanese.”

Shewasnothesitant inhersupport,noting thatthegovernmentis notjustalltalkandno action,butoverthepast fiveyears,theyhaveexpandedjobcreation,infrastructure,healthcare andyouthdevelopment.

DrKissoonfurther notedthatthegoverning PPP/C’scommitments madeintheir2020manifestohavebeensubstantiallyfulfilled.

“Iamproudtojoin thePPP/Cbecausethey havenotonlypromised progress--theyhave deliveredit.Thecommitmentsmadeintheir 2020manifestohave beensubstantiallyfulfilled.Fromjobcreation andinfrastructure[sic] expansiontohealthcareimprovementsand youthdevelopment,the

PPP/Cgovernmenthas honouredthepromises itmadetothepeople.

“Infact,everythingI campaignedonasLeaderofTheNewMovementhasbeenrealised undertheleadership ofPresident,Dr.MohamedIrfaanAli.Their priorities—socialjustice,education,access toopportunities,environmentalsustainabilityandinclusive growth—perfectlyalign withthevisionIhave alwayschampionedfor abetter,moreequitable Guyana,”thestatement read.

Addingtothis,she commendedPresident, DrIrfaanAli’ssteady andlaudableleadership inresponsetotheVenezuelabordercontroversy.However,shespared noeffortincallingout theopposition’squestionablechoicenotto standinunitywiththe governmentduringthe motionintheNational Assemblyregardingthe matter.

“Butduringthemost recentsittingoftheNationalAssembly,Iwas appalledanddeeply disturbedbytheopposition’slackofunity atsuchapivotaltime.

“…Iamconfident thatmyvoice,myvalues,andthegoalsof TheNewMovement willfindastronger, moreimpactfulhome withinthisgovernment. Thisisnotmerelya politicalchoice—it isaprincipledone.I standwiththePPP/C becauseIbelieveina Guyanathatrisestogether,wherenooneis leftbehind,andwhere promisesarenotjust made—theyarekept. Letusmoveforwardtogetherfora stronger,moreunited andmoreprosperous Guyana,”Dr.Kissoon said.

WhenGuyananeeded onevoiceindefenceof itssovereignty,theoppositionchosesilence, partisanship,anddivision.

“Thatmomentmade itimpossibleforme toremainalignedwith thosewho,inthefaceof anationalchallenge,refusetoputGuyanafirst. Ingoodconscience,I cannotstandwithan oppositionthatcontinuouslychoosespolitical expediencyoverpatriotismandprogress.”

Further,DrKissoon highlightedthedismal trackrecordoftheA PartnershipforNationalUnity+AllianceFor Change(APNU+AFC), whichismarredby electoralmisconduct, disregardfordemocracy,alegacyofsiphoned publicfunds,broken promises,andfailed leadership,according toher.

“Theirtimeinoffice wasdefinedbychaos andneglect—notserviceorachievement,” shesaid.

However,thegoverningPPP/Ccharteda differentapproach,she said,emphasisingthat itisoneofinclusion, developmentandunity.

LeaderofTheNewMovement,DrAshaKissoon

JonesAvenuedominateas Bartica’sGuinnessInThe Streetsheadstosemis

Aheadofthethirdand finalnightofthisyear’s GuinnessInTheStreets Barticaeditiontonightat theBarticaCommunity Centretarmac,JonesAvenuewasthemostimpressivewinnersonFriday night,toreachthequarterfinals.

Ledbyagoaleachfrom NeilMartindale,IanGomes, AshtonDutchinandTroy Parris,theyknockedout AlmanacKings,4-1.Other winnersonFridaynightwere NewModernCrewwhoarrestedPolice1-0,afterthe lonegoalofthegamewas scoredbyCyprianCollison.

AlsowinningFriday nightwereBadBoys,who overcameRiver’sView,2-0 onpenaltykicks,afterthe scorerswereknotted2-2,at theendofregulationtime; whileGoalRaidersalso gainedvictoryviapenalty kicks,3-2,followinganil-all regulationscore-line.

Intheloneplayoffmatch Fridaynight,Bataviadumped HillTopStrikers,3-1,as MisdeamorgainedawalkoverwinagainstAgatash, whodidnotshowup.

Lastnightinthequarter-finals,Misdeamorfaced

BadBoys,NewModern CrewtookonJonesAvenue,GoalRaidersmatched skillswiththewinnerofthe BataviaversusSpanishMan match.

Further,thewinnerbetweenthedefendingchampionsMightyRulerandRuler TopForm,weredownto meetthevictoroftheStelling CrewandGhenosydeencounter,whichwasplayed lastnight,toarriveatthe teamstocontestthesemifinalstonight(Sunday).

Thelosersofthequarter-finalswillplayina platecompetitionstartingat

19.00hrstonight(Sunday) beforethesemi-finalsand final.

Theplatetournamentwinnerswillcollect $100,000.

