Kaieteur News

Another section of Critchlow Labour College destroyed by fire, second time in 4 months

2025EmancipationDayCelebrations

Slight reduction in crowd as Guyanese gather at the National Park and other locations for 2025 Emancipation Day celebrations.

4th oil vessel to start production next week, 4 months ahead of schedule – Exxon CEO

ExxonMobil Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Darren Woods

The One Guyana Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel is expected to start production next week offshore Guyana in the StabroekBlock,bringingthe total number of vessels producingoilheretofour This is according to ExxonMobil Corporation’s

President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Darren Woods. During the company’s second quarter earnings call on Friday, Woods said, “Our fourth development and the largest to date Yellowtail is next in line and anticipated to achieve first oil next week, deliveredfourmonthsahead ofscheduleandunderbudget by 2030 we expect to have totalproductioncapacity1.7

million equivalent barrels p

developments.” InApril,the government announced the arrivalofthefourthFPSOin Guyanesewaters.Thevessel joinedtheLizaDestiny,Liza Unity, and Pro

ity FPSOs, currently producing a combined total of about 650,000 barrels per day (bpd).Withadesigncapacity of250,000bpd,OneGuyana is expected to increase daily production to 900,000 bpd onceoperational.

One Guy

Yellowtail Development

The US$10 billion project received government’s blessings on April 1, 2023.

The FPSO was constructed by Dutch shipbuilder, SBM Offshore. In addition to an

The fourth FPSO, One Guyana

estimated minimum production capacity of 250,000 barrels of oil per day, the vessel has a storage capacity of approximately twomillionbarrels.

ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) is the operator of the Stabroek

Block which spans 6 6 million acres and is estimatedtohold11.6billion barrels of oil equivalent, accordingtogovernment.

ExxonMobil Guyana holds 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd.

(now Chevron) holds 30 per cent interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited holds25percentinterest.

In addition to the

Yellowtail project, Exxon has two other sanctioned projects under its belt: Uaru and Whiptail. It has also

submitted an Environmental ImpactAssessment(EIA)for its seventh project, Hammerhead, with production targeted for 2029. Additionally, the company has filed an application for an eighth development,Longtail.

KaieteurNews

PrintedandPublishedbyNationalMedia& PublishingCompanyLtd. 24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.

Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456

Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams

Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

GPF in serious trouble

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) is one of the

leadingexamplesofhowpublicinstitutionshave deterioratedoverthecourseofmanyyears. The GPFhasrarelybeenviewedinthecleanestlight,butthelast fiveyearshaveseenitdroptoitslowestlevelever Ifthereis one State agency on which Guyanese, regardless of their politics,canagreeisinthepoorestcondition,itistheGPF Sopoor,thattheprincipledranksandofficerswouldpackup 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 theyseepout. Nowsomemoreisknownabouthowmuch theGPFislacking,fromRet'dDeputyCommissioner,Paul Williams. Mr Williams now wears a new hat, that of a st memberoftheAPNUcontestingtheSeptember1 elections. From GPF leader to political campaigner is a huge swing, butourfocusismoreabouthisrepresentationsonthepolice, thanhisnewroleinpolitics.

WilliamswasinlinetobetheTopCop,butwassidelined earlier, then forced to play the waiting-to-be-retired role, because government didn't want a professional GPF We don't how wellWilliams would have done as the leader of theGPF,butitisdoubtfulthathecouldhavedoneaspoorly asthosewhojumpedoverhimhavebeen. Therecordofthe GPFspeaksathighvolumes,withthemostcrucialnational protection organization tumbling ever downward, a victim of political manipulations and its own failures and crimes. IntheGPFthatexists,fewarethefailuresandcrimesofits membersthatundergocompetentandgenuinescrutiny.

Extrajudicialkillingofcitizensfromalmostonesection of Guyana's demographic have been a recurrent theme. Theyarefirstcoveredup,thentakeunacceptablylongtobe probed and sent to the court, and often closed out leaving withasensethattruejusticehasbeendenied. Becauseeven whenthereistheappearanceofjusticedelivered,thereisthe unshakable sense that much is still missing. The massive MatthewsRidgedrugbustwas,probably,theworstexposé ofwhatiswrong,whatiscorruptwiththeGPF Ahaulof4.4 million tons of cocaine, and the most senior law enforcementagencyinGuyanaisembarrassinglyleftoutby U.Sauthorities. Lookedatinthebestlight,itwasstillaslap without precedent on the face of the GPF, from its top administratorstothegovernmentthatoverseesit. Further, Guyanese of every demographic sector, almost every political persuasion, and every social stratum have shared storiesofbeingstoppedandshakendown. InGuyana,this is the local version of stop and frisk, where any Guyanese could be snared in that dragnet. Victims of domestic violenceshrinkfromdealingwiththeGPF,andsoalsoroad users,andsomecitizenstraumatizedbycrime.

Things are so bad with the GPF that the former deputy commissioner didn't have to share how it works, or the resultsoftheunprofessionalism,incompetence,andlaissezfaireapproachtopolicing.

ThiskeyinstitutionoftheStateisinsuchashabbyway thateventhePPPCGovernmentthathascontroloverit,no longer tries to defend it. As long as the GPF responds unquestioningly to the biddings of the corrupt in government,thenitseeminglyhascarteblanchetocarryon withitsownhustles. Thisisregardlessoftheimpactonthe public, and regardless of the destruction of morale in the entity itself. The few good men and women in the GPF managenottopuke,whiletryingtokeeptheirhandsclean, asamatterofprofessionalsurvival. Thepromotionprocess has been skewered, misused as a reward for government stooges, and transformed into a weapon to deny the competentanddeserving. Overnight,thepresidenthadhis grand solution -2,000 promotions in one shot. What languished untouched for years, now receives presidential authorizationfourweeksbeforenationalelections.

This emphasizes the erratic, seat-of-the-pants, management of the GPF, with its members and the public punished.

Are these additional costs in the GtE ledger?

DearEditor,

We, "obstructionist" & other members of Civic Society, blithely&mostlysilentlywatchtheGastoEnergyand/orGas to Power contract costs continue to exponentialize. There is the current addition of "and the building of medium voltage circuitstothetuneofUS$422million".Thisisinadditionto allothercostsofapproximatelyUS$2B.

The publicly announced contracts in "the building out" phaseare;

- https://newsroom gy/2022/11/10/indian-firm-landsus22m-contract-to-supervise-construction-of-wales-powerplant/

- https://oilnow gy/featured/gas-to-energy-indiancompany-gets-us159m-epc-contract-for-transmission-linessubstations/.

It is currently unclear whether these contracts are also delayed, in dispute resolution and/or arbitration, and/or concluded? Were new contracts awarded to these two c o m p a n i e s t h i s y e a r ? https://demerarawaves com/2025/07/30/dominicanrepublic-based-company-to-supervise-major-gpl-works-no-

job-losses-officials/

Congrats to the Honorable Minister for this brilliant discovery&forlettingusknowalso, MrIndarsaidGuyanadoesnothavetheskillstosupervise suchamassiveprojectthatwouldseetheinstallationofmore than300kilometresof230kVand69kVtransmissionlines, construction of five new substations, the upgrade of another and the building of medium voltage circuits to the tune of US$422million.

"Youcan'tgettheseskillslocally Whenyouhavethiskind oflevelofinvestmentintermsofthequalityassurancewhen you're building out, you want to ensure that it is done properly,"hesaid.

"Contractsforthoseworkswereawardedearlierthisyear toPowerChinaandtheIndianfirm,Kalpataru."

Wasthisa2025discoveryorwasitmerelytuckedawayin the elusive and/or perhaps illusory feasibility studies for the GtEprojectorsomethingelseorinteralia?

Kindregards,

ElizabethDeane-Hughes &OthermembersofCivicSociety.

Time for an honest conversation on inclusion in West Indies cricket

DearEditor, It is important to recognize that the Stabroek News of Guyana has today joined the T&T Guardian in printingapowerfulletterthat highlights a growing concernmanyhavelongfelt but too few have voiced publicly:theurgentneedfor a transparent, honest, and fruitful discussion on the inclusion of players of East Indian descent in our regional cricket team a discussionlongoverdueand criticallyimportant.

Despite repeated efforts to seek clarity, Windies Cricket (CWI) continues to adamantly ignore written requests for explanation or dialogueonthissensitivebut essentialissue.

Silencecannotsubstitute foraccountability.

This conversation is not about division—it is about fairness, representation, and respect.

It is about ensuring that our team reflects the ethnic composition of our region, and that every young

cricketer, regardless of background, feels seen, supported,andcelebrated.

The East Indian community across the Caribbean has a rich cricketinglegacyandadeep loveforthegame.

Ye t , m a n y f e e l marginalized in selection processes that remain shroudedinsecrecy

Now is the time to break thatsilence.

We urge public forums, media outlets, civil society, and cricketing authorities to

y and transparently on this issue. Let's bring it to the forefront not just in newspaper letters, but in boardrooms, sports panels, andcommunitygatherings. Cricket is more than a game it's part of our identity And fairness in cricketisfairnessinsociety

L e t ' s s t a r t t h e conversation. Let's demand transparency Let's make room for every voice in our WestIndianstory KrisKooblall

Vote for persons and policies that promote the collective good of all

DearEditor,

Permit me to borrow words from Shakespeare's famous "Julius Caesar"

" F r i e n d s , R o m a n s (Guyanese), countrymen, lendmeyourears..."

Only the delusional will be unaware that there are no perfect politicians (nor any such human being for that matter),soletusliftoureyes

tobeyondthehillsasweseek Divineguidancefortheway forward.

Years ago, during Election season, a friend of mineagonisedassheprayed: "Lord, which one of these wicked/ imperfect men do you want me to vote for?"

Thank God, He always welcomes the repentant person!Thisgivesmehope!

As election day draws near, may our choice of leadership be guided by the desire for a nation that promotes absolute values, integrity, accountability, fair and equitable distribution of our nation's wealth, and familyvalues!

(In the midst of writing this letter, I paused to attend a funeral and was singularly

blessed and encouraged as the son of the deceased eulogized his mother and expressed how close friends and family shaped him into becoming the man he is today

We must not allow anythingoranyoneto"mess up" this sacred, Godordainedinstitutioncalled(Continuedonpage5)

Why are some public servants and employees of government agencies still not receiving their qualification allowance?

DearEditor, In December 2024, the Government of Guyana announced that public servants with higher educational qualifications would receive a monthly qualification allowance, including $22,000 for Master's degree holders

This was a welcome move that recognized the value of education and the sacrifices many of us made to better servethepublic.

However, it is now August 2025, and many public servants and employees of government agencies, including the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and some ministries, have yet to receivethisallowance.

D e s p i t e h a v i n g submitted the necessary documentation months ago, therehasbeennoupdate,no explanation,andnotimeline

provided This lack of transparency and followthrough undermines the government's promise and demotivates qualified professionals working hard every day in service of the nation.Itraisesanimportant question: Why is the policy not being applied equally across all government agencies?Ifthequalification allowance is a national policy, it should not be selectively or inconsistently implemented. We call on the relevant authorities especially the Ministry of Public Service and the management of the NIS—tourgentlyinvestigate andaddressthesedelays.We cannot encourage public servants to pursue higher education, only to ignore their rightful entitlements oncetheydo.

Sincerely, Concerned Public Servants

Good things come in threes for Region Five

DearEditor,

In a rare moment of unique concurrence

Thursday night, West Coast Berbicewasthedomainfora culturaloccasion,areligious event and a political forum. Region5waselectrifiedinto a sea of nostalgia to accommodate the perfect storm to transform Hopetown, Cotton Tree and D'Edward Village into a forum to forge unity from diversity, a platform for reflectionandastagetotaste theessenceofinclusivity

There is an old saying, “Good things come in threes ” This concept is rooted in a Latin principle, “Omne Trium Perfectum,” translated as “The Rule of Three.”Confuciushintedon theruleofthreein500BCin 'Analects,' when he wrote, “Ko Wan Ze,” – thought thricebeforeacting.

On the eve of observing th the 187 anniversary of Emancipation, Hopetown was infused with the radianceofjoyasthousands of ecstatic villagers turned up to join Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Philips (Ret'd) in the celebration, as he reminded Guyanese to a c k n o w l e d g e t h e contributions of daring and dominatingAfro-Guyanese, in the development of Guyanaandtogivethanksto the ancestors while singing theirpraises.

Prime Minister Phillips urgedallcaringGuyaneseto remember to work together stressing that, “Today, we need all our people…to work together in unity, in keeping with our motto 'One People, One Nation, One Destiny.” Dancing to thesoundofjubilation,both the young and the elders were persuaded to gravitate towards the Congo music, music for the soul and the swayinghips.

Closer to the Berbice river, D'EdwardVillage was a favored red sea of flamboyant fragrance and the scene of a frenzied political gathering which occupied the community, as anxious villagers eagerly awaited the arrival of their beloved leader A large overzealouscrowdofPPP/C supporters, consisting of womenandmen,ignitedthe night to join Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips (Ret'd)alongwithhisfamily. He did not disappoint their exuberance as he extolled history, saying, “In 1950,thePPPwasbornout of unity And tonight, that dream of a united Guyana of Dr Cheddi Jagan is alive and thriving.” The atmosphere was transfixed with the applaudable faces of all races, energized to forge a unity to build a knitted Guyana under President

Ali'smantle.

