APNU district leaders blame poor campaigning, low voter turnout, and WIN surge for election losses
ByShaniaWilliams
District leaders from several regions whereA Partnership for National Unity (APNU) recorded massive losses in the September 1 general and regional elections have attributed the party's poor performance to inadequate campaigning in certain areas, low voter turnout and the rise of new political partiessuchastheWeInvest inNationhood(WIN),ledby businessman Azruddin Mohamed.
Theparty,oncethemain oppositioninGuyana,lostits status toWIN.WIN secured 16 seats in the National Assembly, while the ruling People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), led by President IrfaanAli, won 36 seats, securing Ali a second term.
In Regions One, Five, and 8, areas where APNU had previously secured significantsupport,theparty recorded alarmingly low votes In Region 1, for instance, APNU managed just 496 votes, compared to WIN's 5,617 and PPP/C's 9,030. Ronald Cox, APNU representative for Region 1, admittedthatthepartyfailed to effectively campaign in many communities He stated, “The majority of APNU supporters have crossed over to WIN politicalparty.”
CoxrevealedthatAPNU hasyettoholddetailedpostelection meetings but noted plans to restructure at multiplelevels.Hecalledfor the re-establishment of active party groups in every major community, as had existedinthepast.
“We have to start back with our party groups in the various communities. Back in the days, we had every community, at least every major community, we had oneactivepartygroup. And that is something that worked in the past, and I believe that once that is activated, that can work again,” Cox stated He acknowledged that APNU's current internal structure, community, district, and regional groups, have been weakenedovertheyearsdue to a lack of regional conferences and leadership presence.
Lackofrepresentation
Cox further emphasised that APNU failed to engage voters effectively, both by not holding the government accountable and by not maintaining a visible
grassroots presence. “It is my opinion, not my party's opinion,itismyopinionthat wehavenotfullyengagedin one, holding government accountable as we progress, and two, being on the ground. As a representative would always say, we need to be grassroots leaders, grassroots politicians We talked that, but we did not really practice that. Maybe in some communities, but notsogreatly That'sanother strategy that can work once we start engaging in similar activitiesagain.Beingonthe ground every day, every week, every month, and getting the work done in termsofpassinginformation to people, make your representation on people's behalf, villages' behalf, in termsofvillagecouncilsand differentthings.
My belief is that you don't have to make government to make representation for people
Once people recognise that throughyourrepresentation, theyhavebeengivencertain things, or they are being borne because of your representation, then of course they will recognise that you have been working withthem.
To some extent that was not happening as well,” he explained.
T h e g e o g r a p h i c challengesofRegion1were also a major factor Cox explained that travel within the region is expensive and time-consuming, limiting campaign reaches “Traveling from Mabaruma to Moruca if you want to go there,youhavetogothereto spendaweekend. Youcan't go like one day and come back. And that expensive
roadwouldbelike$200,000. If you go to fundraiser, you don't get financial contribution from sponsors, political financiers and so on Your tasks are very challenging,”hesaid.
He also accused WIN of benefiting from APNU's internalstructure,sayingthat s e v e r a l A P N U representativeswhowereon the local government candidate list had switched allegiancetoWIN.
These included sitting towncouncillorsandformer t o w n c l e r k s w h o campaigned for WIN while still holding APNU positions.“WINusedpeople from APNU who were already seasoned in the system,whichmadetheirjob easier,”Coxsaid.
Voterfrustration
Another key issue, according to Cox, was voter frustration He explained that many citizens, especially in traditionally supportiveareaslikeRegion 10, were calling for change. “Allyouhearthemsayingis: it'stimeforchange,weneed newleaders,newstructure,” he said, admitting that despite introducing younger
andIndigenousleadersatthe national level, APNU couldn't compete with the appeal of a fresh political perspective that WIN presented.
Cox expressed mixed satisfaction with APNU's campaigning in Region 1. While campaigning in Mabaruma was active and visible,areassuchasMoruca and Port Kaituma were neglected due to limited resources and inactive local groups.
“Itwasagreatchallenge getting our campaign effectively going across Region1,”hesaid.
As for the future, Cox believes the party must regroupandreorganise.
He suggested that a coalition similar to the one formedwithAFCinthepast maybetheonlywayforward tomountaseriouschallenge a g a i n s t o n e - p a r t y dominance.
However, he noted that any decision would ultimatelyliewiththeparty's
centralleadership.
In Region 5, where APNU had called for a recount, district leader Vinceroy Jordan echoed similarconcerns.
APNUhoweverwasstill able to hold on to one of the the two regional seats it has held over the years. Jordan attributed the party's poor performance to low voter turnout and the rise of the WINparty “Withtheadvent of the new political party, some people chose to vote for WIN, though our main base, especially among senior folks, remained intact,” he said Jordan addedthatthefulldetailsare still being analysed before a c o m p r e h e n s i v e pronouncementismade.
He also raised concerns about the “bloated” voter list, which he said included thousands of dead or people who migrated This, he argued, tilted turnout statistics.“
The low voter turnout wasacrossthecountryandit was not necessarily in APNU's stronghold alone.
“What we also take into consideration is whether or not it was actually a low voter turnout with reference to the padded list that we have, the bloated list which contains thousands of dead persons and thousands of persons that do not live in Guyana.
Despite the results, Jordan said he was satisfied with the campaign efforts in Region5.
“We literally walked all
the villages. We had public meetings, distributed our manifesto, drove social media campaigns, and knockedondoors.
Myself and the entire regional team did remarkablework,”henoted. Jordan confirmed that APNU retained one of the twogeographicconstituency seats in Region 5 and will c
representation “We will regroup and mobilise our people on the ground,” he affirmed.
In Region 8, APNU district leader Richard Sinclair shared similar sentiments.Althoughhesaid it was difficult to pinpoint the exact reason for the party's underperformance, heallegedthatthePPP/Chad o f f e r e d m o n e t a r y inducementstoresidentsjust beforetheelections.”
“I cannot say what was the reason the turnout of votesforAPNUweresolow but I understand that just beforeelections,PPPoffered persons money ” When asked whether he was satisfied with the party's campaign efforts, Sinclair responded,“Ican'tsayifI'm satisfiedornot,butIcansay we did the work. I think we had done more than enough.”
Vinceroy Jordan
Ronald Cox
KaieteurNews
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EDITORIAL
Foreign preference
Guyanese had some strong ideas about who in the current political crop has failed them. On polling day, Guyanese made a statement of their rejection of local political groups, and their leaders. Two weeks after the elections, low voter turnout has already attracted many commentaries, analyses, and positions We take the simple position that disgusted voters who felt betrayed sent their message of condemnation by not voting In their thinking, surely, this great oil wealth must mean more for Guyanese, startingwiththosewhograspatstrawstoexist. Somethingis clearlywrong,whateveritis,thatmadeGuyanesestayoutof pollingstations. Meanwhile,agloballyrecognizedentitydidits ownanalysisoftheelections’outcome,andcameupwithits interpretationofthepartiesthatcontestedintheelections.
