Kaieteur News

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OMAICEO says:

$178millionAnnaRegina Magistrate’sCourtcommissioned

Man involved in 3-way smash-up dies WHO urges 50% hike in taxes on tobacco, alcohol, ‘sweet drinks’ APNU slams GCB’s endorsement of Pres. Ali …saysboardinbreachofICCrules

‘High grade gold discovery in Guyana is like a mine within a mine’

Omai Gold Mines Corp has its eyes set on reclaiming its position as a top gold producer in South America,throughitsGuyana goldproject.

Omai, a Canadian gold company, holds a 100% interest in the pastproducingOmaigoldproject inGuyana,locatedinRegion Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) The project encompasses two orogenic gold deposits: the shear-hosted Wenot Deposit and the adjacent intrusive-hosted Gilt Creek Deposit.

A 2024 Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for the gold project outlined 2.0 million ounces of gold indicated and 2.3 million ouncesinferred.

During a recent interview with Crux Investor, Elaine Ellingham, the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Omai, spoke about the progress the company has made since returning to Guyana's gold industry

“We've been moving forwardonourprojectdown in Guyana, Guyana being in South America we've drilled 30,000 meters since then[2024]andsowe'rejust working our way up to that next resource which we think is going to be quite substantial,”Ellinghamsaid. Once a prolific gold producerfrom1993to2005,

the mine yielded 3.8 million ouncesofgold,producingan average of more than 300,000 ounces of gold per year during a period when gold traded below US$400 perounce.

Since its return to “mining-friendly” Guyana, Omai has revitalised the property, which benefits from much existing infrastructure.

Of the two gold deposits located on the property, Omaihasbeenmorefocused ontheWenot“superpit”. The Wenot deposit is located some 400 metres fromtheGilt-Creekdeposit.

“So we have focused our drilling on the Wenot shear, it's like 2 and a half kilometerslong.

Wenot and Gilt Creek Deposits

Most of what we did previous to last year was above 350 metres but we've been, you know, after we proved it was shallow, now everyone says does it go deeper, so we've been drilling deeper so yeah so we've drilled about 30,000 metres since our last resource,”Ellinghamsaid.

The Omai president explained that drilling deeper at the Wenot deposit has revealed significantly higher-grade gold than previously recorded. Ellingham labelled this as “pretty exciting” and

explained that historically, the Wenot deposit recorded gold grade at about 1.67 g/t (gramspertonne).

However, to date, she saidthecompanyhasproven thatitgetstohighergrades.

She outlined that what changedthegamewaswhen Omai's recent drilling revealed wide intercepts of high-gradegoldzonesof4.5 g/t over 57 metres and 3.16 g/tover68metres.

“So we went huh you know it's like having a mine within your mine and so we continuedtostepoutonthe2 and a half kilometer deposit

butthenwedidsortoftryto explore that higher grade zone to see you know, exactly how big is that, what's the extent, so that's beenexciting,”sheadded.

N o t a b l y, w h i l e Ellingham agreed that Omai could have stopped and focusedoninfilldrilling,she highlighted that the company believes that there is more value in exploring and proving how big the Wenotdepositis.

Moreover, Ellingham stressedthatwhileOmaihas been focused on what actions will create more

value for its shareholders with a fairly substantial depositof2.3millionounces of gold indicated – she outlined that players have entered Guyana's mining sector with large-scale projects.

Withtheaimofhavinga m

, Ellinghamreminded that th

Omai gold min

primar

end,

he added, “So we thinkitcanbethereagain.”

Govt.continuesconsultationforcompulsory acquisitionoflandsinpathofGTEtransmissioncables

E

he government continued the consultation process with citizens for the compulsory acquisition of landsalongthecorridorearmarked for the installation of transmission cablestosupportthedistributionof electricity generated from the Wales Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project In a Facebook post, Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, SC, disclosed that consultations were held at Latchmansingh Primary School, Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice with over 100

,

residents, most of whom were farmers from Mahaica, East Coast DemeraratoBlairmont,WestCoast Berbice.

The Guyana Power & Light (GPL) transmission cables are intended to distribute electricity generated by the GTE project and will extend as far as Number 53 VillageontheCorentyneCoast.

During the engagement, the Attorney General briefed the residents on the importance of the GTE project, emphasising that it will ensure a reliable supply of electricity and cooking gas at

appreciablylowerpricesthanthose currently obtain He further highlighted the transformative impactthisprojectwillhaveonthe economy and the lives of every singleGuyanesecitizen.

Nandlall further outlined the process the government intends to activate to compulsorily acquire the lands and pay market value in accordance with the law and the Constitution. “In this exercise, the Government's priority is to ensure that your proprietary interests are protected, that the process embarked upon is fair and

transparent and that as far as possible, we arrive at consensual positionsonwhatfairmarketvalue is for whatever property is being acquired. While the Government w

certificates of valuation, you will be free to retain lawyers of your choice and secure certificates of valuationfromvaluationofficersof yourownchoosing,”hesaid.

emphasisedthat,asfaraspossible, thegovernmentisaimingtorunthe transmissionlinesalongStatelands and only where State lands are not

available that private properties will be acquired. “Compensation willalsobepaidforgrowingcrops aswellasforbuildinganderections ontheselands,including,landsthat areleasedfromtheState,”hesaid. Notably, also in attendance at the meeting were Vickchand Ramphal, Regional Chairman of Region Five (Mahaica - Berbice), senior officials from the Guyana Power & Light Inc, the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary - Agricultural Development Authority (MMAADA) and the National Drainage andIrrigationAuthority(NDIA).

Elaine Ellingham, the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Omai Gold Mines Corp.

KaieteurNews

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

Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456

Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams

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

EDITORIAL

Abuse of state resources

Last week in one of our editorials, we highlighted the government'sabuseofstateresourcestohelpfuelthePPP/C's elections campaign, highlighting their use of the Arthur ChungConferenceCentretohostaPPPfund-raisingdinner

Since then, we have seen the roll out of mega concerts withthefullstatemediaapparatusandotherstateresources being churned out to cover these events We have seen the commissioningofhalf-completedprojects Schoolsthathave been in use for close to a year are being accorded grand openingceremonies.Itiscleartoeveryonethatalltheseare electioncampaigneventscamouflagedasthecelebrationof publicprojects.

At his now-infamous media engagement on Tuesday, President Ali was questioned about the abuse of state resourcesforelectionscampaigning Hesaid:“ThePeople's Progressive Party does not need state resources to run our campaign We do not need any state resources to run our campaign OurcampaignisrunbythePeople'sProgressive PartywithallresourcesprovidedbythepeopleofGuyana andwearestrongandwilldefeatanyforcethatisaheadof us.”

Wehavenodoubtthatindeed,thePPPwithallthefly-bynight contractors it has enriched with multi-million dollar contracts and the wide range of other shadowy business arrangementsithasenteredinto,doesnotneedstateresources to fund its campaign However, the abuse continues to happen,presentinganunfairadvantagetotheotherparties.

Several international observers over the years have warned against this abuse, but nothing has been done. For several elections here the Carter Centre had pointed out gaps in the law on campaign financing, noting that they createaweakdistinctionbetweentheresourcesoftheruling partyandtheresourcesoftheState.Inareportonthe2025 elections,theCentrenotedthattheabsenceofpublicfunding forpoliticalpartieshadimpairedtheabilityofsmallerparties tocompete Itwasstatedthatitwillbeofgreatsignificancefor future electoral fairness if laws are introduced on party financestocreategreatertransparency

It was considered in the report that it is a given that political parties and their candidates need financing and adequateaccesstoresourcesinordertocampaignandmake their platforms known and available to the populace. As such, the Centre said that Guyana should put measures in place to prevent corruption, particularly in the context of campaign financing. This is important, since the country would have signed on to the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the Inter-American Convention againstCorruption.ThereporthadalsonotedthatGuyana's legalframeworkisweakonthismatterandhascontributedto inequalitiesbetweenpoliticalparties

Instead of fixing the broken system, what we are witnessing today is a doubling down on the abuse. The disrespect and contempt for Guyanese have reached new heights with this administration. Case in point, the recent revelationthatithasresortedtousingaUSlobbyingfirmto smearPresidentialCandidate,AzruddinMohamed.Whatis also contemptuous is President Irfaan Ali denying that his government was using the lobbying firm to attack Mr Mohamed,whentheinformationisinblackandwhitebased onthefirm'sfilingintheUS WhatPresidentAlihasnotcome to grips with is the fact that, unlike his administration's preferenceforopacityindealingwithmattersoftheStatein theUSandotherjurisdictions,thecontractenteredintobyhis government with the lobbying firm is a matter of public record It should also concern him that since 2020 his governmenthasbeenusingthefirmtolobbyfortheminthe US, but that contract was never made available to the Guyanese public; local journalists have had to source it for themselves It is the same thick secrecy with so many other thingsthatarekeptawayfromGuyanese,asthoughtheyare dark documents that will imperil this society It is expenses thatcitizenshavetopay,eitherintaxesleviedlater,orlesser oilprofitsandlocalcontentprioritiesthatnevertrickledown tothem Secrecieslikethesearebeyondexplanationandlack foundation Suchsecreciesarekillingus

Former President David Granger responds to article in Guyana Standard

DearEditor,

The Office of the former President has taken note of an article published in the GuyanaStandardon26June, 2025, under the caption: “If Grangermeanswell,hemust do for Norton what Jagdeo didforAli.”Thearticlemade several erroneous and maliciousstatementsagainst the former President, claiming that: “His regime c a m e a c ro s s a s a n incompetent, arrogant, overpromising, under-delivering cabal…”.

The office of the former President wishes to reaffirm that the APNU+AFC coalition entered office in 2015 and aimed at repairing

the damage caused by a decade of criminal violence known as 'The Troubles', restoring local democracy and reassuring citizens that the government was committed to raising their standard of living and safeguarding Guyana's territorialintegrity

President Granger respondedtolowattendance and poor performance in primary schools by introducing the Public Education Transportation Service (PETS) − the first suchserviceinthiscountry's history − which delivered free transportation by providing bicycles, boats andbuses.

President Granger's restoration of local governmentelections(LGE) ten months after the APNU+AFC entered office in May 2015 reversed the PPP'srefusaltoholdLGEfor 20 years Granger's administration created four capital towns − at Bartica, Mabaruma, Mahdia and Lethem − with elected town councils to administer the hinterlandandtoreplacethe PPP'sundemocraticIMCs.

President Granger's promp

tive response to the COVID-19 epidemic resulted in the enforcement of effective

'InfectiousDiseaseHospital' − the first of such in this country'shistory President Granger's response to the murderous 'Troubles', maritime piracy and narco-trafficking which prevailed under the PPPC administrationresultedinan agreement with the UK Government to restore the Security Sector Reform Action Plan President Granger established the National Anti-Narcotics Agency (NANA) and the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) to suppress transnational narco-trafficking. However, thePPPadministration

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The PPP has constructed a 7.8 km road for US$133.8M, averaging US$17.8M per km, and is now touting this as an example of fiscal discipline and value for money

DearEditor,

Inanarticletodayonthe commissioning of the East Coast Eccles bypass road, it was reported that “Modified plans including bridges, drainage systems, elevated sectionstopreventflooding, and a full four-lane design increased costs to US$133.8 million According to Edghill, this remains well below the previous APNUAFC government's allocation of US$275 million demonstrating fiscal discipline and value for money.”

ThePPPhasahabitof reducinganddumbing downimportant infrastructuralprojectsand usingthisexcuseofthesuboptimalworksasbeneficial toanunsuspectingpublic. Thisproject,while appreciated,isanother primeexampleofthePPP's lackofvisionandpoor financialmanagement.

The original design for thisprojectwascompletedin November 2019, the details ofwhichwereasfollows:

Ÿ Total distance of 25 43km of roads, comprisingafour-lane main alignment of 15 34 km with a design speed of 120 km/h, four connector roads at Aubrey Barker, Haag Bosch, Mocha Arcadia and Great Diamond, totaling10.09kmwith design speeds of 80 –100km/h. Ÿ 7majorintersections

roundabout with four legs, 1 three-legged s i g n

Ÿ Highway lighting for the entire length at 30mspacing.

Ÿ 717 road signs, traffic

l i s e d intersection, 4 T intersections and 8 U turns. Ÿ 4 major bridges, 15 minor bridges and 66 boxculverts.

There is no democracy without fairness, and no legitimacy without trust

DearEditor,

The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and the Institute For Action Against Discrimination (IFAAD) jointly call on the G u y a n a E l e c t i o n s Commission (GECOM) to immediately distribute the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE) to all registered political parties without delayorbias.

A s s t e w a r d s o f democracy and defenders of equal rights in Guyana, we aredeeplyconcernedbyany decision or practice by GECOM that may appear d i s c r i m i n a t o r y o r inconsistent with the principles of fairness, transparency, inclusion and therighttovote.GECOMis constitutionallymandatedto act in the interest of the

people and the democratic process—not to selectively engage with some political entities while marginalising others.

Thisnationbelongstoall Guyanese, and the right to participate in free and fair elections is a cornerstone of our democratic society Therefore, GECOM must ensure that every political party, regardless of size or perceived influence, is treated with equal respect and given timely access to critical electoral resources, including the Preliminary ListofElectors.

