…Bank says move made to ensure compliance with int’l financial sector rules governing relations with sanctioned individuals
Exxon in talks with T&T for 7 deepwater blocks retirement age, proposes flexible retirement option
…saysauthoritiesmullingstiffer fines,jailtimetotackleproblem Benn concerned about rising gun crimes
APNU to remove compulsory Govt.borrowsanotherUS$30M
fromIDBtoboostwatersupply
Bennconcernedaboutrisingguncrimes
…says authorities mulling stiffer fines, jail time to tackle problem
With a rise in gun violence
here, Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn on Tuesday said that the authorities have to look at ways to stem the tide by increasing the fines and jail timeforpersonscaughtwith illegalfirearms.
In recent times there has been a rash of gun crimes across the country- many of them resulting in persons losing their lives. The most recent case saw a young teacher in Linden, Jenel
Pollydore being gunned down by her ex-boyfriend during a wedding reception lastSaturdayevening. Before that incident, we hadthewantonkillingoftwo men on the Buxton Linetop, followed by another execution-style killing in Linden.
There have been several othersaswellasdailyarmed robberiesacrossthiscountry
Mostofthesecasesareyetto be solved, although police havearrestedsuspectsintwo oftherecentkillings.
Speaking with Kaieteur News on the sidelines of his inspectionofadieselleakon Saffon Street on Tuesday Benn told Kaieteur News that the law enforcement agenciesarecognizantofthe rise in gun crimes
According to him, the issue of illegal firearm possession isontopoftheagendaofthe securityforces.
Benn said: “We are working on the question of gun control We have drafted a new FirearmsAct. We got to think just now in
termsofincreasingfinesand incarceration for persons foundinpossessionofillegal weapons.And even if, these persons are licensed, we havelookedattheuseofit.A person with a gun license should not be allowed to go to a bar and just be brandishinghisweapon.”
Theministersaidmostof the illegal guns have been enteringthecountrythrough Guyana’s porous borders “The guns are illegal guns. They are coming in to the country through the borders
Minister of Home Affairs,
and most of them are manufactured in the United States of America. We have been arresting quite a number of persons in particular a number person forintimatepartnerviolence with the guns and firearm killings many of them in possessionofillegalguns.”
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Law Enforcement, Wendell Blanhum during a presentation of crime statistics late last year had acknowledged that armed robbery, particularly involving firearms, remains the most prevalent crime of concern.
Blanhum had said that pistols, especially highcapacity models with the ability to hold up to 17 rounds, are the firearms of choiceamongcriminals.
These weapons he said arefavouredduetotheireasy concealment and greater ammunition capacity The deputy commissioner had also pointed out that in response to the alarming increase in illegal firearms, the police had made significant strides in recovering weapons, with a record162firearmsseizedin 2024 the highest in a decade.
Observers have said that spiraling gun violence is a fact of life in Guyana today
“It is almost the exception whenafirearmanditsusage threatened or actual is not part of the mix, meaning, crime on the street, or something going on in the home.Itdoesnothavetobe the direct costs to victims and their families, but such costs extend to the workplace, particularly if a stateagency,intermsoflost man hours and productivity, and the sums expended on training, with seepages into the wider economy,” Kaieteur News wrote in an editorialonTuesday
Theissueofgunviolence and also rising crime have been a topic during the current election campaign.
F o r m e r D e p u t y Commissioner of Police, Paul Williams decried the current state of the police force, which he said, has extremelydeterioratedunder thecurrentPPPgovernment.
“You can see definitely wheretheforcehascometo. They have destroyed every fabric that was built by our predecessors They have d e s t r o y e d a l l t h e camaraderie and everything in the force, they have burned bridges,…they need those who they can make puppets…”Williams who is a candidate for the APNU toldarallySundaynight.
He referred to the 2022 report of the Police ComplaintsAuthoritywhich detailed some 194 c o m p l a i n t s t o b e investigated. Four of those complaints were fatal shooting by police officers. Williams said when the recommendation was made forchargestobelaidagainst the officers, those charges disappeared.Therankswere instead encouraged to settle thematters.
He said the government hasbeenfullyawareofthese issues and chose not to take actionagainsttheheadofthe police force. “You want a government like that? Nowhere, we will not go withagovernmentlikethat.”
Citingtherecent25-year sentencing of SWAT constableSherwinPetersfor the killing of Essequibo businessman, Orin Boston back in 2021, Williams pointed out the judge’s comment which stated that the police’s action was d i s p r o p o r t i o n a t e , unjustified, and unlawful andthatthepolicehadacted unjustly entering Boston’s home without a search or arrestwarrant.
Robeson Benn
DemeraraBankcutstieswithWINcandidates
…party alleges victimization, threatens to take legal action …Bank says move made to ensure compliance with int’l financial sector rules governing relations with sanctioned individuals
Several candidates from the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, led by sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed, have been informed by Demerara Bank Limited (DBL) that theiraccountswillbeclosed WINofficialsarealleging
that this move is politically motivated and say legal actionisbeingconsidered At a press conference on Tuesday night, former Peoples National Congress R e f o r m ( P N C / R ) parliamentarian Natasha Singh-Lewis and Duarte
Hetsberger revealed they were among those affected TheysaidDBLnotifiedthem oftheterminationofservices viaemailcorrespondence
Singh-Lewis, a customer ofthebankforover15years, said she received a call on Tuesday notifying her of an
APNU to remove compulsory retirement age, proposes flexible retirement option
Presidential candidate of A Partnership forNationalUnity(APNU),AubreyNorton, has announced that if elected, his administration will abolish the compulsory retirementageinthepublicservice.
Instead, public servants would have the option to continue working beyond the current retirement age of 55. Speaking during a live broadcast on GlobeSpan24x7 with host Dr Asquith Rose on Monday, Norton outlined several policies his party intendstoimplementifvotedintooffice. He emphasised the need to have retirement policies in line with the increasing life expectancy in Guyana. According to Norton, APNU will adopt a more flexible approach, allowing individualstochoosewhentheywishtoretire betweentheagesof55and65.
“Wecangivepeopletheoptionofretiring at 55 but they can also have the option of workingto60to65iftheysodesire.Wewill remove the compulsory retirement age and put a more fluid one,” Norton said. He stressed that the intention is not to force anyone to continue working but rather to provide flexibility for those who are willing andable.
“There are people who might want to retireat55.Wedon’twanttodeprivethemof that but there are people who believe that if theyretireat55andhavetowaituntil60for NISpensionandhavetowaituntil65forstate pension. What we will do is put in place a fluidsysteminwhichthereisnocompulsory age at 55.Thatis the approach we will take. Notallwillagreethattheywanttoretirea60 and65butifyouhaveafluidmechanismthen who arrives at 55 can then decide if they shouldretireat55orsomewherebetween55 and 65. We believe that option should be availabletothem,”heexplained.
Dr Rose noted that the current
government frequently hires retirees on contract. When asked if he would continue this practice, Norton responded, “contracts have their positives and negatives. I won’t rule it out. I will move in the direction of employing them on contract but I wouldn’t closetheoption,”hesaid.
Although APNU has now proposed this change,TradeUnionistLincolnLewisofthe Guyana Trades Union Congress pointed out that the issue of removing the compulsory retirement age has long been advocated by thetradeunionmovement.
“It has always been a proposal that was madebythetradeunionovertheyears.Ithas never been a proposal made by the parties that are involved in making decisions. This argument has been around since in the 50’s since during the time of the PNC in power It’s something that has always been there,” Lewisstated.
Lewis expressed support for the move, stating, “it’s an initiative that is required in thecircumstancewherethereareanumberof peoplewhoreachedtheageof55,thenleave andgooverseasandworkfor10,15yearsand comeback.”
email that was sent a day earlier
A letter addressed to her and seen by this publication, titled“Re:Discontinuationof Banking Services – Mrs. NatashaSingh-Lewis,”stated that all account maintenance services will be discontinued asofJuly25,2025
“This decision was made in compliance with our internal policies and banking requirements To ensure a
A copy of the letter sent to WIN candidate Natasha Singh-Lewis by Demerara Bank Limited
smooth transition effective immediately, no further depositswillbeacceptedinto your iftheaccountsarenot closed by July 25, 2025, we willclosethemautomatically Any remaining funds will be converted into a Banker’s Draft and held at the bank’s Camp & South Road Branch foryourcollection,”theletter read
Singh-Lewis said she visitedthebankandmetwith
staff members When she asked to see the policies referencedintheemail,none were provided She also spoke to a manager who similarly could not produce the relevant internal policies but advised her to visit the bank’sheadoffice Instead,sheconsultedher attorney “Iwasthenadvised thatlegalactionwillbetaken inrelationtothelettersentto Continuedonpage23
APNU Leader, Aubrey Norton
From left: WIN candidates, Duarte Hetsberger, Odessa Primus and Natasha Singh-Lewis
According to an expert analyst from the Running Point Capital, Chevron Corporation lost close to US$10B due to the ExxonMobil-inspired foot dragging that held its close competitoratbayforoverayear
Though US$10B is not a sum to laugh about, its loss is sure to bruise even as big an oil player as Chevron, there is one thing that we recommend to all our readers. No GuyaneseshouldshedasingletearforChevron,becausein the long run the new arrival in Guyana's prized oil and gas fieldswilldomorethanrecoverthosebillions. Givenalittle time to get acclimatized to Guyana, and get its act streamlined, and Chevron stands to make multiples of that approximately US$10B that Michael Ashby, chief investment officer of Running Point Capital calculated the Americanoilmajorlost.
ChevroniscurrentlyinsecondplaceintheranksofU.S. oil producers with a market capitalization that is just over half of ExxonMobil's. It is not ExxonMobil by any standards, but it is not the Hess Corporation that it bought lock,stock,andbarrel,andwhosestakeinGuyana'sStabroek Block it now owns. This could explain why ExxonMobil spentsomuchtimeandenergy,inalosingeffort,toblockand frustrate Chevron from participating in the world-class StabroekBlock.
In Chevron, ExxonMobil didn't see a pushover in the mold of the Hess Corporation, but a competitor, even an unwelcomed challenger It is a repeat of that old standard that two scorpions are not too happy when they find themselves sharing the same bottle. The issue of who is going to eat whom remains to be seen, but that is not the business of Guyanese. Guyanese have bigger concerns on theirminds,ofwhichthefightforthereinsofnationaloffice istakingprecedenceoverallotherconsiderations.
In the short-term, Chevron is forced to eat the US$10B thatcouldhavebeen,ifonlyExxonMobilwasbigenoughto allowasisterAmericanoilcompanytoshareintheStabroek Block. Thoughbystandersinthatfight,Guyanesearegiven aclose-uplessonontheruthlessnessofcapitalismingeneral, and the cutthroat nature of the oil business, specifically Chevronisahugecompany,andwillgetoveritstemporary setback,sponsoredbyExxonMobil.
So, Guyanese shouldn't cry for the smaller partner, the newarrival. Chevronknowsitsway,andisnimbleenough, to get going in the shortest time in Guyana's offshore oilfields. Again, it is why Guyanese are better advised to savetheirtearsforaworthierobject. Butthereisastilllarger reason why Guyanese shouldn't look sympathetically at Chevron. Itisheretomakemoneyinthemannerofamint fromthepatrimonyofGuyanese,anditwilldosointheblink of an eye, right next to ExxonMobil. The US$10B that Chevrondidn'tmakebecauseitlostoverayearispartofits welcome to Guyana greeting card, compliments of ExxonMobil. Like John Hess, CEO of the now departed HessCorporation,Chevron'sCEO,MichaelWirth,willlearn howtogetalongwithExxonMobil'swarriorsandmakeabig hauloutofGuyana. Chevronwillbefamiliarwiththeropes herebeforelong,andhowtopositionitsoperationstogetits Guyanaprofitmachinerunning. Thereisawaythatfinancial statementsarebuilt,andExxonMobil,Hessofthepast,and China National Offshore Corporation have all shown themselves expert at that craft. This is the exclusive accountingclubthatChevronisnowjoining,andwhichwill make it forget that US$10B that slipped through its grasp, becauseExxonMobilwantsalloftheStabroekBlockunder itscontrol.
Considering that it is a billion-dollar business that's involved, both ExxonMobil and Chevron will learn to bury the hatchet, work together, march in lockstep, and speak in harmony Profits are the first and only priorities of oil companies,andthelargerthecashflowsare,thequickerthat warringpartiesfindwaystogetalong. Guyanaisprostrate under the boot of these predators that sell themselves as partners. So, we repeat that earlier counsel: don't cry for Chevron,Guyanese. CryforGuyana.
The struggle for good governance in Guyana can no longer be taken for granted
DearEditor, For some in our midst, free, fair and transparent elections are all about sloganeering. Whereas it sounds good politically, it is proving daily not to be a truism in practice. In Guyana we have come to know this too well. We also benefit from information flows of what takes place aroundtheworldandevenin places considered to be the bastions of democracy and
transparency
Unfortunately,itisthese which see which some take their examples from, not caring or thinking of the impacttheyareincurring,in large measure as they enshrine a culture of deception,ofpreachingwhat they are not practicing. It is the masses who suffer and are denied their birthright subjected to a politics of exclusioninsteadofbenefits of what our constitution
addresses as inclusionary democracy and all that it entails. The trade union's advocacy at the first Caribbean Labour Conference in Georgetown, Guyanain1926isacalendar event that no Guyanese should forget. It is a proud moment for workers and every citizen of this country foritrepresentsasignificant landmark in our nation's development. At the time there was no mass based
politicalparty, here or in the Caribbean.
The Labour Movement single-handedly waged the battle with the then colonial government and powers for 24 years before the movementwasabletofinda political ally in the People's Progressive Party (PPP) whichincorporatedelements of Labour Agenda into the politicalplatform.
Thetradeunion's
(Continueonpage5)
Investors can't repatriate earnings because of foreign exchange shortages
DearEditor,
complaining that they can't access foreign exchange as
investment from revenue earnings. Local Guyanese have also been complaining about unavailability of exchange for their business (tradingandservices).Many Guyaneseinvestorshavehad
to file requests for foreign exchange and await weeks andevenmonths.
Foreignersorexpatriates immediately get foreign exchange.
