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Wednesday Edition August 12, 2026 - Vol. 21 No. 32
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After 10 days of silence…
Govt. confirms Guyana receiving 50% profit share PAGE
3
...VP Jagdeo, Oil Minister still to face nation MV Barima tragedy…
Caribbean judiciaries rally behind CCJ as internal row erupts ...say public confidence in regional court must be protected
Freed woman back in court for husband's 2009 murder
Mailini Ali
Internal records expose months of warnings, request for urgent repairs
An internal maintenance report is among numerous documents detailing mechanical problems and safety concerns aboard the MV Barima before it capsized.
Suriname threatens to ground Canawaima ferry service over safety failures
Guyana must get more than 50% if country’s profits will fund new oil projects- MP Andrews
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday August 12, 2026
Kaieteur News
Wednesday August 12, 2026
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After 10 days of silence... Govt. confirms
Guyana receiving 50% profit share ...VP Jagdeo, Oil Minister still to face nation After 10 days of silence on the significant announcement by ExxonMobil that the company has recovered its full US$55B investment in Guyana, a government representative on Tuesday confirmed that the country is currently receiving 50% of the profits generated in the Stabroek Block. During the launch of the 2027 Guyana Energy Conference, Head of the Local Content Secretariat, Michael Munroe offered remarks on behalf of Natural R e s o u r c e s M i n i s t e r,
Vickram Bharrat. He was asked by the media to say whether the Government of Guyana (GoG) is honouring the 2016 Petroleum Agreement to ensure the country gets its 50% profit share. To this end, Munroe confirmed that the 50% profit share has already taken effect. He said, “Yes, we have always honoured that commitment, of course if you understand the petroleum agreement there is a cap for cost recovery and subsequently profit oil is
50/50 so that has always been the arrangement and even in light of the payment of the US$55B there is still that honouring of the split of profit oil so yes that's always 50/50.” It is important to note that since the company revealed to its shareholders on July 31, 2026 that its investments have been recovered in Guyana, there has been no official statement from the government on the matter. In fact, the official only provided the comment after being asked a question at the event.
Caribbean judiciaries rally behind CCJ as internal row erupts …say public confidence in regional court must be protected Heads of Judiciary from across the Caribbean have issued a joint statement rallying behind the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) amid an escalating internal crisis, even as they voiced grave concern over leaked confidential correspondence that exposed deep divisions among the court's judges. The statement, issued by the heads of the judiciary of Barbados, The Bahamas, Belize, Guyana, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, comes days after leaked internal emails revealed that five of the CCJ's six sitting judges accused president Justice Winston Anderson of “dictatorial” leadership, panel manipulation and attempts to influence the outcome of judicial deliberations. In their statement, the regional judiciary heads stressed that the CCJ “occupies a position of profound importance as a regional institution and within the regional judicial architecture,” noting that it serves as the final court of appeal for states that have acceded to its appellate jurisdiction, and as the court of original jurisdiction for matters arising under the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas for most CARICOM states. They underscored that the court's authority “rests upon public confidence in the independence, impartiality, integrity and competence of its judges.” Notably, the judiciary heads stopped short of weighing in on the substance of the allegations. “We do not consider it appropriate to comment upon the merits of statements or allegations attributed to individual judges, nor upon matters arising within the internal deliberative or administrative processes of the court,” the statement read. Instead, the group directed its sharpest language at the breach that led to the disclosures, saying that they “express grave concern about the breach of confidentiality which resulted in the disclosure of what appear to be internal communications.”
Despite the turmoil, the judiciary heads affirmed continued confidence in the institution. “We remain confident in the Caribbean Court of Justice as a vital regional judicial institution and in the commitment of its judges to the principles which underpin the administration of justice throughout the Caribbean,” the statement said. The group closed by reaffirming a broader commitment to judicial independence across the region, declaring that they “reaffirm their commitment to the independence of all regional judiciaries, the institutional integrity of the Caribbean Court of Justice, and the enduring importance of maintaining public trust and confidence in the courts of the region.” The leaked correspondence, first reported by the Trinidad Express, showed Justices Chile Eboe-Osuji, Chantal Ononaiwu, Arif Bulkan, Maureen Rajnauth-Lee and Peter Jamadar directly challenging Justice Anderson's administration of the court. Justice Jamadar reportedly described a “toxic” environment and an unprecedented attempt to sway colleagues' opinions during deliberations on the extradition matter involving Guyana's Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed. Justice Eboe-Osuji went further, alleging he had never seen such a level of “dictatorship” in the administration of a judiciary.The revelations have drawn sharp reaction in Guyana, where opposition figures — including the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, APNU's Parliamentary Lead Terrence Campbell and Sherod Duncan and WPA Co-Leader Dr. David Hinds — have called for clarity on whether the internal dysfunction affected the outcome of politically sensitive cases before the court. The CCJ itself has previously responded to the allegations, saying its judges are guided by the United Nations Bangalore Principles of Judicial conduct and reaffirming its commitment to independence, integrity, and public confidence in the administration of justice.
On Tuesday, Minister Bharrat told this newspaper that he will issue a statement on the recovery of costs by the operator but gave no timeline. His commitment comes more than 10 days after the news was shared with shareholders of the American oil giant by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman of Exxon, Darren Woods. For his part, president of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), Alistair Routledge provided insight on the use of the US$55 billion in Guyana. He told reporters at the event with Munroe, “It has been used to invest in major developments that have taken place in Stabroek, starting with Liza One and L i z a Tw o , P a y a r a , Yellowtail, Uaru which is about to startup, Whiptail which is on the way. It has been well invested as we have seen for the revenue streams that are flowing now as we've made clear that indeed with the higher oil price that we've seen this year and higher oil production we can be able to accelerate the repayment of those upfront investments that have been made in the Stabroek Block.” The recovery of investments by the Stabroek Block partners means that
Guyana is now entitled to a larger share of profits in keeping the PSA. In accordance with the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), the contractor is allowed to deduct 75% of the oil produced monthly to recover its investments. The remaining 25% is then split with Guyana as profits, meaning the country collects 12.5% of profits. After Exxon recovers its investment, the country will be entitled to 50% of the oil produced, after the operator takes out operating and other expenses. Some stakeholders have already explained that while this would not mean 50% for Guyana, it would increase the country's current share from 12.5%. In fact, Leader of the Opposition, Azruddin Mohamed estimates that the country's earnings could now triple. The businessman said, “Let me give you an example. Let's say we are
Head of the Local Content Secretariat under the Ministry of Natural Resources, Michael Munroe
producing 920,000 barrels of oil per day; that means in a month we will be producing 27,600,000 barrels per month. And before, we would receive 12.5% profit oil and 2% in royalties from that amount, giving us 4,002,000 barrels multiplied by the average of 80 USD, that's 320,160,000 USD per month. Now, if we receive three times more, we could receive 12,006,000 barrels. At an average of 80 USD per barrel, that equates to 960,480,000 USD (per month).” Former Finance Minister Winston Jordan also posited that instead of 75% cost, expenditure could fall to about 37%. He said, “I've seen calculations where expenditure could go down to about 37% of revenues, which would leave 63% as profit to be shared equally between. That means GoG would be entitled to 31.5%+2% royalty = 33.5%.”
Kaieteur News
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Wednesday August 12, 2026
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: DR. GLENN LALL - TEL: 624-6456 Editor-In-Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
‘Stand Up, Speak Out’ — Lincoln Lewis urges Guyanese to resist intimidation and defend their rights
right, including ensuring protection role. DEAR EDITOR, Guyanese outrage When I look at some Black men in from discrimination. You have the Last February, I had cause to address the matter of speaking out and standing the political hustings, the dishonesty opportunity to go into the lion’s den and I return that they spew so freely would suggest lead the charge to right the wrongs in over 50% profit split toforthiswhatinislightjustofandwhatfair.isToday, happening in that their association was not of free will society, not condone and perpetuate
The call is for Guyanese outrage over the government’s silence on what should be the new 50:50 profit split between ExxonMobil and Guyana, as a result of the US$55B investment being recovered in full. Guyanese outrage would be a phenomenal development. There is no bigger issue before them than the change in the Guyana-ExxonMobil profit relationship. The monies owed to the company have been repaid from Guyana’s oil revenues, which means that it is time that real money started flowing into the Natural Resource Fund. It would be inspiring to see some sustained outrage from citizens. After all, they are the ones who stand to benefit, or they are the ones who will continue to lose. The silence of the government at a time like this is surprising, some would say shocking. We at this paper stick to surprising for the time being. When President Irfaan Ali starts talking, he is hard to stop. But he is not the chief spokesman, nor the first voice, for this 50% profit moment. That honor is the sole preserve of Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, the PPP/C Government’s chief policymaker for the oil and gas sector. He should have said something by now. Yet he has not said a word. If anything, he has been seemingly extremely careful to keep a safe distance from the ExxonMobil debt (investment) liquidation and the raft of interest in the mouthwatering 50:50 profit split that should now replace what was in existence before. Gone is half of 25%. Gone is 75% cost recovery. Knocking loudly on the door is the 50:50 profit split from Profit Oil. Profit oil represents the billions remaining after operating expenses have been subtracted from gross oil revenues. The PPP/C Government should be most excited to be in charge at this time. From the sounds coming out of the government, it seems that there is a wake in progress. President Ali could have paused his travels, should have found a minute, to verbalise his delight at the 50:50 profit split that ushers in a new era for Guyana. The president seems to be the chief mourner, but over what we are still trying to determine. But we give President Ali some space, as he has his hands full. Recall also that he has delegated to another responsibility for the lucrative oil and gas sector. Really and truly, this is the Bharrat Jagdeo hour. How can it be otherwise? Vice President Jagdeo has been the Guyanese spearhead in this brand-new business and sector. Vice President Jagdeo has been the lynchpin of this offshore natural resource that has been so rich. A natural resource that has Guyanese learning a new language, while absorbing and trying to understand the full might of billions of US dollars. Vice President Jagdeo is the General Manager and Managing Director of Guyana’s oil and gas sector. He should be the happiest man, the most energised political leader, in this country today. We have two questions. Has anybody heard from Jagdeo? It would have been inspiring to hear a few words from him in the context of the 50:50 profit split. And second, has anybody seen Jagdeo? He cannot disappear now. He should not be sheltering behind a veil of silence. What is there to hide from? Could it be that he is fearful? We see nothing in this development involving a 50:50 profit split with ExxonMobil as something to induce fear. So, what could be at work? We recall how Vice President Jagdeo would be the first out of the blocks at the first whisper of any kind of news, whether it was the oil and gas portfolio or not. For development in the oil and gas sector, he has called more than one special press engagement (and overnight) to make his representations and ensure that his points reach far and wide. So, where is he? We agree that Guyanese should be outraged. But we also think that they must have some understanding of what is out there. Is Jagdeo out there, as in battling for Guyanese? Or is his silence a cover for some surprise that is on its way. When Jagdeo is so silent, this does not bode well.