WefurtherurgeGECOM to move swiftly towards the implementationofbiometric voter verification systems, suchasfingerprintandfacial recognition technology, to safeguardtheintegrityofthe

vote These tools are essential to preventing electoral fraud and ensuring that each vote cast is secure and legitimate If Ghana—with an electoral rollof15million—wasable to implement a biometric system in just six weeks, then Guyana, with fewer than800,000votersandalist already clouded by credibility concerns, can do thesame—ifnotbetter

This is not a matter of cost, but of commitment. GECOM must demonstrate the will to uphold free, fair, and credible elections, and the government must provide the financial resourcestomakeithappen. Guyana can afford it. But moreimportantly,wecannot affordnotto.Doingrightby thecitizensandsafeguarding

Irfaan is right on regional geopolitics regarding USA

DearEditor, President Irfaan is reportedtohavestated,“We must not do anything to risk partnership with USA” (frontpageKNJune28). Irfaan is spot on in understanding the role of geopolitics and economics andthepoweroftheUSAto influenceinvestmentaswell as to shape government formation overseas. Guyana will perish without American presence and protection. Bharrat Jagdeo

has also mastered geopoliticalstudiessincethe ousterofthePPPfromoffice in 2015; he is indisputably the leading political thinker andstrategistnotonlyinthe party but nationally He and Irfaan, the two dominant forces in the party and government, understand well the consequences of being anti-Washington and going against American businessinterests(criticalof Exxon and other American companies operating in Guyana). This is in sharp contrast with earlier leaders and policymakers from the 1950s onwards through the collapse of communism in 1990. When, as a young political science student in

university from 1977

o n w a r d , r e p e a t e d unrequested advice to PPP leadership on the s i g n i f i c a n c e a n d consequences of American geopolitics in Guyana and the Caribbean region went unheeded.Thepartywasnot allowed to return to office well after the collapse of communisminthecountry's first democratic elections. Thatisanampleexampleof Washington's geopolitical power to keep unfriendly partiesoutinordertoprotect itsnationalinterests.

President Irfaan's remarks not to alienate Guyana from the USA suggest that he understands geopoliticsandthepowerof Washington. Other political leaders should take a cue.

T h e U S A h a s t h e wherewithaltoundermineor remove or protect governments. It has done so repeatedly throughout the AmericasandCaribbeanand even in far-flung places in

the integrity of the electoral processisnotoptional—itis thebedrockofdemocracy

WeremindGECOMthat this is a democratic nation, guided by the laws of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.Anydeviationfrom lawful, transparent, and impartial practices not only threatens the credibility of theelectoralprocessbutalso undermines public trust in ourinstitutions.

We therefore call upon GECOMto:

D i s t r i b u t e t h e

Preliminary List of Electors to all registered political

partiesimmediately Act without fear or favour, as required by its constitutionalmandate. Ensure equal treatment of all political parties and equitable access to electoral materials.

Implement biometric safeguards to protect the integrity and credibility of theelectoralprocess.

Uphold the rule of law and respect the principles of democracy in all its operations.

The GTUC and IFAAD will continue to vigilantly monitor developments and

will not hesitate to advocate — at every level — for the protectionofcitizens'rights, electoral integrity, and the democratic future of Guyana There is no democracy without fairness, and no legitimacy without trust.Thetimetoactisnow Regards, LincolnLewis GeneralSecretary Guyana Trades Union Congress(GTUC) Pt.UbrajNarine ViceChairman Institute for Action Against Discrimination (IFAAD)

ExxonMobil: We remain committed to transparency and welcome open, fact-based discussions

DearEditor,

Africa,Asia,andthePacific. The PPP administration erred in attacking the USA on its Independence Day celebrations in 2014. There were consequences in 2015. And the USA does not take kindly to governments that befrienditsenemies.Itwasa serious error for Guyana's policymakers to befriend radical rulers in the Middle East and elsewhere; Guyana suffered economically and found itself alienated from Washington Guyanese rulers seem to learn from those blunders and have been courting the USAover the last several years since the production of oil, and more so, since the most recentexistentialthreatfrom Venezuelathatfollowedthe

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Please permit me space in your publication to respond to recent media reports concerning the financial reporting and profit-sharing arrangements under the Stabroek Block Petroleum Agreement (PA) between the Contractor Group and the Government ofGuyana.Itisimportantto clarifythefactsandreaffirm

t r a n s p a r e n c y a n d compliance. The accusation that we manipulate accounting standards to improveourfinancialresults i s u n f o u n d e d a n d defamatory

ExxonMobil Guyana's annual financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial ReportingStandards(IFRS), which are globally established to ensure c o n s i s t e n c y a n d transparency Our financial statements are subject to thorough, independent auditstoensureaccuracyand compliance. Revenues and

expenses are recorded per the IFRS, with capital costs depreciated over time

Financial statements are filed with the Deeds Registrarinaccordancewith thelawsofGuyana. T h e PA t r a c k s investment, cost recovery and profit sharing. It allows the Contractor Group to recover its up-front investment in developing Guyana's oil resources, an investmentthatnowexceeds US$40billion.Expensesand capital costs are recorded whenincurredandrecovered up to a maximum of 75% of grossrevenuesfromthesale ofhydrocarbonseachmonth, as prescribed by the agreement After cost recovery, the remaining revenue is split 50/50 between the Contractor Group and the Government ofGuyana.Ontopofthis,the Government receives a 2% royalty based on the gross revenues from all volumes sold. TheContractorGroup pays this royalty from its profit share The

Government audits cost recovery separately, in addition to the independent audits of our IFRS statements.

Certain recent media reports have incorrectly compared IFRS accounting profitstoPAprofitshareand royalty payments to the Government This is entirely misleading. In particular, revenue recognitionandcapitalcosts are treated differently between the two accounting processes The PA is achieving its purpose: enablingthedevelopmentof Guyana's oil sector while ensuringthecountrybenefits through royalties and profit sharing without bearing the financialrisksofinvestment. We remain committed to transparency and welcome open,fact-baseddiscussions onthesematters.

Sincerely, JohnA.Colling Vice President and ChiefFinancialOfficer

ExxonMobil Guyana Limited

Police seeking to rebuild public trust

TheGuyanaPoliceForce (GPF)isundergoingamajor overhaul that is focused on e n h a n c e d s a f e t y, accountability, and modernisation.

Speaking on the programme 'Safeguarding Our Nation', Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken outlinedtheForce'sstrategic plans, which will serve as a roadmap to rebuild public trustandupgradepolicing.

The plan is centered around six core pillars that will guide the GPF's operations They are: operations, partnership, developing human capacity, infrastructure, performance, professionalism, and accountability Thesepillars, Commissioner Hicken said, aredesignedtoprovideclear guidance for all officers, from senior officials to recruits, clearly outlining how the force will operate moving forward A significantpartoftheplanis the investment of billions of dollars in modernising the Force'sinfrastructure.These include the reconstruction and rehabilitation of police stations,outposts,andliving quarters across the country The goal is to make these facilities more modern and community-friendly, while

…TopCopsays

ensuring they m e e t internationalstandards

“We decided that we were going to have minimum standardbuildingsacrossthe force, standardised, of course- blue and white.And if you pass across the 10 administrative regions of Guyana and the 12 administrativeregionsofthe Force, you're going to see whatisnotcompletedyet,is at an advanced stage of completion or is completed already,” Commissioner Hickenexplained.

Lastyearalone,contracts were signed for the reconstruction of police stations at Mahaica, North Ruimveldt,Beterverwagting and Imbotero. The highway patrol base is also being upgraded to a police station, while major upgrades are beingdoneattheDenAmstel Police Station. This year, a further $4.7 billion was allocated to advance infrastructure works on several facilities, including theconstructionofthestateof-the-art Brickdam Police Station, which is scheduled tobecompletedin2026. A Community Relations

Frompage5 discovery of energy resources in Guyana waters.SincehebecameleaderofthePPPin 2017,JagdeohasbeencourtingWashington, resultinginthereturntopowerin2020.

Guyanese politicians must understand American policymakers' intentions and the nationalinterestsofthemostpowerfulnation globally and in the history of international politics.

They must understand the guiding principles of American foreign policy regardlessofwhooccupiestheWhiteHouse. American national security and economic interestsdonotchange.

Geo-strategicsecuritydoesnotchange;it has been the lynchpin of American foreign policywhichisdeeplyconnectedtodomestic

Department(CRD)wasalso formedtoensurethecountry is policed in a more community-friendly way to further bridge the gap between the police and citizens. “There they are the 'go-between' the public and thepoliceforce,andit'sbeen w o r k i n g f o r u s , ”

Commissioner Hicken explained, before stating, “So, we can expect much more out of that while we're building capacity as we speak.” The GPF is also decentralising services like passport processing and police clearances, making them more accessible to citizens, especially those in remote areas New technology, such as body cameras for officers and the introductionofstungunsfor less-lethal force options, is being rolled out to increase transparency and ensure

Irfaan is right on regional geopolitics...

politics.

That is why Washington can bomb Iran, removeSaddamHussein,andtoppleGaddafi and other bad political actors, among other actions.Irfaan and Jagdeo know one cannot messwiththeUSAorAmericancompanies. Any political party that has a hint of antiAmericanism or is opposed to American business interests will not have bright prospects.

Any party that runs on an American agenda will win seats. Pay heed to the geopoliticsofWashingtonand,asIrfaanadviced, donotriskthepartnershipwiththeUSA.The USA is guarantor of Guyana's security and energyproductiontoenrichthenation.

Yourstruly,

DrVishnuBisram(PolSci)

The PPP has constructed a 7.8 km road for...

Frompage4

US$208.1M inclusive of 10% contingency allowance and7.5%consultancyfees–overall a completed project inclusive of a reserve set aside for a light railway at US$8.18Mperkm.ThePPP has constructed a 7.8 km road for US$133 8M, averaging US$17 8M per kmandisnowtoutingthisas an example of fiscal discipline and value for money US$17 8M versus a projectedUS$8.18M!!

This is the typical track recordofthePPPcompleting a reduced design project30%oftheoriginaldesignat

double the cost- and then claimingtoprovidevaluefor money. After spending G$15B (US$75M) on the Heroes Highway (aka concussion highway), they now claim that it is temporary work and must spend an equal amount to paveitin the future – this road, not more than two years old, is now in need ofurgentrepairs. Anotherglaringexample is the Wales Gas-to-Shore

Project, which was originally designed to cost under US$700M, but has now skyrocketed to over US$2.4Bandcounting,with the final completion date

Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken

Hicken acknowledged that thereismuchmoreroomfor improvement To address this,theGPFispromotingan 'open door policy' at all levels, encouraging citizens tovoiceconcerns.

being kicked around like a footballinaFIFAWorldCup match.

During this election period,misinformationfrom the PPP will be the order of day,buttheplainandsimple factisthattheyhavenotbeen capable of providing the country with value for moneyinnoneoftheirsocall transformational projects –they are simply a party of smokes and whistles who have been blessed with the largest purse of money to spend from, in the history of Guyana - total bluff Regards, DavidPatterson

proper conduct and accountabilityofofficers.In a statement issued on Monday,GPFreportedan88 percentreductioninserious crimes; a 63 per cent decrease in murders, an 88 per cent drop in armed robberies, and a 93 per cent decline in burglaries and larceny

Whilecrimeratesshowa decline, Commissioner

“And so, at the commissionerlevel,wehave an open-door policy At the Commanders, then the ELT level, sub-division level, we haveopen-doorpolicies.But guess what? We are striving every day to be more transparent as a police force,”hesaid.“Youcansee we're improving the force through diversity We've been putting up additional outposts We've been filtering by the cameras for the policemen to ensure there's transparency,” the commissionerasserted.

further stated that the Police ComplaintAuthorityandthe Office of Professional Responsibility are key avenues to hold the Force accountable for its actions. “They're dealing with reaching of SOPs and OPRs and the rest of it.And so, if there's an issue with members of the public, let mejustassureyou,andifall the others fail, come to the Commissioner's office, and I'm going to ensure it's done, ” Commissioner Hicken said. The sum of $34.4 billion was allocated in the National Budget this yeartoenhancethevisibility and responsiveness of the GPF This year's allocation represents an increase when compared to the $30 3 billion that was allocated in 2024.(DPI)

The constant disrespect towards journalists must stop

DearEditor, I wish to condemn the vilification and disrespect towards my media colleague, Miss Svetlana Marshall, by Head of State Irfaan Ali. I must commend Miss Marshall for maintaining her composure and professionalism despite the belligerence displayed towardsherbyPresidentAli. On several occasions, when our President is asked questions that either implicate his government in misdoingsoranymemberof the cabinet, he becomes defensive to the extent of raising his voice higher than that of the journalists or

reporters.

One is to question the emotionalintelligenceofour President when in the “hot seat” with thousands of Guyanesewatchingonsocial media.Themannerinwhich President Ali behaved on Tuesday while on the s i d e l i n e s o f t h e commissioning of St George's School of Sciences tellscitizensthattheytoocan be vilified if they approach himonanymatterofnational importance that may badly reflect the performance or lackadaisicalapproachofhis government.

With three years of experience in the media

fraternity, I have seen journalists being verbally attacked by the Vice Presidentathisregularpress conferences on Thursdays when asked the “hard q u e s t i o n s ” a n d disappointingly, other journalists just look on or sometimes snigger To this end, I staunchly believe that theperpetualattacksonpress freedommustendnow,aswe are required to hold politicians accountable when they are either complicit or accused of corruption or any public malpracticeormisconduct. Regards, ConcernedJournalist

Former President David Granger...

Frompage4 abolishedNANAandNISA.

The APNU+AFC administration inherited a decimated and demoralised Public Service from the PPPC administration Granger's response was to establishtheBertramCollins CollegeofthePublicService (BCCPS) − the first such in this country's history. The APNU+AFC Coalition measurably increased the State Old Age Pension (SOAP) and public sector salariesandwages.

