Kaieteur News

Foodpricessoartorecordlevels

AverageWholesale&RetailPricesatRuralandUrbanMarkets

Consumers who visited the Bourda and Stabroek markets early this month paid significantly more for common food items than theydidjustthreeyearsago, as prices for meats, vegetables, and seasonings continuetorise.

AnanalysisoftheJuly3, 2025 price list from the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) shows widespreadincreasesinboth wholesale and retail prices forkeycommodities.

Among the steepest climbs are seen in the meat category, where local chicken, which retailed for $381.55 per pound in 2020

and$488.33in2022,isnow selling for up to $560 per pound at Stabroek Market and $520 per pound at Bourda. Beef, priced at $430.37 per pound in 2020, had reached $659 74 in 2022, and now stands at $950 per pound, more than doubling its 2020 cost. Pork has also seen a sustained increase, now retailing at $750 per pound, up from $585.46in2022and$417.17 in2020.

As it relates to, vegetables and seasonings, these food items are no exception to the trend. Bora whichwassellingat$348.19 per pounds in 2020, surged

Stabroek(Retail)

…chicken, beef, vegetables ranked among priciest food items

market prices

retailsat$360perpound.

$6,915 31 by 2022 The 2025 price has stabilized somewhat to about $2,100 perbundle.

Other vegetables have continued their upward trend: ochro has climbed from $107.83 per pound in 2020, to $171.93 in 2022, and now to $360 per pound. Cabbage, once sold at $228 99 per pound, now retails at $400–$480, depending on the market. Pumpkin, previously $61.50 per pound, is now consistently priced at $140 per pound and corilla went from $136.20 in 2020, to $251.20 in 2022, and now

In terms of seasoning, celerynowsellsforasmuch as $4,250 per pound at Bourda and $3,500 at Stabroek, while eschallot retails for $1,000 and $950 per pound Ginger, previouslyavailableatmore modest prices, has risen to $900 to $1,000 per pound. Similarly,Sweetpeppersare among the highest-priced seasoning items, now at $1,500perpound.

A m o n g g r o u n d provisions, sweet potatoes and eddoes have remained fairly stable since 2022, still priced at $200 per pound.

Cassava, which had increased to $224.28 per pound in 2022, has now droppedslightlyto$160per pound Plantains, once retailing for over $206 per pound, have also seen a modestdecreaseto$160.

As it relates to eggs, whichhadpreviouslysurged

due to supply chain issues and demand spikes. Data shows that local white eggs, sold by the unit, are now pricedat$60each,compared to$50wholesale,placingthe retail tray price at roughly $1,800. In 2022, that tray pricepeakedat$1,350.

The Guyana Marketing Corporation notes that the figures represent average wholesale and retail prices recorded at Bourda, and Stabroek markets, and are not set or regulated by the State.

Moreover, earlier this month Vice President, B h a r r a t J a g d e o acknowledged that food prices have been climbing. However,heassuredthatthe government is working on long-term solutions to ease theburdenoncitizens.

Firstly, the Vice President pointed to a combination of global factorsbehindtheincreasein

food costs, including the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the surge in international freightcharges.

“So, we’ve been challenged with food prices but a lot of it is because freight went up, there is import shock and we import a lot of the food,” he noted added that sometimes prices fluctuateonthemarket.

Despite these pressures, Jagdeo said the government has taken proactive steps to cushion the impact, including subsidies and effortstokeepelectricityand fuel prices steady Looking ahead, Jagdeo said local production is central to the administration’s response to externalpriceshocks.

TheVicePresidentnoted that plans are underway to scale up cultivation of onions and legumes, which are typically imported in largequantities.

Dual citizens do not automatically make list of candidates defective – GECOM

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Saturday clarified that personswithdualcitizenship whose names appear on any List of Candidates do not automatically make the list defective.

The clarification comes days after the Commission erroneously stated that “if the name of a dual citizen appears on any List of Candidates,suchalistwould bedefective”.

“Whereas the law prohibits persons with dual citizens from being elected as Members of the National Assembly, once the list contains surplus names of persons who are not dual citizens and who are qualified to be elected as members of the National Assembly, the list will NOT automatically become defective with the removal of the name of the person with dual citizenship,” GECOMsaid.

Last week, GECOM reminded that dual citizens do not qualify to become members of the National Assembly In a statement, GECOM said that to be a member of the National Assembly of Guyana, a person must be a Guyanesecitizen,atleast18 yearsold,beregisteredasan elector,andbeabletospeak and read English well enough to participate actively in parliamentary proceedings.

Article 155(1)(a) of the Constitution stipulates that “nopersonshallbequalified for election as a member of the National Assembly who is,byvirtueofhisorherown a c t , u n d e r a n y acknowledgem

allegiance, obedience or adherencetoaforeignpower orstate.”

GECOM said that the Article was inserted in the Constitution to address con

d

However, on Saturday, the Elections Commission made it clear that “the list willbecomedefectiveonlyif theremovalofapersonwith dual citizenship would render the list not meeting the statutorily required numberofcandidates.”

GECOM apologized for

l citizenship among p a r l i a m e n t a r i a n s Accordingly, dual citizens are not eligible to be nominated or elected as MembersofParliament.

any confusion the initial statementmayhavecaused.

Meanwhile, GECOM notedthatArticle155(1)(d) oftheConstitutionstatesthat candidates should not hold or be acting in any of the following offices such as Judge of the Supreme Court of Judicature, Member of Public Service Appellate Tribunal, Member of the Elections Commission, the J u d i c i a l S e r v i c e Commission, the Public Service Commission, the Te a c h i n

S

v i c e Commission or the Police Service Commission, the Di

Ombudsman, or theAuditor General.

“GECOM is therefore advising all contestants to ensure that they exercise cautioninthepreparationof their respective Lists of Candidates, to avoid any possibilityoftheirlistsbeing classified as defective,” the releasestated.

GMC

KaieteurNews

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

Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456

Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams

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

EDITORIAL

Oil dollars

Thegovernmentandoppositionareatloggerheadsover the pros and cons of oil money spending. They can fight over who has it right on the best way to manage the trusteeshipthatGuyanesehaveplacedinthehandsoftheir elected representatives. Neither has risen to the occasion, left an impressive mark, in how they have dealt with the nation'soilpatrimony,andnowhowtocareandgetthebest out of every oil dollar The opposition says that Vice President Jagdeo hasn't done well with oil money, that the governmenthasdeliveredpoorlywithGuyana'sshareofthe profits. And,thatevenatthecurrentlowcollectionlevels, national development can still be funded from it. For his part,Jagdeohaschastisedtheoppositionbynotingthatoil pricescanfall,sowhatitistalkingaboutisnotsustainable. We at this paper leave Jagdeo and opposition spokesman, Ganesh Mahipaul, to bicker and bring down each other What is surprising is how much of a political animalJagdeocanbe,whenitsuitshispurposes. Today,he is concerned that oil prices may fall in the future. Where was he before, and why is it only now that sanity has returned to him, with the specter of oil prices falling and havingsomeseriousmeaning? Fallingoilpricesarenota new phenomenon, or a development that happens once everybluemoon. Fallingoilpricesareanessentialaspect of the oil business, and one that is feared by oil-producing countriesthatgettoodependentonthisonecommodityfor theireconomicstrength,theirsurvival. Thishasbeentheup anddownhistoryofoilinitsover-a-centurylongexistence, which Jagdeo knows. Countries where oil featured as the centerpiece of their economies have fallen on bitter times, from time to time, due to the volatile nature of this liquid gold. There is no doubt that Jagdeo is familiar with those nationalrecords,too.

ButnoneofthatmatteredtoGuyana'soilczar,whogave himselflotsofexcitementinhowhemadeuseofthenation's oil money It may appear massive to some Guyanese, but whatshouldhavebeenoverseenwiththegreatestprudence, Guyana'snumberoneoilmanmadeintotheequivalentofa combination petty cashbox andATM. Money wanted for someschemeandtheNaturalResourceFund(NRF)andits billions were too inviting to be resisted. The PPPC Government withdrew and withdrew from the NRF, as thoughitwouldalwaysbereplenished. Itdidn'tmatterthen to the government or cabinet or Jagdeo himself that oil pricescanfall. Butnowheissingingthattuneinresponse totheOpposition'sMahipaul. Today,Jagdeoistheessence of caution, while before he was the best example of a cavalier attitude and approach to the NRF and the probabilityoffallingoilprices.

Becauseheknewbefore,andisnowsoconcerned,about fallingoilprices,heshouldhavebeentheleaderintwoareas ofcrucialimportancetoGuyanese. Withdrawinglessfrom theNRFwasthefirst,becauseoilpricescandeclinedueto some overnight development. The second was borrowing less from everywhere to fund pet projects and mystery projects,forwhichfullaccountingisthebusinessofanother day Withdrawing oil money, raising the debt ceiling, and suckinguploanslikeavacuumhaveallbeencharacteristics of PPPC governance and Jagdeo's oil management. But therehewasonThursdaylast,speakingbravelyaboutwhat he used to wave at (falling oil prices) in his objections to whattheoppositionlaidoutaspartofhowitplanstospend Guyaneseoilmoney

Relativetofallingoilprices,nowaheadacheforJagdeo, moreoilisabouttocomeonstream,withOPECincreasing supply volumes. More oil supplies in oil markets usually mean downward pressure on oil prices. Lower oil prices signalloweroilprofitsforGuyana,unlessdailyproduction is pushed still higher to compensate for NRF deposit shortfalls When everyone is selling more oil simultaneously, oilpricesbecomeliketryingtocatchinga fallingknife. Jagdeoknew,butdidn'tcare,soGuyaneseget readytopay

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Why GECOM's elections machinery must be transparent and accountable at all times

DearEditor, Notwithstanding our electionsbeingameremonth andafewweeksaway,there are some in our midst who are hard at work to try to shape the elections narrative and GECOM's role for the upcoming elections The electioneering narrators constantly harp on spurious claims about what GECOM shouldorshouldnotdo.

The anti-GECOM crusaders spurn the fact that GECOM'S integrity and impartialityareparamountto ensuring free and fair elections;theykeepinsisting that 'GECOM is not ready

and is incapable' to hold elections The aim is to denigrate the role and place of the constitutional body anditsfunctions.

Paradoxically, political partiesarebusypreparingto contest the elections. Some say, they are 'contesting to fightrigging.'

As I have repeatedly statedinletterstotheeditor, it is counterproductive to keep on contradicting

GECOM's legitimate decisions and actions, since such behaviour can, directly or indirectly impact the legitimacy of Guyana's electoral process as well as

international community's trustinourelectoralprocess.

This brings me to GECOM's role as regards accountab

y and transparency of the electoral process. In my view, there should be no question about GECOM's commitment to

n d accountable as regards the m

upcomingelections.

GECOM being held accountable would include; for the just concluded registr

distribution of ID cards, the accurate and verifiable

Official List of Electors (OLE); the secure storage and transportation of boxes with ballots, and the transparent counting and tabulation of votes Any irregularityorperceivedbias by contestants in respect to GECOM's role can undermineitscredibility

ThatiswhyGECOMhas a crucial role to play to counter the spread of m

Guyana'selectoralprocessat allstages.

Official information abouttheelectoralprocessin

(Continueonpage5)

Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox

Load testing is part of international standard practice

DearEditor,

I write to express my concern about an article publishedintheJuly6,2025 edition of the Stabroek News, in which the Minister of Public Works reportedly indicated that “the new Demerara Harbour Bridge doesnotneedloadtestingfor vehicularoranyothertraffic

and will be fully open and operational to traffic using allfiveoftheplannedlanes.”

Accordingtothenewspaper, as justification for this, the “Minister explained that the bridge is being built to a certain specification and is being monitored to ensure that this is done, therefore there will be “no need for a

trialperiod”totestvehicular traffic.”This decision is not in keeping with globally establishedstandardpractice for the commissioning of any major bridge, which requiresinsitu(onsite)load testing before it is open to public use. This is typically done even if, as in this case, all the components of the

bridge were load tested beforeassemblybecause: thestructuralbehaviour of assembled systems can differ from individual components. S

(foundation, supports,

performance.

Why GECOM's elections machinery must be...

Frompage4

Guyana falls within the purview of GECOM. In this regard, factual and timely information released by GECOMiscrucialifthefree and fa

envisagesistobesuccessful. Through proactive and reliable communication channels with stakeholders, especially with accredited media houses is critical to combating inaccurate information spread by questionablenewsoutlets.

GECOMmustalwaysbe in a state of readiness to effectively and rapidly counterthedisseminationof misinformation by issuing timely press releases Holding press conferences onaneedsbasiscouldprove usefulandeffective.

Failure by GECOM to effectively and rapidly counter misinformation allowing it to fester and to spread unchecked, can influence and misdirect votersresultinginconfusion 'ontheground.'

Transparency and openness in GECOM's

operations, including its decision-making processes aswellasimplementationof electoral procedures, are important confidencebuilding measures that will l

n d t o G E C O M ' s determination to be accountableforitsdecisions andactions.

A c c o u n t a b i l i t y mechanisms,suchasregular and verifiable audits and employment of competent and professional personnel willgoafarwaytoensuring that GECOM operates with integrityandimpartiality So long as GECOM continues to operate within the framework of relevant constitutional provisions andtheRepresentationofthe People Act (ROPA) accountability will be guaranteed thus ensuring that GECOM is held responsibleforanyviolation ofthelawordeviationsfrom legally laid down procedures.

In pursuit of its desire to be accountable for its decisions and actions, all contesting political parties,

candidates, and electors must be treated fairly and equally within the meaning ofthelaw

Furthermore, in its

determination to be transparent and accountable GECOM should recognize thatitsdecisionsandactions will be viewed by its critics and cynics through their tinted lenses thus the importance of avoiding missteps that can result in unnecessarycontroversy.

B y e n s u r i n g t r a n s p a r e n c y a n d accountability in its conduct of elections, GECOM should continue to promptly and efficiently address grievances or complaints brought to its attention by stakeholders providing the grievances and complaints are within the ambit of the lawsofGuyana.

GECOM's push for t r a n s p a r e n c y a n d accountabili

he cornerstone of free and fair elections. Its main task is to ensure that the impending September 1st elections are conductedinamannerthatis

transparent,impartial,andin accordance with the law

This includes ensuring that all eligible voters can participate, that their votes are counted accurately, and that the results reflect the willofthepeople.

In keeping with tradition, independent observer missions, have been invited to monitor GECOM's activities with a view to providing independent assessments of Guyana's electoral process. The presence of election observermissionsinGuyana contribute immensely to ensuring accountability and transparency of elections 2025.

Allegations against GECOM of failures and missteps, if any, by contesting parties can be takentothecourtsbywayof an Election Petition where a partyorpartiescanrequesta judicial review or remedies providing the claims have merit on the part of the complainant.

Yoursfaithfully, ClementJ.Rohee

Unanticipated stresses may arise during transport, erection, or connection.The in situ exercise allows for verification that the actual structural behaviour when the separate components are assembled, matches that of the theoretical or simulated models; detects any construction or assembly errors,settlement,deflection or unexpected vibrations; andensuresthesafetyofthe bridge under static and dynamic loads. Static load

application of a known weight (e.g., trucks filled with sand) at designated points and measuring deflection, settlement and strain; whereas dynamic loadtestinginvolvesdriving vehicles over the bridge at various speeds to measure vibration, resonance, and damping. Bypassing in situ loadtestingmaypreventthe detection of hidden defects in the construction, joints or foundation. It puts public safety at risk if the bridge f a i l s o r b e h a v e s unpredictably under load Legal and reputational

liability could fall on both the builders and the government if an incident occurs.

On-site load testing is essential and expected by global engineering standards Skipping it exposes the public to avoidable risks, and any decisiontoomititshouldbe reconsidered. Out of sheer caution and to “make assurance doubly sure” with respect to the structural and functional integrity of the bridge, I urge those concerned to undertake a thorough in situ load testing exercise before fully commissioning the structure andopeningitforpublicuse. It would also be useful to have the professional inputs oftheGuyanaAssociationof Professional Engineers (GAPE) in this exercise. As Guyanese, we all look forward to the successful completion of this vital developmentalinitiativeand ensurethatweleavenostone unturnedinourpursuitofan excellentoutcome.

Ulric O'D Trotz Ph.D, A.A.

Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority

office commissioned in Mahdia

DPI - Residents from RegionEightnolongerhave to travel long hours to

Georgetown or the Essequibo Coast to access

essential government services, following the launch of a Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority (DCRA) office in Mahdia.

In a simple ceremony

w i t h

d e n t s a t Campbelltown Benab, Attorney General and

Minister of Legal Affairs

Mohabir Anil Nandlall S.C. said that staff for the office will be hired locally, ensuring the community benefitsdirectly

Theofficewillbelocated a t t h e R e g i o n a l Administration Office building in Mahdia, where services will be accessible withintwoweeks.

The deeds registry is responsible for land titles, filingpowersofattorneyand

deed poll for name changes,

transactions.

The commercial registry handles the registration of businesses, companies,

incorporation of companies, amongothermatters.

The new facility marks the fulfilment of a promise made by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali to

CommercialRegistryoffices

in all outlying regions, ensuring the services they provideareeasilyaccessible.

Kaieteur M@ilbox

7 weeks to e-day - a Superb Sprint race?

DearEditor,

A fantastic Trinidad sprinter, Jerene Richards, created history at the Commonwealth Games Track&FieldEvents4X400 meters Event. He displayed relentlessness, as the anchor leg, while his team-mate Dwight Hillaire created sensation with his explosive start. Botswana, Kenya, and Jamaica were left behind in the dust! I encourage my fellow Guyanese to view the race.

Election 2025 has the potential to motivate the youth of our next, the Beta generation The aforesaid sprint race, where the most unexpected Victory happened, earned through unityandteamexcellence,is a far cry from the unity

games we see in Guyana (ForwardGuyanaMovement -FGMmergingwithVigilant Political Action CommitteeVPAC and The People's Movement (PM) (A Partnership for National Unity -APNU with People's National Congress (PNC), GuyanaActionParty(GAP), Working Peoples Alliance (WPA), etc.) (Alliance For Change(AFC)withSharma) (We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) with A New and United Guyana (ANUG), (People's Progressive Party (PPP)withCIVIC),etcetera. Fragmented pieces of groupings can never assist a countryinapathclaimingit's heading towards unity, s o l i d a r i t y , a n d brother/sisterhood. How couldit?

unfolding events, including

y

Outreaches, and Literature dissemination trips, we observe political leaders during the Campaign season as busy as bees. Partaking in a lot of Partying - Fun Day/BBQ happening, Outreaches andWalk-abouts highlighting of Villagers' problems and heated Exchanges of groupings at various parts of Guyana Whatis/aretheSolution(s)–whataretherealissues.

TheGuyanesepopulace–more than half are suffering and need leaders now more than ever. Fifteen years ago, f e w c h i l d r e n h a d smartphones. Ten years ago, 80%hadshiftedfromaplay-

based childhood to a phonebasedone.

Inconclusion,apartfrom WIN, AFC, and FGM, etc., the APNU approach representsthestrongestbody of advocates and workers lacking nothing, has the strongest unity to match/outmatch the incumbent, thus, in my humble belief, is the sole thorn on the Incumbent's radar

When Jerene Richards saw a threatening opponent gaining distance, on his radar,Botswana,whatdidhe do - he galloped to the tape, unreachable! It was simply superb.Theresultswillprove likewise come September 2nd–superb!

BestRegards, M.ShabeerZafar

Representatives of the Deeds and Commercial Registries during an outreach in Region Eight (DPI)

Senior Councillor of P

mel Williams, was visibly excited about having the servicesclosetohome.

The establishmentof the officewillallowresidentsto save both time and money Some residents have had to p a y $ 2 4 , 0 0 0 f o r transportation from Mahdia toGeorgetown.

“I feel happy about this because I have a small grocery business that I registered this morning…It has saved us a lot of money becausegoingoutfromhere [Mahdia] is $12,000, and thenyoupayforfood.Itwas veryexpensive.Wearevery grateful for this,” Williams told the Department of PublicInformation(DPI).

Mayor of Mahdia, Eslyn Romascindo-Hussain, welcomed the outreach and said it will bridge the gap between the hinterland and thecoast.Shealsourgedarea residents to utilise the services and resources that arenowavailable.

Rosanna George from Micobie was pleased with howquicklyshewasableto registerherbusinesswithout hav

Georgetown.

“I came here to register my little snackette, Rosanna BakeryandSnackette.Itwas verygood,”shenoted.

Minister Nandlall stated that the government's objective is to make these essential services accessible to all Guyanese citizens irrespectiveoftheirlocation, emphasising that the quality of the services must remain thesame.

He reaffirmed the government's commitment toprovidingequitableaccess to resources, opportunities and programmes regardless of political affiliations and ethnicbackgrounds.

“So,whenyouhearthat the government or the country is transforming, it is not idle talk. You are w i t n e s s i n g t h e transformationinMahdia. Youneverhadthisservice. Now you are getting this service right here in your community,” Minister Nandlallsaid.

The DCRA offices have been established at MabarumaandPortKaituma (Continueonpage7)

Private international investigative team reviewing Adriana Younge's case –Dr.DexterTodd

Ap r i v a t e

international investigative team is actively reviewing the circumstances surroundingthedeathof11year-old Adriana Younge, attorneyDr DexterToddhas revealed.

Dr Todd in an interview with Kaieteur News on Friday said that the team is

currently analyzing

surveillance footage, 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.

“There's an international investigative team which waspulledtogether Because of the need to protect the identity of the investigators, they are basically walking through back a number of thingsandtheyhavestarted.

Thedigitalforensicexpertis basically analyzing now all video, because since this incident,Iwasabletopullall the videos. I had a separate team working on that on the ground, I would never have left that to the police,” he said.

Dr Todd emphasized 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

omissionintheirfindings.

“We're waiting on the policetoseeatsomepointin time,whatinvestigationthey did,becauseiftheythinkthat they are going to just glide over certain important aspects of this, of what transpired,theyhaveanother

Dr

which of course can be very vital to an investigation. So, we will know whether someoneistryingtoconcoct adifferentnarrativeortoput togetheradifferentnarrative than actually what happened.

I do plan to submit that reporttothepoliceandwith an aim of asking them to compare what they have done and whether they have missed anything, with an aim as well for them to expand their investigations so that it can be a lot more thorough, ” Dr Todd explained.

thingcoming,”hewarned.

Once the private team's report is complete, Dr Todd planstosubmitittoboththe police and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) with the hope that it will either confirm or prompt expansion of the police investigation.

“Therewasalotofthings happening on the ground,

Former Bartica Mayor endorses President Ali

Former Mayor of Bartica, Gifford

Marshall, on Saturday announced that he isendorsingPresidentIrfaan

Ali of the People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C)forasecondtermas PresidentofGuyana.

In a statement via his Facebookpage,theformerA Partnership for National Unity (APNU) member said hisendorsementcomesashe th preparestocelebratehis45 birthdayonJuly20.

“Standing on the threshold of my 45th year, I reflect not only on my personal journey but on the remarkable transformation of our beloved Guyana. Our nation today bears little resemblance to the Guyana our ancestors knew, and our capacity to navigate the rapid changes ahead will determinewhetherwefulfill our destiny as a global successstory,”hesaid.

The former mayor explained that earlier this year, he had the privilege of speaking with President Ali atlength.

“What struck me most was his genuine passion for fostering unity among all Guyanese, his commitment

to religious tolerance, and his ambitious vision for infrastructure development. His dynamic energy, deep love for our country, and pragmatic approach to governance are truly commendable qualities,”

Marshallsaid.

Marshallwhoservedtwo consecutive terms as mayor saidthatinassessingthepath forward for the nation, he

believes the country needs leadership that can harness the tremendous potential while navigating the complexities of the rapidly changingworld.

“President Ali has consistently demonstrated the vision, and dedication required to guide Guyana throughthiscrucialperiodin ourhistory.

I am convinced that given our nation's bright future and the opportunities before us, he is uniquely qualified and prepared to lead our beautiful country for the next five years,” Marshalldeclared.

He mentioned that the President's distinguished record of public service stands as a testament to his capabilities.

In applauding Ali's achievements during his tenure and wishing him continued success in the 2025 elections and beyond, Marshall said, “Therefore, I endorse President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali for a second term as President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.”

