...asoppositionleader allegescorruption rearing,
Nazar Mohamed allegations
...challenges President to publish full message rejects blackmail
Suspected arson leaves 7 homeless after NA fire
...fleeingbanditsabandonmotorcycle Security guard foils Superbet robbery in
dramatic shootout
Men in diplomatic
vehicle nabbed stealing avocado, other produce in Canal No.1 Polder
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hugh Todd has denied claims from Paramaribo, stating that Guyana was never notified throughofficialchannelsthat Suriname intended to fund the historic 3 1-kilometer Corentyne River Bridge independently
In an official statement released on July 4, 2026, Todd pushed back against a public declaration from Suriname’s Ministry of F o r e i g n A f f a i r s , International Business and International Cooperation (BIBIS). The Surinamese ministryhadassertedthatits intention to fully finance the cross-border infrastructure was a standing topic clearly communicated to Guyanese President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali across several bilateral encounters, listing three specific high-level meetings, including a virtual consultationbetweenthetwo presidentsonMay15,2026.
Todd contested this timeline, stating that the virtual meeting on May 15 wasconvenedatthepersonal initiative of President Ali solely to coordinate urgent disaster relief for Suriname duringsevereflashflooding.
He noted that those discussions focused on deploying an agricultural technical team and loaning drainagepumps.
“Guyana wishes to categoricallystatethatinthe meeting held on May 15, there was no discussion on financing of the bridge or a signal of departure from the collaborative approach that has guided the project from itsinception,”Toddstated.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Int’l Cooperation, Hugh Todd
He added that “contrary to the impression now being conveyed publicly, Guyana has never been informed through the established bilateralmechanismsthatthe Government of Suriname intended to assume sole responsibility for financing thebridge”.
The dispute grew following comments by Surinamese Minister of Public Works and Spatial Planning, Stephen Tsang, who announced during a parliamentary budget debate that Paramaribo would bypassthesharedframework to finance the bridge independently Tsangtoldlegislatorsthat “it must and will be a Surinamese bridge,” noting that solo financing would reset the project’s timeline and likely necessitate a new international tender process depending on future toll and financialmechanisms.
Speakingonthesidelines of a swearing-in ceremony for puisne judges, President AlimaintainedthatGuyana’s positionremainsunchanged
Continuedonpage3
Canada-basedU92Corp. says its flagship Kurupung uranium project in Guyana hasthepotentialtobecomea significant uranium district, with 15 identified priority exploration targets - several that were never fully tested despite decades of exploration.
U92acquiredtheproject which spans across 92 2 square kilometres of mining lands, earlier this year followingitsacquisitionofa Singaporean firm LIA Industries Pte. Ltd. The project which carries a historical resource estimate of 20.6 million pounds of uranium is being developed byU92Energy
According to a filing in relation to the acquisition, exploration on the property traces back to French stateowned company Cogema,
which discovered uranium mineralisation in the area during a nationwide exploration programme conductedbetween1979and 1984.
Cogema’s focus was on unconformity-type deposits, similar to those of the Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan Canada, in theRoraimaBasin.
Cogema is reported to havedrilled41,334metersin 291holesacross14targetsin theArichengarea.
Exploration on the property resumed after Canadian company U3O8 Corp obtained prospecting licences from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) in 2005andbeganworkin2007
The document states that between 2007 and 2012, U3O8 Corp completed an
additional 88,388 metres of diamonddrillingin440holes, alongside airborne and ground magnetic and radiometric surveys, soil sampling, trenching, rockchipsamplingandgeological mapping The work resulted inhistoricaluraniumresource estimatesonfourdepositsand identified14drilltargets The technical reports related to U3O8 work are those of Alexander & Breede (2009) and Workman & Breede (2012)
However, the company was unable to continue to fundexplorationduetoweak prices in the uranium industry in the wake of the Fukushima meltdown in March2011.
According to the filing, despite the extent of exploration carried out by Cogema and subsequently
ByKhadidjaBa
Businessman Nazar “Shell” Mohamed has called on President IrfaanAli to release the full evidence he says he has behind allegationsofblackmail.
On Sunday when Leader of the Opposition, Azruddin Mohamed, released a 24-minute video presentation on his “Team Mohamed’s” Facebook page, he leveled heavy corruption allegations against the president,detailingtherapiddevelopmentof a sprawling 150-acre agricultural estate and private ranch off the Linden-Soesdyke Highway
According to Azruddin Mohamed, the private property boasts luxury amenities, includingatwo-storyconcreteranchhouse,an outdoor entertainment area with a swimming pool,andaninfrastructurenetworkfeaturinga GY$75 million road, cumulatively valued at over $22 billion Guyana dollars (GYD) Mohamed argued that such a rapid, “mindboggling” development over a three-year period could ‘never’be legally substantiated byastandardpresidentialsalaryofGY$35to $37millionpermonth
President Ali launched a counteroffensive on Sunday, utilising his official Facebook page to post a Newsroom article that refuted the claims surrounding his privateproperty
Rubbishing the opposition’s narrative as a “contrived story concerning his farm,” the head-of-stateinsistedtherewasabsolutelyno stateinvolvementorpublicfinancingtiedto hisagriculturaloperations.
President Ali maintained that the farm existedlongbeforehetookofficein2020and pointeddirectlytohisformalsubmissionsto the Integrity Commission. He asserted that his official asset declarations completely disprove both the inflated valuation alleged by the opposition and the funding sources, notingthathesecuredpersonalbankloansto financetheagriculturalactivities.
However, the administration’s response extended far beyond property lines,
Nazar
“Shell” Mohamed
unleashing a direct accusation of extortion againsttheMohamedfamily
Further, PresidentAli stated that he is in possession of text messages received from Azruddin’s father, Nazar “Shell” Mohamed, sentasrecentlyaslastweek.
The president alleged that these communicationscontainedclearultimatums, threateningthereleaseofdamagingaudioor videorecordingsunless“amendsweremade between the president and the Mohamed family.”
According to the head-of-state, the underlyingobjectiveofthetextmessageswas to pressure the government into halting or easing ongoing US extradition proceedings againsttheMohameds
The father and son duo face an 11-count federal indictment in the Southern District of Floridaforwirefraud,mailfraud,andmoney laundering linked to their gold trading network
“Those communications and their contents are capable of examination and speak for themselves,” President Ali stated, declaring his complete willingness to make thetexttranscriptspublic.
In an invited response to the president’s heavycontentions,Nazar“Shell”Mohamed Continued on page 8
U308 Corp., a review of the data available in the public domainshowsthatanumber of targets were shown to have potentially economic mineralised intervals but were not advanced to mineral resource estimation throughinfilldrilling.
“Some targets were not drilledatall.Thisrepresents acompellingopportunityfor further exploration to potentially establish a uranium district of significant size comparable with similar albitite-hosted systems elsewhere in the world,”itwasstated.
It was explained that characteristic of albititehosted uranium deposits
concentrated in shoots have significantdepthextentofup to 1,200 meters below surface. As such, it was stated that since the mineralised shoots on the propertyweredrilledtoonly 250 meters to 350 meters below surface, and are open atdepth,thereispotentialfor deeperdrilling.
Apart from this depth extent potential, this report alsofocusedonthepotential for mineralisation in additional shoots, targets where mineralisation was intersected and not extensivelyfollowedup,and onseveralfewnewtargets.
Fourteen hard-rock targets have been identified for further exploration and drilling. It was also stated that the weathered part of mineralised zones also warrants exploration as the 15th target. Since acquiring
the project, U92 has already finalised a commercial agreement for a phase one
5,000-metre diamond drilling programme and submitted the required environmental application fordrillpadpreparation.
U92 had cautioned that historical uranium resource estimates completed by Alexander & Breede and Workman & Breede in 2009 and 2012 are no longer current and should not be relied upon. However, the report concludes that the underlying exploration data are of sufficient quality to justify updated resource modelling and further drilling.
Moreover, the company identifiedthemainrisktothe f u t u r e e c o n o m i c developmentoftheproperty as uranium price. It was explained that uranium recoveryratesalsoconstitute ariskandopportunity
“Thegreatertheextentof the uranium extraction rate above the current 83% indicated by prior metallurgical test work, the greater the potential economic viability of the property,”itsaid.
It also said Guyana’s continued focus on mining as a driver of economic growthreducestherisktothe property’s mineral title, provided exploration commitments are met How
Venezuela’s claim to Guyana’s Essequibo Region remainsapotentialtitlerisk.
(Guyana) Inc., a private limited liability company in
Guyana which was incorporatedon20thMarch, 2023,the“exclusiverightof occupation and exploration” through the issuance of two exclusive Prospecting Licences (PLs). Exploration activities at the project site commencedin2024. Theprospectinglicences permit the exploration of uranium, other radioactive minerals, and rare earth elements(REEs)foraperiod of three years ending 18th April, 2027. The licences may be extended upon application for a maximum of two additional one-year periods, extending the term to18thApril,2029. Several stakeholders, including the Amerindian People’sAssociation(APA), the former head of the EPA, Dr VincentAdamsandsome opposition members, have raised concerns about the uraniumexplorationproject. Some cited lack of public disclosure, inadequate c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h Indigenous communities, and uncertainty over the regulatory framework governinguranium.
Frompage2 andthatthebridgeremainsastrictlybilateral initiative.
Alistatedthathehasreceivednoofficial communicationregardingapolicyshiftother than what has been reported in the media, addingthatGuyanaisonlyinterestedinajoint development that covers both sovereign states
He further indicated that his administrationisoperatingonrecentpersonal commitments from Surinamese President JenniferGeerlings-Simons,whoassuredhim that Suriname was simply finalising its internaladministrativeandlegalframeworks
Todd emphasised that since the signing of the initial Memorandum of
Understanding in 2020 under the administration of Surinamese President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, both nations haveconsistentlyapproachedthebridgeasa shared strategic undertaking. “From the inception of this initiative, the bridge has been conceived as a joint project,” the statementnoted.
“Given its cross-border character, it has always been understood by both
governments that the planning, financing, construction,operation,andmanagementof the bridge would be matters for joint considerationandagreement”.
Addressing the public nature of the disagreement, Todd stressed that “if the government of Suriname has reconsidered its position on the financing arrangements, theappropriatecourseisnottocommunicate suchasignificantpolicyshiftthroughpublic statements”.
He noted that matters of this nature should instead be raised directly through establishedbilateralframeworkstoallowfor aconstructiveexchangeofviews.
Todd concluded by reaffirming that Guyanaremainscommittedtotheprojecton the basis of “transparency, mutual respect, consultation, and decisions reached jointly bybothgovernments”.
The proposed 3.1-kilometer structure is designed to replace the aging ferry connection between Moleson Creek, Guyana,andSouthDrain,Suriname,linking the two oil-producing neighbours and establishing a terrestrial connection toward FrenchGuianaandBrazil.
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
It is not that Suriname scrapped the joint Corentyne bridgeproject. ItishowSurinamedidit. Standingcourtesy required any scrapping of the proposed bridge to be done quietlyandthoughtfully TheDutchleaderreachingoutto the Guyanese leader and sharing the unexpected news, that abrupt final decision in Paramaribo. Suriname’s President Jennifer Geerlings-Simon apparently did not think so. Becauseoneofherministerswasintoomuchofahurryto announce the bridge scrapping in their NationalAssembly Itwasnotmerelysudden,itwasshocking.
It is obvious that Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali was caughtunaware. BlindsidedfromtheSurinamesideofthe CorentyneBridgenowtobenomore. Nomorepartnering with, and participating by, Guyana. By itself, that developmenthasallthecriteriaofahammeroutofnowhere, something that does not happen in these days of oil and Guyana. Few are the countries, and fewer the national leaders, who are not beating a path to tie up some business dealwithGuyana. Whatcouldhavepromptedthethinkers andleadersintheSurinameGovernmenttotakeadifferent route? IsitasignofmoredifficultiesbetweenGuyanaand its eastern neighbour? For the fact is that even Venezuela, notwithstandingitsmassive(baselessandarbitrary)claimon Guyana’slandsandriches,stillwantstoengageGuyanaand arrangesomesortofdealingswithit.
“The government has decided to finance the bridge one hundredpercentitself. Thefactisthatitmustandwillbea Surinamese bridge.” Those words came from Suriname’s Minister of Public Works and Spatial Planning, Stephen Tsang. A slap in the face they were, and they certainly stunnedPresidentAli.
Minister Tsang’s statement, on the face of it, seems to carryjustahintofdismissal,theshadeofsomecontempt. It isnotthefirsttimethatSurinamehasbeenanunfriendlyand unsteady neighbour of Guyana. One with a chip on its shoulder and a smirk on its face. What brought this seemingly rushed change of mind? What else could the bridgepartnerthatisnolongerapartnerhaveinmind?
Thereissomethingstrange,ifnotsuspicious,aboutthis swift change of heart. No reasons shared, no courtesies extended, no bridge business to be done. Suriname has shown what it can do in the shared waters, with Guyanese fisherfolk hounded, locked up, and fined. Then, put out of bread. Guyanesebusinessoperatorshavecalledformoreof a two-way street on the Suriname side of the border, in keepingwiththeopennessitsownenjoyshere. Therehave beenthosesituationsandothersthathaveleftGuyaneseata disadvantage. We see that as part of a pattern. It is only rational,therefore,tobecautiousandexpectanythingfrom Guyana’s neighbours to the east. Areasonable concern for theGovernmentofGuyana,andordinarycitizens,shouldbe howa100percentownedandoperatedSurinameBridge,ifit actually comes to past, would work. We anticipate that Guyanesecouldbeheldhostagetocrossingtraffic,atsome timeortheother,whenSuriname’smonopolyisconsidered. Wethinkthatthereisjustificationforourlineofthinking. Thiscountryhasgivenahighprioritytoincreasingcontacts withSuriname,andmorebusinessforcitizensonbothsides oftheborder
Ithasbeenlargelyone-way,andstruckbyuncertaintyat surprising moments. From all the evidence, it appears that Guyana is the party interested in friendship and a closer working and neighbourly relationship. This shared CorentyneBridgewasanopportunitytoreallyleveragethe Guyana-Surinameconnectiontonewground. Now,itisoff the table and, as usual, it is Suriname making the decision. Frankly,wethinkthatthereismoretothisdevelopmentthat theSurinameseGovernmentislettingon,anditisnotonthe positiveside.