Thelosingsemi-finalists willplayfor$200,000with theloserreceiving$150,000.

Thechampionswillcart off$500,000andwinners’ trophyandrepresentBartica intheNational‘Guinness GreatestInTheStreets’tournamentlaterintheyearin Georgetown.

Thelosingfinalistwill settlefor$300,000.(Joe Chapman)

ENGLISHRACINGTIPS CHELMSFORDCITY

10:45hrsJessieLuc 11:15hrsCatwalkChat 11:45hrsCarlton 12:15hrsPhysique

12:45hrsAgostino 13:15hrsBowrerChalke FAKENHAM

09:30hrsHighCourtJudge 10:00hrsLynessDancer 11:35hrsPottersjetamay

11:05hrsLightDragoon 11:35hrsHurricaneBay 12:05hrsMerseyStreet NOTTINGHAM

08:55hrsFrenchHaven 09:25hrsAdversary 09:55hrsWithoutBurlington 10:30hrsCharlieBoyo 11:00hrsElegantErin 11:30hrsBulldogSpirit 12:00hrsJowddah 12:30hrsPhoneTag 08:20hrsRhydian

08:55hrsAbsolutelyYes

09:30hrsCircumbendibus 10:05hrsElectromagnetism

IRISHRACINGTIPS LISTOWEL 09:02hrsNeolithic 09:37hrsDreamySkies

10:07hrsNezeeh 10:40hrsWannabeRoyal 11:10hrsElBello 11:40hrsEmpressElma 12:10hrsGentlemanJoe

CRICKETQUIZCORNER

CUMMINGSELECTRICALCOMPANYLTD -83GarnettStreet,Georgetown(Tel:225-6158)

Answerstoyesterday’squiz: (1)SaiSudharsan-679runs(GT) (2)NoorAhmed-23wickets(CSK) Today’sQuiz: (1)Whohitthehighestindividualscore inthepreliminaryroundofIPL2025? (2)Whatwerethebestbowlingfiguresinasinglematch? Answersintomorrow’sissue.

JonesAvenuescorersfromleftTroyParris, AshtonDutchin,IanGomesandNeilMartindale

Bethell:Itwas‘electrifying’ towalkoutwithKohliatRCB

...EnglandrookieproveshistimeatIPLwaswellspentashedominatesfirstODIwith82from53balls

“He’sdefinitelygotthat…whateverthey saynowadays…‘aura.’”

The“they”JacobBethellreferstowhen searchingforthetermusedtodescribesomeone whocommandsattentionandkeepsit,is“kids”. The“he”isViratKohli,ofcourse,hisrecent RoyalChallengersBengaluruteammate.

MentionsofKohliarealwaysgoodforbusiness,butinthiscase,itisalittlelesstransactional.Bethell,only21butnotaufaitwithmodern onlineslang,wasspeakingafteradevastating inningsof82off53deliveriesthatkilledThursday’sfirstODIagainstWestIndiesasacontest, evenifitwasnotthesoledifferenceintheeventual238-runmargin.

Aplayer-of-the-matchturn-healsotook1 for18withtheball-hadcomeaftercloseto twomonthsofbench-warmingattheMChinnaswamyStadium.Inthatperiod,hehadplayed justtwice,thoughthatincludedamaidenIPL half-centuryinthelastofthoseagainstChennai SuperKings.Itaddeduptoaverysmallpartin RCB’squalificationfortheirfourthIPLfinal,and theirquestforthatelusivemaidentitle.

Yettherewereevidentlynosplintersorrust toshakeoff,justabitofstrainfromhotel-hoppingwhich-evenforsomeonewithanomadic upbringingthatinvolvedswappingBarbadosfor Birminghamattheageof12-stilltakessome gettingusedto.

“TheonlythingIstrugglewithisthebeds,” Bethellsaid.“Alotofthesehotelbedsareway toosoft.I’vegotabadbackandI’monly21,so weneedtosortthatout!”

Notthattherewereanysignsofacreaking bodyasheblamedallbut20ofhisrunsin boundaries.Fiveofthemwerecrispsixes-as manyasthefiveaheadofhiminthetopsixwithfourofthemcominginafinal10-overblitz thatcarriedEngland,eventually,to400for8.

“IfeellikeI’mabetterplayernowthanIwas acoupleofmonthsago,”Bethellsaid,laudingthe practicefacilitiesandthequalityofnetbowlershe hadencounteredonaday-to-daybasisattheIPL.

JAMAICA’SReggaeBoyzputupavaliant effortbutcameupjustshortofclaimingthe titleasUnityCupchampionsaftersufferinga narrow5-4penaltyshootoutdefeattoNigeria inSaturday’sfinalatBrentfordFC’sGtech StadiuminLondon.

TheNigeriansopenedthescoringeightminutesintothecontestwhencaptainMosesSimon scoredhis10thgoalfortheSuperEagles.