Marshall served as MayorofBarticafrom2016 to2023.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum. The original case fileincludedaninvestigative report compiled by retired Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer Leonard McCoshen, who washiredbythegovernment and spent a few days in Guyana before presenting hisfindingstothepolice.

Regarding funding, Dr Todd shared that while the teamisnotformallyfunded, it is being financially supported by both local and international organizations.

“There are a number of organizations, which have askedtoremainanonymous, that have pledged their support to the investigative team,”hedisclosed.

Theteamhastenpersons of interest on its radar, including hotel staff and some of Adriana's relatives. Dr Toddconfirmedthatnew eyewitness statements continue to emerge, and the team has been able to trace the movements of certain individuals based on timestamps in surveillance footage.

“They are all persons of interest. No one is ruled out h e r e b e c a u s e a n investigation of this magnitude, you cannot have a situation where it's narrowed and once you narrow the investigation, you're likely to overlook things.So,youhavetokeep the assessment as wide as possible, and then you eliminate as you do not find the evidence in relation to persons.”

The GPF, which had previously stated that its investigation into the death of Adriana Younge was concluded and that the case file had been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions, has now d e c l a r e d t h a t t h e investigationremainsactive. Thisupdatewasprovidedby

Addressingthematteron an episode of the GPF's podcast Safeguarding Our Nation, Blanhum stated, “In the interest of full transparency, the Guyana Police Force, contrary to Standard Operating Procedures, shared Adriana Younge's autopsy report withherfamily'sattorney.”

In response, Dr Todd questioned the credibility and finality of the police's earlier conclusion “The police crime chief indicated that the investigation is active.

Now,iftheinvestigation isactive,Icanonlyinterpret that in two ways. You had a C a n a d i a n e x p e r t investigator…[he]cameand reviewed this case and presented a report. Are you saying that the report presented was not a conclusive report? We don't know

So, when I saw that the crimechiefissayingthatthe investigationisactive,Iwas a bit surprised because what happened to this report that this investigator came to Guyana and presented to them and what happened to

t h e r e p o r t a n d

pronouncement the president said in relation to the conclusion of this investigator that there was excellent work done in relation to the investigation and there was excellent handling of the body and all ofthat.

Then why is the investigation active?” he said.

Dr Todd expressed concernthatthepoliceisyet todisclosewhoisleadingthe investigation in Guyana “Wedon'tknowwhoarethe investigatorsinthismatterin Guyana. The police continued to

be silent on that And because of that, we don't even know who would have beentheIRthatwecanwrite to,thatwecancommunicate withtosay,well,okay,there isawitnesswhowantstosay something,nothingatall.”

From the announcement of Adriana's disappearance, the family has expressed a lack of confidence in the GPF due to several issues, including inaccurate initial statements regarding Adriana's whereabouts, lack of communication with the family, and initial refusal to releasetheautopsyreport.

In response, the family took independent steps to uncoverthetruth.

They retained legal counsel, transported Adriana'sbodytotheUnited States for a second autopsy, and now rely on a team of private international investigators to re-examine thecasefromallangles.

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 shedisappeared.

A p o s t - m o r t e m examination was performed on April 28 by the team of international experts who concluded that the cause of deathwasdrowning.

Frompage6 in Region One, Suddie in Region Two, Bartica in Region Seven, and Lethem in Region Nine. A similar office will be establishedinLinden,RegionTen,bytheend of July to ensure accessibility of these services Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai highlighted the long journey that hinterland residents have to endure before being able to access these services.Themuch-neededoffice,shenoted, will bring greater relief to many business owners.TheministerwasjoinedbytheChief Executive Officer of Guyana Water Incorporated Shaik Baksh, Registrar of the Deeds Registry Azeena Baksh, Regional Executive Officer Peter Ramotar, and other representativesfromministries.

Former Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall

Adriana Younge

Attorney

Dexter Todd

BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCIES!

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

MODNAY–JULY7,2025

Whateverittakes

In Guyana, elections are notfortheweakofspirit,but we believe there should be limits to how low the contestants should go, and there are some places that theyshouldnotgo.

Attaching the tag of beinga'pro-Maduropuppet' to a Guyanese is a smear beyond mention Unless therearesomesolidgrounds onwhichsuchaninsult,such a grievous wound, could be inflicted, then it must be avoided, so repulsive it is. We are searching for a viler degradation, and can't find anycurrently Andforwhat does the party in

government, the PPPC, proceed on this fateful step, but to retain power, doing whateverittakes.

W h a t e v e r t h e circumstancesrequire,itwill be done, seems to be the settled mantra of the major political party competing in the2025elections.Whenthe tax money of Guyanese has tobespentforthescurrilous, then spend it, and not lose sleepoverit.

TUESDAY–JULY8,2025

Warcrimes

Whatisgoingonwithout interruptioninGazawiththe Palestinians being used as a shooting gallery, as if they serve as targets for practice, human targets? What can that be called, how should that be branded, other than those doing soare war criminals.

When schools are blown upandchildrenarekilled,or their minds deliberately traumatised for the rest of their lives, then that is a war crime, every instance of it. When hospitals overloaded with the sick and wounded, the weak and invalided, are destroyed in a rain of steel and fire, then there is somethingverysickatwork. We at this paper see a series of war crimes directed at Palestinians, and maybe evenforthefunofit.

How can anyone in the civilizedworld,aworldthatis watchingbutlargelyhanging

its head in shame (and with theuglyodorsilencestanding asapalloverthehypocrites), not see what we see, war crimes?

THURSDAY–JULY10,2025

ThePPPoftoday

The People's Progressive Party, once victim of a more brutal era of suppression and state-sponsoredmenace,now seems eager to trade places withitsformertormentors.It isnolongercontenttorule;it wishes also to ridicule, to repress, and to reduce its challengers especially those, like Azruddin Mohamed and his WIN party, who dare to plant banners in the PPPdominatedareas.

But again, it is not the physicalact thejeering,the taunting,thetearingdownof flags, the disruption of meetings that should concern us most. It is the language. The press conferencesofthePPPhave become festivals of contempt. Themicrophones are not instruments of communication. From the head table, the assaults are launched—not with knives or bricks, but with words, spatandsharpened. Ad hominem becomes doctrine Character assassination becomes strategy And it is not just political foes who are the objects. It is also the media and anyone who dare be critical. FRIDAY–JULY11,2025

ThePPPandthePNC

As the election season intensifies, we wish to state that both opposition and PPPCGovernmentoperateas though they are the sole towers of intellect and wisdom.Yet,whentheyhave to be at their best when Guyana's oil wealth involved, both have been at their weakest, their pathetic worst.

What kind of national government signs a contract forameager2%royalty,zero company taxes and 75% in expenses taken from its oil revenues before profits are c o m p u t e d ? T h e APNU+AFC Coalition Government did, and many Guyanese are left hungry despite daily oil production standing at over 650,000 barrels. What kind of nationalgovernmentupturns a judicial decision that calls for a full parent company guarantee in the event of a major offshore oil spill, by focusing on an anemic subsidiary, and not the wealthyparentcompany?

The PPPC Government did that, and Guyana now doesn't have the fallback option of going after ExxonMobil itself if the worse were to occur The APNU+AFC Coalition and PPPCGovernmentshavenot been oil governments, they havebeenoilgoofballs.

Our silence is complicity

Every day, for

months now, Israel has been bombing hospitals, shelters, schools, and food lines in Gaza Every single day, Palestinians are being killed mothers cradling theirstarvingbabies,fathers and children trying to find bread. What is taking place in Gaza is nothing short of ethnic cleansing. It matches the worst horrors of the Holocaust And yet, the worldisquiet.

Where is the outrage? Where are the voices of the world? Where are the governments that like to preach about human rights and democracy?Apart from a few brave ones, most of themaresilent.Evenworse, some have chosen to punish those who dare to speak up.

Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Palestinian Territory, is one of the few bold enough to call out Israel.Shedidnotminceher words. She said, “All eyes mustremainonGaza,where children are dying of starvation in their mothers’ arms,whiletheirfathersand siblings are bombed into pieces while searching for food.” For saying that, she has been sanctioned by the UnitedStates.

Albanese has gone further In a recent report, she accuses major corporations of helping and

profiting from Israel’s occupation and bombing of Gaza. Arms companies are p r o v i d i n g t h e weapons jets, drones, guided missiles. Shipping companies are moving the military equipment. Banks arefundingtheexpansionof settlements.

Technology giants are providing the surveillance systems, the cloud computing, the artificial intelligence that help Israel track, target, and kill. And sheisclear:thesecompanies arenotinnocent.Theyknow what their technology and money are doing. They are not just part of the problem. Accordingtothereport,they may be committing war crimes.

It’s a wake-up call. Not just for the powerful governments of the world, but for all of us. Because when people stay silent, when they do not speak out, theyallowinjusticetogrow

That silence is not neutral—it is a green light. When leaders face no pressure from their people, they become more shameless And when companies realize no one will hold them accountable, theydonotstop—theydigin deeperandtakeevenmore.

We are seeing the same thing here in Guyana. For decades, Guyana has supported the Palestinian cause. But now, with so much blood being spilled,

the government has said not a word of condemnation. Nothing. Not even a press release. And certainly not anyrealaction,likebreaking diplomatic ties or freezing cooperation. And the worst part is—they are not feeling any pressure to act, because our people are not demandingit.

Francesca Albanese’s report reminds us that it is not only governments that carry out or support oppression.Corporationsdo ittoo.Letusnotforgethowa major oil company was involved in the arrest and killing of Ken Saro-Wiwa andeightothersinNigeriain 1995.

Allbecausetheydaredto speak out against the environmental destruction of the Niger Delta. That samegreedandviolenceisat play today—in Gaza and, yes,eveninGuyana.

Here, in our own backyard, foreign oil companies are raking in billionswhilewegetscraps. Theoildealsignedisoneof the worst in the world. It gives us next to nothing in royalties And yet, our peoplearequiet.Nomassive protests. No roadblocks. No demands that this issue be front and centre in the upcomingelections.

Guyaneseareheadingto thepollsonSeptember1,but we are doing so like sheep without even demanding that the royalty

DEM BOYS SEH

Customers nah get nowhere to park!

Once upon a time in Guyana, business people used to build big shiny stores and proudly boast, “Customer parking available.”Butnowadays,demboyssehif you believe that, you gon believe Santa ClausgotaGuyanesepassport.

Tekdebighardwarestore.Demusedto have enough parking fuh all dem customers, a minibus, and even a donkey cart.Now?Halfofdelottekupbydesame staffwhosupposedtobehelpingyoufinda boltornut—butdemnutenoughtotekall de space. Is like they building a car show morethanahardware.

And is not just hardware. Look all across de country customer parking turning into “staff headquarters.” Dem businesses start off with good intentions, butsoonasfivestaffbuycarthroughsome loan with balloon payment, dem forget boutdecustomerwhopayingdemsalaryin defirstplace.

Demboyssehevenschoolsgetcatchin de parking bacchanal. Time was when childrencouldarunfreeintheschoolyard,

ratebeputontheballot.The governmentknowsthis.The corporationsknowthis.And so,theycontinuetoloot.

When we do not stand up, we make it easier for those in power to keep ignoring us Our silence becomestheirstrength.They useourinactionasproofthat we are satisfied.And that is how bad governments and greedy corporations thrive when the people staypassive.

Butitdoesnothavetobe this way.Around the world, change has always come whenordinarypeoplerefuse to stay silent. When they taketothestreets.

When they speak out. When they write, protest, boycott, and vote with their conscience. That is how

apartheid fell in South

Africa That is how colonialism was defeated. Thatishowcivilrightswere won.

Francesca Albanese stoodup,eventhoughitcost her Shecalledoutthekilling and starvation of children. Shenamedthecorporations. She named the allies. And she was punished for it. But she is not wrong. And we should not abandon her voiceinthewilderness.

play lil rounders, or just dodge de occasionalstraycricketball.Butnow?Half of de schoolyard gone so dat dem teacher could park dem shiny rides. So now childrenplaying“tag”inbetweentailpipes. De worst is Regent Street. Go deh and try find parking if yuh bold.All dem spot tek up by vendor vehicle. Dem selling clothes, but dem car looking like mobile warehouse.Onemangotshirtstallandpark he Prado right in front whole day—as if peoplebuyingshirtfromthebackseat.

Dem boys seh it getting outta hand. Next thing yuh gon see is customer bathroomturningintostafflunchroom.

GuyananeedaParkingRevolution.Put up signs: “Customers Only, Staff Park By de Seawall.” Or better yet, dem boys seh staff should get bicycle. It good fuh de waistline,declimate,anddecustomers. Because if customer can’t park, customer ain’t coming back And if customerain’tcomingback,allyuhgonbe parkingupisunemployment. Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

So let us break that silence.Letusspeakout.Let us demand justice—for the peopleofGaza,forourown people, and for all those suffering under greed and tyranny Becauseifwedon’t, then we are just as guilty as those dropping the bombs, signing the deals, and countingtheprofits.

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

The people of Guyana must understand this: if we do not stand up to injustice at home or abroad—wearehelpingit.If we stay quiet while oil companies rob us blind, we are letting them win. If we say nothing while Palestinians are massacred, we are giving approval. Our silence is not just silence. It iscomplicity

Elections – the challenge and the conclusion

When all the communities large and small have been visited, when all the flourishing speeches have been made, when all the sparkling political commercials broadcast, the September 1 elections come down to the simple. Thesimplefolkwill be the ones making those not-so-simple decisions that have such far-reaching effects I reduce the elections to a handful of questions from the commonfolk. They have a

prior high hurdle to overcome. The pull of race to deal with, loyalty to the tribaltomanage. Iproceed. The Septemberelections are not so much about democracy, who tried to rig thelastelections,thequality of leadership experienced

since. Thosemattertosome, but not as much to many more. Considerthis:seeany political group or leading campaigner visiting Bel Air Park, D'Aguiar Park, or Republic Park? Voters are there; but the great mass of themareelsewhere. Selling grounds, battlegrounds, and provinggroundsareallover, but not there. So, now it is time to take a fine look and touch at the thoughts, the questions, contemplated, weighing heavily on the ordinary lunch bucket man, shorthanded mother, unsettledyouth.

First,withallthismoney, these great, big, billions (whateverthosemean)being written, mentioned, flashing before the eyes, how come they all slipped past me and myfamily? Thebillionsjust didn't slip past, they raced past,whilegivingthewidest berth to my humble lot number Why was that so, had to be so, when a family ortwogotahogandacow? And a fleet of SUVs, jewellery to choke an anaconda,andthearrogance that goes along with such prizes.

Second, the little people are being flooded with rich promises. Whowilldowhat and how much, and how quickly and broadly, are all lighting up the headlines, making the rounds. Lovely a n d i n s p i r i n g , unquestionably Yes, but that is about tomorrow, next year,andbeyond. Butwhat about the last few years? How is it that nobody remembered that I existed, didn'tcarehowIexisted,but nowknowhowtogivemea betterexistence? Pain-filled questions such as these are

notdebatedattheHarvard Business School. This is whatstirsandemergesfrom the neglected and abandoned, the tricked and taken for granted, those left to eke out whatever they could from their gnawing, dreaded, empty days. Days that repeated themselves with greater difficulty, extendedregularity

Third, there is this anxiety-laden, souldistressing, mentally tormenting mother of all hard questions. Who to trust? Trust with their rich, creamy, promises? Why trust at all, when so much was wasted, with so little left? Whysetmyselfupfor another heartbreak, another batch of years that make me live with regret that will neithereasenorleave?

I readily admit that I could be expecting too much, burdening too heavily,themaninthestreet andthewomanwatchingher barefloors,barercupboards. But, then again, I may not even be coming close to appreciating the magnitude of their hurts, their disgusts, their fears. Certainly, they see all the building out, building up, and related busyness. But, if so much money for that, how come only one or two halfpenny for me? Things so tough, that I had to 'tek' shame out ofmyfaceand'tek'it. Butah 'tek' note also. The mass of the people in Guyana heard about this magical development called oil They see how much differenceitmadeforafew, andtheyhaveaquestionthat nags: 'wait maan, dis oil biased tuh? Dis ile gat suh much hatred fuh pooh

peeple?'

It is highly likely that these are not the types of questions that the enlightenedandemboldened consider perspicacious or penetrating. Butfortheman andwomanwhoarewithout, whoknowwhatitistobeleft out, they are existential They are immediate. And they are mind-bending and crippling. May not matter much at higher elevations, but this is where the September 1 elections terminate and culminate Nobody at the top can cry povertythesedays,butthere are those living in it September 1 is the referendum It is the conundrum also. Pardon is asked,butImustberaw,for that'sGuyanesereality 'Yuh waan put bak dem kindamaanbakindehagain? And, from the other side of the voter divide: how much mo rope yuh gon give dem teefmaanandbaadmaanfuh hang yuh?' Complexion deleted in both instances Afterallthetheory,ideology, money wizardry, leadership trickery, and political strategy, I present the substance and soul of September 1. The issue before is what will triumph: one's own impoverished state, or the greater tribal state? Here is a clue: the desperation, shrillness, of someconfirm

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

Essequibo labourer crushed to death by excavator at work site

A36-year-oldlabourerwas

on Saturday crushed to death by an excavator at Queenstown, Essequibo Coast, Region Two. The dead man was identifiedasMervinLochan.

Reports are that he was on a road project in the village when the incident occurred early Saturday morning.

Kaieteur News understands that the excavator was reversing when it struckLochan.

He fell and one of its tracks ran overhimandburiedhiminthesand.

In a video sent to Kaieteur News, persons were seen pulling his motionless body from beneath the sand. Investigationsareongoing.

Dead: Mervin Lochan

Four new police stations commissioned in Reg. 3

Four new police stations and a command centre valued over $533 million were on Saturday commissioned in Region Three,theMinistryofHome Affairssaid.

The police stations were commissioned by Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, Permanent Secretary Mr Andre Ally, Deputy Commissioner 'Operations' Mr Errol Watts, and Regional Commander of Region Three, Assistant Commissioner Mahendra Siwnarine.

According to the ministry, the newly reconstructed Vreed-enHoopPoliceStation,astateof-the-art facility built at a cost of $118,735,490 will bolsterlawenforcementand publicsafetyintheregion.

K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that prior to its reconstruction; the Vreeden-Hoop Police Station was

housed in a wooden structure, unsuitable for efficient policing The facility was reportedly shared with flocks of pigeons, highlighting the u r g e n t n e e d f o r redevelopment.

Noting that the facility boasts of a comprehensive suite of modern amenities designed to enhance operational efficiency and promote communitycentered policing, some of thekeyfeaturesofthestation includes male, female, and juvenile Lockups; a witness and ID parade room; an armoryandevidenceroom;a Child-Friendly Interview Area; a dedicated Domestic Violence Interview and Waiting Area; enquiries Section; an Officer-inCharge (O.C.) Office; a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Office; Traffic Department Office; andSeniorandJuniorRanks'

LivingQuarters.

Strategically positioned between the Vreed-en-Hoop junction and the speedboat stelling, the station is expected to significantly improvepolicepresenceand response time in this hightraffic area, the ministry stated.

Movingfurtherdownthe WestCoastofDemerara,the ministerandhisteamjoined ranks at Den Amstel in commissioning the new state-of-the-artpolicestation there.

The ministry said that t h i s f a c i l i t y w a s reconstructed to the tune of $170,948,990.Similartothe Vreed-en-Hoop facility, the DenAmstelstationhasbeen outfitted with modern amenities and specialized spaces designed to support effective policing, improve public service delivery, and enhance the overall safety andwell-beingofresidents.

The ministry said that at the station, “Operational efficiency has also been enhanced with the inclusion of an Officer-in-Charge (O.C.) Office, a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Office, and a Traffic DepartmentOffice.Notably, the station now houses a ZARA Computer School, which is a unique and forward-looking addition aimed at fostering digital skills and supporting youth e n g a g e m e n t T h i s integration of technology within a police facility highlights the government's commitmenttoblendinglaw e n f o r c e m e n t w i t h community development initiatives.”

Notably, the ministry shared that before its reconstruction, the Den Amstel Police Station, like several other stations across

the country, operated under substandard conditions that hinderedeffectivepolicing.

Meanwhile, at Tuschen, whatusetobeasmallpolice outpost, the minister commissioned a new $82,995,706 police station there.

Deliveringenhancedlaw enforcement infrastructure tooneofthefastest-growing residential areas in Region Three, the Home Affairs Ministry reported that the newstationnowoffersafullservice, modern facility equippedtomeetthesecurity needs of Tuschen and surroundingcommunities.

Also, the station is expected to improve police visibility, enable faster responsetocriminalactivity, and foster stronger engagement with citizens. The station also includes similarfeaturesasthatofthe

Vreed-en-Hoop and Den Amstelfacilities.

According to the ministry, during the ceremony, Minister Benn andPSAllyalsohandedover a consignment of safety helmets to Regional Commander. The helmets aretobedistributedaspartof the “Do the Right Thing” campaign, a national road safety i

p

omotes

onsible behaviourandgreaterpublic awareness, especially amongmotorcyclists. AtWakenaamIsland,the minister commissioned the new San Souci Police Station which was built at a cost of $130,756,925. This stationissettoservenotonly Wakenaam but surrounding riverine communities with improved facilities and enhancedlawenforcement (Continueonpage13)

The $170 million Den Amstel Police Station which was commissioned in Region Three.

The $118 million Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station.

The $82 million Tuschen Police Station which was commissioned by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The $30 million Regional Command Centre which was built at the Police Headquarters in Leonora.

The new $130 million San Souci Police Station which was commissioned on Wakenaam Island. (Photos, Ministry of Home Affairs)

Three parties express concern over GECOM's failure to outline clear Nomination Day procedures

Three opposition parties have expressed grave concern over what they consider to be the failure of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to outline clear procedures for Nomination Day scheduled forJuly14. The parties, theAlliance For Change (AFC), the ForwardGuyanaMovement (FGM)andtheAssemblyfor Liberty and Prosperity (ALP) held a joint press conference outside of the Umana Yana, Kingston, Georgetown.

The press conference was held following receipt by the parties of an email from GECOM indicating thatthePeople'sProgressive Party (PPP) will be allowed to submit its list of candidatessecond.

As early as Monday, political parties were seen camping outside of the Umana Yana, the venue for the submission of list of candidates on Sunday, July 14 A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) secured its place outside the venue first after which the AFC said it appeared there secondandtheALPthird.

Leader of the AFC and prominent attorney Nigel Hughes confirmed that APNUwasthefirsttosetup outside the venue following the launch of its elections campaign on Sunday The AFC followed suit and arrivedonTuesdayataround

The leaders and members of the three parties outside the Umana Yana on Saturday.

17:30h.

Hughes said party members upon arrival enquired whether other political parties had arrived to establish their presence thereandreceivedanegative response.

“ we went to the security hub to record our presence.Thesecurityguard

said specifically that she is notauthorizedtorecordany presence, and we would have to await the arrival of hersupervisorthefollowing morning,”heexplained.

Hughes revealed that he personally scanned the location from the Umana Yana to the seawalls and there was no other party in

sight besides theAPNU. He said that on Wednesday morning, a Mr Stewart arrivedandaskedtheparties torecordtheirpresence,and by this time, two other parties namely theALP and FGM had arrived. It was then recorded that APNU was first,AFC second,ALP third and FGM at fourth place.

“…hesaidspecificallyto my representative when he was recording the presence of the parties upon her inquiry, he said, this is the orderofthepersonswhoare outhere.Priortothat,wehad written to GECOM asking them specifically about the procedure for the reception of the list of candidates on Monday [but] didn't get a response. We held a press conference yesterday, in which, again, we reiterated the difficulties,” Hughes said.TheAFCleadersaidhe was subsequently informed thatAPNUwillenterUmana YanafromnorthalongHigh Street while the PPP would enter from West along Younge Street All other parties he said will have to enterfromtheseawallroad.

As a result, concerns were raised about how the order of presence would be maintained and it was revealed that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) will establish a presence at 18:00h on Sunday at the location and GECOM officials will be there from midnight to record the presence of the political parties.

Hughes reminded that at his party's press conference on Friday, he had noted that the method employed by GECOM is a recipe for disaster as there were no clearproceduresoutlinedby the Commission. He said that the parties received a letter from the commission saying that it has no formalizedprocesssetout

(Continueonpage14)

AFC describes number of electors as “phenomenal”

reiterates call for clean list, biometrics

Wi t h t h e

G u y a n a

Elections Commission (GECOM) statingthattherevisedlistof electorsstandsat757,715as of June 15, 2015, the Alliance For Change (AFC) said that that number is “phenomenal” for a country

w i t h a n u n k n o w n population.