It has happened before, can happen again. A solely ownedbridgeunderthecontrolofSurinamesoundsgoodon paper Thereisthenaggingsensethatsomethingismissing, anditisnotimmaterial. TheGuyanaGovernmenthassome catchinguptodo. Itsoptionsseemtobelimitedatpresent.
Our oil wealth should not come at the cost of
Guyana’s 2026 National B u d g e t s t a n d s a t GYD$1 558 trillion, the largest in our nation’s history We are building hospitals, expanding emergencyresponsesystems and positioning ourselves as a global climate leader.And yet, in the South Rupununi villageswomenandchildren referred to Lethem Hospital facehoursoftravelonrough, often impassable roads; a desperate race against time that many lose before they receivemedicalattention.
InthevillageofParabara, samples of hair were taken formercurytesting,andwere foundtohaveelevatedlevels in the body of those who were tested. Some of the highest concentrations were recorded among women of childbearing age, way over the safe levels of the World Health Organisation. This is not a distant or abstract concern.Itishappeningnow, in communities that are part ofthisnation,whilerevenues
from the very industries driving that contamination are fuelling our record budget.
I noted the release of Tamùkke’s Feminist Budget Analysis of Guyana’s 2026 National Budget that found that gold mining in Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9 - where many Indigenous communities reside; continues to rely on m e r c u r y , w h i c h contaminates rivers and accumulates in fish. This is more than concerning, for riverinecommunities,fishis not a luxury; it is a primary source of protein. Women, who are disproportionately responsible for food preparation and caregiving, face compounded exposure risks.Andyetenvironmental health monitoring and preventive intervention in these communities remain limitedrelativetothescaleof extractiontakingplace.
What is perhaps most troubling is not only the contamination itself, but the institutional silence that
followed. Reports indicate that after elevated mercury levels were identified in Parabara, communities were left uncertain about whether f o l l o w - u p h e a l t h interventions would come.
This gap between environmental monitoring andpublichealthresponseis notatechnicalfailure.Itisa governance failure. Gravely concerningandtroubling.
This analysis found that environmental management allocations declined from GYD$4.83billionin2025to GYD$2.91 billion in 2026even as petroleum production and mining expansion continue to grow
This is not the profile of a c o u n t r y t r e a t i n g environmental protection as a developmental priority Spending on disaster response and sea defence increasedbyover92%inthe same period, reflecting a state that is reactive rather than preventive when it comes to environmental harm.
We are not against economic growth But growthcannotbeequitableif its costs are borne by the most marginalised. I would callfortheestablishmentofa nationalairandwaterquality monitoring network, the implementation of routine mercurytestingprogrammes in mining communities, and the integration of Environmental Protection AgencydataintoMinistryof Healthsurveillancesystems. These are not expensive or radical asks - they are the minimum that a country of Guyana’s current fiscal c a p a c i t y o w e s t o communities living alongside its extractive industries.
Thequestionbeforeusis simple: if we can afford the largestbudgetinourhistory, can we afford not to protect the people who live in the shadow of the industries makingitpossible?
Signed, ImmaculataCasimero WapichanWoman
Considering only one side’s view of an issue is propaganda not analysis
In the life of any nation, there are occurrences that stay in the national consciousness. Fortunately, or unfortunately the vast majority of these are occurrences that nations recall with shame. In the United States of America, one can easily state some such occurrences – slavery, the Vietnam war, Japanese internment etc. In Germany, thetreatmentofJewsduring Hitler’s rule. In France, the conditions under which ordinary citizens lived that ledtotheFrenchRevolution.
In Russia, the excesses, themurdersoccurringduring Stalin’s rule The killing fields of Cambodia. I could go on and on, but these examples will suffice to supportmypoint. What is true for all other nations is also true for Guyana, as recent articles appearing in the Kaieteur Newsmakesclear–TheSon Chapman explosion, the violent removal of East Indians from Linden, the killing. Add to these the disappearance of some four hundred young men, almost allofAfricandescent,during President Jagdeo’s presidency,etc.
Unfortunately, in
countries like Guyana in which race and politics are i n t e r t w i n e d o n e ’s understanding of causes for t h e s e u n f o r t u n a t e occurrences are perceived through racial and patrician lines.Werarelyappreciateor in our telling of these occurrences consider the views of the other side. A caseinpoint,Iinvitereaders to look at two letters appearing in the Kaieteur Newsof23rdJune2026,one deals with the Son Chapman’s incidence and theothertheviolentremoval ofEastIndiansfromLinden.
Butitisanoccurrencein Guyanathatpredatesallthe above occurrences in Guyana that I want to talk about. An occurrence that manybelievegaverisetothe ethnicandracialproblemwe have to this day. An occurrence that many Guyanesecannotgetenough oftalkingabout–thesplitin thePPPin1957.
Recently,Iwasbrowsing YouTube and noticed an interview with Mrs. Indra
C h a n d e r p a l M r s Chanderpal has a long history of political activism, so, as a person always anxioustohearfrompersons who have been in the struggleforyears,IthoughtI
shouldlistentowhatshehad tosay Shespokeinsomedepth about her involvement in politics and some of the difficulties and harassment she experienced during the early days of independent Guyana. I salute her for her tenacity and readiness to fight on during those days when she claimed she and her comrades were targeted, beatenandjailed.
B u t i t w a s h e r explanation on what caused the split in the PPP in 1957, that led eventually to the presence of two race-based parties in Guyana, that most of all caught my attention. Nowforyears,wehavebeen feddifferentstoriesaboutthe split that gave rise to the derailing of a very popular national movement that seeminglyhadthesupportof thetwomajorracegroupsin Guyana.
Mrs Chanderpal’s explainedtolistenersthatthe split came about because Burnham had a large ego, and that the British and Americans knew this and tookadvantageofthis.They encouraged him to form his own party and challenge Cheddi who they did not want to govern an independent Guyana on
account of him being “red” (socialist/communist). This line of argument is quite a familiar one and has/is been mouthed by the PPP to this day So, for them Burnham was a traitor who undermined a most promising working-class movementinGuyana.
On the other hand, supportersofthePNCargue that Burnham quickly recognised that Guiana’s independent would be delayed because the British and Americans would not give Guyana independence under a man who was at everyturntelltheworldthat hewas“red”(Cheddi).Thus, he played along giving the impression he was a middle oftheroadpolitician,gained theconfidenceoftheBritish andAmericansandthuswas able to be the one to lead Guyanaintoindependence. Earlier, I noted the seeming reluctance of the various sides of the political divide to give any credence totheviewsoftheotherside on so many occurrences in o u r h i s t o r y M r s Chanderpal’s telling of the reason for the split reflects this perennial behaviour To refuse to take into considerationoftheother Continued on page 5
Thisisreality Letusface it and deal with it. It is that Guyana’sworkenvironment has undergone, and is continuing to undergo many huge, unprecedented transformation in many sectors,andalldrivenbythe currenteconomicboom,still initsincipientstages.
Rapid expansion is evident in the oil, gas, and large-scale construction sectorsandthishasspawned over 104,000 new jobs
Caveat though, as this rapid growth has engendered the need for urgent and immediate overhauls of the country’s 1950s-era labour and workplace safety laws. These have fallen, in some cases, into complete obsolescence.
Our Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, seemingly
i n d e f a t i g a b l e a n d meticulous, outlined that “Guyana (is) moving to modernise outdated workplace health and safety
laws.” To this kind of work, from the AG, I say ‘way to go’ indeed. As a matter of fact,justrecently,Ifollowed how the United Kingdom, under an Employment RightsAct2025,overhauled British labour laws, where therewasthe‘introducingof rights’ from ‘day one of employment’, guaranteeing minimum hours for zerohour workers, and strengthening protections againstsexualharassment.
In similar updating mode, Guyana, spearheaded by the Minister of Legal Affairs, the said Anil Nandlall,SC,isundertaking a comprehensive review of Guyana’s health and safety regulatoryframework,since, as he poignantly described “… the country’s existing laws, as ‘outdated and illequipped’ to address the realities of a rapidly expandingeconomy.”
IfIamaccuratelyreading Anil Nandlall’s intent and direction, I think it is about
the many recent shifts in the employment sphere, dealing with things like remote and digital work, the rise of artificial intelligence, and evolving gig economies and other areas that have forced (for) a modernization of labourlaws.Forexample,in many jurisdictions worldwide, new legislation requires strict transparency in public job postings and rules mandating electronic monitoring policies for remote workers. The onus thenisongovernmentstoget and remain on par, and this will necessitate for promptness, as well as perspicuity, legally and socially
Believe me, the AG has an unenviable job, as he has to accommodate many ‘Occupational Health & Safety’ issues such as hazards, ranging from escalatingpsychosocialrisks (e.g.,workplaceburnoutand harassment) to physical facilityhygiene,andtheseall
agitate for stricter OHS mandates and higher fines for repeated workplace violations.
In visiting the weekly ‘Issues in the News,’ I saw Nandlall detail that “… the current legislative framework (in Guyana) has failed to keep pace with the dramatic transformation of G u y a n a ’ s w o r k environment, particularly in recent years.” This is what I just iterated, and I am glad that the matter is getting deserved addressing, and it seemsasthoughthisisbeing addressedwithgreatalacrity, asitshouldbe.
According to him, “We are currently reviewing the healthandsafetyregulations of Guyana. The health and safety regulations or regulatory framework of Guyana is wholly antiquated, old and requires o v e r h a u l a n d modernisation ” For him, andinfactmosteveryone,
Continued on page 6
Frompage4 side on an issue is to propaganda,notanalysis(as acertainprofessorhereinthe USA would remind us). So, intheinterestoffairness,let us take a close look at the positionsofboththePPPand PNC on what caused the split.
ThePPP’sexplanationas expounded by Mrs Chanderpal. To say that it was Burnham’s ego and the British and Americans readiness to take advantage of this might have some currency. Indeed, I do believe that Burnham had a “largeego”Mrs.Chanderpal says. However, I do not know of anyone who offers himself/herself as a leader, asthesolveroftheproblems facingapoorcountry,facing immense challenges that Guianadid(andstilldo)that cannot be seen as having a “large ego.” Thus, for me which this “large ego” that Mrs Chanderpal accuses Burnham of having had, while likely a component cannot be a full explanation
of what caused the split. I willgetbacktothislater
The PNC’s explanation of the cause of the split as I understand it and stated above,alsomakessenseand should also be seen as a contributing factor and should be given some credence also. I do believe that Guyana’s independence would have been further delayed if a PPP under Dr Jagan was the only party choiceavailable.
As a youngster, just out ofschoolandunemployed,I spentmostofmydaysinthe study room of the Public Library,readingonanyissue that took my fancy on any given day. I remember reading a book which comprisedofvariousarticles onissuesinourregion.
One such article looked at the split in the PPP in 1957. I think it was written byaJamaican.Inthearticle, he blamed both Burnham andJaganforthesplit.
The article argued that when Burnham returned to Guyana from studying
abroad, he did not seek to formhisownpoliticalparty, but joined the Political Affairs Committee which wasledbyJaganandwasthe forerunnerofthePPP This, the writer saw as Burnham concedingthatJaganhadthe leadershipqualitiestobehis leader Further, the article pointedtothefactthatJagan almost always took Burnham along with him whenhehadcausetoengage theinternationalcommunity Even in some instances sendingBurnhamonhisown torepresentthethenGuiana. Thisthewritersuggestwasa recognition on the part of JaganthatBurnhamalsohad leadershipqualities.
The article concluded that based on all he said before, from a competence stand point, it really did not matter whether Jagan or Burnham led Guiana into independence.
Therefore, for him, the split happened because both JaganandBurnhamputtheir own ambitions before what wasbestforGuiana.
It’s “high” time the government got paid
DEAREDITOR,
There is a familiar comfort in the word decriminalisation
Politicians reach for it the way a nervous swimmer reaches for the shallow end, far enough from shore to lookbrave,but,closeenough to touch bottom if things go wrong. In Guyana, we have not even gone that far, and the conventional wisdom holds that going slow is goingsafe.
Ibegtodiffer
I was moved to write after reading that
CARICOM will convene to examine the marginalisation longfacedbytheRastafarian community It is an overdue reckoning.Butweshouldbe honest about what sits at its centre: for decades the state treated a plant sacred to a people’sfaithascontraband, andthepeoplethemselvesas suspects The apology CARICOM is inching towardandthedruglawstill on our books are two chaptersofthesamestory
So, there we have three different takes on the split. Two of which could be considered partisan while the other the view of an outsider
I suspect interest and discourse on this issue will continuetobeindulgedinby a huge section of our population, and why not?
For many, it is this split that givesrisetoallourdisunity, all our contentious racial divide and the shedding of blood while creating the condition for politicians to exploitandmakefoolsofus all.
Nevertheless, Guyanese can now decide for themselves which might be true or closest to truth, or is there another understanding tobeconsidered?
Like I said this issue about who or what caused the split is a matter that will continue to occupy the attention of our people for a long time, perhaps into infinity
Yoursfaithfully, ClaudiusPrince
wants marijuana here is beingstopped.Thelawisnot a wall. It is a sign reading keep out, posted on a road everyonealreadyknowshow to walk around Every Guyanesewhowishestouse it knows where, when, and roughly what it costs. The law does not prevent use, it prevents visibility A government that keeps the lights off does not stop the party;itsimplyguaranteesit cannot see who is in the room.