the country. I must admit that if national activism continues, the future bodes well for good governance and our common pursuit of living in peace and harmony. For too long, the Jagdeo/Ali regime has been allowed to run roughshod over the people, believing that threats and other forms of intimidation and economic coercion will achieve silence and complicity. In last week’s article, I applauded the young generation for finding its voice and sincerely hoped this would grow louder, not become a whimper. We must speak fearlessly. We want level-minded, law-abiding, and decent people in society to speak out when there are violations, for it comes back to what we say: “a threat to one is a threat to all.” None must be scared to stand up and speak out when he or she sees issues that reek of lawlessness, discrimination, violations of rights—including the right to thrive—or efforts to falsely rewrite history. If we do not speak for ourselves, who will speak for us? We must speak out when things bother us, when we feel discomfort, and when matters affect us negatively as a people. Every case must be judged on its merit. Today, I continue to take note of fellow Black men taking unprincipled stands in order to politically associate or to financially benefit. In the month when many of our ancestors paid the ultimate price for us to be free, we must stop and take stock of ourselves. The Black man has long been regarded as the head of the household and guardian of family and community, historically expected to protect and provide while carrying himself with dignity and responsibility befitting that
but came with a price. It appears to matter little to them the example they are setting in the halls of power and, more importantly, what they are telling younger generations who should be looking up to them as examples. The price of losing their dignity in public life while carrying the chalice of dishonesty—being bad dogs on matters that could have easily been factchecked—is troubling. As these black leaders trip over themselves to do their masters’ bidding, they must take note that history will be harsh on them and their descendants, for what is a man without a spine, pride, and decency? They appear unconcerned that they are setting an example to others, including their offspring and better halves, that it is acceptable to be deceitful, to place dignity under one’s feet for association, and to accept being treated as less than. This is unacceptable and should not be countenanced. There is still value in standing on one’s feet and fighting with dignity rather than living on one’s knees. Persons must reach within themselves and find the gumption to say no to those who see them as useful utensils to degrade themselves, their ancestors, and a proud legacy that, though fraught with oppression, saw a people rise up, fight back, and succeed with their dignity intact. Do not trample on this legacy for a mess of pottage or merely to associate. Use your association instead to say to the PPP that those who do not support that party are exercising their constitutional right to freedom of association, and what we as a government must do is respect that
them. As I am also on this matter, I take note that the regime has threatened to go after social media operatives. From statements uttered, the ones that will be targeted are those whose comments the regime finds offensive. Let us not allow this new encroachment on our rights to be met with silence. The economic marginalisation and discrimination of workers and their representative arms—the trade unions—are also of growing concern. Denying union deductions in accordance with collective labour agreements is intended to snuff out their lifeblood and deny workers representation in fighting for improved conditions of employment, promotion, remuneration, and benefits. Even as the Ali/Jagdeo regime does this to some workers, it ensures the survival of politically aligned unions and their members through adherence to agreements and subsidies to keep the beleaguered GuySuCo afloat. Meanwhile, bauxite workers are still awaiting their rightful termination packages, an issue requiring ministerial intervention. The above are issues the Black leaders in the PPP should place on the table, for they adversely impact society, as well as the dignity and economic well-being of individuals and the communities from which they emerged. There should be a clarion call for parity in treatment and adherence to the Constitution and laws of Guyana for all, without fear, favour, or ill will. As our ancestors counselled, there is dignity in doing what is right—and now is always the time to do what is right. Sincerely, Lincoln Lewis
From Jagan to Ali: Rohee says every PPP/C president has faced the ‘Rocking’ DEAR EDITOR, Ever since the PPP/C came to power in 1992, every one of its presidents experienced a period that ‘rocked’ their presidency. The ‘rocking’ was characterised by social unrest or political protest of varying degrees. ‘Rocking’ can be defined as a period when the citizenry in general, perceives government accountability and good governance as lacking; and, as a consequence, public anger is expressed in such a manner that government is forced to accede to demands, to reconsider, repair or reform. ‘Rockings’ usually take place due to a combination of socio-politico factors occasioned by circumstances whose genesis was due neither to the action or inaction of the sitting president. Moreover, in most cases, ‘rockings’ are engineered by opposition elements
who, in their efforts to exploit the situation obtaining at the time, casts the state, government and ultimately the president, as responsible and culpable for what may have given rise to the ‘rocking.’ In the eyes of its opponents, no government enjoys the distinction of being flawless. Governments they claim, pursue policies that should be withdrawn or make administrative decisions that attract criticisms; but realistically, none of the perceived flaws are neither a constitutional infraction or a criminal offence. It was either theatre or politics or both engineered by the opposition. In every case, it was rarely the President, who, by virtue of a criminal or unconstitutional act that gave rise to political protest. In some cases, it may have been the perceived lack of ministerial oversight that brought about
the unrest or protest. But here again, notwithstanding the fact that it was not the president who was the protagonist, nevertheless, it is the president who must face the brunt of attacks by the opposition. The point here is, whenever ministers come under a cloud it is president who must ensure it doesn’t rain. The following examples of presidential ‘rocking’ should suffice. Opposition elements raised a hue and cry in October 1996 over a speech delivered by President Cheddi Jagan at an event held at the Travelodge Hotel in Toronto, Canada. Both protestors and sections of the media decontextualised Jagan’s speech falsely claiming it contained racial overtones. Eventually, Jagan issued a public apology. Following Janet Jagan’s victory at Continued on page 5
Kaieteur News
Wednesday August 12, 2026
PAGE 05
July’s Oil Profits Should Be at Least 100 Times the Amount Needed to Salvage MV Barima
The government has stated that it may cost from US$8 to US$10M to salvage MV Barima. That amount is a drop in the ocean compared
with the expected oil profits for the rest of the year. In its 2Q2026 call, Exxon stated, “Again, as we mentioned, at this point,
we’ve fully recovered the $55 billion of investment along with all the operating costs.” Guyana should therefore start to have ample
cash flowing in to raise the MV Barima. In 2026, using production data from https://petroleum.gov.gy/dat
Guyana Oil Production — First 6 Months of 2026 Month
Total Barrels Produced
January 2026 February 2026 March 2026 April 2026 May 2026 June 2026 Avg per Month
Avg. Brent Crude Price (US$/bbl)
28,375,332 25,697,948 28,345,600 27,083,049 27,719,800 26,080,430 27,217,027
$66.60 $70.89 $103.13 $117.29 $107.14 $85.40 $91.74
From Jagan to Ali: Rohee says every PPP/C... From page 4 the polls in December 1997, the opposition rejected the results and launched a number of street protests mainly in Georgetown. President Jagan was to later apologise for throwing away a court order. Then, following her speech in parliament in February 1998, the presidential vehicle in which she was travelling was stoned by protestors. Street protests and a 57- day strike by public servants only compounded the unrest faced by the Janet Jagan presidency. President Bharrat Jagdeo was confronted with a wave of antigovernment street protests in July 2002. Demonstrators had forced their way into the presidential compound; their action was viewed as an “attack” and an attempt to assassinate President Jagdeo. Two men were killed while two others were charged with “encouraging others by words and conduct to unlawfully overtake and storm” the presidential complex. Jagdeo was wrongly criticised by the opposition for the criminal rampage unleashed by the ‘Fineman Gang’ who were suspected of killing 11 residents in 2006 at Lusignan on the East Coast. Worse yet, the opposition spuriously claimed that Jagdeo was responsible in the same year for the shooting to death of Minister Satyadeo Sawh, his siblings and a guard. Huge street demonstrations erupted mainly on the East Coast and West Berbice . Following the 2011 elections, Donald Ramotar’s presidency was characterised by its minority representation in parliament and harsh budgetary constraints imposed on his government by an oppositiondominated parliament. In March 2012,
Protests and confrontations with the police in Linden resulted in the shooting to death of three protestors at the Wismar/McKenzie bridge. More demonstrations followed. In November 2014, in keeping with Guyana’s constitutional provisions, President Ramotar decided to prorogue parliament in preparation for fresh elections. Street protests and marches took place in Georgetown. Compounding the situation were challenges that had arisen as regards the holding of local government elections. President Irfaan Ali was confronted by street protests due to the killing of teenage cousins in September 2020 at West Berbice. Protests spread to the East Coast where protestors went on a rampage looting and destroying private property at market places. The death of an 11-year-old girl at a hotel at the East Bank of Essequibo and a controversy over the cause of death resulted in widespread street protests at East and West Demerara and in Georgetown. Several autopsies notwithstanding, the controversy entered the public domain as though it was an established fact and assumed a life of its own. The tragic loss of lives with the sinking of the MV BARIMA added another layer to the rounds of legacies apparently bequeathed by destiny to every sitting PPP/C president. In the circumstances, if there is one consolation for President Ali it is that he is not alone in the pantheon of his erstwhile colleagues who, during their tenure passed the same way during their respective tenures. Whenever social unrest or protest erupted, at source, it had nothing to do with the president. Nevertheless, it was
not uncommon for the president to be dragged into the matter nor to hear demands for him to take corrective action. Under such conditions, it would come as no surprise were the President to announce initiatives to assuage public outrage and to fend off attempts to disrupt the guardrails of democratic governance. The main task of the President would be to keep government intact and to make every effort to reverse any sign showing any loss of influence or public confidence in the Presidency. Accountability and transparency and ending corruption are considered pillars of good governance. However, the three precepts are infectious. They are leveraged by opposition elements to justify social unrest and protest actions utilised to exploit a given situation and to embarrass the government of the day. Rather than looking backward, we should look forward to overcoming and grappling with challenges by engaging in constructive dialogue in search of solutions and avoid weaponising issues just for the sake of protest actions. The time has come to inoculate ourselves as a nation against the virus that makes it a practice where each and every sitting President must experience a ‘rocking.’ That Everyone is equal before the law is inviolable. But the system must have the ability to distinguish between suspicion and evidence; between constitutional accountability and criminal accountability. Today, just as there are many who accuse, judge, and destroy with words, there many more who are willing to build something better. Yours faithfully, Clement J. Rohee
a-chart/oil-production/, we can see that, for the first six months, an average of about 27.2 million barrels were produced per month, with an average selling price of US$91.74. Given that Exxon stated in its investor call covering the quarter ended June 30 that the investment costs for the projects had been recovered, we can expect Guyana to start receiving profits significantly greater than the meager 12.5% of revenue. We estimate that operating costs are around US$10 per barrel, based on HESS stating that the cash unit cost in 2027 would be US$10/barrel (see the 2Q2023 HESS earnings call transcript). In the table below, we s h o w w h a t G u y a n a ’s expected profit take for July could be, excluding the 2% royalty, for oil prices ranging from US$80 to US$120. The war started at the end of February 2026; we use a range of Brent crude prices that reflects prices after the war started. As can be observed from the table, even at US$80/barrel, Guyana
should receive about US$953 million in profits for July, or about 100 times the estimated cost of salvaging the MV Barima. At US$120/barrel, Guyana should receive about US$9 billion during the second half of 2026, or about 1,000 times the amount needed to salvage the MV Barima. The Guyanese who perished in the MV Barima will never experience the benefits of the vast sums of money flowing up from the bottom of the ocean. But surely, we can more than afford to lift their bodies from the bottom of the ocean and give their families closure through a proper burial; and provide the injured family members with sufficient emotional and financial support to reduce their inter-generational pain and suffering. The Government must step-up and deal compassionately with this national tragedy. Darsh Khusial Kenrick Hunte Joe Persaud Mike Persaud On behalf of OGGN, a 501(c)(3) organization
532 girls in emergency care, only 124 police cases — where did the others go? DEAR EDITOR, The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security have given some data about girls who have experienced abuse. Kaieteur News has reported that in parliament, the Ministry of Home Affairs says the Guyana Police Force handled 124 cases of domestic and family violence, while the Ministry of Human Services reported that 532 girls entered into emergency care between 2020 and 2025. MP Amanza Walton had asked about data for girls experiencing domestic violence. It is unfortunate that the two ministries seem to be operating in silos with their data and operations as it relates to child abuse. Should the nation assume that only 23% of the cases of abuse against girls ever reached the police? How many of those 124 cases reached the court system? How many of the cases resulted in conviction? How many of those cases included sexual offences? Who in the government is tracking the cases across the different agencies, and who is responsible for sharing this data so that the public can use it to help with the prevention efforts? What happened to the perpetrators of the abuse of the 408 girls that the Ministry of Human Services had in care? What will the parliament do now about justice for those children , when their cases do not hit the justice system? Yours sincerely, Vidyaratha Kissoon
Kaieteur News
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Nigg fatal accident…
Dr. Ramayya rejects drunk-driving claims, released on $200,000 station bail Dr. Veerasammy Ramayya of Whim Village, Corentyne, was released on $200,000 station bail on Tuesday following a fatal accident on Saturday night that claimed the life of 42-year-old pedestrian Ishwarnauth Bisram. According to reports, Ramayya’s vehicle struck Bisram as he was attempting to cross the Nigg Public Road, Corentyne. Ramayya, a prominent political figure in Region Six and former Regional Executive Officer (REO), was taken into police custody on Saturday evening and released at around 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, according to information reaching Kaieteur News. In an exclusive interview with this publication hours after his release, Ramayya described the incident as unfortunate and maintained that he was not driving under the influence of alcohol. Ramayya said he was returning home from a wake at Reliance, East Canje, Berbice, when the accident occurred. “I left the wake house about 9:05, and I got to the main road and I was coming home, heading east on the public road. When I reached Nigg, nothing was in front of me then. All of a sudden, this man came across the road from the southern side across to the northern side of the road. I made contact. He came straight into the car, directly into the middle. I hit this man with my right-side light, and he fell and rolled on the other side,” Ramayya explained. He said that after driving approximately 200 feet, he stopped his vehicle and walked back to the scene. He then sent an acquaintance to the Albion Police Station to report the accident. Several men subsequently assisted Bisram into a vehicle, which transported him to the Port Mourant Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Ramayya was subsequently taken into police custody. Following the incident, family members of Bisram demanded justice, while several individuals alleged that Ramayya had been driving under the influence of alcohol. Ramayya strongly denied the allegation.
Dr. Veerasammy Ramayya “I don’t drink,” he stated. He also referred to a breathalyser test conducted by police on Saturday night, which, according to information provided to h i m , r e c o r d e d 11 m i c r o g r a m s o f alcohol—below the legal limit. Ramayya further pointed to his driving history in rejecting suggestions that he had been driving recklessly or while intoxicated. “Over 58 years I have my licence, I never had an accident. I never go to a police station; I never sleep in a lockup. Fifty-eight years, not one accident. My record is completely clear,” he said. Ramayya said the incident has left him deeply shaken and has taken a toll on his health. However, he said he is prepared to have the matter adjudicated by the court and hopes to vindicate himself through the legal process. Meanwhile, Bisram, a father of three, was a well-known businessman from Cumberland, East Canje, Berbice. He was formerly of the Belvedere Squatting Area, Corentyne. Police investigations into the fatal accident are continuing.