LeaderoftheAFCNigel Hughes told reporters at his party's press conference on Friday noted that his party wrotetoGECOMrequesting a list of districts and subdivisions which GECOM

conducted prescribed investigations and cancelled registration of the deceased from the list of eligible votersfrom2022topresent.

GECOM is yet to respond.“…Imentionedthis becausethisweek,weheard thattheeligiblevoters…

The number of eligible votersinthecountryexceeds

700,000 people. That is a phenomenal number for a country, but we don't know how the official population is…we haven't received the census,”hestressed.

The politician reasoned that for a country with roughly 780,000 to 800,000 personshavingover700,000 eligible voters will be problematic, hence the request was made almost a month ago to ascertain how many persons and where exactly GECOM conducted the exercises, to remove the deceasedfromtheregistered voters'list.

“...webelieve,yetagain, GECOM is demonstrating itslackofcapacitytobeable to hold an election which is credible.

We'd like to urge them not only to respond to our letters, but also to hold frequent public information engagements in which these issues were raised not only

bythecontestants,butbythe press so that citizens can be addressed,”heurged.

On July 10, Kaieteur News reportedthatGECOM indicatedthattherevisedlist ofvotersstoodat757,715as ofJune15,2015atatraining sessionformediapersonnel.

The information was provided as the commission approved symbols for 19 political parties contesting the General and Regional Elections ahead of Nomination Day slated for Monday

K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that the list is yettoundergotheprocessby which GECOM shall make all the necessary removals from, and corrections to extract the official list of electors.

Recently, oppositionnominated GECOM Commissioner, Vincent

Alexander expressed concerns about chairperson,

Justice (Ret'd) Claudette Singh, being missing in action as the Commission is still to determine a number of critical issues including the methodology for the removal of the names of unregistered dead persons from the Register of Registrants.

He said GECOM continued that discussion at apreviousmeeting.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton at his party's press conference on Friday told reporters that the voters' list needstobeaddressed.

“They do nothing about it… You would know for 5 years we have contended that the list is padded and that there was need for a clean voters' list and biometrics, the government resistedit.

Infact,Ithinkoneofthe reasons that they called the elections earlier than they

The PPP likes to accuse people of rigging while putting the rigging machinery in place. Let us not forget from the local governmentelection.

I heard Bharrat Jagdeo withanothersetofnonsense talkingaboutweareafraid,” Nortonadded.

planned was that they believe pressure was building up for biometrics,” Nortonsaid. Norton said his party intendstopaykeenattention totheelectionswhilenoting that they have already signalled to the government that rigging would not be accepted. “There are going to be serious consequences for attempting to rig these elections.

Leader of the AFC, Nigel Hughes

Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton

ThreepartiesexpressconcernoverGECOM'sfailuretooutline...

Frompage12 for the order of arrival of parties desirous of contestingtheelections.

“ A g a i n s t t h i s background,thecommission is confronted with the situation where three political parties positioned themselves outside of the compound of Umana Yana, and one party submitted a photographwithanattached text as evidence of the

presence of the venue on July 7 as an indication of its positionasthesecondinline to submit its list,” the letter seenbythisnewspapersaid.

The letter said that the representatives of this party that submitted the photograph claimed that they left when it was recognized that GECOM hadnotyettakenpossession of the venue and formally communicated this to the

commission, after which they were allocated second place pushing the AFC one stepdownintothird.

“So, we have very, very grave concerns upon my receipt, actually, I was notified of this by a very close political colleague fromanotherparty,andupon my receipt of this email, which I shared, I spoke to Ms. Simona Broomes and Ms. Amanda Walton-Desir,

here are our concerns, and they will also speak to their respective parties,” theAFC leadersaid.

I n l i g h t o f t h e aforementioned, Hughes wrotetoGECOMrequesting a meeting to address the matter In the letter dated July 12, 2025 he said, “We note with concern a letter dated11July2025underthe hand of the Chief Election Officer, Vishnu Persaud which catapults another contestingparty,thePeople's Progressive Party Civic ahead of the Alliance For C h a n g e ( A F C ) o n NominationDay Wewishto underscore the imperative for GECOM to conduct these elections according to proper rules of procedures, where the law is silent on administrative matters, the Commissionshouldresortto customandpractice.”

The letter noted that wherever there is the need for revising any custom and practice,thenewprocedures must be well advertised, not issuedexpostfacto.Hesaid that in light of the lack of clear directions on the queuing procedure, and the fact that his party registered its presence with a live stream, the party is requesting a meeting with the Commission to look at additional details on the “ N o m i n a t i o n D a y procedures such as transfer of the lists from the CEO to the Information Technology team, the order of encoding andtimelineforthenoticeof defective lists and approval of Lists of Candidates no later than Sunday, 13 July 2025 ”Furthermore, the AFC has requested that the encoding of submissions to the Chief Elections Officer be scrutinized by agents of thevariouspartiesaswellas theinternationalobserversto ensure that each List of Candidates is processed in the order of receipt in a fair andtransparentmanner

“Madam Chair, this matter requires your urgent attention and we look forwardtohearingfromyou by end of today,” the letter concluded.

Meanwhile, Leader of the ALP Simona Broomes toldreportersthattheactions ofGECOMareaviolationof the rights of the electorate and“thedisrespectshownby GECOM, (when) we are facingageneralandregional election…Thatletterisvery, very embarrassing that GECOMsenttomebecause I received a letter, a copy of that letter from GECOM statingyouhavenoposition, but you're making a decision.”

Shestatedthatthemedia was present at the time her party arrived at the venue and she reviewed footage and there was no PPP representativethere.

“So,whatareyousaying to us, that you don't have to come and wait, just take a pictureandyougetsometext messages, and that is how we'regoingintoanelection. She come looking…that's a recipe for disaster And I wanttosayquiteclearly,you knowthatitisnotbusinessas usual,”Broomesstressed.

The politician made it clear that she does not trust G E C O M a n d t h e Commission must treat all politicalpartieswithrespect.

Like the AFC, GECOM informedBroomes'ALPthat inlightofapartysubmitting a photograph with text attached as evident that it was outside of the Umana Yana,herpartyisnowfourth inline.

Leader of FGMAmanza Walton-Desir revealed that she had not received any correspondence from GECOM and had to call GECOM for information. It was then she was informed thatherpartywaspositioned fifth to submit its list of candidates.

“ a n d s o , t h e implications for this, they're dire. I want to point out to you, in real terms, what newer parties, like our F o r w a r d G u y a n a Movement, and, of course, ALP,thatwewouldhavehad to do in order to be able to compete in these elections. So, for us to compete, you have to qualify for a minimum of six regions, a

minimum of six regions at a national and regional level, and then you have to have 175 signatures Max supporting your list,” she explained.

Additionally,thereisthe nationaltopuplistofaround 300-400 signatures So, parties had to go into every regionandconvincecitizens to support them as nominators, and this had to bedoneforaminimumofsix regions.

“I want to be very clear that the attitude of GECOM seems to be to preserve the status quo and to keep us trapped in this winner takes all politics. We're not the older, larger parties that can gotothephonebookandpull people's signature and so on and so on, as has been the practice.Whatwehavedone is real ground work,” she stressed.

Walton-Desir also pointedoutthatintheeventa nameisduplicatedonthelist of candidates, there is a 24hour window to get a new name from the relevant region. She reminded that notallofthepartieshavethe resourcestocharteraprivate plane to visit some areas whichmaytakemorethana daytogetto,theirhardwork isvitiated.

“…so, the point remains that the system is broken. GECOM continues to subscribe to a broken system, and this is why we are where we are politically, itisobviousthattheyarenot ready for these elections,” she said The politician added that “For the fact that ForwardGuyanaMovement has not even received a correspondence,asyet,isan indication that GECOM is not ready, and so we're not waiting until later to raise these concerns with GECOM with the international community, because Guyanese people are not going to just sit by andtakewhateverishanded to them anymore. The time for that nonsense is up, and wearegoingtohavetostand up and reclaim our democracy, because this is ourcountry.”

‘IknowIamready'...APNU'sEdenCorbineagertoinspireyouthtoget into politics

ByShaniaWilliams

At just 27 years old, Eden Corbin, an attorney-at-law and passionate advocate for youth development, has emerged as one of the youngest political figures vying for a seat in the upcoming September1GeneralandRegional Elections.

Listed as a candidate under the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Corbin is determined to changethenarrativethatpoliticsis a space reserved for the older generation.

In an exclusive interview with Kaieteur News on Friday, Corbin tracedhispoliticalrootstohisearly teenage years and discussed the drivingforcebehindhisdecisionto enter frontline politics. Although this is his first time as a political candidate, his engagement with politics and national issues spans nearly a decade, including active involvement in the youth parliamentary system and legal studies specifically tailored to legislativeprocesses.

Corbin’s passion for politics beganduringhisformativeyearsat Queen’sCollege.Heparticipatedin debates and became fascinated by the workings of Parliament. That early curiosity deepened during a work-study stint at the Parliament Office, which led to his involvement in the first official Youth Parliament under the

ParliamentofGuyana.

He credits this exposure as a turningpointinhislife,givinghim the opportunity to interact with ministers and Members of Parliament and understand the legislative process far beyond textbookdefinitions.

“I feel I have had a passion for politicsmanyyearsnow However, I would have pursued that passion more on the sidelines, you know, and quietly I would have been supportingmorecivicengagement. Whatreallypushedmetogointoit full-fledged now is that I think I havereachedapointofmylifeand mycareerwhereIwanttobeableto make change. I want to be able to contribute and I want to inspire young persons like myself to be more actively engaged in things that concern them, especially politics,”hetoldKaieteurNews

Corbin said that his motivation to step into active politics was largelydrivenbythedisconnecthe observed between the youth population and political participation.“Mythingisreallyto getmoreyouthsactivelyinvolved,” hesaid.

“Because if you look at the statistics over the years, the youth vote has been something of much concern and the youths are not actively engaged.And there is this common statement or phrase that, youknow,it’sasetofoldpeoplein politicsandthatkindofthing.So,I

beingoneofthepersonswhoholds or held that belief, I thought, you knowwhat,itistimethatItakethe step that I have been waiting for otherstotake.”

Instead of waiting on older politicians to represent youth concerns, Corbin said he now wants to be part of the solution. “So, instead of putting our faith or puttingourtrustintheolderfolks,I wanttobeoneofthosevoicesthat can reflect what my friends, my colleagues, and youths in society want, which is persons who look like them, who speak like them, who share their issues, who understand them personally, as opposed to having to go through a proxyofsomebodyand,youknow, sometimesintentionsgetlost.”

By2016,whilestillastudentat The Bishops’High School, Corbin became a regular participant and organizer within the youth

parliamentary structure His dedication led to a temporary role with the planning committee of Parliament, allowing him to support and mentor newer youth participants These experiences motivated Corbin to pursue higher education with a focus on policy andlaw HeearnedaBachelor’sof LawsdegreefromtheUniversityof Guyana, followed by a Master of Laws (LL.M) from the University of the West Indies. He specialized in Company and Corporate Law andLegislativeDrafting,fieldsthat directly align with his political ambitions.

Originallyaspiringtobecomea parliamentarycounsel,Corbinlater realized that his voice could carry evenfurtherifhesteppedoutfrom behind the legal books and into activepolitics.

During elections period this year,Corbinrevealedthatapivotal conversation with APNU leader Aubrey Norton solidified his decisiontorun.Thediscussionled to an invitation to join the party’s official candidate list. “At first, I was surprised,” Corbin said. “But then I realized I’d be foolish to let thisopportunitypass,”hesaid.

Thelawyersaidhisdecisionto align with APNU, and more specificallythePNCR,isrootedin the party’s people-centered ideologyandhistoryofcommunity engagement.

“The PNCR more specifically

hasalwaysbeenmypartyofchoice but it has been because I support and I believe their vision and the ideology of the party in relation to thedevelopmentofGuyana.

IthinkIjustfindcomfortwhen I’m interacting with my comrades anditisthatIfeellikeI’mathome. I support the party because their vision for Guyana involves the people.Anditisapeople-centered approach. A leadership that does not just focus on tackling, you know, characters and these things, but leadership that is geared towardspeople-centeredapproach, taking care of the people, ensuring that the monies we get from our resources are distributed, ensuring that education, ensuring that buildingnewindustries,thingsthat willsurviveallofuswhoareapart ofthis,”hesaid.

Whenaskedwhetherheisready to become the face of youth representation in the political arena, Corbin responded with both confidenceandself-awareness.

“I know I am ready,” he affirmed.“Iwasworriedornervous aboutit,becauseyouknow,Iknew aheadoftimeIwasgoingtobeon thelistandwhatnot,butIwasabit worried and somewhat nervous about how I would be received in thepubliceye.”

Acknowledging common criticisms often leveled at young candidates,hesaid,“Iknowthe Continued on page 48

Attorney Eden Corbin

$159M Leonora Fire Station commissioned

The $159 million Leonora Fire Station located on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD) was commissioned on Saturday by MinisterofHomeAffairs,Robeson Benn.

Thenewstructureformspartof the broader initiative led by the Ministry of Home Affairs to establish a well-coordinated, wellequipped emergency response systemthroughouttheregion.

According to a press release

from the ministry, the reconstructionwasdoneatacostof $159,270,255.Thenewfirestation is set to serve communities from Parika to Vreed-en-Hoop and will bolster the operational capacity of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) significantly, improving its ability to respond to fires, medical emergencies, and disasters with greater efficiency and professionalism.

“As a further reinforcement of emergency coverage in the region, anewfirestationiscurrentlyunder construction in Parika and the Wales Fire Station, West Bank

Demerara will soon be commissioned,whichwillserveas supplementaryunitstotheLeonora and La Grange facilities. This expansionispartofanationalpush todecentralizeemergencyservices and bring life-saving response capabilities closer to citizens throughout Guyana,” the ministry reported.

This publication understands that the new structure has been designed to meet the highest standards of functionality and personnel welfare and includes a range of administrative, operational, and living facilities that enable an integrated approach toemergencyservicedelivery

Also,amongitskeyfeaturesare dedicated offices for critical command roles such as the SubOfficer, Finance Officer, Station Officer, Officer-in-Charge (O.C.), Administrator,andFirePrevention

Officer These spaces facilitate clear leadership and coordination ofoperationsacrossdepartments.A Control Room and an Information Technology (IT) Room have been included to support real-time

response management, surveillance integration, and incident tracking, ensuring rapid mobilizationduringemergencies.

“Personnel development and

Minister of HomeAffairs, Robeson Benn alongside the ministry’s Permanent Secretary,AndreAlly and officers at the commissioning

well-being have also been thoughtfully incorporated into the station’s design.ATraining Room is available for ongoing education and simulations, while a fully equipped Gym promotes physical fitness and readiness among firefighters. In support of day-today functionality, the station contains a kitchen, canteen, and laundry room, creating a self-

More than 50% of

sufficient environment for staff on shift,”theministrymentioned. Additionally, the facility housesMaleandFemaleBarracks, as well as Senior Officers’ Living Quarters, providing adequate and comfortable accommodations for round-the-clock personnel An EMSOfficehasalsobeenincluded to ensure that emergency medical services are seamlessly integrated

into the fire station’s operations,

d comprehensive response to a wide rangeofpublicsafetyincidents.

Further,theministrynotedthat the commissioning of the Leonora Fire Station not only signifies physical infrastructure development but also represents a broader vision of responsive, community-focusedpublicsafety

Guyanese

living in poverty - Azruddin Mohamed

…promises bigger cash grants, salary increases, free housing

PresidentialhopefulAzruddinMohamedon Fridayclaimedthatmorethan50percentofthe Guyanesearelivinginpoverty.Mohamedwas speakingatanoutreachhostedbyhisparty,We InvestinNationhood(WIN)atItuni,Region10.

Though he did provide statistics, the billionairesaidthatis“therealsideofGuyana” whileassuringresidentsandsupportersthathis partycanfixthesituation

“Iannouncedmycandidacybecauseofyou Because of the children parents that cannot afford for their children to go to school, can’t even afford to put food on your table for our children,”hesaidwhileadding“Ihaveseenthe realsideofGuyana asideasidethatthey(the rulingPPP/Cgovt.)won’tshowyou.”

Mohamed reminded that Guyana is consideredtohavethefastestgrowingeconomy

“ barrels of oil, fastest GDP (Gross DomesticProduct)butmorethan50percentof

this population is living in poverty, that is the harshreality,”hesaidwhilerhetoricallyasking

“How much of us have $200,000 in our bank accountoreven$200,000incash?”

Onepersoninattendanceshoutedout,“Igat $500”. MohamedthentoldtheresidentsofItuni thateverywherehegoesthecommoncomplaint isthat“cost-of-living(inGuyana)issohigh”

“$600forapoundofchicken fourborafor $500, a piece of pumpkin for $1200, and yet yoursalaryremainthesame,”Mohamedsaidas heaccusedtherulingPeople’sProgressiveParty (PPP)ofnothavingtheformulatofix“things”

Heacknowledgedthatheisbeingcriticized by the government for lacking political experience but assured supporters that his business acumen has given him sufficient experience

“TheyfailtorealisethatthesameMohamed that they are criticizing ran one of the biggest

businesses in this country, one of the biggest businessesinthiscountry,paidthemosttaxesin this country but they won’t acknowledge that rightnow,”Mohamedsaid.

Thebusinessman,whoalongwithhisfather Nazar Mohamed and former Permanent SecretaryoftheMinistryofHomeAffairsMae Thomas, turned his attention to the scarcity of the United States dollar and the current exchangerateforUS

“US rate is at $230 for one if you go in GeorgetownandifyouwanttobyUS$10,000 youcannotgetit.Ifyougotothebankandask to transfer US$100,000 or US$10,000 you can’t get it, you have to wait a week or two weeksatthebank,”Mohamedwhooperateda cambiosaid.

PPP’sGeneralSecretaryBharratJagdeoat arecentpressconferencehasacknowledged Continued on page 16

WIN’s Presidential Candidate, Azruddin Mohamed

The $159 million Leonora Fire Station which was commissioned on Saturday on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD).

ceremony on Saturday.

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Weaponiseddronescouldthreaten Caribbeansecurity: earlyactionnecessary

The Caribbean faces a new and urgent threat: weaponised drones in criminal hands are rapidly proliferating into the hands of criminal actors, nonstate militias, and private contractors. What began as experimental tools for law enforcement has become instruments of murder, assassination, and terror across Latin America—and now in Haiti. CARICOM governments must adopt firm, enforceable measures to restrict these devices before our region drifts into becomingabattlefield.

Marguerite Cawley is a researcher and writer at the think-tank, Insight Crime. When she surveyed Latin America’s drone landscape in2014,shedocumentedthat multiple regional states operated unarmed UAVs without legal frameworks to govern their use. Cawley warned that such platforms, though unarmed, carried latent dangers: in the wrong h a n d s , t h e i r intelligencegathering advantages could swiftly be converted into strike missions.

In late 2024 and early 2025, those latent dangers have become realities. In September 2024, insurgents

lobbed a fortypound explosive drone into Ecuador’s La Roca prison near Guayaquil, illustrating how smuggling tools become siege weapons. In March 2025, a Colombian soldier in the Catatumbo region was killed by a kamikaze UAV launched by the National Liberation

Army (Ejército de Liberación Nacional, ELN). ELN is a far-left guerrilla insurgency group involved inthecontinuingColombian conflict This incident marked one of the first confirmed dronerelated fatalities attributed to a nonstate actor In February, Brigadier General Jorge

Alejandro Gutiérrez

Martínez of Mexico survivedanattempteddrone assassination in Chihuahua when an explosiveladen crafttargetedhisconvoy Haiti’s rapid descent

illustrates how swiftly control can slip from governments into criminal hands. Haiti’s security crisis starkly warns of what could happen in other Caribbean countries. The Transitional NationalCouncilinHaitihas confirmed that it has engaged private operatives to deploy kamikaze drones against leaders of gangs that are besieging the country These strike missions, shrouded in secrecy, have driven gangs to embed within civilian populations, threatening the lives of innocent residents Moreover, the UK Guardian Newspaper reports that firstpersonview drones, equipped with commercial mining explosives, have damaged buildings in gangcontrolleddistricts.The samereportwarnsthatgangs are already seeking to retaliate by acquiring and adaptingdrones. Thisrapidweaponisation of commercial UAVs is not confined to Haiti. Online marketplaces now offer platforms capable of carrying improvised explosives, reconnaissance

s e n s o r s , a n d facialrecognition software

T h e b a r r i e r t o “weaponising” a drone has collapsed: any individual with modest technical skills and internet access can transform a civilian drone into a precision strike asset. IftheCaribbeanallowsthese devices to flow unimpeded, the countries will become provinggroundsforairborne violence.

InSeptember2023,inan invited address to a seminar organisedbytheCARICOM Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), I outlined four critical steps: ban, impose, distinguish,andsecure. First,bantheimportation of any drone capable of sustained flight, payload delivery, or autonomous operation except those owned and operated by national lawenforcement agencies under strictly defined controls Second, impose severe penalties on

anyone who imports, manufactures, or deploys weaponizable drones: hefty fines, asset forfeiture, and prison sentences Third, differentiate civiliangrade drones from securitygrade systems, permitting only fixedblade, singlecamera modelsforbenigntaskssuch as aerial photography or mapping. Fourth, use the collective voice of CARICOM’s 14 member states at the United Nations to secure a legally binding treatyby2026banninglethal

systems without meaningful humanoversight.

CARICOMstatesshould now seriously and swiftly move to legislate these measures and close every loophole. While some may argue these actions impede innovation, our security imperative overrides such concerns. Customs officers require

ing and equipment to inspect and identify illicit drone shipments.Nationalsecurity forcesshouldbemandatedto register every UAV in a

centralised, digital database that links each aircraft to its lawful owner and permitted use Any deployment by government agencies must besubjecttooversightbyan independent civilian body, with detailed afteraction reportsmadeavailabletothe public. Civilian drones - for a

n d infrastructuresurveys-must meetstricttechnicalcriteria, rendering them irreversibly nonweaponizable.

Legislation should prescribe proportional but punitive sanctions Unauthorisedimportationor use of a weaponisable drone should trigger a mandatory minimum fine, asset forfeiture, and up to ten years’ imprisonment Trafficking in critical components, such as batteries, motors, or guidance modules, should carry equivalent penalties. CARICOM must also establishatechnicalworking group to develop unified standards for drone identification,detection,and

interdiction, and to coordinate joint training exercises among regional agencies. Where the local expertisedoesnotexist,seek itfromorganisationslikethe Organisation of American States while training local persons.

At the UN General Assembly this October, Caribbean delegations must press for a robust treaty—securing at least 20 co-sponsoring states that mirrors existing bans on chemical and biological weapons.Weshoulddemand global restrictions on dualuse drone technologies and secure capacitybuilding assistance to strengthen our detection and counterdrone defences.

Can Caribbean countries allow the possibility of children growing up under theshadowofunseenkillers overhead? The age of the weaponised drone has arrived. From Catatumbo to Chihuahua,fromLaRocato PortauPrince, we are witnessing how rapidly unarmed UAVs become

Ronald Sanders

tools of terror CARICOM nations should unite in decisivelegislativeactionto ensurethattheirskiesdonot becomecorridorsofterror Ifourpoliticalleadersact now with import bans, strict registries, transparent oversight, and punitive enforcement—theycanseta global benchmark for drone governance, protect our citizens, and preserve the ruleoflaw.

C A R I C O M governmentsshouldnotwait forcalamitybeforetheyact.

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

Sir

WEEK-IN-REVIEW

SUNDAY

Moredetailedstudies neededtoensureGTEproject isnotGuyana’sbiggest whiteelephant – Patterson …citesconstantlymoving deadlines,ballooningcosts

The Government of Guyana should conduct additional detailed studies into the infamous Gas-toEnergy (GTE) project to prevent it from becoming the country’s biggest white elephant, Chairman of the Alliance for Change (AFC) and spokesperson for the party on oilandgas,DavidPattersonsaid.

Patterson told reporters on Friday, during the AFC’s weekly press conference, that the latest sagasurroundingthegovernment’s “flagship” project is further confirmationthatitisbeingpoorly plannedandexecuted.

