Kaieteur News

Lolita

'Lola Doll' Callender

Two women doused with acid, hospitalized

Two female cashiers working at the Balwant Singh Hospital are hospitalized after they were doused with a corrosive substance, which appears to be acid, on Wednesday

Thetwowomenhavebeenidentifiedas 26-year-old Nirmala Sukraj and 25-yearold Jilicia Leitch. Reports are that the women were on their way to purchase lunch along East Street when a man approachedandthrewtheliquidonthem.

Leitch's close friend (name withheld) toldKaieteurNewsthatshedidnottellhim exactly where she was headed at the time butheknowsitwasonEastStreet,asthey hadjustexitedtheirplaceofwork.

“[She told me] the people put her out and asked her to leave while she was holleringforpain,andsheenduprunning to the supermarket, and she fell onto the ground, and the Chinese people come out withabottleofwaterandsoakherandtake hertothehospital,”hesaid.

Sukraj managed to return to Balwant SinghHospitalwhereshewastreated.

Leitch, who reportedly suffered burns toherfacestomachandlefthand,isunable toidentifytheirattackerasshedidnotsee hisface.Theyoungwomanisstilltryingto wrap her head around who would want to harmherorhercolleague.

KaieteurNewsunderstandsthatLeitch is in a stable condition in the Burns Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital

Leitchsufferedmoreburnsthanhercoworkerandthetwowomenreportedlyfled indifferentdirectionstoseekhelp.Leitch entered a Guinness Bar in the vicinity of her work place but was turned away with herinjuriesandthedoorsshutinherface.

Corporation (GPHC). She is conscious and talking but only allowed two visitors perdayduetoherinjuries.

Meanwhile,policesaidthatSukraj,the othervictim,sustainedminorburnstoher body has since been discharged from GPHC. Police are investigating the case anddetectiveshavemanagedtospeakwith Leitch while efforts are being made to contact Sukraj. Leitch reportedly told investigators that they were attacked around 15:39 hrs. by someone in a white carwhileshewasaccompanyingSukrajto purchase lunch. She recounted that they were about six feet away from their workplacewhenthecardrovebehindthem and someone inside the said car pelted a glassbottlewithaliquidsubstanceatthem.

Leitch recalled that her body was burningasthecardroveaway

The injuries sustained by Jilicia Leitch. (Relatives)

Analyst tells CNN:

‘With transparent oil management, Guyana could become regional model’

Apolitical analyst at the Florida International University, Imdat Oner told CNN that elections in Guyana without major c o n f l i c t s “ w o u l d demonstrate that sudden oil wealth doesn't have to erode democracy, as happened in Venezuela.”

Oner, who was a former Turkish diplomat in

sanctionedprojectsunderits belt: Uaru and Whiptail. It has also submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for its s e v e n t h p r o j

productiontargetedfor2029.

Additionally, the company has filed an application for an eighth development, Longtail. By

directoroftheLatinAmerica Program at the Wilson Center,furthernotedthatthe last electoral process plunged the country into a prolonged and destabilizing politicaldispute.Notably,he traveledtoGuyanainMarch, wherehemetwithPresident Aliandotherofficials.

With these elections, Gedan does not rule out the

Prosperity Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel operating on the Stabroek Block

Venezuela,statedtoo,“Ifthe next government manages this boom with transparency and stronger institutions, it could be an example for the entire region. That's why these elections are important.”

Currently, oil is only being produced from the Stabroek block, which is operated by American oil giant ExxonMobil. There are four developments Liza Phase 1, Liza Phase 2, Payara and Yellowtail, currently in production with a combined installed capacity to 900,000 barrels per day (bpd). In addition, Exxon has two other

2030, ExxonMobil Guyana expects to have total production capacity of 1.7 millionoilequivalentbarrels per day from eight developments.

Further, speaking with CNN, Benjamin Gedan, a researcher at Johns Hopkins University and former directorforSouthAmericaat the US National Security Council, said that this exponential growth driven bytheenergysectorhasalso transcended its own borders and attracted global interest atakeymoment,whenmajor producers like Russia and Iranaresubjecttosanctions.

Gedan, who is also the

possibility of new social tensions that could deepen polarization along ethnic lines, which he believes could interrupt the country's development “and make it more vulnerable to potential interference” from Venezuela.

“Guyana's current g

y impressive,” Ryan Berg, director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told CNN. Hesaidthecountrywillneed to “manage its new wealth” in a way that achieves growth “in an inclusive and stableway.”

Girl, 15, allegedly raped by taxi drivers

Two taxi drivers areunderinvestigation for the rape of a 15year-old girl in June. Reports are that the teen was raped somewhereontheEast Bank of Demerara (EBD) A 16-year-old maleisalsoimplicated in the crime. Police haveidentifiedthetaxi drivers as a 24-yearoldmanofDiamondNewScheme,EBDand a 30-year-old of Best Village, West Coast Demerara(WCD). The victim and the suspects are

reportedlyacquainted with each other and would communicate viaWhatsApp. The teen girl claimed too that she has had intercourse with the men on two occasions and they repo

edly made videos without her consent. It is alleged t h

h e m e n threatened to release the videos on social media platforms. The Child Care and Protection Agency is assisting police with theinvestigations.

Alexander refuses to sign off on election results

…cites systemic breakdown, quality control lapses

Opposition-nominated commissioner Vincent Alexander has disclosed that he will not be signing off on the Guyana Elections Commission's (GECOM) declaration for the 2025 General and Regional Electionsresults,citingwhat he described as deep-rooted flaws in Guyana's electoral system.

Alexander made these statements in a letter to the editor published in Sunday's editionoftheKaieteurNews. In that letter, he said, “Now that elections 2025 have gotten to the point of the declaration of the results, it behooves me as a commissioner, in the

e x e c u t i o n o f m y responsibility, to put on record, and in the public domain,mydispositiontothe declarations My disposition is one of abstention without any reference,ordeferencetothe actual results being declared.”

He noted that elections must be viewed as a service that meets set standards, similartoaproductrequiring certification before it is acceptedonthemarket.

“Herein lies the

determination of my disposition to GECOM and more specifically its service: theconductofelections,”the commissioner said Alexander raised concerns aboutoutdatedprocessesand technologies, including the refusal to embrace digital r e g i s t r a t i o n a n d identification.Hearguedthat manual fingerprint capture a n d d a t e d f a c i a l identification systems were

acknowledged that election dayitselfmayhaveappeared smooth, he said, “A smooth process may have been observed on “E” Day, the systemisbelowpar(required standard) for the delivery of the conduct of free, fair and transparentelections.”

Opposition- nominated GECOM commissioner

VincentAlexander

inadequate to safeguard the principle of one person, one vote.

“They cannot be seen as isolated or disparate elements They are interrelated.Forexample,the useoffacialidentificationby GECOM, especially where theIDcardsaredatedmakes a nonsense of, and reduces the efficacy of, the role of party polling agents. It also highlights why digital biometrics should be employed,”hesaid.

He further highlighted what he described as GECOM's failure to address essential matters such as the enfranchisement of incarcerated persons, except thosedisqualifiedbylaw,oil rig workers, and party activistsdeployedawayfrom theirpollingdivisions.

Alexandersaidthatallof thedeficienciesarenotmere omissions or indications of deficiencies to be addressed, but were all jettisoned by a majority vote in a “fractious andpoliticizedcommission.”

Though Alexander

Hearguedthatthesystem impactisbothqualitativeand quantitative and does not guarantee the citizenry s u f f r a g e a n d t h e complimentary sovereignty “In the given circumstance, my presence at GECOM has morphed into that of an advocate for transformation, as opposed to perpetuating a n d p r o t e c t i n g a dysfunctional system,” Alexanderadded. His comments come on the heels of the GECOM's Chair Justice (ret'd)

Claudette Singh summoning a meeting with the Commissioners following thecompletionoftherecount on Friday night.The recount ended with PPPsecuring the most votes, thereby winning the2025elections.However, the opposition-nominated commissioners were a noshow at the meeting which was called to certify the results.

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

To the next decade

It is a new start for Guyana, with a new term of

government about to begin, and a new opposition leadersettotakehisplacebeforethewatchfuleyes of a nation. It is a nation that doesn't have the clearest vision, nor the fullest grasp, as yet about what all that is happening means. Of one thing there is certainty at this paper,wecannotgoonasbefore.

Theoppositemusttakeholdanddriveusforwardforthe nextfiveyearsandbeyond.

PresidentIrfaanAlimustleadfromthefront,whichwe saywitheverygoodwishinmind. Butthepresidentandhis government are only as good as the welfare of Guyanese testify,astheirhappinessspeaksabouthowhemanagesthe challengesandchoicesthatarearrayedbeforehim.

Theworstthingthatthereturningpresidentandhiseven strongergovernmentcandoistoforgetthemistakesofthe past, and bulldoze ahead, as if the sentiments of the electoratemeannothing.

Many voters stayed away from the polls, and there is a messageforpresident,cabinet,andthosewhomakepolicies and decisions in the PPPC Government. It is of little relevance whether it was a PPPC, or APNU, or an AFC, supporter, who turned his or her back on voting when the st chance came on September 1 What should have the deepestmeaningforPresidentAliisthataGuyanesevoter, toomanythousandsofGuyanesevoters,shunnedthepolls inwhatwasdubbedthemostcrucialelectionsinGuyana's history

Thepresidentandhispeopledonothavetobegeniuses toappreciatethattherearedisgruntledGuyanese,thosewho thinkthattheirhopeshavebeensabotaged. AllGuyanese, regardlessofwhethertheycastaballotordidn't,havehigh expectations for the next five years towards a new decade. ThepresidentandPPPCGovernmenthaveadutytodeliver and,delivertheymust.

Notforwhatenhancesthewellbeingofafew,butwhich drawsandretainseveryGuyanesewithinthenationalnetof carethatinstilsconfidence.

Theairwasrichwithpromisesduringthecampaign,but asidefromthose,thereissomuchmorethatthegovernment mustmakeitspriority Tostudytheoilpatrimony,fromits presence 120 miles offshore to the contract that ties this countryandallitspeoplesdownfordecadestocome.

How to go about finding ways for Guyana to benefit more, but from which it draws such a paltry package of rewards. The longer that that abomination stays that way, the longer that the masses of Guyana gasping for air will remain in their grim condition. Cash grants and other measuresofferonlytemporaryrelieffromtheconstantpain thattoomanyGuyaneselivewith,thosebelowthemiddleof theeconomicladder

Inoneoftherichestcountriespercapitaintheworld,the Guyanesequalityoflifemustbewhattheworldmarvelsat andspokenofinthesamemannerasthiscountry'sGDP,and dailyoilproductionlevels.

What good is all of that, when so many Guyanese are cryingaboutcostofliving.

Costoflivingconcernsshouldbethatofothercitizensin other countries, and not Guyana. Guyana has been given too much, and not just oil, which makes it all the more bafflingthattherearesomanyGuyanesewhocannotbasic fooditems,havegreatdifficultypayingtheirbills. Wewill be producing more oil soon, but life cannot be at the same trajectory, part of the same tragedy, that has been all that Guyaneseknow PresidentAlishouldknowthathehasto dobetter,inthathemustgobeyondtherhetoric,andriseto theuniqueconditionsoftheenvironment. Thepresenceof oil has made his job easier, and that continued excuses or distancing from reality will leave him looking worse than before.

Oilistheagentofchange,whichmeansthathemustgo afteritwithenergyanddetermination. Hemustdomorefor thepeople,makethebestofthenextfiveyears. Goodluck andresistslidingbackor,failing.

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Electoral system below par for the delivery of free, fair and transparent elections

DearEditor, Now that elections 2025 havegottentothepointofthe declaration of the results, it behooves me as a commissioner, in the e x e c u t i o n o f m y responsibility, to put on record, and in the public domain, my disposition to thedeclarations.

My disposition is one of abstention without any reference,ordeferencetothe actualresultsbeingdeclared.

My disposition is premised on my regard of e l e c t i o n s a s a product/service of the Elections Commission. In that regard, the conduct of elections is a process which must meet predetermined standardsfortheservice(the conduct of the elections) to beacceptableandconsidered

fitforpurpose.Thisisakinto a manufacturer or service provider seeking ISO (International Standards Organization) certification for his products or services. Certification will allow his products or services to be placedonthemarket;seento be of the required quality/standard; and sought after Elections as a process require the establishment of theorganization;manningof the organization; equipping of the organization (hardware and software); acquisition of appropriate rawmaterial;streamliningof the required process (identifyingandadaptingthe technology); and ultimately theintegrationofmanpower, equipment, and processes intoaproductivesystem.

Certification is granted when these inputs, as an integrated system, are determined to be fit for the production or delivery of a quality good or service, respectively Herein lies the determination of my disposition to GECOM and morespecificallyitsservice: theconductofelections.

1. Staffing/Manpower

GECOM`S staffing has been reduced to the appointment of persons in a lessthantransparentmanner, to wit employees at the highest level have been employed, although they have not met the minimum essential requirements stipulated by GECOM, in preference to person who meetthoserequirements.

2. Processes and Technology

P r o c e s s e s a n d technologies which cannot guarantee the required standards are employed, while there is the blatant refusal to embrace appropriate processes and technologies. To wit, digital registration and digital identification have not been embraced and deployed Rather,GECOMhasinsisted on the use of manual fingerprint capture, and dated facial identification, all of which have proven to be ineffective and inadequate for the proper r e g i s t r a t i o n a n d identification of persons Those are core and essential requirements for ensuring that there can only be one person one vote, without whichafree,fairand (Continuedonpage5)

Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox

PPP's strength lies in long-term institutional, demographic, and strategic engineering of the political environment

DearEditor,

The PPP while not the smartest nor without its political vulnerabilities, has demonstrated that they are not witless Contrary to popular narratives, the 2025 general elections were not “rigged”attheballotbox,no amount of recounts or legal maneuvering will alter the outcome, it will only legitimize a fixed process. Since, the PPP/C secured its advantage through longterm structural maneuvers, institutional manipulation, and the exploitation of political weaknesses within theopposition.

What follows is my silly analysis of the mechanisms by which the PPP/C positioneditselffavorablyin

theelectoralarena: 1. The Weakness of the Opposition

The first and most decisive factor lies in the disintegrationofthepolitical opposition. Following the lossofthe2020elections,the PNC fractured internally

A

N

, who emerging as a key figure, orchestrated a campaign to malign former leader David Granger and those aligned with him While Norton succeeded in securing leadership at the Biennial C

e deepened rather than resolved internal divisions. Instead of consolidating the party, the leadersh

p amplified public conflicts, alienatingsectionsofitsown

dismantlingthewiderAPNU

irrelevance.

This climate of disarray shifted the opposition's attention from governance and representation of the

al squabbling The PPP,

fragmentation, quietly encouragedthistrajectoryby portraying Norton as a

supposedly resisted by the middle class, a narrative designed to fuel further internal discord. The very public airing of these disputes created space for

particularlyinthediscourse (Continuedonpage6)

The strange death of ethnic politics and the birth of civic citizenship

DearEditor,

Political history reminds usthatwhencitizensbeginto vote with civic calculations

rather than inherited loyalties, party systems can shift dramatically George Dangerfield's classic The Strange Death of Liberal England (1935) chronicled howBritain'sonce-dominant Liberal Party collapsed under the pressures of suffrage, Irish nationalism, labour unrest, and constitutional crisis and not merely because the party failed, but because citizens themselves withdrew their consent.

A similar moment occurred in Canada in 1993, when the governing Progressive Conservatives, reduced from majority power to just 2 out of 295

Electoral system below par for the delivery...

Frompage4 transparent election cannot beguaranteed.

In other words, without which an election cannot serve its intended purpose: the expression of the will of the people. Similarly, there areprocessesforthedeletion of the names of the dead (localandoverseas)fromthe voter`s list which have not been employed hence thousands of names that can be misused, and have evidentially been misused, areretainedonthelist. And, where ultimate processes, such as periodic reregistration have been ruled out by a judicial judgment, alternate processes like the highlightingofthenamesof registrants residing overseas, including those probablydeceasedoverseas, have been ruled-out, although it can be used to trigger alertness and vigilance in regard to attempted impersonation, as evidentlyoccurredin2020.

3.EssentialInputs

While the Constitution providesforeveryregistered

Guyanese, except those incarcerated for election offenses, and the certified insane,toexercisehisorher franchise, GECOM consciously decided not to f a c i l i t a t e t h e enfranchisement of the incarcerated; the ease of voting for the workers deployed on the oil rigs and related operations; and the ease of voting for party activists deployed away from their polling divisions on“E”Day

The aforementioned are not matters of election day occurrences or omissions. They are systemic matters that provide for the conduct of elections in keeping with theconstitutionalmandateof GECOM. They cannot be seen as isolated or disparate elements They are interrelated. For example, t h e u s e o f f a c i a l

identification by GECOM, especially where the ID cards are dated makes a nonsenseof,andreducesthe efficacy of, the role of party polling agents It also highlights why digital biometrics should be employed.

In the case of GECOM, all of the deficiencies referenced above are not mere omissions or indicationsofdeficienciesto be addressed. They were all jettisonedbyamajorityvote inafractiousandpoliticized commission.

It is aforementioned that informs my disposition: abstention. While, a smooth process may have been

observed on “E” Day, the system is below par (required standard) for the delivery of the conduct of free, fair and transparent elections Its negative impact is both qualitative andquantitativeanddoesnot guarantee the citizenry s u f f r a g e a n d t h e complimentarysovereignty I n t h e g i v e n circumstance, my presence at GECOM has morphed into that of an advocate for transformation, as opposed to perpetuating and protecting a dysfunctional system.

Yourssincerely, VincentAlexander GECOMCommissioner

seats,experiencedoneofthe greatest electoral collapses inmodernhistory Again,the story was not only one of partyweaknessbutofvoters taking agency, realigning their commitments, and demanding new answers to new problems Guyana's 2025 elections now mark a third such moment.APNU's declineisnotthecentralfact. Whatmattersistheagencyof Guyanese citizens, particularly the youth and urban voters, who chose to move beyond the familiar bondsofethnicloyalty Their decisions revealed a new civic consciousness: voting not by ancestry but by performance, programs, and promises.Inthiscontext,the achievements of the PPP/C Government deserve praise. Byexpandingfreeuniversity education, investing heavily in infrastructure and housing, rolling out health and education programs funded by oil revenues, and promoting economic inclusion through entrepreneurship initiatives, the PPP has provided precisely the kind of programmatic governance that makes civic politics possible.Ithasgivencitizens t

h e i r commitmentsandtoimagine their futures outside of old, institutionalized patronage networks.

Indeed, under President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali's leadership, Guyana now has thechancetoberemembered inhistoryasthecountrythat moved decisively from

ethnic politics to civic politics.

Thisnewtermfrom2025 to 2030 is the moment when our democracy can mature, when the government's legacy will be measured not onlyinbridges,schools,and hospitals but in the cultivation of a civic citizenshipthatunitespeople across ethnicity, region, and class.Thetaskbeforeusisto nurture this civic consciousness so it endures. Thatmeansembeddingcivic education at every level of schooling, expanding programs that highlight national belonging, and developingartsanddomestic tourism initiatives that encouragecitizenstoseeand celebrate their own country together New lifestyles and shared experiences will give Guyanesenewstoriestotellstories of citizenship, not division. I think it was N. Scott Momaday (1997) who said, 'we are the stories we tell' (before it became the titleofWendyMartin's1990 anthology).

The strange death of ethnic politics in Guyana should not be mourned by APNU; it should be celebrated as the birth of a morematuredemocracy

And it should be consolidated through deliberate policy that empowersGuyanesecitizens toliveascivicequals,united and divided not by ethnicity but by stories of shared participation in the promise andbeautyofOneGuyana.

Yourssincerely, Dr.WalterH.Persaud

PPP's strength lies in long-term...

Frompage5

around the failed APNU–AFC coalition negotiations.

The result was a visible erosion of the opposition's credibility, which the PPP tactically exploited, both through propaganda and selective reinforcement of narratives that deepened internaldivides.

2. The Withholding of the2022CensusResults

Equally pivotal was the stra

of demographicdata.

The2022Censusresults, thoughcollected,werenever officially released to the public.

This data provided the PPP/C with a critical informational advantage in designing its electoral strategy

Population shifts, including significant emigration among IndoGuyanese, historically the PPP'scorebase,wouldhave been laid bare in the census.

Whether t

nceal vulnerabilities or to strategically re-engineer voter mobilization, the withholding of this data denied the opposition the empirical basis upon which to craft a counter-strategy

For the PPP, however, the census data served as a blueprint, allowing precise targeting and anticipation of electoraloutcomes.

3. The Strategic Use of

CommonwealthMigrants

A less discussed but significant element is the i n t r o d u c t i o n o f

Commonwealth nationals into the electorate. Framed publicly as a response to persistent labor shortages, the importation of workers wasdefendedbythePPPasa necessity, citing both economic expansion and an alleged reluctance of locals to accept low-wage employment.Yetbeneaththe surface, th

s p

icy functionedasademographic and electoral maneuver

Commonwealth migrants, upon residency of one year, becomeeligibletovote.This createdadeliberatepathway for the expansion of the electorate in ways favorable t o t h e i n

government.

4. Venezuelan Migrants and the Amerindian Act of 2006Theporousborderwith

Amerindian Act of 2006, Toshaos are empowered to grantresidencystatuswithin theircommunities. This authority has been exploited to regularize the presence of Venezuelan migrants who, once granted residency, may pursue Guyanese documentation and eventual eligibility to vote.

By facilitating this

process, whether overtly or tacitly, the PPP effectively expanded the electorate in regions where it has traditionally sought to consolidatesupport.