TheNanteswingerlatchedontoacrossfrom CyrielDessersaftertheRangersforwardwas playedopenbyanexcellentballoverthetop fromLeicesterCityholdingmidfielderWilfred Ndidi.

TheJamaicansrespondedperfectlytoNigeria’searlygoal,equalisingjusttwominuteslater thankstosomeexcellentattackingplayfrom wingersRenaldoCephasandKaheimDixon.

Cephasproducedoneofhistrademarkdirect runsontheleftwingbeforecrossingtheballto

JacobBethellsalutesthedressingroomafterhishalf-century •(GettyImages)

It’sasentimentthatisnowcommonplaceamong Englishplayerswhoneedtojustifygettingpaid decentmoneynottoplaycricketinIndia,rather thanplayCountyCricketinAprilandMay.

HisinningsagainstWestIndies,however,adds animportantundertoneofsincerity,particularly whenBethellelaboratesonhislearningsagainst spininparticular,ausualstickingpointforEngland’s50-overteam.GudakeshMotieemerged fromEngland’sonslaughtbroadlyunscathed,with 0for39from7overs.However,Bethellwasable tostrike10offfourballsfromtheleft-armspinner, includingtheonlyboundaryoffMotie-aslogsweepintothestandsatmidwicket.

“Idon’twanttogiveawayeverything,” Bethellsaid.“It’sjustthewaythosebattersgo aboutplayingspin,they’reclinicalinhowthey picklengthandthedeliveriestheytrytohitfor fourandsix.Thatwasnice,tohavemoreofa power-gameinputintomygame,ratherthana bitoftoucharoundspinaswell.Sothen,just tryingtomeshthetwotogetherwouldhelpalot.”

AsforhisinteractionswithKohliandthat exposuretothe“aura”:thatincludedinvaluable timespentwiththecricketerandtheman.They openedtogetherduringBethell’stwinappearances,sharinga97-runstandonthesecondoccasion astheypocketedhalf-centuriesinanRCBwin

Dixonwhoeasilyputthechanceawaytoscore histhirdgoalforthenationalteam.

Thatwasthebulkoftheactionfortherest ofthefirst45minutesastheteamswentintothe breaklockeda1-1.

Thesecondhalfbeganwithsomebackand forthactionbetweentheCaribbeanandAfrican giantsbefore,sevenminutesintotherestart, ACMilanwingerSamuelChukwezerestored Nigeria’sleadwithawell-placedleft-footedshot intothebottomleftcornerfromjustinsidethe 18-yardbox.

Jamaicafoughtbackonceagaintomakeit 2-2thankstoabrilliantright-footedJonathan Russellfinishfrominsidetheboxafteranother Cephascrossinthe63rdminute.

TheNigerianscameclosesttograbbinga winnerinregulationtimewithanNdidileft-footedstrikefromjustoutsidetheboxinthe90th minutegoingagonisinglywide.

“Ithinkhequiteenjoystheoverseasboysbecausewe’rejustprettychillaroundhim,”Bethell said.“He’sdefinitelygotthatfeeling.Andwhen hewalksouttobat,it’sprettyelectrifyingto walkoutwithhim.It(advice)wasjustlikean accumulationoverthecoupleofmonthsofjust chattingtohim.Yougetinformationthatkeeps cominginwaysthatyoudon’treallyknow,and it’skindofjustdrip-fed.

“Itwasjustnicetospeaktohimoffandon thefield,awayfromcricket,soyeah,itwasjust cooltoexperiencesomeoneofhiscalibreand howhegoesaboutdoingthings.

“He’sgotacertainintensitywithhimthat justkindof…heflipsthatswitchon,assoonas hecrossesthatline,whichisprettycooltosee.”

AsfarasmimickingKohli’scareerpath, Bethell’salreadyplayingcatch-up.Hemayonly turn22inOctober,buthe’strailingonanumber offronts,notleastthecenturycount.By21, Kohlihadeightofthe101hecurrentlypossesses acrossformats,includingfourinfirst-classcricket.Bethellisstillwithoutonein119innings,with Thursday’sknockhisfourth-highestscoreasa professional.(ESPNCricinfo)

Thefinalwhistlethenmeantthatthedestinationofthe2025UnityCupwouldbedecided onpenalties.

RichardKing,ashedidagainstT&T,calmlysteppeduptogiveJamaicatheleadinthe shootoutwhileKelechiIheanachowasequally ascalmtomakeit1-1withhisspotkick.

SuccessfulpenaltiesfromIsaacHaydenand MosesSimonfollowedtomakeit2-2before RavelMorrisonandToluArokodarealsoscored theirstomakeit3-3.

Theonlyhiccupoftheshootoutcamewith Jamaica’sfourthattemptwhichDwayneAtkinsonputoffthecrossbarandover.

BrunoOnyemaechithenscoredforNigeria beforecaptainAmari’iBellconvertedforJamaicainacan’tmisssituation.

