Colwyn King gets 19-years for raping 6-yr-old girl
business
Motorcyclist crushed to death by truck
Police deny Guyanese man was kidnapped by Surinamese officials
…saysuspectagreedtowaiveextraditionproceedings
PPP-govt. aiming for second oil block auction next year – Jagdeo Former President of the Guyana Teachers' Union (GTU), Colwyn King
PresidentialCandidateof We Invest in Nationhood, Businessman, Azruddin Mohamed has said that the rulingPPP/CGovernmentis running scared of him and thathewasclosetowinning theupcomingelections.
Mohamed has come under intense attacks by the government and its surrogates in recent times, with Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo spending over 30 minutes yesterday at his news conference talking about the businessman's campaignandheapingscorn athim.
Mohamed on Thursday told reporters that the Guyana Force Police (GPF) showing up at his private property late Wednesday night in search of him is a clear case of “political persecution” Mohamed
made this statement while speaking with the media outside of the Ruimveldt Police Station. OnThursday morning, Mohamed accompanied by his lawyers Siand Dhurjon and Damian Da Silva went to the station forquestioninginrelationto allegations made against him.Theallegationisthathe would have obstructed the course of justice by offering topaymoneytoawomanto drop an assault matter involvingBradleySampson, popularly known as 'Doggie'.
After he was release fromthestationwithoutany charge, Mohamed told reporters,“Idon'tknowwhat is this, this is clear case of political persecution, clear case.
I hope the Carter Center and all the different
observers are taking note of whatisgoingon.”
Comingharder
Denying the allegation madeagainsthim,Mohamed added: “the PPP is coming hard and they will come harderbecauserightnowwe arethiscloseofwinningthe elections”.
Speaking also to the media, his lawyer Dhurjon said it is frightening of the number of allegations against his client in recent times.
“We have never in the historyofthiscountryseena government so shiveringly afraid of one man. We have seen allegations of murder being pelted, we have seen allegation of rape being heaped, allegations of drug trafficking, tax fraud, gold smuggling, I mean there is no limit to allegations, to
lengthanddepthswhichthis government will go, it is frightening,” the lawyer explained.
At his press conference Jagdeo defended the police deploying ranks with highpowered weapons to the W I N c a m p a i g n headquarters,sayingthatitis the job of the lawmen to investigatecriminalacts.
He said the Police presence at the campaign officefortheWINpartyhad nothing to do with politics, but solely regarding the incident.
“Thepoliceareobligated by law, and if somebody doesthatyouareengagedin perverting the course of justice to question the person, so they are saying because he is Mohamed the Police can't question him? They are looking for
sympathy again, they really think because he is a Presidential candidate, not because he was engaging over covering up the brutal beating of this woman who was seeking payment for attendinghisactivity,byone ofhiscandidateswhoisstill on his list, “Jagdeo said. JagdeosaidMohamedisnot a threat to the PPP in the upcomingelections.
This publication had reported on Wednesday that Mohamedandseveralofhis executives met with representatives of the Carter Center on Tuesday where concerns were raised about victimization and matters related to the September 1 general and regional elections.
“In terms of what has been happening here locally towards our party and our party supporters and the victimization that they have beenmetoutwith.
From losing your job rightdowntobeingattacked on social media either directly by the government or indirectly by their propaganda outfits… who have been going out their way to attack and to destroy the character and selfesteem of many of our people ” she explained Asked about the response received from the Carter Center representatives, Primussaidthatshewastold they have been “observing” andfollowingwhathasbeen transpiringonsocialmedia.
Campaign Manager OdessaPrimustoldKaieteur News that the victimization oftheparty'ssupporterswas high on the list of things discussed.
General Secretary of the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), BharratJagdeo,onThursday spent nearly 30 minutes
discussing Azruddin Mohamed, the presidential candidate for We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), during the opening of his press conference at Freedom House The discussion of Mohamed, who was sanctioned by the United States Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), covered a range of subjects including Mohamed's political party, the support he received on Nomination Day, and a recent incident in which Mohamed allegedly paid a woman $500,000 not to pursue a criminal matter involving a former WIN associate However, it should be noted that the conversation around Mohamedcontinuedintothe question-and-answer segment.
Jagdeo began by commenting on Nomination Day, which was held last Monday at Umana Yana, where thousands rallied behind Mohamed as he
submitted WIN's List of Candidates for the 2025 General and Regional Elections scheduled for September1.
Jagdeosaid,unlikeWIN, the PPP did not pay supporters to show up. He argued that while WIN claimed it had thousands present, he estimated it was fewer than 1,000 people.
Regarding WIN's list, Jagdeo said he could not identify a single prominent individualanddescribeditas “mediocre.” “Win has come up with a list, clearly they had a hard time…nobody of anyprominence,notasingle person of any prominence,” he said Jagdeo also commented on some of the candidates listed by WIN. “You're talking about policymaking and running the country…that is the sort ofmediocrelistthattheyput up, several people have a criminalpast,”hesaid. He further criticised whathesaidwasthemedia's leniency toward Mohamed. Referring to an interview
Mohamed gave on Nomination Day, Jagdeo said,“Peoplejustgotalittle, littlepeakintothisemptiness
thatoccupieshishead…asI said before I wanna get a journalist pass to go to his launch of his manifesto because I doubt he'd invite me.” He continued, “You wanna bet it wouldn't happen, you wanna bet the pressconferencethathesaid very soon will never happen…”
He also addressed a recent incident involving Bradley Sampson, also known as 'Doggie', a former key WIN organiser, who allegedly assaulted a 29year-old woman over a p a y m e n t i s s u e o n Nomination Day Since the release of a video of the incident,WIN has distanced itselffromSampson.
After the police issued a wantedbulletinforSampson on Wednesday evening, around midnight several vanloads of police officers went to Mohamed's home reportedlyto“talk”withhim inrelationtotheincident.On Thursday, Mohamed surrendered to the police accompaniedbyhislawyers. After his release, he told reporters that the police alleged he paid the woman $500,000 not to pursue the
matter Mohamed denied this, calling the move “political persecution” tied to his new political ambitions For his part, Jagdeo pointed to the police statementwhichallegedthat Mohamed held the woman against her will for over an hour in the presence of armed security guards and threatened her to take the money and drop the matter
He said, “This guy seems to havesomeconnectioninthe police force, that's unbelievable,theydon'ttreat him the same way they treat ordinary citizens.” He also expressed hope that the police would seize the weaponsfromthoseguards. Despitededicatingabout half an hour to Mohamed, JagdeoinsistedthePPPdoes notconsiderhimathreatand
General Secretary of People's Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), Bharrat Jagdeo
Presidential candidate for We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), Azruddin Mohamed
maintained that A Partnership for National Unity(APNU)remainstheir main opponent. “Right now hedoesn'treallymattertous in the PPP, he is not gonna make no difference because people have seen through him…,”Jagdeosaid. Hethenadded,“I'msorry todayIhadtospendsomuch t i m e o n t h i s g u y because…normally I don't spend time but this week whocouldresistit,Icouldn't a f t e r s e e i n g t h a t performance outside of Umana Yana.”Additionally, during the question-andanswersegment,Jagdeowas asked several questions about Mohamed. He was asked how confident he was thatthegovernmentremains incontrolofthepoliceforce and not Mohamed In response to this, he acknowledged the police have been doing good work butnotedtherearestillrogue elements.
On how the government woulddealwithMohamedif hegainsaseatinParliament, Jagdeopointedoutthatthere is no immunity for parliamentarians in Guyana, saying, if a parliamentarian commits a criminal act, he/she will still be prosecutedifcharged. Further, when asked to respond to comments by political party leaders that highlightedformerPresident of Suriname Dési Bouterse functioned as Suriname's head-of-state despite his involvement in criminal activities, Jagdeo noted that Boutersewasnotsanctioned byOFAC.
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Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456
Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams
Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
Guyana'steachershaveeveryrighttothinkthat they were betrayed. They are already saying so, in no uncertain terms. Former Guyana TeachersUnion(GTU)president,Dr MarkLytehasnow st declared for the PPPC in the looming September 1 elections. Angryanddistressedteachersmayseeaviolator of their cause, a failure in their fight, but Lyte may see himself as a potential minister. He represents the pieces that the PPPC has traditionally looked for, coveted, in a potential minister. The former GTU president can be countedonasapartnertoworkonadealandgetitdone,in theveryskilledwaysthatpartnersdo. Hecanbetrustedto maintainhispeace,sinceheknowsinwhosehandshisfate rests,whenhemadehisfatefuldecisions,crossedthepoint ofnoreturn. Andfinally,Dr MarkLytecouldbethatmost useful of political figures: one with some residual sharpness inside, which makes him the best of devoted soldierstohisnewcalling.
Whatever is said of Dr Lyte, no one should be so careless as to forget that one of the foundations of democracyisfreedom. Heisentitledtohisconstitutional freedom to assemble and to associate with any political groupofhischoice. Hehasarighttostandforanyleader that he idolizes, would like to do more business with and for Thesesensitiveaspectsofdemocracycangetcrushed inthepassionsandprejudicesofGuyaneseelections,asthe pasthasdemonstratedforcefullytoallcitizens. Despiteall of this being said, Guyana's teachers have to be made of stone not to taste bitterness, not believe that they were abandoned and thrown to the wolves by their leader in a toughtime. Inatensestrikesituation,whentheydepended onandexpectedthebestoutoftheirpresident,trustedhim torepresentthem,theygotwhatwassettledforthen,which wasadollarshort,andaslapintheface.
th On Monday, July 14 , Nomination Day, matters came fullcircle,withLyteaconspicuouspresenceinthePPPC's listfortheSeptemberelections. Thosewhowerecritical, from the day that the strike terms were abruptly and mysteriouslywrappedup,cannowfeeljustified. Thedeal ending the long, tension-filled strike was done in a hurry and with the greatest stealth. There was an element that couldn't be shrugged off, or denied back then: the strike deal bore all the footprints of an operation conducted by night crawlers accustomed to doing their business under thecoverofdarkness. HowelseshouldGuyana'spublicschool teachers interpret the movement of their former presidentthen,andwherehehasfoundaplaceforhimself now? This was where union head, Mark Lyte left them, then swiftly distanced from them, while all the time insistingonhisgriparoundsuchgrandattributesashonour andcharacter
The politicians who were close to that strike bargain thatendedit,werepleasedwiththemselvesthen,andreap additional rewards today All the players are happy, with only teachers being the exception. They think of themselvesasgettingaraw deal,duetowhatwas afixed deal. Yetagain,theissueofwhototrust,andwhotowatch, sticksitselfintothefaceofcitizens. Guyanesehavebeen betrayed for decades by their leaders, and always live to regrettheuglyconsequencesoftheirchoices. Fewoftheir politicalpeopleareexempt,nonecanclaimtobeinnocent. From60-70yearsago,fastforwardtothismillennium. Thediscoveryofoilhasledtothebiggestbetrayalseverof Guyanesebythepoliticalleaderstheytrustedtogivethem the best representation. The PPPC began the sellout in 1999, the APNU+AFC Coalition's actions virtually enslaved Guyanese from 2016 onwards, and the present PPPC Government has walked back all its commitments onhowboldlyitwouldmoveto“reviewandrenegotiate” all contracts. It has been more than democracy faltering, moreinthenatureoftrustviolatedandprinciplescleverly and cheaply cast aside. It shouldn't surprise, therefore, when Guyana's teachers react to their former president's moveaspartofacontinuum.
DearEditor, Permit me to share with the nation my thoughts on the rise of Mr Azruddin Mohamed and his WIN political party, its role in the nation's politics. By doing so, I'm honouring my commitment to viewers on Dr David Hinds' Politics 101. As a political/cultural activist and a WPA CoLeader, I have the responsibility to understand the political environment and share my insights with mycountrymen/women,and moreparticularlytheAfrican community.
In previous discussions on Politics 101 and within the WPA, I recognized the potential political importance of Azruddin Mohamed's entry into the countrypoliticsbutreserved my full assessment of him for after nomination Day Nowthatheturnsupwithhis slate, we know for sure he andhisWINpartyareinthe elections, it raises questions abouttheroleoftheWestern powers, especially the UnitesStates,inourpolitics. Given the American sanctions on the Mohameds and the national, regional
and international attention it generated, Mohamed's entry into Guyanese politics in normalcircumstanceswould have been seen by the US authorities as an affront and challenge to their regional and international policy on organised drug trafficking, money laundering, gold smugglingandtraffickingin persons.Thedecisionbythe USnottoissueawarrantfor the Mohameds, thereby forcing the PPP and the Guyana government to act one way or the other, raises questions that require answers. It was the US sanctions that were the catalyst for the Mohamed's decision to enter formal politics and run for President.