The PPP's unbroken, 23year administration divided thecountry Granger'sresponsetothe social crisis was to mainstream social cohesion in government policies and initiate programmes − such

) programme − and establish the Amna Ally Children & Family Care Centre (CFCC) inSophia.PresidentGranger purposefully established the Guyana Youth Corps aimed at providing young people who were not in education employment or training (i.e NEET) with skills for selfemployment. Granger emphasised the importance of protecting the e

b y promulgating the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS)andestablishingthe D

Environment and the Corps ofWardens to inspect mines for safety in order to protect miners'lives. A P N U + A F C

governmental expenditure reached only G$934 billion butwascurtailedbythe'NoConfidence Motion' passed with the support of an AFC parliamentarian in the National Assembly in 2018. Thereafter,theCoalitionwas prevented from utilising funds from the petroleum industry or accessing funds from donor countries. The currentPPPCadministration has had access to petroleum revenues and, so far, expended G$4.58 trillion. Indeed, the Coalition faced severe challenges but it was far from being an "incompetent, arrogant, over-promising, underdeliveringcabal.”

Regards Office of the former President, DavidGranger

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APNU slams GCB's endorsement of Pres. Ali

…says board in breach of ICC rules

The A Partnership

for National

Unity (APNU) is calling for the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) to withdraw its public endorsement of President IrfaanAliforasecondterm, condemning the move as inappropriate and politically biased. The political party

also said that the endorsement is a breach of the International Cricket Council's code of conduct and could land the GCB in trouble.

The endorsement came from GCB's president, BissoondyalSingh,whowas re-elected in March 2025.

Speaking at the Berbice Cricket Board's annual awards ceremony on Monday at the St. Francis Community Developers in Rose Hall Town, Singh declared,“Itiswithabsolute conviction and unwavering confidence that I, as president of the Guyana CricketBoard,andonbehalf of its entire membership, hereby publicly and wholeheartedly endorse the leadershipandpresidencyof H.E.Dr MohamedIrfaanAli and that of the People's

ProgressiveParty/Civic.”

This public alignment with a political party ahead of the general and regional elections scheduled for September 1, has sparked concernsandcreatedfurther tensions in the upcoming polls.

In a statement issued on Thursday, APNU strongly criticised Singh's actions, accusing the GCB of compromising its neutrality: “Without hesitation, we denounce this outrageous decision.

We note that this endorsement is a logical follow-up to the occasion

when the entire executiveof the GCB wore red shirts when they called on President Ali after Bissoondyal Singh's reelectioninMarch2025.”

As such, APNU is demanding that the GCB immediately withdraw its endorsement, arguing that such development from a board to take sides with a political party, would question the fairness and impartiality of the board regarding the question of selection, financial administration, and its alignment with international cricketnorms.

The party also raised concerns about possible breaches of international cricket regulations. Citing Article 2 4(d) of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Constitution, A P N U r e m i n d e d stakeholders of the ICC's strictstanceagainstpolitical interference in cricket governance.

“We are certain that this endorsement will put the GCB at odds with the CWI, as the ICC is most likely to ask about the GCB in Guyanaendorsingapolitical candidate.

Forward Guyana Movement given 3 days to re-submit party symbol

The newly formed political coalition, Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), has been granted three days to resubmit a rectified version of its party symbol aftertheoriginalsubmission failed to meet approval standards set by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Opposition-nominated commissioner, Vincent Alexander, confirmed the development with Kaieteur NewsonWednesday

His clarification followed a statement issued by GECOM on Tuesday evening, which noted that

symbols for 19 of the 22 partiesseekingtocontestthe September 1, 2025, general and regional elections have beenapproved.

According to GECOM, theremainingthreesymbols werependingfinalapproval, contingent upon “minor modifications”.Oneofthose pending symbols belongs to the Forward Guyana Movement, a coalition coledbyAmanzaWalton-Desir (Forward Guyana), Nigel London (The People's Movement), and Dorwin Bess (Vigilant Political ActionCommittee-V-PAC). The Guyana United Party

President Bissoondyal must be reminded that the ICCdiddirectlyintervenein the administration of cricket in Guyana when a certain official with ties to the gamblingworldattemptedto gain election as president of the West Indies Cricket Board.

The ICC made it known that if that official were elected, he would not be welcometo participatein its proceedings,” the party stated. APNU also warned that the endorsement invites direct political influence in the GCB's operations, a break from decades of political neutrality in

G u y a n e s e c r i c k e t administration, “The main bodies which have administered cricket in Guyana, first the British Guiana Cricket Board of Control ( BGCBC), and subsequently the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), through astute leadership, managedoverthemorethan eighty years of cricket succeeded in avoiding the deadening hand of political interference to darken the administration of cricket in Guyana.

In breaking with tradition, the GCB has ushered in a sad day for the administration of cricket Worse, none of its members

hadthedecencyandcourage to take a principled stand against this ill-considered and unacceptable decision,” APNUstated.

Non-communicable disease deaths in the Americas have risen 43% since 2000

D e a t h s f r o m noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as heart disease,cancer,anddiabetes, have surged by 43% in the Americas since 2000, reaching 6 million in 2021, according to the Pan A m e r i c a n H e a l t h Organisation's (PAHO) NCDs at a Glance 2025 report, released on Wednesday

According to PAHO, Noncommunicable diseases are the main cause of death, accounting for 65% of all deaths in the region (9.2 million), with nearly 40% occurring before age 70 Whileageingandpopulation growth contribute to this burden, the increase is largelydrivenbymodifiable risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and harmful alcoholconsumption.

In 2022, obesity affected 33.8% of adults—a 28% increase since 2010—while physical inactivity rose to 35.6%. Diabetes prevalence reached 13.1%, while 43 million people over 30 are unabletoaccessneededcare.

Hypertension affects more than a third of adults, yet only 36.4% are controlled. The report also addresses environmental and mental health challenges Air pollution increases the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, and suicide rates have risen by 17.4%since2000,withthree times as many men affected aswomen.

Someprogress,butthe regionisofftrack

Despiteincreasingtrends in total deaths, agestandardised mortality rates show some progress since 2000: NCD mortality rates

member states could meet this goal with accelerated efforts.

Aroadmap foraccelerating NCDprogress

(GUP) and the People's Republic Front (PRF) were also among parties whose symbols were listed as “To BeDecided”(TBD).

Shortly after GECOM's press release, members of

frustration, claiming they had not been informed beforehandthattheirsymbol was under review The announcement came just hours after the coalition publicly launched its new symbolandcampaign.

During a live broadcast onNigelLondon'spersonal (Continueonpage17)

According to the report, cardiovascular diseases led with 2.16 million deaths, followed by cancer (1.37 million), diabetes (over 420,000), and chronic respiratoryconditions(more than 416,000). Suicide, the fourthleadingcauseofdeath among youth aged 15–29, claimed 100,760 lives. “The surge in NCD deaths is an urgent wake-up call,” stated Dr Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO Director “Too many people are dying prematurely from diseases that are largely preventable and treatable. With early detection, timely diagnosis,accesstocare,and strong policies, we can save lives This report gives countriesthetoolstheyneed toact.”

Riskfactorsrisingfast

declined by 16 2% Cardiovascular and chronic respiratorydiseasemortality ratesdroppedbynearly30%.

Cancer mortality rates fellby24.6%.

There has also been progressonsomemodifiable riskfactorssince2000: Tobaccousedeclinedby 22.1%. Diabetes treatment coveragerosefrom46.6%to 57.7%.However,theRegion of the Americas is not on tracktomeettheglobalgoal of a 25% reduction in prematureNCDmortalityby 2025. From 2010 to 2021, premature mortality decreased by just 8%. Only fivecountries—Antiguaand Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Chile, and Grenada are on track However, eleven more

To reduce the burden of NCDs, countries should scale up prevention policies—such as tobacco andalcoholcontrol,front-ofpackage nutrition labelling, and physical activity promotion—and strengthen primary care for early detection and management of hypertension, diabetes, and cancers. Mental health and suicide prevention should also be integrated at thefirstlevelofcare. Initiatives such as PAHO's HEARTS program, now active in 33 countries and reaching 5 7 million people for hypertension treatment,andakeypillarof theBetterCareforNCDs initiative, are helping countriesstrengthenprimary care systems and implement national action plans. The NCDs at a Glance 2025 PAHO's second edition can help shape policy ahead of the Fourth High-level Meeting of the UNGeneralAssemblyonthe prevention and control of NCDs and the promotion of mental health and wellbeing in September 2025, when countries are expected to adopt a new political declaration.Thisoffersakey opportunity to accelerate progress by addressing inequities, reshaping health systems, and tackling the rootcausesofNCDs.

Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton
President of GCB, Bissoondyal Singh
(From left) Co-leaders of the Forward Guyana Movement, Nigel Londen, Amanza Walton- Desire and Dorwin Bess

On the freedom of elections and the tyranny of tweets Open Letter to The Carter Center

DearCarterCenter,

You once played an instrumental role in the rebirthofdemocracies from NicaraguatoNepalandfrom LiberiatoGuyana.Butinall ofthesecountries,therehave been setbacks, except in Guyana. That is until now.This is why I write not with honey-coated language but with the sharp instrument of truthblunt, uncomfortable, and necessary.

The scandal that now envelops the ruling Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) government is not merelyanunfortunateepisode ofpoliticalmisjudgment Itis partofwhatisnowacampaign of harassment against a political rival And in respect to elections, it represents an open desecration of the very principles upon which free elections rest The government, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has seen it fit to spend US$50,000 per monthpublic funds,notpartycofferstohirea lobbying firm inWashington, DC Regrettably it is now being revealed that the firm scripted tweets which constitute an attack against a politicalrivalofthePPPC

ThetaxpayersofGuyana are now i

campaign against one of

theirfellowcitizens.Andnot just any citizenbut a man with the temerity to challenge the ruling party at the ballot box. The man, known as AZMO, has announcedthatheisrunning for elections this year This means that he is a Presidentialcandidate.

The government claims AZMO is a non-threat, a sideshow, a distraction.And yet, it is believed that it is behind the mobilisation of the tweets against AZMO. One wonders if he is so irrelevant, why the desperation?

No fewer than five defamatory tweets were reportedly sent to a U.S. Congressman. These were not policy briefs, not investment pitches, not geopoliticalwhitepapersbut tweets. These tweets were conceived to label a domestic opponent a “Maduropuppet,”athreatto hemispheric democracy, a vector of communist dictatorshiplanguage that would be risible if not so reckless.

And this is only the visibletipoftheiceberg.On thegroundinGuyana,Team M o h a m e d f a c e s intimidation, harassment, and public vilificationsome overt, some quietly whispered but no less

dangerous Its campaign entourage is shouted down invillages.Onsocialmedia, doormatsofthegovernment heapscorn,throwshadeand hurl invectives against AZMO. But worst of all is the fact that state agencies are being marshalled with suddeninterestintheirtaxes, their permits, their every bureaucratic detail, as if by coincidencealone.

Thisisnottheconductof a government confident in its popular support. This is theconductofapartyfearful of defeat and prepared to pervertthemachineryofthe state to avert it. And while international observers may be tempted to focus on proceduralfairnessIDcards, ballot boxes, polling hourslet us remember: an election can be fair in form but utterly unfree in function.

What is freedom if opposition candidates must campaign under constant threatofstatereprisal?What isfreedomiftherulingparty employs foreign agents to poison the global narrative against its rivals? What is freedom if state institutions

become tools not of governance, but of vengeance? This is not electoral democracy This is auth

by installment plan. The Carter

DEM BOYS SEH

Decide fust before yuh press record

Demboyssehsocialmediaislike fast foodquick, greasy, and gone in 60 seconds. But some people treating TikTok like its a Sunday sermonorathree-actplay Manandwoman pressing “record” before dem brain even press“start”.

Firstthingyuhhearis,“Soooo...uhhh... Ijustwanttosay ummm...”Bythattime, theviewerdoneswipeleft,right,andcentre. One chap start he video with a deep sigh, stareattheceiling,scratchhehead,drinka lil water, adjust he ring light, and THEN starttotalk.Demboyssehbythattimethe phonebatterydeadandsoispublicinterest.

Social media aint Parliamentnobody waiting fuh yuh to “gather yuh thoughts.”

TikTok is a battlefield. If yuh cant deliver yuh message in the first ten seconds, go backtothedrawingboardorbetteryet,write alettertotheeditorlikeoldpeople. Andthenyuhgottheoverthinkers.One

Center must not turn a blind eye or offer polite euphemisms when what is unfolding in Guyana is the strategic hollowing out of politicalcompetition.

A democracy without real contest is not a democracy at all; it is a costumedrama,afarcewith ballot boxes.And Guyanese are not extras on this stagethey are its rightful directors. Do not be distracted by the outward rituals.

The voting may be orderly The ink may stain

the fingers. The results may be tabulated accurately this time around But if the environment of fear and propaganda persistsif one party controls the purse, the

State, and now the tweetsthen the freedom of the election may be compromised, and the legitimacy of its outcome is opentoquestion.

You, Carter Center, knowtoowellthedangersof staying silent when the trappings of democracy are used to mask its erosion. Guyanaisnotyetlostbutthe

signs are unmistakable.You must speak now against the weaponisation of the State andthedescentintoforeignfundedpoliticalwarfare.

The people of Guyana deserve more than the right tovote.

Theydeserveanelection thatisnotonlyfairbutfreein that it allows everyone who wishes to contest to do so withoutfearorintimidation.

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

minuteintothevideoandalltheysayingis, “The thing is, right? The thing is…” What thing? Spit it out before GT&T cut off the Wi-Fi!

Someoftheseslow-talkingsocialmedia philosophersbelievetheygivingTEDTalk. But all they giving is sleep.You ever see a manstartarantandhalfwayin,forgetwhat he vex about? Next thing yuh know, he talking ‘bout plantain chips and how rain falllastweek.