He reminded that the project was launched in 2021 at the State House in the presence of the diplomatic community Its initial pricetagstoodatUS$900Mwitha completion date of September 2024.

“On April 30, 2021, the Alliance For Change warned the country that the project proposed by the PPP was not economically, technically or environmentally sound or sustainable, the promises reductionofUS$0.05perMWwas basedon“voodooeconomics”–we further urged the PPP to conduct further detailed studies before the country is saddled with the largest ever PPP white elephant project,” Pattersonstressed.

Hesaidthatwithinthelastfour years,insteadoftakingthecautious route, the government has instead chosento“recklesslyploughahead with this project, completely

disregarding all warning signs, launched personal attacks against any citizen or political party who dared questioned what was plainly obvious to entire nation, a project thatwasfailing.”

The projected final cost of the projectnowstandsatover$US2.4B and it continues to climb, an increase he estimated to be over 170%. In addition, the completion date has moved from September 2024 to September 2026, even though the listed project deliverable of 300MW has not changed.

“Over the last four years, the PPP has changed their promises madetothecountry,atthelaunchin 2021, they promised electricity rates would be US$0.05 per MW, two years later that promise was changedto“willcutelectricitybills inhalf”tothecurrentpromise–on completion, the project will “reduce electricity bills”,” the former Minister of Public Infrastructurelamented.

To date, the GTE project has beensubjectedtotwointernational arbitrations, and there are rumours that an additional claim is being prepared.Ithasbeenconfirmedthat the joint venture partnership will soonbedissolved,furtherdelaying theproject.

“In 2021, the PPP sought to justifythatthisprojectwasurgently needed, since the electricity demand was slated to peak at 407MW by 2025, a figure that the AFC challenged as inflated and unrealistic, and simply a figure used to justify the project Currently,thecurrentpeakdemand is estimated at 220MW, almost 50% below this projection,” Pattersonadded.

Pattersonsaidwhilethepartyis acknowledging that there is need for improved power generation in order to meet the energy demands

of the country’s citizens, it is maintaining that the project has beenpoorlydesignedandexecuted.

“…to ensure that the country receives value for money, immediately after September elections, we will conduct a full audit (financial and technical) of the project, and with the help of qualified resource personnel, seek to ensure that the final project will deliver to the nation a workable powersolution,”Pattersonsaid.

On July 4, Kaieteur News reported that Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo stated that the Government of Guyana (GoG) is aware of a split between the joint venture involving CH4 and Lindsayca, the two companies hiredfortheGTEproject.

The GTE project, located in Wales on the West Bank of Demerara, includes a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility and a 300megawattpowerplant.Naturalgas will be transported from the offshore Stabroek Blocks Liza oilfieldviaa12-inchpipelinetothe site,where50millioncubicfeetof gas will be converted to electricity daily

Back in 2022, government

Chairman of theAlliance For Change (AFC), David Patterson

hired CH4 (Texas) and Lindsayca (Puerto Rico) for the construction ofthepowerplantandNGLfacility atacostofUS$759million.

“We’ve been hearing about the breakup of the consortium, and we’retoldthatthisistofacilitate–becausetheyhaveinternaldisputes –tofacilitatethecompletionofthe project by that deadline,” Jagdeo saidinrelationtothesplit.

Heoutlinedthatthesplitwould allow the companies to accelerate work due to “internal wrangling” that had affected the pace of implementationoftheproject.

“So,I’mtoldthatit’sapositive thing that is happening, but the technical people have to examine that,”Jagdeotoldreporters.

GuyanaexportsoverUS$6.6M inroughdiamondsin2024–KimberleyProcessReport

Guyanahasexportedmorethan US$6.6millioninroughdiamonds in 2024, Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) an international watchdog established to curb the trade in conflict diamonds has reported in its 2024 AnnualGlobalSummary

The 2024 summary was published on June 17, 2025, and includes diamond trade data from morethan70countries.

KPCSisthemechanism,which the KPuses to prevent the trade of conflict diamonds Launched in 2003,itisenforcedindividuallyby KP Participant countries to ensure that rough diamonds in the legitimate supply chain are KPcompliant.

o

diamonds were exported from Guyanain2024atanaverageprice ofUS$125.06percarat,amounting

f US$6,690,284 40 The data also indicates that the country did not importanyroughdiamondsduring the year, nor was any domestic productionofficiallyrecorded.

TheKPCSsummarynotedthat 23 export transactions were officially declared by Guyana in 2024 Guyana is a participating member of the Kimberley Process and is required to submit annual trade data, verify the legitimacy of diamond exports, and ensure compliancewithglobalstandards.

Notwithstanding the KPCS report, it should be noted the Bank of Guyana (BOG) 2024 Annual Report states that Guyana’s diamond industry recorded export earningsofUS$12millionin2024. Thatreportstatesthatthediamond subsector produced 55,971 metric caratsfortheyear,representinga17 percentdeclinecomparedto2023.

MONDAY

‘TimeupforthePPP’ –NortondeclaresasAPNU launcheselectioncampaign …promises to better manage oil resources …hike public servants’salaries …raise income tax threshold to $400K …bigger cash grants for students

TheAPartnership for National Unity(APNU)coalitionkickedoff its election campaign on Sunday with Presidential Candidate, AubreyNorton,declaring“timeup forthePPP”andpromisingarange ofmeasuresthathesaidwillbetter thelivesofGuyanese.

Speaking to a gathering at the Square of the Revolution, Norton criticised the incumbent administration and outlined the coalition’s vision to overhaul governance, raise public servant salaries, and deliver more direct benefits from Guyana’s oil wealth tocitizens.

“Guyana,weareonajourneyto return to honest government. We areinajourneytoensurewedothe right thing for our children’s sake. We are on a journey to restore law andorderinGuyana,”Nortonsaid. He stressed that the APNU planstorestoretransparencyand Continued on page 21

APNU supporters turned out in their numbers for the coalition’s election campaign launch on Sunday at the Square of the Revolution, Georgetown

Frompage20 root out what he described as “kleptocratic” leadership. Norton also promised to distribute the country’soilrevenuesinawaythat puts people first. “We will manage oil resources in a way that the people of Guyana benefit.” “The People’sProgressivePartybehaves asiftheyowneveryGuyanese,asif they own Guyana, that if this oil money is theirs to steal…we are sayingtoyouthatthisisourmoney It is our patrimony and every Guyanese must share in it,” he declared.

Norton announced that under APNU’sgovernment,therewillbe directcashtransferstocitizensand larger cash grants of $120,000 annually to school children Further,Nortonpromisedsweeping improvements in public sector wages. “…by the stroke of a pen, there will be a 35% increase to the public service Public servants must get a livable income. They must be able to live a comfortable life,”heargued.

Norton also mentioned that the APNU would raise the income tax threshold to $400,000 to ease the burdenonworking-classcitizens.

Further, Norton said APNU’s manifesto will include a rent subsidy programme, a rent-to-own housingscheme,andatargetedjob creation drive in agriculture and other sectors. On healthcare, Norton pledged to establish national dialysis centres, provide medical insurance for national athletes, and build a healthcare systemthatpaysdoctorsandnurses better Norton,whoisalsoleaderof the PNCR, revealed plans for a Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES), a national literacy programme, and a revamp of the education system with a focus on coreskillsanddigitalaccess. Justiceforall

Moreover, referencing alleged injustices under the PPP, Norton promisedasystemofrestitutionfor thosewholostpropertyduetowhat hecalledwrongfuldemolitionsand announced that within 100 days of taking office, his government would launch an international investigation into the death of 11year-old Adriana Young. “Guyana needs to be a united society We must work to ensure all the people of Guyana benefit from the resources of this country,” Norton said. He also promised equitable funding for all municipalities regardless of political affiliation, andannouncedplansfor acultural policy that includes support for Indigenous and Guyanese music, arts,andcreativeindustries.

Hikeinoldagepension

Meanwhile, APNU’s Prime Ministerial Candidate, Juretha Fernandes, also sweetened the pot, promising citizens $100,000 old age pension, tax relief and cash support for youth. Fernandes told the audience that she loves

economics because that is how moneyisspentandisdecided.The politician went on to say that Guyanese are living in a country wherethefundsarenotbeingspent on the people, but under the leadership of Norton the coalition hasdecidedthatitistimethatthisis reversed.

“ we have crafted peoplecentred policies, and we have a people-centred development strategy, and this is what you need toknowaboutit.Itisnotacceptable todayin2025inacountrywithvast resources from oil that our public servantscannotaffordtogivetheir families the most basic modern convenience, that is how the PPP hasfailedthepublicservants.They havefailedthepublicservice,butit is time for them to go. TheAPNU administrationwillfixthisatrocity thatthePPPhasonus,”shesaid

After this was met with loud encouraging cheers, Fernandes revealed that the coalition has plans, if elected to office, to raise public servants’ salaries by 35% and the income tax threshold will beraisedto$400,000amonth.

The PM candidate explained that, “In effect, we will be completely removing the income tax from the working class of his country. This is what a peoplecentredpolicywilldo.Thisiswhat we are guaranteeing you the people.”

FernandesstressedthatGuyana has the resources, which the coalition plans to efficiently manage, making sure that they go intothehandsoftheworkingclass.

Furthermore,shenotedthatitis unacceptable to have youths finish theirsecondaryeducationandthen have to choose between going to universityornotandworkingajob thatpaysthebareminimum.“That is the results of the PPP policy Theyhavefailedouryoungpeople, but their time is up. The APNU coalition government will make sure that every young person who wants to pursue a post-secondary education will receive $50,000 every month to cover their basic needs. This is your time. This is your time to thrive.Young people, this is your time to thrive,” Fernandesurged.Notforgettingthe senior citizens, the APNU is promising to raise old age pension to$100,000,sayingthatthecurrent monthlypensionisinadequate.

IvaWhartonelected newpresidentofGPA

Veteran journalist Iva Wharton has been elected president of the Guyana Press Association (GPA), followingtheassociation’selection heldonSundayattheTheatreGuild atParadeStreet,Georgetown.

Wharton, who has worked in journalism for over 20 years, will serveatwo-yearterm.Shereplaces Nazima Raghubir, who served as GPApresidentforsevenyears.

The GPA, founded in 1945, is the sole representative body for mediaworkersinGuyanaandisthe second-oldest media membership and advocacy organisation in the English-speakingCaribbean.

Wharton, a senior journalist with Capitol News, began her media career in 2005 after completing a three-month internship at Prime News through theUniversityofGuyana.Overthe years,shehasreportedextensively on crime, politics, business, and sports. In 2010, she received the Non-Print Sports Journalist of the Year award for her 2009 coverage. Currently, she produces the business magazine Business InspireGY and hosts the radio programmeBusinessInsight.

A t o t a l o f 6 1 m e d i a representatives participated in the elections, voting to fill key executive positions including president,vicepresident,treasurer, assistant treasurer, and four voting members. While several returning members were elected to new positions, this year’s electionsalso saw the emergence of fresh faces taking the spotlight within the executivebody

The previous executive included Nazima Raghubir as president, Rawle Toney as vice president, Svetlana Abrams as treasurer, Ariana Gordon as assistanttreasurer,andIvaWharton as secretary Voting members then included Denis Chabrol, Nyjel Fraser, Alva Solomon, and MarcelleThomas.

Now, Wharton was nominated forthepresidencyalongsidefellow senior journalist Rawle Toney, winning the vote by 49 points Otherelectedofficialsinclude;vice president: Ariana Gordon, treasurer: Svetlana Abrams, assistant treasurer: Oluatoyin Alleyne, and voting members: GordonMosely,ShervinBelgrave, Royston Drakes, and Miranda La Rose.

fields to join the media. We need specialists,”sheadded.

She concluded her speech with a call for unity and shared responsibili

hin the association “I want to make it clear;wearetheGPA,notjustthis executive, all of us; all must be involved,”sheemphasised.“Thank you for entrusting me with the leadership of this organisation, whichwasfounded80yearsago.It is a great responsibility, and I promisethatwithyoursupport,we will continue our tradition of providin

c information and public awareness tothepeopleofGuyana.”

TUESDAY

Chevronpreparingto takeoverHesswitheyeson 30%sharesinStabroekBlock

Wharton received a warm welcome as she took the stage to deliverheracceptancespeech.She expressed gratitude for the confidenceplacedinher,noting,“I am grateful for the opportunity affordedtometoserveaspresident of the Guyana Press Association. BothMs.JohnsonandMr.Chabrol contactedmeandtoldmetheywere going to nominate me to serve—you know how persuasive they can be I told them if nominated,Iwouldnotdecline.”

Reflecting on her journey in media, she added, “At the end of this month, it will be 20 years for meworkinginthemedia,tenmore yearsthanIplanned.Itisthesame amount of time that I have been a member of the Guyana Press Association.OnceIwasconfirmed atPrimeNews,Iwasencouragedto join the GPA and given a membershipform.Sometimeafter, I was encouraged, this time by Nazima, to join theAssociation of CaribbeanMediaWorkers,whichI did.”

Asthenewlyelectedpresident, Whartonhassethersightsononeof the most demanding periods for journalists, the upcoming general andregionalelections.

“We have a lot of work to do. I can tell you that the GPA in the immediate future will be focused on elections training, with the first session scheduled for Wednesday; wewillalsobelookingatpreparing more interactive sessions with mediaandwewillhaveoutreaches to media houses to hear their concerns and to see how better we canworkwiththem,”shesaid.

Wharton also outlined plans to collaborate with the University of Guyana to strengthen media training. “I intend to engage the University of Guyana to work on short certificate courses for reporters.Ourengagementwiththe University will not just be limited toshortcoursesbuttoseehowbest we can have persons from other

HOUSTON, July 7 (Reuters) –Chevron is laying the groundwork to swiftly close its planned acquisition of smaller oil producer Hess,accordingtotwosourcesand an industry analyst, including by preparing a severance programme forsomeHessworkers.

The preparations come as both companies await a decision in a legal challenge from larger rival Exxon Mobil that will make or breaktheUS$53billiondeal.

Completing the Hess acquisitioniskeytoChevronCEO Mike Wirth’s strategy Chevron would gain Hess’ 30% interest in the Stabroek oilfield block in Guyana, which is operated by Exxon and holds more than 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent, providing a critical addition to Chevron’s declining oil and gas reserves Chevron has assigned roles in its information technology team to work on the Hess integration,accordingtoaninternal organizational chart that Reuters reviewed.

Membersofthatteamhavemet regularlywithcounterpartsatHess in recent months to prepare logistics of combining the two companies, said one Chevron employee and a second source familiar with the meetings. Both sourcesdeclinedtobenamedwhile discussingtheconfidentialwork.

Representatives from Chevron have also held several town hall meetings with Hess staff, the second source said Hess employees were informed they could request a severance package if they are not interested in a position with the combined company, according to a written notice to staff that was seen by Reuters.Chevronisinthemidstof a restructuring that includes laying offupto20%ofitsworkforce,and Hesshadabout1,800employeesat theendof2024.

The preparations are intended tohelpChevronwithambitious Continued on page 22

President of the Guyana PressAssociation, Iva Wharton

Frompage21 targets for closing the deal. The company aims to legally close the acquisition within 48 hours of resolving the arbitration and complete operational aspects of absorbing the company within 45 days,oneofthesourcessaid.

It can typically take several months for companies to close an acquisition after a deal is announced. Exxon, for example, announced it planned to acquire Pioneer Natural Resources in October2023andclosedthedealin Maylastyear

“We look forward to completing the transaction and welcoming Hess to our company,” a Chevron spokesperson said in a statement.

Hessdeclinedtocomment.

It gave the outlook on Monday aheadofsecond-quarterresultsdue laterthismonth.

Chevron initially expected to close the Hess acquisition in the firsthalfof2024.Thatwasdelayed due to arbitration claims from Exxon and CNOOC (600938.SS), the other minority partner in the Guyana joint venture, who argue thattheyhaveacontractualrightof firstrefusaltopurchaseHess’stake in the Stabroek block. Hess and Chevron argue the clause does not apply to the sale of the whole company. If they lose the arbitrationorareunabletoagreeon an acceptable resolution with Exxon and CNOOC, the acquisitionwouldfail,accordingto the terms of the deal Biraj Borkhataria, an analyst with RBC CapitalMarkets,metwithChevron Chief Financial Officer Eimear Bonner in June and said the executive acknowledged that the lengthy arbitration dispute has weighed on the company’s stock price, but also said the time has allowed for integration planning.

Bonner indicated Chevron could close the deal quickly after resolving the arbitration dispute, Borkhataria said in an interview A three-member arbitration panel that reviewed the dispute over theStabroekblockhasreacheda decision, Reuters reported on Thursday The Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce,whichisoverseeing the arbitration case, is now reviewing the decision before it isreleasedtotheparties.

GuySuCohitbylabour shortage …as canecuttersabandon industryforbetterjobs

Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Sugar Corporation, Paul Cheong has disclosed that over the past five years, the corporation has recorded a steady decline in the number of harvestersreportingtothefields,

a trend that has serious implications for productivity

And he admitted that Guyanese have virtually abandoned the industry with the younger generation increasingly opting for jobs outside of traditional field work, while others pursuing education and training in new industries.

The ailing sugar corporation has, over the years seen a continuous decline in performance intermsofproductionbuthasseen billionsofdollarsfromthenation’s coffersbeingpluggedannuallyinto the industry Back in 2017 the Coalition Government had unveiled what it termed a ‘State Paper on the Future of the Sugar Industry’,whichitthensaidwould focus on the poorly-performing estates and have them shift from sugar to diversification. The plan was to amalgamate Wales Estate with Uitvlugt Estate and reassign its cane to the Uitvlugt factory, since the estate is operating at 50 percent capacity Sixty percent of its drainage and irrigation infrastructure is in a dilapidated condition.

The corporation furthermore seekstodivestitselfoftheSkeldon Estate. The estates of Albion and RoseHallweretobeamalgamated andthefactoryatRoseHallistobe closed.”TheCoalitionhadsaidthat the industry would then consist of three estates and three sugar factories.

TheestateswouldbeBlairmont ontheWestBankBerbice,AlbionRose Hall in East Berbice and the Uitvlugt-Wales estate in West Demerara.Thethreeestateswillbe complete with factories and will have cane supplied from all five locations By virtue of the amalgamation, the Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and Rose Hall, Berbice factories were to be closed. The PPP/C had criticised themoveandmadeacentraltheme of its 2020 elections campaign to reopenalloftheshutteredestates.

However,fiveyearsafterbeing in office, the government has not

been able to turnaround the industry and recently President Irfaan Ali spoke about plans to diversify the operations of the corporation.

Meanwhile, in a letter to the press,Cheongsaidinthefirstcrop of 2022, 2147 harvesters were on roll with 55% attendance- an average of 1,181 working daily, however by the first crop of 2025, though 1,990 harvesters were registered, attendance dropped to 50%,withjust995workersturning out.

“This downward trend in field turnout reflects a deeper shift in Guyana’s labour market, not one caused by poor wages, but by a wider transformation in the country’s economy,” Cheong said. He reasoned that this phenomenon isnotpeculiartoGuySuCo,norisit isolatedtothesugarsector “Across

agriculture, retail, and even government are grappling with workforce shortages This is a reflection of the broader economic transformation currently taking place in the country As Guyana continues to experience rapid development and expanded opportunities,especiallyduetothe growing oil and gas sector, the labour landscape has shifted significantly,”Cheongclaimed.

He said according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), labour shortages in agriculture have become a global issue “In both developed and developing countries, rural outmigration, aging populations,

preferences have contributed to a sharp decline in available farm labour.” Cheong said a 2023 FAO report noted that countries from IndiatoBrazilandfromThailandto South Africa are reporting critical gaps in harvesting labour, especially for crops like sugarcane that are labour-intensive and seasonalinnature.

Chief Executive Officer of ExxonMobil Corporation, Darren Woods

“Against this backdrop, it is important to address a common misconception that wages are the mainreasonworkersarenottaking upharvestingjobs.Infact,Guyana is among the highest paying countries for sugarcane harvesters.

At GuySuCo, cane harvesters average earning ranges from US$19 to US$25 per day This is higherthandailywagesforsimilar work in many sugar-producing countries,includingIndiaandparts ofLatinAmerica.”

The GuySuCo CEO said, FAO dataindicatethataveragewagesfor sugarcane harvesters in India fall between US$4 and US$7 per day, while in Brazil, one of the world’s largest producers, the average ranges from US$12 to US$25 per day depending on region and experience. “Therefore, the issue isn’t one of compensation, but ratheravailabilityandinterest.The demand for labour in Guyana has increased across all sectors, and younger generations are increasinglyoptingforjobsoutside of traditionalfield work. Many are pursuing education and training in new industries, and others are seeking opportunities in urban and offshoreemployment.”

Cheong said this new reality requires “us to think differently

While GuySuCo continues to support and value its human workforce, we are also advancing our mechanization programmetoeasedependency on manual labour The introduction of harvesting

m a c h i n e s a n d o t h e r technologies can help us mitigatetheimpactoflowfield turnout and ensure that we maintain consistent cane supplytoourfactories.”

Notingthatsugarremainsa vital part of Guyana’s heritage andeconomy,Cheongadmitted to sustain this industry, “we must embrace both the

c h a l l e n g e s a n d t h e opportunities presented by today’s labour realities The path forward lies in adapting throughtechnology,efficiency, and closer collaboration with workers, communities, and stakeholders.”

WEDNESDAY

WoodMaccrownsExxonMobil ‘mostadmiredupstream explorer’backedby developmentsuccessinGuyana

A m e r i c a n o i l g i a n t , ExxonMobil Corporation, has clinched the top spot as the upstream industry’s most-admired explorer, particularly based on its decade-long exploration and development success in Guyana’s StabroekBlock.

This was disclosed by Wood Mackenzie,oneoftheleadingfirms on comprehensive petroleum data, in a release dated June 12, 2025. Announcing the results of Wood Mackenzie’s annual exploration survey for 2025, Andrew Latham said, “ExxonMobil’s win as the most-admired explorer for 2025 is well-deserved.”

Theawardsceremonywasheld alongside Wood Mackenzie’s explorationsummitinBordeauxto recogniseindustryleadersbasedon peeradmiration.

Exxon copped the mostadmired explorer award. It was highlighted that the American oil major found over 8 billion barrels of new field resources on a net equity basis since 2015, which is morethananyothercompanyover thedecade.

ExxonMobil is the parent company of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), the operator of the Stabroek Block which holds a 45 percent interest, while Hess Guyana holds 30 percent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited with 25 percent interest. Latham stated that based on Exxon’s decade-long exploration a

ExxonMobil has created almost US$30billioninvalue.

Further, he noted, “The companyhassetanewbenchmark inopeningupadeep-waterfrontier at pace. Congratulations to John Ardill and the entire exploration team.”

The Stabroek Block, located about 120 miles offshore Guyana, spans 6 6 million acres Oil production in Guyana’s Stabroek Block began in December 2019. Sincethen,productionhasgrownto 650,000barrelsperday(bpd)from three sanctioned projects; Liza Phase 1, Liza Phase 2, and Payara. This output is set to increase with theimminentstart-upofYellowtail, the fourth development, later this year

Exxon already has two other sanctioned projects under its belt, the Uaru and Whiptail The companyhasalreadysubmittedthe Environmental ImpactAssessment (EIA) for its seventh project, Hammerhead,withproduction Continued on page 32

Towards a better life with your psychologist

Hookah,Vaping,E-Cigarettes

Appearing cool while committing suicide w

If you are vaping, using E-Cigarettes – Hookah, wheredoyouseeyourlife20 years from today? Living a healthy life with your children and grandchildren? Married with a professional career in physically good shape? I want to use the unconscious reality of your vaping lifestyle to show you where you are likely to be short.

Recently, some friends invited me to a social gathering on Sunday evening. While socializing, they bought one Hookah. They all were going down intoit;eachpersonhadtheir flavour One of the females lookeddazedtomeasifshe was in transition. I told her she did not look good, but she said she was. Fifteen minuteslater,sheaskedtosit in my vehicle I knew something was now beyond bad.Itoldhertowalkinfront asIwalkedbehindasbackup support if anything happened.At the same time, shewasconvincingmethatI should lead the way She collapses to the ground Knockoutstone-cold.

They come in “Cherry Crush,” “Snappin’ Apple,” “Chocolate Treat,” coffee, mint, crème caramel, black cherry marshmallow, buttered popcorn, cotton candy,FruitLoops,andover 7,700otheruniqueflavours.

