Kaieteur news

Jewelz by King’s Hotel, a 9-storey structure located at the corner of Waterloo and Quamina Streets, Georgetown, officially opened on Friday

(Guyana Chronicle photo)

AzruddinMohamedmullslegalaction againstGECOMoverrejectionofpartysymbol

Pr e s i d e n t i a l candidate and leader of the We InvestinNationhood(WIN) party, Azruddin Mohamed said he will approach the courts for reprieve if the G u y a n a E l e c t i o n s Commission (GECOM) refuses his appeal to use his party’ssymbol.

Thecommissionruledon Friday that the jaguar featured as the party’s symbolcouldnotbeused.

The businessman told Demerara Waves on Friday, that his political symbol is a leopard,andnotajaguar He stated, “The symbol is not a jaguar;thesymbolisanother cat because the symbol that wesubmittedtoGECOM,if you Google the image, it’s not a jaguar It’s another species of a cat. It was a leopard.”

He told Kaieteur News that, in light of GECOM’s decision, he plans to appeal therulingincourt.

Therulingwasdelivered by GECOM chairperson, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, three days after the

- says animal is a Leopard, not Jaguar

deadline for the submission of political party symbols and slogans for the upcoming general and regionalelections,scheduled forSeptember1. Singh made the ruling during a statutory meeting held at the commission’s headquarters in Kingston, Georgetown.

Opposition-nominated commissioner, Vincent Alexander told Kaieteur News that Justice Singh ruled that the use of the jaguar, which is an element ofGuyana’snationalCoatof Arms, by any political party is not permitted, reaffirming that the symbol represents nationalunityandshouldnot be aligned with any partisan group.

“The chairperson specificallystatedthatbased on article 7 of the Constitution: “It is the duty of every citizen of Guyana wherever he or she may be and of every person in Guyana to respect the national flag, the coat of arms, the national anthem, the national pledge and the Constitution of Guyana, and to treat them with due and proper solemnity on all occasions”. Her contention was that the image of the Jaguarisapartofthecoatof armsandasaconsequence,it

cannotbeusedasasymbol,” Alexanderstated.

Since the party’s symbol’s submission to GECOM, objections were raised regarding the use of the ‘jaguar’ as a political slogan. Letters of concerns were recently sent to GECOMbychairmanofthe National Toshaos Council, Derrick John and political figureLennoxShuman,both opposing the use of the jaguar as a party symbol for theupcomingelections.

Alexander pointed out that the decision was made against the backdrop of the government-appointed commissioners’ claim of intellectual property rights over the jaguar image, attributing it to the Amerindian communities “This attribution effectively bastardised the concept of intellectual property, the core of which is the originality of an idea or invention,”hesaid.

Alexander argued that otherpartieshavepreviously used Guyana’s national animals as party symbols without GECOM rejecting them. He also emphasised that the WIN party never referred to their symbol as a jaguar He stated, “Without any reference to the solemnity of the use of the Jaguar as a symbol, it is beyond reason or logic for

the Chair to have concluded thatanelementofthecoatof arms, to wit the “Jaguar” is what the constitution meant whenitspecifiedthecourtof arms, among other national symbols. If an element was meant,thenthereismuchto be undone, since other elementsofthecoatofarms, such as the pick-axe, the Canje Pheasant and Victoria Regia, among others, are frequently used by various organisations, including political parties, and on variousoccasions.”

The WIN party was among 24 political parties that submitted symbols for approvaltoGECOMonJune

19, signaling their intention to contest the upcoming general and regional elections.

In a release earlier this week, GECOM said “political parties are required to submit their respectivelistsofcandidates on nomination day for elections 2025, i.e., on the 14thJuly,2025,alongwitha copy of their pre-approved symboltotheChiefElection Officer GECOM remains committed to engaging all stakeholders to ensure that theyareadequatelyprepared for this critical statutory timeline in the electoral process.”

Justice (ret’d) William Ramlall has died

Leader of We Invest In Nationhood (WIN) party, businessman Azruddin Mohamed

GECOM Chairperson, retired Justice

Claudette Singh

William Ramlall (left)

Chairman before President David Granger (seated).

Attendees at the U.S. observance th of its 249 Independence

A 20-year-old fisherman, on Friday, was remanded to prison after pleading not guilty to robbery with violence charge.

Theaccused,SurajIsaaccalled‘Nicholas’ofMonRepos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrates’CourtbeforeMagistrateAbigailGibbswhoread thecharge.

It is alleged that Isaac committed the offence on Vannie Jagmohan, a 47-year-old businesswoman at Plantain Walk, Triumph,ECD,onJune16,2025.

Magistrate Gibbs denied Isaac bail and the matter was adjournedforJuly31,2025.

Justice (ret’d) William...

Frompage2 in the Attorney General’s Chambers; a teacher of Commercial Law and led a successful private practice.The retired judge attended the University of Guyana, where he readfortheBachelorofLawsPartOnebeforeproceedingto theUniversityoftheWestIndies,CaveHillCampus,where hecompletedPartsTwoandThree.Heisalsotheholderofa Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School and was a part of several professional training programmes.

Justice(ret’d)Ramlallwasafriendandmentortomany

‘We must not do anything to risk partnership with U.S.’ Fisherman remanded for robbery with violence

President Irfaan Ali on Friday evening delivered a passionate address emphasizing the role the United States of America (U.S.) plays in Guyana’s development.TheGuyanese Head-of-State was at the time speaking at an event hosted by the United States Embassy in Guyana to commemorate America’s 249thIndependence.

The event was hosted at U S Ambassador Nicole Theriot’sresidence.

He said, “Guyana values a strategic partnership between our countries and welcome the continued commitment of the United States to remain engaged in implementation and execution of our bilateral

cooperation.”

Hereflectedontherecent visit by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Guyana, which he said underscored the mighty interest of Guyana and the U S in maintaining and keepingbilateralrelations.

Further he stated, “We wanttoletyouknowthatwe do not take friendship and the partnership that we’ve built over the last five years…likealotofworkhas gone into building these partnerships, and as a country, we must ensure we do nothing to risk this partnership We must do nothing that will put these partnerships that we have workedsohardtodevelopat risk.”

P

underscored that Guyana v

c partnership between the two countries and welcomed the continued commitment of the United States to remain engaged in implementation and execution of bilateral cooperationagenda.

Meanwhile,Ambassador Theriot also spoke of the U S ’s cooperation with Guyana and pointed to military & security cooperation with Guyana emphasizing that it is the strongestithaseverbeen.

“Ourmilitary-to-military partnership spans training, exchanges, and acquisitions in key national security areas, such as our joint developmentofcoastalradar capabilityfortheGDFCoast Guard…” the ambassador said. She continued, “This yearwe’veexpandedourlaw enforcement partnership as well, with knowledge exchanges and joint activities involving the NYPD, FBI, & DEA working hand-in-hand with the GDF, GPF, CANU, and SOCU.”

Accused Suraj Isaac

KaieteurNews

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

Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456

Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams

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

EDITORIAL

China and Guyana

TheUSissuretogetachill.Itisatriskoflosingits'Big Brother' status, caretaker role, in Guyana. Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Excellency Yang Yang laid out what we interpret to be a China-Guyana blueprint, a tight working relationship between Beijing and Georgetown. Excellency Yang made for stirrings of excitement locally, andmorethanpassinginterestinWashington.

“Inthepastfiftydays,Iexperiencedthehothospitality from the Guyanese government and the people, the scorchinghotweather,andhotnessofcooperationbetween ChinaandGuyanaacrossvarioussectors.Chinahasandwill continue to treat Guyana as good friend, good partner, and goodbrotherandsister So,letusworktogethertoshapean even brighter future for our bilateral relations.” The Chinese ambassador reminds us of a former American ambassador, Excellency SarahAnn Lynch. TheAmerican wasagoodsoldier,alwayspunchingaboveherweight. In AmbassadorYang,werecogniseasuccessorinthemaking. Undoubtedly, Guyana has been blessed, with not one superpower,buttwovyingforherattentions,wantingtobe inherbestconsiderations.

That's one side of the coin, for the Americans have alreadymadetheirpositionclear ThereisroominGuyana for only one superpower elephant. Though leaders of the PPPC Government may deceive themselves into believing that it's their sure handling of the always delicate nature of foreignrelationships,itisprimarilytheoilandgoldwealth that attracts the Big Powers. A quick look confirms that every member of the exclusive global nuclear club is in Guyanatoday,andjostlingtogetabroaderpresenceonthe ground. There isAmerica leading the way, with a virtual stranglehold, and there's Great Britain and France, and China and India to a lesser extent. Despite the horrors of Gaza, and the gruesome ordeals of the Palestinians, the Israelis are also here. Pakistan doesn't have much of a presence,andNorthKoreaisout,buttherestoftheBigBoys ClubarehereandallthirstingforabiggerpieceofGuyana. IndiamaybeokaytotheUS,butChinacloudsitsvisionwith a red haze. Thegovernment is playing a clever game, one thatcouldturnouttobedangerousforthiscountry When elephantsareonthemarch,itiswiseforthepeopleincharge of the Guyana Government to be astute enough not to get caught napping on the ground. That should be Guyana's vision,agenda.

Don't tell that to the Chinese, however “We will encourage more qualified, reputable, and capable enterprisestoinvestinGuyana,encouragethemtoactively participate in the modernisation, and encourage them to delivergreaterachievementsthroughhigh-qualityBeltand Road cooperation,” Ambassador Yang stated. For the Chinese ambassador to dare to say, “Belt and Road cooperation”inGuyana,couldnothavebeenmissedbythe US,norwell-receivedbyitspeopleembeddedhere. China's BeltandRoadvisionandprogrammemeanscompetitionfor the US. Too much of it, and too close for comfort due to encroachmentinareasheldassensitivehomegroundbythe US. ThePPPCGovernmentshouldbecarefulnottobeseen asbeingtoosmartforitsowngood,i.e.,playingonefriendly superpoweragainsttheother Thereisneverenoughroom formorethanone,andwithmattersfeveredinWashington andBeijing,whateverthegovernmentisuptohere,itcould beriskinglosingcornandhusk.

TheChinesehaveaplacehere,butthemorepronounced it is, the more the Americans are sure not to take that in stride. The strategy in the upper elevations of the PPPC Governmentappearstohaveoneobjectiveinmind:walking a tightrope between two not-too-friendly superpowers. WhereistheadvantageinthatforGuyana? Guyanaisnot goingtogetmoreforitsoil,gold,andbauxite,fromeitherof thetwo,whichmustalwaysbethesoleobjective. TheUSis well-entrenched here and is not going anywhere, nor prepared to give an inch (or a dollar). The Chinese talk a good game, but always for their own benefit. The Guyana Governmenthadbettergetsoberquickly

It is beyond reason for the GECOM to deny the symbol submitted by WIN

DearEditor, GECOM has once again demonstrated its ineptitude, and probably its bias, in determining that the symbol submitted by the party “We Invest in Nationhood” be denied. The Chairperson specificallystatedthatbased on Article 7 of the Constitution: “It is the duty of every citizen of Guyana wherever he or she may be and of every person in Guyana to respect the national flag, the coat of arms, the national anthem, the national pledge and the Constitution of Guyana, and to treat them with due and proper solemnity on all occasions”.

Her contention was that the image of the jaguar is a partoftheCoatofArmsand

as a consequence, it cannot beusedasasymbol.Without any reference to the solemnity of the use of the jaguar as a symbol, it is beyond reason or logic for the Chair to have concluded thatanelementoftheCoatof Arms, to wit the “Jaguar” is what the Constitution meant when it specified the Court of Arms, among other national symbols If an element was meant, then there is much to be undone, since other elements of the Coat of Arms, such as the pick-axe,theCanjePheasant and Victoria Regia, among others, are frequently used by various organizations, including political parties, andonvariousoccasions.

It should be noted that this decision was made

against the background of the Government Appointed Commissioners' attribution of intellectual property rights, of the image of the jaguar, to the Amerindians, purportedly in keeping with the provisions of international conventions, andtheargumentspresented by the chairperson of the National Toshaos Council, andtheMr Shuman,intheir respective letters This attribution effectively bastardized the concept of intellectual property, the core of which is the originality of an idea or invention.

A r t i c l e 1 4 9 G (Indigenous peoples shall have the right to protection, p r e s e r v a t i o n a n d promulgation of their

languages,culturalheritages and way of life) was also referenced However, the connection between the image of the Jaguar and “languages, cultural heritagesandwayoflifewas notexemplified”.

The idea of having a judicial interpretation of the provis ions of the Constitution on this matter, andthepetitioners'casewas thrown out. However, the Chair retorted that the court may be approached by interestedpartiesforaruling onherdecision.

GECOM once again resorted to the power of numbers, rather than that of reason in making its 4/3 decision.

Yourstruly,

VincentAlexander

Presidential front runners in the elections

DearEditor, Based on engagements withvotersbythiswriterand interviewersforanunaligned, non-commissioned survey, the following nominees -Irfaan Ali, Aubrey Norton, Azruddin Mohamed, Nigel Hughes, Amanza WaltonDesir,andMarkDeFrance-are the front runners for Presidential nomination of their respective parties –

PPP/C, APNU, WIN, Alliance For Change, Forward Guyana, and ANUGrespectively

Several other minor partieshavealsoexpressedan interest to contest the elections,butthepublicisnot familiar with them and as such have not expressed a preference on Presidential nominee. The minor parties are struggling to meet the

requirements to get on the ballot.IrfaanAliandNorton have remained the most preferred nominees for their respective party within their traditionalbase;thereareno known presumptive challengers for nomination in the two major parties. Among the new and minor parties, only Azruddin's WIN has attracted voters' attention, capturing voter's imagination. He is posing a challenge to the two major parties with two months to go before balloting on September1.

