‘You will still get a licking in Linden’ – Norton tells PPP
Method4 presented as Canadian company, but was made up of mostly locals ...sayscompanylostGPLcontractoverinsufficientexperience -Jagdeo
Method4 presented as Canadian company, but
was made up of
mostly locals
- Jagdeo
...says company lost GPL contract over insufficient experience
Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday sought tocleartheaironthecontract awarded to Dominican Republic company InterEnergy Group, instead ofMethod4.
Queries about the legality of the move by the government to award the contract to InterEnergy for consultancy services to upgrade the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) grid have been ongoing in some quarters.
During his press conference on Thursday, Jagdeo told journalists that the government cancelled theMethod4bidbecausethe company did not have the relevant experience to undertake the project. He said InterEnegy has more experience and negotiations areongoing.
Questioned about the timeline when the technical evaluation was done to determine Method4 Engineering'scapabilityand onwhatgroundsthecontract wasawardedtoInterEnergy, Jagdeo explained that there wasapublicprocess.
“Subsequent to that it
was discovered that's what we were told that they did not have the required technical capability because apparently it was evaluated as a Canadian company, but there were more local people… from this is all I'm hearing from them. It was morelocalpeoplewhowere part of this arrangement… didn't have a track record, a long track record of doing this sort of work,” Jagdeo explained.
He said it was for these reasonsthecompanywasnot awarded the contract by the government He also reminded that in 2024 a M e m o r a n d u m o f
Understanding was signed with the company, followed by several unsolicited bids. He said based on its consistency, the company was recommended to the cabinet.
“ S o , i t w a s recommended that they should, given their requisite experience, they should supervise the contract, and theratewasIthink$650,000 per month They are currently negotiating with that company If the
negotiations don't go well, they don't conclude the contract and no contract has been signed as yet. But on m e t h o d 4 i t w a s discovered…that's what we heard,thatitwasdiscovered that they did not have the requisite experience. So, I see now some in some quartersitsaidthattheywere close to us method4. If they were that close to us, the contract would have gone ahead. It didn't happen,” he stressed.
Jagdeo's response came days after APNU's Ganesh Mahipauldemandedthatthe governmentcomecleanwith thedeal.Inastatementtothe medialastSundayMahipaul reminded that on Friday, May 23, 2025, during the 104th Sitting of the 12th Parliament, Prime Minister Phillips addressed the National Assembly on the matter of the $28.7 billion allocation under the lineitem Power Generation (Gas-to-Energy Project)
The Prime Minister clearly stated that the sum was designated to enhancing the t r a n s m i s s i o n a n d distribution system and that
three contracts were awardedtoPowerChinaand Kalpataru for works across Regions4,5,and6.
Mahipaul said Phillips further informed the house that the contracts were signed on April 4, 2025. When questioned by former MP Volda Lawrence regarding the consultancy services for the project, the prime minister responded with unambiguous clarity: “the consultancy contract was awarded to Method4, a Canadian company, to the tune of US$7 million,” Mahipaulrecalled.
Mahipaul said Jagdeo is now vigorously defending InterEnergy Group, a completely different entity, as the consultancy firm on the same transmission and distribution project. “This contradiction strikes at the very heart of truth and transparency So,weaskthe question every Guyanese citizen deserves answered: Who is lying? Jagdeo or Phillips?” Mahipaul questioned.
Mahipaul, who is the vice-presidential candidate fortheAPNUcoalition,said
thisisnominordiscrepancy “Thisisablatantexposureof the lies and confusion that plague the PPP/C regime. One government, two topranking officials, two completely different stories. Only one can be true, if eitheris.”Mahipaulsaidthe people of Guyana must not be taken for fools. “This $28.7 billion project is not play money It is your tax dollars,itisouroilrevenues, and it is the future of this country's energy security
When billions are being spent, and the government can't even get its story straight, alarm bells must ring.Whatwearewitnessing is not transparency, it is deceptioninhighdefinition. Itisacorrupt,confused,and chaotic regime speaking frombothsidesofitsmouth.
Today, the PPP/C stands exposed, not just for its lies, but for its blatant disrespect to the intelligence of the Guyanese people, ” Mahipaulstated.
As such, he said the APNU coalition is demanding immediate clarity on the status of the consultancy contract and
whetheritwasitawardedto Method4 or InterEnergy Group,orboth.
The coalition is also seekingfulldisclosureofall consultancy agreements relatedtotheGas-to-Energy t r a n s m i s s i o n a n d distribution components
“The PPP/C cannot be allowed to play political football with billions of taxpayers' dollars while pretending to care about accountability Theonlyway to end the lies, the contradictions, and the corruption is to vote them outcomeSeptember1,2025.
The PPP/C is lying. The question is how many more lies have they told that we haven'tuncoveredyet?”
The fourth Floating Production Storage and Offloading(FPSO)vesselin the Stabroek block has achieved first oil, bringing Guyana's total installed capacity to 900,000 barrels
per day (bpd) The announcement was made on Fridaybytheoperatorofthe block, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited(EMGL).
The ONE GUYANA FPSO will produce oil from theYellowtailDevelopment. The US$10 billion project received government's blessings on April 1, 2022. The FPSO was constructed by Dutch shipbuilder, SBM Offshore.
The vessel arrived in AprilandisthelargestFPSO ontheStabroekblocktodate with an initial annual average production of 250,000 bpd and a storage capacity of two million
barrels Notably, oil produced from the FPSO will be marketed as Golden Arrowheadcrude.
ONEGUYANAjoinsthe Liza Destiny, Liza Unity, and Prosperity FPSOs
While the fourth vessel brings the installed capacity to900,000bpd,Exxonnoted that production is currently around650,000bpd.
“Yellowtail's ahead-ofschedule startup is a significant milestone for ExxonMobil and the people of Guyana,” said Dan Ammann, president of ExxonMobil Upstream Company “With Guyanese makingupmorethan67per centofthecountry'soil-andgas workforce and over 2,000 local businesses engaged,thisprojectreflects our deepening roots in the country and our shared commitment to long-term, inclusivegrowth.”
The Stabroek block spans6.6millionacresandis estimatedtohold11.6billion barrels of oil equivalent, accordingtogovernment.
E x x o n ' s f i r s t developmentintheStabroek
block achieved first oil in December 2019. On Friday, ExxonMobil Guyana boasted that its deepwater developments are the most successful in the world.The companysaid,“infiveyears, the company has started up four complex offshore mega-projects under budget and ahead of schedule –while simultaneously advancing plans for four additional projects by the endofthedecade.”
In addition to the Yellowtail project, Exxon has two other sanctioned projects under its belt: Uaru
and Whiptail. It has also submittedanEnvironmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for its seventh project, Hammerhead, with production targeted for 2029 Additionally, the company has filed an application for an eighth development,Longtail.
By 2030, ExxonMobil Guyanaexpectstohavetotal production capacity of 1.7 millionoilequivalentbarrels per day from eight developments.
ExxonMobil Guyana holds a 45 per cent interest, with Hess Guyana
Exploration Ltd. holding 30 per cent, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited holding25percent.
Moreover, the Ministry of Natural Resources in a s t a t e m e n t o n t h e achievement,saidthatitwill continue to work to ensure prudent management of the petroleum sector to support long-term national benefit a n d s u s t a i n a b l e development.
MNR noted that the Ye
“Thevesselwilldevelop the Yellowtail and Redtail fields, discovered in 2019 and 2020, respectively It is equipped with state-of-theart Subsea, Umbilicals, Risers and Flowlines (SURF) infrastructure, enablingproductionfrom26 production wells and 25 water-alternating-gas (WAG) injection wells,” the ministrynoted.
ProductionLicencehasbeen the template for future licences, embedding stronger environmental and safety requirements, improved decommissioning safeguards, and alignment with Guyana's broader climatecommitments.
The relatives of Keon Fogenay have broken their silencetoexpresstheirdisappointment. PresidentAlihas notkepthispromisesmadetothemfollowingtheshooting deathoftheirson,theirrelative.
Hewasabystanderduringcommunityclasheswiththe GuyanaPoliceForce,andhisdeathwasaresultofpolice fire. Familymembersofthevictimarenowrecallingfour monthslater,howPresidentAlipromisedthattherewillbe resolution, that Keon's untimely death, and the circumstancesunderwhichitoccurred,willseethelightof truth and justice. Since then, the family, including his grieving mother, have been treated to either a wall of silenceortheusualrunaround,whichisnothingnewwith developmentslikethese.
There is a routine and consistency to these killings, recklesskillingsthataren'tmuchofamystery Thereisa brutal death, a community rises up in anger, and the presidentmakesthefastesttimetothehomeandfamilyof the deceased. The president has his program handy, his scriptinhishead,withreadywordsdrippingfromhislips. There is no one more solemn that President IrfaanAli on thesepiercing,hurtingoccasions. Hegoesintoadifferent zone, and out spills the promises to the listening, hoping familymembers.
He will use the power of his office to remove every stone and obstacle in the way to ensure that justice is delivered,sothatthefamilyiscomforted. Howhearrives, sohegoes:inaflashofmovements,withathickgroupof hangers-on,andthenthereisthesilencethatthefamilyis lefttodealwith,copewith.howevertheycan.
Theyallknowverywellthatneitherragenorgrieving can do anything to bring back a dead relative, a departed sonornephewintheprimeofhislife.
A promise from a president, however, is a platinum moment to be treasured. A presidential promise, once made, instils the hope that it will be kept, and that the justice sought will help to ease the traumas of crippling memory Whenthesealofapresidentisputonapromise, then it cannot be broken, shouldn't be broken. For then, whatwouldthatdotothereputationofthepresidentwho madethepromise,andthepresidencyitself?