The PPP/C does not engage in el

manipulation primarily on pollingday

Rather,itsstrengthliesin the long-term institutional, demographic, and strategic engineering of the political environment years in advance.

By the time ballots are

conditions necessary to securevictoryarealreadyin

demographically

If the opposition is to pose serious challenge in future elections, it must reckon with these realities and the Guyanese people mustriseup.

Theweaknessesoutlined abov

nt

d leadership, lack of access to critical demographic data, unmonitored migration policies,andtheexploitation ofindigenousadministrative p o w

, m

s t b e systematically addressed Political competition in Guyana is no longer determined simply at the polls, but in the years of strategic groundwork that precedethem.

Regards ClayonF.

Halley

‘PNCR

willemergestronger,better’ ...Nortonsaysaspartysoaksinheavydefeat

Leader of the A

Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) Aubrey Norton on Saturday held firmtotheviewthatthe2025 general and regional elections were far from free orfair

APNU suffered a massive defeat in traditional partystrongholdsofRegions Fourand10.

Notwithstanding,Norton assuredthatthepartywillreemerge better and stronger In a statement, Norton who served as Leader of the Opposition said, “In spite of the manifest deficiencies in the electoral system, including a bloated voters' list and the lack of biometrics, our Party decided to participate in the Elections held on the 1st September, 2025. The deficiencies to which I refer undermine any basis for the creation of a framework for free, fair and transparent elections. The number of irregularities which have b

ed gives legitimacy to the position that the elections were NOT freeandfair Theseelections didnotreflectthewillofthe peopleofGuyana.”

Hesaid,hadthecoalition won the elections its intention was to change the

of theAPartnership for National Unity (APNU) party and the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR),Aubrey Norton.

country's electoral system and other procedures to ensure there is always free andfairelections.

Norton said that the i n a d e q u a c i e s a n d imperfectionsoftheexisting electoral system are well known, locally, regionally and internationally. He pointed to the reports of the international observer groups which referenced areasthatneedtobeworked on and recommendations made.

He pointed specifically

to the European Union's (EU) Election Observation Mission (EOM) preliminary report.HesaidtheEUEOM was scathing in its report of the September 1, 2025 General and Regional Elections,sayingthatthough Election Day was peaceful, the playing field was not even.

“EU Chief Observer Robert Biedron accused the People's Progressive Party Civic(PPP/C)ofblurringthe linebetweenstateandparty (Continuedonpage7)

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Thank you GECOM Chair!

Dear Editor,

TheGuyanaelectionsare finished, and across the political spectrum, praises are being heaped on how well the process was executed. Yes, GECOM hasdoneagoodjob. However, there is one person who has been maligned and vilified unfairly What made the c

especially nonsensical, is thatshewasputforthbythe oppositionparty So, when Guyana is being lauded for a well-run, violence free and credible elections, a grateful nation wholeheartedly says...thank you, Madam Commissioner and Chairman Claudette Singh!

Respectfullysubmitted, ChitrakhaPersaud

Leader

BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCIES!

In case you haven’t heard, please be informed that as part of our continued effort to channel positive changes in our country, our publisher, Dr. Glenn Lall, has dedicated our Page Seven to be “BLUNT” about on-going indecencies in our land that should matter, not only to us at this publication, but the entire nation.

SUNDAY–AUGUST31,2025

Votewithyourhead

As September 1 approaches, Guyanese must pause and think seriously about what their vote really means. Elections are not a circusforpoliticianstohand outtrinkets,afewdollars,or emptypromisesinexchange forfiveyearsofpower Your vote is your weapon, your shield, and your only bargaining chip in shaping thefutureofthiscountry Squander it, and you endorse the very corruption, mismanagement, and disrespectedthatwhichhave kept citizens struggling whileoilrichesflowintothe pocketsofthepowerful.

Donotbefooledbylastminute roads being paved, hampers delivered, or cash being tossed around like scraps. These are not gifts; theyarebribesdressedupas kindness. Guyana deserves leadership that will build strong institutions, create opportunities for all, and secure dignity for every citizen, not just for the loyal few

When you step into that polling booth, remember: you owe no party blind loyalty. You owe your children a better tomorrow Vote for policies, for competence, for vision-not for handouts or tribal allegiances.Thiselectionisa

test of whether Guyanese will continue to be manipulated, or whether they will finally demand the leadership the nation deserves.

MONDAY–SEPTEMBER01,2025

Makeyourvotecount today

Today, Guyana stands at the crossroads once again. ElectionDayisnotafestival of empty promises or a popularity contest, it is the solemn moment when every citizen wields the most powerfultoolofdemocracy: thevote.

Too often, we have allowed ourselves to be swayed by handouts, quick fixes,andthehollowpledges of the usual suspects. That cycle has left our people disillusioned, our economy mismanaged and our future stolen.

This time, let us make it different Vote with memory remember the broken promises, the corruption,theneglect.

Vote on policy: examine whohasarealplantodeliver jobs, health, education, and dignity Voteforchange:not the recycled status quo that thrives on division, poverty, and dependency Guyana is too rich in resources and talent to settle for crumbs while others grow fat from ouroilwealth.

Do not trade your birthright for a temporary handout or a flashy show Demand leadership that builds institutions, not dynasties Demand government that serves the people,notitself.

Today, your single X on the ballot is your weapon, your power, your chance to beginanewchapter Makeit count.Voteforanewnessof life.

TUESDAY–SEPTEMBER02,2025

BrazenAttack

Sunday's assault on a ballot escort in the Cuyuni River by armed men from the Venezuelan side of the border is nothing short of a direct attack on Guyana's sovereignty, its servicemen, and the democratic process itself.

These were not random criminalsbutelementsofthe notorious Sindicato gang that has from time to time, terrorised Guyanese civilians and lawmen along ourfrontier Thislatestactis a blatant provocation that cannot be minimised or ignored.

The escort targeted was not carrying treasure or contraband,butballots—the sacred instruments of the people's will. This was an assault on democracy itself. It is an intolerable outrage, onethatstrikesattheheartof

our nation's right to choose its leaders free from intimidation or external interference.

Guyana has long exercisedrestraintintheface of cross-border criminality But enough is enough. The State must respond with firmness, securing our border communities, increasing patrols, and ensuringthatthosewhodare to attack our people pay the price.

WEDNESDAY–

SEPTEMBER03,2025

Disorderlymurders

Guyana continues to be haunted by the scourge of disorderly murders, a persistent stain on the nation'sconscience.

Each killing not only robs families of loved ones butalsochipsawayatpublic trust, safety, and stability

Thebrazenmannerinwhich these acts unfold underscores a troubling pattern-murderscommitted notinsecrecy,butoftenwith reckless disregard for law andorder

The recent murder of businessman Courtney Evans highlights this crisis. Evans was not just another statistic;hewasacontributor to the economy and a figure ofhiscommunity

His death speaks volumes about the vulnerability of citizens, regardless of their status, to the violent culture that has takenroot.

When those who invest in and uplift communities are cut down so callously, it sends a chilling message to the entire society: no one is beyond the reach of criminality

Disorderly murder thrives where justice falters. The cycle of investigation delays, weak prosecutions, and community silence emboldens perpetrators Guyana cannot afford

complacency Every life takenunlawfullydiminishes the promise of progress

Breakingthiscycledemands stronger enforcement, swifter justice, and a collective refusal to normalise such violence Without decisive action, the shadowofdisorderlymurder will continue to darken the nation'spath.

THURSDAY–SEPTEMBER04,2025

Equalaccessto information

Every credible electoral observation mission to Guyana has raised the same troublingconcern:theabuse of State media by the government and the lack of accesstopublicinformation. This is not a minor flaw; it strikes at the heart of democracy

When the State's communication machinery is monopolised by those in power, citizens are denied the opportunity to hear opposing voices, scrutinise policies,andmakeinformed choices.

The systematic shutting out of opposition parties from the State media is a blatant misuse of taxpayerfundedresources.

Thenationalmediaisnot the property of whichever partyholdsoffice;itbelongs to the people of Guyana. Its role should be to inform the publicfairlyandimpartially, nottoserveasapropaganda tool for the government of theday

If Guyana is to build a credible democracy, equal access to information must be guaranteed Citizens deserve transparency, accountability, and a plurality of views not carefully curated narratives designed to protect incumbents Until this imbalance is corrected, every election will carry a shadow of unfairness. The

governmentmustactnowto restore trust, level the playingfield,andupholdthe democraticvaluesitsooften professes.

FRIDAY–SEPTEMBER 05,2025

Timetohealnotdivide

The campaign is over The ballots have been counted and the people of Guyana have spoken. What the country needs now is healing, unity, and a clear focus on the future, not a continuation of the bitter rhetoric that has long poisonedourpolitics.

Unfortunately, the tone setatthePPP'spost-election press conference, particularly by General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo, struck the wrong chord Yesterday at his weekly pressconference,thetalking down of opponents and indulging in mudslinging at thisjuncturedoesnothingto advance the national interest.

The election season is behind us; the responsibility ofleadershipnowdemandsa shift in language, tone, and approach Guyanese of everycommunity,class,and political persuasion are grappling with the same realities: a rising cost of living, the need for jobs, betterservices,andasociety thatvaluesfairness.

These challenges cannot bemetwithdivisivepolitics. They require collaboration, r e s p e c t , a n d t h e understanding that no one party holds a monopoly on wisdom.

Itistimetomovepastthe rancor Leaders must demonstrate statesmanship by bringing citizens together, not driving them furtherapart.

The future of Guyana dependsnotonwhowonthe lastroundofverbalsparring, butonhowunitedlyweface theroadahead.

The titans are mortal

The People's ProgressiveParty has been at this game too long not to know the rules. It knows that its own survival is bound up in the fortunes of the People's National Congress. It is not enough to win. It must have theoldenemytowinagainst. WithoutthePNC,thePPPis a performer without a stage, a priest without a devil to exorcise.

This just-concluded electionshouldhavebrought unqualified joy Alandslide. AcrushingofthePNCR.But BharratJagdeo,whohasthe noseforpoliticslikeashark has for blood, knows better He knows that the present euphoria is thin. He knows that the weakening of the PNCR is the beginning of a slow wasting for the PPP For what is the PPPwithout its tribal adversary? What becomes of its slogans, its campaigns, its promises of protection, if the bogeyman nolongerexists?

The PNCR has been reduced to its bones. It was once a colossus, capable of thirty-one seats with the AFC as ballast Now it standsattwelve.Twelveisa humiliation A defeat so complete it is closer to disappearance than to setback. The euphemism of “APNU”cannotdisguisethe rot The voters have withdrawnfaith.Thepartyis at its weakest, its base confused, its leadership exposedashollowmen.

Yethereliestheparadox; in the weakness of the PNCR, the PPPC too is diminished. Its own voters are stirred to loyalty not by policy but by fear—fear of

what the PNCR might do, what the PNCR has done, what the PNCR threatens to become, what the return of thePNCtoofficepromises. Take away that fear and the PPPC has no lever A weak PNCR means complacency among PPP supporters.Itmeansamajor source of insecurity is removed.They will not turn out in their numbers. They willnotbelievethattheparty is in danger The PPPC, therefore, needs the PNC. Jagdeo knows it. He cannot say it, but he knows it in his bones.

Thisexplainsthecurious statement of the PPP's General Secretary—that he prefers to deal with the PNCRratherthanwithWIN. It may be dismissed as diplomatic flattery for the Americans. But the remark was darker It was the confession of a dilemma. A weak PNCR leaves the PPPC without an adversary, and without an adversary, the PPPC has no reason to exist.

It must therefore make thePNCRappearstrongand still important, even when it is broken Without that theatre, the PPPC cannot sustainitself.

Andintothisvacuumhas stepped WIN A ragged movement of the lumpen proletariat, without theory, withoutstrategy,butwiththe one thing that matters in politics:numbers.Theyhave pried open the closed circle of two-party politics. They have shown that the titans aremortal.

WINhasnotyetgrasped the enormity of what it has achieved In a single

election, it has broken the backbone of one of the strangest political parties in the English-speaking Caribbean. But even more than that, WIN has sent tremors of fear through the rivalcamp,thePPPC,which suddenly sees in this upstart movement the possibility of an adversary unshackled from the old loyalties on which it has built its strength By accident or d e s i g n , W I N h a s destabilized the very foundationofGuyana'stwoparty order, and in doing so has forced both titans to reckon with the reality that their duopoly is no longer secure.

InWIN'ssuccessliesthe seedofagreaterdestruction. If they endure, if they acquire leadership with vision, they could spell the endnotjustofthePNCRbut ofthePPPCaswell.

But WIN is not built for endurance. It appears now thatitsleadersimaginedthat politics was about seizing the presidency, like a sugar estate or a co-operative society They did not imaginefiveyears.Theydid not imagine twenty They imagined only conquest Now that they have been denied it, they are at sea, leaderless, rudderless, clueless, squabbling over imaginedirregularities.

And yet Jagdeo cannot sleep easy For he knows history does not demand wisdomfromitsusurpers.It demands only appetite. The appetite exists. The lumpen are restless. The PNCR has been decimated In five years' time, the PPPC may discover that the theatre is

DEM BOYS SEH

Midnight Mass or Midnight Meeting?

Bai, you ever hear anything so ridiculous? GECOM calling a meeting one hourbeforemidnightonaFridaynight.One hour!Notevenpumpkinknowifitwantturn into carriage or if Cinderella slipper still fitting,andGECOMsaying,“Letwemeet.” Come on man! People done bathe, put on dem pyjamas, rub on Vicks, and pull the sheetuptight,andyouexpectthemtocrawl out the bed to go discuss election matters? Dem boys seh this is not a meeting—it is a midnightmass.

Old people does complain when dem children calling dem after 9 o'clock. “Why you disturbing me at this hour?You know I does go to bed early.” Now imagine telling them,“GECOMwantyoutocomedownfuh ameetingat11.” Demoldpeopleganfaint right away Some of them might think it's JudgmentDay

Andtellmethis:howyouexpectpeople to stay awake? That time of night, eyelid heavylikesackofrice.Yougonhearsnoring echoing through the headquarters louder

gone, that the adversary is gone, and that it stands naked before WIN, stripped of its one great advantage: fear

The PPPC's victory, then, may be its undoing.

Jagdeo knows this He smiles, he celebrates, but he

knows.Theenemythatgave himhispowerisdying.And withoutthePNCR,thePPPC toowilldie.

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

than the Chairman calling order. Instead of minutes of the meeting, dem gon be taking minutes of who sleeping the loudest Somebody might even dream they win electionsbeforethethingdonestart.

Important business is best done in daylight, when the coffee still hot and the brain still sharp. Not when cock crowing already rehearsing for morning. But no, GECOM got style Midnight meeting Maybe they think democracy does shine brighterindarkness.

Dem boys seh if GECOM keep this up, nextmeetinggonbecalledatthreeo'clockin the morning, right when jumbie walking. Theneverybodygonreallyseewhogotspirit forelections.

So hear nah, GECOM: save the country some embarrassment. Call yuh meeting in the day, when people bright and fresh. Nighttimeisfuhsleep,notelections.

Dem boys seh, bedtime is bedtime—evenfordemocracy Talkhalf.Leffhalf

H@RD TRUTHS

Elections 2025 – Lesson one- Free and fair

Elections 2025 were free. To a point. Elections 2025 were fair Well, that dependsonhowonedefines fair It is likely that Mr Azruddin Mohamed of We InvestinNationhood(WIN) has a different definition of bothfreeandfairthatdiffers from that of the PPP, which wonthecontest.

The arbiters, the international elections observer missions, had a heavy sounding term to summarize the elections proceedings: incumbency advantage causing uneven playing field. When I used to string words like that together, people turned glassy-eyed.

Not that the foreign people did, everyone understands as though it is the alphabet. So, let me get this on the table, then out of the way: how can there be free and fair when incumbencyadvantageleads to a playing field that is a minefield?

Unless the opposition contestantshadnightvision, a state-of-the-art GPS, and full body armor, their goose was cooked. In a nutshell, the elections were over beforetheystarted,thanksto the incomparable skills of the winners, the PPP. How could it not win, when the ruling party enjoyed (and made the fullest use) of all

the elements of incumbency advantage?

The voting process was peaceful,butfreeasabeeisa little trickier According to WIN, its people were harassed,blocked,thwarted, denied, led astray and generally pushed around, and away from a voting booth.

Welcome to the democratic process called elections in Guyana. It is a rough game, with the veteranstoughenedbymany wars in the trenches. It is remarkable how well the newcomers, [let's face it, rank amateurs in a nasty game] did. When dead cats [black ones] weren't thrown infrontofthem,theyfellinto the fresh holes dug and waiting to provide a warm welcome.

Now, some of my good friendsinthePPPmayinsist that there is nothing wrong withanyofthose,andthatin their dictionary, that qualifies as fair In other words, elections serve as a teaching aid, and slow learners are advised to bone upbeforetheyenterthering. I don't know which school the luminaries in the PPP attended,butalltheonesthat allowed me to take a seat taught me that free has no inhibitions,freelackstricks, and free means exactly that: nocharge,nopenalties.

Relative to incumbency

advantage in the context of WIN, surely, he didn't call the police on himself, or invitedadronetoprowlover hishead?

Or could have been a party to the beating he took from agents of the state operating in the statecontrolledmedia.

The record is of state agencies, national institutions, falling over themselves to get their pound of flesh out of him.

The fact that the WIN's leaderisstillinonepieceisa short story waiting to be published.

The PNC and the AFC alsohadtheirproblemswith incumbency advantage (of whichmorewillfollow),and the disadvantage to which it putthosecompetingwiththe officeholders.

In Las Vegas, it is said that one can never beat the house. ThePPPjustproved it, and the foreigners just added the caption in large fonts and bolded letters

How about fair, what could besaidaboutthatrelativeto the elections now taking a sleeping pill? There is fair and then there is another kindoffair Theincumbents fell in love with the latter specimen.

Look it is Sunday, and everyone needs its serenity, plussomemuch-neededrest.

Of course, it would take a barbarian and a pagan like

Bandit crashes after dropping gun during robbery

Things didn't go according to plan for a bandit who crashed his getaway car after dropping his gunduringanarmedrobbery on Sunday at Zeeglugt North,EastBankEssequibo (EBE).

According to police, the victim, a 40-year-old

businessman, Teyon McPhoy, picked up the gun and fired three shots behind the suspect identified as 35year-old Deol Narayan of Number 70 Village, Corentyne Berbice, Region Six while he was driving awayfromthescene. Itisunclearifanyofthe bullets struck the car or the suspect but police said that Narayancrashedintoasand heap a short distance away fromwheretherobberytook place.

menottocare. Idon'twant to, but I have to; proceed, that is. I begin in Asia and end up at some local GECOM center From subcontinent citizens to national ID cards. I had to pinch myself, because if I recall well, the British in Guyana no longer has any grippingpower

True enough, but there were those clusters of Commonwealthvoters,with transportation thoughtfully provided, a uniformed official welcoming party waiting to receive. It is not so much the hospitality and amenitiesthatprovoked,but how widespread this was,

and how long before st September 1 was this program being perfected?

There was no census report, but there was that Commonwealth voting contingent to backfill any shortfalls.

Here's my finding: anything that has to be carriedoninsecret,andthen s p r u n g u p o n t h e unsuspecting cannot be fair

Ifit'sfair,whyhide?

It cannot be fair when legit Guyanese are inhibited in some way from voting, while foreigners vote freely

How many of them, may I ask? One more: Mohamed was called a Maduro man.

How many Venezuelans (Maduropeople)didthePPP sneak into the voting mix?

Verdict: elections were free and fair, but only as far as suchcouldbethrown. Trythrowingamule,and that's how free and fair thingswere. Withskillslike these,thePPPshouldbeable to overpower Exxon soon. Or,atleast,pullafastoneon theYanks. Justlikeitdidon the PNC and AFC. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)

TrumpsaysVenezuelanjetswillbe shotdowniftheyendangerUSships

The victim told police that he ran up to the car and when he opened the driver's side, he found the suspect bleeding from an injury to thehead.

Thepolicewerecalledin andthegun,a.32pistolwas handed over. Both the suspect and the victim were taken to the DeKinderen RegionalHospitalwherethe suspect was treated and subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where hewasadmittedinaserious condition. Thebusinessman is assisting police with their investigation He told detectives that he operates a Superbet at his residence in Zeelugt and the suspect entered his premises around 12:00hrs.onSunday The suspect placed

severalbetsandlost.Hethen started crediting bets and it amountedto$140,000.

Sometime after, the suspect asked to use the washroom and he (the businessman) led him to the back of his premises. When the suspect returned, he pointed the gun at the businessman while demanding all the cash he had.

The businessman alleged that he grabbed a quantity of $5000 from a box However, while grabbing the cash, the suspect and businessman fought. It was during the scuffle that the suspect dropped his gun and attemptedtoflee.

Thebusinessmanpicked up the weapon and shot at thebandit.

BBC-DonaldTrumphas warned that, if Venezuelan jets fly over US naval ships and "put us in a dangerous position, they'll be shot down" The president's warning comes after Venezuela flew military aircraft near a US vessel off South America for the secondtimeintwodays,US officials told the BBC's US partnerCBSNews.

The reports follow a US strike against what Trump officials said was a "drugcarrying vessel from Venezuela" operated by a gang,killing11people.

Venezuelan President NicolásMadurohassaidthat the US allegations about his countryarenottrue,andthat differences between the nations do not justify a " m i l i t a r y conflict" "Venezuela has always been willing to talk, toengageindialogue,butwe demandrespect,"headded.