Sandwiched between a cultural gala and a political gaiety, Cotton Tree simultaneously neutralized the West Coast Berbice atmosphere with the ambiance of a Hindu religious glorification. The Caribbean American Hindu Issues Inc (CAHII), in collaboration with the Cotton Tree Mandir, commenced a Four nights Ramayan Yajna, the theme being“DharmaandBhakti–DutyandDevotion.”

Former University of Guyana senior lecturer in Sociology, Dr.Tara Singh, a current proficient contributor in the news media and ardent social worker both in New York and Guyana, spearheaded the organizing and arrangement for the event. He is supported by many associates, including his brother Shri Arbind, former Group Accountant for Guybridge, along with Arbind's wife, Baby, who hails from Leonora The group is accompanied by many New Yorkers, including philanthropist MarcusBisram.

Thursday night's pravacana was delivered by popular NY priest and charitable worker, Pandit Tillack Seerattan Maharaj whohailsfromNumber57

(Continueonpage6)

Vote for persons and policies that...

Frompage4 family.)Ihavefriendswhom I love dearly, who do not sharemyfaith.

Nevertheless, we have mutual love and respect for each other, undergirded by thefearofGod!

Ÿ The fear of God exaltsaNation.

Ÿ The fear of God brings peace and stability

Ÿ The fear of God promotes creation structures-including the uniqueness and blessedness of 'man'

versus'woman'.

Ÿ The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; he will not be visited withevil.(Pro.19.23. NKJV).

Itwouldbefoolhardyto try to alter God's standards andcreationstructures!

We have seen and read of persons who mutilated their bodies in an effort to "better" God's handiwork, and live to regret such decisions!

Let us put aside our

The sugar industry

DearEditor,

Many persons have written volumes on various issues affecting the sugar industry, both negative and positive-closeornottoclose. It is informative to note that thosewhofeltthatclosureis the only option are from the APNU/AFC side of the divideandthosewhosawthe light at the end of the tunnel are from the PPP side. This enigma is easy to unravel since the sugar industry is seenassupportiveofthePPP andhashadtobearthebrunt of the assault by the APNU/AFC.

The APNU's shifting stance on sugar is well documented and verifiable. Prior to 2015, when the APNU/AFC was on the campaign trail, they made lofty promises to the sugar workers-no sugar estate will be closed and workers will receive 20% wages increase andthesugarindustrywillbe viableagain.Therewerelots of feasibility studies to be done as usual. Some believed the sugar-coated lies which tasted so sweet that reality is tossed overboard. The bitter truth cameoutwhentheyscraped intoofficein2015.

and the 'right sizing' followed by the harsh realities which utterly destroyed the illusions of grandeur which the Coalition had deceitfully sold to the sugar workers. Four grinding sugar estates cametoascreechinghaltby 2017andthousandsofsugar workers were harshly thrust into p

y almost overnight. Billions in assets on the closed estates were destroyed, many beyond salvage although the Coalition promised to keep t

condition for privatization.

This p

se never materialized as dismissed sugar workers began to wander helter-skelter in search of a living The sufferings on these sugar workers are too many and horrendoustodetail.

become a net contributor to nationalrevenuesratherthan a drain on the nation's resources'. But what is not clear was his statement that 'Guysucocanevolvebeyond agricultureandcanbecomea leader builder of homes and communities in Guyana in investment in training and equipment and that the APNU will provide alternative employment as weRIGHTSIZEGuysuco'.

Once again, the conclusion is pellucid, the APNU 'will provide alternative employment', whichmeansthattheclosure of the estates will be more structured this time around and unlike the last time, 'alternative employment' will be provided-using the estate lands and train w o r k e r s i n t o t h e constructionofhouses.

foolishpridethatattemptsto dismiss tried and tested unchangeable structures, in the name of 'contemporary wisdom'; Let us not court God's wrath, but rather humbleourselvesbeforeHis Holythrone,andthereby(as individuals and as a Nation) be recipients of His love, mercy,graceandfavour!

Onward,upwardmaywe ever go...as we vote, not for race or selfish gain, but for persons and policies that promotethefearofGod,and thecollectivegoodofall.

ClaudiaHeywood

Whentheytookofficein 2015,theybecamebusywith feasibility studies, conferences and COIs, after ensuring that they gave themselvesa50%plusboost in salary to keep their shifty handsoutofcorruption.This always makes me wonder that if a minister who was already given a hefty taxfreesalaryandanassortment ofperkscanbetemptedtobe corrupted then what about the lowly paid public servantsandothers?

First, the Coalition spent $52 million on a COI which among other things recommendedthatnoestates to be closed and plans to make the industry viable. ThencametheWhitePapers

Fortunately, as poetics justicewilldictate,thesame sugar workers became the reasonforthedownfallofthe Coalition Government. The voice of the people is the voice of God. Now in 2025 with the General Elections justdaysawaytheAPNUhas beenbusysellingdreamsbut in its confused state of mind and its bid to oversell its promises to the sugar workers it made a terrible blunder Initially, one of its members wanted to replace sugar with hemp and cannabis production ('Sugar done,hempandcannabisin') and that was when Mr Nortonhadtostepinwithhis plansforthesugarindustry

Norton stated that Guysuco under an APNU government will produce ethanol, livestock feed and co-generation.Hecontinued that more workers will be e m p l o y e d , b e t t e r compensated and more job opportunities and better working conditions He further stated that sugar can

This can be further clarifiedwhenNortonstated that 'we will diversify its portfolio by using its assets such as its land and work force for new business ventures including aquaculture (tilapia?), food crops, manufacturing and housing development' Therefore, the APNU plans onceagaintoclosethesugar industry Norton promises that this time around jobs willbesavedwhenthesugar industry is closed.This time whenAPNUclosesthesugar industrynojobswillbelost, like the last time.Therefore, the APNU's plan is not to revitalize the sugar industry and make it viable but to close it down permanently Let the sugar workers beware of the sugar-coated lies and deceptive statements. Remember the trust of the innocent is the liar'smostusefultool.Never trustaliar:onealiaralwaysa liar

Yourssincerely, HaseefYusuf

Consultations held with civil society across the Caribbean, to inform CARICOM Migration Policy Framework

The International Organization for Migration(IOM), in collaboration with the CARICOM Secretariat and the Caribbean Policy

Development Centre (CPDC), convened eight national-level consultations with more than 127 civil society organizations (CSOs)acrosstheCaribbean inJuly2025.

“These consultations are critical to shaping the forthcoming CARICOM

M i g r a t i o n P o l i c y Framework, which aims to establish a coordinated and humanrights-basedregional approach to migration governance in the region. The CSO consultations, and events held by the

International Labour Organization (ILO) to consult with labour unions and employers, are part of technical support being provided to CARICOM in coordination with the UN Network on Migration (UNNM),”astatementfrom theIOMsaidFriday IOMheldthreein-person consultations in Barbados, Jamaica, and Saint Lucia, while five were conducted virtually with stakeholders

in Belize, Guyana, Suriname,TheBahamasand Trinidad and Tobago. These dialogues brought civil society leaders together to share insights and priorities related to migration trends, migrant protection, service

delivery, and policy development within their

local, rural, and niche communitycontexts.

Gabrielle Gay, founder of the Erline Bradshaw Foundation in Barbados, explained the role of CSOs “we're going into the schools,we'regoingintothe communities, actually understanding what's happeningandcapturingthat qualitativedatathatmaynot be readily available, particularlyintheCaribbean where we suffer from a lack of statistical and empirical data. So, you know, CSOs can work together with CARICOM, with United Nations and all the partner bodies to ensure that a full 360° perspective is captured.”

Nancy Pinchas from the CouncilforVoluntarySocial Service in Jamaica further noted that “Whenever any piece of legislation that involves individuals and people and their social and economic conditions is being formulated or amended,civilsocietyisthe intermediary between governmentandindividuals. Civil society organizations are representative across all sectors,alldemographics,all marginalized individuals as well as individuals with other physical disabilities. So what it does, is it represents all these various and diverse groups in their interests, their peculiarities, and just ensures that whatever legislation and or policies that are being developed, these interests

are enshrined in these documents.”

Migration and human mobility interact with society at all levels, from centralgovernmentstolocal c o m m u n i t i e s a n d neighborhoods "Civil society organizations are deeply embedded in Caribbean communities and are often the most informed about the realities migrants face,"saidErainaYaw,IOM Deputy Coordinator for the Caribbean and Head of Office,Guyana.

"Their proximity and t

e communities allow them to respond quickly, advocate effectively, and ensure migrantsareseen,heard,and supported."

The consultations reflect a

y approach, highlighting the concerns and experience of civil society actors who work directly with migrants and other communities Through these sessions, IOM and partners aim to strengthen localization and collaboration, and identify practical actions, informed byexperienceontheground, that will strengthen the

Policy Framework and its PlanofAction.

This initiative is made possible through generous funding from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

development process is also

Participants at the IOM consultations

supported by the European Union Building Migration Partnershipsprogrammeand coordinated in partnership with the United Nations NetworkonMigration. Asynthesis of outcomes fromtheseconsultationswill besharedwiththewidercivil society community and

directlyfeedintothedrafting and finalization of the

PolicyFramework,expected laterthisyear

Diplomats returning home ahead of -Jagdeo elections not here to campaign

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo said Thursday, that diplomats who are returning home ahead of the 2025 elections were not recalledandarenothometo campaign.

He explained that diplomats are politically appointed.

According to him, under previous administrations like the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR), some diplomats would return home during the electionperiod.

Vice

President Bharrat Jagdeo

“These diplomats aren't necessarily foreign service staff, but rather individuals appointedbypoliticalparties to hold ambassadorial roles or other diplomatic positions.

It's common for them to come back around election time, although they aren't always campaigning, and some may appear on platforms to show support,” heexplained.

He explained that the diplomats usually return on their own accord and plan

Good things come in

Frompage5

Berbice, founder of Shiv Shakti Mandir In exploring the doctrines of Hindu philosophy, he expounded on the teachings of the Ramayana and lectured on the ideals of leadership as accentuatedbyLordRama. He explained that the kingdoms of Bali and his brother, Ravan and his 2 brothers,andLordRamaand his 3 brothers provided the background to analyze the 3 gunas (qualities), attributed to influencing the mind, bodyandsoulintheabodeof Rajasic,TamasicandSattvic nature Pandit Seerattan ventured to absorb: the trading of sides from bad to good;listeningtopeopleand their problems; and, making

the subjects of the nation happy, as his concluding remark in aligning Guyana's context with the Ramayan's content. In conclusion, he could not resist intertwining politics with religion to conveythemessageofpeace andtranquilitywithactionas required with compassion. The other Pandits to present their sermon will be Pt. Dinesh Narine Harilall, Pandit Ravi and Pandit RoopnauthSharma. Martin Seligman, an American Psychologist, is a leading authority in Positive Psychologywhichformsthe foundation of three pillars

traitsandpositive

t h

independently

“They aren't specifically ordered to return for campaigning purposes, as thedecisiontoparticipatein local political activities is voluntary As the general secretaryoftheparty,Ididn't direct anyone to return for campaign-related reasons, although election time is often seen as an exciting period for those involved,” hefurtherclarified.

He continued, “It's important to note that the campaign atmosphere we foster is different—it's not about making the campaign bitter or divisive, but rather about engaging in a positive and energetic manner,” he added.

threes...

institutions. In this nation's toxic environment, the three core beliefs in the self, people and world, it is not difficult to recognize who provides, protects and preachespeace,progressand prosperity when positioning oneself to permeate positive principles, policies and practices.

Good things do come in threes as perceived in the: Trinity of Christianity – the Father, Son and Holy ghost; Islam – the Five Pillars of Islam, Believe in One God (Allah) and Character and Good Deeds; and Hinduism – Brahma (Creator), Vishnu (Sustainer) & Shiva (Annihilator).

YoursRespectfully, JaiLall.

EU launches election observation mission ahead of polls

The European Union (EU) on Friday officially launched its Election ObservationMission(EOM) ahead of September 1, general and regional elections.

Themissionwillmonitor the electoral process and ensure transparency and credibilitythroughout.Some 50 observers will be deployed across the country on election day, the union noted,addingthatitwillalso monitorcampaignactivities, including political rallies and social media platforms usedbycontestingparties.

The mission is led by chief observer Robert Biedroń, a member of the European Parliament from Poland.

Theunioninastatement, said the launch began with thearrivalofeightcoreteam expertsonJuly23,2025.

Theseexpertsspecialise in various fields including electoral,legal,political,and media analysis "By deploying this second fullscale EU election observation mission to Guyana, we reaffirm the EU'sstrongpartnershipwith the country and our support foratransparentandcredible electoral process," Biedroń stated.

H e e x p r e s s e d appreciation to the government of Guyana for inviting the EU to observe the elections. "Elections are morethanballots—theyare

the foundation of

democracy This is why we are here, with a strong team of observers, to assess the p r o c e s s w i t h professionalism and impartiality,”headded.