DebutantChristantusUchethenheldhis nervetogivetheNigeriansthevictory. (Sportsmax)

THEInternationalCricket Council(ICC)willstartimplementingthenewplayingconditionsfromtoday,including thereturntoasingleballinthe ODIs.Inacommuniquetothe members,theICCsaidtherevisedPlayingConditions(PCs) willtakeeffectimmediatelyin Testmatches,andfromJulyin internationalwhiteballgames.

Therewillbechangestothe concussionreplacementrules aswellapartfromminoradjustmentstotheboundaryline catchesandDRSclauses.

Ofparticularsignificance isthedecisiontophaseoutthe secondballfromtheODIs.Currently,therearetwonewballs perinningsinthe50-overgames.

AspertherevisedPCs,there willbetwonewballstostart withbutthegamewillendwith onlyoneball.Thisexpectedrule changewasfirstreportedby CricbuzzonMay30.

“Therewillbetwonewballs forovers1to34.Afterover34 iscompletedandpriortothestart ofover35,thefieldingteamwill chooseoneofthetwoballstobe usedforovers35to50.Thechosenballwillbeusedatbothends fortheremainderofthematch (unlessitneedstobechanged),” theICCinformedthemembers. “Inamatchreducedto25oversor lesspersidebeforethefirstinnings commences,eachteamshallhave onlyonenewballforitsInnings.”

Therewillbesomemodificationstotheconcussionrules too.Theteamswillberequired tosubmitthenamesoffive concussionreplacementplayers tothematchrefereebeforethe startofamatch.Theyare:one wicketkeeper,onebatter,one seambowler,onespinnerand oneall-rounder.(Cricbuzz)

JacobBethellandViratKohliopened thebattingtogetheratRCB •(GettyImages)

Someexhilarating actionisanticipated inyearthreeofthe KaresOneGuyana T10TapeballBlast

GuyanathrashedbyUSA, PuertoRicoearnsdrawin Women’sU20Championship

SANJOSE,CostaRica,(CMC)–TournamentfavouritesUSApredictably defeatedGuyana,whilePuertoRicoregisteredahard-foughtdrawwithCostaRica whentheCONCACAFWomen’sUnder-20 ChampionshipscontinuedattheEstadio AlejandroMoreraSotohereonFriday.

TheUSAwereinano-nonsensemood, hammeringGuyana8-0intheopeningmatch, beforePuertoRicoproducedagutsyeffortin agoallessdrawagainstthehosts.

USAwereledbyIzzyEngle,whosebeavertrickspearheadedtherout.

Sheputhersideaheadinthefifthminute beforeKennedyFullerconvertedfromthe penaltyspotinthe13thminutetomakeit 2-0totheUSA.

Englegotonthescoresheetagaininthe 24thminuteandgoalsfromSealyStrawnone minutelaterandLindaUllmarkinthe37th minutestretchedtheirleadto5-0.

IzzyEngle(thirdright)oftheUSAcelebratesafterscoringoneofherfour goalsagainstGuyana (FromPage28)

Englethengrabbedherhat-trickfourminutesbeforehalftimewithasuperblong-range effortbeforecompletingadominantperformancewithagoalinthe48thminute.Emma JohnsonthensealedthedealfortheUSAin the77thminuteinthelopsidedcontest.

Inthenightcap,neitherPuertoRiconor CostaRicawasabletofindthebackofthe netinanentertainingcontest.

PuertoRicohadtheclearerchancesinthe closingminutesofthefirsthalf,asSusana Robertsattemptedtobreakthedeadlockin the41stminute.

AlondraGonzálezhadachancetogive thehoststheirfirstgoalofthematchinthe 78thminute,butherheaderwentabovethe crossbar.

GoalkeepersValeriaFernándezofCostaRicaandAlondraIriarteofPuertoRico eachcollectedtheirfirstcleansheetofthe campaign.

PSGcrushInter5-0towinfirstChampions

“Somanyplayerswhohavecome throughherewhodeservedthisanddidn’t succeed.Nowwe’rehereandwe’rebringingithome.I’mthinkingofallthesupporterswhohavebeenwithus,thoseattheParc desPrincesandthosearoundtheworld.I loveyou,enjoyitandwe’regoingtoenjoy ithere.Thisisthebestdayofmylife.”

PSGwentaheadwiththeearliestgoalin aChampionsLeaguefinalsince2019witha moveofspeedandprecisionwhenVitinha’s threadedpassintotheboxfoundthefeetof Doué.TheforwardcouldhaveshotbutinsteadslidinHakimitotapintoanopennet.

FormerInterplayerHakimi’scelebrationsweremuted,butPSG’sfanserupted. Eightminuteslaterandtheleadwas

doubled--thoughthistimeitreliedmore onluckthanprecisionasDoué’sshotfrom therightoftheboxdeflectedoffFederico DimarcoandpastIntergoalkeeperYann Sommer.