Historically the Mohamed family always supported the PPP and their empire was built based on that alliance. It is widely known that the Mohamed economic empire provided money and special security arrangements to presidential contender Ali and top PPP leadership in the 2020 elections surpassing what state security agencies provided. This is known to
theAmericans and ourABC partners. Any keen political observerhasaccesstopublic information on the internet thatcanconfirmtheUSwas monitoring the Mohamed familyforsometime.
What is not known is whether the US timing of sanctions on the Mohameds wasadeliberateactiontoset inmotionitspoliticalagenda in the country for the elections.Inmyview,theUS is attempting to reconfigure the political landscape in Guyana, now that the country has become an important Petro-state. As a political observer, after the Mohameds met with the Americans outside of Guyana, their relationship e x p e r i e n c e d a metamorphosis. He stopped being a victim of US sanctions and became an active instrument of the US policy in the Guyana elections. To put it another way,adealwasstruckwhich gave the green light for Mohamed to continue his political march If my assessmentiscorrect,hehas become a problem for both the government and the opposition The question
now is what role is assigned tohimandtheWINparty?I have no way of knowing for sure, but I am not permitted the luxury of not exercising my mind on this matter Given Jagdeo/PPP's attitude to Mohamed, if the Americans had issued a warrant, the PPP and the government would have complied.ButtheUSdidnot play that card. Why? I have concludedthattheUSandits Westernalliesareonceagain doing as they did that broughtaboutthebirthofthe AFC, encouraging defections from the major parties in 2006, Khemraj Ramjattan from the PPP, Raphael Trotman from the PNCandSheilaHolderfrom theWPA,allofwhomatthe time of defection were members of their respective parties in the parliament. And their initiation took place discreetly outside Guyana.
The US imposition of sanctionsonpersonscloseto the government during the 2020 election crisis, before the results were announced, wasaflexingofmuscles;we knowtheoutcome,the (Continueonpage5)
DearEditor,
As the 2025 elections draw near, the political atmosphere in Guyana has reached a boiling point. For over 25 years, the People's Progressive Party (PPP) has maintained political dominance, interrupted only brieflybyafive-yearAPNU administration.
Today, the emergence of the WIN party, led by Mr Mohamed,hasdisruptedthis long-standing political duopoly and sparked considerable unease within thePPPranks.
Ratherthanrespondwith democratic debate or policy alternatives, the PPP has launched an aggressive campaign to discredit Mr. Mohamed Despite U S sanctions being applied to both Mr Mohamed and former Ministry of Housing employeeMs.MayThomas, the government's fixation has remained squarely on Mr Mohamed From allegations of tax evasion to unfoundedclaimsofmurder, the escalation of attacks suggestsadeliberateeffortto undermine his credibility and intimidate his growing baseofsupport.
This relentless targeting of Mr Mohamed appears to bemorethancoincidence.It
conveniently shifts national focus away from the PPP's own failures that include substandard healthcare in regional hospitals, an unbearable cost of living, inaccessible house lots, the erosion of trade unions, escalatingcrime,widespread public service bribery, and a glaring lack of anticorruption efforts While these issues persist, the government suddenly unveils populist giveaways: salary increases paid out before December, outreach to squatters, and direct lines to the Police Commissioner, etc. gestures that are clearly timed for electoral appeal. The public is right to ask: Why now, and not three or fouryearsago?
For decades, Guyanese citizens have longed for leadership that serves their interests rather than the privilegedfew BoththePPP a n d A P N U h a v e demonstrated patterns of patronage, enriching loyalists while the majority remain trapped in poverty APNU's mismanagement of the US$18 million signing bonusisaglaringexampleof missed opportunity for nationalupliftment.Withthe WIN party entering the scene, it is no surprise that
both established parties appear nervous. More and more voters are moving beyondraciallinesandwant to cast ballots based on real issues, policies, and accountability The government's reported monthly spending of G$10 million on a U.S. lobbying firm to damage Mr Mohamed's image, money that could have built houses for ten poor families every month is nothing short of a misuseofgovernmentfunds.
Mr Mohamed does not seek political power for personal gain he has already achieved success and recognition, being classified as a billionaire. What sets him apart is his proven record of charitable service, which has impacted thousands of Guyanese across the country Through these efforts, he has come face to face with the suffering of many who have beenexcludedfromnational development. In restoring dignity and hope to these forgotten citizens, he has earned their respect and support. That support has now transformed into a collectivecallforhimtolead not because he seeks power, but because he has demonstrated the heart and
vision so many believe are missinginourpolitics.
Consider the Ruby squatters. For nearly five years, the PPP government turned a blind eye to their plight Only last month, conveniently before elections, did housing officials finally step in. But long before that, it was Mr Mohamed who visited the area, provided aid, and broughtnationalattentionto their inhumane living conditions.Hiscommitment is not performative; it is personal, consistent, and genuine.
The Guyanese people nowfaceapivotalchoice:to endorse the same recycled politics that have failed them, or to support a new kind of leadership built on empathy, service, and accountability Mr Mohamed'sgrowingsupport base is not a fluke; it is the voice of a nation tired of broken promises. While the ruling party scrambles to retaincontrolthroughsmear campaigns, the people are awakening This election will not be about race or partyloyaltyitwillbeabout integrity, vision, and the futureofGuyana.
Sincerely, Z.S.Karim
Deareditor, It'selectiontimeagainin Guyana, and politicians are making grand promises to persuade voters to support them on Election Day Each candidate presents their plans and manifestos, but oftenthesedonotalignwith thetruedesiresofthegeneral public It is crucial to understand what ordinary peoplewant.
We have learned valuable lessons from previous successes and failures,manyofwhichhave stemmed from poor
administration by the authorities and by us, the citizens. This year, 2025, Guyana celebrated its 59th year of independence. Despite the passageoftime,manythings have not changed, and there are calls for radical transformation and sacrifices to set us on the rightpathforthefuture.
Mr Burnham was hesitant to exploit the country's wealth over the years; ironically, the new generation of leaders has now disregarded his caution
and is sacrificing the country's natural resources for perceived national benefits Similarly, those political hopefuls, if and when they get in power, should adopt a radical approach to amend the constitution in a way that benefits the masses and not just their own agendas, thereby empowering the people.
Thus, if a president is foundtobecorrupt,heorshe should be prosecuted and jailed; no one should be abovethelawinourcountry
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installed PPP regime. I had the opportunity to hear a prominent African cultural and political activist advocate that a hung Parliament is a better solution for Guyana than a coalition. Since this person has important contact with theUSandWesternpolitical interests, I treated his views as important. This was long before the AFC announced that it is not interested in a coalitionbutinworkingfora hung parliament. When the election bell rang and the AFC declared its position, a piece of the puzzle began to take shape. The ongoing international sponsorship and grooming of young generation politicians for overseas training programs and seminars through the American embassy and other Western organisations for the past three or four years, reveals another piece of this complex political puzzle since these politicians have formed political parties or join the Win party to contest the elections.
It soon became obvious that the defections were concentratedprimarilyinthe opposition camp. The US seems to have found more willing players among the opposition than the ruling party circles. Considering that dilemma, they fell back onMohamedtoachievetheir objectiveofdenyingthetwo major parties getting 50 per
cent of the vote, ensuring a h u n g p a r l i a m e n t Mohamed'sroleistoexploit a possible Hindu/Muslim divide in the Indian community to deprive the PPP of some Indian votes.
ButgiventhecontrolthePPP has on the Indian community; this is not a guaranteed outcome. The downside of this for the opposition is that Mohamed might also pull votes from opposition constituencies. So, in the context that none of the major parties have been anti-American, the US wants the election to be a contestforthepresidency If the elections had been conductedonalevelplaying field, the US position might have made some sense, as it stands,itseemstobedevoid ofaclearwaytostopthePPP rigging.
T h i s c o u l d b e counterproductive. In a fair election fight, I am convinced that the APNU coalition could win the plurality.Currently,theonly other party that can realisticallyreach51%isthe
With that in mind, I would vote for a party that also demonstrates proper accountability of funds and delivers professional and effective work In other words, invest in permanent infrastructure, such as roads thatlastalifetime.
P P P a n d o n l y b y manipulating the electoral process, in essence rigging. The effectiveness of the US approach in the election requiresthemtostopthePPP from rigging. We will know moreafterSeptember1st.
To conclude, I sought to unravel the role assigned to Mohamed and his WIN party. It is evident that had t h e U S r e q u e s t e d Mohamed's arrest the PPP would have complied. Jadgeo and the PPP have raised murder charges for AzruddinMohamed,butlike the Americans, have not played their trump (no pun intended)card.
Why? They know that, given the role assigned to him, he is protected by the Americans. Or is Jadgeo holding a murder charge as leverage for post-election negotiations? Given the present situation, opposition supportersmustrealisethata vote for Mohamed is effectively a vote for the PPP
Yourssincerely, TacumaOgunseye.
Public roads are crucial for economic development, so whoever gets into government must continue to construct proper roads throughout the country Completing the Linden to Lethem Road is very important for facilitating trade and benefiting both Guyana and neighbouring Brazil.
Itisessentialtopavethe main roads that connect important communities and townships in the hinterland. Forinstance,theSantaRosa to Kwebana main road in Region One would significantly enhance economic development for
the residents of the largest Amerindian community in Guyana Similar efforts should be made for roads in other parts of the country, includingtheoneconnecting Lethem toAishalton, as this roadway is vital for transporting agricultural produce and fostering economic advancement in the South Rupununi and beyond.
Additionally, there is a needforregularairserviceto reach remote interior communities, ideally on a weekly or fortnightly basis.
Residents currently face high transportation costs to travel to the coast for essential services such as medicalcareandeducation.
Furthermore, we need to promotetheestablishmentof cooperatives in rural and Amerindian communities.
Once these cooperatives are operational, they can create innovative banking
solutions by collaborating with central banks to offer relevant banking services t a i l o r e d t o t h e s e communities.
Inconclusion,fosteringa culture of sobriety and constructivethinkingshould be an integral part of our Amerindian worldview In our regions, excessive alcohol consumption and idlenessareprevalent,sowe must inspire intellectual discussions and practices centeredaroundideas.
Expanding libraries and promoting a love for books and literature is essential; thisway,wecanestablishan Amerindian or Hinterland Literature Academy in the future, showcasing the brilliance of our people and highlighting our culture, environment, and natural resources as Guyana developssustainably.
Yourssincerely, MedinoAbraham
DearEditor, Teaching is one of the essential professions needed to create a societal culture. By maintaining high ethical standards that emphasize honesty, integrity, and fairness, it ensures that teachers set a good example forstudentsastheygrowand becomemoreengagedinour society We must remember that our teachers and those within the education sector help shape the moral characterofoursociety
The Mahdia tragedy, the knowledge of sexual assault of students without appropriate action being taken, and the intentional
endangering of students by the omission of required safety precautions, are illustrations of serious willfulnegligencewithinthe education sector We as a nation should not permit students to be exposed to unjustified risk of injury, whether mental, emotional, or physical It is very alarming to see that the investments being made in theeducationsectorcontinue to come up short where it mattersmost.
During the Burnham period our country suffered from a lack of resources. Most of the issues and risks we faced during that period
continue today despite the large monetary investment and extensive training being carriedout.Theorganization structure in place for oversight must be made more effective, and this can only be achieved by having in place policies that are adhered to and that carry serious penalties when deliberately not followed. It is an opportunity for improvementthatshouldnot bedelayed.Thosewithinthe sector have been given the privilegetobeentrustedwith developing the lives of our nation's children. We must demandbetterandholdthose (Continueonpage6)
The alleged extradition ofaGuyanesebusinessman,
Raymond David, to Suriname is being challengedbyhislegalteam, who claims the act was illegal and amounts to kidnapping. But the Guyana Government said that the manhadagreedtowaivehis right to an extradition hearing, saying that he had preferred to go back to Surinamefortrial.
David's attorney, Dr Dexter Todd told the media on Thursday that no formal extradition procedures were followed, and there was no recordofanymurdercharge or investigation against him in Suriname. However, in response to a letterbyTodd, Solicitor General Nigel Hawke said that the process employed to release David into Suriname law enforcement custody is provided for through the mutual assistance cooperation arrangement in criminalmattersGuyanahas with several counterpart Law Enforcement Agencies in Caricom, North America andbeyond.
Hawke said these facilities have been invoked and used reciprocally over the years “In the circumstances, each and every allegation of
unconstitutionality, unlawfulness and illegality madeinyourletterishereby strenuously deny,” Hawke said.