The EU EOM will monitor all phases of the electoralprocess,suchasthe performance of the election administration,thelegaland institutional framework, the conduct of the campaign, media coverage (including digital and social media), and the role of civil society

The mission will assess whether the elections comply with Guyana's domestic laws and with international and regional standards for democratic elections.

OnAugust6,themission will deploy 14 long-term observers across all ten regionsofthecountry These observers will monitor electoral preparations, the political climate, and campaigning activities, and will report their findings back to the core team in Georgetown “Their observations will contribute tothemissions'impartialand inform assessment of the electoralprocess,”hesaid.

On September 1, an additional 20 short-term observers will be deployed to monitor voting and the tabulationprocess.

“As international election observers, we care only about the integrity of

Chief Observer

Robert Biedroń

the process, not about any particularpartyorcandidate. Our mission is fully independent and impartial. All observers follow a strict code of conduct in line with the declaration of principles for international election observation We aim to contribute to transparency, public confidence, and peaceful participation during this important electoral process,” Biedron explained.

Two days after the election, the mission will release a preliminary statement.Acomprehensive final report, including recommendations for future electoral reforms, will be compiled and published two months after the conclusion oftheprocess.

“The EU Election

independence from the EU delegation in Guyana, EU memberstates,andotherEU institutions,” the union assured.

Some members of the EU EOM Core Team (From left) - Marek Mračka (Press Officer); Inta Lase (Social Media Analyst); Kai Schaefer (Electoral Analyst); Beatrix Boonekamp (Political and Campaign Finance Analyst); Vania Anguelova (Deputy Chief Observer); Robert Biedroń (Chief Observer); Colm Fahy (Legal Analyst); Veronica Laputska (Media Analyst)

GPF targets rising road deaths with new motorcycle safety campaign

TheGuyanaPoliceForce (GPF) launched a comprehensive series of road safety campaigns, aimed at reducing road accidents and fatalities, particularly among motorcyclists.

The initiatives were officially unveiled during the National Road Safety Stakeholders Forum last Tuesday

Twocorecomponentsof the campaign include a helmetsafetyinitiativeanda broader motorcycle safety campaign During her presentationontheproposed national road safety plan,

R a m o n a D o o rg e n , coordinator of the Guyana National Road Safety

Council (GNRSC), highlighted the alarming

v u l n e r a b i l i t y o f

motorcyclists on the country's roads She

e m p h a s i s e d t h a t

motorcyclists contributed the highest number of fatalities in 2025

“Motorcyclists in Guyana are disproportionately affectedbyroadfatalities.In 2025, motorcyclists accounted for a significant number of road deaths, with a staggering 30 fatalities by June 19, a 50 per cent increase from the previous year Alarmingly,23ofthese deceasedmotorcyclistswere not wearing helmets, and pillion rider deaths also saw a massive increase, with nonewearinghelmets.

This underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive road safety campaign targeting motorcyclists,”shesaid.

The campaign, titled “Ride Smart, Stay Alive: Your Life, Your Ride!”, targets all motorcyclists, ridersandpillionpassengers , with a strong focus on

young, inexperienced riders and those who transport children. Its main objective is to reduce motorcyclerelateddeathsandinjuriesby promoting helmet use, respons

iding behaviour, and a culture of safety

Doorgen emphasised thatthegoalofthecampaign is to significantly reduce motorcycle-related fatalities and serious injuries in Guyana This will be achievedbypromotingsafer

, encouraging consistent helmet use, and fostering a

Yo

motorcycle gives you freedom, but your choices determine your future. Ride smart,stayalive,”shesaid.

As part of the campaign rollout,theGPFwillconduct various activities, beginning

with hazard perception training This includes interactive workshops focusing on common crash scenariosinGuyana,suchas blind spots, sudden stops, andpoorlymaintainedroads. Visualaids,casestudies,and potentially virtual reality simulations will be used for more immersive learning. Demonstrations involving car drivers will highlight how easily motorcycles can bemissedinblindspots.

According to Doorgen, the training sessions aim to reach 2,000 young motorcyclists Additional efforts include lessons on defensive riding techniques, ashortvideoseriesfeaturing expert tips, and simplified guides to traffic laws, with open forums held by the trafficpolicetoaddressrider concerns.

Police officer engaging with a motorcyclist

The campaign also addresses the consequences of impaired riding through p u b l i c s e r v i c e announcements (PSAs), p a r t n e r s h i p s w i t h rehabilitation centres to share real-life stories, and the introduction of a "safe ride home" initiative promoting designated sober driversoralternatetransport for motorcyclists under the influence.

Emphasis was also placed on helmet and protective gear awareness.

T h i s i n c l u d e s demonstrations on the lifesavingimpactofhelmetsand protective gear using simulations or crash-test dummies, as well as messageslike“Dressforthe Crash, Not the Ride.” The GPF will organise free helmet fitting clinics, promote GNBS-certified helmets, and collaborate with retailers to improve accessibility. Other related efforts include spreading messages about child p a s s e n g e r s a f e t y, encouraging reflective gear for night-time riding, and distributing free reflective stickersandtape.

From an enforcement perspective, the GPF will increase patrols focused on helmet usage, speeding, and illegalpassengers,whilealso adopting an “Education First” approach, issuing warnings alongside information in the early stages of enforcement Strategiccheckpointswillbe used to monitor helmet compliance and verify licenses.

The GPF also aims to advocate for infrastructure improvements, empowering motorcyclists to report potholes and hazards, and partnering with the Ministry of Public Works and the World Bank's Integrated Transport Corridors Project to support road designs that prioritize motorcyclist safety

Thesecampaignswillbe promoted through a wide array of media and outreach platforms including TV and radio PSAs, jingles, newspaperads,shortvideos, live Q&A sessions, social media challenges like the “Ride Safe Challenge,” interactive quizzes, community outreaches, and support from medical professionals.

To combat distracted riding,thecampaignwillrun initiativessuchas“Focuson the Road, NotYour Phone”, featuring testimonials and educational content highlighting the dangers of distracted driving. The GPF will also raise awareness around motorcycle m a i n t e n a n c e a n d inspections, offering “PreRide Check” guides and collaborating with local mechanics for free or discounted safety inspections.

Diplomats in PPPC jerseys

It ’ s a l w a y s encouraging when your country’s

d i p l o m a t s m a k e international headlines

Unless, of course, those headlines read something like “Guyanese Diplomats

Moonlight as Party Cheerleaders While Still on Payroll.” You’d think with all the decorum expected of i n t e r n a t i o n a l representatives, the bare minimum would be not showing up to partisan political events dressed like campaignmascots.Butalas, welcome to Guyana, where diplomacy is less of a profession and more of a familylime.

Apparently, two of our f i n e d i p l o m a t i c representatives recently returned home not for urgenttalkswiththeForeign Ministry or to report on r e g i o n a l t r a d e developments—but to don theirpartyparaphernaliaand partake in a political rally There they were, smiling into the camera in matching party reds, perhaps unaware

that somewhere, an internationalprotocolofficer was choking on their Earl Greytea.

Let’s be clear: diplomats are not supposed to behave likethis.Anywhere.Ever

In the same way you wouldn’t expect a referee to wearthejerseyofoneofthe teams or a judge to show up incourtinaT-shirtthatsays “Team Plaintiff,” diplomats are expected to maintain the a p p e a r a n c e a n d substance of neutrality

Thisisn’trocketscience.It’s notevencommonsense.It’s diplomacy one of the oldest professions in the world (second only to the one with better evening wear).

Diplomats,bydefinition, represent the state, not a politicalparty Theirjobisto serve all citizens of their country red shirts, blue shirts, green shirts and the untouchable class of people who wear beige to avoid confrontation.Toparticipate in a partisan rally and to be wearing partisan coloured clothing doesn’t just break protocol—itbreakstrust.

And then comes the pièce de résistance: Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo’s declaration, “I did not order them to come back to campaign.”

The sheer absurdity of t h e s t a t e m e n t i s breathtaking. First of all, he’s not supposed to be issuing instructions to diplomats. That’s the job of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs You remember them—thepeoplewhosejob titles don’t include the phrase “party whip.” And yet, here we are, parsing Jagdeo’scommentstryingto determineifhedidordidnot callhisdiplomatshomefora little boots-on-the-ground campaigning.

Let’s assume that he didn’t order them. Then the question becomes: Why are diplomats, who are still supposedly accredited to represent Guyana abroad, back home campaigning? Who approved their leave?

Who’s paying them? (Don’t answer that we already know it’s us, the taxpayers. Andithurts.)

This whole fiasco reeks of a nation being run worse than a cake shop. If after 28 years in government since 1992, Jagdeo does not understand diplomatic protocols, then Guyana is being administered worse thanacakeshop. Notawellmanaged cake shop either, butthekindwherethebaker eats half the pastries, the cashier is someone’s cousin who can’t count, and the

conveniently never in town.

contradiction After all, when you’re the baker, the cashier, and the cake taster, why not also direct foreign policy?

And yet, what should have followed

his embarrassing breach of diplomatic conduct is equally predictable and depressingly absent: a swift recall. That is the standard response in any functioning diplomaticsystem.Someone slaps on the wrong badge or hugs the wrong politician, and boom their return ticket is stamped before the ink on the photo captions dries. But here in Guyana, weholdoffondisciplinethe way we hold off on fixing problems We do so indefinitely and with a faint hopeit’llgoawayonitsown.

The troubling part of all this isn’t just the breach of etiquette. It’s the precedent.

DEM BOYS SEH

Five years since dem

TodaymarksfiveyearssinceD-Dayin Guyana. Is when the nightmare of the attempted heist of democracy in Guyana was finally brought to an end. Is one ting fuh lose a election and walk out wid yuh dignity,butisanothertingfuhtryfuhhold awholecountryhostagelikeitdehinyuh grandmother’swill.

Dem boys remember it like yesterday One minute de vote count deh going smooth, next minute a man walk in wid a bedsheetandaSharpieandseh,“Thisisde real result!” Like he was doing primary schoolMathsondebackofabiscuitbox.

Dem had one lady waving papers like she summoning spirits. She tell people, “I declarevictory!”Butsheain’tevendeclare shelunchyet.

Thendemotherone—decoolone—he seh,“Let’sallowtheprocesstowork.”De onlyprocesshewasinterestedinwashow tostretchfivemonthsofconfusionintoan Olympic sport. And yuh know is who

If this behavior goes unpunished, what’s next? Ambassadors doing TikTok dances in party shirts? High commissionersgivingstump speeches? Consuls in costume parades chanting slogans?

Diplomatic neutrality is not a quaint ideal. It’s the very foundation of a foreign service that is supposed to command credibility Once thatimageistainted,it’snot justpartisan—it’spathetic.

So, here’s a modest proposal:ifyouwanttobea

diplomat, hang up the party colours and learn how to speak in carefully worded euphemisms. If you want to wearyourredshirtandshout slogans, fine but then kindly hand in your diplomatic passport and don’t expect a taxpayerfundedperdiem.

And to Mr Jagdeo, a gentlereminder:Youmaybe the General Secretary of the party, the Vice President of the Republic, and possibly the star of your own private sitcom.Butyoudon’trunthe

diplomatic service. Or at least,you’renotsupposedto. But maybe that’s just me beingdiplomatic.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)

suffer most? Not dem fancy suit-wearing hustlerswhobeenplanningfuhholdonto power Is poor people who sit down in limbo, can’t get lil job, can’t get lil help, and had to watch grown men and women behavinglikespoiledschoolchildren.

And all de while, dem calling de press conference every day, saying de same stupidness.“Wewon!Thespreadsheetseh so!” Now five years pass, and dem same characters still trying fuh rewrite history But de people remember Dem remember who try fuh play Houdini wid democracy Dem remember de gridlock, de games, de disgrace.

Demboysseh,yuhcan’trunacountry like a cake shop.When yuh burn de cake, admititandtryagain.Don’ttryfuhtiefde bakery

Happy 5th anniversary to de day Guyana seh, “Not today, Charlatans. Not today.” Talkhalf.Leffhalf

America intruding, American rigging

Where is the president? Is G u y a n a ' s presidentstillaround? Isthe president still the president? If the president is still around, then he cannot verballyabscond. Yes,heis busy on the campaign trail spreading his message of love laced with rich promises There is recognition of the priority given to such political activities. Nonetheless, the head-of-state is still at the helm, has to say where he stands, for that is in his hands. About the ambassador on WIN's Mohamed. About the appropriateness of her Excellency's intrusion into the roiling waters of Guyana'spolitics. Aboutthe PPP's reception to Excellency Nicole D Theriot'scunningblastfrom thepast. That'snotaboutan undiplomaticcallforregime

change,buthowtorearrange Guyana's governance prospects. Consider if the Russians or Chinese had done the equivalent…. The White House and State Department (even the Pentagon) would have been upinarms.

I think that Guyana's president has to have the kind of personal pride that compels him to break his silence on the ambassador's intrusion, what I interpret to be a sneaky assist for the PPP's chances The ambassador is not the president. The man from Leonorastillis,eventhough he is the smallest, frailest ever in the role. Something else is now shared with fellowGuyanese,nonemore thanthepresident.