Hookah smokers, vaping, E-Cigarettes smokersareatriskformany of the same illnesses as cigarette smokers, such as oral cancer, lung cancer, stomach cancer, and esophageal cancer Hookah use is also associated with decreased lung function and heartdisease,anditcanhurt fertility Psychologically, it triggers General Anxiety

Disorder depressive

symptoms Sensation seeking.

Vaping

and

Its

ImpactontheLungs EVALI

This is a serious lung condition that was first recognized back in 2019. It can even be fatal in some cases. EVALI has mostly been linked to vaping products containing THC and vitamin E acetate, althoughithasalsoturnedup in people who were only using nicotine vapes. The main symptoms to look out for include shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, fever, and sometimes

stomachupset.Essentially,it leadstosevereinflammation anddamageinthelungs.

PopcornLung (BronchiolitisObliterans)

This is a rare disease where the tiny airways in your lungs get scarred and narrowed, making breathing harderandharderovertime. It’sbeenconnectedtocertain flavourings used in vape liquids particularly diacetyl. The good news is manyvapemakersnolonger usediacetyl,butthereisstill a risk. People with popcorn lung often have a cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath that gradually worsens.

ChronicBronchitis andCOPD (ChronicObstructive PulmonaryDisease)

Regular vaping can lead tolong-terminflammationin the airways. Over time, this can either trigger COPD or make it worse Typical symptomsincludeaconstant cough, bringing up mucus, and feeling breathless, even withmildactivity

AsthmaFlare-Upsand NewAsthmaCases Vaping does not just aggravate existing asthma—it can also cause asthma to develop in people who never had it before. It increases airway sensitivity andinflammation,leadingto morefrequentattacks.

CardiovascularProblems: Increased Heart Rate and Blood Pressure: Nicotine in vapes elevates heart rate and blood pressure, pot

ally increasing the risk of heart disease.

Impaired Blood Vessel Function: Studies suggest vaping can damage blood vessels, contributing to cardiovasculardisease.

OtherLong-TermEffects: Nicotine Dependence: Vaping can lead to nicotine addiction, with potential withdrawal symptoms upon quitting.

Mental Health: Nicotine exposure from vaping can negatively impact mental health, increasingtheriskofanxiety anddepression.

Increased Risk of Smoking:Vapingmayactas a gateway to smoking traditionalcigarettes.

Brain Development: In adolescent

exposure can hinder brain development.

Seizures: Cases of

seizures have been reported inbothnewandexperienced vapers.

Secondhandsmokefrom a hookah is also hazardous. If you’re in the room with a lithookahwaterpipe,you’re breathing in cancer-causing toxins, just as with secondhandcigarettesmoke. Hookah smoking can also spread illness. Because it is usually smoked in a social setting, with several people sharing the same pipe and somet

same mouthpiece, colds and other infections, including oral herpes, can be easily passed along.

Hookahsmokingisoften mistaken as a healthier alternative to cigarette smoking, primarily due to the sweet smell and taste of hookah tobacco and the social aspect that usually leads to hookah smoking being only an occasional habit. But there’s no such thing as a healthy smoking option,andhookahsmoking can be just as if not more dangerous as cigarettesmoking.

Althoughvapingisoften advertised as a safer alternative to smoking, it’s farfromharmless.Thelongterm effects are still being researched, but there’s already plenty of evidence showing that vaping can do realdamagetothelungsand lead to severe disease. Sixty minutes of Hookah is equal to smoking 40- 400 cigarettes One hour of Hookah exposes the smoker to 100-200x the amount of smoke inhaled from 1 cigarette. It is a common misconception that smoking from a hookah removes nicotine and other toxins from tobacco. While watercooledsmokeislessharshon delicate lung tissue, the toxicity of the smoke is unchanged, and this process doesnotfilteroutthecancercausingchemicalspresentin hookah tobacco Hookah smoke contains many of the same harmful chemicals as traditional cigarette smoke, including Carbon monoxide Tar Arsenic

y d

Acetaldehyde Acrolein Lead polonium 210, a radioactiveisotope.

Some hookah tobacco products claim they don’t contain tar, but that is misleading No tobacco

containstaruntilitisburned or, in the case of hookah tobacco, heated This difference leads some to believe that the toxicity of hookah tar may be less than thatofcigarettetar,whichis not the case. Additionally, the charcoal that is used to heat the tobacco contains carbon monoxide, metals, and other cancer-causing agents like polyaromatic

hydrocarbons This adds another level of danger to hookahsmokers. Its long-term impact is significant health risks, particularly affecting the lungs and cardiovascular s y s t e m N i c o t i n e dependence, mental health issues, and increased risk of transitioning to traditional s m o k i n g a r e a l s o concerning.

By

Ifyouareunabletostop, youcanseemeasweseekto address the possibility of addiction or substance dependency.

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

STANDARDFORACCIDENTPREVENTIONTAGSUNDER REVIEW-GNBSWELCOMESSTAKEHOLDERINPUT

Did you know that a simple accident prevention tag; a small, brightly coloured label attached to any machinery or access point could be the critical warning that prevents injuries from occurring? Yes, these tags serve as temporary means of warning employees and other stakeholders of an existing hazard in industrial, marine, and commercialenvironments. Recognising its importance in maintaining safe workplaces, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards(GNBS)isreviewingthe National Standard GYS 208:2002 – Specification for Accident Prevention Tags. The Technical

Committee (TC) 10 – Personal Safety,metonseveraloccasionsto review the document to make necessary inclusions and exclusions, prior to the ongoing ‘Public Comments’ period which endsonAugust29,2025. Meanwhile, to maximise input from all stakeholders, during this s

Development Process, GNBS will be hosting a public consultation session on Wednesday, July 30, 2025 The session will provide a platform for meaningful dialogue that should yield information relevant to the standard in areas including public and occupational

safety, regulatory compliance, and workplace excellence. GNBS is encouragingparticipationbyhealth andsafetyofficers,engineers,plant supervisors, marine operators, and constructionprofessionals.

Adopted in 2002, the GYS 208:2002 standard outlines the technicalspecificationsforaccident prevention tags used in industrial settings, mercantile establishments and marine vessels, port crafts, and other areas where hazard warnings arecritical Thestandardensuresthat tagsareclearlyvisible,durable,and effective in communicating danger topersonnel.

Importantly, the standard notes

that these tags are intended for temporary use only; they are not substitutes for permanent accident prevention signs Instead, they serve as short-term, high-impact warningsofanimmediatethreatto prevent injury or damage during e

shutdowns,orhazardexposure. Asindustriesevolveandsafety practices improve, standards must also be updated to reflect modern technologies, best practices, and international benchmarks The review of the GYS 208:2002 s

opportunity to gather technical input, practical experiences, and

stakeholders who apply safety protocolseveryday

Stakeholders are invited to participate in the upcoming consultation session or to submit written comments by the specified deadline.Writtencommentscanbe submitted to the GNBS using the CommentsSheetonthewebsite,or v i a e m a i l : public.comments@gnbsgy.org

For further information on this subject, contact GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0064 or 219-0065, WhatsApp us on 6924627 or visit our website www.gnbsgy.org

Gospel singer, Alonica Isaacs-Anthon makes sweet, sweet melodies Ushered into the spotlight…

ByShermonHawker

When she caught wind that one of her beloved musicians would be gracing Guyana'sshoresforahighly anticipated gospel show on July7,2025,likeanyroutine individual,shescamperedto tailor her schedule to allow her to be able to bask in the thrill of attending Her nerves were not ready, however, for that jolting instance on the evening of CARICOM Day when, in earshot of a massive crowd and a supplement of thousandsofonlineviewers, her favourite gospel artiste made a playlist of her name when he thundered it repeatedlythroughthehighpowered speakers at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, summoning her onstage.Forwhatelsecould anupcomingsingerdesireas astimulus?Herselfacapable vocalistinpursuitofamusic career, it was a favourable blend of circumstances and timingforher

Todd Dulaney, an internationally acclaimed gospelsingerandsongwriter fromtheUnitedStates,after engineeringthegeneraldrift of the crowd surrendered in worship, reeled the young unsuspecting Berbician into the spotlight with him for a moment that will be forever framed in the mental hallwaysofAlonica.

Who is Alonica?

Twenty-six-year-old

Alonica Jerlesa Isaacs, a trainedteacherpositionedat the Canefield Nursery School, bloomed from a family of musical disposition. The dynamism andsavoryuniquenessofher vocals, in tandem with her upbeat, animated persona makes the New Amsterdam native a notable standout. The second of four siblings, Alonicahasbeenflirtedwith many prospects, but she allowed herself to be swept off her feet by music and teaching, which both now contends fiercely for her attention and affection. She insists her capacity to segue smoothlywiththetwo;away from the diligent engagementsofcrayonsand prevailingechoeswithinher early childhood education classroom, Alonica reverts toweavinghermusic,andat present, has released a gospel track dubbed 'Upper Room', to widespread positive reception locally Heracademicobligationsas astudentoftheUniversityof Guyana (UG) are tagged with some degree (pun intended) of constraints, but she remains undeterred in the pursuit of her musical passion.

For the Love of Music

“Musiccamenaturallyto me. I grew up in a home wheremusicisalwaysbeing played All genres of music...”

Music came to be a part of her from the nursery age, and has remained a primary staple of her way of life, muchsothateverythingelse falls secondary Gospel music is at the pinnacle of her preference, and she has devotedherselftothatabove a n y o t h e r g e n r e Notwithstanding, she gifts her vocals at weddings, birthdaysandthanksgivings, andeventsbearingapositive perspectiveorcause.

Lows and Grief

In as much as she's been givenherflowersbyfriends, family, and colleagues in salutation for her gift, and though her commitment to her craft is deep-seated, the songstressrevealedthemost harrowing phase of her life where her soul lost its melody, and her heart relinquished its voice. Once knitted in matrimony, and justaboutclosinginontheir one-year anniversary, the worst befell her when a chest-tightening, heartseizingphonecallconveyed that her husband, Rodriezes JamelAnthon,wasinvolved in a fatal accident with his new motorcycle As one wouldexpectinsuchsomber circumstances, her world was held in indefinite suspension.Beingaworship leader, she conditioned herself in praise through uplifting songs and gradually found herself again.

Alonica is embraced byAmerican gospel singer Todd Dulaney at the “One Guyana worship experience” th at the Providence Stadium on July 7

“Music is my comfort. Musicsavedme.”

One Guyana Worship Experience Concert

On the day of what had already given glimmers of being a spectacular event later that evening, her lecturerheldoffonclassfor that day The welcomed postponementwasjustwhat sheneededasabreather,for she contemplated rainchecking the concert due to exams. As part of concert activities, organisers had thrown out the invite for personstocraftashortvideo of themselves performing a musical piece, and at the show, the individual who impressedthemostwouldbe called onstage. Not one to s h i r k f r o m s u c h opportunities, she made her submission, but did not war against the odds that she wouldbethesuccessfulone.

As the concert got underway and various performers arrested the atmosphere with their unique energy, Alonica was nestled casually in the crowd, being wholly engrossed in what many rated as a concert for the ages, when her name being

calledbroughthertoa standstill, sending all radars insideofherblaring.

“Iwasstunnedforagood five seconds! Then I just started walking through the crowd and the crowd was parting. I was really, really shocked and speechless whenIheardmyname.”She summed up her nervewracking yet determined 3minute journey to the stage as surreal with every step. Asked whether she was nervous,heraffirmativewas immediate.

TheveteranDulaney,she recalled in relief and gratitude, tended to her gracefully.Secondsafterhis encouraging smile and supportive hug, she felt at home on the stage, and further buoyed on by the graciousness of the crowd, she rendered a stirring expression of praise, much to the admiration of her seniorandallwithinrangeof her For the budding recording artiste, it was a highdegreeofgratification.

DreamsfortheFuture

“Whenmyhusbanddied, the day right after I had a moment- a vision where I sawmyself,myfutureatone

point,anditwasmesinging on a big stage.The next one was me teaching, and the next one was me writing. These three things were clear… God is paving the way for these things to happen.” Mingling energy with Dulaney and the impressive lineup which also featured established Guyanese singer Samuel Medas, enveloped Alonica with a warming notion of belonging and fulfillment. With an unshakeable motivation, she resolves to ride on the momentum gainedfromthenodafforded her at the 'One Guyana Worship Experience' Concert. Her performance video clip has reached hundreds of thousands across the social media stratum, and messages of commendation have been sweetly overwhelming her ever since. The energy is ripe, and she'll absorb it resolutely Gratitude

There have been some constants in her life, particularlyhermusicalone, who sponsored not only her apparelormaterialelements

(Continuedonpage48)

Alonica has moved from pit to palace, basking in sweet melody

Smart Aid 24 hours Pharmacy

Scenes from the SmartAid 24 hours Pharmacy health and wellness outreach

To mark their 12th anniversary,IshwarSinghand hiswifeFazeelaBaksh-Singh ownersofSmartAid24hours Pharmacyhostedahealthand wellness outreach in collaboration with the MinistryofHealthandseveral prominent private sector companies. The event held at SmartAid's Barr Street, Kitty Location on Friday, featured

Pharmacyisnowahousehold name that follows all guidelinesinkeepingwiththe MinistryofHealth. Despiteseveralchallenges over the years, Singh refused to let that deter him. “I'm happytoknowwehavea24hr, although we had challenges. Howevernotforonetimedid westop,wealwayskeptgoing no matter the challenges. We

free lab work, eye testing, distribution of health vouchers, blood bank as well as product detailing and free sample distribution amounts otherhealthservices.

During an interview with The Waterfalls, Singh said thatthepharmacyhasbeenan integralpartofthecommunity andhisdesiretohaveabranch in every region. “We have three locations, one at lot 1 Belmont Mahaica (not 24hrs) at the Belmont market, another on the main road for Eccles (24hrs) and this one here at 207 Barr Street, Kitty (24hrs),butwe'renotstopping there something big is coming.” Singh further went on to say that Smart Aid

hadtimes,wherewewerenot even making enough money tocoverouroverhead.Iwould ask the staff where we are going wrong? It was not an easy task to stay on top and keepthebrandsothatwhena customer comes, they have a varietyofoptions.”

When asked about the responsefromthecommunity over the years, Singh reiterated that Smart Aid Pharmacyisnowahousehold name. “Like I said before, Smart Aid Pharmacy is a household name. If I tell you, people does coming from Berbice just to shop at Smart Aid. I believe if we close our doors,wegonnagetabreakin, peoplearegoingtobevex.”

The owners Ishwar and Fazeela Baksh-Singh, the General Manager Sandeep Ramsarran along with other members of Staff

From left: Owners of SmartAid Pharmacy, Ishwar Singh and his wife Fazeela Baksh-Singh are pictured alongside General Manager Sandeep Ramsarran for 12 years

Recently, while sitting in an office, I watched a young man, no older than 25, struggle to copy his first name from his ID onto the signature line of an application form. The clerk, seemingly exasperated, tore up the form six times. I felt sadness,butmorethanthat,I feltalarm.

Here was a young adult who had clearly passed through the education system yet emerged without the most basic skill required tonavigatemodernlife. What I witnessed is not an isolated event but a symptom of a deep-rooted crisis The Ministry of Education’s own Education

Statistical Digest (2020–2021) paints a worrying picture, a 2021 diagnosticassessmentofour nursery school children revealed that by the end of their second year, only 14.7% were reading at the expected level. Just 36.9% demonstrated the required numeracyskills.Thismeans the vast majority of our children are entering primary school already significantly behind, and 2nd, 4th and 6th grade assessment results reveal that the students are not catchingup.

This failure to build a strong foundation has profound consequences, because literacy is the key that unlocks imagination, sharpens communication, and builds the selfconfidence needed to thrive. It is the cornerstone of all other learning. A student who cannot read with fluency in Grade 2 won’t easily grasp a science experiment, solve a math wordproblem,orunderstand ahistoricaltext.Thestruggle ripples outward, creating a learning deficit that widens with each passing year, making it nearly impossible torecover

The inverse is also true, thebenefitsofstrongliteracy are immense It is the foundationalskillthatmakes learning every other subject possible The cognitive advantages are lifelong, building stronger memory, focus, and even delaying cognitive decline in

The Literacy Deficit is Guyana’s True Barrier to Growth and Development

a d u l t h o o d M o r e importantly, it allows for a safer, healthier, and more prosperoussociety

Last year, I had a severe allergic reaction and was rushed to the emergency room.Anurse came in with twovialsofmedicationand, unassisted, carefully measuredanddrewjustonethird of one vial and a fraction of the second

Watching her, I thought aboutnumeracy Whatifshe had miscalculated? In a health emergency, basic math is a life-saving skill. This is the reality we often ignorewhenwesuggestthat children struggling academically can simply enter a technical or vocationalfield.

That assumption is dangerouslyfalse.Germany, a global model for technical education, emphasizes strongliteracyandnumeracy before any student is admitted to a vocational programme. Modern factory equipment is computerdriven, and technical workers must read manuals, analyze data, and make precise calculations as part oftheirdailyroutine(Hampf & Woessmann, 2017). Even our police officers will need these skills to do their jobs well. As law enforcement agencies around the world integrate drones, data science, AI and other technologies, officers who cannot interpret data will render these sophisticated toolsuseless.

This brings us to the immensecostofourliteracy deficit, not just to individuals,buttoourentire national development plan. For the private sector, a workforce with low functional literacy and numeracy is a direct tax on productivity It translates into higher costs for recruitment and on-the-job training, increased workplace errors, and a smaller,lessadaptabletalent pool. As Guyana aims to build new hotels, hospitals, and tech hubs, our progress is throttled by a simple, undeniable bottleneck, we are not producing enough workerswhocanread,write, and calculate at the level requiredforthedevelopment

of a modern economy The problem therefore is beyond education, it is in fact an economic problem, and one that makes us less competitive and puts a low ceilingonourpotential.

As an organizational leader, I feel this crisis in practical terms. I am in the pool of those employers competing fiercely for the limited number of competent, literate, and numerate workers available. The challenge we face is immense.

Solving this issue won’t be easy International studies show that achieving even a small but meaningful improvement in student performanceacrossanentire systemisincrediblydifficult and expensive (Kraft, 2020; Slavin, 2021) The most effective interventions, like high-dosage tutoring, often require intensive, individualizedsupportthatis impossible in a traditional classroom of 25 or 30 students (Nickow et al , 2020). A single teacher, no matter how dedicated, cannot effectively teach a class where some students are struggling with addition, others with multiplication, some with decimals, and others are ahead, while also beingexpectedtodeliverthe full curriculum and meet standardized achievement targets.

While schools bear a heavy responsibility, the solution cannot begin and end at the classroom door Global best practices show that parental involvement is one of the most powerful drivers of student achievement Parents can build a strong foundation at home,oftenwithsimple,nocost activities. Reading to a child for just 15 minutes a day, talking about the pictures and asking questions about the story, is one of the most effective waystobuildvocabularyand comprehension For numeracy, parents can engagein“mathtalk”during everyday routines, counting items at the market, sorting laundry by color, or measuring ingredients while cooking These practices create a language-rich and n u m e r a c y - a w a r e

environment that makes formal schooling far more effective.

Given that we lack enoughtrainedteacherseven tomeetthedemandsofthe1 teacher to 20 students classroomratio,wecertainly do not have the resources to scale the individualized attention learners desperately need to improve their academic outcomes

Theonlyscalablesolutionis

technology, not just computers, but structured, adaptive (effective) learning tools that can help one teacher manage a class of diverse learners. We need parents paying close attention at home and beyond government investment, we need a national culture of volunteerism. Every literate citizen must consider

helping a child or an adult learntoread.

Guyana’sfuturedepends n o t o n l y o n o i l , infrastructure, or foreign investment.

Itdependsonwhetherthe next generation can read, write,andcount.

If we don’t solve this now,inourhomesandinour schools, then all our ambitions will be built on shakyfoundations.

Frompage22

targeted for 2029 The company has also filed an application for an eighth development named Longtail.

Moreover, it was explained that by providing insights into the world of

exploration, Wood

Mackenzie’s annual exploration survey takes the pulse of the industry to help shed light on the key challengesandopportunities in the exploration sector

This cornerstone industry survey addresses critical questionsaboutthenatureof

exploration, untapped potential, noteworthy drilling activities, and the commercialattractivenessof wildcatwells.

“Global exploration drilling continues to target advantagedresourcestohelp meet demand for cheaper and cleaner oil and gas supply,”saidLatham.

He added, “Drilling

a r o u n d e x i s t i n g infrastructure has a role to play but these prospects are not sufficient. The most successful explorers must embracegreaterriskstoopen upnewplaysandbasinsthat promisegreaterresources.”

Moreover, Latham said, “As the sector evolves to become more resilient and sustainable, these awardwinningcompaniescontinue to discover advantaged resources.Thesediscoveries candisplacelesssustainable and more costly oil and gas supply, accelerating the j o u r n e y t o e n e rg y transition.”

The 2025 Exploration Survey underscores the industry’s commitment to sustainable exploration practices, highlighting the crucial interplay between exploration data, industry

trends, and value creation in the evolving energy landscape.

Hessexits Suriname’sBlock59

Suriname’s state energy company, Staatsolie, has announced that American international oil and gas company, Hess (Suriname II)ExplorationLimited,will exit Suriname’s offshore Block59.

Staatsolie said that Hess will relinquish Block 59, returning it to Staatsolie, becoming part of the open

acreage. “Hess fulfilled its minimum work obligations andhasdecidednottomove forward to the next phase of the exploration period, which concludes on 8 July 2025, ” the company explainedinastatement.

In July 2024, Hess’ partners, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Suriname B V and Statoil Suriname B59 B V (from 2018EquinorSurinameB59 B.V.), withdrew and transferred their respective participation stakes to Hess, which then became the sole partyinBlock59.

The Production Sharing Contract(PSC)forBlock59 was signed in July 2017 between Staatsolie, ExxonMobil, Statoil (Equinor),andHess.

According to Staatsolie, Block 59 was located in the farnorthwestregionoffshore Surinameandcoveredabout 11,480 square kilometres in water depths of 2,700 to 3,500 metres Significant volumes are required for potential economically viable oilfield development inthisblock.After6,000km of2Dseismicdataand9,000 km2of3Dseismicdatawere collected in the block, the two previously existing partners considered the risk too high for drilling an exploration well. In the past year, despite efforts, Hess didnotfindanynewpartners to continue exploration of Block59.

Staatsolie said the area formerly designated as B l o c k 5 9 w i l l b e i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t o Staatsolie’s strategy to have as much of the offshore acreage under contract with international parties. Currently, production sharingcontractsareinplace w i t h a n u m b e r o f

international oil and gas companies for the various b l o c k s , c o v e r i n g approximately fifty percent ofSuriname’soffshore.

Notably, a PSC gives a foreignoilandgascompany exploration, development and production rights and allows parties to attract partnersorwithdraw Thisis common in the oil and gas industry The costs and risks in the exploration period are fullybornebythepartner(s). Companiesdecidetopartner in or leave an area based on theirglobalportfolioandrisk assessments.

THURSDAY

GECOMsays:

757,715peopleon revisedvoters’list

The Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) revisedlistofvotersstoodat 757,715asofJune15,2015, the electoral body confirmed.

This information was provided by GECOM officialsfollowingatraining session for media personnel in Kingston on Wednesday. Theinformationcomeseven asthecommissionapproved symbols for 19 political parties contesting the general and reg

nomination day slated for Monday

K a i e t e u r N e w s understandsthatthelistisyet to undergo the process by which GECOM shall make all the necessary removals from, and corrections to extract the official list of electors Just last week, opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioner, Vincent Alexander expressed concerns about chairperson, retired Justice Claudette Singh, being missing in action as the commission is still to determine a number of criticalissuesincluding the m

he removal of the names of unregistered dead persons from the Register of Registrants He said GECOM continued that discussion at a previous meeting.

He said the Elections Commission is seeking advice from the Attorney General on the use of Form 12 for the deletion of names s

CommissionerofPoliceand the Chief Medical Officer Form12isamethodthatis Continued on page 33

GECOM headquarters in Kingston.

Frompage32 provided for in law for the removalofthenamesofdead persons via a verification process This newspaper understands that GECOM hasconsensuswiththeuseof Form 12 for the removal of names.