Hawkeaddedtoothatthe Guyana Police Force was instructed that David was
allegedly wanted in Suriname for the trafficking in narcotics “He was arrested on the 18th June 2025 by Dillon Pyle, Detective Corporal # 2219, who is stationed at the Alberttown Police Station. At the time of his arrest Mr David was informed that he was being arrested for the alleged Trafficking of Narcotics. He was initially taken to the office of the Regional Detective Officer 4A, Detective Senior SuperintendentC.Singhand w a s s u b s e q u e n t l y transportedtotheRuimveldt Police Station,” the police said. According to the police, while at Superintendent Singh's office, at Ruimveldt Police Station in the presence of both Mr Singh and Detective Deputy Superintendent of Police EonAlonzo, Mr David was again informed that he is wanted in Suriname for the alleged trafficking of narcotics “He was also
informed of his rights to retain and instruct an Attorney-at-Law of his choice In response Mr David stated that he was willing to relinquish his rights in Guyana. He also indicated that he was aware ofbeingwantedinSuriname and, given that his wife operates his business in Suriname, he would prefer nottogothroughtheformal "whereverlawends,tyranny begins " extradition process Instead, he expressed a willingness to return to Suriname to addressthematterthere.”
Policesaidhowever,Mr David refused to have this decision recorded in writing or through audio-visual means. “Following this, Mr SinghinstructedMr Alonzo to escort Mr David on the 19th June 2025 to the Guyana/ Suriname Ferry, where he was to be handed over to Agent Dwarka Prewen, ID # 020988M, of theSurinamePoliceCorps.
“Please be informed that
theGuyanaPoliceForcehas mutual assistance cooperation arrangement in criminalmatterswithseveral c o u n t e r p a r t L a w Enforcement Agencies in Caricom,NorthAmericaand beyond which provide for the process embarked upon by the Guyana Police Force in the instant case. These facilities have been invoked and used reciprocally over t h e y e a r s I n t h e circumstances, each and every allegation of unconstitutionality, unlawfulness and illegality madeinyourletterishereby strenuously deny,” Hawke said. WantedinSuriname Todd told the media on Thursday that on June 18, 2025, David was requested togototheBrickdamPolice Station, Georgetown. He said during a live broadcast from what appeared to be a prison facility, David stated that he was informed by policethathewaswantedfor murder in Suriname He
further alleged that officers had searched his home and restaurant, seizing his personal documents. After being held in custody for a while,hewastransportedby boat to Springlands, Corentyne where he was handed over to Surinamese authorities. He is currently detained at the Santa Boma Detention Center in Suriname.
Todd has since taken up David's case, asserting that the man was never the subject of any formal investigation or charges in Suriname.Dr Toddrevealed that the Surinamese legal
team retained by David had verified that at no point was he under investigation for murder. As such, Todd declared, "We are dealing with what was supposed to be an extradition, but because of the manner in which it was done, we are clearlyfacedwithasituation whichitwaskidnapping.”
Attorney Eden Corbin, also speaking on the matter, explained the legal framework surrounding extradition According to Corbin, extradition can only be legally pursued if the individualisaccusedor
(Continueonpage15)
Frompage5 who are intentionally endangering the lives of our students accountable. Now that resources are available toensurethatthingsaredone correctly and ethically, we must no longer accept that w
imp
missible The education sector must strengthen its code of ethics in both articulation and action.
Bestregards, Mr.JamilChanglee Chairman T h e C o o p e r a t i v e RepublicansofGuyana
Over the years, we have had occasion to remind our fellow Guyanese as to the importance of civility– especially in a society with the fissures and cleavages such as ours.
As we canter along in this election period, tempers are already becoming frayed and intemperate words are being hurled. We must not let this get out of hand. While we appreciate that the candidates and their supporters must distinguish themselves from each other we must keep the rivalries within the bounds of civility.
While most persons believe that civility has to do with politeness or good manners, in truth the value goes much deeper. There are actually three facets to civility: civility as respect for others, civility as public behaviour and civility as self-regulation. If in a democratic polity we are all supposed to be equal– at least before the law – then we have to respect the right of others to hold opinions that may differ from our own: we must respect, and even protect their right to differ from us.
Today there is an element of sententiousness and dogmatism creeping into public discourse, now exacerbated from the political platforms. This is especially troubling: let us remind ourselves of our duty of civility as respect for others
Dr Dexter Todd, the attorney representing the family of 11-year-old Adriana Younge, has revealed that surveillance camerasnearthepoolofthe Double Day International Hotelwereactiveatthetime the young girl was reported missing.
This information, according to Dr Todd, contradicts previous claims made by senior police officials that the cameras were not operational during the incident. During a press
conference held on
Thursday, Dr Todd disclosed that his private investigation team, which was formed from the beginning of the case, had received eyewitness confirmation that the surveillance cameras at the hotel were functional on the day Adriana was reported missing.“Wewanttoputthis onrecord,weareawarethat the cameras at that hotel were active,” Todd told the press.
This information contradicts the earlier statement made by Crime
Chief and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Wendell Blanhum. On May 12, 2025, while addressing journalistsattheAssociation
of Caribbean Police Commissioners (ACCP) Annual General Meeting at the Arthur Chung
Conference Centre, Blanhum stated that the
surveillance camera covering the pool area was notworkingonthedayofthe incident.
He noted that forensic video analysts reviewed the hotel's DVR system and confirmed the malfunction. Healsosaidthehotelowner andtechnicianhadinformed investigatorsthatthecamera hadbeenoutoforderaweek
b e f o r e A d r i a n a ' s disappearance “The investigators were reliably informed that the camera that was affixed to the pool area,thatthatcamerawasn't working on the day of the incident,”crimechiefsaid.
However, Dr Todd challenged this claim by asserting that witnesses observed police removing multipleDVRunitsfromthe hotelpremises.
“We are aware of the amount of DVRs that were handed over to the police that were retrieved from the hotel. There are witnesses who saw that the police removed DVRs from the building There are witnesses who saw how
many DVRs were handed over and I can tell you that thenumbersdiffer,”hesaid, contradicting the case further
In a previous interview
ws, attorney Dr Dexter Todd revealed that a private international investigative team is actively reviewing the ci
cumstances surroundingthedeathofthe 11-year-old. According to Dr Todd, the team is c
g
, interviewing witnesses, and speaking with persons of interest connected to the case. The team's aim is to conduct an independent, thorough investigation and compare the findings with those of the Guyana Police Force (GPF). The team is headed by a digital forensic expert from the United Kingdom Dr Todd emphasised that the team is not interfering with the official investigation or witnesses but is instead focused on gathering evidence independently to verify whether the narrative presented by the police alignswiththeirs. Hefurtherstatedthatthe information gathered by the private investigative team may also serve to hold the GPF accountable should t h e r e b e a n
misrepresentation or omissionintheirfindings.
Too many questions unanswered
Meanwhile, Dr Todd expressed growing concern
over the direction of the police investigation Dr Todd said that too many critical questions remain unanswered. One key issue is the number of people interviewedinrelationtothe case According to him, several individuals who appearinvideofootagefrom the time Adriana went missing have not been contacted by the police and they are hoping to get more informationaboutthem.
Dr Todd also raised concerns about the integrity of the investigation report. “When they talk about this over 400 pages of report, I am a bit concerned where they got those things from because the key person, the person who started the live of this young girl being missing, was never interviewed by them, was never contacted by the police That person that startedthelive,nevermoved from that scene,” Dr Todd said.
Further, questions posed by forensic pathologist Dr Terry regarding the investigation and the toxicology report remain unanswered.
Dr Todd expressed scepticismaboutthepolice's willingness to cooperate with Dr Terry or the legal team.“AtthispointintimeI don't believe they are going to corporate with Dr Terry outside of giving her that report because if the police were interested in corporation with Dr Terry andtherequest,theirposture andtheirresponsetousatthe legal team would have been quitedifferent,”hesaid.
Dr Terry had requested access to photos and videos ofthepoolareatodetermine if anything within it could have trapped Adriana. She also requested detailed information about the pool's tile patterns. She also raised a question about the source
ofthewatersampleusedfor the toxicology examination.
“Ifatoxicologyexamination was done, where did the police get the water from? Because at the time the autopsy was done that pool was empty So, if they did takethewaterfromthepool, whendidthathappen? That is why Dr Terry wanted to see the toxicology report. Too many questions are unanswered in this matter,” DrToddexplained.
Adriana Younge was reported missing during a family trip to Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, and her body was discovered on April 24, 2025, in the swimming pool of the Double Day International Hotel—just 20 hours after she disappeared. A postmortem examination was performedonApril28bythe teamofinternationalexperts who concluded that the cause of death was drowning.
Pr e s i d e n t i a l Candidate for APNU, Aubrey Norton and members of his team on Thursday met with representativesoftheCarter Center
In attendance at the meeting were: APNU's
Prime Ministerial Candidate, Ms. Juretha Fernandes, Mr. Ganesh Mahipaul, Mr. Roysdale Forde, S.C. Senior Counsel, Mr.RiazRupnarainandMs. Nima Flue-Bess.The Carter Center team comprise of Senior Electoral Advisor Carlos Valenzuela, Political Advisor Nicholas Jahr, and Democracy Program Associate Director Brett Lacy
The US-based election observer mission has also met with representatives of the Alliance For Change (AFC) party and the
AzruddinMohamed-ledWe InvestinNationhood(WIN). In separate Facebook posts, representatives of the two political parties expressed optimism at meeting with theobservers.
In their post last Thursday,theAFCnotedthe meeting was about strengthening democracy through dialogue. “On Thursday,July10,members of the AFC, led by Party Leader and Presidential Candidate Nigel Hughes, metwiththeCarterCenterto discuss their planned mission for the 2025 elections,”thepartysaidina post. WhileMarkDeFranceof WINmerelypostedapicture as proof that his party has met with the observers of Carter Center In subsequent press statement, the party noted the meeting
was where concerns were raised about victimization and matters related to the September 1, 2025, General andRegionalelections.
M o h a m e d , a businessman, was joined by former Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR) General Secretary Dawn Hastings-Williams, former
parliamentarian Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, and Campaign Manager Odessa Primus.
Primus told Kaieteur News that the victimization oftheparty'ssupporterswas high on the list of things discussed.“Intermsofwhat has been happening here locallytowardsourpartyand
our party supporters and the victimization that they have been met out with. From losingyourjobrightdownto being attacked on social media either directly by the government or indirectly by their propaganda outfits… who have been going out their way to attack and to destroythecharacterandself
-esteem of many of our people.”sheexplained. Last month, the Carter Center announced that they h a d l a u n c h e d a n international election observation mission to Guyana in advance of the country's General and Regional Ele
scheduledforSeptember1.
In tropical Guyana, it isnotuncommonfor thesuntoshinewhile rain is falling at the same time. Guyanese have a way of describing this as, “sun shiningandrainfalling–the devilandhiswifefighting.”
It is equally not uncommon to find local
politics described in languagethatstripsitofany spiritual elevation. “Politics isnotchurch,”onecandidate
r e c e n t l y s a i d a n admission, perhaps, that in this arena, altar boys make poorcombatants.Thewords
rolledoffhertonguenotwith shameorregret,butwiththe kindofassurancethatcomes fromunderstandingtherules ofthegame:rulesthatplace expediency above ethics, and calculation over conscience.
Yet, this same party to which this candidate is now attached the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC)—seeks to occupy the moral high ground in its campaign against Team Mohamed.
The PPPC castsAZMO, the face of Team Mohamed,
asarivalinthedarkestmoral hues.TheGeneral Secretary himself, the redoubtable BharratJagdeo,hastakenup the role of priestly accuser, speakingintonesofcensure andwarning.
The allegations against AZMO, though yet unproveninanycourtoflaw, are used with surgical precisioninapoliticalwarof attrition Guilt, in this context, is not established through the solemnity of judicial process but through the repetition of public accusation.
A 22-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday evening for possession of unlicensedammunition.
Arrested is Samuel Cole of Kitty, Georgetown.
According to a statement from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), at approximately 21:45hrs, officers, on Wednesdaywereonmobilepatrolduty,when they intercepted Cole on Aubrey Barker Road,betweenPennyLaneandFestivalCity entrance.AtthetimeoftheincidentColewas driving a White Toyota Axio motor car bearingregistrationnumberPAC4181.
“Asearch was carried out on his person, but nothing unlawful was found. A further searchwasconductedonthevehicleandsix live9mmroundsofammunition,alongwith two .32 spent shells, were found under the front passenger seat in a multi-coloured plasticbag,”policesaid.
Theyaddedthattherankstookpossession oftheammunitionandaskedColeifhehada License to carry a Firearm, to which he respondedsaying‘no’.
He was told of the offence committed, cautioned, arrested and taken to the East La
Dem boys seh dis country gat a serious grammarproblem.Deother day, a big man talk about ‘minors’. But when dem check de story, he really mean ‘minions’. And dis same man been talking about who smart and who dunce.