Whenaskedbyreporters in the Oval Office on Friday what would happen if VenezuelanjetsflewoverUS

vessels again,TrumpsaidVenezuela wouldbein"trouble".

Trump told his general, standing beside him, that he coulddoanythinghewanted ifthesituationescalated.

Since his return to office in January, Trump has steadily intensified his antidrug-trafficking efforts in LatinAmerica.

Maduro has accused the US of seeking "regime change through military threat".

When asked about the comments, Trump said "we're not talking about that",butmentionedwhathe called a "very strange election" in Venezuela Madurowassworninforhis third term in January after a contestedelection.

Trumpwentontosaythat "drugs are pouring" into the US from Venezuela and that membersofTrendeAraguaa gang proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the US-werelivingthere.

The US military has movedtobolsteritsforcesin

the southern Caribbean, including through the deployment of additional naval vessels and thousands of marines and sailors to stemtheflowofdrugs.

TheWhiteHousesaidon Fridaythatitissending10F35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico.When asked about the build-upofmilitaryassetsin the Caribbean, Trump said: "Ithinkit'sjuststrong.We're strong on drugs. We don't want drugs killing our people.

"Trump is a long-time critic of Maduro, and doubled a reward for information leading to his arrest to $50m (£37.2m) in August, accusing Maduro of being "one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world".During Trump's first term in office, the US governmentchargedMaduro and other high-ranking Venezuelan officials with a range of offences, including narco-terrorism, corruption anddrugtrafficking.

Maduro has previously rejectedtheUSallegations.

U.S. President Donald Trump (Getty images)

Venezuela’s Head of State, Nicholas Maduró

ACaseforCaribbeanActiononMentalHealth

Mental health is no longerhiddeninthemargins of public life, whether in Europe, North America, or the Caribbean It is a growing global reality that costs lives and livelihoods, andpreventssocialcohesion andeconomicinclusion.

Yet,whiletheproblemis no longer a secret, its treatment in the Caribbean too often remains one of

embarrassed secrecy.

E

e institutionalized; younger people are locked away at home or in institutions. Dedicated practitioners do their best, but they lack equipment and medications. And there are not enough trained mental-health doctorsandnurses.

The World Health Organization WHO) estimatesthatmorethanone billion people live with mental-health conditions, andthetrendisupward.The latestofficialglobalcountis that 727,000 people died by suicide in 2021. In 2023, in the United States alone, 49,316 people died by suicide. Caribbean recordkeeping is weak. What little exists often reflects only

institutionalizedpatients,but anyone working in schools, clinics, or courts knows the casesarerising.

Social media is part of this picture, particularly for the young It is nearuniversal among teens: roughly95%of13–17-yearolds use it. Frequent users are more likely to report bullying (in school and online),persistentsadnessor hopelessness, and suicide risk. Spending more than three hours a day on social media is associated with roughly double the risk of anxiety and depressive symptoms, and teens now average about 4 8 hours dailyonline.

In the Caribbean, accuraterecordsarethin,but the pattern is unmistakable.

In The Bahamas, a 2023 survey of 1,563 grade-nine students found two-thirds spending 3+ hours/day on social media; 46% had experienced cyberbullying; 62% reported depressed mood; and 48% had seriouslyconsideredsuicide.

Girls reported more cyberbullying (55% vs 37% forboys),andcyberbullying or sexting roughly doubled

the odds of depression and suicidalideation.

Jamaica shows similar strain: UNICEF reports six in ten students have been bullied at some point, and a U-Report poll found about 39% of youth had experienced cyberbullying. However, this data is not comprehensive because the problemisnotbeingtackled fully Thepatternisthesame throughouttheregion.

Climate stress is compounding the problem. The mental pressure of Hurricanesdoesnotendwith the chaos they wreak before moving on They leave behind anxiety, grief, and trauma that surface months later in classrooms, clinics, andworkplaces.

Against this backdrop, Antigua and Barbuda has chosentoact.PrimeMinister Gaston Browne has kept mentalhealthsquarelyonthe national, hemispheric, and international agenda. At the 55th Regular Session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American StatesinJune2025,member states adopted the Resolution, “Addressing the CriticalMentalHealthCrisis

intheAmericas.”AsAntigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the OAS, I advanced this initiative to move the issue from sympathy to structure: a working group open to all states,andapartnershipwith the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to explore a regional fund to addresstheproblem.

The mental health problem is real worldwide and worsening. Wealthy countries have the means to address their domestic needs. The Caribbean must dothesame.

Resources must be allocated, country by country,basedonclearplans and measurable objectives.

But first, we must acknowledgethescaleofthe challenge, stop hiding it in familiesorlockingitawayin institutions that were never designedtoheal,andcommit to care that is close to daily life: in primary clinics, in schools,incommunities,and atmomentsofcrisis.

This September, world leaders will meet in New York for the United Nations High-Level Meeting on noncommunicable diseases andthepromotionofmental

health and well-being

The Caribbean should arrive not with rhetoric, but with clear objectives theywanttoachieve.

In the margins of that meeting, there will be a private roundtable on “Political action and investmentformentalhealth equity,” organized by the ClintonGlobalInitiative,cohosted by Prime Minister Browne and PAHO, to spotlightrecentprogressand identify practical pathways to accelerate investment.

Thegoalissimple:turnhighlevel words into financed, measurabledelivery

ButtheCaribbeanshould not rely on external support for addressing its worsening mental health problem

Acrosstheworld,nationsare confronted with their own challenges. Therefore, the

C a r i b b e a n s h o u l d collectively design and financearoadmapformental h e a l t h o w n e d b y CARICOM,budgetedbyour governments, and delivered through our clinics, schools, andcommunities.

Governments should not waitfortheoutsideworldto underwrite their national

responsibilities. If we put realpolicyonpaperandreal money in our budgetshowever limited - then implement a timetable the public can see, partners will come. That is how small states show seriousness: we startwithourownresources, provemomentum,andinvite the world to match what we arealreadydoing,nottodoit forus.

It is in the region’s interest not to depend on handouts to end its critical challenges, including worseningmentalhealth.

(The author is the Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the OAS, and Dean of the OAS Ambassadors accredited to the OAS. Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronald sanders.com)

Sir Ronald Sanders

WEEK-IN-REVIEW

SUNDAY

Outrageasbusservice abandonsAmerindiansin RupununiSavannah

…APA,NTC,politicalparties decryinhumanetreatment

One day after a bus attached to Greaves Transportation and Tours abandonedAmerindianpassengers, which included women and children, in the Rupununi savannah, Region Nine stakeholders have strongly condemned the actions of the bus driverandthecompany Reports are that the passengers were enroute to a We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) political meeting when the driver was contacted by a supporter of the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C). It is alleged that after the telephone call, the bus driver stopped the vehicle and left thepassengers inthemiddleof the savannahs.

A cell phone recorded video was shared on social media of the passengers standing in the Rupununisavannahasthedriverof thebusclosedthedoors,enteredthe busanddroveoff.

On Saturday, the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA), the National Toshaos Council (NTC), theAllianceForChange(AFC)and WINcondemnedtheactionsofthe busservice.

The APA in a statement on Saturday said it “vehemently condemns,inthestrongestpossible way, the decision by Greaves Transportation and Tours to abandon Indigenous passengers, including women and children, on the roadside in the open Rupununi savannah. Such an act is not only inhumane but it also constitutes a breachofdutyofcareandaserious

violationoftherightsanddignityof ourpeoples.”

The APA stated that no community should ever be treated with such disregard, and certainly not the Indigenous Peoples of Guyana, who continue to face marginalisation, discrimination andexclusion.

The Association said that to abandon the passengers in the middle of their journey not only exposed them to danger and humiliation but also showed how the transportation services systems can be weaponised to further dehumanize the Indigenous Peoples.

“We have noted Greaves Transportation and Tours’ attempt to apologise, but that apology falls short of being meaningful A deliberate choice was made to demandthatourpeoplesdisembark from the bus and be left there.The APAalso notes the claims that this decision was made under political pressure and panic This raises grave concerns about the use of intimidationinmanyinstances,not only in the transportation services business, to manipulate essential services to Indigenous communities,”APAnoted.

According to APA, Indigenous peoples,likeeveryotherGuyanese, areguaranteedtherighttosupporta political party of their choice and that right should be respected. To withhold essential services, like transportation and healthcare, to dissuade the peoples from freely participatinginthepoliticalprocess is “a direct violation of the articles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which affirms our rights to dignity, security and freedomfromdiscrimination.”

Similarly, the NTC strongly condemned what it deemed to be “the vile and repugnant treatment of our Indigenous brothers, sisters,

and children as meted out by seemingly prominent business and businessowners.”

“At“NO”pointisitacceptable to treat our people in such a manner,” the NTC said in a statement.

“In this politically charged environment, we are repulsed by the environment that has engulfed some political actors, and we call on all of Guyana to unite in condemning divisive behaviour Everyonehasaconstitutionalright to association. Such association is cradled in a society of tolerance, respect, and dignity and no person should ever fall victim to such treatment,”theNTCsaid.

Further, the body called on the Private Sector Commission, the Indigenous Peoples Commission and all other organizations to condemn such behaviour and to resoundingly call for a posture of unity

“We are not enemies. We may be political opponents, however, that does not give us a right to abdicateourresponsibilitiestoeach other as our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. I ask that all our political parties take steps to diffuse any political tensions and to embrace a more united Guyana. We are the firstpeoples.Wedeservebetterand demand better treatment of our peoples,”theNTCstated.

Meanwhile, the AFC in a statement said that it is “deeply concerned and appalled” by transportation service’s actions noting that it is “not only an attack ondemocracybutshowsthelevels atwhichthisadministrationwillgo to victimize Businesses and any Guyanese who dare to oppose them.”

“This is not the ‘One’ Guyana thatthePresidentspeaksabout,but clearlyshowstherealityofthetwo Guyanasinwhichwelive–Onefor therichandpowerfulandtheother

for the poor and marginalized,” AFC said noting that Guyanese deserve to live in a country with dignityandfreeoffear

Similarly, WIN said that abandoning the passengers is violation of human rights, dignity, anddecency

“We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) strongly condemns the inhumaneandunjustifiableactions ofthePPPthroughoneofitsknown agents, Ameir of Sheriff, in abandoning a group of Indigenous people, including women and children, in the open Rupununi Savannah,” the party said in its statement.

Thisact,WINnoted,isnotonly ablatantviolationofhumanrights, but it is more so a breach of contractual duties by the operators whowereallegedlymanipulatedby theirpoliticalopponents.

“This act is an affront to the values of justice, equality, and respect for Indigenous peoples, who have endured centuries of marginalization, discrimination, andneglect.

Forcibly removing and abandoning individuals, especially our vulnerable women and children, reflects not only a failure of governance but also a total and disturbing disregard for human life,”thepartysaid.

WIN said there needs to be accountability from the political forces that ordered “this shameful act”.

“In addition, we call on all citizens, leaders, and civil society to stand against such cruelty and insist on the protection of every person’s right to be treated with dignityandfairness.Thisisnotjust about politics – this is about humanity Justice must be served,” thepartynoted.

GreavesTransportationService issued an apology on Saturday following the wide circulation of thevideoonsocialmedia.

“Wewanttobeginbysincerely apologizing for the incident that took place. As a team and as a family-owned service run by three brothers,wetakefullresponsibility for what happened and understand

the public’s concern,” the bus serviceexpressed.

Clarifying what transpired, Greaves Transportation Service stated that this act was not in line with what was agreed upon internally

“The decision was made under pressure, and the act was done to savethebusiness,andinamoment of panic, made a choice that we deeply regret. This action was not discussed or approved by management,nordoesitreflectour values,”thecompanysaid.

Further,thebusservicesaidthat afteritsmanagementbecameaware of the situation, immediate interventions were made for a vehicle to transport the abandoned passengers.

“We understand this doesn’t undo the damage, but it was our effort to correct the mistake as quickly as possible We are currently reviewing all internal protocolstoensurenothinglikethis ever happens again,” Greaves TransportationServicestated.

“Again, we are truly sorry for the act itself, for the distress it caused, and for the breach of the principles we claim to uphold Thank you for holding us accountable,”thebusservicesaid.

Sodturnedfor$440MCompany RoadPrimarySchoolatBuxton

The Ministry of Education on Saturday turned the sod for the reconstruction of the Company Road Primary School, located at Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Accordingtotheministry,staff of the school and officials of the Education Ministry which was led byDeputyChiefEducationOfficer (Administration), Mrs Tiffany Harvey and Regional Education Officer for Demerara-Mahaica, Ms. Keane Adams, turned the sod for the reconstruction of $440 millionschoolproject.

The contract for the reconstruction of the school was awardedtoR&JConstruction. Theministrystatedthatthe Continued on page 13

Ascreengrab of the bus driving away after abandoning the passengers.

Frompage12 project follows a request made by the parents and the school’s teachers and administration due to overcrowding and internal structural issues that are not conducivetolearning.

Three hundred students from the Buxton, Company Road catchment area are expected to attendtheschool.

MONDAY

Venezuelangangattacks ballotescortinCuyuniRiver

…Jointservicesreturned fire,escortescapeddanger

Inanotherbrazenattackonthis country, armed men from Venezuela on Sunday opened fire on a joint services-led escort transporting ballot boxes and Guyana Elections Commission officials for polling day duties in the Upper Cuyuni River near the twocountries’border

InastatementtheJointServices

said that on Sunday at approximately 14:30 hours, while escorting GECOM officials and ballot boxes along the Upper Cuyuni River in the vicinity of Bamboo, near the GuyanaVenezuela border, a Joint Services patrol came under fire from the Venezuelanshore.

“The escort team, which comprised ranks from the Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police Force, was conducting official duties in support of GECOM’s ballot distribution to remotepollingstationsinRegion7. A total of nine GECOM officials were aboard the vessels at the time,”thestatementread.

AccordingtotheJointServices, thepatrolimmediatelyreturnedfire and successfully manoeuvred the escort team out of danger “No injuries were sustained by any personnel, and no election materials were damaged or compromised.” The joint services said despite the incident, the team safelycontinueditsjourney,andall remaining ballot boxes were successfully delivered to their assigned polling stations at Cumang Landing, Kurutuku, and Dukquarie Landing The earlier drop-off at Tumbung was also completed without incident. “The Joint Services remain alert and continuetocoordinatecloselywith GECOM to ensure the security of all election-related operations. An investigation into the incident is underway,” the statement concluded.

Safedelivery

Meanwhile, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) confirmed that all ballot boxes scheduled for delivery to remote polling stations in District 7 on August31,2025,weresuccessfully deliveredwithoutdamageordelay “Whereas the Joint Services have

Armed men attacked a Guyana Defence Force vessel escorting ballot boxes and GECOM officials in the Upper Mazaruni River last Sunday afternoon

confirmed an isolated security incidentduringtheescortoperation intheUpperCuyuniRiver,wewish to assure the public that no GECOMstaffwasharmed,andthat all election materials remain fully intact and accounted for,” the electoral body said. It added: “The Commission thanks the Joint Services for their continued operational support and reaffirms that this incident will have no impact on the conduct of the elections on September 1, 2025. GECOM remains focused on fulfillingitsconstitutionalmandate and is fully prepared for Election Dayacrossalltenregions.”

Armed Venezuelan gangs have routinely entered Guyana and attacked citizens. In recent times they have stepped up attacks on soldierspatrollingtheborder Back in February several soldiers of the Guyana Defence Force were shot and injured when members of Venezuelan notorious Sindicato gang opened fire on them in the Eteringbang, Cuyuni, Region Sevenarea.TheSindicatohasbeen allowedtoroamfreelyinGuyana’s hinterlandandfromtimetotimeits members have harrassed, robbed and killed Guyanese. Their attack onthesoldiersbackthenhadcome amid continued threats from Venezuela over its spurious claim to this country’s Essequibo region. Thatshootingalsohappenedonthe day when Guyana celebrated the 59th Anniversary of the Geneva Agreement of 1966, which provides the framework for the resolution of the controversy that arose out of Venezuela’s unilateral attempttonullifythelegalityofthe Arbitral Award of 1899, which definitively established the land boundary between Guyana and Venezuela.

In a press statement back then theGuyanaPoliceForcehadlisted the injured as: Second Lieutenant Ansel Murray, who suffered a gunshot wound to the right of his head; Sergeant, Kevon Davis who wasshotintherightfootandankle; Corporal, Andrew Fraser, who

sustained gunshot wounds in the left of his abdomen and shoulder; Corporal, Kevin Henry, who was shot in the left arm and shoulder; Lance Corporal, Travis Yorrick, who was injured in the right thigh; andPrivateEzronSamuel,whowas shot in the right of his abdomen. Despite their injuries, all of the soldiers were reported to be consciousandstable,policesaidin astatement.Medicaltreatmentwas administeredbyGDFmedicL/Cpl Melville at the Makapa GDF ObservationPost.

The incident took place near Black Water Mouth in the Cuyuni River, while a GDF boat was en route from the Eteringbang GDF main base to the Makapa GDF Observation Post to deliver supplies.TheGDFteamwasusing a thirty-foot canoe powered by a 185-horsepower Yamaha engine

During the journey, the GDF boat was intercepted by two wooden boats carrying heavily armed, maskedmen.Theassailantscircled the GDF boat and opened fire, promptingtheGDFrankstoreturn fire. The exchange resulted in the attackers retreating, but not before multiple GDF members sustained gunshotwounds.

27,879first-timevotersonroll …asGECOMnowprojectsfinal resultsbySeptember4

The Guyana Elections Commission(GECOM)onSunday disclosed that of the 757,690 registered voters on the Official List of Electors (OLE), 27,879 are first-time voters who are expected to cast their ballots in today’s GeneralandRegionalElections.

At a press conference on Sunday afternoon, GECOM’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Yolanda Ward explained that the figure captures both persons who recently turned 18 and older individuals who registered for the first time “I did provide some initial statistics, which essentially only captured those eligible firsttime voters 18 years and older, or

involves the scanning and

uploadingofthestatementsofpoll. Assuchhestated,“Idonotseethat we can complete that exercise in less than eight hours especially for thehigherpopulatedregionsmaybe indistrictsone,andsevenandeight wemightbeabletodothat.”

He added that for the other districtsthedeclarationwouldhave to wait until September 3. Persaud notedalso,“Theissueofrequestfor recount was not factored into that all being equal we now shouldbeabletohavedeclarations inthedistrictsbytheeveningofthe third (September 3rd) again provided that there are no request for recount, there is always that possibility.”

equal to 18 years and older at this election.Butwe’vehadregistration cycles where we’d have persons older than 18 years old that have registered and are now eligible electors,”Wardstated.

Below is the breakdown of eligiblevotersandfirst-timevoters bydistrict:

District EligibleVoters

Firsttimevoters

DistrictOne 24,453 -2,076

DistrictTwo 42,596- 1,733

DistrictThree 116,876- 4,107

DistrictFour 323,436-9,580

DistrictFive 50,796-1,637

DistrictSix 111,554-3,267

DistrictSeven17,846-1,284

DistrictEight 9,192- 821

DistrictNine 22,481- 1,883

DistrictTen 38,460-1,491

TOTAL 757,690-27,879

Notably, Ward was also asked about the increase in the OLE, which has moved from 661,000 in 2020 to 757,690 in 2025 In responsetothis,GECOM’sDeputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) AnnealGiddingsexplained,“Since 2020therehavebeenseveralcycles of continuous registration phases oneandtwoandinbetweenclaims and objections all of those will be responsibleforwhatIshouldsaya historictrendbecauseifyoulookat OLE dating backwards it hovers around100,000oddeverycycleof elections.”

Notably, GECOM’s Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Vishnu Persaudwhowasalsopresentatthe press conference said that the Secretariat can provide a breakdown of the figure through thePROatalatertime.

Declarationofresults

Moreover,GECOM’sCEOwas alsoaskedifheisstillconfidentthe results will be announced by September 2, a date he had earlier stated. Firstly, Persaud noted that the timeline of the results declaration will be based on practicality He explained that at t h e t i m e h e m a d e t h a t pronouncement of September 2nd, hedidnotconsiderthepredecessor taskoftheactoftabulations,which

“But once we have the district declarations in place for all the districtsbytheeveningofthethird and all of those declarations get to me by the morning of the fourth (September 4th), the national declaration, the Commission should be able to make that,” the CEO said In terms of the mechanisms GECOM have in place, Persaud noted that the equipment that will be used for scanninganduploadandtabulation of the results are functional and have been tested at all of the tabulationcentres. Healsostressed that GECOM has contingencies in place for possible network or electricitydisruptions.

TUESDAY

Lowvoterturnout recordedacrosscountry …citizensanxiously awaitresultsofelections

Despite September 1, 2025, being declared a national holiday, theturnoutatmanypollingstations, across the country appeared low with voters trickling in by the handfuls to cast their ballot for the GeneralandRegionalElections.

Kaieteur News visited several polling stations across coastland where clusters of voters were seen at the polling stations, waiting in line to exercise their franchise. As personsfiledintothepollingstation locatedalongtheWestCoast,West Bank and East Bank of Demerara, many of them had to be assisted in locatingtheirvotingstationstocast theirballot.

The publication was told that the process at polling stations was generally smooth with minor hiccups, but the lay out at the polling stations was problematic for some voters particularly the elderly, those with mobility issues, insomecasesstruggledtofindtheir designatedvotingbooths.