But incumbent Ali has consistently maintained a lead among all presumed nominees for President in surveys conducted over the lastcoupleyears.

Yourstruly, VishnuBisram

The PPPC exemplifies the attributes of a National Front Government

DearEditor, Dr Cheddi Jagan sat on thethird'step'ofthestairway leading upstairs from the modestly furnished living room of his home. His bare feetrestingonthefirst'step'. Apparently, he loved sitting there whenever we met, whichoccurredatleasttwice a month between mid-199798.Duringthisperiod,sugar workers were on strike, foodstuffswerescarcedueto import bans, members of q

sanctioned organizations such as the House of Israel were terrorizing opposition supporters at publicly held

commonplace,andBurnham

constitutional referendum that would enable him to retain power and continue his authoritarian dominance over the country Under these circumstances, Dr Jagan and I discussed various approaches to counter Burnham's

oppressive actions and policies.

Being the opposition leader at the time, Dr Jagan had proposed the formation of a coalition government whichBurnhamrejected.As Dr Jagan explained, Burnham's rejection led to his conceptualization of a NationalFrontGovernment. Upon engaging me in discussions of his ideas, he asked if I could prepare a paper on the subject, part of which appeared in the Sunday's publication of the Mirror In sum, as Dr Jagan envisioned, the NFG would be a coalition government constitutedofallprogressive political parties. Dr Jagan believed that such governmental formation would result in the creation of a racially mixed political structure with equal representation and distribution of power And, with such a representative government in place, policies would be promulgated to develop all

population and economic sectors, eventually resulting in the social transformation ofaunitedGuyanainwhich all races become equally representedandempowered.

I n o u r p r i v a t e conversations, while I supported Dr Jagan's premise of a National Front Government, I respectfully expressed to him my apprehension. This, I did, given Guyana's colonial historyofdivideandcontrol w h e r e b y r a c i a l segmentation, ethnic rivalries and disharmonies were ingeniously crafted to facilit

Awareofmyeducational background as a social scientist,Dr Jaganlookedat me and smiled; so, I assumed.Or,perhaps,itwas duetomyyouthandpolitical inexperience As to the reasonhesmiled,Iwillnever know

E v e r s i n c e m y discussionswithDr Jagan,I often wondered about the primacy of a National Front Government, but not as conceptualizedbyDr Jagan. MylingeringdoubtswithDr Jagan's conceptualization, rest on the above stated reasons,followedbythe (Continueonpage5)

rs prolonged authoritarian domination. I also politely voiced doubts of a multiparty coalition NFG, and the structure and relations of power sharing, especiallyasthesepertainto such factors as: (i) Leadership styles; (ii) Equitable distribution of governmental powers; (iii) Internal rivalries and rifts; (iv) Ideological differences; (v)Resolutionofentrenched political partisanship based on some politicians historicalpoliticalappealsto r a c i a l a n d e t h n i c indifferences; and that (vi) The stability and continuation of a multiparty coalition NFG presupposes t h e r e e l e c t i o n o f participating politicians which no one could guarantee.

Barrack labourer charged with rape of 13-year-old girl

A 53-year-old man, on Friday, was charged with rapeofachildundertheage of16andremandedtoprison when he appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrates' Court. The accused, Andre Stuger, a barrack labourer (cleaner) of Sparendaam, EastCoastDemerara(ECD), was initially arrested for the abduction of a 13-year-old girl who was reported missing by her relatives on June18,2025.

He was not required to plead to the indictable charge which was read to him by Magistrate Abigail Gibbs and was remanded to prisonuntilAugust4,2025.

Family members said thatonWednesday,June25, 2025, a taxi driver saw the teen walking alone at a location and picked her up. He quickly alerted family members via telephone that hehadfoundher

The taxi driver was

Accused: Andre Stuger

advised to take the child to the nearest police station since she was found a good distancefromherhome.

“I tell him where to take her,” the child's mother said whilerecountingthatthetaxi driver also allowed the 13year-oldgirltospeaktoher

While at the police

Construction worker on $200,000 for armed robbery

A 2 3 - y e a r - o l d construction worker, on Friday, was released on $200,000 bail for an alleged armedrobbery EmanMohamedofMon Repos, East Coast Demerara, appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrates' Court before Magistrate Abigail Gibbs. He pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on June 23, 2025 at Martyrs Ville SquattingArea,MonRepos, ECD,he,beingarmedwitha knife, robbed 20-year-old Kevin James Magistrate Gibbs granted Mohamed bail and the matter was adjournedforJuly31,2025.

station, the teen told police, shewasheldagainstherwill at a house on the East Coast of Demerara. Her mother said she told her, “He lock meupthereforcoupledays.”

Thevictimtookpoliceto alocation,whereStugerwas found He was arrested immediately

The PPPC exemplifiesthe...

Frompage4 consequential debacles of Guyana's PNC-UF, and APNU-AFC coalition governments I firmly believethataNationalFront

Government can be constituted by a singular political party whose (a) representatives reflect the structureandrelationsofthe Guyanesesociety,with(b)a shared dedication and commitment to the development of the country and the socio-economic upliftmentofallcitizens.

Today, Guyanese can objectively observe for themselves that the current PPPC administration exemplifies the essence of a NationalFrontGovernment.

President Irfaan Ali, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, and Prime Minister Mark Phillips, along with the political and racial composition of government ministers, administrators, and ambassadors, all confirm with the hallmarks of a formidable and unique NationalFrontGovernment.

The PPPC's promulgation and articulation of

developmentalpoliciescater to the well-being and advancement of all Guyanese, irrespective of race, ethnicity, or traditional political loyalties

Moreover, President Ali, Vice President Jagdeo, and Prime Minister Mark P h i l l i p s h a v e a l l demonstrated their unyielding commitment to the achievement of a One Guyaneseunity

This, they regularly demonstrate by their community outreach campaigns, addressing local concerns brought to their attention, and instituting infrastructural changes to improve health, education, safety, and welfare of citizensineverysectorofthe country

Itwouldbedisingenuous to overlook, or underplay that Guyana is a racially segmented society, one designed by Colonials who implemented policies that fostered enduring racial and ethnic disharmonies, rivalries, and distrusts between Africans and Indians And, as the

Guyanese reality attests, while Indians and African happen to reside in close proximity to one another, their social-cultural worlds, and modes of existence, remained relatively autonomous.

However, since 2020, withthecomingtopowerof the PPPC, a true National Front Government began to reveal itself in its equal representation of all, and in orchestratingthecontinuous erosion of racial and ethnic separatism that has augmentedtheproductionof a One Guyanese unity The totality of such unity does not evince overnight, or in a few years, but gradually emerges from the avowed commitment and dedication of a racially and ethnically diverse cadre of policy makers which the PPPC already exemplifies. In such PPPC's accomplishments, Dr Jagan's dreams of a Guyaneseunityincreasingly manifest itself daily in plain sight.

Regards

NarayanPersaud,PhD ProfessorEmeritus

The new LCDS needs additional work

DearEditor,

The country's Low

Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) is a very long document that has a laundry list of items to be further investigated, identified, and developed. Although a good initial attempt at framing the discussion, it lacks clear strategic priorities, outlined resource needs and the associateddevelopmentplan t o s u p p o r t t h e implementation of the strategy

The strategy needs to be more concise, with clear prioritiesthatareexecutable with a focused timeline for the implementation of each strategic initiative The strategy also lacks clear and specific links to a wellarticulated vision and mission. Something which should be on the level of a visionforthenation. Thisis a current opportunity for each major political party The approach taken in the development of the current LCDS has not incorporated input from the regions, but sets out to do so after the launch of the strategic plan. The strategy development process is lacking specific input from these and other keystakeholders.

CRG recommends that thegovernmentfirstoutlines its strategy development process before undertaking suchanimportanttask. The current LCDS reads more like a white paper with g u i d e l i n e s a n d considerationsthatshouldbe

development of the strategy and it should be viewed this way With this perspective in mind the document is a good input that should be used by regional leadership in the development of their regional LCDS strategies. Unfortunately, given the LCDSinitscurrentform,the government should go back to the drawing board and redothestrategy,sothatitis more ac

le and effective in meeting the

needs of our Nation Remember, the LCDS must beusedasakeyinput/driver of the annual resource allocation and budget development processes Thus, making it necessary fortheLCDStobeclearand actionable.

Bestregards, Mr.JamilChanglee Chairman

T h e C o o p e r a t i v e RepublicansofGuyana

Accused: Eman Mohamed

President Ali announces plan to build world class museum at D'Urban Park

AtthecornerofWaterloo and Quamina Streets, Georgetown stands a spanking new nine-storey edifice that exudes luxury, excellenceandcomfort.

The new building

dubbed Jewelz by King's Hotel opened its doors officially on Friday during a simple ceremony and cocktail reception attended by the several dignitaries including President Irfaan Ali who announced plans to bolster Guyana's hospitality sector with world class museumatD'UrbanPark.

“To support this[hotel] investment very soon you will see an ad in the newspaper for a new world class museum, it already identified for an area that mostofyoubelieveisaneye

soreclosetomyoffice…We are going to put that magnificentnewmuseumto celebratewhoweareandthe

citywillsoonbelinkedtothe new Silica City,” President Alistated.

Meanwhile, in his

address to the gathering at the opening ceremony, the Head-of-State lauded the hotelasapowerfultestament

- as King's Hotel unveils spanking new edifice

of one family's belief in nationhood.

The hotel has been described as a remarkable new addition to Guyana's hospitality and tourism landscape

Jewelz byKing'sHotelis a modern building with a sleekdesignthatboastsover 60 rooms. The landmark property which once housed the operations of the WaterchrisHotelispoisedto enhance the tourism and hospitality industry The President said proprietor of Kings Jewellery World, Looknauth Persaud and his family have shown true patriotism by investing their time,resources,andtalentin Guyana.

“This family without oil

developmentofGuyana,but more importantly to the positioningofGuyanawhen we were little known on the world stage; we were still known for King's Jewellery Whenwewerelittleknown; everycricketerstillwanteda King'sCricketBandandthat tells you something deeper thanwhatyouseeheretoday That tells you about a group of people who are thinkers, innovators,builders,andthat is what I want us to applaud today,”Presidentsaid.

Heemphasizedtherefore that Jewelz by King's Hotel should be viewed as not just afamilyachievementbutan accomplishment for Guyana.

“If we try to narrow this asathisfamilyachievement, wewillbedoinganimmense disservice to the sacrifices, time and investment of this family; they did it for the a d v a n c e m e n t a n d development of this country,” the Head-of-State asserted.

Proprietor of the King's Hotel chain, Looknauth

Persaud expressed excitementattheprospectof thenewfacility

Hesaid,“Thischapterin King'sHotelhistorymakesa significant milestone in our community, team and hospitality industry We are thrilled to have you here at thismomentousoccasion.”

Reflecting on his entrepreneurialjourneyfrom goldsmith to jeweller and now hotelier, Mr. Persaud told the gathering that this new accomplishment is a testament of his family's enduring dedication to showcase Guyanese ingenuityandexcellence.

“As a jeweller, I am

President Irfaan Ali delivers remarks at the opening of Jewelz by King's

proudtosaythatwehaveled this country from the time, we opened our very first branch and that we have continued to grow with manysuccesses.

W e h a v e f i v e gemologists within our [jewellery] store I don't thinkanywhereintheworld, they have five certified gemologists in house,” Persaudsaid.

T h e G u y a n e s e businessman said that Jewelz, the newest addition to the King's Hotel chain holds many memories for him.

“This is where the WaterchrisHoteloncestood, I,likemanyofyou,attended manydinners,luncheonsand meetings here,” Persaud reflected as he declared his new hotel will serve as a place where memories will be made, experiences will unfold where guest will feel welcomed and pampered in luxuryandcomfort.

According to him, the newestablishmentisalready receiving a number of accommodation requests fromvariousassociations.

“I can already see the future of this hotel being a greatplace.”

The businessman lauded the efforts of his children Harrinand Persaud and Renata Persaud who served asvisionariesinbringingthe hotelprojecttolife.

Managing Director of Jewelz by King's Hotel, RenataPersaudsaidthather family ventured into the projectasadirectresponseto a request for more accommodation by PresidentIrfaanAliin2020.

Since then, she said that her family has worked relentlessly on creating a space which showcased the detail, excellence, luxury, and comfort that King's brandisknownfor.

Jewelz by King's Hotel located at the corner of Waterloo and Quamina Streets Georgetown officially opened its doors on Friday (Photo credit: NCN Guyana)

Hotel Chain.

Money spent on GUYSUCO going down a ‘black hole’

The Alliance For Change (AFC) believes that any money pumped into the ailing Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) will be going down a 'black hole.'

A black hole is a region in space where gravity is incredibly strong, so much that nothing, not even light, can escape. This extreme gravity arises from the immense density of matter packedintoatinyspace.

AFC executive member Khemraj Ramjattan told reportersFriday,thatitagain seems to like the People's Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) government has planstospendhugeamounts of money, probably for electoralreasons,onasector thathasgonedownthedrain intheworstwaypossible.

He reminded that the AFC has made several statements on the sugar industry even while in government in 2016 under the coalition. He noted the expertise of Errol Hanoman whomadeitclearthatrightsizing was the best way forward for the corporation tobemadeprofitable.

This could have been achieved by, “namely merging of estates, but also

the… what you call fading away of certain factories, andwehaveidentifiedthose because what was needed was good support for the factories that could have made it with the estates having the sugar supplying them, so that at least the sector could be in survival mode,”heexplained.