Wednesday August 12, 2026
Nine Guyanese doctors to pursue advanced medical training in China D r. C a r l a R e i d i s a n ophthalmologist at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) who is among nine Guyanese doctors preparing to undertake three months of advanced medical training in China. Dr. Reid has worked in the field for the past five years and is excited for the exposure, which she believes will help her strengthen her clinical and surgical skills. The doctors are expected to undergo training in Jiangsu, China, from September to December 2026. The programme is part of the ongoing health cooperation between Guyana and China, with emphasis on strengthening the skills and capacity of local healthcare professionals. Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Tuesday, the eye specialist said she wants to make a difference when she returns. “I’ll be able to share that knowledge with my colleagues, with other healthcare professionals, especially at a health centre setting, so that we can improve screening for patients with ophthalmological conditions,” she said. Medical Officer attached to the Pathology Department, Dr. Rolan Persaud plans to use his training to strengthen knowledge-sharing within the pathology department through teaching, presentations and the dissemination of information to colleagues. He said the exposure to pathology practices outside Guyana will broaden his understanding of diagnostic and teaching methods and allow him to bring new ideas back to the local healthcare system. “Basically, what I would like to get out of this training in China is to broaden my perspectives and experience within pathology being done outside of the country, to learn from those experiences and then
Ophthalmologist, Dr. Carla Reid
Dr. Rolan Persaud
GPHC’s Chief Executive Officer, Robbie Rambarran translate them back to my colleagues,” Dr. Persaud said. Moreover, he described the programme as an important opportunity to advance medical care and improve the quality of services available to Guyanese. The other participants include Dr. Shazad Hussain; Dr. Joseph Torres; Dr. Tiffany Fiedtkou; Dr. Obadelle Thorne; Dr. Randell Collins; and Dr. Ranvir Gajraj. At a simple ceremony on Tuesday, GPHC’s Chief Executive Officer, Robbie Rambarran, thanked the Chinese government, the Chinese medical team, and Sinoc Petroleum Guyana Limited for supporting the initiative, noting that the partnership has also contributed medical supplies, equipment and technical expertise to Guyana’s health sector. In her brief remarks, Chinese Ambassador to Guyana HE Yang Yang noted that the latest cohort builds on years of cooperation. She highlighted the continued provision of medical training opportunities, including seven Guyanese doctors who completed residency training in China last year. (DPI)
T N U L B . . . T B N U T L N T B . U . L . L T B . N . U . N U T L N B . U . T . L N T U N B . N U . . L U L LUNT B . T . . T T N N B U B . U . L . L T B . B . . N . . . T T LU N N T U U L N L B U . B . . L . . . T B T . . N . N T U L N LU B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B CCJ crisis U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . N T B . . U N . L T U B L N . . B . U . . T L . N T B . . U N . L N T B U N . . L . U T B L . . N B . . . T U . L N T B U . . L . UN T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N B U U .BLUNT. . . L . T B . . N . T U . L N . T B U . UN .BLUNT.. UNT...BL T...BL . L N . T B U . . L LUN ...BLUNT. LUNT...B NT...BL T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U BBL T...BLUN BLUNT... ...BLU . T . N . N T T U L U N L B U T...BLU U B . L . N . B T . . . N T U N N N L U U U B L . L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Wednesday August 12, 2026
Kaieteur News
The Caribbean Court of Justice was supposed to be the region's last fortress of justice. Today, leaked allegations threaten to turn that fortress into a house of suspicion.Claims of “panel manipulation” and attempts to influence judicial opinions cannot be brushed aside as the bar council in Guyana put it as internal discussion. This matter strikes at the very foundation of judicial independence.
Five of six sitting judges reportedly raised serious concerns about the President of the court. That fact alone demands more than assurances about adherence to judicial principles. The CCJ must understand that public confidence, once shattered, is difficult to rebuild. Every future ruling risks being viewed through the lens of these allegations.There must be an independent, credible investigation. Guyanese and the Caribbean deserve nothing less.
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Wednesday August 12, 2026
Domestic airlines hit back at airfare criticism - say Guyana's hinterland flights are costly, not profiteering D
omestic airlines have pushed back against growing concerns over the cost of hinterland air travel, insisting that high fares are driven by the realities and risks of operating in Guyana's remote
regions—not profiteering. The Aviation Operators' Association of Guyana Inc. (AOAG), in a statement issued yesterday, said domestic operators have taken note of President Irfaan Ali's concerns about the cost of hinterland
transportation and have reviewed their operating costs following several meetings with government. The association said those discussions, which included the ministers responsible for Finance and Aviation, examined the
industry's cost structure in detail. According to the operators, the cost of keeping aircraft in the air in Guyana is substantial, with aircraft financing, fuel, maintenance, insurance, spare parts, regulatory compliance and skilled personnel all contributing to the price passengers pay. The association pointed to the Cessna Caravan as one example, saying capital repayments alone exceed US 7 0 0 p e r f l i g h t h o u r, regardless of whether the aircraft is flying or parked. It said a Tecnam P2012 t r a v e l l e r c o s t s approximately US $3.8 million, while a HAL 228 costs approximately US$10 million. But insurance is another major burden. The operators claim that aviation insurance premiums in Guyana are generally about 300 per cent higher than comparable operations in the United States, placing Guyana among the most expensive markets in the Caribbean. They attributed the high premiums to what insurers consider a high-risk operating environment, including remote aerodromes, tropical conditions, limited emergency infrastructure and short, unpaved runways. The association also noted that while Government has made substantial investments in upgrading hinterland aerodromes, domestic aircraft still have to operate on laterite runways and gravel strips, particularly at remote mining and village locations. Those conditions, it said, translate into higher maintenance costs than operators would face in countries with more developed aviation infrastructure.
'We are not profiteering' The airlines strongly rejected any suggestion that passengers are being overcharged for domestic flights. The AOAG said the domestic aviation market is highly competitive, with several private operators competing for passengers and cargo every day. As a result, it said, there is little difference in the fares charged by competing airlines. The association further argued that comparisons with similar journeys elsewhere in the Caribbean show that Guyana's domestic airfares are actually lower. It maintained that the comparison is even more significant because Guyanese operators face considerably more difficult operating conditions. “Domestic airfares are driven by the actual costs of providing safe and reliable air transportation,” the association said, pointing to fuel, aircraft maintenance, spare parts, insurance, financing, regulatory requirements and personnel costs. Operators offer alternative Rather than simply cutting fares, the aviation operators are proposing that Government directly assist vulnerable passengers. The association has suggested a targeted transportation assistance programme, including a voucher system for schoolchildren, patients requiring medical referrals, pensioners and low-income residents of hinterland communities. The proposal, it said, would provide assistance to those who genuinely need it without undermining competition or discouraging private investment in the aviation sector.
The operators also said they are prepared to participate in an independent review of the economics of domestic aviation, arguing that future Government policy should be based on objective data and a shared understanding of the actual costs of operating aircraft in Guyana. The association stressed that the domestic aviation sector considers itself a partner in national development and remains committed to providing safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable air transportation. But its message to policymakers is clear: reducing fares cannot come at the expense of the financial viability and safety of the industry. With hinterland communities heavily dependent on-air transport for access to medical care, education, commerce and other essential services, the debate over who should bear the cost of that connectivity is likely to intensify. Just last week President Ali has complained about the high transportation costs in Region One, during an outreach at Santa Rosa He said transportation remained one of the biggest contributors to the high cost of food and essential goods, with the aviation sector coming in for particular criticism. “Transportation has a direct impact on cost of living. When we examine the cost you're paying for chicken, beef and other important food items, it is clear that you are paying far above the market price,” he said. Ali said discussions with village leaders, residents and shop owners had all pointed to one underlying cause. “Their primary reason is the cost of transportation,” he said. He said the government expected better results from its investments in hinterland connectivity. “We are very disappointed in the aviation sector because we have not been able to get the corresponding returns on the investment that we are making,” he said. The Guyanese leader said feedback from the outreach would be used to craft a transportation plan focused on lowering freight costs while improving access to goods in Region One
Kaieteur News
Wednesday August 12, 2026
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When diversification becomes socialism There is an economic philosophy that has long gained traction in Guyana and which appears to have solved the eternal problem of capitalism. That philosophy argues that the private sector should have opportunities for making profits and the government should be saddled with the problems. When a business is profitable, it is said to belong naturally in the hands of private enterprise. When a business is difficult, expensive, socially necessary and incapable of generating a handsome return, government is expected to take it over. Then, having taken over the unprofitable business because nobody else wants it, government is criticised for losing money on the venture. The market whispers, “We don’t want it,” and then somebody blames government for saying, “All right, we’ll do it.” Consider water. Guyana Water Inc. exists because somebody has to provide potable water to the population. The private sector has never demonstrated the enthusiasm for building and maintaining a national water distribution system, particularly in communities where the cost of extending pipelines bears little relationship to the revenue that can be generated from customers. GWI therefore has a monopoly in the
provision of piped potable water—but it is hardly a monopoly that the private sector has been fighting to acquire. The irony becomes almost comic when GWI proposes entering the bottled-water market. Suddenly, government is accused of competing with private enterprise and attempting to establish a monopoly over water. But GWI already has a monopoly over water coming through the nation’s taps. Where was the private sector when that monopoly was being created? Where were the entrepreneurs when pipelines had to be laid, pumping stations constructed and water delivered to households in communities where the economics were unattractive? Apparently, bottled water is where capitalism draws the line. The same contradiction appears in sugar. The private sector has shown little appetite for taking over Guyana’s sugar industry. Yet sugar remains important not simply as an agricultural commodity but as an economic lifeline for rural communities. That is why the government continues to support Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) The interesting question, therefore, is what government is supposed to do when sugar production loses money. If it closes the
estates, it will be accused of abandoning sugar workers and destroying rural communities. If it subsidises the industry, it is accused of wasting taxpayers’ money. If it diversifies GuySuCo into other crops, agroprocessing, livestock or related agricultural enterprises so that profitable activities can crosssubsidise sugar, it will presumably be accused of “crowding out” the private sector. In other words, government must rescue the industry, but it must not actually do anything that might may make the rescue economically sustainable. That is a remarkable doctrine. Imagine telling a private company: “You are losing money in one division, so you are forbidden from establishing another profitable division because it might compete with somebody else.” The private sector would call that diversification. When government does it, apparently it becomes socialism. The same intellectual gymnastics are applied to electricity. The private sector is perfectly happy to sell electricity-generating equipment, provide services and participate in profitable segments of the energy industry. But when it comes to assuming the enormous responsibility of maintaining a national electricity distribution system and ensuring that
Dem Boys Seh...
Five judges ain’t enough Dem boys seh Guyana got a new branch of jurisprudence. It is called: creative arithmetic. Remember when a lawyer did explain that 33 votes outta 65 was not really a majority? His mathematics was simple. Half of 65 is 32.5. But since you cannot have half a man sitting in parliament, 32.5 must become 33. And since 33 is merely the rounded-up half, you must add one more to get a real majority. Therefore, according to this revolutionary arithmetic, 34 was required. Dem boys seh that same mathematics could now solve another big legal problem. Suppose a court got six judges and five of them object to something the president of the court do. Surely five cannot be enough. Why? Because six divided by two is three. Three is half the court. Therefore, to get a majority you need four. But four is merely the rounded-up half. So, following the famous 32.5 principle, you must add one more. That gives five. Ah! But wait! Five is only five outta six. And six judges mean six people. Since one of the six is the very person whose conduct is being complained about, surely it would be
mathematically unfair to allow the five complainers to decide anything without the sixth person agreeing that he himself should be complained about. After all, what kind of proper legal complaint is that where the person being complained about refuses to join the complaint? Dem boys therefore propose a new judicial principle called the Unanimous Complaint Rule. Five judges can object, complain, protest, raise eyebrows, shake heads, write emails and probably even hold a seminar—but until the sixth judge joins them and objects to his own conduct, the complaint is mathematically incomplete. And if the sixth judge refuses? Simple. Six divided by two is three. Round it up to four. Add one for safety and you get five. But since five is five-sixths, and five-sixths is not six-sixths, the only legally safe number is six. Therefore, five judges objecting is not enough. We need all six. Including the judge being complained about. Dem boys seh that is how you get justice by arithmetic. And if anybody object to the mathematics, dem boys got one question: Can you find half a judge? Talk half. Leff half.
power reaches consumers throughout the country, enthusiasm suddenly becomes considerably more modest. Guyana Power and Light r e m a i n s g o v e r n m e n t ’s problem. And so does the public hospital. And so does w a t e r. A n d s o d o e s infrastructure. The State is expected to provide these services because they are essential to national life, not because they promise a spectacular dividend to shareholders. This is the fundamental distinction that gets lost when every government enterprise is judged as though it were a private supermarket. A supermarket can close an unprofitable branch. A government cannot simply tell an entire village: “Sorry, the customer density is insufficient to justify your water supply.” A private bus company can abandon a route because there are too few passengers. Government cannot necessarily tell citizens in
Region 1, that it is closing the ferry service because the rate of return on investment is too low. A private hospital can decline to provide a service because it is commercially unattractive. A public hospital does not have that l u x u r y. I n f a c t , t h e government is now financing tests for citizens at private hospitals. Government therefore carries a burden that the market quite rationally avoids. That does not mean government enterprises should be inefficient. It certainly does not mean they should be permitted to squander public money. Government corporations must be properly managed, audited, held accountable and constantly challenged to improve their performance. Instead, we sometimes seem trapped in a strange economic circle in which government is condemned for entering industries the private sector does not want; then, when government tries
to make those industries more commercially sustainable, it is condemned for competing with the private sector. Perhaps the private sector should be invited to solve the problem. Take over the sugar estates. Take over the water systems. Take over electricity distribution. Run the public hospitals. And, most importantly, assume the losses. Until then, perhaps we should recognise that government does not always enter a business because it w a n t s a m o n o p o l y. Sometimes it enters because nobody else wants the responsibility. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.