They are not required to line up for foreign currency The Chinese, in particular, soak up all the foreign exchange as soon as the Central Bank releases funds intothebankingsystem.The
Chinese and the Syrian Trinidadians,useupmostof our exchange with the tacit approval of the government. The government has been encouraging and appealing to the diaspora to invest in Guyana. There were many positive responses as Guyanese invested in various businesses and real estate.
But they have not been
able to repatriate their investment or profit. Why shouldthediasporacontinue to invest in Guyana under this difficult condition? What will they do with their investment dollars in Guyana? What does the VP intend to do about this problem? Why should we trustthisgovernment?
Yourstruly, DannyRamnarain
Economic Growth Policies in Guyana: A Call to Action
DearEditor,
During elections, the Guyanese electorate eagerly anticipates hearing the economic policies proposed bythepoliticalpartiesvying fortheirvotes.Overthepast week, the People's Progressive Party (PPP) has revealed three significant economic policies aimed at maintaining growth in the country So far, the People's National Congress (PNC)/A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and We InvestinNationhood(WIN) havenotdisclosedadetailed plan or provided vague answers regarding their intentions. Each party has a responsibility to clearly explain how they plan to
sustain and improve Guyana'sgrowthpath.
President Irfaan Ali
m a d e a s u r p r i s e announcement at a public meeting in Albion, Corentyneinwhichhestated that if elected for a second term, his government will establish a USD $200 millionfunddedicatedtothe development of small and midsized enterprises (SMEs). This promise holds significant economic implications for Guyanese citizensacrossthenation,as it would provide essential resources for entrepreneurs
in both urban and hinterland
areas. Given that entrepreneurship is a key driver of economic growth and development, this fund represents a viable strategy for ensuring that Guyanese householdscanbenefitfrom the nation's impressive growth.
For Guyanese SMEs to thrive, access to capital is essential. Funding remains one of the primary challenges these businesses face.AccordingtotheWorld Bank,approximately70%of SMEs in developing countries struggle to obtain the necessary financing for growth. The proposed fund could help alleviate this barrier, empowering local entrepreneurs to launch new ventures or expand existing ones. Additionally, research indicates that every dollar invested in entrepreneurship development can yield a return of $2.30 in economic output over time. In the context of Guyana's economic landscape, this fund could spur job creation and enhance overall productivity Moreover, its intended reach across diverse communities can help address regional d i s p a r i t i e s w h e r e entrepreneurialactivitiesare limited, thereby promoting
more balanced economic developmentnationwide. In another significant announcement, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo revealedthatthegovernment will allocate an additional GY$ 7373 billion in 2025 capital spending for the construction of essential infrastructure including roads, schools, hospitals, clinics, and bridges, particularly in hinterland communities. According to the IMF, every dollar spent on infrastructure typically generates a multiplier effect of 1.5 to 2 times the initial investment, contributing to GDP growth. This means that the GY 737 billion earmarked for infrastructure could potentially lead to an increaseofbetweenGY$1.1 1 1trillion and GY$1 47 trillion in economic activity
Infrastructure projects not onlycreatedirectjobsduring the construction phase but also stimulate job growth in related sectors, such as transportation and services, once they are completed.
Research shows that significant infrastructure investments can create 20 to 30 jobs for every GY$1 millionspent.
In another policy move, Attorney General Anil Nandlall announced that
Guyana is nearing the f i n a l i z a t i o n o f a comprehensive migration policy. This policy is a crucial step towards ensuringthatthecountryhas the necessary resources and talents to continue its development efforts, especially in sectors facing skill shortages, such as oil and gas, as the economy d i v e r s i f i e s B y implementing a structured migration framework, Guyana can attract skilled individuals from abroad while also providing pathways for Guyanese expatriates to return home. This will not only enable them to contribute to Guyana's economic success but also help fill existing skill gaps. According to the International Organization for Migration, countries can see a 20% increase in GDP for every 1% rise in skilled migrants. These initiatives, if effectively executed, can enableGuyanesehouseholds and businesses to fully harness the benefits of economic growth fully, pavingthewayforaresilient andprosperousfutureforthe nation.
Sincerely, Dr. Tilokie Arnold Depoo
This coming election is one of voters' thoughtful choice between the known and the unknown
DearEditor, Beneath the fanfare of campaign politicking, residesonesimpletruth:“In a democratic society, it's the electorate that determines which party, or parties, assume the reins of governmental power.” This statementisexemplifiedina discussion I had with my seventy-five-year-old sister andherhusbandwhooperate a small business in a mixed Afro-Indian community Given the number of villagers who often stopped by the business-place to chat,mysisterexplainedthat duringthelastmonthvisitors began to gradually chatter incessantly, and inquiringly, about which party they should vote for, given the
The struggle for good governance in...
Frompage4 advocacy at this first labour conference addressed issues such as prison reform, universal health care and education, regional integration, one man one vote, minimum wage, fundamental rights and freedoms, housing, and internal self- government were tabled as important in the workers pursuit for selfdetermination.
These stated issues reflect a continuity of the struggle waged by our forebears,
generations ago; a formidable legacy bequeathed by those whose shoulderswestandontoday
Securing the universal right to vote (1953) was the first triumph in the right to selfdetermination which though achieved from the colonial powers has not sufficiently transformed our geopolitical relations to maximise on true self determination/ freedoms
Our right to selfdetermination is still impacted by the world's powerbrokersusingvarious meansattheirdisposal.
Critical review would show that even in our national government the vision of our earlier needs forinternalself-government and national development
has not adequately developed to protect that which was a hallmark achievement in 1953 Government operating without a strong opposition, informed voters, vigilant interest groups, a united educated workforce, civic, community and other specific interest groups, have proven not to serve in the best interest of the people.
Politicians, unlike trade
Unionists are more interested in achieving and consolidating power to control, serve specific interest groups and not all thepeopleasistheminimum expectation. Wemustnotbe afraid to hold them
ab
acc
the deliverables that empower each of us, not render us paupers, with cap in hand,
waiting for handouts that provide only temporary and instantgratification.
Elections 2025 is here, we must think not only of thisdatebutbeyond,andwe the people must get this right.
After 72 years, our people, all Guyanese deserve this, must demand this, must settle for no less. We must not only vote, we must vote smart! We must protect the integrity of our voteandkeepitprivate,ifwe sochoosetodo.
No one must infringe on thisrightbyforcingpersons totakepicturesetc.Wemust defy those who seek to cage us and disenfranchise us by dictatingourfreewill. Wemustallstandunited against what we know and haveexperiencedasafailure in the management of government affairs and d e l i v e r y o f g o o d governance.
We must draw from the examples of our earlier ancestors, many uneducated and barely educated, driven by their inner sense of right and wrong, human dignity and hunger for freedomsthose who came together to fightinjustices.
Our battle today is to make the right choices guided by the same
u n d e r s t a n d i n g s , compounded by rights and the rule of law, freedom of association and universal adult suffrage. These things thatguideusmusthelpusto demand adherence to an Elections Code of conduct thatprotectseachcandidate, each contesting party, each constituency the right to pitch their message throughout the 83,000 squaremilesthatisGuyana; the right to GECOM information, right to State securityifnecessary
EveryGuyanesemustbe free to associate with any political party without fear o f v
m i s a t i o n , marginalisation or recrimination. State media isofthepeople,paidforwith taxpayers' money The people must demand that those who contest must be represented in equal measures.
Thestatemediaisnotthe tool of the governing party, and its powerful role must not be ignored in these elections Each political party should have fair coverage.
Our people must resist all efforts provoking them into violence against each other Theworldhasseenthe outcomes of such engineering tactics and this
nation is only too familiar with use. We see its ugly head rising as some believe theyhavedominionoverthe electorateandwouldseekto holdontopoweratanycost.
Political parties contesting the elections do so as equals and none, including the governing Partymustbegivenanunfair advantage through any meanderingsofGECOM,of the government, any of its arms, local, regional or internationalsurrogates.The farce of 2020 must not be repeatedin2025.
Protection and distribution of our national patrimony for the benefit of all Guyanese requires that we vote wisely for our children's future and our collective development depends on 'Good Governance, Rights and the Ruleoflaw.'
The struggle for good governance in Guyana can no longer be taken for g r a n t e d a n d o u r interdependent relationship mustnoteither
Regards
LincolnLewis
numberofparties“running” – vying for power Some visitors, she said, expressed ambivalent feelings for Azruddin who passed through the village a few months ago delivering expensive gifts to a handful of individuals. And, having announcedhiscandidacyfor the president of the country, mybrother-in-lawexplained that several visitors speculated that since Azruddin “gave away some of his own money,” he may “give away” larger amounts of“oilmoney”ifhewinsthe election.Tothisspeculation, two individuals said, “something nah right,” and added that they “now wanda” if Azruddin's gifts “could be” some kind of “bribe” to “vote for him.”
Most visitors, however, seemedperplexedespecially since they all consider themselves life-long supporters of the PPP, or PNC, based on their traditional political loyalties and voting histories, my
brother-in-lawexplained.
AwarethatIoccasionally writeletterstoeditorsofthe newspapers,mysisterasked what she should say to the visitors since they customarily turned to her to “settle” their differences Before volunteering an answer,Iaskedmysisterfor some information about the individuals who visit their business place. As someone not sensitive to politically 'correct racial expressions,' my sister said they are “blacks and coolies” who range between ages “fifty to eighty ” And, since my brother-in-law customarily explains to my sister the contents of my letters to the newspapers' editors - due to my somewhat esoteric expressions - my sister politely said, “Bro, can you give me something in 'fine change' (simple language) I can share with the people whodropby?”Aftermulling my sister's request for a few days,Isharedwithherthe (Continueonpaeg6)
Magistrate grants request for private PI, paper committal for Marlan DaSilva
Magistrate Dylon Bess onTuesdaygrantedarequest by lawyers representing Marlan DaSilva for private hearings of the preliminary inquiry (PI) and paper comitialproceedings.
Thirty-two-year- old DaSilvaisaccusedofkilling
his 27-year-old wife
Kenesha Vaughn He appeared at the Diamond Magistrates' Court and was represented by attorney
Glenn Hanoman and EvertonSingh-Lammy
During Tuesday's hearing, Magistrate Bess ruled with the guidance and authorityofthecriminallaw procedureact,thatmembers of the public and media be excluded from attending the PI to avoid potential prejudicetotheaccused.
Henotedthatshouldany part of the proceeding raise issues of public interest that warrants some amount of limited disclosure, the court is willing to consider granting access to a summary public reporting
purpose with strict limitations to avoid the potential prejudice to the accused. However, the prosecution must make an applicationtothecourt.
Arelease from the court following the hearing stated thatthedefencehasobjected to the presence of the press pursuant to Sections 62 and 63 of the Criminal Law (Procedure)Act,Cap.10:01, arguingthatpublicaccessat thisstagecouldprejudicethe accused's right to a fair trial and jeopardise the integrity of the committal process. It said the prosecution has responded with oral submissions, emphasising the importance of public scrutiny and the role of the media in ensuring transparency in judicial proceedings.
The release said that the courtacknowledgesthevital role the media plays in a democratic society “A free press contributes to public awareness, accountability, andconfidenceinthejustice
system,” it stated. However, it pointed out that the principle of open justice is not absolute, particularly in preliminaryinquiries,which are not trials, but investigative proceedings intended to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to commit the accusedtostandtrial.
The court cited section 62 of the Act, which empowers it to regulate the conduct of the proceedings andexcludethepublicorany portionthereof,ifitisofthe
This coming election is one...
Frompage5 following questions her visitors can answer for themselves in making thoughtful choices about whichpartytovotefor
1: Of all the political parties “running” in this election, which party has done more to develop the entirecountry?
That is: (a) Built roads and bridges to make travel andtransportationeasier;(b) Established more schools so that their children and grandchildren can have a better education; (c) Constructed more hospitals sothatpeoplecanhavebetter healthcare; (d) Built more recreational centers for sportsandentertainment?
2. Of all the political parties “running” in this election, which party has done more to improve the lives of the people: created morejobs,increasedpension benefits, distributed cash grants, made university education available to all academically qualified students,gaveoutaffordable housesandhouselots,made affordable loans available for building homes, starting smallbusinesses,andfarms, etc.
[At this point, my brother-law-law interjected with this question; “What if they say that the PPP government does these things because of the 'oil
money'?”
“Then, it would be beneficial if you let them know that the election is a choice between the K N O W N a n d t h e UNKNOWN.
Thatis,whatthePPPhas done, and still doing to develop the entire country, and improve the lives of all Guyanese,asopposedtothe promises other political partiesmakeastowhatthey will do with the 'oil money'. Let the past and present governance serve as their guides to the future,” I responded - adding that the visitors may also find these extra questions helpful in theirvotingdecisions].
3. Of all the political parties “running” in this election, which party is working to unite the people, and which party leaders is tryingtodividethepeopleby makingAfro-racistappeals?
4. Of all the political parties “running” in this election, which party promotes peace and which one calls for violence whenever it suits its purpose?
5. Of all the political parties “running” in this election,whichpartyleaders oftengooutintotheAfrican, Indian, and Amerindian to listen to, and address the peoples' problems, and which party leaders seldom go out into, or only visit
opinion that such exclusion isnecessaryintheinterestof justice, public morality, or the protection of witnesses or parties. It noted that section63oftheAct,further reinforces the court's discretion to control attendanceandconduct.
“Given the nature of a preliminary inquiry where untested evidence, including hearsay and statements yet to be challenged in crossexamination, may be adduced — it is imperative to protect the accused's presumption of innocence
and to guard against potential prejudice that may arise from premature publicity. This is especially criticalinmatterswhichmay proceed to trial before a jury,” the court release detailed.
Inthecircumstances,the court has ruled that the general public and media will not be permitted to attend the full preliminary inquiry proceedings. Family membersoftheaccusedand the victim who are not witnesses are however permittedtoattend.
Thecourtsaiditreserves
Accused Marlan DaSilva
the right to revisit this position if circumstances materiallychange. OnMonday,attorney (Continueonpage11)
I have a dream
DearEditor, I had a dream that the people of Guyana woke up
those communities, where theirsupporterslive?