At the Crane Primary School, West Coast Demerara (WCD), an elderly gentleman who had to be assistedtowalkrelatedthathewent tothreedifferentclassroomswithin theschoolcompoundbeforehe Continued on page 14

Frompage13

could find his correct station Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand who visited the pollingstationatCraneintervened, and assisted the gentleman. She said that she was visiting the West Demerara polling areas to ensure that the voting process was going smoothly

“Iwentupstairs,downstairsand all around until the minister come andassistme,”theelderlyresident toldthisnewspaper

There were complaints among residents as they were being shuffled around to find the correct booths. Several persons expressed their frustration about having to “move up and down,” in search of theircorrectplacesofpoll.

Kaieteur News also visited pollingstationsattheschoolsatLa Jalousie, Leonora, Cornelia Ida, and the West Demerara Secondary on the West Bank Demerara (WBD) and farther afield. Voters trickled in at those locations, the lines appeared shorter than usual althoughsomepersonscomplained about the waiting in line for a long period.

“Itismovingatsnail’space…is notplentypeopleinlinebutwestill waitingquitealongtimetocastour ballot,” a resident explained Nelissa Singh, a first-time voter at the Cornelia Ida, WCD told this newspaperthatherexperiencewas smoothandflawless.

“I was able to cast my ballot withoutanyproblems,”shesaid.

At the West Demerara Secondary, the voting process was generally smooth with minor hiccups experienced by voters looking for their polling booths. This was the general sentiment from election observers in various sections of the country

M

Commissioner Desmond Trotman shared his observations during the opening of polls. He described the turnout of th

“disappointing.”

He noted in some places, the exercise went pretty smoothly in oneortwocases,therewasabitof hiccup.Oneofthemostinteresting thingstomeistheturnandtheturn outIgatherhasbeendisappointing. It was fairly and so people’s expectationwillnotberealised.He explained that as it relates to the hiccup, there were complaints amongthevotersaboutsomeofthe new rules implemented by GECOMbutoncetheyunderstood, theydidn’thaveaproblem.

“A lot people came here with the understanding that their cell phones were not allowed in the pollingstationandsomestillcame with their phones They later conformed to the instructions,” Trotmansaid.

At MochaAracadia, East Bank Demerara, villagers said that the process was generally smooth as they exercised their voting franchise Jamaine Thomas, a resident of Mocha declared, “The processwassmoothandIamvoting forachange.”

At the Diamond Primary and Secondary Schools voters stood in line to cast their ballots. Kaieteur News understands that there some objections to a busload of commonwealth [Bangladeshi] citizensvotingatthelocationbutit waslaterclarifiedbyGECOMthat the commonwealth citizens were legally entitled to vote once they have been resident in the country foroveroneyear

Along the East Coast corridor, thispublicationobservedrelatively

short lines at several polling stations, although a steady stream of voters turned out to cast their ballots.AtthePlaisanceSecondary School polling station, there was a noticeable turnout, including several prominent politicians such as APNU leader Aubrey Norton, former President Donald Ramotar, Minister of Health Dr. Frank

Governance Gail Teixeira, and Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh.

Notably, there appeared to be a larger crowd gathered at the opening of the polls compared to later in the day.AlexAllicock, 22year-old,wasafirst-timevoter. He voted at Ogle Community ground. Heexplainedhedidn’tfeelnervous in any way “The process was simpleandsmooth;Ibasicallyhad nodifficulty.”

Kaieteur News visited several pollingstationsacrossRegionFive spanningfromMahaiconytoBath. Arriving at the Calcutta Primary School at 06:00hrs, there was a handfulofvoterslineduptoverify theirnameswereonthelist,waiting tobedirectedtocasttheirvotes.

One resident told the Kaieteur News that the process was smooth and he “got through very fast.”At Belladrum Primary, Little Treasures Primary, Lichfield Primary, and other villages, there were a handful of persons and in some cases, one or two persons lining up to cast their ballot. This publication was informed that it was the norm for the residents to come out after the heat of the sun subsidestovote.

Asthecloseofpollsdrewnear, this publication visited the Novar Nursery, Novar Secondary and MahaiconySecondarySchool.The

compounds were empty, as staff awaited the close of polls in less than30minutes.

In Region One, the voting processwasdescribedassmoothby political party representatives A representative of theAPartnership for National Unity (APNU), Ronald Cox who resides in Mabaruma,toldthispublication,“I votedveryearlythismorning.Iwas the first person in line at the Mabaruma Primary School that is in central Mabaruma. When I was there, it probably had about seven to eight persons in the line. So, the processwasreallyslowintermsof voters turn out, very trickling, and everything went smoothly at that station.”

He said the other polling stations recorded a similar trend, withnomajorissuesexceptforone station, which was later resolved. He explained that at the Wauna voting area, there was a language barrier issue with the Venezuelan Warraumigrants.

Accordingtohim,“Venezuelan Warrau migrants were being broughttherebyaPPPactivist,the activist was seen close to the polling station, showing them where they need to mark their X, using a template ballot paper One person was attempting to present himself as the interpreter for all of them.”

He noted that with no approval fromGECOMfortheinterpreterto be there, his party agent objected and lodged a complaint with GECOMandthepolice.

Inadditiontothat,headded,“It wasalsoreportedthatsomeofthem just marked an X on the paper not necessarilyintheboxandsowhen they returned to place the ballot paper in the ballot box, the Presiding Officer noticed it and

rejectedtheballotsthenandissued a new ballot My agent also objected, stating that it is not a rejectedballot,itisaspoiledballot which supposed to go in the ballot box and during the process of countingaftersixthisevening,only then that ballot would be consideredaspoiledballot.”

He noted the issues there were however, resolved and the process went on. “From all the reports we got at this time, average of 50% turnoutatallpollingstations,which is considered very low,” Cox told this newspaper on Monday afternoon.

Meanwhile, representing the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party,candidatesShawnJamesand Maria Basheer told Kaieteur News theprocesswentwellintheirareas.

“It went well, however, there weresomesmallchallenges,butas they come, we were able to deal with them,” James noted who cast hisvoteintheMatakaisub-district.

Briefly, he said voters complainedabouttheslowprocess in the morning hours but after lunch, the pace began to pick up. Other than that, he said there were nootherchallengesoccurring.

In her update, Basheer noted that she voted at the Kumaka Extension Centre, and there the process was “good” She said, “The process was smooth at most polling stations, except for some where the Presiding Officer told someofouragentsthattheyhadto get another letter to do the count, but we would have clarified that withtheRO(ReturningOfficer),so all our agents remained at the polls.”

AtRegion10,MayorofLinden, Sharma Solomon said that he was satisfiedwiththeturnoutattheOne Continued on page 28

FTowards a better life with your psychologist - Your health

Self-Forgiveness

orgiveness is

healing; this healingstartswith you first and extends to others. Are you willing to accept that you have hurt yourself?

The true meaning of forgiveness is intentionally deciding to let go of anger and resentment and feeling empathyandcompassionfor the person who hurt us, including yourself Not forgiving yourself can lead to feelings of shame, guilt and self-defeat and detrimental health outcomes such as depression and suicide.

Forgiveness is a key element in good mental health and mental health recovery People with good mental health have been practising self-forgiveness. It’s quite impossible to forgive others but not yourself.

In fact, self-forgiveness is the first step in forgiving others. Being unforgiving has significant negative impacts on our mental health, leading to increased anger, depression, anxiety, andchronicstress,whichcan trap you in a cycle of bitterness and prevent you from enjoying the present and having a quality of life. Holding onto grudges fuels negative emotions and can negatively affect your relationships with yourself and others, and your selfworth by keeping you emotionallystuckinthepast.

Many people find it hard to forgive others because they have not forgiven themselvesfirst.

Even Christians get trapped in this cycle, struggling to forgive others a n d a c c e p t G o d ’s forgivenessbecausewehave notforgivenourselves.

Self-forgiveness is the process of accepting responsibility for past mistakes, which includes betraying yourself, wasting your time, ignoring your mistakes,notspeakingupfor yourself,choosingtobelieve others and ignoring yourself and ill-treating others; acknowledging the resulting emotions like guilt and shame,andthenchoosingto release those negative feelings to promote healing, personal growth, and inner peace. It involves treating yourself with compassion, understanding your mistakes, learning from them, and taking steps to make amends and move forward,ultimatelyfostering a healthier relationship with yourselfandothers. That reckless sexual behaviour Robbingyourself to make others happy.

Treatingyourselfasinferior

Accepting abuse and

neglect Unfulfilled potential, or periods of struggle. Failing at tasks

because you

adequately prepared, engaging in toxic patterns, not knowing better in the

past,feelingtheneedtoplay small to fit in, experiencing burnout, or struggling to reachyourgoals.

Missed Opportunities and Stalled Progress Unforgiveness is not just a matterofholdingagrudge;it alsohasseriousimplications forourbrains.

NegativeMentaland EmotionalEffectsof BeingUnforgiving Lackofself-forgiveness, Increased Stress and

Anxiety: The inability to forgive can lead to a persistent state of stress, heightened arousal, and constantworry

Depression and

Bitterness: Unforgiveness is often linked to feelings of depression, bitterness, and irritability

Difficulty Enjoying the Present:Youmaybecomeso consumed by past wrongs that you can’t fully experience and enjoy the presentmoment.

Emotional Entrapment: Holding onto anger and resentment traps you in a cycleofdistressandprevents emotional release. An unforgiving attitude makes you a prisoner of the past, preventingyoufrommoving forward.

Low Self-Esteem:

Dwelling on past hurts and the inability to forgive damages your sense of selfworth and self-acceptance. Self-forgiveness rebuilds self-esteem. The difference between a person and those

depends on it

who are mentally healthy is self-esteem.-Goodandpoor self-esteem.

Loss of Control: The person or situation you refuse to forgive can maintain a subconscious power over you, as your emotions remain tied to them.

D a m a g e s

R e l a t i o n s h i p s :

Unforgiveness strain new relationships, creates hostility, and leads to a decreased willingness to engage with others

Unforgivingmeansyouarea prisoner of your past while livinginthepresent.

TheBenefitofForgiveness

Mental and Emotional Freedom: Forgiveness is a gifttoyourself,allowingyou to reclaim peace, mental clarity, and emotional freedom.

Improved Well-being: Letting go of grudges reducesourstresslevelsand improves our overall mental andphysicalhealth.

Resilience and Healing: Self-forgiveness increases our resilience, enhances our self-esteem, and promotes healing from past hurts. We are 5 times more likely to recover from chronic physical illness Much happier Longer life, along withdailyhappiness.

Steps to Cultivating Self-Forgiveness

Acknowledge your mistakes: Resist denying or hidingyourerrors;facethem with honesty It’s important that we can be honest with ourselves rather than demanding honesty from others.

By

Understandthecontext and take responsibility: Reflectonthefactorsthatled to your mistake and own your actions and their consequences without blamingothers.

P r a c t i c e s e l fcompassion: Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you would offerafriend.Thesamelove you give with sacrifice to othersisneededforyourself and should be given to yourselfunwaveringly

Make amends: Take action to repair any harm caused by your mistake, where possible. It’s up to your children; have a sitdown, and a few sessions of healing are needed to apologise and ask for forgiveness after you have forgivenyourself.Ifit’swith yourself, have the intrapersonal conversation. Beaffectionate.Believethat youneedtosetyourselffree and deserve to move on. Give yourself the approval

and permission to forgive.

Accept your selfforgiveness Rather than choosingtocriticiseyourself andliveinremorse.

Learn from the experience: Identify the lessons to be learned and how to make better choices in the future. Let go of the past:Avoiddwellingonyour mistakes; release the burden of guilt and shame to create spacefornewbeginnings.

Let Go of Unrealistic Expectations: Release selfcriticism for not being perfect or for choices made withlessknowledgeorfewer resourcesatthetime.

Forgiveness isn’t something that happens overnight. It requires time, effort, and self-work to consciously let go of a painful experience. Talking to a psychologist will help youlearntoforgive,manage feelings, improve your relationships, and build a healthier and happier mindset.

Dr. Telford Layne Jr. PsyD, MSc. Postgrad, BSc. Clinical and Developmental Psychologist - Psychoanalyst Unwrapping Gift -Clinic

CASSAVA BREAD

– A CULTURAL TREASURE MEETS NATIONAL STANDARDS

Who doesn’t love a crisp slice of cassava bread with pepperpot, tuma pot, or even just a spread of peanut butter or cheese?This age-old staple, cherished by Guyanese families and deeply rooted in our Indigenous communities,ismorethanjustfood,it is culture on a plate.As we celebrate Amerindian Heritage Month this Septemberunderthetheme “Igniting Unity, Celebrating Progress and Advancing Our Culture”,it’s the perfect time to highlight the importance of preserving indigenous foods and traditions while ensuring safetyandquality

The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has adopted the Guyana Standard, GYS 246:2010 –Specification for Cassava Bread to guidethemakingofthisproduct.This standard was prepared under the supervision of the CARICOM Regional Technical Committee for Foods and was developed to ensure adequate, hygienic production and consistent quality of cassava bread and related products derived from bitter cassava for human consumption.

Thestandardrequirescassavabreadtobe manufactured, packaged, transported, stored, and sold in accordance with the CARICOMRegionalCodeofPracticefor FoodHygieneorotherinternationalcodes.It specifies that cassava bread must be crisp with a uniform texture, agreeable flavour, free from bitterness, moulds, rancid odours, or any signs of infestation. Importantly, cassavabreadmustalsobefreefromharmful metals such as lead, cadmium, copper, iron, and zinc in amounts that could pose a health risk.

To guarantee product safety and reliability, the standard outlines testing and samplingprecautions.Samplesmustbetaken in clean, dry conditions, stored in airtight, food-safe containers, and labelled with identifyingdetails.

Packaging,too,playsavitalrole.Cassava breadmustbeprotectedfrombreakage,using new, clean, food-grade materials that ensure the product reaches consumers intact. The premises and equipment used in production must also be properly maintained, cleaned, and safeguarded against pests to minimise contaminationrisks.

By adhering to this national standard, local producers not only protect consumers but also preserve a cherished cultural tradition.TheGNBScontinuestoencourage cassavabreadmakerstousethestandardasa guide to deliver safe, high-quality products that honour our heritage while supporting consumerconfidence.

So,thenexttimeyouenjoycassavabread, whether with stew, pepperpot, or simply toastedwithcheese,rememberthatthereisa NationalStandardbehinditscrisptextureand rich flavor developed specifically to ensure itssafety,quality,andthepreservationofour culturalpride.

The GNBS remains committed to preserving the Indigenous culture while promoting the use of standards to guide the sustainableproductionoffoods,art,andcraft. Available standards for Indigenous products include the Specification for Cassava Bread, Specification for Indigenous Furniture (bamboo, rattan, wicker, and nibbi), and the Code of Practice for the ManufactureofWoodenCraftItems. To access copies of these and other standards,andformoreinformation,contact the GNBS at 219-0062-66 or visit www.gnbsgy.org.

5

Tmore years for pres. Ali

...PPP/C gets 36 seats, WIN 16, APNU 12 & FGM 1

he People's Progressive

Party/ Civic (PPP/C) was on Saturday night officially declared winner of the 2025 General and Regional Elections by the Guyana Elections Commission(GECOM).

The commission convened on Saturday at 23:00hoursanddeclaredthe PPP/C the winner with Dr IrfaanAlire-electedtoserve asecondterm.

PPP/C secured 36 seats

in the National Assembly, while We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) led by Azruddin Mohamed gained 16 seats, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) ledbyAubreyNortongained 12 seats, and Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) ledbyAmanzaWalton-Desir got1seat.

Overall, the incumbent was able to secure 242,000 votes The new main opposition party, WIN got over 109,000 votes, while

APNU received 77,988 votes and FGM got about 4,300votes.

Notably, Kaieteur News had reported that 315,140 eligible electors of the 757,690 on the Official List of Electors (OLE) did not participate in this year's election.

Meanwhile, GECOM in a statement said that the declaration was done in keeping with Article 177(2) of the Constitution. It was stated that this was done

after the Commission reviewed the report presented by Chief Election Officer,VishnuPersaud.

The declaration was madefivedaysaftercitizens cast their ballots due to a recount process that was initiated honoring a request byAPNU.

The process started after all of the Statements of Poll (SOPs) were published for thetendistrictsbyGECOM, showing the PPP set to secure a second term in office.

Investigators photograph the crime scene (Royston Drakes)

'LolaDoll'shotmultipletimesoutside herhomebymanonmotorcycle

...policeonhuntforsuspect

Local artiste and social media sensation

Lolita "Lola Doll" Callender was on Saturdaynightshotabouteighttimesoutside her Texas Square, East Ruimveldt, Georgetownhome.Theshootingoccurredat 23:35h.

Callendar, 33, was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)fortreatment.

Local celebrity and social media sensation Lolita

Kaieteur News understands that the socialmediapersonality'sconditionislisted as critical. She was shot to her neck, face, hands and right leg, by a man on a motorcycle, Police said "Information received that she was shot in her motor car, by a male on a motorcycle, infront of her house,"policesaid.WhentheKaieteurNews arrived at the GPHC, relatives and friends gathered in the compound anxiously awaiting news on her condition. Those gathered at the public hospital joined hands and prayed for Callendar to survive the ordeal. Investigators are on the hunt for the suspect. Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) arebeingchecked.

Persons gathered outside the Emergency Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital Saturday night.

Forthefirsttime,thePPP won Region Four defeating APNU, while maintaining its hold on Regions One, Two, Three, Six, and Nine. The party also secured the most votes in Regions Five and Eight Notably, the results show that newcomer WIN has beaten APNU in

Government-nominated commissioner Sase Gunraj speaks with reporters after the declaration was made.

"The commission has consideredareportfromthe CEO which formed the basiswhichwasthebasisof which was the declarations from the 10 administrative regions. Those declarations were concatenated into the CEO'sreport,”hesaid.

Gunraj also disclosed that the oppositionnominated commissioners, Vincent Alexander,

Region Ten - a traditional stronghold.

The recount, which began on Thursday and endedonFridaycovered391 ballot boxes from Region Four and 77 boxes from RegionFive.

However, when the recountofballotsforRegion 4,Sub-District4(EastCoast Demerara) and Region 5 (Demerara-Mahaica) officially concluded on Friday evening - APNU came out with a few less votes than was initially declaredforthetwodistricts.

Commissioners

Speaking with reporters following the declaration

o u t s i d e G E C O M ' s headquarters, PPP/C appointed Commissioner Sase Gunraj outlined the process which led to the declaration.

Desmond Trotman and Charles Corbin, though presentatthemeeting,chose toabstainfromvotingonthe results.

He said too that all six commissioners and the GECOM Chair, Justice (Ret'd)ClaudetteSinghwere present and no objections were raised nor any reason givenfortheabsentia.

For his part, oppositionnominated commissioner Vincent Alexander said GECOM's Chair, “Seemed not to have known that that declaration was required She probably thought, sharingthespreadsheetwith uswouldsuffice.”

When asked why he abstained from voting, Alexander explained, “Why Iabstained?BecauseIamof thefirmviewthatoursystem

is not one that's geared to produce a free, fair and transparent election, and therefore, without any referenceordeferenceinthe election itself, I refuse to participatewiththis…” Alexander argued that there are flaws in the electoral process including problems with the voters' list, the exclusion of incarceratedpersons,andthe failure to address domicility forCommonwealthcitizens. These he said undermined the basis for free and fair elections.

Opposition-nominated commissioners Vincent Alexander as he leaves GECOM'S headquarters Saturday night.

President

Irfaan Ali

‘Lola Doll’ Callender

Indigenous Imaginations

Indigenous imaginations III, the annual fashion

showcase featured art and fashion by local native designersincludingVandaAllicockisanindigenous woman from the Makushi and Arawak nations, Tasha

Creative Designs, Courtney Mathium Douglas andAneeza Douglas, MATAPEE and Heritage by Lethem Exclusive Apparel. The fashion show held last month ahead of the heritage activities gave a glimpse into the stories of the

designers and their labels In keeping with the commemoration ofAmerindian Heritage celebrations, this publicationwillbehighlightingasnippetfromtheworkof thesetalentednativedesigners. Theirstoriesareasfollows:

VANDA DESIGNS TASHA CREATIVE DESIGNS

Va

indigenouswomanfromthe Makushi and Arawak nations. She's from a village called Surama, in the Rupununi, Guyana. Vanda is a massage therapist but has a passion for being creative and learning new things about her culture. Helping and healing has brought her to creating VandaDesigns.

Her line is inspired by the ancient Guyanese legend of fire and creation, this collection honors the spirit of the land, the wisdom of its people, and the power of balance between nature and man.“Hau,Guyana,”seetheland,wear thestory

MATAPEE

he Matapee

co

f e a t u

e s Indigenous patterns by KatiaFitzpatrick,adentist by profession, discovered her true passion for f a s

h storytellingandcreation.

Katia is of Patamona and Macusi heritage, she blends her Indigenous roots with modern design. Her work empowers other Indigenous women to create, thrive, and celebratetheirculturewith

p r i d e T h r o u g h MATAPEE, Katia brings t

meaningful, and deeply personal.

Manicy Allicock is a young indigenous

designer of Makushi, Wapishana and Arawak descent, 26 years old from SuramaVillageintheNorthRupununi.

Manicystartedpracticingfashionwithcrochetasa way of slowing down and expressing herself. It all beganasahobbythatturnedintoapassionformaking unique wearableArt (dresses,skirts, tops, shirts etc.). Creatingwiththreadshasalwaysbeenherhappyplace andshelovessharingitwithothers.CrochetCanopy byManicy(softthreads,strongroots)wasinspiredto create handmade crochet pieces that reflect cultural pride and individuality.With every piece created is a small tribute to the strength and creativity of her heritage. This reminds us that we all deserve to feel seen,valuedandbeautiful.