This is where PresidentAli finds himself today in the matterofKeonFogenay'sdeath. Byallaccounts,hewas notaprotestor,oratroublemaker,butabystanderoutside ofthestormofcommunityandpoliceclashes. Yethewas felled by a police bullet, and four months later, the swift resolution that the president promised looks weaker and moreunlikelywitheverypassingday Beingforcedtodeal with the ordeal of a loved one's death was only the beginning for Mr Fogenay's family Because having placed their confidence in the president's promise, they nowareforcedtodealwithadifferentordeal. Apromise notkepttodate,andbeingfurthervictimizedbyaseriesof pushing around and being on the receiving end of a royal runaround.
AccordingtoKeonFogenay'sfamily,theirapproaches totheOfficeoftheDirectorofPublicProsecutions(DPP) haveledtoadeadend. Theirreachingoutwiththeintentof engaging the head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Wendell Blanhum, have had them goingaroundincircles. NeithertheOfficeofProfessional Responsibility nor that of the DPPnor the CID have had muchtoshare,otherthantopointthemsomewhereelse. A familymembernotedthatthefinancialassistancethatwas promisedforFogenay'schildrenisstilltobeseen. None of this reflects well on President Ali. Most discomfortingly,thepresidenthasearnedareputationfor beenlightningquicktomakepromises,butglaciallyslow to make them come to fruition. The murder of the two Henry cousins in Cotton Tree hangs like an unmoving shadow around the president's head. We believe that the leasthecoulddoisshowsomeconcern,enoughtofindthe time to get to the bottom of where Keon Fogenay's death standsandordersomeonetoreporttothefamily
The strangeness of Alexander's synthesis of so many falsehoods is bizarre
DearEditor, I refer to commissioner Vincent Alexander's letter 'My view on GECOM`s preparedness for Elections 2025' published in S/N's editionof8.8.'25.
The contents of the commissioner's missive Is fundamentallyflawed,ifnot misguided. The more the commissioner continues to heap scorn on GECOM and our electoral process the more people will have doubts about his erroneous assertions.
Asmallpieceofadviceto thecommissioner:
In view of the fact that the Guyanese electorate haveexperiencedan'Age of Enlightenment' on the electoralfront;Itisadvisable that the commissioner desists from manufacturing hisownfacts.Everydecision adopted at the level of the commissionisdefensibleby the Chairman, the CEO and DCEO.
That so much ink has been spilled parsing the commissioner's claim about 'lack of safeguards' with the surreal is truly remarkable, they would leave anyone
with a modicum of
r e a s o n a b l e n e s s dumbfounded.
Asarepresentativeofthe political opposition at the commission,MrAlexander's claims are not only ritualistic, apparently, they have been etched onto the trunkofaweepingwillowin memory of his dilemma for non-acceptance of real life
and assimilation of incontestablefacts.
Notwithstanding, the commissioner's efforts at restyling himself 'an independent commissioner,' much of his anti-GECOM cynicism and theorizing, reflects ventriloquizing of the dominant views of the political opposition rather thanhisown.
His letters to the editors of mainstream media and social media outlets suggesting 'rigged elections' frequently invokes stereotypes of governmentnominatedcommissionersto mock and portray their contributions as 'irrelevant and obstructive.' They are frequently accused of being persons who cannot 'think for themselves' nor 'take
independent positions' that coincides with the opposition'sthusmakingthe entire electoral process farcical.
It is with this in mind, that I take issue with the commissioner's efforts at depicting our electoral procedures as flawed, that GECOM is 'in disarray;' unprepared to effectively and efficiently fulfill its constitutional mandate' and that 'GECOM will not be conducting a free, fair and transparentelection.'
Idososimplybecauseof the absolutely groundless and legally unsupported cringe-inducing demands of the political opposition intent on creating confusion amongst the more gullible enlisted within the ranks of theAPNU and garrisoned at Sophia.
Unlike Mr Alexander I felt 'the compulsion or more so the obligation,' on more than one occasion, as a government-appointed commissioner and equally so,asaconstitutionalofficer responsible to the electorate andthecitizenryatlarge',not to report about GECOM's
unpreparedness; but to expose the falsehoods about 'ongoing chicanery; erection of administrative barriers; acts of deception or omissions; and what he described as 'erroneously articulated secrecy of the vote.'
The three oppositionsponsored commissioner's anti-GECOMnarrative,lack of appreciation and passive aggression adopted at statutory meetings of the commission,fliesintheface of consistent efforts by the secretariat and senior managers at GECOM who strivetodotheirlevel-bestto bring-off a smooth and successful election on Septemberfirst.
I have deducted my efforts to counter the political opposition's accusations of electoral rigging;abloatedvoterslist; voting by the deceased and non-residents; the right of prisonerstovote;andthecall for biometrics, by revealing thepositiveandlegalsideof government's reforms of the RepresentationofthePeople ActandGECOM'Slegaland (Continuedonpage4)
No political party must be allowed to gain two-thirds majority in Guyana
DearEditor,
No political party must ever be allowed to gain a two-thirds majority in Guyana's National Assembly That kind of power would be the beginning of the end for democracy, the rule of law, and every right and freedom the Guyanese people have fought for over generations. It would legalise the illegal, legitimise the abuse of power, and turn oppression intopolicy
We are standing at the edge of a dangerous cliff. The electoral system we have today, bloated voters' list and no biometric safeguards,cannotguarantee free, fair or credible elections This is no technical glitch It is deliberate The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is under the thumb of the People's Progressive Party (PPP), aided and abetted by an international community thatcontinuestoprioritiseits economic interests over the rights and dignity of the Guyanesepeople.
Now the PPPis boasting it will win a two-thirds
majority That should send alarm bells ringing across every village, mission, town and region. Such a victory would give them the power tochangetheConstitutionof Guyana unilaterally They would no longer need the opposition. They would no longerneedthepeople.They wouldnolongerneedyou.
A two-thirds majority is notjustapoliticalwin.Itisa national crisis It would mean the end of checks and balances It would mean government by force, not consent. The consequences forworkingpeople,forcivil society, for every Guyanese who values freedom and fairness would be devastating.
Thisisnotjustpolitics.It isawarondemocracy
Wemustrememberthese elections are the most consequential since 1953 when for the first time Guyanese won the right to universal adult suffrage, the right to vote and determine their future. That right was not handed to us. It was fought for TheTrade Union Movement, under the leadership of Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, began
that struggle in 1926. In the 1940sitwascarriedforward by Cheddi Jagan, Forbes Burnham, Jane Phillips-Gay and others who demanded a Guyana where power would be shared, not hoarded by onegroup.
Thefightthenwasforthe right to vote and internal self-government. The fight nowistostopthatvotefrom being stolen, smothered or rendered meaningless under theweightofaparliamentary dictatorship.
We already know what this government is doing with a simple parliamentary majority Imagine what they will do with two-thirds There is already fear to speak, to dissent, to associate. The Cybercrime Act is being weaponised to silencecritics.Thecourtsare compromised. Transparency Internationalsayscorruption is rampant.TheWorld Bank says poverty remains entrenched The United Nations Human Rights Committee says violations areongoing.
This government, with just 50 69 percent parliamentary majority, has already done massive
damage. Give them twothirds and you are giving them a blank cheque to rewrite the Constitution in their image, to extend Bharrat Jagdeo's political life into a third term or infinite, and to codify exclusion, oppression and discrimination under the guiseoflegalreform.
Letusnotpretendwedo notknowwhatthisis.Atwothirdsmajoritywouldkillthe spirit of the Constitution w h i c h d e m a n d s collaboration between G o v e r n m e n t a n d Opposition, between Parliament and Civil Society That principle of inclusionary democracy is what trade unions and democrats the world over is wedded to. This is what we mustdefend.
When the working people and the Trade Union Movement launched the struggle for one-man-onevote and self-government, it was never to hand absolute power to one group to rule overtherest.Itwastobuilda just society where every Guyanese, regardless of race,classorparty,hada (Continuedonpage4)
DPI must serve Guyanese, not the PPP/C party
DearEditor, I write with growing concern about the blatant misuse of the Department of Public Information
(DPI), which is a governmental institution
t
Guyanese, and not a politicalparty
S i n c e t h e commencement of the official campaign for the
nal elections season, it has become glaringly clear that DPIhasturneditselfintothe public relations division of the People's Progressive Party/Civic(PPP/C).
The country's national resources and public funds are now apparently being channelled into providing round-the-clock media attention to PPP/C events, rallies, and even peripheral political personalities with nocloutingovernment.
DPIhasbeenwritingfor
massive PPP/C rallies, and even small gatherings involving individuals like Steven Jacobs, who hold no governmental office and by any measure, have no likelihoodofeverdoingso.
Editor, such partisan reportingisunwarrantedand deeply insulting to the visions of democracy, fairness, and good governance
Compare this with the standard set by the DPI
A P N U + A F C administration. Under the directorthelateImranKhan, there was a clear division b
business and political campaigning.
During the campaign period in 2020, DPI did not give coverage to any politicaleventsexceptthose of the incumbent president.
AndImaintain,thepresident only
That was a lesson in professional propriety and integrity, what a statefunded information agency shouldalwaysrepresent.
What we are witnessing nowisethicalfailureandthe cynical politicisation of a nationalinstitution.
DPI's role is to provide p
government policies and programmes, not to prop up political parties or provide m e g a p h o n e s f o r campaigners.
The government should be reminded that the DPI is funded by the Guyanese public and must still answer tothem.
Come on, it is time for p r o f e s s i o n a l i s m , impartiality, and a sense of dutytonationalserviceatthe DPI.
Sincerely, KirkFraser DeputyMayor NewAmsterdam
They must leave Guyana
DearEditor,
Ifthediplomatsinvolved are not willing to come
f o r w a r d a n d t a k e responsibility for the accident that has left one of our law-abiding citizens in critical condition, they must beaskedtoleavethecountry Diplomatic immunity is one thing, it is quite another matter if they disregard and trytocircumventthelawsof ourland.