Ramjattanremindedthat the coalition has sent over $42 billion during a fiveyearperiodbutitappearsthe current administration will be spending more than that in the sector, “because, of course, we had decided that money is spent there is literally going down a black hole. I want to indicate that, aswehavesaidbefore,there arereasonswhythisindustry was run down, and it was long before theAPNU/AFC cameintogovernment.”

He said further, that the PPP when previously in government, had received over US$100 million from theEuropeanUnion,butthe fundswereneverdirectedto the rehabilitation of factories, construction work ordrainageandirrigationon theestates.

The politician stressed that the younger generation would not want to get involved in the world of

GuySuCo because of the back breaking nature of the job, leaving the estates literally abandoned in the future.

Additionally, he stressed that mechanisation of the land with the type of soil present, will be almost impossible as when it rains the clay will get soggy, makingitdifficult.

“Then the capital investment needed for what iscalledallthedeteriorating structures that are there will be too massive, but most of all will be the price in the world for sugar We will continually, even with all if we solve the problem of capitalinvestment,we'llstill have a price in the world market that will be lower than our cost of production, and to that extent, it is quite clearthatthecountrywillnot have sugar,” Ramjattan lamented.

AccordingtoRamjattan, changing chief executive officers (CEO's) will not fix thesugarproblem.

“That was, I think, the last statement I made because, of course, these CEOs that they take are just political loyalists Hello, take, for example, Sasenarine Singh, he did so badly in it, but he got

promotions, and he went Brussels as our chief ambassadorthere,”hesaid.

Last week President Irfaan Ali announced plans to diversify GuySuC0 beyond sugar and its byproducts by producing rice, corn,andcassava.

“We have to think strategically of how we will expandtheroleofGuySuCo. Andperhapsitistimeforus toreimagineGuySuCo'srole altogether Why must its mandate stop only at sugar? GuySuCo can and must become a hub of rural economicdevelopment,”the president said, at the 77th anniversary observation of

-AFC

the Enmore Martyrs, at East CoastDemerara,

Despite the government pumping billions of dollars into the sugar corporation, the company has failed to meet targets and, more so, becomeprofitable.

President Ali said G

knowledge base could support the production of other crops as well as livestock operations, agroprocessing hubs, farmer trading and extension services, fabrication and engineeringservices.

“The global machinery indu

Wehavetoleveragethis (Continueon

TheAllianceForChange (AFC) will not prevent any ofitsmembersfromserving in an Aubrey Norton-led administration should they be invited, party leader Nigel Hughes said on Friday

Hughes, during his party's weekly press conference, was asked whether the AFC would be willing to have its members serve A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) either in government or as o p p o s i t i o n parliamentarians.

“As a matter of eventuality, Mr Norton becomes the president, and he is of the view whether, individually or the Alliance For Change, the party could participate in a government post-election, the Alliance For Change is certainly going to consider that, and wecertainlywouldnotstand inthewayofanymember,if

you'dliketo,byMr Norton, tobepartofhisgovernment. We are a liberal democratic party,”hesaid.

Hughesstatementcomes three days after Kaieteur News reported that with Nomination Day fast approaching,Norton,whois Leader of the Opposition, has committed to giving coalitiontalkswiththeAFC onemoretry

On Sunday, during an interview on Caribbean Tea which was streamed via YouTube, Norton told viewersthathewasreadyto talk. “My late father always told me the only thing that beatstryingisfailureitself.I am prepared to try now,” he said.

When asked by the host attorney,VivianWilliams,if his party is stronger now than in 2015, the opposition leader explained that from the inception, it was indicatedthatacoalitionwas

Hughes

AFC will not prevent members from serving in an APNU administration -

needed, and everything has beendonetobringaboutone as it was thought to be priority

He added that he does not think that the issue is whether they are stronger now than 2015, because the questionwillpre-suppose (Continueonpage13)

recruited machinists and fabricators from GuySuCo.

page22)

Former Leader of the AFC and Member of Parliament, Khemraj Ramjattan

Leader of the AFC, Nigel Hughes.

750kWpsolarfarmcommissionedatWakenaam

A 750kWp Solar Photovoltaic farm was commissioned on Friday at the Wakenaam Power Plant compound,RegionThree.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d), Mark Phillips commissioned the facility, which he described as a transformative step toward sustainable energy use and local economic empowerment.

ThePrimeMinistersaid that the new solar farm is expected to meet and surpass the island of Wakenaam’scurrentenergy demand, while providing

reliable and clean electricity to residents and businesses “This project is a catalyst for further d e v e l o p m e n t We encourage residents to harness this energy to improve livelihoods, including through agroprocessing and other smallscaleindustries ”

Accordingtoastatement posted on his Facebook page, Phillips reiterated the government’s commitment to transitioning Guyana towardsadiversifiedenergy mix, noting similar projects inothercommunitiessuchas Leguan, Bartica, and Lethem.

H e s a i d t h e administration is focused on p e o p l e - c e n t r e d development, aiming to ensure every sizeable community has access to

renewableenergysystems.

Further, the prime minister pointed to the potential for a more diversifiedandresilientlocal economy if residents can maximise the use of the excesselectricity Industries such as agroprocessing, small-scale manufacturing,andtourism, he explained, could thrive with the support of clean, reliable electricity—turning Wakenaam’s energy surplus into a driver of economic growth.

“Weneed tonowputour minds, our heads together andcomeupwithabusiness strategy, and get the investors to invest, to utilise this excess power Don’t haveitasornament.”

Headded:“Wenowhave to harness or utilise the energy, especially what is availablehereatWakenaam,

and produce goods with a shelf life that can now be exported to the rest of the world.”

The prime minister also reminded residents that the project is their “own” and should be protected and valued for future generations.

He said pointed to the successfulrolloutofover60 microgridsacrosshinterland communities and the distribution of more than 30,000 household solar systemstooff-gridhomes.

“We are proud of this project,we’reproudofwhat we’re doing in Wakenaam, we’re proud of what we’re doing in the hinterland communities, and with your support, we’ll continue to deliveronsimilarprojectsto the people throughout the length and breadth of Guyana,”theprimeminister stated

In Wakenaam, the 750kWp solar system is supported by a 1,330kWh battery storage facility capable of delivering 360kW of power for up to three hours, enabling the island to operate largely on renewable energy during the day while keeping conventional generatorsforbackup

E x e c u t e d

n partnership with the UAECaribbean Renewable Energy Fund and Masdar, the project is designed to stabilise and expand the island’s energy capacity while reducing diesel consumption, in keeping with the Government’s Low Carbon Development Strategy

U.S. announces visa restrictions on families, associates of sanctioned drug traffickers

Inanefforttocombatthe fentanyl crisis, the United States recently announced new visa restrictions targeting family members and close associates of individuals sanctioned for their involvement in the globalillicitdrugtrade.

The announcement was made by Secretary of State MarcoRubio,whodescribed themoveaspartofabroader strategy to curb the devastating impact of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, which remain the leading cause of death amongAmericans age 18 to 44.“Morethan40percentof Americans reportedly know someone who has died from

an opioid overdose, and in 2024 the United States averaged over 220 overdose deathsdaily

Today,Iamannouncinga new visa restriction policy under section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act that will applytofamilymembersand close personal and business associates of individuals sanctioned under Executive Order14059,”Rubiostated. Executive Order 14059, issued in 2021, imposes sanctionsonforeignpersons involved in the global illicit drug trade. The new visa restrictionsexpandthereach of existing measures by holding not only traffickers

but also their support networks accountable “Imposing visa restrictions on drug traffickers, their family members, and close personal and business associates will not only prevent them from entering the United States, but will serve as a deterrent for continued illicit activities,” Rubio added The department of state said it willuseallavailabletoolsto dismantletransnationaldrug trafficking operations and prevent the flow of fentanyl and other deadly narcotics intothecountry

A section of the 750kWp Solar Photovoltaic farm at Wakenaam

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d), Mark Phillips (OPM)

U.S Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Comparing this year’s top student with past performers makes no sense

The announcement of the NationalGradeSixAssessment (NGSA) results always generates excitement and, sometimes, confusion This year was no different. The countryhasbeencelebratingthe stellar performance of a young girl who achieved a perfect score, meaning she earned the highest possible mark that the system could award. And yet, some have bizarrely begun comparing her total score with

those of previous top performers—insisting that hers is“lower.”Butindoingso,they

reveal a fundamental misunderstanding of how NGSAscoresarecalculated.

A perfect score means that thestudentcouldnothavedone any better It means that, based on the structure and scaling of the NGSA scoring system for thisparticularyear,shereached theceiling.Thereisno“better” thanthat.

To understand why these comparisons across years are

misleading, one must understand how NGSA scores

are actually derived Thankfully, educator Sir Leon recently offered a useful public explanation on Facebook, helping to demystify the process.Here’showitworks.

When a student writes the NGSA,theysitexaminationsin four subjects: Mathematics, English, Science, and Social Studies.Eachofthesepapersis marked, and the student receives what is called a “raw score” This is simply the number of points the student earned, often out of 60. For

example,ifastudentanswer54 out of 60 questions correctly in Mathematics, their raw score forthatsubjectis54. However, raw scores alone are not enough. Why? Because not every test is the same level of difficulty each year One year’sMathpapermightbeabit tougher than another year’s. Or the Science paper might have questions that, on average, studentsfindeasierthanbefore. So,comparingrawscoresfrom different years—or even from different subjects in the same year—doesn’t always give a fair picture This is where “standardization”comesin.

Toaccountforvariationsin difficultyandperformance,raw scores are converted into standardized scores. This is doneusingtheformula:

StandardizedScore=(Raw Score – Mean) / Standard Deviation.

Let’s me explain what this means.Themeanistheaverage score of all the students who wrotethatsubject.Thestandard deviation is a measure of how spreadoutthescoresare.Ittells you whether most students scoredaroundthesamemark,or whethertherewasawiderange ofperformances.

By subtracting the mean fromtherawscore,youfindout how far above or below the average the student was Dividing by the standard deviation then tells you how significant that difference is, in standardizedterms.Theresultis ascorethatshowshowwellthe studentdidrelativetoeveryone else—not just in terms of raw

marks,butinthecontextofhow difficult the test was and how othersperformed.

Thisisimportantbecauseit creates a level playing field. A raw score of 50 in a difficult Math exam might actually represent better performance than a raw score of 55 in an easier one. Standardized scores reflectthis.

Once standardized scores are computed for each subject, thenextstepistoconvertthem into what are called T-scores. The formula for this is:T-score = 50 + (10 × Standardized Score)

This formula ensures that the scores are easier to work with and interpret. Instead of dealing with decimal values or negative numbers, the T-score transforms the standardized score into a scale centered around50.

A T-score of 50 means a studentperformedexactlyatthe average level. A T-score of 60 means they were one standard deviation above the average; a scoreof40meansonestandard deviation below This scaling helps education authorities to combine the subject scores more easily and apply consistent rules for placement in secondary schools. Once Tscores for each subject are c o m p u t e d , t h e y a r e combined usually with different weightings (for instance, sometimes more weight is often given to Mathematics and English)—to arrive at the final composite score.

This scoring system, while

DEM BOYS SEH

EverybodyWantaRun-aboutNow

Dem boys seh Guyanese always finding a way to mek a dollar If it got a crack in de economy, somebody gon squeeze a hustle through it. De latest invention?ARun-aboutMan.Isnotanew kinda minibus, is a real human being who gonrunaboutfuhyou.

Yuhhearright.YuhtoobusytogoGPL, he gon go. Yuh too vex to stand in line at GRA, he gon stand. Yuh too tired to go collect de lil package at de shipping company,hegonhustleitfuhyou.Allyuh gotta do is call, pay a small fee, and BAM—things getting done while you homesoakingyuhfootinwarmwaterand sippingbushtea.

Dem boys seh dis new service more reliable than some government office. De Run-about Man does actually reach. And fasttoo.Helikeacrossbetweenacourier,a peacemaker,andaprofessionaltime-saver One woman seh she send he to buy she groceries, pay she internet, and drop a breakup letter to she ex—all in one trip. EfficiencylikethatwouldashockdeAudit

complex,isrootedinfairness.It adjusts for variations in difficulty across the four subjects in any given year, ensures that high performance isrecognizedevenwhencertain subjects prove more challenging, and prevents any single subject from disproportionately influencing a student’s overall result. More importantly,itmeansthatscores between different years are not directly comparable. So, when someoneclaimsthatthisyear’s top student didn’t do as well as last year’s because her overall score was “lower,” they are missing the point. The student reachedthehighestattainableT-

scorebasedonthestandardized scale for this year Comparing thattoaraworfinalcomposite score from a previous year—without considering test difficulty, student performance

trends, and standard deviations—is both unfair and uninformed.

To draw a parallel: saying Usain Bolt ran slower in one race than another, without noting wind resistance or track conditions, doesn’t mean he was less exceptional. It means thecontextchanged.

In the same way, the top NGSA performer in 2025 achieved a perfect score under this year’s conditions. There is

no higher to go. And for that, s h e a n d a l l t o p performers deserve nothing butadmiration.So,let’sstopthe misguided comparisons and start appreciating the brilliance of our young scholars. And whilewe’reatit,let’sthankSir Leon for taking the time to explain a complex system in simpleterms.

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

Office.Isnuffpeoplebenefiting.Deoffice wukkerwhocan’tsneakoutfuhtwohours togopayratesandtaxes.Depensionerwho fed up waiting pon minibus.And de small businessman who cyah afford to leave he shop.This Run-about Man is like a genie, except he don’t give three wishes, he chargingbythehour

Dem boys seh pretty soon, we gon get “Run-about App” where yuh just press a buttonandamanintrackpantsandslippers showupatyuhgatereadyfuherrands.Yuh can even rate he—five stars if he jump a potholewithoutspillingyuhflour

But dem boys warning: careful who yuh send. One man send a Run-about fuh payhelightbillandendupinblackoutstill. TurnsoutdeRun-aboutdidrungone...with demoney

Still,demboyssehthisisGuyanaatits finest.Hustle,creativity,andonegoodpair ahsneakers.Whoneedtaxitotekyoutoget things done, when you got Uncle Runabout?

Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

H@RD TRUTHS

In 2020, US to Granger, no - in 2025, US to Jagdeo - go

Elections are heavy on the heads of Guyanese

They have clashing recollections of “free and fair” and democracy on the ground. In recalling the dogged energies and powerful determination of theUSinthelastelections,I ponder what were probably behindthose. So,heregoes. For one, the 2020 electionswereareplayofthe old Cold War practice of replacing governments seen as obstacles or threats Ideology and spheres of influence were not the determiningfactors. Money was,is. Lineuplocalassets, such as the commercial sector,sectionsofthemedia, thelabourmovement. Civil society did its part, while religiousbodiesaidedfroma distance. Some speak of people power It was all about the money The Granger government made

matters easy by its clumsy, comical operations to undermine the electoral process, rearrange the outcome. The Yanks sensed that Pres Granger was agitated by the 2016 oil contract signed by his government The mere whiff of that had the ABCE folks running to Jagdeo Plus, the unprecedented, an ambassador engaging the GDF High Command Necessary,sothatnobodyin the army got any ideas, rocked the free and fair speedboat. One fear dealt withfrontallybackthenwas to quash the David Granger loyalty factor where such existed Foreign ambassadors don't meet so daringlywithtoplocalarmy people. Whatever Granger's temperature signaled; the Americans weren't taking any chances. Out goes he!

Provide a better cover story than free and fair and democracymustprevail? In Bharrat Jagdeo, there was a local, who would anything (includingdonatingtheright side of his brain for morbid studies) to recover power

And then do the same, this time the left side, to stay in itscorridors. Hasn'thebeen the best example of this, to date? Haven'ttheYankshad a history of always finding an abettor in whichever environment they covet, always finding some fine fellow with a barterer's mentality?

Nowtrythis. Irecallmy surprise at being invited by then Canadian High Commissioner, Excellency Lillian Chatterjee, to chat about what I didn't know ('mutual interest'). It turned out to be the obligations of CanadatoCanadiancitizens, whenthey'redistress,callfor

help. Itwasatactfulsharing intendedtoconvincemethat the escorting, spiriting out, of Mr Charrandass 'No Confidence' Persaud through Guyana's airport protocols was duty only Potential threats to his personwereneutralizedbya senior presence from the HighCommission. Whytell me, a nobody? But there it was,noscrewslack,notone strayfeatherleftunattended. Messagedelivered. Mission accomplished I stand skeptical,critical.

Unsurprisingly, some Guyanese get heated when I diminish the power of the ballot box, nod in the direction of the ABCE countries,andhowtheyalter local histories Think Guyana's elections. Why? They didn't know, didn't want to get caught offside, by a second term David Granger experiencing contractremorse. Hehadto go. And, of course, the Coalition turned out be its own worst enemy, Guyana's Gangthatjustcouldn'tshoot straight.

Thinkagain. Sincewhen does America care so much

about political brawls betweenblackpeople(pick allcoloursthatplease)thata Secretary of State had to be dispatchedtoGT,toreadriot acts to the PNC and company, and warn from then President Granger to whoever in his party about pariahs and sanctions?

Guyanese should recall that all of that happened under a president from the Democratic Party, Joe Biden. Dr Cheddi Jagan was ousted for his Marxist bent by a Democrat, President John Kennedy ImagineifwasaRepublican, a Richard Nixonian chap.

Just think of Dr Salvador AllendeofChile.

Having said the above, the stage is well-greased for this year's election contest that has already petered out intoanonevent. Thebargain that Bharrat Jagdeo sealed with the Americans guarantees his political longevity, notwithstanding allthatisdirtyaboutthePPP Government. Note how not a single PPP member of standing now never finds a hair out of place with what they used to denounce

vehemently It'stheGranger government executed 2016 oilcontract. Theoilcontract isExxon. ExxonisAmerica. The PPP is for Exxon Therefore,Americaisforthe PPP to return when school reopens. Itisn'ttheoldCold War It'stheNewAmerican World Order Once Jagdeo wasforsanctity(andstillis), as he likely promised when inopposition,heandthePPP have a US guarantee of staying right where they are in September Jagdeo may walkbackhiswordsgivento Guyanese. He is never so reckless, to walk back commitments given to Americans Perhaps, American movers, shakers, and doers, such as the resourceful Sarah Ann Lynch and Mike Pompeo may want to write separate memosonthis.

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

Richards to stand trial for Sir Mars' murder

Brian Richards, the accused in the murder of KirwynMars,alsoknownas 'SirMars',wascommittedto stand trial at the next practicable sitting of the DemeraraAssizesonFriday

He appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Diamond/Grove MagistrateCourt.

Mars, the former headmasteroftheSt.Mary's SecondarySchoollocatedon Princess Street, was found dead on May 7, 2023, underneath a vehicle at the Perseverance Housing Scheme, Providence, East Bank Demerara, (EBD). He was51yearsoldatthetime.

Richards made is first courtappearanceonMay12, 2023 at the Diamond/Grove Magistrates' Court before Magistrate Sunil Scarce, where he was remanded for Mars'murder

The suspect, who police captured on video footage with Mars that day, was arrestedathisworkplace.

In his confession to investigators, Richards, who was 24 at the time, said he andMarswenttoabarinthe city after Mars had invited himout.Thesuspectrecalled

MurderAccused: Brian Richards Dead: Kirwyn Mars

that after consuming about a caseandahalfofbeersatthe bar together, they left and went to an ATM machine at SouthRuimveldtsinceMars was the one who wanted to makeawithdrawal. After realising the machine was down, the suspectfurtherdetailedtothe policethattheyleftandwent toanothermachinelocatedin the Diamond area The suspect said that they used the new Eccles highway and whileenroutetothelocation, he and Mars got into a misunderstanding.

The suspect, Kaieteur News was informed, admittedtoinvestigatorsthat

during their argument, he picked up a bottle and hit Mars. 'SirMars',thesuspect claimed, had picked up a knife from the vehicle in retaliation He further confessed that before Mars could attack him, he overpowered him and took away the knife and stabbed Marsseveraltimesabouthis body Afterbeinginjured,the suspectrelatedthat'SirMars' ran out the vehicle leaving him inside The suspect further claimed that his cell phone had dropped between theseatsandintheprocessof retrieving his phone, the vehicle ended up reversing andcrushedMars.

‘Guyanese Critic’ ordered to pay Simona Broomes $8 million for libel –EducationMinister

Mikhail Rodrigues also known as the 'Guyanese Critic' has been ordered to pay former Minister of Government under the A Partnership for National U n i t y ( A P N U ) administration, Simona Broomes, a total of $8 millionforlibel.

Inherdecision,presiding Justice Priscilla Hanif determined that Rodrigues made libelous statements against Broomes on January 22, 2024 on his Facebook page,“TheyBreakNews”in a live stream video for his programme entitled

“Morning Live with the Critic.” She found that Rodrigues defamed Broomeswhenhestatedthat she was a part of a “whorehouse” business, a “trafficker”, meaning that the she was a human trafficker On that basis, the judge found Rodrigues liableofslanderandordered that he pays Broomes general damages in the sum of $5 million for the said libel The judge also determined that Rodrigues defamed Broomes on his morning live show when he stated that she shut down many mining operations in the interior to the benefit of her mining operation The Facebook commentator was ordered to pay Broomes general damages in the sum of$3millionforthesaidlibel Additionally, Rodrigues was ordered to forthwith remove and/or cause to be removed all social media posts which contain the false and defamatory words or similar words which convey either

expressly or infer the same meaning from his social media platforms, pages, profilesandwebsite(s) Broomes had originally askedthecourttoawardher $450millionindamages

In court documents seen by this newspaper, the formerministerlists14times that the social media commentator made statements defaming her on his January 24, 2024 programme.Inthedocument drafted by her attorney DexterTodd,Broomesnoted

that Rodrigues accused her of engaging in revolting activities — from claiming that she operated a 'whore house',toallegationsthatshe was involved in 'human trafficking,' with the intent ofdamaginghercharacter Rodrigues also claimed that Broomes who once occupied the portfolios of MinisterofNaturalResources and Minister of Human

Services received a US$225,000 scholarship fromgovernmentandwas (Continueonpage23)

Karaudarnau Village to get first secondary school

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand on Wednesday announced that a decision has beenmadetoconstructasecondaryschoolin the Amerindian village of Karaudarnau in RegionNine.

The minister made the announcement while revealing this year's National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) results on Wednesday at theArthur Chung Conference Center

Speaking on the investment being made in the hinterland regions to ensure students there have the same quality of education as thoselivingalongthecoastland,theminister said a number of new secondary schools are beingbuilt.

“We are currently building in Regions 1, 7,8and9,22secondaryschoolsarebuilding orbuilt,”shenoted.

With some of these schools nearing completion, she said that in Region Nine, thereareeightnewsecondaryschools.

“I just committed to building one at Karaudarnau that would host children from BashaizrunandAchawib,”shenoted.

Thenewschools,theministernoted,will help to eliminate the primary tops in these communities.

Meanwhile, speaking about the new schoolplannedforhisvillage,Karaudarnau's Toshao, Apollos Isaacs told Kaieteur News thattheconstructionofthesecondaryschool isahugestepforwardforthevillageandwill

benefit the secondary aged students greatly “It means they can get a quality education right here, close to home, without having to leaveforextendedperiods,”hesaid.

With approximately 70 children attendingsecondaryschoolfromthevillage, hesaidtheycurrentlytraveltotheAishalton Secondary School to acquire their education.“Weareincrediblygratefulforthis opportunityandexcitedforwhatitmeansfor thefutureofourchildrenandthisschoolwill also accommodate students from Parabara, AchawibandBashaizrun,“henoted.

Approximately $36.2 billion of $175 billion is budgeted for the education sector this year is being used to build, reconstruct and improve education facilities across the country

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand

Mikhail Rodrigues also known as the Guyanese Critic

Former Government Minister, Simona Broomes

Pensionernabbedwithganja, firearmandammunition

A n 8 4 - y e a r- o l d pensioner was arrested on Thursday after being found inpossessionof30gramsof marijuana, an unlicensed 9mm firearm, and ammunitionathishome.

Theelderlymanhasbeen identified as Hubert Campbell, a shopkeeper of Lot 124 Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke-LindenHighway.

According to a police report, ranks from the highway patrol base, acting on information received, proceeded to Campbell's residence Upon arrival, police said, “The 84-yearoldpensionerthenstartedto actsuspiciouslyandsatona bench under a shed in the shop.Theranksrequestedto carry out a search on his

person, however he refused and began behaving disorderly The ranks then warnedhimofhisbehaviour and he subsequently got up and allowed the ranks to searchhim.”

During the search, officers found “one Taurus 9MM pistol, with five live rounds of 9mm ammunition in the magazine.” When asked if he was licensed to carry the firearm and ammunition,policereported that Campbell responded, “no.”Afurthersearchofthe shop revealed a quantity of leaves, seeds, and stems suspectedtobecannabis.

Campbell was informed of the offences committed, cautioned, and arrested. He was escorted to the Timehri

Hubert Campbell

Police Station where the suspected cannabis was weighed in his presence and in the presence of other ranks The substance amountedto30grams.

The suspect was placed in custody and is currently assisting with the ongoing investigation.

Labourer on $100,000 bail for robbery

A23-year-old

labourer, on Friday, was releasedon$100,000bailfor an alleged robbery The accused,JamalHicksofLot 153 James and Cooper Streets, Georgetown, appeared before Magistrate Annette Singh at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court Hicks pleaded not guilty to the charge which allegedthatonJune24,2025 at Stabroek Market, while in thecompanyofanother,stole one gold chain valued $120,000,propertyofChance Forde Thedefencewasled by attorney Stacy Goodings who requested bail for her client.Shetoldthecourtthat herclientwastoldbypolice

that on the day in question, they saw somebody (name notmentioned)jumpedonto her client's motorcycle and rode away after the chain was stolen. Goodings said that upon her instructions, Hicks offered to drop the person and when he was approached by police, he provided them with all the necessary information he hadabouttheindividual.She noted that her client denied theallegationsincehehasno knowledge of a gold chain. The prosecution told the courtthatthedefendantwas the rider of the motorcycle when the pillion rider came off the bike and stole the chain. The court heard that the offence was also caught on camera Magistrate Singh granted Hicks bail on condition that he reports to the Brickdam Police Station the last Friday of each month. The matter was adjournedforJuly25,2025.

Accused Jamal Hicks at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court on Friday.

AFCwillnotpreventmembersfromservinginanAPNU...

Frompage7 thattheparty'sopponenthas thesamestrength.

Nortonsoughttomakea distinction between a coalition vs power sharing, saying that though there is some element of power sharing within a coalition, the elites of the movement have to believe in the one coalition.

“The second precondition is that there's an assumptionabouthowmuch support each section has in the present political (arena) and what they bring to the table, and therefore as you discuss that situation, you have to be cognizant of the

fact that we come with different levels of capabilities and in different areas, and those should be factored in into determining the kind of mechanism you put in place to ensure that there is a coalition,” he added.

Hughes,whowasalsoon the programme, in response said,“youcannevercloseall doors.”

He made it clear that while the commitment is thereandacoalitionmaybe what himself and Norton want, he would, “have to go back (to the AFC). I got to discuss all those things. I'm not saying it's not going to

happen but I'm just saying, it's not as simple as getting up on a programme and the two of us saying “Hey yeah there's a Kumbaya moment it's easy to do Kumbaya;it'sthemechanics afterthat.”