What does the US ambassador's intrusion in Guyana's elections, does for Guyana's shaky democracy, other than dumping it right

back again into the days of Burnham (and US interfering again)? Where are the guardians of democracy now re the US Ambassador's electoral extravagance? Similarly, the president's outcries would have pierced the ears of CARICOM, the UN, the EU, and the OAS, among others, if the PPP was diplomatically targeted Whereisthepresidenttoday, where was he last week when the ambassador jumped headfirst into the treacherous waters about governanceconcerns?

Respected attorney of more than national accolades, Ms. Melinda Janki, termed Excellency's Theriot's adventure into the dense forests of domestic elections as a “clumsy attempt.”

It's beyond clumsy It is a handcuff that shackles a candidate for an unfair

ExxonMobil earns US$7.1B in second quarter

American oil giant ExxonMobil Corporation, on Friday reported secondquarter earnings of US$7.1 billion, surpassing market expectations. The company said the performance was partially driven by production growth in Guyana and the Permian Basin, which helped offset lower earnings caused by weakercrudeprices.

The company held its second-quarter earnings call on Friday Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Darren Woods said, “The second quarter, once again, proved the value of ourstrategyandcompetitive advantages, which continue to deliver for our shareholders no matter the market conditions or geopoliticaldevelopments.”

Woods highlighted that Exxon achieved its highest second-quarter upstream production since the merger of Exxon and Mobil more than25yearsago.Headded, “It was also our best quarter yet for high-value product sales volumes in product solutions these results demonstrate how our competitive advantages are delivering industry-leading value today and providing a long runway of profitable growthfarintothefuture.” Woods noted that since

advantage for others, in the looming elections. To use diplomatic parlance, I have my own concerns, grave concerns.

Excellency Theriot's overreach is more than just clumsy, it is lumbering; insulting It degrades Guyanese to challenged children, those whose hands have to be held, after the scales have been removed from their eyes. Not having what it takes to get out of theirdiapers.

Talkaboutslapdownand putdown! Whatatestimony about American arrogance, American paternalism! Maybematernalismiscloser to the circumstances, since it's Excellency Nicole Theriot And where is Guyana's president, Guyana'svicepresident,and Guyana's attorney general, allhonorablemen? Theyare allengagedinthehonorable art and conduct of elections inGuyana. Morehonorable men could not be found anywhere for the associated nobletasksathand.

ambassadoriallegup. The PPP will win or lose the st September1 electionsonits own. ThePPPwillplayfair, fight fair, and win fair No backdoor, backhanded, endorsement needed; no intervention from anybody, h e a v y - h a n d e d o r sophisticated. The PPP can fight its own battles. The PPP doesn't have to recruit foreign mercenaries Againstmybetterjudgment, I put these words and positions into the hands of Guyana's president. Even thoughIknowthathecannot acceptthem,becauseofhow the PPP has arranged the cards. Southeast Asians lined up; GECOM's fat list, and its venture into animal husbandry: making itself a jackassoverajaguar

I read the PPP is desperate,isrunningscared. Having written on those, I nod.

PresidentJagdeogallopsout of his tables, with the new PPP staple. The deflection that the US may want Mohamed Then later, Mohamed “could be taken away” by the US. Why is that necessary, meritorious, mentionable? Sounds like crude colluding and condoning.

Now, I am getting a greater appreciation about how much elections are a matteroflifeanddeathtothe PPP.

2019, Exxon has delivered US$13.5billioninstructural cost saving more than all other International Oil Companies (IOCs) combined.Headdedthatthe company's 2030 structural cost savings plan surpasses the cumulative cost-saving targetsofitsIOCpeers.

He also revealed that Exxon has initiated start-up operations for six of its ten key projects targeted for 2025, which includes the Yellowtail project in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana.Hesaidtoothatthe remaining four projects are ontrackforstartupthisyear “Collectively, these projects are expected to improve our earningspowerbymorethan US$3 billion in 2026 at constant prices and margins,”headded.

According to the

company's financial highlights, year-to-date earnings totaled US$14 8

d to

US$17.5 billion in the first halfof2024. Exxon disclosed that growth in advantaged

volumes from Guyana and thePermianBasin,structural cost savings, and favorable timing effects all helped to offset the impact of weaker crude prices, a decline in industry refining margins, higher depreciation costs, and lower base volumes resulting from strategic divestments.

Exxon's upstream business earned US$5 4 billioninthesecondquarter, adecreaseofUS$1.4billion from the first quarter The company noted that lower crude and natural gas realisations were partially balanced by volume growth fromadvantagedassets.This included record Permian productionof1.6millionoilequivalent barrels per day, alongside ongoing cost savings.

Second-quarter net production averaged 4 6 million oil-equivalent barrels per day, the highest for a second quarter, reflecting an increase of 79,000oil-equivalentbarrels per day over the previous quarter

The usually garrulous Guyanaheadman,onegiven to boisterous bravado, is ominously silent on what he should flat-out denounce The PPP doesn't need American help, an

The fact that the president has reacted to Ambassador Theriot's electoral overture, as if it happened in Libya or India, (not a word, not one whisper), is thunderous in itself Silence is safe Presidential silence also givesoffapowerfulwhiffof the sinister in this instance. As if to confirm, Vice

Regardless,whereverhe goes, whatever he does, in this election season, the president must say unambiguously where he stands with the US Ambassador's deplorable, insidious infringement in Guyana'selections. Neitherthepresidentnor the PPP should desire to benefit from such crass foreign intervention into Guyana's politics. It's now PPPrigging,Americanstyle.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)

DHB, Berbice and Wismar

Bridges now toll - free

The Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB), Berbice and McKenzie/Wismar bridges arealltoll-freeasofAugust 1,2025.

For over four decades, theDHBhasservedasavital gateway to Region Three, connecting thousands of Guyanese daily while supporting trade, tourism, andnationaldevelopment.

S p a n n i n g 1 8 5 kilometres (6,078 feet) across one of the widest points of the Demerara River, the floating bridge links communities on the WestBanktoPeter'sHallon theEastBankofDemerara.

Earlier this year, President Irfaan Ali announced that the three bridges would be toll-freein August He made the announcement while addressingpartyfaithfulata memorial to commemorate the birth anniversary of the late, former president, Dr Cheddi Jagan at Babu Jaan PortMourant,Berbice.

Last year August, the president had first

announced that the tolls will be removed from crossing the bridges when the new ones are completed Government is currently building a new Demerara River Bridge as well as one in Wismar Linden. A new bridge for Berbice is also in thepipeline.

Speaking at the memorial, PresidentAli said that the move by the government will bring ease in travel while eliminating financial burdens on thousandsofcommuters.

TheUS$260million2.8kilometre new Demerara RiverBridge,akeyprojectto alleviate traffic congestion caused by the current Demerara Harbour Bridge ( DHB) is slated to be completedsoon.

The new bridge is being constructed by China Railway Construction (International)Limited,with the Italian firm Politecnica overseeing the project. The bridge's main span, located betweenPiers34and35,will be300feetwideand164feet

high, allowing Handymaxtype vessels to pass through unobstructed The towers supporting the span will rise 220 feet above the carriageway, making the total height of the structure 384 feet above water level. Once completed, the bridge will connect Regions Three and Four, playing a crucial role in enhancing efficiency and economic activity in the area. With respect to a new Berbice River Bridge, President Ali had said then that government was in the process of discussing with theBerbiceBridgeCompany the possible acquisition of that bridge. He said if the acquisitionisnotfinalisedby the time the new Demerara River Bridge is operational, the Berbice River Bridge crossing will also become toll-freesimultaneously

That bridge was constructed between 2006 and 2008 at a cost of $8 billion, and received financialbackingthrough (Continuedonpage14)

Jagdeo asks for patience over increased blackouts

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo has asked citizens to exercise patience with the recent hike in blackouts, whichhesaidwascausedby the boom in construction of roadsandbridges.

Hesaidhewasinformed thatcontractorsoverthelast week, needed several eighthour periods of blackout to gettheirworkdone.

“In fact, two on the east coast to remove the utility poles so that the road on the railway embankment between the roundabout at Ogle and Sheriff Street, the four-lane road could be completed. They need to removeallofthosepolesoff thetrackoftheroadtogetthe four-lane. Monday, they did

one eight-hour blackout which affected many people on the east coast,” the VP said.

Jagdeo said he had advised that word be spread about the blackout periods due to the extensiveness, however, the power outage lasted for 12 hours, since t h e r e w e r e s o m e complications during the removaloftheutilitypoles.

“But this represents a major problem for us because we have enough power in the system. We haveenoughpowerwiththe power ship and the other plants.It'sjustthattheyhave to interrupt power to move these utility poles for the constructionactivitiesandit

creates problems for people,”theVPstressed.

He said further, “They then told me that by the national park, they're wideningtheroad,Ithinkit's Woolford Avenue, and they needed six hours blackout theretomovethepoles,andI saidtothem,can'tyouwork from midnight, which is supposed to be from last nightorsotothemorningso that you can then do that? Butoncetheseareremoved, they're moved onto permanent concrete poles and we don't have to touch them back hopefully for decades and the system wouldbemorereliable.”

Jagdeo acknowledged that the current situation is

causing hardship but he wants “to urge the people who been affected to bear with us a bit. It's not the, it's notlikewehaveachoice.”

He reasoned that roads areneeded,butpowerinthe

systemisalsoneededasitis frustratingforpersonsnotto haveelectricity

Earlier this year, KaieteurNewsreportedthat PowerChinaandIndianfirm Kalpataru signed US $422 million(GUY$90billion)in contractsfortheextensionof transmission lines for GuyanaPowerandLight.

Duringapressbriefingat the Office of the Prime Minister's boardroom, the head of GPL's executive management committee, KeshNandlall,saiditwasno secret that Guyana has the fastest-growing economy in the world. He said GPL's role is of paramount importanceinsupportingthe energyneedsofthecountry

“The Government of Ireland has invested in the gas-to-energyproject,which aimstodeliveranadditional 300 megawatts to the national grid in the first phase, followed by another 300 megawatts second phase The primary challengeforGPLwillbeto ensure that the delivery of thepowerisdeliveredtothe various regions across the country Addressing this challenge necessitates the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f infrastructure for the t r a n s m i s s i o n a n d distribution. We are here becausewehavestartedthat process, and I would like to letyouknowthatthisproject

(Continuedonpage14)

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

WIN calls for boycott of two city banks and their businesses

The We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, led by sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed on Friday called on citizens to boycott several city banks andotherbusinesses.

WIN'scallforboycotting of the businesses come days after the two city banks closed the accounts of several candidates on the party's list. The party said that the banks and other businessesarebeingusedby the ruling People's Progressive Party (PPP) government to destabilise and demoralize the twomonth-oldparty

In a statement to the media, WIN said, “One of

the most dangerous casualties in our country today is the sense of solidarity No matter how divided we may be by ideology, ethnicity or class, there are some things we mustalwaysholdsacredand must never compromise These include freedom of expression, the right to dissent, the right to associate, and the right to contestelections.

T h e s e a r e t h e foundations of any democracy And today, We InvestinNationhood(WIN) sounds the alarm that these rights are under siege in Guyana.”

According to the party, the PPP/C government has

become “a vindictive, venomous political entity”, noting that “It no longer debates; it destroys. It no longer governs; it bullies. Any individual, group, or political movement that darestoquestionitsexcesses is subjected to an onslaught of state-sponsored intimidation, threats, and

punitive measures. This is not governance This is tyranny.”

WINsaidthatthesecond signoftyranny,andthemore insidious one, is when a government is able to mobilize its “corporate cronies” to act as enforcers ofitspoliticalwill.

The party disclosed that t w o c o m m e r c i a l banks—DemeraraBankand the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI)—have taken the appalling step of cancelling the accounts of WINcandidates.

“This is not an accident.

It is a clear, calculated, and cowardly attack against a legitimate political

homeland. It is a politically orchestrated effort to destabilize and demoralize WIN and its supporters,” WINargued.

Stating that its measures represent an assault on the Constitution of Guyana, WIN noted that these banks have become nothing more than“corporatefootstoolsof thePPPCregime,dancingto thetuneofagovernmentthat fears accountability and trembles at the rise of a new political force rooted in justice, equity, and nationhood.”

Asaresult,WINcallson allGuyanesetoresistwhatit deems to be “creeping authoritarianism” and as a firststepboycott“Demerara Bank, Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), Demerara Distillers Limited

(DDL) and all their goods and services, The Beharry Group and all its subsidiaries, goods, and services, KFC (and) Pizza Hut.”

WIN said the identified corporate actors must understand that they are not above the citizenry and they cannot 'pick and choose' persons' political views and determine what is “safe” for businesses.

“They are either neutral or they are political operatives And if they choose to operate as agents ofrepression,theymustface the consequences of public outrage and resistance,” the partysaid.

The party made it clear thatitwillnotbedeterredby thethreats.

“We will not be bullied. We will not be silenced. To the PPPC regime and their corporate enablers we say that your reign of fear ends now,”WINadded.

Jagdeo asks for patience...

Frompage11 that we are going to sign today is the largest ever investment for GPL in infrastructure development in a one-time investment,” Nandlallsaid.

