Supporters of the Azruddin Mohamed-led WIN party showed up in their numbers for a public meeting at Parfaite Harmonie Wednesday night (Photo credit: NEWSROOM)
United States Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot
to tackle biodiversity crisis
…AS FIRST GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY ALLIANCE SUMMIT OPENS IN GUYANA Leaders back bold action
ByRenaySambach
The inaugural Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit was on Wednesday launched in Georgetown, Guyana,withheadsofstates calling for greater global support for biodiversity protectionastheworldfaces acrisiswherebiodiversityis underthreat.
Duringhisaddressatthe openingceremony,President Irfaan Ali highlighted that Guyana is a true treasure troveofbiodiversity Hesaid Guyanaishometomorethan 1,200 species of birds, custodians of approximately 225speciesofmammalsand hometonearly8,000species ofplants,manyofwhichare foundnowhereelseonearth. Alialsohighlightedthatover 85percentofGuyana’sland remains forested and undisturbed.
Ali underscored that the GlobalBiodiversityAlliance is a call to arms, a rallying
cry to governments, institutions, investors, communities, and citizens. Theallianceisbuiltonthree
c
infrastructureoflife,thatthe measuringbiodiversityisthe foundation of meaningful
action and that investing in biodiversity is not a luxury butanecessity
President Ali outlined five pillars of the alliance which includes conserving 30 per cent of land and oceans by 2030; integrating biodiversity into national
financing; empowering indigenouspeoplesandlocal communities; and ensuring transparency through global monitoringtools.
The Guyanese leader outlined that the Global Biodiversity Summit is focused on igniting a global movement to protect the livingfabricoftheplanet.“I amproudthatthismovement begins here, in Guyana with the support and partnership ofallofyouinthisroom.We cannot overcome these challenges individually We must build strong, resilient, sustainable partnerships so thatwecanovercomeallthe headwinds and storms that will come our way,” he noted.
President Ali urged greater cooperation for biodiversity protection, noting that biodiversity is under siege, with every year the world losing about 10
millionhectaresofforestand one million species face extinction To further exacerbate the crisis the world faces, Ali highlighted that wetland are vanishing threetimesfasterthanforests and that the world is approaching an irreversible tipping point in key ecosystems,fromcoralreefs tosavannahstorainforests.
Alisaid,“Thesechanges are not remote or abstract, theyarereal,immediate,and devastating. Theyaffectthe water we drink, the food we eat,theairwebreathe. They affect our jobs, our health, oureconomies,ourcultures, our peace. They affect our verysurvival.”
Despitetheheavylossof globalbiodiversity,Alinoted that the destruction continues. “Too often, the true value of biodiversity is ignoredinnationalaccounts, absent from financial statements, and invisible in boardrooms and budget plans. The invisibility ends here,”heunderscored.
Ali stressed that despite the intrinsic value, biodiversity remains grossly underfunded.
“Today, we invest just $200 billion per year in nature,buttomeettheglobal
biodiversity framework targets,weneedatleast$700 billionannually Thatmeans we must more than triple global finance for nature. Andwemustensurethatthis finance flows to where it is most needed especially in theglobalsouth,”hesaid.
President Ali disclosed
that the alliance is committed to scaling blended finance to de-risk investment in nature-based enterprises, piloting biodiversity credits that reward stewardship, expanding debt-for-nature swaps, modeled on our own experience and supporting community-driven finance
modelsthatplaceindigenous leadershipatthecenter
To this end, he invited development banks, asset managers, impact investors, and sovereign wealth funds to join the alliance in its efforts World leaders
attending the Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit in Guyana added their voices to urgent calls for stronger international action to halt environmental degradation.
During the first plenary led by PresidentAli, several heads of state and government and other officials were invited to deliver interventions on the
GlobalStateofBiodiversity, h i g h l i g h t i n g k e y achievements, challenges andopportunities.
Barbados Prime, Minister Mia Mottley in her address at the summit said, “You cannot address the issues of saving the planet without addressing the issues of both climate and biodiversity and pollution at thesametime.”
She underscored that those living the reality of environmental challenges must not only advocate strongly on the international stage, but act even more decisively at the local level. Mottley also highlighted a n e w i n i t i a t i v e i n collaboration with the Barbados Wetland Trust, through which they were able to resuscitate and reopen the Graham Hall Nature Sanctuary closed for nearly 20 years for the benefit of both birds and the people of Barbados She disclosed that Barbados is working to restore its remainingwetlands,manyof which have been destroyed, and is in the process of establishing two additional entities aimed at preserving biodiversity “Thiswill Continued on page 16
President Irfaan Ali
Mia Mottley, Barbados Prime Minister
Iván Duque Márquez, former President of the Republic of Colombia
María José Pinto, the Vice President of the Republic of Ecuador
Officials at the opening of the Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit
U.S.concernedifAzruddingetsintoGovt.
W i t h A z r u d d i n Mohamed in the 2025 presidential race, United States Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot has disclosed that the U S is “very concerned” about the p o s s i b i l i t y o f t h e businessman who has been sanctioned US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) entering government and how that would affect the dynamics between Georgetown and Washington.
Last year, Mohamed, his father Nazar “Shell” Mohamed, their businesses, andgovernmentofficialMae Thomas were sanctioned by theU.S.Treasury’sOfficeof Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) The Mohameds were sanctioned for alleged gold smuggling When it announced the sanction OFAC said: “Today’s action
u n d e r s c o r e s o u r commitment to holding accountable those who seek
to exploit Guyana’s underdeveloped gold sector for personal gain,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. It added” These actions were conducted in coordinationwithHomeland Security Investigations New YorkOrganizedCrimeDrug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Strike Force, Diplomatic Security Service, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) OfficeofIntelligence–New York Operations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Miami Field Office, with assistance from HSIMiami,CBPMiamiand New York Field Offices, New York City Police Department Intelligence Bureau, and the Drug E n f o r c e m e n t Administration.”
AccordingtoOFACgold is one of Guyana’s main
…Ambassador Theriot says U.S. Govt., private sector would rethink doing business
with Guyana
exports, but it remains a highly fractured industry withsmall-scalegoldmining
operations in Guyana occupying a majority share
of the country’s gold production “These small, family-owned businesses have informal relationships with larger purchasers and traders like Mohamed’s Enterprise Once mined, Guyanese gold is sold and t r a d e d t h r o u g h o u t international markets, including the United States, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, and the European Union,”OFAChadsaid.
In June 2025, Mohamed launched his political party, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), which is one of six parties set to contest the General and Regional Elections on September 1.
“Yes, we are concerned AnytimetheUSDepartment
o f Tr e a s u r y O FA C sanctionedindividualhasthe potential to become a memberofgovernment,that is concerning for us,”
Ambassador Theriot said She made the comment Wednesday, on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit being held inGeorgetown.
She contended that Mohamed being in government is “problematic in multiple ways ” The ambassadorexplainedthatif someone sanctioned by OFAC were to become part of the administration, it wouldrestrictorchangehow the U S government interacts with that government.“Wehavetobe verycareful.Ifthatpersonis involved, let’s say he were on a certain committee, we would have to be very careful in working with that committee.Wehavetomake surethatwedidn’tworkwith himspecifically,”sheadded. Further,shesaidthesituation
would likely raise concern among U S private sector entities already operating in Guyana or planning to invest.
Ambassador Theriot said, “So you see US companies often rethinking their relationship in the country We saw it in Afghanistan. We’ve seen it in other countries as well. They sometimes look to de risk, or to even just cut ties with the country…” To this end,sheunderscoredthatthe U S and Guyana are currently in a “beautiful position” due to how welcoming the country has b e e n t o A m e r i c a n companies. “…and I don’t want,ifhe[Mohamed]were to become a member of the government that to change,” shenoted.
The ambassador’s comments come days after U S Secretary of State MarcoRubioinstructedU.S. diplomats worldwide not to comment on the fairness or integrity of elections conducted by foreign countries, according to an internalnotethatwasseenby Reuters. The news agency said that Rubio’s memo was a significant departure from Washington’s traditional approach of promoting free and fair elections overseas.
The order, sent to all U.S. diplomaticpostsinaJuly17 internal State Department cable, says the Department willnolongerissueelectionrelated statements or social m e d i a p o s t s f r o m Washingtonunlessthereisa “clear and compelling” foreign policy interest “When it is appropriate to comment on a foreign election,ourmessageshould be brief, focused on congratulating the winning candidate and, when appropriate, noting shared foreign policy interests,” said the cable, which was marked as “sensitive” but notclassified.
“Messages should avoid opining on the fairness or integrity of an electoral process,itslegitimacy,orthe democratic values of the countryinquestion,”itsaid. U.S. It added that electionrelated messages should come from either the Secretary himself or the Department spokesperson and it barred U.S. diplomats fromissuingsuchstatements without explicit approval from the agency’s senior
leadership The cable
referencedPresidentDonald Trump’s May 13 speech in Riyadh when he criticized what he called “Western interventionists” telling Middle Eastern countries how to govern their own affairs, saying that was no longer Washington’s business and it was looking toforgepartnerships.“While the United States will hold firm to its own democratic values and celebrate those values when other countries choose a similar path, the Presidentmadeclearthatthe United States will pursue partnerships with countries wherever our strategic interestsalign,”thedirective said. The State Department didnotimmediatelyrespond to a request for comment on the cable, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. The United States has traditionally viewed the promotion of human rights and democracy as well as press freedom as a core foreign policy objective, although critics have repeatedly pointed out the double standardWashington has had towards its allies. U n d e r Tr u m p , t h e administ
interference in another country’s affairs For example, it has moved to r e s h a p e t h e S t a t e Department’s human rights bureau, which it said had become a platform for “leftwing activists to wage vendettas against ‘antiwoke’ leaders ” Trump officials have repeatedly weighed in on European politics to denounce what they see as suppression of right-wing leaders, including in Romania, G
m
s increasingly moved away from the promotion of democracy and human rights, largely seeing it as
ny and France, accusing European authorities of censoring views such as criticism of immigration in the name of counteringdisinformation.
United States Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot
Presidential candidate for We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), Azruddin Mohamed
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
Crop insurance
After years of lobbying from the Rice Producers Association (RPA) and other stakeholders, the Guyana Government on Tuesday launched a crop insurance initiative- a most welcomed programme that will benefit some6000farmersacrossthecountry
According to a Department of Public Information release,forthenextthreeyears,morethan6000ricefarmers willhaveaccesstoinsurancefortheircrops,withouthaving to pay a cent on premiums. At the launch held in Anna Regina President Ali called on the banks to recognise the government's effort to reduce the risks associated with agriculture, noting that this must be reflected by the reductionofinterestratesforagriculturalactivities.
“We're challenging the bank now With this insurance, the risk is reduced, and the cost of lending to our farmers mustreducesubstantially,”thepresidentstated.Also,atthe launch Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha that GuyanaisnowthefirstcountryintheCaribbeantoofferthis kindofservicetoitsfarmers.
Agriculture remains an important economic sector in Guyana and it is a source of growth and investment opportunities for the private sector According to World Bank, two-thirds of the world's agricultural value added is estimated to be created in developing countries. It added that,inagriculture-basedeconomies,whichincludemostof Sub-Saharan Africa, agriculture generates 29 percent of GDPonaverageandintransformingcountries—countriesin which agriculture is no longer a major source of economic growth,whichincludemostofSouthandEastAsiaandthe Middle East and North Africa the contribution of agriculturetoGDPismuchlower.
Additionally, nearly half of the world's population—some 2.9 billion people—live in rural areas. Agriculture is a source of livelihood for an estimated 86 percent of these people. It provides employment to 68 percentofthepopulationinagriculture-basedcountriesand 48percentintransformingeconomies.About94percentof rural households live from their agricultural activities in agricultural-based countries; this proportion falls to 76 percentintransformingeconomies,thebanksaid.
In Guyana for years, rice farming has been one of the cornerstones of the economy From the paddies of Region Two to the expansive fields of Berbice, thousands of hardworkingfarmersriseeachdaytoproducethegrainthat feeds our people and fuels our exports. But year after year, these men and women face silent and unpredictablethreats suchasextremeweather,pests,disease,andshiftingmarket dynamics.Fortoolong,asinglefloodordryspellhasmeant the loss of an entire season's livelihood. It is against this backgroundthattheRPAhadbeenovertheyearsconstantly lobbyinggovernmentprovidecropinsurancetofarmers. Withtheinflowsfromoil,itistheprudentthingforthe governmenttodoinkickstartingthisinitiativebypayingthe premiums for the next three years. It would be interesting however, to see how the farmers themselves approach this goingforwardastheycouldnotexpectthestatetopaytheir insurance premiums for life. Note must be taken too, that there was no mention of how much this initiative will cost and the timing of its launch so close to general elections couldonlybeseenaspartoftheadministration'scampaign forreelection.Thericefarmersareakeyconstituencyforthe rulingpartyandstirringthepotwiththisinitiativewouldno doubtbuysomevotes.