Dem boys seh if yuh dont know what yuhcometosay,dolikeyuhgrannyusedto sayshut yuh mouth and wait till yuh sure. Socialmediaisnottherapy Ifyuhconfused, callafriend.Dontsubjectdewholeworldto yuhhesitation,stuttering,andwaterbreaks. Moral of the story? Think before yuh talk.Planbeforeyuhpost.Andifyuhtaking too long to find yuh pointjust know, we alreadygone. Talkhalf.Leffhalf

H@RD TRUTHS

Terrors and tortures on Thursdays

Feeling a little rundown and jaded, there is a remedy available. Growing tired of off-track betting and Quik Piks, relief is on the way Haveanhourtospare,andin needofaquickpicker-upper, Ihavejusttheprescription. Thursday Afternoons at the Asylum, hosted by one Bharrat Jagdeo. Remember him, that glorious son of Guyana, divine inspiration ofthelostandlonely,andthe PPP's all-purpose handyman. Dr Jagdeo is versatile, volatile, and can strike with the venom of a

reptile. Me, I am smart; I stay away from people like BhaiBharrat,makesurethat I maintain a safe distance. Welcome to the terrors and tortures of Th

day Afternoons with Bharrat Jagdeoatthecontrols. A h ! T h u r s d a y

Afternoons at the Asylum, w i t h B h a r r a t ' t h e Boomerang' Jagdeo Oftentimes, his own head is in danger, which forces him to take evasive action. Just dare to make an inquiry about oil, or his favourite Americans, Exxon. Better still,askhimabouthislatest andgreatestGuyanabedtime story ItistheWalesGas-toEnergy project. The man is spending US$2 billion of Guyanesetaxpayers'money, but is still insisting that it is hissecret. Ihaveheardthat what happens in Las Vegas staysinLasVegas.

But this is Guyana, I remind everyone, where there is a parliament that dangles in the wind, a procurement body that is a corpse, and a casket-closing move by Big Bossman Bharrat on that Wales baitand-switch business. He is notgoingtospeakaboutany of that until after the project is completed. Heard right the first time: not until after elections, but until after the project is completed, wheneverthatis,ifever I always thought that a press conference was to provide information If thereisnoinformation,why call it a conference? Why not substitute tirade or diatribe? If certain questions cannot be tabled, then why attach the word 'press' to proceedings that resemble a lunatic convention, a séance, and a dog-and-pony show all put inablenderandgivenagood joltofelectricity? Whygoto the trouble of opening the doorstothepress? Ithinkit is to exhibit to Guyana (and

the foreign legion) how much of a terrorizer, torturer and Impaler he is. The de facto president of Guyanaisputtingonashow everyThursdayafternoonin what is now a stream of talk show rantings; endlessly cheap ones, ones without class or concern for the youngchildrenofGuyana.

I wonder what the younger children of ministers in the PPP Government and those of senior public servants think of Jagdeo's Thursday Afternoons of Verbal Belligerence. I know that they don't teach those in the private schools of Guyana, certainly not, (god forbid), the American School Unfortunately, I cannot speak with authority on whether the abusive, aggressive, and oppressive are standard fare in public school quarters. For those withalikingforthefinearts of psychological and occupational flagellation, thenThursdayAfternoonsat the Asylum with BJ is the placetobe. Me,Iamintothe spiritual My days of seekingoutthelatestinspicy comedy shows are over Still, as I tend to do, I give praisewheresuchisdue. If the calling is for mindless entertainment, Jagdeo is the man of the hour Just say PNC, and he goes off his rocker, completely haywire. When no one indulges him, he finds a way to drag the PNC into his hysterics and verbalballistics. Whileitis possiblethatDr Jagdeomay have had a dip or two in the Romancelanguages,hedoes exhibit some exposure to

Vulgar Latin; hence, non sequiturs have become commonplace with him, of whichthePNCisone. Most appropriate, I believe: the commonplace in the hands of a common man. Older Guyanese loved using common; they loved even more to apply it to certain menandwomentheyheldin aspecialregard.

F

business, they need to get into another business Jagdeo's Thu

sday Afternoon Talk Shows are thelastplaceintowhichthey should venture. It has now degraded to one of those Times Square specials that the tourists and hicks like to patronize. He knows what he is doing, of that let there be no mistake. It is the old training from the Kremlin deep in Jagdeo's genes, kicking into action. All those who hail his elephantine memory know the man very well. He still remembers those teachings from Moscow about the perils of the press. Too free and it is a full cardiac condition. Little to none of it, particularly independent sections, and everybody lives happily ever after SuchareJagdeo'sterrorsand tortures onThursdays. He's usuallyinfineform.

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

Nandlall says tweets attacking Mohamed

not orchestrated by Govt.
…but lobbying firm says it was done on behalf of Guyana Govt.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, has dismissed local media reports that the government has been using a hired UnitedStates(US)lobbying firm to target sanctioned businessman, Azzrudin Mohamed.

The matter became a source of widespread contention after two US policymakers shared tweets that were prepared by the lobbying firm, which said they were being done on behalf of the Guyana Government.

O n T u e s d a y , Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar from Florida saidtheUSremains“deeply concerned about efforts to undermine democracy in Guyana” Similarly,

Congressman Carlos Gimenez accused the sanctioned businessman of being a puppet of Venezuela's sanctioned

President, Nicolas Maduro.

Mohamed has since dismissed the tweets as propaganda, while restating that Essequibo belongs to Guyana.

“Rather than [the media]…reporting on what the tweet says or what the tweets say Their focus seems to be on some lobbying company that they areaccusingofbeingpaidby the Government of Guyana to prepare these tweets,” MinisterNandlallstated.

Speaking during his w e e k l y t e l e v i s e d programme “Issues in the News”, he sharply criticised the local media for bringing the integrity of the two US policymakers into question. “Aretheysuggestingthatthe US Congressmen and womenareabunchofrubber stamps? That these people have no integrity?That they have no self-respect? That they will prostitute their position as members of

Congress and publish something that somebody has in their hands and say, tweet this to Guyana?” he asked.

He reasoned that the public utterances by the US policymakers must not be taken lightly, saying that the use of social media, especially X (formerly Twitter), has become a widespread and legitimate platform utilised by the Trumpadministration.

Minister Nandlall reminded his viewers that during the controversial 2020 General and Regional Elections, the US administration was very vocal about its concerns on attemptsbytheAPNU+AFC Coalition in office to undermine the will of the people. Members of the US Congress,senators,andeven Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had threatened visa sanctions againstcomplacentofficials.

AG Nandlall explained that top-levelUSofficialsdonot simplyechowhatisgivento them by foreign actors or special interest groups Rather, they express views shaped by personal investigation, national security briefings and the valuestheyrepresent.

Contrary to Nandlall's arguments, according to public filings with the U.S. Department of Justice, the Government of Guyana enteredasix-monthcontract with Continental Strategy LLCinDecember2024.The contractisworthUS$50,000 per month and outlines that the firm would provide lobbying and government relations services to Guyana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The aim, accordingtothefiling,isto: (1) increase U.S. trade and investment in Guyana; (2) assist in financial sector reforms; and (3) raise Guyana's profile in the

Civil society to ramp up protest against non-implementation of Freedom of Information Act

Flashback: A section of protestors in front of the Office of the Commissioner of Information, Charles Ramson (senior) back in April this year

Citizens, civil society advocates, and trade union representatives have announcedtheescalationoftheirlongrunning protest demanding genuine implementation of Guyana's Freedom ofInformationAct,2011withplansfor demonstrationoutsidetheOfficeofthe PresidentonFriday

In a press release, organisers said that having spent months exposing the inaction and obstruction by the Office of the Commissioner of Information, protestors will now take their peaceful demonstration directly to the Office of thePresident,whichundertheActisthe constitutionalauthorityresponsiblefor ensuringthatthepublic'srighttoknow isprotected. “The Commissioner's continued

refusaltoperformhisbasiclegaldutyto process requests is indefensible,” said Norris Witter, respected trade union leader “But the greater scandal is the President'scompletefailuretoholdthe Commissioner accountable, or to protect citizens who are insulted and ignoredfordaringtoseekinformation.”

According to the release, the protestors said under the FOI Act, requests must be submitted to the Commissioner,whoactsastheclearing house for official documents. “When this mechanism is deliberately stalled or used to frustrate access, the entire righttoinformationcollapses-adirect breach of Article 146 of Guyana's Constitution,”thereleasenoted. Ms. Vanda Radzik, veteran civil

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC

United States. The firm's duties include lobbying, preparinganddisseminating informational materials, and engaging directly with U.S. policymakers. However, on June 23, John Barsa, a partner at Continental Strategy, emailed the DirectorofCommunications for U S Congressman CarlosGimenez,sharingthe five draft tweets. In the email,Barsaclarifiedhewas sending the material “on behalfoftheGovernmentof Guyana.”

Thedraftedtweetsread as follows: “US-sanctioned gold mogul Azruddin Mohamed is running for president in Guyana. This isn'tjustalocalscandal—it's a warning The Western

Hemisphere must remain a stronghold for democracy, not a playground for authoritarianinfluence.”

“A sanctioned Maduro ally running for president in Guyana? This isn't just politics—it's a red flag. The Western Hemisphere must not become a safe haven for authoritarianexpansion.”

“Venezuela's attempt to encroach into Guyana through pro-Maduro puppet Azruddin Mohamed's presidential run is alarming. The Western Hemisphere must remain a stronghold of freedom not a breeding ground for communist dictatorships.”

“Maduro's sanctioned puppet Azruddin Mohamed (Continuedonpage16)

society advocate and rights defender, added: “We have done our part as citizens.Nowweareforcedtostandup for our right to access public information because those entrusted to provideithavefailedtocarryouttheir duty.”

The protestors, including activist Christopher Ram, have made it clear that they will maintain their campaign until meaningful action is taken to restore the credibility of Guyana's freedomofinformationsystem.“When one official refuses to do his work and the other refuses to act, citizens must stand up,” said Ram. “This is about transparency, accountability, and the simple respect our Constitution demands.”

A 26-year-old mother of onewasreleasedon$45,000 bail on Wednesday for three charges.JohannaLawson,of Lot 306 Coma Street, L a m a h a G a r d e n s , Georgetown,appearedatthe Georgetown Magistrates' Court before Senior MagistrateFabyoAzorewho readthecharges.

Lawson pleaded not guilty to the charges which alleged that on June 25, 2025,attheBrickdamPolice Station, she assaulted and used threatening language towards Britni Singh. It is alsoallegedthatonthesame day at the said address, she behaved disorderly in a public place. Lawson was represented by attorney Keoma Griffith who requestedbailonherbehalf. The court heard that on the day in question, the victim visited the station to lodge a report against the defendant regarding another matter, whenshewasconfrontedby the accused Magistrate Azoreplacedthetwoparties onapeacebondandLawson wasgranted$15,000

Young mother
Accused, Johanna Lawson

‘More money, less work’

Executive member of the Alliance For Change (AFC) and former Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, said that the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government has spent double the cost for less road works on the Ogle to Eccles Highwayproject.

Patterson was responding to a recent statement by Minister of PublicWorks,JuanEdghill.Inthat missive,Edghillnotedthatthenew highway was being built under the pricetagofUS$275millionbythe f o r m e r A P N U / A F C administration.

At the recent commissioning ceremonyfortheUS$133.8million highway project, Edghill said, “I wanttoputonrecord,andIwantto be clear, even if I sound controversial. When we came to government, we met a project that wasUS$275millionbytheAPNU/ AFC government to do exactly whatwedidhere.”

Responding to the minister, Patterson explained that the original design for the project was completed in November 2019 Details pertaining to the project at the time were as follows “Total distance of 25.43km of roads, comprising a four-lane main

ExecutiveMemberofthe AllianceforChange, (AFC) David Patterson

alignment of 15.34 km with a design speed of 120 km/h, four connector roads atAubrey Barker, Haag Bosch, Mocha Arcadia and Great Diamond, totaling 10.09 km with design speeds of 80 – 100 km/h. Seven major intersections –one four-legged signalised intersection, one roundabout with four legs, one three-legged signalised intersection, four T intersections and eight U turns. Four major bridges, 15 minor bridges and 66 box culverts Highway lighting for the entire length at 30m spacing. 717 road signs, traffic lights, hazard marking, mounted signs, safety

barriers,trafficattenuatorsandbus stops.”

Further, Patterson pointed out that the total cost was US$208.1 million including 10 percent contingency allowance and 7.5 percentconsultancyfees–overalla completed project inclusive of a reservesetasideforalightrailway atUS$8.18millionperkm.

“ThePPPhasconstructeda7.8 km road for US$133.8 million, averagingUS$17.8millionperkm and is now touting this as an example of fiscal discipline and valueformoney Thisisthetypical trackrecordofthePPP,completing a reduced design project – 30

Section of the recently

percent of the original design at double the cost, and then claiming to be providing value for money,” Pattersonargued.

Pattersonsaidtheproject,while appreciated, is another prime exampleofthePPP'slackofvision andpoorfinancialmanagement.

Providingaglaringexampleof poor financial management, Patterson noted the Wales Gas-toShore Project, which he said was originally designed to cost under US$700 million, but has now skyrocketedtooverUS$2.4billion andcounting.

Another example he highlightedistheHeroesHighway

GPHCtofacilitatesurgeriesonweekendstoreduce backloginorthopedicprocedures

In a significant move to reduce the growing backlog

of joint replacement surgeries, the Orthopaedics

Department at the GeorgetownPublicHospital Corporation (GPHC) has announced that it will be conducting a series of knee

and hip replacement surgeriesonweekends.

Ty p i c a l l y, o n l y emergency surgeries are performed on weekends at G P H C , a n d j o i n t replacement surgeries are limited to two per week, as operating theatre time is shared among multiple departments.