Hegothissecondinthe63rd,slidingthe ballintothebottomcornerwhenthrough ongoal.

Kvaratskheliaaddedafourth10minutes laterandMayuluthenfoundthebackofthe netinthe86th,justtwominutesaftercomingontoaddhisnametothelistofteenage scorersinafinal.

Thefifthgoalmadeitthemost one-sidedwininthefinalofEurope’s topcompetition,surpassing4-0victories forInter’scityrivalsACMilanin1994 and1989andawinbythesamemargin BayernMunichin1974.

ORGANISERSoftheKaresOneGuyanaT10TapeballBlastareurgingteamsto completetheirregistrationswiftly,asslots fortheexpandedtournamentarefilling uprapidly,particularlyinzoneswitha 16-teamlimit.Registrationforthethird editionofthepopulartapeballcompetition commencedonMay14.

TournamentDirectorJohnRamsinghhighlightedtheunprecedentedinterest,attributing ittotheevent'ssignificantexpansionandthe lucrativeprizemoneyonoffer.“Wehavenot reachedourtargetof80[teams]asyet,butwe areonthatpath,”Ramsinghstated.

“Thezoneswhichhave16teamsareclose tofilling,especiallyEastBankandWestDemeraraZoneandEssequiboZone.”

Thetournamentissettocommenceon June28inBerbice,withmatchesscheduledforSkeldonandNewAmsterdamon Saturday,beforeprogressingtoAlbionfor thequarterfinals,semi-finals,andfinalon Sunday.Thecompetitionwillthenmoveto othercountiesbeforethegrandchampionship finalsonAugust3attheNationalStadium, Providence.

Thefullscheduleincludes:

Berbice:June28-29

EastBank/WestDemerara:July5-6

Georgetown/EastCoastDemerara: July19-20(thiszonecanaccommodateup to32teams,whileothersarelimitedto16,

Three-timeFrench OpenchampionNovak DjokovicdefeatedAustrianqualifierFilipMisolic 6–3,6–4,6–2tosetupa fourth-roundmeetingwith Britain’sCameronNorrie.

Despitemissingnine breakpointsinthefirstset, itprovedtobeaclinicaldisplayfromDjokovic-chasing his25thGrandSlamtitleagainstMisolic.

The23-year-oldAustrian wasplayinginthemaindraw ofamajorforthefirsttime, havingcomethroughqualifyingandovercomeformertop 10playerDenisShapovalov inthesecondround.

Butheprovednomatch forDjokovic,whohitjust 14unforcederrorsto33 winnersandfacedonlyone breakpoint.

Teamsurgedtoregister forKaresOneGuyanaT10 Teamsurgedtoregister forKaresOneGuyanaT10

thoughsomemaybeextended)

Essequibo:July26-27

GrandChampionshipFinals:August3, NationalStadium,Providence

Ramsinghaddedthatorganisersare“busy behindthescenesplanningandgettingsystemsinplaceforthismassiveexpansion,” withafulllaunchonJune14expectedto revealcomprehensiveplansandadditional prizesforplayersandfans.

PresidentDr.IrfaanAlihasreaffirmed hissupportforthetournament,acknowledgingitsalignmentwithhiscallsforbroader expansion.

Thestakesarehigh,withlucrativeprize moneyonoffer.Zonalwinnerswillreceive GY$300,000andsecureaspotinthenationalfinals.Theultimatenationalchampion willbagaheftyGY$1.7million,withthe runners-upreceivingGY$700,000.Losing semi-finalistsatthenationallevelwillreceive GY$300,000each,andzonallosingfinalists willreceiveGY$100,000.Individualbrilliancewillalsoberewardedwithattractive cashprizesandawards.

TheregistrationfeeforteamsisGY$ 30,000.

ProspectiveteamsandindividualsseekingfurtherinformationcancontactAkeem GreeneviaWhatsAppat+5926352235orvisitthetournament’sofficialsocialmediapages under“OneGuyanaT10TapeballBlast.”

“Iwassolidduringthe bigmomentsinallthree sets,”saidthe38-year-old. “Filiphadnothingtolose, he’sagoodfriend,wetrained together.I’mreallyhappy forhim,I’mgladheplayed sowell.”

VictorywasalsoDjokovic’s99thattheclay-court major,whichhelastwonin 2023.

“EverytimeIsteponto thiscourtI’mplayingfor history,”headded. Elsewhere,thirdseed AlexanderZverevsawoff unseededItalianFlavioCobolliinstraightsetstoreach thefourthround.