Notwithstanding the introduction of crop insurance for rice farmers is not only welcome, but also essential. Crop insurancebringsalayerofprotectionandpeaceofmindthat Guyanese farmers have long deserved. It will transform uncertaintyintostability,replacinghelplessnesswithhope. Withtherightpoliciesinplace,afarmernolongerfacesruin afteranaturaldisaster;instead,heorshecanreceivetimely compensation, recover quickly, and return to planting with confidence.
Moreover, crop insurance encourages smarter, more resilient farming. It can be paired with climate-smart
Public Servants and Political Platforms
DearEditor, In 2019, the Public Service Commission (PSC), through Circular 1 of 2019, advertised several vacancies within the public service, including that of Regional HealthOfficer(RHO).
Theinclusionofthispost in a PSC-issued circular strongly suggests that the position of RHO is a public servicepostgovernedbythe
rules and conventions of the public service. It is a wellestablished principle—both in theory and practice—that public servants must remain politically neutral This neutrality is essential to ensuring that public administration remains professional, fair, and impartial regardless of which political party is in power Public servants are
required to serve the government of the day with integrity, but without partisanship.
Consequently, it is contrary to this principle for apublicservanttoappearor speak on the political platform of any political party, particularly during campaignperiods.
Any public servant, including a Regional Health
Officer,whowishestospeak at political rallies ought firsttoresignfromthepublic service.
This is not merely a matter of preference or political convenience; it is a matter of upholding the standards and obligations thatcomewithpublicservice employment.
Yourssincerely, RupnauthHardyal
Response to a Propagandist
DearEditor, Dr. Randy Persaud's
harassment” – Kaieteur News, July 17, 2025) is yet anotherlameattemptinspindoctoring But while he attempts to dismiss valid concerns as “wild” and “ridiculous,” the very content of his letter proves w h y s o m a n y c i t i z
m
s e l f included fear openly expressingdissentintoday's Guyana. Let's clarify something upfront: the issue I raised was never solely about AzruddinMohamed.
It was about a broader and deeply worrying pattern—the intolerance for differing political views, the weaponisation of state
power, and the increasing climate of fear that grips those who dare to show publicsupportforalternative voices.
But since Dr Persaud chosetofocusonMohamed, let'stalk.
Did he miss the reports from Region 2 and the Corentyne where supporters of the “Team Mohamed/ WIN” movement were harassed,flagsremoved,and activitiesdisruptedbyPPPC operatives?
Did he miss the disturbing viral image of a donkey, crudely drawn on and labeled to mock Mohamed? Did he miss the staged racial provocation used to incite division and discredit Mohamed and c a l l i n g h i s supporters"scrape"? Did he
miss the police showing up unprovoked at private residence last week? Did he missthewidespreadremoval of WIN paraphernalia in PPPC strongholds? Or the drone flying over the Mohamed's house? Or the wholefakerapestorycase?
Most importantly, did he miss the continuous vilification of Azruddin Mohamed in nearly every one of Vice President Jagdeo'spressconferences?
If that's not harassment, thenI'mnotsurewhatis.But I suppose it would be difficult for Dr. Persaud to recognize that—when he's clearly part of the very machinerythatbenefitsfrom it.
And yes, I signed my previous letter as “Singh” because I, like many others
in this country, fear victimisation.
Political loyalty is increasingly becoming a p r e r e q u i s i t e f o r survival professionally, economically, and socially Speaking out, even respectfully, can come at a great personal cost. Unlike you, people's voice is no longer safe under your government.
But since Dr Persaud insisted,I'lloblige:myname isHareshwarSingh. I do not need the validation of the Office of Foreign Assets Control to remind me of what democracy should look like. OFAC does not determine G u y a n a ' s m o r a l compass—wethepeopledo. Soyoucansingthatsongto (Continueonpage5)
I am surprised at Dr. Carpen
DearEditor,
IwassurprisedtoseeDr MahendraCarpenonthelist ofcandidatesforthePPP/C.
IholdDr Carpeninhigh regard as do many Guyanese.Thesonofasugar worker,bydintofhardwork he is now an accomplished interventionalcardiologist.
So why am I surprised? He's fully entitled to enter into politics as any other person is but I am surprised he has allowed his name to goonalistwithpersonswho I think will only diminish him On that list is an individual who was accused of rape and who was also accused of assaulting or attempting to assault the
partnerofhisex-wife.
Andwhowasaccusedof sexually assaulting a young ladyfromEssequibo.
On that list is an individual who refused to give up her seat and disparagingly said “this is politics,thisisnotchurch”.
Not to mention another individual who was accused ofdomesticviolenceontwo occasions and another individual who had land fraud charges against him which have apparently mysteriously disappeared just like the charges against severalgovernmentofficials andministers.Onthiscountthe Chambers of the DPP may have to answer to
practices and incentivize farmers to follow better land management and flood mitigation strategies. It also makes accesstocrediteasier,becausewithinsurancebackingtheir operations, farmers are seen as lower-risk borrowers by banksandfinancialinstitutions.
There's also a broader national benefit as well, as crop insurancereducesthefinancialshockstoindividualfarmers, it stabilises rice production and prices across the country Thiscontributestonationalfoodsecurity,ruralemployment, andsustainedexportrevenue.
someone sometime in the futureregardlessofhowlong itmaytake.
I am particularly also concerned about the candidate who said “this is politics, this is not church”. Are the two mutually exclusive? So why the politicians - hypocritically visit the mandirs during Navratri and Shivratri, two very sacred festivals on the Hindu calendar Are they tryingtofoolGod?
The pandit should rebut the candidate by saying this isreligion,thisisnotpolitics. By the way, many PPP ministers visit mandirs duringtheseperiodsandgive political speeches This practiceshouldcease.
Another point, Mr Editor, is this call for manifesto and Meet the Press? Can we count the number of manifestos that have been printed since Independence? And where havetheygottenus?Canwe count the amount of promises that have been
made over the past 60 years since Independence and wherehavetheygottenus?
Canwecountthenumber of press conferences and promises over the past 60 years, and where have they gottenus?
Thosewhoarecallingfor plans and manifestos and speeches, please tell me on which manifesto was the SkeltonSugarFactorywhite elephant or the Fip Motilall RoadtoAmaliaFalls.Orthe Durban Park fraud on the nationwithasetofoldwood. On which manifesto were these multibillion dollar projects? With the biggest one yet to come, Gas to Energy,aUSD$2Balbatross around the necks of Guyanese.Andcansomeone tellmewhathappenedtothe PPP manifesto / promise / pressconferencesthattheoil contract signed by Trotman will be renegotiated. What happenedtothatpromise?
We have had 60 years of promises,fooling, (Continueonpage5)
DearEditor,
This “$360M state-ofthe-art TVET facility (that was) commissioned in Bartica” is something that needs 'talking about ' It transcends present politics andcurrentelectioneeringin Guyana.Iseethisas"Taking 'relevant and necessary' educationtothepeople"asit continues the People's ProgressiveParty'svisionto make learning opportunities 'accessible and relevant' to
Bartica set to fulfill its potential
allmembersofacommunity, regardless of their background or current circumstances. Of course, this involves various strategies,suchasproviding flexible learning options, tailoringeducationalcontent to specific needs, and ensuring equitable access to resources. Ultimately, it aimstoempowerindividuals and communities through knowledge and skills, fostering personal growth
I am surprised at...
Frompage5 corruption, cronyism and outrightfraud-nonemoreso than in the last 5 years. So, Mr Editor, people don't want manifestos and press c o n f e r e n c e s a n d interrogation. People want somefreshfaces,somefresh thinking to save this nation. And finally, Mr Editor, I think the PPPshould hang a
portrait of Forbes Burnham outside of their building on Robb Street, because the transfer of the policeman whoshookAzmo'shandand the transfer of the GUYSUCO worker from Albion to Uitvlugt because he is a WIN supporter smacksofBurnhamism.
Regards H.Ramcharitar
andsocietalprogress.
Concerning this institutioninBartica,itisthe “ sixth such facility completedundertheGuyana Skills Development and Employability Project (GSDEP),(thatisaPPP/C's) flagship initiative that is changing the way education prepares young people for the world of work.” Make 'no bones about it,' as all of this is within the on-going tenure of the PPP/C's
governance of Guyana, goingbackto2020.Itshows progress, commitment and futuristic thinking as “…. similar facilities have already been opened at locations such as Fellowship, Hopetown, Beterverwagting, and St. Ignatius, with each serving as
empowerment.” A l i g n i n g t h i s achievement with what is
currentlytrending,Iseethat globally, the TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) landscape is undergoing a revolution, driven by the need to adapt to rapid t e c h n o l o g i c a l advancements,changingjob markets, and the imperative for lifelong learning. This revolution encompasses a shift from traditional, narrowly-focusedtrainingto more holistic approaches
that integrate digital skills, soft skills, and adaptability After all, Guyana is emerging as an economy 'to reckon with.' So, we cannot sitbackandidle. I remind Guyanese that the global TVET revolution is a complex and multifaceted process. It requires a commitment to innovation,adaptability,and collaboration to ensure that TVETsystemsbewell-
(Continueonpage6)
Response to a Propagandist...
Frompage5 your quarters. Dr Persaud attempts to discredit the argument by pointing to OFACsanctions.
Butifsanctionsaloneare the gold standard for credibility in politics, then let'sbefairandask:isn'tMae Thomas—a sitting member
of the PPPC party—also under U.S. sanctions? Why thesilencethere?Whyisone sanctioned individual condemned as a national threatwhileanotherisgiven a seat at the table? The doublestandardisglaring.
This isn't about defendingMohamed.Thisis
about defending the right of any citizen to support who they choose, without fear, ridicule, or economic reprisal.
It's about pushing back against a dangerous culture where bullying replaces debate and dissent becomes apunishableoffense.
Guyana deserves better than spin doctors and smear campaigns We deserve principled leadership, tolerance, and a political culturethatrespectsfreedom ofassociation.
Sincerely, HareshwarSingh CitizenofGuyana
DearEditor,
As youngsters, during horse racing season, we found ourselves at the easternextremeofBrickdam to witness the excitement of the horses and the jockeys coming off the St. Sidwells' bend north and then east to contestthefinaltwofurlongs to the finishing line. That strip of land was known as the Homestretch. It was all excitement.
Today, I wish to transpose those events to an extremely serious and allconsuming event that will
The race to the homestretch
take place in our country in just under five weeks. With our enormous resources, who prevails in that Homestretch will determine whether as a people, we are glorious or damned. This is myanalysis.
NominationforNational and Regional Elections took place on Monday, July 14, 2025.Todaywithralliesand the media, I see a thoroughbred with the jockey with brilliant green (APNU), galloping confidently The list on the saddleconsistsofsomenew
faces,afewoldbutallgood, genuineGuyanese.
Next is a stallion, the jockey in blood red (PPP) with a support team on the saddle with a number of tainted personalities and dubiousquality.
Some showing a little respectforolderfolks,some unawarethatthepillarsupon which a safe society must rest are honesty, respect for life and a moral sense of what is right, acceptable as againsttheunacceptableand wrong.
Thelineuponthesaddle
PPP/C is resorting to desperate measures to retain power
DearEditor,
The 2025 National Budget, totaling $1 381 trillion, has allocated funding for a wide range of projects across all governmentministries.
However, with General and Regional Elections approaching, many Guyaneseappeartohavelost sight of how these funds are beingutilized,largelydueto a troubling lack of
t r a n s p a r e n c y a n d accountabilitybythecurrent administration.
During her presentation
of Budget 2025, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, SoniaParag,announcedthat several markets, including Bourda Market and Bourda Green, would benefit from the$38.6billionallocatedto her ministry It is worth notingthatBudget2025was passed by the 12th Parliament on February 3, 2025.Yet, five months later, there has been no visible progress on these muchneeded market upgrades, despite taxpayer dollars having been earmarked for
theirexecution.
What is visible instead are political campaign materials—flags,drums,and slogans featuring the PPP/C's “cup” symbol, mounted across the country Thisraisesseriousconcerns: are these election-related activities being financed through Budget 2025? MinisterParagmustpublicly clarify whether these activities were tendered, under what provisions they fall, and when the approved developmentalprojects; (Continueonpage7)
includes wife beaters, cussbirds, and generally unacceptable behaviours
Theuseof$31Bsince2020, instead of accepting a proposal to use the lands to produce prawns, which will not only be profitable but willrequireoverthreetimes thepresentworkforce.
Then there is the revelation by Dear Mr, Sue whothebossmansaidhewill sueMr Sue.Thenthereisthe sanctity of Life. Remember the Henry's cousins, Ronald Waddle, Satyadeow Sawh, Courtney Crum Ewing, and apainfullylonglist.
Next, is the AFC, with jockey in yellow An interesting collection of a few good, solid patriots but associated with some selfcentered folks, who seemed to believe that they constitutethesuperclassand as a result causes one to
reminisceonthestoryofthe 'DogandtheBone.'TheDog had a bone in his mouth crossing a bridge, he looked downatacalmstream,seesa dog with a bone, not realizing that it was his own reflection.
Filled with greed, he snappedtogetthebonefrom the dog below, thereby losingthebonehehad.