However, a release from thehospitalexplainedthatto address the long list of patients awaiting care, the Orthopaedics Department has been dedicating one weekend each quarter to performadditionalsurgeries.

Last weekend, GPHC facilitated a total of 12 joint replacement procedures that

were successfully

completed: 8 knee replacements and 4 hip replacements, marking a

notable boost in the department'ssurgicaloutput.

A m o n g t h e 1 2 procedures done, the hospital outlined that four were same-day surgeries, where patients were admitted on the morning of theoperationanddischarged byevening.

“This is a relatively new initiative at GPHC, with the first same-day joint replacement having been completed in March 2025. Thesuccessofthisapproach is a testament to the advanced surgical techniques and enhanced recovery protocols now being implemented by the department'sskilledsurgical team,”thereleaseexplained. Itwentontonotethatthe remaining eight patients were discharged within 24 hours,furtherdemonstrating the team's commitment to improving patient outcomes and hospital efficiency through modern, minimally invasivepractices.

T o d a t e , t h e Orthopaedics Department has completed a total of 79

s

joint replacement surgeries for the year, reflecting the dedication and ongoing efforts of the team to meet the needs of patients awaiting life-changing procedures.

WHYJOINT REPLACEMENT SURGERY?

According to th

hospital, joint replacement

o

individuals experiencing severejointpain,stiffness,or mobility issues most commonly in the knees or hips that significantly affect their quality of life. These symptoms are often caused by osteoarthritis, r

traumatic injury, or other degenerativejointdiseases. When other forms of t

modifications no longer

replacement surgery may be considered as a last resort to restore mobility and reduce pain.

which he stated, “After spending G$15 billion (US$75 million) on the Heroes Highway (aka concussion highway), they now claimthatitistemporaryworkand must spend an equal amount to paveitinthefuture–thisroad,not more than two years old, is now in needofurgentrepairs.”

With the election period underway, the MP warned of the misinformation that would come fromthePPP,noting“buttheplain andsimplefactisthattheyhavenot been capable of providing the country with value for money in none of their so-called transformationalprojects”.

HOWTOACCESS

SURGERYATGPHC

The hospital noted that individualswhobelievethey may need joint replacement surgery are encouraged to visit their nearest healthcare facility, where they will be assessed by a medical practitioner

Surgeons of the Orthopaedics Department at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) perform a procedure

Ifitisdeterminedthatthe condition cannot be effectively treated with medication or other nonsurgicalmethods,thepatient will be referred to the SurgicalOutpatientClinicat GPHCforfurtherevaluation and management by a specialistteam.

Itisimportanttonotethat s u r g e r y i s o n l y recommendedwhenallother treatment options have been exhausted, and due to the high demand for joint replacement procedures, there is currently a waiting list. The GPHC expressed its commitment to enhancing access to critical surgical services and applauded the efforts of the Orthopaedics team along with the other supporting departments for going above and beyond in delivering care to those in need.(GPHCrelease)

commissioned US$133.8 million Ogle to Eccles Highway

$178M Magistrate's Court commissioned at Anna Regina

- Essequibo to get two judges by October

A spanking new magistrate'scourtwithacost of $178 million was commissioned at Anna Regina,EssequiboCoast,on Wednesday, paving the way for the court to be housed in itsownbuilding.

The commissioning ceremony was held in the court's compound, opposite the new regional police headquarters in Anna Regina. In an entertaining, yet informative programme chairedbyJusticeofAppeal Navindra Singh, patrons were treatedtopoetry, song, danceandahistorylessonby thechairhimself.

In her opening remarks, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George expressed her joy at being back in Essequibo, or as it is referred to 'the Cinderella County', to witness another momentous

occasion under the judiciary's “NationalAccess toJusticeProject”.

She said that over the past few years, she has

observed tremendous growth in Essequibo and with the opening of the Children's Court in Charity, just two weeks ago, the county is no longer the Cinderella County, but now “wears both shoes and is running proudly ahead in its

development, particularly here in Region Two, as you will no doubt hear more aboutlater.”

Justice George extended her deepest gratitude to the

Scenes from the commissioning

Guyana Police Force, which was described as one of the judiciary's most valued justice sector partners, for their accommodation of the Anna Regina Magistrate's Courtovertheyears.

“The honourable chancellor has championed the goal of improving infrastructure to better serve magistrates, court staff, and, mostimportantly,thepublic. Today's opening is another step forward in achieving

thatvision,”sheadded.

Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Justice

Yonette Cummings Edwards, in her remarks, saidthattheestablishmentof the court gives the judiciary an opportunity to bring access to justice closer to residents, giving them spaces to have their voices heard, and their disputes resolvedinamoderncourt.

She stressed that while the schools, the Guyana

Broomes verbally attacked at police headquarters, party condemns inaction

The Assembly for Liberty and Prosperity (ALP) has condemned what itdescribedasaverbalattack on its party leader, Dr SimonaCharlesBroomes,by a member of the public, while in the presence of police officers at the Regional Division 4 'B' PoliceHeadquarters.

The incident which occurred on Tuesday, unfolded during a live broadcast on Broomes' personalFacebookpage.

Accordingtoastatement released by the party on Wednesday, the attacker, identified as Ossie Winston Rodgers, verbally assaulted Dr. Broomes and other female party members Despitebeinginthepresence of law enforcement officers, the verbal abuse went unchecked.

“When Dr. Broomes attempted to report the man forhurlinginsultsandabuse, officers on duty blatantly refused to take her report or offer any assistance against the unprovoked attack,” the statementread.

The ALP criticised the police'sfailuretoact,stating, “This unacceptable failure by the police reflects a deepening crisis in public trust and accountability It also takes place in a climate wherewomenacrossGuyana are being targeted at a frightening rate, too often withoutconsequence.”

Dr Broomes, who now leads the ALP, has been a long-time advocate for the rights and dignity of women and girls across the country

The party emphasised that the treatment she received underscores the broader

Leader

challenges faced by women inpubliclife.

“Thismovementwillnot be silenced. We will press forward, and we will charge this fight until systems of powers serve every citizen without bias, without fear and without delay” ALP stated.

Police Force, post offices and other government agencies had a dedicated place of their own to call home, this was not the case withthemagistrate'scourt. Thecourtwashousedon themiddlefloorofthepolice

station, but at the time, the main concern was for disputes to be resolved to foster a modern livable and peaceful society Even though the conditions were not always adequate, they were comfortable and the Force exhibited patience, whichshethankedthemfor

“Our system, our court, is an institution that would advance legal growth, uphold the rule of law and stability in our society, it must make strides and embraceeconomicprogress, andthatiswhatthisbuilding isallabout.Theintendeduse of this, as I said, is to dispense justice, and it would make a positive impactinthiscommunityof Anna Regina and all the surrounding communities,” shesaid.

The chancellor informed

theaudiencethattherecould be an extension in the number of days the Suddie Magistrate's Court operates. This means that the Judicial Service Commission will now have to look at additional magistrates to be abletosatisfythelegalneeds ofthecommunity

“Essequibo will also be blessed with two judges in thecriminalassizescomethe October session Our criminal list is growing. I served many years as a prosecutorhereinEssequibo before many judges, and at thattime,onejudgeandone prosecutorweresufficientto coverthelistofcases,butlist isgrowing,”sherevealed.

Another reason there is need for the addition is that the sexual offences list is high and there is a need for

(Continuedonpage16)

Maninvolvedin3-way smash-updies

One of the drivers involved in Tuesday morning's three-way crash along the Rupert Craig Highway has succumbed to hisinjuries.

Dead is father of two, Narayan Sikandar, also knownasLeonSikandar His sister broke the devastating newsviaaFacebookpost.

“And just like that my brother is gone”, before adding that he was heading towork“healthyandfine.”

“Then out of nowhere someonewhoclearlydoesn't careabouthislifeendedmy brother's (life)”, she continued.

Sikandar was driving an Altezza motor car, when the driver of another car lost control and flew over a median before crashing into him The impact pushed Sikandar's car into another car behind, injuring that driver and two male passengers.

Police identified the driverwholostcontrolofhis vehicleasKamelDaniels.

Police reports are that

Daniels was driving his car PAK 9877 east along the northern drive lane of the highway He was allegedly speeding when he lost control in the vicinity of the UGAccessRoad.

“…The vehicle swerved south into and over the concrete median which separates the northern and southern carriageways,” police said, adding that the frontofhiscarcollidedwith the right portion of Sikandar's car which was proceedingwest.

The impact then pushed Sikandar'scarintoahirecar, drivenby63-year-oldLewis who was also proceeding west.

“As aresultof thethreevehicle collision, the vehicles were damaged extensively, and the drivers of all three vehicles, along with the two occupants, received injuries on their bodies,”policedetailed.

All of them were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) by public-spirited citizens.

A cellphone recorded videoofthecrashpaintedan almost gruesome picture The vehicles were mangled and all of the occupants appeared unconscious Sikandar was seen lying in his car while other victims were seen lying on the roadway

After receiving the news andhearingaboutthevideo, Sikandar's sister made a Facebook post stating that she was hoping for the best and that her prayers were with the medical team who was at the time battling to saveSikandar'slife.

Dead, Leon Sikandar

After 37 years, Guyanese man is exonerated of NYC murder he says he didn't commit

(NYC)Formorethan30 years, Brian Kendall has insistedheandafewfriends were simply playing video games inside a Flatbush game room after school when a man wearing a hoodie casually strolled in andfatallyshotaclerkinthe head.

That was in 1988 Kendall, who was 17 at the time, and his shocked friends, ran outside to chase theshooterandflagapolice car,accordingtohisaccount.

Police and prosecutors didn'tbelievehim.

On Tuesday, in a dramaticreversaldecadesin the making, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez's Conviction Review Unit (CRU) will announce that it has found Kendall is “likely innocent” and should have his conviction vacated and indictmentdismissed.

“I only wish my mother and father were alive to see this day,” Kendall said in a statement.

About a week after the Feb 24, 1988 shooting, policetookKendallfromhis parents' Flatbush apartment in handcuffs. They said two eyewitnesses identified him as the gunman in the 7 p.m. shooting and charged him with the murder of Raphael Reyesinsidethebuildingon CortelyouRoad.

Athislawyer'surging,he pleadedguiltytofirst-degree manslaughter in 1989 and wassentencedtoeightyears andfourmonthsto25years. His family was running out of money to pay the private attorney who had warned it would be “suicide” to take the case to trial. Kendall served 16 years and eight months in prison before he wasreleasedin2004.Hewas deported to Guyana, where he was born, the following year He was technically a lawful permanent resident but unable to become a naturalised citizen on his ownasaminor

The decision is even more notable because Kendall pleaded guilty before trial and at six parole hearings.Hesayshedidthat becausehebelievedthatwas his only path to his eventual freedom.

“For years, I carried the weight of a conviction that never should have happened,” he said in a statement issued Tuesday “Today'sactiondoesn'terase thepainorthetimeIlost,but itdoesgivemehope.”

'I Thought It Was a Big

Mistake” Eric Bjorneby, the prosecutor who handled the case, never disclosed to Kendall's lawyer at the time thathewrotealetterseeking leniency on behalf of a key witnesswhowasinprisonon adrugconviction,according totheCRUreport.

Bjorneby, who later became a Nassau County judge,servedasaprosecutor in four other cases from the 1980s that were vacated by the CRU decades later, according to a May 2024 report in the news site Independent.

It remains unclear why police initially focused on Kendall.

Kendall said he was stunnedwhenpolicecameto his family's apartment in Flatbush about a week after thekilling.

“I thought it was a big mistake that they would correct,” Kendall told THE CITY during an interview lastyear

Inside the police precinct,officersputhimina lineupandrefusedtolethim call a lawyer, according to hisaccount.

“I was the only teen in the lineup, ” Kendall recalled. “The others were adults.”

“It was like these people kidnapped me,” he added, noting he was held without bailuntilthetrial.

Hisfamilyhiredaprivate attorney, Harry Dusenberry, whointerviewedatleastfive peopleinsidethegameroom at the time. They all said Kendall had nothing to do with the murder, according tothe35-pageCRUreport.

Manyofthesamepeople spoke to prosecutors at the time,thereportsaid.

WitnessNicholasRuiz,a friend of the victim, told cops the shooter was a man inhis40s,about5'3”and155 pounds, wearing a gray coat and cap. Kendall was 5'7” and135poundsatthetime.

Police later said Ruiz didn'twanttocooperatewith themaftermakingthatinitial statement, according to the reviewunit'sinvestigation.

The DAinsisted another two supposed eyewitnesses —adrugaddictdealingwith apotentialjailsentenceanda 13-year-old — were enough for a conviction and refused to drop the second-degree murder charges, the CRU reportrevealed.

The addict — identified onlyas“F.F.”inthereport— claimed that he had been at thelocationearlierintheday

Brian Kendall was 17 when police accused him of a homicide he insisted he didn't commit. A Brooklyn DA unit now says he's “likely innocent”.

and witnessed a verbal dispute between two teenagersandtheclerk.

F.F alsotoldcopshesaw the shooting and identified Kendall via a police photo array and in the lineup, accordingtotheCRUreport.

The case was before a judge, Francis Egitto, who had a reputation of doling outmaximumsentences.

Plus, Kendall said his family was running out of moneytopayDusenberry

“My mother was crying because of the anguish, the stress, the anxiety,” Kendall recalled. Dusenberry, in turn, told the family that it would be “suicide” for Kendall to proceed to trial where he would almost surely be convicted and sentencedto25yearstolife, accordingtotheCRUreport.