S&P Global is a trusted, well-known name in several fields,includinganalyticsofglobalcapitalandcommodity markets. No sooner commodity is mentioned than oil takes centerstage Guyanahascopiousquantitiesofoilthathasmade itthebuzzoftheworld Guyanaalsohasaterriblyone-sidedoil contractthatoverwhelminglyfavoursAmericanoilsupergiant, ExxonMobil. That contract has made Guyana the laughingstock of neighbours, allies, and friends Indeed, the ExxonMobilcontractissuchacancerthatitnoweatsawayat Guyanese,andpitthemagainstoneanother Thosewhoshut theireyesandstufftheirearsontherepulsivenatureoftheterms andconditionsofthecontractareononeside Thosewhoseize everyopportunitytoteartheExxonMobilcontractapartareon the other Where politics and ethnic loyalties were mainly responsiblefordividingGuyanesebefore,nowthepoliticsofoil drivesawedgebetweenGuyanese
What we extract from the S&P Global analysis of the completed elections is that the PPPC victory has eased tensions that ExxonMobil’s executives may have harboured. AccordingtoS&PGlobal,thatelectoralvictory is the best development from the perspective of the oil companies, with ExxonMobil foremost. Though the internationalheavyweightdidn’tcomerightoutandsayit, that was obvious. The PPPC Government that returned to power will not touch the 2016 ExxonMobil oil contract. The contract is nauseating and disgraceful, but the same PPPC that once was loud in condemning it in the most powerful terms now loves it. The returning PPPC isn’t going to touch that vile oil contract, which made it the darling of the international investor community, and the partyleaderstheprizedsweetheartsofExxonMobilitself.
To its credit, the leaders of the PPPC showed some nimbleness in their dealings with ExxonMobil, manifested a keenawarenessofthelayoftheland,anddisplayedasurehand inwhatittakestostayinpower The2025winnersdidspeakof oil,butinawaythatwouldpersuadeandcomforteventhemost criticalofoilpartners Accelerationofoilandgasexplorationis the safest and soundest strategy, a nonthreatening position ExxonMobil couldn’t have done better, couldn’t have been morepleased Whenspaceisdominatedbyaccelerationofsuch exploration, two areas of great sensitivity and significance to ExxonMobiland,byextensiontheUS,areneatlysidestepped, pushedontothebackburnerofconsideration
Doing something about that crippling ExxonMobil oil contractwasalwaysoffthetable Itdidnotevenmeritasmall mention,ifonlytokeepExxonMobilonitstoes Whyplaywith fire,whypushExxonMobiltolooksuspiciouslyandunhappily atthePPPCanditselectionspostures? Silencereignedrelative tothe2016oilcontract,becausetoapproachthatissuecouldbe self-destructive Then, there was the issue of the regulatory environment, which could be used as a vise on ExxonMobil Again,PPPCleaderswouldn’ttouch,stayedasfarastheycould from even hinting at a different regulatory regime to bring ExxonMobil into line The APNU, AFC, and others didn’t havesuchstandingwithExxonMobil. Theyweren’tgoing to trouble that contract, notwithstanding the AFC’s late claimthatitwasgoingtodoso. InthePPPC,ExxonMobil had a group that had already sold-out Guyana’s interests. Thoseareusuallythebestcollaboratorsforoilcompanies. Theoppositionhadnochance,didn’teventry
The establishment of an anti-corruption unit
DEAREDITOR, Congratulations to President Irfaan Ali for the resounding victory of his party,allowinghimasecond term.Ofinteresttome,andI believealltruepatriotsishis promise to establish an anticorruptionunit.
President is obviously aware that corruption is spreading and like a pernicious and aggressive cancer eating away at the fabric of our society This has reached a point where, consumed with pure materialism, we have a generation or two with no
moral sense. This means an inability to distinguish between right and wrong, to know when one’s behaviour is acceptable or not acceptable, and a belief that stealing, cheating, and banditryisallright,provided youarenotcaught.
Beyondthat,hereinisthe problem, the President has promised to set up this anticorruption unit, but the billion-dollar question is, knowingGuyanaaswedois, whoarethepersonsthatwill constitute this unit? Forget forthetimebeingthisfacade of consultation, will the
members of this unit be among those who openly, and in other cases, secretly supportthepresidentandthe party, will the members be among those who have, and are benefiting from sweetheartcontracts?
Additionally, what will be the powers given to this unit, will they be able to summons persons? Will the unit be able to demand documents?Will the unit be able to review works done, and have the authority to comment on shoddy work, and the use of inferior materials? Will the unit be
ableasHerculesdidtoclean theAugeanstables?
If the president is serious, I am available to offersomesuggestions,with my over seven decades of publicservice.
Finally, I am reminded of the words of the prophet Khalil Gibran when he noted: “Pity a nation that despises a passion in its dream, yet submits in its awakening” Once again congratulationsareextended to the His Excellency PresidentAli.
HamiltonGreen Elder
Democracy isn’t owned – It’s earned
DEAREDITOR, The 2025 elections showed us that no matter howmuchmoneyyouspend, how many contracts you handout,orhowtightlyyou control the State machinery, youcannotbuythesoulofa nation. The PPP/C, with all its advantages State media, constitutional commissions, private sector loyalty,andeventhecomfort o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l sympathizers still only managed 242,498 votes With turnout at 49 percent, that translates to less than a
quarter of the population actively supporting the government.
Meanwhile, 195,969 Guyanese voted for parties outsideofthePPP/C.
Thesecitizensstoodfree of threats and untouched by bribery Their votes were cast with conscience and courage, and they represent the true guardians of our democracy
No one symbolizes this more than Azruddin Mohamed. He was targeted, heckled, and chased from meetings in PPP/C
strongholds. He endured a smear campaign, including the baseless “ambassador to Venezuela” fabrication a desperate attempt to discredithim.
Yet, despite intimidation and ridicule, he prevailed. WIN emerged as the new opposition force, not because of fear, but because thousands of Guyanese daredtochoosedifferently T h i s e x p o s e s a fundamental truth: PPP/C doesnotownthepeople.The arrogance of believing that voters are possessions is the
same behavior they once accused the PNC of practicing. Now, they have become the very thing they condemned.
The lesson of 2025 is simple—democracy is not owned, it is earned. Respect belongs to those who stood unbought and unafraid.And in this election, Mohamed and the 195,969 Guyanese who cast their votes for change proved that integrity andcouragestillhaveaplace inGuyana’sfuture.
Sincerely, A.
Rampersaud
Towards Modernization and Modernity in Guyana
DEAREDITOR, The government of President Dr Irfaan Ali has rightly made modernization a national priority, with ambitious plans for infrastructure, improved government services, and a digitalization of public services. These are crucial steps.Butitisalsoimportant to recognize the distinction between modernization and modernity
By modernization, we mean the observable, measurable structures of change: roads, hospitals, digital platforms, State institutions, and standards of service By modernity, we meanthelivedexperience,the values, identities, and civic dispositions that citizens develop as they adopt and inhabit those new standards AsAnthonyGiddensexplains in The Consequences of Modernity (1991),
modernization alone does not automatically reshape socialrelations.AlexInkeles and David Smith made a similar point long ago in their classic Becoming Modern (1974), showing that institutional reforms must be accompanied by programmes to change attitudes, practices, and civic consciousnessifsocietiesare toachievefullmodernity Arjun Appadurai, in Modernity at Large (1996), emphasizes that modernity is performed, that people routinely traffic in modern symbols to display their modern selves While this kindofperformanceisnotyet widespreadinGuyana,except perhapsamongasmallelitein Georgetown, the State’s modernization programme offers an opportunity to cultivate and nourish modernity as lived experience nationwide It
willallownewinfrastructure and digital systems to be matched by new civic spaces, practices, and performances. One effective way to promote this cultural dimensionisthroughlifestyle tourism. Lifestyle tourism creates settings in which Guyanese mix and mingle withoutreferencetoethnicity, while also providing opportunities for citizens to perform modern identities throughfashion,style,leisure, and social life From cafés, bars, and festivals to heritage trailsandcreativeenterprises, such spaces can offer opportunities for people to display their modernity in everydaypractice
Domestic tourism can thus serve as classrooms in the air, linking schools and communities to Guyana’s landscapes, histories, and cultures.Thisreinforcescivic education and helps young
people build attachments to thenationthattranscendethnic boundaries In this way, modernization would be more than technical and material progress; it would becomethe foundation for a civic culture and a shared consciousnessofbelonging. I n s u m , i f t h e government’s modernization initiatives are to achieve their fullest purpose, they must be accompanied by deliberate effortstonurturemodernity, sothatourinfrastructureand institutions are animated by inclusive values, modern practices,andacivicidentity strong enough to replace divisiveethnicloyalties. Theseareloftyidealsbut this government has shown in its previous term that it does not shy away from challenges.