However, last week Hughes told the media that anyremainingprospectsofa coalition with APNU are noweffectivelyoffthetable.

H u g h e s m a d e t h e declaration one day after t h r e e s e n i o r A F C members—Sherod Duncan, Juretha Fernandes, and Deonarine “Ricky” Ramsaroop - names were submitted to be on APNU's

list of candidates for the upcoming General and Regional Elections without informingtheAFC.

“It is unlikely to be any more coalition, I'm afraid. I don'tthinkitwillassisteither side to go into what did and did not happen. It hasn't happened, and that time has gone.Ithinkweareallgoing to concentrate on the elections.Andinthecaseof theAllianceForChange,we are pretty certain that our policies, once presented to the public, will speak for themselves,” he added, emphasisingthatthepartyis now focused on moving forward.

Truck driver on $300,000 bail for discharging firearm

A28-year-old

truck driver, on Friday, was released on $300,000 bail afterhepleadednotguiltyto two counts of discharging a loadedfirearmwithintent.

Jamal Hazel of Plum Park Sophia, Georgetown, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court before MagistrateAnnetteSingh.

It is alleged that Hazel, on May 20, 2025 at Plum Park, Sophia, Georgetown, discharged a loaded firearm on Andra Stewart and Lidj Grant with intent to harm or disfigurethem.

Hazel, Neagus Lamozon

and Randolph Norton were all arrested in October 2024 after they were found with two pistols and several rounds of ammunition during a police intel-led operation at D'Urban Street, Georgetown.

Additionally, Stewart and Grant both appeared at theGeorgetownMagistrates' Court on May 27, 2025 before Senior Magistrate FabayoAzore.

The two men were charged separately for dischargingafirearmwithin a public place on May 20, 2025, at Plum Park, Sophia, GreaterGeorgetown.

Grant was released on $250,000 bail on the condition that he reports to the Turkeyen Police Station every other Friday starting May30,2025,whileStewart was denied bail due to him committinganoffencewhile on bail for another serious offence.

The matters were adjournedtoJune30,2025.

During yesterday's court

represented by attorney DomnickBess.

The attorney told the courthisclientisnotaflight risksincehewasreleasedon bail for his last offence and

has always been present in court.

Bess said that while the offence is serious, bail is allowed.

He argued that while thereisvideofootage,itdoes not clearly show his client's involvement.

Bess told the court that his client has an alibi who canconfirmthatonthenight inquestion,hewasdrivinga truck and was not in Sophia wheretheincidentallegedly occurred.

Bessnotedthathisclient made himself available to the police when he heard theywereinsearchofhim.

M e a n w h i l e , t h e prosecutionobjectedtobail, noting that the defendant committed an offence while on bail for another serious offence.

The court was told that there was a shootout between the defendant and thevictims,whilenotingthat the incident was caught on CCTVfootage.

Magistrate Singh released Hazel on $150,000 bail for each of the charges without conditions since he is punctual with his court appearances.

The matter was adjournedtoJune30,2025.

Accused Jamal Hazel at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Retroactive 8% salary

Public servants and teachers will r e c e i v e t h e retroactive eight percent salary increase for 2025 in their July salaries, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh announcedonFriday

The Finance Minister's announcement followed a statement by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo that the increase will be paid before the September 1, 2025 General and Regional Elections.

“Wewouldhaveallseen the question posed to Vice PresidentJagdeoathismost recent press conference in connection with the 2025 across the board 8 percent salary increase and we would have also seen Vice President Jagdeo's response to that question I am delightedtoconfirmthatthe 2025 salary increase will be paid in July, together with July salaries, and will be retroactiveto1January2025 in keeping with the multiyearagreementssignedwith theunions,”Dr Singhsaid.

Dr Singh added, “It would be recalled that last yearweconcludedanumber of historic multi-year agreements with several unions across the public sector,includingtheGuyana TeachersUnion,theGuyana Public Service Union and other unions that represent employees at several other public sector agencies Under these multi-year agreements, we saw an 8 percent across the board salary increase agreed for 2025.”

The Minister explained that even in the case of unions representing workers in a number of public sector companies such as the Guyana Oil Company (GUYOIL) and the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), as well as other agencies like the University of Guyana, multi-year agreements were concluded.

MinisterSinghdescribed this as historic since this is the first time in recent memorythatsomanymultiyear agreements were concluded with so many unions.

“This is an excellent thing,anditaugursverywell for the industrial relations climate in Guyana, and it sends a very strong signal that collective bargaining is alive and is working extremely well in Guyana,” theMinisterpointedout.

Accordingtoastatement issued by the Ministry of Finance, Dr Singh also

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr.

pointed out that, since returningtoofficeinAugust 2020, Government has implemented several measures to improve the lives of public servants and Guyaneseacrossthecountry Publicservants,teachers, members of the disciplined services and government pensioners have benefitted fromannualsalaryincreases of 7 percent in 2021, 8 percent in 2022, 6.5 percent in 2023 and 10 percent in 2024. On a cumulative basis,nowwiththe8percent increase for 2025, these employees would have benefittedfroma46percent increase in total over the five-year period from 20212025.

He said that the public sectorwagebill,grewby66 percent from $126.9 billion in 2020 to $210 billion in 2024, reflecting the acrossthe-board increases granted to workers, and the special salary adjustments made to selected categories of workers in the education, healthandsecuritysectors. Additionally, Dr Singh reminded Guyanese about the various measures G o v e r n m e n t h a s implemented which have been benefitting citizens across the country. He pointedtotheincreaseinthe income tax threshold from $65,000in2020to$130,000 in 2025, representing a doubling of the threshold from the time the government entered office. This has increased the disposable income of workers by $18 billion, removing over 60,000 personsfromthetaxnet.

He said the reduction in the personal income tax rate from 28 percent and 40 percentto25percentand35 percent respectively for employed and selfemployed persons, with effect from year of income 2025 will increase the disposable income of more than100,000taxpayers.

Ashni Singh

Two Hispanic women found buried in shallow grave

(Trinidad Guardian)

Police are appealing to members of the Venezuelan migrantcommunitytocome forwardandhelpidentifythe bodies of two women who were found buried in a shallow grave in Central Trinidad early yesterday morning.

Police said the victims were Hispanic and suspect they could be Venezuelan migrants.

Acting on information received from an informant, officers of the National Special Operations Unit (NSOU) went to Ramsaran

Trace, Warren Road, Cunupia, around 11.30 pm on Wednesday and found a d i s t u r b e d a r e a approximately 42 feet north oftheroadway

Upon investigating, officers found the bodies of thetwowomenlyingbeside eachotherinashallowgrave estimated to be about four feetdeep.

The site where the bodies of two women were found in a shallow grave in an agricultural area at Ramsaran Trace, Warren Road, Cunupia. (Trinidad Guardian photo).

victims bore any tattoos or scarsbutconfirmeditemsof jewelleryfoundonbothwill be used in the identification process.

Theyconfirmedthearea, which formed part of the Caronilands,wasa“normal dumpingground.”

Meanwhile, Venezuelan and human rights activist Yesenia Gonzalez yesterday condemnedthekillings.She criticised Parliamentarians for failing to address the growingcrimerate.

“We hear them arguing about who duncey while people are getting killed, murdered,”shesaid.

Gonzalez argued that Hispanic women often bear the brunt of gender-based violenceandpublicstigma.

women are either lured or kidnapped and brought to Trinidad to work as prostitutes, often forced to repay large sums for their release She urged the Government to crack down on prostitution rings and address the conditions that allow such violence to persist.

Chaguanas Mayor Faaiq M o h a m m e d a l s o condemned the killings, calling the discovery “sickeningbeyondwords.”

He said, “It is not just a crime scene, it is a crime againsthumanity

While the heads of both womenhadbeenwrappedin bubble wrap—only one had herhandsbound.

T h e s c e n e w a s immediately cordoned off and additional units, including the Homicide BureauofInvestigations,the

Crime Scene Unit, the Canine Unit, the Special Investigations Unit, and the Central DivisionTask Force (AreaNorth),allresponded.

The District Medical Officer arrived around 3.30

am and declared both womendeadbeforeordering autopsiesbeconductedatthe Forensic Science Centre, St James.

Senior police officers were unable to say if the

“People do not have the right to kill someone if they are a prostitute,” she added, pointing to widespread xenophobic sentiment online and a lack of support for victims trafficked from Venezuela.

Gonzalez said many

This heinous act strikes fearintotheheartsofwomen across our country, especially those already vulnerable, like our migrant sisters who left everything behind in search of safety andopportunity.” Mohammed expressed confidence in Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro, as he called for decisive action to be taken oncrime.

Petroperu accelerates talks for Amazon oil block partner

(Reuters) - Peru’s staterunoilcompanyPetroperuis in talks with five firms, including Canada’s PetroTal (TAL.TO), opens new tab and U.S.-based Upland Oil andGas,asitseeksapartner to reactivate a key Amazon oil block, a company executivesaidlateThursday Tomas Diaz, manager of Petroperu’s exploration and exploitation unit, told

Reuters the company

expects to reach an agreement for Lot 192 by mid-to-lateJuly

Makesenseofthelatest ESG trends affecting c o m p a n i e s a n d governments with the Reuters Sustainable Switch newsletter Signuphere.

The reactivation of Lot 192, located near the border with Ecuador, is crucial for supplying

Petroperu’s newly modernized Talara refinery The company is grappling with a financial crisis and significant debt following a $6.5 billion overhaul of the plant.

“We are in a direct negotiation process,” Diaz said, adding that a meeting with PetroTal is scheduled fornextweek.

“Weexpecttoselectour operating partner in about two weeks; it will then be presented to Petroperu’s boardforapproval.”

PetroTal and Upland Oil and Gas did not immediately respond to requestsforcomment

Petroperu,whichholdsa 39% stake in Lot 192, has been searching for a new partner since April after Altamesa Energy Canada, which held the remaining 61%, withdrew from the project amid debts to suppliers and local communities.

(Tyre Recycling Pyrolysis Plant) The pyrolysis process can be controlled manually or semi-automatically (Reuters)

Diaz stated that any new operatormusthonorexisting service agreements with c o m m u n i t y - o w n e d companies in the area. Oil firms in the Peruvian Amazon often face conflicts w i t h i n d i g e n o u s communities demanding local jobs and greater social investment.

Petroperu expects the block to produce up to 12,000barrelsperday(bpd) within six months of restarting.Thatoutputcould rise to around 21,000 bpd after the new operator completes a drilling program.

PIPELINETALKS

Diaz also confirmed that Petroperuisinseparatetalks with PetroTal to renew a contract for crude transport through the Northern PeruvianPipeline.

The 1,100-kilometer (684-mile) pipeline is currentlyoperationalbutsits idle without any active contracts. PetroTal, which operatesthenearbyLot95, previously stopped using thepipelineduetorepeated shutdowns caused by attacksontheinfrastructure, opting instead to ship its crudebybargetoBrazil.

“A new crude transport contract will be positive and make Petroperu’s pipeline profitable,” Diaz said Petroperu posted a first-quarter loss of $111 million, improving on a $183 million loss from the sameperiodayearearlier

WANTED VACANCY

Cashier (9pm - 6am), Inventory clerk, pastry maker, roti cooks. send applications to Roti Hut, 18 North Road Bourda. Call: 227-4949 ext 1137 / 656-7686.

Wanted one Maid. Call: 6801282.

LAND FOR SALE

40x100 ft(+10ft Reserve) in Cummings Lodge ideal for apartment building/bondPartial infrustructural work. Tel: 624-8694.

Prime land @ Agricola Public road. 275 x 25, fence, sand filled, steel gate, etc. Call : 629-7426.

VEHICLES FOR SALE

One Unregistered Nissan X-Trail 2016 model, Mode Premiere. For more information Call: 649-0956.

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2005 Nissan Tiide for sale as is $450,000. Call : 611-5814.

T RUCK TIRES 295/ 75R22.5 $40K EACH. CALL/WHATSAPP: +592-688-3201.

For Sale 6 used American made Dental chairs excellent condition contact Mr Vino on 661-3030 or 626-8918 House and Land for sale. Contact: 645-9805.

Male Seeking female for companionship ages 1825. Call or Whatsapp 6865377

GOAL Graduates! Start your career at Aracari Resort- great pay, growth, perks. Apply now! Call: 264-2946-9.

Regular & Punctual workers needed to work in Boutique at Soesdyke, 35 k. Call :6699258 /664 -3411.

Pump Attendant / Cashier (6am-2pm & 2pm-10pm).

Mobil Providence E.B.D, Call:265-7306. Email: Mobilramsburg@gmai.com

SERVICES

VISA Application for USA, Canada, UK, ETA, ETC. Natrualisation guidance + application filling, ECT. Tel: 626-7040.

Elevate your brand with our professional Graphic design services. Call: 619-0007, 6295526.

Aracari Hotel, WBD (Versailles, Vreed-en-Hoop) - A/C, all amenities & breakfast included. From $78 US. Call: 264-2946.

Aracari Resort crystal clear pool, family fun, safe kids & adult sections, music & food. W.B.D. Call: 264-2946-9

One Business place to rent 183 Quamana Street, South Cummingsburg. Tel: 612-2125.

1159 PHASE TWO SECTIONS B COVENT GARDEN EBD one bedroom furnish apartment with all the modern convenient. 693-5495

Newly constructed 2 bedroom apartment in a safe & Healthy environment. Call: 698-6496 / 707-0225.

2025/44-FD-APN-DEM IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION

Application No. FD-44 BETWEEN: IN THE MATTER OFAN APPLICATION BY JUNE MARIA WATTS

Applicant TO: EVONA WATTS Whereabouts unknown

TAKE NOTICE that on the 25th day of February 2025 an Application in relation to Children was filed by JUNE MARIA WATTS the above named Applicant in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 20th day of June, 2025 the Applicant was directed to effect service of her Application on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News, a daily newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana. AND FURTHER TAKE

NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Application together with related documents.