6. Of all the political parties “running” in this election, which party “assures” workers their rights to collective bargaining,andwhichone(s) only “assures” the rights of theirsupporters?
7. Of all the political parties “running” in this election, which party has createdmorejobs,andwhich party has closed factories that caused thousands of labourers to become unemployed?
After some thought, my brother-in-lawsurmisedthat the questions, if made availabletothelargerpublic, could enable other voters to make thoughtful decisions based on their own assessments of the “known” and “unknown” benefits derived from Guyana's current developmental transformations.
Hence, voters may find this statement worthy to rememberthat:
“It is not uncommon for the weak-minded to easily disregard, or overlook, the “known” in favour of the “unknown” based on unrealistic promises made by politicians in desperate search for recognition and the acquisition of personal power.”
Regards NarayanPersaud,PhD
before day clean on Septemberfirstmorningand by4:30 AM, in every single corner of the country, every man, woman and child of them was fully dressed and headed out from their customary homes to other villages. Was this a spell, a hypnosis,amadness?
This movement, as if in trance,ofanentirenation?
Like sleepwalkers, boarding the buses or the boats or the planes, you could see the Barima-Waini people heading far East and South, to the East BerbiceCorentyne. The PomeroonSupenaam people moving south, to the PotaroSiparuni. The people of the EssequiboIslands,travelling tothedeepsouthandcentral, to reach the Upper TakatuUpper Essequibo Region
And there were the Demerara-Mahaica people faithfully joining the Essequibo Islands people
headingtotheUpperTakatu.
Goodness gracious, the recent immigrants - the Venezuelans, Haitians and Cubans and all the others –wokeuptothismovementin bewilderment! And wait!
Most of the BrazilianGuyanese were also caught in the trance and were travellingtoo.
Eh Eh!!! What a confusion and a madness was this? Plenty rain fell as the sun rose and they travelled But then the travelers moving south and westand east realized that they were not the only travelers. When they arrived in East Berbice, the Barima Waini peoplemetthepeopleofthe Cuyuni-Mazaruni who themselvesdidnotbelongto EastBerbice.
And the MahaicaBerbice people were in the place where the CuyuniMazaruni people should havebeen.
Yes!Allofthemhadbeen travelling, not only the
people in the coastal and riverainvillages,astheyhad believed.And as each set of travelers arrived at their destination, they set down their weary selves. Back in the various hotels in Georgetown, the Caribbean and International Observers rosefromtheirbeds.
T h e C u b a n a n d Venezuelan immigrant workersquietlyservedthem their breakfast in semitrance,andtherewasnoriot. The members of the armed forces remembered the places they would go on holiday and smiled. And by 10 o'clock, the Guyanese everywhere were gazing with amazed faces at strangers who were also strangetotheplacetowhich theyhadjustarrived.
Quietly and respectfully, theyfoundfoodanddrinkin the dwellings of strangers whohadlefttheirdoorsopen andtheirstoresunlocked,as thoughinexpectation.
Sincerely
CharleneWilkinson
Government: Don't rock the boat
DearEditor, I read with interest Stabroek News Editorial "Protests over Access to Information Law" (SN, 21st July 2025) and cannot help but think that all these SHENANIGANS by the Democratically Elected PPP/C Government of Guyanabecauseitrefusesto rock the boat where ExxonMobilisconcerned.
The PPP/C Government is acting more and more AUTOCRATIC rather than being transparent and accountable in an open and
honest manner It is giving citizenstheRoyalrunaround insteadofgivingcitizensthe accesstoinformation.
This is not because the protests are politically motivated as stipulated by President Irfaan Ali. It is because of the power and control that ExxonMobil wields over Governments, includingGuyana's.
It would be no different withthePNCRledAPNUin Government as they, everyoneacrossthepolitical divide, is being subservient to ExxonMobil and by
extension,America. ExxonMobil is looking o u t f o r i t s SHAREHOLDERS; the politicians (including the PPP/C) should be looking out for Guyanese Citizens interests, which is not the case All of these SHENANIGANS by the PPP/C Government of Guyana, because it does not want to renegotiate the d e f i c i e n t ExxonMobil/Guyana Oil Contract.
Sincerely SeanOri
Dead
Kenesha Vaughn
BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT
Criminal politicians
At the APNU's election campaign rally Sunday night in MelanieGanesh Mahipaul unveiled a list of what he deemed criminal politicians. These are men and women who are on a particular political party's list of candidates for the upcoming elections. It is a long list. Some of the folks have even been convicted in the local courts for crimes.
We have said in this paper before that more and more, it seems that there are two words that naturally belong together. The two words are: criminal and politicians and as many Guyanese believe, we have our share of them. Though the locals may pretend to be above board and honourable men and women, there is no shaking the perceptions and convictions that many Guyanese politicians are low crooks.
Independent minded and conscientious Guyanese, who prize ethics in government and principled leadership, are constantly on the lookout for a Guyanese politician that they can trust. It would be a cause for celebration, which has been all too rare.
Govt. launches crop insurance for rice farmers
For the next three years, more than 6000 rice farmers willhaveaccesstoinsurance for their crops, without having to pay a cent on premiums.
President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali launched this majoragricultureinitiativeat a ceremony on Tuesday at the Anna Regina Secondary School Delivering the keynote address at the ceremony, President Ali noted that his government does not view this program as a simple relief mechanism, but as a sustainable means of supporting farmers across the country President Ali saiditisalifelinebecauseof the assistance and relief it brings to the rice industry “Thisiswhatmakestodayso historic. So, for those who feed our nation, we ensure that they have a cushion should misfortune visit them… This programme is not just relief, it is a lifeline foryou,”PresidentAlisaid.
Underscoring the importance of this project in the fight against climate change, PresidentAli said it is time for real and decisive actions that would ensure harmful emissions are reduced. “It is one thing to
say we want a methane-free world,butitisanotherthing to give the farmers the incentive to lead us to a methane-free world, and that's what is important,” PresidentAlinoted.
The head of state called onthebankstorecognisethe government's effort to reduce the risks associated with agriculture. This, he said,mustbereflectedbythe reductionofinterestratesfor agricultural activities “We're challenging the bank now Withthisinsurance,the risk is reduced, and the cost of lending to our farmers must reduce substantially,” thepresidentstated.
Also delivering remarks
at the event was Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha, who lauded the fact that Guyana is now the firstcountryintheCaribbean toofferthiskindofserviceto its farmers. Approximately eight per cent of Guyana's budget is allocated to investments in agriculture. This contrasts with the current global average of 1.5%. Over the years, the
(
/C) Administration has invested billions of dollars into the agriculture sector, funding critical areas such as drainage and irrigation, farm-to-market roads, and targeted initiatives like the
President Ali addressing the gathering during the launch of the crop insurance programme for rice farmers
fertiliser subsidy This has resulted in widespread benefits to the farming community (DPI)
Rice farmers at the launch of the crop insurance scheme
New UNDP resident representative in Guyana and Suriname appointed
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced the appointment of Katy Thompson as the new Resident Representative for GuyanaandSuriname
Based in Georgetown, Ms. Thompson brings over 25 years of international experience in governance, peacebuilding, and developmenttohernewrole, the UNDP said in a press release
On Friday, July 18, Ms Thompson formally presented her credentials to Minister of Foreign Affairs a n d I n t e r n a t i o n a l Cooperation for Guyana, Hugh Todd, during a
ceremonyheldattheministry
The meeting marked the official start of her tenure in Guyana and reaffirmed the UNDP's commitment to supportingGuyana'snational
developmentpriorities
Ms. Thompson has also engaged with Jean Kamau, theResidentCoordinatorfor the United Nations in Guyana, to align UNDP's strategic vision with the broader UN system's support tothecountry
Ahead of her arrival in Guyana,Ms.Thompsonmet with Carolyn RodriguesBirkett, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations During theirmeeting,whichwasalso attended by Mr Gerardo Noto,formerUNDPResident Representative in Guyana, thepartiesdiscussedUNDP's role in advancing Guyana's t r a n s f o r m a t i o n a l developmentagenda
M s T h o m p s o n expressed her commitment to fostering a productive workingrelationshipwiththe Government of Guyana and congratulated Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett on her leadership during Guyana's tenure on the UN Security Council. She also commended Guyana for spotlighting the
issues of poverty, underdevelopment, and conflict, which were key themes of the country's signatureeventattheSecurity CouncilonJune19
Priortoherappointment, Ms.ThompsonservedasCoDirector of Governance, RuleofLaw&Peacebuilding at UNDP Headquarters in New York She led global policy efforts across institutionalreform,accessto justice, human rights, and social cohesion Her career spansseniorrolesinUNDP's Bureau for Policy and Programme Support and the Bureau for Crisis Prevention andRecovery,aswellaswork withtheOSCEandUNICEF in over 100 countries Ms Thompson holds degrees from Cambridge University and Essex University, along with postgraduate diplomas in Law and Legal Practice from the College of Law in London. She is a former practicinglawyerinEngland andWalesandhasworkedin academiaandcivilsocietyas aresearcherandadvocatefor genderequality
Katy Thompson as the new Resident Representative for Guyana and Suriname
Not every death warrants blame
Losing a loved one is among the most traumatic events we will ever endure. The pain is immediate, and the grief is often overwhelming In such moments,itisnaturaltoseek explanations—tounderstand what went wrong, to ask whether more could have been done, and to wonder, sometimes with anger, whether someone is to blame. But we must tread carefully Grief can cloud judgment, and our assumptionsaboutthecause of death or the effectiveness of medical care may not always reflect clinical reality
It is human to want to assign responsibility, especiallywhendeathseems sudden or unexpected. But medical outcomes are not alwaysshapedbynegligence or error Sometimes, despite the best efforts of doctors, nurses, and caregivers, the body simply fails And sometimes, the medical numberswehearbutmaynot fully understand are already spellingoutagrimprognosis longbeforeanyoneiswilling toacceptit.
Two of the most critical indicators in emergency
medicine are oxygen saturation level and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). These are not mere abstractions—they are the very metrics used to assess how severely the body is strugglingtostayalive.
Letusbeginwithoxygen saturation, commonly
referredtoasSpO₂.Thisisa measure of how much oxygen your red blood cells are carrying as a percentage of the maximum they could carry A normal oxygen saturation level ranges between 95% and 100%. Whenitfallsbelow90%,the brain, heart, and other vital organsbegintosuffer Below 80%, the situation is dire. When oxygen saturation drops precipitously, say to 32%, it means that twothirdsoftheoxygenthebody desperately needs simply isn'tthere.Cellsbegintodie. Organs begin to shut down. Without rapid and effective intervention, survival becomes a faint hope rather thanaprobableoutcome.
Now consider the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), a tool developed to assess a patient's level of consciousness after a brain injury or other serious trauma. The scale scores three components: eyeopening, verbal response, and motor response A perfectly alert person scores 15 A patient who is completely unresponsive scores 3. A GCS score of 6 indicates a patient is near comatose perhaps respondingtopainbutnotto voice, not opening eyes spontaneously, and showing limited motor movement. In such a state, the brain's higherfunctionsareseverely compromised, and the chances of meaningful recovery are slim without immediate and effective
medicalsupport.
So,whenwearetoldthat a patient had an oxygen saturationlevelof32%anda Glasgow Coma Scale of 6, we are not talking about someonewhomerelyneeded betterattentionorfastercare. We are talking about a person whose body was, by any objective standard, a l r e a d y i n d e e p physiological crisis. These arethekindsofreadingsthat signal that the chances of survivalareminimal.
Of course, medicine is not mathematics. Miracles do happen. Some patients beattheodds.Buttoassume, after the fact, that someone with numbers that severe should have survived, or would have survived if only something else had been done, is to ignore the harsh realityofhumanbiology
Thisisnottosuggestthat we turn a blind eye to genuine cases of medical negligence or systemic failure Accountability in healthcare is essential. But when we are grieving, we mustresistthetemptationto drawconclusionsthatarenot grounded in clinical fact. Every death deserves investigation, but not every death warrants blame Sometimes, the condition itself is more powerful than thecure.
Recently, there was a tragic case that has captured public attention— a case w h e r e a f a m i l y , understandably devastated, has asked whether
DEM BOYS SEH
Is rum shop decide who get axe and who get axe!
Dem boys been limin' at Uncle Pappy rum shop whole weekend Elections coming September 1, and de place hot like pepper potonChristmasDay Rumflowinglikeoil in Stabroek basin, and so is de talk — who gongetaxeandwhogongetbigwuk.
Old George seh, “Watch and see, is not ballot box gon decide de government, is de rumshop.”DemanalreadygiveoutCabinet postslikeheisdePresident-elect.
“Deh seh Brain from Berbice already buysuitfuhswearing-in,”PeeBoywhisper “Demanneverwearjacketinhelife—now he measuring up fuh minister o' culture, fashionandstyle.”
Sarge,whoalwaysdrinkpuncredit,seh, “Watch nah, dem boys who bruk last year suddenly got Prado and talking 'policy direction'.Isdeonlydirectiondemknowis directiontodenearestATM!”
But de real bacchanal start when Uncle Pappyseh,“Y'allain'thear?Demreshufflin' dewholeting.Demsehanybodywhodidn't tekoffdemmaskduringCOVID timenow gottotekoffdemjacketandwalk.”
everything possible was done.Thisisafairquestion. Butitmustbeansweredwith the full context of the medical facts When a patient arrives with oxygen saturation at 32% and a Glasgow Coma Scale of 6, the sad truth is that the odds are already steeply against survival These are not borderlinereadings;theyare signs that the body is, quite literally,atdeath'sdoor
We would all like to believethatifourlovedones receive timely and compassionate care, they will recover And often, that
is true. But we must also accept that there are limits sometimes insurmountable ones. The best doctors, the fastest ambulance, the most advanced equipment—none of it guarantees survival in the face of catastrophic clinical decline Let us grieve with grace. Let us question,yes—butletusalso listen.
L e t u s s e e k accountability where it is due,butletusnotbequickto indict when the science already foretold the outcome. Death is always
hard But blame, when misapplied,canmakeiteven harder and blur our understanding of what medicine can, and cannot, do.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
LoudMouthLucysehshehearfromshe sister who cousin work at GECOM that de manwhodoesrundeweed-whackeratCity Hall getting big promotion — Minister of Clean-UpandCover-Up.