NextonHomestretchisa leopard disguised with a horse, a saddle bag full of cash and further restrained by a Doggy Instead of saying gee-de-up, he was delivering four letter expletives. Nevertheless, be reminded that the Leopard neverchangesitsspots.
Next is a Filly, with jockey in purple, not yet politicallymatured,thinking and being led to believe by sycophantsthattheyarewith just a few years of political
internship, right and ready for the final gallop of homestretch.Onecanhardly ignore the story of Narcissus. N
us thought he was the most beautifulandconsumedwith his own self adulation rejecting all others. The GodsaccordingtotheGreek mythologyturnedhimintoa flower
The others in the lineup forHomestretch,arewithout being unkind mostly noisy donkeys, quadrupeds, thinkingtheyarehorses.The letter published in last Saturday's Kaieteur News written by Tacuma Ogunseye is instructive Finally,thePNCIknow,late asitis,wouldleavethedoor ajar to give our beloved Guyana an opportunity to overcomeanevilempire.
Regards
HamiltonGreen
Bartica set to fulfill its...
Frompage5 equipped to meet the challengesandopportunities ofarapidlychangingworld. Let me elaborate on one aspect.
There is the welding workshopthatisoutfittedfor arc, MIG, and acetylene welding.Aquickfootnoteof MIG shows that it is about gas metal arc welding (GMAW), a versatile arc welding process that uses a continuous wire electrode and a shielding gas to join metal pieces together The wire acts as both the electrodeandthefillermetal, while the shielding gas protects the weld area from atmospheric contamination.
No wonder Minister Priya Manickchand highlighted with utter delight that this kind of direction “ … represented far more than a
newbuilding.Itreflectedthe government's broader intentiontoprovidestudents with real options, academic and practical.” As she also explained, it is about “… seeing boys taking up c o m m e r c i a l f o o d preparation and girls excelling in motor repairs, pointingtoashiftinthinking that allows young people to pursue skills based on interestandtalentratherthan outdatedgendernorms.”
Without entering in a prolong debate, I am quite aware, that in the developed and developing world, there istheshiftfromacademicto technical training since it offersnumerousadvantages, including faster entry into the workforce, focused skill development, and increased job prospects in highdemand fields. Technical
training often involves hands-on learning, leading topracticalexperienceanda betterunderstandingofrealworld applications.Thiscan result in greater job satisfaction, higher earning potential, and improved careerlongevity
Again, the Minister of Education was 'spot-on', pronouncing that “… the world is increasingly recognising that technical skills are just as valuable, if not more marketable, than traditional academic qualifications ” She therefore quite rightly emphasisedthatthePeople's Progressive Party Civic Government is not limiting students to only academic subjectsorpredefinedcareer paths, but instead, offering them access to both academic learning and technicaltrainingsotheycan choose what suits them best inarapidlychangingworld.”
I am quite aware that Bartica is now thriving and quite a gateway it is
According to President Irfaan Ali, “You have the potential to become a major logistics hub for the mining sector
But in order for you to becomeamajorlogisticshub for the mining sector, we must be able to produce food,andwemustbeableto provideservices,whetherit's bankingservices,machining services, mechanical services.”
Thisfacilitythenisquite necessaryandtimely
Yourstruly, HargeshB.Singh
Top UN court says treaties compel wealthy nations to curb global warming
(Reuters) - The United Nations' highest court on Wednesday told wealthy countries they must comply with their international commitments to curb pollution or risk having to paycompensationtonations hardhitbyclimatechange. In an opinion hailed by small island states and environmental groups as a legalsteppingstonetomake big polluters accountable, the International Court of Justice said countries must address the "urgent and existentialthreat"ofclimate change "States must cooperate to achieve concrete emission reduction targets,"JudgeYujiIwasawa said, adding that failure by countriestocomplywiththe "stringent obligations" placed on them by climate treaties was a breach of internationallaw
The court said countries werealsoresponsibleforthe actions of companies under
their jurisdiction or control. Failure to rein in fossil fuel production and subsidies could result in "full reparations to injured states in the form of restitution, compensation and satisfactionprovidedthatthe generalconditionsofthelaw of state responsibility are met.""Ididn'texpectittobe this good," Vanuatu's Climate Minister Ralph Regenvanu told reporters after the unanimous opinion bytheICJ,alsoknownasthe WorldCourt,wasreadout.
VishalPrasad,oneofthe lawstudentsthatlobbiedthe government of Vanuatu in the South Pacific Ocean to bring the case to the ICJ, said:"Thisadvisoryopinion is a tool for climate justice. And boy, has the ICJ given us a strong tool to carry on thefightforclimatejustice."
HUMAN RIGHT TO CLEAN ENVIRONMENT
Judge Iwasawa, who presided the panel of 15
judges, said that national climate plans must be of the highest ambition and c
ively m
ain standardstomeettheaimsof the 2015 Paris Agreement that include attempting to keep global warming below 1 5 degrees Celsius (2 7 Fahrenheit).
Under international law, hesaid:"Thehumanrightto a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is essential for the enjoyment ofotherhumanrights."
While the decision was strongerthanmostexpected, itsimpactmaybelimitedby the fact that the United States, the world's biggest historical greenhouse gas emitter, and second biggest current emitter behind China, has moved under President Donald Trump to undoallclimateregulations.
With scepticism over climate change spreading in the U S and elsewhere, Judge Iwasawa laid out the
British actor, Idris Elba deeply inspired by Guyana's conservation efforts, plans to visit soon
Award-winning Britishactorand humanitarian, Idris Elba has said that he is “deeply inspired” by Guyana's effort to preserve its rainforests and other naturaleco-systems.
The actor expressed his admiration in a letter that was read at the Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.Itwasreadout to the gathering of world leadersbyGuyaneseclimate
economist Pradeepa Bholanath.
While expressing his sincere regret that he could not attend the event in person, Elba who is known for playing versatile roles in several box office hits said that he has long wished to visitGuyana.
“Many of my dearest friends growing up were the sons and daughters of Guyanesefamilies.
And I grew up listening to vivid stories of your magnificent forests, your powerfulrivers,andthedeep resilience and warmth of your people. I carry those stories with me still,” the actorsaid.
The actor expressed his heartfelt thanks to President
Irfaan Ali for the honor of addressing the summit and for his visionary leadership ontheglobalstage.
“Yourmessageresonates far beyond these borders. Biodiversitymustnotbe sacrificedinthenameof thedevelopment. It is in fact the very foundation upon which we mustbuildamoreequitable, moreprosperousandamore sustainablefuture.Guyanais p r o v i d i n g t h a t environmental stewardship and economic progress and are not mutually exclusive.”
Elba said He continued, “You are living proof that it
causeoftheproblemandthe need for a collective response in his two-hour reading of the court's opinion. "Greenhouse gas emissionsareunequivocally caused by human activities which are not territorially
is possible to protect the planet while uplifting communities. As someone committedtothesameideas in my own homeland of Sierra Leon, I am deeply inspiredbytheexampleyou aresetting.Ilookforwardto visiting Guyana in the near future and to learning from allthatyouarebuilding.”
Outside of acting, Idris Elba is actively involved in biodiversity conservation efforts, particularly through his
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Elba Hope Foundation, where he focuses on sustainable agriculture, climate change
protection of natural
Conservation International and is involved in projects like the Sherbro Island ecocityinitiative,whichaimsto revitalize the island while prioritizing environmental sustainability
As a UN Goodwill Ambassador for IFAD, Elba advocates for increased investments in small-scale agriculture and climate adaptation, recognizing the vital role of farmers in food security and environmental conservation.
POLITICALAND LEGALWEIGHT
The court's opinion is non-binding,butitcarries
industrialisedcountrieshave been responsible for the most emissions Iwasawa said these countries had to take the lead in addressing theproblem.
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Man nabbed with bag of cocaine at BV
A 32-year-old man was arrestedonWednesdayafter being found with a bag containing nearly eight kilograms of cocaine at Beterverwagting,EastCoast Demerara.
Thesuspect,identifiedas Morris Cameron was apprehended during an operation conducted by
ranks of the Customs AntiNarcoticUnit(CANU).
According to CANU officersactedoninformation received conducted an o p e r a t i o n i n Beterverwagting, where they intercepted Cameron carrying a bag Upon inspection: “ several parcels containing a quantity of
whitish powdery substance suspected to be cocaine,” CANU said in a press release.
Cameron was taken into custody and escorted to CANU headquarters along withthesuspectednarcotics. The substance was later weighedandconfirmedtobe 7 8 6 0 k i l o g r a m s Investigationsareongoing.
Teen hit by stray bullet at birthday party dies from injuries
The 16-year-old girlwhowasshot by a stray bullet on Monday evening at Mango Lane, East Ruimveldt,Georgetown,has succumbedtoherinjuries.
The teen, identified as Reyan DePeazer of East La Penitence, passed away while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Her death was confirmed by relatives on social media around 18:00 hrs. In a Facebook post, Patricia DePeazer wrote: “To my nephew Ryan DePeazer, all relatives, family and friends, my
condolencestoyouallonthe passing of Reyna DePeazer SIP.”
According to reports, Reyan was attending a birthday celebration at the East Ruimveldt Learning Centre when the incident occurred She was reportedly shot in the neck byastraybullet.
A cellphone video circulating on Facebook showed the teen lying unconscious in a pool of blood, surrounded by concerned onlookers who rushed to help Good Samaritansplacedherintoa carandtransportedhertothe hospital. In the video, one
man could be heard asking forphonecreditwhileothers triedtostopthebleeding. Eff
for
commentwere unsuccessful.
PPP/C is resorting to desperate...
Frompage6 particularly those targeting local markets will actually begin It is becoming increasinglyevidentthatthe PPP/C is resorting to desperate measures to retain power This includes allegedlypayingindividuals
to wear party-branded clothing, attend rallies, and offering incentives such as boxed meals; practices that many view as vote-buying and a distortion of the democratic process I therefore urge my fellow Guyanese,donotbemisled.
Stay vigilant and grounded intruth.Letusnotforgetthe tragicandgruesomedeathof Adriana Younge. Let her memory remind us that meaningful change is not onlynecessarybuturgent. Yourssincerely, AnnetteFerguson
Award-winning British actor, Idris Elba
Reyan DePeazer
Morris Cameron
Cocaine found
GPSU pays tribute to second vice president who died in road accident
The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has paid tribute to its Second VicePresident,TrevorDalya veteran Air Traffic Controller who died in an accident earlier this month ontheHeroesHighway,East BankDemarara.
A c c o r d i n g t o a Demerarawavesreport,Daly sustained spinal injuries afterhisvehiclestruckalog that was on the roadway on
thenightofJuly10,2025.He had remained trapped in the vehicle for several hours until sunrise when a man came to his assistance and summoned police and emergency medical technicians,Demerarawaves reported.
He died days after at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Inastatement,theGPSU said that Daly was a
dedicated son of the soil.
“Bro. Trevor Lloyd Daly, UnitChiefofAirNavigation Services, Timehri Tower, Guyana Civil Aviation Authority and Second Vice President on the Executive Council of the Guyana PublicServiceUnionpassed away on Sunday July 13, 2025 at the Georgetown PublicHospitalCorporation.
TheGPSUsaidthatDaly was involved in a horrific
GuySuCo rejects claim employee's transfer politically motivated
The Guyana Sugar CorporationInc.(GuySuCo) on Tuesday rejected reports that the recent transfer of employee, Safraaz Birbal, a field superintendent at the AlbionEstatewaspolitically motivated.
Inastatement,GuySuCo said it has taken note of the many editorials, Facebook posts and co
n
reassignment of Birbal, who was transferred from the AlbiontoUitvlugtEstate.
“The corporation rejects the insinuation that this decision was politically motivated or related to Mr B i r b a l ' s p e r s o n a l affiliations,” it said in its statement.
According to the corporation, despite being a state-owned entity, GuySuCo is governed by its own internal operational policies and not by any politicalorelectoralagenda.
“Mr Birbal's transfer, effective July 28, 2025, forms part of the corporation's strategic path and more so, its human resource strategy geared at strengthening operations acrossallestates. Duetohis vastexperience,beingafield staff for over 22 years, coupled with his technical skills, which are urgently needed at the Uitvlugt Estate, he was identified for the reassignment,” the corporationexplained.
GuySuCo noted that this isnotsomethinguncommon or outside of its routine operations, and is based solely on operational needs andcapacitybuilding.
The company further reported that the transfer of senior staff, which includes field superintendents, from one location to another, formspartoftheirconditions of employment in keeping withthecorporation'spolicy to rotate managerial staff
across estates to ensure operational efficiency, skills sharing, and continuity of managementpractices.
“As our CEO, Mr Paul Cheonghasaffirmed:'Thisis a normal practice in the organisation.
Staff (members) are regularly moved between estates to build capacity and share expertise. Mr Birbal was selected because of his experience and skills, which are needed at the Uitvlugt Estate,” the statement disclosed.
Relating to moving employees, the corporation stated that it provides accommodation to support staff and their families duringsuchtransitions.