First, let us be precise. W e d o n o t h a v e decriminalisation;wehavea softer cage The 2021 amendment, in force since November 2022, removed custodial sentences for possessionofthirtygrammes or less. A humane step, but theAttorneyGeneralhimself said it plainly: this is not decriminalisation.
Possession of even a single gramme remains a criminal offence.Weremovedthejail cell and left the criminal record standing. Meanwhile
Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, Antigua and St. Lucia have moved personal amounts out of criminality altogether We are not leading the regional conversation;wearetrailing it, and congratulating ourselvesforthedistancewe havenottravelled.
Second, nobody who
Third, everyone in that transaction gets paid except the state. Someone grows it, someone transports it, someone sells it. Value is created and profit changes hands, exactly as with rice, rum, or cement. It is an economy, merely an invisibleone—andbecause it is invisible, it pays no licence fee, files no return, remits no VAT, funds no clinic, paves no road. The only party locked out is the GovernmentofGuyana,and by extension the public whose schools and hospitals thatrevenuecouldfund.
This is not theory Canada legalised in 2018; sincethen,legalcannabishas added roughly $76.5 billion (CAD) to GDP and generatedsome$29.6billion in tax, while the share of Canadians buying illegally collapsedfrom28percentto 3 percent. American states have collected over $28 billion in cannabis taxes since 2014, more than $4.5 billion in 2025 alone, funding schools, healthcare and roads. Uruguay, which chose a bare-bones state model with no sales tax, earns little: proof that the fiscal reward is a design choice. Guyana would be choosingthesizeofitsown.
Now the objection everyone raises: legalise, andaddictionandruinwill
Continued on page 6
The curtains came down as several outstanding Guyanese nationals were bestowed with prestigious U.S. Congressional Awards on Saturday night at the D i a m o n d J u b i l e e Independence Gala and Award Ceremony The glitzy,sold-outevent,hosted bytheGuyanaIndependence CelebrationCommitteeNew York (GICC), took place at theWeldonB.SmithTheater inside the Edward Davis Center in St Albans, Queens.
Originally scheduled for late June, organisers strategically moved the gala to the 4th of July to a c c o m m o d a t e a n international roster of honourees and dignitaries.
The evening, according to a statement published by Guyana Independence
Dr. Terrence Campbell as he delivers his remarks at the Independence Gala organised by the Guyana Independence Celebration Committee of New York.
CelebrationCommitteeNew York Committee Chairman, Rickford Burke, served as the grand finale to a jubilee season that kicked off on June 7 with a massive unity concert and parade drawing
global stage: Baroness ValerieAmos,formerleader oftheBritishHouseofLords and current Master of University College Oxford, andofGuyanaandthenewly designated Chief Justice of the Turks Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards,former acting Chancellor of the JudiciaryofGuyana.
The diverse roster of congressional accolade
diplomacy, academia, medicine, and community activism Among those recognised were Dr Shamir
over 20,000 people to the streetsofNewYork.
The evening’s top accolades were presented to a pair of trailblazing Guyanese women who have madeindeliblemarksonthe
Frompage5 follow Let me be fair I do not claim marijuana is harmless. I claim something narrower and sturdier; the predicted catastrophedoesnotarrive.InUruguay,after a decade, problematic use held flat at 2.1 percentandtheageoffirstuserosefrom18to 20.InCanada,teenusefell.Usemaytickup; that is honest. But a modest rise is not a societyinfreefall.
Here is what ought to end the health objection. If risk alone justified prohibition, alcohol and tobacco, both legal, both taxed, both carrying harm that by serious measures exceeds cannabis, would have been banned generationsago.Wedonotprohibitthem.We regulate, tax, label, and age-restrict them. Thatishowamaturesocietyhandlesariskybut-legalproduct,anditmanagesharmbetter
thanprohibitionevercould:alegalgrammeis dosed, labelled and quality-controlled; the undergroundoneisnoneofthese. So,theconservativepositiondissolves. Our law does not stop use, does not preventharm,anddoesnotprotectusfroma ruin that has failed to materialise wherever legalisation was tried. What it does, with remarkable efficiency, is keep a busy economyintheshadowswhileacommunity whose faith is bound up in this plant still carriesthestainofcriminality CARICOM is right to confront the wrongs done to the Rastafarian community Butyoucannotapologiseformarginalisinga people while keeping on the books the very lawthatmadethemcriminals.
Yoursinnationaldevelopment, RandolphJ.Critchlow
Ally for his former diplomatic service as Guyana’s Ambassador to Kuwait, Dr Rose October for her leadership with the G
A screengrab of Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, former Chancellor of the Judiciary of Guyana and the newly designated Chief Justice of the Turks and Caicos Islands during her address.
Association, and Professor Keith Cummings of the Brooklyn Hospital Center for his international health a
the COVID-19 pandemic. The diaspora also celebrated youth and
mic excellence, honouring Jayden Adrian, who was
Frompage5 Guyana’s workplace has indeed evolved significantly over the past three to four decades, and the corresponding legal frameworkmustadjust.
Editor, as noted by the AG, it is undeniable that “… over the last five to six years, there has been an even greater transformation. The regulatory framework that existed before this unprecedented construction boom and economic boom that we are enjoying cannot regulate effectively and efficiently that which is taking place now.”Thus, according to Nandlall, the legal framework requires urgent reform, and with goodreasonstoo.
He explained that the country has legislation dating back to the 1950s and 1960sthatcannolongeradequatelyregulate today’s work environment or provide sufficient protection for those operating withinit.
So, since the outdated regulatory system
Education Certificate (CSEC)studentfor2025. Other notable awardees included Maureen Walker, Dr Riaz Rupnarain, Ira Pile Lewis (Lady Ira), Indra JainarinesinghofBrooklyn’s Tota’sBakery,Omotolo Continued on page 17
exposesmultiplegroupstounnecessaryrisks, includingemployers,employees,contractors and members of the public, the redrafting is necessaryandurgent.
Itishardwork,buttheteamtheAGhasis committed,anditisbeledbytheMinistryof Labour, under the direction of Minister of Labour Keoma Griffith, with support from the Drafting Department of the Attorney General’s Chambers. The objective is to regulatehealthandsafetyinGuyana.
Yes, Guyana must not lapse in this area. Thecountryiscontinuingtoexperiencerapid expansionininfrastructure,constructionand oilandgasactivities,thusincreasingtheneed for updated occupational health and safety legislation, capable of meeting the demands of a modern workforce. It is good to know that we have a legal head, whose legal prescience is pre-empting us from unnecessaryandavoidableworkplacewoes.
Yourstruly,
RaymondAnderson
(Reuters) - Hundreds of maskedmembersofthewhite nationalist group Patriot marched through parts of Washington, D C , on Saturday ahead of Independence Day festivities planned for the evening that have been criticized as divisive.
The group posted on social media that it had arrived in the capital with about 400 members, and Reuters photographers saw hundredsofpeopledressedin PatriotFrontoutfitstraveling onDC Metrotrains
Videos posted on various social media platforms and sharedonPatriotFront’sown Telegramchannelshowedthe groupmarchingtodrummers neartheUS Capitolandthe Union Station transit center ‘while wearing khaki pants and caps, blue shirts, white face coverings and sunglasses Many were carrying the group’s flag,
Confederate flags, and variationsoftheU.S.flag,at times chanting “Reclaim America.”
Around midday, they boarded Metro trains and exited at New Carrollton, Maryland, in Washington’s northeastsuburbs
W a s h i n g t o n ’ s
Metropolitan Police is trackingPatriotFront’s“First Amendment” activities, a spokesperson said, adding that there were no reports of
arrests, complaints filed or callsforassistanceassociated withthegroup’smarch.
Patriot Front, known for its uniforms, face masks and f l a s h - m o b - s t y l e demonstrations, formed in 2017 after the deadly “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, breaking off from the Vanguard America white supremacistgroupthatwasat theof`thatprotest,according to the Southern Poverty Law
Members from the Patriot Front march on the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence in Washington. via REUTERS
Center.
A manifesto on Patriot Front’s website says, “Democracy has failed this once great nation,” and a “hard reset” is needed to “return to the traditions and virtues of our forefathers,” identifyingthemasEuropean settlers
Patriot Front tries to paint itself as mainstream while touting “white supremacist and anti-immigrant ideological belief systems,” said John Cohen, who held various counterterrorism and intelligence roles in the H
DepartmentduringtheObama and Bidenadministrations.
“The fact that they feel empowered to engage in publicdemonstrationsduring Independence Day and other national holiday events providesastarkillustrationof the issues this country is dealingwithatthistimeasit relates to white supremacy,” Cohensaid
Luke Baumgartner, a research fellow at George ‘Washington University’s Program on Extremism, added that although the group’s symbolism tries to evokepatriotismwiththered,
white and blue colors of the U.S.flag,itslogousessimilar iconography to the “fascio” logo of Benito Mussolini’s National Fascist Party from Italy in the 1920s, ’30s ‘and ’40s.
“At the root, they are indeed a white supremacist organization that is basically campaigning through these public appearances, whether they are flash marches, flyering events, protests, banner drops over highways, tryingtospreadthismessage thatAmerica is a country by and for white people only,” Baumgartnersaid
emphasised that the future of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) relies heavilyontheinclusionofeverydaycitizens.
CARICOM Secretary-General
Dr. Carla Barnett addressing the opening.
Against a backdrop of shifting global dynamicsandacceleratingclimatechallenges, CARICOM Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett delivered a compelling opening address at the 51st Regular Meeting of the ConferenceofHeadsofGovernment,issuinga direct call to deepen public engagement and accelerateregionalintegration
Speaking to an audience that included CARICOM Chair and Prime Minister of St. Lucia, the Hon. Philip J. Pierre, alongside other regional heads on Sunday, Dr Barnett
“The voices of a wider range of people in the community, including civil society organisations, must be more meaningfully incorporated in regional discussions,” Dr Barnett stated “Greater public participation will foster deeper understanding of how decisions shape everyday experiences ” ReflectingonthefoundationsoftheCaribbean community, Dr Barnett noted that the architectsoftheRevisedTreatyofChaguarmas weredrivenbypragmaticeconomicnecessity ratherthanmeresentimentality
“I dare say the authors of the revised treaty,buildingontheoriginaltreatyof1973, werenotencumberedbyanidealisticviewof regional integration based solely on shared history, culture, and ideals,” Dr Barnett observed. “Rather, theirs was a practical visionthatbydeepeningandbroadeningour
Continued on page 16
Frompage3
pushed back against the administration’s narrative, issuing a direct challenge to the head-of-state to publish the records immediately
“I categorically reject the president’s claim that I attempted to blackmail him,” Nazar Mohamed told this newspaper “I challenge President Ali to release, in its entirety, the communication I sent to him on Fridaymorning.”
The senior Mohamed maintained that the
message contained no threats, no mention of blackmail,andnoreferencetolegalsanctions or indictments He further revealed that upon receivingthetextmessageonFriday,President Aliattemptedtoplaceaphonecallbacktohim, whichMohamedchosenottoanswer
“Ihavenothingtohide,”NazarMohamed stated. “I invite the president to make the communication public and allow the people of Guyana to read it for themselves. Let the public judge the facts rather than rely on unfoundedallegations.”
The public controversy surrounding the reported grant of a large tract of state land to President Irfaan Ali hasgeneratedmoreheatthan light.Beforeaccusationsand counter-accusations continue to dominate the public discourse, it is important that Guyanese understand what the law actually says about the grantingofstatelandleases.
Thelawonthismatteris neither complicated nor ambiguous It clearly identifies who has the authority to approve leases ofstatelandsandleavesvery littleroomforspeculation.
T h e g o v e r n i n g legislationistheStateLands Act, Chapter 62:01. Section 3(1)provides:
“SubjecttothisActorthe Forests Act, the President may— (a) make absolute or provisional grants of any state lands of Guyana; (b) grant leases of any state lands of Guyana for such terms, and subject to such conditions,ashethinksfitor as are provided by the regulations...”
Those words are significant because the power is vested expressly in the president. The act does not state that the Guyana
Lands and Surveys Commission grants leases, nor does it confer that a u t h o r i t y o n t h e commissioneroflandsasthe primarydecision-maker
The Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission performs an important
administrative role It receives applications, conducts inspections, processes files, prepares lease documents and manages state lands, but the statutory authority to grant leases originates with the president under the State LandsAct.
Some have argued that the president does not personally approve every lease. That is true, but only because the law allows for delegation or for the president’s signature to be affixed in a prescribed manner
The State Grants (President’s Signature) Act, Chapter 62:04 permits the president’s signature to be affixedbystamporfacsimile rather than by hand. It also requires the document to be countersigned and certified by the appropriate official, thereby confirming that the lease was issued under presidentialauthority
Theissueofdelegationis equally important The president may delegate certain statutory powers relating to state lands, but only where such delegation isexpresslymade.
Thisbecameparticularly relevant in recent years. In 2 0 1 6 , d u r i n g t h e
A P N U + A F C administration, President David Granger delegated authority relating to the granting of leases, licences and permissions over state landstothecommissionerof lands.
That delegation, however,didnotsurvivethe change of government Shortlyafterassumingoffice in August 2020, the PPP/C administration rescinded the delegation, with the effect thatthestatutoryauthorityto approve leases reverted to thepresident.
Thatfactisnotindispute. Itwaspubliclyannouncedby the Attorney General’s Chambers and reflected the government’s decision that these powers should once again be exercised directly by the president rather than bydelegatedauthority
This legal background is importantbecauseithelpsto frame the present controversy Iftheallegation nowcirculatinginthepublic domain is that President Irfaan Ali obtained a substantialleaseofstateland before he became president, thensimplelogicandthelaw point to one obvious conclusion.