He disclosed that there are three lots for

the project in the eastern corridor of the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS). Lot One was awarded to Power China in the sum of USD $256.7 million, while contracts for the other two lots were wonbyKalpataruforUSD$156.5million.

DHB, Berbice and Wismar Bridges...

Frompage10

l o a n s a n d e q u i t y contributions from various entities, including the staterun National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and private investors. It must be noted that the bulk of the money invested in the Berbice Bridge came from NIS

Sharing ownership percentages in the Berbice Bridge Company Inc.

(BBCI): National Industrial

a n d C o m m e r c i a l

Investments Ltd (NICIL) holds 10 percent, NIS owns 20 2 percent, and other stakeholders include Handin-Hand Fire Insurance (10 percent), New GPC (20 percent), Queens Atlantic InvestmentInc.(20percent), and Secure International Finance Co. Limited (20 percent).

With regard to the Mackenzie/Wismar Bridge, in January 2024, the government and China

Railway Construction Corporation Limited signed a US$35M contract for its construction. The four-lane bridge is expected to be completed in two years. It will be pre-cast and will measure 220 meters. It will carry all road safety signs, lightingandhavea32-meter horizontal clearage and 11.5 meters vertical clearage. It will be constructed in the vicinity of West Watooka, Wismar.

Another section of Critchlow Labour College destroyed by fire second time in four months

Fire fighters battle fire early Friday morning at the Critchlow Labour College.

Fire of unknown origin destroyed another section of the Critchlow Labour College, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown during the wee hours of Friday, the second timeinfourmonths.

At around 00:53 hrs, the entire structure located behindtherubbleofthefirst building that fire destroyed onMarch22.

Firefighters were on the ground battling trying to containthefire.Theyarrived about 45 minutes before the mediaandrecalledthatwhen theyarrivedthebuildingwas alreadyengulfed.

On March 23, Kaieteur Newsreportedthatover200 persons, mainly students were affected after a fire

destroyed the institution's mainbuildings.

President Irfaan Ali had promised to assist with the rebuilding of the buildings. No works have started but most of the rubble was clearedout.

The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) in a statement labeled the fires assuspicious.

“Another suspicious fire has struck once again, this time erasing the entire physicalinfrastructureofthe Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and its education arm, Critchlow Labour College (CLC),” the GTUC stated while adding that it is still awaiting a reportonthefirstfire.

The GTUC said that the

firemightbeablatantattack on the independent labour movementofGuyana.

“The unleashing of fire against the GTUC and its education arm will not silence or stop the work of the independent trade union movement, and its educational arms,” the GTUC stated before adding that,“Itwillnotstopthewill of the people and will only commit the movement to be more resolute in fighting against all forces formed againstthem”.

The GTUC also remindedPresidentAliofhis promise to help rebuild and called on the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) to release the report on the first fire that occurredinMarch.

NYparoleofficer whomoonlightsas therapistfoundwith childpornonphone atJFK:prosecutors

(New York Post)ANew York State parole officer who moonlights as a therapist has been indicted afterhewasfoundwithchild

pornography on his cellphone during a stop at JFKairportearlierthisyear

ColinKowlessar,53,was arrested when Customs and Border Protection agents found videos and photos of child porn on his iPhone during a stop at the airport afterreturningfromatripto Guyana on Feb 27, according to a complaint fromthetime.

Kowlessar, who worked as a parole officer with the NewYork State Department

of Corrections and Community Supervision, is expected to be arraigned next week in Brooklyn federal court after a grand jury indicted him Wednesday in the same case on one count of possession of child pornography

Kowlessar, a husband andfatherlivinginFreeport, LongIsland,hasbeenfreeon $250,000 bond since his Februarycourtappearance

The conditions of his release included orders that he surrendered his service gun, agreed not to treat patients under the age of 18 as part of his side gig as a therapist, and stayed away from minors, with the exception of his 16-yearold son from another marriage. The materials — including three short videos found on his phone involved girls performing sex acts and were downloaded from the Telegram app, the complaintalleged One of the victims was under the age of 12, accordingtotheindictment. Intheapp,officersfound archived chats in groups called “Underworld VIP” and “freaksonline.com” — which both contained a known code for child porn an emoji of the number 18 crossed out in red, the courtdocumentsclaim

Kowlessar admitted to copsduringaninterviewthat “on at least two separate occasions he has purchased

Kowlessar was arrested earlier this year at JFK airport on a trip back to New York when border patrol officers stopped him and found the illicit materials on his phone.

'CP' [child porn] knowing that the persons depicted therein were minors,” the complaint alleges “The defendant also stated that he has since deleted the materials.

Kowlessar's criminal defense attorney Rich Langone told The Post by phone Thursday afternoon that “this was an accidental downloading.”

“Be careful when you're floatingaroundtheinternet,” Langone said. “You never knowwhatcanpopon…and you go on something and something pops up and if it pops up, you could be liableforit ”

“He's a good man, a family man,” the lawyer said. “He has no criminal history.”

Langone also said his client has never had a negative complaint from his workasatherapist. The defense attorney confirmedthathisclienthas been on inactive duty as a parole officer since his arrest.

Kowlessar's online therapist profile says he has 10-years of experience and helps clients with myriad issues,includingdepression, anxiety, relationship issues,parentingproblems, career challenges and substance abuse issues, according to Psychology Today

Columbus statue to be removed from PoS, square to be renamed

(Trinidad Newsday) -

The Port of Spain City Council has decided to remove the bronze statue of Christopher Columbus from the nation’s capital and renameColumbusSquare.

The council plans to build a new monument to honour the victims of the subsequent genocide that the navigator’s so-called “discovery”brought

Speaking during the Kambule Street procession on August 1 to celebrate the 187th anniversary of the emancipation of African slaves, Port of Spain Mayor Chinua Alleyne announced the move, among several other recent decisions, to not only celebrate local heroes but to ensure that future generations are educated andinspired

Alleynesaidthatin1880, the bronze statue was gifted tothethenBoroughCouncil by a wealthy cocoa planter and merchant from Martinique,HypoliteBorde. Hesaidthemerchantpaidfor the refurbishment of an old, neglectedcemetery,whichis now known as Columbus Square.

Itwasopenedin1881by GovernorSirWilliamYoung as a memorial and tribute to

the navigator However, he saidthismustgoforhealing tooccur

“More than 140 years later, restoration and repair requirethatasweensurethat theyet-to-be-bornrevereour ancestors like Kwame Ture, wealsoensurethattheylearn our colonial history in its most appropriate historical context.

For that reason, the Council of the City of Port of Spain has taken the decision to remove the statue of Christopher C o l u m b u s f r o m IndependenceSquareandto make it available to the National Museum and Art Galleryfordisplay” Hesaidacommitteewill besetuptodetermineanew name for the square in honour of all of the victims of the genocide of indigenous peoples, the trans-Atlantic slave trade and colonialism He said an art collective will also be created to come up with a new monument for the location

“Ladiesandgentlemen,a nameisapowerfulthing.”

Additionally, he said the council also decided to rename part of Oxford Street, Port of Spain, as KwameTureWaytohonour

t h e p a n - A f r i c a n revolutionary’s contribution to the fight ag

institutionalracism.

AlleynesaidtheNational Trust already recognised Ture’sbirthhomeonOxford Street as a heritage site, but the renaming was necessary t o c e l e b r a t e h i s contributions.Turewasborn Stokely Carmichael on June 29,1941.

“He was a monumental figure in the American civil rights and black power movementsandatitanofthe global pan-African movement.

A leader on the road to restoration and repair alongside other ancestors like Martin Luther King Jr, Angela Davis, Malcolm X and Kwame Nkrumah, the first prime minister and presidentofGhana.

Kwame Ture once famouslysaidthatthejobof the conscious is to make the unconsciousconscious.”

The portion of Oxford Street from Argyle Street to Charlotte Street will be renamedKwameTureWay

“It is our hope that those yet to be born will grow up inspired by the work of this global pan-African hero from behind the bridge in PortofSpain.”

The statue of Christopher Columbus in Columbus Square in east Port of Spain. - FILE PHOTO

Ghanian delegation meets with T&T PM

WELCOME: Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, Minister in Charge of Special Initiatives, Office of the President of the Republic of Ghana is greeted by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on July 31 at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s. - Photo courtesy OPM the

(TrinidadNewsday)-A

Ghanian delegation led by Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, Minister in ChargeofSpecialInitiatives, OfficeofthePresidentofthe Republic of Ghana, met on July 31 with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the OfficeofthePrimeMinister saidinapostonitsFBpage.

“Today, PersadBissessar,joinedbyMinister

of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Sean Sobers and Minister of Works and Infrastructure Jearlean John welcomed a distinguished Ghanaian government delegationledbyEmmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, Minister in Charge of Special Initiatives, Office of thePresidentoftheRepublic ofGhana,”thepostsaid.

Discussions focused on

strengthening co-operation a n d e x p l o r i n g opportunities to deliver tangible benefits to the peopleofbothnations.

Persad-Bissessar r e a f f i r m e d h e r government’s commitment to deepening ties and expanding TT’s presence across the African c o n t i n e n t T h o s e accompanying Agyekum to the meeting included Dr Samuel Appiah-Kubi, technical co-ordinator; Gyampobah MintahGyampoh, consultant; CharlesK Marfo,Charged’ Affaires of the Ghana High Commission; Eric E Duodu, Minister/Consul; and Emmanuella N A O

Secretary, Political & Economic

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Colombia ex-president Uribe sentenced to 12 years of house arrest, will appeal

(Reuters) - Former Colombian President, Alvaro Uribe was sentenced by a judge on Friday to 12 years

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LEGAL NOTICE

2024-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-854

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL

JURISDICTION FAMILY

DIVISION Petition No. FD854 BETWEEN: (MC KEZIE) NICOLA ARRIAN nee HALE

Petitioner/Applicant -and(MC KENZIE) DEVON CARLTON Respondent TO: DEVON CARLTON MCKENZIE

Formerly of Lot 387 Crane Housing Scheme West Coast Demerara, Guyana TAKE NOTICE that on the 24th day of April, 2024 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by NICOLA ARRIAN MC KENZIE nee HALE the Petitioner/Applicant in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE

NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 23rd day of June, 2025 the Petitioner/ Applicant was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the KAIETEUR NEWS, a daily newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around

LEGAL NOTICE

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirtyfive) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice.

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions on Thursday the 11th day of September, 2024 at 2:10 pm before the Honourable Madam Justice Fidela Corbin-Lincoln. via zoom. zoom: ID 882 1097 6231 and the Passcode: Court12

IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce. The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed.

Dated the 11th day of July, 2025

of house arrest for abuse of process and bribery of a public official, in a long-running case over connections to former right-wing paramilitaries.

Uribe was convicted of the two charges on Monday by Judge Sandra Liliana Heredia in a witness-tampering case that has run for about 13 years. He has always maintained his innocence.

Heredia read the sentence to the court in an afternoon hearing on Friday.

Uribe will be fined $578,000, Heredia’s ruling said, and barred from public office for more than eight years.

Uribe, whose legal team has said he will appeal the ruling, is to report to authorities in Rionegro, in Antioquia province, where he resides, and then “proceed immediately to his residence where he will comply with house arrest,” the ruling said.

Uribe and his lawyers appeared virtually at the afternoon hearing. There is an appeal hearing scheduled for August 4.

The conviction made Uribe the country’s first expresident to ever be found guilty at trial and came less than a year before Colombia’s 2026 presidential election, in which several of Uribe’s allies and proteges are competing for top office.

It could also have implications for Colombia’s relationship with the United States. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this week

that Uribe’s conviction was a “weaponization of Colombia’s judicial branch by radical judges” and analysts have said there could be cuts to U.S. aid in response.

Uribe, 73, and his supporters have always said the process is a persecution, while his detractors have celebrated it as deserved comeuppance for a man who has been accused for decades of close ties with violent rightwing paramilitaries but never convicted of any crime until now.

Uribe, who was president from 2002 to 2010 and oversaw a military offensive against leftist guerrillas, was charged over allegations he ordered a lawyer to bribe jailed paramilitaries to discredit claims he had ties to their organisations.

Those claims stemmed from leftist Senator Ivan Cepeda, who collected testimonies from former paramilitaries who said Uribe had supported their organizations in Antioquia, where he once served as governor.

Uribe alleged in 2012 that Cepeda orchestrated the testimonies in a plot to tie him to the paramilitaries, but the Supreme Court ruled six years later that Cepeda had not paid or pressured the exparamilitaries.

Instead, the court said it was Uribe and his allies who pressured the witnesses. Cepeda has been classed as a victim in the case and attended both Monday and Friday’s hearings in person.

Prime land @ Agricola Public road. 275 x 25, fence, sand filled, steel gate, etc. Call : 629-7426.

Colombia’s former president Alvaro Uribe speaks during a news conference in Bogota, Colombia, April 18, 2024. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights.a

U.S. reduces reciprocal tariff on Guyana

A section of the table with the modified reciprocal tariff announced on Thursday

The United States of America on T h u r s d a y reduced its tariff on Guyaneseexportsfrom38% to 15%. The reduction was announced via Executive Orders that modified the country’s reciprocal tariff rates.