AND FURTHER TAKE

NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Application, you must file an Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry) and/ or a Reply to

Guyana Defence Force Base Camps to see

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) will be rehabilitating the officers’ barracks at several of their base camps, information from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office has shown.

According to the NPTAB, GDF will rehabilitate the captains’ accommodation at the Colonel John Clarke Military School (CJCMA) located at Tacama, Region 10. This project is estimated to cost $10.7 million.

The Julianna Barracks at Base Camp Stephenson will also undergo rehabilitation at an estimated cost of $14 million.

Rehabilitation will also be done on the Barima Barracks at Base Camp Stephenson, Timehri, as well as the SNCO accommodation at CJCMS for an estimated cost $13.6 million.

NOTICE

Application Relating to Children in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara on or before the 10th day of July 2025. TAKE NOTICE that the Directions Hearing be and is hereby extended to Friday, the 10th day of July, 2025 at 9:30am before the Honourable Justice NIGEL NILES in person and/or via Zoom Meeting ID: 685 665 7142 & Passcode: court123 IN DEFAULT of your filing an Notice of Intention to Defend and/ or Reply to the Application relating to Children the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Application.

The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed.

Dated the 24th day of June, 2025.

major rehabilitation

Below are the companies and their bids: Guyana Defence Force

Rehabilitation of Captains Accommodation at the Colonel John Clarke Military School (CJCMA), Tacama, Region 10.

Rehabilitation of Julianna Barracks, Base Camp Stephenson.

Rehabilitation of Barima Barracks, Base Camp Stephenson.

Rehabilitation of SNCO accommodation at CJCMS,

Money spent on GUYSUCO going... plan to diversify GuySuCo will benefit sugar workers. “We don’t only want the sugar workers to rely on their income from sugar. We want to convert acreage of land into high-yielding production, high-value production, but production that is owned by the workers,” he said.

From page 7 human capital and human potential. And in embracing this future that I speak of, there will be some exciting opportunities. Crop diversification, skills diversification, income diversification,” the president announced. President Ali said that the

PEN PAL

Tacama.

Trump says he would consider bombing consider Iran again, drops sanctions relief plan

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media, after the U.S. Supreme Court dealt a blow to the power of federal judges by restricting their ability to grant broad legal relief in cases as the justices acted in a legal fight over President Donald Trump’s bid to limit birthright citizenship, in the Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington D.C., June 27, 2025. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno

WASHINGTON, June

27 (Reuters) - U S President Donald Trump sharply criticized Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamanei, on Friday, dropped plans to lift sanctionsonIranandsaidhe would consider bombing Iran again if Tehran is enriching uranium to worrisomelevels.

Trump reacted sternly to Khamanei’s first remarks after a 12-day conflict with Israel that ended when the United States launched bombing raids last weekend againstIraniannuclearsites.

Khamanei said Iran

“slapped America in the face”bylaunchinganattack against a major U.S. base in Qatar following the U.S. bombing raids. Khamanei also said Iran would never surrender Trumpsaidhehadspared Khamanei’s life U S officialstoldReutersonJune 15thatTrumphadvetoedan Israeli plan to kill the supremeleader “His Country was decimated, his three evil Nuclear Sites were OBLITERATED, and I knew EXACTLY where he wassheltered,andwouldnot let Israel, or the U.S.Armed

‘GuyaneseCritic’ orderedtopay SimonaBroomes

$8millionforlibel...

Frompage11 involved in scams in shutting down various mining operations in the interior region to her own benefit and she incited publicterror

The lawsuit details that on his January 24, 2024 programme which was broadcast on Facebook, Rodrigues made the libelous statements against Broomes.

As part of the lawsuit, the claimant [Broomes] is seeking an injunction that would restrain Rodrigues, his servants and or his agents, from further publishing or causing to be publish, any statement by him that would convey the impression that she was involved She is also seeking an order to have Rodrigues remove the offendingprogrammefrom all social media platforms, toretracthisstatementsand issueanapologytoher The lawsuit covers

several parts of the broadcast that was done by Rodrigues and the many statements he made at variouspointsinrelationto Broomes.

In her grounds to supporttheclaim,Broomes noted that she was a politician, Member of Parliament under the APNU+AFC Government, and a human rights activist who is highly respected n a t i o n a l l y a n d internationally as a leader, businesswomanandminer Broomes was awarded by the U S State Department in 2013 as an international hero in the fight against human traffickinginGuyana. At all material times, shenotedRodriguesfalsely and maliciously published boldly and sensationally untrue allegations and statementsaboutheronhis widely viewed Facebook programme, ‘They Break News.’

Forces, by far the Greatest and Most Powerful in the World, terminate his life,”

Trumpsaidinasocialmedia post.

“ISAVEDHIMFROMA VERYUGLYAND

IGNOMINIOUS DEATH,”

hesaid.

Iran said a potential nucleardealwasconditional on the U S ending its “disrespectful tone” toward theSupremeLeader “If President Trump is genuine about wanting a deal,heshouldputasidethe d i s r e s p e c t f u l a n d unacceptable tone towards Iran’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei, andstophurtinghismillions of heartfelt followers,” Iran’s Foreign Minister AbbasAraqchisaidinapost on X in the early hours of Saturday Trump also said that in recent days he had been working on the possible removalofsanctionsonIran to give it a chance for a speedy recovery He said he

had now abandoned that effort. “I get hit with a statement of anger, hatred, a n d d i s g u s t , a n d immediately dropped all work on sanction relief, and more,”hesaid.

Trump said at a White House news conference that he did not rule out attacking Iranagain,whenaskedabout the possibility of new bombing of Iranian nuclear sites if deemed necessary at somepoint.

“Sure, without question, absolutely,”hesaid.

Trumpsaidhewouldlike inspectors from the

InternationalAtomicEnergy Agency - the U.N. nuclear watchdog - or another respectedsourcetobeableto inspect Iran’s nuclear sites after they were bombed last weekend Trump has

rejected any suggestion that damage to the sites was not asprofoundashehassaid.

The IAEA chief, Rafael Grossi, said on Wednesday thatensuringtheresumption ofIAEAinspectionswashis top priority as none had taken place since Israel beganbombingonJune13.

However, Iran’s parliament approved moves on Wednesday to suspend such inspections. Araqchi indicated on Friday that Tehran may reject any request by the head of the agency for visits to Iranian nuclearsites.

Trump said Iran still wantstomeetabouttheway forward. The White House hadsaidonThursdaythatno meeting between the U.S. andanIraniandelegationhas beenscheduledthusfar

US/Israel death trap in Gaza - UN says...

62 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces on Friday

- UN Chief says ‘diplomacy, human dignity must prevail’

Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson from the emergency service, has told theAFPnewsagencythatsix people were killed in southern Gaza near one of the aid distribution sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), and one more in a separate incident in the centreoftheterritory,where thearmydeniedshooting“at all”.

Another three people werekilledbyastrikewhile waiting for aid southwest of GazaCity,Bassalsaid.

He said that 10 people were killed in five separate Israeli strikes near the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis,eastofwhichhesaid “continuous Israeli artillery shelling” was reported on Friday Basal added that 30 people were killed in six separate strikes in northern

Gaza, including a fisherman whowastargeted“byIsraeli warships”. He specified that eight of them were killed “afteranIsraeliairstrikehit Osama bin Zayed School, which was housing displaced persons” in northernGaza.

In central Gaza’s alBureij refugee camp, 12 people were killed in two separateIsraelistrikes,Basal said Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterreshaswarnedthatthe humanitarian crisis in Gaza is at its worst point yet, saying Israeli attacks have created conditions “more dire today than at any point inthislongandbrutalcrisis”.

Speaking ahead of his d e p a r t u r e f o r t h e International Conference on Financing for Development in Spain, Guterres said the ceasefire between Israel and Iran “offers hope”, but

stressed that “we cannot allow the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza to be pushedintotheshadows”.

“Bombs are falling – on tents, on families, on those withnowherelefttorun,”he said.“Peoplearebeingkilled simply trying to feed themselves. The search for food must never be a death sentence.”

The UN chief sharply criticised the ongoing restrictions on humanitarian aid, noting that shelter materialsandfuelhavebeen blocked for at least three months “Aid workers themselves are starving,” he said, adding that a “trickle” of aid crossing into Gaza “only underscores the vast scaleofthecrisis”.

“Israel,astheoccupying power,isrequiredtoagreeto and facilitate humanitarian relief,”Guterressaid,calling for an immediate ceasefire,

the release of all captives, and full humanitarian access “Diplomacy and human dig

Government Media Office saysatleast549Palestinians

were killed by Israeli forces while trying to access humanitarian supplies in the past four weeks, and a further4,066wereinjuredat or near US and Israelibacked Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution sites Israel targets Nabatieh in south Lebanon,killingatleastone woman and wounding 20 others, after killing two in dronestrikesyesterday

Tehran is coming back to life, but its residents are deeply shaken

In the heart of the Iranian capital, the Boof cafe serves up refreshing cold drinks on a hot summer’s day.

the barista at

cafe, says he wants relations between US and Iran to improve

They must be the most distinctive iced Americano coees in this city – the cafe sits in a leafy corner of the long-shutteredUSembassy Its high cement walls have been plastered with anti-American murals ever since Washington severed relations with Tehran in the wake of the 1979 Iranian revolution and the hostage crisis–whichstillcastalong shadow over this tortuous relationship.

InsidethecharmingBoof cafe, Amir the barista says

he’d like relations to improve between America andIran.

“US sanctions hurt our businesses and make it hard for us to travel around the world,” he reflects as he pours another iced coffee behindajauntywoodensign - “Keep calm and drink coffee.”

Only two tables are occupied - one by a woman covered up in a long black veil, another by a woman in bluejeanswithlongflowing hair, flouting the rules on

what women should wear as she cuddles with her boyfriend.

It’s a small snapshot of thiscapitalasitconfrontsits deeplyuncertainfuture.

Ashortdriveaway,atthe complex of Iran’s state TV station IRIB, a recorded speech by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was broadcast to thenationonThursday

“The Americans have been opposing the Islamic Republic of Iran from the verybeginning”hedeclared.

Iran carries out wave of arrests and executions in wakeofIsraelconflict

‘Weareexhausted’-how Iranians are feeling after fragileceasefire

“Atitscore,ithasalways been about one thing: they want us to surrender,” went on the 86-year Ayatollah, saidtohavetakenshelterina bunkera?erIsraelunleashed its unprecedented wave of strikes targeting Iran’s nuclearandmissilesitesand assassinating senior commandersandscientists.

US Supreme Court limits courts’ ability to issue nationwide injunctions

The United States Supreme Court has ruled that lower courts likely overstepped their authority in issuing nationwide injunctions against presidential actions, limiting the ability of the judicial branchtocheckexecutivepower Friday’s decision came in response to injunctions from federal courts in Washington, Maryland and Massachusetts, which sought to block President Donald Trump’s ability to curtail

therighttobirthrightcitizenship.

“Universal injunctions likely exceed the equitable authority that Congresshasgiventofederalcourts,” the court’s majority said in its decision “The Court grants the Government’s applications for a partialstayoftheinjunctions”

But the majority added that its decisionapplies“onlytotheextent thattheinjunctionsarebroaderthan necessary”. The injunctions could still apply, the court suggested, to

theplaintiffsinthecasesathand.

The ruling split the court once againalongpartylines,withitssix conservative judges forming the majorityanditsthreeliberaljudges issuing a dissent. Amy Coney Barrett, the court’s newest judge andaTrumpappointee,pennedthe majority’sdecision.

The Supreme Court’s decision was a major victory for the Trump administration, which has denounced “judicial overreach” as

an unconstitutional obstacle to its policies. It will likely have widerangingramificationsforothercases where Trump’s agenda has been blocked by lower-court injunctions “Today,theSupremeCourtinstructed district courts to STOP the endless barrage of nationwide injunctions against President Trump,” Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote on the social media platform X. Trump himselfcelebratedthedecisiononhis platformTruthSocial:“GIANTWIN

intheUnitedStatesSupremeCourt!” The Supreme Court’s ruling, however, did not allow Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship to come into immediate effect

It provided a 30-day period before Trump’s order could be applied and ordered the lower courts to bring their injunctions in line with the new decision. Class action appeals are expected to be filedwithinthatwindow

Relatives of Palestinians killed in an Israeli attack on the Osama bin Zayed School mourn as bodies and injured Palestinians are brought to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City [Ahmed Jihad Ibrahim Al-arini/Anadolu]

Amir,

Boof

Berbice Cricket Board Awards Ceremony on Today

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) awards ceremony is set for today, June 28, at the St. Francis Community Developers (SFCD), Port Mourant Corentyne,Berbice.

Over 30 awards are expected to be distributed during the ceremony which is slated to get underway at 16:00. The feature address will be delivered by Minister of NaturalResources,Vickram Bharrat. The Minister is Berbician and also the Patron of the BCB who has been supporting most of its activities.

ExecutiveOfficer,Narendra Persaud,amongothers.

Remarks will also be

The BCB regularly holds awards ceremonies to honour outstanding players, clubs, officials, umpires, sponsors and others who assisted the BCB over the year in deliveringonitsmandate

categories have been listed for consideration for awards and the BCB

arrangements for the respected individuals and

awarded

The list of awardees includes – Under 13 Cricketer of the Year,

Saturday June 28, 2025

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

Unexpected visitors could wakeyouuptothepossibility of new work opportunities, Aries. This could advance your current job or be work you can do on your ownmaybeonavolunteerbasis.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

If you aren't romantically involved, an errand, walk, or other foray into your neighborhood might bring an excitingnewpersonintoyour life.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Money that you may have been hoping to use to better your living or working condition could suddenly come your way today, Gemini.Ideasforhowtoputit toworkinthemostefficient.