If the lease was granted beforeAugust2020,itcould not have been approved by PresidentAlibecausehewas not president at the time. It wouldnecessarilyhavebeen approvedundertheauthority that existed then, either by thepresidentofthedayorby a person exercising delegated authority under thelawtheninforce.
If the lease predates the PPP/C’s return to office in 2020,thenitmusthavebeen approved under a previous administration In those circumstances, it should not
Demboyssehifyoupassthroughsome ofthericefieldsthesedays,youmightswear youwalkingthroughaninternationalairport instead of a paddy bank. Long gone are the days when rice farming was just muddy boots, straw hats, and a man leaning on a shovelchewingcane.
Nowadays, dem boys seh, you got rice farmers with accents that could make you check twice if you in Essequibo or accidentally landed in Essex. One man out deh shouting “Aiyoh man, adjust the irrigationflow!”andyoudoesbelike,“Wait nah since when Uncle Toma start speakinglikeBBCweatherreport?”
Demboyssehthericefieldnowgotmore diversity than a United Nations conference. Onefellacomewithgumbootscleanerthana Sunday church shoe, talking about “precision agriculture” while holding a phone fancier than the president’s Meanwhile, old man looking on wondering if precision agriculture mean you plant rice withlaserbeamoryoujustverycarefulwith yourhand.
Anddon’ttalkaboutthemachinery Dem boys seh one new operator arrive with a machine that got more buttons than a space
take much the former president or the relevant former officials to state publiclywhensuchapproval wasinfactgiven.
The issue ought not to become a political football. It is fundamentally a questionoffact.
There is a very simple way to resolve the matter
Thepresidentcanpublishthe lease, or the relevant portions of it, showing the dateonwhichitwasgranted, the date on which it was executed and the authority under which it was approved.
That single document would answer the central question. It would establish beyond argument whether the lease was granted before
or after he became president and under whose legal authorityitwasissued.
No one should be condemned on the basis of rumour Equally, no public official, regardless of office, should expect the public to accept assurances where documentary evidence can easilysettletheissue.
The law has already provided the framework Thefactscannowdotherest.
If the lease was granted before President Ali assumedthepresidency,then the record will show preciselywhoapprovedit.If theleasewasgrantedafterhe became president, then the law equally identifies the authority under which that approval would have been made.
There is therefore no need for endless political back and forth. The answer liesintheleaseitself.
Until that document is made public, questions will persist. Once it is produced, the public will be able to judge the facts for themselves rather than relying on allegation, inference or partisan argument.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
shuttle. He press one and the tractor start singing, press another and it start reversing like it frighten of the mud. Old farmers watching say, “Back in my day, if tractor make noise like that, we used to run—not troubleshoot.”
But what really catching dem boys attention is how everybody suddenly become rice expert. One week man selling phone credit, next week he explaining soil pHlikehewritetextbookonit.Anotherone whousedtosellicecreamnowtalkingabout “yield optimisation strategies.” Dem boys s e h e v e n t h e r i c e g e t t i n g confused wondering who actually plantingwho.
Still,despitealltheaccents,gadgets,and fancy talk, the rice still growing same way mud, sweat, sun, and stubborn patience. Dem boys seh nature don’t care if you speak Queen English or Creole. If you can’thandlemud,thefieldgonhumbleyou realquick.
So next time you pass a rice field and hear ten different accents just smile. Dem boys seh: rice farming gone global—but mudstilllocal. Talkhalf.Leffhalf.
President Ali is a disappointment. A bigger and bigger one, sadly. No learning from slippages.
B a r g i n g a h e a d , unthinkingly. Blame rests on his advisers, handlers. Their duty is to protect the president. Fromhimself. It wastheFourth.
Notanordinaryone. But the soaring, sprawling celebration of 250 years of cherished American liberty
U S A m b a s s a d o r, Excellency Nicole D Theriot had her say, said it well. Ontakingthepodium, Guyana’s Pres. Ali started outontherightfoot,thenhis compassgyrated.
A stumbling came Rather ghastly, I think Sullying an extraordinary moment. Imperiling to the ambience of more delicate sensibilities. Foreign ones mostly;localonesfadedway back.
“InGuyanatoday,weare accustomedtoseeingpeople walk on examples and still criticise ” Seriously, Excellency? Wasthatreally necessary, Mr President?
Throwing a tantrum, stamping feet, before assembled guests of the ambassador (and Guyana, also).
Unseeming, ungracious,
and uncouth. Disturbingly so. I try with my president. Effortstosethimontheright pathareusuallybrushedoff, mocked. It’swhythepeople who come from what Guyanese call the ‘outside’ lookdowntheirnosesonthe natives. President Ali may lullhimselfintothinkingthat he is excluded from such a putdown. He would be shocked.Foreignershumour himbecauseofGuyana’soil kingdom. Heisakeyholder ‘Awshucks,man,’itwas the 250th anniversary celebration of an honoured presence. Therefore, wrong time and wrong place to curse critics Wrong occasiontobanishGuyanese parasites to some specially c o n s t r u c t e d P P P Government gulag. What kind of a man, one who should be an example for society,goesintoaglittering gatheringandgrowls? Does a man enter a birthday bash, bumps everybody out of the way, andblastsaway? Todisplay the bile and acids (maybe stored toxins, I muse) that fester inside of him. It’s a democracy, Brother Ali Ideals include freedom to think and freedom to speak. Remember,skipper? Theverycelebrationthat
the president graced (used guardedly) with his ennobling and enrobed presencestandsasasingular testimony. Toboldmenand women who treasured freedom from the suffocation of a Crown, and didsomethingaboutit.
The King of England could have claimed to be a recipient of the divine right ofkings. Toruleandtotax. Revolutionary Americans didn’tgiveadamnaboutany such self-assigned sacredness (sanctity), refused to prostrate themselves,grovel.
Real men, real leaders, rise and roar their resistance in such times. I would appreciate if someone in the government would connect the dots, if wise enough; then, present to Excellency Ali,withmycompliments. Guyana is now an oil power A country among countries. Though many of its citizens are starving, which the president rejects, Guyana is now the going place Foreigners are galloping to get here before others. Tograbtheirshareof Guyana’sriches.
Thus, would be immensely beneficial to this country’s standing, if its head-of-state comports
himselflikea,well,genuine head-of-state. One o v e r f l o w i n g w i t h confidence,andwithjustthe right dash of the debonair. That is, in the stateliest of fashionsatalltimes.
Having delivered his verbal volley, maturity and the decorum of true statesmanshiprequiredPres. Ali to call it quits, and immerse himself in the ambassador’s hospitality Instead, Guyana’s headman chose to deposit another verbal sledge, when he praised the ambassador for
w o r k i n g “relentlessly behind cameras, behind the noise, quietly.” Noise, chief!
Clearly, the president can’t help himself. His spitefulness (“noise”) must be vented. What point is proved, Dr President?
American ambassadors don’t need applause from Guyanese presidents. They dojustwhatHerExcellency is doing. Carry America’s flag. SellAmerica’sbrand.
I humbly recommend that Pres Ali use that
example and order some of hisownambassadorstostop making utter fools of themselvesanddosomereal work. Fortherecord:happy FourthtoExcellencyTheriot andtheteam.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) has called on Caribbean leaders to move beyond rhetoric and fully implement regionaldecisions,warningthatthepromise of Caribbean integration will remain unfulfilled if governments continue to place national interests above collective commitments.
In a message marking CARICOM Day 2026, the GTUC joined governments and citizensacrosstheregionincommemorating the 53rd anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas, which established theCaribbeanCommunityonJuly4,1973.
T
CARICOM’s founding leaders: Forbes Burnham, Errol Barrow, Michael Manley and Eric Williams, saying they recognised thatCaribbeanstateswouldbebetterableto protect their sovereignty and improve the lives of their citizens through unity and collectiveaction.
While acknowledging CARICOM’s achievements in education, healthcare, disaster preparedness, regional security, trade, culture and the free movement of skilled nationals, the GTUC said the integration movement has yet to realise its fullpotential.
“The promise of regional integration remains only partially fulfilled,” the congress stated, pointing to persistent unemployment, widening inequality, rising food and energy prices, heavy public debt, climate change, organised crime, migration pressures and growing geopolitical uncertainty
The labour body argued that these challenges require stronger regional institutions and more decisive collective action.
It also expressed concern over what it described as the slow implementation of decisions taken by CARICOM heads of government.
“Regional integration cannot advance at the pace required if national interests consistently outweigh regional obligations. Thecommunity’scredibilityultimatelyrests notonlyontheagreementsitreaches,buton
General Secretary of the GTUC, Lincoln Lewis
its willingness to honour and implement them,”theGTUCsaid.
Speaking on behalf of Caribbean workers, the congress urged regional governments to place greater emphasis on creating decent jobs, protecting workers’ rights, strengthening social dialogue, improving education and skills training, advancing food and energy security, and ensuring that the benefits of economic growtharesharedmoreequitably
The GTUC also commended Carla Barnettforherleadershipduringaperiodof significant regional and global challenges, while reaffirming its support for efforts to strengthen CARICOM’s institutions and deepenregionalcooperation.
The congress further urged political leaders across the region to recommit to the principles on which CARICOM was founded,sayingleadershipmust“riseabove narrow political considerations” and demonstrate the vision and commitment needed to strengthen democratic governance, safeguard regional institutions andprotecttheinterestsofCaribbeanpeople.
According to the GTUC, no Caribbean nationcansuccessfullyconfrontissuessuch asclimatechange,economictransformation, regional security, public health, labour mobilityandfoodproductioninisolation.
As the community marks another anniversary, the congress called on governments,employers,workers,youthand civil society to renew their commitment to regionalintegration.
“The vision embraced in Chaguaramas more than 53 years ago remains worthy of our unwavering commitment. It is now the responsibilityofthisgenerationtopreserve, strengthen and pass that legacy on to those whofollow,”theGTUCsaid.
Two separate households sharingatwo-storeyresidencehave beendisplacedbyanearlymorning firewhichdestroyedtheirhomeon Sunday The incident occurred at Lot 53 Winkle Road, New Amsterdam,Berbice
At home at the time was 23-
year-oldJoelJagmohanwho,along with his wife, their one-month-old baby, and his 62-year-old father, was asleep in the lower flat of the property
“I was sleeping around 02:00/02:30 My old man wake me up Themantellmehecalledmelike
ninetimes Hecallwithaloudvoice andIcomeoutoftheroom WhenI come out the room, I see nuf’ smoke,”Jagmohanrecalled.
He said his father had told him afterwards that he had felt an overheating in the room and grew concerned Hisfatherwassituatedin
the back room, and the elderly man gotupfromhisbedinanattemptto ascertainthesourceoftheheat.He would observe flames and smoke fromtheouterportionofthehouse.
“Hesaid,‘Brian,Brian,theplace burningdown!’WhenIcomeoutme
Continued on page 16
ByKhadidjaBa
Leader of the Opposition, Azruddin Mohamed has publicly accused President IrfaanAli of massive state-fueled corruption, alleging the rapid development of a luxury 150-acre private estate and ranch investment valuedatmorethanGUY$22billion
In a video published on his Team Mohamed’s Facebook page, the opposition leadersaidthe“mind-boggling150-acreranch investmentamountingtomorethan$22billion” was “developed in just three years after becoming president of Guyana in 2020,” and could“never”besubstantiatedbyapresidential salaryof$37millionpermonth
In a counter-offensive, President Ali hit back almost immediately by posting a privately owned Newsroom article on his officialFacebookpage,refutingtheclaimsasa “contrived story concerning his farm” and detailinghisassetdeclarations Alialsostated that “he is in possession of text messages receivedfromtheSeniorMohamed,including messagessentasrecentlyasthisweek,which he (Mohamed) says recordings would be releasedifamendswerenotmadebetweenthe president and the Mohamed family The president said this implied the government’s easingofextraditionproceedingsrequestedby the USA The president said those communicationsandtheircontentsarecapable of examination and speak for themselves, addingthatheiswillingtomakethempublic”
Inhisvideopresentation,Mohameddetailed amassiveinfrastructurebreakdownoftheestate, standing directly on what he identified as President Ali’s private entry road Mohamed stated,“IamstandingonPresidentIrfaan’sentry road,a22-kilometerroadinlengthand17feetin width that has a designated fleet of heavy machinerytomaintainhisprivateroadleadingto his ranch” He contrasted this with local geography, noting that “most farmers along this highway would use an existing trail road thatisaboutsevenfeetwide,butIrfan’sroadis drastically wider to accommodate big trucks fromBrazil”Heclaimedthat“therewasand stillisatrailroadleadingtohisranch,butitis not of his standard as he wanted a straight, clean,beautifullandscapeleadingtohisluxury estate” Mohamed called the president selfish forbuildinghisownmassiveroad
“Thismanissoselfish,hedecidedtomake his own massive road leading into his luxurious ranch It is so smooth that even the Lamborghini could blaze this road” He cited engineering estimates placing the cost of the road alone at approximately $75 million, adding, “Mind you, this is a conservative
figure, not the overpriced figure the PPPand their contractor friends quote to build roads, while communities throughout the country don’tevenhaveaproperloomroad”
Mohamedsaidtheentire150acreswasall forested land, with land developer estimates placingthecostof“clearingthismassiveranch alone, leveling, and hauling away everything costsnolessthan$300million”
Mohamed then shifted his focus to the electrical infrastructure built to power the facility, revealing it required a significant investmentincluding70lanternpostsand210 high voltage isolators He detailed that “there are roughly 6,600 meters of electrical distributionlinesrunningthroughouttheestate from the Linden-Soesdyke Highway to the facility,”alongwithatleasttwotransformers, including both pole-mounted and padmounted varieties Mohamed claimed “these very transformers can comfortably provide electricity for approximately 500 average homes,” bringing the total cost for the entire electrical infrastructure, including installation andlabor,toapproximately55millionGuyana dollars He labeled this situation inhumane, highlighting that “the residents in one of the closestvillagestoIrfan’sestate,St Cuthbert’s Mission, have for decades received electricity for only four hours a day, while Irfan is powering his estate for his blackbelliedsheepandBraziliancows.”Headded, “In fact, I have been informed that the generator in St Cuthbert’s Mission is currently down. So many housing schemes across Guyana is to this day without electricity.Thisisinhumane.”