Kaieteur News
PAGE 10 UTHS
D TR
HAR
HK
BY G
LALL
Wednesday August 12, 2026
H@RD TRUTHS
BY GHK LALL
Bring back Barima When the MV Barima went down it took more than those unfortunate Guyanese, who are never going home again. It also took down sections of the PPP Govt. Water flooding the nostrils and minds of some. They are flaying arms. Flapping around. Foundering on this point. Making points on marine issues, when they could rarely make any on their own portfolios. Their minds are so mixed up, now they are covering everything, talking about anything. When 100 men, women, and children died how they did, that is not a calamity, it is of political depravity. And to conceal the horror, the tale changes frequently. What scheme is being hatched now? First, Guyanese heard
that the MV Barima was unsalvageable. Then, it could be, but it would be costly. One spoke smartly of how it would take so much to float the boat. I say float the boat anyway. Use every mean, every method. Spend as many dollars as needed. We can build a big castle for Exxon. Surely, it can spend a few measly American dollars to bring up a li'l boat that was nothing but a basket. And when so many millions could be spent on eating, drinking, and merrymaking, like there is no tomorrow, why is money suddenly a part of today's conversation? There was another great guy who was as mum as a marble on crude oil matters. Today, he's more garrulous than the other bright fellows
when it comes to raising the MV Barima. These guys are a law unto themselves. A real batch of circus performers, if anyone is interested. Raise it, I say. Damnit! Just raise it! All Guyanese should demand it. All lives matter. Let no life be cheaper than another, even though its late owner may once have belonged to the interior. Float that boat, I say. Let the world know how many souls perished onboard down below. And, I don't mean Australia. Let all Guyanese see for themselves the horror of a cardboard casket that the governors of this country forced upon the mostly poor and weak and helpless in Guyana to travel the Atlantic. Let everybody see
for themselves, how much that boat was overloaded with people. Let them see with what kind of vehicles and how m a n y. When I say e v e r y b o d y, I m e a n everybody get to peer quietly, whisper solemnly, and imagine the horrors. From the U.S. Ambassador to Exxon's viceroy to all of those Canadian gold people in the hinterlands to the Chinese engaging in the same around there. They get to pronounce on democracy and integrity in leadership. Float the boat, I cry. Because what happened to the MV Barima and those luckless citizens trapped in that sardine can of a sampan was more than a tragedy. It was a crime. And it is not at the hand of the three scapegoats now
tied to whipping posts. In the U.S. men like them are called 'working stiffs.' The label just took up residence in Guyana. Everything with the PPP Govt has been about a dodge, a crime-inwaiting, a skim and a scam. Then, the natural progression to clumsy coverup. It's one of the larger local ironies that the MV Barima tragedy came in handy when the nation was riveted on land, and the talk was all about fowl and duck, and some exotic aquatic creatures. Don't worry, that never went off the radar. The tragedy just sidelined it. Now, I say lift the sloop that was the Barima. Guyanese get a chance to observe firsthand their first
underwater monument closeup. Instead of the early official hurry to leave the MV Barima as an aquatic treasure, lift up the boat, and there would be Guyana's museum that is an aquarium. Part the curtains. Play the funeral music. Leaving the boat below is leaving a crime scene untouched. Stop the coverup. Float the boat. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.
Wednesday August 12, 2026
Kaieteur News
Bar Association ignores substance of allegations against CCJ, only condemns leaking of messages - Nigel Hughes The Guyana Bar Association has come under fire from attorney Nigel Hughes for condemning the leaking of internal Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) correspondence while declining to comment on the serious allegations contained in the messages. In a statement signed by Secretary Yashmini Singh, the bar council expressed “grave concern” over the media reports surrounding the leak, noting that the disclosure of confidential communications could bring the administration of justice into disrepute. The council described the CCJ as a “bastion of justice in the Caribbean” and s t r e s s e d t h a t communications and deliberations among judges must remain confidential. “The legal profession expects and respects robust discussion among the members of the court. The unauthorised disclosure of internal correspondence to the media would constitute a gross breach of confidence and a serious dereliction of duty by any person responsible,” the council stated.It also said the president of the CCJ should be given “sufficient latitude to articulate and implement a vision for the court and the principles governing its administration.” However, the council made it clear that it was taking no position on the allegations contained in the correspondence.“The Guyana Bar Association
Attorney Nigel Hughes
Secretary of the Guyana Bar Association, Yashmini Singh expresses no view on the substance of the matters r a i s e d i n t h e correspondence,” it said. Hughes meanwhile disagreed with that approach, pointing to the seriousness of the allegations, which he stated, cannot be overshadowed by the issue of how the correspondence became public. “Confidentiality is an important principle, but it cannot become a shield behind which serious allegations concerning the operation of a court are insulated from scrutiny,” Hughes said. He said public confidence in the justice system depends not only on confidentiality, but also on fairness, transparency, accountability and respect for established judicial processes. The controversy follows reports of internal correspondence involving allegations of unilateral
decision-making, concerns about the composition of judicial panels, attempts to influence judicial outcomes and problems with the court's internal culture. Hughes said the concerns are particularly significant for Guyana because the CCJ serves as the country's final appellate court. He also contended that the car council's position does not reflect the views of a significant section of the local legal profession, saying there is “widespread unease” among both senior and junior lawyers about the issues raised.“The reported correspondence has revealed matters that are sufficiently serious to warrant more than expressions of regret about a breach of confidentiality. They call for careful and independent examination,” Hughes said. He maintained that a profession committed to the rule of law should be demanding an examination of the allegations rather than focusing solely on the circumstances surrounding their disclosure. “Strong institutions are strengthened, not weakened, when internal concerns are confronted openly,” Hughes said.
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Wednesday August 12, 2026
Kaieteur News
MV Barima tragedy…
Internal records expose months of warnings, request for urgent repairs By Khadidja Ba Leaked internal maintenance logs, official requisitions, and urgent technical reports spanning nearly a year reveal a damning paper trail of mechanical warnings for the MV Barima, contradicting Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill's claims that the vessel was operating “seaworthy” before it capsized on 18 th July, 2026, claiming more than 100 lives. The documents received by this publication, signed by Captain K. P r i c e , C h i e f E n g i n e e r P. Seepersaud, and endorsed by the Shore Chief Engineer and Marine Superintendent of the Transport and Harbours Department, outline a catastrophic history of unaddressed mechanical failures, structural hazards, and failing safety systems.
requested four 29-plate batteries to replace degraded units that were failing to hold charge for the port main engine and the vessel's 24volt system. The request was copied to the CME office. · 3rd December (Job No. B4/25): The Shore Chief Engineer signed an urgent order to the CME noting power failure to the GPS navigation unit. Requisitions were also submitted for #1 generator fan and fresh water pump installation, forward hatch suction pipeline repairs, and the immediate installation of brackets, water traps, and fuel filters.
docking in keeping with the schedule." However, official internal correspondence sent directly to the Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) and the Marine Office in Kingston tells a drastically different story, proving that crew warnings of systemic vessel failure were repeatedly filed and acknowledged by senior maritime officials. Chronology of documented failures March 2026 · 13th March (Job No. B4/26): A direct requisition was filed to the CME for one 2-inch 110V submerged water pump, a mediumsized welding plant, and a box of No. 10 welding rods for onboard repairs.
November 2025 · 30th November: Captain Price submitted a follow-up report to the Marine Superintendent and Shore Chief Engineer stating the #1 generator was completely out of service while its water pump and fan were in the workshop. Simultaneously, a report noted the port main engine heat exchanger on the same day and copied to the CME office for action. January 2026 · 26 th January (Job No. B4/26): An order was made to the CME for a replacement turbocharger for the port main engine, noting that the current unit was throwing oil during operation. A fresh water pump for the Hiab engine was also ordered due to water leaking through the seal. · 21st January : Chief Engineer Seepersaud issued an urgent report to the Marine Superintendent requesting the immediate replacement of the main engine daily service fuel lines. The document warned that the lines delivering fuel to the port and starboard main engines were "heavily corroded and can break at anytime while the vessel is in operation." The report was stamped by the Shore Chief Engineer.
The revelations stand in contrast to statements made by Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill. During a Department of Public Information (DPI) press briefing on 20th July, Minister Edghill dismissed allegations that the vessel was unfit for sea, stating, "There was no report of any kind that suggested the vessel was unseaworthy. It was in line for dry
December 2025 February 2026 · 18th February: Chief Engineer P. Seepersaud submitted an order to the Marine Superintendent and Chief Engineer for two pairs of battery lugs to replace damaged units on the Hiab engine. The report was stamped seen by the Shore Chief Engineer
· 22nd December: Stamped by Captain Price and the Marine Superintendent, a report was sent to the CME citing that the VHF communication system was completely inoperable and needed urgent repair or replacement, alongside a damaged life raft cradle.
· 4th December: Reports sent to the CME and Marine Superintendent requested the removal, flushing, and reassembly of the #1 and #2 generator radiators. Captain Price also
was operating at dangerous temperatures between 197°F and 203°F. · 30th November (Engine Room Hazards): Further reports (Continued on page 13)
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Wednesday August 12, 2026
President Irfaan Ally and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau 5th from right are flanked by Guyanese and US officials including U.S. Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot.
U.S. to pump US$2M Into Guyana's air surveillance, drone capabilities The United States is set to provide Guyana with US$2 million to strengthen its ability to monitor its airspace and develop unmanned aerial system capabilities, as Washington moves to deepen security cooperation with Georgetown. The announcement came following a meeting yesterday between U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and President Irfaan Ali in Georgetown during
Landau's 9th -12th August visit to Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana. According to the U.S. Embassy, the proposed US$2 million initiative will focus on developing air domain awareness and unmanned aerial system capabilities, adding a new dimension to the security relationship between the two countries. The initiative will build on the U.S.-Guyana Security Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding signed in
March 2025. Wa s h i n g t o n a n d Georgetown also reaffirmed their intention to strengthen c o o p e r a t i o n i n counternarcotics and border security, areas that have become increasingly important as Guyana's strategic and economic significance grows. The U.S. Embassy said Landau and Ali also discussed expanding bilateral economic cooperation and investment opportunities, with
particular attention to energy and critical minerals. The planned investment in air surveillance and unmanned systems could enhance Guyana's ability to detect and monitor activity within its airspace and potentially support operations linked to counternarcotics, border security and other nationalsecurity priorities. The U.S. Embassy said Landau's visit underscores Washington's commitment to strengthening
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd following the announcement on Tuesday.
President Irfaan Ally and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau during a meeting on Tuesday.
partnerships across the Western Hemisphere while advancing shared priorities in regional security, energy
resilience and economic prosperity. Hugh Todd following the announcement on Tuesday.
Kaieteur News
Wednesday August 12, 2026
Model village plans stir row as NA council claims it was sidelined
Government's proposed outline for the Esplanade Park in New Amsterdam
By Shermon Hawker The New Amsterdam Mayor and Town Council (M&TC) has been left out of comprehensive discussions on the government's plans to modernise and reconfigure the town's physical layout. M a y o r Wa i n w r i g h t
of his cabinet to engage residents and gather feedback. However, at a press conference on Tuesday, New Amsterdam's municipal leaders said they felt sidelined from the process. “Let me be clear—the Mayor and Town Council
Deputy Mayor of New Amsterdam, Kirk Fraser
New Amsterdam Mayor, Wainwright McIntosh
McIntosh said that, at the very least, the body responsible for overseeing New Amsterdam should have been formally included in discussions about the town's development. At a public consultation exercise on Saturday at Berbice High School (BHS), President Irfaan Ali and Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh presented sweeping proposals for the beautification and infrastructural upgrading of New Amsterdam. The plans form part of the government's model village initiative, under which the president has been visiting communities with members
must not be treated as spectators in the development of this town. The New Amsterdam Town Council is the elected local democratic authority responsible for representing the interests of the residents of this historic municipality,” McIntosh said. The mayor stressed that the municipality is not opposed to plans to modernise and improve the town, but said the council should be informed and consulted beforehand, even where there may be differences between the municipality and central government. “We therefore call on the (Continued on page 22)
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Wednesday August 12, 2026
Wednesday August 12, 2026
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Kaieteur News
OUR BELOVED
ALEXANDER EDWARDS A year has passed, yet still you remain, In quiet moments, through love and pain. We miss your smile, your gentle way, And carry your memory every day.
Your warmth still lives in all you gave, In every heart your kindness shaped. The love you left still lights our way, And keeps you close from day to day. FOREVER MISSED, FOREVER CHERISHED,
Missed by his loving wife, mom, children, siblings, in-laws, grandchildren, and numerous relatives and friends.
Wednesday August 12, 2026
Freed woman back in court for husband's 2009 murder A woman who walked free after spending about 20 months in custody for her husband's murder has been recharged with the same offence, six years after the case against her was dismissed. Mailaini Alli appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates' C o u r t o n Tu e s d a y, represented by attorney Bernard Da'Silva. Alli is accused of murdering her husband, fuel dealer Ramzan Alli, in 2009. Police are now claiming that investigators have obtained new information in the case. Kaieteur News understands that the alleged new evidence came from Sadeek Mohamed Mitchell, a taxi driver who is currently serving time in connection with Ramzan's murder. According to reports, Mitchell had previously given a caution statement allegedly admitting to killing the fuel dealer on Mailaini Alli's instructions. The two were reportedly lovers. A wanted bulletin was issued for Alli in 2019, and she was subsequently arrested when she returned to Guyana from the United States. She was charged with her husband's murder and spent approximately 20 months in custody before the case was dismissed for lack of
Charged again with a 2009 murder, Mailini Ali
evidence. Six years after walking free, Alli is now back behind bars following the new charge. Speaking with Kaieteur News, Da'Silva confirmed that police are claiming they have obtained new information in relation to the case. Kaieteur News understands that the information allegedly came from Mitchell following a plea bargain. Alli was remanded to prison after appearing in court on Tuesday. She was not required to enter a plea since the charge is indictable. Da'Silva also told the court that his client is (Continued on page 22)
Wednesday August 12, 2026
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Wednesday August 12, 2026
Guyana must get more than 50% if country's profits will be funding new oil projects ExxonMobil has recovered all US$55B the company spent to develop the seven approved projects, paving the way for Guyana to now enjoy its full 50% of profits from the ongoing operations. This is however likely to change if the Government of
Guyana (GoG) approves more projects, as the operator will then be allowed to take 75% of production to cover expenses. This means that Guyana's profits can again slide to 12.5% unless the administration enforces a different financing approach.
Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Saiku Andrews recently highlighted the importance of the country receiving its rightful share of profits under the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), arguing that no prudent businessman would allow its
- MP Andrews revenue to be continuously delayed. With seven projects already under its belt, Exxon has already announced plans for its eighth and ninth developments. To this end, MP Andrews urged, “It cannot work like that. No businessman that is prudent would allow that and I do not think that the government should allow it and the Guyanese people should not accept it.” Instead, he suggested that if Guyana's profit share would be reduced again to pay for more projects, then the country should in return receive a larger share of revenue since it would then become an investor. “When I talk about approving new projects, you don't want a case where Exxon signals their intention, or make an investment decision but, they would have already started to deduct monies for those projects. You don't want that. That project has to be funded first (by Exxon) before you start deducting those funds. Otherwise, you chalk it up to Guyana, basically investing in the project. That wouldn't be a recoupment. If
Exxon starts to recoup monies for future projects before those projects come on stream, then it is tantamount to Guyana investing in those projects, which I think should have a different profit-sharing arrangement because that signals ownership,” he explained. To t h i s e n d , t h e policymaker argued that only when a new project starts producing oil should Exxon be allowed to recover those investment costs. This, he said, would ensure Guyana enjoys its rightful share of profits in keeping with the petroleum agreement. On Friday, Kaieteur News reported that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman of Exxon, Darren Woods revealed during the company's second quarter earnings call on 31st July, 2026 that Guyana has paid off all US$55B associated with development and operating expenses. The CEO described Guyana's progress as a success story that has set a new standard for the industry, exceeding even the company's expectations. Exxon said it expected the
APNU MP, Saiku Andrews cost bank to be cleared in another two years. Woods however said, “Delivering on tight schedules, at industry-leading cost – with strong reliability and optimised production – has resulted in recovering our capital and cost nearly two years earlier than anticipated, increasing NPV, and desaturating the cost bank.”Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Exxon, Neil Hansen offered clarity, “…as we mentioned, at this point, we've fully recovered the $55 billion of investment, along with all the operating costs and the way the contractor agreement works is we can recover that investment up to 75%. After that, the remaining production is shared 50/50 between us and the government of Guyana.” Hansen further noted that the company's share of oil from the Stabroek Block will decline as a result of the development.
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Suriname threatens to ground Canawaima Committing to CCJ would be reckless, ferry service over safety failures
says Tavares-Finson
Jamaica Senate President calls on PNP to state position amid reported turmoil at regional court
The Maritime Authority of Suriname (MAS) has issued a final ultimatum to Canawaima Management Company N.V., warning that the M.V. Canawaima ferry faces an immediate sailing ban starting 14th August, 2026, at 00:00 hours, unless outstanding technical and safety shortcomings are resolved. The directive, outlined in an 7th August, letter reported by GFC Nieuws, follows a 26th July request for an action plan based on an earlier vessel inspection. A follow-up inspection on 5th August revealed that the majority of identified deficiencies remained unaddressed. MAS is requiring a detailed action plan with a precise schedule for resolving all issues,
executing major repairs, and drydocking the vessel. By 13th August, there must be full presence and operational readiness of all legally required safety equipment, as well as inspected, fully functional firefighting systems ready for immediate deployment. All crew members must possess valid Basic Safety Training and Crowd Management certificates, or provide written proof that training will be completed within one month and an independent, accredited ship surveyor must assess the hull’s watertightness and cofferdams. A positive survey report is required before any temporary exemption from mandatory dry-docking will be considered.
In response, the CANAWAIMA Ferry Service (CFS) Inc. and C A N A WA I M A M a n a g e m e n t Company (CMC) JV acknowledged by way of a statement, the notices from Surinamese authorities. The Guyanese side confirmed it has been actively engaging Surinamese counterparts over recent days and anticipates a resolution. Emphasising its commitment to the letter and spirit of the bilateral joint venture for a safe and seaworthy transport link, Guyana noted that under the terms of the agreement, it supplies all fuels, lubricants, and batteries for daily operations, while Suriname is responsible for the maintenance and dry-docking of the vessel.
(Jamaica Observer) President of the Jamaican Senate, King’s Counsel Tom Tavares-Finson says it would be extremely reckless for Jamaica to commit to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as its final appellate court given the turmoil currently gripping the institution. The Trinidad Express reported earlier this week a series of allegations made by judges of the CCJ, including allegations of dictatorial tendencies in the running of the court and a series of inter-personal conflict. Tavares-Finson says no less than a public enquiry is required to deal with the issues facing the CCJ. While acknowledging that inter-personal conflicts is not unusual for a court, he said the allegation surrounding the convening of panels to achieve predesired outcomes is troubling and must be treated
Tom Tavares Finson seriously. Tavares-Finson says the O p p o s i t i o n P e o p l e ’s National Party, whose insistence that Jamaica must accept the CCJ as its final appellate court has stalled the island’s constitutional reform process, should state clearly whether it maintains its position despite the turmoil which has gripped the regional court.
U.S. military fires on cargo vessel it said sought to break Iran blockade The container ship Vela Nova has been struck by two U.S. hellfire missiles, according to U.S. Central Command [Reuters]
(AL-JAZEERA) The United States military has said it fired on a ship attempting to break its blockade of Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman. The attack on Tuesday comes amid a period of relative calm in the U.S-Israeli war with Iran, with attacks mostly paused since a 13day escalation in July. That came after a ceasefire as part of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by the U.S. and Iran in June appeared to collapse. In a statement, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees the Middle East, said a Navy helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles at the Panama-flagged
Vela Nova cargo vessel. It said the vessel “attempted to transit the Gulf of Oman and violate the U.S. blockade against Iran by sailing toward an Iranian port”. The attack targeted the ship’s engine room and disabled its steering gear, CENTCOM said, alleging the crew “ignored repeated warnings from American forces”. It did not say if any crew members were wounded in the attack. In its statement on Tuesday, CENTCOM said U.S. forces had disabled 55 commercial vessels throughout its blockade on Iranian ports, disabled three “noncompliant vessels”, and boarded two.
The U.S. reimposed its naval blockade of Iranian ports amid the recent return to fighting, with Iran again reasserting its control over the Strait of Hormuz. Both of those conditions had been lifted as part of the June MoU, which was meant to launch renewed negotiations on a more lasting peace, as well as the future of crippling sanctions on Iran and its nuclear programme. E ff o r t s t o r e t u r n t o a n agreement have so far yielded little progress, with Trump on Monday appearing to up the ante as he called for reparations from Iran for “50 years” of damage. Tehran has previously called for reconstruction funding to be part of
any deal, with the June MoU containing a preliminary plan for a $300bn fund. The conflict has been further complicated in the latest bout of fighting by attacks by the Yemenbased Houthis on ships in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, another key trade route in the region. Iran, for its part, has largely focused its diplomatic efforts on direct talks with Oman to determine new shipping lines in the Strait of Hormuz, an arterial waterway through which 20 percent of the world’s maritime fossil fuel trade transited prior to the war launched by the U.S. and Israel on February 28.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency on Tuesday quoted Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, saying the Strait of Hormuz “will not be opened until the United States changes its behaviour and accepts Iran’s conditions”. He maintained that any agreement with Oman would be “separate” from the issue of the strait’s closure. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, meanwhile, arrived in Tehran on Tuesday for talks with Iranian officials, in the latest effort towards wider mediation of the war.
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Wednesday August 12, 2026
Model village plans stir row as NA...
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The M&TC’s rendering of concepts for the Esplanade Park From page 15 Government of Guyana to respect the role and authority of the New Amsterdam Town Council, and to establish a consistent mechanism for consultation and collaboration with the municipality. We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for respect for local democracy, we are asking for meaningful consultation, we are asking for partnership in development, and most importantly, we are asking that the people of New Amsterdam have their elected municipal representatives at the table whenever decisions concerning their town are being made,” McIntosh said. He said the government and municipality should work together to improve infrastructure, stimulate economic activity, protect the environment, enhance public spaces, strengthen drainage and sanitation systems, and make New Amsterdam a cleaner and safer town.
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McIntosh said he would continue advocating for the residents of New Amsterdam, pointing specifically to plans for the upgrading of Esplanade Park. A futuristic impression presented by the government during Saturday’s consultation showed proposed gazebos, a children’s play area, sports and fitness facilities, and green and open spaces, among other features. However, McIntosh said the municipality would also be pursuing its own ambitious plans for the park, including the construction of a waterfront boardwalk, recreational and sporting facilities and other amenities. Deputy Mayor Kirk Fraser also criticised the council’s exclusion from the government’s discussions. “We do not have a problem with development. We would like to see our town developed to its full potential,
but it can’t be done in the manner of a big-stick method. And what we are seeing constantly is an overreaching arm of central government in local democracy,” Fraser said. Fraser also presented the council’s own model for the town, which includes a proposed transformation of Republic Road to accommodate a water sports canal and create both commercial and recreational spaces. “If central government was keen on inclusionary democracy, they could have always talked to us, and we would have shared this plan, because we believe that this plan is going to help move the town forward in terms of tourism and the development of green spaces,” Fraser said. He disclosed that the council is pursuing international funding to undertake the proposed projects. Meanwhile, the
municipality has renewed its frustration over delays in receiving its annual government subvention, which Fraser said is affecting its ability to carry out major capital works. Fraser said the council had budgeted for specific machinery to help clean drains, an issue of major concern to residents, but has been unable to proceed because the subvention has not yet been received. “We would have prepared in this year’s subvention for a specific piece of machinery that is going to help us to ensure that the drains that are of main concern to residents are cleaned. But mind you, we’re in the eighth month of the year. The budget was passed in February, we have not received any subvention to date, and that is what is affecting our work programme for the year 2026,” Fraser said.
Freed woman back in court for... From page 18 suffering from several illnesses. The court subsequently ordered prison authorities to ensure that Alli receives her prescribed medication. Her next court appearance is scheduled for 29th September, 2026. THE 2009 MURDER Ramzan Alli, 45, was found dead at around 08:00 hrs on Sunday,12th July, 2009, in the trunk of his rental car on the Coldingen Railway
Embankment Road. His hands and feet were not bound, but a plastic bag had reportedly been ducttaped over his head. A post-mortem examination determined that he died from suffocation compounded by blunt-force trauma to the head. Relatives had launched a search for Alli after several calls to his cellphone went unanswered. The father of two had reportedly left his
home to purchase meat for a religious function. A relative eventually spotted the rental car along the Railway Embankment and reportedly noticed blood dripping from the trunk. The relative forced the trunk open and discovered Alli’s body inside. Relatives had reportedly ruled out robbery as a motive, saying Alli did not wear jewellery and was not carrying money at the time.
Wednesday August 12, 2026
Patterson calls on the Global South to forge ‘A Single Phalanx’ in centenary tribute to Fidel Castro Ruz
Fidel Castro retires from leadership in Cuba on February 24, 2008. He is replaced by his brother Raul. (File) Former Prime Minister P J Patterson has urged the nations of the Global South to abandon “national separatism and division” and unite in defence of a fairer global order, in a message submitted to the First International Colloquium “Fidel: Legacy and Future”, convened in Havana to mark the centenary of the birth of Fidel Castro Ruz. The Colloquium, organised by the Fidel Castro Ruz Centre together with Cuban academic and cultural institutions, opened at the Havana Convention Centre on Monday and concludes on Thursday, 13th August 2026 — one hundred years to the day since Castro’s birth. It has drawn more than 1,500 delegates from some 60 countries. Patterson advised organisers that a convergence of circumstances had made it impossible for him to attend in person, expressing “considerable regret” at his absence. His disappointment, he noted, was the greater for his standing as “the sole surviving participant” in the historic summit held in Port of Spain in December 1972, at which the leaders of the four then-independent Caribbean states resolved to establish full diplomatic relations with Cuba and so end its isolation in this 80s hemisphere. That decision, he emphasised, was an exercise of sovereign right taken in pursuit of “a zone of peace in our single space”, undertaken without any calculation of the benefits that would follow. The programmes spawned in the decades since — medical brigades, educational scholarships, disaster relief and technical expertise — had, he said, been provided by Cuba without “a single conditionality” and without any request for reciprocity of any kind. Speaking of the man he was privileged to know, Patterson described Fidel Castro Ruz as “a warrior for human dignity everywhere and a champion who was an invincible foe to injustice anywhere”, a leader who believed in the sovereign equality of nations “regardless of size, military might or economic power”. He recalled Cuba’s sacrifice in Angola, which he credited with hastening the end of apartheid and advancing political liberation across the African continent, and characterised Castro as “a quintessential strategist and simultaneously the supreme tactician” who invested in human resources what Cuba lacked in natural ones. Turning to the present, Patterson pointed to what he termed “the reincarnation of the Munroe doctrine in an even more repulsive edict”, the dismantling of the multilateral system and “the emergence of a new imperium with its flagrant disregard of international law”. His prescription was unambiguous. “South—South solidarity is pivotal to our survival and future well-being,” he stated, calling on the Global South to honour the memory and precepts of Fidel and “forge instead a single phalanx to fashion that new global architecture which is inclusive, fair and sustainable for every man, woman and child on planet Earth”. He further called upon every participant in the Colloquium, and every nation that holds sacred the essence of the human condition, to “condemn, deplore, resist and render adequate relief” in response to what he described as the “cruel, repugnant and unlawful fuel tourniquet” and the punitive embargo imposed upon Cuba. Patterson closed his message by invoking Castro’s own words from the dock in 1953, proclaiming “the clear, incontrovertible verdict” that history had already absolved him in full.
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Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett continues UN Secretary-General campaign Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett has continued her international outreach campaign for the position of United Nations (UN) secretary-general on Monday, presenting her candidature to the President of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Boakai Snr. Ambassador RodriguesBirkett also engaged Liberia’s Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti, along with vice and assistant ministers, where she outlined her vision for a more agile, efficient and effective United Nations. The discussions also focused on strengthening multilateralism, the United Nations’ role in addressing global challenges, and the ongoing UN80 reform deliberations. She emphasised the need for greater efficiency and stronger impact across the United Nations’ three pillars of peace and security,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia, Sara Beysolow Nyanti with Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett (right). development, and human rights. The election for the next United Nations secretarygeneral is expected to take
place in 2027, when the General Assembly appoints the successful candidate upon the recommendation of the
Security Council. The successful candidate will succeed the current secretary-general at the start of January 2027.