MarcellaAllicockisatalentedindigenousartist& designer, specialized in hand painting of wearable cotton shirts. All of her designs are inspired by the wildlife and plants of the rainforest and indigenous motifs. Every painting tells a story, rooted in traditions.Herpiecesaremadetobewornbyanyone who values handmade beauty and cultural connections.

The designer of Tasha's CreativeDesigner,simplyknown asNatashaisaproudindigenous designer who is of the Warrau nation.Sheisrankedamongstthe best indigenous designers in GuyanaandtheCaribbean.

Natasha started her career creating beautiful dresses from bananaleavesfordollsin2007.

In 2009, she participated in Guyana Fashion week creating a full collection for the first time. This runway provided her with theplatformtoberecognized.

Her creative mind did not allow her to stop there and she went on to create the most amazingjewellerycollectionand indigenous costumes. Tasha's Creative Design is known as a brand with unique merchandise thatsetsherapartfromothers.

Her work is featured in magazines, newspapers and Expos in Guyana including(WomeninBusinessExpo),the

JELINA DASILVA AND SELINA PHILLIPS LEWIS

Jelina Dasilva and Selina Phillips are mother and

daughterwhohailsfromKarraucreekanArawak villageintheCuyuni-Mazaruniregion.

Selinastartedcrochetingfromayoungage.Thiswasa skill she learnt in school and over the years it became a hobby

WiththissheCollaboratedwithherdaughtertocreate “OyoKenaOto.

and

They draw inspiration from Guyana's rich cultural heritagecreatinguniqueandmeaningfuldesignsthatblend traditional with modern style promoting culture through fashionanddesign. (Continued

and AneezaDouglasis a husband and wife teamthatspecializesin portrait painting and

animation, mural, backdrop painting, hand painted clothing, tailoringandalteration. Their clothing is made from

andhandpaintedusing fabricpaints.

Caribbean and the USA. Natasha is proud of her indigenous culture and believes in giving back and has facilitated many workshops teaching the banana leaf designs

the art of jewelrymaking.

A beautiful crochet by

Jelina Dasilva and Selina Phillips, a mother and daughter design dynamic

WISHES

The Singing Dentist making the best of both worlds

ByShermanHawker

Apopular particle

in Guyanese proverbs pitch that “easy snake does bite hot,”thetranslationofwhich holds ( if given general reference)thatindividualsof a gentle and reserved

d i s p o s i t i o n a r e

fundamentally the contrast of what they portray, and more often than not are at conflict with good conduct andsocialdécor.

But those who shared a bench with her at the New Amsterdam Secondary School, or who savored her graceful pleasantness in the many music factions she's

etched her undeniable vocal prowess within, and simply all within her familial and social sphere can instantly dispute the aforementioned saying, for Micinthia Patterson, affectionately referred to by 'Cinty', is an authentic case in point of anotheridiom,“whatyousee iswhatyouget.”

By nature, Patterson is quiet,butherprofessionand God-sponsored abilities positively propel her to the social forefront, in two distinguished regards: her servicesasaDentalSurgeon, and to thrill hearts with the alluring chime of her silky voiceasaprovenvocalistin the bounds of the Guyana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

Diligent toil via

extensive studies at the University of Guyana (UG) yielded for the affable Nurney Village, Corentyne resident an Associate of Science (A. Sc) in Biology and a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), the latter of which has been the catalyst for her present profession and for the kickstart of her own'MPDental'services.

PROSPECTSCOLLIDE

Theyoungdoctordidnot become strung up on this decision from the start. In fact, in her earlier years she fancied herself serving society as an animal doctor, forshehadaspotcarvedout inherheartforanimals.

“Growing up, I've always loved animals. My dream job at that time was becoming a veterinarian. I rememberthinkingtomyself 'whenIgrowup,I'llmakean animal shelter or have a mini-busdrivingaroundand picking up all the strays. I always had a soft spot for animals'”sheshared.

But an improbable interest would vie for her affection and succeed eventually While committing to her animal bond, she fell in love with her own teeth, and such a development would set in motiontheverydesignsthat

now give official sketch of herlifeandidentity

Melinda Patterson, her eldest sister and a nursing student at that time, was the nudgefactorforher,asitwas her consistent promptings that molded her mind to dutifully upkeep her oral health and avoid developing rotten teeth by brushing often. “She told me if I did, my teeth would get really white i took this very seriouslyandstartedtobrush consistently, not missing a day Andindeed,Ideveloped reasonably white and healthy teeth. Unbeknownst to me I was subconsciously developing a burning passionfororalhygieneand oralhealthingeneral.”

Following seasons of unusual teeth-themed dreams, Patterson held that these were direct urging along that path Not by (Continuedonpage34)

Cinty shares her talent with her congregation at Alness SDAChurch in Corentyne

Micinthia Patterson at her University graduation

Micinthia Patterson, the singing dentist

20thChinaMedicalTeamforGuyanaconcludesOne-YearMission

The 20th China Medical Team for Guyana is set to wrap up its one-year service in the country by midSeptember this year and return to China. Since 1993, at the invitation of the government of Guyana, Jiangsu Province of China has been continuously dispatchingmedicalteamsto Guyana, with members carryingouttheirworkatthe GeorgetownPublicHospital Corporation(GPHC)andthe Linden Hospital Complex (LHC)respectively

Over the past three decades,batchafterbatchof medicalteammembershave adhered to the spirit of the C h i n e s e m e d i c a l team—”Braving hardships, being willing to dedicate, healing the sick and saving lives, and showing boundless love”. They have introduced new medical technologies to the local area, brought benefits to the Guyanese people, and written a brilliant chapter of China-Guyana cooperation andfriendship.

The 20th China Medical Team for Guyana arrived in the country in September 2024 Comprising 16 members, the team covers a wide range of specialties,

— Deepening the China-Guyana Health Cooperation Cooper

including general surgery, orthopedics, nephrology, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, ophthalmology, anesthesiology, burn and plastic surgery, radiology, andpathology Theteamhas been providing medical servicesatGPHCandLHC.

During their tenure in Guyana,theChinesedoctors have innovated the assistance model. Through diversifiedmeasuressuchas clinical technolog

training, and free medical outreach programs, they

have successfully promoted a profound shift in the assistance work from a “bloodtransfusion”modelto a“bloodformation”model. Relying on technical platforms such as the Minimally Invasive Surgery C e n t e r , Hepatopancreatobiliary S u r g e r y C e n t e r , Ophthalmology Center, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Center, and Hernia Center, the team has achieved remarkable results as of now At the GPHC and the LHC, they

h a v e c o n d u c t e d approximately 11,130 outpatient consultations, performed 2,034 elective and emergency surgeries, successfully treated 155 critically ill patients, and provided 2,898 TCM treatments.

Additionally, the medicalteamhascarriedout more than 140 clinical teaching sessions. Several technologies introduced by the team, including fluorescent laparoscopy, electronic analgesic pumps for childbirth, minimally invasive acetabular fracture surgery, etc , have successfully filled multiple gaps in the local medical field These efforts have

standardstoanewleveland m a d e s i g n i f i c a n t contributions to improving the well-being of the local people Beyond training batches of local healthcare professionals, the team has also continuously offered Chinese wisdom and solutions to address local health challenges. Over the past year, medical supplies w o r t h m o r e t h a n US$400,000 has been donated to Guyana through the Chinese Medical Team, continuing to write a new chapter of China-Guyana friendship with great compassion.

The 20th China Medical

Team for Guyana has steadilyadvancedtheChinaGuyana joint healthcare talent training program

T h r o u g h s u r g i c a l demonstrations, teaching rounds, case discussions, and centralized lectures, theyhavecompletedtheprestudy training for 7 senior local doctors who are scheduled to pursue further studies in China This initiative aims to help Guyana build a “sustainable medicalteamthatwillnever leave”.

In collaboration with Guyana’sMinistryofHealth and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, the medicalteamregularly Continuedonpage34

The launching ceremony of the China-Guyana Health Talent Cooperation Project was held at the GPHC. Seven Guyanese doctors from different fields selected by the Ministry of Health of Guyana will travel to China for a three-month clinical practice training.

Agroup photo of members of the 20th China Medical Team for Guyana and the surgical team of the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

At the Linden Hospital Complex, members of the 20thChina Medical Team for Guyana, Dr. Lu Junjie, a general surgeon, and Dr. Feng Liang, an anesthesiologist, were performing surgery.

This year, I’ve watched U.S.headlineswithgrowing unease, more than 806,000 jobshavebeencutbyAugust 2025,morethanallof2024, with layoffs up 75 percent year over year Retail losses up 249 percent, nonprofits 413 percent, government workforce cuts of 292,000, and nearly 90,000 tech jobs erased, a 36 percent jump from last year Even ConocoPhillips,anoilgiant, islayingoffaquarteroftheir staffbytheendoftheyear

At first glance, these numbersmayappeardistant, but for Guyana, these numbers could portend something dire Over US$500 million in remittancescontinuetoflow into Guyana annually That money keeps families fed, childreninschool,androofs over heads, it isn’t discretionary A layoff in New York or Florida could be a lifeline cut in Guyana, resulting in a silent tightening in our economy where painful realities of poverty are obscured by the strongGDPnumbers.

Cost-cutting and weaker consumer demands are the stated reasons for much of the layoffs in the US, but technology, especially artificial intelligence, is a growing specter A World Economic Forum survey shows 41 percent of companies globally expect to reduce staff over the next five years due to AI. Firms like Oracle, CNN, Dropbox, andBlockhavealreadycited AI in their restructuring. Amazon’s CEO hinted that generative AI will allow “fewer people” to do jobs currentlyheldbyemployees.

The New York Fed; in a blog post based on their August 2025 Regional BusinessSurveyfortheNew York-Northern New Jersey region, notes that AI hasn’t caused mass job losses yet, instead, retraining seems to be the norm, but warns the trend could change as firms

Advancing Education, Technology & Innovation in Guyana…

Guyana’sVulnerabilityintheAgeofAI Will U.S. Layoffs Have a Local Impact?

embed AI more deeply into operations. Essentially, the layoffsmaystillbebuilding. If the steady income of remittancesforthousandsof families is under threat, it would obviously result in less local spending, less demand for goods and services,morelocalbusiness closures, increased social strain Additionally, U S companies may divert capital into AI and automation, shifting away from expansion and international ventures. That could stall Guyana’s non-oil growth ambitions; whether in tourism, agriculture, or tech.Oilisn’tashield,either Even U.S. oil industries are cutting staff amid mediocre prices so just because we have reserves doesn’t mean we’reimmune.

Guyana’s oil revenues can still be a welcome cushion against the bruises caused by a US economic tighteningifourgovernment extends social protections beyond one-off cash grants. What Guyana needs is an expansion of a structured, predictable social protection system, which includes p r o g r a m s l i k e unemployment insurance, child allowances, and targeted subsidies that extends well beyond emergencies.

When governments provide sustained social support, households spend that money on essentials, food, transport, school fees, healthcare. That spending ripplesthroughtheeconomy, benefiting shopkeepers, serviceproviders,farmers.

In contexts like Ethiopia’s safety net program, for every US$1 transferred, the local economy gains between US$1.08 and US$1.84, thanks to the multiplier effect which becomes real economicstimulus.

The World Bank, in a 2020reporttitled“APivotal Moment For Guyana ”

calls our social safety net “rudimentary and poorly targeted,” urging reforms beforescalingupassistance.

The IMF notes that a 1 percentboostinnon-oilGDP through public investment yields a 0.5 percent overall

growth Whether it’s social transfers or public works, properly designed and financed support circulates throughout the economy, stimulating demand, creating stability, and buildingresilience.

With remittances likely to shrink in the future, we cannotaffordgapsinsupport that leave families exposed and local economies unstable. Sustainable social protection can cushion the blow,preservespending,and keep our economy moving even when external shocks strike. IftheUnitedStatesis laying off workers and betting on AI to boost efficiency, we must respond by anchoring our own resilience.

APA joins Amazonian indigenous women to form historic alliance defending territories, rights, and autonomy

The Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) joined its partners and Indigenous Women defenders from across theAmazon Basinlastweek,atthefirstWomen Land Is Life meeting in Tena, Cundinamarca, Colombia. From August 24 to 27, Indigenous WomenfromPeru,Bolivia,Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname, and Venezuela gathered to share the threats to their peoples and territories and the strategies they havebuiltfromtheirautonomy

The women shared the challenges in their territories, ranging from the absence of the State,extractivepressures,genderbased violence, criminalisation, and the lack of women's participation in governance structures.

For generations, indigenous women of the Amazon have been on the frontline, leading the fight for their rights and communities.

From this historic encounter, they created theAlliance ofAmazonian Indigenous Women (AMA). The alliance aims to create a safe, supportive space to strengthen

existingprocessesandinitiativesto defendtheir territories, rights, and autonomy while addressing the disproportionate challenges Amazonian Indigenous women

face. At the end of the meeting, the women signed onto a declaration highlighting four priority issues, namely: violations of Territory –Loss of land threatens cultural identity, food sovereignty, and safety, while increasing genderbased violence and limiting leadership opportunities,genderBased Violence – Territorial conflicts exacerbate physical, psychological, and structural violence against Indigenous women, including sexual violence and human trafficking; lack of Recognition and Participation –Indigenous women face exclusion from decision-making spaces at institutionalandcommunitylevels, limitingtheirabilitytocontributeto governance and autonomy and criminalisation – Women leaders defending their territories face persecution, stigmatisation, and judicialization. The AMA, in its declaration, committed to the following five objectives: Defend

life, rights, health, knowledge systems, and territories of Indigenous women, while eradicating gender-based violence and criminalization; Advocate internationally for territorial and climate rights, emphasising protection for Indigenous women; Strengthen Indigenous governance and ensure active participation of womenindecision-makingspaces; Establish protection mechanisms for Indigenous women and girls in contexts of violence, in coordinationwithgovernmentsand international organizations; Monitor and report human rights violations affecting Indigenous women in the Amazon and the declaration also emphasised the vital role of Indigenous women as guardians of the Amazon and knowledge systems essential for planetaryhealth. Itconcludeswith a commitment to resistance, dignity, and defending their territoriesandfuture. (Source:APA Website)

TheAPAjoined its partners and Indigenous Women defenders from across theAmazon Basin last week, at the first Women Land Is Life meeting in Tena, Cundinamarca, Colombia

Members of theAPAjoined the dialogue in defence of indigenous woman

Policy Officers Sharon La Rose and Felecia Valenzuela represented theAPA.

GuyanaisaDemocracyUnevolved From where I stand...

Yes, we hold elections. Yes, international observers frequently declare them “freeandfair.”Partofthethe issue is how narrowly we ourselves define democracy

For many, including the state, it seems, democracy beginsandendsattheballot. However, it is widely established that democracy issomuchmore.Itiswidely established that its essence restsonasetofcornerstones: free and fair elections, of course, but also equality beforethelaw,separationof powers, independent institutions, respect for civil society and dissent, and systems of accountability strong enough to restrain power

By that yardstick, Guyana has barely left its infancy

Our modern democratic journey is often dated to 1992, when the Carter Centre’s intervention helped deliver elections that ended 28 years of authoritarian rule. That was a watershed moment. But three decades later, it is sobering to admit that “free and fair” elections remain the most - and perhaps only - democratic

credential we can consistentlyclaim.

Andeventhat,bytoday’s measure, is not entirely or comprehensively achieved.

The European Union’s Election Observation

Mission to Guyana described the 2025 polls as “competitive and peaceful,” yet noted that incumbency carried undue advantage, media coverage was biased, and legal loopholes left spacefordispute.TheCarter Centre, which returned to observe this year’s process, echoed those concerns, pointing to weak campaign financerules,misuseofstate resources, and ongoing mistrustinGECOM.

So, even our proudest achievement is partial at best.And this is not new In 1992, when the Carter Centre helped Guyana stage its first credible election in decades, their reports outlined the work ahead: build an independent elections commission with professional capacity; pursue constitutional reform to soften our winner-takesall politics; strengthen judicial independence; nurture civil society and protectpressfreedom.These were the foundations of an evolveddemocracy

Three decades later, those foundations remain fragile or incomplete

GECOM remains highly partisan, professionally deficient and institutionally outmoded, constitutional reform is perennially deferred, civil society is comatose,andwinner-takesallhashardenedintotheonly politicalgrammarweknow

AndspeakingofForeign observer mission, our seeming dependence on them to show up, file their reports, and confirm what is already plain is also part of ourunevolveddemocracy

This colonized reflex of needing the West to tell us what to do, how to do it, whentodoit,keepsusstuck. It is as if without their validation we cannot trust our own voices, our own instincts, our own institutions And maybe that’s part of the reason we have not evolved beyond “free and fair elections”: because we are still waiting forpermissiontogrow.

The 2025 elections, held onSeptember1st,nowsitin limbo.ItisSeptember5thas Iwrite,andGECOMhasyet to officially declare the results. Instead, we rely on preliminary tallies, which suggest that the PPP will return with a clear majority, WIN has surged to become the main opposition in its very first election, and APNU has slipped further behind.

Thedelayitselfistelling. InJamaica,whichvotedjust after us, results were known by nightfall. Here, nearly a week later, we remain in uncertainty Every day that passes without an official declaration feeds the deep publicdistrustofGECOM. Even the numbers we do have tell a troubling story Turnout barely crossed the halfway mark, meaning nearly half the electorate stayed home.That is not the signofathrivingdemocracy, butofonewherepeoplefeel disenfranchised or powerless. Meanwhile, the PPP’s “historic” lead in Region 4 should be interpreted as nothing more than fragmentation within the opposition: APNU’s collapse, combined with WIN’s rise, split the vote in

waysthatclearedthepath.

You’d think this looks like stability; a ruling party consolidatingitsmandate.In truth, it is the logic of a systemthatrewardsdivision, discourages consensus, and disguises fragility as strength. That my friends is democracystuck.

W h e n t h e n e w governmenttakesoffice,the temptation will be to treat thisresultasablankcheque. It is not. A majority should never mean license to rule without listening. If Guyana is ever to move beyond this unevolved democracy, c e r t a i n s t e p s a r e unavoidable.

First, constitutional and electoral reform can no longer be a talking point reserved for opposition years. Every party, once in government, has found the winner-takes-all system too convenienttochange.Thatis precisely why it must change. Our democracy will n o t m a t u r e u n t i l representation is broadened and cooperation is built into thesystem.

Second,institutionsmust be strengthened. GECOM should not be a perpetual source of suspicion Campaign finance cannot remain a free-for-all. Our courts must be resourced to deliver justice quickly and fairly

Third, civil society must be revived Governments respond best when citizens organise, when business, churches,unions,andNGOs refuse to stay silent. If there is one lesson to carry from thiselection,itisthatpeople still have power but only if theyuseitbeyondtheballot.

Finally, political leadership itself must grow up The language of polarizationanddivisionhas served too many too well. But it is possible to choose maturity To build consensus. To govern not onlyforone’ssupporters,but forthewholecountry Thatis what a democracy evolved would look like. Guyana deserves that. We deserve leaders who compromise and build consensus, who govern with fairness, who

strengtheninstitutionsrather than weaken them The elections of September 1st did not get us there but they certainly reminded us why wemustkeeppushing.

From where I stand, the workofourdemocracydoes not end at the ballot box. It continueswithus.

By Janelle Persaud

Frompage14 Mile School and the Linden Foundation “The process was smooth and the turnout was quite significant. By midday, 20 percent ofthevotewasalreadyinplace,”he said.

WEDNESDAY

Withlessthan50%voter turnout…Jagdeoclaimsvictory

With a less than 50 percent of voter turnout General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, Bharrat Jagdeo said that his party has clinched victory at Monday’s elections and will return to government with a larger majority thanitobtainedinthe2020polls. Although not yet confirmed by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM)numberstabulatedfrom the available Statements of Poll (SOP’s) suggest that less than half of the 757,690 eligible voters cast their ballots. In an interview with NewsSource,Jagdeoinformedthat hispartywasinpossessionof99% oftheSOP’s,theother1%coming from tally sheets, where SOP’s weren’t received as yet. Their internal tabulation was completed about05:00hrsonTuesday.

A smiling Jagdeo said: “We’re good at mathematics. We were good in 2020 at mathematics and we’re good at mathematics again, and it’s simple now.” The PPP’s generalsecretaryexplainedthatthe electionsarenowoveranditisnow just the question of mathematics, anyone who can use a calculator wouldknowtheresults.

He said the PPP will be going into government comfortably and withabigmargin.“…nowthePPP willgointotheNationalAssembly withabiggermajoritythanitdidin 2020. That’s very clear from the trendyouwereseeingandfromthe gapbetweenourtotalvotesandthat ofWINandAPNUandalltheother small parties combined. There’s a substantial difference between the votes we garnered at the elections and what they did combined,” he explained.

Noting that they will have an increased majority in the parliament, Jagdeo said they have been trying to signal this to the oppositionseveraltimesathispress conference in the past, based on their polls. “I did say that theWIN party was going to do damage to APNU and they would do so becauseofacombinationofthings. Onethatthereareseveralpeoplein APNUorwhosupportedAPNUin thepastwhodidnotwanttosupport APNUagainandtheywerelooking for a party that is not the PPP,” he said.

Admitting that We Invest in Nationhood(WIN)benefittedfrom this, Jagdeo went on to accuse the party of paying out large sums of moneytopersons“toinducepeople to vote for him.” “…thirdly, they

were running a social media campaign based on lies which resonated with a lot of young voters Voters who might be impressionable and there was a large number nearly 100,000 new voters on their list. So a combination of those things led to WINdisplacingAPNU,astheparty that is second ranked in these elections,”hehighlighted.