And when somebody ask what gon happen to de ones who already in de Cabinet, one man seh, “Dem gon get big diplomatic post… overseas. So we don't havetoheardemexcusesnomore.”
De rum start talking louder than everybody Last round, Sarge jump up and shout, “I applying fuh Minister of Chicken andChips—sinceIdehinalldemroadside jointscampaigninglongtimenow!”
Dem boys seh de real Cabinet forming not at Congress Place, not at Freedom House,butrightthereinPappyrumshop— wheredeonlyqualificationyouneedistwo shotsofrumandaloudmouth.
Watch yuh back, people Election coming,butdelimealreadystart.Isaxeand appointmentsharinglikeitisbox-hand!
Dem boys seh… Cheers to de next minister!
Talkhalf.Leffhalf
H@RD TRUTHS
The revolving door
It is the first time that I hear Lyte is right. Always thoughtthatitwasmightthat made everything right Whethermightorright,there is Dr Mark Lyte. Late of toils in the trenches for Guyana's teachers, now in the warm, embracing bosom ofthePPPfortheSeptember 1 showdown with destiny I amwithDr Lytewhateverhis businessis Notwithhimin hisbusinesswiththePPP,but hissacredrighttodoso And whileontheissueofbusiness, it would help Guyanese, if I share how a certain kind of business is conducted in the good, ole USA Wall Street business to be specific Just absorb. Make no connections.
There is the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), among otherwatchdogs. TheSEC's constituencies include from towering Wall Street investment banks, to bustling Wall Street brokerage firms, and itsybitsy, teeny-weeny Wall
Street penny ante operators
Those who are at home with theinsultinghavehadagood laugh calling the latter category derogatory names, rangingfromboilerroomsto bucket shops to slimeball outfits The SEC is both feared and hated, depending on the situation, contingent uponoutcomes Then,loand behold,thepeopleattheSEC are loved and cherished Reminds me of marriages. Remindsmealsothattheage ofmiraclesisnotover They still happen, though most c u r i o u s l y , m o s t unexpectedly Try this fact pattern. Ihavelivedthrough my share of them, which I relive to give Guyanese a glimpse into how the world worksitsrevolvingdoor. The SEC announces an auditatabigfirm,identifies documentsthatthefirmmust provide. The SEC turns up, examines the files, talks to bundlesofpeople. Peoplein the trenches, those who do therealwork. ThentheSEC converses with the other
people up in the big corner offices These are the bigshots, the ones who make real decisions Wall Street bigshots can make big decisions, including ones involving big money, in specialcircumstances
When I say big money, I speak of a compensation package of comparatively many millions annually Special circumstances mean going easy, overlooking some issues. How many promptings are required to move a man from a million orsoayeartofiveorsixtimes as much? From a government job, to a plush private sector gig with Masters of the Universe? Plus,somefancyallowances. Plus, an unlimited corporate platinum card that opens the doors of 5-star hotels and restaurants, and first-class seats on top airlines? After all, global travel would be part of the package It's as easy as a no brainer, that revolvingdoor
Inmytime,veryfewhad
shownthattheywerelacking in the kind of brainpower that enabled them to jump shipandsteeltheirstomachs to shake hands with the devil. Usually, the SEC ended up one short, while wondering what the taxpayerspaid Onebecomes glaring when the Masters of the Universe blowup the world; then former SEC untouchables lose their halo They look lesser, for looking theotherway Millionsmake a man see things differently, clearly Whatheshouldsee, what he shouldn't How he doeswellforhimselfwhenhe comportshimselfintheWall Street way. Oh, by the way, those are US millions greasing the one-way revolvingdoor,forclarity. People always whisper about the appearance, the timing of these moves. It is good for Guyanese to
remember that people will talk, question, criticize. It's the nature of the creature. Why so soon after an audit, such and such moves to the same Wall Street firm just subject to supposedly close scrutiny? What could have been at stake for the audited Wall Street firm, and what werethechipsdangledasthe price of the exchange? In sharper language, how was thebusinessofthetaxpayers sold down the drain, and for how many pieces of silver?
The answers for those questions usually surface when there is a crash, and a fall. Wall Street has had its recent, repeated carnages, anditisrevealinghowloose SEC findings contributed, and how much damage resulted later to the paying public. Thecorrelationsare uncanny between who was in charge of specific SEC
audits and negotiations and the Wall Street firms where they ended up in quick time with prestigious titles and incentives When those firms took a later financial and regulatory beating, and the exposures followed, it was only then that the revolving door started getting more attention Decision makers labor on a 2-yearlimitfortherevolving door, re who could move when, or represent clients beforethem.
Last call: bargains occur all the time. Some are in good faith. Most are what's initforme. Nicesetups.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
Low-income countries hit hardest by global food price inflation - FAO
Thesustainedincreasein global food prices has had a profound impact on food security and nutrition, particularly in low-income countries where households spend a larger share of their income on food, the Food a n d A g r i c u l t u r e Organisation(FAO)saidina pressrelease.
A special event held on Tuesday at the United Nationsheadquarters,onthe margins of the ECOSOC High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), examined the drivers and consequences of the2021–2023foodinflation crisis, as well as the policy responsesneededtomitigate itseffects.
“We need a balanced set of actions at all levels, addressing both the demand and supply sides The [upcoming] 2025 edition of the State of Food Security and Nutrition (SOFI) report outlines key policy responses to strengthen countries' capacities and transform agrifood systems to better withstand future shocks,” FAO DirectorGeneralQUDongyusaidina video message to the meeting. The SOFI 2025 reportissetforreleaseon28 July at the Second United Nations Food Systems
Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4)inAddisAbaba.
Since 2020, food price
inflation has consistently outpaced overall inflation, reflecting heightened volatility in agricultural markets and persistent pressures within agricultural andfoodmarkets.InJanuary 2023, food inflation peaked at 13.6 percent, exceeding headline inflation by 5 1 percentage points. Although both indicators had begun to decline by mid-2023, they remained elevated through theendoftheyear By2024, foodinflationhadreturnedto the pre-pandemic levels of 2019. However, the lasting effects remain: after five years,foodpricesaroundthe world have increased by more than 35 percent while average prices in the economy have risen by 25 percent.
The surge in food prices can be attributed to a combination of global exogenous shocks: the COVID-19 pandemic, the warinUkraine,andextreme weatherevents-allofwhich disrupted supply chains and drove up agricultural commodity prices These shocks were further exacerbated by surging energy prices, expansive fiscal spending, and loose monetarypolicies,creatinga 'perfect storm' for food inflation Together, these factorssignificantlyaffected both the supply and demand
sidesoffoodmarkets.
Disproportionate impact onlow-incomecountries
Low-income countries havebornethebruntofrising food prices. While global median food inflation rose from 2 3 percent in December 2020 to 13 6 percent in early 2023, it peaked at 30 percent in lowincome countries in May 2023. At the height of the crisis in January 2023, 65 percent of low-income countries and 61 percent of lower-middle-income countries - home to over 1.5 billion people - experienced foodinflationratesabove10 percent.
Such levels of food inflation have hindered attemptstoboostglobalfood security and nutrition. A 10 percent increase in food prices in low-income countriesisassociatedwitha 3.5 percent rise in moderate orseverefoodinsecurityand a 1.8 percent increase in the proportion of individuals experiencing severe food insecurity Structural and gender inequalities amplify these effects, especially in countries with high income disparities. One concerning trendisthatrecentdeclinein globalcommoditypriceshas not fully translated into lower consumer prices in low-incomecountries, (Continueonpage11)
Canadian firm confident Eagle Mountain Gold project will provide substantial economic benefits
Canadian firm, Mako Mining Corp. has advanced its permitting efforts for the Eagle Mountain Gold project by making a
s u b m i s s i o n o f environmental application and project summary
d o c u m e n t s t o t h e Environmental Protection Agency
According to the document posted on the EPA's website on July 13, it was stated that the Eagle M
y planned to be developed in Region8,Potaro-Siparuni.
Mako Mining holds 100% interest in the project which spans 4,784 hectares or 11,829 acres. The project is located in Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni). Notably, thecompanyplanstosubmit an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and mining licence application to Guyana's Environmental Protection Agency by late 2025. Pending approvals, Mako intends to start construction by 2026, with first gold production from Phase1targetedfor2027.A feasibilitystudyforPhase2, which will target deeper fresh rock resources, is also planned.
Notably, the company said in its project summary that it is confident that the Eagle Mountain Project can
provide substantial
economic benefits,
including job creation, infrastructure development, and increased revenue for theregion.
Moreover, explorationrelated work carried out at the Eagle Mountain Project between 2011 and 2023 by M
a collection, topographic surveys, line cutting, trench and outcrop sampling, hand auger sampling, ground geophysical surveys, and reprocessing of existing geophysicaldata.
The project will entail a traditional open pit mining method has been selected using truck and shovel techniques. The mine will consist of several shallow andmediumdepthopenpits. The project has two gold
Mountain and Salbora, as well as several other explorationtargets.
A 2024 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for Eagle Mountain Goldoutlinesthattheproject can produce 66,500 ounces of gold annually on average for 15 years, Life of Mine (LOM).
MakoMiningispushing ahead with its Eagle Mountain gold project it acquired through its 2024 takeover of Goldsource MinesInc.Makoinheriteda resource base of nearly 1.2
Magistrategrantsrequestfor...
Frompage6
Hanoman told the court that the defense needed to safeguardtheaccused,since the matter has attracted widespreadpublicchatter
He said since the b e g i n n i n g o f t h e proceedings,therehavebeen sustained public campaigns, protests and social media commentaries by the family ofthedeceased.
Meanwhile, attorney Nigel Hughes, the special prosecutor in the case, had objected to the application notingthatapublictrialwas needed since there was
nothingtohide.
According to Hughes, a prohibitionagainstreporting on the content of testimony presented at a PI will not make the hearing private.
Hughes had argued that any member of the public could attendaPIandparticipateas aguest.
DaSilva is accused of shooting his wife multiple times during a “heated argument” back in February attheirhome.
Investigators said that at the time of his arrest, DaSilva'salcohollevelinhis bodywas83percent.
Low-incomecountrieshithardest...
Frompage10 prolonging the burden on vulnerablepopulations.
SOFI 2025 will recommend a combination of policy responses to food
price inflation and emphasizestheroleofpolicy
coordination across countries These include targeted and time-bound fiscal measures, such as
Eagle Mountain Prospecting License Area Location
(indicated)
(inferred).
social protection programs to safeguard vulnerable households; credible and t
tain inflationary pressures; and strategic investments in agrifoodR&D,transportand production infrastructure, and market information
systems to improve productivityandresilience.
Mako said that during the initial 4.5 years, only a smallamountofdrillingand
blasting will be required as the mine plan calls for a focusongoldmineralisation
hosted in soft-rock saprolite material.However,the (Continueonpage13)
EPA waives EIA for Moruca & Lethem Hospital projects
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has revealed that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will not be required
the construction of the Moruca Hospital in Region One and the Lethem Hospital in RegionNine.
This is according to two separatenoticespublishedin the Sunday, July 20, 2025 edition of the Guyana Chronicle.
According to the public notices, it was determined that the projects will not significantly affect the environment, and is thereforeexemptedfromthe requirement to conduct an EIA.
TheEPAsaiditsdecision isbasedontheimpactsfrom particulate matter and gaseous emissions from the operation of heavy-duty machinery and the concrete
batching plant will be moderate, short-term, and mitigable. The Agency also notedthattheairqualitywill not be significantly affected since particulate matter emissionsareshort-termand are not expected to exceed WHOstandards.
Secondly, impacts of noise and vibration will be moderate and periodic, and noise emissions will occur predominately during construction from equipment and heavy-duty machinery Notably, EPA stated that noise emissions arenotexpectedtoexceed90 decibels.
“Hazardous and nonhazardous waste generated will not pose a significant risktohumanhealthandthe environment. An authorized sanitation waste disposal service will manage and dispose non-hazardous wasteduringconstructionin
Management Regulations 2000,”theagencystated.
Additionally,stormwater and sedimentation impact during construction will be localized, short-term and mitigable,andtheimpacton surfacewaterqualitywillnot be significant since there will be no direct discharge intowaterways.
The EPA did advise however,thatthisdecisionis in no way an indication that theprojectsareapproved.
Last November, the government turned the sod for the construction of the newMorucaHospital.
The hospital project which is being executed through the Ministry of Health, will cost $4 435 billion and is being funded through collaboration with the Government and the
DevelopmentBank(IDB). It was reported in the media that the proposed 57,210 square feet regional hospital is expected to be constructed during a 24m
timeframe by c o n t r a c t o r P C I S i n o p h a r m i n t l , a consortium.
At Lethem, the sod for the new state-of-the-art hospital was turned in Octoberlastyear
Thenewhospitalwillbe well equipped with 75 inpatient beds, two fully functional operation rooms, a modern ER and procedure rooms, diagnostic imaging services, digital x-rays, portable x-rays, 1 CT machine and three ultrasoundmachines.
The hospital project was awarded to CMECSinopharmintl Consortium out of China to tune of $6.5 billion.
One injured during Melanie Public Road accident
An accident
occurred on T u e s d a y morning on the Melanie PublicRoadresultinginone personbeinginjured. The name of the injured man was not provided up to presstime. A motor truck bearing registration number GAD 5990wasinvolved. When Kaieteur News visitedthescene,therewasa backlogoftrafficduetothe accident Emergency
MedicalTechnicians(EMT) wereonthesceneproviding assistance to the injured man. Efforts to contact the Guyana Police Force for further details were unsuccessful.
The accident scene where a man was injured
APNU to tackle contract wastage, redirect savings to boost public servants' salaries
Prime ministerial candidate of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Juretha Fernandes, has outlined plans to curb wastefulspendingonpoorly managed government contracts and redirect those savings into increasing publicservantsalaries.
Speaking on Capitol News' Context with host Enrico Woolford on Monday, Fernandes said better contract management and increased efficiency in capitalexpenditurewillfund APNU's proposed 35 per cent salary increase and the raise in the income tax thresholdtoGY$400,000.