Respectfully, Dr.WalterH.Persaud WCD
Brazil’s Bolsonaro jailed for 27 years over coup plot
BRASILIA,
Sept 11
(Reuters) - Former
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonarowassentencedon Thursday to 27 years and threemonthsinprisonhours after being convicted of plotting a coup to remain in power after losing the 2022 election, dealing a powerful rebuke to one of the world’s most prominent far-right populistleaders.
Theconvictionrulingby a panel of five justices on Brazil’s Supreme Court, who also agreed on the sentence, made the 70-yearold Bolsonaro the first former president in the country’s history to be convicted for attacking democracy, and drew disapproval from theTrump administration.
“This criminal case is almost a meeting between Brazilanditspast,itspresent and its future,” Justice Carmen Lucia said before her vote to convict Bolsonaro, referring to a history checkered with military coups and attempts to overthrow democracy There was ample evidence that Bolsonaro, who is currentlyunderhousearrest, acted “with the purpose of eroding democracy and institutions,” she added Fourofthefivejudgesvoted
to convict the former president of five crimes: taking part in an armed criminal organization; attempting to violently abolish democracy; organising a coup; and damaging government property and protected culturalassets.
The conviction of
Bolsonaro, a former army captain who never hid his admiration for the military dictatorship that killed hundreds of Brazilians between 1964 and 1985, followslegalcondemnations for other far-right leaders thisyear,includingFrance’s Marine Le Pen and the Philippines’ Rodrigo Duterte It may further enrage Bolsonaro’s close ally U.S. President Donald Trump, who had called the case a “witch hunt” and in retaliation hit Brazil with tariff hikes, sanctions against the presiding judge, and the revocation of visas for most of the high court justices. Asked about the conviction on Thursday, Trump again praised Bolsonaro, calling the verdict“aterriblething.”
“I think it’s very bad for Brazil,”headded.
As he watched his father’s conviction from the U S , B r a z i l i a n
Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro told Reuters he expected Trump to consider imposing further sanctions on Brazil and its high court justices.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X the court had “unjustly ruled,” adding: “The United States will respond accordingly to thiswitchhunt.”
The verdict was not unanimous, with Justice Luiz Fux on Wednesday breaking with his peers by acquitting the former president of all charges and questioning the court’s jurisdiction.
That single vote could open a path to challenges to theruling,whichcouldpush the trial’s conclusion closer to the October 2026 presidential election Bolsonaro has repeatedly saidhewillbeacandidatein that election despite being barred from running for office.
FROMTHEBACK BENCHESTOTHE PRESIDENCY
The conviction of Bolsonaromarksthenadirin his trajectory from the back benches of Congress to his forging of a powerful conservative coalition that tested the limits of the country’s young democratic institutions His political journey began in the 1980s on the Rio de Janeiro city councilafterabriefcareeras an army paratrooper He wentontoservenearlythree decadesasacongressmanin Brasilia, where he quickly became known for his
defense of authoritarian-era policies.
In one interview, he argued that Brazil would onlychange“onthedaythat we break out in civil war here and do the job that the military regime didn’t do: killing30,000.”
Long dismissed as a fringeplayer,helaterrefined his message to play up anticorruption and pro-family values themes. He found fertile ground as mass protests erupted across Brazil in 2014 and 2015 amid the sprawling “Car Wash” graft scandal that implicated hundreds of politicians – including President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, whose own conviction was later annulled.
Anti-establishment angeropenedthepathforhis successful 2018 presidential run,withdozensoffar-right andconservativelawmakers electedonhiscoattails.They havereshapedCongressinto an enduring obstacle to Lula’sprogressiveagenda.
Bolsonaro’s presidency was marked by intense skepticism of vaccines during the pandemic and an embrace of illegal mining and cattle ranching in the Amazon rainforest, where deforestationclimbed.Ashe faced a tough reelection campaign against Lula in 2022-whichLulawentonto win-Bolsonaro’scomments took on an increasingly messianic quality, raising concerns about his willingness to accept the results.
“ I h a v e t h r e e alternatives for my future: being arrested, killed, or victory,”hesaid,inremarks to a meeting of evangelical leadersin2021.“Nomanon Earthwillthreatenme.”
In 2023, Brazil’s electoral court barred him frompublicofficeuntil2030 for venting unfounded claims about Brazil’s electronicvotingsystem.
Lula’s Institutional Relations Minister, Gleisi Hoffmann, said that
Bolsonaro’s conviction “ensures that no one dares againtoattacktheruleoflaw or the will of the people as expressedattheballotbox.”
PROTECTING DEMOCRACY
Bolsonaro’s conviction and its durability will be a powerfultestforthestrategy thatBrazil’shighest-ranking judges have adopted to protect the country’s democracy against what they describe as dangerous attacksbythefar-right. Their targets have included social media platforms they accused of spreading disinformation about the electoral system, as well as politicians and activists who have attacked the court. Sending the former president and his allies to jail for planning a coup reflects a culmination of that polarizing strategy
The cases have largely been led by the commanding figure of Justice Alexandre de Moraes, appointed to the court by a conservative president in 2017, whose hardball approach to Bolsonaro and his allies has been celebrated by the left and denounced by the right aspoliticalpersecution.
“Theywanttogetmeout of the political game next year,” Bolsonaro told Reutersinarecentinterview, referringtothe2026election in which Lula is likely to seekafourthterm.“Without me in the race, Lula could beat anyone.” The historic significanceofthecasegoes beyondtheformerpresident and his movement, said CarlosFico,ahistorianwho studies Brazil’s military at the Federal University of RiodeJaneiro.TheSupreme Court also ruled to convict seven of Bolsonaro’s allies, including five military officers. The verdict marks the first time since Brazil became a republic almost 140 years ago that military officialshavebeenpunished for attempting to overthrow democracy.
“The trial is a wake-up call for the armed forces,” Fico said. “They must be realizing that something has changed, given that there was never any punishment before,andnowthereis.”
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro
DavidHindsmarchesintoParliament …as WPA’s voice in APNU coalition
WPA co-leader
Dr. David Hinds
Co-leader of the W o r k i n g People’sAlliance (WPA)Dr DavidHindswill b e o c c u p y i n g t h e parliamentary seat representing his party in the APNUcoalition.
Though an official announcement is yet to be made, sources close to the party told this publication that the decision was made on Thursday at a meeting Contacted on the subject Dr Hinds confirmed that he will be taking up the seat
He believes unlike the lastelectioncyclehisparty hashadagoodrelationship with the coalition under AubreyNorton
He said his party was also a part of the planning of the campaign both at the decisionmakingandalsoat the level of execution “During the campaign was the first time that we really played a full role in the campaign
So, if that is something to go by, we expect that in Parliament we will have a more inclusive role, and so we have to wait and see coalition politics is very difficult,butgivenwhatwe saw during the campaign, he expects that things are going to be much better, as we enter the National Assembly,”hesaid
Dr Hinds reminded that thelasttimetheywereinthe coalition they were in government, this time they are in opposition, “so the dynamicsaredifferent.
The leadership is different, as well as the circumstances. So one expects that the coalition would have learned from its previous mistakes, and that together, we can work together to restore some of the ground that was lost by the APNU during the campaign.”