Jagdeo said that it is now up to APNU given the strategy they had which was that somehow they felt by collaboration with WIN, would have caused the PPP to re-enter office as a minority government.

“They almost encouraged their supporters over t me to speak

favourable things about WIN and Azruddin Mohammed He reminded that the PPP has pointed outthatthiswassomethingthatwas notgoingtohappen,andtheywere correct. However, he said APNU beinginthewronghastonowface the consequences, “that’s why Congress Place must be a very sad placetoday I’msurethatanumber of people who were vilified by the APNU trolls (and) who leftAPNU and came to the PPP, they must be very happy today because they came to a party that has won the electionsoutrightandwithabigger majority in parliament and their party has now been reduced to numberthreeintheparliament.”

Nortonseesslim pathwaytovictory …Mohamedawaits GECOM’sdeclaration …Hughesconfirms AFCoutofParliament …Amanzaoptimistic ofgainingaseat …BroomessweptoutofHouse

Withthetabulationofvotescast at Monday’s general and regional elections presidential candidate of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Aubrey Norton said he

from Linden, traditionally a strong APNU base, Norton lamented that theregionmightflipduetoexternal influence, including what he claimed was the use of money to sway voters “Unfortunately, in these elections, a lot of money playeditsrole.IthinkLindenmight have been the victim of the money thatwascirculated.Butsuchathing isshort-lived.”

premature and misleading The vote count is still ongoing. Only GECOM has the constitutional authority to declare results,” the partysaid.

remains hopeful that his party will secureavictoryattheelections.

In an address posted on the party’s official Facebook page, Norton stated that the party had fought a good fight despite low voter turnout. He said, “To all members and supporters of A Partnership for National Unity, as presidentialcandidate,Iwanttosay thank you for supporting the APNU.Ibelievewefoughtagood fight. I believe that our supporters didn’t turn out in the way we expected,butinthecircumstance,I thinkwehavedonewell.”

Despite suffering significant losses in the party’s traditional stronghold of Region 10, Norton remains hopeful He pointed to gainsinotherareas,noting,“Weare tabulating. Our Statements of Poll shouldbereadyshortly Wedoseea path to victory once we can maintain the present trend in Region 4, though we suffered losses in Region 10. I should also pointoutthatwehaveimprovedon theEastCoast,inGeorgetown,and intheCorentyne.”

Reaffirming his confidence, Norton urged supporters to be patient and avoid misinformation. “Weaskyounottobecarriedaway by rumors and false statements of poll. Let us wait on the official declaration.Wewillstayontopofit to ensure that there are no irregularities Once again, thank you. We appreciate your loyalty, and we will analyze the situation and strategize on how we move forward.”

In a separate interview with NewsSource,Nortonreiteratedhis belief in a possible win. “What we are seeing is that by the time we finish, if we win Region 4, if we continue on this trajectory, we will win,” he said However, he admitted that any slowdown in the trend could apply pressure to APNU’schances.

Commenting on the results

Norton also acknowledged a decreaseinvoterturnoutcompared to the 2015 and 2020 elections, attributingittopoliticalfatigueand disappointmentovertheabsenceof a coalition between theAPNU and Alliance For Change “The low voter turnout is an indication that people are becoming tired of the political system We need to sit down, rework it, and come again,” hesaid.Hefurtherexplained,“Alot of people were hoping for a coalition.When we didn’t get one, some felt we couldn’t win without it.Guyanesewerelookingforward to a coalition between the APNU and the AFC, and the lack of that moral boost led to some apathy, especially in traditional coalition areas.”

Meanwhile, Alliance For Change (AFC) presidential candidate Nigel Hughes, speaking with Kaieteur News on Tuesday, confirmedthatthepreliminarySOP resultsdonotappearfavourablefor hisparty However,hestressedthat the tabulation process remains incomplete, making it too early to makeanydefinitiveprojections.

“Thetabulationprocesshasnot been completed. If you are asking me to make a projection on where westand,Iamunabletodothat.But it doesn’t look particularly favourable for the Alliance For Change,”Hughessaid.

He also raised concerns about reports amid widespread speculation on social media claiming a Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) win, despite theincompletetabulationinRegion 4.

“From what I understand, tabulation is not yet finished in Region 4, and yet I’m hearing talk ofswearinginanewpresident.I’m notsurehowthatcanhappenifthe process is not complete Our representatives indicated that less than half of the boxes have been counted.Whatwewantisaccuracy and the results, and this should mean that the tabulation process hastobecompletedbeforetheycan makeadeclaration,”hesaid.

Additionally, the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) Party issued a statementurgingcitizenstowaitfor GECOM’s official declaration Posting on Facebook, WIN clarified that only the GECOM holdstheconstitutionalauthorityto declareelectionsresults.

“We are aware of claims being circulated by PPP-aligned outlets declaring an election victory for Irfaan Ali. Let us be clear: this is

WIN further warned that spreading misinformation could create confusion. “Spreading fake news at this sensitive time undermines democracy and risks creating confusion. We call on all citizens and media to act responsibly and await the official declaration.UntilGECOMspeaks, no one has won. Let’s protect our democracy by standing for truth, patience,anddueprocess.”

Meanwhile, Amanza WaltonDesir,presidentialcandidateofthe newly formed Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), expressed optimism about her party’s prospects of gaining a seat in Parliament Speaking with Kaieteur News, Walton-Desir praised her party’s rise and the support received during the electionperiod.

“We remain optimistic, but we are incredibly proud of what we havebeenabletodoinsixweeksin terms of campaigning and contesting the general elections,” she said. “We outperformed in a manner that some critics didn’t expectustoperform.So,wearejust optimistic,wearegrateful.”

While FGM has not released any formal projections, WaltonDesir confirmed that the party continuestomonitorthetabulation process. “Though we didn’t have fieldagentsinallofthestations,we arestillintheprocessoffollowing the tallying of the SOPs published byGECOM,”shestated.

Efforts to contact the leader of the Assembly for Liberty and Prosperity(ALP)SimonaBroomes provedfutileonTuesday

THURSDAY

Mankillswife,setshouseonfire -dieslaterwhilereceiving treatmentforburns

Forty-Six-year-old Ishwar Singh reportedly stabbed his common-law wife to death on Wednesdaymorningbeforesetting their Lot 22, Second Street Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerarahomeonfire.

Their daughter, Preeta Singh, age 24, was asleep at the time, but was awakened by her mother’s scream just in time to feel the heat from the inferno Her father reportedly died later from burns abouthisbody

The dead woman has been identified as 50-year-old Paula Abraham.

Investigators were told that the tragedytookplacearound01:30hrs in the bottom flat of a two-story concreteandwoodenhouse.

The couple’s daughter told policethatshewasawakenedby Continued on page 29

PaulaAbraham and her husband Ishwar Singh during happier times. Singh later succumbed to burn injuries after setting their home on fire.

Frompage28 hermother’sscreams.Shesaidshe suddenlyfeltaheatinthehouseand got-upimmediately

Realisingthehousewasonfire, she reportedly opened one of the doors and ran out of the house alerting neighbours and relatives. When they came to her assistance, Preeta said she noticed fire spreadingfromaburningsofainthe hallwayoftheirhome.

Shortly after, her father emerged from the burning apartment with burns about his body

TheGuyanaFireService(GFS) was called and fire fighters respondedpromptlyandputoutthe fire.

He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he later succumbed while receiving treatment.

His wife was subsequently found lying on her bed motionless withastabwoundtoherneck.Her clothesandbedwerebloodstained. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Quick response by the fire service prevented her body from being burnt or receiving any burn injuries.Onlypartofthebottomflat was destroyed by the fire and the topflatwasdamaged.

Speaking with investigators, the couple’s daughter alleged that Ishwar Singh consumes a lot of alcohol and habitually beat and threatenedtokillthevictim.

Meanwhile,MinisterofHuman Services and Social Security, Vindya Persaud visited family membersandofferedsupport.

The domestic related killing comesoneweekaftera36-year-old man,AlroySolomongunneddown his wife Atiya Solomon, 36, at Charlotte Street, Georgetown. He thenshotandinjuredtheir10-yearold son before turning the gun on himself.

Ambassador:

‘USwillfindwaystowork aroundsanctionedofficials’ …butwillnotengage inanyfinancialtransactions withMohamed

AstheStatementsofPollreveal the results of the general elections, showing the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, led by U S -sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed, making significant gains,UnitedStatesAmbassadorto Guyana,NicoleTheriot,statedthat while the U.S. will find ways to work around sanctioned elected officials, it will not engage in any financial transactions with Mohamed.

Last year, the U S Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign AssetsControl(OFAC)sanctioned AzruddinMohamedandhisfather, NazarMohamed,accusingthemof defrauding the Guyanese governmentofoverUS$50million

in taxes through gold smuggling and bribery of public officials

Despite the sanctions, Mohamed enteredthepresidentialraceinJune and is now poised to take up the position as Leader of the Oppositionaftergainingthesecond highestnumberofvotes.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a European Union Election observation mission press conference on Wednesday, Ambassador Theriot emphasised that while the official results from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) have not yet been declared, the U.S. has experienced dealingwithsanctionedindividuals in governments elsewhere. “I do thinkwehavetowaituntilthefinal results, the official results come out. But I can tell you we’ve had OFAC-sanctioned individuals in government in other places in the world, several in fact and we find ways to work around that… You just have to be creative in ways to workaroundit,”shesaid.

However,Theriot made it clear that the U S will not engage directlywithMohamedinanyform of financial or transactional activity “We wouldn’t be able to workdirectlywithMr Mohamedin any sort of transaction or financial situation,” she stated “But we could work with the people, the other parliamentarians, I assume he’llbeinparliamentandtheother parliamentarians and other people on the particular committees that we’redealingwith.”Theriotfurther added, “So there are ways to work around it, and we will just follow the U S law as it prescribes working with OFAC-sanctioned individuals.”

USinvestments

On the matter of U S investment in Guyana, Theriot noted that the presence of a sanctioned official in Parliament does not change the broader U.S. position on business relations with the country “My message to U.S. investorshasnotchangedinthetwo years I’ve been here, and it won’t

change now Guyana is open for business Guyana is incredibly supportive and receptive of U.S. companies coming here and partnering with Guyanese companies,” she said Theriot added that while individual U.S. companieswillneedtoassesstheir risk levels and make decisions accordingly,theU.S.government’s role is to provide information, not to dictate whether businesses should“de-risk”theirinvestments.

“I think we have to wait to see theofficialresults,”shecontinued. “But I think it’s going to be really important for them to take the results,sitdownwiththeirboardof directors,etcetera,theirleadership, andmakethosedecisions.TheU.S. government doesn’t tell people whether to de-risk or not. We just provide the information on what dealing with an OFAC sanctioned individual means for their company, and they have to make thatdecision.Andatthispoint,the U.S.isjustsaying,ingeneral,come toGuyana.”

Theriot had previously expressedconcerninJulyaboutthe implications of Mohamed entering government, warning that it could impact U.S.-Guyana relations. At the time, she stated that the U.S. was “very concerned” about how Mohamed’s involvement in government could affect diplomatic dynamics between WashingtonandGeorgetown.

The sanctions placed on the Mohameds, Azruddin and Nazar, also known as “Shell”, as well as their businesses and a senior government official, MaeThomas, stemmed from what the U S described as a coordinated and large-scale gold smuggling operation. OFAC stated: “Today’s action underscores our commitment to holding accountable those who seek to exploit Guyana’s underdeveloped goldsectorforpersonalgain.”The sanctionsweretheresultofabroad investigation led by multiple U.S. agencies, including Homeland

installation met safety standards before departing the premises,” Massysaidwhileemphasisingthat theincidentunderscoresthecritical importanceofusingonlyapproved regulators and fittings that meet establishedsafetystandards.

“Customersareurgedtoalways use recommended Kosan regulators, hoses, and clips, and to regularlyinspecttheirequipmentto minimize the risk of malfunction. Asacompanycommittedtosafety andreliability,MassyGasurgesall customers to immediately report suspectedleaks,unusualodours,or faultyequipmenttoouremergency hotline at 592-600-0839, and to notify the Guyana Fire Service in theeventofanincident.”

Security Investigations (HSI), the Diplomatic Security Service, CustomsandBorderProtection,the FBI’s Miami Field Office, and the DrugEnforcementAdministration.

FRIDAY

Twoinjuredin‘gasbottle’ explosioninSophia …Massysaysfaulty regulatorcausedblast

TwopersonswereonThursday injured in a gas bottle explosion in C Field Sophia According to Massy Gas Products Limited, the incident occurred early Thursday morning.

In a statement, Massy said that thecauseoftheflashexplosionthat injured the two persons. “We are deeply concerned for the wellbeing of those injured and extend our heartfelt wishes for their full andspeedyrecovery.”

“Uponreceivingnotificationof theincident,aMassyGastechnical responseteampromptlyvisitedthe location at Lot 121 C Field Sophia at 14:20 hrs. to conduct an on-site assessment in the presence of the customer, Mr King Jarod, the brotherofoneoftheinjuredparties. The injured individuals were not presentduringthevisit.”

Massy said its preliminary findings indicate that the LPG cylinder showed no evidence of leaks, the cylinder’s rubber seal was intact, the cylinder, purchased approximatelytwodayspriorfrom anearbydealer,wasnearlyfull,and a non-recommended regulator was installed.

Additionally,thecompanysaid that the regulator was found to be defective,releasinggasevenwhen intheOFFposition,whichdirectly causedtheflashexplosion.Further, theincidentwasnotreportedtothe GuyanaFireService.

“As part of our immediate response, the Massy Gas team replacedtheunsaferegulatorwitha recommended Kosan regulator, hose, and clips, ensuring the new

The company said that in additiontoitsemergencyresponse, itcontinuestoinvestincommunity safety education and awareness programmes to help households andbusinessesuseLPGsafelyand responsibly

“MassyGasremainscommitted to the safety of our customers and the communities we serve,” the statementsaid.

Dramaatballotrecount …asWINandAPNU squareoffwithPPP

Amid allegations of electoral irregularities,recountsofballotsin Sub-District 4 (East Coast Demerara) and parts of Region 5 (Mahaica-Berbice) and Region 8, Potaro-Siparuni, began on Thursday and will be continuing today

The recounts were initiated following requests made by the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the We Invest in Nationhood(WIN)parties,bothof which claim discrepancies in the recently concluded 2025 General and Regional Elections These recountsmustbecompletedbefore any official declaration of the new presidentcanbemade.

OnWednesday, leaders of both APNU and WIN submitted formal requests to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for recounts in several regions APNU’s presidential candidate, Aubrey Norton, indicated that his partyrequestedrecountsinRegions Four, Seven, and Ten. However, GECOMonlygrantedarecountfor Sub-District 4 of Region Four, deeming that request valid Meanwhile, WIN’s presidential candidate, Azruddin Mohamed, alleged that his party received multiplecrediblereportsofserious irregularities, including missing Statements of Poll (SOPs), tampered ballot boxes, and voter fraud involving non-residents. He described the elections as neither freenorfair.Mohamedsaidthatas a result, his party is seeking recounts in a number of regions includingRegionEight.However, Continued on page 30

Faulty regulator after the C-Field Sophia incident (Massy Gas)

Intact Massy Gas cylinder after the C-Field Sophia incident (Massy Gas)

Frompage29

GECOM denied WIN’s recount request, stating that the party representative who submitted it was not properly accredited to do so. A subsequent request by WIN for a Region 4 recount was also rejected, according to official correspondence from GECOM However subsequently after, the recountforRegion8wasgranted.

The recount began at

GECOM’s headquarters with a focus on 391 ballot boxes from Region 4 Sub-District 4 and 77 frompartsofRegion5.

At around 18:15 GECOM

Commissioner Sase Gunraj providedanupdatestatingthatover 100 boxes had been processed by that time. He noted that 25 tables had been set up to work simultaneously, each manned by threeGECOMstaffmembers.Most political parties had also assigned agents to observe the process

Gunrajemphasizedthat,sofar,the recount revealed no significant changesinvotecountscomparedto the original SOPs. “There may be one there that a question is asked about. But by and large, there has been no significant change in the results,”hesaid.

He confirmed that after completing the count for SubDistrict 4, the team would proceed torecountthe77ballotboxesfrom Region5.

Opposition-nominated

Commissioner Vincent Alexander echoed similar sentiments, confirming that to date, there had been no major deviations in the numbers.

However, the recount process has not been without debate Aroundmidday,APNUpartyagent Shaneka Haynes voiced concerns, claiming “everything is going wrong,”thoughshedidnotprovide specific details Another APNU agentalsoexpresseddissatisfaction withtheprocess,indicatingthatthe partywasnotpleasedwithhowthe recountwasbeingconducted.

Meanwhile, Odessa Primus, General Secretary of WIN, commented on a tense moment duringtherecount.

A video circulating on social media showed a dispute over the validity of ballots marked on the partysymbolratherthaninsidethe designatedbox.

Primus criticised the hostility displayed during the proceedings, particularly from PPP/C agents, and called for more decorum, especially from individuals who haveheldministerialpositions.

She noted that the process should be straightforward and respectful.“Ithasgottenabitbetter after the blow-up a few minutes ago, of course, by the PPP agents, which is very unfortunate,” she said.

Primus went on to identify several infractions her party had observed during the recount,

including discrepancies in vote

inconsistencies in signatures

“We’ve seen SOPs for both regional and general elections signedbythesameindividuals,yet the signatures are drastically different,” she explained. “I can understand over the years your signature may or may not change, but to have such drastic change in not a person, but in all four, in the cases that we’ve seen, three and fourpersonssigning,thesignatures are different. The returning officers, the PO’s signature, however, is consistent on all of thosedocuments.”

As the day progressed into evening,largegroupsofsupporters from the PPP/C and WIN parties gathered near the GECOM office. Notably, there was no visible presenceofAPNUsupportersinthe area.

SATURDAY

‘Gotocourt,notGECOM’–

ChairrejectsNorton’scallto quashelections

Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), ret’d Justice Claudette Singh on Friday rejected A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) request foraforensicauditandtoquashthe 2025electoralprocess.

The party’s presidential candidateAubreyNortonmadethe requestinaletterwrittentoJustice Singh,datedSeptember4,2025.

“With a sense of earnestness, I write to request a forensic audit of electoral data, including electors’ votes,onbehalfofAPartnershipfor National Unity (APNU), entirely based on various egregious violationsoftheConstitutionofthe Co-operative Republic of Guyana and the Representation of the People Act (Cap. 1:03),” Norton said.

Norton in his letter stated that his party is in receipt of various pieces of evidence demonstrating the gross dereliction of duties and negligence of Presiding Officers appointedbytheGECOM.

He said these actions by GECOM have resulted in the “collusion, conspiracy, and deliberateabrogationofthewillof theGuyanesepeople.”

According to Norton, numerous Statements of Polls (SoPs) disclose conspicuous inconsistencies evidencing the failure to have SoPs signed by the Presiding Officers at Polling Stations, contrary to s. 83 (8) of the Representation of the People Act(Cap.1:03).

The failure of the election officers to adhere to 84 (IA) of the Representation of the People Act (Cap. 1:03); the failure to provide PollingAgents with accurate SoPs aftertheballotshavebeencertified and counted, and the failure of the Presiding Officers to complete the SoPs in Form 23 A, contrary to s. 83(9) of the Representation of the People Act (Cap. 1:03) were all stated in Norton’s letter to GECOM.

Further, Norton said the irregularities were brought to GECOM’s attention by APNU’s Assistant Agent (District 4 Subdistrict 4), in the presence of local and international observer missions, during tabulation on September 2, 2025 and formed the basisfortherequestforrecountsof certaindistrictsofRegionsFour(4) andFive(5).

He noted such recounts have revealed further untenable circumstances, noting that it was discoveredthatGECOM’sofficials have adopted biased positions in the determination of rejected ballots and without any legal authoritywhatsoever;andfailedto announce the officialstamp or sixdigit number on each ballot paper duringthecurrentrecount.

Further, he said that serious questionshavearisenregardingthe integrity of the votes cast, as there havebeenallegationsoftampering withballotboxes.

“Moreparticularly,ourdemand thattheelectoralprocessbewholly aborted is advanced in light of the Report of the European Union Observer Mission, now in public circulation The EU Report validates our assertion that the

results.

“We urge all stakeholders to allow the established legal and proceduralmechanismstoruntheir course Once the recounts are completed and the CEO presents thefinalresultstotheCommission, anypartyaggrievedbytheoutcome willhavetherighttofileanelection petition to the High Court, in accordance withArticle 163 of the Constitution,”shestated.

This, she said is the constitutionally prescribed method forchallengingelectionresultsand seeking redress for alleged irregularities that may have affectedtheoutcome.

nationalelectionswereneitherfree nor fair The Report noted the PPP/C had an undue advantage of incumbency,”Nortonstated.

The party leader continued, “APNUrequeststhatyouintervene immediately to direct the Commission not to declare the election results before the completion of a forensic audit of electoral data, including electors’ votes and/or order that fresh electionsarenowdue,inlightofthe circumstances.”

Meanwhile, in response to Norton’s letter, Justice Singh said, “Regarding your request for a forensicauditoftheelectionsorthe complete annulment of the current electoralprocessandtheholdingof fresh elections, it is imperative to refer to the constitutional framework governing electoral disputes in accordance with our law.”

She explained that Article 163 of the Constitution of Guyana explicitly stipulates that the High Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to determine whether any question, whether generally or inanyparticularplace,theelection was lawfully conducted or the resultthereofhasbeenormayhave been affected by any unlawful act oromission.

The GECOM Chair noted that theconstitutionclearlyoutlinesthe legal procedure for addressing concerns about the lawfulness of theelectionoritsresults.