Further, GuySuCo informedthat,“thisdecision was not made without consulting Mr Birbal
Officers of the human resources department engaged him and discussed theneedforhisskillsetatthe Uitvlugt Estate, which saw him agreeing and accepting the transfer with no mention of feeling victimised or unfairly treated by the corporation In fact, Mr Birbal was elated to showcase his skillset at anotherestate.”Additionally, the corporation said it remains committed to upholding the principles of fairnessandprofessionalism inallaspectsofitsoperations and that it respects the constitutional right of every employee to support a political party of their
vehicular accident on July 10, 2025 on the Heroes Highway, East Bank Demeraraandwasrushedto the Diamond Regional Hospital. “He had collided with a plank across the road with no reflectors or any luminous caution to alert drivers.
choice, “and we strongly opp
discrimination on political grounds.”
Birbal had claimed in earlier reports that his transferred to another estate wasaresultofhimthrowing his support behind the We InvestinNationhood(WIN) party, which is led by businessman Azruddin Mohamed.
According to a Stabroek News article dated July 19, Birbal in a telephone conversation with the news agency, said his support of presidential candidate AzruddinMohamedresulted in a clear case of victimisation as it is not the norm for superintendents to be transferred. Instead, higher ranking employees are usually the ones to be t r a n s f e r r e d w i t h accommodation in the company'scompound.
The Stabroek News article further reported that Birbal said he was ready to pursue every legal and constitutional avenue available to him including filing formal complaints with the Ethnic Relations Commission, Guyana Human Rights Association, andtheCarterCenter,among others.
Due to the emergency treatmentrequiredBro.Daly was transferred to the GeorgetownPublicHospital Corporation. Later that day an MRI was recommended todeterminetheextentofhis injuries which was done at the St Joseph's Mercy Hospital. His funeral took place on Monday July 21, 2025.Hewas51-years-old.”
According to the GPSU, itisironicthatonewhospent hisentirecareerensuringthe safetyofairtrafficcommute would meet his demise on the roadways of Guyana. “Brother Daly joined the Civil Aviation Authority in 1990 after completing his secondary education at Alleyne'sHighSchool.
Itwasthebeginningofa life-long career of 34 years as an Air Traffic Controller ensuring that the air space was safe for incoming and outgoing flights in Guyana's airspace.
He impacted the lives of many individuals and
because of his love for people, especially representing that conditions of service for workers be improved, he became a Branch Chairman of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority,”theunionsaid. Itadded,thatDalyserved in several capacities at the Guyana Public Service Union including Organising Secretary and Projects Officer Finally,heservedas the Union's Second Vice Presidentuntilhispassing. He was also the Communications Officer with responsibility for the Union's Social Media platformsandwebsite.“Bro. Trevor, during his tenure with the Union was always willingtoacceptchallenges, andwaspassionateabouthis duties with other fellow TradeUnionist.
He was very vocal and argued his last point,
encouraged others and was always willing and ready to lend a helping hand. Trevor has given 34 years of professional service to Guyana. One moment this young man was here, being part of day-to-day administrationoftheUnion, training sessions, serving and imparting knowledge to others; the next funeral arrangements are being made,”GPSUsaid.
Daly has left a gap both in the professional services and the operations of the Union “His death has causedwidespreadgriefand disbelieve throughout the Union's membership as he waswellrespectedandloved byall.
TheGPSU,itsPresident, ExecutiveCouncil,Staffand General Members of the Guyana Public Service Unionarestilltryingtocome togripswithhispassing.His senseofhumour,insight,his tranquil appearance even in the most tumultuous situationswillbefeltbyall.
The Executive Council will continue to work assiduously as he did with loveandcompassion.Hehas indeedlefttoosoon.Hewill always be etched in the historyoftheGuyanaPublic Service Union, ” the statementconcluded.
9 bid to construct St. Joseph High School's annex
The Ministry of
Education has received nine proposals from contractors interested in constructing the world bank funded annex of the St Joseph's High School inGeorgetown Accordingto the bids submitted to the National Procurement and TenderAdministrationBoard (NPTAB),thebiddersareBK International Inc, Khemraj Nauth Inc , Advance Engineering, Shandong High-Speed Dejian Group Limited, Qianjian Group Company Guyana Inc, Ilyas Legacy Firms, JD Investments Inc , Nabi ConstructionInc.,andPacific RimContractors.
K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that the ministry hasbeenbuildinganumberof annexesatsecondaryschools to increase classrooms and amenities to enhance the learning environment for studentsandstaff
Theeducationministryin its initial tender document, stated that Guyana has received financing from the
world bank towards the cost ofthe'GuyanaStrengthening Human Capital through Education Project' and intends to apply part of the proceeds towards the contract The government signed the US$44 million loan agreement with the
world bank back in 2022 for the project which focuses on the expansion of access to quality education at the secondary level and improving technical and vocational training (TVET) The project supports the piloting and national rollout of a new curriculum for grades seven to nine and finance textbooks for grades sevento11.Italsocatersfor
the development of a new TVET sector policy for 2022-2030 and improving the delivery of TVET at secondary and postsecondaryinstitutions.
Some of the projects the ministry has undertaken and issued tenders for under the 'Guyana Strengthening Human Capital through EducationProject'includethe construction of two new blocks at the St Stanislaus College valued at $665,298,205
The ministry had also issued a tender stating that under the loan item-it would rehabilitate the Hope SecondarySchoollocatedon the East Coast of Demerara, construct the new Christiansburg Multilateral School in Region 10, and buildtheProspectSecondary School on the East Bank of Demerara Construction of the US$81 million school is currentlyunderwayandwhen completed, it is anticipated that it will cater for 1,000 students.
Trevor Daly
Safraaz Birbal
Keep your claws out of our affairs!
When it comes to the United States, selfinterest is often packaged as principle. And when that interest involves the plundering of our resources, morality flows not from conviction but from calculation.
It was only a matter of time before Guyanas electoral affairs became the subject of another imperial whisper from the empire. Therecentinsinuationsubtle to the trained ear, yet t h u n d e r o u s i n i t s presumptionthat the United States would “have difficulties” with a certain individuals elevation to Guyana’s National Assembly, is the latest echo of a long, dishonorable tradition.
The US makes no bone about its right to dictate to those it says are in its backyard. It has long held firmly to the belief that the affairs of sovereign nations are open to US meddling. Haiti is today in a mess becauseofthattradition.
But if we were to speak the truth, we would admit thattheUnitedStateshasno moral authority to tell Guyana who should run for publicoffice.
Ithasnolegalmandateto interfereinthedecisionsofa free electorate And it certainly has no place in speaking about the difficulties it will have if certain democratic choices which the Guyanese people
That the US has a penchantformeddlinginthe internal affairs of countries should come as no surprise. Whatshouldbesurprisingis that such meddling is
tolerated, or worse, internalizedaslegitimate.
The US has far from an unblemished record when it comes to sanctioned individuals running for office. Narendra Modi was once denied a visa to the UnitedStatesforhisalleged complicity in sectarian violence. But once elected Prime Minister of India, Modiwasquicklyembraced bytheUS.
He now walks the halls of Washington with the soft hush of red carpet beneath hisfeet.Noquestionsasked. No moral concerns whispered in diplomatic corridors.
Benoni Urey of Liberiaa man once listed on the U.S. Treasurys list of specially designated nationals for his alleged affiliations with Charles Taylor regime, was allowed, after election and appointment, to resume his public service. In 2015, the Obama administration lifted the sanctions. No scolding lecturesaboutthesanctityof democraticnorms. No State Department emissaries cautioning against his participation in governance No special statements warning of “difficulties.”
We see, then, that
principle is flexible, bent according to the angle of national interest And in Guyana, where the extractive economy now flows with golden promises of petroleum wealth, American interest has suddenlybecomeveryrigid. The mere possibility that someone bearing the scarlet mark of an OFAC sanction mightrisethroughtheballot or by party list to legislative office is now presented not as a matter for domestic reflection, but as a question ofU.S.comfort.
But who granted the United States such veto power over the electoral sovereigntyofothers?
Not the United Nations, whosecharterenshrinesselfdetermination Not the Vienna Convention, which guards the sovereign equality of states And certainly not the Guyanese people, whose long march from colonialism to universal adult suffrage did notculminateinoutsourcing their choices to foreign embassies.
The U.S. representative who now raises concerns about the political uneasiness of a Guyanese citizendoessonotfromlegal authority, but from imperial habit A habit nurtured during the Cold War when entire Latin American governmentsweredissolved withawhisperfromtheCIA. A habit sustained by the post-9/11 doctrine that all international order must be
DEM BOYS SEH
DeCentralCommitteedeh punextendedlunchbreak
Dem boys seh de PPP/C campaign in full swing—but nobody ain’t know who running yet! De presidential candidate still amystery
Butlehwebehonest,islikeamystery novel where everybody done know de ending—”The Return of Irfaan.” De only tingmissingisaformalannouncement,like how de Central Committee supposed to meetandblessdecoronation.
But up to now, not a peep—not even a press release saying dem meet fuh decide nothing.MaybedeCentralCommitteedeh punextendedlunchbreaksince2020.
Dem boys seh even if it’s a foregone conclusion, de party coulda at least ‘pretend’fuhfollowderules.
Call a lil meeting, pass round some pholourie,clapafewtimes,andletdeman walk out smiling with a “yes comrades, I humbly accept ” But instead, we get campaign trucks, rallies, and face signs all overdeplacebeforedecommitteeevensay, “ayeornay.”
And talking bout signs, dem boys seh
shaped in the image of American fear A habit, in short, of saying, “You are sovereign, but only if we approve.”
To be sure, Guyana has not helped its case. The attempted theft of the 2020 elections by the thenincumbent APNU+AFC created the opportunity for Washingtons moralistic foot towedgeitselfinthedoorof ourdemocracy
The hypocrisy of the riggers opened the window for American selfrighteousness to climb through, waving flags of electoral sanctity that fly only when convenient. But one betrayal of democracy doesnotjustifyanother
No personsanctioned or notshould be disqualified from seeking office by
foreign decree. That is not the role of OFAC, nor the State Department, nor any external actor operating outside our constitutional order
If the people of Guyana, in their imperfect wisdom, choose to elect a controversial figure to Parliament, that is not a crimeit is democracy, with allitsmuddleandmischief.
The clawing hand of the United States, reaching into our ballot boxes, must be slappedawaynotbecausewe are ungrateful for past support, but because we are grown. Our independence wasnotagift;itwasearned. And sovereignty, once earned, must be defended not only from within but from the insinuations and intrusionsofwithout.
I f A m e r
c a i s uncomfortable with our choices,itmayavertitsgaze. But it has no right to intervene, influence, or intimidate.
Inthiselectionandevery one that follows, the Guyanes
not Washingtonwill have the finalsay Letthatbetheend ofthematter
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
threeformerAPNUpickneysuddenlyshow up endorsing de very President. Now dem sittingroundadeskwithdeGSsmilingup, likeisonebighappyreunion.
But wait nah—is only Jagdeo on de othersideofdedesk?Wahhappentoderest of the PPPleadership? Nobody else get an invite? Is like a one-man meet-and-greet shownow
Dem boys seh it looking like PPPnow standfuh Onemanshakinghands,oneman pulling strings, and everybody else clappingfromdesideline.
Dem boys seh democracy inside PPP looking like a school play—everybody got arolebutonlyonemangotlines.DeCentral CommitteemissinglikesugarinGuySuCo. Butdecampaignrolling,depostersup,and Jagdeo running de show like em is candidate, campaign manager and committeechairmanallinone.
Dem boys seh welcometo SeasonTwo of “The Irfaan Identity”—directed by Jagdeo, starring Jagdeo, and co-starring Jagdeo. Talkhalf.Leffhalf
H@RD TRUTHS
Jagdeo unedited, unmasked
Okay,let'sgetgoing. I'll takeafewquickquestions.
Thanks, Dr Vice President. ThisisKatherine HepburnfromL.A,L.ANews (nottobemixedupwithLa, La News). Sir, what is the government's position on Guyana'smassiveoil?
Oil? I didn't know that Guyana has any Who said that?AndwhoisthisExxon that I am hearing about? What is that some kind of fancy new lady's lingerie? Are you sure you are not from La-La News? No sir, it'sLdotA,comma,LdotA.
From the public broadcasting squad comes a prearranged question, smooth as Johnson's Baby Powder: what can you report,Mr VP,aboutthePPP Government in its war on cost-of-living assaults? That's a good question, youngman;it'sthekindthat will get you places. Yessir,
but the question. Oh yes, yes,thequestion. Whatwas it again? On cost-of-living, and how the government is makingoutinitsfight? Oh, that's easy Very well, most encouraginglywell. Follow-up question on the same issue, if it is not a problem,sir Noproblemat all, son; go right ahead. If the PPP Government is doing so well, as you said, how is it that so many Guyanese have a problem buying basic food items? That'stheirproblem,notthe government's. Look at how many kilometers of new roads this government built, how many truckloads of sandthatitishadboughtand fetched all over the country Those alone should make them feel good about themselves, and forget their problems. It'simaginary,all in their heads. Oh, and by the way, just check with the
DPI(ortheCommissionerof Information Office) and get an understanding of how many hospitals this government has constructed inthelastfiveyears. Those whose problems make them sick can be assured that there's a bed waiting for them at any of those world classfacilities.