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Wednesday August 12, 2026
Colombia quake death toll tops 250 as rescuers race to find survivors (Reuters) - Rescue crews on Tuesday dug through mountains of rubble in western Colombia, shouting for quiet so they could listen for survivors still trapped under the buildings that collapsed in a powerful earthquake to have killed at least 250 people. The 7.4-magnitude quake, the most devastating to strike Colombia this century, tore through its coffee-growing heartland early on Monday, leaving apartment blocks, homes, schools and health centers cracked, leaning or A drone view shows the site of flattened. Separate reports from a damaged building following affected cities put the death an earthquake, in Cali, toll at 254 on Tuesday Colombia, August 11, 2026. morning, with 101 people REUTERS/Raquel Cunha killed in Pereira, deep in coffee country, and 95 in Cali, the country’s third-biggest through Monday night and Tuesday city. Many Indigenous communities with cranes, excavators and their in the forested Pacific-facing bare hands, creating human chains region of Choco close to the quake and passing buckets filled with epicenter are still without power or debris as they searched for people basic services, complicating rescue still trapped. NIGHTMARE SCENES efforts. Rosa Gonzalez described how The earthquake struck just days after the inauguration of new she escaped the guest house she ran P r e s i d e n t A b e l a r d o D e L a in Pereira with her husband and 10Espriella, who travelled to the month-old baby. “The structure started creaking affected regions and promised economic support to people who and just as we ran outside the building collapsed,” she said, lost their homes. The National Coffee Federation speaking to Reuters as she stroked was ‘working on the ground with her cat, who was rescued during the families to assess damage to farms night. She said that out of a couple of and rural infrastructure, its chief German Bahamon said on social dozen people inside the house eight had made it out alive. An elderly media. Meanwhile, rescuers worked man was trapped on a terrace, and
she feared he may be among the dead. Social media influencer Jose Gallego had just arrived at Pereira airport when the earthquake struck. He was recording a live video, capturing footage of violent shaking as he crouched under a table and parts of the ceiling fell. “There were people injured, bleeding, screaming and trying to reach their families,” he said. Gallego was unable to sleep and said he was staying in open spaces in case of aftershocks. Nearly 100 had `been recorded as of early Tuesday morning. “I crossed the city on foot; it took two hours and the scenes were devastating,” he told Reuters. “It was like a nightmare come to life.”
Thousands of people were left homeless as the earthquake brought down residential complexes and left deep cracks in others. Families were waiting for local authorities to assess whether the buildings were safe to re-enter. Dog and cat shelters also put out calls for food, medicine and helping hands. CHEERS FOR RESCUES In Cali, residents cooked on the streets and salvaged what they could from the wreckage. Rescue workers, civilian volunteers and local officials gathered outside the destroyed Torres del Limonar apartment complex, once a pair of ‘multistory towers in a genteel, tree-lined neighbourhood. Crowds cheered as
rescuers pulled a woman alive from the rubble and she was taken away on a stretcher. Others were less fortunate. Cali’s public health secretary German Escobar said the city’s morgue was now full and authorities were bringing more bodies off the streets. The earthquake also knocked out vital infrastructure. Civil aviation authorities closed six airports — Quibdo, Pereira, Manizales, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura — due to damage, while dozens ‘of roads were reported to be affected. E l e c t r i c i t y, w a t e r, healthcare and phone service remained disrupted in several areas, especially in Choco. “The physical damages at t h e m o m e n t a r e unquantifiable,” Choco governor Nubia Cordoba told local TV. The U.S. said it had allocated $15.5 million for emergency shelter, food, protection and damage assessments, while the Inter-American Development Bank said it had made $50 million immediately available for reconstruction support if requested. U.N. representatives said they ‘were working to increase ground presence in the coffee-growing region and had stockpiles of food ready to help people made homeless. With communications still patchy in some of the worst-hit areas, officials said the full extent of the damage and the final death toll could take days to establish.
U.S. backs deeper economic ties with T&T (CNC3) The United States Government is working to support private sector projects in Trinidad and Tobago as both countries seek to deepen investment and trade ties. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau made the commitment during a private sector dinner hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce o f T r i n i d a d a n d To b a g o (AMCHAM T&T) and the U.S. Embassy on Monday. Landau said recent investments and continued interest by U.S. firms in Trinidad and Tobago provide reasons for optimism about the future of economic relations between the two countries. He said commercial ties are an often-undervalued tool in developing relations between states and that more could be done to strengthen economic cooperation.
The 10th August engagement brought together senior U.S. Government officials and representatives from Trinidad and Tobago’s private sector to discuss “T&T’s Next Chapter: Energy, Investment, and Supply Chain Security”. Landau said the U.S. Government is actively working to support private sector projects that can benefit the local economy and further deepen economic ties between the two countries. AMCHAM T&T President Anna Henderson said the engagement provided an opportunity for members of the business community to engage directly with senior U.S. Government leadership on issues that will influence Trinidad and Tobago’s economic future. AMCHAM T&T CEO Nirad Tewarie said stronger relationships
are built through dialogue and that such engagements could help identify areas for deeper
cooperation between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States. The dinner included U.S.
Embassy officials and senior representatives from major private sector companies.
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Olympic Kremlin’s final furlong …Slingerz Racing calling time on celebrated thoroughbred Olympic Kremlin will have one last shot at Guyana Cup glory before one of Guyana’s most celebrated thoroughbreds bows out of racing. The nine-year-old Brazilian-bred chestnut is being prepared for what will be his final competitive appearance when the 18th annual Guyana Cup takes centre stage at the Rising Sun Turf Club on August 23. For Slingerz Racing
Stable, it is more than a bid to reclaim a coveted crown. It is the final chapter in the career of the horse that helped transform the relatively young stable into a household name in Guyana racing. Stable owner Javed Ali confirmed that Olympic Kremlin will be retired after the Guyana Cup, bringing the curtain down on a career that has already secured his place
among the country’s elite thoroughbreds. Bred from Agnes Gold as sire and Sweet Lemonade as dam, Olympic Kremlin was foaled in Brazil in 2017 and joined Slingerz in 2024. He in fact arrived in Guyana from Brazil, just mere days before he delivered the stable its biggest breakthrough, storming to victory in the 2024 Guyana Cup, the “holy grail” of local
Wednesday August 12, 2026 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You have to reach out and help a friend (or even a stranger) in need. They might not be able to ask in a way that makes sense to you, but your intuitive side helps you make the most of what you've got.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Your display of adaptability is sure to help your people to relax and see that there are far more options than they had realized at first. Make sure that your time is spent on what matters most.
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You and a friend or maybe a colleague are on the same path, even though it might not seem that way at first. See if the two of you can brainstorm ways to work together toward common goals.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You have much more power than you realize, and it's easier than ever for you to make things happen. You should be able to get your dreams a little closer to reality, and that can make life much simpler.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You should put off anything important for another day, especially if it involves communication. It's not like you're tongue-tied, but you should find that people are harder to reach.
SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) You can't seem to find that positive attitude that was so helpful the other day. The good news is that it's right where you left it, but you might have to wait a while before you can head back to retrieve it.
CANCER (June 21–July 22) Big issues remain unknown to you, so get out there and figure them out. You may find that you have plenty of energy for such a challenge, and actually seek out new mysteries to solve.
CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You're just not reaching that one important person. Maybe they're ducking your calls, maybe they just don't get what you're saying. Try some totally new way to make your point and deliver it.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You're in the middle of a firestorm of some kind, and might have to deal with several overreacting people at the same time. Try not to get too caught up in it all, as things can change quickly.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Your value system is more fluid than most, and now is the perfect time to check out what needs to change. You may find that some of your oldest beliefs are in dire need of a shift.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Opinions matter, and you need to treat them all with more or less the same respect. That can be difficult, but at the same time you should find that all your people feel better about the process.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) New ideas are perfect for a day like today. Give one a whirl! You might find a better way of doing things, or you may just find that things can be radically different and better without much more effort.
racing, and announcing Slingerz as a force to be reckoned with. Olympic Kremlin’s 2024 campaign was nothing short of outstanding. He added the President’s Cup and the Showdown of Champions at Port Mourant Turf Club before being crowned 2024 Horse of the Year at the One Guyana Thoroughbred Racing Awards. Now, Slingerz Racing wants its champion to go out on top. The Guyana Cup headlines a blockbuster 14race programme organised by the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee, with more than $65 million in total prize money up for grabs. But for many fans, Olympic Kremlin’s final appearance in the $22m Banks Guyana Cup will be the day’s biggest attraction. There is also unfinished business. Last year, Olympic Kremlin returned to defend his Guyana Cup crown before a starting-gate malfunction robbed him of the opportunity. The champion and another Slingerz runner were left stranded while the remainder of the field broke away. It was a bitter ending for a horse that had entered as defending champion and carried the hopes of thousands who had turned out to see him race for back-toback victories. Ali, however, says the stable has moved on and is focused entirely on this year’s showdown, particularly after receiving assurances that the problems experienced last year will not be repeated. Slingerz has also taken a calculated approach to O l y m p i c K r e m l i n ’s preparation, carefully managing his campaign and building him towards his final assignment. The veteran has shown enough in recent outings to suggest he remains a serious contender. He finished second behind Dataman in this year’s Banks DIH Classic before placing third behind Stat and Mapa Do Brasil in last month’s CARICOM Cup. For Ali, though, the Guyana Cup is about more than reclaiming a trophy. It is about giving Olympic Kremlin the opportunity to write the final line of his own story. The horse has become a fan favourite and one of the
most recognisable names on the local racing circuit. On August 23, thousands are expected to flock to Rising Sun not only to witness another Guyana Cup, but to salute a champion who has given them some of the
sport’s most memorable moments. Slingerz wants the title back. Olympic Kremlin wants one final victory. And the racing fraternity will be hoping the old champion has one more run left in him.
Guyana’s Biggest Open... From page 29 Guyana’s most popular grassroots sports. The 3rd One Guyana Inter-Region Ten10 Softball Cricket Cup is expected to generate significant national attention and attract extensive participation from players and supporters throughout the country. This is more than a tournament. It is a celebration of talent. It is a celebration of community. It is a celebration of One Guyana. The One Guyana Inter-Region Ten10 Softball Cricket Cup has quickly become more than a sporting event. It is a national movement that brings together players, families, communities, sponsors, and supporters under the banner of One Guyana. The tournament continues to provide opportunities for emerging talent, promote regional pride, and create meaningful social and economic activity in communities throughout Guyana. RS Sports extends sincere gratitude to its partners, sponsors, regional coordinators, volunteers, and the many cricket enthusiasts whose continued support has contributed to the tournament’s remarkable growth. We also invite corporate Guyana, community organizations, and sports stakeholders to join us in making the 3rd edition the most successful and impactful tournament in the event’s history. Further details regarding team registration, tournament regulations, fixtures, sponsorship opportunities, prize structure, and the National Playoffs venue will be announced in the coming weeks.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday August 12, 2026
Swiatek to face Svitolina West Indies have to go through the Qualifier route to make the 2027 ODI World Cup in Canadian Open semis (Reuters) - Iga Swiatek swept past Diana Shnaider 6-2 6-1 on Elina Svitolina celebrates Monday to reach the Canadian Open after defeating Ekaterina semi-finals, where the Pole will Alexandrova during Elina Svitolina after the Ukrainian quarter final play at rallied past Ekaterina Alexandrova Sobeys Stadium. (Dan in Toronto. Hamilton-Imagn Images) It was a confidence-boosting display ahead of the U.S. Open for former world number one Swiatek, who won one of her six Grand Slam titles in Flushing Meadows in 2022. Swiatek was in complete control against Shnaider, combining crisp ball striking with strong court coverage to overwhelm her Russian opponent in 68 minutes. She broke twice in the opening set, ‘capitalising on a string of mistakes from Shnaider, who committed 12 unforced errors in the set. Swiatek moved 5-2 ahead when Shnaider sent a forehand into the net and secured the set after another error from the Russian. There was little respite for Shnaider in the second set as seventh seed Swiatek continued to dictate play from the baseline and never faced a break point. The Pole sealed a second break of the set for a 5-1 lead with a sharply angled crosscourt winner that clipped the line, before wrapping up the contest when Shnaider sent a forehand long on match point. The win puts Swiatek into her Iga Swiatek (POL) reacts after winning first WTA 1000 semi-final of a game against Diana Shnaider during ‘inconsistent season in which she has quarter final play at Sobeys Stadium. failed to advance beyond the (Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images) quarters at a Grand Slam and suffered a surprise second-round defeat by compatriot Magda Linette who she beat in the Rome semi-finals in in Miami. ‘May. Alexandrova was untouchable in the That loss led Swiatek to make a coaching first set, picking up where she left off after change, replacing Wim Fissette with beating world number one Aryna Sabalenka Francisco Roig. Swiatek was also beaten in in the previous round. straight sets by Alexandra Eala in the third But the veteran Ukrainian stormed back to round at Wimbledon, where she was level the match in the ‘second set and grabbed ‘defending champion. a 4-1 lead in the third when she pounced on a COMEBACK WIN net cord and hammered home a backhand for Svitolina leapt into the air and pumped her another service break. fist in triumph after completing a 3-6 6-0 6-3 Svitolina dropped two games while comeback win against her Russian opponent leading 5-1 but regrouped to break serve and to set up a Wednesday meeting with Swiatek, set up the meeting with Swiatek.