Fernandes criticised the current administration's approach to capital projects, claiming that frequent road repairs and substandard work are signs of gross inefficiencies. “We need to makesurewerampupwhen it comes to efficiency in government, particularly whenitcomestoyourcapital expenditure and how that is
Trade Unionist of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC)
beingmanaged,”shesaid. She clarified that the APNU does not intend to
on infrastructure but will instead focus on ensuring thatcontractsareawardedto competent and qualified individuals “When you
CanadianfirmconfidentEagleMountain...
Frompage11 companynotedthatthereare areas of transition and fresh rock that will need to be mined to access planned saprolite
Mako explained that within the saprolite layer
there are localized unweathered boulders of granodiorite and dolerite one metre in diameter or more which cannot be handledwithoutblasting From the mid-point of
year five to the end of the LOM plan, drilling and blasting will be used regularlytoensurethatthe transitionandfreshrockcan be loaded and hauled by miningequipment.
Notably,thispublication had reported that Mako is hopeful that by 2026 it receives the necessary approvals from Guyanese authorities to begin construction on its Eagle MountainGoldProject.
According to the company, US$1 million was spent in exploration and evaluation expenses during the first quarter of the year directed toward EagleMountaininGuyana “Mako's rapidly growing cash position will be used for the development of EagleMountaininGuyana, which we expect to be permitted for construction by Q2 2026,” the company hadstated
have resources, it's not just about saying you're going outtodo100differentroads. It's about looking at the actual investment you're making sure that the right people are put to do the work, persons that are capable and competent. So, youdon'thavetobere-doing
theroadsthatyouhavedone every six months It is looking at making sure that you minimise on the corruptionthatisthere,”she explained.
The APNU plans to reallocate funds wasted through mismanagement into improving public servicewages.“Youhaveto start to gradually break that down immediately on assuming office, because that's where the wastage is when it comes to our resources, monies that can be channeled exactly what we'retalkingaboutto (Continueonpage14)
Lincoln Lewis Prime ministerial candidate
Juretha Fernandes
APNU to tackle contract...
Frompage13 increase public servants' wages and salaries, ” Fernandesnoted She pointed out that in 2025, the national budget stood at GY$1 132 trillion “So, the question must be asked Why would we concern ourselves so heavily on raising public servants' salaries and not look at the amount of money that you are putting into the economy that are not going to the public servants, which sometimes those persons are among categories of most vulnerableinsociety So, we are not talking about shifting things too much What we're doing is moving some of those resources that's already been pumped into the economy that have been wasted on inefficiencies, andactuallydirectingitinto the pockets of public servants,”shesaid In recent months, Guyanahasawardedseveral major contracts, with a s
infrastructure development and the energy sector On April 4, the Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL) signed three contracts valued at a combined US$422 m
e largest investment in the company'shistory
Those contracts are d
constructionoftransmission l
w substations to support the country's Gas-to-Energy
Project, specifically targeting improvements along the D
araBerbice Interconnected System(DBIS)
Additionally, a separate contract worth US$22 58 million was signed for the construction of a 15megawatt (MW) solar farm inLinden Oncecompleted, the project will become the largest solar energy facility in Guyana, marking a significant step toward r e n e w
b
e e n e rg y development
Meanwhile, despite
APNU's proposed 35 per cent salary increase, there hasbeenpushbackfromthe Guyana Trades Union Congress(GTUC) Trade Unionist Lincoln Lewis stated that public servants have been demanding a 76 5 per cent increase and labeled anything below that “out of order” “We are definitely dissatisfiedwith35percent. From the position of the Trade Union Congress past made the point very clear what's the position of the court when it comes to order partiesneedtoreturn to the table and start negotiationfromthat The government had refused to have any sort of negotiation with any of the other parties as it relates to negotiations with the trade union service,” the GTUC official said “Anything below 76 5 per cent is out order It is not a part of negotiations, it is what the government and parties havedecidedon,”hesaid.
- sources say Exxon in talks with T&T for seven deepwater blocks
(Reuters) - Exxon Mobil has begun negotiations with the Trinidad and Tobago governmenttoexploreforoil and gas in up to seven deepwater blocks off the East Coast of the Caribbean country, which the top U.S. oil producer left more than two decades ago, two sourcesclosetothetalkstold Reuters.
The areas Exxon is interested in are located north of the company’s prolific Stabroek block in Guyana, the fastest-growing oil production province in theworld,thepeoplesaid.
ExxonandpartnersHess a n d C N O O C h a v e discovered more than 11 billionbarrelsofrecoverable oil and gas in Stabroek and plan to produce more than 900,000 barrels per day of light sweet crude later this year
Trinidad’s Energy Minister Roodal Moonilal did not respond to Reuters’ requestforcomment.Exxon said it does not comment on rumorsorspeculation.
Exxon left Trinidad and Tobagoin2003afterafailed exploration programme Under the new government of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Trinidad
aims to rejuvenate investment, especially offshore, where more gas
output is needed to support thenation’sliquefiednatural g a s ( L N G ) a n d petrochemicalindustries.
Since she took office in April,aflagshipoffshoregas project with neighboring Venezuela that lost its U.S. authorization to move forward has been shelved, while the government has focusedeffortsondeepening ties with the region’s other energyproducers.
According to Trinidad’s laws, the government can individually negotiate areas f
production if they are not included in a competitive biddinground.
TrinidadandTobagoisin the middle of a deepwater auctionhasbeenextendedto close on September 17, and which does not include the blocks Exxon is negotiating for If Exxon and Trinidad reachanagreement,theU.S. producer could acquire a
deepwater blocks that remainunlicensed.
The large discoveries of oil and gas made in recent years in the GuyanaSurinamebasinareoneofthe reasons whyTrinidad is now seeing a renewed interest in its ongoing deepwater auction, the country’s energy minister said at a conference earlyinJuly
Govt.borrows another US$30M from IDB to boost water supply
The Inter-American
Development Bank (IDB) has approved a US$30 million (GYD$ 6,274,369,307) conditional Credit Line for Investment Projects (CCLIP) to support Guyana’s efforts to enhance its water and sanitationinfrastructure.
The CCLIP’s general objective istoimprovetheresilience,quality andsustainabilityofdrinkingwater andsewerageservicesprovidedby Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), the national utility provider, IDB said in a press release.
This programme is expected to benefit approximately 151,560 peoplebyimprovingaccesstosafe, reliable water services. GWI will also benefit from digital transformation, enabling the adoption of modern technologies and tools that will improve operational management, reduce costs, and increase revenue, the IDBreleasestated.
The main investments under this phase include the construction of a new water treatment plant at Diamond,EastBankDemeraraand approximately 15 kilometers of transmission pipelines and interconnections, which will allow the integration of the new plant with the existing distribution network.
The programme will support the reduction of Non-Revenue Water initiatives which include advancedleakdetectionandrepair, and public awareness campaigns. Additionally, the program will upgrade GWI’s digital infrastructure, including the integration of management information systems, improved metering, and operational efficiencyenhancementsacrossthe
East Bank Demerara, East Coast Demerara, and Cummings Lodge systems. This programme reflects the country’s commitment to delivering climate -resilient infrastructureandaccesstoquality watersupplytoitscitizens.
As part of the new CCLIP, the IDB also approved a Specific Investment Loan (ESP) of US$15.57 million loan to finance improvements in the water and sanitation infrastructure The US$30.0 million CCLIP has a 25year repayment term, a 5.5-year graceperiod,aninterestratebased on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR), and will benefit from co-financing contribution of US$36.33 million to be financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
TheIDBsaidoverthepastfive years, Guyana has embarked on a strategic transformation of the water and sanitation sector to increase potable water supply by constructing new water treatment plants, installing transmission
Government back in Janaury this year commissioned this water treatment plant at Parika, East Bank Essequibo.
mains to improve the quality of service to citizens nationwide, and drilling new wells in both coastal and hinterland communities to extendaccesstosafewatersupply The IDB credit line will support Guyana’s efforts in continuing to upgradeandtransformtheportable watersupplysector
Back in June this year also the IDB had approved a US$350 million loan to Guyana, which it says underpins the country’s ongoing efforts to modernise and expand its social protection systems. In approving this second and final operation in a programmatic series (the first of whichwasco-financedwithGlobal Affairs Canada), the IDB said it recognises Guyana’s strong macroeconomic performance and its commitment to inclusive social reform. The loan will support the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (MHSSS) in enhancingtheefficiencyandreach ofitssocialsafetynet,withafocus on digital transformation, inclusion, and empowerment of
vulnerabl
ps Key components of the programme include:
1. Digital Transformation of Social Services: Streamlining and digitalising MHSSS processes to reduce transaction costs and improve service delivery for beneficiaries.
2. Enhanced Senior Citizens’ Pension Program: Supported over 82,000 senior citizens, expanded access to electronic payment systems.
3. Expanded Public Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Increasing the coverage of the Public Assistance program, which has already supported more than 6,000individualswithdisabilities.
4.GrowthoftheLearningLab: Scaling up training programs that equippersonswithdisabilitieswith employability skills, adaptive living techniques, and tools for improvedqualityoflife.
5 Women’s Economic Empowerment: Expanding the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN)
Business Clinic to provide women with training in business management, legal literacy, and accesstofunding.
6. Support for Survivors of Gender-Based Violence: Strengthening the Survivors Advocates program and the Counter Trafficking in Persons Unit to provide comprehensive supporttosurvivors.
7.NationalActionPlanAgainst HumanTrafficking:Supportingthe development of a coordinated, inter-institutional strategy to combathumantrafficking.
GROWINGDEBT
Concerns continue to be raised about Guyana’s growing debt. As of December 31, 2024, Guyana’s debt had climbed to nearly US$6 billion, standing at US$5 993 billion. This marks a significant increase from the US$4.5 billion recorded at the end of December 2023.
Theupdatewasdisclosedbythe SeniorMinisterintheOfficeofthe President with responsibility for Finance and Public Service, Dr Ashni Singh, during his January 2025 Budget speech. Giving the updated figure of Total Public and Publicly Guaranteed (PPG) debt, the minister said, “Guyana’s total public and publicly guaranteed debtamountedtoUS$5.993billion at the end of 2024, mainly on account of net inflows from our externalanddomesticcreditors.”
Dr Singh had explained that government has prioritised responsible management of Guyana’s public debt He elaborated then that external PPG debtreachedUS$2.2billionbythe end of 2024, while domestic PPG debtrosetoUS$3.7billion.
Continued on page 22
ALPmeetsCarterCenter
Leader of the Assembly for Liberty and Prosperity (ALP), Simona Charles Broomesalongwithmembers met with representatives of theCarterCenteronTuesday
“We welcome their presence and look forward to continued dialogue as they observe the lead-up to Guyana's General and Regional Elections on September 1st, 2025,” a brief statement posted on the party'sFacebookpagesaid.
Representatives from the Carter Center are in Guyana to observe the country's
elections.
Venezuela to probe El Salvador's Bukele for 'torture' of US deportees
Deported migrants say they were beaten, sexually abused and fed rotten food inside a notorious El Salvador prison.
Aljazeera - Venezuela
h a s l a u n c h e d a n investigationintotheroleEl Salvador's President Nayib Bukele and his senior officials played in the alleged torture of 252 migrants who were detained in the Central American countryafterbeingdeported fromtheUnitedStates.
Venezuelan Attorney GeneralTarekWilliamSaab made the announcement in Caracas on Monday, as he presented photos and testimonies of some of the men, who said they were beaten, sexually abused and fedrottenfoodwhileinsidea notorious El Salvador prison.
Others were denied medical care or treated without anaesthesia, Saab said,urgingtheInternational Criminal Court (ICC) and the UN Human Rights Counciltoact.
The Venezuelans were sent to El Salvador from the US in March, after US President Donald Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport allegedmembersoftheTren deAragua gang without due process.
The deportations drew fierce criticism from human
rights groups and a legal battle with the Trump administration Family members and lawyers of many of the men deny they hadgangties.
Prisonerswap
The former detainees arrived near Caracas on Friday following their release in El Salvador, in exchange for 10 US citizens and political prisoners held inVenezuela.
S a a b s a i d t h e prosecutor's office was interviewing the returned migrants Some of the former detainees have since reunited with their families, but they have not yet returnedtotheirownhomes.
Several had bruises on their bodies, marks of being shotwithrubberbullets,and onehadasplitlip.
Andry Hernandez Romero, a 32-year-old beautician among those sent toElSalvador,saidhebarely survivedtheordeal.
“We were going through t o r t u r e , p h y s i c a l aggressions, psychological aggressions,” he said in a video presented by Saab. “I wassexuallyabused.”
Others spoke of being held in “inhuman cells”, deprived of sunlight and
ventilation, and given rotten food and unsafe drinking water while in the El Salvadorprison.
Themenhadnoaccessto lawyers or their relatives, and the last time many of them were seen was when Bukele's government issued photos of them arriving at theprisonshackledandwith theirheadsshorn.
Apart from Bukele, VenezuelawillinvestigateEl Salvador's Justice Minister Gustavo Villatoro and Head ofPrisonsOsirisLunaMeza, Saabsaid.
Bukele's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the media. Late on Monday, Bukele posted about the return on social media but did not comment on the abuseallegations.
“The Maduro regime was satisfied with the swap deal; that's why they accepted it,” he said on X.
“Now they scream their outrage, not because they disagree with the deal but because they just realised theyranoutofhostagesfrom themostpowerfulcountryin theworld.”
President Nicolas Maduro, on hisTVshow on Monday, claimed Bukele
Kamla says country deserves an apology from Dr Rowley
(Trinidad Newsday)
Hours after his damning public claims that he was placed on an Interpol watch list, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is saying former prime minister, Dr Keith Rowley owes the entire nation an apology, after the TT Police Service confirmedhewasnotneither on any watch list nor is wanted.
InastatementonJuly21 at5.20pm,Persad-Bissessar said, "After nearly a decade marked by mismanagement anddecline,followedbyhis quiet retreat into a life of luxurious retirement, Dr Rowleyre-emergedtohosta press conference only to level spurious, unfounded a n d i n f l a m m a t o r y allegations."