Lastyear’sfinalist Zverevwon6-27-6(7-4)6-1 ashecontinueshisbidfora maidenGrandSlamtitle. ZverevwillfaceunseededDutchmanTallon Griekspoornextafterhebeat AmericanEthanQuinn4-6 6-16-7(2-7)6-16-4. Kazakhstan’sAlexander BublikbeatPortugal’sHenriqueRocha7-56-16-2and willtakeonBritishfifthseed JackDraperinthefourth roundfollowinghisstraightsetwinoverBrazil’sJoao Fonseca.(BBCSport)

Sealespromisesbetter showinginsecondODI

CARDIFF,England, (CMC)–WestIndiesfast bowlerJaydenSealeshas giventheassurancethat theregionalteamwill produceamuchbetter performanceagainstEnglandintoday’scrucial secondOneDayInternational(ODI).

ThevisitorswereoutplayedineverydepartmentintheopeningODIon Thursdayina238-thrashingthatranksamongone oftheirworst-everdefeats.

However,Seales,who wasthelonebrightsparkin thematchwithafour-wickethaulwhilealsotopscoringwithanunbeaten29, saidtheteamhadreviewed itsperformanceandwas awareofthemistakesit made.

Hesaidthebowlersespeciallyneededtocontain England’sexplosivebatting lineup,whichamassed400 runsintheopeningODI.

TheWestIndiesneed towintheremainingtwo matchestocapturethe three-matchseries.

“Wehadafewdiscussions,afewhonestand opendiscussionsabout wherewewentwrongas abowlinggroupandwe obviouslyrealisedearly enoughthattheballwasn’t swingingmuchinthefirst

gameandwestillwent searchingabit,andIwas veryguiltyofthat,sothat’s onethingwearelookingto improveon,”Sealessaid.

“Andjusttryingtocontainasmuchaspossible, havetherightfieldsetand trytoforcethebatsmento hitwherewehavethedeep fieldersandjuststicktothe basicsforaslongaspossible.

“Attheendoftheday, inthepowerplaythebatsmenwillobviouslytryto beaggressive,soit’sfor ustocontrolourlengths andourlinesandholdit foraslongaspossibleuntil thebatsmentrysomething differentlyandtheninthe middleoversandthedepth it’sallaboutexecutionfor allofus,”headded.

Despitethestruggles

THEGuyanaFootballFederation (GFF)issetforasignificantexpansionof itsNationalTrainingCentreinProvidence, withtheultimateambitionofhostinginternationalfootballmatchesatthefacility.

Thisambitiousplanreceivedacrucial go-aheadfromFIFAonMay21,approving theappointmentofaconsultanttooversee thetenderprocessfortheproject’sfirstphase.

Thisconsultantwillmanagetheprocurementstage,withapublictenderexpectedto launchwithinthenextfourweeks.

TheGFFisalsocurrentlyindiscussions tosecureacompanyforprojectsupervision andoversightduringtheconstructionperiod.

PhaseOneofthedevelopmentwillfocus onessentialspectatorinfrastructure.

Thisincludestheconstructionofseating onthewesternandsouthernsidesofthepitch, modernisedwashroomfacilities,andaservice roadaroundtheplayingarea.Improvedvendingandconcessionaryzonesarealsoplanned toenhancethefanexperience.

GFFPresidentWayneFordeanticipates

ThepartnershipdealwasrecentlysignedinTrinidadby(sittingLefttoRight) CWI’sChiefCommercialOfficer,RupertHunter;andVP&ManagingDirectorfor CourtsCaribbean,FelixSiman;whowasaccompaniedbyRegionalMarketing Director,FeisalMuradali.WitnessingthesigningwereWestIndiesPlayers (standingLefttoRight)ShunelleShaw,JoshuaDaSilva,andDjenabaJoseph.

CWIstrikesdealwithCourts

oftheWestIndiesbatsmen,whichsawthembeing bowledoutforapaltry162, Sealessaidhewasconfidenttheywouldshowupto thepartyinthesecondODI.

Hesaidthebattingunit hadshownoverthepast fewmonthsthattheycould getthejobdone.

“Thebatsmenhave beenreallygoodforus, givingusthebigscores, allowingustobefreewhen wegointobowltodefend atotal,soIthinkit’sjust moreofthesame.

“Wehadabadgame battingsecondinthatfirst ODI.I’mnotreallyconcernedaboutitbecausewe allknowwherewewent wrongindividuallyand collectivelyasagroup,” Sealessaid.

CricketWestIndies(CWI)hasannounceditsnewestpartnershipwith Courts,theCaribbean’smosttrusted homefurnishingandapplianceretailer— astrategicalliancethatunitestwoiconic symbolsofCaribbeanidentity.Courtsis retailbrandoftheUNICOMERGroup. Withalegacyspanningover60years, CourtshasbeenastapleinCaribbeanhomes, synonymouswithcomfort,value,andtrust. Now,byaligningwithCricketWestIndies, thebrandisinvestingevendeeperintothe culturalfabricoftheregion.CricketWest IndiesCEO,ChrisDehring,expressedhis enthusiasmforthepartnership,whichcommencesjustpriortothestartofthehighly anticipated“FullAhEnergy”HomeSeries.