Any country that allows membersoftheirdiplomatic corps to behave in such a manner is of questionable character and we must reconsider our relationship withsuchacountry
Iftheycannotrespectour laws, the rights of our citizens or the value of a Guyaneselife,weshouldno longervalueourrelationship with such a country The choice is simple Those involvedmustcomeforward and do what is right or they must leave, and we must break diplomatic ties with the country they represent, which is also hiding these culprits. We should have no interest in such unruly and disrespectful people being a partofoursociety
The way in which the police and the members of the diplomatic corps handle
‘Otisha’ gets bail for abusive and threatening language
Forty-seven-year-old Otis Pearson also known as 'Otisha' was released on bail on Friday for abusive and threatening language.
Pearson, of Lot 17 Station Street, Kitty, Georgetown, appearedbeforeactingChief Magistrate, Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates'Courttoanswer tothetwocharges.
The accused pleaded guiltywithexplanationtothe abusivelanguagechargeand not guilty to threatening language, which were both hurled at Anita Ramdeo on July24,2025inKitty
Ramdeo, who was also charged with abusive language, did not appear in court, forcing the magistrate toissueanarrestwarrant.
Pearson told the court that he and Ramdeo were close friends until she found out her partner was interestedinhim,souringthe friendship.
“We were sharing the sameman….There'salways beenbackandforthbetween us,shepassandthrowhints, and I does throw back,” Pearsonsaid.
Hewentontosharethat
(Continuedonpage6)
Accused, Otis Pearson at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court.
The strangeness of Alexander's...
Frompage5 timebounddecisions Amid these efforts, the political opposition has persistently refused to support and to embrace the announced reforms in preference to holding up the tattered bannerofdefeathavinglost the election in 2020 and now trying to make a political come-back at a time when their electoral rap-sheet remains drenched in shame and lacking one iotaofremorse.
this matter will speak volumes about the importance of justice over political and financial influence Itisanopportunity for the government and all those involved to do the correct thing It is CRG's hope that this opportunity willnotbewasted
Withutmostconcern, Mr.JamilChanglee
Chairman
T h e C o o p e r a t i v e RepublicansofGuyana
I must concede, that I haveneverbeenabletoread
simplybecausethecontents are so predictable and repetitive that from fifty consecutive lines, would I n
ap propaganda,winninghimas a representative of the political opposition, a kind of reputation…I always smelled desecration and repugnance. As the po
No political party must...
Frompage4 voice.So todayI say toyou, wake up Mobilise Organise.Vote.
Come September 1, six partiesandgroupswillbeon theballot.Notonemustwalk away with a two-thirds majority This is no game. This is about your future,
your children, and generationstocome.
It is about whether we remain free citizens or become subjects. Whether weliveinlibertyorunderthe whip of a new plantation class.
You have the power to stop this march to dictatorship. Your vote is your voice. Use it wisely or preparetolivewithoutit.
LincolnLewis
opposition continues its crusade to convince readers that acceptance of their version, that the state of affairs at GECOM is at a dead end; truth be told, I believe the Guyanese electorate have a vision for the future characterized by hope and optimism and that the only path forward lay in accepting that government's commitments this time around will again see promisesdelivered.
Yoursfaithfully, ClementJ.Rohee
GECOMCommissioner
TIGI slams ERC for political bias …callsforChair'sresignation
The Transparency Institute Guyana Inc (TIGI) on Friday called for the immediate resignation of Shaikh Moeenul Hack, Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), citing allegations of political bias and loss of public confidence in the institution.
In a statement, TIGI, an organisation dedicated to promoting transparency, accountability, and fighting corruption, expressed grave concern over Hack's alleged support for a specific politicalpartywhileholding acriticalconstitutionalpost.
“It is concerning when religious leaders use their influencetoopenlysupporta political party, especially when they hold official positions like chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission.
In a democratic and pluralistic society like
‘You
DP
Guyana, it's crucial for institutions to remain impartial, and for religious spaces not to become political platforms,” the institutestated."
TIGIemphasisedthatthe separation between religion and politics is essential to ensuring free, fair, and transparentelections.
The institute concluded its statement by demanding H a c k ' s i m m e d i a t e resignation.
“The public has lost all confidence in such contaminated institutions as the ERC which functions as an appendage of the Irfaan Ali administration,” it added.
The outrage by TIGI follows recent public criticismsoftheERCbytwo opposition parties, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), and the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) Both parties declined to sign the ERC's
code of conduct at a ceremony held Tuesday at the Arthur Chung ConferenceCentre.
The code, designed to promote peace, unity, and responsible campaigning during the election period, was signed by only four of thesixcontestingparties:the People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), Alliance for Change(AFC),Assemblyof Liberty and Prosperity (ALP), and We Invest in Nationhood(WIN).
In a strongly worded statement, APNU said it refused to sign the code becausetheERChaslostits impartiality and has become a“stooge”oftherulingparty andisunfittobethesponsor of such an important document.
“Let us be abundantly clearthatwhilewebelievein the value of a code of conduct on peaceful, respectful, and lawful campaigning, we have no confi
e in the i m p a r t i a l i t y a n d independence of the Ethnic Relations Commission,” the partydeclared.
“The ERC is therefore unfit to serve as the sponsor of a code of conduct on p e a c e f u l e l e c t i o n campaigning. We see the signing ceremony as a political gimmick, one that willdolittletopromotefree andfairelectionsorservethe interests of the Guyanese people.”
Speaking separately to Kaieteur News, APNU's presidential candidate Aubrey Norton reaffirmed the party's position, stating, “The Ethnic Relations Commissionisbiased.When PPP people violate the conduct, nothing happens. But as soon as the APNU does something, they make an issue out of it ” He stressed that the ERC is not an impartial body and therefore lacks the moral
Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission, Shaikh
authoritytorequestpartiesto signsuchadocument.
Nonetheless, Norton assured that APNU will continue to operate within theconfinesofthelaw
Similarly, the Forward Guyana Movement, in a statement issued Thursday, explained that its leader Amanza Walton-Desir had previously submitted a detailedresponsetotheERC
outlining the party's concernswiththedraftcode, including the absence of
enforceability, lack of a transparent complaints process, and no guaranteed protections for smaller parties.
Although the ERC acknowledged receipt of the feedback, FGM said there was no follow-up or amendmenttothedraft.The partyisnowurgingtheERC tore-engageallstakeholders andrevisethecodetoensure fairness, inclusivity, and broader public trust in the electoralprocess.
will still get a licking in Linden’ – Norton tells PPP
Party/Civic (PPP/C) pulling its largest crowd ever at a recent rally in Linden, Region10,APartnershipfor National Unity (APNU) presidential candidate
Aubrey Norton, has dismissed the turnout, promising that it will not translate into votes for the incumbent.
Last Sunday night, PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo called on supporters in Region 10 to take the party'smessagedirectlyinto t h e i r h o m e s a n d communities if they want to see change in the traditional opposition-stronghold.
Atapressconferenceon Friday, Norton claimed the PPPbroughtsupportersfrom other regions to the rally to create the impression of strongsupportinLinden.
“If you go back, you would recognise that for everyelection,thePPPships inplentypeopleintoLinden to create the perception that they have support in Linden but all the elections, after they finish shipping these people and posting these pictures. They get a licking in Linden, and it will be no different this time,” Norton stated.
Jagdeo admitted that his party has never secured the region at the regional level
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) presidential candidate Aubrey Norton
but stressed that change is possible.
He emphasised that winning the region will require grassroots efforts, not wishful thinking, and urged attendees to distribute flyers outlining the PPP's achievements over the last five years and speak “to thosebeingmisled.”
The PPP GS said, “We are not going to win this regionbymagic. We'donlywinitifpeople becomeconsciousofthetask ahead and I'm relying on every single one of you to carry that message back to your homes and to your neighbourhood.”
Tofurtherprovewhythe PPP will not change the support base after the September 1 elections, Norton said Lindeners believe the PPP dislikes the
township.
Moreover, Norton also addressed former People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) executive member and opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Jermaine Figueira who in his address i n h i s h o m e t o w n , underscored that since he joined the PPP, he has felt welcomedandrespected.
Figueira told the crowd, “Never before in the history of Linden and Region 10 have we seen and experienced such rapid transformation happen simultaneously.”
Hesaidhehaswitnessed the massive development across Linden and encouraged supporters to voteforthePPPinorderfor thedevelopmenttocontinue.
For his part, Norton said Figueira's position rings hollow
Hehighlightedthatwhile serving as Shadow Minister for the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Figueira remained silent and allowed the PPP government to “destroy”severalgroundsin Linden, affecting sports in the region. “Never said a word,andthenhegoestothe PPP and suddenly finding everythingtobenice.
But we know, we know himverywell.
Thefirstquestionheasks is,whatisinitforme,never asked about the people,” Nortondeclared.
The turnout at the PPP's rally in Linden last weekend
Frompage5
“Madam, I will be very honest,Ididcurseherback because us gay persons, if you curse us, we will curse you back. She got mad becauseIhadarelationship with her man… she curse me and tell me my…. was bigandIcurseherback.”
The court also heard that Ramdeo regularly keepsherschool-agedchild at home to take care of her youngersiblings.
Pearson noted that he hadmadeseveralreportsto the police and Child
ProtectionAgency over the course of several months. His efforts resulted in the child being removed from the home at one point, though she was later returned since no criminal offense was committed by theparent.
Theprosecutionsaidon the day in question, the defendantvisitedRamdeo's home to speak with her child. However, Ramdeo reportedly told her child “not to speak to anyone”, which then ignited an argument between the
defendant and the victim, causing Pearson to use profane and offensive language, including expletives.
The prosecution had no objectiontothethreatening l a n g u a g e c h a rg e Magistrate McGusty granted Pearson bail in the sum of $10,000 on the threatening language chargeandhewasrequired tosignapeacebondforthe abusivelanguage.