He said WPA intends to use its seat to carry out the
APNU’sagenda.“So,weare walking on two feet, and that’swhatyoudowhenyou are in a coalition, you carry out the coalition’s agenda, and you carry out your party’s agenda,” Dr Hinds added.
Hewentontosaythathe will be the voice of resistance and reason, as well as a voice for the poor andpowerless.
K a i e t e u r N e w s reported on Thursday that with the APNU securing only 12 seats in the 13th Parliament, Norton has steppedasideandwillnotbe returning to the National Assembly I n s t e a d , t h e parliamentary team will likely be led by a new face, businessman, Dr Terrence Campbell.
Sources within the APNU told Kaieteur News that those who will make up APNU’s parliamentary team in addition to Hinds and Campbell are: Juretha Fernandes, Ganesh Mahipaul, Linden Mayor, Sharma Solomon, Coretta McDonald,NimaFlue-Bess, Vinceroy Jordan and newcomers:SaikuAndrews, Attorney, Dexter Todd and Riaz Rupnarain and Sherod Duncan.
Historically dominant in key regions such as D i s t r i c t F o u r (Demerara–Mahaica) and Region10,APNUsuffered historic defeats this election cycle.
For the first time, PPP/C outperformed APNU in District Four, long considered the Coalition’sstronghold. Region 10, another t r a d i t i o n a l A P N U stronghold, also showed significant vote losses
Overall, the PPP/C secured around 242,000 votes, WIN received over 109,000, and APNU ended with 77,988 votes.
Despite the loss, Norton
remains defiant and has questionedthelegitimacyof the 2025 elections. Over the weekend,hemaintainedthat the elections were “far from freeorfair,”citingabloated voters’ list, the absence of biometric voter verification, and various irregularities. In a public statement, Norton said,“Inspiteofthemanifest deficiencies in the electoral system, including a bloated voters’ list and the lack of biometrics, our party decided to participate in the elections held on September 1, 2025… These elections didnotreflectthewillofthe people of Guyana.”Norton acknowledged that APNU, andbyextensionthePNCR, the major party in the coalition, now finds itself in unfamiliarpoliticalterritory, being neither the governing party nor the official opposition.
However, he expressed confidencethatthepartywill recover
“APNU, of which the PNC is a major party, has a wealth of experience in weathering political storms. We will come through this stronger and better,” he affirmed.
Drawing historical p a r a l l e l s , N o r t o n referenced the PNC’s significant defeat in 1961 and the resilience shown by then-leader L F S Burnham Quoting Burnham’s rallying call, “Will you not watch with meforonehour?”
Norton appealed to APNUsupporterstostand firm in these trying times. “We are like the oak tree. We will re-emerge better and stronger, ” he declared
As the party prepares for a reshaped role in parliament under new leadership, APNU’s direction now hinges on fresh faces like Campbell and others, while it seeks torebuilditsbase
Odessa Primus ‘uncertain’ about MP post
for
WIN
As the WIN party Leader,Azruddin Mohamed isyettorevealhisfulllistof parliamentarians who will join him in the National Assembly; General Secretary (GS) of the party, Odessa Primus says she is uncertainwhethertotakeup post as a parliamentarian, addingthatshedoesnotrule itout.
Speaking with Kaieteur News on Thursday, Primus confirmed that she was approached to be part of W I N ' s l i s t o f parliamentarians When
…says it doesn't factor in to where she sees herself going
asked if she accepted the position, she said, “I am uncertain.”
Questionedastowhyshe is uncertain, Primus elaborated, “I mean it is not somethingInecessarilyhave as part of my plans per se. I don't believe that what I do for (the) country could only be done through a position. So,itreallydoesn'tmatter I don't see myself having more or less strength in any position in terms of getting what I need to get done for the people. Ultimately, it really doesn't factor in to
whereIseemyselfgoing.”
She added that, “It's not something that at this juncture,IwanttosayIrule out, I don't rule out but it's not particularly where I wannago.”
WIN secured the second highestvotesattheelections gaining 16 seats in the National Assembly Mohamed on Wednesday revealed to this publication the names of 10 of the 16 persons who will take up these seats. These include: himself, former MPs: Dawn Hast
Venezuelan VP issues warning to Guyana, T&T over US strike on drugs cartels
(TRINIDAD EXPRESS) Venezuelan
VicePresidentDelcyRodriguezonThursday morning issued a warning to Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and the US Department of War,sayingtothecountry,'donotdare,'and to'takeiteasy.”
Speaking from Sucre State, the region fromwhichanallegeddrugtraffickingvessel struckdownbytheUSlastweekisbelieved to have originated, Rodriguez referred to Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana's governments as 'vassal' governments of the United States Rodriguez, who has previouslyactedasaliaisonwithformerT&T Prime Minister Stuart Young over potential energy negotiations between the two countries, said, “And from here, from Sucre state, a very clear message to the vassal governments of the United States Department of War, the government of Trinidad and Tobago, the government of Guyana:takeiteasy,donotdare,anddonot eventhinkaboutit.”
“You are lending yourselves to the perverse plans of an aggression against the people of Bolívar,” she said. Rodriguez' commentscomeafterPrimeMinisterKamla Persad-Bissessar welcomed an ongoing US military buildup in the southern Caribbean Sea,andpraisedtheUSmilitarystrikewhich killed11menbelievedtobedrug-traffickers lastweek.
Persad-Bissesar at the time said, US forces should kill all drug traffickers violently,andearlierthisweek,furtherstated thatshepreferredtraffickersbeblowntobits than the country's citizens. The strike has since drawn international scrutiny, some experts questioning its legality under International Law “ You are lending yourselvestodestabilisetheentireCaribbean andthiscontinent,”Rodriguezsaid.
She was speaking during theVenezuelan government'sactivationofits'Independencia 200' plan, launched by President Nicolás Maduro Thursday morning- a plan intended to defend the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity active in strategic points within the country such as the coasts of Falcón,theZulianCatatumbo,theAndesand theAureñoplain.
Region Seven, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley and Natasha Singh-Lewis.
Also on the list are: Vishnu Panday (former Director of Agriculture at GuySuCo), Gobin Harbajan of Region Six, Nandranie Singh, Beverly Cornelius of Region Two, Dr Gordon BarkerofRegionThree,and Dr RyanRichardsofRegion 10.
With his eyes on taking government at the next generalelections,Mohamed had disclosed that as they preparetotakeuptheroleas the main opposition party, “We will be working tirelessly to ensure we hold the PPP accountable, whatever they promise in theirmanifesto,theyhaveto deliver,whateverwehavein
Venezuelan Vice President V Delcy Rodriguez
In reaffirming his plan Maduro said "Venezuela does not attack anyone, but it does not accept threats from anyone either."
According to a post on his social media, Maduro emphasised the readiness of the FANBFuerzaArmadaNacionalBolivariana — the Bolivarian NationalArmed Forces of Venezuela and the Bolivarian National Militia(MNB)tosafeguardnationalterritory
“These people are not orphaned, it is not alone,becauseitachievedthefreedomoffive SouthAmericancountries,”hesaid.
Atthesite,RodriguezsaidtheVenezuelan people were mobilised for peace. “It is a strategic scenario for us in the supreme defense of our Essequibo territory, with a very clear message, President: the Venezuelan people are mobilised for peace. The Venezuelan people are ready to defend territorial integrity The Venezuelan people are ready to defend our heroic independence So here we are, ready, President,indefenseoftheeasternregionof peace,” she said.During a weeklyTelevision programme last night, Venezuelan Justice MinisterDiosdadoCabelloalsocriticisedthe government, stating that the country and the 'ladywholeads'it,hasalotofresponsibility
“The lady who governs Trinidad… has condemnednowtodeathanyfishermanfrom Trinidad,fromTobagofromVenezuela,from anyislandthatgoesouttofish.Theycanfind it on the high seas and bomb it.They are all tangled up in their own issues,” he said. Cabello previously referred to a 'drunk woman'governingTrinidadandTobago.
ourmanifestowewillpitchit tothemtoo.” “Wewillbeon their necks every single day,”hesaidnotingthatthey have persons to focus on all thevarioussectors.