Back in April, United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump imposed a 38% tariff on goods from Guyana as part of a sweeping new trade policy targeting some of the country’s largest tradingpartners.

He also implemented a 10% across-the-board tariff that all countries are required to pay However, days later, the U S administration announced a 90-day

pause on reciprocal tariffs

Vi c e P r e s i d e n t

Bharrat Jagdeo had previously assured Guyanese exporters that the government would w o r k t o c l a r i f y discrepancies in trade surplus data with the U.S., which he believes contributedtotheimposition ofthe38%tariff.

He had argued that the surpluswaslargelyduetooil exports from ExxonMobil GuyanatotheUnitedStates.

A t h i s p r e s s

c o n f e r e n c e o n

T h u r s d a y, J a g d e o disclosed that there was recently a meeting with the U S Trade Representative and team However, he said, “I have not received the report at that time on themeeting ” He noted that the U S now appears to have a

Bids open to construct shed at East Street Nursery

The Ministry of Education has received 23 bids

f r o m c o n t r a c t o r s interestedinconstructinga shed at the East Street

Nursery School in

clearer understanding of thesituation

“They know that it’s almost entirely from the export of oil into the U S So given that I think they’ve approached this matter differently,” Jagdeoexplained “…I anticipate that we should have a favorable outcome, ” the Vice President added, expressing hopethatthereciprocaltariff would remain at the 10% baserate.

Thereciprocaltariffalso includes exemptions Petroleum, aluminum ore, and gold are among the products excluded from the revisedtariffscheme.

T h e G u y a n a ManufacturingandServices Association (GMSA) on Friday welcomed the reduction.

In a statement the GMSA said, “The GMSA extends its sincere appreciation to the Government of Guyana for its active engagement and representation t h r o u g h o u t t h e negotiationprocess

The Association further acknowledges that discussions are ongoing andexpressesitsfullsupport forcontinueddiplomaticand trade efforts aimed at securing additional tariff reductions.”

Theassociationfurther noted that it remains committed to representing the interests of local manufacturers and service providers, and will continue collaborating with national and international partners to o p e n n e w t r a d e o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r Guyanesebusinesses.

Georgetown.

This is according to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board(NPTAB)

The project is estimated atsome$8,475,600.

Belowarethecompaniesandtheirbids:

MinistryofEducation

ConstructionofshedatEastStreetNursery

ElectricalrehabilitationtoBishopHighLWing.

MinistryofHomeAffairs

ProcurementofOxygenRefillingMachine.

Procurementofrescueandmechanicaltools.

MinistryofCulture,YouthandSport

Constructionofsouthernand easternfenceatfootballfield.

ConstructionofbufferzoneattheBasketballCourt.

Completionofsouthernfence.

Upgradingofelectrical system-KuruKuruTrainingCentre.

Upgradingofauditoriumtraining buildingatKuruKuruTrainingCentre.

UpgradingofsanitaryfacilitiesinOrange StandatGuyanaNationalStadium.

ResurfacingofroadsatKuruKuruTrainingCentre.

ReconstructroofoftheOldSquashCourt BuildingattheNationalRacquetCentre.

Israeliforceskill83PalestiniansacrossGazaFriday

(AL-JAZEERA) - At least 71 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza Friday, medical sourceshavetoldAlJazeera.

Thatnumberisamong83 Palestinians, including 53 aid seekers, who have been killed along with the 554 injured in Israeli attacks across Gaza in the past 24 hours, according to the enclave’shealthministry.

One body was also recoveredfromtherubbleof previous Israeli attacks, the ministry statement said on Telegram.

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed a total of 60,332 Palestinians and injured 147,643 since October 7, 2023,theministryadded.

The total number of aid seekerskilledsinceMay27, when Israel introduced a new aid distribution mechanism, has reached 1,383, with more than 9,218 injured,thestatementsaid.

executive director says the situationinGazahascrossed thethresholdoffamine,after hereturnedfromatriptothe Stripearlierthisweek.

“We now have two ind

threshold,”TedChaibantold a media conference on Friday.

“One in three people in Gazaaregoingdayswithout food. And the malnutrition indicator has exceeded the faminethreshold,withacute malnutrition now at over 16.5percent.”

Hesaidthatthan320,000 youngchildrenarecurrently at risk of acute malnutrition inGaza,andthatIsraelisstill not allowing aid in quickly enough or in sufficient quantities to alleviate the crisis.

The ministry said the latest deaths bring the total death toll from hunger during Israel’s war on Gaza to 162, including 92 children. For the first time, Israeli soldiers Friday used

The sources said 36 peoplewerekilledandmore than 270 were injured on Friday while seeking food aid Meanwhile, Gaza’s health ministry reports that two people in the strip have died from starvation in the last24hours.

silencedweaponstoshootat starvingPalestiniansseeking aid in Gaza. Anas al-Sharif, the Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent in northern Gaza,reportedthathespoke to multiple witnesses who confirmed the use of silencers in the Sudanese

area near Beit Lahiya, deployedbytheIsraeliarmy when targeting people aroundanaidsite.

He said this means the Israelisoldiersweretryingto inflict casualties without drawing too much attention tothemselves.

The development comes as US envoy Steve Witkoff and ambassador to Israel MikeHuckabeevisitedGaza forseveralhourstodaytosee howfooddistributionworks at a site run by the internationally criticised GHF UNICEF’s deputy

HesaidthatUNICEFhas 1,500 trucks of aid standing by in Israel, Egypt, Jordan and Turkiye, and that while 33 UNICEF trucks have entered Gaza in the last coupleofdays,“thisisstilla fraction”ofwhatisneeded.

“We need to flood the Strip [with aid] from all channels,allgates,”hesaid.

- businesses worldwide react to new Trump tariffs Shock and relief

(BBC) - Business leaders aroundtheglobehavewokenupto the reality of steeper duties on exports to the US market, following President Donald Trump’s new order on tariffs on Thursdaynight.

In an executive order, President Trump imposed new tariff rates on countries that failed toreachupdatedtradeagreements withtheUS.Earlierintheweek,he outlined a new framework for deals with nations that successfully negotiated revised terms. Trump’s move has now reshaped America’s trading relationships worldwide with new tariffsonmorethan90countries. Here’s what some of the business leaders have told the BBC about what this means for them. While the White House raisedtariffsonCanadafrom25% to 35%, its other major North Americantradingpartner,Mexico, gota90-dayreprieve,temporarily haltingnewduties.

Jaime Chamberlain, president of fruit and vegetable company Chamberlain Distributing in Nogales, Arizona, says his

Billions of dollars’worth of fruits and vegetables cross the US-Mexico border at the Nogales-Mariposa port of entry (Getty Images)

company imports millions of boxes of produce from Mexico eachyear

“Weareactuallyveryfortunate thattheMexicannegotiatorsalong with the US negotiators are keeping calm and keeping cool heads,” he told BBC Radio 4’s

Today programme “Both countries really don’t want to get this wrong. “And if it takes 90 moredaystogetitrightIthinkit’s veryworthwhile.”

But in the absence of a deal, there’sstillhugeuncertaintyabout what might happen once that 90dayextensionisup.“Ithinkinthe

mostextremecases,manyfarmers would just stop farming for the exportmarket,”Chamberlainsaid. “It would be very difficult for the importers of record like myself to continue to pay those duties for a longperiodoftime.

Thailand, which was initially staring at the possibility of a 36% levy, secured a deal to reduce the tariffs to 19%. Richard Han, CEO ofHanaMicroelectronics-oneof the country’s largest contract manufacturers-recalledhisshock atTrump’sinitialannouncementin April. “I remember waking up in themorning.Itwasquiteearly,and

seeing him standing there on the WhiteHouselawnwithhisboard.

I thought: ‘Did I see that right? 36%?Howcoulditbe?’”hesaid.

But he thinks his business, whichmakeshigh-techgoodssuch as printed circuit boards, integrated circuits, RFID tags for pricing,cansurviveunderthenew lower-tariffdeal.

“If all of us in this region end up with around 20% our buyers won’t seek alternative suppliers –it will just be a tax, like VAT [value-added tax], for US consumers,”Hansaid.

Thailand, which was initially staring at the possibility of a 36% levy, secured a deal to reduce the tariffs to 19%. Richard Han, CEO ofHanaMicroelectronics-oneof the country’s largest contract manufacturers-recalledhisshock atTrump’sinitialannouncementin April. “I remember waking up in themorning.Itwasquiteearly,and seeing him standing there on the WhiteHouselawnwithhisboard.

I thought: ‘Did I see that right? 36%?Howcoulditbe?’”hesaid. Europeanleadersstruckadeal, holding tariffs for most goods at

15% after Trump initially threatenedaratedoublethat. But that’s still a substantial hike from the former average rate of4.8%.

According to the Italian Institute of International Political Studies, the agricultural, pharmaceutical and automotive sectorsarelikelytobehithardest, with the country’s gross domestic product(GDP)projectedtodipby 0.2%. If the EU deal managed to blunt the worst effects of the tariffs, Brazil saw its fortunes reverse.

Trump initially announced a 10% rate, but on Wednesday he raisedthatfigureto50%,accusing President Luiz Inacio Lula da SilvaofunfairlyattackingUStech companies and calling the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro for attempting a coupa“witchhunt”.

However, the higher tariff comes with some exemptions, for instance for orange juice and commercialaircraft.

But other products are expected to face sharp price increases.

Palestinians rushed toward a limited number of aid trucks that Israel allowed into Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, August 1, 2025 [Mahmoud Issa/Reuters]

Ledecky throws down the gauntlet ahead of 800 freestyle showdown with McIntosh with

(Reuters) - Katie

Ledeckyshoweditwilltake a monumental effort to pry the800metresfreestyletitle from her grip after the American great came home more than five seconds quicker that Summer McIntosh in the world championships heats on Friday

Ledecky, a four-time

Olympic and six-times world champion in the event, posted a time of eight minutes and 14 62 seconds, with Australian Lani Pallister second quickest (8:17 06) and 18year-old Canadian McIntosh third fastest (8:19.88).

McIntosh is attempting to match Michael Phelps’s

record of five individual titles at a single world championship and while shealreadyhasthreeinthe bag, beating Ledecky in the 800 looks like her biggestchallenge

Ledecky, 28, broke her own 800 world record in May, swimming 8:04.12 to improve a mark she set nearly a decade ago at the

Rio Games, but McIntosh has been making waves in theevent.

She posted the thirdfastesttimeeverinJuneand ended Ledecky’s 13-year unbeaten streak in 2024 when she bested the American at a sectionals meetinginFlorida.

McIntosh said she had been conserving energy for thefinal.

Saturday August 02, 2025

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

Youshouldenjoytheintense energy of today, Aries. The mud is finally beginning to clearaway Exposethetruthin every issue and get ready for the gremlins that may be unearthed.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Todaymarksthebeginningof a new cycle for you, Taurus. Collect and consolidate your recent ideas and focus them outwardly The time is right foryoutoact.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Take a cold shower to jumpstart yourself today, Gemini. It'sfineifyoulazearoundabit in the morning, but by evening, you should be working at full capacity. You will be called into action whetheryouwanttobeornot.

CANCER(June21–July22)

Today may start out sluggish foryou,Cancer,butbytheend of the day the energy will move fast and furious. Your thoughts will be buzzing around your head like bees aroundahive.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Enjoythecalmmorning,Leo, because things are going to getcrazierandmoreenergetic as the day goes on. Emotions willrunhigh,andpeoplewill be more opinionated than usual.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

You will experience an intense amount of energy today,Virgo.Yourdreamstate willbemoreactivethanusual, and you will find that people aredrawntoyoulikemothsto light.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

It's time to get up and get moving, Libra You have tremendous ideas and vision forthefuture.Youhaveallthe informationyouneed.Nowall youhavetodoisact.Stepupto the plate and hit one over the fence.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21)

Theearlypartofthedaymight find you sluggish and indecisive, Scorpio, but later youshouldbepsychedupand ready to go. Today marks the beginning of a new period in which you should set your ideasinmotion.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

Today's energies will get progressively more intense as the day goes on In the morning, you may be in an easygoing, dreamy state, Sagittarius.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

For the past several weeks you've felt like you've been dragging your heels, Capricorn Decisions may have been hard to make and people may have seemed wishy-washy.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) The morning might find you sitting like a stick in the mud, Aquarius. People might begettingdownonyoufornot contributing, but tell them to bepatient.Youwillberaringto gobynightfall.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar 20)

Things are moving your way, Pisces.As the day progresses, you will find that the energy intensifies.Conflictsmayarise nearsundown,butdon'tworry aboutittoomuch.

“Mygoalwasjusttowin my heat, to pretty much securethatI’llgetalanefor tomorrow night’s final, and dothatwiththeleastamount of energy possible,” she added.

Serbian Andrej Barna was quickest in the men’s 50 freestyle heats (21 44), with Olympic champion Cameron McEvoy of Australia fourth(21 53) McEvoy’s compatriot Kyle Chalmers, a former Olympic and world champion in the 100, failed to make the semifinals while David Popovici pulled out ofthe event after sealing both the 100and200titlesthisweek.