She added that Rowley, in his press conference, suggested that the prime minister, the Attorney Generalandtheindependent TTPS conspired to have his name placed on Interpol's watchlist."Ratherthanseek
had tried “last minute” to prevent the migrants from leaving.
“You could not stop the firstplane,butforthesecond planeheputsomecaronthe runway toprovokeeither an accident or prevent them
adirectexplanationfromthe TTPS – something any responsible citizen could havedone–Rowleychoseto broadcast insinuations of a
campaign."
Persad-Bissessar added that now that the true facts had been clarified by the TTPS, "and the fog of sensationalism begins to lift," she is suggesting that Rowley should once again summon the media, "not to fan the flames of paranoia, but to issue a full and unreserved apology to the nation."
Persad-Bissessar, who is also MP for Siparia, ended by release by saying, "The people of Trinidad and Tobago deserve better than reckless conspiracy theories andbaselessclaims."
fromleaving,”hesaid.
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado labelled the process as an “exchange of prisoners of war” during a television interview on Monday
Venezuela itself faces an investigation by the ICC in The Hague, with similar allegations of torturing prisoners and denying them a c c e s s t o l e g a l representation of political prisoners.
US to deport legal permanent residents affiliated with Haitian criminal gang
(CMC) — The Trump administration says it is taking deportation actions against legal permanent residentsintheUnitedStates (US) affiliated with the Haitian foreign terrorist organisation (FTO), Viv Ansanm.
“I am pleased to announce the latest US actions against individuals whose presence and activitiesinourcountryhave potentially serious adverse foreignpolicyconsequences for the United States,” said USSecretaryofStateMarco Rubioinastatement.
“Specifically, the Department of State has determined that certain individuals with US lawful permanent resident status have supported and collaborated with Haitian gang leaders connected to Viv Ansanm, a Haitian f o r e i g n t e r r o r i s t organisation,”addedtheson of Cuban immigrants, who wasborninMiami.
Rubio said Viv Ansanm isadriveroftheviolenceand criminality in Haiti contributing to the island's
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends a joint press conference with Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness (off frame), in Kingston, Jamaica, March 26, 2025. (Photo: AFP)
instability
“The United States will not allow individuals to enjoy the benefits of legal status in our country while they are facilitating the actions of violent organisations or supporting criminal terrorist organisations,”saidRubio.
He said with this determination, the US Department of Homeland Security can pursue the removaloftheseindividuals under the Immigration and NationalityAct.
“These new actions demonstrate the Trump administration's firm commitment to protecting the American people, advancing our national security interests and promoting regional security andstability,”hesaid.
In May, the San Diego, California-based Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) u r g e d t h e T r u m p administration to reverse its designationofFTOsfortwo prominentHaitiangangs. At the time, Rubio announced the State Department's designation of Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif as FTOs and specially designated global terrorists (SDGTs).
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.File photo (Trinidad Newsday)
Arturo Suarez, who was held for months in an El Salvador prison after the US alleged he was a member of the Tren de Aragua gang, reacts after his release, in Caracas [Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Reuters]
WANTED VACANCY
Govt. borrows another US$30M from IDB to boost water...
endof2024,ithadreducedto 24.3%.
EXCESSIVEBORROWING
BackinJanuary2023,the IDB had released a report cautioningLatinAmericaand Caribbean (LAC) countries against‘excessive’borrowing and urged governments to bring their debts down to more prudent levels.
Jobopenings:Truckdrivers, ExcavatorOperatorandSkid SteerOperator Toapplysend applications via Whatsapp: 689-1111/608-2114.
Able-bodied Sales Rep needed, ages 18-30 years. Knowledgeofvehiclemodel willbeanasset.Contact:6191237. WantedoneMaid.Call:6801282.
One Volkswagen Tiguan 2014 model, PYY Series, Ladydriven,excellntcondition. For more information. Contact:644-4244.
From page 16 Comparingmid-yearfigures, external PPG debt stood at US$1.9billionasofJune2024, and domestic PPG debt was recorded at US$3.1 billion during the same period. This underscores a notable increaseinbothcategoriesduring the latter half of the year Moreover, he said that over the last four years Guyana’s ratio of total PPG debttoGrossDomesticProduct (GDP) dropped by over 20%.Theministersaidthatthe debt to GDP ratio was 47.4% at the end of 2020 and by the
for
relationship. Contact:738-0764.
In its report titled ‘DealingwithDebt–LessRiskfor More Growth in the Latin America and the Caribbean’, theIDBdisclosedatthattime that debt has risen and stands atsomeUS$5.8trillion,which
is 117 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the region. “Given the dangers of excessive debt, the current situation in Latin AmericaandtheCaribbeanis worrisome,”theIDBsaid.IDB saidpublicdebtservesacritical role for countries to pursue public investment projects, implement countercyclicalpolicies,andprovide support to economies in the face of negative shocks.
However,theIDBwarned that if public debt becomes too large or is not managed withsufficientcaution,inter-
est costs may balloon, growthprospectsmaysuffer, and in the limit, a costly debt crisis may be provoked. According to the report, governmentscanbringdown their debt levels by improving spending efficiency, expanding the tax base, and seeking wider reforms to enhance fiscal balances and boost growth. The IDB said that there are many reasons why public debt levels should be lower than they currently are, highlighting that there are several ways to reduce that debt.
PENPAL
IndianMaleseekingfemale
serious
Bolsonaro’s son
blasts top Brazilian court official over assets freeze
( A L - J A Z E E R A )
Brazilian Supreme Court
JusticeAlexandredeMoraes has ordered the freezing of the accounts and assets of former President Jair Bolsonaro’s third son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, while the former president may now face arrest over his activitiesonsocialmedia.
Eduardo, a Brazilian congressman who has been active in Washington, DC, drummingupsupportforhis father’s court battle, called the decision “another arbitrary and criminal decision”byMoraes.
“Moraes relies on illegal decisions to protect himself fromtheconsequencesofhis crimes.Likeeverydictator,” Eduardo Bolsonaro said in a postonXonTuesday
“If he thinks this will make me stop, I make it
clear: I will not be intimidated,andIwillnotbe silenced. I prepared myself forthismoment,”hesaid.
“This is just another demonstration of abuse of power and confirms everything I have been denouncing in Washington and to authorities worldwide,”headded.
CNN Brasil first r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e confidential court decision was issued on Saturday as
partofaprobeintoEduardo Bolsonaro’s conduct in the UnitedStates.
Moraes, who oversees the criminal case in which the former president is accusedofplottingacoupto overturn the 2022 election result, issued a separate ruling on Monday saying that any attempt to circumvent a court ruling in which he ordered Jair Bolsonaro to wear an ankle bracelet and banned him from using social media couldresultinarrest.
BraziliannewsoutletG1 reported that Moraes summoned Bolsonaro’s lawyers to clarify their client’s alleged noncompliance with his order restricting use of social media.
AccordingtoG1,Moraes gavethelawyers24hoursto present an explanation, adding that if the defence does not adequately justify Bolsonaro’s online behaviour, he may order the immediate arrest of the formerpresident.
On Friday, Bolsonaro described the decision by Moraestoprohibithissocial media use as “cowardice”, and said he intended to continue engaging with the media to ensure his voice washeard.
Govt.to spend $174M to rehabilitate Bartica Hospital
The Ministry of Health is preparing to spend approximately $174,113,500 to have rehabilitativeworksdoneattheBarticaHospital, RegionSeven.
Thiswasrevealedrecentlyattheopeningoftendersfor the project at the National Procurement and Tender AdministrationBoard(NPTAB)office.
Fourcontractorshaveappliedfortheproject:K&SCivil EngineeringContractingServicesInc.,AndrectEngineering & Construction, Dijris Engineering & Construction and PacificServiceSystem.
The ministry has been rehabilitating a number of hospitals,healthcentresandhealthpostsacrossthecountry to improve the healthcare service being provided to the public.
mefromthebank,becausethebank has a license and has a responsibility to do business with all Guyanese and my service with them goes beyond 15 years. I have had 15 years and more of uninterrupted service with that bank,andsuddenlytoday,Ireceive a letter to say that they will discontinue service with me, I found that very, very strange,” she said.
Hetsberger shared a similar experience. He said he received a call on Tuesday morning followed by an email identical in content to Singh-Lewis.
“I sought some clarity, but all they said that’s all they can say is the bank reserved the right, its internalpolicies,andIdidnotmeet certain banking requirements, and that’sit,comeandcollectyourbank draft and close shop,” Hetsberger said. He later contacted other WIN candidatesandlearnedthatatleast five had received similar notifications.
They insisted they had not violatedanybankingrules.
The WIN candidates questioned whether the move is linkedtotheiraffiliationwithWIN apartyfoundedbyMohamed,who was sanctioned by the U S Treasury’sOfficeofForeignAssets Control (OFAC) for alleged gold smuggling.
WIN’s campaign manager Odessa Primus suggested that it could be “petty politics” initiated bythePeople’sProgressivePartygovernment.
In addition to Singh-Lewis signalingherintentiontotakelegal action, Primus said the party is assessing whether to pursue collective legal recourse against DBL.
Primus noted WIN will be notifying international observers and the global community about whattheyconsidervictimizationof theircandidates.
Sheaddedthatgiventhismove by the local bank, all WIN members with accounts at DBL will now be closing them “We will not be intimidated by any
Both Singh-Lewis and Hetsberger confirmed they also have accounts with other financial institutions and that only DBLhas takenthisaction.
stretch of the imagination, and I understand that while the governmentlovespowerandwhat the feel of power means for them, ourpeoplewillnotbeintimidated Wewillstandtogetherandwewill stand strong, because this is a democracy ”shesaid
Primus criticized what she called a contradiction between the ruling Peoples Progressive Party’s (PPP)publicstanceanditsactions.
“When we have all these entities that they have some degree of control [over] and is able to manipulate in some way, shape or form, being activated against people who are opposed to the government, and I would publicly liketosaythatthesearethekindsof behaviors that they need to cease anddesistfrom,”shestated.
Primus outlined that one of the main reasons, some WIN candidates have opted to stay anonymous is out of fear of political victimization. She also allegedthatsincetheparty’sListof Candidates was made public, PPP associates have been contacting WIN members to pressure them intoremovingtheirnamesfromthe party’slist.
To this end, she called on the government to stop its attempts at intimidation.Primusnotedthatthe government’s actions are a response to the growing support WIN has been receiving nationwide.
“You have 70 plus years of having a party, and in this day and ageyouhavetogooutyourwayto fight a party that existed for what two months, just over two months…”sheadded.
Whenaskedwhetherthebank’s move might deter others from supportingWIN, Primus was firm, stating that the party remains undeterred. She underscored that the party will not fall prey to what she believes is PPP-orchestrated victimisation.
Meanwhile,effortsbyKaieteur News to contact DBL officials following WIN’s press conference werefutile.
However, DBL’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dowlat Parbhu told Demerara Waves Online News that the decision was made to ensure the bank complies with international financial sector rules governing relations with sanctionedindividuals.
“I don’t think it should be unclear If they had read all the provisions of international compliance legislation and protocoldealingwithanindividual that was sanctioned by OFAC (OfficeofForeignAssetsControl), then they should be very clear If those who are interested go and read it, they will find the reason why Demerara Bank had to take suchadecision,”hetoldDemerara WavesOnlineNews.
He explained that the decision was taken in light of DBL’s risk assessment.Mr Parbhudeclinedto say how many accounts had been affected by the decision “because that people’s personal information inasense.”
“Anybody, who has a relationship that poses a compliance risk with the bank, we have an obligation under theAML (Anti-Money Laundering) legislation to take action and derisk and that comes with international correspondent bank guidelines,”headded.
The DBL CEO said his financial institution was not obligated to report its decision to theBankofGuyana.
ConstructionofHelipadAirCorpsTimehri.
July deadliest month in Gaza in over a year
…AS ISRAEL ATTACKS KILL MORE THAN 80; STARVATION INTENSIFIES
(AL-JAZEERA) Israeli forces havekilledatleast81Palestinians, including31aidseekers,inattacks acrossGazasincedawn,adayafter tanks pushed into southern and eastern parts of Deir el-Balah for the first time Earlier, the PalestinianMinistryofHealthsaid 77 people were confirmed dead on Monday, including five whose bodies were recovered, while 376 injuries were recorded at hospitals acrosstheGazaStrip.
According to data compiled by IslamicRelief,andwithanaverage of 119 Palestinians killed daily, July has become the deadliest monthsinceJanuary2024.
“The rate of killing is accelerating every day that world leaders fail to act,” Waseem Ahmad, chief executive of Islamic Relief Worldwide, said in a statement “We are witnessing people massacred just for trying to getfood,waterormedicine.We’re seeing babies and young children starve to death because Israel is blockinghumanitarianaid.”
The United Nations has just issued a stark warning over the growingfoodcrisisinGaza,saying starvation is now a “horrific reality” for children and families trappedunderIsraelisiege.
“PeopleinGazaarestarvingto death,” the global body said in a socialmediapost.
It noted that its children’s agency, UNICEF, has warned that deadly malnutrition among children is reaching “catastrophic levels”.
“Humanitarian aid at scale is urgently needed. Safe, unrestricted
“Aidatscalemustbeallowedin urgently,” the UN said, warning that the current restrictions are puttingthousandsoflivesatrisk.
With aid scarce, many in Gaza are risking their lives daily to access limited food supplies at distribution points run by the
controversial US- and Israelibacked GHF, where more than 1,000peoplehavebeenkilledsince lateMay Hospitals in Gaza have recorded15deaths,includingthose of four children, in Gaza due to starvationandmalnutritionoverthe past 24 hours amid Israel’s blockade on the Strip, the
PalestinianMinistryofHealthsaid inastatement.
Thatbringsthetotalnumberof hunger-relateddeathsintheStripto 101, including 80 children, since Israel launched its war on Gaza in October 2023 UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres told the Security Council Gaza is a “horror show with a level of death and destruction without parallel in recenttimes”.
“Malnourishment is soaring. Starvation is knocking on every door And now we are seeing the last gasp of a humanitarian system built on humanitarian principles,” Guterressaid.