The matters were adjourned for August 22, 2025.
Moeenul Hack
BLUNT BLUNT
The Police Force
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) is one of the leading examples of how public institutions have deteriorated over the course of many years.
The GPF has rarely been viewed in the cleanest light, but the last five years have seen it drop to its lowest level ever. If there is one State agency on which Guyanese, regardless of their politics, can agree is in the poorest condition, it is the GPF.
So poor, that the principled ranks and officers would pack up and leave tomorrow, if there were better options on the outside. We at this paper know, we know that the public knows because we hear the complaints and frustrations frequently articulated, we report on the developments, as they seep out.
As long as the GPF responds unquestioningly to the biddings of the corrupt in government, then it seemingly has carte blanche to carry on with its own hustles. This is regardless of the impact on the public, and regardless of the destruction of morale in the entity itself. Overnight, the president had his grand solution -2,000 promotions in one shot.
WIN accuses Anna Regina Town council, Charity NDC Charit
of obstructing rallies in Essequibo
Presidentialcandidateof theWeInvestInNationhood (WIN) party, Azruddin Mohamed said the Anna Regina Town Council and TheCharityNeighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) have been preventing him from taking his political rallies to the Essequibo Coast,RegionTwo.
He told Kaieteur News on Friday, "I am being blocked from holding a big rallyinRegionTwo".
The WIN party is debuting in the upcoming
general and regional elections on September 1. Party members have been c o m p l a i n i n g o f victimisationfromtheruling Peoples Progressive Party/Civic(PPP/C).
WIN's Presidential Candidate,
According to party, requests were made to the Anna Regina Town Council andtheCharityNDCtohost two public meetings on SundayAugust10,oneatthe Anna Regina Car park and theotherattheCharityNew Road Community Centre Ground. However, both the Charity NDC and the Anna Regina Town Council have turneddownthoserequests. KaieteurNewshasseena softcopyoftheletterssentto the Party's Region Two Candidate, Beverly Anna Cornelius, denying the requests which were made onAugust6. InalettersignedbyAnna Regina's town clerk, Radika
N Lall, the town council wrote, "I am writing to inform you that the Anna Regina Car Park will not be available on August 10th, 2025 due to another scheduled event on that date " The council then apologised for the inconvenience caused before adding, "and we a p p r e c i
u r understanding. Please let us know if you require any furtherinformation."
The Charity NDC in its lettersignedbychairperson, Chandrawattie Coomal, acknowledge
he importance of "fairness, inclusivity,andequalaccess to public facilities by all, regardless of political affiliation,butsaidtheNDC couldpermitthepartytouse the ground because the inclement weather in the areahasleftitwater-logged.
The NDC wrote, "After careful consideration, we regret to inform you that we a
PresidentAlicommissionsKaieteur Runway
ExtensionProject
The Kaieteur Runway Extension Project in Region Eight (Potaro–Siparuni), was commissioned on Friday by President Dr MohamedIrfaanAli.
The state-crafted project beganonAugust30th,2022, with Brigadier Gary Beaton (Proj Engr, GoG) and Dion
Amsterdam, Senior Engineer at the Ministry of PublicWorks,bothofwhom died before the successful completionoftheproject.
The work was executed through an industrious and collaborative effort by the Guyana Defence Force and the Ministry of Public Works. This now sees the Kaieteur Runway having a total length of 3000ft. The airstrip was extended by 1,000 feet and was completed by the Four Engineers Battalion of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), with support from
the Ministry of Public Works According to a statement from the Ministry of Public Works Facebook page“Some120troopsfrom theGDFworkedtirelesslyto adapt to the conditions from starttoend.Gratitudeisalso extended to the various stakeholders who were involved in the completion ofthenew3000ftrunway.” Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill reflected on the amount of work that was executed by the engineers and soldiers for the successful completion of the extended runway Special mention was made about the work of BrigadierGaryBeatonofthe GDF and Senior Engineer Dion Amsterdam of the ministry, both remembered as hardworking, solution drivenindividuals. Minister Edghill highlighted the impactthisextendedrunway
permission to use either of thegroundatthistime."
"This decision is based primarily on the prevailing and continuous inclement weather, which has left both grounds water-logged and unsuitable for hosting any publicgatheringorevent.
According to the NDC, the state of the facilities might not be safe for the participants.
The NDC then advised the party to explore other venues that might be safe and more suitable for civic engagement.
TheWINparty,however, believes that both the NDC and the town council are only making excuses to prevent it from hosting a rallyontheEssequiboCoast, alocationconsideredtobea PPP/Cstronghold.
The PPP/C recently held a massive rally at Anna Regina.
Letters sent to WIN's Candidate turning down the party's request to host rallies at the respective venues
APNU to expand Stabroek Market, build parking lot - GT mayor
will have for tourism to one of Guyana's main attractions. “Iamhappythat with 3000ft we can now bring in every other plane right now except the Beechcraft and I think we have to keep working towards that so that we can bring in bigger aircraft and we are going to continue that… Pilots who used to comehere,theycannowsee how safer it is, they can see howmuchmoretheycando in terms of bringing costs downbecausethepayloadis better, they can manage” he stated.
Moreover,thisisthefirst time significant work was done since the construction of the initial 2000ft runway in the 1940s. The 1000ft extension will be replicated atanumberofotherairstrips acrossthecountry,througha collaborative approach with theGuyanaDefenceForce.
MayorofGeorgetownandAPartnership forNationalUnity(APNU)candidate,Alfred Mentore, has unveiled plans to significantly expand the Stabroek Market Bazaar and transformtheadjacenttarmacintoamodern parking facility Speaking at a public meeting held at the Stabroek market square Georgetown, on Friday, Mentore said if elected, APNU intends to increase the bazaar's capacity to accommodate up to 3,000vendors,triplingthecurrentnumber Addressing supporters, Mentor stressed the importance of providing proper infrastructureforvendors,stating,“Whenwe arefinished,wewillhavetripletheamountof vendors once the market is extended.” He emphasised that the current setup does not adequatelysupportsmallbusinessesandthat a structured, expanded space would allow vendorstooperatemoresustainably.
In a follow-up interview with Kaieteur News, the mayor elaborated on the vision, noting that the expansion would be both vertical and horizontal, including a multilevel structure. The development will not onlyincludeamodernisedmarket,butalsoa parkinglotandcentralisingvendinginanew vendors'arcademall.Theprojectaimstofree upstreetsforotherbusinesses,withfunding balanced between oil market funds and potential loans The development will provide permanent spaces for vendors, benefiting the local community and economy “We have a number of plans as it relates to the Stabroek Market itself. It's a casewherewedidafeasibilitysponsoredby theBritishHighCommission,withhelpfrom our Ghanaian partners friends to be able to comeupwiththatstudy Wehaveabout1000 vendors here, but we will work with it to be able to triple it to about 3000,” Mentore explained.
Hefurtheradded,“We'llbeabletowork andhelpmanyofthevendorswhoareplying onourstreets,becausewewanttobeableto give them something that is permanent and
Mayor of Georgetown and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) candidate, Alfred Mentore
somethingthatmakessense,somethingthat's an asset, and that's something they can pass on to their families whenever they should haveawill.”
Mentore also mentioned that APNU planstoenhancethenearbyVendorsArcade Mall to accommodate even more vendors. “So,overtime,everybodywillnotbeallover thestreet.We'llbeabletocentralisevending atwherevendorsaresupposedtobe,andthe streetswillbecomefreerandmoreeasierfor theotherbusinesstoalsoexist,”hesaid.
While the full development will take time,themayorindicatedthatwithinthefirst 100 days of an APNU administration, they expect to sign a contract to begin construction. “Itwon'ttake100days,butat leastwithinthe100days,wearehopefulthat we'll be able to sign the contract with whoever it may be to be able to develop the market,becausethefeasibility,aswellasthe contractor and how we'll be able to fund it with a balance of oil market balance of oil moneyaswellasmaybesomeloansbetween howwetreatwithit,“Mentorestated.
He concluded by expressing optimism that these projects will not only improve livelihoodsforvendors,butalsoenhancethe overall look and function of one of Georgetown's largest commercial spaces. “Those are matters that will be ironed out betweentheleader,andothers,sothatwebe able to address this, like I said, to have this system in place and committed to have that betweenthe100days,”hesaid.
Azruddin Mohamed.
The ribbon cutting at the Runway Extension Project (Ministry of public works Facebook page)
Sometimes failure is the cleanser
Sometimes the thing most needed is the thing least wanted.Inpolitics,asinlife, there is no straight road to redemption.
In Guyana today, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) stand as examples that failure, humiliating and complete, may be the only route to a second life.These parties, so accustomed to thinking of themselves as guardians of a higher national cause, have long si
nce forfeited any serious claim to democratic
legitimacy If they are to be partofademocraticGuyana in the future, they must, I believe,firstdisappear
This is not a death wish; itisarecognitionofthelaws of political decay Parties grow tired, corrupt and especially archaic. They become consumed by their own mythologies. The PNCR has lived for decades on the memory of its long, unchallengedholdonpower
Ithastriedatintervalsto reinventitself—anewname
here,acoalitionthere—but thereinventionshavealways been skin-deep. In 2011, it dresseditselfastheAPNU,a broad alliance led by a man, David Granger, whose own reputation was meant to cleanse the party of the stench of its past misdeeds. For a time, it worked. The PNCR emerged in 2015 from the political wilderness, wearing a mask ofdemocraticrespectability.
But power revealed the fault lines. The general and regional elections of 2020 unmasked the old instincts.
DEM BOYS SEH
De cow find out de gate ain’t lock
Dem boys seh long time in Guyana, people was like cow in a pen. Pen mighta been small, grass mighta been dry, but everybody convince themselves it better thanwanderingoutandnotknowingwhat outthere.Everyelection,thegateopenalil bit, but the cow does just peep, sniff the breeze, and go back to chewing the same oldbrowngrass.