“I had no choice,” Kendallremembered,saying he was never told he'd be deported at the end of his sentence After the sentencing, Dusenberry told CRU investigators that the prosecutor told him he was surprised the case didn't go totrial.“Theprosecutorsaid the prosecution's case was weak: there were problems with the witnesses, one may have become unavailable and the other may have had drug-related problems,” the CRU report said — without disclosing the name of the prosecutor

Dusenberry thought Kendall was “screwed” but did not take any other legal steps to help him out, the reportsaid.Thelawyer,who currently practices with his son according to the firm's website,didnotreturnacall oremailseekingcomment.

On Rikers before his sentencing, Kendall said he wasrepeatedly“jumped”for hisclothesandfoodandhad to constantly struggle to “survivetheplace.”

“You know how many

The case became the longest outstanding application in the unit when CharlesLinehantookoverin January 2022. He vowed to clear a backlog of cases and exonerated 12 people based on recommendations made byhisstaffduringhisthreeyeartenure.

AsforKendall,theCRU reinterviewed all the witnesses, police officers involved in the case, his defense lawyer and the prosecutor

Many of the key witnesses,includingthetwo leaddetectives,arenolonger alive,theCRUreportnoted.

fights I had?” he asked. “How many times I was knockedout?”

After he pleaded guilty, he was first sent to Elimira Correctional Facility and then transferred to Coxsackie Correctional Facility, a maximumsecurity prison in Greene County He ultimately did timein16stateprisons.

His parents never got overit,hesaid.

“This incident killed my family,” he said through tears.“Myfatherusedtosay on the phone, 'I failed you, myson.'”

“You can't imagine your father telling you that,” he added.

YearstoResolve

Afriendof his inprison, Mark Denny, whose wrongful conviction was overturned by the CRU in 2017, told him about the Brooklyn unit and gave him guidance on how to file a similar request to reinvestigate.

He reached out to Denny's lawyer and other attorneysforhelp,butnoone hadthebandwidthtotakehis case.

So, in 2019, he filed his own case before the unit, praying someone there wouldgiveitaread.

The unit, revamped by the late DA Kenneth Thompson, is nationally acclaimed and considered a model for others throughout thecountry

Despite a lack of legal assistance, Kendall's initial filing made what seemed like a legitimate case and caught the attention of the unit, according to people familiarwiththeprocess.

But the unit also prioritises cases involving peoplestillinprison.

Kendall's request to reopenthecasetookyearsto resolve and went through multipleleadinvestigators.

shot the clerk and could not recalltheearlieraltercation.

“He turned his life around and did not like to recalltheearlierperiodwhen he was 'lost to crack,'” the reportsaid.

DavidCrow,oftheLegal Aid Society, took on Kendall's case last year and urgedtheCRUtovacatethe conviction.

Still, CRU staff discovered archived police radio transmissions that “in ways undermine the credibility” of the two purportedeyewitnesseswho identifiedKendall,thereport said The radio reports indicate officers in a police carnearthecrimesceneright afterthedeadlyshootingsaw a group of teens chasing a possiblesuspect.

The CRU report also discovered that the prosecutor handling the Kendallcase—Bjorneby— promised to help F.F with his prison case. Bjorneby wrote a letter to his “counselor” asking for his earliest possible release, the CRUreportsaid.

That missive was never handed over to Dusenberry, accordingtotheCRUreport.

Under prior discovery laws at the time, that sort of information was not requiredtobeturnedoverto defenselawyersbeforetrial.

The law was changed in 2019 to include that sort of material The discovery reforms were pared back in the latest budget but they would still require prosecutorstodisclosedeals with potential witnesses, according to defense lawyers familiar with the rules.

When interviewed by CRU staff, F.F said he no longer remembered who

“BrianKendall'scaseisa stark reminder of the devastatingconsequencesof a system that too often fails young people of color,” CrowsaidTuesday.“Despite clear evidence pointing to his innocence, Brian was forced to plead guilty under the weight of a broken process.”Kendall told THE CITY that he filed the case with the CRU to “clear his name” and that he hopes to make his way back to the UnitedStates.

Heplanstofileanappeal withtheU.S.Departmentof Justiceafterhisconvictionis formally vacated in Brooklyn criminal court on Tuesday The immigration case will be handled by the Board of Immigration Appeals.

When he was sent back to Guyana, he struggled financially and initially spent time sleeping on friends' couches, Kendall recalled. He now lives in a modest apartment with his partner and works as an electrician.

“It's been rough in Guyana,” he said. “Work isn't coming as anticipated. I'm just surviving to pay the rent.”

When he was in prison, his mother died after a long battlewithcancer

“I stopped calling my mother because her voice started changing up, man,” he remembered. “I didn't want to remember my motherlikethat.”

Hewasallowedtoattend herfuneralinhandcuffs.

“My mother is not at rest,” he said. “This killed everybodyinmyfamily.”

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WHO urges 50% hike in taxes on tobacco, alcohol, ‘sweet drinks’

Geneva/Sevilla, July 2, 2025 (WHO)–

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday launched a major new initiative urging countries to raise real prices on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks by at least 50% by 2035 through health taxes in a move designed to curb chronic diseases and generate critical public revenue.

The “3 by 35” Initiative comes at a time when health systems are under enormous strain from rising noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), shrinking development aid and growing public debt, WHO said in a press release.

The consumption of tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks are fueling the NCD epidemic. NCDs, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, account for over 75% of all deaths worldwide. A recent report shows that a onetime 50% price increase on these products could prevent 50 million premature deaths over the next 50 years.

“Health taxes are one of the most efficient tools we

have,” said Dr Jeremy Farrar, Assistant Director-General, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Control, WHO. “They cut the consumption of harmful products and create revenue governments can reinvest in health care, education, and social protection.

It’s time to act.”

The Initiative has an ambitious but achievable goal of raising US$1 trillion over the next 10 years. Between 2012 and 2022, nearly 140 countries raised tobacco taxes, which resulted in an increase of real prices by over 50% on average, showing that largescale change is possible. From Colombia to South Africa, governments that have introduced health taxes have seen reduced consumption and increased revenue.

Yet many countries continue to provide tax incentives to unhealthy industries, including tobacco. Moreover, long-term investment agreements with industry that restrict tobacco tax increases can further undermine national health goals. WHO en-

courages governments to review and avoid such exemptions to support effective tobacco control and protect public health.

Strong collaboration is at the heart of the “3 by 35” Initiative’s success. Led by WHO, the Initiative brings together a powerful group of global partners to help countries put health taxes into action.

These organizations offer a mix of technical know-how, policy advice, and real-world experience. By working together, they aim to raise awareness about the benefits of health taxes and support efforts at the national level.

Many countries have expressed interest in transitioning toward more self-reliant, domestically funded health systems and are turning to WHO for guidance. The “3 by 35” Initiative introduces key action areas to help countries, pairing proven health policies with best practices on implementation. These include direct support for country-led reforms with the following goals in mind:

Cutting harmful consumption by reducing affordability;

Increase or introduce excise taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks to raise prices and reduce consumption, cutting future health costs and preventable deaths.

Raising revenue to fund health and development; Mobilize domestic public resources to fund essential health and development programmes, including universal health coverage. Building broad political support across ministries, civil society, and academia; Strengthen multisectoral alliances by engaging ministries of finance and health, parliamentarians, civil society, and researchers to design and implement effective policies. WHO is calling on countries, civil society, and development partners to support the “3 by 35” Initiative and commit to smarter, fairer taxation that protects health and accelerates progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

$178M Magistrate’s Court commissioned...

From page 14 the additional personnel.

The facility houses spaces for remote hearings, domestic violence hearing rooms, facilities to accommodate children coming to court in cases where their parents may have business to conduct and bring them along.

There is also a technological smart courtroom, where the registry and filing facilities are modern, making things easier for staff.

“This is a society that we serve, and we must be accountable and transparent, and so we must tell you the cost of this facility, and I thank our permanent secretary of finance, who has been able to keep track of all our accounting processes and to let us know the step by step, how the monies allocated to us from central government was spent…dispersed to the contractor who executed the work on this building,” she added.

The contract was awarded by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) to Satar Mohammed of Satar Mohammed and Sons Construction and Hardware Supplies Limited, at a cost of $179,638,476. There was also a design and engineering and supervision cost that amounted to $7,500,000.

“We dedicate it to you. Please use it. Please carry it, and please keep this beautiful county safe- and secure place- one where we will enjoy its beauty. We will come as officers of the court. We will also come as tourists. We will also come as fellow citizens to share in this beautiful building and share this beautiful community with you. I thank you so very much for being here with us and for the courtesy of listening. May God bless us all,” the chancellor concluded.

Also present at the com-

missioning ceremony was Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, who in his remarks said that successive governments of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) have always ensured that in their developmental plans and programmes, there was always an equitable distribution of resources, even though they did not have the amount then as they do now.

“Access to justice is as important as any other right or any other entitlement of the human being. Without justice, without law, without order, nothing is possible. It is the rule of law that keeps us in a civilised society, none of the development that is taking place across the country can take place without the rule of law being in place, and our government recognises that.”

The AG told the audience that if they compare the newly commissioned court with the

ones in other parts of the country like Port Kaituma and Georgetown, the differences are marginal, as they are all equipped with modern facilities.

“The construction of this new and modern edifice to house the magistrate’s court is not only a tangible expression of the government’s commitment to ensure access to justice reaches every crease and crevice of our country, but is also a vital component of the government’s broader infrastructural development agenda designed to cradle the rapid, unprecedented economic and social transformation currently unfolding. The government recognises that building out necessary physical infrastructure is an essential prerequisite to support, sustain and safeguard the exponential economic growth and associated externalities,” he added.

Nandlall says tweets attacking Mohamed...

From page 11 running for president in Guyana is Venezuela’s latest attempt to creep into a sovereign democracy. The Western Hemisphere must reject authoritarian influence. #Guyana #Venezuela #FreedomFirst”

“U.S.-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed, seen as sympathetic to Maduro-style politics.” In a statement on Tuesday, Azruddin Mohamed

strongly condemned the lobbying campaign, saying it was a deliberate attempt by the PPP-led government to discredit him using taxpayer funds. “It has emerged beyond any reasonable doubt that the PPP-led Government of Guyana has used taxpayer funds to finance the U.S. lobbying firm to launch a campaign aimed at falsely portraying me as an agent of the Maduro regime in Venezuela,” Mohamed said. He re-

jected any affiliation with Venezuela’s government.

“My father is Essequiboborn. I would never betray the soil my family is rooted in. I stand firmly for Guyana’s sovereignty—I always have and always will.”

Mohamed further accused the government of using misinformation to harm his candidacy and endanger his family, stating, “What we are witnessing is not foreign policy. Once again, this is the

PPP using a foreign nation to attack me, my reputation, and my credibility. By falsely linking me to a hostile regime, the government is deliberately placing my safety and that of my family at risk.”

He further claimed that this was not the first time such tactics had been used, asserting that the Government’s objective was to “delegitimize my candidacy through deception and fearmongering.”

Govt. now says 20% of Stabroek Block relinquished by Exxon

The Government of

Resources (MNR), announced on Wednesday night that the long awaited relinquishmentof20%ofthe Stabroek Block by ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) has been completed.

The deadline was October2024.

“…the ministry wishes to confirm that it has, in partnershipwiththeGuyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), completed its review of EMGL's relinquishment proposals of the renewal of

the Stabroek Block Petroleum Exploration Licence,” the ministry said in a statement Wednesday night.Underthetermsofthe 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), ExxonMobil is required to return acreage where no commercial discoveries

have been made, in production, appraised or areaswherethereispotential commercial interest It should be noted that Exxon was required to return a portion of the Block to GuyanasinceOctober2023; however, former President David Granger had granted thecompanyanextensionin 2020 to conduct further exploration activities. This

extended the deadline to October2024.

The government has agreed with Exxon that a minimum area of 2,534 km² (square kilometer) has been relinquished. The Stabroek Block spans approximately 6 6 million acres, about 26,709 km² (square kilometer), making the agreed relinquishment a minimum of 9.5% of the totalblockarea.

M N R a d d e d , “Furthermore, the ministry wishes to state that the legal aspect of the renewal is also complete, which involved the final compliance checks and drafting of applicable regulatoryinstruments.”

MNR's announcement followsaWednesdayJuly2, 2025 publication by Kaieteur News highlighting that the 20% relinquishment oftheblockwasstillpending government approval. The articlewasattributedtoHess G

Exp

n

mited, the 30% stakeholder in the Stabroek Block. Hess, in its 2024 financial statements obtained from the Deeds Registry, said, “The end of the first renewal period of the exploration licence in

October2024whichrequires therelinquishmentof20%of the acreage not held by discoveries is pending approval by the government ofGuyana.” Before last night's update, the last update

received from the ministry was in April 2025, in response to an article on the relinquishment process. In that statement the ministry saidthatitwasstillfinalizing the review of the relinquishment.

Business stakeholders say opportunities could result from Caricom Heads of Government Conference

(Jamaica Observer)

Jamaicaisgearinguptohost a major regional event that promises to bring new opportunitiesforthecountry andthewiderCaribbean.

The49thCaricomHeads of Government Conference willbeheldfromJuly6to8

at the Montego Bay

Convention Centre (MBCC), bringing together leaders from across the Caribbean to discuss common challenges and explore ways to grow and strengthentheregion.

For many business stakeholders in the host city

and tourism capital, Montego Bay, St James, the conference is not just about talk It is about action, collaboration and creating opportunities that benefit everyone, especially in tourism, which is vital for Jamaica'seconomy

AreaChairpersonforthe Jamaica Hotel and Tourist

Association (JHTA), Montego Bay Chapter, Kerry Ann Quallo Casserly, has been an active voice in advocating for regional cooperation.

“Caricomisourregional family It's about us coming together to find solutions to our common problems and to grow stronger as a region,”shesaid.