Describing the farming and ranching operation as something never before seen,
Mohamed detailed two large, state-of-the-art poultry tunnel houses equipped with fully automaticsilostoensure80,000chickensare fed continuously to reduce labour requirements Heexplainedthat“eachmodern ventilated tunnel house is equipped with galvanisedinsulatedroofingandlargeexhaust fanstoreduceheatabsorptionandensurethat the birds are cool and comfortable” Citing agricultural engineer estimates and Minister Mustapha,Mohamedstatedthesetwopoultry houses cost approximately $340 million,
though he noted “the government built a similar poultry house in Onverwagt for $170 million Andalso,thegovernmentismakinga contribution to that So, the total cost for this entire tunnel house will cost approximately $170million” Hethenbrokedowntheeconomicsofthe flock itself, stating that “the cost to buy 80,000 chicks with feed is around $80 million,”specificallycalculatingthat“a$230 perchickmultipliedby80,000chicks,thatis
Continued on page 15
A security guard was shot but successfully thwarted an armed robbery at a Superbet outlet on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, early Sunday after engaging two gunmen in a dramatic exchange of gunfire that forced the suspects to flee, abandoning both their getaway motorcycle andtheirrobberyplan.
Reportsarethatthebanditsattackedearly Sunday The shootout between the security officerandthebanditswascaughtonCCTV
footage.
Footageshowedthebanditspullingupon amotorcycle.Thepillionridergotoffpulled outagun,crankeditandbeganrobbingafew patronsattheestablishment.
The security officer was dressed in a hoodiewhenthebanditsattacked.
The camera captured the security guard reaching into his pocket and grabbing a weapon.
Hecrankedthegunandthenopenedfire.
Thepillionriderfiredbackandduringthe exchangeofgunfirethebanditridingthebike abandoned it and started running away. The pillionriderjoinedhimandranbehind.
They escaped abandoning their robbery plan. Kaieteur learnt that the security guard washit.Uptopresstime,thepolicewereyet toreleaseastatementonthematter.
Police were called in on Sunday afternoon after a farmercaughtthreemenina diplomatic-registered vehicle allegedly stealing produce from his farm and a neighbouringpropertyalong the West Bank Demerara (WBD).
According to one of the victims, he discovered the men on his farm around 16:11hrs while checking on hisproduce.
He said tangerines and oranges were also stolen from his neighbour’s farm, promptinghimtoalertpolice
after he and other residents blocked the road to prevent thesuspectsfromleaving.
“I called the police at 11 minutes after 4, and they arrived after 5,” the farmer said. A video seen by this publication shows police intercepting the vehicle and detainingtheoccupants.
Reports indicate the suspectstoldpolicethattheir “White bosses” had permission to remove producefromthefarms.
However, the farm owners have disputed this claim, alleging that the
diplomatic-regis
ered vehicle may have been used asacoverfortheft. Theysaidthevehiclehad been seen repeatedly in the area around the time tangerines, oranges, and avocadoswentmissing.
H o w e v e r , t h e y previously dismissed it as suspicious due to its diplomatic plates, assuming it belonged to foreign officials touring the area. They said they only alerted policeaftercatchingthemen allegedly stealing avocados intheact.
Frompage13
$184million Coupledwithfeedfor onecropat$7,200perbagcostsan additional $576 million That is a totalof$76millionthepresidenthas invested in his personal chicken farm” Mohamed stated that “at the market price of $400 a pound for a five-pound chicken for his farm of 80,000chickens,heisslatedtomake $160 million. Therefore, his profit every six weeks is $160 minus his $76 million investment, which leaves him with a whopping $84 million profit. Can you imagine that?”
Thevideoexposécontinuedinto theestate’scattleinvestment,where Mohamed showed a massive cattle house, he says was constructed by President Ali that can comfortably accommodate 500 Brazilian cows He noted the structure features multiple holding quarters, feeding areas,apathwaytothepasturebuilt withtimber to withstand the herds, and a galvanised steel roof, which he says agricultural engineers estimatethecostofthecattlehouse at approximately $40 million Mohamed stated “currently, there are 200 cows reared at the ranch,” valued at $64 million Guyana dollars, adding that “everyday truckloads of antelope grass come directly to the ranch to feed the cattle” and that “Irfan has his designated tractor and trailer costing$15milliontotransportthe grass.” He noted that “at $800 per pound wholesale with 400 pounds per cow average and 200 cows currently reared, President Irfan’s cows are worth $64 million ” Mohamed sharply criticised the administration by stating that “while his estate has properly irrigatedpasturesforhiscowswith antelopegrassshuttledin,ourlocal cattle farmers have to endure significant losses of their cattle, dronedinwithnointerventionfrom thegovernment.”
Mohamed then claimed to have located the missing black-bellied sheep on President Ali’s ranch, showing a flock of approximately 200 sheep of various ages, breeds, and stages housed in an elevated structurewithmultiplequartersthat costs approximately 10 million Guyana dollars He described the infrastructure as “built with intention, a wide central walkway runs through the middle, giving workerseasyaccesstoeachquarter for feeding, watering and inspections,” as well as “raised slated wooden floors allow the manureandurinetofallthroughthe gaps below to keep the pens drier, reduce disease risk and reduce laborforcleaning.”
Valuing the 200 sheep at approximately 18 million Guyana dollars based on an average live weightof90poundspersheepand 1,000 Guyana dollars per pound, Mohamed grumbled that “while IrfanandZulfiaregivingourlocal sheep farmers one more ram. The president has 200 alone here and just imagine how many were alreadysold.Thatisputtingpeople first.”
Moving on to the rest of the
livestock, Mohamed highlighted a goatherdcontainingapproximately 50 goats housed in quarters worth approximately $3 million, with the goats themselves valued at an additional $3 million based on an averageliveweightof70poundsper goat and 1,000 Guyana dollars per pound Neighboring the goat quarters, he pointed out the Black Giantpenhousedinalongpoultry shelter that cost approximately $3 million to construct, containing around500blackgiantsworth$1.2 million.Mohamedalsopointedout athrivingduckbusinessfeaturinga shelterworthabout$3million.
The video then showcased the mainresidentialranchhouse,which Mohamed described as “a main residentialranchhouse,asubstantial two-story concrete home which PresidentAliusesforhisleisuretime forprobablyjustafewtimesayear Meanwhile, there are tens of thousands of Guyanese who still don’thaveaplacetocallhome.”He noted the luxurious vacation home is fully air-conditioned with a wraparound terrace and decorative railings, and features an adjacent
recreation, Mohamed detailed an investment inTambaqui, one of the mostexpensiveBrazilianfreshwater fish in the Amazon, which is becomingpopularinGuyanaforits rapidgrowthandsustainability
He said, “President Ali has received the best fiscal advice to utilisethetechnologicallyadvanced systems and guidance from agricultural experts and economists toensurethateverysingleoneofhis livestock, agriculture and aquacultureinvestmentsgiveshima massive turnover, a billionaire overnight”
Theaquaculturefacilityfeatures two large circular rings acting as commercialcagesystemsalongside infrastructureincludingearthworks, canal excavation, solar-powered aeration, pumping equipment, fish stock, Tambaqui fingerlings, feed installation, anchoring, and water control infrastructure. Mohamed noted that “two cages of that size and magnitude can hold 20,000 to 40,000 fish with high density production of up to 50,000 to 75,000 fish each ring,” adding that this fish is enjoyed by many at
recreational entertainment area withaswimmingpool,pavedpool deck, gazebo, and an outdoor kitchentocookthecasserolecookup. Mohamed explained that “the panoramic views overlooking the calm fresh water creek provide a stunning backdrop for the two benabs, creating a picturesque and tranquil setting,” with the entire retreat home, pool, gazebo, entertainmentarea,andtwobenabs estimated at approximately 165 million Guyana dollars. Mohamed declared.
“Now I want to show you just how your taxpayer money is being squandered by the president simply forhisownpersonalenjoymentand fun Guyanese, have a look at President Irfan’s very own manmade circuit creek Have a look at what your president did to this massive rainforest at the mouth of his private creek.” Showing a Google Map image of the area as still not developed, he highlighted thetransformationfromuntouched rainforest to President Ali’s own personal kayaking circuit costing $60 million dollars, comparing the massive size of the creek to the reality of Guyanese citizens waitingdecadesforabasic40by80 houselot.
In addition to freshwater
landscaping and exotic Brazilian plants,costing5milliondollarsper shadehouseforatotalof35million dollars.Mohamedclaimed“Irfan’s shade houses are much more sophisticated and technologically advanced as compared to this shed Minister Zulfikar gave the Kurukuru community, an impoverished community just 15 minutes away,” valuing the seven shade houses and exotic Brazilian plants together at least 50 million dollars.
Mohamed then detailed President Ali’s private orchard and citrus production, pointing out a grid-like pattern of thousands of young fruit trees established on raised mounds with cleared basins aroundthebasetoimprovedrainage The commercial operation includes pineapple,orange,tangerine,lemon, lime, dragon fruit, katahar, breadfruit, banana, plantain, and many other varieties. Covering approximately 40 acres, Mohamed stated the scale of the operation required extensive site preparation over the past two to three years, including forest clearing, land grading, soil improvement, field surveying, irrigation, fertilisation, weed control, pest management, pruning, and maintenance, costing no less than 250 million dollars. Mohamed emphasised, “I want Guyanese to understand that I’m not like the PPP who will inflate numbers for their gain. Each of these numbers, including this 250million-dollar investment for just citrus,isanextremelylowestimate. Youwouldhavetohavealotmore than 19 fraud charges to accumulate the immense capital to fund this project. It would take a regular farmer generations to fund an investment of this magnitude. Generations.”
thousands of Guyana dollars per pound.
Surrounding these cages are several engineered earthen ponds with water control canals and embankments to farm Hassa fish, bringing the total aquaculture infrastructurecosttoapproximately 50 million dollars, a conservative estimate that excludes the millions of dollars in actual Tambaqui and Hassafishstock
The centerpiece of the estate, accordingtoMohamed,isaseriesof nine long-span, modern tunnel greenhouses and parallel hydroponic farms arranged in organised rows for extensive agricultural production These climate-controlled facilities support high-value crops, vegetables, and plant nurseries, and include irrigation systems, internal crop benches, trellises, and covered feeding and service areas for workers and equipment, valued at 150milliondollars.
Mohamed stated, “I hope the Guyanesepeopleandourlocalcash crop farmers are paying keen attention to how the president is living like a Maharaja while they are struggling with harsh conditions of their crops ” Furthermore, the estate features seven shade houses for garden
Mohamed called the additional payroll cost to employ this workforce “unbelievable”, noting it includes full-time veterinarians, farm managers, equipment and heavy machinery operators, livestock attendants, greenhouse workers, security personnel, maintenance staff, and general labourers He stated, “Even using a very conservative estimate of just 50farmworkersearninganaverage of100,000permonth,themonthly payroll alone would be approximately 5 million dollars. Over a three-year period, that amounts to approximately 180 million dollars in wages. That is leavingoutsecurity.”
Finally, Mohamed detailed an extensive perimeter security fence stretching for several kilometers along the ranch to enclose the poultry facilities, livestock barns, aquaculture ponds, orchards, buildings,andinternalroadways He noted that constructing a secure perimeter of this size requires thousands of feet of fencing materials,treatedfenceposts,high tensile wire or chain link mesh, hardware, labour, land clearing, and ongoing maintenance, representingacapitalinvestmentof atleast50milliondollarsbasedon comparable materials sold in Guyana.
To irrigate the massive estate ranch, orchard, fields, seven shade houses, nine greenhouses, aquaculture facilities, and livestock operations, Mohamed stated that a constantandreliablesourceofwater was required He detailed the construction of a massive well and irrigationsystemcosting30million dollars, which includes 40 black tankssprinkledaroundtheproperty and the required plumbing to run pipes throughout the entire estate, bringing the total cost for water infrastructureto45milliondollars.
Healsodetailedafleetofheavy machinery purchased specifically fortheestate’sdevelopment,heavy lifting, and maintenance, which includesthreeexcavators,aroller,a dump truck, and a grader, additionally supplemented by multiplecars,bikes,quads,canters, a camper, and boats, totaling an estimated150milliondollars.
Architecturally, the property also contains nearly a dozen permanent residences as living quarters to accommodate the fulltime on-site workforce, including newly constructed concrete homes withsteelroofsbuilttocomfortably accommodate full-time on-site managers,supervisors,farmers,and labourers, conservatively valued at approximately60milliondollars.
In direct response to the heavy accusations, President Ali utilised hisofficialFacebookpagetoposta Newsroom story containing a rebuttaltodismantlewhathetermed a contrived story concerning his farm. According to Newsroom, “President Ali acquired the farm long before assuming the office of president. The acquisition of the property predates his presidency and can be independently verified through banking records and other officialdocumentation.”
Secondly, the statement noted that “as required by law, the president has made the appropriate declarations to the integrity commission The acquisition of his assets and the source of the funds used to acquire them could be verified through the relevant financialandregulatoryrecords”
Thirdly, the response asserted that “it is well known, both within Guyana and internationally, that President Ali has a longstanding passion for agriculture and farming. His interest in the sector did not begin with his presidency buthasexistedformanyyears.He iswidelyrecognisedforhishandson approach to farming and for championing innovation and modern agricultural practices. As president, he has also been a leading advocate for Guyana’s food-security agenda and regional food-securityinitiatives.”