WhenJagdeoisonaroll, he is on a roll. The sad part for Guyanese is that he rolls downhill.Oh,it'syouagain, Ms.La-LaNews Whathave you got now, and be quick aboutit? Idon'thavetimeto waste, as there are many policies waiting to be finetunedandremovedfrom the drawing board and get onto the operating table. The whole world is talking about Guyana and oil in the samebreath,soIhavetotake a look to see what all the excitementisabout.
L.A, L.A News: Dr
Jagdeo: how is the Guyana Police Force performing? Jagdeo: is that a real question, or is that a trick question to make a fool of the government? Anyways, the police are doing well, much better than when they were under the PNC Journalist: do you have any stats, any supporting documents that L A, L A News can share with its readers? Jagdeo: c'mon, folks. Iamverybusy,goto
Information, why do you thinkthatofficeisthere,and all those millions are spent eachyearonit?
We did, sir, but there's a sign that says out to lunch. Jagdeo: did you try going earlier in the day? We did, andtherewasadifferentsign that says gone fishing Jagdeo:that'stheproblemin this country at this time.
Getting good help is such a pain up the, ah, nose Capacity,capacity,capacity; it's always a trial. I am making a note of it, and speaktothepresident. Heis incharge,andshouldbeable tosortthisout.
UnnamedNewsEntity:
Dr Vice President: how do youseethePPP'schancesin the September 1 elections? Will it win? Jagdeo:Abig victory is assured, a big victory Newsman: what happened to the landslide win that you yourself had guaranteed at a previous gathering? Jagdeo:that'sthe trouble with you guys, alwaysknit-picking.
Areyousure,youarenot fromLa-LaNews? Anyhow, abigvictoryisjustasmaller landslide.
The Americans have a saying for things like that: same difference. Oh, one more thing, and let this be a
warning to everyone here today Anyone, I mean anyone,whoslipsupanduse thatwordwillbebarredfrom these press briefings What's the word sir, you didn'tsay? Jagdeo:I'llspell itoutjustthisonce. W-I-N. Be smart, and not say it, or the police could drum up someinterestandpayavisit. Okay,timetowrapitup,one lastquestion.
L.A,L.ANews:howdid itfeeltoberunningtheshow with this third term that you carved out for yourself?
Jagdeo: that does it. Block these people from ever comingbackinmypresence. Offtherecord,itwasaball. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
PAHO, CARICOM sign 2025-2029 cooperation strategy for Caribbean
Director of the
Dr.
The Joint Subregional Cooperation Strategy that will provide a coordinated framework for technical cooperation to address common public health challenges in the Caribbean wassignedonWednesdayby the Director of the Pan
and Dr.
A m e r i c a n H e a l t h Organization, Dr Jarbas Barbosa, and Dr Carla N. Barnett, Secretary-General o f t h e C a r i b b e a n Community(CARICOM). According to a press release from PAHO, the Strategy will cover the 15 CARICOM Member States: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint VincentandtheGrenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as its six associate members: Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, Curacao, the Cayman Islands, and the Turks and CaicosIslands.
“This signing marks a milestoneinalong-standing partnership rooted in trust, mutualrespect,andashared vision for the health and well-being of the peoples of the Caribbean,” said Dr Barbosa during the signing ceremony, which took place during the PAHO Director's official visit to Guyana this week.
“The Caribbean faces unique and interconnected public health challenges –from the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases, to the ongoing threat of climate change, to the need for digital transformation and stronger, more resilient healthsystems,”theDirector added. “These challenges do not stop at borders, and neithercanoursolutions.”
Thanking Dr Barbosa f o r h i s o n g o i n g collaboration, Dr Carla N. Barnett, Secretary-General
of CARICOM highlighted that this agreement “is a landmark moment in our partnership with PAHO, whichhasbeeninstrumental in focusing on our health policies and our public healthdelivery,andensuring wecantakecareofthehealth of the people of the community.”
For Dr Frank Anthony, Minister of Health of Guyana, “this strategy affirmsthathealthisnotjust a service, it is a right. In the Caribbean, that right must notbedictatedbywhereyou live,byyourincome,oryour age ” The cooperation strategy outlines five strategic priorities for the Organization's technical cooperation in the subregion:
Enhancing resilience of primary health care-based healthsystems
This hinges on several
key areas: bolstering evidence-based decisionmaking, fostering robust workforce policies and trainingforaresilienthealth workforce, implementing a comprehensive digital transformation policy, and ensuring widespread access to quality, affordable medicines, vaccines, and healthtechnologies.
Advancing climate adaptation, mitigation, disaster preparedness and response to enhance e n v i r o n m e n t a l sustainability, and health security
This will focus on climate emergency preparedness, as well as the implementation of climate adaptation strategies to enhance health sector
Within this area, PAHO andCaribbeancountrieswill collaborate on developing policies to mitigate noncommunicable disease (NCD) risk factors. They will also accelerate the implementation of NCD management initiatives, including PAHO's Better Care for NCDs and cervical cancer elimination strategies. A key focus will also be on expediting the transition to communitybasedmentalhealthcare.
A d v a n c i n g t h e prevention, control and elimination of priority communicablediseases
resilience, and the integrationofenvironmental health considerations into regional public health policiesandprograms. Strengthen multisectoral action towards surveillance, prevention and control of NCDs, violence, injuries, mentalhealthconditionsand theirriskfactors
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Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony joined Director of the Pan American Health Organization, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, and Dr. Carla N. Barnett, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) during
Pan American Health Organization,
Jarbas Barbosa,
Carla N. Barnett, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) with the signed strategy document
Demerara Bank cuts ties with another WIN candidate
Anothercandidate of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, Trishanna Park-Cort on Wednesday revealed that the Demerara Bank Limited (DBL) has informed her that it will discontinue its services with her
Kaieteur News reported thatatapressconferenceon Tuesday night, the WIN party which is led by businessman Azruddin Mohamed announced that some of its candidates have been informed by Demerara Bank Limited that their accountswillbeclosed.
According to a post on her Facebook page, ParkCort said, “Subsequent to viewing WIN’s press conference last evening, I decided to check my email because: 1. I have had an existing account with Demerara bank for the past 11years.2.Iamacandidate forWIN.”
Accordingtothewoman, “As expected, I received the same correspondence informing me that the bank wishes to discontinue provision of its services to me.Assuch,IpaidtheRose Hall branch to collect my moneyandseekclarityfrom the manager who signed the correspondence.”
Park-Cortstatedthatshe informedthemanagerthatas alongstandingcustomershe believes an explanation for the termination is necessary since it was not requested. She said she then began to present her knowledge of OFAC (U S Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control) sanctions and informedthemanagerofthe following “1. I have not receivedOFACsanctions.2. Demerara bank limited is a localbankinginstitution.3.I am not a business partner of any OFAC sanctioned
individuals. 4. There has been no fraudulent activity onmyaccount.”
The WIN candidate furthersaidthatthemanager informed her that the discontinuation of their service is as a result of a review of “DEMERARA BANK’S INTERNAL POLICY.”
E x p r e s s i n g h e r dissatisfaction, Park- Cort posted, “I take this opportunity to remind you thatavoteforthePPP/Cisa votefortheweaponisationof financial institutions against the citizenry of Guyana and that partisan private financial institutions should not be trusted with your moneyinademocracy.”
Kaieteur News had reported that at the press conference former Peoples National Congress Reform (PNC/R) parliamentarian Natasha Singh-Lewis and Duarte Hetsberger revealed
they were among those affected.
They said DBL notified them of the termination of services via email correspondence. The WIN candidates questioned whetherthemoveislinkedto their affiliation with WIN a partyfoundedbyMohamed, who was sanctioned by OFAC for alleged gold smuggling.
WIN’s campaign managerOdessaPrimuswho was present also suggested that it could be “petty politics” initiated by the People’sProgressiveParty–government.
In addition to SinghLewis signaling her intentiontotakelegalaction, Primus said the party is assessing whether to pursue collective legal recourse against DBL. Primus noted
WIN will be notifying international observers and the global community about what they consider victimisation of their candidates. She added that given this move by the local bank,allWINmemberswith accountsatDBLwillnowbe closing them. “We will not beintimidatedbyanystretch of the imagination, and I understand that while the governmentlovespowerand whatthefeelofpowermeans forthem,ourpeoplewillnot beintimidated.Wewillstand together and we will stand strong, because this is a democracy…”shesaid.
Guyana,YaleCentersignMOU forBiodiversity,GlobalChange
Guyana gets help to boost forensic and fentanyl detection capabilities
Local and foreign forensic experts
The U.S. Embassy here and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of
EnforcementAffairs(INL)recentlyhosteda team of forensic science experts from the U.S.-based Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) to conduct an assessment of Guyana’s forensicandfentanyldetectioncapabilities. InapressreleasetheUSsaidthattheSCG team during the week of July 14-18, 2025 conducted a technical evaluation and assessment of the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory (GFSL) as it pursues
Standardization (ISO) and International ElectrotechnicalCommission(IEC)forensic accreditations.
During the week, the U.S. Embassy and SCGexpertsmetwiththeGFSLandengaged key criminal justice stakeholders including theJudiciary,OfficeoftheDirectorofPublic Prosecution, Guyana Police Force Criminal Investigations Department, Police Prosecutors, Georgetown Public Hospital CooperationSexualAssaultandPathology
Continued on page 16
President Irfaan Ali, announced WednesdaythatGuyanaandtheYaleCenter for Biodiversity and Global Change (YCBGC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU). Thepresidentmade the announcement during his address at the openingceremonyoftheGlobalBiodiversity Alliance(GBA)summit,attheArthurChung Conference Centre According to the president, the MOU is the beginning of a strategic,long-termcollaborationfocusedon biodiversity science, data, and technology With the new arrangement, Yale will work with Guyana to support the country’s leadershipintheglobalbiodiversityalliance, help to design a world-class international centerofexcellenceforbiodiversityresearch in Guyana and guide the application of cutting-edgebiodiversitysciencetodecisionmakingincludinga30x30commitment.
“Yale brings not only its world-class expertise, but also a network of partners including the E O Wilson Biodiversity Foundation, Map of Life, and the broader GEOcommunity,”Alisaid.
President Ali marked the decision as a monumental step forward not just for Guyana, but for South-South and NorthSouthcollaborationinbiodiversityscience.
Headdedthattheyarebuildingtheglobal biodiversity knowledge infrastructure from the ground up, and from Guyana out. The
Guyaneseleadersaidnobiodiversitystrategy can succeed without the full involvement of those who live closest to nature; indigenous peoplesandlocalcommunities.
“In the Rupununi, the discovery of the critically endangered Red Siskin led to the formation of the South Rupununi Conservation Society, a grassroots organisation led by indigenous youth They have not only helped restore the species, but havebuiltpride,income,andidentitythrough ecotourism,education,andconservation,”Ali said The YCBGC is an academic center housedwithinYaleUniversity,dedicatedtothe studyofearth’sbiodiversityandthecreationof knowledgeandtoolstoguideitsconservation Itishometo‘MapofLife,’aninitiativeunder the auspices of the Group on Earth Observations(GEO)toassembleandintegrate a wide range of knowledge about species distributionsandtheirdynamicsovertime The collaboration will be carried out in close partnership with key external organisations; the EO Wilson Biodiversity Foundation (EOWBF) and the Map of Life Solutions (MOLS), although they are not included as formal parties within the agreement It was agreed that each party will be responsible for their expenses including financial support for their employees, researchers, faculty members, students and other staff members participatinginthecollaboration
WIN candidate, Trishanna Park – Cort
The signing of the MOU
Govt.to spend $763 million to upgrade roads,bridges at Lima Sands,Mainstay
The Ministry of Public Works on Wednesday revealed that access roads and bridges at Lima Sands and Mainstay in Region Two will be upgraded to concrete structures.
According to the ministry, Junior MinisterofPublicWorks,DeodatIndarleda sitevisitonWednesdayatLimaSandswhere a $438.7 million road project has now commenced. The ministry stated that this is thefifthphaseoftheroadworksandwillsee 2.4kmofasphalticconcreteroadwaybuiltin thecommunity
“Minister Deodat Indar on Wednesday
led a site visit to the project where he urged the contractors to execute the works accordingtotheprojecttimelineandprovide employmentopportunitiesforresidents.The 20ft wide road will continue along the 5km thoroughfare that was completed this year,” theministryinformed.
The ministry informed that the project forms part of President Irfaan Ali’s commitment to continue to improve commute for residents who encounter great difficulty in traversing the roadway due to hugecratersandpotholes.Theministerand Continued on page 16
Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar visiting the road project at Lima Sands on Wednesday
One of the main bridges and road at Mainstay which will be upgraded.