“Therefore, any claims of widespread irregularities necessitatingaforensicauditorthe annulment of the elections, beyond the scope of the ongoing recounts, would fall under the purviewoftheHighCourtbyway ofanelectionpetition,”shenotedin herresponse.

Justice Singh explained that GECOM’s primary responsibility istoconductelectionsinafree,fair, and transparent manner, while adhering strictly to the laws of Guyana.

She said that the Elections Commission is committed to ensuringthatthewillofthepeople, asexpressedthroughtheirvotes,is accurately reflected in the final

“Weappreciateyourpatienceas therecountprocessisfinalized.As the Chairperson of GECOM, I remaincommittedtoupholdingthe integrity of the electoral process andwillcontinuetooperatewithin the confines of the law,” she expressed.

Meanwhile, earlier Friday, President IrfaanAli told the media outsideofGECOM’sofficethathe sawNorton’srequestanddescribed it as “all nonsense, absolutely ridiculous”.

“I saw a letter but it’s all nonsense, absolutely ridiculous. First of all, you lose the elections youaskedforarecount,therecount shows you that you still lost the electionsandnowwhatwouldyou do.AsIsaidthelifeofthiscountry is important and the people continue to see who plays with the lifeofthiscountry,whoplayswith the life of the citizens, who don’t careanythingaboutthecitizensand the development of this country,” PresidentAlisaid.

The head-of-state said the APNU is playing games with the countryanditspeopleaswellasthe electoralprocess.

“We have to keep this country intact, safe; we have to ensure that our international investors are ready to invest and that we demonstrate to the world that we are a democracy that is credible which we have demonstrated in these elections but more importantly that investors’ confidenceisalwayshigh,”hesaid.

Noting that he observed no irregularitiesandtheelectionswere free and fair, President Ali reminded that all of the electoral observation missions said the electoralprocessisfreeandfair

Similarly, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) party and Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo describedNortonandteamas“sore losers”.

“Why would anyone even pay attentiontosuchastupidcall?The elections are over, every international observer group pronounced the elections free and fair The whole country has all the SOPs,theyaskedforarecount,they got the recount,” Jagdeo told reporters.

Leader of theAPartnership for National Unity (APNU) party,Aubrey Norton

GECOM’s Chairperson, Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh

Indigenous Imaginations III

Frompage19

LETHEM EXCLUSIVE APPAREL AND NIIX BUTLER

The heritage line is a collaboration between Lea and Niix Butler who have woven their expertise and skills in producing traditional artwork into contemporary wear The line seeks to highlightindigenousartwhileatthesametime promoting the use and preservation of indigenouslanguages.Inthislinewecanfind the warrau, lokono, arecuna, makushi, wapichan and akawaio languages displayed alongwiththedesigns.

Thedesignfeaturesafrogisdisplayedina petroglyphic format with the word ekonaekan tok which is translated from the arecuna language to mean transformation. Frogs are known for their amphibious ability to live in water and land They teach lessons of transformation that can be emulated when challengesarise.

KAWANARU

Darcy, Daryl and

DollyChambers,are

sistersfromParuimaVillage,the only Arekuna community in Guyana.

Thougheachsisterpursuesa different profession; Darcy, a licensedAircraftEngineer,Daryl a registered Optometrist, and Dolly a Junior Architect, the sistershavealwayssharedadeep

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Kawanaru

School Bully

Emily and Daniel were excited for the new school year They had their backpacks filled with fresh notebooks, colourful pencils, and lunchboxes packed with their favourite snacks. But as they walked into theirclassroom,theynoticedsomethingthat made their excitement fade—a boy named Jakewas standingnearthecubbies,pushing anotherstudent'sbackpackontothefloor “Hey, stop that!” Emily said bravely, steppingforward.

Jake turned to look at her He was taller thanmostkidsintheirgradeandalwayshada meanlookonhisface.“Whatareyougoing todoaboutit?”hesneered.

Daniel quickly helped the other student pick up their backpack. “We should tell the teacher,”hewhisperedtoEmily

But before they could, Jake laughed and walked away The boy whose bag had been pushed,Oliver,lookeddownathisfeet.“He always does that,” Oliver mumbled. “He takesmylunchsometimes,too.”

Emilythoughtforamoment. “Maybe he just likes being mean.”

Buttheirteacher,Mrs.Carter, had overheard. She walked over and calmly said, “Sometimes people act mean because they have their own problems It doesn'tmakeitright,butitmeans theremightbeareason.”

Emily and Daniel thought aboutwhatshesaid.Thatnightat home, they told their parents about Jake. “Should we tell the principal?”Emilyasked.

Their mom nodded “It's important to speak up when someone is hurting others. But maybe you can also try to understandhim.”

The next day, Emily and Daniel noticed that Jake always sat alone at lunch.Heneverhadmuchfood,justasmall sandwichwithnosnacksordrink.

Emilygatheredhercourageandsatdown acrossfromhim.“Hey,Jake,”shesaid.

Jakelookedup,surprised.“Whatdoyou want?”

“Ijustwantedtosaythatifyoueverneed anything,youcanask,”shesaidkindly

Jake frowned “I don't need anything fromyou.”Hegrabbedhissandwichandleft.

Laterthatday,duringreadingtime,their class had to write a short story about themselves. When Mrs. Carter collected the stories,shelookedsad.

The TRAIN TRACKS

“Class,” she said gently, “one of our students wrote about feeling lonely and not havingmanyfriends.Theyfeelangryallthe timebecauseofit.Canwealltrytobealittle kindertoeveryone?”

Emily and Daniel exchanged a glance. Theyknewexactlywhowrotethat.

FeltAutumn LeafKeyrings

Itemsyou'llneed:

Holepunch

Apencil

Scissors

Feltsheets(red,orange,yellow,greens)

Glue

Metalbeltclipkeychains

Splitmetalrings

Leaves(optional)

Marker/pen/pencil

Instructions:

pencil.Cutoutthisshape.

4. Using the same-coloured sheet of autumnfelt,drawashapeofleafveinstoput in the middle of the leaf. Cut out the shape and stick it to the middle of the leaf using supertackyglue.Leavetodry

EmilyandDanielfeltterrible.Theydidn't like seeing their classmates afraid, but they didn'tknowwhattodo.

That afternoon, during recess, Jake was up to his usual tricks. He walked over to a groupofkidsplayingsoccerandsnatchedthe ball. “You want it? Come and get it!” he teased,holdingithighabovehishead. Danielfrowned.“Whydoeshedothis?”

KeepClean

Sometimes I don't take the trouble

To bathe and brush my hair, But then I always feel bad after, As no one wanted to come near.

My parents always tell me to keep clean, But many times I do not obey, I hide and pretend I had a bath, And then dress and get away.

I now suffer in many ways, Apart from many friends leaving me –My skin is always sore and smelly, And my hair rough and dirty.

I have now decided to change my ways, To look after my teeth, hair and body, And always take the time and trouble To keep them clean and tidy.

After school, they saw Jake walking home alone. Emily and Daniel hurried to catchup.

“Hey, Jake,” Daniel said. “Want to walk withus?”

Jakeshrugged.“Iguess.”

As they walked, Emily asked, “Do you want to come over sometime? We have a soccerball,andwecouldplay.”

Jake hesitated. “Why are you beingnicetome?”

“Because everyone needs a friend,”Danielsaid.

Forthefirsttime,Jakesmiled alittle.“Okay,maybe.”

BY UNCLE ROY

From that day on, things slowly changed Jake still had moments where he acted tough, but he wasn't as mean. He even started passing the soccer ball insteadofstealingit.Andoneday, when another kid dropped their books,Jakehelpedpickthemup.

Emily and Daniel learned s o m e t h i n g important—sometimesbulliesact outbecausetheyfeelalone.While it's always okay to stand up to a bully,kindnesscanbeapowerful waytomakethingsbetter The End!

Follow-UpQuestions:

Why do you think Jake was beingmeantotheotherkids?

WhatdidEmilyandDanieldo tohelpchangeJake'sbehaviour?

How can you help someone whoseemslonelyorangry?

1. Draw a leaf shape onto a sheet of autumnfeltusingapencil.Drawtheleafany sizeyouwouldlikeyourkeyringtobe.

2.Cutouttheleafshapeandstickitontoa differentcolouredsheetofautumnfeltusing supertackyglue.Leavetodry

3. Draw around the leaf shape with at least 1/2cm distance around the leaf using a

5.Usingaholepunchmakeaholeatthe bottom of the lead where the metal keyring willbeattached.Makesuretheholepunches througheachofthelayers.

6.Attachasplitmetalringtoametalbelt clipkeychain.Next,attachtheringtothefelt leafthroughtheholeatthebottom.

Top Tip Instead of drawing the leaves freehandontothefelt,collectrealleavesand usetheseasatemplate.

“Complete the railroad track that connects the entrance and exit pieces. The finished track can't fork nor cross itself The digits show the number of track pieces in each row or column. There is a unique solution that can be found without guessing."

Everyhumanbeingisendowed withcertainresources,andweallneed totakecaretomakethebestuseofthese soastogetthemostfromourefforts.

Oneofthemostoftheseisthetime weareallgiveninthesameamount,but which some waste and so fall behind othersinthethingsthatdomatter

We therefore have to make a continuous effort to ensure that we do not waste our time and resources in unnecessary pursuits, and focus on what will work to fulfil the goals we havedeterminedforourlives.

Another way in which we can lose much of what we strive for is by allowingnegativethingstocloudupour mind and as a result our actions. The answer is to keep a focus on what is goodandpositive.

Whatever you determine to do sincerely,yoursubconsciousmindwill keepworkingonit,evenwhenyouare notthinkingaboutit,tobringaboutthe

Improveyourselfby makingthebestuse ofyourresources

resultyouwant. This means that if you start on some project and do not have the confidence that you will succeed, your subconscious will obey andnotworkashardtogetyoutoyour goal. Have a positive outlook, move forward with confidence, and things willworkout.

To make the most of these resources,wealsoneedalwaystokeep ourenvironmentcleanandnotcluttered up with unnecessary things. It is a common thing to hear parents complaining about their children leaving things in a mess, whether it is their clothes, school books and equipmentortoysandotherthingsthey use.

When you work to inculcate good habits into your psyche, these will always be there to keep you doing the right thing, even when you are not consciously thinking about it.

Leaving your things in a messy mannerisnotonlybadforthetime,but it also helps to form a bad habit that is hard to break out of. This can cause problems later at your work place, at home when you have your own and haveaspouseandchildrenofyourown, andingenerallifeinyoursociety Keep your surroundings clean and your stuff tidy always and you will do the opposite –derive a good habit that will

serveyouwell.

Anotherbadhabitthatishardtoget rid of, and one that can hamper your progress in life is the use of bad language – either wrong grammar and sloppypronunciation,andworse,swear words.

Practise using clean and grammatical language and you will make a good impression to those with whom you will have to deal – either privatelyorprofessionally Strivingto always us appropriate language in every situation will also enable you to do so in all your work at school and workplacelaterinlife.

Beagreatteammate. Whetheryou are interacting with others at home, at school or at a workplace, you should alwaysseethatitisimportantforyouto realisethatyouarepartofateam.

Make sure you do your part of the work at home, which includes keeping theplacecleanandingoodorder,along withalltheotherthingsthatareneeded.

Inyourclass,youshouldcooperate withyourteacherandclassmatessothat everyone gets the most out of the time spentthere.

If you are working, it would be much appreciated by your employer if youcanseeyourselfaspartofthewhole group, and work with all others to get the goods and services you deal with deliveredefficiently

SOLVE THE PUZZLE BASED ON THE CLUES GIVEN!

BY ELLEN MARTIN

Use time wisely as you live, Beauty is all around; Look for life's golden rainbow, Hear well faith's joyful sound.

In every valley there blossom flowers For golden-voiced birds with magic wings, While children run and play As the canary softly sings. Each moment is borrowed time on earth, So let us seek the good; With love and peace, in harmony, Let us ever seek brotherhood.

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UKpolicearrestaround425atlatestprotestfor bannedPalestineAction

LONDON, Sept 6

(Reuters) - British police arrested around 425 people on Saturday at a demonstration in support of Palestine Action, in the latest round of detentions of its supporters since the pro-Palestinian group was banned by the government as a terrorist organisation.

Britain banned Palestine Action under anti-terrorism legislation in July after some of its members broke into a Royal Air Force base and damagedmilitaryplanes.

The group, which has

alsotargeteddefencefirmsin Britain with links to Israel, accusesBritain’sgovernment of complicity in what it says areIsraeliwarcrimesinGaza. Police have arrested hundreds of Palestine Action supporters in recent weeks under anti-terrorism legislation,includingmorethan500 in just one day last month, many of them over the age of 60. Hundreds of demonstratorsgatherednearparliament in central London on Saturday to protest against the ban, with many holding up signs that said: “I oppose

genocide. I support Palestine Action.” London’s MetropolitanPolicesaidpeoplehad been detained for a number ofoffencesincludingassaulting police officers and supporting a proscribed organisation.

“Officers ... have been subjected to an exceptional level of abuse including punches, kicks, spitting and objects being thrown, in addition to verbal abuse,” police said in a post on X.

PalestineAction’sban,or proscription, puts the group alongside al-Qaeda and ISIS and makes it a crime to support or belong to the

organisation, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Police had warned ahead of Saturday’s demonstration that anyone showing support for the group would be arrested.

Human rights groups havecriticisedBritain’sdecision to ban the group as disproportionate and say it limits the freedom of expression of peaceful protesters.

The government has accused Palestine Action of causing millions of pounds worthofcriminaldamageand saysthebandoesnotprevent other pro-Palestinian protests.

Micinthia Patterson: TheSingingDentistmakingthe...

From page 22

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whims but instead by divine ordinance, she felt it was somewhatimperativethatshe pursued this field of work, with God weaving the signs forhereveryacademicmove. Andsoshedoveinhead-first with her sights set on Biology and the Dentistry programatUG,bothwithouteven a Plan B formulation, in credence to her faith in God’s direction. As compensation for her trusting and steadfastness, her name in professional context reads: Dr Micinthia Patterson, A. Sc., BDS.

Dentistry comes with much fulfillment for the humble practitioner, for no greater satisfaction transcends the merge of landing areputableanddistinguished career as such, with it being something she genuinely holds passion for CINTYTHEVOCALIST

Separate from her life of Dentistry is her musical shtick, but to blend the two aspects to enforce the nonethelessunchangedidentity,it can be said that her music pushed strong teeth over years of polishing and now takes a major bite of her sociallife.

Cintyisamongstthemost

prominent singers within the local Adventist domain; the young woman whose natural everyday voice assumes a cotton-soft feel is sought after for the riveting rendering of her laidback falsetto distingue which skillfully segues gracefully with the unfailing resonance of chest voice, in affirmation of her experience and capability as a vocalist. She has been for many years a staple for gospel musical events across the country, notably everpresent at Advent Praise and Congress, the two flagship events of the local Adventist Conference.Herfamilyismusicallyendowed,andherown talent was taken under the tutelage of her father, who alsogroomedherinharmonizing.

“God gave me the gift of singing, and my dad was my greatest inspiration. During ourfamilydevotionsgrowing up, he would always encourage me to sing. He taught me how to sing harmony, like Alto, showed me the importance of proper posture, and reminded me to always wear asmilewhilesinging.Mydad is the reason I’ve grown so muchinmysinging,andhe’s also the reason I have confidencetosingwhereverIgo,”

she affirmed, in fondest regard to her father, who instilledstrongChristianvalues intheirhome.

THEBESTFAMILY

Being amongst four siblingsmadeforavery“healthy, happy” upbringing. The youngest of the circle, she has always been dedicatedly guardedanddependablysustained by her siblings and parents in all respects.

“My family has always been there for me at every important stage in my life. Theyaremyworld.Irecall,in myquiettimeasIgrewolderI would constantly reminisce on my life growing up, and wouldprofoundlythankGod for placing such amazing people into my life. My family keeps me grounded”

Cinty and her entire household endorsed the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) faith, and holds membership at theAlness SDA Church in Corentyne.

THEPACIFIST, THEHUMANE

Conflict of any compositionunsettlestheheartofthis known softie. As such, she has been at great pains to digest that even without stepping on anyone’s foot, someone may yet take umbrage withyoufornought.Another

prick to her heart is being inhibited in her human capacity to render relief or assistance to everyone. “As much as I want to, I’m only human and there are limits to what I can do in a day That can be hard to accept sometimes,” she sighed.

In spite of these disheartening realities, Dr. Patterson gleans satisfaction in restoringsmilesandalleviatingoral discomfort.“Thosemoments bring me real joy. Just being able to practice dentistry is deeplyfulfillingandgivesme all the satisfaction I need. I trulyenjoyeveryaspectofthe job and can’t imagine doing anything else for the rest of myworkinglife.Mypatients, whether easygoing or challenging, make the job even more rewarding. Interacting with different personalities keeps things interesting, and forme,that’spartofthefun,” the ever smiling dental surgeon shared.

Sheisassertiveofhercapability to deliver quality dental care services, for beyond the financial gains, the pleasure of being able to be of service to others is never too exhausting. It is all in a day’s work, a day in the life of a dentist, particularly Dr Micinthia Patterson.

20th China MedicalTeam forGuyana concludes...

From page 24 organizes free medical outreach and medicine distribution activities. The “Healthy Village”seriesoffreemedical outreach activities has covered multiple regions across Guyana,withover10sessions held.Theseactivitieshavealleviated the local shortage of medicalresourcesandpersonnel,enablinglocalresidentsto access convenient medical

services.Inaddition,theChinese medical team has also carried out more than 10 free medical outreaches for local communities and institutions insparetime.

Furthermore, the medical teamhaspartneredwithWest DemeraraRegionalHospital, tolaunchthe“ChineseMedical Team Surgery Day” program. They regularly send team members to conduct

multi-disciplinary surgical outreach.Asneeded,theteam providestrainingtolocalmedicalstaffthroughsurgicalpractice, simulation operations, and consultations on difficult cases, covering specialties such as general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, anesthesiology, and plastic surgery

This effort has enhanced the diagnostic and treatment capabilitiesofhospitalsinthe West Demerara region and brought benefits to the local people.

Todate,morethan20complexsurgerieshavebeencompleted under this program, driving the development of primaryhealthcareinGuyana.

Theworkofthe20thChina MedicalTeamforGuyanahas

received wide acclaim from Guyana’s government agencies,healthauthorities,andall sectors of society Guyana’s Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr.HughTodd,andMinister of Amerindian Affairs Ms. Pauline Sukhai have all expressed their gratitude and high praise for the Chinese medical team on various occasions.

Withtheirexquisitemedicalskillsandselflesslove,the 20thChinaMedicalTeamfor Guyana has built a bridge of people-to-people connectivity and injected strong health-drivenmomentuminto the building of the ChinaGuyana community with a shared future.

Israel bombs more Gaza City high-rises after forced evacuation orders

Aljazeera - The Israeli army has bombed another high-rise in Gaza City after telling Palestinian residents to evacuate or face being killedamiditsongoingsiege andimposedmassstarvation intheenclave.

The Israeli military designated more high-rise towers as targets in a map released on Saturday Shortly after releasing the map, it bombed the 15storey Soussi Tower, which islocatedoppositeabuilding belonging to the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in the Tal alHawaneighbourhood.

“These attacks are causing panic amongst the people, especially consideringthetimetheyare given to evacuate. Half an houroranhourisnotenough time for people to escape from these buildings,” Al Jazeera's Hani Mahmoud said, reporting from Gaza City

The Israeli military said in a statement, without offering evidence, that the buildings struck were used by Hamas to gather intelligence to monitor the

locationsoftheIsraeliarmy

ItalsosaidarmedPalestinian groups planted “numerous explosivedevices”andduga tunnelinthearea.

Gaza's Government Media Office rejected the claimsandcalledthem“part of a systematic policy of deception used by the occupation to justify the targeting of civilians and infrastructure” and forcibly displace Palestinians from their homes It said 90 percent of Gaza's infrastructure has been destroyedbyIsrael.

The targeted buildings were near the 12-storey Mushtaha Tower, which on Friday was similarly bombed and razed to the ground, as Israel moves to seize Gaza City despite internationalcriticism.

At least 68 Palestinians were killed and 362 wounded across the Gaza Strip by the Israeli military over the past day, the enclave'sMinistryofHealth saidonSaturdayafternoon.

The toll includes 23 aid seekers killed and 143 wounded by Israeli forces.

At least six more Palestinians also died of

…at least 68 Palestinians killed and 362 wounded across the Gaza Strip by the Israeli military on Saturday Palestinians inspect the ruins of their homes destroyed by the Israeli army in the al-Amal neighbourhood of KhanYounis in southern Gaza on September 6, 2025 [Abdallah FSAlattar/Anadolu]

Israeli-induced starvation, bringing the total number of starvation deaths during nearly two years of war to 382,including135children.

At least 64,368 Palestinianshavebeenkilled and 162,367 wounded by Israel since the start of the war in the aftermath of the Hamas-led attacks on southernIsraelonOctober7, 2023.

Israeldeclaresnew 'humanitarianzone', bombsthearea

Sources at Nasser Hospital,locatedinsouthern Gaza'sKhanYounis,toldAl

Jazeera that at least two Palestinians were killed and many wounded in an Israeli air strike on a tent housing displaced people in the alMawasiarea.

While this area was d e s i g n a t e d a s a “humanitarian” or “safe” zone by the Israeli army early in the war, it has been repeatedly bombed, leading to the deaths of hundreds of displacedcivilians.