Thestatementalsodeclaredthat “the farm has never received any special benefit, preferential treatment, or assistance from the Government of Guyana, either beforeorafterPresidentAliassumed office Atnopointhavestatefunds, public resources, or government assets been used in relation to this investment”
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From page 11 room,Iwakeupmywifeand seh‘hey,smoke’.Iruninand runout,andIfalldown.Ipanicked.Icollectmeson.”
The construction worker managed to move his family to safety, as portions of the lowerflatsustaineddamages.
The fire destroyed the upperflatofthebuildingcompletely
The owner of the property, Gail Ann Williams, 49, told Kaieteur News that she was out since earlier in the day tending to some business, when a neighbour called and informed her that thehousewasablaze.Her17year-old daughter and 11year-old son were at that neighbour when the phone callwasmade.
“When I coming on the CanjeBridge,Iseethesmoke
up in the air. I said ‘yes Father...’thenIparkandIcome and see the fire.”
Williams estimated her loss at just over $3 million. Itemslostincludedelectronic devices, a generator, PVC equipment, and valuable household appliances.Amotorcycle, valued over $600,000,wasalsodamaged.
Her daughter Wanita told this publication that she and her brother were alone upstairs. Just prior to the fire, they retired to bed.
“I went in my mother room. My little brother, he went in my room with his phone. He said he’s tired, he going and sleep. I went and sleep. Then something told me to get up now.When I get up, the whole house was engulfed in smoke,” she recounted.
The teen recalled strugglingtowakeherbrother,battling dreadful thoughts that hewasalreadydead.Afterhe woke,theysprintedacrossto the neighbour for refuge.
OfficialsfromtheGuyana Fire Service (GFS) in New Amsterdam ultimately confirmedthatthefirewasmaliciously set by persons so far unknown.
Meanwhile, both Jagmohan and Williams praised the prompt response ofthefireservice,notingthat theteamoffirefightersarrived within 5 minutes and managedtoextinguishtheflames, saving a section of the lower half.
Jagmohansaidhelivedat that residence for the last three years, while Williams said she resided there all her life.
From page 8 intra-regionalmarket,coordinatingforeignpolicyand international trade negotiations, collaborating on key human capital development areas such as health, education, culture and more, we would be better able to weather turbulent storms as we sought to expand real development opportunities for the people of our region.”
She commended the outgoing chairman, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr Terrance Drew, for navigating“somequiteroughwaters over the past six months,” before welcoming Prime Minister Pierre to the chairmanship.
The secretary-general highlightedmajormilestones for the bloc, notably the expansion of the movement of skilledworkersandtheOctober 2025 commencement of full free movement among
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four member states under the protocol on enhanced cooperation.Onfoodsecurity,she acknowledged the continued riseinagriculturalproduction under the region’s agricultural strategy, now extended from2025to2030,whichaims todrasticallyreducefoodimports.
However, Dr. Barnett warned that accelerating climate crises are severely threatening these gains. She pointed to back-to-back economic hits from Hurricane Beryl in 2024 and Hurricane Melissa in 2025, which decimatedJamaicanagriculturein successive years.
“The climate challenges wefaceareevenmorestark,” Dr.Barnettcautioned,noting that the intensity of shifting weather patterns, hurricanes, and floods is “increasing the needtofinancedisasterrelief and reconstruction at a much faster rate than financing is becomingavailable.”
Regionalsecurityand expandingborders
Turning to regional security, Dr. Barnett reaffirmed CARICOM’s active role in Haiti.TheCARICOMEminent Persons Group continues to engage political and civil society representatives to build a broad consensus toward peace, security, and credible elections. She also acknowledged the active deployment of CARICOM electoral observermissions,includingrecent general elections in Antigua and Barbuda and The Bahamas. The meeting alsomarkedageographicexpansionfortheregionalbody
Dr. Barnett formally welcomed Martinique and French Guiana as the newest associate members of CARICOM,joiningCuraçao, which was admitted two years prior
Concluding her address, Dr. Barnett pointed to the vibrant spirit of the region’s peopleastheultimatesource of inspiration, referencing both the participants of the 19th CARICOM Road Run and the regional football squads.
“As I close, I ask that we salute the national football teams from Haiti and Curaçao,whosedynamicrepresentation in FIFA World Cup 2026 has proudly showcased the energy and spirit of the Caribbean people.”
Urging leaders to look past current geopolitical and economic disruptions, Dr Barnett challenged the conference to match the resilience of its citizens with decisive legislative action.
“In the interest of the peopleweservenow,andfor future generations, we should see the prevailing volatility and disruption not as a barrier to progress, but as an opportunity to reaffirm through decisive action our commitmenttotheidealsand aspirations of the revised Treaty of Chaguarmas. To move from resilience to renewal, as this meeting’s theme urges, requires active recognition that as architects of this region’s future, we should work in unison to shape our own destiny on our own terms.”
By The Honourable Mr. Justice Winston Anderson, President of the Caribbean Court of Justice
In July 2021, in the pages of the Jamaica Gleaner,thequestion
was posed: Why is CARICOM Day not a national holiday throughout theCaribbean?
Five years later, in July 2026, the issue arises again for consideration by our Caribbeanpolicymakers.
On 4th July 1973, four visionary leaders, Errol Barrow of Barbados, Forbes
Burnham of Guyana, MichaelManleyofJamaica, and Eric Williams of TrinidadandTobago,signed the Treaty of Chaguaramas creating the Caribbean Community In so doing, they laid the foundation for what remains the most ambitious experiment in regional integration undertaken by small developing states anywhere in the world Vere Bird of AntiguaandBarbuda,oneof three original signatories to the Dickenson Bay Agreement, is also a widely recognised figure in the history of regional integration.
That date is more than a historical footnote. It is the birthplace of the Caribbean Community and therefore the midwife of our claim to regionhood And to our beingoneoutofmany Public holidays are rarely only about the past. They are moreso about the present and the future. They provide societies with the opportunities to reaffirm shared values, preserve a collective memory, and cultivate a sense of
belonging and continuity
across generations Independence Days, R e p u b l i c D a y s , Emancipation Days, and other national observances perform this function in countries throughout the world. They remind citizens notonlyofwhatoccurredon a particular date, but also of why, and who they are, as a people.
T h e C a r i b b e a n Community remains in the unusual position of possesing many of the attributes of a single economic space while lacking a single day for public reflection upon that communal space. We have common institutions, common legal heritage and arrangments, shared educational structures, and an increasingly integrated economy Yet we do not pause collectively and simultaneously to celebrate the regional project that made those achievements possible. The observance of CARICOM Day would help fillthatspace. Communitiesaredefined not only by our territories and institutions but also by our symbols, traditions, and rituals. Their sustainability requires moments through whichcitizenscanrecognise themselvesasparticipantsin acommonenterprise.
The observance of a regional CARICOM Day would provide such a moment. It would draw a boundary not in geography butintime,settingapartone day each year where we reflect upon the Caribbean endeavour and the aspirations that continue to animateit.
On4thJulythisyear,the UnitedStatescelebrates250 years since the Declaration
of Independence While Americans gather annually on 4th July to celebrate the birthoftheirnation,weinthe Caribbean have an opportunityonthatsameday to reflect upon the birth and evolution of our regional community.
The leaders who gatheredinChaguaramason 4th July 1973, understood that regional integration would be the work not of a few years but of many decades. The responsibility for advancing that vision therefore passed from one generation of Caribbean leaderstothenext.
The work begun by our founders was carried forward by leaders such as P J Patterson, Basdeo Panday, Owen Arthur, and Bharrat Jagdeo, who helped encouraged economic integration and strengthen regionalinstitutions.
More recently, leaders including Kenny Anthony, Patrick Manning, Ralph Gonsalves,andMiaMottley, have continued to champion regional cooperation while adapting the integration movement to contemporary realities.
CARICOM therefore is not the achievement of a single generation. It is the sharedinheritanceofmany THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF INTEGRATION
Aregionalholidaywould provide an annual opportunitytoreflectonhow far we have travelled and how much further we still havetogo.
T h e C a r i b b e a n Communityhasenduredand matured through changing administrations, economic turbulence,naturaldisasters, and shifting global realities.
It has done so because the idea at its heart remains compelling:thatcooperation among Caribbean peoples, despite their different ancestries, achieves greater welfare, security, and prosperity.
The entry into force 20 years ago of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and the creation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) represented the maturation of that vision Today, Caribbean nationals enjoy opportunities unimaginable to earlier generations Citizens can travel freely across the Community, establishbusinesses,provide s e r v i c e s , p u r s u e employment opportunities, and invest beyond the bordersoftheirownStates.
The movement toward full free movement of CARICOM nationals, continues to advance. Each step in that direction reinforces a simple but powerful idea: that a Jamaican, a Dominican, a Vincentian, a Kittitian, a Barbadian,aTrinbagonian,a Guyanese, or a Belizean is not only a citizen of a particular State but also a citizen of the Caribbean C o m m u n i t y T h e CARICOM passport is a powerful symbol of that unity The institutions of regional integration have likewise become among our greateststrengths.
The University of the West Indies (UWI) has educated generations of Caribbean leaders, scholars, professionals, and public servants The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has developed qualifications recognised throughout the Region and internationally T
Development Bank (CDB) has financed development across Member States. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has enhanced our collective public health response and CDEMAhasmanagedrelief efforts across the region in times of disaster Both West IndiesCricket(CWI)andthe CARIFTA Games have demonstrated the power of sport to unite the region, while serving as enduring symbols of Caribbean identityandpride.
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), both the apex or h
participating states and the judicial guardian of the rights enshrined in the integration movement is uniquely endowed with the responsiblity to adjudicate over Caribbean matters, and has been making great strides in adjudicating cases thatimpactourdailylives.
The Court, indeed, belongs to the people of the Caribbean;atruthembodied in its motto “One People. One Region. One Court.”
All people of the region are encouraged to visit the Court, whether in person in Port-of-Spain or online via its website (wwwccj org) and social media pages to understandtheCourt’scases and how they impact us -
f r o m K i n g s t o n t o
Georgetown These
achievements should not be takenforgranted.
WHY CARICOM DAY MATTERS
Aregionalholidayon4th July,andwherethisfallsona weekendtobecelebratedon the first Monday thereafter (thisyearon6thJuly)would therefore be about far more thanremembrance.
It would provide a catalyst for schools to teach the history of regional integration;forgovernments t o h i g h l i g h t t h e achievements of Caribbean institutions; for businesses andcivilsocietytocelebrate Caribbean enterprise and innovation; and for citizens to reflect on the shared inheritance that binds us together Two Member States,AntiguaandBarbuda, and Guyana, already recognise CARICOM Day as public holidays. Their example demonstrates that such recognition is practical andappropriate. It would be a good thing if our policymakers did not allowanother5yearstopass us by without giving serious thought to celebrating our shared history and bright futureonCARICOMDay
On4thJulyeachyear,we shouldpausetocelebrateour achievements, reflect on our shared journey, and renew our commitment to the Caribbean project. In the end, we are all we have. Wartsandall.
Frompage6
Golding, Onoja Atta Onoja, RemmyKulsum,Dr SandraHarte, and entrepreneur and Member of ParliamentDr TerrenceCampbell. Theeveningwaspunctuatedby speeches from the podium. Dr Terrence Campbell accepted his second consecutive congressional proclamation with a mix of gratitude and sharp political commentary “In the absence of any representation from the executive in Guyana, I bring you warm greetings from the Cooperative Republic,” Campbell noted. He proudly observed the scale of the diaspora’s efforts, stating, “I can say hands down, with much less
resources, the best celebration of our Diamond Jubilee has taken place here in New York.” He praised GICC Chairman Rickford Burke for being “relentless in striving for advocacy for the underprivileged and for justice in Guyana.”
Turning his attention to the country’s economic future, Campbell issued a stirring call to action regarding Guyana’s sudden oilboom.“Today,asournewfound oil wealth and wealth from other natural resources drive growth, true progress will require us to be more inclusive,” Campbell urged, adding,“Letusrejectdivision.Let us pursue unity Let us insist upon good governance, transparency,
and accountability in our beloved country.”
In a deeply emotional acceptancespeech,JusticeYonette Cummings-Edwardsdedicatedher awardtoherfamily,herhometown of Linden, and the teachers who shaped her Reflecting on her journey from a law student at the University of Guyana in 1982 alongside Campbell, she noted how far they had come, quoting Maya Angelou’s famous verse: “Though they tried to write her down in history with their bitter, twistedeyes,andgrindherintothe dirt, still she rose ” Justice Cummings-Edwards used her platform to honour the collective effort behind her success and the
sacrificesofherfellowhonourees, invoking Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’spoetry:“Theheights great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, for they,whiletheircompanionsslept, were toiling upward through the night.”
Citingtheproverbthatittakesa village to raise a child, she beautifullytoldtheaudience,“You are the village and I am that child that you’ve all raised and thereforeIdedicatetheseawardsto allofyouherethisevening.Ishare it with you.” She concluded by thanking Rickford Burke and the GICC team, using the words of President John F Kennedy to commend their dedication to their
homeland, stating they epitomise the call to “ask not what your country can do for you, but what youcandoforyourcountry.”
Thestar-studdedeventfeatured high-profile attendees and special invitees, including House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, and New York political figure Zohran Mamdani Followingtheformalproceedings, the atmosphere shifted to pure celebration, with entertainment provided by the Foundation Band alongside top Caribbean DJs and artists, cementing a historic Diamond Jubilee that successfully bridged the diaspora and the homeland.
(Yahoo News) At least 25 peoplearesuspectedtohavediedin New Jersey from the sweltering, multi-day heat wave that has enveloped a large portion of the country leading up to and over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, officialssaid.
New Jersey officials said at a news conference that the deaths were caused by the heat dome that had settled above parts of the centralandeasternUnitedStates.