ChangeusetofrightenGuyanesemore than a sudden tax bill. People say, “Better de devil yuh know,” and stay right in the pen, even when the mud knee-high. The bigonesinchargelikeitso.
But lately, dem boys notice the cow watching that gate different. Sniffing the air longer Pawing the ground. Asking, “Wait,howcomethemothercowsoutside lookingfatter?”Someevenpushthegatea lil…andrealiseitneverhadnopadlockin
thefirstplace.Forthecountry,thisisgood. The cow stepping out mean new grass, freshpasture,maybeevenachancetoseeif thefencereallywaskeepingdangeroutor justkeepinglunchin.
It’s the kind of boldness that could meannewleaders,betterroads,andfewer excuses.
Butforthembigonesinthebigchairs? Bad news They been living sweet knowing the herd would never wander Now,ifonecowbolt,therestmightfollow And when the pen empty, who gon clap whentheymakespeeches?
Demboyssehthesmellofchangeisin theair
For Guyana, it’s like rain after a long dryseason.Butforthemwhobuildthepen, it’sthesmellofhoofprintsheadingforthe horizon.
he same party that many assumed so wrongly as breakingwithitspast,found itself pushing the most absurd of narratives. Those were the stories of migrants and the dead voting, of elections stolen by invisible hands.
But apart from turning againstdemocracy,theparty alsoturnedagainstitsleader. The daggers drove Granger from leadership. And the new guard became the loudest peddlers of the discredited narratives. In their hunger for political survival, they dragged the PNCR back into its own shadow TheAFC’sfatewas differentonlyindetail.Born as an insurgent force meant tobreaktheracialarithmetic of Guyanese politics, it carried the promise of a smallpartythatcouldpunch above its weight That promise dissolved in coalition when the AFC became the junior partner, and complicit witness of the APNU+AFC’s slide into electoral illegitimacy Its owncoresupportsplintered. What was left was neither independentnorcredible.
Now,bothpartiesexistin atwilightspace.Theirbases are factionalised in the PNCRandfragmentedinthe AFC. The electorate sees only what is obvious: that bothhavefailedtorepudiate their complicity in the attempted subversion of the 2020 elections. The faces remain the same, the voices the same, the silences the same. In such a state, it is hard to believe these two parties can be trusted to be
partofademocraticprocess. Sometimes failure is the cleanser The electorate, in its own brutal arithmetic, maybetheinstrumentofthat cleansing. If in the next electionsthePNCRandAFC are humiliated at the polls, reduced to diminished voices in the National Assembly, it will not necessarily be the end of them.Itwillbetheendofthe illusionstheyhavelivedby.
From that rubble,
something better could be built A new mass-based partycouldemerge,onethat is not weighed down by the habitsoftheold.Itcouldbea party able to speak to all Guyanese, not just to its traditional faithful. It could reject the easy comforts of t r a d i t i o n a l - b a s e d mobilisation, and instead build credibility on democraticpractice.Butthis newthingcannotbemadeby preserving the old. The old mustfall. It is for this reason that the PNCR’s refusal to sign the Ethnic Relations Commission’s code of conduct was not surprising. A party that has never believed in free and fair electionscannotbeexpected to swear allegiance to them now The comparison is crude but exact: it is like asking the devil to caress a crucifix, or asking Dracula totakeasunbath.
The moralists will say thatsurelyapartycanreform without dying. But political history teaches otherwise. Rot runs too deep The temptation to cling to old loyalties and narratives is
irresistible In Guyana’s political culture, where memoryislongandgrudges longer,theonlyrealbreakis acompletebreak.
ThePNCRandtheAFC, as they stand, are incapable ofcontributingtothemaking of a democratic Guyana. Their instincts are wrong, their leaders compromised, their language poisoned by the past Yet from their failure can come an opportunity Not for the resurrectionofwhatwas,but for the birth of what has neverbeen:trulydemocratic oppositionparties,untainted by the sins of rigged electionsandunburdenedby theghostsofoldleaders.
The electorate, patient but not infinitely so, holds the power to force this change.Adecisive rejection at the polls, the kind that leaves no room for selfdeception, could do what years of hoping have failed torealise.Newvoicescould rise, unafraid to speak the truthabout2020,unafraidto build something not from inherited privilege but from earned trust. In that way, failure would not be an ending. It would be the necessarybeginning.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
H@RD TRUTHS
Elections, the prospects - Part 2
To recap Part 1 of elections prospects, Dr Jagdeo was trundling along with his whistling-past-the graveyard lullaby of a “landslide” on September 1st when not one, but two tsunamis lashed him from silly to sickly Now I'm feeling sorry for the super campaigner, the uber politicalprevaricator Jagdeo is discovering that evergreen about time andtheriver Hehasrunout of time to carry on with his around-the-world bubbles, and water on which to paddle. Twotsunamisaren't the perfect storm, but they have enough oomph to shakeup the complacent PPP MohamedIIisthe1st; the people represent the second tidal wave of resentmentandrejection. Mohamed II may not be
many things, but of two attributes he has proven himself. Aboatrockeristhe first,apoliticalpresencethat knows how to rub the fur of the dog the wrong way, setoff a frenzy in PPPterritory Thesecondisthatheislikea magnet that defies political polls, political calculations, and political wisdoms. Me, eye stayin out ah dah waan. Now if I were Bharrat Jagdeo(acringingthought,a diabolically frightening one), I myself would be upsettobeingupstagedbya former crony and commercial fellow traveler, a comrade who was the insider among insiders Worse, the same fine fellow is now fetching away ole friends, ensnaring loyal comrades. Every vote gone means Jagdeo's blood pressure gone haywire
C'monfolks,howcanthisbe right? Feedamanastringof favours, arrange steel-cage protections for him, fuel his prosperity, and what happens? A political competitor is what. Talk about sorree fuh magah dawg,magahdawgtunrung biteyuh.
All that is nice and well. But not when a thunderclap transforms into a tsunami. From Jagdeo's perspective, this is past the stage of worry; it's an electoral catastrophe waiting round the bend for September 1. It's not moon river It's a riveroftears. Thisexplains why Badman Bharrat is scaling back and walking backwards. Thelatestishis prophesy about a two-thirds parliamentary majority. Well, like the good book says,therearegoodprophets
and there are false prophets. Guyanese voters have the decidingsay,andSeptember 1 is shaping up to be more than E-Day It could be DDay(doomsday)forthePPP He,themudwrestler,andthe otherbrawlersyellingoutto the faithful: don't split the vote. Heandhisownpeople bury Cheddi Jagan and now they bring him back. Poor Jagdeo, he trapped PNC crossovers, only to travel back in time to apaan jaat (don't split the vote). His appeals fall on deaf ears, which hurries me to the second tsunami that is causing Dr Jagdeo nightmares.
The people, oh, the Guyanese people. What should have been a onehorse race is now a two scorpions-in-a-bottle battle. The people have had enough. The people are tired,fedup,andangry The PPPhadnotimeforthelittle people, took them for granted, made them into tennis balls Overhead smash. Crosscourt volley
Topspinlobs. Everystrikeis thepricethatthepoorpaidin the last five years. Now, there's Jagdeo riding into townonhiswhitehorse,with don'tsplitthevote. ThePPP split the people to pieces. Splittheirhopes(realrelief). Split their dreams (pension help). Split their prosperity (oil money). And, as if spittingonthesamerejected anddejectedpeople,theytell them: don't split the vote.
Somebody in the PPP leadershipcircleisplayingat the village idiot. Or think that they are dealing with village upon village full of idiots.
Poor people hear about abundantoilmoney,theysee who get plenty And then they know something else: next to the meaningless of that money coming to them.
Thepoorareanafterthought, whereJagdeoandtheothers wipe the shame from their faces, and share out a cash grant insult Doing something for the bottom feeders and the starvers at thelastminutetokeepthem
busy and boozy It's like a beloved brother visiting Guyana, who had a great time wid he bigshat frens, then turnup at the doorstep on the way to the airport. Hey, dude, how ya doin', good to see ya. Holdon to disraze. Nowhowboutsum duck curry? Doan tek wurreez and doan fuget wee still faamlee. What a user! Whataninsulterandabuser! Doesn't that deh baad, baad spirit, character not remind of the PPP and some of its brightestmoonsoverthelast fiveyears.? Well,that'sdon't split the vote. Translation: don't hold grudges. Don't votefuhdeaddahmaan. Itis not the palm tree man. It's the tiger claw and leopard fistman. Who'sinandwho's out, on 9/1, Guyanese will findout.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
APNU urges ban on cell phones in polling booths to curb vote buying
The A Partnership
for National Unity (APNU) is calling on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to ban electors from taking cell phones into polling booths during the upcoming general and regional elections, arguing that it is necessary to preserve the secrecy of the ballot and prevent vote buying.
The appeal was made following a majority decision by GECOM to allow voters to enter the boothswiththeircellphones.
Opposition-appointed commissioner Vincent Alexander, said the decision w a s s u p p o r t e d b y government-appointed commissioners and chairperson, Justice (Ret'd) Claudette Singh, despite objections from opposition commissioners.
Alexander expressed concerns that allowing phones in the voting booth could facilitate vote-buying schemes. He said there have been reports of voters being paid to vote for specific parties, with cell phone photos of marked ballots used as proof to collect payment. “There is a rumor
APNU leader, Aubrey Norton
that people are being paid to vote for specific parties so what happens when they enterthepollingbooths,they take a picture to show to the party as proof of how they voted…There was also an instance a few years back of persons voting and taking a picture of the ballot and postingitassoonastheyleft thepollingstation.
These are the things we are trying to avoid,” Alexandersaid.