Well leh we tell yuh minionsis well,yuhknow,de people who does jump when de boss man blink Minors is children, persons below the ageofadulthood
Is a big mix-up, but dem boyssehitshowhowlanguage inGuyanadoestekagoodlash likeamarketthief Oneminute yuhcallingpoliticalunderlings
“minors” And de next minute yuh calling school children“minions”Yuh see, minors does need protection,education,anda good breakfast in de morning Minions does need one boss, one order, and sometimes one lil
brown envelope fuh encouragement Is two different things! Dem boys seh when yuh mix up minors wid minions, yuh either corrupting de youth or treating grown people likedeystillsuckingbottle. Some ah dem minions walking round wid suit and tie,butcan’tsayboounless debigmanwhisper“moo.”
Buthereinistheparadox. Thesamepartythatseeksto disqualifyonemanbasedon alleged moral lapses has embraced candidates whose own political histories are miredincontroversy—some i n v o l v i n g b r o k e n agreements, others surrounded by accusations that though legally unresolved,continuetoemit awhiffofmoraldiscomfort.
Letusnotpretendthisis n e w T h e m o r a l inconsistenciesofCaribbean politics are part of its enduring theatre Many moonsago,asthefolkloreof Georgetown would remind us, a Minister under the People’s National Congress (PNC) was accused of an indecency said to have occurred in the confines of his official office The accusations were serious, and while no charges were laid, the response was swift—leave was enforced. A political elder, respected and principled, demanded action. There was a sense, still intact at the time, that public office demanded not only the absence of legal wrongdoing, but also the presence of unimpeachable character
Contrast this with the morerecentcaseofaformer Minister from the PPPC government who was accused of what might be charitably termed a sordid affair The young woman at the centre of the claim later withdrewhercomplaint,and legally the matter died. But
in the court of public opinion, it lingered. Moral censure is often more enduring than judicial closure. A female Minister from the same party did not shyawayfromtradingbarbs online with the former Minister Her comments suggested that she could hardlybeatpeaceorcomfort with his presence and the possibilityofhisreturn. Yet, returnhehas—ontheparty’s ListofCandidates.
One is then tempted to ask: what becomes of moral consistency in the face of political utility? Will any among the party’s rank and file demand his removal? Will the women in its ranks speak out and speak up? Or will they too retreat behind t h a t c y n i c a l o l d maxim politics is not church?
It is not a matter of defending Team Mohamed. The allegations against AZMOareserious,andthey must find their way through the proper channels of justice.
Butitisworthobserving that his legal status is no different from that of others whosenameshaveappeared on candidate lists, even as unresolved issues linger around them The PPPC cannot credibly claim the moral high ground while ignoring the sins, alleged or otherwise,ofitsown.
In the Caribbean, our parliaments resemble Westminster, our legal systems quote from British
law reports, but our politics remainsdeeplytribal,deeply transactional,and,aboveall, deeply unexamined Morality is not a guiding principle; it is a rhetorical tool, employed selectively and discarded when inconvenient.
So,politicsisnotchurch, and perhaps never was. But there was a time—not so long ago when at least there was some shame in saying so out loud. When menandwomen,evenifthey failed, tried to live up to the ideal that lea
ip demanded integrity Today, however,theconfessionthat politicsisnotchurchismade without remorse, as if we shouldallagreethatethicsis aluxurynolongeraffordable inthepursuitofpower
Thisisthetragedyofour time:notthatpoliticiansfail to be saints, but that they haveceasedtoevenpretend. The mask has fallen. The temple has become the marketplace. And we are left to wondernotwhethermorality has a role in politics—but whetheriteverdid.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
Islikecowlanguageinhigh office. But dem boys seh don’t blame de man too much.InGuyanaishardfuh knowwhoiswho.Deminor acting like minion, de minion pretending to be major, and everybody waitingfuhdegoodlife. So next time yuh hear a politician seh he love de minions or he done wid de minors ask which one he reallymean.Becauseifisde wrong set, shame might meethefasterthanaflu. And remember: minors needafuture;minionsneeda spine Right now, both seem short Talkhalf,leffhalf.
Coast guard ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF)onThursdaymorning were able to successfully save the tug Captain Chad Michael and its attached bargeaftertheywerealerted that it was sinking midchannel in the Demerara Harbourapproach.
Accordingtoastatement from GDF, when the ranks arrived they saw the bow of the barge was submerged andthecrewwasattempting topumpthewater
As a result the Coast Guard deployed additional pumps to support the operation and helped stabilisethesituation.
“The barge, which was transporting a cargo of molasses, had reportedly developed a breach in its side, causing water to enter and partially submerge the vessel Thanks to the combined efforts of the Coast Guard and the crew, the barge was stabilized and safelytowedtotheMolasses Wharf at Kingston,” GDF said.
It was noted that the relevant maritime authorities, including the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), were informed and are monitoringthesituation.
TheyaddedthattheGDF remains committed to
Businessman and presidenthopeful A z r u d d i n Mohamed did not show up on Thursday at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court for his ongoing tax evasionmatter
Attorney Damian Da Silva who is representing Mohamed indicated to Acting Chief Magistrate FaithMcGustythathisclient was traveling from Linden, Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice), after he was called by police for questioning,inrelationtoan issue that occurred on
Wednesday evening at his family'sproperty Asaresult ofsuchhewenttothestation. The matter was adjournedtoAugust7,2025. MagistrateMcGustytoldthe defense lawyer to advise his client accordingly, because thecourtwouldhaveanissue if his client continues to be absent On May 29, Mohamed was charged with allegedlyfalselydeclaringto the Guyana Revenue Authority(GRA)onorabout December 7, 2020, that he purchased one Lamborghini RoadsterSVJforUS$75,300 instead of its initial cost of
The African Cultural & Development Association (ACDA) is scheduled to host its nd32 Emancipation Day Festival intheNationalParkonAugust1, 2025.
The theme for this year's event is “Highlighting the connection of all peoples through African culture as we strive to build a world where all our children are loved and protected” and sub-theme “Realizing the Guyanese dream through community economic empowerment.”
The event was officially launched on Thursday at the PegasusHotel.
This is the associations' 11th Emancipation during the International Two Decades (Vicennium) for People of AfricanDescent(IDPAD)which beganJanuary2015.
According to the association they “celebrate an African
country annually because most Guyanese of African descent cannottracetheirancestralroots toaparticularAfricanNation.In choosing a particular African country to highlight every year, ACDA seeks to educate young and old about African countries and to remind them that Africa has 54 countries and is not a single country like China or IndiaortheUnitedStates.”
This year they will focus on BurkinaFasowhichisacountry with a very rich African influence, history and culture, ACDAsaid.Itwillbeshowcased during the observance of this Emancipation while exploring thepast.
While honouring Burkina Faso, ACDA will also be hornouringanAfricanGuyanese village which is Buxton. “For Emancipation 2025 ACDA honours the village of Buxton, on the East Coast of Demerara, primarilyinhabitedbypeopleof African descent. It was founded
in 1840 by 128 formerly enslaved Africans who pooled their resources to purchase the plantation "New Orange Nassau". ACDA said in in their release.
The association said the village was given its name Buxtoninhonourofabolitionist Thomas Fowell Buxton where manyprominentGuyanesehave calledhomeincludingBro.Eusi Kwayana who has officially becomeacentenarianthisyear,”
J a m a i c a
OBSERVER) For more thantwodecades,thelensof videographer Germaine
Patrick has captured moments that have entertained, informed, and inspired audiences around theworld.
From his humble beginnings in Jamaica to coordinatingproductionsfor some of the world's most iconic brands, Patrick has carved out a remarkable career as a camera operator anddirectorinthefast-paced world of television production.
He was recently promoted to the role of global talent coordinator at theLondon-basedDreamtek TV, a company which was established in 1999, that specialises in video production, and has offices in New York City, and Singapore.Patrickisthesole Jamaican employed at the company
His journey began after he graduated from high
school, where he studied film at the Creative Production and Training Centre (CPTC) on Arnold Road in Kingston. He then took his first steps in media workingwithHypeTV,RETV, Television Jamaica and then at Sportsmax. “As a freelancer,Iwantedtomake a name for myself because I have a sharp eye for visuals and an unrelenting work ethic. This has taken me far beyond the Caribbean
shores, as traveling opportunities came along which included the United States, the Caribbean and eventually in Europe. I have also lent my expertise to a diverse range of projects spanning in entertainment, sports, documentaries, corporate content, news and infomercials,” Patrick told Observer Online on Wednesday He continued, “I always believed in the power of storytelling, no matter the platform or the audience. That belief has brought me
across continents and into the heart of some of the world'smostdynamicmedia environments.”
Upon migrating to the United Kingdom, his career entered a new chapter. He worked with renowned broadcasters such as CNN London and Warner Bros, further cementing his reputation as a trusted professionalinthefield.
HisroleatDreamtekTV
y working behind the camera but also stepping into a l
dership ro
as a production coordinator Here, he orchestrated complex,globalproductions for clients like Facebook, Google, Burberry, Spotify, and Bentley, managing logistics,crews,andcreative directionwithprecision.
One of the highlights of his career came during the BET Awards in 2008 and 2009, where he worked on the red carpet interviewing legendary figures including
Joe Jackson, the father of Michael Jackson, as well as superstars like Beyoncé, Busta Rhymes, P Diddy, Master P, Mariah Carey and Bobby Valentino to name a few. Another highlight was whenhecoveredtheMOBO awards in London interviewing the likes of Giggs, Stormzy, Stefflon Don, Skepta, Davido, Wizkidandothers.
“Those moments were surreal,” he said. “To be face-to-face with icons, capturing their energy and presence—it'ssomethingI'll neverforget.”
Today, Patrick stands as a seasoned industry professional whose journey is a testament to passion, resilience, and vision. His storyservesasaninspiration notonlytothoseinthemedia worldbuttoanyonestriving to rise from modest beginnings to international acclaim.
Astheindustrycontinues toevolve,onethingremains certain: wherever there is a
accostingtoACDA.
ItwasnotedthatBuxtonwas thesecondvillageestablishedby Africans in British Guiana; the village was later joined with its sister village, Friendship, forming Buxton-Friendship and it is known for its rich history, including its role in the Village Movement where freed slaves e
communities.
Thevillageplayedakeyrole intheVillageMovement,where formerly enslaved people purchased land and built their own communities It also became a center for agricultural productionandself-governance.
The event slated for next month will see local acts, international recording artistes, fire dancers, African food, folk games, children fun center, parade, face painting, chief cook-up competition, sport games Fashion Displays, Exhibitionboothsjusttonamea few
story to tell, Germaine will be there behind the camera, crafting the narrative Asked why he decided on a career in the media landscape, Germaine said “From a child I always likedtobecreativeandhave a love for how movies and justvideoswerecreated.”He shared that the industry has changed significantly since he got his start, and he has adapted to the changes and the technology that have been introduced in the
media. “The industry has evolved massively –technology has changed for the better, cameras have become smaller and more compact and just the overall process for creating videos has become quicker, and access for less expensive equipment is more accessible.Theindustryisan ever-evolving industry so you will always be learning no matter how many years you have been doing it,” Patrickreasoned.
Businessman and
PresidentialCandidateofthe We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) Party, Azruddin Mohamed on Thursday deniedallallegationsthathe offeredtopay$500,000toa woman to drop an assault matter involving Bradley Sampson, popularly known as'Doggie'.
Mohamed denied the allegations while speaking with reporters outside the Ruimveldt Police Station where he went in for questioning along with his lawyerSiandDhurjon.
K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that Mohamed went to the police station afteranumberofranksofthe Guyana Police Force (GPF) stormed his private property on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) around 23:30hrs on Wednesday, asking to speak with him. Mohamed was reportedly
not at the premises at the time and the police went away
Speakingwiththemedia on Wednesday about the entireordeal,hesaid,“Three van loads came to Providence, it's a gated community First thing is theyliedtothesecurity,they mentioned that they were goingtoBikersBarbutthey ended up at my property They bullied their way in, I wasn'tthereIwasupLinden so they talked to my sister and my sister asked them what'stheproblem,theysaid theywannatalktoAzruddin Mohamed, that was 11:30 lastnight.”
Mohamed said after learning about this, he contacted his attorneys and they went to the police station around 09:30hrs. “I was sitting there for four hours,Ihadtwomeetingsto attend one at Wakenaam,
over 100 persons waiting there to see me and one in Parika,”henoted.According to Mohamed, the allegation that was put to him by the police was “Obstructing the courseofjustice.”
Questioned about the incident involving Sampson who was seen campaigning fortheWINParty,Mohamed said, “I am against any person who abuse women. I'm against them and that is whyIcalledthewomanandI apologisedonmybehalfand myparty'sbehalf.”