“Unfortunately, many of these individuals were found in homes without air conditioning,” New Jersey Health Commissioner Dr RaynardWashingtontoldreporters atthenewsconferenceonSaturday “A few were outside their residences, some on the street and someeveninparkedcars.”
New Jersey Gov Mikie Sherrillsaidthatthunderstormson Fridaynightandovertheweekend acrossthestateknockedoutpower to nearly 300,000 utility customers and that wind gusts of up to 80 mph toppled trees and powerlines
New Jersey officials said they beganseeingwhattheybelieveare heat-related deaths as early as Thursday, with most occurring in thecentralandnorthernpartsofthe state.
Over the past several days, New Jersey and states along the Eastern Seaboard have experienced extreme heat with temperatures in the high 90s to tripledigits
“Theheat’shittingallofus,not just seniors, not just with underlying health conditions,
peopleofallages,”saidSherrill.
“Extreme heat is the number one weather-related killer in America, and this is the hottest stretch we’ve seen in over 14 years,”Sherrilladded.
In Illinois, one weather-related death was reported in Fox Township,accordingtotheKendall
County,Illinois,Sheriff’sOffice.
Sheriff’s deputies were called toaFoxTownshipRVParkaround 3:12p.m.localtimeafterwindgust
toppledatreeontoacampertrailer, killinga47-year-oldwomaninside, accordingtothesheriff’soffice.
Lingering widespread heat is expectedtotriggeranotherroundof
severe weather and possible flash flooding in parts of the midAtlantic and South on Sunday followingaFourthofJulythatsaw record-breaking temperatures capped by thunderstorms and damagingwinds.
Severestormsrollthroughparts ofUSasheatwavecontinues
A level 2 of 5 “slight risk” of severeweather–includingisolated small hail, lightning and flash flooding – are possible on Sunday afternoon from Charlottesville, Virginia,upintonorth-centralNew Jersey, including the cities of Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington,D.C.
The storms are expected to intensifysometimeafter2p.m.and continueintothelateevening.
The high temperature in Philadelphia on Sunday is expected to be in the low 90s and in the mid-90s in the nation’s capital as the Fourth of July weekendwrapsup
Heatadvisoriesremainineffect on Sunday along the East Coast from Jacksonville, Florida, up to Philadelphia as heat indexes, or “feels-like” temperatures, are expectedtoclimbintotripledigits. The cities of Macon, Georgia, and PineBluff,Arkansas,arealsounder heatadvisoriesonSunday
Frompage25 weighted ball that took Ryerson past Douglas Santos The full-back squared the ball and there were four options cueing up to hit it, with Patrick Berg ultimately powering the ball into the roof of the net. The flag immediately went up, and Ryerson turned out to havegonetooearly,withthe goalruledoutasoffside.
Another overturn workedinBrazil’sfavour10 minutes later Aquick break
found Bruno Guimarães on the ball in the Norwegian half.HeplayedinMartinelli who squared into space on theedgeofthebox.Matheus Cunharanontothepassand Kristoffer Ajer ran out to block it. The Brentford man got no touch on the ball, though, and slid right through Cunha to bring him totheground.TheAmerican referee Ismail Elfath said no penalty The video assistant referee felt otherwise and Elfath reversed his decision.
R a y a n a n d C u n h a immediately went to protect thepenaltyspot. While the expectation in the ground was that this would be a moment for Vinícius Júnior, Guimarães stepped up instead Newcastle’s captain usually cedes spot-kicks toAnthony Gordonatclublevelandhere he decided to employ a stuttering run-up before his kick.Theideawastotrigger Ørjan Nyland to dive early, which he did, but to the
correct side, his left, where he turned Guimarães’ effort widetoraucouscheers. Those two incidents camequicklyandcouldhave sent the game skittering in a number of different directions. But with neither counting, the game settled into a first-half pattern of Norwegian possession and Brazilian counterattacking. Bothsidescouldhavescored again, with Vinícius and Martinelli drawing saves from Nyland, while Ødegaard capitalised on some penalty area chaos in added time to force a decent stop fromAlisson. Haaland, meanwhile, was largely a peripheralfigure.
At half-time Solbakken
ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)
Youshouldbeabletoevaluate your emotions from a very neutral, detached perspective today, Aries Use this opportunity to take action basedonwhatyoufeel.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
Ifyou'retalkingaboutanother person today, make sure you aren't saying anything that would be upsetting if they were standing right there Gossip may be running rampant, but that's no excuse foryoutocontributetoit.
GEMINI(May21–June20)
It's important for you to take action on a day like today, Gemini. Trust yourself and your instincts Oftentimes you'll have the perfect advice for every situation and every otherpersonexceptyourself.
CANCER(June21–July22)
You might find yourself a bit unfocusedandconfusedabout whichwaytogo,Cancer The baffledlookonyourfaceisn't helpinganyoneelsefigureout how to help you. Don't feel obliged to remain in an unhealthysituation.
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
It's important for you to get outside and feel the wind blowing,Leo.Reconnectwith natureandbeawareofthefour elements. Take deep breaths and fill your lungs with this energizinglifeforce.
VIRGO(Aug 23–Sept 22)
Make practical use of the thoughts you have synthesized over the last few days, Virgo Stretch your boundaries and extend your wisdom to the people around you. This is a day to take action.
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
This is an important day for you to make valuable connectionswithothers,Libra. You'llfindyourselfengagedin fast-paced,wittyconversations and debates from which you canlearnagreatdeal.
SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)
Itcouldbehardforyoutogeta handle on things today, Scorpio,asyourfocusseemsto jump from one subject to the nextwithoutfindingresolution forany Thisisn'tadaytofind solutions.
SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)
You might come across strong opposition today from someonewhoseemstowantto cut straight through to your heart, Sagittarius. In reality, this is a message reminding you to think about things in terms of the collective - the onenessofusall.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
Act on your instincts today, Capricorn, and you won't go wrong. You may need to give up a bit of control and put logical thinking aside for the day Let the wind take you whereitwantsyoutogo.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)
Today you'll find that you're the missing puzzle piece that peopleneedineverysituation, Aquarius Engage in light conversation in social arenas andfeelfreetoturnyourcharm upfullblast.
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
Youmayfindthatpeoplewant todoagreatdealoftalkingbut not a great deal of feeling today,Pisces.Goaheadandput your emotions on the back burner and let your mind take over
Ancelotti made his change too, replacing Cunha with Endrickandtheteenagerwas in on goal within seconds of arrival. Superb vision from Vinícius had sent him clear of the Norwegian defence butEndrick’sfirsttouchwas heavy and, with space closingaroundhim,hecould only flick a left-footed shot wideofthepost.
rebooted his side, withdrawing both wingers and bringing on Oscar Bobb and Schjelderup. It didn’t immediately change things and,infact,ledBraziltoget on the ball more than they had in the opening period. Ten minutes into the half,
One consequence of Brazilgrowinginpossession was that Norway were able to play on the counter more often and it was a tactic that worked for them. Alisson wasforcedtoturnawaytwo decent crosses from the Norway left, and almost put oneintothepathofHaaland. Five minutes later sheer brute force from the Norwegian number nine held off both Brazilian centre-halves and Schjelderup should have scored when played into the box.
There were more changes: Neymar on for
Brazil,andGuimarães–who had had a strong game, penalty aside, was withdrawn with 11 minutes to go. The crowd, which were almost entirely behind Brazil, were hoping for a cameo from the man they once thought was a generation-defining talent Neymardidinfactgetonthe scoresheet,scoringapenalty with a stuttering run-up in the ninth minute of seven minutes added time. It was too late, however Another star very much in his prime had already dec
proceedings.
(BBC Sport) - England’s T20 World Cup hopes were crushed as Australia clinched their seventh title with a comprehensive sevenwicketvictoryatLord’s.
Despite all of England’s improvements to this point, their Ashes rivals ensured there would benofirsttrophyforthehostssince their iconic win on this ground in 2017,asAustraliainsteaddelivered an emphatic display of their strength.
England struggled to cut loose in making 150-4 - captain Nat Sciver-Brunt needing 53 balls for 58 - before Australia brutally put thatscoreintocontext.
AfterGeorgiaVollwasbowled by Lauren Bell in the second over, Phoebe Litchfield and Beth Mooney put on a dismissive partnershipof100injust67balls.
By the time Litchfield fell for 48, Australia needed only 34 runs from42balls.
Mooneytookthemwithin11of the finish line in a brilliant 64, beforeonemorepieceofEnglandAustraliacontroversy
Withsevenrunsneeded,Sophie Ecclestone appeared to have taken a clean catch to dismiss Ellyse Perry in the 17th over, but Perry wascalledbackbytheTVumpire.
The crowd booed and Ecclestone was incensed but it would have had no impact. The winningrunscamewhenEngland’s spinner bowled five wides in the nextover
The victory margin denied the tournament a competitive finale fittingoftheday,withLord’sfilled by a capacity crowd in another
landmarkmomentforthewomen’s game.
Theoccasionisonepositivefor England, as are the signs of progress they have shown under coach Charlotte Edwards at this tournament, but Australia were ultimatelyaclassaboveyetagain.
Englandfalteratthelast
Even had Ecclestone’s catch been allowed, it would have been too late There would be no dramatic fightback, like the one Anya Shrubsole inspired against Indiain2017.
Perhaps too timid with the bat, England were unable to counter a pitchthatappearedlowandslow
Theycertainlyputintheirworst bowling performance of the tournament - a display which was
Ellyse Perry celebrates with her teammates following victory during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final. (Getty Images)
exposedbytheclassofleft-handed duoLitchfieldandMooney
With England’s seamers offering width too often,Australia had matched their boundary count bythe10thoverofthechase.
Overhauling Australia was always going to be a huge ask, giventhe16-0marginofEngland’s Ashesdefeatlastyear,whenissues with fitness and fielding loomed large.Thoseissueshavebeenputto bedasEnglandendedarunofthree tournaments in a row without reachingafinal.
The first part of their rebuild, one of consolidation and improvement, is done. Now they must close the gap on Australia before the Ashes at home next summer
England’sbattingstruggles England’s lack of batting fireworks were summed up by Sciver-Brunt, who hit only five fours. Against South Africa in the semi-final on Thursday she hit 75 runsin47balls.
England’s captain was again in early-AmyJonesunabletoemerge fromherslumpassheslicedadrive to backward point in the second overforsix-butafterstrokingher first ball for four, Sciver-Brunt neverfoundtopgear
Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who ends as the tournament’s leading runscorer despite defeat, was unfortunate to glove a catch down the leg side off Sutherland in the fifthoverforeight.
Early on, England hit the
fieldersinthedeeptoooftenwhen Australia strayed from their straightlines.
Alice Capsey struck two fours and a six in the ninth over but was bowledattemptingareversesweep to Molineux in the 10th. When Heather Knight was hit on the pad by a leg-stump half-volley from Kim Garth, England were 70-4 in the11th.
Freya Kemp timed the ball betterthananyofherteam-matesin making44notoutfrom28.Shehit onefinestraightsixinthelastover but England’s total always looked belowpar
Mooneydeliversagain
For Australia, who finish the tournament unbeaten, this is an incredible 14th World Cup win across formats, in addition to one CommonwealthGamesgold.
After semi-final defeats in the last T20 and 50-over World Cups, they are at the top of the world again.
There has been evolution since their last win in 2023, when Meg Lanning was captain and Alyssa Healywicketkeeperandopener
Molineux has steered her team with minimal fuss in their place after doubts over whether she shouldmaketheirbestXI.
For Litchfield and Voll this is also a first World Cup win. In contrast,Perrynowhasninetoher nameandMooneyfive.
Mooney,whoaverages76.42in T20finals,showedclassinputting away anything full and cracked awayanythingshort.
England had no answer until it wasfartoolate.
(BBC Sport) - Charles
LeclerctookFerrari’ssecondwin in three races in a dramatic BritishGrandPrixaschaosbroke outintheclosingstages.
Leclerc, claiming his first victory for nearly two years, led home Mercedes’George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton as the race finished confusingly underasafetycar
Racecontrolinitiallysaidthe safety car would be coming in with one lap to go, setting the sceneforathrillingone-lapdash to the finish, but it then stayed out, meaning the order remained thesameuntilthechequeredflag.
After the race, a statement from governing body the FIA said “the ‘safety car in this lap’ message was displayed erroneously due to a software error”.
Silverstone has seen many remarkableracesinitslonghistory but this was one of the most extraordinary First, championship leader Kimi Antonelli suffered a wheel-
fairingfailurewhenhewasclosing in on the Ferrari for the lead, and seemingsetforanotherwin.
AsAntonellidroppeddownthe field,amidaseriesofincreasingly desperate radio messages, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen crashed at Stowe while chasing Hamilton for secondplace.
The safety car for that incident
Charles Leclerc’s previous race victory was the 2024 United States Grand Prix at Austin. (Getty Images)
promoted Russell to second place as Mercedes decided not to pit the Briton while everyone else took freshtyres.
Antonellicrossedthelineninth butwasdemotedto16thbyafivesecondpenaltyforexceedingtrack limits - incurred while he was battlingwiththeproblemswithhis car
Adding to the drama, Hamiltonwasinvestigatedafter the race for a yellow-flag infringement but the stewards gave him a reprimand rather thanimposingapenalty
The result has a major impact on the championship, narrowingAntonelli’sleadover Russellto25points.Hamiltonis sevenpointsfurtheradrift.
Leclerc said he was “so incredibly happy” even though “unfortunately the end was maybe not the one I will have dreamtof”.
Antonelli’sproblems beginatthestart
Theracestartedinfrontofa record crowd of 175,000 fans with the expectation that Antonelli, imperious through the weekend, would cruise to a comfortable victory from pole position.
Instead,aslowstart,causedby over-eager use of the accelerator, meant he was passed by both Ferraris off the line, Leclerc sweeping into the lead on the
inside, Hamilton moving into secondontheoutside.