In a statement issued Friday, APNU echoed Alexander's concerns and called for a strict ban on phones in the voting compartment where ballots aremarked.“Theseelections are likely to see the biggest
effort in our history to buy votes. Such a scheme is severely undermined when an elector is unable to provide a photograph of his or her marked ballot to the vote buyer An election in which votes are bought will not reflect the will of the people,”APNUstated.
APNU also warned voters to be cautious,
Progressive Party (PPP) should be viewed with
M commissioners voted in favorofallowingcellphones inpollingbooths.
“The APNU coalition would advise voters in general that, to avoid suspicion, they should avoid any handling of their cell phonesinthepollingbooth,” thepartysaid.
T
reminded the public of legal penalties for violating electoral laws, including fines of up to $65,000 and imprisonment of up to two years for offenses such as displaying a marked ballot, bribing or attempting to influence voters, accepting bribesinexchangeforvotes, andimpersonatingavoter
Ar e c e n t l y surfaced video shows former VICENewsjournalistIsobel YeungreceivingtheForeign Press Association's JournalistoftheYearAward for her 2022 expose, 'UndercoverinGuyana.' In2022,theVICENews documentary - Guyana for Sale - premiered with Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo as the main character “Everything in this country isunderthetable.Thewhole
country is like that.” This is one of the many statements m a d e d u r i n g t h e documentary
In the documentary, Jagdeo referred to Chinese businessman Zhi Rong Su, hisformerfriendandtenant, as “a good friend of ours” duringaninterviewwiththe VICENewsjournalist. Su had implicated Jagdeo in bribery and corruption. However, when the full documentary aired and Jagdeo learnt of the
allegations against him, he threatenedtosuetheChinese businessmanfor$50million for defaming his character but reportedly could not locate him to serve the lawsuit. In November 2023, Jagdeo revealed that he had foundSu.
Last year, Kaieteur reported that Jagdeo was awaitingadefaultjudgement after Su failed to appear in court.
Inheracceptancespeech during the event held in
2022, Yeung thanked her producer,BelleCushing,for being the brain behind the production. She added, “I actually just want to thank ourChinesecolleagues,who really are, you know, put moreatriskthananyoneelse to do this story Who went undercover multiple times, who really, you know, put a lot at risk, both in terms of exposing themselves and just, you know, a lot of personal risk involved, and whose names we can't even disclose, but who we really would not be able to tell the storyabout.So,thankyouto anonymous people who we can't say the names of but thankyou.”
I n V I C E N e w s
undercover investigation, the Chinese businessman was recorded saying that bribeswouldhavetobepaid to the Vice President for them to be guaranteed contracts in Guyana He could be heard on the recording too telling the team that Jagdeo only accepts “cash ” The documentary also showed that Su took the “fake
Chinese investors to Jagdeo'shometomeethim. Jagdeo's defence is that hehadrepeatedlydeniedthe allegations in the extended newsreportwhichwasaired ontheUStelevisionnetwork Showtime and posted on YouTube. The allegations had triggered calls by a number of civil society groups and the opposition for a full independent investigation of the serious corruption allegations, which have all been denied bythevicepresident.
“Vice News came into my house to catch me doing somethingillegalandtaking a bribe… and you couldn't do that in my most unguarded moment…They have done this around the world with leaders they got taking bribes they are nevergoingtofindanything of that nature with me,” Jagdeohadsaid. The documentary was viewed by thousands of GuyaneseinGuyanaandthe diaspora. Additionally, the extendedYouTubeeditionof thereporthasattractedmore thantwomillionviews.
Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo Businessman, Zhi Rong Su
WIN talks up democracy, transparency and unity during meeting with ABCEU diplomats
The We Invest in N a t i o n h o o d (WIN) Party on F r i d a y m e t s e n i o r representatives of the high commissions of the United Kingdom and Canadaas well as theUnitedStatesEmbassy and the European Union in Guyana.
The meeting, which was attended by H E Jane Caroline Miller, High Commissioner, British High Commission; Mr. Henry Rector, Political Affairs Officer, Embassy of the United States of America; H.E. Sébastian Sigouin, High Commissioner, Canadian High Commission; and H.E. Rene Van Nes, Head of Delegation of the European UnioninGuyana,washeldat WIN's campaign office at Greenfield, East Bank Demerara.
WIN was represented by presidential candidate Azruddin Mohamed and seniorpartyofficials.
According to a statement
issued by the party, the meeting underscored the shared commitment to ensuring free, fair, and peacefulelectionsinGuyana. Discussions also addressed sustainable development, inclusive economic growth, and perspectives on the evolvingpoliticallandscape.
“The WIN Party reaffirmed its dedication to democratic principles, transparency, and national unity, while emphasising the urgent need for governance that delivers lasting solutions forallGuyanese.
The party reiterated its visionforequitableeconomic opportunities, climate resilience, and the protection of fundamental rights for every citizen,” the statement said.
The party thanked the ABCEU representatives for the “constructive dialogue, a
continuedcollaborationinthe interest of a stronger, more prosperousGuyana.”
Businessman on $950,000 bail for obtaining money by false pretence
A 2 8 - y e a r - o l d businessman was on Friday released on $950,000 bail for obtaining money by false pretence.
The accused, Michael Sukhu of Annandale East Coast Demerara (ECD), appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court.
Sukhu pleaded not guilty to the charges which alleged thatonSeptember18,2023,at Rupert Craig Highway, he obtained $500,000 from Gordon Barker by falsely pretending he was in the position to supply 21 cubic yardsofconcretetoBarker
It is also alleged that Sukhu,onFebruary8,2024at (Continuedonpage15)
Accuse Michael Sukhu at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court.
WIN's leader Azruddin Mohamed and party representatives met ABCEU diplomats on Friday
Sod turned for construction of modern $708M Industry Polyclinic
The sod was turned on Friday for the construction of the new, modern $708 millionIndustryPolyclinic.
Theclinicwillbebuiltat the current location of the community's health centre located at Crown Dam, Industry, East Coast Demerara,andanotherpiece of land acquired by the government, and will be
constructed by Satar
M o h a m e d & S o n Construction and Hardware Supplies to the tune of $708,624,090.
The sod was turned by MinisterofHealth,Dr Frank
Anthony and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Georgetown Public
The project will be supervised by Innovative Engineering Consultancy Services and is expected to be completed by July 21, 2026. Rambarran provided a briefoverviewoftheproject andthenewservicesthatwill be offered He said the polyclinic is part of President Irfaan Ali's mandatetohaveworldclass healthcareforallcitizens.
“This new polyclinic represents more than just a building. It embodies our commitment to meeting the evolvinghealthcareneedsof this community Once completed, this facility will provide comprehensive medical services, improve efficiency and bring critical healthcare closer to the people we serve, it will be a
place where innovations meet compassion and a space that reflects our president's vision of the world class healthcare system focusing on accessibility and patient centered care,” Rambarran said.
HesharedthattheGPHC tookoverthemanagementof theIndustryHealthCentrein Mayof2011andatthattime, thefacilitysawlessthan100 patientspermonth.Presently he noted, the health centre sees an average of 2,164 patients, providing the necessary primary healthcareservices.
Establishing the modern polyclinic, he said, is a long overdue response to the challenges with the existing facility, and though they have done several additions
Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony and GPHC's CEO, Robbie Rambarran alongside health officials of during turning the sod for the new Industry Polyclinic.
One killed in boat accident
on Aruka River
At least one person is confirmed dead followingaboataccidentonFridayafternoon on the Aruka River, North West District, RegionOne.
Several others were reportedly injured. Details were sketchy up to press time, but KaieteurNewslearntthatthedeadpersonhas beenidentifiedasamale.
The circumstances surrounding the boat accident is unclear, but this publication is in receipt of a photo of a partially damaged
impression
over the years to that building, it did not provide thekindoflogicalflowthey wanted.
“ S e r v i n g i t s community with excellence but its operations were hindered by outdated infrastructure Despite several extensions over the years,thecentrestruggledto support proper patient flow and accessibility issues are present, forcing patients, especially elders, to climb steep and narrow stairs in a space not designated for proper healthcare delivery,” heexplained.
Understanding these challenges,thestafffacedin providing the highest level ofcare,theCEOsaidthenew
facilitywillprovidetheteam withtherighttools.
The new facility is set to be a modern, well-equipped space that enhance the patient's experience and improve service delivery
The two-storey, 10,400 sq ft per floor unit will be furnishedwithtwoelevators (foreasyaccessibilityforthe elderlyanddifferently-abled patients) and will have the Electronic Health Record system that is connected to theGPHC. With advanced medical equipment, some of the new services that will be offered at the polyclinic include Xray, ultrasound, ECG (commonly call the heart test),therewillbeanasthma
bay, physiotherapy, dietary and nutrition services, diabetic care including retinopathy and a dental suite.
“But also, importantly, what we are building in this facility…we will build what we call a Lung Centre, and thiswillofferinservicesuch as a polysonography lab. Thisisacomprehensivetest used to diagnose sleep disorder Sleep Disorder can affect the heart, lungs, memory and general wellbeing,” Rambarran announced.
It will also have a complete pulmonary functiontest,alsoknownasa lung function test, which he (Continuedonpage15)
Batavia gets $38M nursery school
woodenboatwithbloodstains. Investigationsareongoing. Meanwhile, reports surfaced of another accidentat"Barbina",Mabarumainvolvinga bike.Theriderwasreportedlypickedupinan unconscious state and rushed to the Mabaruma Hospital, where remains in a criticalcondition.
Kaieteur was told that preparations are being made to have him medevacked to the city
The $38 million Batavia Nursery School which was commissioned on Thursday in Region Seven.
communityofBataviain Region
isnowfurnishedwithitsown nursery school which was constructed at a costof
Commissioning the new building on Thursday, was Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, who was joined by residents andeducationofficials.