Worldoilmarkettoseehigher surplusafterOPEC+hike,IEAsays
(Reuters) - World oil supplywillrisemorerapidly thisyearandasurpluscould expand in 2026 as OPEC+ membersincreaseoutputand supply from outside the g r o u p g r o w s , t h e InternationalEnergyAgency saidonThursday,incontrast to OPEC's own updated outlook.
Supply will rise by 2.7 millionbarrelsperday(bpd) in 2025, up from 2.5 million bpd previously forecast, the IEA, which advises industrialisedcountries,said inamonthlyreport,andbya further 2.1 million bpd next year
OPEC+ is adding more crude to the market after the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and other allies decided to unwind its second layer of output cuts more rapidly than earlier scheduled.
The extra supply has raised concern of a surplus and weighed on oil prices thisyear
Supplyisrisingfarfaster than demand in the IEA's view, even though it upwardlyreviseditsforecast for growth in world demand this year to 740,000 bpd, up 60,000 bpd from the previous forecast, citing resilient deliveries in advancedeconomies.
"Oil markets are being pulledindifferentdirections byarangeofforces,withthe potential for supply losses stemming from new
sanctionsonRussiaandIran coming against a backdrop ofhigherOPEC+supplyand the prospect of increasingly bloated oil balances," the IEAsaidinthereport.
IEA demand forecasts are at the lower end of the industryrange,astheagency expects a faster transition to renewable energy sources than some other forecasters suchasOPEC.
AlsoonThursday,OPEC maintained its forecast that demand will rise by 1.29 millionbpdthisyear,almost double the rate expected by the IEA, and said the world economywasdoingwellinto thesecondhalfof2025.
The upbeat outlook follows the decision of the wider OPEC+ on Sunday to further raise its oil output quotas from October as its leader Saudi Arabia pushes to regain market share. Oil pricesdeclinedonThursday, withBrentcrudetradingjust below $67 a barrel. This is still up from a 2025 low of near$58inApril.
DIFFERENCEON OUTLOOK
TheIEAhasbeensaying the world market looks oversuppliedandThursday's reportsaidglobalinventories will rise by an "untenable" 2.5millionbpdonaveragein the second half of 2025 as supply far outstrips demand. It looks set to be the biggest mining sector M&A deal in overadecade.
Next year, the report implied that supply may
exceeddemandbyabout3.3 million bpd, with growth from OPEC+ and producers outsidethegroupsuchasthe U.S., Canada, Brazil and Guyana, and a limited expansion in demand, up from almost 3 million bpd lastmonth.
OPEC, in contrast, forecasts a slower rate of supply expansion outside OPEC+of630,000bpdnext year
Thedropinoilpricesthis year, partly due to OPEC+ output hikes, has put pressureontheeconomicsof U.S. shale output, analysts say
Rather than the IEA's implied surplus in 2026, OPEC's report implies a deficit of 700,000 bpd if OPEC+ keeps pumping at August'srateof42.4million bpd, according to a Reuters calculation based on the report.
China continues to stockpilecrude,theIEAsaid, which is helping to keep Brent crude prices for immediate delivery higher thanthoseforlatercontracts, a structure known as backwardation , which indicatesatightmarket.The IEA said its implied surplus maynotmaterialise.
"There are a number of potential twists and turns ahead – including geopolitical tensions, trade policies and additional sanctionsonRussiaandIran – that could yet alter market balances,"itsaid.
General Secretary of the WIN party, Odessa Primus
Is the PPPC holding up the appointment of Cabinet?
Today is the 12th of September 2025,elevenlong dayssinceGuyanesewentto the polls on the 1st of September By now, the country should have been settlingintotherhythmsofa newadministration.
The unofficial results of the elections would have beenknowntothegoverning People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPPC) as early as the 2nd of September A full ten days later, however, the government still has no Cabinet. The President was sworn in on the 7th of September, but as of this writing four days later no Ministers have beennamed.
This delay is troubling and frankly unacceptable. The President cannot argue that there was insufficient time. The PPPC has had ample opportunity, even before the elections were called, to decide on its parliamentary team and to consider who should be entrusted with ministerial portfolios The transition from campaign to governance should have been swift. Instead, we find ourselves more than a week after the elections with no Cabinet and no clear indication of when one will benamed.
Evenmoreconcerningis thatthePresidenthasalready embarkeduponmajorpolicy engagements in the absence of named Ministers. Over the past week, he has met with IT staff of government ministries as part of his digitisation drive. He has also sat down with
stakeholders in the financial sector Yet no Minister of Financehasbeenappointed, norhastherebeenaMinister responsible for information and communication technology
If this is an indication that the President intends to personally assume responsibility for these portfolios, then that is his p r e r o g a t i v e T h e Constitution allows the Presidenttoholdministerial responsibility in his own right. But if that is not the case, then convening these meetings without Ministers in place raises the question of whether the President is making unilateral decisions without the advice of his subjectMinisters.
The Constitution of Guyana does not provide an excuse for this delay in making Ministerial appointments
Article 103(2) makes clear that Ministers may be appointed either from among elected members of the National Assembly or from among personswhoarequalifiedto beelectedtotheAssembly
The President does not have to wait for Parliament to be sworn in before he namessomeofhisMinisters. Article 103(3) tempers presidential discretion by requiring that not more than four Ministers may be from persons who are not elected but eligible for election to theNationalAssembly This provision ensures that the Cabinet is anchored in the elected legislature and that the executive remains accountable to the people t h r o u g h t h e i r
representatives.
While nothing in this requirement prevents the President from moving aheadwithappointments,he needs to ensure that the majority of those whom he appointsasMinisterswillsit intheAssembly Iftherefore, the PPPC is prevaricating about who will be represented in parliament, the President should force their hand by announcing some of his Ministers. This will make his and their task easier
By moving ahead in this way,thePresidentwouldnot o n l y d e m o n s t r a t e decisiveness but also avoid
government is stalled while internal party matters are being sorted out. After all, thenationcannotbeaskedto wait indefinitely on the P P P C ’
r n a l deliberations when the machinery of State must continuetofunction.
TheabsenceofaCabinet has practical consequences. Ministries are without politicalleadershipatatime when pressing decisions are being made. Stakeholders are left uncertain about who willbetheirpointofcontact in government. The bureaucracy lacks direction, and the public is left guessing about the new government’s priorities and thepersonalitieswhowillbe charged with implementing them In a period of transition, clarity and decisiveness are vital Instead,thereisdrift.
The people of Guyana did their part on the 1st of September Theywenttothe
DEM BOYS SEH
Guyanese barefaced!
KaieteurNews–Onedayithadalineah vehicleswaitinfuhgetservedatafassfood outlet. You would not believe it but a car come and bore de line. Only in Guyana it doesgatpeoplesuhbarefacedfupopeafast foodline.
Deh gat motorists does see traffic policemenpunderoadanddemdoesdrive through de red light at dem junction. Deh gat motorcyclists who don’t be wearin helmet and does ride right in front dem trafficcops.OnlyinGuyanapeopledoesbe suhbarefaced.
Butlehatrafficcopseeyoucommitde slightest infraction and you would get pull infuhfitness.OnlyinGuyanadehgatdem
pollsanddeliveredaverdict. The President was sworn in swiftlyonthe7th.