Thatsetthepatternoftherace, Leclerc building a lead over Hamilton, who fought to hold off Antonelli,justashehadforthefirst ninelapsofthesprintonSaturday
This time, Hamilton held the Mercedes back for one more lap, andLeclercwas4.4secondsahead when Antonelli passed the seventime champion into Copse on lap 11. Leclerc stopped for fresh tyres onlap25,bywhichtimeAntonelli was2.5secsadrift,whileMercedes kepttheItalianoutforafurther10 laps, aiming to build a tyre offset forthesecondstint.
When Antonelli rejoined, he started carving chunks out of Leclerc’s lead until lap 41, when the Mercedes driver reported a problemwithhiscar Antonelli pitted and had fresh tyres fitted, only to find the problem remained when he rejoined the track, and he had to come in again to have the loose brake duct removed, dropping to thebackofthepointsplaces.
Master Z unsound hero, Stat displayed a stunning performance to win the CARICOM Gold Cup at BushLotUnited,WestCoast Berbice.
Piloted by Jockey Colin
Ross, Stat defeated stablemate Dataman and Olympic Kremlin in the 1700 meters fea
e, stopping the clock in one minuteand44seconds.
Mapa Do Brasil finished second while Olympic Kremlin came in third and Datamaranfourth.
Stat jumped out the gate first and never lost the pole position, winning from gate to pole. Despite morning showers across the ancient county,racestartedpromptly and the tracked remained in goodcondition.
Promising jockey Arvin Dhanraj got the day going with an emphatic win in the K&LMaiden.
Dhanraj stopped the clock at one minute and 13 seconds with Citation Damage Control ran second while Miss Simran ran third and Top Ranking ran in fourth.
Country Rock then cruised to victory in the L Winnersrace,winningbysix lengths.PerfectTripfinished second while Doctor J finished third and Sakar
finishedfourth.
The Juvenile Fillies saw Brilliant Bride storming to victory while High Beam came in second. Boss Lady finished third and Chelsea Lionclosedinonfourth.
Scars of Glory delivered a fine victory in the fourth raceoftheday;theColtsand Geldings Juvenile Futurity Stakes Sweet Man rock finished second, while OceanStar,andMoneyBird finishedinthatorder
In the G & H Class nonwinners & I Class race, Daring Move broke her maidenandtookthetopspot while Supreme Leader finished second Bourbon BlitzranthirdandAmerican Emperorfinishedfourth.
Race six saw She WBO On Time the Three-year-old and over WI Bred winners while Head of the Class finished second and Sex Appeal followed Mulan unseated the jockey in a minorincidentonthefarturn inaneventfulrace.
In the three-year-old and overJ&KClass,Republican stole victory from Binladen (second)andThreeDMovie (third) in a thrilling race whichalsosawJockeyColin Ross being unseated from TopGun.
The Imported Stakes race saw an upset, with
Royal Rocks claiming the win while Pharaoh Empress ran closely behind for second.AdiosBabyfinished third and the favorite, Moonlight Dancer ran fourth.
Race nine proved to be one of the hottest race; the CARICOMDerbyforthreeyear-old Guyana bred Miracle Boy came from the outside to overtake Summer Time for a photo finish. Monica Time ran third and CountryGoldranfourth.
The CARICOM Sprint StakesOpentofour-year-old and over saw Anthem King ruling Regal man in a supremesprintbattle.Jockey Colin Ross piloted Anthem
The Guyana Amazon Warriors have confirmed that Afghanistan wicketkeeperbatterRahmanullahGurbazwillreplaceNew Zealand’sGlennPhillipsintheirsquadforthe upcoming ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL). Phillips is unavailable forGSLduetoinjury
Gurbaz returns to the Amazon Warriors setupwithawealthofexperienceandastrong familiaritywiththefranchise.
Theexplosivetop-orderbatterpreviously representedtheWarriorsduringthe2022and 2024 editions of the Caribbean Premier League(CPL),whereheestablishedhimself as one of the most exciting players in the competition. He also played an important role in the Warriors’ successful ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League campaign in 2025, helping the team capture the title. His return provides the squad with proven firepower at the top of the order, as well as valuable experienceinlocalconditionsandwithinthe team’senvironment.
Kingtoaclassycome-frombehind win, stopping the clock in one minute, four seconds.
Former champion horse, now owned by Js Racing Stables,Spankhurstreturned toracingwithastunningwin in the E Class and Lower RitornaVincentori finished secondwhileNovoSolcame third and Barbra finished fourth.
The penultimate race of the day, E Class and Lower, marked the third win in the dayforJsRacingStables.
Additionally,theGuyana horseracingawardsfor2025 was also presented during the CARICOM Cup race day
The Master Z racing stables continue to extend dominance in feature races.
Meanwhile,thenextrace day will be on August 2 at Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club It will be the Emancipation Cup
Followingthatraceitwillbe the all-important Guyana Cup,onAugust23atRising SunTurfClub.
Guyana Horse Race Awards2025:
Horse of the yearDataman
Jockey of the yearYovinKissoonchand (11 wins)
Runner up jockeyRonaldoAppadu
Champion owner - Js RacingStables
Champion Two-year-old Guyanabred-SummerTime
Future Star Award -
Champion Three-yearoldGuyanabred-SpankMe
Champion Three-yearold West Indian bredSydney Trainer of the yearRonaldoLima Race of the yearRitornaVincentori Upset win of the yearSpankMe Champion imported sprinter-RegalMan
Champion four-year-old and over Guyana bredRiverDanceII Champion four-year-old an over WI Bred - Soca Harmony
(Cricinfo) - A day that started out as a battle of attrition, and then morphed into one painted with hope, ended far closer to resignationforSriLanka,as an unbroken 174-run fifthwicket stand between Shai Hope and Justin Greaves all but averted the potential of defeatforWestIndies.
The hosts ended day threestill231runsbehindSri Lanka’s first innings total, but they were crucially just 31 runs away from avoiding the follow-on - though that was only ever a fleeting possibility, and one decisively extinguished by HopeandGreaves.
The pair had come togetherwiththeWestIndies in a fair bit of bother at 141 for 4, after Prabath Jayasuriya’spost-lunchspell had brought about the wicketsofbothAmirJangoo andKavemHodge.
Early on in their stand strikerotationwaskey,with both batters at ease using their wrists to access the wicketsquareoneitherside And then gradually hints of aggression began to appear, such as a crunching cut through point or an exquisite whip through the onside
Most impressive in their partnership was the lack of risk.Therewasanearlyrunout opportunity, where a
directhitfrommid-onwould have seen Greaves well short, but aside from that it was largely a chanceless outing from a pair of batters that have moved in lockstep right throughout their respectiveinnings. At stumps, Hope was on 86off173andGreavesright behind on 85 off 162, their control percentages too nearly mirroring each other
o n 8 9 % a n d 8 7 % respectively Their dominance was exemplified by a first wicketless third session of the Test, and the first in this West Indies innings.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers toiled, and did well to stay disciplined on a surface that only offered sporadic moments of assistance, but with a 1-0 series lead in the bank, West Indies were allowed to play safe in the knowledge that the onus for makingthingshappenwould fallontheSriLankans.
This was reflected in the 2.86 innings run rate, one that never really budged even with the ease with whichHopeandGreaveshad begun to navigate proceedings Sri Lanka’s only genuine moment of hope had arrived shortly
afterlunch.
Three overs after the resumption, Jangoo fell foul totheroughoutsidethelefthander’s off stump, as one from Jayasuriya spun back sharply to take the inside edgeandpopuptoshortleg. Two Jayasuriya overs later and Hodge’s stubborn vigil wasbroughttoanendtoo,as thewilyleft-armerproduced abitofmagic,gettingoneto dip and turn to feather an outside edge through to the keeper on an attempted forwarddefence.
At that point Sri Lanka knewtheywerejustacouple of wickets away from really making inroads towards a series-levellingvictory
In his brief stand with Hodge, Hope had found the strike easy to rotate but was starved of strike for lengthy periods owing to Hodge’s moreobdurateapproach.
But in Greaves Hope found a partner much more similarly aligned in philosophy, and the pair slowly but surely began easing the pressure back on the Sri Lankans Their intervention came at a pivotal point, just as Sri Lanka had been gathering momentumafterpersevering through a dour first two hoursofplay
The visitors had fought discipline with discipline in the morning session, as the
pair of John Campbell and Hodge put together an 89runstandoffamarathon234 deliveries - it was a throwback to Test cricket of yesteryear, one brought aboutbyasurfacethatdidn’t possessanydemonsbutalso one not flat enough for batters to take on the bowling.
It was Sri Lanka though that came out on top after nearly two hours of stonewalling, as Campbell’s patience finally gave way to a rash pull off Asitha Fernando that went straight todeepmidwicket,lessthan 15minutesbeforelunch.He had shown a proclivity towards taking on the short
ballprior,anditwasthatsole avenue of aggression Sri
Lanka wisely - and successfully - managed to target.
It was just reward for a sessioninwhichSriLanka’s seam trio of Asitha, Isitha Wijesundara and Milan R a t h n a y a k e h a d metronomically tested the West Indian batters on a strictlineoutsideoff.
Jayasuriya too bowled a spell of 10 overs in the morning as the ball got softer, but it was after the breakhecameintohisownthough that will feel like a lifetime ago following yet another string West Indian stand.
Gabriel Magalhães is left dejected after Erling Haaland heads Norway into a 79th-minute lead.
(Photograph: Simon Stacpoole/ Offside/Getty Images)
(The Guardian) - We’re going to need a biggerlongboat.NorwayareintothequarterfinalsoftheWorldCupforthefirsttimeever after edging this contest thanks to the man whose smile, and choice in cowboy apparel, has charmed the USA. Erling Haaland delivered again for his country, scoring two goals in the last 10 minutes – his sixth and seventh of the tournament – to send Brazil back home and keep the Viking invasion rollingon.
The result is a massive vindication for Ståle Solbakken and the team he has built over the past half decade. Norway set out to dominate Brazil in the first half, without much in the way of success. A double substitution at half-time signalled a shift in approach and on the counterattack Norway provedabletocarveopenaBrazilsidewhich had their chances in this match but failed to takethem.
Such a prospect was never likely with Haaland,whoscoredtwogoalsfromhisfour shots in the match. The opening goal came with nine minutes to go, a cross from the substitute winger Andreas Schjelderup met with a towering leap above Gabriel MagalhãesandadaggerheaderpastAllison. AsthegamepassedintoaddedtimeHaaland struck again, given time and space on the
edge of the Brazil box to convert a Schjelderup pass low across goal. Norway’s talisman celebrated largely by just standing andsmiling.Hiscolleaguesandthestreakof Norwegiansupportersbehindthegoaldidthe rest.
Thishadfeltlikeanintriguingmatchup, with Norway coming into the game off the back of their first ever World Cup knockout win and Brazil very much still a work in progress. Carlo Ancelotti made his latest tweakbyintroducingGabrielMartinelliinto hisstartingXI,thescorerofthewinninggoal against Japan replacing the injured Lucas Paquetá. His was a direct replacement too, withtheArsenalwingertakingupaposition inthecentreofmidfield,albeitwithalicence toroam.
It was an unusual sight and while spectators were still trying to grasp the Brazilianformation,Norwaygotstraightout oftheblocksandhadtheballinthenetwithin three minutes. It was a move triggered by a quickpassfromthehalfwayline,intothefeet ofMartinØdegaard,whospantocreatespace inthepocket15yardsoutsidethebox.Onthe outside the returning Julian Ryerson was bombing down the wing and Ødegaard delayed,anddelayed,thendeliveredawell-
Continued on page 21
BySamuelWhyte
A number of teams and players from Guyana will be heading over to Barbados to participate in the annual Sir Garfield Sobers Intentional Schools cricket tournament, whichbringsteamsfromallovertheworld.
The New York TRI-State Youth Cricket Development Inc , which is a cricket organisation based in New York United States. The organisation which was founded in 2002 by Former Guyana National fast bowler Linden Fraser will be sending two cricketteamstothecompetition.
Namely, the NYTri-State and NewYork Tri-State Lynx cricket teams. The NY Tri Stateteamisthedefendingchampion.
Fraser is also the head coach. He is assisted by Basil Butcher Jr., who is the strength and conditioning Coach.According toFraser,theywererunner-uptheyearbefore and will bw going all out to retain the championship.
The two teams are made of a number of players from numerous countries including Guyana,USAandAsia.
TheNYTRISTATEteamwillbecoached by Linden Fraser himself.The squad will be captained by Ekansh Rastogi with Ajay Prithiviraj and Dave Mohabir as CoCaptains.
The rest of the squad is -Emmanuel Lewis, Aarav Chopra, Raghav Prabhune, Sachin Lakhan, Malay Patel, Ishaan Unnithan, Laksh Warty, Vir Ajmera, Arun GaindaandAntoniWaterman.
ThemanagerisTracyGlasgow
The second team, which is the NY TRI STATE LYNX Cricket team, will have Guyanese wicketkeeper batsman Thierry Henry as one of the co-captains. The other twoareRavaldoPereiraascaptainandNikhil Mudaliar-co-captain.
The rest of the squad is Makai Dowlin, DanvirSeegobin,JayhaydenRohlehr,Ayden Raju, Hemakesh Kissoon, Zemuel Felix, Prosper Jacobus, Kaiden Smith, Vijai Kalpu andAshwinSreenivasan.
Henry, an opening batsman and wicketkeeper from the Tucber Park cricket club, was unfortunate to be left out of the Guyana team for the Regional U19 competition. He will have club mates, fast bowlerRohlehrandleft-armspinnerFelixin histeam.
Butcher Jr will serve as coach while AkazeThompsonwillmanagetheteam.The two-weektournamentwillbeheldfromJuly 13.