She explained that for

Jamaica,hostingthissummit isachancetohighlightwhat makes the island special, its friendly people, vibrant

culture and stunning attractions, and to show that Jamaicaisreadytowelcome more visitors from around theworld.

Caricom, or the Caribbean Community and Common Market, is a group of 15 Caribbean countries workingtogethertopromote economic integration, c o o p e r a t i o n a n d development.

NewCaricomChairman, Prime Minister Andrew Holness, will lead the discussions, which are expected to focus on economic recovery, sustainabledevelopmentand strengtheningtourism—the backbone of the Caribbean economy Holness takes over from Barbadian Prime Minister, MiaMottley

Deputy Executive

Chairman of Chukka CaribbeanAdventures, John Byles, believes the summit will help promote tourism

activities like ecoadventures, waterfalls and outdoorexperiences.

“This is a perfect platform to showcase what Jamaica offers in terms of adventure tourism When our leaders promote the

region, more travellers will come to enjoy our beaches, zip lines and natural attractions, which means more income and jobs for localcommunities,”hesaid.

Owner of the popular restaurant,Smokeez,inRose Hall, St James, Lowell Spence, emphasised that regional cooperation can boostthehospitalitysector.

“When Caribbean countries promote each other's attractions, it encourages tourists to explore more than just one island That's good for restaurants,hotels,andlocal workers,”heexplained.

Owner of Garfield's Diving in Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, Garfield Dussard, said that marine tourism can grow through regionalefforts.

“Our reefs and beaches are world-class More collaborations mean more divers and snorkellers will visit, which benefits everyoneinvolvedinmarine adventures,”henoted.

Meanwhile,representing the transport sector, Allan Brown, stressed the importance of better travel links between Caribbean countries. “We need more flightsandboatservicesthat connect our islands. Making it easier for tourists to visit multiple islands on one trip

will increase their spending and length of stay, which benefits our economies,” he said.

The conference will also focus on

rving Caribbean culture — from Jamaica's reggae and food festivals to Trinidad's carnival and Guyana's

heritage Promoting these cultural assets can make the region more attractive to tourists seeking authentic experiences.

Forward Guyana Movement...

Frompage8 Facebook page later that evening, Walton-Desir and Bessdiscussedtheissueand criticised GECOM's handling of the matter and questioned if the party's symbol was rejected Walton-Desire questioned the transparency of the commission,notingthatThe People's Movement's symbol was previously approved for local governmentelections.

“They have a problem with the Forward Guyana (FG)signwithoursymbolin the wheel and they have a problem with The People's Movement.

They do not want anything affecting the outlineofthemap,”shesaid.

“ T h e P e o p l e ' s Movement has had an approved symbol from the last local government elections The Forward Guyana symbol is of

recentvintage.So,itappears as though GECOM is making this up as it goes along and there are clearly problemsthere.

Idon'tunderstandhowa public release could go out andthisshouldessentiallybe a private issue between GECOMandtheparties.

Soonewouldexpectthat GECOM would write to us, indicate that these are the concerns, we have them addressedandthenwemove forward but to release this, the evening of the launch... suggests to me that it is an attempt to put a damper on the events of today ( T u e s d a y ) , i t i s irresponsible, it is prejudicial, and it caused a lotofanxiety,”Walton-Desir said.

I n r e s p o n s e , Commissioner Alexander clarified that the FGM's symbol was conditionally approved—specifically due

to inaccuracies in its depiction of the map of Guyana.

“Forward Guyana's symbolisonewhichrequires compliance with the portrayal of the map of Guyana. The symbol has beenapprovedsubjecttothe true portrayal of the map of Guyana.

That symbol has three mapsthatdiffer,”Alexander said.

He added that the coalition has been given three days to make the necessaryadjustments.

“It has the fiat of the commission once it rectifies its portrayals, ” he confirmed.

The Forward Guyana Movementnowfacesatight deadline to amend and resubmit its symbol in compliance with GECOM's guidelinesinordertoqualify for participation in the upcomingelections.

Stabroek Block

Israeli attacks kill 78; Hamas says considering ceasefire proposal

(AL-JAZEERA) Israeli forceshavekilledatleast78 Palestinians across Gaza as they target aid seekers and displaced people sheltering intents.

UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarinisaysthereis“hope and anticipation” for a ceasefire deal, calling it “desperately needed and longoverdue”.

“People in Gaza are exhausted after nearly 660 days of war, displacement, bombingandsiege,”hesaid in a post on X. “A deal is paramount.”

Lazzarini stressed that the starvation of the Palestinianpeoplemustend, andtheflowofhumanitarian a i d m u s t r e s u m e “uninterrupted and safely under UN mechanisms, includingUNRWA”.

On Wednesday, Hamas confirmed it had received a

60-day ceasefire offer and wasreviewingit.

The Palestine branch of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), which promotes reproductive and maternal health, has said pregnant women in Gaza face dire conditions amid continued Israeli attacks and near-total restrictions on humanitarian assistance, including baby formula.

“Across Gaza, nowhere is safe – not tents, not schools, not hospitals

Pregnant women give birth in horrific conditions without midwives, medicine, or clean water

Starving mothers face impossible choices,” the group said in a social media post. “This is not a crisis –it’sacatastrophe.

Aboy at the site of an Israeli attack on tents sheltering displaced Palestinians, in Khan Younis [Hatem Khaled/Reuters]

government had “activated” powerfullocalclansinGaza on the advice of “security officials”.

Abu Shabab’s group, which reportedly consists of about 100 armed men, later said online that its members were involved in guarding aid shipments sent to distribution centres r u n b y

Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) Masskillingsofaid seekers near the US- and I

HF distribution centres have b

occurrence

The court said Abu

and failed to report him would be considered to be concealing a fugitive from justice More than 600 Palestinians have been killed in just five weeks while waiting for food parcels at the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF)sites.

Officials at al-Shifa, the largest medical centre in northern Gaza, say hundreds of patients are “facing death” as the hospitalrunsoutoffuelamid Israel’sblockade.

Meanwhile, a court in Gaza has given Yasser Abu Shabab, the leader of a criminal group backed by Israel, 10 days to surrender himselffortrial.

In a statement, the Revolutionary Court of the Military JudiciaryAuthority in Gaza said Abu Shabab would be considered a fugitive from justice and triedinabsentiaifhedoesn’t surrender

Israel’swaronGazahas killedatleast57,012people and wounded 134,592, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry

He was thrust into the limelight last month when Netanyahu said his

hostile parties; forming an armed gang; and armed rebellion.

It said anyone who knew of his whereabouts

An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the October 7 attacks, and more than 200 weretakencaptive

Bids open for several projects at Guyana Women's Leadership Institute

During the recent

opening of bids at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board

(NPTAB) office, it was revealedthattheMinistryof Human Services and Social Security is planning to

Below

MinistryofHumanServicesandSocialSecurity CompletionofCulinaryTrainingCentreattheGuyanaWomen's LeadershipInstitute(GWLI),Cove&Jon,EastCoastDemerara.

rehabilitation works at centres located at the

LeadershipInstitute(GWLI) at Cove & John, East Coast

Demerara.

information provided, the Human Services Ministry went out to tender for the completion of Culinary TrainingCentreatGWLI.

e contractors have applied for theproject.

are the companies and their bids:

Also, the ministry intendstocarryoutelectrical upgrades of buildings at GWLIandwillrenovatethe garmentlabthere.

RehabilitationofChildrenandFamily CareCentrebuildinginGeorgetown.
Constructionofsecurityhutand waitingareaatCornhillStreet.
Electricalupgradeofbuildings atGWLIinCove&John.

Sammy demands sharp response in Grenada as Brathwaite poised for Test landmark

SportsMax – Having donetheirassessmentfroma disappointing outing in Barbados, West Indies head coach Darren Sammy is demanding a sharper, more focused performance, particularly in the field and with the bat, in the second TestagainstAustralia,which gets underway today, Thursday. Sammy admitted

thatwhilesomedecisionsin the opening Test at Kensington Oval were contentious, it was the team’s own shortcomings, most notably seven dropped catches, that ultimately saw themsliptoa159-rundefeat.

“Yes, they (the umpires) hadsomehumanerrors,butI think the biggest thing is we shot ourselves in the foot.

You cannot drop seven catches against the world’s numberoneteamandexpect to compete all the time and be victorious. So we have a lot of blame to take for the defeat, ” Sammy told reportersaheadofthematch attheNationalStadiuminSt George’s. Still, Sammy believes there were flickers of promise from the

Caribbean side as Shamar Joseph secured a fiery ninew i c k e t h a u l , a n d encouraging knocks from ShaiHopeandRostonChase also offered glimpses of potential in a side that is undergoing transition under a new Test Championship cycle—with a new captain, new coach, and several new faces.

Thursday July 03, 2025

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

Tensionmaybuildtodayfrom all directions, Aries Everyone may seem to be operating as part of a great conspiracyagainstyou.Don't get paranoid.This scenario is most likely far from the truth ofthematter

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Spread your ideas out to the world,Taurus.Nowisagreat timetogoonalongtrip,orat least begin planning one. Explore the far reaches of your space, literally and figuratively

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Take time out to change the things in your life that need restoring, Gemini. Explore youremotionalneedsandfind waystosatisfythem.

CANCER(June21–July22)

Today may be quite emotionally intense, Cancer Your greatest gifts may get youintotroubleonadaylike this,butthatdoesn'tmeanyou shouldstopbeingyourselffor evenoneminute.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

You may need to make some distinctmentaladjustmentsin ordertofitinwiththeenergy of the day, Leo. Try to tune into these energies and see whatkindofbalancetheycan bringtoyourlife.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

There's likely to be a bit of tension today regarding your position in society, Virgo. Maybe you're running into issues that stem from your involvement in the collective versus your focus on your personalissues.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

There's a bit of rigidity in the air today that might leave you feeling as if you're butting heads with everything you come in contact with, Libra. Try not to get too bent out of shape if people disagree with youropinions.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21)

Your emotions may surprise youtodayasunexpectedissues crop up out of nowhere, Scorpio. Take time to smooth the wrinkles in your current plan of attack regarding your involvementwiththeworld.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

You may wonder what all the fussisabouttoday,Sagittarius. People may be getting all workedupovernothing.Don't get absorbed in the melodrama.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Today is a wonderful and productive day for you, Capricorn Don't hog the limelight.Letotherpeoplefeel likethey'rebeingheard,too.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)Standbackandletsomeone else take the reins today, Aquarius Trust in others There are many helpful hands out there to guide you. The most important thing is to let go and have confidence that otherswilldirectyou.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

Youhavequitethejugglingact on your hands today, Pisces. Thingsmayflyatyoufromall directions,alldemandingyour attention.Giveequalweightto your needs.You will be on an important road with a great dealofresponsibility

“Ibelieveyouhavetobat about 150 overs in the first inningstoreallyputyourself incontentionforaresultthat isnotonthelosingside.It’sa long way away from what we’re doing, but we are going to continue to take steps and play in a way that helps us to improve,” he added.

“For the first two days, we were head and shoulders above the number one team. That’s the brand of cricket wewanttoplay Playerslike Brandon King showed what we’re capable of when things click. So once things gowell,thenwecouldreally competeandhaveanimpact onwinning,”Sammystated.

Despite the defeat, Sammy remains steadfast in his belief that the squad shouldremainunchanged,as he highlighted the need for continuity and trust in the players’abilities.

“We just started a new Test Championship. The 11 thatwepickedwasprobably the most balanced one we could field.After one game, there’s no need to panic. It’s about starting a culture, building a brand, and giving players a fair opportunity to perform,”hedeclared.

WiththeGrenadawicket expected to be balanced, Sammy said execution will be key, regardless of pitch conditions.

“We’ve played more white-ball cricket here, and it’s normally a really good cricket wicket. You could have a grassy top or a flat deck, but you still have to come out and execute, and that’swhatI’llchallengemy men to do on both sides of the game, batting and bowling,”Sammynoted.

That said, Sammy pointedoutthatacrucialarea for improvement lies in the team’s batting approach, particularly in the first innings, where he noted the WestIndiesoftenfalter

“We’ve probably faced the least number of overs, scored the slowest, and probably lost the most wickets as well in the last two Test Championships That’s not good enough Either you score faster to bringthegamecloser,oryou bat more overs. We have selected a squad that should allowustodoboth,”Sammy argued.

Thursday’sTestwillalso markamonumentalmoment in West Indies cricket history, as veteran opener Kraigg Brathwaite will become the 10th player to reach 100 Test appearances for the Caribbean side—a milestoneSammywasquick tocelebrate.

“I was privileged to be captain when Kraigg played his first Test back in 2011. Now, to be his coach as he prepares for his 100th Test, in which he also has an opportunity to perform and haveanimpactonlevellinga series, it will be a special momentforhimandalsofor theteam.

We’ve shown signs that when we do things well, we compete with the best in the world.Sowejustneedtoput all facets of the game right, keepthepressureon,andnot drop too many catches,” Sammyended.

Moen Gafoor tightens hold on trophy as 3rd edition of Carlton Murray Memorial Lien Scrabble tournament concludes

MoenGafoorturnedina spirited performance to compile 5 points and a positive spread of 755 to capture championship honours, while notching a second lien on the Carlton Murray Memorial Trophy when the country’s top scrabbleplayersconvenedat theGCCCricketGroundfor that tournament, in honour oftheirfallencolleague,last Sundayafternoon.Activities were staged under the auspices of the Guyana Association of Scrabble Players(GASP).

Winslow Jacobs also amassed 5 points but with a decreasedspreadof392,and had to settle for the second place slot. Devon Moffat closed off the podium spots aftercompiling4pointswith apositivespreadof333.