Additionally, Alexander explained that while the Returning Officers (ROs)

and Supernumerary Returning Officers (SROs) have been approved, the approval of Deputy Returning Officers (DROs) and Deputy Supernumerary Returning Officer (DSROs) and other staff will be considered when the spreadsheets on those applicantsarepresented.The sheetsshoulddetailthebases for the recommended appointments.

K a i e t e u r N e w s understandsthatthebriefing ofthepotentialcontestantsis scheduled for July 19. Last month, Deputy Chief Election Officer (CEO),

Aneal Giddings, told members of the press that more than 1,000 names of deceased persons have been removed from Guyana’s voters’list. Thisisbasedon the list of registered deaths submitted by the General Register’s Office (GRO) Giddings said the removals were based on updated records received from the GeneralRegisterOffice,and the cleansing of the list remainsanongoingprocess.

Giddings had claimed that GECOM has been stepping up preparations for the country’s general and regional elections set for September 1, 2025. “We are making sure that the list reflectsonlyeligiblevoters,” Giddings said. “This is part ofourcommitmenttoensure a free, transparent and credibleelection.”

Guyanatohelp drivegrowthinoil industrythisyear …OPEC, oil majors say markets are thirsty for more oil

Guyanahasbeenlistedas one of four countries that willhelpdrivegrowthinthe oil industry this year, the InternationalEnergyAgency (IEA)hassaid.

Globalsuppliesaresetto rise by 1.6 million bpd to an averageof104.6millionbpd in 2025 and an additional 970,000 bpd next year, outstripping the expected increaseindemandoverthat period, according to IEA

forecasts.TheIEAsaidmost of the supply growth is expected to be driven by non-OPEC+ producers such as the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Guyana and Canada.

A seventh development offshore Guyana in the StabroekBlockisscheduled tobesanctionedthisyearby ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) pending regulatory approval IEA said this milestone is part of ExxonMobil’s broader plan tosustainproductiongrowth inoneoftheworld’sfastestemerging oil provinces. The agency highlighted that the ExxonMobil-led consortium continues to make new discoveries in the prolific Stabroek Block, with estimated recoverable resources nearing 12 billion barrelsofoilequivalent.

The IEA noted that following the anticipated sanctioning of the seventh development phase called Hammerhead in 2025, an eighth project, Longtail, is projected for approval by 2027 IEA forecasts that, with its current pipeline of s

Stabroek Block will double from about 600,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2024 to 1.2 million bpd by 2029 The agency stated that Guyana’s oil output is a key driver of the Americas’ non-OPEC+ supply growth, which is projected to rise by 3 1 million barrels per day (mb/d) by 2030 It was underscored that production from Guyana, alongside Brazil and Argentina, will continue to offset declining output from mature fields acrossLatinAmerica.

Meanwhile, Reuters news agency reported on Wednesday that output increases from oil producer group OPEC+ are not l e a d i n g t o h i g h e r

inventories, showing that markets are thirsty for more oil,ministersandexecutives from OPEC nations and bossesofWesternoilmajors have said OPEC+, which pumps about half of the world’s oil, has been curtailing production for several years to support the market, Reuters reported. But it has reversed course this year to regain market share and as U.S. President Donald Trump demanded thegrouppumpmoretohelp keepalidongasolineprices. OPEC+, comprising the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies such as Russia,begantounwindcuts of 2.17 million barrels per day in April with a production boost of 138,000 bpd. Hikes of 411,000 bpd followedeachmonthinMay, JuneandJuly

On Saturday, the group approved a 548,000-bpd jump for August and will likely approve a large hike forSeptemberwhenitmeets againinAugust,sourcestold Reuters.

“You can see that even withtheincreasesforseveral months we haven’t seen a majorbuildupininventories, which means the market needed those barrels,” United Arab Emirates’ Energy Minister Suhail alMazroueitoldreporters.

FRIDAY

Policemangets25years forkillingOrinBoston

Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) constable, Sherwin Peters has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the killing of Essequibo businessman, OrinBostonbackin2021.

The police constable who is originally from Amelia’s Ward, Linden was indicted for manslaughter

overBoston’sdeathin2021.

At Peters’ first court appearance, he was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which alleges that on September 15, 2021, at Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast, in the Essequibo Magisterial District, he shot and killed Boston.

Peters was charged with manslaughtermonthsafterit wasreportedthathewasona police operation searching for ‘illegal substances’ at Boston’s Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast home. Boston, who was reportedly still in his bed at the time of the shooting, was shot once in the chest with a highcalibre rifle A subsequent autopsy report revealed that Boston died as a result of a gunshotinjurytotheleftside ofhischest.

Residents had mounted protest action on the Essequibo Coast over the shooting. Four months after Boston’skilling,theDirector of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, recommended that the rank be charged with manslaughter

F o l l o w i n g t h e PreliminaryInquiry(PI)into thematter,MagistrateEsther Sam ruled that there was sufficientevidenceforPeters t o s t a n d t r i a l f o r manslaughterbeforeajudge and jury Peters was committedtostandtrialbyat the Suddie Magistrates’ Courtin2022.

OnThursday, the former copwassentencedbyJustice SandilKissoonfollowinghis trial weeks after he was foundguiltyattheEssequibo High Court At the sentencing,itwasnotedthat the operation carried out by 12 heavily-armed SWAT officers,targetedtwohouses within the same compound but was executed without a search warrant, arrest

tookthestand.

Government,Opposition sparoveroilmoney …Mahipaul says inflows can fund Guyana’s development needs …Jagdeo disagrees, says oil prices can fall Vi

General Secretary of the

/

), Bharrat Jagdeo, has labeled

National Unity (APNU)

C

warrant, or any lawful authority circumstances t h a t d r e w s h a r p condemnation from the trial judge.

“The actions of Peters w e r e u n l a w f u l , unreasonable, unjustified, disproportionate and excessive,” Justice Sandil Kissoon declared during sentencing “The resort to lethal force was without any basis against an unarmed man asleep in his bed.” The judgefurtherpointedoutthat there were no mitigating circumstancesinthecase.

State Counsel for the office of the Director of Public Prosecution and the Defence attorney at the sentencing hearing, Keoma Griffith had agreed on a startingsentenceof10years; however, neither side presented any evidence to s u p p o r t t h i s recommendation during the hearing.

The State prosecutor Latifah Elliot referenced a lawsuit filed by Boston’s widow against the State for the unlawful killing, noting that compensation had been paid to her The prosecutor urged the court to consider this as a mitigating factor However,thejudgeclarified that while Guyanese law allows compensation to be considered in mitigation, in this instance, the payment was made by taxpayers, which affected his view on its mitigating value The judge therefore rejected the idea that this compensation held significant mitigating valuebecauseitwasnotpaid by the offender, Sherwin Peters, but instead by the State. Fiona Boston, wife of thedeceased,hadstatedthat it has been a challenge for her and her two children since her husband died Peters’ trial commenced on June 17, 2025 during which approximately 25 witnesses

’s

“unsustainable promises” and poured cold water on Ganesh Mahipaul’s recent declaration that the current inflows from oil can fund thiscountry’sdevelopment.

At his party’s press conference held at Freedom House on Thursday, Jagdeo responded to Mahipaul who isAPNU’s Vice Presidential cand

date At APNU’s election campaign launch, Mahipaul said that oil revenues alone could fund the party’s vision for Guyana.

Mahipaul asserted that Guyana’soilearningswould be more than sufficient to finance the coalition’s development plans and accused the incumbent PPP/C government of being “deceitful” and “out of touch” with the needs of ordinaryGuyanese.

In his response, Jagdeo said, “They are very extravagant on promises… So, I think they believe that you can just go to a platform a n d e v e r y o n e s a y s something and it sounds good and people will buy into it and then oh should we succeedin…theywillhaveto implement it… they’ll forget about it like we they forgot about 2015 promises that weremadetoeveryone.”

Mahipaulcontendedthat revenues from ExxonMobil G u y a n a L i m i t e d ’s operations in the offshore Stabroek Block would be sufficienttofinanceAPNU’s proposed initiatives He pointed to the current oil production supported by Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels and projected significant increases in the comingyears.

“Our country has [three] FPSOs functioning for thosewhodon’tknow,FPSO is a big ship [that] can give you so much money In the nexttwoyears,wewillhave twomore,andbeforethefive Continued on page 34

APNU’s Vice Presidential Candidate, Ganesh Mahipaul

PPP/C General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo

Frompage33 years, we will have 10 in total,”Mahipaulsaid.

“Soif[three]isgivingus so much, imagine what 10 would give… That is why the plan thatAubrey Norton has, the plan that Juretha [Fernandes] has, the plan thattheAPNUhas,itcanbe financed by oil alone,” he added.

Guyana earned nearly

US$2 6 billion in oil revenues last year, which included income from oil

sales and royalties Currently, three sanctioned projects Liza Phase 1, Liza Phase 2, and Payara are producing over 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) ExxonMobil has received approval for three more projects that are expected to come onstream before the end of the decade The companyhasalsoappliedfor approval of two additional

developments in the StabroekBlock.

I n r e s p o n s e t o Mahipaul’s claim that 10 FPSOs would generate doubletherevenueandallow for widespread spending, Jagdeowarnedoftherisksof relying solely on oil. “So, what if oil prices fall, say next year or this year?” he questioned He added, “What are they going to do if you base the implementation of your promises only on oil money? So what happens whenitgoes?”

million.

It was recently reported that an arbitration panel met a decision in the dispute involving oil majors ExxonMobil Corporation andChinaNationalOffshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) over a US$53 billion deal that could grant Chevron accesstoHessCorporation’s 30percentstakeinGuyana’s prolific Stabroek Block That decision has not been disclosedtodate.

SATURDAY

Oilcompaniesembroiled inarbitrationover Guyana’sStabroekBlock toplistofhighestpaid executives

A recent article by Houston Chronicle has placed the spotlight on American oil giants ExxonMobil and Chevron, for leading the list of Houston’s 100 highest paid executives.

Theagencyreportedthat whileHouston’seconomyis diversifying, most of the region’s top-paid executives are connected to the energy sector, and in particular oil andgas.

Houston Chronicle reported Exxon, Chevron, Exxon, Exxon again. That’s how this year’s ranking of Houston’s 100 highest-paid executivesbegins,anditsets thetonefortherestofthelist. Notably, both Exxon and Chevron have five executivesonthisyear’slist.

Nearlytwo-thirdsofthe100 executives in this ranking workintheenergysector

Jagdeo reminded that in early 2015, oil prices plunged from US$120 per barrel to US$30. He reasoned, “So, if oil prices oil prices were US$100, it went to US$80, dropped to US$60 now or somewhere there What if it falls to US$30 for 2 years? That’s US$30, a situation which [has] happened before. It’s not an unusual thing ” Jagdeo maintained that national plans should not be based on something as volatileasoilprices.

Darren Woods, Exxon’s chairman and chief executive officer (CEO), leadsthelist,havingearneda compensation package worth about US$44 million in 2024, according to data from S&PCapital IQ drawn from information filed with the securities and exchange commission.Insecondplace is Michael Wirth, chairman andCEOofChevron,whose overall compensation was pegged at nearly US$33 million.

Rounding out the top of the list were Neil Chapman and Jack Williams, both senior vice presidents at Exxon who each earned packages valued at about US$25.5millionlastyear

Further Karen McKee, an Exxon vice president and president of ExxonMobil Product Solutions, was the seventh-highest paid executiveinHoustonaswell astheonlywomantorankin t h e t o p 1 0 . H e r compensation package in 2024 was valued at roughly US$23 5 million Also, Kathryn Mikells, Exxon senior vice president and CFO, was the twelfthhighest paid executive in H o u s t o n , w i t h a compensation package in 2024valuedatnearlyUS$19

In October 2023, it was announcedthatChevronwill b e a c q u i r i n g H e s s CorporationforsomeUS$53 billion. The takeover would giveChevronaccesstoHess’ most valuable asset in Guyana.However,thisledto ExxonMobil Corporation, the parent company for ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, the operator of the block filed for arbitration at theInternationalChamberof Commerce in Paris, arguing that it has a right of first refusal over Hess’ stake. In M a y 2 0 2 5 , t h e o i l companies, through their lawyers faced-off before the three-member arbitration tribunal.

Woods told Reuters the companyfiledforarbitration because discussions were nothappeningwithChevron andHessaroundtherightof first refusal provision “Those discussions needed to happen and hadn’t been happening,”Woodssaidina Reutersarticle.

HesaidExxonwantedto have its right of first refusal recognised before it could decideonitsstrategyforthe Stabroek block. An Exxon executive has said the arbitrationcouldtakefiveto sixmonths.

Meanwhile, Wirth had said Chevron had done extensive due diligence on the operating agreement between Exxon and Hess in Guyana and has extensive experience in those types of agreementaroundtheworld. Chevron is looking forward t

contractinthearbitration,he added.

The Stabroek Block located about 120 miles offshore Guyana, spans 6.6 millionacres.Oilproduction offshore Guyana’s Stabroek Block, began in December 2019.Sincethen,production hasgrownto650,000barrels per day (bpd) from three sanctioned projects: Liza Phase 1, Liza Phase 2, and Payara. This output is set to increase with the imminent start-up of Yellowtail, the

fourth development, later thisyear

Exxon already has two other sanctioned projects under its belt, the Uaru and Whiptail. The company has already submitted the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for its s e v e n t h p r o j e c t , H

mmerhead, with production targeted for 2029.Thecompanyhasalso filed an application for an eighth development named Longtail.

Notably, the deal governing the Stabroek Block extends favourable terms to the oil companies, providing unlimited tax waivers, uncapped interest rates and perhaps the lowest royalty rates known to the industry, at a meager two percent.

PNCR’sDawn HastingsrunstoWIN

D a w n H a s t i n g sWilliams,aformerexecutive of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and opposition member of parliament (MP) has parted wayswiththePNCRandhas joined the We Invest in Nationhood(WIN).

WIN is a party launched by businessman, Azruddin Mohamed,whowaslastyear sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury’sOfficeofForeign AssetsControl(OFAC).

In a statement Friday evening, Williams said, “As our country is preparing to take its place on the global stage in this fast-paced, technologically advanced era,itiseasyforournational development to be derailed and lose its momentum if those whom we choose to leadthisadvancementareillequipped and lack the substanceandveracitythatis necessary for this transition.”

She added that over the years, Guyana has been plagued by “ineptitude and deficient” leadership which she believes has left lingeringnegativeeffectson national development and thelivesofGuyanese.

Hastings-Williams added, “For too long Guyanese have been forced into submission to a system of government which saw citizens being neglected, discriminated against and denied justice Others are stillwithoutbasicnecessities andinsomeinstancestotally ignored.”

She argued that Guyana needs strong, visionary leadership that will ensure the country’s natural resourcesbenefititspeople.

“Guyana as we know, is endowedwithanabundance of natural resources but yet we seem to be on a slowmoving poverty reduction train. Available data by the World Bank as of 2019 indicate that 48 per cent of our population live in poverty It is therefore obvious that we need stronger and more vigorous poverty reduction strategies to combat this phenomenon.

I f o u n d A z r u d d i n Mohamed’s vision truly inspiringafterreviewingthe manifestooftheWeInvestin Nationhood Party which outlines some of these strategies,”sheunderscored.

ShesaidthatWINledby Mohamedpromisesthetype of government and leadership that will give Guyanese a united voice ShefurthernotedthatWIN’s policies promote genuine leadership that is committed to ensuring equality in the distribution of our nation’s wealth Hastings-Williams said,“Itismyconvictionthat WINprovidesavisionwhich is competitive, strong and fully equipped to lead Guyanaintothefuture.”

Dawn Hastings-Williams

Exxon’s chairman and CEO, Darren Woods

Chevron chairman and CEO Michael Wirth

Emily and the Sock Monster

Emily had a big

problem Every morning, one of her socks would be missing.Notboth.Justone.

On Monday, her fuzzy pink sock disappeared. On Tuesday, her rainbowstriped sock vanished. By Wednesday, she only had one pair of mismatched socks left—a red one with stars and a blue one with bananas Her mom said, “Maybe you dropped them

behind the dryer ”

Herdadsaid,“Youprobably forgotwhereyouputthem.”

Even her little brother Danieljustgiggledandsaid, “Maybe the Sock Monster tookthem!”

That made Emily stop. “What if he did?” she whispered.

That night, Emily got out her detective notebook, a flashlight, and her magnifying glass She tiptoed to her room and whispered to her last two socks,“Staywhereyouare.

Ihaveaplan.”

OperationSockWatch

Emily didn't go to sleep rightaway Shesatupinbed with her flashlight and watchedthelaundrybasket.

Nothing She watched thecloset.Stillnothing.

She watched the sock drawer Justquiet…

T h e n r u s t l e !

Something small darted from under her bed! Emily

held her breath She w atch ed as a tin y shape—about the size of a kitten tiptoed across the room.Ithadstubbylegs,big ears, and was wearing a… sock? Her missing pink

sock was on its head like a hat!

Emily'seyeswentwide. “It'sreal,”shegasped.

The little creature opened her sock drawer carefully, pulled out the starryredsock—andstuffed it into a sack made entirely of socks. It started to tiptoe away.

“No you don't!” Emily whispered. She jumped out of bed—but the little creature wastoofast.Itzippedunder thebedandvanished.

BuildingtheTrap

Thenextday,Emilywas ready

Shetookherlastbanana sock and placed it in the middleofherroomlikebait. Around it, she built a circle of pillows with yarn stretched across like a tripwire. In the corner, she placed a small box propped up with a pencil The

Wake up early and be happy

by Uncle Roy

SometimesIfeellikesleepinglate, Andgetupaftereveryone, ButwhenIdoriseandcomeoutside, Myeyesburnfromthebrightsun.

AtothertimeswhenIgetupearly, Thesunisnowpeepingout, Ifindtheairsoniceandcool, Itfeelssogoodtomoveabout.

ThatiswhyInowtryeverynight, Tosleepsoastoriseearly; ThenIcangreetthesuncomingup, Whichmakesmywholedaysohappy

How to Make Clay

By:HighlightsEditorial

It'seasytomakeyourownhomemadeclay with four simple ingredients: baking soda, cornstarch, water and food coloring. If you really want to get fancy, break out some optionalgooglyeyes,feathers,chenillesticks, craft sticks or pompoms! Here's all you need to do to makethissimpleandfuncraft withyourkids.

WhatYou'llNeed

2cupsbakingsoda

1cupcornstarch

11/4cupswater

Foodcoloring

moment the tripwire was pulled, the pencil would fall—andtrapthemonster

“I call it… the Giggler Snare,”shegrinned.

Then she waited And waited.

A t midnight flump! the (Continuedonpage48)

Wiggle eyes, feathers, chenille sticks, craft sticks, pompoms(optional)

WhattoDo

1. Pour the baking soda, cornstarch and water intoapot.

fourpieces.

4. Add food coloring and knead untilsmooth.

5. Turn your clayintoamazingshapesandfunthings.Add

2. Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring untilitlookslikemashedpotatoes.

3. Let the clay cool; then divide it into

Leave

wiggle eyes, feathers and other craft supplies tomakecutecritters!

6.

yourartinasunnyplacetodry

Make the most of yourself by using your resources wisely

Eachofushumanbeings has been endowed with resources which are available to us to use in the propermannersoastomake thebestofourselves. These include our personal qualities, which include our senses and other properties ofourbodies,thethingsthat we own which we use to carry on our lives, such as our material possessions, our financial assets with which we provide what we need to keep living, the natural resources, such as water, energy sources and fresh air, as well as the naturalthingsaroundus.

We always need to rememberthatitisnecessary for us to ensure that we use theseresponsiblyanddonot waste them as we go about ourdailyactivities. Itissad to see people abusing the freedom they have to utilise the things at their disposal,

which is making a negative impact on the world's resources. This may not seem crucial to them from the small amount that they expend, but little by little theseareaddingup,withthe possibility in the long term that we may come to the point when some vital resource is no longer availabletous.

Another of these valuable resources we all

Just as we are freely bestowed with so many resources to enrich our life, we have an obligation to ensure that we use them as efficiently as we can.

BINOX

havebeengrantedisthetime wehaveatourdisposal. You will do well to make sure that you use this irreplaceable asset to do things that work to get the bestbenefitoutofit.

One of the ways in whichyoucanensurethisis toplanyourfutureactivities, both on the short term on a dailybasis,andlongterm,as weekly, monthly and even for longer periods. For students, this will involve getting rid of distractions, like watching television while doing your work, playing games on the computeroryourcellphone, and spending some of your

available time to really get connected to your family and friends, and do the things necessary to make you successful in working towardsyourgoals.

One way people use their time beneficially is to read something worthwhile daily – poetry, a good book, passages from the scripture of your religion. Some people develop a wonderful practice of writing down their thoughts about what is happening to them every day, and this can be good reading in the future, and help you to see things more clearly, and make more fruitfulplans.

The finished puzzle should be filled with Xs and Os. Horizontally and vertically, there should never be a continuous run of the same symbol longerthan2.ThereareanequalnumberofXsandOsineachrowand column.Allrowsareunique.Allcolumnsareunique,too.

Whatdoesthefutureholdforus?

Smogfilledskiesandpoisoncars, Andbrokenlandwithuselessdust, Andnature'sbeautybehindbars. CanIevershowmychildren, Iftheyevercomemyway, Thebeautyofasunset, Attheendingoftheday?

CanIwalkintoaforest, Andsurroundmyselfwithtrees, Yetknowthatitwillremain, FormetovisitasIplease?

IknowthatIcantoday

DoallthethingsI'vesaid, Butwhentodayisyesterday, Willallthesethingsbedead? Thisproblemisenormous

Aswegraduallytakeheed, Sowemustfixitquickly, Usingwordsandthoughtsanddeeds.

UncleRoyisagainappealingtoourreaderstomakea contributiontothiscolumnbyeithergivingafeedbackon whatispublished,askingforsomehelpwithsome personalproblem,offeringsomeadvicetofellow teenagers,orsharingthenewsofwhatishappeningin his/hercommunity. Pleasesendyourcontributionto uncleroy1992@yahoo.com

Solutions to last week’s

AWARD-WINNING GUYANESE PLAY,

‘Don’taskmeWhy’

GETS STUNNING STAGE PRODUCTION AT NCC

The Ministry of Culture Youth

andSporthostedtheeighthand final series of the Write to Stageprojectandthepiecetocloseoffthis serieswas ‘Don’tAsk Me Why’ whichwas written by Guyanese filmmaker, Rae Wiltshire.

The play explores the concept of the Creator, and the piece was produced last Monday at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) where many gathered to witness the wonderful experience of words comingtolife.Severaltoplocalcreatives workedonmakingthestageproductiona success.

The play was directed by Wiltshire who also played one of the four main characters,assistinghimalongwashiscodirector, Ayanna Waddell. Alongside Wiltshirewerecostumedesignerandartist RobertoTeekah, MUADahlia Richmond and her team who were responsible for makeupandRandyFrederickswastasked with set design, Akbar Singh was the AssistantStageManager

Teekahpraisedtheproductionteamin apostviaFacebook.

He said, “Working on this project has

been incredibly rewarding. It has been a journey filled with new experiences, valuable lessons and the pure thrill of childhood dreams coming to life. Huge thanks to Rae, the Creative, for trusting mewithbringingthesecharacterstolife.”

During an interview with The Waterfalls, Wiltshire said that the project wasselectedbytheministryfromamong playsthatwontheGuyanaPrize.

AccordingtoWiltshire, ‘Don’tAsk Me Why’ waswrittenin2016andwouldhave won the Guyana Prize in 2023. He added thattheplayisanabsurdistcomedypiece whichmeansthatitisnotbasedonreallife events,butitonlymirrorscertainaspects.

“I describe the play as an absurd, existential, tragic comedy...I wanted to explore what happens when someone takes on too much in life and what’s the repercussionsoftakingontoomuch,”the writersaid.

Wiltshire told The Waterfalls that throughout the preparation, they were faced with minor challenges and because hewasworkingwithanexperiencedcast, they were able to overcome those challenges.

Scenes from the award-winning Guyanese play, ‘Don’t Ask Me Why’.

ByAllyiahAllicock

Theysayhealthiswealth, andtherefore,beingina good shape not only physicallybutalsomentallycando uswonders.

Today, The Waterfalls wishes to sharewithyou,ourreaders,and the story of a young lady who curated a space to inspire individuals to embrace their wellness She is 26-year-old LushonWilburgh,theproudowner of a small business called ‘The Little Wonders, which started on July10,2023.