“That system is being denied the conditions to function. Denied the space to deliver Denied the safety to save lives,” the UN chief urged. Guterres added between the Israelimilitary’slatestoperationin Deir el-Balah and the forced displacement orders issued, devastation is being “layered upon devastation”.
The overall death toll from Israeli attacks since October 7, 2023,hasnowrisento59,106,with 142,511wounded.
Since March 18, 2025, alone, 8,268Palestinianshavebeenkilled and30,470injured.
(CNN) President Donald Trump is pulling the United States out of the United Nations EducationalScientificandCultural OrganizationorUNESCO,aWhite HouseofficialtoldCNN.
The move comes as the US president continues to pull the country out of international institutions and makes ending Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programmes a key focus of hisadministration.
“President Trump has decided towithdrawtheUnitedStatesfrom UNESCO—whichsupportswoke, divisive cultural and social causes thataretotallyout-of-stepwiththe commonsense policies that Americans voted for in November,” White House deputy spokespersonAnna Kelly said in a statement.
In a statement, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce added the US’ continued participation in UNESCO is not in its “national interest ” The withdrawal will take effect on December31,2026.
UNESCO “promotes cooperation in education, science, culture and communication to
foster peace worldwide,” its website states The UN organization is widely recognized for its designation of World HeritageSites,includingtheGrand CanyonNationalParkintheUS
The United States was a founding member of UNESCO in 1945 but withdrew in 1984, citing concerns over financial mismanagement and a perceived biasagainstUSinterests.
Nearly two decades later, in 2003, the US rejoined the organization during President George W Bush’s administration, with Bush stating that UNESCO had implemented important reforms.
The US again withdrew from UNESCO during the first Trump administration but rejoined under Biden.After he took office for the second time, President Donald Trump ordered a review of US participation, including “an analysis of any anti-Semitism or anti-Israel sentiment within the organization.”
Bruce alleged that “UNESCO works to advance divisive social and cultural causes and maintains an outsized focus on the UN’s
Sustainable Development Goals, a globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with our America First foreign policy.” “UNESCO’s decision to admit the ‘State of Palestine’ as a Member State is highly problematic, contrary to U S policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric withintheorganization,”shesaid.
Audrey Azoulay, director general of UNESCO said she deeply regretted the US decision but said the organization was expectingit.
“This decision contradicts the fundamental principles of multilateralism, and may affect first and foremost our many partners in the United States of America — communities seeking site inscription on the World HeritageList,CreativeCitystatus, andUniversityChairs,”shesaidin astatement.
“However regrettable, this announcementwasanticipated,and UNESCO has prepared for it,” she added “These claims also contradicttherealityofUNESCO’s efforts, particularly in the field of Holocaust education and the fight
An American flag flies outside the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris, France, October 12, 2017. Philippe Wojazer/Reuters
againstantisemitism.”
The US decision was hailed by Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar, who called it “a necessary step, designed to promote justice and Israel’s right for fair treatment intheUNsystem.”
“Singling out Israel and politicization by member states must end, in this and all professional UN agencies,” he wrote in a post on X Tuesday
“Israel thanks the US for its moral support and leadership, especially
in the multilateral arena which is plagued with anti-Israel discrimination.”
French President Emmanuel Macron, however, took a swipe at themove.
“Unwavering support for UNESCO, a universal guardian of science, the Ocean, education, culture, and world heritage,” he wroteonX.“Thewithdrawalofthe United States will not weaken our commitment alongside those who leadthisfight.”
Thousands of Palestinians flock to the Zakim area in the north of the region to seek aid in Gaza on July 22, 2025 [Hamza Z H Qraiqea/Anadolu]
“It’s not good”
Frompage28
Athletics has always stood strongly behind is the athletes.Soyeah,thisisnota good situation. It’s a startup, but the athletes do need paying.
“For these things to work, they can’t be vanity projects. They have to be suffused in practicality and deliverability.Ijustwantthe events that are going to add lustre,thatwecanfindspace for, and we will encourage
them to at least have the courtesy of spending that kindoftimeandthatkindof effort, both intellectual and resource,inmakingsurethey work.”
Grand Slam Track champions at each meeting receive$100,000inaddition to substantial appearance fees.
Grand Slam Track declinedtocomment,butitis understood that agents have been informed their athletes
-World
Athletics monitoring outstanding Grand Slam Track payments to athletes
willbepaidfortheKingston event this month, with later meetingpaymentsfollowing beforetheendofSeptember.
British newspaper, The Guardian, understands that some athletes have received appearance money from the openingmeeting.
Asked ifWorldAthletics hasthepowertointerveneon athletes’behalf,Coereplied: “Well, let’s just watch this space.”
Johnson’s brainchild has
been touted as a direct competitor to World Athletics’ Diamond League circuit, which had stood unchallenged as the primary
ince it succeeded the Golden Leaguein2010.
SpeakingtotheGuardian in April, Johnson denied fears that the $30m of investment in Grand Slam Trackcouldrunoutbeforehe isabletochangethesport.
Wednesday July 23, 2025
ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)
The intensity of the day may bring unexpected opposition, Aries.Whether it's verbalized or not, the confrontations are q u i t e r e a l D o n ' t underestimate a loved one's emotions.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
Give your loved ones the attention they need today Don't let another day go by withoutsayingyoulovethem. Life is short and getting shorterwitheachpassingday
GEMINI(May21–June20)
Don't run away from the tension today Any emotional stress you feel will be compounded if it isn't dealt with right away. Be in the moment while the moment is here.
CANCER(June21–July22)
Stop hiding behind your intellectual barrier Playing games will get you nowhere. True strength is standing up and demonstrating that you can say what you feel in any situation,especiallyregarding acloselovedone.
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
Stop trying to feel everyone else's emotions and focus on yours, Leo. Being empathetic is certainly laudable, but at some point you need to face the music and look in the mirror
VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)
It may seem like neither side of the bed is the right side to wake up on today, Virgo. The onlysolutionmaybeistojust go back to dreamland if you can.Ifyoucan't,focusonyour heart,becauseit'stryingtotell youitneedssomeattention.
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
Youmayfeellikeyou'rebeing double-crossed by a loved one today, Libra. Maybe your words are being used against you in such a way that makes youlooklikethebadguy
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov 21)
You may say one thing one minute and the opposite the next,Scorpio.Mostofthetime youjumpfromoneissuetothe next with no hassle, but today people probably will call you onit.
SAGITTARIUS(Nov22–Dec21)
Thetensionintheairmightbe what you need in order to become more aware of subconsciousissuesthataffect your behavior, Sagittarius There's a great deal that you needtogetoffyourchest.
CAPRICORN(Dec22–Jan19)
Stop being an enabler to someone you care about. You may let someone continue a dangerous addictive behavior simply because you want to avoidaconfrontation.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)
You may have some issues withfood.Maybeyoursenseof self-worth isn't at its highest, and you're trying to make up for this by sabotaging your relationship with your body Food is healthy nourishment that you need in order to survive.
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
If there's an issue with your partnerthatneedsairing,thisis a good time to do it, Pisces. Don't hold back just to maintaintheequilibriuminthe relationship Don't sacrifice yourpeaceofmindjusttokeep fromrockingtheboat.
ExcitementloomsinEssequibo...
Frompage33
runner-up will pocket $700,000 along with a trophy and medals,andeventhelosingsemi-finalistswillberewarded with$300,000each.
The national finals will be on Sunday,August 3, at the NationalStadium,Providence.
Individual brilliance won’t go unnoticed either, with a host of prizes up for grabs, including MVP ($150,000 + motorcycle), Most Runs ($100,000 + trophy + TV), Most Wickets ($100,000 + trophy + TV), Man-of-the-National Final ($75,000 + trophy + TV), Highest Strike Rate ($35,000),andBestEconomy($35,000).
“We’reinthisforthelong haul,” he said “Startups aren’t profitable in year one. Youknow,ifanybodycomes toyouwithastartup,saying: ‘Hey, we’re going to be profitable in year one,’ run away as fast as you can. But wewillcontinuetogrow.”
Coe insisted he remains fully supportive of privately fundedathleticsevents.
“It was in everybody’s interest for something like this to be successful. We’re not the ‘computer says no’ command-and-control federation.
“FromtheverymomentI became president of World Athletics, I talked about the needtobemorecreativeand partner – don’t shy away from forming those relationships. So, we were very clear that this had to be done properly and executed properly Hopefully, [create] anadditionalattractioninthe sport.”
YarrowkabraSec’ crownedJames...
Frompage33
A
otions Committee (GOAPC) will host its Summer InterMinistries/Government
A g e n c i e s D o m i n o Competition on Friday, July 25, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation parking lot (Charlotte Street entrance).
Up for grabs will be the Hon.CarlGreenidgeTrophy and theAmbassadorTrophy, along with medals and cash incentives for the winning andrunner-upteams.
Theactionisscheduledto slam off at 4:00p.m., and playersareaskedtobeseated by 3:30p.m. A grand afterwork lime with karaoke entertainmentwillfollowthe competition.
Participantsarereminded toregisterbeforeFridaywith coordinator James “Uprising” Lewis at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs orbycontacting628-1656.
TheKaresOneGuyanaT10TapeballBlasthasgarnered support from: Kares Engineering Inc, the Office of 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,AvinashContractingandScrapMetal,Shawn’s Mini Mart, Giftland Group of Companies, Kris Jagdeo Construction Company, Montra Restaurant & Lounge, WindsorEstates,TheNewDoctor’sClinic,GuyOil,ANSA McAL, SuperBet Guyana, Digital Technology, Camille’s Academy, Navin Construction, Demerara Mutual Life Insurance, Continental Transportation, and Environmental &TechnicalSolutions.
SaraMisirwinsMonacoGrandPrixinmaidenE1Series
SportsMax - Jamaican racecar sensation Sara Misir delivered a standout performance alongside teammate John Peeters to secure Team BlueRising’sfirst-everwinintheUIM E1WorldChampionshipattheMonaco GrandPrixheldonSunday
This historic victory follows two strong performances earlier in the season, as the team secured a P3 finish inJeddah,SaudiArabia,inRoundOne onJanuary25andathird-placefinishat theLagoMaggioreGrandPrix,Italy,in Round4onJune28.
Thethreepodiumtriumphsconfirm Team Blue Rising as a championship contender as they sit fourth overall in the championship standings with 114 points.
Piloting their all-electric RaceBird vesselwithremarkableprecision,Misir and Peeters overcame a stacked field that included teams owned by Tom Brady, Rafael Nadal, and LeBron James.Aboldearlyovertakeandclean jokerlapstrategyhelpedsealthewinin frontofapackedMonteCarloHarbour crowd.
“It’s an absolute honour to stand atop the podium representing Jamaica and Team Blue Rising. This is a milestone not just for us as a team but for women in motorsports across the world because this is my debut season, andIjusthopetokeepimprovingasIgo along,”Misirsaid.
The podium celebration was led by E1 Chairman Alejandro Agag and
attended by sports and entertainment royalty, including team owners and sporting legends Tom Brady, Didier Drogba,andLeBronJames.
Thewinmarksahighpointinwhat has been a breakthrough season for Misir, the Caribbean’s first female professionalrace-cardriverandafourtime Jamaican Motorsports Athlete of theYear TeamBlueRising’snextstops ontheE1SeriescalendarincludeLagos inOctoberandMiamiinNovember.
Team Blue Rising, co-owned by cricket icon Virat Kohli, competes in the world’s first all-electric powerboat championship, the E1 Series, championingsustainabilityandgenderbalanced competition at the highest level.
“It’s not good”
- World Athletics monitoring outstanding Grand Slam Track payments to athletes
SportsMax - WorldAthleticsPresidentSebastianCoehas said the sport’s governing body is monitoring outstanding athletepaymentsfromMichaelJohnson’sGrandSlamTrack series,withthegoverningbody’spresidentstating:“Thereis nopointinpretendingthisisasatisfactorysituation.” Johnson cancelled the final Los Angeles leg of his new four-meeting series last month following low spectator numbersattheopeningthreeeditionsinMiami,Philadelphia, andKingstoninJamaica.
A prize fund of $12.6m (£9.3m) was announced at the series launch, but some athletes are understood to have not beenpaid.
It is not unusual for a time lag between competition and remuneration but, given the abrupt end to the aborted first season,runnersareconcernedoverindividualpaymentsthat stretchwellintosixfigures.
“It’snotgood,”LordCoesaid.“TheonethingthatWorld Continued on page 27
Jamaican racecar sensation Sara Misir
World Athletics is monitoring outstanding Grand Slam Track payments to athletes.
Nigeria beat holders South Africa to reach Wafcon final
BBC Sport - Nigeria scored a dramatic stoppagetime winner to beat defending champions South Africa 2-1 and book their place in Saturday’s final of the 2024 Women’s Africa CupofNations.
Michelle Alozie’s delivery from deep into the box eluded Banyana Banyana keeper Andile Dlaminiinthe94thminuteto keepalivetheWestAfricans’ hopes of securing a recordextending 10th continental title. The Super Falcons had led in Casablanca through RasheedatAjibade’s penalty on the stroke of half-time afterBambananiMbanewas penalised for handling FolashadeIjamilusi’sshot.
But the holders fought back in the second half and levelled on the hour mark through a composed Linda Motlhalospot-kick,awarded whenOsinachiOhaletugged back Hildah Magaia. That wasthefirstgoaltheNigeria had conceded at this year’s finals and it knocked the nine-time champions out of theirstride.SouthAfricahad to deal with a serious-
looking injury to Gabriela Salgado with six minutes remaining but, just as the gameappearedtobeheading toextratime,Aloziestruckto spark jubilant celebrations They will face either hosts Morocco or Ghana in the final, with those sides meeting in Tuesday’s late last-fourtie(19:00GMT). MissionX remainsontrack
South Africa’s quarter-
final against Senegal had gone to extra time and penalties and, having had a day’s less rest than their opponents, they made a nervy start at Larbi Zaouli Stadium.
The Super Falcons had a brilliantdoublechanceinthe 11th minute with Dlamini saving from Esther Okoronkwo before centreback Tiisetso Makhubela both headed clear and then
Rasheedat Ajibade netted her first goal of this year’s finals to put Nigeria in front.