Speakingwiththemedia also, was Attorney-at-Law Dhurjon, who informed that the allegation against his client discloses really no known offence in law “The allegation, its length and breadth is that he allegedly offered someone money$500,000 to settle a grievance with a third party Now there is nothing
Twenty-nine-year-old Osafo Collins called 'Blackboy' of Victoria Village,ECD,wascharged on Wednesday with sexual assaultwhenheappearedat the Cove and John Magistrate'sCourt.
Collins a 29-year-old Plumber was arrested by a rank from the Cove and John Police Station and charged. The charge was
laid Contrary to Section 4(a)(1) of the Sexual Offences Act, Chapter 8:03. He appeared at the Cove and John Magistrate Court before Her Worship Orinthia Schmidt, where thechargewasreadtohim. He pleaded not guilty and wasplacedon$50,000bail. The matter was adjourned to 30th July 2025 for statements.
Accused: Osafo Collins
Businessman Azruddin Mohamed alongside his lawyers Siand Dhurjon and Damian Da Silva leaving the Ruimveldt Police Station on Thursday.
nefarious about that, in fact across the length of this country, courts would have encouraged parties, yall talk about it, yall try to settle it. So not only is that if it were true, frivolous, it is untrue,” heexplained.
The lawyer stated also that while at the station, the police tried to call the woman for hours and even wenttoheraddressbutcould not contact her He added that because the police were unabletocontactthewoman, Mohamedwasletgo.
According to both Mohamed and his lawyers, their telephone numbers are knowntothepoliceandthey are willing and able to addressallconcernswiththe police This publication reported earlier this week, thattheGuyanaPoliceForce on Tuesday issued a wanted bulletin for Sampson, for assaulting a woman and in the possession of an illegal firearm On Tuesday afternoon, a cell phone recorded video of Sampson and a woman fighting at Square of the Revolution was shared on social media. During the heated confrontation,Sampsonwas observedwhippingagunout of his pants waist and pointingitatthewoman.He was also seen hitting the womanwhoalsoretaliated.
In relation to the assault, the Police on Thursday in a statementsaidat16:00hrson Wednesday, a 29-year-old female Sales Representative and a resident of McDoom, EastBankDemerara,wentto theEastLaPenitencePolice Station and reported that on the 14th July 2025, she was beaten and assaulted by Sampson.
“The woman told the Police that she was employed by Bradley 'Doggie' Sampson, a key organiser in the political party led by Azruddin Mohamed, namely, We InvestinNationhood(WIN), to perform certain tasks on Nominations Day for the saidWINparty,andinreturn thereof, Sampson promised to pay her fifty thousand dollars ($50,000),” the statementnoted.
At about 11:00 hrs on 15th July 2025, the woman went to the Square of the Revolution (Cuffy Square), V l i s s e n g e n R o a d , Georgetown, to uplift the payment from Sampson However, Sampson only paidhertenthousanddollars ($10,000), the police reported.
Whilethere,anargument erupted during which Sampson dealt her several kicks and cuffs about her body and lashed her with a
gun to her head, causing her to receive multiple injuries.
The woman further reported thatSampsonlatercalledher viaFacebookMessengerand requestedforhertomeethim at Mohamed's house at GreenField,EBD.
Upon meeting them at the location, the police claimedthatthewomansaid “ (i) She was detained against her will at the premises by several armed security guards in excess of an hour; (ii) Azruddin Mohamed shouted at her angrily when he learnt that thevideooftheincidentwith Sampson was already on Facebook; (iii) Bradley Sampson was present while all of this was taking place; (iv) Azruddin Mohamed instructed her not to pursue the matter against Sampson, to accompany Sampson to the Police Station, and to inform the Police that she is withdrawing all complaints against Sampson; and in consideration thereof, he will pay to her five hundred t h o u s a n d d o l l a r s ($500,000).”
The police continued, “(v) one of the guards at the premises said to her, 'Don't feel I don't know where you living in McDoom.' He then raisedhisjerseyandshowed herablackhandgunthatwas
(Continuedonpage16)
An18-year-oldVenezuelannationalfrom Helena Number Two Mahaica, East Coast Demerara(ECD),wasarrestedonWednesday forpossessionof11gramsofcocaine.
Police said that ranks who were on patrol sawtheteenstandingonabridgewithablack one-strap bag hanging around his neck. A searchwasconductedandonetransparentziplockbagcontainingsevenparcelswrappedin black plastic and one white plastic wrapped together
“When opened, the parcels contained pieces of hard, rock-like substance suspected to be cocaine. The Venezuelan national was cautioned, arrested and escorted to Mahaica Police Station, where the suspected cocaine was weighed and amounted to 11 grams,” policesaid.Theteenwasplacedincustodyas investigationscontinue.
The cocaine that was found in the teen's possession (PC: GPF Facebook page) that
WASHINGTON, July 17(Reuters)-U.S.Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed U S diplomats worldwide not to comment onthefairnessorintegrityof elections conducted by foreign countries, according to an internal note seen by Reuters on Thursday, in a significant departure from Washington's traditional approach of promoting free andfairelectionsoverseas.
Theorder,senttoallU.S. diplomaticpostsinaJuly17 internal State Department cable, says the Department willnolongerissueelection-
related statements or social m e d i a p o s t s f r o m Washingtonunlessthereisa "clear and compelling" foreignpolicyinterest.
"When it is appropriate to comment on a foreign election,ourmessageshould be brief, focused on congratulating the winning candidate and, when appropriate, noting shared foreign policy interests," said the cable, which was markedas"sensitive"butnot classified.
"Messages should avoid opining on the fairness or integrity of an electoral
process,itslegitimacy,orthe democratic values of the countryinquestion,"itsaid.
It added that electionrelated messages should come from either the Secretary himself or the Department spokesperson and it barred U.S. diplomats fromissuingsuchstatements without explicit approval from the agency's senior leadership.
The cable referenced President Donald Trump's May 13 speech in Riyadh when he criticized what he c a l l e d " W e s t e r n interventionists" telling
A28-year-old construction worker was sentenced and finedforsexualactivitywith achild,familymember
JohnChappellewhohailsfrom13th Street Foulis, East Coast Demerara (ECD), appeared at the Cove and John Magistrates' Court before Magistrate OrinthiaSchmidtwhoreadthecharge. Chappelle pleaded guilty to the offenceandwassubsequentlysentenced to two years imprisonment and fined $1Million.
Colwyn King gets 19-years for raping 6-yr-old girl
Weeks after he was convicted of raping a sixyear-old girl, former President of the Guyana Teachers' Union (GTU), Colwyn King was on Thursday sentenced to 19 yearsinprisonforthecrime.
Hissentencewashanded down in the Georgetown High Court by Justice Simone Morris. King, 61 who opted to represent himself at the sentencing hearing,wasfoundguiltyon twocountsofrapeofachild undertheageof16yearsold. The incidents occurred in April 2021.The first assault took place at night when no one else was present, while the second occurred in the afternoon,againinisolation.
The virtual complainant is identified as a female who wassix-years-oldatthetime oftheincident.
The prosecution was led by State Counsel: Muntaz Ali and Geneva Wills. King
was represented by Attorney-at-Law, Tonza Sarrabo. The former GTU head had been out on bail during the proceedings but was immediately remanded
toprisonfollowingthejury's verdict.
King previously faced a similar rape charge in 2009, butwasacquittedbyajuryin 2016 following a trial at the High Court The GTU president was arrested on October 14, 2009 and was released on $100,000 bail after a teenage girl leveled charges of being sexually involved with him at a Princess Street hotel. Six yearsafterbeingchargedfor statutory rape the former GTU President was freed of thecharge.
The allegations which first surfaced in October 2009 are that the teen was taken to purchase food and then taken to a hotel on Princes Street, where there was allegedly some sexual activity Thegirlwaspicked up by a police patrol on Sheriff Street while wandering It was established that she was sexuallyactive.
King's previous trial before the jury in the Georgetown High Court endedinanotguiltyverdict. Ten of the 12 jurors
Middle Eastern countries how to govern their own affairs, saying that was no longer Washington's business and it was looking toforgepartnerships.
"WhiletheUnitedStates will hold firm to its own democratic values and celebrate those values when other countries choose a similar path, the President made clear that the United S
partnerships with countries wherever our strategic interestsalign,"thedirective said. The State Department didnotimmediatelyrespond to a request for comment on
the cable, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. The United States has traditionally viewed the promotion of human rights and democracy as well as press freedom as a core foreign policy objective, although critics have repeatedly pointed out the doublestandardWashington hashadtowardsitsallies. Un
increasingly moved away from the promotion of democracy and human rights, largely seeing it as interference in another country'saffairs.
For example, it has moved to reshape the State Department's human rights bureau, which it said had become a platform for "leftwing activists to wage vendettasagainst'anti-woke' leaders."
Trump officials have repeatedly weighed in on European politics to denounce what they see as suppression of right-wing leaders, including in Romania, Germany and France, accusing European authorities of censoring views such as criticism of immigration in the name of counteringdisinformation.
Frompage6 convicted of a serious offense punishable by at least two years in prison. Furthermore, an extradition request must be formally submitted through the Ministers of ForeignAffairs andHomeAffairs,andmust be accompanied by official documents such as an arrest warrant, a certificate of conviction (if applicable), and supporting legal arguments The process must then pass through the magistrate'scourtbeforeany surrender order is signed by therelevantauthorities.
Dr Todd emphasised thatnoneoftheseprocedures was followed in David's case.“Inthiscase,therewas no such document or requests.
Former President of the Guyana Teachers' Union (GTU), Colwyn
presentedanotguiltyverdict while the other two voted guilty King who served for several years as the head of the GTU cross-examined a number of the witnesses called to the stand by the prosecution.
The matter then was presided over by Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry Sources from inside the CourtroomsaidwhenJustice Sewnarine-Beharrydeclared the 10 to 2 not guilty judgment she also told King that he may have gotten away from man but he cannotgetawayfromGod.
All that happened is police officers usurped, using their powers, allowed a Guyanese citizen to be arrestedinhiscountryforan allegedcrimewhichisnoton the record in Suriname,” he explained. Todd explained thathislegalteamcontacted multiple legal and investigative bodies in Suriname, all of whom confirmedthattherewereno allegations or investigations involving David “Every document, every station, every investigative arm in Suriname had been contacted through the legal team, and it was confirmed thattherewasneveranysuch allegation of Raymond David being involved in a murder,“hesaid.
Todd further questioned the basis for David's arrest and transfer “There are two worrying things that happened here One, the offense in which Raymond David was arrested for in Guyanadoesnotexistatall. So, that request could never have come from the
Surinamese authorities. The second thing that is of great worry here is that, unheard of, I don't know if this has beenhappeningbefore,butit has now come to our attention... that there is no law which permits, without allofthatprocedureoutlined by Mr Corbin, for the Surinamese authorities, in this case the police, to enter our borders and to exercise thatlawfulauthorityofarrest in this jurisdiction without the permission or without any law which governs and protects them. So, outright weareseeingherethatthese operations in relation to the movement of citizens of Guyana, Guyana to Suriname, was without the protection of the law of a Guyanese citizen from Guyanatoanothercountry,” Hesaid
Dr Todd also revealed that when David was transported from the Ruimveldt Police Station to Springlands,theidentitiesof the officers involved were concealed. “We are a bit worried that the police hid their faces. So, we don't know what vehicle he was transported in from RumveldttoSpringland,and the identity of the police or the persons who took him thereremainsunknown,”Dr Toddexplained.
Moving forward, the legal team is taking several actions Attorney Dexter Smartt announced that a constitutional application would be filed, seeking declarations that David's arrest, detention, and removal were unlawful and violated his fundamental rights under Guyanese law, including the Fiscal OffendersAct.Theteamwill also seek a writ of mandamus compelling the Government of Guyana to
pursue all diplomatic channels to secure David's immediate return Additionally, they intend to claim punitive and exemplary damages for the violationofDavid'srights. The lawsuit will target the State, the Minister of Home Affairs, the CommissionerofPolice,and the officers involved in the transfer Letters requesting information have already been sent to relevant authorities, and the applicationwasscheduledto befiledandservedToday David's family has also spoken out. His older sister, Agisha Alder, expressed profound distress over the incident “This entire situation has hit our family unexpected, because my brotherisavery lawabiding citizenandifhewasn'talawabidingcitizen,hewasnever going to go willingly with the officers when they came here to his business place and said they wanted to talk to him. So, our family is feeling violated in many ways because we are born Guyanese,” she said Alder further described the ordeal as deeply traumatic and degrading for her brother and their family, stating, “And the way they treated my brother, the way they treatedhimislike,it'sworse than I don't even have words. It is impacting my familyinaseriousway,”she said.