From that moment, the machinery of government should have been set in motion without delay Instead, the nation is left in suspense, watching the Presidentconducthigh-level policy discussions without the Ministers who will eventually be held accountable for those initiatives.
To leave the country without a Cabinet four days afterbeingswornintooffice isdisappointing.Itsendsthe wrong message about preparedness, efficiency, and respect for the electorate. Guyana deserves better
The hope, of course, is thatbeforetheendoftoday,a Cabinet will finally be named. But whether that
happensornot,thedelayhas already undermined confidence Leadership requires foresight and readiness By now, the government should have been hitting the ground running Instead, it is stumblingatthestartingline.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
barefacednessdoeshappen.
But de best of all is dem wah borrow money from yuh and nah want pay back. And when yuh ask dem bout it, dem does gat de temerity fuh ask yuh fuh a loan fuh allow dem fuh pay yuh back Dem borrowingpundemowndebt.
Wedoesgatthiefmanwhodoesmetin yuhhousetekyuhvaluablesandpretendis heown.Andwhenhegetketch,hewantfu share de loot between you and he. But de best was de man wah get licks during the recent elections. And yet he had the temerity fuh ask fuh de election to be quashed.Nowthatissomebarefacedness! Talkhalf.Leffhalf
H@RD TRUTHS
Opposition – was it ever really in the elections
The opposition political parties prior to the 2025 elections must be measured and stripped of their props. Then put under the harshest spotlight. I call no names. What's the point? Where's the value? In this sweeping glance at the two major opposition parties, my hard assessment follows. Not so muchtheirperformance,but focusingonwhatwasbefore them. How they managed demands on intellect, character, on elections terrainlikeneverbefore,and then one more element. It's that most nonnegotiable of circumstances,atwhichboth major opposition parties failed abjectly It was the expectations of Guyanese, primarily their support bases.
F a c t a n d
Circumstances One It perplexes. Itshocks. There were the two major oppositionpartieswrangling and tangling about division
of electoral spoils. Since that was their raison d'etre, their report card condemns.
B e y o n d b a d
Embarrassingly and humiliatingly,becauseofthe paramountcy of one consideration: WHAT IS IN IT FOR ME. Me! Me! Me! My reaction is: WTF
This couldn't be those heralded as noblemen of Guyana. But they were. Who was going to get what and who was going to get such? Guyanese gave them
what they deserved,
especially their own sickened, appalled, and bent doublesupporters.
F a c t a n d
CircumstancesTwo. While all the bickering and the internal seesaws were unfolding, the reality was of a divided and weakened opposition. An opposition contestant whose only chanceatbeingcompetitive, of taking the fight to the incumbents, was dissipated
tonaughtwhentheycouldn't find a mutually attractive formula to participate in the elections together One doesn't need advanced education, or even to be a dog, to know that to go into the elections separately was a disaster before it began. The outcome has since confirmed. Something else mustbesaid,andsinceithas to be sharply and unyieldingly, then so be it. What happened to public service, and the dedication andsacrificesofthosegiven more, for the betterment of those with less, oftentimes nothing?
In America, men have gone to war, risk their lives, for an ideal. Does Guyana not have such men and women? Ilaboredlong,and come up short: Hell no, Guyanahasveryfewofsuch citizens There's Israel Individuals not even born there,stillhavethatspiritual connection that compels
Govt. extends deadline for contractors to bid for NGL storage andoffloading facility project
The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has extended the deadline for request for prequalification for its project – construction of a natural gas liquids (NGLs) Storage and Offloading Facility and pipelineaspartofthegas-toenergy(GTE)project.
Kaieteur News had reported that bids for the project were expected to be submitted on September 30, 2025 but according to the amended request for prequalification, firms have until October 21, to submit their bid to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB)office.
In its tender notice, the Office stated that these facilities are required by the Government of Guyana to enhancethecapacityforsafe storage, efficient operations, marine offloading capabilities and effective distributionandmarketingof NGLS, both domestically andinternationally
“The NGL storage and offloadingprojectisplanned for development within and /or near the Wales Industrial Zone approximately 25 km inlandfromthemouthofthe Demerara River on theWest BankadjacenttothePhaseI Power Plant currently under
construction, and' or on the East Bank of Demerara RiveratGardenofEden.The Gas-to-Energy (GTE) Phase I project includes a Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) fractionation plant to extract liquids (C3, C4, C5+) and provides limited storage,” thedocumentexplained. The document detailed further that the facility shouldbeabletoreceiveand store sufficient volume of NGLs to allow for no disruption in the phase I plant and to optimise batch offloadingtomarinevessels.
“The production rate from phase I is anticipated to be approximately 4,200 bbls per day of NGLs The facilities should be sufficiently flexible to accommodate, with modifications, additional future NGLs anticipated from potential future NGL production facilities,” the OPMstated.
themtolayeverythingonthe line for nothing For nothing. InGuyana,thesplit had better be right, or no takers. Goingitalonewasn't suicidal. Itwasasinine. No one needs any schooling to reachthere.
F a c t a n d
Circumstances Three. I put the best face on going separately, and assertions thatthegroupswouldstillbe competitive. People can make asses of Guyanese willing to be taken on that ride. Exclude me. Now, there's this interest I searched long and hard to discern the energies and strategies of the political opposition sans WIN on the hustings of the 2025 elections. If there was a strategy, what was it? If there was much energy, it wasn't visible to me. The record of the two groups in the last few months before elections were overpowered and overshadowed by their destructions from within, andhowpatheticitleftthem ontheoutside.
Who would vote for a group, or groups, that couldn't get their own house in order? If not one's own
Noting that only firms thathaveconstructedatleast five similar or larger facilities, should seek to be pre-qualified, the government noted that the project will be designed and constructedtoaccommodate thesafestorageofNGLsand offloadingtofloatingvessels with considerations for security, environmental compliance, and future expansioncapabilities
TheGTEproject,located atWalesontheWestBankof Demerara, includes a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility and a 300-megawatt powerplant.Naturalgaswill be transported from the offshore Stabroek Blocks Liza oilfield via a 12-inch pipelinetothesite,where50 millioncubicfeetofgaswill be converted to electricity daily The project is being executed by a joint venture between CH4 (Texas) and Lindsayca (Puerto Rico) The companies, hired in 2022, are constructing the plant and NGL facility at a costofUS$759million.The GTE project was initially slated for completion by the end of 2025. However, in May, Prime Minister (Retd) Brigadier Mark Phillips stated that the project would be completed in the second quarterof2026.
house, then how mastery of the demands of the national house? It had to be some desperate voters, blindly loyal voters, and Guyanese hoping against hope who placed their dreams and aspirations in these characters. Somedid,andit didn't amount to much of anything,otherthantomake official the dreadfulness of theoppositionchamps.
immovably
F a c t a n d
CircumstancesFour. What werethefivedefiningissues that the opposition camps madetheircallingcardinthe elections? Or three signature issues? Or, drop dead issues, regardless of what that required?
Biometrics, bloated list, cost-of-living, and corruption were heard, then nothing. They surfaced as agenda items, then faded. Until next week. Echoes at press conferences, then silence. Those had to gain muscle, then made into a 24/7 machine. By the book and then not. If they were operatingingoodfaith,they strategised heavily, then paralysed themselves
Now two points are put before Guyanese, who I ask to think. First, I do not believe that the two major opposition parties were ever truly, genuinely competing inthe2025elections. Their participationwasapretense, their efforts a false dawn. What do Guyanese believe? Then this: which opposition groupwasconductingafalse flag operation in the 2025 elections? False flag has anothername-TrojanHorse. Finally, there's this: was the incoherence and impotence of the opposition not accidental, but selfinflicted?