Elite League raises stakes with... From page 32 details expected to be communicated once the review is completed. The Season Eight regulations were released following consultations between the GFF and all 10 participating clubs. The federation said feedback from the clubs, together with lessons from Season Seven, informed several of the amendments incorporated into the new regulations. The competition will be played over two rounds, with the first phase running from August through November. Following a scheduled break, the league will resume in February 2027 before concluding in May. Beyond the battle for the championship and the increased financial rewards, the Elite League remains a crucial component of the country’s football development structure. The competition provides the GFF’s
technical staff with an extended platform to identify and assess players for national-team selection, while giving emerging talent regular exposure to high-level domestic competition. Slingerz FC will enter the season seeking to retain the crown after dominating the previous campaign, but they are expected to face stiff opposition from a field determined to challenge their supremacy. With bigger squads, more money on the line, potential home venues and six months of competitive football ahead, the GFF is banking on Season Eight delivering a stronger and more compelling product. The race begins on August 29, with the federation urging supporters to turn out in numbers, rally behind their clubs and help create the atmosphere required to elevate the Elite League to another level.
It is the third successive time that they have to play the Qualifier to earn a place in the World Cup
Cricinfo - Two-time men’s ODI World Cup champions West Indies will have to go through a qualifying tournament to make it to the 2027 showpiece. The top eight teams in the ICC ODI rankings on September 30 this year excluding two of the hosts, South Africa and Zimbabwe - will gain automatic qualification to the World Cup. Afghanistan secured themselves within that bracket after their thrilling win over Ireland in Belfast. They will join defending champions Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Although West Indies - ranked 10th - have two ODIs against India inside the cut-off date, even two wins still wouldn’t push them back into contention. That means they once again have to go through the grind of the Qualifier, being held in February next year, to have a shot at the title. West Indies were unable to make the 2023 ODI World Cup via direct entry and had to play the Qualifier, where they finished fifth in the Super Six stage and ultimately lost out. It was the first World Cup that they ever missed, which in turn led to their missing the 2025 Champions Trophy, a competition they
haven’t played since 2013. The winner of the Qualifier, whose host is yet to be decided, will get direct entry to the second round of the 2027 World Cup, while the teams finishing second, third and fourth will play the first round called the Super Series. The top team from that tri-series will then proceed to the second round. This change has not been met well at the Associate level. The Qualifier includes the two bottomranked, non-host Full Members in the ODI rankings as of September 30, 2026 (Ireland and West Indies); the top four teams from Cricket World Cup League 2; and the top four teams from a World Cup Qualifier Playoff. This Playoff will be contested by the bottom four teams from CWC League 2 along with four teams from the Challenge League (essentially cricket’s third division). The format is yet to be decided but the top four from this eight-team Playoff will advance to the World Cup Qualifier. The Challenge League features 12 teams divided into two pools of six, each playing three round-robin tournaments over the cycle. The top two teams from each pool will move on to the World Cup Qualifier Playoff.
Poland says preparations for Women’s under-20 World Cup remain on schedule (Reuters) - Hosts Poland said on Tuesday that preparations for next month’s Under-20 Women’s World Cup remain on schedule, as the tournament prepares to become the first FIFA event staged amid the backlash against global football chief Gianni Infantino. It will be the first FIFA competition since U E FA’s 5 5 m e m b e r a s s o c i a t i o n s unanimously voted to support a boycott of FIFA events after Infantino proposed and then abandoned a plan to carve off the commercial rights to the World Cup and sell 20% of them to private investors to raise about $4.2 billion. That triggered a massive football governance dispute. “Preparations for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World `Cup are progressing according to the agreed schedule and have now entered their final stage,” the Polish federation said in a statement to Reuters. “The Polish Football Association (PZPN) has not received any information regarding the possible withdrawal of any participating team from the tournament. We believe that the current situation will be resolved swiftly. “For many of these young players, this tournament represents an important milestone in their sporting careers, and we remain fully focused on delivering an event worthy of their talent and commitment.” New Zealand have joined France in confirming they intend to compete at the tournament, which runs from September 5 to 27. “New Zealand Football is sending a team to the U20 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Poland next month. The tournament is critical in the development for the women’s game,” a New Zealand spokesperson `told Reuters on Tuesday.
France became the first nation to confirm participation in the 24-team tournament. “For now, France will be participating to the FIFA U20 Women World Cup,” the federation said. England’s FA and Canada Soccer said they had no comment at this time, while the U.S. are expected to attend the tournament. The U.S. Soccer federation declined to comment. BOYCOTT THREAT European soccer governing body UEFA doubled down on its boycott threat last week. “UEFA’s associations were very clear about the conditions `attached to the non participation in FIFA competitions,” the European football federation said in a statement. “These conditions have not been met. In addition, UEFA made it abundantly clear in its statement on (July 30) that it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino’s presidency. That position holds.” A source close to the situation said that ‘during weekend discussions between the confederations there was an acknowledgement that there might need to be talks down the line about alternative tournaments. “Those talks have not yet been had and it is hoped they will not be necessary,” the source said. Women’s football stands to ‘be the first area significantly affected should the dispute escalate again. FIFA’s Under-17 Women’s World Cup is scheduled for October in Morocco, and European nations including World Cup runners-up England have scheduled qualifying matches for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
Kaieteur News
Wednesday August 12, 2026
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3rd edition of the “One Guyana Inter-Region Ten10 Softball Cup”
Guyana’s Biggest Open Softball Cricket Tournament Returns Bigger than Ever Guyana is once again set to witness what has become the nation’s premier and most expansive open softball cricket competition as RS Sports officially announced that the 3rd edition of the “One Guyana Inter-Region Ten10 Softball Cricket Cup” will be held from 18th October to 15th November 2026, and the tournament promises to be the biggest and most competitive open softball cricket tournament ever staged in Guyana. Over the past two years, the One Guyana Inter-Region Ten10 Softball Cricket Cup has grown from an ambitious national initiative into a powerful sporting movement that has transformed open softball cricket across Guyana. What began as a tournament has now become a platform for talent development, community engagement, regional pride, and national unity. This year’s edition carries a deeper meaning for the tournament and nation. The 3rd One Guyana Inter-Region Ten10 Softball Cricket Cup is dedicated to the memory of our brothers and sisters who tragically lost their lives in the MV Barima tragedy. Their loss touched every community across Guyana and reminded us of the importance of national solidarity, compassion, and togetherness. As a mark of respect and remembrance, this tournament will honour the lives of those who perished and stand in solidarity with the families who continue to grieve. Throughout the competition, moments of reflection and tribute will be observed, ensuring that the memory of the victims remains a central part of this year’s event. We believe that sport has the power to unite people, heal communities, and inspire hope, and this tournament will serve as a national tribute to
those we have lost. The month-long tournament will bring together teams from across Guyana’s administrative regions, making it the widest-reaching softball cricket tournament ever organized in the country and creating a national platform that celebrates the competition, unity, community spirit, and the continued growth of softball cricket. Building on the tremendous success of the first and second editions, the 2026 tournament will feature a broader regional reach, increased participation, and a stronger commitment to developing softball cricket throughout the country. The organisers said that the competition is designed not only to crown a national champion but also to strengthen regional collaboration, encourage youth involvement, promote healthy lifestyles, and foster a greater appreciation for softball cricket across the country. The preliminary matches will be played across the regions before the national playoff stage, allowing teams from various communities to compete on home grounds and thousands of supporters to participate in a truly nationwide cricket festival. This regional format continues to strengthen the tournament’s objective of promoting grassroots softball cricket and ensuring that every region has an opportunity to participate in Guyana’s premier open softball competition. According to the organisers, the venue for the National Playoffs will be announced at a later date, where the top teams from the preliminary rounds will compete for the national championship honours in what is expected to be yet again another
thrilling and highly competitive finale. This year’s tournament is expected to attract the largest n u mb er o f teams , p lay er s , supporters, and stakeholders since its inception, creating opportunities for emerging cricketers, experienced softball players, and communities that continue to embrace the game with passion and pride. The organisers said that the One
Guyana Inter-Region Ten10 Softball Cricket Cup has played a significant role in the development of open softball cricket by creating organized competition across Guyana. It has encouraged villages and communities to form teams, strengthen local cricket structures, and provide players with opportunities to compete at a higher level. Many players who previously participated only in community competitions have now gained exposure through regional and national competition, while local clubs have become more active because of the opportunities created by the tournament. The tournament has also encouraged greater youth
involvement, increased community participation, and strengthened the overall profile of softball cricket as a serious and organized sporting discipline in Guyana. The tournament has Unite villages, communities, and regions, and its greatest achievement has been its ability to bring people t o g e t h e r. T h r o u g h o u t t h e competition, villages rally behind their teams, communities organize transportation and support, businesses contribute sponsorship, and entire regions unite in support of their representatives. The organisers said that the tournament has demonstrated that sport can be a powerful force for national cohesion. It has created friendships across regional boundaries, encouraged healthy competition, and strengthened the spirit of One Guyana through cricket. Whether played in coastal villages, riverain communities, or regional centres, the tournament has consistently shown that softball cricket has the ability to connect people from every background. A major highlight of the 2026 edition is the continued inclusion of female softball cricketers, reinforcing the tournament’s commitment to gender inclusion and equal opportunity in sport. The women’s competition has become an important part of the tournament’s identity, providing female athletes with a national platform to showcase their talent and inspire the next generation of girls to participate in cricket. The return of female competition reflects the growing strength of women’s softball cricket in Guyana and the tournament’s vision of ensuring that cricket
development benefits everyone. According to the organisers, this 3rd edition will be significantly expanded in both scale and rewards. Organisers have confirmed that the prize structure for 2026 will be substantially increased, with attractive cash prizes, trophies, and awards that will surpass those offered in previous years. The increased investment in the tournament reflects the confidence that has been built through the success of the first two editions and the growing interest from players, supporters, and sponsors across Guyana. Teams will be competing not only for regional and national glory, but also for some of the most attractive prizes ever offered in a Guyanese open softball cricket tournament. According to the organisers, the continued growth of the One Guyana Inter-Region Ten10 Softball Cricket Cup cannot be achieved without strong partnerships. RS Sports is calling on Corporate Guyana, the public sector, private businesses, and national stakeholders to become partners in the development of softball cricket and community sport. The organizers said that this tournament provides sponsors with a unique opportunity to connect directly with communities across all ten administrative regions, promote healthy lifestyles, support youth and female participation, and contribute to a national sporting initiative that delivers measurable social and economic benefits. Supporting the tournament is not simply sponsoring cricket—it is investing in community development, national unity, and the continued growth of one of Continued on page 27
Heavyweights collide as Lotto/Let’s Bet T10 Tapeball heads to East Bank and West Demerara If the electrifying nocturnal action at Albion set the benchmark for the Lotto/Let’s Bet One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast, the upcoming East Bank/West Demerara (EBD/WCD) leg threatens to crank the intensity up another notch. Fresh off a masterclass performance in Berbice—where New Amsterdam’s Grillmaster Sip N Play All-Stars pocketed G$500,000 courtesy of Sawa Investment and became the tournament’s first official qualifiers—the travelling cricket showcase now pivots toward a stacked weekend of elimination clashes. The draw has thrown defending zone champions Eccles All-Stars and Mahdia Movements Family into the deep end alongside established heavyweights Village Rams and Airport SVC among some new and
talented units. It is a line-up that leaves virtually zero margin for error. “The thrills we witnessed under the lights at Albion in Berbice were nothing short of sensational, but this upcoming zone promises even more intensity,” organiser John Ramsingh declared. “When you look at the draw, having two previous zone champions in Eccles All-Stars and Mahdia (Movements Family) coming in alongside formidable powerhouses like Village Rams and Airport SVC, every single ball is going to be a battle.” The action unfolds on Saturday, August 15, across four venues with admission free to the public. Farm Ground will host the opening salvo at 10:00 AM as Soesdyke XI face Laluni
Sports Club, followed by The Elite Conquerors taking on Eccles All-Stars. Over at Goed Fortuin Ground, Village Rams meet Brave Heart before Team Eastsyde tangle with Vintage All Stars. Meten-Meer-Zorg features Knight Riders against Young Steppaz alongside Young Guns taking on Airport SVC, while Uitvlugt Ground sees Hyde Park face Trendsetter and Zeelugt Sports Club clash with Mahdia Movements Family. The respective ground winners will battle in the afternoon quarter-finals to secure passage into Sunday’s final four. Meten-Meer-Zorg will then host the grand finale on Sunday, August 16. The semifinals are scheduled for 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM, culminating in the zone final at 3:00 PM to crown the regional champions.
Beyond securing a coveted place in the National Finals on Sunday, October 11, at the Anna Regina National Stadium—where a monumental G2 million top prize, alongside G1 million and G500,000 for second and third place, awaits- there is plenty of immediate silverware and cash on the line. The EBD/WCD zone runners-up will walk away with G200,000 donated by Mohamad Shairaz Roshandin, while losing semi-finalists take home G50,000 each. Courtesy of ScoopRide, every losing quarter-finalist will also receive G25,000. Once the EBD/WCD champions book their date with destiny against Sip N Play, the T10 caravan will roll into the Essequibo Zone from August 22–23, culminating with the regional finals at the Anna Regina National Stadium on August 23.