CANCER(June21–July22)

When you run errands today, check the bulletin boards in local businesses. You may have been longing for adventure and dreaming aboutgettingawayfromitall, Cancer

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Information received today excites your imagination and encouragesyoutostartanew artistic or creative project, Leo.Stories,pictures,abstract concepts - all could come together in your mind and form an inspired idea that couldchangeyourlife.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

Adventure is the word for today,Virgo.Alotofphysical and mental energy, as well as enthusiasm,mightleadyouto aim for goals that others consider too risky or unrealistic.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

New career goals may come your way with the current aspect, Libra, opening up possibilitiesyoumaynothave considered.Thiscouldbevery exciting.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21)

Fascinating new information couldarrivetodayfromTVor the Internet, opening up new educationalopportunities.The possibility of making contact and perhaps visiting new friends in other countries mightcometoyourattention.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

A sudden burst of physical energyanddeterminationcould lead to additional income for you, Sagittarius This is probably due to an unexpected opportunity to do some extra workoutsidethescopeofyour usualemployment

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Friendsoragroupwithwhich you'reaffiliatedcouldpropose a trip. This might seem like a great adventure, Capricorn, so you're likely to go for it. You will probably have a wonderfultime.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)You are one of the most physical of all the astrological signs. Do you have a daily or weekly exercise program that you follow religiously? If you don't,youshould.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar 20)

You are not one to take obstacles as a reason to back down or give up. But it's important to recognize when you are dealing with heavy pressures so that you can give yourself a little TLC when needed.

under 15 Cricketer of the Year, under 17 Cricketer of the Year, under 19 Cricketer of the Yearmale, under 19 Cricketer of the Year - female, Senior Cricketer of the Year - male and Senior Cricketer of the yearfemale.

Mostimprovedcricketer

of the year – junior, most improved female cricketer of the year, most improved cricketeroftheyear Club of the year –senior, club of the year –junior, Most discipline player of the year, second division player of the year and umpire of the year

(SamuelWhyte)

Norris leads McLaren practice one-two after Dunne shines

(Reuters) - Lando Norris led Formula One leader Oscar Piastri in a McLaren one-two in second practice for the Austrian Grand Prix on Friday after George Russell went fastest forMercedesintheopening session. Norris had handed his car to Alex Dunne for an impressiveF1practicedebut for the Irish rookie and FormulaTwoleader,butthe Britonwasrightuptospeed assoonashegotbackbehind thewheel.

The Reuters Daily Briefingnewsletterprovides allthenewsyouneedtostart yourday

After Russell’s best of one minute 05.542 seconds intheearlyafternoon,Norris

—22pointsbehindPiastriin the title battle after 10 of 24 races — lapped in 1:04.580 withPiastri0.157slower Red Bull’s reigning champion Max Verstappen, a five-times winner at his team’shomecircuit,wasthe only other driver under the five second mark with a 1:04.898.

“We’veshownabitmore pacethansomeoftheothers. I certainly think they’re goingtocatchup.Maxisnot far behind and they usually improvealotintoSaturday,” saidNorris.

Russell, winner from pole position in Canada two weeks ago after the McLarens collided, was sixth in practice two with Lance Stroll a surprise fourth forAston Martin and Charles Leclerc fifth for Ferrari.

“First practice was definitely a surprise to us,” commentedRussell.

“The McLarens were mighty strong, especially this afternoon. I don’t really see that changing. We’ll do our best but I don’t really think we’ll be fighting for pole.”

Verstappen was without regular race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase for the weekend due to personal reasons with Simon Rennie takingover

“Overalltodaywasquite straightforward and we didn’t have any big issues,” saidVerstappen.

“He(Rennie)hasalotof experience so it has been very very good today, he is straightupanditwasnice.”

DUNNEIMPRESSES

Dunne, given track time aspartofteamobligationsto give rookie drivers F1 experience, was the talk of the first session when he lapped fourth fastest and only 0 069 slower than Piastri.

Still only 19 and the first Irish driver in 22 years to take part in a grand prix weekend, he thanked the team over the radio as the chequered

flag fell. “A little boy’s dream came true, and this is definitely the best day of my life,” he said.

“Thank you everyone for letting me do this, and thanks to Landoaswellfor trustingmewithhiscar.”

McLaren team boss Andrea Stella cautioned not to read too much into thetime,however

“Alex has been quite diligent and impressive, and then he also had the chance to show some speed and, no surprise, he is a fast driver,” said the Italian

Mercedes' George Russell before practice (Reuters)

Kares One Guyana T10 set for highly anticipated bowl-off in Berbice

Cricket fever is set to grip Berbice this weekend as the third edition of the Kares One Guyana T10TapeballBlastpreparesforits highlyanticipatedstart.

Organisers FL Sport have confirmed that the Upper Corentyne region is ready to host the opening bowl-off, despite earlierweatherconcerns.

Teams are eager to take to the park and begin their quest for a place in the national finals. The Berbice zone matches will now takeplaceatSkeldonLinePathand Number48GroundonSaturday,28 June,andSunday,29June.

The zone final is scheduledfor SundayafternoonattheNumber48 Ground.Spectatorswillbegranted free entry to all venues, with organisers hoping for a strong turnoutfromthelocalcommunity

John Ramsingh, part of the organising team, revealed that the tournament will feature a blend of

talent, including former West Indies internationals, current national players, and some of the brightest young prospects in the country

The stakes are high, with the Berbicezonewinnersettoreceive a$300,000prizeandaplaceinthe national playoffs, where an additional $1.7 million is up for grabs. Due to the recent inclement weather, organisers have revised the initial schedule and will now concentrate all Berbice zone matches in the Upper Corentyne area.The#48Groundwillhostthe zonefinalonSunday

Ramsingh added: “The recent badweatherhasdisruptedsomeof our original plans, but the enthusiasm from the teams is incredible.Withthesupportofour partners, we are determined to deliver an exciting start to the tournament for both players and fans this weekend. I’m confident

we’llseesomethrillingaction.”

Montra Jaguars, who reached thefinalinthe2024edition,willbe aiming to go one better this year However, they will face tough competition from returning teams like Cotton Tree Die Hard and MahaicaHawks,alongwithahost of other talented sides from Berbice, all vying for a spot in the nationalfinals.

The Berbice zone will also feature teams such as Champ XI, Crabwood Creek, Bath Sports Club, Corriverton Spartans, Line Path Select XI, Ethan XI, D’Edward Sports Club, New Amsterdam XI, Tucber Park, and NameBrandTitans.

Play is scheduled to begin at 9:30AMlocaltimeeachday,with freeentryforallspectators.

The Berbice zone champion will secure a coveted spot in the national finals, which are set to be held on Sunday, 3 August, at the

National Stadium in Providence, startingat2:00PM.

Beyondthenationalfinalberth, the Berbice zone winner will also pocket a significant $300,000 prize,alongwithatrophy,andwill have the chance to compete for an additional $1 7 million at the National Stadium. The runner-up in the zone final will receive $100,000.

The national finals promise even greater rewards, with the runner-uptakinghome$700,000,a trophy, and medals, while the losing semi-finalists will each receive$300,000.

Individual performances will also be recognised with prizes for theMVP($150,000+motorcycle), Most Runs ($100,000 + trophy + TV), Most Wickets ($100,000 + trophy+TV),Man-of-the-National Final ($75,000 + trophy + TV), HighestStrikeRate($35,000),and BestEconomy($35,000).

The Blast is supported by a

popularityofthetournament.

The Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast has garnered support from: Kares Engineering Inc,theOfficeofthePresident,the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, KFC Guyana, Star Rentals, BanksDIH,ENet,GuyanaLottery Company, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Impressions, Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal, Shawn’s Mini Mart, GiftlandGroupofCompanies,Kris Jagdeo Construction Company, Montra Restaurant & Lounge, Windsor Estates, The New Doctor’s Clinic, GuyOil, ANSA McAL, SuperBet Guyana, Digital Technology, Camille’s Academy, Navin Construction, Demerara MutualLifeInsurance,Continental Transportation,andEnvironmental &TechnicalSolutions.

Dubai Capitals confirm squad for Global Super League 2025

The champions of the International League T20 (ILT20), Dubai Capitals, have officially lit the fuse ahead of the 2025 edition of the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) with a fiery squad announcement.

Fromthegoldensandsof Dubai to the emerald fields of Guyana, the Capitals are bringing a sizzling mix of internationalflair,Caribbean power, and pure cricketing

firepower The action explodes at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence from July 10 to 18,andtheCapitalsareoutto prove why they wear the ILT20crown.

Joining them is none other than Rovman Powell,

the former West Indies T20 skipper and ILT20 Final MVP, known for detonating bowlingattacksandlighting up scoreboards. He’ll be the heartbeat of the Capitals’ offensive, and fans can expect fireworks every time hestepstothecrease.

Backing him up is Barbados’ brutal batting weapon Kadeem Alleyne, alongside the lightning pace and experience of Dominic Drakes, the left-arm quick who will lead the Capitals’ bowlingblitz.AddPakistani paceman Farhan Khan, Canadian left-arm quick Kaleem Sana-Ur-Rahman, and UAE’s Zeeshan Naseer tothemix,andthissquadisa thunderstorm waiting to happen.

I

Capitals are bringing global precision with Sri Lankan gloveman N

oshan Dickwella, Afghanistan’s dynamic batter Sediqullah Atal,andSouthAfricanspin magician Keshav Maharaj, who’ll turn up the heat with guileandgritinProvidence’s spin-friendlyconditions.

The Capitals’ campaign ignites with a blockbuster opening clash against the Hobart Hurricanes XI on Friday, July 11 - a matchup suretorattlethestands.

Thisyear’sGSLfeatures five of the world’s finest

Hurricanes XI (Australia),

s (Bangladesh), Central Stags (NewZealand),andtheever-

dangerous hosts, Guyana Amazon Warriors (West Indies).

Dubai Capitals Squad (GSL 2025): Farhan Khan,

The Capitals’campaign ignites with a blockbuster opening clash against the Hobart Hurricanes XI

Aryaman Varma, Zeeshan Naseer, Rovman Powell, Kaleem Sana-Ur-Rahman, SaidShah,IbrahimMasood, Sediqullah Atal, Kadeem Alleyne, Gulbadin Naib, Keshav Maharaj, Niroshan Dickwella, Jesse Bootan, Dominic Drakes, Jordan Johnson.

The Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast is set for bowl-off this weekend in Berbice T

JuniorSquashteamgearsupforCASA2025 withhighhopesandstrongsupport

Th e G u y a n a

S q u a s h

Association

(GSA)onWednesdayhosted

a post-travel press conference at the National Racquet Centre, officially unveiling the 20-member national junior team set to compete in the 2025 Junior

Caribbean Area Squash

Association (CASA)

Championship in the Cayman Islands from June 29toJuly5.

The spirited young squad, which blends promising newcomers w i t h s e a s o n e d c a m p a i g n e r s , i s

determined to build on Guyana’s proud squash legacy This includes an overall title win in 2022 and an unprecedented 12yeartitlestreakfrom2005to 2016.LastyearintheBritish Virgin Islands, Guyana claimed second place overall, with the boys’team

finishing third and the girls’ teamfifth.

At the ceremonious briefing, team members met with sponsors and stakeholders; showcasing the commitment behind what is considered one of the region’s most eagerly anticipated squash tournaments.

GSA President, David Fernandes unveils team uniform for the upcoming Junior CASA Championship

Alexis Ar

Leading the team is Under-19 champion Louis

D a S i l v a , w h o s e leadership and dynamic court presence are expected to be pivotal

Joining him are standout players Justin Ten-Pow, Emily Fung-A-Fatt, Ethan Bulkan, Kaylee Lowe, and Zion Hickerson, among other emerging talents, all of whom bolster Guyana’s chances of reclaiming regionalglory

Speaking at the briefing, GSA President

D a v i d F e r n a n d e s expressed confidence in the squad’s potential: “I think this year we have a pretty talented group, but dedication and hard work will definitely play a critical role in the team’s success

Over the years, we’ve produced some strong contenders, but this is one of the groups where I’ve seensignificantgrowth I know they will represent themselves, their families, coaches, andGuyanawithpride ”

The full team includes;

, Ell

Fernandes, Tehani Munroe, Zoey McDonald, Kaylee Lowe, Tiana Gomes, Avery Arjoon, Emily Fung-A-Fatt, Safirah S

H

, Ra

ael Brathwaite,EthanBulkan, Jibril Alli, Justin TenPow, Egan Bulkan, Blake E

Goberdhan, Louis Da Silva, Mohryan Baksh, andShilohAsregado

The GSA’s efforts are strongly backed by key

Association, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and

KFC Guyana, and Bounty Farm, whose support has

event

Withhistoryontheirside and an eye on the future, Team Guyana now looks to the Cayman Islands to continue their legacy of

Caribbean squash stage

ExxonMobil Boys’ and Girls’ U14 Football C/ships to kick off today

Fo l l o w i n g a delayed start due to inclement weather, the sixth annual ExxonMobil Boys’ and Girls’ U14 Football Championshipisexpectedto commencetodayat11:00hrs at the Ministry of Education Ground,CarifestaAvenue.

Initiallysettocommence lastweekend(June21–22), excessive rainfall made the playing surface unfit forced the organising team, the Petra Organisation, to tentatively reschedule the openingdate.

The tournament promises three weeks of thrilling rivalries, budding talent, and spirited competition.