Today, I hear they'll be better,stronger. Forwhom? Themselves or the people. Onlyfoolswouldfallforthat claptrap.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
Exxon funnels mega contract to Dutch firm for Guyana project
Dutch maritime service provider Smit Lamnalco has announced that it has been awarded a “significant multi-year contract” by ExxonMobil Guyana Ltd. to provide offshore terminal support services for operations in the Stabroek Block
Thecompanydisclosedthedevelopment on its LinkedIn page, noting that the agreement includes the provision of four newbuildterminalsupportvesselsdedicated to Exxon's floating production, storage, and offloading(FPSO)operationsapproximately 110nauticalmilesoffGuyana'scoast.These vesselswillsupportoperations,maintenance, andlogistics,aswellasperformstatictowage d u r i n g t a n k e r l i f t i n g
Aspartoftheproject,SmitLamnalcohas signed shipbuilding contracts with Uzmar ShipyardinTurkeyfortheconstructionofthe vessels Designed by Canadian naval architect Robert Allan Ltd., the RAmpage
6000-DE class ships will each measure 60 metersinlengthanddeliverabollardpullof over 130 tons ahead (120 tons astern). The vessels will be equipped with DP2 class dynamic positioning systems, FIFI-1 firefighting capabilities, and additional e
nt
Thefirstvesselisscheduledfordelivery in early 2028, with subsequent vessels a
“Achieving this outcome has been the result of many months of hard work by the project team, through several rounds of tendering, and a thorough technical and commercialcontractnegotiationprocess.We worked closely with ExxonMobil, Uzmar and Robert Allan, to define the final vessel specifications…thesemajorprojectscannot bewonwithoutinputanddedicationfromthe entire team,” the company said
BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT
Govt.andthemedia
The government's growing hostility toward reporters and activists who refuse to sing its praises is becoming both predictable and dangerous.
The recent flare-up between President Irfaan Ali and journalist Travis Chase once again exposed a troubling pattern: those who ask uncomfortable questions are met not with answers, but with insults and intimidation.
Instead of demonstrating maturity, the president lashed out. Such conduct is beneath the office he holds, yet it is quickly becoming the norm.
Supporters of the ruling party cheer these attacks, believing loyalty excuses abuse.
They forget that power shifts, and the same tools of harassment can be turned on them tomorrow.
A government confident in its record should welcome scrutiny, not stifle it. Ali and his backers must remember: silencing dissent is the behaviour of the weak, not the strong.
Thieves rip cables, cut off North Georgetown internet, phone service
…One
Between Wednesday night andThursday morning, a major section of North and Central Georgetown was left without service after thieves targeted communications cables, in what One Communications (Guyana) has described as one of the most severe disruptions for theyearduetovandalism.
The company confirmed that copper vandalism has surged in 2025, now responsible for nearly half of all service interruptions. Alarmingly, vandals have also damaged sections of the fibre network, mistaking themforcopper Thisreckless destruction has left households and businesses disconnected, highlighting the growing seriousness of t h e i s s u e , O n e Communications said in a press release on Thursday “Thisisnotsimplytheft,itisa direct attack on people's ability to work, study, stay in touch with loved ones, and f e e l s a f e i n t h e i r communities,” said Richard Stanton, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of One Communications “The vandalswhostruckinBourda arepartofatroublingnational trendthatisputtingourentire communications network at risk.” Documented incidents of cable vandalism stretch across Guyana, including in South and North Ruimveldt, Lodge, Werk-en-Rust, Albouystown, Bourda, South and North Cummingsburg, Subryanville, Kingston and several East Bank
communities Images and videos show cables slashed and poles stripped, sometimes during the day time.OneCommunicationsis urging the public to play an active role by reporting any suspicious activity through hotline 0663 and by staying updated via the company's socialmediachannels.
Tostrengthenthenational r e s p o n s e , O n e Communications is working inpartnershipwithregulators includingOfficeofthePrime Minister, the Scrap Metal Unit and the Guyana Police Force to curb the trade in stolen copper and to bring perpetrators to justice. While the Company's emergency teamsareworkingaroundthe clock to restore service, the company emphasised that a key long-term solution is customermigrationtofibrein designated areas.“These acts of vandalism undermine safety, disrupts education, andslowseconomicgrowth,” the company added. “This is now a national crisis that requires collective action from all stakeholders, law enforcement, regulators, businesses,communities,and citizens alike ” One Communications reassures its customers that despite these challenges, the company remains fully committed to delivering reliable and secure connectivity, and thanks all customers for their patience andcooperationasprevention and restoration efforts continue.
Vandals cut through pipes to access copper lines
Xi Jinping congratulates Pres. Ali on his re-election
China's President Xi Jinping on Wednesday sent a congratulatory message to President Irfaan Ali on his reelectionashead-of-stateof Guyana.
President Xi Jinping noted that Guyana was the
relations with China. Over the 53 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China-Guyana relations have gained sound and stable development, with fruitful results in pragmatic cooperation across various fields and close coordination on multilateral affairs, the Chinese leader said. In July 2023,thetwopresidentsmet in Chengdu and reached important common understandings on the development of bilateral relations.
President Xi Jinping expressed his readiness to w
Mohamed Irfaan Ali to deepen mutually beneficial and friendly cooperation within the framework of
high-quality Belt and Road
China-Guyana relations to new heights, so as to bring greaterbenefitstothepeople ofbothcountries.
In this file photo dated July 28, 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) and Guyanese President Mohamed Irfaan Ali (PHOTO / XINHUA)
GPHC staff arrested for Lola Doll’s video leak ...police seeking his ex-girlfriend ...Paul Daby Jr. released on $1M bail
A20-year-oldorthopedic technician was arrested on Thursdayinconnectionwith theunauthorisedreleaseofa video depicting Lolita 'Lola Doll' Callender receiving emergency care at GeorgetownPublicHospital Corporation(GPHC).
Police are investigating the 'publication or transmission of an image of the private area of a person' onSeptember6,2025,atthe GPHC A cell phone recorded video of Callender receiving treatment at the hospital quickly made its rounds on social media Callender appeared to be naked.
The technician has reportedly admitted to recording the video on his mobile device but denied posting it on Facebook, telling investigators that he sent it via WhatsApp to his ex-girlfriend The man claims the video began circulating on social media
thereafter, at which point he deleteditfromhisphone.
Law enforcement officials have since seized the suspect's cellphone for forensic analysis by the Cybercrimes Unit, and efforts are underway to locatehisex-girlfriend.
TheGPHCinastatement confirmedthatanorthopedic technician had been identified and that internal investigations had
Forward Guyana Movement calls on GECOM to clarify role of Commonwealth voters
The Amanza WaltonDesir-led Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) has formally written to the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret'd) Claudette Singh, seeking detailed information on the r e g i s t r a t i o n a n d p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f Commonwealth citizens in the 2025 General and RegionalElections.
commenced immediately upon discovering the incident The hospital e
individualwasnotscheduled
n c
w h i l e announcing that the matter was referred to the Guyana PoliceForceforlegalaction under the relevant cybercrimelegislation.
The GPHC reiterated its policy prohibiting photography or video recordingwithinitsfacilities
w i t h o u t e x p l i c i t
authorisation from management. Breaches of this policy constitute violationsofpatientprivacy, institutional policy, professional ethics, and the trust patients place in the organisation.
The hospital expressed regretregardingtheincident and offered apologies to the affected patient and her family, affirming its commitment to upholding the dignity and privacy of thoseseekingcare.
“Safeguarding the dignity, privacy, and wellbeingofourpatientsremains our highest priority, and we will continue to take all necessary measures to uphold these standards,” the G P H C s t a t e d T h e investigation into the leaked video of Callender also coincideswithinquiriesinto herattemptedmurder
On September 7, Kaieteur News reported that Callender was shot about eighttimesoutsideherTexas Square, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown home The
shooting occurred at 23:35h onSeptember6.