RaymondDavid,bornin Guyana, later moved to Surinamewithhisfamilybut never acquired citizenship there, Dr Todd confirmed. His legal team remains in contact with Surinamese authorities to monitor his wellbeingastheycontinueto pursue legal action for what they describe as a serious breachofbothnationallaw
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The creation of a statefunded development bank in Guyana will significantly ease the financial burden small and medium-scale businesses face, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said on Thursday.
The Vice President elaborated on the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) plan to establish the development bank should it be re-elected to office come September 1, 2025.
Jagdeo, in response to questions posed by reporters about the funding for the bank, made it clear that it will be funded by the state and not the private sector.
“We’ve decided on the seed capital for the bank and how that will come about. Al-
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ready, all of that has been agreed on so we are going to, we already have a concept in mind, how it would operate, the seed capital needed to start it off everything. We’re not like the other parties,” he boasted at his weekly press conference held at Freedom House, Robb Street, Georgetown.
Jagdeo, who is also General Secretary of the ruling PPP/C, assured that his party fulfils its promises. He made it clear that while the bank will be run by the state, there will be collaborations with stakeholders from the private sector. “So, for example, you
have a merchant bank now, a new merchant bank, we may be able to raise… a person may be able to raise part of the capital from us, that is the development bank, and if the project is bigger, then maybe another part from a merchant bank,” he explained. Jagdeo
said the terms of the development bank would be vastly different from the terms of a merchant bank noting that it will help to de-risk loans from the merchant bank. “So, we want to focus a lot on small and medium-scale enterprises,” he said while noting
that the law has been changed to allow representative offices of large global companies, financial institutions to establish offices here without setting up full banks. He disclosed that CitiBank has already indicated its interest in setting up a representative office in Guyana. He said when this happens it would prove a ‘big help’ to large Guyanese companies. He assured that local companies will have easier access to financing for their capital projects.
Once re-elected Jagdeo said that the bank will be in place come 2026.
The prime suspect in a double murder at Tuseneng Village, North Pakaraimas was found dead on Thursday at Kato Village, Region Seven. Reports are that he took his own live.
Kendell Joseph, 26, of Tuseneng Village was found dead around 08:50 hrs. His mother, Diana Peters told police that she and her family had left their home around 07:00 hrs for breakfast. When they returned, his sister found
him dead at the back of their home.
They reported the discovery to the Kato Police Station and his body was removed by crime scene ranks.
The remains were taken to Kato Cottage Hospital where it was further examined by a medic.
Police had issued a wanted bulletin for Joseph in connection with a double murder at Tuseneng Creek on July 11, 2025. Two men identified as
Clifton Thomas, 34 and Sylvester Thomas, 20 both of Micopara Settlement, Tuseneng Village, were reportedly stabbed to death during a drinking spree.
Joseph and the men were reportedly imbibing alcohol together when an argument ensued between them.
It led to an altercation and it is alleged that Joseph stabbed them before fleeing. They succumbed to their injuries.
A motorcyclist on Thursday afternoon was killed when a truck ran over him during a collision on the Covent Garden Public Road, East Bank Demerara.
Dead is Gerald Da Silva, age 55 years, of Lot 10 Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara. In a press release police said the fatal accident occurred around 16:05hr. The accident involved a truck #GAG 2043, driven by Richard Kevin Ghani, age 23
years, of Alliance Road Timehri, and motorcycle #CL 9379, owned and driven by Gerald Da Silva.
According to the police enquiries disclosed that the truck was proceeding south along the eastern driving lane of Covent Garden Public Road, while the motorcycle was proceeding south along the western driving lane, a short distance ahead of the truck. It is alleged by the driver of the truck that as the
motorcyclist approached a canter which was parked at the side of the road in front of him, the motorcyclist swerved eastwards to avoid the canter.
On seeing this, the truck driver said he applied brakes to avoid a collision.
However, due to the short braking distance, the right front of the lorry, collided with the motor cycle. As a result of the collision, the motorcyclist along with his motorcycle fell onto the road surface. The
right front and rear wheels of the lorry rolled over the motorcyclist, resulting in him receiving crushing injuries to his head and other parts of his body. The motionless body of the motorcyclist was taken to Diamond Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor on duty. The body was then taken to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, awaiting a Post-Mortem Examination.
From page 12 tucked in his waist. This resulted in her being fearful for her life. Eventually, she was permitted to leave the premises. However, between 7:45 and 9:00 hours on 16th July, 2025, Doggy called her multiple times on her cellphone, asking her not to pursue the matter, but she refused to do so.”
In relation to these allegations, the police said that is why they attempted to contact Mr. Mohamed on Wednesday night at the said premises “for the purpose of investigating the grave allegations made against him.”
Following the incident on Wednesday night, WIN in a statement condemned what they described as political per-
secution of their Presidential Candidate. “The Executive of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party strongly condemns the blatant violation of the rights of its leader and Presidential Candidate, Azruddin Mohamed,” WIN said.
The party detailed, that members of the Police Force bearing high-powered weapons, stormed private property around 23:30hrs asking to have a word with Mr. Mohamed. When asked to present a warrant, none was forthcoming.
WIN stated that the reckless action and abuse of power by the Guyana Police Force instilled fear in family members, staff, and onlookers present at the time. “We are
therefore sending a strong message to the political directorate: we will not be intimidated. These fear-mongering tactics will not silence us, and we urge members of the Guyana Police Force not to allow themselves to be weaponized against political opponents of the ruling party. We believe this is a clear act of political persecution targeting our party’s presidential candidate, and we will not take it lightly. We will be raising this matter with the international observer missions currently stationed in Guyana,” the Party released.
Addressing the observer missions in their statement, WIN urged them to note, noting that democracy is not only
measured on Election Day but by how political opponents are treated every day leading up to it. They therefore, call on them to speak up and intervene where necessary to ensure the integrity of this election process.
Further, speaking to the Guyanese people, WIN stated, “the time has come for each and every one of us to be guardians of our democracy. Watch closely. Record everything.
Speak out. The future of our country cannot and must not be left in the hands of fear, intimidation, and unchecked power. Let the world know: we are a people who believe in justice, dignity, and the right to choose our leaders freely.”
I f
o p l e ' s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is successful at the upcoming General and RegionalElections,theparty will launch a second oil block auction in 2026. This is according to the party's General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo.
Recently, Vice President Jagdeo announced that the
PPP government will finalise no new oil deals from the inaugural oil block auction launched in 2023 until after the elections slatedforSeptember1. At his Thursday press conference, Jagdeo said, “We are aiming for an auction next year but it depends on the completion of the seismic.” Following
the first auction, the government issued a tender for a firm to conduct 3D multi-client seismic survey offshoreGuyana.Theaimis to acquire, process, and interpret high-quality seismic data to facilitate explorationandthepotential d e v e l o p m e n t o f hydrocarbonresources.This effort also seeks to ensure
Representatives of the Alliance For Change (AFC), ForwardGuyanaMovement (FGM)andtheAssemblyfor Liberty and Prosperity (ALP) on Thursday indicated that they have modified their respective lists of candidates and submitted them to the
G u y a n a E l e c t i o n Commission (GECOM) for approval.
The AFC, FGW, ALP and the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) and the HorizonandStarpartywere notified of defects to their lists of candidates. While representatives from the AFC,FGMandALPhaveall informed that they rectified their lists of candidates to suit the requirements and stipulationssetbyGECOM, WIN declined to comment.
“We will not be commenting on the issue at this time,” Tabitha SaraboHalley of WIN said when contactedviatelephone.
AFC's agent Nicola TrotmantoldKaieteurNews that following an indication ofdefectsinherparty'slistof candidates by GECOM, adjustments were made and the list of candidates was s u b m i t t e d t o t h e Commission.
“ …I heard from GECOM that we have successfully met the requirementstocontestinall tenregions,”Trotmansaid.
LeaderofFGM,Amanza Walton-Desir confirmed said that her party's list of candidates had been approved to contest in the general and regional elections. Walton-Desirsaid that GECOM notified her partyofissuesregardingthe repeated names of nominators as well as the partynothavingtherequired number of candidates on its regionallist.
“Wefixedalltheissues... Iamjustawaitingtheofficial word from GECOM,” Walton-Desir told Kaieteur News noting that “We have been told that there are no
s tomorrow and then official correspondence will follow as only the commission can issuethat.”
Meanwhile, Secretary of theALP,TylaDavidtoldthis newspaper that her party's list of candidates for all six regions the party is contesting in has been amended and submitted to GECOM.
T h e e l e c t i o n s commission will today announce whether the parties' lists have been approved.
It is important to note that in order to contest the election for members of the National Assembly, parties must contest a minimum of six of the ten Geographical Constituencies which, when combined, must cater to at least13seats.
The Geographical Constituency Lists must contain candidates equal to the number of seats for the particular Geographical Constituencyplustwo.
Parties must also submit a National Top-Up List in which their Presidential Candidate is named National Top-Up Lists must containatleast42candidates forwhichitshallsetout:the full name of each candidate nominated for election in ascending order, by their surname, and include their address, occupation and identificationnumber The list must also indicate the name and address of the persons n o m i n a t e d a s t h e Representative and Deputy Representative.
that better data is available for evaluation during future bidding and licensing rounds.
Jagdeo explained, “So if wecancompletetheseismic, because we don't want to go back to an auction without gooddatanow.”
Hedisclosedthatseveral companies were assigned to carry out the survey “Becauseit'salargevolume of work we wanted and we wanted to move swiftly to complete the seismic before we go to the next auction,” he noted. Jagdeo said he is not aware of the current progress, noting that he is fully focused on the PPP's elections campaign However, he believes that with the data from the seismic survey, the new Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), and an updated petroleum law, the secondauctionwillgenerate strongerinterest.
Meanwhile, GECOM has indicated that the following constitutes defects: list without a title; candidate appears on two or more lists; nominators appearontwoormoreparty lists; insufficient number of candidates; insufficient number of nominators; Geographical Constituency lists submitted for less than s i x G e o g r a p h i c a l C o n s t i t u e n c i e s ; Geographical Constituency listsdonotcontestatleast13 seats; candidate or nominator not registered in theRegionforwhichthelist is submitted (Regional Lists); less than one-third of the list are females (NTU); combined Geographical Constituency lists contain less than one-third females; more than 20% of a party's Geographical Constituency listscontainnofemales.
Further, following NominationDayonJuly14, the Commission was requiredtoexaminethelists the said day and inform the representativesofdefectsby thefollowingday–July15.
The representatives of the parties were then given up to July 17 to correct defectsafterwhichapproval or disapproval of the lists will be announced by the commission on July 18 Once approved GECOM will then design the ballot papers, which are usually printedoverseas.
On Monday, seven parties desirous of contesting the September 1, 2025 general and regional elections submitted their lists of candidates to GECOM.
was 2D data and it was spotty not for all of the blocks. And now if we can remedy that, we expect that youhavesomereallyserious bidsforthenewblocks.”
BackinJuneJagdeosaid no prospecting licences will be signed for the oil blocks awarded in Guyana's inaugural competitive licensing round at least for the remainder of this government'sterm.
In 2023, six companies were awarded offshore oil blocks and four companies hadacceptedthetermsofthe newPSA.
Headded,“Inthepastwe went to the first auction but as I explained, there were several things not settled at thattime,wehadn'tsettleda newPSA,wehadnotsettled a new law, so the people bidding did not know what sort of environment they were bidding into and then they had to use the old data thatwasthere,andsomeofit
The government had awarded eight oil blocks: Sispro Inc, Total Energies Consortium with Qatar Energy and Petronas, Liberty Petroleum Corporation, Cybele Energy Limited, International Group Investment Inc , ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, Hess and CNOOC and Delcorp Inc, which comprisesWatadEnergyand Communications Limited and Arabian Drilling Company
The four companies that accepted the new PSA are Cybele Energy Limited, Delcorp Inc., TotalEnergies C
Investment Inc The oil
companies will be expected to pay a 10 per cent royalty and a 10 per cent corporate taxtothegovernment.Inthe meantime, the cost recovery willbecappedat65percent inagivenyear,whileprofits willbeshared50/50between theparties.
The government has since passed the Petroleum Activities Law and has finalisedthenewmodelPSA that will govern future awards of deep water and shallowwaterconcessions.
Notably,elevenoftheoil blocksonauctionarelocated intheshallowareaandthree are in the deepwater zone. Importantly, each area is governed by separate PSAs. They range between 1000 square kilometres to 3000 square kilometres with the majorityofthembeingclose to2000squarekilometres.
Thirty-two-year-old Avinash Naidoo, the driver of the car that allegedly was involved in a hit-and-run along the Corentyne that resulted in the death of a 9month-old baby and her mother, was on Thursday slapped with seven charges andremandedtoprison.