Gafoor started as the tournament favourite and enhanced his position with a 312 drubbing over Moffat in his inaugural game

He then chalked up a win over Tianna DeCosta in the second sitting (122) but experienced a slight setback, dropping his 3rd game to the everimproving Wayne Cave (62) He rebounded to r e g i s t e r d e c i s i v e victories over Kamta R a m n a r i n e ( 11 7 ) , Winslow Jacobs (98) and MichaelBenjamin(156) Jacobs took the Gafoor lossinstrideandreturnedto register victories over Benjamin (51), Jasmin Assanah (166), DeCosta (160),WayneCave(45)and

Moffat(70).

Moffat, back after a prolonged hiatus, suffered an inaugural loss to Gafoor (312) but rebounded with victoriesoverDevonMorris (449), Benjamin (189), DeCosta(88)andCave(29) beforesurrenderinghisfinal game to Winslow Jacobs (20)tofinishon4pointsand apositivespreadof373.

Meanwhile,Gafoorlater returned to the podium after clinching the prize for forming the most bingos (14) while Roy Sharma carted off the spoils for the highestnon-bingoplay(73).

The prize for the Most Improved Player was won by Jasmin Assanah, while Michael Benjamin clinched the prize for the Most DisciplinedPlayer

The trophies were donated by the Ministry of Culture,YouthandSport.

The tournament was held in memory of founding member, Carlton Murray, who passed away after a brief period of illness He, along with his also deceased wife, Yvonne, had re-migrated from England and were instrumental in the formationoftheGASP

The coordinator of the tournament, Roy Sharma, congratulated the respective winners while lauding the competitive nature of the tournament He noted the input of both Murrays, Carlton and Yvonne, towards the development of the sport and said that the just concluded tournament was a fitting tribute to their efforts The organizers are also mulling a separate tournament in honour of Yvonne

President’s College reigns supreme at ExxonMobil Inter-School

President’sCollege(PC)delivered a dominant performance to capture the 2025 ExxonMobil Inter-School Kayaking Championship title on Sunday at the scenic Watooka Guest HouseinRegion10.

Facingfiercecompetitionfromastrong fieldofRegion10schoolsandafulllineup oftensecondaryinstitutions,PCrosetothe occasion,amassinganimpressive64points tosecurethecovetedkayakingcrown.

New SilverCity Secondary took the runner-upspotwith44points,trailingPCby 20,whileLindenFoundationSecondary(43 points) and New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary (42 points) rounded out the top fourinatightlycontestedrace.

President’s College showcased their

prowess on the water by claiming remarkable scores in six of the nine contested categories. Notably, they secured a flawless score in the Under-14 Mixed Divisionandrackedupeightpointseachin fiveotherevents,underliningtheirstatusas theteamtobeat.

Christianburg-Wismar Multilateral placed fifth, followed by Kwakwani Secondary, Harmony Secondary, North Georgetown Secondary, Mackenzie High, and Wisburg Secondary, who filled out the sixthtotenthplacesrespectively

This year’s edition was proudly sponsored by Guyana’s leading energy partner, ExxonMobil, highlighting its ongoing commitment to youth sport and development.

Scrabble winners from Benjie - It’s smiles all around as the three top players exhibit their wares as Gafoor is flanked by Moffat (L) and Jacobs ®.

Setback for Deputy Mayor’s Cup as tournament tournament postponed due to heavy rain forecast

The highly anticipated 32-team Seven-a-side InterWard/Village Knockout Football Championship billed as one of the most exciting tournaments on the local calendar has suffered another major setback. The event, which has generated buzz over the past two months, has been postponed to later next month due to heavy rainfall predictions issued by the Guyana Hydromet

Service.

Tournamentorganiserand formernationalfootballcoach Lennox Arthur officially announced the postponement yesterday,followingextensive consultations with the local HydrometOffice

TheDeputyMayor’sCup, supported by the Guyana Police Force (GPF), was initially scheduled to kick off from July 5–12 at the Police Sports Club Ground in Eve Leary,Georgetown However, it has now been tentatively rescheduledforAugust

The tournament had alreadysecuredparticipation from 32 of the country’s top village teams, who were set to battle in high-intensity seven-a-side matches across

Team Police is set to open their campaign against Campbellville this Sunday at 7:30 pm.

Denise

fourelectrifyingnightsfora share of over one million dollarsincashprizes.

Withthedelay,teamswill nowhavetowaitalittlelonger to compete in what has been dubbed one of the most lucrative 30-minute football competitionsinthecountryAs previously announced, the championship-winning team willwalkawaywith$500,000 and a massive hamper courtesy of Ricks and Sari Enterprise The runner-up will receive $300,000, third place will take home $200,000, and the fourthplace team will earn $100,000. In addition to the team rewards, the GPF has contrib

individual prizes The tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) will receive a t

by Commissioner of Police CliftonHicken.Thetopgoal scorer will be awarded the Deputy Commissioner of P

h Budram Trophy, while the Most Disciplined Team will receive the Deputy COP ErrolWattsTrophy

Among the teams set to compete in this year’s Deputy Mayor’s Cup are: Espanyol, Uprising, Pele, Gladiators, Pouderoyen, Herstelling, Mocha, Z-Tec Family, Uitvlugt, Swan FC, Wales, A

Timehri, Festival City,

The Eve Leary ground will come alive this Sunday as the ultimate Seven-a-side Football gets underway

Timehri Panthers, North
Ballers, Liliendaal, Road
Warriors, Sophia, Taliban, TeamPolice,Campbellville, BentStreet‘A’and‘B’,Back
Circle ‘A’ and ‘B’, Eagles, Stewartville,andBelleWest Stars.
Miller, Deputy Mayor of Georgetown supports Seven-a-side Football.

Attention turns to East Bank/West Demerara in Kares One Guyana T10

Fo l l o w i n g a w e e k e n d o f compelling action in Berbice, the Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast will now focus on the East Bank and West Demerara zones.

Despite weather disruptions necessitating venue adjustments, the Berbice leg delivered on its promise, showcasing a wealthoftalent.

Montra Jaguars emerged as the dominant force from theBerbicecluster,securing their passage to the national finalsattheGuyanaNational Stadium.

The question now is: whowilljointhem?

This weekend, 16 teams will compete in the East

Bank Demerara/West Demerarazone,allvyingfor acovetedspotinthenational finals.

Theteamssettocompete are Diamond Gunners, Soesdyke XI, Eccles AllStars, 592 Gunners, Hyde Park, Young Guns, Laluni, Timehri Sports Club, Visionary Vipers (from Saxacalli),Trendsetters,The Guard, Stripling Warriors, Tourism Guyana Titans, Young Steppaz, CJIA Warriors, and K&B AllStars.

Organisers have indicated that the persistent inclement weather may lead tofurthervenuechanges.

Updates will be announced as soon as confirmationsaremade.

Berbice was filled with exciting matches.

Some matches may be staged in Laluni, aligning with the tournament’s objectiveofbringingcricket to various communities acrossGuyana.

Beyond the prestige of reaching the national final, the zone champion will also be rewarded with a significantprizeof$300,000 a n d a s p e c i a l l y commissionedtrophy

Theywillthenbeableto compete for a further $1.7 millioninthenationalfinals.

The runner-up in the zone final will also receive a substantial prize of $100,000.

The stakes will be even higher at the national finals.

The runner-up will take home$700,000,alongwitha trophyandmedals,whilethe twolosingsemi-finalistswill eachreceive$300,000.

The tournament will continue with the Georgetown/East Coast Demerara zone scheduled for July 19th and 20th, followed by the Essequibo zone on July 26th and 27th. Thegrandnationalfinalsare slated for Sunday, August 3rd.

The Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast has garneredsupportfromKares Engineering Inc., the Office ofthePresident,theMinistry ofCulture,YouthandSport, KFC Guyana, Star Rentals,

Banks DIH, ENet, Guyana Lottery Company, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Impressions, Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal, Shawn’s Mini Mart, Giftland Group of Companies, Kris Jagdeo Construction Company, Montra Restaurant and Lounge, Windsor Estates, The New Doctor’s Clinic, GuyOil, ANSA McAL, SuperBet Guyana, Digital Technology, Camille’s A c a d e m y , N a v i n Construction, Demerara Mutual Life Insurance, Continental Transportation, and Environmental and TechnicalSolutions.

GFF launches second Women’s Elite League...

Frompage26 and will consist of a single-round format, followedbyaKnockoutCupcompetition.

Beyond the structural changes, the GFF has also significantly raised the stakes in terms of prize money Women’s Football Association President Andrea Johnson highlighted the symbolic importance of the financialincentives.

“This expansion is not just historic in scope, it is deeply symbolic of opportunity, progress, and belief,” Johnson said. “More girls will now have the chance to play more matches in a competitive, structured environment.”

The prize structure includes a recordbreaking $1 million first-place prize for the league champion, followed by $500,000 for second place, $300,000 for third, and $100,000forfourth.TheCupphasewillalso rewardtopperformers,with$300,000forthe winner, $200,000 for the runner-up, $100,000 for third place, and $50,000 for fourth.Alltopteamswillreceivetrophiesand medals.

ThelaunchoftheWomen’sEliteLeague is seen as a pivotal moment in the GFF’s broader strategy to develop the women’s game and ensure Guyana’s competitiveness ontheinternationalstage.

Guyana dominates Individual Events at 2025 Junior CASA Championships

- securing four golds and four silvers

Team Guyana has m a d e a r e s o u n d i n g statement at the 2025 Junior Caribbean Area Squash

Association (CASA)

Championships in the Cayman Islands, bagging four gold and four silver medals following dominant performances in the individualfinalsonTuesday

Leading the charge was Kaylee Lowe, who put on a clinic in the Girls Under-15 final against local favourite KayleePierre.

L o w e u s e d a combination of clinical length, deft volleys, and relentless pressure to dismantlePierreinstraight games,winning11-3,11-1, 11-2 to seal her first CASA titlewithauthority

Nine-year-old Alexis

Arjoon delivered a composed and disciplined

performance in the Girls Under-11 final, easing past Barbados’ Denielle Benn in straight sets Despite a slow start at 2-11 in the opening game, Arjoon rebounded with maturity beyond her years to close outthematch11-5,11-3

Her older sister, Avery Arjoon, was equally commanding in th

Emily Fung-A-Fat

The all-Guyana clash w

h Avery taking control early and never letting up,

match 11-4, 11-2, 11-1

On the Boys side, U19 star Louis DaSilva

delivered the most dramatic result of the day, claiming gold in the Boys final after an epic

GFFlaunchessecondWomen’s

EliteLeaguewithmajorupgrades andimpressive$1Mcashprize

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has officially launched the second installment of its Women’s Division 1 League, unveiling an upgraded and rebranded competition that aims to revolutionize women’s football in the country The newseason,nowdubbedthe GFFWomen’sEliteLeague, brings a host of exciting changes, most notably the integration of female teams under the banners of the nation’s 10 existing men’s EliteLeagueclubs.

T h i s s t r u c t u r a l transformation represents a major step forward for the sport, as it aligns the women’sgamemoreclosely with the country’s top football institutions To support this shift, the GFF has introduced a draft and loan system, ensuring each team will have a full 15player squad ahead of the tournament’skickoff.

“Forthistournament,we are going to have, for the veryfirsttime,aloansystem inplace,”saidBryanJoseph, GFF’s Technical Director

“Clubs such as the Guyana Defence Force and Guyana Police Force can loan playerstootherEliteLeague clubs. The hope is that, by the end of the tournament, thoseclubswithoutanactive women’sprogrammewillbe motivatedtostartone.”

In addition to the loan system,theGFFwillhostan open nationwide draft, al

five-game battle against top-seeded Seth Thong

In a match filled with long rallies, shifts in momentum, and highpressure points, DaSilva held his nerve in the decider to edge past Thong 11-9, 6-11, 1311, 11-13, 11-9 Guyana also earned four silver medals, with strong runs from Zion Hickerson, Ethan Bulkan, Justin Ten Pow, and Tehani Munroe, who all fell just short in their respective finals but

contributed significantly to the country’s medal tally

T h e e x c i t e m e n t continued into the doubles andmixeddoublessegment, which served off on Wednesday Guyanese pair Shiloh Asregado and Justin Ten Pow opened their Boys Doubles campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Levi Jack and Charlie Makin.

Meanwhile, in Girls Doubles action, the duo of

Kaylee Lowe and Emily Fung-A-Fat battled Trinidad’s Ghuran and Ramdeen for a spot in the semifinals.

Guyan also featured in a Mixed Doubles matchup, s t a n d o u t s i n g l e s performers Louis DaSilva and Avery Arjoon also teamed up to challenge for a spot in the final, aiming to extend Guyana’s medal haul.

With the team events still to come, Guyana’s juniorshavealreadysetthe tone for what could be a historic CASA campaign, showcasing not only individual brilliance but also the depth of talent in theirsquashprogramme.

The championship is set to conclude this Saturday July 5; Team Guyana will be hoping to secure the overall Caribbean title after an impressive display during thefirstthreedays

Bryan Joseph, GFF Technical Director.

footballer across Guyana to register and be considered for selection. This inclusive approachaimstotapintothe widest possible pool of talent,regardlessoflocation orclubaffiliation.

“We want the best local talent to be part of this League,” Joseph added “This is about providing

al competitive experience that willhelpourplayersprepare

W Qualifiers

and Champi

nship scheduledforlaterthisyear That tournament is also a gateway to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in B

y formatted league will run overafour-monthperiod

(Continuedonpage24)

Alexis Arjoon Avery Arjoon
Kaylee Lowe
Louis DaSilva

GFF launches second Women’s Elite League with

GFF officials share photo with a few team representatives at the launch of the second edition of the Women’s Senior League.

ExxonMobil’s executives share photo-op with President’s College victorious Kayak team after winning the 2025 Secondary School Kayaking Championship.

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