The ministry stated that for years, nursery-aged children in Batavia shared space within the community's primary school.Whentheprimaryschoolwasopened in 1998, it accommodated a nursery class to provide early childhood education. While this arrangement served the community for many years, it often meant limited space for bothagegroups.
The ministry noted that the new nursery schoolhasgivenBatavia'syoungestlearners a dedicated space designed specifically for theirneeds,whilefreeingupclassroomsand resourcesfortheprimary-levelstudents.
Minister Manickchand said the children of the hinterland are receiving all the
resources being provided to the children in Georgetown. She said the percentage of trained teachers has also increased from 43 percentinthehinterlandto86percent.
“So, it's qualitatively and quantitatively better and of course, the children in the hinterland not only get the cash grants, but they actually get more. For example, the teacher resources grant each child gets $5,500 in the hinterland, while on the coast, it's $4,500 so hinterland education is doing far better, and you're going to see the results shortly,”sheadded.
The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) had awardedthe$38,984,355contractlastyearto B&S Contracting Service to execute the project following the national bidding process. The project was realised after PresidentIrfaanAli,inMay2024,visitedthe village and announced plans to build a nursery school, noting it was part of his government's commitment to enhance educationinthecommunity
TheAmerindian
Seven,
$38million.
Artist’s
Sod turned forconstruction of modern $708MIndustry...
From page 14 saidwillopenopportunityfor detailed study of pulmonary fibrosis and other lung diseases,anditwillofferspirometry tests that measures how welltheouterlungworksand the bronco provocation test, that diagnosed patient with asthma who has a normal spirometrytest.Additionally, there will be allergy testing and diagnostic bronchoscopy being done here at the newfacility Rambarran pointed out that some of the services that will be offered at the polyclinic, are only being offered atGPHC.Withthoseservices at the polyclinic, the GPHC CEOsaidtheservicesoffered by GPHC will be further decentralised.
In two weeks’ time, the contractor will demolish the current health centre to start construction.
The existing operation at the clinic will be relocated to a three-storey building located a few buildings away from the intersection of the railway embankment and CrownDam(turningright).
Meanwhile,DrFrankAnthony said it was always the government’sdesiretoextend
Businessmanon $950,000 bailfor obtainingmoney...
From page 13
SouthRoad,Georgetown,obtained $4 million from BisnauthSinghbyfalselypretending he was in a position to sell a plot of land located at Tuschen North, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), knowing same was already sold to Vidyanand Deokinandam. Sukhu was represented by attorneyGeorgeThomaswho requested bail on his behalf. Thomastoldthecourtthathis client has pending matters beforeanothercourtforasimilar offence, however, he assured the court that Sukhu is notaflightrisksinceheisalways present for his court appearances. The attorney noted that his client was remandedforthosemattersand was later granted bail. He added that there is no allegation that his client will interfere with the witnesses. He said the charges were brought after his client was grantedbail.Theprosecution objected to bail due to the serious nature of the offence, adding that the defendant was previously charged for a similar offense and was granted bail, but failed to show up. The prosecution argued that the only way the police was able to make contact with accused was while he was remanded.
Magistrate McGusty granted Sukhu $200,000 bail for the offence committed on Barkerand$750,000fortheoffense committed on Singh.
Thematterwasadjourned toAugust27,2025.
the Industry Health Centre, and a few years ago, efforts weremadetolocatetheowner of the plot of land next to the health centre. “And we discovered that this plot of land was owned by the Ogle Mandir and so we started negotiations with them to acquire this plot of land, and it took a while talking to them and coming to an agreement, and we were happy to reach that agreement where, in the first instance, they had donated the piece of plot across there to us, that’s the Ministry of Health. But this piece, we bought it, and we paid to the Olge Mandir approximately$15milliontoacquire thispieceofland,”theministerexplained.
The minister noted the governmenttookthedecision to have a new, modern build-
ing constructed to address the challenges the current health centre is facing.
“So,wewereabletocome to that agreement with them and we’re very pleased that we’vebeenabletodothisand the reason being, as you’ve heard from Robbie, we are going to knock this building downandreplaceitwithquite a modern facility and all the services that would go with thatfacility Thisispartofthe modernizationofhealthfacilities that we have in and aroundGeorgetown,”hesaid.
Dr Anthony noted that the population in Industry and surrounding communities has grown and there is a greater need for more services.
“And we are adding everyday,weareaddingdifferent types of facilities, but we
want to ensure that we have the people who can deliver quality service and so with this facility, you will see us havemorepeoplewhowillbe able to run all those services that Robbie spoke about,” he explained.
He highlighted also the numeroushealthprojectsand initiatives the government is undertaking which include thebuildingofnewhospitals, introducingnewservicesand training healthcare professionals.
Doctor- in-Charge of the Industry Health Centre, Dr SaskiaSertimer,andcouncilor ofIndustryconstituency,Ms. ShielaVeersammynotedthat the residents of Industry and Cummingslodge will benefit fromimprovedhealthcareserviceswhenthenewpolyclinic is opened.
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72 Palestinians killed, 314 wounded in 24 hours as Israel builds on plans to occupy Gaza
(AL-JAZEERA) -
SourcestellAlJazeerathatat least 72 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza and 314 wounded within the last 24 hours.
That includes 21 people who were killed while looking for desperately neededaid.
Gaza hospitals recorded four new deaths from starvation in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of malnutritionrelated deaths since Israel’s war began to 201, including 98children.
Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 61,330 people and wounded 152,359. An estimated1,139peoplewere killed in Israel during the October7,2023,attacks,and more than 200 were taken captive.
The Israeli military continuestobombGazaCity to deadly effect, and many Palestiniansinthearea,who
have already been displaced many times, say they have nowhereelsetogo.
Meanwhile, Palestinians in Gaza City are facing the prospect of further displacementwithamixture of fear and defiance after Israel announced plans for a military takeover of the largest city in the enclave, where nearly a million peop
y sheltering.
Thecitywasthrowninto chaosonFridayafterIsrael’s security cabinet approved plansforthetakeover,which would involve the forcible removal of Palestinians already displaced multiple times into concentration zonesinthesouth.
“I swear to God that I have faced death like 100 times,soforme,it’sbetterto die here,” saidAhmed Hirz, who has been displaced alongwithhisfamilyatleast eighttimessinceIsrael’swar began.
Palestinians run towards parachutes airdropping aid over northern Gaza, August 7 [Ebrahim Hajjaj/Reuters]
“Iwillneverleavehere,” hetoldAlJazeera.“Wehave gone through suffering and starvation and torture and miserable conditions, and our final decision is to die here.”
That sentiment was
shared by others who spoke toAl Jazeera. Rajab Khader saidhewouldrefusetomove tosouthernGaza,to“stayin the streets with dogs and otheranimals”.
“We must stay in Gaza [City] with our families and
loved ones.The Israelis will find nothing except our bodies and our souls,” he said.
Maghzouza Saada, who was previously displaced from northeastern Beit Hanoon, expressed her
outrageoverbeingforcedto move again, when nowhere in the Strip could be consideredsafe.
“The south is not safe. Gaza City is not safe, the north is not safe. Where should we go?” she asked. “Do we throw ourselves in thesea?”
‘Stateofpanic’
Reporting from Gaza City, Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud said residents had been in a “state of panic” since the early hours of Friday over Israel’s plans to ethnically cleansethearea
He said that some had startedtopackupwhatever is left of their belongings “Not because they know where they are going, but because they don’t want to be caught at the [last] moment
They want to be ready for the time the Israeli military is forcing them out,”saidMahmoud
(ESPNcricinfo)England’sCricketRegulator has handed a prominent agent a five-year ban from “any cricket-related activity” that falls under the ECB’s jurisdiction MogheesAhmed,whofronts the International Cricketers Association, was ruled to have made a corrupt approach to the head coach of a county and will serve a minimum of 30 months of hissuspension.
The Cricket Regulator
ruledinMarchthatAhmed - who represents a number of prominent Pakistan players - had proposed an arrangement whereby a coach would receive a share of his commission in exchange for selecting certainplayersherepresents infranchiseleagues.
The coach reported the approach later that day,
satisfied that it had been made
Ahmed was found
guilty of four charges of breaching the ECB’s
and had his registration
suspended H
“declared ineligible” for five years from March 26, 2025, with the first 30 months served in full and
suspended on condition of nofurtheroffencesandthe completion of an anti-
programme “Moghees Ahmed sought to engage a professional county coach in a corrupt scheme which would have had serious consequences for the integrity of cricket in England and Wales and beyond,” Chris Haward, the director of the Cricket Regulator, said in a statement
“Thislengthybanrightly reflects the seriousness of the conspiracy Ahmed sought to embark upon
Saturday August 09, 2025
ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)
You'll find that things are slipping nicely into place for you today, Aries Your persuasivemannerandgentle nudges are just enough to get peoplewhereyouwantthem.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
When faced with ten entrees onthemenu,itmightbehard for you to choose just one. Feelfreetoordertwoormore, Ta u r u s D o n ' t l e t indecisiveness slow you down.Atthesametime.
GEMINI(May21–June20)
Your dreams won't come true unless you believe in and act onthem,Gemini.Nooneelse is going to do it for you. Unless you have a fairy godmother, you need to take mattersintoyourownhands.
CANCER(June21–July22)
If people hassle you or give you a hard time about your appearance today, pay them nomind,Cancer Youhavethe righttoliveyourlifeanyway youwantto.
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
Reachforthepotofgoldatthe end of the rainbow, Leo. It's closerthanyouthink.Indeed, your dreams are completely within your reach, and there are huge forces at work helping you achieve your goals.
VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)
Today is your day to dream and dream big, Virgo. Think aboutwhatitisthatyouwant most out of life. Aim your arrow to the stars and pull back your bow as far as possible. There's no limit to howfaryoucango.