Naidoowaschargedwith two counts of dangerous driving and three counts of failure to render assistance charges He was also charged with failure to stop after an accident and failure toreportanaccident. He appeared at the
Springlands Magistrates' Court before Magistrate Tuanna Hardy who read the charges.
Naidoo was not required to plead to the two causing death by dangerous driving charges, but he pleaded not guilty to the other offenses andwasremandeduntilJuly 31,2025.
On March 2, 2025, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) reported that 9-month-old Eli Surujnarine and her parents 17-year-old Tushan Surujnarine (driver) and her 19-year-old mother (pillion rider) were on an electric
cycle The mother was holding the baby when the duowashitbyacaralongthe Line Path Public Road, Corentyne,Berbice. The accident involved a white Fielder Wagon driven by Naidoo of Corriverton, Berbice.Thebabydiedwhile receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital while her mother Sarita Bedessie also known as Kavita Bedsan, died four days after the accident. The child'sfatherwasinjured. Naidoo made good his escapefromthesceneofthe accident.
, July 17 (Reuters) - Israeli forces killed at least 27 peopleinattacksintheGaza StriponThursday,including three people who died in a strike on a church that late Pope Francis used to speak to regularly, medics and churchofficialssaid.
Eight men tasked with protecting aid trucks were reported among the dead in airstrikes that were carried out while mediators continued ceasefire talks in Doha.
A U.S. official said this week the talks were going well but two officials from the Palestinian militant group Hamas told Reuters there had been no breakthrough as the Israeli military continued to pummelGaza.
Two women and one
mandiedandseveralpeople werewoundedinastrikeby the Israeli army on Gaza’s Holy Family Church, said the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which oversees thesmallparish.
“The Latin Patriarchate strongly condemns this tragedy and this targeting of innocent civilians and of a sacredplace,”astatementby thePatriarchatesaid,adding thatthevictimshadturnedto the church compound as a safe haven “after their homes, possessions, and dignity had already been strippedaway”.
“This horrific war must come to a complete end,” it said.
Photos released by the church showed its roof had been hit close to the main cross, scorching the stone facade, and that windows
hadbeenbroken.
Father Gabriele Romanelli, an Argentine whousedtoregularlyupdate the late Pope Francis about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, was lightly injured intheattack.
TV footage showed him sittingreceivingtreatmentat Al-Ahly Hospital in Gaza, with a bandage around his lowerrightleg.
Pope Leo said in a statement that he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of life and renewed his appeal for an immediate ceasefire, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said attacks on civilianswereunacceptable.
The Israeli military said it was looking into the incident.
Israel’s foreignministry saidinastatementonXthat
Parish priest of the Church of the Holy Family, father Gabriele Romanelli, receives medical attention, after he suffered light leg Injuries following an Israeli strike on the church, according to medics, at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, in this still image taken from a video July 17, 2025. REUTERS/Dawoud
the results of the investigation would be published. It also said the
country did not target churches or religious sites and regretted harm to them orcivilians.
Israel has been trying to eradicate Hamas in Gaza in a military campaign that began after the group’s deadly attack on Israel in October 2023 and has caused widespread hunger and privation in the tiny enclave.
Palestinian medics said one airstrike on Thursday had killed a man, his wife and their five children in Jabalia in northern Gaza, and that another in the north had killed eight men who h a d b e e n h a n d e d responsibility for protecting aid trucks
Three people were killed in an airstrike in central Gaza and four in Zeitoun in eastern Gaza, medics said
CEASEFIRE TALKS
Arab mediators Qatar and Egypt, backed by the United States, have hosted more than 10 days of talks on a proposed U S 60-day truce
A s p a r t o f t h e potential deal, 10 hostages held in Gaza would be returned along with the bodies of 18 others, spread out over 60 days
In exchange, Israel would release detained Palestinians The exact number is not clear
A Hamas source with knowledge of the matter said Israel had presented n e w m a p s t o t h e mediators, pledging to pull the army further back than had previously been offered
The source said this partially met Hamas’ demands, but was still insufficient Disputes also remain over aid delivery mechanisms into Gaza, and guarantees that any eventual truce would lead to ending the war, said the two other Hamas officials who spoke to Reuters.
Israel has told the mediators it is willing to drop its demand to maintain a military presence along the socalled Morag Corridor in southern Gaza during a ceasefire and is p r e p a r e d to show flexibility regarding the sizeofthesecuritybufferit would retain near the Israeli border, Israeli mediareported
P r i m e M i n i s t e r Benjamin Netanyahu’s o f f i c e d i d n o t immediately comment on thereports
On Wednesday, U S P r e s i d e n t D o n a l d Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, said that negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza were goingwell
A Palestinian official close to the talkssaidsuch optimistic comments were “emptyofsubstance.”
Israel’s campaign in Gaza has killed more than 58,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities
Almost 1,650 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed as a result of the conflict, including 1,200 killed in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, according toIsraelitallies
‘We must examine every aspect of our cricket’:
SportsMax -After being invited to an emergency meeting by Cricket West Indies (CWI), legendary captainSirCliveLloydsays he is ready and willing to contribute in any way possible to help return the regional side to its former glory, especially in the longestformatofthegame. The invitation, extended to Lloyd along with fellow
greats Sir Vivian Richards and Brian Lara by CWI president Dr Kishore Shallow, followed the West Indies’ historic collapse at Sabina Park, where they werebowledoutfor27—the second-lowest score in Test cricket history—to lose the third and final Test against Australia and suffer a 3-0 seriessweep.
“I’m always available to
helpinanyway Howwecan marrytheideaswehavewith what is necessary and have healthy discussion on the waywemoveforward,that’s what I’m thinking. It has been nearly 100 years since we have been playing topclass [Test] cricket, and we have to get it right,” Lloyd said in a statement to ESPNcricinfo.
“We have to examine all
Friday July 18, 2025
ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)
Todayisadayofoppositesfor you.You may jump from one thing to another, Aries Somehow nothing seems to sitrightwithyou,andsoyour search intensifies. Try to be the active one in the situation as opposed to the one acted upon.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
Todayisaterrificdayforyou, Taurus,inwhichactionspells reward.Youcan'tgowrongby expressing your needs and how they fit with the collectiveagenda.Feelfreeto focus on you and be selfish aboutyourpassions.
GEMINI(May21–June20)
Egos may rage out of control today, leaving you to wonder whatallthefussisabout.Give other people their space, Gemini. If the conversation getstooboring,justsmileand nod.
CANCER(June21–July22)
Today is a powerful day for you, Cancer Your emotions may be stubborn but realize theverythingyouresististhe verythingyouneedthemost.
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
Today could be an unusual oneforyouemotionally,Leo. Your usual easygoing, adaptable nature could be ruffled by people who try to takeoverprojectsthatyouare perfectlyqualifiedtodo.
VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)
Try not to be too arrogant today, Virgo, even when you'reutterlysureyou'reright about the given situation Morethanlikely,youhavethe correct answers, but it isn't necessarytobestridentabout it.
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
People may have an extra spark in their actions and an extrabiteintheirwordstoday You will find that you may be better off just walking away fromanysituationthatdoesn't feelright.
SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21)
Express yourself to the fullest today, Scorpio. Feel free to take an unconventional approach when it comes to dealing with your emotions. Trynottoletotherscajoleyou into thinking you need to fit into an artificial construct of what you need to be and what youneedtothink.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)
Itmaybehardtodealwiththe opposing energies today, Sagittarius Conflicting viewpoints and twisted perspectivesclashwithinyour world.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
Capricorn, this may prove a challenging day for you You're used to being the sovereign surrounded by courtiers currying your favor. There's something trying to drawattentionawayfromyou.
AQUARIUS (Jan 20–Feb 18)Take care of yourself and your needs, Aquarius. There's an advantage to making sure your emotions are cared for and stable before you try to healothers.
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar 20)
Take the unconventional approachtoday,Pisces.You're able to gain a great deal and establish a whole new perspective just by opening your lens wider in order to include what you normally shrugoff.
aspectsofWestIndiescricket from grassroots to the internationallevel Everything mustbelookedatcloselyand carefullyWestIndiescricketis an institution It has given so much to the people of this region,andwemustdoallwe cantoreviveit,”headded The call for reflection comes at a time of deep concern for the regional game, particularly in Test cricket Apart from debutant Brandon King and pacer Anderson Phillip, no WestIndiesbattermanagedto average over 20 during the three-match series. King’s scoreof75inGrenadawasnot onlyhiscareer-bestbutalsothe highestindividualscoreofthe series from either team, which highlights just how dire the batting struggles were. Head coach Daren Sammy, who recently assumed the Test role to go
Hetmyerʼs blitz seals Amazon Warriors...
Frompage22 65-3to77-6,aidedbyImran Tahir bowling Odean Smith (eight).
A 35-run stand between Allen (28) and Mohammad Nabi (21) provided brief hopefortheHurricanes,but Tahir and Motie cleaned up the tail. Tahir had 2-35, and Alihad2-17.
Chasing what seemed a modest target, the Amazon Warriors also found themselves in early trouble. Johnson Charles (eight) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (seven) fell cheaply, and when Evin Lewis (seven) was dismissed in the ninth overwiththescorestuckon 43, Hobart looked to have clawed their way back Moeen, who came in at number four, struggled for fluency and had just eight runsoffhisfirst17balls.
Then Hetmyer arrived. The left-hander’s onslaught flippedthegameonitshead inamatterofminutes,ashis blitz sucked the life out of the Hurricanes’ defence
Although Stanlake dismissed Sherfane Rutherford (three) and Mir eventually removed Hetmyer, the damage had beendone.
Motie chipped in with a useful 13-ball 19, while Moeen steadied the ship withanunbeaten30off36to take the Warriors across the line and into the final on a high.
withhisT20andODIduties, has publicly addressed the team’s inability to bat for longperiods,asheindicated ashifttowardtryingtoscore quicker if occupying the crease remains elusive. But Lloyd believes a return to traditional batting virtues is essential.
“WeneedacoupleofLarry Gomes, more batsmen like him We need batsmen who put a heavy price on their wicketsand,whentheygetin, looktostayin Thereisnothing wrong with digging in and ‘battingugly’ Wehavetofind ways of fighting, occupying the crease, and staying in for longperiodstoweardownthe bowlers We have not been doing that,” Lloyd stated. Lloyd, who captained the Windies to their famous 1975 ODI World Cup titlecelebrated this year on its
Frompage23
Sports Commission and Hon Minister Charles RamsonPersaud-McKinnon closed the event with heartfelt thanks: “From the first qualifying arrow to the final medal shot, your dedication has inspired us. Let us carry this momentum forward to upcoming regional and international
50thanniversary-pointedout that poor pitch conditions mightalsobecontributingto technical and mental deficienciesinbatting.Itisa point Sammy himself has raisedinrecentweeks.
“Obviously, the mental side of our game needs to improve We have to go back tothebasics Wehavetolook at schools’ cricket, club cricket, and first-class cricket are we playing enough?Wealsohavetolook at the pitches How are we preparingthem,andhowthey areplaying,”Lloydnoted The Testteamhasstruggledinthe World Test Championship, finishing eighth in all three cycles since its inception Their road does not get any easier,withawayseriesagainst India and New Zealand to come in the current WTC cycle
officials, volunteers, and sponsors received welldeserved kudos Results havebeenintegratedintothe national ranking system ArcheryGuyanaispreparing for next-level competitions, leveraging the strong foundation built this weekend.
SportsMax - Shimron Hetmyer continued his dazzling run of form this yearwithabreathtakingsixhitting display, as he smashed 32 runs in a single over to catapult Guyana AmazonWarriors(GAW)to a commanding four-wicket victo
over Hobart Hurricanes (HH) in their final Group Stage League (GSL) clash at Providence onWednesdaynight. Hetmyer lit up the chase of 126 with a brutal assault on Fabian Allen He launched the left-arm spinner for five sixes and a two in a single over to blow the game wide open as the Amazon Warriors were in a spotofbotherat43-3innine overs. He finished with a
whirlwind 39 off just 10 balls, including another big six off Usama Mir, as he transformed what looked like a nervy pursuit into a routine win with 20 balls to spare.
S c o r e s : H o b a r t
Hurricanes 125 all out (16.1 overs); Guyana Amazon Warriors128-6(16.3)
But it was the bowlers wholaidthegroundworkfor the win. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie was once againclinical,ashegrabbed 3-9 in a miserly spell, while Moeen Ali provided early breakthroughs to jolt the Hurricanes’innings.
Opting to bat first, the H u r r i c a n e s w e r e immediatelyonthebackfoot asMoeenstrucktwiceinthe second over, removing Bhanuka Rajapaksa (one) andJakeDoran(zero)within threedeliveries.
Dwaine Pretorius then knocked over Ben McDermott, who had threatened with three early boundaries in his nine-ball 21, to leave Hobart 28-3.