APNU to transform all regions into agricultural hubs to lower cost of living
Presidential Candidate of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Aubrey Norton, said if elected to office, his
administration will
t r a n s f o r m a l l t e n administrative regions into agriculturalhubs. This initiative, he explained, will boost regional development, increase the local supply of goods, and ultimately lower costoflivingnationwide.
Speaking during a live
b r o a d c a s t o n GlobeSpan24x7 with host Dr. Asquith Rose on Monday, Norton criticised the PPP/C government's approach to agriculture and high food costs. He noted that the majority of agricultural production in Guyana is concentrated in RegionsTwo,Three,partsof Four, Five, and Six, while Regions One, Seven, Eight, and 10 remain heavily
dependent on imported produce.
Norton emphasised that such imbalance should be changed, stating that every region has the potential to contribute to the agriculture sector “ThefirstthingIwill do is to ensure that all regions become involved in agriculture, because all of them have lands. And even outside of lands, in this worldofmoderntechnology, like aquaponics etc, you have agriculture in every region,”hesaid.
According to Norton, developing agriculture across all regions will increasesupplyandstabilise prices. “If you make every region sustainable from an agriculturalstandpoint,what that means is that there will bemoreagriculturalproduce in the society, and that contributes to the lowering ofthecostofliving,”Norton explained.
He further criticised the current government for failing to prepare for the pressures the oil industry would bring to the agricultural sector “The government should have been aware that with the coming of ExxonMobil, therewouldbeanincreasein pressure on the agricultural sector for agricultural products. And should have expanded agriculture into every region to ensure that theagriculturalproducethat are needed are there. The government has failed to do that and the price has gone up,”Nortonstated.
He also addressed the issue of poultry and egg farming, saying, “If we invest an interest for all regionstohaveproperfarms that are producing the chickens and the eggs they need, the pressure will reduce and the price will comedown.”
- Norton
He emphasised the importance of agriculture as a direct way to tackle the highcostofliving.“Ibelieve agriculture is critical to bringing down the prices becausethehighpricesexist on other things that are imported, but what affects the average man is the basic things that are produced here, like bora and boulanger So,agricultureis needed,”hesaid.
Withhisaimofensuring sustainability, Norton
incorporate agro-processing i
al development strategy “We also have to recognise that oncewestarttoproducelike that, we have to become involvedinagro-processing. We have to develop storage facility to be able to store agricultural produce and to beabletotransformthemto value added products. That for me is the place at which youwillbegintotacklecost of living in the agricultural sector,”Nortonstated. Healsoemphasisedthe (Continueonpage17)
APNU leader
Aubrey Norton
Loss of CARICOM's biodiversity being addressed through policy development, international collaborations -SecretaryGeneraltellssummit
Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Dr. Carla Barnett told the inaugural GlobalBiodiversitySummit being held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) that the loss of CARICOM's biodiversity is being addressed through “policy development, international collaborations andregionalinitiatives.”
She told the delegates and Heads-of-State present at the summit that in the Caribbeanbiodiversityfaces several threats, with climate changebeingincluded.
This is so, because the region is vulnerable due to the small masses of land coupled with low elevation and the dependence on climatesensitivesectors.
“Sea level rise threatens coastal habitats, mangroves, sea grass beds and turtle nesting sites, and resultant saltwater intrusion affects fresh water ecosystems Warmer ocean temperatures trigger bleaching and mass die-off in coral reefs, and as hurricanes and tropical storms become more frequent and destructive, they cause widespread habitatdestruction,pollution
and displacement of species,”sheexplained.
Dr Barnett also highlighted, that man-made impacts are also a threat to the region's biodiversity, along with invasive species, and overexploitation including illegal logging, overfishing and unregulated water use which can alter ecosystems and threaten nativespecies.
“AsCARICOMseeksto balance economic growth and development with ecological sustainability, it hasbeenactivelyresponding
to biological and
biodiversity loss through a mixture of policy development, international collaboration and regional initiatives.
She commended
President Irfaan Ali for hosting the initiative and bringing together global leaders, scientists, indigenous voices and innovators in a positive move to consolidate global efforts towards biodiversity protection.
Dr Barnett explained that biodiversity promotes the health of ecosystems, sustains and supports culturaltraditionswithinthe Caribbean Community and globally She said the CARICOM community is a melting pot of biodiversity, as it is rich with endemic species, coral reefs, mangroves, rainforests, wetlands and fresh water systems.
“ C A R I C O M biodiversity isn't just ecologically rich, it is economically vital as our rich ecosystems support food security; tourism and coastal protection, while also offering vital services such as storm buffering and climate regulation. Forested countries like Guyana, Belize and Suriname store significant carbon, presenting opportunities for climate finance, we have heardalotofthattoday,”the CARICOM Secretary Generaladded.
However, she noted that less well understood and documented is the rich genetic diversity of CARICOM, which holds p o t e n t i a l f o r pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and even biotechnology Additionally, the traditional
knowledge held by the local andindigenouscommunities isvaluablewhenitcomesto howspeciesandecosystems can be integrated into sustainable development a
frameworks. The particular area holds much potential and can benefit from an increase in technical and scientific cooperation, as
partnershipsthatcanemerge
BiodiversityAlliance.”
“CARICOM has played an important role in the multilateral environment and development agenda in advocating safeguarding global natural resources through the holding of significant conferences on biological diversity In the Bahamas, for example, the ConferenceofthePartieson the Conven
on on Biological Diversity, CARICOM has also piloted resolutions on sustainable
Caribbean Sea for present and future generations, and anchored the negotiations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on Biodiversity B e y o n d N a t i o n a l Jurisdiction, the BBNJ,” Dr Barnettsaid.
Further, she said the regional community has recognised that it must be proactive in flipping the switch from vulnerability to resilience, with key responses including “the articulationoftheCaribbean Community Environment and Natural Resources Policy Framework, which is an umbrella policy to guide sustainable management of environment and natural resources across our
PAHO, CARICOM sign 2025-2029...
Frompage10
through subregional coordination with the One HealthApproach
This strategic priority will focus on the accelerating the elimination of communicable diseases throughthestrengtheningof policies to promote vaccinationasapublicgood. It will also look to enhance surveillance and earlywarning systems to enable countriestorespondquickly
t o o u t b r e a k s o f communicablediseases.
Enhancing technical
cooperation through partnerships, resource mobilization,andadvocacy
This includes the
development of a
subregional framework in partnershipwithCARICOM to enhance resource mobilization, as well as engagement with decisionmakers to address priority health issues. “As we sign this Strategy today, let us also renew our commitment toworktogether–notjustas institutions,butasallies,and as a community bound by common purpose, ” concludedDr Barbosa.
The Director of the Pan A m e r i c a n H e a l t h Organization, Dr Jarbas Barbosa, Dr Carla N Barnett, Secretary-General
o f t h e C a r i b b e a n Community (CARICOM), Dr.FrankAnthony,Minister ofHealthofGuyana,among
Secretary General of CARICOM Dr. Carla Barnett.
Member States, the draft CARICOM Biodiversity Strategy, which is being aligned with the KunmingM o n t r e a l G l o b a l Biodiversity Framework to promote harmonized conservation efforts and sustainable use of biodiversityresources.”
Whilethevisionof25by 2025 is now 2025 plus five, the regional plan of CARICOM is still to reduce the food import bill of the region by boosting local agriculture and integrating biodiversity into food security and production
systems. Also necessary is proactive engagement in international agreements andtreaties,whichisevident in the region's strong presence at the 16th Conference of Parties on Biological Diversity, and its leading role in negotiating the treaty on Biodiversity B e y o n d N a t i o n a l Jurisdiction. A
h organisations like the European Union (EU), “the Organization of African Caribbean and Pacific States, and the UN Environmental Programme to build a Member State's capacity to implement the biodiversity cluster of multilateral environmental agreements.”
These are all activities that CARICOM is involved in and has been making steady progress while being driven by key partnerships, however attention is needed to address enforcement and governan
recognised that capacity building and funding for environmental protection and regulation agencies remain priorities, as well as the need for strengthened mechanisms to enhance communityengagementand local stewardship, and perhaps most importantly, we must do more to align biodiversity management and conservation with national development plans,”Dr Barnettsaid.
“This summit is therefore well poised to allowforattentiontobepaid on how to encourage constructive engagements, on partnerships in technical and scientific cooperation and in financing for biodiversity It will also allow for discussi
biodiversity with provider countries on areas including access to financing and putting biodiversity back on the path to recovery,” she added.
Registrants urged to uplift ID cards before E-day
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is reminding the public to collect their national identification card (ID) as it is the primary and preferred form of identification that is used to identify persons as qualified voters on election day In a release, GECOM noted that it is in possession ofanumberofIDcardsfrom previous cycles of registration, including those from the claims and objections exercise that was conductedinJune,2025
is notifying all registrants w
others, pose for a group photo after signing the subregional cooperation strategyfor2025-2029.
During his Official Visit toGuyana,whichtookplace from 21-23 July, the PAHO Director also met with the Prime Minister of Guyana, Mark Phillips, to discuss vital improvements being made to the health system. Top of the agenda was the impact of health worker
migration, and the importance of utilizing new technology, such as PAHO's hybrid nursing programs to expand nurse training, particularly for countries of the Caribbean that face similar issues with training andretention.
The commission warned that the presentation of his/her ID card facilitates faster processing of the elector thereby reducing processing time for electors to vote, as well as the time otherelectorswouldhaveto waitinthequeuetovote.
In this regard, GECOM
Frompage15 highcostofgoodsininterior regions,attributingitlargely totransportationcostandthe inefficiency of moving perishable items over long distances. Norton pointed outthatmanyofthesegoods spoil before reaching the marke
ng
o unnecessary waste. “If you go to Mahdia to buy food products, the cost is much
registration transactions but havenotasyetupliftedtheir ID cards to visit the registration office where they conducted registration to uplift their respective ID cards The varying transactions for which ID cardswereproducedinclude applications for (i) registration, (ii) change of name, and (iii) or correction toparticularsonIDCards.
Georgetown…,”hesaid. H
u e d t h a t developing local farms in areaslikeMahdiawouldnot only reduce costs, but also improve food security and easy accessibility Additionally,hestressedthe impor
GECOM said all identification cards can be uplifted from the respective registrationofficeduringthe following working hours: Monday–Thursday8:00hrs – 12:00hrs 13:00hrs –16:30hrs Friday 8:00hrs –12:00hrs 13:00hrs –15:30hrs.Thecommissionis also advising the concerned persons that they must visit the relevant registration officeinpersontouplifttheir IDcards.
solution to post-harvest losses “For agro- processing a lot of what is wasted can be canned, processed for the market We should be d
ng an agroprocessing approach that allows us to process those thingsandensurethatwecan store them properly and export. It's a comprehensive approach that is needed rather than what is happening at present,” he said.
77 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks Wednesday as starvation continues
(AlJazeera)-Atleast77 Palestinianshavebeenkilled inIsraeliattackssincedawn, including 25 people killed seekingaid,medicalsources tellAlJazeera.
Three strikes hit homes and a tent in Gaza City, killing at least 21 people, mostlywomenandchildren. The attacks come as the besieged territory faces extremehungerandongoing bombardment.
At least 10 have died of forced starvation in the past 24 hours in Gaza, bringing thedeathtollfromhungerto 111, including at least 80 children, according to the territory’sHealthMinistry
Israeli forces continued
bombardingGazaas109aid groups called for action against Israel, warning that “mass starvation is spreading” across the enclave.
Dr Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO’s representative for occupied Palestinian territory, has spoken out amid the vast food shortage and more than 1,000 people killedinGazawhileseeking food at the deadly GHF distributionpoints.
The attacks on aid seekers have turned the few remaining hospitals “into massive trauma wards”, he said. “Mainly young boys andmenshotinthehead,the neck, the abdomen, the
chest, the knees – horrific scenes,” Peeperkorn said “There’s a way to stop this. The markets need to be floodedwithfood–youwill stop the mass casualty incidents, the prices would go down, and people would haveaccesstofood.”
The food scarcity is so extreme that people can’t do their work, said Peeperkorn, including journalists, teachers, and even their own staff
“Everyone is looking for food,”hesaid.
“Weevenseeitwithour own staff We struggle withaccesstowater,access tofood.”
The World Food
Naeema cooks what little food she has for her children in her damaged home [Omar aL-Qattaa/AFP]
Programme (WFP) has urged for increased food aid to Gaza as the hunger crisis plaguing the enclave has reached “new and astonishing levels of desperation”.
InapostonX,theWFP wrote that in Gaza, nearly one in three people is not eatingfor“days”.
“90,000 women & children need urgent malnutritiontreatment.Food assistance is the only solutiontostopstarvationin itstracks.
There’s no time to lose,” the organisation added Wednesday morning, more than 100 aid organisations warned that “mass
starvation” was spreading across the Gaza Strip due to an Israeli siege on the number of aid trucks enteringtheenclave.
M o h a m m e d A b u
Mughaisib, deputy coordinator for Doctors Without Borders, also known as MSF, said the situation is “dramatically deteriorating” in Gaza with “everyone” facing acute hunger
“It’s not only among the population who you see in the hospitals, it’s amongourstaffaswell
The medical staff, the paramedics, everyone is really facing the same situation There is no
completely exhausted,” Abu Mughaisib told Al Jazeera from Khan Younis, southernGaza.