Kaylee McKeown topped the women’s 200 backstroke heats with a swim of 2:08 01, while herAmerican rival Regan Smith was fifth fastest with2:08 65

Defending champion

Claire Curzan, who completedaworld50,100 and 200 backstroke treble in Doha last year, was thirdquickest

Swiss Noe Ponti was top seed into the men’s 100 butterfly semi-finals with a time of 50.68, leading a tight field of 16 swimmers who were all separated by just 0.9 seconds

There were some concerns over Gretchen Walsh’s fitness when she withdrew from the 100 freestyle prelims on Thursday, after sickness sweptthroughtheU.S.team camp in the lead-up to the meet,butshesquashedthose fears by topping the 50 butterflyheatswithatimeof 25.22.

Olympic champions Britain will be favourites for the men’s 4x200 freestyle relay gold in the evening session after finishingquickest(7:03 98) intheheats

Katie Ledecky of the U.S. at the end of heat 3. (REUTERS/Hollie Adams)

Action packed day of racing anticipated for Kennard Memorial Turf Club Emancipation Horse Race meet

BySamuelWhyte

With just a day to go the authorities of the Kennard

Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) is anticipating an action-packeddayofracing. The Emancipation horse race meet is set for this Sunday 3rd August at the club’s Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne Berbice racetrack.

With over $5M up for grabs in the six-race event, there are over 45 horses entered to take part in the daysevent Withalmostall the gates full, a riveting d a y o f r a c i n g i s anticipated A pulsating matchup is anticipated in the feature E2 and lower eventoverone-mile

Cecil Kennard Jr, at left, receives the Patsan Trading Establishment trophy from a representative of the establishment for the KMTC Emancipation horse race meet.

All the top runners in that division has been entered The list reads Beckham James, Morning Colours, Wild Texas Tom, El Tarzan, Creemore, Full Liberty, Principe Joaquim, Full Force and Stormy Victory will be looking to storm to victory as they battle for the $500,000 winners’moneyandtrophy

Chand Kennard, at right, receives Majeed Family trophy for the feature E class event of the KMTC emancipation horse race meet.

position take is also $300,000andtrophy

Outstanding performers will receive accolades compliments of the Trophy StallCompany. The days event will be held using the rules of the KMTC. The venue is in good condition and a number of sponsors are on boardforthedaysmeet

available Alltheotherraces haveimpressivelineups.

The races are the H and Lower match over seven furlongs for a winning take of$400,000andtrophy

The race for animals I3

andloweroverfivefurlongs for a top prize of $300,000 and trophy Excitement is anticipated in the Guyana Bred two years event over 5 furlongsforthefirstprizeof $300,000 and trophy

Animals in the Lclass open categoryalsohasatopprize of $300,000 and trophy availableover6furlongs.

Afullgateisexpectedto battleintheJclassandlower six furlongs event. The pole

During the week a number of trophies were handed over to Honorary President and Matriarch Mrs Chand Kennard and her son who will be coordinating the days event Any information on the event can be accessed by contacting Satish Bowanon610-0250,Isaac Dalloo- 689-0629, T Jagdeo- 618-7278, CamptonSancho682-8550 or Ropnauth Sewsankar678-6722

Pakistan’s Spinners Flatten West Indies in First T20I Clash in Florida

SportsMax-WestIndies’woes in T20 international cricket continued on Thursday night in Lauderhill,Florida,wheretheyfell toa14-rundefeattoPakistaninthe first T20I of the series. The loss, their sixth in a row, extends a worryingrunofformthathasseen them drop 18 of their last 20 matches in the format, including a 5-0sweepatthehandsofAustralia earlierthismonth.

Pakistan posted 178 for 6 thankstoacomposed57fromSaim Ayub and late-order hitting that yielded 58 runs from the final 31 deliveries. In reply, West Indies managed 164 for 7, their chase

unravelling in the middle overs courtesy of a game-changing triple-wicket over from left-arm spinnerMohammadNawaz. Despitethenarrowmargin,the matchwasfarmoreone-sidedthan the scoreline suggested While West Indies started brightly in pursuit of 179 with an opening standof72betweendebutantJewel Andrew (35) and Johnson Charles (35), Pakistan’s spinners took controlastheinningsprogressed.

Nawaz’s decisive intervention came in his final over, where he claimed all three of his wickets. First, he dismissed Andrew, who holed out to long-off. Then, two

balls later, Charles top-edged a mistimed heave to the keeper Finally, Gudakesh Motie was caught at deep midwicket, triggering a collapse that the hosts neverrecoveredfrom.

Nawazfinishedwith3for23in his four overs. Sufiyan Muqeem andAyubalsochippedinwithtight spells that strangled the scoring rate.Overacriticalstretchofeight overs after the powerplay, West Indieslostfourwicketsandscored just 37 runs, allowing the asking ratetoballoonbeyondreach.

Jason Holder offered late resistancewithabrutalunbeaten30 off 12 balls, featuring four sixes,

but his late fireworks only masked the underlying flaws in West Indies’chase.Thehostsblasted38 runs from the final two overs, but by then the game had long slipped away

Earlier, it was Ayub who gave Pakistan the platform, overcoming asluggishstarttohisinnings.

After crawling to 25 off 25 balls,heexplodedintoformwitha flurry of boundaries — smashing 32runsoffhisnext13deliveriesto reach his half-century He ultimately fell for 57, trapped in front by Holder, but not before lifting Pakistan’s run rate and momentum.

Shamar Joseph stood out with the ball for the West Indies, finishingwith3for30. HeremovedFarhanandFakhar Zamaninatightopeningspelland returned to pick up another scalp. But the hosts were unable to build pressure consistently, and Pakistan’sstrategicbackloadingof hitterspaiddividendswithcameos from Hasan Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, and even a six from MohammadHarisofftheonlyball hefaced.Scores:Pakistan178for6 (Ayub 57, Shamar 3-30) beatWest Indies 164 for 7 (Andrew 35, Charles 35, Nawaz 3-23) by 14 runs.

Mrs

Jewel Andrew and Johnson Charles put on a solid opening stand. (Associated Press)

Mohammad Nawaz’s triple-wicket over wrecked West Indies. (Associated Press)

RaekwonNoelsetstwoNationalRecords atWorldAquaticsChampionships

Though he did not reachthepodium, Raekwon Noel concluded his campaign at this year’s World Aquatics

Championships in

S

with two impressive new national recordsforGuyana. Noel, alongside fellow

swimmer Aleka Persaud, represented Guyana at the prestigious global event, which brought together the world’s top aquatic athletes.

Already the national record holder in the 100m and 200m butterfly, Noel further cemented his

Trophy Stall reaffirms commitment to Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast

The highly anticipated Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball tournament will conclude thrillingly this Sunday at the National StadiuminProvidence.

In a significant boost to the event, long-standing sports supporter Trophy

Stall reaffirmed its commitment Managing Director Ramesh Sunich recently handed over the trophies for the top teams andindividualperformersto theorganizers,FLSport.

Sunich expressed his delight in partnering with a tournamentthatcontinuesto grow, and he’s pledged to remain a key partner in its future success. Yusuf Ali, speaking on behalf of FL Sport,thankedTrophyStall, noting that their iconic trophies are a fitting reward fortheteams’immensehard work.

The stakes have never been higher, with a staggering prize pool on offer The four zone champions will battle it out fortheultimatenationaltitle and a massive GYD$1.7 million grand prize, in additiontotheGYD300,000 theyhavealreadysecuredas zonewinners.

The national runner-up will not leave emptyhanded, taking home G$700,000, a trophy, and medals Even the losing semi-finalists will be r e w a r d e d w i t h GYD$300,000each.

Theindividualaccolades are equally impressive. The Most Valuable Player (MVP) will receive a substantial cash prize of GYD$150,000 and a brandnew motorbike, courtesy of Regal.Furthermore,players with the Most Runs and Most Wickets will each be awarded GYD$100,000 These prizes, along with additional televisions, are sponsored by Regal

dominance in those events by lowering his own marks

In the 200m butterfly, Noel shatt

d his previous national record of 2:02 52, set at the P a n A m A

Championships, where he also captured multiple

Stationery and Computer Centre.

Dedicated sponsors for specific awards further bolster the prize pool: Manof-the-Final: Sponsored by businessman Mario Moonsammy, this award includesGYD$75,000anda trophy, with another trophy contributed by Regal; Most Economical Bowler: Azad Ibrahim has sponsored a prize of GYD$35,000; Highest Strike Rate Batsman: B M Soat is backing this award with GYD$35,000, along with other incentives for recordbreakingperformances.

Inaspecialtreatforfans, oneluckyspectatorwillwin a motorbike, courtesy of BanksDIH.

The action kicks off at 13:30h with a female exhibition match. The four zone champions will then compete for the national title The semi-finals scheduleisasfollows:

15:30h: Defending champions Titans All-Stars face Mahdia (Movements Family).

17:00h: Montra Jaguars gohead-to-headwithEccles All-Stars.

A special exhibition matchfeaturinggovernment officials, private sector representatives, and youth cricketers is slated for 18:30h, leading into the grandfinaleat19:30h. With all four teams boasting immense firepower,thechampionship titleistrulyupforgrabs. Admissiontotheeventis free.

Themainseatingwillbe in the Green Stand, with overflowintotheRedStand. Spectatorsareadvisedtouse GateTwoforfreeparking.

Organizers have reminded patrons that coolers, firearms, and glass bottles are prohibited inside thestands.

gold medals, by clocking an outstanding time of 1:59 89 in Singapore Despite winning his heat, the time was not enough to advance to the semifinals

Inthe100mbutterfly,he again bettered his national best.

His former record of 54.00seconds,alsosetatthe

Colombia,waseclipsedwith anewtimeof53.91seconds, earning him a fourth-place finishinhisheat.

University, took to social m

performance, writing, “A pair of national records and lots of memories to be thankful for! Grateful

Guyana!! Can’t wait for thefuture!AmorFati!”

Blackpool Sports Club North America hosts free Summer Football Camp in Georgetown

Some of the youngsters going through their paces during the event.

Le g e n d a r y

Blackpool Sports

Club North America (BSCNA) hosted a freeSummerFootballCamp for Youths ages 7 thru 12 years old in Georgetown.

Sixty youths from

communities around Georgetown laced up their boots this past week for a life-changing opportunity: a four-day football summer

camp hosted by the

legendary Blackpool Sports ClubNA.

TakingplaceJuly28–31, 2025,atthehistoricGuyana Football Club Ground in Bourda, the camp brought

together professional coaches, local mentors, and international supporters to provide elite football training, mentorship, and character development—all freeofcharge. The camp is organized

through the Blackpool Sports Club of North America (BSCNA), an organization founded in 1971 in Brooklyn, New York,byformermembersof the St Sidwell’s Rovers Footballteam.

Their mission: to use football as a force for opportunity,unity,andyouth empowerment.

Local support sources included ANSA McAL,

The participants display certificates presented after the camp.

T&T Marshall Cottages, Banks DIH, Clear Water, Orin Miller and Hendricks Family and Impeccable BanquetHall.

“Thiscampisatributeto the legacy of Guyanese football pioneers who carriedtheirpassion overseas and are now giving back to the next generation,” said Bayard Peters,PresidentofBSCNA.

“Together with Blackpool

Jamaica 0-2 on opening day of

Sports Club NA, we are creatingaspacewheretalent is nurtured, futures are shaped, and dreams are born.”

CampHighlights:

• Dates: July 28–31, 2025

• Location: Guyana Football Club Ground, Bourda

• Participants: 60 youth ages 7-12 from around the Georgetownarea.

•Program:Dailyfootball drills, team-building, coaching, fitness, life skills talks,andmeals.

About BSCNA: The Blackpool Sports Club of North America (BSCNA) was established in Brooklyn byGuyanesefootballersand community leaders, rooted in a spirit of sportsmanship andservice.

L e a r n m o r e a t https://bscna.org.

inaugural CAZOVA U-17 CAZOVA Championships; Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname among winners Trinidad

SportsMax - Hosts

Jamaica were beaten comprehensivelyinboththe Girls and Boys sections on day one of the inaugural CAZOVA Under-17 Championships at the GC FosterCollegeinJamaicaon Thursday

TheGirlswerebeaten30 by Trinidad & Tobago while the Boys lost by a similar score line to Suriname.

I n t h e G i r l s encounter, T&T won the first set 25-10 before winning the next two 2515 and 25-11

The first two sets were closer between the Boys and Suriname, with the latter winning them 25-21 and 25-16 before closing out proceedings with a 25-7 demolition in the third

The day’s other game on the Girls side saw Suriname win a tight three-set affair against Barbados Suriname took the first set by two (25-23) before comfortably taking the second 25-12

The third set was also hotly contested, with Suriname eventually coming out 25-22 winners

The other Boys match saw Barbados defeat Trinidad & Tobago 3-0 (25-9,25-15,25-17)

Girls action yesterday saw Trinidad & Tobago facing Barbados before J a m a i c a t o o k o n Suriname while, on the Boys side, Barbados played Suriname and Jamaica faced Trinidad & Tobago

Guyanese Moin

K h a n a n d Canada-based Guyanese Imtiaz Abjal struck impressive halfcenturies to spur Aces

Cricket Club to a commanding, 7-wicket win over G. H. Reno Softball ClublastSundayinthe2025 OntarioRound-ArmSoftball

Cricket Association (ORSCA) round-robin T20 competition.