TheLittleWondersisanonline wellness business which offers productsandservicessuch as selfcare boxes/baskets, menstrual pouches, and scripture based bookmarkersjusttonameafew.It should be noted that she operates thisventurealongwithheryounger sisterCassadieWilburgh.

Before we get into what led Wilburgh to start her wellness business, you should know, she is theholderofaDegreeinBachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering which she attained from the University of Guyana in

2024.

Briefly, she shared that her journeyintheengineeringfieldhas been nothing short of exhilarating as it allows her to combine her technicalprowesswithherlovefor creativity and innovation. “I am always vigorously pursuing opportunities to be a part of organizations, where I can apply my love for creativity and willingnesstogivebackhencewhy I volunteer with The Youth Development Guyana Team,

LITTLE WONDERS

Aspace

catering to

your

physical& mentalwellbeing the

Some of the products ‘Little Wonders’has to offer.

health, promote self-care, spiritual growth and foster a sense of community

“I am excited to provide products that not only meet practical needs but also inspire individuals to embrace their wellness.Ifeltcompelledtocreate a space where products can assist during these times are accessible and affordable In addition to menstrual health, I am a Christian and nurturing the mind and spirit are important that’s why I also

enough, she has had and continue to have a praying family and supportivefriendsalongtheway

Recalling her early days in business,sherelatedthatoneofthe first challenges, which she encountered was determining the right pricing strategy for her products.

“I wanted to ensure that my products were affordable for my targetaudiencewhilealsocovering costs and maintaining quality To address this, I conducted thorough

“[Young Entrepreneurs] bring fresh perspectives embrace new technologies openly and are driven by a purpose beyond profit. When we build businesses, they are around social impact, environmental sustainability, and most importantly community development.”

yearly Itisalwaysgoodtobeapart of uplifting, educating and nurturingyouths.Ialsofunctionas a Dance instructor at the WIST MinistriesInt’l,”shesaid.

Speaking of uplifting and nurturing others, it is one of the fundamentals that sparked her interest in launching her wellness business.

In an exclusive interview with this magazine, Wilburgh shared thatthepassionbehindherbusiness stemmedfromadesiretobreakthe stigma surrounding menstrual

include bookmarks, books and anything that can assist those in theirwalkandlotofself-careitems toensureweareinthebestphysical shape,”sheexplained.

Shehighlightedthatintermsof preparing her for this business journey, her skills came from her educational background and now careerlife.

Havingcelebratedtwoyearsof ‘The Little Wonders’ recently, Wilburgh informed this magazine that having a good support system is crucial and being fortunate

market research to understand the pricing for similar products. I analyzed competitors’ prices and gathered feedback from potential customers about their willingness to pay This helped me find a balance between affordability and profitability,”sheexplained.

The second issue, she said was being patient through the slow seasons.

Nothavingthatrushfororders, she noted had really discouraged her Getting through this, she sought advice from other business

ownersinhandlingthosemoments. Overcoming the difficult times, Wilburgh said a lot of prayers helpedinthisregard.

Further, when asked what she intendstoachieveinthelongterm for her business, the young businessownerrevealedthatsheis aiming to have a physical location and offer way more services that willmeettheneedsofcustomers.

That being said, our featured entrepreneur is of the belief that young entrepreneurs play a transformativeroleinoursociety

She noted that their contributions span over economic, social, and cultural dimensions because of all the different spaces theyareabletobein.

“They bring fresh perspectives embrace new technologies openly andaredrivenbyapurposebeyond profit. When we build businesses, they are around social impact, environmental sustainability, and most importantly community development,”shestated.

Further,shenotedthatinterms of helping small businesses develop, is for there to be more trading and mentorship opportunities and bigger collaborations.

For persons interested in contacting Lushon Wilburgh, you can do so via her socials on Facebook or Instagram at The Little Wonders, or on telephone number (592) 662-6619 or 6846342.

Gov't to spend $1B to upgrade Cane View Avenue

The Government of Guyana is set to invest $1 billion to upgrade Cane View Avenue located in SouthGeorgetown.

Ministry of Public Works, Ministers Deodat Indar and Kwame McCoy visited the community where they informed residents of the government's intention to

executemajorroadupgrades onFriday.

The ministry reported that the $1 billion road project inc

des the sectional reconstruction of

the damaged roadway with reinforced concrete, widening of the existing pavement for better traffic flow,constructionof (Continueonpage48)

Four new police stations commissioned...

Frompage11 capabilities.

The ministry provided that at the ceremony, a number of helmets were handed over along with a few donated sports equipment to encourage youth engagement and communitywellness,further r e i n f o r c i n g t h e government's commitment to proactive, communitycentered policing and social development.

As it relates to the Regional Command Centre, the $30,111,863 building was commissioned in the compound of the Divisional Police Headquarters at Leonora.

The Home Affairs

Ministry stated that the Command Centre is a vital component in the government's broader initiativetoexpandthe'Safe City to Safe Country' project.

It should be noted that the Command Centre has been outfitted with several critical spaces to support a r o u n d - t h e - c l o c k operations, and these include a Lobby Area for public interface and visitor management; a lunchroom to accommodate staff welfare and break periods; an Equipment Room for storage and maintenance of s u r v e i l l a n c e a n d communication tools; a centralized Operations

Room serving as the nerve center for monitoring and coordination;Officesforthe Officer-in-Charge (OC) and the Second-in-Command (2IC); and a fully equipped Conference Room for strategicplanningandmultiagencybriefings.

“This new facility is designed to significantly enhance the region's ability to monitor public spaces, respond swiftly to incidents, and coordinate inter-agency efforts during emergencies or high-risk operations.Italignswiththe Government's nationwide vision of transitioning from localized city-level safety systemstoaunified,national infrastructure for public

s e c u r i t y a n d l a w enforcementefficiency,”the ministrymentioned.

Addressing the various commissioning ceremonies, MinisterBennstatedthatthe government is committed to

community, whether longestablished or newly emerging, has access to quality, professional law enforcementservices.

He added that the government continues to prioritize investments in smart infrastructure to ensurethatlawenforcement agencies are equipped with the tools and environment

proactive,andconnected.

The Cane View Avenue in South Georgetown which will be upgraded.

Norton, Fernandes accuse Jagdeo of hypocrisy over oil price warning

Presidential and Prime Ministerial candidates for the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Aubrey Norton and Juretha Fernandes, have rejected Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo’s recent caution against basing national development initiatives solelyonoilrevenues.

TheAPNUleadersargue that Jagdeo has no moral authority to issue such

warnings, citing the government’sownheavyuse of projected oil earnings to financepublicspending.

Atapressconferencelast week, Jagdeo responded to APNU’s campaign promise that its development plans can be financed by the country’s growing oil revenues alone It was APNU’s Vice Presidential candidateGaneshMahipaul,

who said increased

p r o d u c t i o n f r o m ExxonMobil’s offshore operations eventually reaching 10 Floating

Production Storage Offloading vessel (FPSOs)

would more than double currentearningsandprovide enough funding for a wide rangeofinitiatives.

For his part, Jagdeo warned, that this thinking was short-sighted, given the volatilityofglobaloilprices.

In response to Mahipaul’s claim that 10 FPSOs would generate double the revenue and allow for widespread spending, Jagdeo warned of therisksofrelyingsolelyon oil. “So, what if oil prices fall, say next year or this year?” he questioned. He added,“Whataretheygoing to do if you base the implementation of your promisesonlyonoilmoney? So, what happens when it goes?”

In response, APNU’s Presidential Candidate Norton accused Jagdeo of being disingenuous and hypocritical.

He noted that it was under the Vice President’s watch that the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) withdrawal rules were recently relaxed, allowing

Presidential and Prime Ministerial candidates for theAPartnership for National Unity (APNU),Aubrey Norton and Juretha Fernandes

the PPP government to access more oil revenues than was previously permitted.

“So, he has no moral righttoquestionanyone,this is a person who said that feasibility studies don’t matter,”Nortonsaid.

Notably,whileMahipaul said APNU’s plan can be financed by oil revenues alone, Norton insisted that APNUhasneverclaimedits

planswouldbefundedsolely byoil.

“We made it very clear that economic activity will be stimulated across multiplesectors,”hesaid. Healsopromisedthatan APNU-led government would manage public resources prudently and reduce corruption, ensuring thatmorefundsareavailable to improve the lives of Guyanesecitizens.

“So, our approach is totallydifferent.Nowwedo acknowledge that oil prices cangodown,butyouknow, Jagdeo should be the last to ask this question, this hypocritewenttoParliament and increase the money that you can take from the Natural Resource fund, so that he’s depleting the natural resource fund of resources, but then coming like a hypocrite to say the priceswillgodown,”Norton said.

Hecontinued,“Didn’the know that when he was removingallthemoneyfrom the Natural Resource fund and spending it while wasting it…as he claims, that oil prices will drop, and [he himself] proceeded to change natural resource fund.”

Meanwhile, Prime Ministerial candidate Fernandes criticised Jagdeo, calling his warning about volatility “extremely hypocritical.”Shenotedthat the PPP/C government had spent the past five years borrowing against projected oil earnings, while ignoring repeated warnings from the opposition.

She noted, “So to hear him now speak about prices coming down is the most hypocriticalandnonsensical thing you can hear from the VicePresident.”

She also maintained that Jagdeo had no credibility when it comes to fiscal prudence “He is hypocritical. He has been borrowing and basing those borrowings of projected oil revenues and it is not his place to come now to speak as though he has any command over prudent spending of our oil resources,” Fernandes noted.

Further,heremindedthat under the APNU+AFC administration, the original NRF legislation included safeguards for long-term savings. That approach, he added,wouldbereinstatedto allow for “continuous accumulation of resources forthebadtimes.”

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' I know I am ready'“ ...APNU's Eden Corbin eager...

From page 15 usual saying—I’ve been a youth long enough. And you know, you hear things like, ‘Oh, he’s not experienced enough,’ ‘Too young,’ ‘Don’t know anything,’ ‘Don’t know what he’s doing.’ “

Despite this, Corbin said that public interest in new leadership has given him the

courage to step forward.

“When you create a vacuum like that, persons are just excited to see fresh faces,” he said. “And as I said, I am not coming here with just political hubris and a narrative to speak on. I am coming here as a youth who has spent years developing myself professionally so that I can be recognized

and that what I say has value. You understand? I am not coming to you as a fly-bynight politician who just gets put in a position.”

Corbin further emphasized that his decision to enter politics was not spontaneous, but deliberate and long considered. “My joining into politics was not a matter

of if, it was a matter of when,” he explained. “And to me, the when has to be now. Because if I don’t seize the opportunity now, I stand to be a hypocrite looking at the other youths, asking them, why are they not participating? Because that is what I tell them now.” Corbin offered a message to the youth of Guyana:

“You have more power than you know. You will make that change. This country needs you.”

As a young politician, his inspiration goes beyond simply encouraging youth participation, he aims to be a strong voice for young people and to make himself a valuable asset to society.

More than 50% of Guyanese living in poverty - Azruddin Mohamed...

From page 16 that there is a problem with the availability of the US currency but said that there is nothing wrong with the “(Financial) instrument”.

Jagdeo claimed too that with or without oil his government has the capacity to pump US dollars into the market when needed. With regard to scarcity of the currency Jagdeo pointed to hoarding by businesses, and hinted that Trinidadian and Chinese entities might be contributing to the problem.

However, Mohamed posited that sanctioning him and his businesses might also be a contributor to the US currency shortage.

“Since I was sanctioned, this is what happened but they won’t acknowledge all these things,” he claimed.

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Meanwhile, the presidential hopeful said that since taking office in 2020, the government has spent $4.5 trillion but that money has not benefitted the citizenry due to corruption.

“57 percent of our budget every year goes to corruption,” Mohamed said before alleging that even Chinese investors “got to pass something” to do business in Guyana.

He spoke too of the Chinese investors using Chinese workers instead of local labour, something he said he will stop once elected to serve.

Additionally, Mohamed promised to disburse larger cash grants, increase salaries for all public servants and part-time workers as well as provide free houses for the vulnerable.

“Ten-day workers will get

more than $40,000,” he promised before adding, “Our CSO (Community Service Officers) workers, they got to wait two to three months before they get their money … you will get paid on time and you will get more.”

He continued, “Because We Care cash grant, you will get more than $55,000 because cost-of-living is so high, you have to get more and you will get more.”

Mohamed described the government as “disrespectful” for only handing out $100,000 cash grant after five years of pumping oil.

“You will get more (larger) cash grants under this administration,” he said before promising an immediate salary increase for all public servants.

He said he will set up a committee to build free houses for the vulnerable.

Gospel singer, Alonica Isaacs-Anthon...

From page 28 for her featuring publicly, but also her growth and development.

In the disclosure of who’s the most trusted, reliable and supportive, foremost on that list is her mother, Abiola.

“My mother. Every event that I have to go to, whether it’s far or near and I have to sing, she would come. She would support me with whatever I have to get. She would make sure I am presented well always. She encourages me... She would

play my song every morning,” Alonica revealed affectionately. She also pinned local social media personality Laured Stewart, with whom she recorded a song, as one of her greatest boosters, along with Ms. Shanti Persaud of Carnegie School of Home Economics who was her Bible Studies teacher, her teachers from high school, and Pastor Mark Ferreira of Light of the World Christian Fellowship Church, where lies her membership. To her siblings and her wider family also were grati-

tude heaped, opting with tact to avoid namedropping, owing to the large bracket of names.

Affirmation

“I have this ability to share God’s word through music, to touch somebody, why not use it? It brings me so much joy that God gave me this gift, and I want to use it.”

Of discouragement and misfortunes, the teacher seeks to instill in her pupils even at their tender age, and all her supporters too, that “No matter what you’re go-

ing through, no season lasts forever.

Things change, things can happen for you. Just believe that God is going to make a way where there seems to be no way.”

That memorable and magical stage moment, bathed in spotlight, urged on approvingly by veterans, and with an audience of over 10,000 effectually her backup singers, unanimously overruled any doubt she retained, and confirmed for her that this is what she was divinely arranged for.

Emily and the Sock Monster...

From page 36 box fell! Emily turned on her flashlight and ran over. Inside the box, blinking up at her with big round eyes, was the Sock Monster.

It wasn’t scary at all. It looked like a tiny teddy bear with wild, frizzy hair and socks for clothes. It wore a polkadot sock like a cape and had a button on its chest like a badge.

bed skirt. Inside was a tiny sock cave like nothing she had ever seen.

Tunnels made from tube socks. Walls of folded woolly pairs. A soft mattress made of puffy slipper socks.

And hanging from the ceiling like decorations were little baby socks on strings.

“Oh. My. Goodness,” Emily said.

brought Poofle a basket full of unmatched socks from the laundry room.

“These are all the lonely socks that lost their pairs. You can use these.”

Poofle squealed with joy.

“Thank you, thank you!”

“I tried to pick ones that weren’t being used,” Poofle said. “But I needed enough to stay warm. My cousins are visiting next week.”

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“Hi,” it squeaked. “I’m Poofle.” “You are real!” Emily said. “Why are you stealing my socks?” Poofle’s lip wobbled. “I-I wasn’t stealing. I was borrowing. I needed them to build my home. My cave got cold… and socks are cozy!” Emily tilted her head. “Your home?”

Poofle nodded. “Under your bed! Want to see?”

The Sock-Fort Kingdom Carefully, Emily lifted her

Emily smiled. “Well, you could ask before borrowing. People think I’m just messy!”

Poofle’s cheeks turned pink. “I didn’t mean to get you in trouble.”

“I have an idea,” said Emily.

The Sock Agreement

The next day, Emily

“And,” Emily added, “I’ll let you keep borrowing one fun sock each week—as long as you return it on Sundays and make a little note in my notebook so I know where it is.”

“Deal!” Poofle said, shaking her pinky with his fuzzy paw. That night, Poofle wrote in the notebook:

Sock Borrowed: Green with ducks

Reason: Pillow for my Aunt Sniffle

Return Date: Sunday

Smells like: Lemons Emily giggled. It was the first time she’d ever laughed about losing socks.

The Secret Keeper From that day on, Emily and Poofle became great friends.

Sometimes she’d leave him tiny marshmallows, and he’d leave her glittery buttons or miniature drawings made from crayon shavings. No one else ever saw the Sock Monster. Not Mom, not Dad, and definitely not Daniel.

But Emily knew.

Every week, she’d open her sock drawer, find one fun sock missing, check her notebook, and smile. Some secrets are just too fuzzy and magical to share. The End!

Follow-up Questions:

· If you had a Sock Monster living under your bed, what kind of socks would you give it and why?

to spend $1B to upgrade Cane View Avenue...

“The project has a 7month duration and will be executed in two lots on each side

Establishment. Works will commence on Saturday, July 12,” the ministry stated. Additionally, the ministry noted that the nearly 3km road project will bring

much relief to residents as it is set to significantly improve the roadway since some sections are nearly impassable due to heavyduty traffic.

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Israel kills 110 Palestinians across Gaza, including 34 aid seekers seekers

Aljazeera - Medical sources in Gaza say 110 Palestinians have been killed, including 34 aid seekers, in Israeli attacks in the besieged enclave since dawn.ReportsarethatIsrael

unleashed intense bombardment on Beit Hanoon in northern Gaza with approximately 40 air strikesreported.

The UN says 86 1 percent of the Gaza Strip now falls within Israeli “militarised zones” under forcedevacuationorders.

Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank are intensifying their attacks

against Palestinian communities,killingatleast two people, including a US citizen over the past 24 hours.

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 57,882 people and wounded 138,095, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry

An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the October 7, 2023, attacks, and more than 200 weretakencaptive.

Among the victims on Saturday, 14 were killed in GazaCity,fouroftheminan Israeli strike on a residence on Jaffa Street in the Tuffah area, which injured 10 others.

At least 30 aid seekers were killed by Israeli army firenorthofRafah,southern Gaza,neartheoneoperating GHF site, which rights groups and the United Nations have slammed as “human slaughterhouses” and“deathtraps”.

According to Al Jazeera Mubasher, Israeli forces fired directly at Palestinians in front of the aid distribution centre in the alShakoushareaofRafah.

Reporting from Deir elBalah, Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud said the Israeli a r m y o p e n e d f i r e indiscriminately on a large crowd during one of the attacks.

“Many desperate families in the north have been making dangerous journeys all the way to the south to reach the only operatingdistributioncentre inRafah,”hesaid.

“Many of the bodies are still on the ground,” Mahmoud said, adding that those who were wounded in the attack have been transferred to Nasser HospitalinKhanYounis.

Amid relentless daily carnageraineduponstarving

Palestinians transport a victim to a Red Cross clinic in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip after he was reportedly shot as he waited to receive food parcels at a distribution point run by GHF, on July 12, 2025 [AFP]

650,000 children under the age of five are at “real and immediate risk of acute malnutrition in the coming weeks”.

“Over the past three days, we have recorded dozens of deaths due to shortages of food and essential medical supplies, in an extremely cruel humanitariansituation,”the statementread

“This shocking reality reflects the scale of the u n p r e c e d e n t e d humanitarian tragedy in Gaza,”thestatementadded

Israel is engineering a “cruel and Machiavellian schemetokill”inGaza,the head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said on Friday, as the world body reported that since May, when GHF began its operations, some 800 Palestinians have been killedwhileseekingaid

“Under our watch, Gaza hasbecomethegraveyardof children [and] starving people,” UNRWA chief PhilippeLazzarinisaid. Mass displacement, expulsion ‘illegal and immoral’

As the Israeli military announced on Saturday that its forces attacked Gaza 250 times in the last 48 hours, Israeli officials have continued to push a plan to forcibly displace and e v e n t u a l l y e x p e l Palestinians.

Earlier this week, DefenseMinisterIsraelKatz announced a plan to build a so-called “humanitarian city” which will house 2.1

have rejected the plan and reiterated that they would notleavetheenclave.

R i g h t s g r o u p s , international organisations and several nations have slammed it as laying the ground for “ethnic cleansing”, the forcible removal of a population fromitshomeland.

Israeli political analyst Akiva Eldar toldAl Jazeera on Saturday that the majority of Israelis are “really appalled” by Katz’s plan, which would be “illegalandimmoral”

“Anybody who will participate in this disgusting project will be involved in war crimes,” Eldersaid

Themessageunderlying the plan, he said, is that “there can’t be two people between the river and the sea, and those who deserve to have a state are only the Jewishpeople ”

As Israel announces its intention to force the population of Gaza into Rafah, Middle East professor at the University of Turin, Lorenzo Kamel, told Al Jazeera that the expulsion of Palestinians from their land and their concentration in restricted areasisnothingnew

In 1948, 77 years ago to thisday,70,000Palestinians were expelled from the villageofLyddaduringwhat became known as the “marchofdeath”.

“Manyofthemendedup in the Gaza Strip,” Kamel said, adding that the Israeli authorities have been forcing Palestinians into

the past months,” he said.

The plan to gather the Gaza population on the ruins of Rafah is therefore “nothing but another camp in preparation for the

The indirect talks are expectedtocontinue,despite the latest obstacles in clinching a deal based on a US proposal for a 60-day ceasefire.

APalestiniansourcesaid Hamas has not accepted the withdrawal maps which Israel has proposed, as they would leave about 40 percentoftheterritoryunder Israelioccupation,including all of Rafah and further territories in northern and easternGaza.

Matters regarding the fullandfreeflowofaidtoa starving population, and guarantees, were also presentingachallenge.

Two Israeli sources said HamaswantsIsraeltoretreat to lines it held in a previous ceasefire, before it renewed itsoffensiveinMarch.

Delegations from Israel and Hamas have been in Qatar since Sunday in a renewed push for an agreement.

Gaza in g g place in Qatar to cement a truce are stalling over the extent of Israeli forces’ withdrawal from the Strip, accordingtoPalestinianand Israeli sources familiar with thematter,theReutersnews agency reported on Saturday

Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ West Demerara Edition continues Unstoppable Force, Showstoppers shine on day three

Day three of the G u i n n e s s ‘Greatest of the Streets’ West Demerara edition delivered a night packed with drama, goals, and controversy as eight intense matchups kept fans ontheedgeoftheirseats.

Unstoppable Force set thetonefortheeveningwith a narrow 1-0 victory over Game Changers FC, thanks toasixth-minutestrikefrom

Calvin Durga The tight encounter saw both teams battle defensively, but Durga’s early goal proved decisive.

In the second match, Westside Ballers followed a similar script with Darrell Abrams finding the back of the net in just the second minute against Rising Stars. That early lead held firm as the Ballers secured a 1-0 win.Matchthreedelivereda

tense stalemate between Gunners and Epic Touch

Family Both teams displayed solid defensive organization, resulting in a goallessdraw

Wash Bay Boys then turned up the excitement witha2-0winoverCayenne Massive, capped off by a spectacular Golden Goal in the 27th minute from Dehsaun Ellis. His finish ensured Wash Bay’s

advancement to the next round. Team Family eked outahard-fought1-0victory over Agricola, with Martin Kingconfidentlyconverting a10th-minutepenaltytoseal theresult.

Thehighlightofthenight came in a thrilling goal-fest as Showstoppers outclassed Murphy Street Stars 6-3. Marvin Josiah was instrumental in the victory, nettingtwiceinthefifthand 10thminutes.

StephenJupiterextended the lead with a Golden Goal inthe27thminute,followed

Sunday July 13, 2025

ARIES(Mar 21–Apr 19)

Peopleclosetoyoumightbea bit worried about you, Aries.

Too much work and socializing might have you feeling less than your usual self, and perhaps even a little feverishandheadachy

TAURUS(Apr 20–May20)

All continues to go well professionally,Taurus.You're feeling physically strong and vigorous. Mentally, however, youmightbeabitvague.You may be easily distracted and notassharpasusual.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

The high from your recent successes could make you wanttopurchaseluxuryitems that you used to think were impractical,Gemini.