“ I t ’ s a y o u n g population, more than 50 percent of Gaza are children and they need not just bread, they need real nutrition, they need food, they need eggs, milk, and this is not available since March,” he added, referring toIsrael’sdecisiontoimpose ablockadeonaidtrucks.
Heexplainedthatthere wasalsoahighshortageof items entering the enclave, including drugs and supplements that they neededintheirclinics
Top UN court says countries can sue each other over climate change
(BBC) A landmark decision by a top UN court has cleared the way for countries to sue each other over climate change, including over historic emissions of planetwarminggases.
But the judge at the International Court of Justice in the Hague, Netherlands on Wednesday said that untangling who causedwhichpartofclimate changecouldbedifficult.
The ruling is nonbindingbutlegalexpertssay it could have wide-ranging consequences.
It will be seen as a victoryforcountriesthatare very vulnerable to climate change, who came to court afterfeelingfrustratedabout
lack of global progress in tacklingtheproblem.
The unprecedented case attheInternationalCourtof Justice (ICJ) was the brainchild of a group of young law students from low-lyingPacificislandson the frontlines of climate change, who came up with theideain2019.
One of those students, Siosiua Veikune from Tonga, was in the Hague to hearthedecision.
“I’mlostforwords.This is so exciting. There’s a ton ofemotionsrushingthrough us. This is a win we take proudly back home to our communities,”he told BBC News.
“Tonight I’ll sleep e
recognised what we have l
suffering,ourresilienceand ourrighttoourfuture,”said FloraVano,fromthePacific Island Vanuatu, which is consideredthecountrymost vulnerable to extreme weatherglobally
“Thisisavictorynotjust forusbutforeveryfrontline community fighting to be heard.”
The ICJ is considered the world’s highest court and it has global jurisdiction. Lawyers have told BBC News that the opinion could be used as early as next week, including in national courts outsideoftheICJ.
Campaigners and climate lawyers hope the
landmarkdecisionwillnow
countries that have historicallyburnedthemost fossilfuelsandaretherefore the most responsible for global warming Many poorer countries had backed the case out of frustration, claiming that developed nations are failing to keep existing promises to tackle the growingproblem
B u t d e v e l o p e d countries, including the UK, argued that existing climate agreements, including the landmark UN Paris deal of 2015, are sufficient and no further legalobligationsshouldbe imposed
On Wednesday the
court rejected that argument Judge Iwasawa Yuji also said that if countries do not develop the most ambitious possible plans to tackle climate change this would constituteabreachoftheir promises in the Paris Agreement
He added that broader international law applies, which means that countries which are not signed up to the Paris Agreement - or want to leave,liketheUS-arestill required to protect the environment, including theclimatesystem The court’s opinion is advisory, but previous ICJ decisions have been
d b y governments, including whentheUKagreedtohand back the Chagos Islands to Mauritiuslastyear “The ruling is a watershed legal moment,” said Joie Chowdhury, Senior Attorney at the Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL).
“ W i t h t o d a y ’ s authoritativehistoricruling, the International Court of Justice has broken with business-as-usual and delivered a historic affirmation: those suffering the impacts of climate devastation have a right to remedy for climate harm, including through compensation,”sheadded.
Relatives and loved ones of Palestinians killed in an Israeli attack mourn at al-Shifa Hospital [File: Khames Alrefi/Anadolu Agency]
Summer cricket camps of Port Mourant and Rose Hall Community Center cricket clubs benefit from “Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana”
Leading cricket clubs in Berbice and Guyana, Port Mourant and Rose Hall Community Center, were recipients of one box of cricket balls each from this noble initiative done jointly by Anil Beharry of Guyana andKishanDasoftheUSA. Port Mourant produced many world class cricketers intheheydayssuchasRohan Kanhai, Alvin Kallicharran, Joe Solomon and Basil Butcheramongotherswhile RHCCC is the fast-rising
club that already produced several outstanding young cricketers such as Isai Thorne. The balls will be used to conduct the clubs summercricketcamps. This project will continuetoimprovethelives of youths in every community We are pleased tobepartofthedevelopment of young cricketers in Guyana. Our aim is to keep them off the streets and get them actively involved in sports,cricketinparticular
Totalcricketrelateditems received/purchased so far: $730,000 in cash, thirteen coloredcricketuniforms,one set of stumps, two trophies, thirty six pairs of cricket shoes, thirty eight pairs of batting pads, forty seven cricketbats,fortytwopairsof batting gloves, twenty nine thigh pads, three pairs of wicketkeepingpads,sixarm guards, two chest pads, two boxes, fourteen gear bags, thirteen bat rubbers, seven helmets, one fiber glass bat,
one pair of floppy hat, one pair of inners, sixteen boxes and four of white cricket balls, thirteen boxes of red cricket balls, one bat cone and twenty eight footballs. Inadditiontotheabove,gear withvalueofover$600,000 was donated by Sheik Mohamed, former National wicket keeper/batsman. All cash collected is being used to purchase cricket gear requested and not available atthetime.
Thursday July 24, 2025
ARIES(Mar 21–Apr 19)
Thingsareslippingintoplace quite nicely for you, Aries. Your persuasive manner and gentle nudges are enough to get people where you want them. Control is all yours if youwantit.
TAURUS(Apr 20–May20)
When faced with ten entrees onamenu,itmaybehardfor youtochoosejustone.Order twoormore,Taurus.Don'tlet indecisiveness hinder you.At thesametime,don'tviewitas somethingnegative.
GEMINI(May21–June20)
Yourdreamswillnevercome trueunlessyoubelieveinand act on them, Gemini. No one else is going to do it for you. Unless you have a fairy godmother, you need to take mattersintoyourownhands.
CANCER(June21–July22)
If people start to hassle you todayorgiveyouahardtime about your appearance, pay them no mind, Cancer You havetherighttoliveyourlife anywayyouwant.
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
Reachforthepotofgoldatthe end of the rainbow, Leo. It's closerthanyouthink.Indeed, your dreams are completely within your reach. There are forces at work today helping youtoachieveyourgoals.
VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)
Today is your day to dream big, Virgo. Think about what youwantmostoutoflife.Aim atthestars.There'snolimitto howfaryoucango.Youronly l i m i t a t i o n i s y o u r imagination. Don't worry if your plan doesn't seem to makerationalsense.
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
Expand your mind to its furthest reaches today, Libra. There's an incredible opportunity opening up in which you can make great strides in a creative realm. Followthemusictoday
SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)
Your mind may seem rather cloudy today, Scorpio, but don't let this hinder you. In fact, you can use this dreamy feelingtoyouradvantage.Try to bring more magic into your life.
SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)
This is an excellent day for you,Sagittarius,inwhichyour emotions will be strong. Trust that your instincts are serving youwell,betterthananyother sign.Youhavenothingtolose byfollowingyouheart.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
Thingsmaygetabitconfusing today, Capricorn. Don't feel likeyouneedtomakesenseof it all. In fact, that may be impossible. Whatever you do, make sure you're being yourself.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)Mixyourrealitywithabit of fantasy today, Aquarius. Kickbackforawhileandrest. Try to spend time meditating andclearingyourheadofdaily worries Calming, relaxing activities are the best way to spendtoday
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
Let yourself go into creative modetoday,Pisces.Driftintoa whole other world. Escape your present reality and exploreyourfantasiesthrough artistic endeavors. Dream as bigasyourmindwillallow
To date, ninety-nine players, male and female, from all three counties of Guyana have benefited directly from cash and cricket gear along with a number of clubs and area committees. Cricketrelated items, used or new, are distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketersinGuyana.Skills, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients Talent spottingisbeingdoneacross thecountryandclubleaders also assist to identify same. Progressive and well managedcricketclubswitha youth program, will also benefit.
Distribution will continue.
Anyone interested to contribute can contact Anil Beharry on 623 6875 or Kishan Das on 1 718 664 0896.
‘Super Sunday’ Tapeball on...
Frompage22 ($35,000), and Best Economy($35,000).
The Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast has garnered support from: Kares Engineering Inc, the Office of the President, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, KFC Guyana, Star Rentals, Banks DIH, ENet, Guyana Lottery Company, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Impressions, Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal, Shawn’s Mini Mart, Giftland Group of Companies, Kris Jagdeo Construction Company, Montra Restaurant & Lounge, Windsor Estates, The New Doctor’s Clinic, GuyOil, ANSA McAL, SuperBet Guyana, Digital Technology, Camille’s A c a d e m y , N a v i n Construction, Demerara Mutual Life Insurance, Continental Transportation, and Environmental & TechnicalSolutions.
Left is Ameer Rahaman of RHCCC, receiving the balls from Anil Beharry, project partner.
‘Super Sunday’ Tapeball on the cards for Essequibo in kares t10 t10
Withmatchesin the Essequibo zone in the Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast set for only Sunday, July 27, the organisers believe it will be filled with action from morningtonight.
Instead of the initially scheduled Saturday and Sunday,alltheactionwillbe on Sunday, with the hunt to crown the final zone champion.
M o n t r a J a g u a r s (Berbice), Eccles All-Stars (East Bank Demerara/West Demerara), and Titans All-
Stars (East Coast/ Georgetown) are the three-
zone champions, and attentionisnowonwhowill fillthefinalspot.
Matches in Essequibo will be held on Saturday, July 26, at Pomona Ground and Hampton Court, while on Sunday, all the action moves to Anna Regina Ground.
The participating teams for the Essequibo zone are: AuroraKnightRiders,Team Evolution, Team Royals, Renegades Cricket Club, The United Crew, Mahdia (Movements Family), Matarkai CPG, Bartica Royals, Moruca Super Strikers, Queenstown (Ariel XI), Inevitable XI, Avinash
All-Stars, and Essequibo Jaguars.
A d d i n g t o t h e excitement, admission to all venues throughout the tournament is free, and matches commence at 09:00h.
Beyond the bragging rights, significant financial rewards are also on offer
The zone champion will receive a handsome $300,000, while the runnerupwillreceive$100,000.
However, the stakes get even higher at the national final, where teams will vie foranadditional$1.7million grandprize.
The national runner-up
will pocket $700,000 along with a trophy and medals, and even the losing semifinalists will be rewarded with$300,000each. The national finals will be on Sunday, August 3, at the National Stadium, Providence.
Individual brilliance won’t go unnoticed either, with a host of prizes up for grabs, including MVP ($150,000 + motorcycle), Most Runs ($100,000 + trophy+TV),MostWickets ($100,000 + trophy + TV), Man-of-the-National Final ($75,000 + trophy + TV), HighestStrikeRate (Continuedonpage21)
2025 GCB Men’s U17 2-Day Trial Match…
B Team romps to 10-wicket win, as players gain form ahead of Regional Championships
The Guyana Under-17 team completed a solid 2Daytrialmatchwhichended yesterdayattheLBICricket FacilityGround,withahuge 10-wicketwinforTeamB.
Batting first, Richard Ramdehol’s Team A posted 107 in 44 5 overs with Johnathan Mentore (23), Dave Seegobin (16), Arif Kahn (11) and Eron Benjamin (20) the main scorers.
B Team skipper, spinner Dave Mohabir grabbed 3-9,
withhelpfrompacerDarwin Joseph(2-9)andFeazBaskh (2-9). At Stumps Team B 174 allout,gainedasolid67-run lead despite Mentore, Benjamin and Gibran Yacoobeachpickinguptwo wicketsfortheAteam.
VishalWilliams(19)and Emmanuel(37),28fromallrounder Bomesh Lall coupled with Prince scoring 33, headlined batting for Mohabirandhisboys.
Batting a second time
TeamAposted165thanksto Ramdheol (28), Dhanesh Persaud (42), Mentore (17) andRaveshSingh(16). Prince bagged 4-27, while Mohabir claimed an additional3-23,astheirteam would go on to make 103-3 which sealed their opponent’sfate.
O p e n e r L o m a r Seecharran stroked 49 not out while Williams would chipinwith35tohelpfinish the job in 25 4 overs (CliftonRoss)
More pulsating action is brewing for Essequibo on July 27.
Dhanesh Persaud
Shane Prince Lomar Seecharran
Frompage24
Robert Allen Stanford... Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League Fixtures Confirmed
w e l c o m i n g w a l l s Organization was top class. With billions of other people’s money, one can do anything!
I did get lucky though I had asked Adrian Griffith, formerWIopeningbatter,then excellently stage-managing fortheStanfordSuperSeries, toallowmeoneofthetotally black, full-sized, Stanfordlabelledbats. Ihopedtoget allautographsofthefirstset of “Stanford Legends ” Thatblackbat,withnamesand autographs of the first set of “Stanford Legends”, is photographed and displayed here-in
Afterinauguration,atleast three original “Stanford Legends” quickly became “EX Stanford Legends,” seemingly disenchanted with Stanford’s running of things Themajorityremained
NOTE: Ifanyonewants thatbatfromme,justletme know ASAP Anything is alwaysavailablefortheright price. This is 2025. Make methatofferthatyouthinkI cannotrefuse.