Gudakesh Motie of Guyana Amazon Warriors collects his Player of the Match award after the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League T20 match between Guyana Amazon Warriors v Hobart Hurricanes XI. (Photo by Ashley Allen - GSLT20/ Global Super League via Getty Images)
Despite some resistance fromNikhilChaudhary,who added 29 quick runs, and Macalister Wright (16), Motie returned to spin the game back in Amazon
Warriors’ favour He had Chaudharystumpedfirstball and pinned Wright lbw four deliveries later, and that triggeredacollapsefrom (Continuedonpage21)
Last weekend, July 12–13,2025,attheLeonora National Track & Field Centre marked a landmark event for Archery Guyana. Under brilliant skies and despitepassingshowersthat added aesthetic drama, 40 dedicated archers competed fiercely across Recurve, Compound, and Barebow
d i v i s i o n s T h e Championships doubled as bothanationalrankingevent and a marquee audition for future high-performance squads and international representation.
A lot of firsts were achieved for the Federation, for example, for the first
time, the Federation hosted at the 70m Olympicstandard shooting distances and a Team competition. Together, the high level officials, Archery Judges, international targets and IANSEOscoringbroughtan international atmosphere
Day O
, followed by the Elimination and Medal Finals on Day Two.
P
he Federation, Mrs Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon set the to
discipline, sportsmanship, and national pride She reminded athletes, “Each
arrow you shoot is a test
to your dedication this is the
excellence ” She also acknowledged sponsors, field crew, judges, and introduced the officials as theDirectorofShooting,Mr Umasankar Madray, and Chairman of Judges, Ryan McKinnon.
Over the weekend, the Athletes proved their mettle inbriefshowers,showcasing discipline akin to global standards.Therewasdiverse participation:Across men’s, women’s, and mixed divisions, veteran amateurs, developing talents, and
beginners delivered
performances that reflected Guyana’s growing depth in archery. The Nationals attracted independent archers from across Guyana and representatives from various clubs including QC Archers,TheArcheryGuild, Pro Archers, Bow Nation andGoldenLeagueArchery Medallists
Recurve Beginner Senior Men Gold - JOAO
Christopher Silver - PAUL Tyreck Bronze - ALBERT
D w a i n R e c u r v e
Developmental Senior Men Gold - RODRIGUES, CourtleeSilver- DUNCAN
Sean Bronze - GANI, Saifullah Recurve Amateur
Senior Men Gold -
CHATARGUMMehandra
Silver- CHUNGLucas
Bronze-GANIFaraad
RecurveAmateurSenior Women
Gold-TOPPINKarin
Silver- BOODHOO Roshini
Bronze-WILLIAMS
Julie-Ann Compound Beginner
Senior Men GoldMANGRA Anand SilverTOPPIN Errol BronzeSINGH Sohail Barebow
B e g i n n e r S e n i o r
Men/Women Combined
Gold-GRAYNolanSilverWALDRON Trevaughn
Bronze - GOMES Eslyne
BarebowBeginnerUnder21
Men Gold - CUMMINGS
B r a n d o n S i l v e r -
FREDERICKS Nathan
Bronze - COOBLALL
Christopher Barebow
Beginner Under 21 Women
Gold - LA CRUEZ
Samiyyah Sil
DANIELS Imani Bronze -
CHUNILALL Emma
Barebow Developmental
S e n i o r W o m e n
Gold-GANIFatimaSilverPERSAUDJuanitaBronzeRAMNARAINE Melesa
Barebow Amateur Senior
Men Gold - DOOKIE
Richard Silver - LALL
Teemahall Bronze -
PERCIVAL Jaza Recurve
Amateur Mixed Team
Gold - BOODHOO R o s h i n i P E R S A U D Je
CHATARGUM Mehandra
Bronze- WILLIAMSJulieAnn CHUNG Lucas The Championships were officiated with the highest standards:
Chairman: National JudgeRyanMcKinnon
· Judges: Continental & National Judge Gamal Mohamed, Judge Robert Singh,andPresidentVidushi Persaud-McKinnon
Scoring Team:
IANSEO officials: Idrees Shakeem and Anoopa Ramdial ensured seamless, transparent scoring in real time.
Special thanks to: Guyana Beverages Inc. –Oasis Water (official hydrationpartner)
·Dr ShannonDaSilvaof Da Silva’s Optical, Mrs Alana King of Toucan Distributors, El Dorado Security Services, Mr. Halim Khan, and Medina HalaalRestaurant.
· Director of Sport Mr. SteveNinvalle,National (Continuedonpage21)
De f e n d i n g
c h a m p i o n s
Ballerz Empire continuedtheirdominantrun in the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ West Demerara edition, launching into another semifinal for the third consecutive year following a convincing 3-0 quarterfinal victory on Wednesday
The atmosphere at the Pouderoyen tarmac was electric as the tournament edged closer to crowning its regional/district champion. Quarterfinal action featured emphatic wins from Pouderoyen, Wash Bay Boys, Jetty Ballers, and BallerzEmpire.
Inthemostcommanding performance of the night, home team Pouderoyen
secured their first-ever semifinal spot with an 8-0 thrashing of Murphy Street Stars. The onslaught began just three minutes into the game when Luiroy Nieuelder found the back of thenet.KevonScottdoubled theleadshortlyafter,putting StreetStarsonthebackfoot. Despite their aggressive style, Murphy Street Stars were unable to contain a relentless Pouderoyen attack Devin Gaskin capitalized on the yellow ball opportunity, scoring twice in quick succession (27th and 29th minutes), bringingthescorelineto6-0.
Seon Stephens added the final blow with a third Golden Goal (GG) in the 30thminute,sealingtherout. In a notable shift, this
will be the first time PouderoyenBrothersfeature in the semifinals of the East B a n k / W e s t B a n k tournament, while perennial contenders Showstoppers missout.
WashBayBoyswillalso advance to the semifinals after a tense encounter against Team Family ended inagoallessdraw Thematch was decided by penalties, withWashBayholdingtheir nerve to win 2-1 in the shootout.
JettyBallerslateroutlast Showstoppers in the third quarterfinal clash Wednesday evening. During the clash, Showstoppers struck first in the encounter, withStephenJupiterscoring in the 8th minute. However, Deon Alfred turned the tide
withastandoutperformance, netting the equalizer before clinching the winner in the 29th minute. Jetty Ballers emerged 2-1 victors thanks to Alfred’s Golden Goal, ending Showstoppers’ campaign.
Meanwhile, two-time champions Ballerz Empire looked every bit the favouritesastheydispatched EpicTouchFamily3-0inthe final quarterfinal match
SolomonAustinwasthestar oftheshow,scoringallthree goals, including a Golden Goaltocompletehishattrick andsecureasemifinalspot.
PlatePlayoffQualifiers–Results:
Westside Ballers def UnstoppableForce1-0
Scorer: Kwesi Henry (16')
Gunners def Rising Stars1-0
Scorer: Sherven Henry (17')
Cayenne Massive def. Agricola3-0
Scorers: Luis Downer
The semifinal lineup is now set as the battle intensifies for street football supremacy in the West Demerararegion.
SportsMax - Jamaica is inching closer to regaining its place in the Caribbean PremierLeague(CPL),with discussions around a new franchise reaching an advanced stage. While the upcoming 2025 season will proceed without a Jamaicabased team, it is becoming increasingly likely that the islandwillreturntotheCPL foldin2026.
The push follows the departure of the Jamaica Tallawahs,whowereforced tosellbacktheirfranchiseto the CPL due to financial constraints, includinga lack of sustainable support from the Jamaican government. The team has since been relocated and rebranded as Antigua and Barbuda Falcons.
However, momentum is building for a fresh start.
Reports from early suggested that the new Jamaican franchise will be backedbyanIndianPremier League (IPL) ownership group, bringing renewed investment and global expertiseintotheCPL.
Themoveisseenaspart of a broader strategy to strengthen the CPL’s commercial model by deepeningitstieswithoneof the world’s most successful T20leagues.
Atapressconferenceon Wednesday, Jamaica’s MinisterofCulture,Gender, Entertainment and Sport, OliviaGrange,confirmedto Sportsmax.TVthat talks are progressingwell.
“I’mintouchwithCPL, I’m in touch also with our
I will not be
Frompage25 discomfort when larger societalissuesareatplay
To Mr Todd and his client, I understand your duty to pro
reputation, but I have a dutyaswell,tothepeople,to journalism,andtothetruth.I will not shrink from that
local stakeholders the Tourist Board, the Ministry, and local private sector individuals or companies. We are in discussion. I can only say to you it’s looking good,” she said. “It’s a little earlyformetosayanything specifically, but the intentionistoensurethatwe can work it out so that we canbethehost.”
In recent weeks, Sabina Park—long regarded as the spiritual home of cricket in Jamaica has undergone key upgrades, including the installation of new stadium lights and a modern electronicscoreboard.
Theseimprovementsnot only enhance the venue’s appeal for CPLmatches but also signal serious intent by local authorities to position Jamaica as a viable host for international cricket once again.
The CPL has expressed strong interest in returning to Jamaica, given its passionate cricket fan base and the island’s historical significance to West Indies cricket.
However, government involvement remains critical, particularly with regardtoensuringlong-term viability and infrastructural readiness.
Shouldallthepiecesfall into place, Jamaica’s return to the CPL in 2026 could markamajorresurgencefor cricket on the island, reigniting fan enthusiasm and creating fresh opportunities for players, sponsors, and the local economyalike.
muzzled...
responsibility
T h e p r e s s m u s t remain free, fearless, and firm in the face of threats
And as for me, I will continuetowrite.
I will continue to question I will not be silenced.
I will not be muzzled, nor bow to threats
Asajournalistwithover two decades of reporting in the field of sports, I have writtenthousandsofarticles, many of them thoughtprovoking, difficult, and uncomfortable But never before, in my career, have I been served with a legal threat,untilnow
Yesterday I received a Cease-and-Desistletterfrom Attorney-at-law Dexter Todd, on behalf of his client
( n a m e g i v e n ) , a n international cricketer, in reference to my June 26, 2025 article titled “Monster in Maroon,” published in KaieteurNews.
Thearticlespokeabouta series of sexual assault allegations against the acclaimed Guyanese and WestIndiescricketer
The letter alleges
defamation, seeks to suppressfurtherpublication, andthreatenslegalactionifI do not comply with their demands.
Let me state this clearly, andfortherecord,thatIwill notbemuzzled.
The article in question did not identify Mr Todd’s client directly or indirectly
Rawle Toney
No name was called, no descriptiongiventhatwould even remotely allow a reasonablereadertolinkthe story to any specific individual.
The narrative was framedtoconfrontabroader, deeply troubling issue plaguing sport and society alike, not to vilify any person. The legal doctrine of defamation requires that a statement be both false and specifically damaging to a clearly identifiable individual In this case, neither standard has been met. If someone chooses to draw conclusions or falsely attribute implications where none were made, that responsibility lies solely
with them, not with the journalist or the platform of publication.
Furthermore, I am not responsible for how third parties share, perceive, interpret, or sensationalize anarticle.
The reshares, reactions, orderivativecontentcreated by other media houses or social media pages are outsidemycontrolandlegal responsibility
In journalism, there existsasacredduty,whichis tothetruth,tothepublic,and to the integrity of our democracy Freedom of the pressisenshrinednotjustas a principle, but as a constitutionalright.
It is not to be bent, suppressed, or intimidated by legal threats aimed at silencing voices that speak inconvenienttruths.
It is ironic that in a time when the world calls for accountability,transparency, and justice in all sectors, including sport, this response has instead been one of aggression, not introspection Journalism must never become the scapegoatforreputational (Continuedonpage24)
2025CWIRisingStarsWomen’sU19championships…Guyvs.
Trinidad and Tobago limped to a crucial 2-wicket win over Guyana yesterday when U19 action in theWomen’s leg continued at theNationalCricketCenter,Couva.
In another low-scoring battle, Guyana having won the toss and elected to bat first, were muzzled for just 70 runs in the 27th over
Only Latoya Williams (16) and Tiea Isaacs(12)gotgoingasBriannaHarricharran (5-20) stole the show along with help from Amrita Ramtahal (3-13) and Kenika Cassar (2-2).
Spinner Danielle Manns almost won the game for Guyana as her 4-18 helped knock the Trinis down to 71-8 as they barely got overtheropes.
Captain Harricharan piloted the chase with11,while10fromSamiraNaidooand15 fromopenerKristinaNaipaulwasenoughto seal the deal for the Twin Island Republic ladies.
Isaacs returned to claim 1-11 while
Shimron Hetmyer of GuyanaAmazon Warriors hits six runs during the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League T20 match. (Photo by
- GSLT20/Global
‘We
Participants take a photo following the presentation.