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Wednesday August 12, 2026
9 T20 tournament…
r-1 MOE/Beharry Secondary School’s Unde
DeJonge (90*), Fredricks (91*) headline latest round as teams look to finals Essequibo Islands, Abram Zuil, Berbice Educational Institute and Annandale Secondary racked up huge wins yesterday as part of the second round of the final 8 qualifying teams who continued their tussle for the last four spots of the final knockout stages of the M i n i s t r y o f Education/Beharry S c h o o l ’s U 1 9 T 2 0 competition. Essequibo Islands beat Covent Garden by 9 wickets at Walton Hall Ground Convent Gardens could only muster 62-10 in 14.1 overs with Jamele Schultz (14) and Vinesh Kalpoo (14) trying to offer something to their team after another brilliant spell this tournament, from Demarcus Thomas (4-25) and national all-rounder Bhomesh Lall (2-23). The Island lads then spend to 69-1 in 6 overs flat, as Kalpoo (1-15) got no help from his teammates against the unbeaten duo of Nickel Retemiah, who raced to 33* off 15 balls and Justin Dowlin (19*), who helped to see his team over the line yet again during these crunch stages. Abram Zuil beat Queen’s College by 8 Wickets at Walton Hall Ground In another dominant showing, Abram Zuil stormed to a big win after successfully chasing 126-6 made by a spirited QC team
Ray Ramnauth (3-0). Annadale beat Saint Stanislaus by 2 runs at QC Ground Batting first, Annandale posted just 99-7 after Ruel Dindyal (29), Akeem Persaud (15) and Joshua Bollers (13) led the efforts with the bat. Saint’s bowling struggled as Jessie Craig (113) emerged pick of the lot before his team agonizingly fell short of their target, being kept to 97-6 by the end of 20 overs despite a fighting 38 from Craig. Shawn Ramjit (3-25) and Dindyal (1-8), kept Annandale’s nerves together as they delivered an empathic win for their school. Round 3 of the playoffs continues tomorrow Thursday at 10:00h, Abram Zuil will play Essequibo Islands at Pomona Ground in Group A’s match 1 at 10:00h followed by Game 2, QC versus Covent Garden at QC Ground 9:30h. Group B, meanwhile, features a highly anticipated match between Annandale and West Side High at Cotton Tree Ground in Game 1 from 10:00h. Game 2 will see Saint Stanislaus looking to get past the lads from Berbice Educational Institute in their match at QC Ground from 13:30h. Both Abram Zuil and Essequibo Islands have already qualified for the final Knockout playoff stage and will now battle to see which school emerges atop of Group A.
Man-of-the-Match Essequibo Islands Secondary Demarcus Thomas 4-25. led by a run-a-ball 45 from Emilio Singh and 35 from Nathan Gurcharran. Bowling for Abram Zuil was ordinary with Joash Inniss grabbing 2-16 but it was opener Ravid Fredericks’ belligerent knock of 91 not out off 30 balls. Arguably one of the best batters of the tournament, Fredricks hit 8 fours and 9 sixes as he piloted his team to 130-2 in a mere 7 overs, following his power-hitting exhibition which took his team home with tons of momentum going forward in the competition. Berbice Educational Institute (BEI) beat West
Side High by 142 runs at Albion Ground The in-form Lemuel Dejonge missed out on a possible ton but nevertheless played with class for his 59ball 90* (10x4 1x6), soon too did Arush Hemraj (47) who helped pile on 186-3 batting first for BEI. O n l y N a t h a n Karamchand (2-24) made inroads with the ball for West Side High, which crumbled to 44-10 in 14.3 overs of their chase. We s t S i d e H i g h ’s Devendra Samaroo (17) and the in-form Ricardo Danesar (15), failed to get past the combined might of the threeheaded monster composed of national youth players Brandon Grimmond (3-14), Gilbert Griffith (3-7) and
Man-of-the-Match Berbice Educational Institute Lemuel Dejonge 90 * runs from 59 balls.
Man-of-the-Match Annandale Secondary Ruel Dindyal 29 runs from 32 balls 1 wicket 8 runs.
2026 CWI Women’s U19 T20 Championships
Jamaica ease past Guyana by 21 runs
Man-of-the-Match Abram Zuil Secondary Ravid Fredericks 91 not out from 30 and 1-17 from 3 overs.
Guyana continued their losing streak, this time at the hands of Jamaica who eased themselves to a 21-run win as part of yesterday’s triple-header. At Coolidge, Sashane Ricketts (22) led Jamaica’s innings which ended on 103 all out in the 20th over, after Captain, spinner Danielle Manns (2-11), Christina Jackson (2-13) and Shenese Thomas (214) had good returns. However, their chase was
curtailed by Jamaica’s trio in Neveah Webley (3-19), Adanya Baugh (2-16) and Ricketts (2-8) who equally matched the bowling efforts of Guyana to help keep them to 82 all out in the 18th over, with Akeela Stephen (18) the top scorer. Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago beat Windward Islands by 10 wickets at Liberta Sports Club while Barbados defeated the Leeward Islands by 90 runs over at Coolidge.
Captain Danielle Manns led Guyana’s bowling in a losing effort.
Kaieteur News
Wednesday August 12, 2026
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r Camp
RHTYSC Republic Bank Grade 6 Summe
Ramdial, Mendonca cops top awards at 18th award ceremony – over $1.5M worth of prizes shared out The eighteenth annual Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club Republic Bank Summer Camp came to an end on Friday with an impressive closing ceremony at the Area ‘H’ Ground. The ceremony was attended by senior executives of the club, senior staff of Republic Bank, RHTYSC junior cricketers, students of the camp and their parents. Eleven years old Damali Ramdial was named Best Student of the camp by the teaching staff and carried home a total of $500,000 worth of prizes, while Akilah Mendonca received $300,000 worth of prizes as the Runner up Student. Club Secretary Hilbert Foster stated that the Summer Camp was first hosted in 2008 with the main o b jectiv e o f as s is tin g primary school students to make a successful transition to the secondary level. Over the years, a total of 1752 youths have benefitted from the summer camp. The 2026 Summer Camp started on the 14th of July at the Area ‘H’ Ground with a registration of eighty-three
students. The students were taught four core subjects – Maths, English, Social Studies and Integrated Science, while classes were also held for Introduction to Spanish. Students were also involved in several lectures on a wide range of topics related to their personal development. Among the topics were the Importance of Education, Peer Pressure, Personal Hygiene, Importance of D i s c i p l i n e , Te e n a g e Pregnancy and Behaviour in the Classroom. The Summer Camp also involved a day of sports where students participated in several sporting events like 100 Metres race, 200 metres race, 4x100 metres relay, tug of war and sack race. Over $200,000 worth of prizes were up for grabs at the Day of Sports. Students also took part in a quiz competition and were able to win $100,000 worth of prizes. Students were also involved in a lecture on Sports and Nature by Mr. Ben-Hardy Jones of the Desserts Vipers Cricket team, who recently took part in the Guyana Global Super League.
Top student Damali Ramdial receives her prizes from staff of Republic Bank in the presence of her parents. H e a d Tu t o r o f t h e Republic Bank Summer Camp, Ms. Sabrina Chaitram hailed the Camp as a resounding success with all of the students recording scores of over seventy percentage in the final test. She noted that all of the students were committed to expanding their studies, so
Runner-up student of 2026 Akilah Mendonca collects her prizes from a staff of Republic. Her grandmother looks on.
that they could make a successful entrance to the secondary school later in the month. She urged the students to remain focused and to develop a formula of hard work, discipline and commitment. Ms. Chaitram warned her students that secondary school was more difficult than Primary School and that the next five years would determine the path of their lives. Senior Banking Executive Denisa Ramdial of Republic Bank Williamsburg Branch stated that her bank was very pleased with the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club organising of the Summer Camp over the last eighteen years. She noted that over the years, many of the students of the Republic Bank Summer Camp have gone on to become professionals such as doctors, lawyers, educators and auditors among others. Student Akilah Mendonca expressed gratitude to the cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club for organising the Grade Six Summer Camp and to Republic Bank for their sponsorship of the four weeks event. She stated that all the students of the camp were now fully prepared for the transition to the higher level. The cricket club shared out $600,000 worth of educational materials to
all of the students. The donated items included a school bag, hard cover exercise books, pens, pencils, sharpener, erasers, rulers and water bottles. The best student of the Summer Camp was Damali Ramdial who secured 197 marks of the possible 200 at the end of Camp final test. She took home over $500,000 worth of prizes including a Dell Computer from Beepat’s, an electric bike, electronic tablet, a Comfort Sleep Mattress, Designer Watch from The Gift Centre, kitchen utensils, household items among numerous prizes. The Runner up Best Student was Ms. Akilah Mendonca who received $300,000 worth of prizes including a tri-cycle, a laptop computer, electronic tablet and a Comfort Sleep Mattress. The other awardees at the 2026 Graduation were: * Most Discipline Student – Roshan Persaud * Most Cooperative – Homesh Ramnarain * Most Committed – Kavya Misir * Most Improved – Simon Benjamin * Best Maths – Malia Wilson * Best Science – Jovan Gray * Best Social Studies – Briana Fraser * Best English Student – Kavya Misir
* Best Extra Curricular Student – Jasmen Hicks * Best Reader/Speaker – Mariah Pompey They received a wide range of prizes including trophies, medals, bicycles, electronic tablets, educational materials, kitchen utensils, designer clothing, sporting equipment and different hampers. RHTYSC Cricket Manager Robby Kissoonlall declared that the Cricket teams distributed a total of $1.5M worth of prizes and gifts to the Summer Camp students. The teams organising the event were Poonai Pharmacy Under 12 and 13, Farfan and Mendes Under 15, Bakewell Under 17, Pepsi Under 19, Metro Females and the Namilco Thunderbolt Flour Under 21. The teams would like to express thanks to all the sponsors who supported t h e m t o o rg a n i s e t h e Summer Camp including Republic Bank, Beepat’s, Comfort Sleep, Faiz al Jaffarally, Namilco, Ricks and Sari Ltd, Trendsetter Tours, GNNL, The Gift Centre, National Hardware, Beacon Cafe, Global Visa, John Lewis Styles, TDM Construction, SD and L Accounting, Lennox Cush, N a t i o n a l A s s e m b l y, Canadian Surpluses, GUYBIZ, Premcorp Consultancy Services, Data Technology and AA Snacks Co. Ltd.
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Wednesday August 12, 2026
Elite League raises stakes with $12M prize package …League kicks off on August 29 The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has raised the stakes for the 2026/27 Elite League, unveiling a significantly enhanced $12 million prize package as Season Eight prepares to kick off on August 29. The country’s premier men’s football competition will feature the same 10 clubs from last season, with newly promoted Camptown FC joining defending champions Slingerz FC, Guyana Police Force FC, Guyana Defence Force FC, Western Tigers FC, Santos FC, Monedderlust FC, Ann’s Grove United, Den Amstel FC and Fruta Conquerors FC. The new season, which will run for approximately six months, is expected to provide a tougher and more competitive battle for the national championship, while offering clubs and players greater rewards and opportunities. At the centre of the changes is the GFF’s decision to increase the total prize package to $12 million, with all 10 clubs guaranteed a financial return based on their final positions. The champions will collect $4 million, while the runners-up will receive $3 million and the third-placed team $2 million. Fourth place carries a $1 million reward, while fifth will earn $500,000.
Clubs finishing sixth through 10th will each receive $300,000. The increased rewards represent a significant boost from previous seasons and are intended to make the competition more attractive while providing clubs with meaningful financial returns for their performances. The GFF has also expanded the squad limits, giving clubs greater depth to negotiate the demands of a lengthy campaign. Teams can now register up to 35 players, five more than the 30-player limit in Season Seven. Match-day squads have also been increased from 20 to 23 players, allowing coaches greater tactical flexibility and providing more players with opportunities to feature. Another potentially significant development is the GFF’s review of arrangements that could allow clubs to host Elite League matches at their own home venues. The federation is currently examining the commercial terms and infrastructure requirements for such arrangements. Any venue approved for home matches must satisfy the GFF’s competition standards, with Continued on page 28
This year’s Elite League winners stand to collect a bigger purse and defending champs Slingerz will look to cash in.
Kaieteur News
Wednesday August 12, 2026
Players and officials take a photo at the launch of the Essequibo Cricket Board Under-13 Inter-Academy Tournament on Monday.
E’bo U-13 Inter-Academy Tournament launched to advance youth cricket development Fifty-six (56) young cricketers to benefit as ECB strengthens preparation for GCB Inter-County competition The Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) officially launched the Essequibo Under-13 Inter-Academy Tournament on Monday, August 10, 2026, at the Joe Jagmohan Ground, Hampton Court, Essequibo. The tournament was launched by ECB President, Mr. Deleep Singh, in the presence of players, coaches and Board members. The competition brings together Under-13 players drawn from cricket academies across Pomeroon, North Essequibo, South Essequibo, Wakenaam, Leguan, East Bank Essequibo and Bartica, providing an important developmental platform for 56 young cricketers. The 35-over competition comprises four teams competing in seven matches, including the final. Matches will be played at the Reliance Community Ground, Affiance No. 1 Ground and Joe Jagmohan Ground. The two leading teams will contest the championship final on Thursday at the Joe Jagmohan Ground, Hampton Court. During his address, President Singh announced that the tournament will become an annual championship, giving Under-13 players across the county an opportunity to compete for the title each year. He also reiterated that the South Essequibo Academy
will be renamed in honour of the late Coach Forbes Daniels, in recognition of his immense contribution to the growth and development of cricket in Essequibo over several decades. The tournament was established to provide young academy players with meaningful competitive match experience while strengthening their preparation for the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board Under-13 InterCounty Tournament. Throughout the competition, players will have the opportunity to test their abilities against others within their age group, further develop their technical and tactical skills, build friendships with players from other academies and gain valuable experience in a structured competitive environment. The tournament also places emphasis on the players’ personal growth and development both on and off the field, with guidance being provided by competent and qualified coaches throughout the competition. The Essequibo Under-13 Inter-Academy Tournament is an initiative of the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB), with assistance from the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and additional support and contributions from several individuals committed to the advancement of youth cricket in Essequibo.
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Elite League raises stakes with $12M prize package …League kicks off on August 29 One of Guyana’s celebrated horses, Olympic Kremlin will race for the last time at the 2026 Guyana Cup.
Olympic Kremlin’s final furlong …Slingerz Racing calling time on celebrated thoroughbred
Slingerz Racing Stable owner, Javed Ali
rts o p S
West Indies have to go through the Qualifier route to make the 2027 ODI World Cup It is the third successive time that they have to play the Qualifier to earn a place in the World Cup
It is the third successive time West Indies have to play the Qualifier to earn a place in the World Cup. (Matt Roberts/ICC/Getty Images)
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