THESTANFORD LEGACY
A quick, passing question, since everyone everywhere touts “Law and Order”, the practice, that is, not the popular television programme I have met many past and present very highly-placed police officers. Ihaveevenmetand known many past and present Ministers of Home Affairs and HomelandSecurity Threeofmy four uncles were senior police officers in Guyana (1950’s–1980’s) One, Charles aka “Sonny”, had been Guyana’s Chief of Immigration My late brother,Stafford,hadbeena policeofficertoo. Theyhad all told me exactly the same thing: “Receiving known stolen goods and stolen monies is just as seriously illegal,asactuallystealingthe goodsandmoniesyourself” If that is true, how is it that none of the renowned “Stanford Legends” , whom I had been very reliably informed had been very well paid for their names, likenesses and presence, to be used by the convicted thief, have not been indicted for receiving stolen monies, or, indeed, be now in jail with Stanford too? Even now, there are still many things that I do not know or understand Please enlighten! Mid-2006, Guyana won the inaugural Standford 20/20 Super Series, when Narsingh
Deonarineclubbedasixover d e e p m i d w i c k e t ; penultimate ball; off legspinner Samuel Badree, to seal victory over arch-rival Trinidad & Tobago. The sold-out crowd, with very many Guyanese migrants to Antigua & Barbuds present, celebrated wildly 2007/8, Stanford Series was even better; T&T winning 2007/8’s stanza More importantly,by2007/8,SirR Allen Stanford, (knighted in November 2006 by Antigua & Barbuda – knighthood revoked inApril 2010), had beenfullyembracedbyboth West Indies Cricket Board (now CWI), and English Cricket Board (ECB), to theirverydetriments. Istill shudder to think how these supposedly educated and erstwhile entities did not do their ‘due diligence’ on S t a n f o r d , w h o s e crookedness was well knowneverywherebythen.
THESTANFORDAURA
“Stanford 20/20 for 20” International Series 2007/8 wastotallyoutrageous,always soldout,withfullcoverageby international radio and television England,Trinidad & Tobago, Middlesex CCC and “Stanford Superstars” competed for extremely generousprizemonies For the last 20/20 game, “Stanford Superstars” v England,thebootywasUS$20 million, winners take all. Stanford Superstars, made up of mostly WI players, won easily Each player supposedlygotUS$1million Apparently some lost that when Stanford’s empire crumbled
Much happened very quickly after 2007/8 USA’s Securities and Exchange Commission got their teeth seriously into Stanford’s neck Badly bitten, Stanford, by 2009/10, was crumbling toast, accusedofPonzischemesfor billions, fighting for survival, all facades demolished Meanwhile, Stanford’s soup monies to Caribbean cricket entities hadlongstoppedrunning.
Ihadtoldhim,tohisface,in 2006/7,thathewouldgotojail, butIhavealsothoughtofgoing to visit him at Coleman II Penitentiary,75milesfrommy home He might enjoy that! Nah! Finally, because some choose to forget Stanford’s West Indies inputs, does not meanthathedidnotexistin the Caribbean. R Allen Stanford was the first persontoproperlysetupT20 cricket in WI It has since come a long way indeed Be very grateful! Cheers Enjoy
Men’sCaribbeanPremierLeague2025Fixtures
CPL - The venues and updated schedule for the 2025 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League have been confirmed for thisyear’stournament.The Brian Lara C
A
icket
n confirmed as the venue for all matches in Trinidad. There has also been a changetothestarttimesfor the evening matches on 29 August and 7 September which will now get underwayat8pm
The matches with a changed start time are as follows:
Friday 29 Aug, Trinbago Knight Riders vs Barbados Royals now startsat8pm. Sunday7Sept,Guyana
RobertAllenStanford-WICricket’sjailedT-20Messiah!
junctions. Whocares?
1928 – 1950 – WI became a Test nation, then won in England for the first time.
1951–1965–WIbeatall other Test nations –
Unofficial Test World Champions.
1966 – 1977 – WI
StanfordSuperSeries. KNOWLEDGEOFR. ALLENSTANFORD
Colin Croft – Former Guyana, Lancashire CCC & WIInternationalCricketer T-20 cricket is back in vogue Italy and
Netherlands qualified for ICC WT-20-I 2026, hosted by Sri Lanka and India. Some darkWest IndiesT-20 history might be valuable. Whoknows?
Caribbean cricket has demarcations of distinction anddestructionsince1928’s Test entry, so I will try to highlight some of those
Official Test World Champions – Advent of ODIs & World Series Cricket.
1 9 7 5 – 1 9 9 5 –
Overlapping periods - WI
Official Test & ODI World Champions.
1 9 9 6 – 2 0 0 8 –
Degradation of WI cricketEmergence of Stanford SuperSeries.
2009 – 2025 – WI ICC Rankings: Test 8th; ODI 10th; T-20 I 6th. After
Details of R Allen Stanford’s 20/20 Super Series, and his outlandish hood-winking of Caribbean governments, cricket officials; many great WI cricketers too; were well noted in CNBC’s excellent “American Greed” Programme; Season 6, Episode 17 – “THE DARK KNIGHT!”
WeCaribbeanpeopleare seriously gullible We would believe anything Any wonder that politicians makemince-meatofuswith their self-absorbed aggrandizement, half-truths a n d u n d e r- h a n d e d shenanigans?
ThatCNBC’s“American Greed” programme - “THE DARK KNIGHT” - always makes me laugh. After Stanfordhadbeensentenced for his many billion dollars Ponzi schemes, one lovely lady,elegantlycoiffedinfine couture, who had lost US$1.5million,lamented:
“Yes, I know that he got 110 years in jail for his crookednessandforrobbing us, but I really would have liked to see him get the maximum 230 years. He deserves the full sentence.”
WI WINNING ICC WT-20 2012andICCWT-202016
Before his major legal problems,Stanfordhadwind that,liketropicalhurricanes, T-20 cricket would blast through the atmosphere and especiallyintheCaribbean.
ManyinWestIndiesand world-widestillsuggestthat it was as a direct result of Stanford’s 20/20 Super Series, that WI, as a T-20 unit, won ICC WT-20 2012 andICCWT-202016.
Very ungrateful WI cricket authorities, scribes, broadcasters and supporters nevereverevenmentionthe oneWIplayerwhowonboth games for WI; both 2012’s Finaland2016’sFinal“Man of the Match”; Jamaican batting-allrounder Marlon Samuels.
Twice he batted through innings in those finals; 78 and 85 no.; yet no-one ever giveshimcreditasa“great” WI T-20 cricketer Why is that so? Ingratitude aboundsintheCaribbean!
UTC/P&WANDME
I came across notes on Stanford while employedAssistant Engineer - (late1980s – mid-1990s), at one of USA’s best companies,
R. Allen Stanford with Superstar WinnersStanford 20-20 for 20 Series.
U
Corporation / Pratt & Whitney, now part of Raytheon Corporation. By then, Stanford had been shadyandunderscrutiny
B. T W That UTC / P&Wjob was the best that I had ever had, including playing cricket for WI Regrettably, stupidly, I left that position for supposedly betterpersonalpromisesand professional pulls in the Caribbean. Everysingleone ofthemturnedouttobejusta big lie. “The grass is not always greener on the other side. It mightturn out to be onlygreenpaint!”
Those beautiful, massive, seriously powerful PW-2000 and PW-4000 turbo-fan engines that we CAD-designed & drew, finessed, built and finetuned, in WPB, FL. and Hartford, CT are still pushingmanybigpassenger airliners, air-freighters and Globe-Masters military aircraft world-wide. I will die with regrets of having left such a fantastic position forscraps. Lifegoeson!
R. ALLENSTANFORD INTHECARIBBEAN
By 2000, Stanford had contributedmanymillionsto Democratic and Republican partiesinUSA. Somemight saythatwassmart. Fora simple-mindedmanlikeme, that made him an underhanded crook, playing both hands, just waiting for favorableresultseitherside.
Stanford back then reminds me of present day bloated ‘fat-cats’ representatives, local and foreign,sportingonestoo,in the southern hemisphere They have been such parasitesonpoliticalentities with perceived clout and majorities, in that mineralburdenedhomestead.
Crossing political floors ismucheasier,quicker,more profitableandmorelucrative than scoring hundreds in Tests. As the Trinidadians would say: “Ah gaffo eat ah food”!
1960’s to 1980’s, they took all offered with left hands. 1990’s to 2020’s, when politics changed, they somehow became righthanded Ambidextrous? Maybe!
Reverend Ike had said: “The only color that I fully
understand is green! Look outforNo.1.” Greedisnot only American. “De sup gaffo run bhay!” Yes, but howmuchisenough?
THESTANFORD LEGENDS
Mid-2006,Iwasinvited, as a practicing broadcaster, to cover the glitzy inauguration of “Stanford Legends”, “Sticky Wicket” Pavillion&StanfordCricket Stadium, now CWI’s headquarters, a six hit from V C Bird International Airport,Antigua & Barbuda (ANU).
On-board the Airbus A340,Iwasseatedinwhatmy daughter Shannon calls ‘cattle class’. “Stanford Legends”; LHR – ANU; were in “First / Upper Class”. I have never been a legend!
The inauguration was a sensational soiree, with carved “Hall of Fame” type golden-colored busts of “Stanford Legends” on display, and very much larger, masoned and sculpted, implanted faceprints of all “Stanford Legends”onthefaçade’s (Continuedonpage22)
R. Allen Stanford in jail.
Pratt & Whitney
Engine Family
ExxonMobil National Inter District Kayaking Championship District 7 Bartica dethrones District 10
Upper Demerara/Kwakwani to cop title
Threepointsdecidedthis year’sExxonMobilNational Inter District Kayaking champions when District 7 Barticawith67points,edged the defending two-time championsDistrict10Upper Demerara/ Kwakwani on 64 points, last Sunday on the water top of the Demerara River, near the Watooka GuestClubinLinden.
In brilliant sunshine District 7, who amassed 67
points to cop first position, took the lead from the first race, winning the Open FemaleLongDistanceevent and would later add another victory when they won the Under16Femalerace. They also claimed secondplaceintheUnder14 Mixed,Under16MaleShort distance, Under 16 Mixed and Open Male races while gaining a 3rd, 4th and 5th places in the other races of
the day Their closest rivals were last year’s winners District 10, who in falling short by threepoints,scored 64 points, as they won two racesAldointheMaleLong distance and the Male Open to go with three 2nd places and one 3rd, two 4ths and one5thplace. District 2 came in third position with 58 points gained from three wins which were in the Under 14
Under16Mixedand OpenFemaleevents. They scored a 2nd place in the Male Ming distance and 3rd in the Under 16 Female race They also scoredpointsforbeing5thin the Female Long distance, Under 16 Make Short distanceand7thintheMale Open. They were followed by District 4 East Coast Demerara on 50 points, District1NorthWestwith49
points, District 8 Potaro/ Siparuni getting 22 points, District 3 West Demerara with 20 points, and in the cellar spot District 5 West Coast Berbice, a mere one point.
The win for the new champions District 7 earned them $600,000 the winner’s trophy, Gold Medals and braggingrightsforoneyear
The beaten champions, District 10, walked away
with $400,000 and the runner up trophy and Silver Medals, while third place finishers District 2 received $250,000 a trophy and BronzeMedals.
The annual competition is in its fourth year and organized by the Elite Kayaking and Nature Tours headed by Dr Deon Anderson, and once again the title sponsors for this yearwereExxonMobil.
QPCC bags inaugural Edge Series Table Tennis Championships title
A star-studded Queen’s Park Cricket Club (QPCC) emerged winners of the inaugural Edge Series Table Tennis Championships which concluded this past Sunday at the National Gymnasium.
QPCC cop
$500,0
bettering the competition, ledbyAaronWilson,Imanai Taylor-Edwards, Sekel McIntosh and Shemar Britton.
Trinidad’s WASA tabletennis club fell to the Guyanese 4-1 despite a talentedcorefeaturingNigel Bryan,JosiahJoseph,Curtis Humphreys and Ambika Sitram.
WASA as a result, finished second but still managed to capture the $300,000prizepurse.
QPCC beat Quiet Storm
4-1inthesemi-finalsbefore facingWASAinthefinals. Quiet storm despite a talented bunch featuring playerslike;OrinHickerson, Krystian Sahadeo, Thuraia Thomas and Colin Wong were no match for the PowerhouseQPCC.
Niran Bissu, Malachi Moore,RosalbaAguilarand ElishabaJohnsonteamedup for GuyCuba Team 7 who failedtostopWASAintheir semifinalbout,whichended 4-2.
Team 7 then defeated QuietStorm3-2inacloselycontested encounter for the $200,000third-placeprize. WASA player Aaron Wilson was adjudged the tournament’s MVP for his number of top individual performances which he put on during the course of the tournament.
Mixed,
Shemar Britton and company of QPCC celebrate their title win.
Runner-up District 10 at the presentation.
Third placed District 2 take a photo.