AcesCricketClubsafely reached 154-3 with 19 balls to spare in surpassing G. H. RenoSoftballClub’smodest 149-9fromtheirallotted20-

Guyanese Moin Khan (77*), Imtiaz Abjal (55*) spur Aces Cricket Club to victory in ORSCA T20

his maximum four overs, delivering for G. H. Reno SoftballClub.

Aces Cricket Club won the toss and inserted the opposite side but they

counterattacking 72 from

Anil Bhagwandin Bhagwandin clobbered six sixes displaying a great degree of belligerence as well Safraz Abjal, the brother of Imtiaz, was the pick of the bowlers for the winning combination by claiming 3-16 from four

economicalovers. Trevor Chakalall also accounted for three victims but he conceded 30 runs off hisfourovers.

Aces Cricket Club is sitting at number 2 on the points’ standing with six wins from nine matches.

Sunshineoccupyingthetopspot after triumphing with eightgames.

Thetournamentwhichis expected to complete midSeptember, will continue on August 10 with a series of matches across the Greater TorontoArea.

overs.

Khan andAbjal restored the innings with their significant, unbroken 108run third-wicket stand after Aces Cricket Club was tottering at 46-3 in the 7th over The left-handed Khan beganhisinningscautiously beforeacceleratedbyhitting ninesixes.

Abjal was also mixing solid defence with occasional aggression but his knock contained three effortlesssixes.

Rajin Qutar collected twowicketsfor28runsfrom

BerbiceCricketBoardCoaching Programmestartstoday

BySamuelWhyte

With theAugust holiday season here, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has organized a number of coachingprogrammesinthe county of Berbice. The purpose of these coaching sessions is the upliftment and betterment of officials, players and others who are interested in being involved in coaching in the Berbice area.

The first programme which will be held over two days will be held on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rdAugust2025attheBCB office from 09:00 to 12:00 hrsonbothdays.

This session will be for new and qualified coaches. According to head coach Winston Smith the sessions will be used as a refresher and upgrade session for

thoseatthelowerlevel.

According to Smith, the participantswillbeinvolved inbothclassroomaswellas practicalsessions.Whilethe class room sessions will be held in the BCB office the practical sessions will be heldonthetarmacadjoining theBCBOffice.

Participantsareexpected fromallthedifferentareasof Berbice.

Smith and a number of other senior coaches will be conductingthesessions.

Two other cricket coaching Programmes are expected to follow shortly

One sponsored by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB).Theothersponsored by Minister of Natural ResourcesVickramBharrat, whoisalsothepatronofthe BCB Both will take differentformats.

Moin Khan

Sun’s Out, Swings Out: Golf Season Returns with GMIN Tournament

The Lusignan Golf Club is back in full swing as the secondhalfofthe2025golf season kicks off with the GMINVenturesGuyanaInc. GolfTournamentonSunday, August 3, 2025. With the rainyseasonnowbehindand brilliant sunshine bathing thecoast,excitementishigh and the course is more beautifulthanever

Thankstoweeksofclear skies,theLusignancourseis in pristine condition—lush greens, dry fairways, and a coolcoastalbreeze—setting the perfect stage for a thrilling return to competitive play Golfers are eager to dust off their clubs and showcase their skillsinwhatpromisestobe one of the most exciting eventsoftheseason.

The tournament begins withan8:00AMtee-offina Medal Play format over 18 holes, and competition is expected to be fierce. Prizes

willbeawardedforBestNet (1st to 3rd place), Overall BestGross,aswellasspecial challenges like Nearest to the Flag on Hole #4 and LongestDriveonHole#3.

On the morning of the event,allplayersmustreport to the clubhouse to collect scorecards, pay tournament fees, and proceed to their assigned tee boxes The tournament officially starts withthesoundofthehornat 8:00 AM, and the prize presentationisscheduledfor around12:30PM.

Thisexcitingtournament ismadepossiblethroughthe generous support of GMIN Ventures Guyana Inc , formerly known as Reunion Gold Inc. Now a subsidiary ofGMiningVenturesCorp., GMIN is leading the charge in the development of the Oko West Gold Project in Region7,whichisprojected to yield approximately 350,000 ounces of gold

annually once commercial productionbeginsin2028.

Under the leadership of CountryManagerMr Bjorn Jeune, GMIN has become a key player not only in the mining sector but also in national development. The company actively partners with institutions such as the BoardofIndustrialTraining, GuyanaMiningSchool,and the University of Guyana, helping build a skilled local workforce and supporting sustainable community development across Region 7andbeyond.

The Lusignan Golf Club invites all players and spectators to come out and enjoy the sunshine, camaraderie, and high-level golf that defines this next chapterofthe2025season.

Registration closes at 1:00PMonSaturday,March 2,andinterestedparticipants can sign up by calling 6200093.

FormerGuyanayouth playerRajaPooran scores57inCanada

Former Guyana youth player Raja Pooranexpresseddelightwithhis outstanding performances in Canadasofar

The right-handed batsman Pooran representing Reliance Lions in the continuation of the 2025 Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs Over-40 T20 competition.

LastSundayPooran,whoplayedforcityteam Gandhi Youth Organization in Georgetown,scoredanimpressive57notout and also took 2 wickets for three runs from maximumthreeovers.

His team Reliance Lions won by 5 wicketsatDeanParkvenueinScarborough, just in the vicinity of the famous city of Toronto.

Pooran struck six sixes and two fours duringthathalf-century.

In the previous Sunday, Pooran also produced an excellent all-round performance leading Reliance Lions to victory He made 28 and claimed three wicketswithhisteamcomingoutvictorious aswell.

Pooran, who is set to represent West IndiesMastersteamattheT20WorldCupin Pakistan next December, stated that he is confident of doing well in North America whentheactioncontinuesAugust10.

RelianceLionshavesofarchalkedupsix victories from nine matches while they

Director of Sport hails Lifeguard Certification Programme as historic

Raja Pooran

Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, has hailed the recently concluded Lifeguard Certification Programme as both unprecedented and historic, and a major step forward in enhancing safety across Guyana’swaterwaysandsportingfacilities.

Speaking at Thursday’s closing ceremonyandcertificatedistributionevent, Ninvalle praised the efforts of all stakeholdersinvolved.

A total of seven lifeguards, three examiners, 41 Emergency First Aid, 32 BronzeMedallion,and28BronzeCross certifications were awarded through the CanadianLifesavingSociety

“This is extremely important as we push to make our waterways safer, particularly at facilities under the control of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport,” Ninvalle stated

what similar certification would cost in othercountries.

He encouraged the newly certified individuals to apply their skills and knowledge, noting that their qualifications now make them more competitive and marketable, especially as Guyana’s hotel andtourismindustriescontinuetogrow

OneofthemajorhighlightsforNinvalle was the training and certification of seven local instructors, which he described as a game-changer

“This is huge for us because it now allows for a sustainable, year-round programme, which will complement our ‘Teach Them Young’ Swim Programme. Beyondthat,we’realreadyexploringways to expand this initiative, outside of our annual engagement with the Canadian LifesavingSociety,”headded.

suffered three defeats. Reliance Lions are currently sitting at number 3 on the points’ standings.Eightteamsareparticipating.The tournament is slated to climax September 7 withthegrandfinale.

He noted, that the certification programme is intended to be ongoing, and credited Minister Charles Ramson Jr for delivering on a promise made during last year’s initiative to expand the country’s lifeguardpool.

Ninvalle also underscored the significant cost savings of participating in such a programme locally, compared to

The certification sessions were led by Sarah Newton and Tamara Wood of the Canadian Lifesaving Society, with special recognition given to NSC Swim Coach, Paul Mahaica, for

CertificationProgramme

“This is just the beginning,” Ninvalle concluded, reaffirming the government’s commitment to building a safer aquatic environment through continuous training, partnerships,andcapacitybuilding.

GMIN team: Communications Specialist, Stacy Carmichael and Administrative Assistant, Roylyn Melville-James.

Guyana Amazon Warriorsaceallrounder Keemo Paul is set to rock the E4 brand at the upcoming Caribbean Premier League whichstartsonAugust14in St Kitts. Paul joined his teammateKevlonAnderson, who recently signed a oneyear deal with the top-notch E4brand.

The E4 brand, which is owned by overseas-based Guyana Ravi Etwaroo, has become a household brand name in Guyana, the Caribbean, and it is slowly taking over the cricket world.

In an invited comment, Paulsaiditfeelsgreattobe supporting a local brand which is of the highest quality, and high in demand

“It feels great to be using and supporting a local brand I have known Ravi for a while now and it’saprivilegetohavebeen given the opportunity to represent him and his E4 brand ” Paul, like all international players who only settles for the best equipment, praised the E4 softgoods.

“The soft goods are top quality.Iamveryimpressed and personally I haven’t usedthebatsasyetbutI’llbe using them in our CPL precamp and I’m sure they’ll

Keemo Paul signs with E4 brand ahead of CPL 2025

Keemo Paul with his E4 equipment a head of CPL2025.

perform really well,” Paul said.

“I’m enthusiastic about CPL this year. I have recovered from my surgery now and I’m just eager to playsomecricket.

“The rest is in God’s hands. I just pray for his protection and mercy,” Paulnoted.

The 27-year-old Paul has played three Test matches for the West Indies, 30 One Day Internationals and 23 T20 Internationals.

With age on his side, Paul will be aiming to find hisformandfulfillhistalent.

N o t a b l y, E 4 i s International Cricket Council (ICC) approved to be used in all formats of international cricket (Tests, ODIs and T20Is), meaning the E4 logo can legally be displayed on clothingandequipmentused ininternationalcricket.

T o g a i n t h i s accreditation and approval in March 2024, it was important the E4 brand catered to all levels of cricket- male, female, senior,juniorandyouth

Additionally, Cricket Zone USA, through E4, has sponsored several cricketers across the region, among them Gudakesh Motie,

Sherfane Rutherford, Chandrapaul Hemraj,

Gajanand Singh, Kennar Lewis, Matthew Nandu, Kimani Melius, Navin Stewart, Oraine Williams, Tevin Imlach, Adrian Hetmyer, Akshaya Persaud and West Indies female cricketers Stafanie Taylor, Rashada Williams and NatashaMcLean.

The E4 brand has been high in demand, as a such, Etwaroo and his team has supported Guyanese-owned business with supply of E4 products.

The E4 products are availableatGiftlandMallin

G e o r g e t o w n , a n d Cricnation592 Store in Berbice.

Paul and Anderson, the latest signatures of the E4 brand, along with Gudakesh MotiewillbedonningtheE4 brand the Guyana Amazon Warriorsatthe2025CPL.

China’s Qin delivers ‘lane eight miracle’ to win 200 breaststroke title

(Reuters) - Perhaps it was a case of “out of sight, out of mind” in the men’s 200metresbreaststrokefinal at the world championships on Friday as China’s Qin Haiyang romped home to win a surprise gold via a “laneeightmiracle”.

Despite being the world record holder in the event, Qin has struggled for consistency He swept the 50, 100 and 200 titles at the 2023 worlds in Fukuoka but flopped at the Paris Olympics, finishing seventh in the 100 and failing to reachthe200final.

His victory in the 100 in Singapore suggested he was coming into top form again, but on Thursday he barely squeaked through the 200 semis, posting the eighth-

Gold medallist China’s Haiyang Qin celebrates on the podium alongside silver medallist Japan’s Ippei Watanabe and bronze medallist Netherlands’Caspar Corbeau. REUTERS/Hollie Adams

fastesttimetobehandedthe outside lane for the final, where good things rarely happen So few were prepared when the 26-yearold came storming home to reach the wall first in 2:07.41, upstaging Japan’s Ippei Watanabe and Dutchman Caspar Corbeau in a gripping final that saw the lead change hands multipletimes.

“That’s so amazing Have you heard of the ‘lane eight miracle’? You saw it tonight.Ididthinkaboutthis happening,” an ecstatic Qin said.“Imentionedyesterday that my form is not at my peak, and I still need to strategise my races more. But I didn’t think too much about it today Making the finalisalreadyagoodresult

for me, so I just came and gaveitmyall.“Idon’tthink this is enough For me, what’smoreimportantthana gold medal is to be able to haveagoodresult Today’s result is still the best I’ve done this year It’s a small improvement, but it’s still somethingIshouldbeproud of.” Qin, who also won bronzeinthe50,saidhewas learningtonotbesohardon himself.“Inthepast,Iwould say there’s room for improvement,butthistime,I cangivemyselfa100outof 100. I should rest well after this,”headded.

“I’ve gained from this competitionexperience.The competition was very stiff here. What I’ve done best here is take this pressure on well.”

World Aquatics Championships - Men 200m Breaststroke Finals - World Aquatics Championships Arena, Singapore - August 1, 2025 China's Haiyang Qin celebrates after winning the final REUTERS/Edgar Su Purchase August

Ramesh Sunich (left) hands over one of the trophies toYusufAli of FLSport.

Raekwon Noel in action at the WorldAquatics Championship in Singapore. (Andy Cheung Getty Images)