(Backpage Pix)
blocked Chinwendu
Ihezuo’s follow-up in front ofthegoalline.
SouthAfricawereforced to reorganise after losing Makhubelatoinjurymidway throughthehalfbutappeared to be heading in level at the break before Ijamilusi fired aneffortintothelefthandof Mbane, who was barely two yardsaway Dlamini got a hand to Ajibade’s low penalty, but
the effort had enough power toputNigeriaahead,andthe South Africa goalkeeper almost gifted her opponents another goal in the first minute of the second half when she dropped a cross justyardsout.
Nigeria’s level dropped inthesecondhalfandSouth Africa, who had rarely threatened, were gifted a waybackintothecontentby a defensive lapse in concentration which was confirmed by VAR
Noxolo Cesane almost put South Africa in front in the 73rd minute when she slid in to meet a deep cross from the left, but her effort did not have enough on it to roll over the line and Ohale eventuallycleared.
Salgado’s injury after a scramble in the box disrupted the final stageswith several Banyana players in clear distress beforeshewastakenoffona stretcher-andcontributedto
sixminutesofstoppagetime.
Alozie’s lofted delivery looked hopeful but bounced just outsidethe six-yard box and the presence of onrushing Nigerians Ihezuo and Deborah Abiodun provided an added distractionforDlamini,with the ball ending up in the net despite the desperate efforts ofFikileMagama.
Abiodun claimed the goal but replays showed she didnotgetatouchanditwas eventually awarded to the SuperFalconsright-back.
The manner of the outcomewasharshonSouth Africa, who had been bidding for their second Wafcon title and put in a committed performance despite the injury setbacks theyencounteredthroughout thematch.
Nigeria’s quest to reclaim the trophy they last lifted in 2018, which has been dubbed Mission X, remains on track - but the Super Falcons faced a far sterner examination than they had during the quarterfinals when they beat Zambia5-0.
Andre Russell walks through a guard of honour in his final T20I. (AFP via Getty Images)
Venus Williams makes winning return to tennis aged 45
Venus Williams reached the quarterfinals of the Citi Open doubles alongside Hailey Baptiste.
(Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
CNN - Venus Williams enjoyed a winning return to competitive tennis after 16 months away as she reached the quarterfinals of the women’s doubles at the DC Open alongside HaileyBaptiste.Theall-Americanpair defeatedcompatriotClervieNgounoue andtheretiringEugenieBouchard6-3, 6-1intheroundof16forWilliams’first victoryontheWTAToursinceAugust 2023, when she defeated Veronika Kudermetova in the opening round of theCincinnatiOpen.
Williams, 45, gave her signature twirlafterthematchasshetookinthe
adulationofthecapacitycrowd.
“It’s just nice to be able to play,” Williams said after the match, per the AssociatedPress.
“WhereIamatthisyearissomuch different where I was at last year It’s nightandday,beingabletobehereand prepareforthetournamentasopposed topreparingforsurgeryayearago.”
Williams told NBC earlier this month that she had undergone surgery to remove fibroids from her uterus, a condition she said had affected her careerandlifeforyears.
“At the end of the day, it doesn’t
really matter if your health is not there,”sheadded.“So,itdefinitelyput it in perspective for me and maybe made it easier to make the decision to maybe come back out here and maybe playevenfreer.”
It was the first time Williams had stepped onto the court at all for an official match since an opening-round defeat to Diana Shnaider at the Miami Open in March 2024. Her last doubles matchwasalmostthreeyearsago.
Williams,whoiscurrentlywithout arankinginsinglesordoubles,haswon seven grand slam singles titles and 14 in doubles alongside youngster sister Serena, as well as two mixed doubles titlesin1998.
After the win, Williams joked that herandBaptisteshouldhavepartnered upmuchsooner
“Ithink,fromthefirstpoint,Icould see that we were going to be a good team,” she said. “We just should have startedplayingearlier,yearsago,right? IthinkSerenawasjustintheway.”
Williams,whoacceptedwildcards to compete in the singles and doubles, will make her return in the singles competition when she facesAmerican PeytonStearnsintheopeningroundon Tuesday
SportsMax - With the countdown on to the 2025 Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL), West Indies captain and Barbados Royals leader Hayley Matthews says she’seagertogetgoingassheeyesahistoricthirdstraighttitle intheregionalT20showcase.
Matthews,whocurrentlyreignsastheworld’stop-ranked women’sT20 all-rounder and the ICC’s number twoWT20I batter,believesthebuzzsurroundingthisyear’stournamentis alreadybuilding,andshe’sreadytomeetithead-on.
“Itisprettyexciting,obviously…acompetitionthatonly comesaroundonceayear,sohighlyanticipatedforsure.Asa BarbadosRoyalsplayerandcaptain,Iamsuperexcitedtoget back into another season. Being able to win the last two… lookingforthethree-peatnow,soyes,wearesuperexcited,” Matthews told Barbados Today during the Republic Bank CPL’s Health and Wellness Day at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex.
Matthews,whoisalsoaCPLambassador,commendedthe leagueforcreatinganenergeticlead-uptotheseasonandfor makingaconsciousefforttoengagewiththewiderCaribbean public. The tournament, now in its fourth edition, bowls off September 6 at Guyana’s Providence Stadium, which will hostallthematches.
“Ithinkit[HealthandWellnessDay]isagreatinitiative. CPL is trying to come out and promote healthier lifestyles—getting into the community, getting around the Caribbean, and trying to engage with the fans as much as possible,whichisgreat,”shesaid.
AscaptainoftheBarbadosRoyalsWomen,Matthewshas already guided her franchise to back-to-backWCPLtitles in 2023and2024.Now,withhersightssetonathree-peat,she saystheentireunit,includinginternationalrecruits,islocked in.
“Thewholeteamisready;theoverseas[players]areready tocomedownandgetgoing.Ithinkitisgoingtobeabigyear for us, and hopefully a year that we can bring home another trophy,”Matthewsnoted.
Off the field, Matthews continues to be a champion for women’s cricket development in the region. She lauded the work of the Barbados Royals Girls Cricket Club, which providesfreecoachingforgirlsagedsixto14.
“Theyoungchildrenhavingtheopportunitytocomeout, play a bit of cricket, and have some fun are always really important initiatives to not only help build up a tournament like CPL but to help build up the wider community of the Caribbeanaswell,”theoutstandingplayerreasoned.
Matthews also took a moment to praise her Royals and West Indies opening partner, Qiana Joseph, who has blossomedintoareliabletop-orderoption.
“Qianahasdefinitelycomealongway Isurelyremember the days of her batting at seven and eight within the team. She’s worked on her game a lot over the last year and a half and has turned herself into an opening batter, and a pretty successfuloneaswell,”Matthewsshared.
“Wehavebeenhavingsomeprettygoodpartnershipsupat thetopoftheorder,sohavingherintheWestIndiesisaplus. HavingherintheBarbadosRoyalsaswellandbeingableto continue that partnership while playing the franchise circuit andwhilerepresentingBarbadosisgoingtobeprettyfunand somethingthatwearelookingforwardtodoingsomemoreas well,”sheended.
Hayley Matthews
2025 GCB Men’s U-17 2-Day Trial Match…
Mohabir-led Team B grabs first day honours, as practice bowls off ahead of Regional C/Ships
The Guyana Under-17 team heightened their encampment as their 2-Day trial match bowled off yesterdayattheLBICricket Facility,withTeamBtaking the edge over the A Team heading into today’s final bout.
Batting first,TeamAled byRichardRamdeholposted a meager 107 in 44.5 overs, allowing 12 their players to haveagoatgettingsomeinmatch form ahead of the championships.
Johnathan Mentore (23), Dave Seegobin (16), Arif Kahn (11) and Eron Benjamin (20) managed to get themselves going during thefirstinnings.
- Lead Team A by 67-runs
B Team skipper, offbreakspinnerDaveMohabir locked up the batting with figures of 3-20, pacer Darwin Joseph (2-9) and leggyFeazBaskh(2-9)were thepickofthebowlers. Awicket each for Shane
InauguralRoseHall CricketClubAcademy getsunderway
The Rose Hall Community Centre Cricket Club (RHCCCC) bowled off their inaugural academy Monday and will end on July 26. The academy is set to host prospectivemaleandfemalecricketerswithanaimtoteach thebasicsofthegame.
Rose Hall is the home of West Indies and Guyana cricketers,bothatthejuniorandseniorlevels.
SomeofthemostnotableproductsfromtheCanje-based clubareAshminiMunisar,whoisthefirst-everWestIndies U-19 Women’s Captain and current West Indies senior player Realeanna Grimmond, who recently made her internationalseniordebut;IsaiThorne,whowasselectedasa development player for West Indies senior team; the Ramdehol brothers; Adrian Hetmyer; Crystal Durant, the currentGuyanaU-19Vice-Captainamongothercricketers.
This academy has a well-organised programme, which catersseparatelyforyoungcricketersfromages8to14and fromages15to19.InadditiontotalismancoachRahaman, the academy will have Batting Coach Seon Hetmyer, Spin Bowling/Batting Coach Balram Samaroo, Fielding Coach RavindraBeharry,SpinBowlingCoachMarkSampson,Fast Bowling Coach Kawal Mangal and Fitness and ConditioningTrainerDwayneMars.
International cricketers in Shamar Joseph, Shabika Gajnabi, Shemaine Campbelle and Devendra Bishoo are amongthosethatwouldbepresenttosharetheirknowledge attheacademy
Sponsorship has already poured in for this highlyanticipated academy Some of the sponsors are Kascon Engineering Services, Alpha Construction Services, Maya Group of Companies, Professional Engineering and Construction Services, JR Engineering Solutions, A&H Contracting Services, Art Sawmilling, Chenick & Sons, SourceAutoSales,AAAConstruction,AVConstructionand Supplies, Top Point, Arborsmart, Anil Beharry Project CricketGear,CricketAgentColinBynoeJr,Cricnation592, FL Sport, and cricketers Ashmini Munisar, Realeanna GrimmondandIsaiThorne.
Prince, Dennis Crossman andReyazLatifeachhelped to further solidify a brilliant bowling effort by Mohabir andcompany
At Stumps Team B, 174 allout,gainedasolid67-run leadafterreachingtheirfirst team 50 with two key wicketsdown.
Mentore, Benjamin and Gibran Yacoob each picked up two wickets as part of TeamA’sbowlingmissionto slowtheiropponentsdown. After losing opener
Lomar Seecharran (8) and number 3 batsman Jathniel Nurse (6), Vishal Williams (19) and Emmanuel Lewis consolidated as their side trailed by 57 runs when Tea arrived.
Lewisstrucksevenfours inhis37whichwasfollowed byabrisk28(4x4)fromallrounderBomeshLalltohelp theBTeamwipetheirdeficit of runs and post a lead heading into stumps, with a defiant Prince carrying his scoreto33(3x42x6).
Action continues today from 9:30h, weather permitting. (CliftonRoss)
B Team Captain Dave Mohabir warmed up with first innings figures of 3-9 yesterday
All-rounder Emmanuel Lewis carried his team’s batting charge
Lennox Daniels is eagerly anticipating this weekend’s stagingoftheAndrewLewis Novices Championship, describing the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) eventasthepremierscouting ground for unearthing the country’s next generation of amateurboxingstars.
Daniels will be ringside at the National Gymnasium fromJuly25to27,keepinga keen eye out for the next Keevin Allicock, Desmond Amsterdam or Abiola
Jackman, three of Guyana’s most decorated amateur pugilistsinrecentyears.
“This is where we’ll identify the raw talent that we need to develop and investin,”Danielssaid.“We already have a solid core of boxers, but the Novices Championship is our nursery, this is where we begin grooming future champions.”
Daniels noted that amateurboxinginGuyanais experiencing a resurgence, fueled by increased
opportunities for young fighters to compete at the regional and international levels.
He pointed to the upcoming Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States ( O E C S ) B o x i n g Championship, scheduled forAugust 1–3 in St. Lucia, where several young Guyanese fighters will be testedonforeignsoil.
“I’mreallyexcitedabout what this weekend holds. We’ll get to see talent from all across the country step
into the ring. This is one of the most crucial events on the GBA calendar, because it’s where we first see the boxers who have the potential to rise through the ranks,”Danielsnoted.
When asked about the return of the Republican Gym (Guyana Prison Service)tocompetition, Daniels responded cautiously, “We’ll see. I knowthey’vebeenputtingin some work behind the scenes. It’s always good to have Republican Gym
involved, they’ve been an integralpartofthesport,but right now, our focus is on identifyingandnurturingthe young fighters who can impact the national programmeinthelongrun.”
Atlastyear’sedition,the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Boxing Gym reaffirmed their dominance, capturing the Best Overall G
preparation and welcomed the challenge they bring to thering.
Notable performances in 2024includedJaqwanMilo, who was crowned Best Novice Boxer; Ryan Rogers of Forgotten Youth Foundation Gym, named Best Schoolboy Boxer; and rising female standout Kenisha Plass, who walked away with the Best Female Boxeraward.
Olympic champion Zheng withdraws from U.S. Open after elbow surgery
(Reuters) - Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen has withdrawn from the U.S. Open as she recovers from right elbowsurgery,tournamentorganisersannouncedMonday
The world number six revealed last week on Instagram thatshehasbeenstrugglingwith“persistentpain”inherright elbow, which affected her performance during both training andmatches.
After exploring various treatments with little success, Zheng decided to undergo arthroscopic surgery following consultationswithelbowspecialistsandhersupportteam.
After exploring various treatments with little success, Zheng decided to undergo arthroscopic surgery following consultationswithelbowspecialistsandhersupportteam. Shehassinceannouncedshewillbetakingashortbreak fromcompetitiontofocusonherrecovery
The 22-year-old Chinese star enjoyed a remarkable run last year, capturing gold at the Paris Olympics and reaching thefinalofthe2024AustralianOpen.
However, her momentum was halted at Wimbledon this year, where she was eliminated in the first round by Czech playerKaterinaSiniakovaearlierinJuly
With Zheng’s withdrawal, France’s Leolia Jeanjean will move into the main draw of the U.S. Open, the final Grand Slam of the season, which begins with main draw action on August24inNewYork.