CANCER(June21–July22)

You could be on a real emotionalhightodaybecause of your success and that of other household members, Cancer Your mind may be buzzing with ideas for future expansion, some of which maynotbeallthatworkable.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Todaymayprovetobeoneof your busiest in a long time, Leo The promise of continuing success in your personal and professional goalscouldfindyouspending alotoftimeonthephone.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

Business and financial successmakesyouhappyand satisfied,Virgo.Youalsolook forward to moving on. The downside of this flush period is that people who aren't particularly trustworthy might decide to latch onto yourcoattails.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

As your professional dreams unfold, Libra, you may worry about the downside First, there are new responsibilities that you might doubt your ability to fulfill. Second, you mightbecatapulted.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21)

Recentspiritualbreakthroughs might have you feeling both exhilarated and downcast, Scorpio. Your sensitive side tells you that this is a definite step forward on your spiritual path.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

Recentspiritualbreakthroughs might have you feeling both exhilarated and downcast, Scorpio. Your sensitive side tells you that this is a definite step forward on your spiritual path.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Confirmation of professional success could come your way, Capricorn, and you're probably feeling excited and motivated to keep pushing. But you may find that increased responsibilities interferewithyoursociallife.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20–Feb 18) Success on all levels is filling your life and making youfeelabsolutelywonderful, Aquarius. The downside of thisisthatyoumightbealittle too conscientious. Are you puttinginalotofextrahours.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar 20)

Hard work, enthusiasm, and dedication are now paying off financially, Pisces New opportunitiesareopeningupto profitably make use of your artisticside.

closely by another Golden GoalfromDarrenBenjamin. Despite commendable efforts from Kenton Boyce and Dontee McAulay for Murphy Street Stars, the damagewasalreadydone.

Elsewhere, Ballerz Empire advanced via walkover after Sunshine Ballersfailedtofieldateam.

J e t t y B a l l e r s a n d PouderoyenBrothersplayed outatactical0-0drawinthe evening’sfinalmatch.

Finalists to be decided today: ExxonMobil’s...

Frompage53

Abrams, Jasiah Nedd, and ShangiWelchwillfaceWest Ruimveldt Secondary St. John’s enters the match in blistering form; having posted 7-0, 11-1, and 3-0 victories,withtheironlyreal test coming in a narrow 4-3 winoverCharitySecondary. The second quarterfinal

w

Academic Foundation take on Bygeval Secondary

Much will depend on the form of Jashan Haynes and Jadan Christian, who have been goal-scoring machines for Chase this season The winner of this tie will face either St. John’s or West Ruimveldtinthesemifinals.

At12:00PM,ThreeMile Secondary takes on East Ruimveldt Secondary in whatpromisestobeatightly contested showdown Both sides have impressed, but ThreeMilemayholdaslight edgethankstotheirdepthand stando

performers

Closing out the quarterfinal round will be WaramuriSecondaryfacing DolphinSecondary,withthe winner going on to face the victorofEastRuimveldtvs. ThreeMileinthesemifinals. Semifinal action is set to kickofffrom1:00PMtoday ThePetraOrganisation’s Sixth Annual U14 Football Championship continues to grow in stature The tournament is proudly sponsored by ExxonMobil, with support from SkyTec, MVPSports,StenaDrilling, I-Cee Soft Drink, and Demerara Mutual It is officially sanctioned by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture, YouthandSport.

confirmed the sanctions, u n d e r l

h e i r commitment to maintaining d i s c i p l i n e a n d sportsmanship. Upcoming Fixtures –Wednesday, July 16 Plate Q

7:30 PM: Unstoppable Force vs Westside Ballers 8:00 PM: Rising Stars vs. Gunners 8:30 PM: Agricola vs CayenneMassive Quarterfinals

However, controversy marred the evening as Sunshine Ballers’ players andmanagerwerehitwitha three-year ban from all futureGuinness‘Greatestof theStreets’tournamentsdue to egregious misconduct The tournament organizers

9:30 PM: Murphy Street Stars vs Pouderoyen Brothers

10:00 PM: Team Family vs.WashBayBoys

10:30 PM: Ballers Empire vs Epic Touch Family

11:00PM:Showstoppers vs.JettyBallers

Finalists to be decided today: ExxonMobil’s U14 Football heats up with Quarterfinals and Semifinals

As the Petra-

organised Sixth

A n n u a l ExxonMobil Boys’ and Girls’ Under-14 Schools Football Championship enters its decisive stages today (the quarterfinals and semifinals) tension and excitement are reaching fever pitch. The Ministry of Education Complex ground will come alive with a thrilling display of youth football, as the top eight schools in both categories gearupforbattle.Bytheend oftoday’sfixtures,thestage willbesetforthefinalsofthe 2025 ExxonMobil U14 Championships. Withaspotinthehighly anticipatedfinalsontheline, every pass, tackle, and goal

will carry enormous weight. The teams have already proventhemselvesonpaper, now; it’s time to prove it on the pitch. Fans can expect a daypackedwithhigh-stakes, heart-stopping action from some of the best emerging talentsinschoolfootball.

Girls’Quarterfinals

I n t h e o p e n i n g quarterfinal at 10:00 AM, tournament heavyweights Marian Academy, the most dominant force in the girls’ categorywilltakeonVreeden-HoopSecondary Despite some impressive play from the Region Three side, they face a massive challenge againstaMarianteamledby the prolific Hakey Haberkorn, who has already netted seven goals in the

tournament She will be supported by Kaliegh Todd andSkylarDeNobrega,who have combined for 11 goals so far, making Marian Academytheteamtobeat.

Chase’s Academic

Foundation Girls will face Bush Lot Secondary in the second quarterfinal The winner will meet the victor of Marian vs Vreed-enHoop in the semifinals Chase will be hoping to avoid a repeat of the 7-0 drubbing Marian handed to BushLotinthegroupstage. Waramuri Secondary, aided by a mix of dominant wins and walkovers, will take on A

m Zuil Secondary in the third quarterfinal. Waramuri has racked up emphatic 9-0 and

10-0 wins, but will face a tougher test today The winner of that clash will meet the victor of East Ruimveldt Secondary vs Bartica Secondary, a matchup that promises fireworks. Bartica has been lethal this season, scoring a jaw-dropping27goalsinjust three matches East Ruimveldt will need to contain Bartica’s fearsome attacking quartet consisting ofKelysWilliams,Virlerkys Simon, Neriswar Williams, andGeneshaSpencer,ifthey hopetoadvance.

Boys’Quarterfinals

Over in the boys’ division, St. John’s College, powered by dynamic attackingtrioRobinho (Continuedonpage52)

MarianAcademy forward Skylar DeNobrega on the move during Wednesday’s round-of-16 clash as Marian moves into quarters unbeaten.

Pollard power trumps Hosein’s...

Frompage55 removed the dangerous MichaelBracewell(eight).

But even with Hosein’s excellence, the Super Kings hadtoomanysoftspots.Faf du Plessis’ 42-ball 59 was theonlyresistanceinthetop order, as the rest of the frontline collapsed meekly It was not until Hosein and Donovan Ferreira, who madea20-ball32,combined for an unbroken 81-run standthatTexasSuperKings regainedtheirfooting.

Young Tristan Luus (335) and Rushil Ugarkar (231) did the damage for MI NewYork.

Yet, with a middle order asseasonedandexplosiveas MI New York’s, 166 was never enough Monank

Patel’s 49 off 39, which had fivefoursandtwosixes,had set a platform, and Pooran, who also had four boundariesandthreesixesin his knock, and Pollard simplytookithomeinstyle.

Pollard’s statement knockwasareminderofhis enduring value in franchise cricket—even at 38. For all his coaching duties in the IPL, he continues to be a match-winner with bat in handwhenitmattersmost.

And now, thanks to his lateblitz,MINewYorkwill faceWashingtonFreedomin the MLC final, as they completed a remarkable resurgence after they barely scraped into the playoffs with just three wins in the leaguephase.

East Bank/West Demerara zone...

Frompage57

the Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast will move to the Georgetown/East Coast ZoneonJuly19and20,and the Essequibo zone on July 26and27.

Admissiontoallvenuesis free The Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast is supported by Kares EngineeringInc,theOfficeof the President, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, KFC Guyana, Star Rentals, Banks DIH, ENet, Guyana Lottery Company, Regal

Stationery and Computer Centre, Impressions, Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal, Shawn’s Mini Mart, Giftland Group of Companies, Kris JagdeoConstructionCompany, MontraRestaurantandLounge, Windsor Estates, The New Doctor’sClinic,GuyOil,ANSA McAL, SuperBet Guyana, Digital Technology, Camille’s Academy, Navin Construction, Demerara Mutual Life Insurance, Continental Transportation, and Environmental and TechnicalSolutions.

Gurbaz hits 58, Tahir grabs 4-13 as Amazon Warriors get off the mark in Global Super League

S p o r t s M a x -

Rahmanullah Gurbaz and captain Imran Tahir played starring roles to help the Guyana Amazon Warriors defeat the Central Districts 66 runs for their first win of the 2025 Global Super League at Providence Stadium in Guyana on Friday

The Amazon Warriors posted 158-6 from their 20 oversafterbeingputintobat by Central Districts captain TomBruce.

Gurbaz, in his usual

position at the top of the order,ledthescoringwith58 off 47 balls including three foursandtwosixes.

Hegotexcellentsupport from young Jewel Andrew who hit 45 off 29 balls including three fours and a six.

Thepaircombinedtoput on 84 for the third wicket after the wicket of Moeen Aliinthefourthover

Off spinner Angus Schaw picked up 2-24 from three overs while Matthew Forde bagged 2-34 in his

fourovers.

Captain Imran Tahir then starred with a fourwicket haul to lead a demolition job of the New Zealand-based side for just 92in14 2overs

Will Young (26), Forde (24) and Schaw (11) were the only batsmen to get double figures as Tahir finished with figures of 423fromhisfourovers

Medium pacers Dwayne Pretorius and David Wiese also bowled excellently in supportoftheirskipper

Summarizedscores:

Guyana Amazon Warriors

overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 58, Jewel Andrew 45, Angus Schaw2-24,MatthewForde 2-34)

Central Districts 92 all out in 14 2 overs (Will Young 26, Matthew Forde 24, Imran Tahir 4-23, Dwayne Pretorius 3-18, DavidWiese2-13).

Pretoriuspickedup3-18 from his four overs while Wiese took 2-13 from 2.2 overs.

158-6 in 20

Imran Tahir of GuyanaAmazon Warriors celebrates with teammates after getting the wicket of Josh Clarkson of Central Stags. (Photo byAshleyAllen - GSLT20/Global Super League via Getty Images)

Pollard power trumps

Hosein’s

heroics

as MI New York storm into MLC final

SportsMax - Akeal Hosein’sall-roundbrilliance gavetheTexasSuperKingsa fighting chance, but in the end, it was Kieron Pollard’s vintage fireworks that lit up Grand Prairie Stadium and powered MI New York into the 2025 MLC final with a commanding seven-wicket winonFridaynight.

It was a tale of two Trinidadians, both playing starring roles for their sides—but only one would walkoffawinner

Hosein, who stepped up when the Super Kings were in deep trouble at 85-5, smashed a career-best T20 score of 55 not out from 32

balls his maiden halfcenturyintheformat—ashe carved boundaries at will and injected much-needed life into the back end of the innings His calculated assault included four fours and four sixes and was crucialinpushingTexastoa competitivetotal.

Scores: Texas Super Kings 166-5 (20 overs); MI NewYork172-3(19overs)

And in a delicious twist ofcricketingfate,oneofthe bowlers he took to task was none other than Pollard himself, who conceded 41 runsinhisfouroverswithout awicket.

ButPollardisnostranger

to redemption, and he delivered in crushing style.

As MI New York’s chase faltered at 83-3 in the 13th over, and the asking rate crept over 12 runs per over, the veteran power-hitter came to the crease and immediatelyturnedthetide. His first boundary was a monstrous100-metresixoff NoorAhmadthatclearedthe sightscreen and sent an ominous warning to the Super Kings. By the time Pollard was done, he had belted47notoutfromjust22 balls, an innings that featuredfourfoursandthree sixes, and wrestled momentum away from the

Super Kings with one brutal over of 23 runs off Zia-ulHaq.

Nicholas Pooran played theperfectsupportrole,ashe anchored the chase with an unbeaten52off36deliveries to ensure that MI NewYork crossedthelinewithanover tospare.

Earlier, Hosein had not only rescued the Super Kings with the bat but also impressedwiththeball,ashe deliveredatightspelltotake onewicketfor11fromthree overs. His control and guile briefly applied pressure on MI New York’s batting order,especiallyafterhe (Continuedonpage54)

CWI Rising Stars U19 Men’s 50-Over Championships … Guy vs. WWI

FontainecenturypushesGuyanaonbackfootas pushes on

Windwardsstrollto79-runvictory

Earshino Fontaine dazzled with a sublime century yesterday to give Windwards a commanding

79-run win Guyana yesterday as U19 action continued.

Windwards racked up 262-8 after 50 overs, riding on knocks from centurion Fontaine,whostrokedjust6

fours and a six off 118 deliveries along with skipper and opener Stephan

Pascal who laid the foundation with 41 from 36 (6x4).

A lower-order spurt from Devonte McDowall (21), Kirsten Murray (17) and Isiah Jones (17*)

further damaged the Guyanese bowling

attack

Left-arm spinner Golcharan Chulai (2-22), Captain and seamer Johnathan Van Lange (247) and Parmeshwar Ram (2-60), fought hard for theirscalps

However, their team couldn’t go past 183 runs which saw their campaign end with 2 balls left, as

Sachin Balgobin (48) resistedalongsidethelikes ofRiyadLatif(31),Romario Ramdehol (21) and Van Lange(18).

Windwards had a clinical bowling effort from the trio of Kirt Murray (3-26), Kirsten Murray (3-34) and Jones, who returned to claim 348 © Ross)

Kieron Pollard and Nicholas Pooran celebrate the win. (Photos: Sportzpics for MLC)

Earshino Fontaine and skipper and opener Stephan Pascal propelled Windwards to a challenging total.

Sean Kitt captures 1500m at AAU Club National Championships despite travel challenge

Sean Kitt, a 11-year-old athlete of Guyanese roots, continues to impress in the United States, winning a middle-distanceeventashis budding athletic journey continuestosoar

Participating in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Club National Championships scheduled for July 8–12, 2025 at HodgesStadium,SouthUN F Drive, Jacksonville, FL, USA, Kitt stormed to victoryinthe1500mracein dominantfashion.

RunningfortheDashing Dons & Divas Club, Kitt, whose parents hail from Linden, clocked 5:05.85 to defeat Darrian Davis of DownSouthXtremeSports

(5:07.34) and Donterius Dawkins of Charlotte Panthers Track (5:08.54) in dominantfashionfromstart tofinish.

According to Kitt’s grandmother, Jacqueline W

ed competing in the 800m on Tuesday because his flight w

2 consecutive days and they were not able to rebook. However, they were able to getonaconnectingflighton AA intransitive to Miami, which had a layover for 3 h

touchdown at Jacksonville, Florida a

, eventually getting to the hotelat3:00am. She noted that the

youngster got 3 hours sleep and got to the track at 7am thenextday. Despitebeing sleepy,hehadtogetonline to check his spikes and check in 45 minutes before his race. Overcoming his challenges,heproducedthe desired result, going out in frontofthefieldandholding thatadvantage,turningona sprint at the end to comfortablywinintheend.

Othertopfinishersinthe

Wooden (Jackrabbit Track Georgia - 5:10.92), Suhas Gogireddy (Victory Track Club-5:11.05),AlexGeisel (Hillsborough Harriers5:11.39) and Maximillian You (Bullseye Running5:11.86).

Preparation continues for Kennard Memorial Turf Club Pre-Emancipation Horserace on July 27

Excitement builds as preparations continue for the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) Pre-Emancipation Horserace meet.TheeventissetforSunday27thJulyat the KMTC Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice entity A number of entries and sponsors have lined up to be a part of the day’sactionsofar Withcloseto$5Mincash trophies and other memorabilia at stake, an exciting day of racing is anticipated

Therearesixracesontheday’scardwiththe featureeventbeingforanimalsclassifiedE2 andloweroverone-mile.Thewinninghorse willraceaway$500,000andtrophy

Theothereventsontheday’scardarethe H and Lower seven furlongs race which has polepositiontakingof$400,000andtrophy

ThereisaraceforI3andlowerhorsesfor awinner’spurseof$300,000andtrophyover

fivefurlongs.

The horses competing in the L Open contestwilltobattlingoversixfurlongs.The winningprizeis$300,000andtrophy

TwoyearsoldGuyanabredOpenanimals hasfivefurlongstocoverastheycompetefor the$300,000andtrophyavailableforthetop runner In the J and lower race, the animals willalsobecompetingforthewinnerstakeof $300,000 and trophy in the six furlongs contest.

Horses can be entered by contacting Satish Bowan on 610-0250, Isaac Dalloo689-0629, T Jagdeo - 618-7278, Compton Sancho-682-8550orRopnauthSewsankar678-6722oranyotherexecutiveoftheclub.

Racetimeis13:30hrs.

Theeventwillbeheldundertheaegisof theKMTC. (SamuelWhyte)

Swiatek thrashes Anisimova 6-0 6-0 to win Wimbledon title

Poland’s Iga Swiatek celebrates after winning the women’s singles final at Wimbledon against AmandaAnisimova of the U.S. (REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq)

LONDON, (Reuters)Iga Swiatek thrashed

merican Amanda Anisimova 6-0 6-0 to become the first Polish player to win a Wimbledon singles title on Saturday, ending a ludicrously lopsidedfinalin57minutes.

The 24-year-old eighth seed was merciless as she took brutal advantage of Grand Slam final debutant Anisimova’s leg-sapping nerves in front of a stunned CentreCourt.

Itturnedintoanightmare afternoon for 13th seed Anisimova who became the first player to lose a Wimbledonfinal6-06-0for more than a century and the first to do so at any Grand SlamshowpiecesinceSteffi Graf beat Natasha Zvereva atthe1988FrenchOpen.

Swiatek, who had never gonebeyondtheWimbledon quarter-finals before this year despite winning four French Open crowns, could never have imagined that

claiming her sixth Grand Slamtitlecouldhavebeenas straightforward.

She dropped only two games in her semi-final win against Belinda Bencic and was even more ruthless in the final, clinching victory withabackhandwinner

It was Swiatek’s sixth winfromherfirstsixGrand Slam finals and took her to 100 wins from 120 matches atthemajors,thequickestto reach the century since SerenaWilliamsin2004.

After winning her first trophy since triumphing at Roland Garros 13 months ago,sheisalsotheyoungest player to win Grand Slam titles on all the sport’s three surfaces since Williams in 2002.

“Itseemssupersurreal,” Swiatek, who arrived at Wimbledon under the radar withdoubtsaboutherability to translate her claycourt skill to the lawns, said on court.

“I didn’t even dream

(aboutthis)becauseformeit was just like way too far. I feel like I’m already an experienced player, but I never really expected this one.”

One had to feel for Anisimova She never settled, won only 24 points andmade28unforcederrors asherhopesofbecomingthe first American to win the title since Serena Williams in 2016 were trampled into theturf.

With tears welling up in her eyes, she managed to composeherselftosayafew words.

“EventhoughIranoutof gas a bit today and I wish that I could put on a better performance for all of you, you guys have still been thereformeandliftedmeup today,”shesaid.

“I know I didn’t have enoughtoday,butI’mgonna keepputtinginthework,and I always believe in myself, so I hope to be back here againoneday.”

GFF holds FIFA Elite Youth Coach Workshop

Th e G u y a n a F o o t b a l l

F e d e r a t i o n

(GFF),incollaborationwith FIFA, on Tuesday officially commencedafour-dayElite Youth Coach Workshop aimedatstrengtheningyouth development structures and enhancing the technical capacity of local coaches workingwithnationalyouth teams.

RunningfromJuly8thto 11th, 2025, the workshop wasexecutedundertheFIFA TalentDevelopmentScheme (TDS) and forms part of FIFA’s“ondemand”training support for its Member Associations. The course is designed to provide development coaches with the tools, methodologies, and frameworks required to identify, nurture, and transition emerging football talent through the national pipeline.

Throughout the four-day programme, participants

were engaged in both theoretical and practical sessions that focused on m o d e r n c o a

h i n g techniques,long-termplayer development models, and the establishment of high-

se sessions were intended to support the Federation’s wider strategic goals of building a sustainable national team pipeline through strong grassroots and academ

l coaching.

GFF Technical Director Bryan Joseph described the workshopasnotonlytimely but crucial to the ongoing development of youth football in Guyana “The Elite Youth Coaches Workshop is not only really, really important but is also very timely, because it comesatatimewhenweare workingwithmultipleyouth national teams preparing them for international

competition,”Josephstated. He emphasized that the course goes beyond shortterm preparation and serves as a powerful affirmation of

Participants involved in a session of the FIFAElite

in Guyana. (GFF)

theGFF’songoingeffortsin coaching education. “More importantly, the course servesasavalidationforthe work that we’ve been doing in our Coach Education Department.Itisreallygood tohearthatalotofthethings that we’re doing with our nationalprogramsisalready part of the best practice that isdoneacrosstherestofthe football spectrum, so we’re happy,”hesaid.

Joseph also highlighted the collaborative nature of theworkshopandthequality of engagement between the local coaches and the FIFA technical team. “Thus far, theinteractionwiththeFIFA

East Bank/West Demerara zone champions

Today at the Police Sports Club is expected to be a day of big hits from ball one.

Five teams remain in the East Bank Demerara/West Demerara zone in the third Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast, and one will emerge champion today, Sunday,July13,andheadto the National Stadium, ProvidenceonAugust3.

Thezonefinalsarebeing held at the Police Sports Club, Eve Leary, from 09:30h.

The remaining matches are a quarter-final between Young Steppaz and Trensetters, followed by the first semi-final, Diamond Gunners v The Guard, from 11:00h,andthewinnerofthe quarter-final against Eccles All-Starsat12:45h.

Thefinalisfrom15:30h.

According to the organisers, FL Sport, they will live stream the two semi-finals and final on the tournament’s social media page, One Guyana T10 TapeballBlast.

In addition to joining Montra Jaguars as the first twoteamstosecureaspotat the National finals, the zone winner will win $300,000 and a specially hand-crafted woodentrophy

The runners-up will get $100,000.

Full scores from all matches can be found here: https://flsport.gy/live-score/

F o l l o w i n g t h e completion of the East Bank/WestDemerarazone, (Continuedonpage54)

teamandthelocalgrouphas beenexcellent.Thereisalot of sharing of information and best practices,and there isnowclearerunderstanding of the standards that are expectedfromusasnational coaches,”heexplained.

Headdedthatthisdeeper clarity is essential to the Federation’s long-term development goals: “We n o w h a v e a b e t t e r understanding of what is required of us if we are to trulyimpactthelevelandthe qualityoftheplayerscoming t h r o u g h t h e system especially those transitioning from youth football into first team

football.”

The application for the course was submitted through the FIFA Training Centre portal by the GFF’s technical department and approved following FIFA’s review of three proposed timelines The workshop was facilitated by approximately four to five FIFAexperts.

The FIFA Elite Youth Coach Workshop is a key milestone in the GFF’s broader effort to create a structured, sustainable football development ecosystem that reflects international best practices whileservinglocalneeds.

West Indies seamers shine as Australia bowled out for 225 after a 7 for 87 collapse“ …MitchellStarcstrikesbackwithanearly inroadbeforestumpsinhis100th

Sub fielderAnderson Phillip stretches horizontally to complete one of the great catches and dismiss Travis Head. (cricinfo)

Test“EspncricinfoAustraliasufferedadramatic collapseof7for87underthe new Sabina Park floodlights as West Indies' quicks enjoyed the conditions with Jayden Seales, Shamar Joseph and Justin Greaves sharing all ten before Mitchell Starc struck back with an early inroad in his 100th Test.“Starc, who had

earlier collected a duck and been given a send-off by Seales, went close on numerous occasions before removing debutant Kevlon Anderson,whoinside-edged ontothestumpsattemptinga drive. West Indies 16 for 1 (Starc 1-3) trail Australia 225 (Smith 48, Green 46, Shamar Joseph 4-33, Greaves3-56)by209runs

FIFAinstructors and participants take a photo at the FIFAEliteYouth Coach Workshop. (GFF)

Youth Coach Workshop here

West Ruimveldt Boy’s will come up against defending champion Chase’sAcademic Foundation for spot in today’s semis.

Sean Kitt captures 1500m at AAU Club National Championships despite travel challenge

final. (REUTERS/

Winner Poland’s Iga Swiatek poses with the trophy alongside runner upAmandaAnisimova of the U.S. after the women’s singles

Stephanie Lecocq TPX Images of The Day)

Sean Kitt on top of the podium with Darrian Davis (right) and Donterius Dawkins (left).