“Courtsisabrandthatisdeeplywoven intotheeverydaylivesofCaribbeanpeople, justlikecricket.Thispartnershiprepresents aperfectalignmentoftwoinstitutionsthat celebratetheregion’spride,resilience,and communityspirit,andcouldnothavecome atabettertime,withbothourwomen’sand men’ssquadspreparingtodobattlerighthere intheCaribbean.Weareexcitedtoworkwith

Courtstobringfansclosertothegamethey loveandtocontinuebuildingthefutureof WestIndiescricket.”

Throughthiscollaboration,Courtswill supportgrassrootscricketdevelopment,fan engagementinitiatives,andkeyregionaltournaments—helpingtofuelthedreamsofyoung cricketerswhilegivingfansmoreopportunities toconnectwiththegametheylove.

“CricketismorethanasportintheCaribbean—it’sapopularpastimethatignites thepassionofWestIndianpeople,”saidFelix Siman,CaribbeanVicePresident,UNICOMERGROUP.

“CourtsisproudtosupportCWI,investing intheheartofCaribbeancultureandthehopes anddreamsofpeopleofallages.Formorethan sixtyyearsCourtshasbeenpartofCaribbean homesandseesthispartnershipasanotherway inwhichthebrandcanstrengthenitsconnection withconsumersacrosstheregion.”

ThispartnershipreflectsCourts’continuedcommitmenttoupliftingCaribbean communitiesbysupportinginitiativesthat resonatedeeplywiththeirvaluesandlifestyle.(Sportsmax)

“Ourultimategoalistogetapprovalfrom FIFAandConcacaftohostourinternational matcheshere,”Fordestated.

“Wearepushinghardtogetthisvenue approvedforinternationalfootball,evenif itisattheyouthlevelforthefirstcoupleof years.”

SRKN’gineeringandAssociatesLimited, thefirmbehindthefacility’sdesign,hasindicatedthatthecompletedvenueisexpected toaccommodatebetween4,800and5,000 spectatorsandwillincludecorporateboxes.

that“physicalworkshouldbeginbyAugust, tobesafe.”

Thedevelopmentisbeingfundedunder theFIFAForwardprogramme,atestamentto theglobalbody'scommitmenttodeveloping footballinfrastructureworldwide.ForderevealedthatapproximatelyUS$2.4millionhas alreadybeeninvestedinthefacility.

Thisexpenditurecoverstheartificialpitch

(aroundUS$1million),international-standard floodlights(approximatelyUS$1.1million), andtheexpansionoftheexistingbuilding (approximatelyUS$300,000).

Highlightingthe“direstateofinfrastructureforfootball”acrossGuyana,Forde explainedthattheProvidencefacilityhas becomethenervecentreforallfootballactivitiesinthenation.

AccordingtotheGFF,SRKNEngineering hascompletedover90%ofthearchitectural andengineeringdesignwork,includingrevisionsratifiedbytheGFFCouncil,andhasfinalizedtenderdocumentationforPhaseOne.

TheNationalTrainingCentreisGuyana’s firstdedicatedfootballfacility,entirelyfundedthroughtheFIFAForwardProgramme. Itcurrentlyfeaturesanall-weather,regulation-sizeartificialpitchanddormitoriesfor youthteams,servingastheofficialhomeof footballinGuyana.

FIVESTARPARIS

PSGcrushInter5-0towinfirstChampions

Leaguetitleandsealhistorictreble

MUNICH–ParisSaint-Germain wontheirfirstChampionsLeaguetitle witha5-0demolitionofInterMilanin Munich--thebiggestwinningmargin inthefinalofthecompetitiondating backto1956--andsealedatrebleafter alreadywinningLigue1andtheCoupe deFrance.

AchrafHakimi’s12th-minuteopener againsthisformerclubandtwogoals from19-year-oldforwardDésiréDoué --whobecamethefirstteenagertoscore twiceinafinalsinceBenfica’sEusebio ina5-3winagainstRealMadridin1962 --putPSGinfirmcontrolbeforeKhvichaKvaratskheliaandsubstituteSenny MayulucappedtheFrenchchampions’ historicvictory.

TheQatari-ownedPSGhadspentover adecadetryingtowintheChampions Leaguebysigningtheworld’sbiggeststars, includingLionelMessi,Neymar,Zlatan IbrahimovicandKylianMbappé.

Butafterabandoningthatpolicytwo

yearsagoinfavourofsigningyoungplayers,PSGhavenowbecomechampionsof Europe--ironicallyintheirfirstseason withoutMbappé,whomovedtoReal Madridlastsummerwiththeintentionof winningtheChampionsLeague.

PSG’swinmakesthemonlythesecond FrenchclubtolifttheEuropeanCup,after Marseillein1993,andcoachLuisEnrique madeithissecondsuccessafterguiding Barcelonatovictoryin2015.