Hours before the latest bombings, the Israeli army had announced the establishment of another similar zone in al-Mawasi,

which runs along Gaza's Mediterranean coast It claimed the area will have infrastructure such as field hospitals, water lines, desalination facilities and foodsupplies.

Reporting from central Gaza's Deir el-Balah, Al Jazeera's Hind Khoudary saidPalestiniansdonottrust the so-called humanitarian areaastentsinsimilarzones havebeenattackedbyIsrael many times before and nowhereissafe.

But people in Gaza City havefewoptions: If they stay, they risk

being killed, and if they leave, they face dangers on the road and may have to spend considerable money to move their belongings south.

Thosewhohavereturned totheirhomesinGazaCity's Zeitoun neighbourhood, where Israeli forces withdrew recently after weeks of ground assaults, have found everything they owneddestroyed.

“What we have built in 50yearswasflattenedinfive days,” resident Aqeel Kishko told Al Jazeera “Nothingremainsstanding–buildings, roads and infrastructure.

We are walking not only on ruins but also on dead bodiesofourlovedones.”

Nohaa Tafish said it would be impossible for Gaza's largest urban centre toberevived.

“What would people returnto?Thereisnothingto returnto,”shesaid.

Ahmed Rihem also had his home in Gaza City reduced to rubble “It is as if the entire Zeitoun neighbourhood was hit with a nuclear bomb,” he said

CARICOMandAfricanleaderstoholdsummitonSunday

CMC-Theleadersofthe 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping are preparing to meet with their African counterparts in Ethiopia on Sunday, two days after the Barbados Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, told another gathering of African and Caribbean people that the greatest antidote to their collective challenges is partnership.

Mottley, along with her counterparts from St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr Terrance DrewandGrenada'sDickon Mithcell, addressed the Africa Diaspora Day held underthetheme“TheGlobal A f r i c a We Wa n t : Collaboration Without Borders”.

The event was held as partoftheIntra-AfricaTrade and Investment Forum (IATF2025), taking place herethroughWednesday

Mottley said that the former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, who spoke before her, “left us with a very clear understanding that what confrontsusistheneedfora comprehensive resetting

Shesaidthatpeoplehave been indoctrinated for centuries to believe that one race is inferior and one race issuperior

Mottley recommended the film “Origin”, a 2023 American biographical drama written and directed by Ava DuVernay, a Black American filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer, who is the recipient of two Primetime Emmy Awards, twoNAACPImageAwards, aBAFTAFilmAward,anda BAFTA TV Award, as well as a nominee for an AcademyAwardandGolden Globe.

The Barbados prime ministersaidthefilmspeaks to “the commonalities with respect to caste that would causehumanityoraspectsof humanity to treat one race superior and one inferior, one caste superior and one inferior

“Buttherealityisthatthe greatest antidote comes probably through our economic partnerships, because in today's world, people follow the money, straightandsimple.”

She said that Africa and its diaspora, including the

from an economic perspective, from a cultural perspective, from a technological perspective, fromlanguage”.

Caribbean, “have now to move from just simply the claiming of bonds and familial ties to building the institutional framework and to creating the opportunities fortradeandinvestment,for cultural exchange, for connectivity in a more structuredwaythanwehave everdone.

“The conversations and the rhetoric are simply not enough,” Mottley said, adding, “and I pray that when we leave Africa this weekend, that we will reach an agreement on an institutional framework that will allow us to move to a differentlevel”.

She said the concept of the Global Commission of Africaisimportant“because ifweweretosimplyharness thepowerofAfricaglobally, it would become a phenomenalforcethatcould beignoredbynocivilisation or no country on the planet Earth”.

The Barbadian leader said that this is known to be true, noting that while people speak of India, it is a country of over 800 ethnicitiesbutonecountry

“When we speak of China,wespeakofover250 ethnicities, but we speak of

one country,” Mottley said “and, if we were to look within Africa itself, within Nigeria,youarespeakingof over 300 ethnicities, even though most people only knowthefirstfour

“So, what is it that stops us from claiming the global diaspora and acting accordingly,inthesameway thatIndiaandChinahaveso done?”

Mottley also noted that the President and Chair of theBoardofDirectorsofthe Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Professor Benedict Oramah, made the point that “it is in the reassemblingofourheritage andpowerasAfricanpeople thatwecantrulyreachwhere we need to reach on our terms”.

ShenotedthatthelateSt. Lucian Nobel Laureate, Sir Derek Walcott, once said, “Break a vase, and the love that reassembles the fragments is stronger than the love which took its symmetry for granted when itwaswhole.

“My friends, across the CaribbeanandAfrica,weare t h e r e a s s e m b l e d Organisations shattered are vessels of sovereignty, of ecological harmony, of

ancestralcontinuity

And we can choose to allow those divisions to become deeper at the very time when AI and technology threaten to deepen the divisions and widen the inequity that our peopleface.

“Or we can choose, however difficult it may be, to rise above the insular and the national conversations, to understand that if this world is not going to treat with respect to an international rules-based order, then we are going to seeaconsolidationofpower, a consolidation of territory, and a consolidation of influence.”

Mottley said that if that consolidation of power, of territory,andinfluencetakes place, “I ask the question, what becomes of the individualAfrican countries inthediaspora?

“Itisnotforustoreactto international circumstances. It is for us to be firm craftsmenofthefatethatwe believe is ours and to navigate in this perilous and uncertainworldafuturethat reassembles the vase that wasbroken.”

The Second AfricaCARICOM Summit on

Sundayisbeingconvenedon the third CARICOM-Africa Day, under the theme “ Tr a n s c o n t i n e n t a l Partnership in Pursuit of Reparatory Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.”

The Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat said the summit aligns with the principles of the African U n i o n - C A R I C O M m e m o r a n d u m o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g o n strengthening engagement and fostering linkages between CARICOM and Africa.

The Summit is expected towelcomethepresidentsof the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, and heads of the African and Caribbean development banks, as well asAfreximbank. Representativesfromthe broader AU and UN systems, along with other strategicregionalandglobal partners, including the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States; Permanent Forum of People of African Descent; civil society, and diaspora organisations, are also expectedtoattend.(CMC)

Bar Association commends GECOM for efficient conduct of elections ‘PNCRwillemergestronger....

Th e B a r

Association of G u y a n a o n Saturday commended the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for the manner in which the tabulation and recount exerciseswereconducted.

In a statement to the media, the Bar Association saidthatthroughitselection observation, it was able to monitor the electoral process as well as the recountprocess.

A Partnership for National Unity requested

andwasgrantedrecountsof Sub-district 4 of District 4 and77boxesofDistrict5.

“The Bar Association wishes to congratulate GECOM for the manner in which the tabulation and recountwerecarriedout,the efficiency with which they were completed and for the transparencyoftheprocess. It recognizes that GECOM officials worked with patience and calm in trying circumstances, including heat and space, without adding any undue escalation,” the statement

said.

The Bar Association said that it is also satisfied that GECOM addressed challenges and difficulties professionally, and within thelaw

“TheBarAssociationof Guyana wishes to thank its volunteers for their selfless dedication to observing the process at every stage. It urges all political parties who contested the elections toaccepttheresultsofthose elections for a peaceful and speedyreturntonormalcy,” thestatementsaid.

Frompage6 using state resources and unchecked financing to give itself a massive head start,” hementioned.

Norton noted however, that by contesting the election, his party has retained occupancy of political space that provides the opportunity to contest against “the dictatorial tendenciesofthePPP/Cand advance the cause of social and economic justice, free and fair elections and a democratic culture in Guyana.”

Meanwhile, Norton said his party has found itself in “Virgin territory” of not

being the governing party nor the main opposition party “APNU, of which the PNC is a major party, has a wealth of experience in weathering the political storm.Wewillcomethrough this and we will be stronger andbetter

We will continue the journey towards the goal of making this society a prosperous and equal one in whichallofourcitizenscan enjoy all of the rights and benefits of the national resourcesofthenation.

I give you the assurance that APNU will never abandon or desert you, however difficult the c

expressed.

AccordingtoNorton,the PNCR was also knocked downmorethansixdecades ago, and yet it picked itself up.

“After the PNC's major loss in 1961, the Leader of theParty,L.F.S.Burnham,at a mass rally at Bourda Green, askedhis supporters, “Willyounotwatchwithme for one hour?” Similarly, I appeal to all APNU supporters to watch with us atthiscriticalhour

We are like the oak tree. Wewillre-emergebetterand stronger,” he said in his statement.

Horsepowerreturns:Thrilling‘KeepFit’HorseRacing

MeetsetforSeptember21atGeorgetownTurfClub

After a somber pause to honour t h e t r a g i c passing of jockey Kishawn Parreira, horse racing gallops back into action at the Georgetown Turf Club (GTC) on Sunday, September 21, with a spectacular six-race card organised by the everpopular Three Men

Promotion and proudly sponsoredbyCaribBeer

Originally scheduled for August 24, the meet was postponed in the wake of Parreira’s untimely death at the country’s premier racing event.

Now, with tributes paid and preparations in full swing, the GTC is ready to roar back to life with what

promisestobeahigh-octane return to form for Guyana’s racingscene.

GTC President, Michael Sims confirmed the new date, noting that “extensive works” are being completed ahead of the big day “From the grandstand and track to the driveway leading in, we’re making sure everythingisperfect.Allwill

bereadybynextweeksoour horses and jockeys have the best conditions to race,” Simsstated.

At the heart of the excitement lies the J-Class feature event, where the champion will gallop away with a $300,000 cash prize. Not to be overlooked, runners-up will snag

$150,000 for second, $75,000 for third, and $37,000forfourth.

Sunday September 07, 2025

ARIES(Mar 21–Apr 19)

Feed your mind today,Aries. The day's energy supports growthandexpansion,sowhy not see about learning about something you're interested in? Challenge yourself by readingortakingaclass.

TAURUS(Apr 20–May20)

You're more into socializing today than anything else, Taurus. This could be great providing you don't have a heavy workload. See who's availableandgoforit.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Don't be surprised if you gettingbackintotheswingof thingsmoreslowlythanusual today Noteverydaystartsoff with a bang, so don't be too hard on yourself for this. Just takethingsslowandeasy

CANCER(June21–July22)

Don't be surprised if you're pensive.It'soneofthosedays when daydreaming can happen more readily Your imagination may also be at a peak.Ratherthanfightingthis soyoucanbemoreproductive, jotyourideasdown

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Chattingwithyourlovedones maybemoreappealingtoyou todaythananyotherday,Leo. It may be important to curb this desire if there are many things that need your attention.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

Virgo,youcanexpecttofeela little more energetic today In fact, you may run circles aroundeveryone.Whatagreat waytostarttheday Headout with the confidence that you can easily handle anything thatcomesyourway.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

You might feel like doing something different today, Libra. Everyone needs a break fromtheregulargrindandthis isagoodtimetotrysomething new Perhaps you feel like varyingyourroutine.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)

Start your day writing in a journal,Scorpio.Thisprovides anavenuetocommunicateand connectwithyourinnerbeing. Things you need to do, ambitions,andevenchallenges can appear while you're writing.

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

Takingdirectioncouldrubyou the wrong way, especially if you're set on doing something different. Communicate your ideas and how you want to approach things rather than let irritationgettoyou.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

You might feel cheerful and generous today, Capricorn Helping others will probably suityou,andmatterswillmove along smoothly If there are outstanding projects from earlier,tacklethemfirst.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Makeanefforttoconnectwith someoneyoumisstoday Even ifitfeelspainfulatfirst,you'll feel a lot better once you do. Pickupthephone,writeanote, orsendanemail.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

Today may be a time of heightened reasoning and judgmentforyou Whatagreat waytogetthingsdone!Pullout unfinished projects and get going Tackle issues or problems that have surfaced recentlybyfacingthemdirectly

The full race card includes;L-Open,Two-Year GuyanaBred(Unclassified), Unclassed, Small Horses RaceandFirstTimeStarters Race.

The racing action starts at 1:00 PM, and the line-up boasts a thrilling mix of rising stars and seasoned runners including Top Gun, NiceTime,TopoftheCloud, BenLaden,LionHeart,Kiss Coco, Randy Filly, Top Ranking DR, Dray Adapted Son, and Little Tictack, amongseveralothers.

In a recent statement, Three Men Promotion welcomedallfanstowitness what they are calling “a historic day” for Guyanese sport. Sims added, “People work hard in this country, andtheyneedentertainment. What better way to unwind than with some clean, thrilling fun at the races? Expect lots of new horses, new owners, and plenty of excitement Fans from Berbice, Linden, Essequibo and beyond are already lockedin.”

With the only horse

andastackedlineup ready to charge, all eyes are now on September 21. Will your favourite horse takethecrown,orwilladark horsestealthespotlight?

Come for the sport. Stay for the spectacle. See every gallop, feel every cheer, and witness every finish. The GTC meet is back, and it’s goingtobeelectric.

Formoreupdates,follow the GTC and Three Men Promotion on social media or contact promoters; Micheal Sims 6754894, Compton Sancho 7480963 and Joel Premo 6216503. Kaieteur News will also provide any further update regarding this event as soon asmoreinformationismade available.

Top Jockey Patrick eager to return to the track this September 21 as Three Men Promotion tip off its Keep Fit Horse Race Meet at the GTC

Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League… Lea

Hope, Hetmyer and Pretorius inspire nail-biting 3-wicket win for Warriors -Pollard'squickfirefiftyinvain

ByCliftonRoss

G

uyana Amazon

Warriors snuck past their rivals Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) by 3 wickets as they got some manner of revenge, following a tense showdown during the first match last night at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Led by a Kieron Pollard classic, TKR batting first, turned on the boosters duringthedeathstagesofthe gametofinishnicelyon1675 from 20 overs, despite a topsy-turvystart.

Leading T20 run-scorer, Pollard hammered his 3rd fifty this season and 17th in the CPL, as well as the fastest by any batsman this year(17deliveries).

His 18-ball whirlwind knock of 54 not out with 5 foursand5monstroussixes, was the shot in the arm needed byTKR, who at one pointwerereelingon90odd with their skipper and 3 top men already back in the dressingroom.

Only off-spinner Mooen Ali (1-11), essentially escapedpunishmentasthree other bowlers collected a wicket apiece while conceding at least 20 runs from their full quota of

overs.

Chasing a tricky target for victory, the Warriors got to their eventual score of 168-7 after Shai Hope dazzled with a 46-ball 53 (3x4 3x6) while Shimron Hetmyersmoked4sixesand two fours in his 49 off 30 balls.

Man-of-the-match

Dwaine Pretorius finished the innings with three sixes in his 26 not out off 14, which sealed a nervewrecking chase in their first gamehome.

Left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein (2-35) landed a double strike to send Makeshift openers Ali (4) and Keemo Paul (6) back to thedugout,beforeHopeand Hetmyerjoinedforces.

The left/right combo unsettled the TKR bowlers, who were faced with containing the pair's swelling half-century partnership which looked even more dangerous, as both players settled into the 30'sbythehalfwaymark,as the Warriors looked comfortableon88-2after10 overs. The second half of the game following the strategic timeout, Sunil Narine's (2-12) wizardry took effect as he removed both Hope, shortly after he

got to his half-century and Hetmyer,oneshyofhis.

With the partnership broken,bothteamsbeganto throwblows,asTKRmixed attackyieldedthewicketsof Hassan Khan (3), Shepherd (9) and Quentin Sampson (7).

With 9 needed from the final over, a set Pretorius nailedPollardforahugesix before he and Gudakesh Motie 5* saw the Warriors homewithoutfurtherstress.

Earlier, the brilliance of Pollard was set up by some gritty batting from Keacy Carty who retired hurt, but notbeforegrindingforhis29 off 34 (2x4) which was pivotal in keeping the inningstogether

The overseas killer pair of South African Colin Munro (17), who hit 3 fours and EnglishmanAlex Hales (7) alongside skipper Nicholas Pooran (13) found themselves back in the pavilion by the end of the power-play

Darren Bravo (33), then droppedtheanchorforafew overs, milking the bowling along with help from Carty, as he found the ropes twice with a six to complete his innings, before falling victim to Warriors skipper Imran Tahir (1-38) who b r o k e t h e 5 6 - r u n partnership.

The dismissal of Bravo left TKR stuttering on 95-4 with less than 5 overs remaining, before a possessed Pollard took controloftheTKRvessel.

Pollard immediately freed his arms as he took a likingtoTahir,whowentfor 19 runs in his final over, despite bowling extremely well earlier in the night beforebeingneutralizedbya rampagingPollard.

HisassaultonShepherd, who was utterly expensive by the end of his 4-over spell,wentfor21runsinhis finaloverand46runsoverall with the solitary scalp of Halesunderhisbelt.

Pollard then reached his blazing half-century with a four,beforesealing thefinal over with another crisp shot over the rope to pilot TKR well past their initial projectedtotal.

Shai hope struck another half century for the Amazon Warriors. W (Getty Images)

Guyana to host CBC Women’s Basketball C/Ship in November

The Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) is proud to announcethatGuyanahasbeenawardedthehostingrightsfor the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Women’s Championship,settotakeplacefromNovember9–17atthe CliffAndersonSportsHallinGeorgetown.

The return of the CBC Championship marks a historic moment for regional basketball, as the tournament will be stagedforthefirsttimesince2018,whenSurinamelastplayed host.

Thisyear’schampionshipisexpectedtofeaturetenofthe Caribbean’stopbasketballnations,allvyingforcovetedspots attheWomen’sCentroBasketTournament,akeyqualifierfor theprestigiousFIBAWomen’sAmeriCup.

President of the GBF, Michael Singh, said the announcement reflects both Guyana’s readiness and the confidenceentrustedbyFIBAinthefederation’sleadership.

“Guyana stands ready to host the championship, especially given that it will be the return of this marquee tournamentaftersevenyears,”Singhnoted.

TheGBFpresidentthankFIBAforshowingconfidencein hisfederation,andacceptingGuyana’sbid,adding,“Itshows that they’re paying attention to the work we’ve been doing overthepastcoupleofyears,andmoreimportantly,Guyana’s abilityasacountrytohostinternationalsportingevents.”

Singh added that the GBF will immediately shift into operational mode, working in collaboration with the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Culture, YouthandSport,andtheNationalSportsCommission(NSC) toensurethesuccessfulstagingofthechampionship.

Special attention will be placed on the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, which will undergo necessary preparations to meetinternationalstandards.

A Local Organising Committee (LOC), Singh said, will soon be established to spearhead the execution of the tournament.

The CBC Women’s Championship holds special significanceforGuyana,asthecountryhasetcheditsnamein theregion’sbasketballhistorybooks.

In 1996, the Guyanese women’s national team captured the nation’s first Caribbean title at the then CARICOM Basketball Championship in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

Led by Head Coach Linden “Sancho” Alphonso and standoutplayerKarenAbrams,whohassincegoneontobuild a successful career as a tech entrepreneur, the team defeated Jamaica67–55inamemorablefinalattheJeanPierreSports Complex.

Guyana’s Women team.

Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League…

Harris, Taylor gave Amazon Warriors Women winning start

The first game of the Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL)

saw Guyana Amazon Warriors women beat Trinbago Knight Riders womenbysixruns.

Itwasacloselycontested thriller at Providence

Stadium to get the competitionupandrunning, withthematchgoingintothe final over with Knight Riders needing 16 off the final six deliveries to get off toawinningstart.

Kiwi seamer Molly Penfold was tasked with bowlingthefinaloverofthe game for the Warriors, the first two balls resulting in run outs as Shikha Pandey and Zaida James tried to scrabble runs that weren’t there.

Salonee Dangore managed to scythe a four awayoffthethirdballofthe lastoverbutitwasn’tenough togettheKnightRidersover the line as they fell short of

the Warriors 129/7 by six runs. Penfold holding her nerve admirably to give Warriorsawinningstartand see them head to the top of thetable.

D e a n d r a D o t t i n captained the Knight Riders but last year’s defeated WCPL finalists came up second best to Shemaine Campbelle’s impressive Warriors outfit, Dottin herself fell caught and bowledtoeventualPlayerof the Match Laura Harris, the Australian picking up 3/25 withtheball.

Stafanie Taylor top scored for theWarriors after theywereinsertedbyDottin, 45off37ballswithfivefours andasixbeforeshealsofell toarunoutfiverunsshyofa half century Twenty-yearold debutant, Realeanna Grimmond supported with 33 off 36 at the top of the order but regular flurries of wickets saw a par total of 129/7posted.

Ashmini Munisar

Once Lizelle Lee was stumped off Ashmini MunisarintheKnightRiders reply for 36 the Trinbago

outfit faded with the bat, sixteenwicketsfallinginthe matchastheWCPLgotoffto anentertainingstart.

Promotechpartnerswith WestsideGolfCourse toHostHole-in-One GuyanaChallenge

- Prizes include $500,000 Cash/CPL Tickets

Golfers and first-time players are all welcome as Nexgen Golf brings the Hole-in-One Guyana Challenge to the Westside GolfCourse,locatedjustoff the new highway at the CraneRoundabout.

The event features the largest golf cash prize in the country $500,000 in cash along with CPL tickets and otherprizesprovided byPromotech!

The course will be open to the general public on Saturday and Sunday, offering chipping and putting competitions with exciting prizes and trophies up for grabs. Food, music and beverages will be available on both days but guests are welcome to bring their own food and enjoy a funweekend.

For the first time, the luxu

apartments overlooking the scenic course boasting magnificent views of the new Demerara Harbour Bridge and the Atlantic Ocean will be open for persons who may be interested in stay-and-play packages and long-term rental.

This event promises a weekend of family fun, excitement,competition,and first of its kind experience for golfers and non-golfers alike. For more information or to reserve your spot, pleasecontact:645-0944.

Warriors Women winning start

Guyana