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
Expand your mind to its furthest reaches today, Libra.
opportunity opening up for you in which you can make great strides in a creative realm.Followthemusic.
SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)
Your mind may seem rather cloudy today, Scorpio, but don't let this hinder you. In fact, you'll find that you can use this feeling of fantasy to your advantage. Try to bring moremagicintoyourlife.
SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)
Today is an excellent day for you,oneinwhichyou'llfinda great deal of strength in your emotions, Sagittarius Trust that your instincts are serving youwell.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
Things might get a bit confusing for you today, Capricorn. Don't feel like you needtomakesenseofitall.In fact, this task may be impossible. Just be yourself. Let your creative nature shine through.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)Mixyourrealitywithabit of fantasy today, Aquarius. Allowyourfeettocomeoffthe ground for a little while. Give yourselfarest.Takesometime to meditate and clear your mindofyourdailyworries.
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
Let yourself go into high creative mode and drift into a whole other world, Pisces. Escape your present reality and explore your fantasies through any sort of artistic endeavor Dreamasbigasyour mindallows.
Offering, seeking or taking illicit financial inducements for selection is never acceptable and strikes at the heart of the integrityofoursport
Wherecorruptconductis suspected, it will be investigated and those responsible will be held to account
“This case came to light due to the courage of the coach and others who reported their concerns within moments of the
Frompage23
investmentinbasketballand reaffirmed his commitment to continuing nationwide efforts to develop sports infrastructure, training, and programmes for athletes at alllevels.
This is not Jagdeo’s first time supporting basketball directly
Earlierthisyear,hewasa key sponsor of Guyana’s first-ever FIBA 3x3 Quest tournament hosted in Guyana, underscoring his personal interest in the sport’sgrowth.
Reflecting on his own sporting background, Jagdeo said that while track and field and cricket were the disciplines he competed in as a young man, he recognises basketball as a vital part of Guyana’s sportinglandscape.
He wished the players success in their upcoming matches and is expected to be in attendance at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall to witnesstheaction.
Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) President Michael Singh welcomed Jagdeo’s contribution, noting, “It’s always encouraging to see strong support for women’s basketball It sends a messagetotheplayersandto the country that the sport matters.”
TheGuyanesesquadwill be captained by Europebased professional Joy Adams.
While Adams has represented Guyana in the FIBA 3x3 format, this will beherfirstappearanceinthe traditional five-on-five gameforthenationalteam.
Having migrated to the UnitedStatesatayoungage, she built an impressive collegiate career but has never played basketball domesticallyinGuyana.
corrupt offer being made They have also greatly assisted the investigation and tribunal process and are commended for their conduct ”
A h m e d t o l d ESPNcricinfo that he “categorically denies all allegations” made against him and “rejects the decisions of the ECB tribunal” He added that he is “considering legal options tochallengethedecision”
GBF’s
Berbice Cricket Board stages successful
Coaching Programme
Th e B e r b i c e Cricket Board (BCB) is making use of all opportunities to improve its cricketing input intheCounty Beitinterms ofadministrationorskillsfor playersandadministrators.
One such activity was heldovertheweekendwhen
the BCB held an up-skilled coaching programme for which was also held as a refresher course for coaches underitspurview
The session was held at theBCBOfficeonAugust23,2025.
Head coach of the BCB, WinstonSmith,wasthetutor
fortheparticipantsinvolved in both classroom and practical sessions The classroom sessions were heldintheBCBoffice,while the practical sessions were heldonthetarmacadjoining the BCB Office The participantswentthroughall aspectsofcricket.According
Berbice Head Coach Winston Smith takes the participants through a theoretical session.
toSmith,heissatisfiedwith howthingswereconducted.
Some seven coaches successfully participated in the two-day activity The coaches are expected to return to their respective clubs and areas and impart whatever new skills they haveacquired.
Several other coaching Programmesareonthecards for the rest of the year One sponsored by the Guyana CricketBoard(GCB),while anotheristobesponsoredby Minister Vickram Bharrat, who is also a patron of the BCB. These will be held shortly (SamuelWhyte)
Garcia, Austin headlines Slingerz FC latest signings...
Frompage25 the GFF Elite League for FrutaConquerorsFC.
Making his senior national team debut against Trinidad and Tobago last year, Austin is regarded as one of Guyana’s most promisingtalents.
His calm presence, tirelessworkrate,andability to control the tempo will be vital as Slingerz look to dominatethemidfieldbattle enroutetosilverware.
Supporting Garcia and Austin are several key acquisitions adding depth andexperiencetothesquad.
Twenty-three-year-old forwardJean-HeimMcFee, a product of Athletic Club Port-of-Spain, brings speed, physicality, and a sharp goal-scoringinstinct.
His arrival bolsters Slingerz FC’s attacking options, promising a f o r mid ab le s tr ik e partnership alongside Garcia.
At the back, Brazilian centre-back Kayo De Souza arrives from Morvant Caledonia United to reinforcethedefence.
DeSouza’scommanding aerial presence and defensive intelligence were
standout attributes in the T&TPro League, providing Slingerz with much-needed solidity and international quality at the heart of their backline.
Slingerz have also invested in the future, securing 17-year-old technical forward Neeiaz Baksh from Pele FC, a standout talent from Chase Academy
Additionally, defender Michael Joseph, a National U17 international who impressed at this year’s C O N C A C A F U 1 7 Championship and World Cup Qualifiers in Costa Rica, joins from Bartica’s Rising Star FC. Joseph is a former standout at President’sCollegeandadds further youthful promise to thesquad.
Slingerz FC had its first blemish this season after drawing 1 – 1 with Western Tigers, when the Elite Leaguemadeitsreturntothe National Track and Field Centre,WestDemerara.
However, Slingerz FC went on an nine-game win streak,andremainstheonly unbeaten team in the GFF Elite Leage, so far this season.
Jagdeo pledges support for women’s basketball team
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has pledged his full support for the upcoming Georgetown Women’s Classic basketball tournament, which will see Guyana’s national women’s team take on Suriname on August10and11attheCliff AndersonSportsHall.
Jagdeo,whoalsoserves as General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), met with members of the team on Thursday at Freedom House
During the meeting, he expressed his commitment to encouraging greater female participation in sports, particularly basketball,andemphasised theimportanceofproviding opportunities for women athletes to showcase their talentonthenationalstage
Jagdeo met GBF representatives, and the Ramlall siblings, Ashna, Arshia, and Amisha, who will be making their debut
for Guyana against Suriname
The tournament marks theirfirsttimecompetingon
home soil in national colours. The Ramlalls share a long-standing family connectionwithJagdeo
The former President recalled growing up in Unity, Mahaica, alongside the players’ father, Sunil Ramlall, with whom he
played sports during their youth Jagdeo told the players he was proud to see them representing Guyana and commendedtheirdedication tothesport.
He highlighted the Government’songoing (Continuedonpage21)
( G H B ) announcedthattheUnder-21 Women’s National Hockey Team will departed on August 8 for the Junior Pan AmericanGames,settotake placeinAsunción,Paraguay fromAugust9to23.
This marks the first
prestigious Junior Pan American Games a major milestone for local
ud momentforthenation
In preparation for the
tournament, the team traveled to Trinidad in Julyforaseriesoftraining matches on a full-sized artificial turf surface the same type of field used in international competition
Thetripwascrucialfor the players, who typically train on grass or smaller multi-purpose surfaces due to the absence of a dedicated hockey turf in Guyana
The competition ahead will be formidable, with most participating countries benefiting from year-round
training on top-tier facilities andsupported by full-time professional staff. In contrast, hockey in Guyana remains entirely amateur, with all athletes, coaches,
contributing their time and effortonavoluntarybasis.
challenges, the team has
perseverance, earning their place on the international stage through hard work,
pride
President of the GHB
and Head Coach for the team, Philip Fernandes, stated: “To see these young women represent Guyana at this level is an incredible achievement They have
ome countless obstacles to reach thispoint.
Weknowtheroadahead won’t be easy, but we are confident they will do us proud.”
The GHB thanks the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, the Guyana OlympicAssociation,andall supporters who made this journeypossible.
Head Coach Philip Fernandes
Garcia, Austin headlines
Slingerz FC latest signings
Slingerz Football Club has sent a clear message of intent as they prepare to mount a serious challenge for the GFF Elite League crownthisseason.
The club, already undefeatedandsittingatthe topoftheleague’s standing, hasbolstereditssquadwitha dynamic blend of youthful
The 2016 Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League champions, eagertoreclaimtheirthrone, have made significant moves during the recent
t r a n s
w i n d o w, strengtheningallareasofthe pitchwithacarefullycrafted mix of regional stars and promisinglocalprospects.
Eighte
year-old GarciaarrivesfromSanJuan Jabloteh of theTrinidad and Tobago Pro League. The gifted forward has already earned senior national team recognition, receiving public acclaim from Soca Warriors head coach and Manchester United legend DwightYorke.
Knownforhisflair,pace, and composure in front of goal, Garcia is expected to inject pace and creativity into Caoch Jamaal Shabazz’ attackingfront.
Garcia is slated to make hisdebutthisSundayagainst
Ann’s Grove United at the National Training Centre, Providence.
Anchoring the midfield willbe19-year-oldSolomon Austin, a former National YouthTeamcaptain.
Austin jo
Morvant Caledonia United andpreviouslyfeaturedin (Continuedonpage22)
Trinidadian, Jean-Heim Mc Fee
National U17 team defender, Michael Joseph
Neeiaz Baksh
Sports Hockey Team Departs for Junior Pan American Games Guyana U21 Women’s
Flashback to the Girls qualifying for the Jr PanAm Games
Former NationalYouth team captain, Solomon Austin made his SFC debut against Western Tigers
Garcia,Austin headlines
The Ramlall siblings (L-R),Arshia,Ashna andAmisha, along with Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo ahead of the GBF’s Georgetown Women’s Classic basketball tournament.