“Wehavemadehistory,wehavewrittenournamesinthehistoryofthisclub,” Hakimisaid.“Foralongtimethisclub deservedit,weareveryhappy.Wehave createdagreatfamily.

“He[LuisEnrique]isthemanwhohas changedeverythingatPSG.Sincehecame here,hehaschangedthewayfootballis seen.Heisaloyalman,hedeservesitmore thananyoneelse.”

AllianzArena,thehomeofBayern Munich,oneofthetitansofEurope,wasa fittingstageforPSG’scrowningmoment.

PSGlifttheChampionsLeaguetrophyforthefirsttime (JustinSetterfield/GettyImages)

NotleastbecauseitwasagainstBayern thatPSGlosttheironlyotherChampions Leaguefinalin2020,leavingNeymar intearsinanemptystadiuminLisbon wherefanswerelockedoutbecauseof thepandemic.

Onthisoccasion,thousandsofPSGsupportersweretheretorevelinthemoment, wavingflags,lightingflaresanddrowning outtheirrivalsfromInter,manyofwhose

Grenadatohost53rdCARIFTAGamesin2026

STGEORGE’S,Grenada,(CMC)–For thesecondtimeinthespaceofthreeyears, theSpiceIsleissettohostthe2026CARIFTA Games.

ThenewswasannouncedbyGrenada’sMinisterofYouth,Sports,andCulture,DelmaThomas onThursday.

However,Grenadaisawaitinggovernment’s approvaltohosttheprestigiousevent,whichis scheduledtotakeplacefromApril4to6atthe KiraniJamesAthleticStadium.

ItwouldbethefourthoccasiontheGames wouldbeheldinGrenada,havingpreviouslybeen heldtherein2000,2016and2024.

Inasocialmediapost,Thomassaiditwasan honourtobehostingtheGamesonceagain.

“IampleasedtoofficiallyannouncethatGrenadawillhosttheCARIFTAGamesin2026,bringing theregion’spremierathleticschampionshipback toourshoresalmostback-to-back,followingour successfulhostingin2024.

“Thisisaproudmomentforournationas

supportersleftthestadiumlongbeforethe finalwhistle.

“It’samixofjoy,ofalltheemotions we’vespenttogether,”PSGdefender Marquinhossaid.“I’vesuffered,butI’ve grownupwiththisteam.Ithinkofallthe playerswhohavecomethroughandnot succeeded.MyidolThiago[Silva],Lucas, Zlatan,[Edinson]Cavani,[Angel]DiMaria. (ContinuesonPage26)

weonceagaintakecentrestageinshowcasing theCaribbean’sbest,young,athletictalent,” Thomassaid.

“HostingCARIFTA2026reaffirmsGrenada’s commitmenttoyouthdevelopment,sportsexcellenceandtheregionalunity.

“ThegovernmentofGrenadathroughtheMinistryofYouthandSportswillworkcloselywith theGAAandallrelevantstakeholderstoensure theeventisdeliveredatthehigheststandard,”she furtheradded.

‘JuneMadness’FutsalsettoigniteGuyana

CoordinatedbytheKashifand ShanghaiOrganization,48teamswill battleforatopprizeof$2Minthe ‘JuneMadness’FutsalChampionship thatkicksoffJune3rdattheCliff AndersonSportsHall.

Thetournament,launchedonSaturday,willbeastraightknockouttournament,withthetop16teamsfromtheir previouschampionshipdrawingabyeto thesecondround.

Atthelaunch,Co-Directorofthe organisingbody,KashifMuhammad, indicatedthatthetournament,which isbackedbytheMinistryofCulture,

Youth,andSport,isanotheropportunity forplayerstoshowcasetheirtalentin astructuredtournament,stayhealthy, andalsoearnalivingfromthesport theylove.

Apartfromtheopeningnightandthe lastthreematchnights,theotherdays willseeactionattheNationalGymnasium.Thetournamentisscheduled toconcludeonJune28,withmatches takingplaceonTuesdays,Thursdays, andSaturdaysduringtheperiod.

Therunner-upteamwillpocket $1M,third($500,000),andfourth ($250,000),alongwithvariousprizes

fortopindividualperformances.

Meanwhile,Muhammadnotedthat whilefinalapprovalhasnotyetcome fromtheGuyanaFootballFederation, theyareworkingtoreachthemodalities outlinedbytheGFFandareconfident itwillbegivenbeforethetournament commences.Manyofthetopfutsal teamsinthecountryareexpectedto contestthetournament.

Meanwhile,Muhammadnotedthat thelong-termvisionistoreturntoan internationaltournamentwheretop teamsfromtheCaribbean,Suriname, andBrazilcometofaceGuyana’sbest.

Grenada’sMinister ofYouth,Sports,and Culture,DelmaThomas

Fromleft:FrankParis,KashifMuhammad, FranklinWilson,andColinAaronatthelaunchon Saturday