Teams from across the countryincludingnineoften regions are set to battle for early bragging rights and ultimately championship glory The championships

will begin with the

traditional March Past ceremonyat10:00hrs.

To open the Girls’ division,Chase’sAcademic Foundation takes on East Ruimveldt Secondary, while Marian Academy clashes with Bushlot Secondary, and St Joseph High faces Charlestown Secondary, all scheduled to kick off simultaneously at 11:00hrs

Continuing in the Girls’ segment at 11:45 hrs with six more fixtures are; A b r a m s Z u i l v s Yarrowkabra Secondary, BarticaSecondaryvsChrist Church Secondary, Wakapoa Secondary vs New Central High, President’sCollegevsWest Ruimveldt Secondary, WaramuriSecondaryTopvs New Ca

e Secondary, Dolphin Secondary vs Vryman’s Erven Secondary and Good Hope Secondary vs Vreed-

en-HoopSecondary

The Boys’action begins at 12:30 hrs, featuring another set of high-energy matches.Firstup,see;South Ruimveldt Secondary going up against Cotton Field Secondary concurrently to that; Charity Secondary will take on President’s College andAbrams Zuil will tackle NewCentralHigh.

Following these, several more key matchups are slated,including;ThreeMile Secondary vs Vreed-enHoop Secondary, Bushlot Secondary vs Yarrowkabra Secondary, Mackenzie High vs Dolphin Secondary, Christ Church Secondary vs New Amsterdam Secondary and Marian Academy vs St Joseph High, a potential e a r l y t o u r n a m e n t blockbuster

After a brief break, the day’s proceedings will conclude with a flurry of eightexcitingBoys’division

fixtures; Belladrum

Secondary vs Bygeval

Seconda

Secondary, West Demerara Secondary vs Charlestown Secondary, West Ruimveldt S

S

Ruimveldt Secondary, C

A

Foundation vs Good Hope S

Wa

UFC fighters to receive up to $1m in settlement payout

(BBC Sport) - Fighters

are set to receive compensation payments ranging from $100,000 to more than $1m from the UFC’s antitrust lawsuit settlement, according to the lawfirmhandlingthecase.

In October, the UFC agreed to pay £281m to former fighters who competed in the MMA promotion between 2010 and2017.

The lawsuit claimed the UFC supressed athletes’ ability to negotiate other

promotional options and estimate1,100fighterswere affected.

Of that total figure, 97% of them have applied to receive funds from the settlement, Berger Montagueannounced.

“It is anticipated that 35 fighterswouldnetover$1m (£727,755); nearly 100 fighters would net over $500,000 (£364,000); more than 200 fighters would recover over $250,000 (£182,000); and over 500 fighters would net in excess

of $100,000 (£73,000),” a statementsaid.,external

TheUFCareinthemidst of another antitrust lawsuit, Johnson v Zuffa, led by more of their former athletes.

Fightersfrom2017tothe present day are seeking damagesandachangetothe UFC’s business practices, including the contracts they insist on The antitrust lawsuits had sought up to $1 6bn (£1 25bn) in damages. The UFC merged with the WWE (World

Wrestling Entertainment) in 2023 to form the TKO Group.

The UFC’s international fightweekiscurrentlyunder way in Las Vegas, with Ilia Topuria fighting Charles Oliveira for the UFC lightweight title at the TMobileArena.

Topuria, who was champion at featherweight, headlinesalongsideOliveira while in the co-main event Alexandre Pantoja defends his flyweight title against KaiKara-France.

Secondary vs Annandale Secondary and St John’s S

RuimveldtSecondary

Thistournamentismade possible through the generous support of title sponsor ExxonMobil Guyana, alongside partners such as Sky Tec, MVP Sports, Banks DIH (under brands I-Cee Soft Drink, Manta Supreme, Rainforest Water, Qiin and Duetto

Biscuits,andTasteeSnacks), DemeraraMutual,andStena Drilling.

Theeventalsoenjoysthe continued backing of key government agencies including the Ministry of Education, Ministry of AmerindianAffairs, and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, all of whom play vital roles in the tournament’s annual success.

Hazlewood’s haul of five helps Australia surge to victory inside three days...

Frompage33 would have hoped to knock over most of the remainingAustraliabatting.

After the break Webster brought up his fifty from 100 balls with a thick edge along the ground through gully before glancing ShamarJosephdowntheleg sidetoHope.

An on-field not-out decision was overturned by third umpire Adrian Holdstock without any of the drama of the previous day

By then Carey was into his stride having started positivelybutwentupagear in the over following Webster’s departure when he took 14 off Seales including the shot of the

match:askipdownthepitch and perfectly executed loftedstraightdriveintothe sightscreen.

Hewentontorepeatthe stroke against the lesser pace of Greaves, sending himoverthestandsatlongoff, to motor to a 40-ball half-century as the game spedawayfromWestIndies.

When joined by Lyon andHazlewoodhestartedto farm the strike as West Indies set their entire field back to him before lofting Chaseintothedeep.

Shamar Joseph, who bowled the most overs in a match of his brief Test career,removedHazlewood toclaimthefive-wickethaul whicheludedhiminthefirst innings.

The tournament is part of the School’s TVET Development Programme

The UFC is by the biggest and most successful MMA promotion in the world (Getty Images)

MCYS/Ansa McAL June Madness Futsal - Championship Time!...

Sparta Boss and Road Warriors to collide for 2$M prize …Lady Canaimas & Iconic battle for female glory

ThegreatMagicJohnson in one of his many quotes, said, “Everybody on a championship team doesn’t get publicity, but everyone cansayhe’sachampion.”

Well, this would definitely be the mantra for either Sparta Boss or Road Warriors when the two collidefortheinauguraltitle of the June Madness Futsal Championship at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Saturday night with their unbeatenrecordsontheline. There would be two thingsforsure,oneteamwill end as the champions and keeptheirundefeatedrecord intact while the other’s winningstreakwillbehalted andtheywillberelegatedto therunner-upposition.

Either which way, one teamwillbaskinthegloryof pocketing two-million dollars as their reward for winning the championship the losing finalist will earn halfofthewinningamount.

Thisshowdown-billeda GuyanavsBrazilcollisionis the perfect end to what has beenamonthofexhilarating battles which commenced

with 48-teams and now down to the final four The third-place game feature the losingsemifinalteams,Back Circle ‘A’ and Gold Is Money

A masters final will set the scene for the night between Spanish sides, Corinthians and Gladiators and this would be followed by an exhibition game betweenInfluencersandThe Champs before the female final takes center stage betweenLadyCanaimasand Iconic Strikers, both winning their two group matches,respectively.

The Lewis sisters, Glendy and Glengy along with Sandra Johnson will spearheadCanaimasquestto takebacktobackFutsaltitles havingalsowonthenational Futsal competition. Iconic Strikers will depend on the likes of Nikita Winter in goal, Akeelah Vancooten, Shanic Thornhill and Tynesha Thorne to deliver a winforthem.

But tonight’s main event a Guyana’s Madison Square Gardens will be a gigantic battlebetweentwosidesthat

andhisunderstandingofthe g a m e a n d p r e c i s e movements are all assets

Sparta ha

collectiontounleash.

Backed up by the ultimate strategist, Jermain ‘Panky’ Junor, a warrior in his own rights and well respected by all in this versionofthegame,andthe nimble Kelsey Benjain (3goals) Sparta has what it takes to topple the Road Warriors. Pencil in the likes ofDarronNiles,Ryan‘Bum Bum’ Hackett, Nicholas McArthur (2-goals) Jobe Ceasar and Omar Jones between the uprights, a sturdy opponent is what SpartaBiosspresents.

Road Warriors have looked a bit shaky twice in this championship, in the

semifinal against God Is Money and Bent Street ‘B’ whenthenarrowlywon,4-3.

They have shown that they are vulnerable but, like their opponent, they have also displayed a knack for winningagainsttheoddsand for showing up on the big stage.

They have in their arsenal, the tournament’s leading goal scorer, Luis Da Silva with 9 goals and he would find able support for almost his entire team ThaiysonPinheiro,Matthew DeSouza, Joao Victor DeSouza,ArcksonAndrezza all with four-goals apiece; and Duarte Dos Santos with three.

Whilst Road Warriors (36-goals) have doubled the amount of goals they have

scored compared Sparta Boss (18-goals), they have both conceded 9 goals each, RoadWarriorsconcedingthe most in any one game, five (5) as compared to three (3) for their opponent which have conceded in three of their wins, the other being a cleansheet.

For sure it will be an evening to remember, who will win, well, that’s left to be seen The organiser’s Kashif and Shanghai MS, have expressed gratitude to the Government of Guyana, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and Ansa McAL forsponsoringthisinaugural edition of June Madness which has lived up to its billing.

Game time on Saturday is20:00hrs,sharp.

will fight until the. They have both displayed the persistencetobattleintimes ofadversitywhenyourback isagainst,thewall,showing a resolve that’s second to none.

F i t n e s s , g a m e shrewdness, positioning, shooting to goal from unsuspectingangles,allpart and parcel of this version of thesportwillallbeexhibited for fans to absorb. Sparta Boss will be aiming to add

National Futsal Title they won in early January of this year. They no doubt have the artillery to unleash against Road Warriors and leading the charge would be their number one marksman who isonegoalbehindtheleader overall,CurtezKellmanwho has scored in every game theyhaveplayedsofar

The semifinal clash against Back Circle ‘A’saw Kellman blasting a helmettrick and he will be looking toreplicatethatperformance when it matters most. His fitness has been excellent

Sparta Boos and Road Warriors Captains, Jermain ‘Panky’Junor and Wendrecky De Souza pose with the championship trophy and teammates.

Shamar Joseph celebrates his five-for (Randy Brooks/AFP/Getty Images)

(ESPN Cricinfo) - Josh Hazlewood led Australia’s surge to victory in Barbados as West Indies lost all 10 wicketsinthefinalsessionof the third day, the final two falling in consecutive deliveriestoNathanLyonin what would have been the last over the day to seal a 159-runmargin.

Australia claimed the extrahalfanhourwithWest Indies seven down but with ShamarJosephthrowingthe bat, having been dropped in the deep by Sam Konstas, and Justin Greaves playing solidly it appearedAustralia wouldbeforcedtoreturnon the fourth day However, Shamar edged to slip before Jayden Seales was caught at short leg. It completed a performance where familiar Australia strengths came to the fore amid continued questions about the top order, but they were confronted by challenging conditions.

Travis Head, who was the beneficiary of West Indies’ seventh dropped catch of the match, Beau Webster and Alex Carey all p l a y e d w i t h t h e proactivenessneededonthis surface. Head was named player of the match for his twin half-centuries on a tricky surface. Carey’s superb strokeplay gave Australia plenty of buffer zone when it came to defending the target, meaning a repeat of what happened in the World Test Championship final was alwaysunlikelyonasurface that remained devilish at times, especially with the harderball.

Mitchell Starc struck in thefirstoverthechasewhen former captain Kraigg Brathwaite clipped loosely to backward square leg where Konstas held a low catch. However, that was followed by some adventurous strokeplay by John Campbell, including a sweep against Hazlewood, asheandKeacyCartymade encouragingprocess. But innovation brought

Australia Tour of the West Indies…

Hazlewood’s haul of five helps Australia surge to victory inside three days

Campbell’s downfall when he attempted to lap-sweep Hazlewood again, and this time could only glove the ball to Carey Next ball, Brandon King got an inside edge into his pads which flew high towards gully where Cameron Green, who hadearliergivenCartyalife on 1, used all his height to cling on Sadly for Hazlewood,hedidnotmake RostonChaseplayatthehattrick delivery as a packed ringofcatchersawaited.

Not that he was delayed long when, two overs later, Chasegotaninsideedgethat looped to short leg before spearing one through Carty This was Hazlewood at his very best: hammering away back-of-a-length and giving the surface every chance to playsometricks.

Pat Cummins was then the beneficiary of those tricks when Shai Hope was cleaned up by a wicked delivery that scuttled under his bat. The run-scoring of Australia’s middle order against an older ball felt a long time ago. The only question was whether the visitors could get the job doneintheevening.

MarnusLabuschagne,on asasub,producedadirecthit run out to remove Alzarri Joseph and Hazlewood removedJomelWarricanfor his fifth wicket. Shamar Joseph launched two balls out of the stadium and some frustration was growing for AustraliabeforeLyonsealed thejobinfadinglight.

The game was in the balanceatthestartoftheday, Australia ahead by 82, with plenty of eyes on how the surface would play There was an early grubber to Head, which fortunately for him wasn’t straight, and he responded by flaying the nextdeliverythroughtheoff side. As Head would later find out there was always something lurking, but with atouchoffortune,runswere theretobemadewhenintent wasshown.

West Indies, though, weretheirownworstenemy

again. On 21, Head was given a life when Greaves spilled a chance at second slip. It was the seventh they had put down for the game and had come after coach Daren Sammy had overseen the morning slips catching

practice where nothing had been spilled. Head went to hissecondfiftyofthematch from77balls.

Webster, meanwhile, built an excellent innings, the third of his brief Test career which has come on a

following the debut halfcentury against India at the SCG. He used his reach to good effect to get out to the ball but was especially eyecatching off the back foot throughtheoffside.

The stand of 102 was broken when Head received a brute of a delivery from Shamar Joseph that barely bounced, the only success for West Indies in the morningsessionwhenthey (Continuedonpage31)

Junior Squash team gears up for CASA 2025 with high hopes and strong support

Several dignitaries and support staff attended yesterday’s briefing at NRC as the 2025 Junior squash team gears up for CASAJuniors

AustraliaTour oftheWestIndies…

helpsAustralia surgetovictory

Josh Hazlewood tore through West Indies top order (Randy Brooks/Associated Press)