Callender, 33, was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for treatment. She was shot to her neck, face, handsandrightleg,byaman onamotorcycle,policesaid.
“Information received that she was shot in her motorcar, by a male on a motorcycle, in front of her house,”policesaid.
Early Sunday morning, police informed that a suspect is in custody assisting with the investigations. That person was not identified Subsequently, a wanted
bulletin was issued for businessman Paul Daby Jr., also known as Randell in connection with the shooting.Hesurrenderedon Monday in the company of his attorney On Thursday, police released Daby Jr on $1M bail after the statutory detentionperiodof72hours expired;heissubjecttostrict reportingconditions. DayspriortoCallender's shooting,shehadclaimedin a Facebook live that there mightbeahitoutforher She even suggested a motive claiming that it might be connectedtoabackandforth (buse-out) she had with someone'sgirlfriend.
OPED: The Global Governance Initiative Contributes Chinese Solutions for Improving Global Governance
Thepoliticalpartyinthe lettersaid:“Theintegrityof our electoral system depends on clarity, transparency, and accountability,” WaltonDesir said “Guyanese citizensmustbeassuredthat their democratic will is not frustrated or diluted by the participation of foreign nationals. The people of Guyana deserve to know under what authority Commonwealth citizens were registered and how their participation was administered.”
FGM emphasised that the request seeks both statistical data and supporting documentation. The letter called on GECOM to respond within fourteen (14) days or provide a written explanation if it cannot comply fully Copies of the correspondence were also s e n t t o G E C O M Commissioners and international electoral observation missions, including the European Union, Commonwealth Secretariat, OAS, Carter Center,andCARICOM.
In her letter, WaltonDesir requested: the total number of registered voters who qualified under the categoryofCommonwealth citizens resident and domiciled in Guyana; a breakdown of such voters by country of origin, i n c l u d i n g I n d i a , Bangladesh, Trinidad and Tobago,Jamaica,Barbados, and other Commonwealth member States; the number of Commonwealth citizens who actually voted disaggregatedbycountryof origin; the statutory or regulatory provisions under which Commonwealth citizenswereregisteredand permittedtovoteandcopies of any internal guidelines, directives, or circulars issued by GECOM to its staff concerning the registration, verification, or voting process for Commonwealthcitizens.
By Yang Yang, Chinese Ambassador to Guyana
Currently, the world is undergoing acceleratedchangesunseeninacentury, withfrequentregionalturmoil,impeded economic development, backlash against globalisation, gaps in rules and ruleoflaw,andanintensifyingdeficitin governance.
With the rapid development of a large number of developing countries and emerging market economies, the current global governance system is increasinglyfailingtomeettheneedsof the times, and calls for reforming the global governance system are growing louder Against this backdrop,on September 1, President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) at the “Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus” Meeting, responding to the common aspirationsofpeopleinallcountriesand meeting the urgent needs of the world today Itprofoundlyaddressesthemajor topics of what kind of global governancesystemtobuildandhowto reform and improve the global governancesystem.
First,weshouldadheretosovereign equality We should maintain that all countries, regardless of size, strength and wealth, are equal participants, decision-makers and beneficiaries in globalgovernance.Weshouldpromote greater democracy in international relationsandincreasetherepresentation andvoiceofdevelopingcountries.
Second, we should abide by international rule of law The purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter and other universally recognised basic normsofinternationalrelationsmustbe observedcomprehensively,fullyandin their entirety International law and rules should be applied equally and uniformly There should be no double standards, and the house rules of a few countries must not be imposed upon others.
Third, we should practice multilateralism. We should uphold the vision of global governance featuring extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, strengthen solidarity and coordination, and oppose unilateralism. We should firmly safeguard the status and authority of the U.N., and ensure its irreplaceable, key role in global governance.
Fourth, we should advocate the people-centered approach. We should reform and improve the global governance system to ensure that the people of every nation are the actors in andbeneficiariesofglobalgovernance, so as to better tackle the common challenges for mankind, better narrow the North-South gap, and better safeguard the common interests of all countries.
Fifth,weshouldfocusontakingreal actions. We should adopt a systematic andholisticapproach,coordinateglobal actions, fully mobilize various
resources, and strive for more visible outcomes.Weshouldenhancepractical cooperation to prevent the governance system from lagging behind or being fragmented.
The GGI is another major initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, following the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) The essenceandsubstanceoftheGGIarein linewiththepurposesandprinciplesof theUnitedNations(U.N.)Charter The GGI aims to firmly support the U.N.'s central role in international affairs, and encourageallcountriestoparticipatein the reform and development of the global governance system within multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, so as to inject more positiveenergyintoaworldofchanges and chaos, and provide a stronger impetus for human development and progress.
China stands ready to join hands with developing countries, including Guyana, to jointly implement GGI, advance the democratisation of international relations, and strive to ensure that the global governance system better reflects the interests and aspirations of the majority of nations. Wewillworktodelivermorebenefitsto the entire humanity through the reform oftheglobalgovernancesystemandthe building of a community with a shared futureforhumanity
Lolita 'Lola Doll' Callender
The Emergency Department of the GPHC
Golding calls for independent enquiry into general election process
Jamaica Observer —
People’s National Party President (PNP) Mark Golding on Thursday called for an independent enquiry into the operations of the Electoral Office of Jamaica, followingwhathesaidwere reports of irregularities during last week’s general election which the Opposition PNP lost to the rulingJamaicaLabourParty
Golding expressed concerns that the general voting process at polling stations contributed to voter frustrationandsuppression.
“The process that results in hours-long waits at many polling stations by voters who turn out to vote, frustrating electors and causing many to leave withoutvoting.
T h i s f a c t o r i s exacerbated by the law whichonlygivesthreehours asawindowtoemployeesto
be away from their workplace during working hours for voting, which is clearly inadequate in Jamaica’s modern realities when you consider the time for transportation to get to a
polling station from the workplace depending on where the person works and where they vote and the lengthydelaysinthelinesat some polling stations,” he explained.
The Opposition leader pointed to the usual practice of finger inking which he said is now being used by some agents to prevent voters from exercising their rightsonelectionday
“We also need to look at theuseoffingerinking.
That was originally implemented to prevent multiple voting but it currently facilitates voter suppression as persons are being induced financially to diptheirfingerininkpriorto thevoteandthenbeingpaid not to. We have several reports of this being done,” hesaid.
Alleging that there have been numerous reports of widespread suppression of PNP votes across marginal constituencies, Golding said, “…Reports of very large sums of money being paid. This strategy was enhanced by the timing of
the elections and related giveaways in the back-toschool week, when parents in low-income families in particular are most vulnerable and could be financially induced to prioritise loyalty to their families and their children overpartyloyalties.”
“We are also concerned about the unprecedented scale of distribution of benefits black tanks, fertiliser,buildingmaterials, cash—byboththestateand the Jamaica Labour Party and in some cases it is very difficult to distinguish one
fromtheother,”headded.
The PNP president further expressed concerns regarding the “black book”, usedforvoterswhoshowup to cast their ballots without identification,andcalledfor theintegrityofthevoters’list tobere-verified.
“We’re also concerned abouttheblackbook,andwe believe that the polling that is used in polling stations must be made available during the polling process forviewingbyindooragents and not left entirely to the presiding officer to identify vote
without IDs (identification).
“And the integrity of the voters’ list needs to be re-
verification of voters, the clinic of dead voters in particular, and other voters who don’t have a place of
constituency where they vote,”hecontinued.
Golding also criticised t
government resources during the campaign period leading up to the general election.
“While we don’t have sufficientevidencetomount a legal challenge against the outcomeoftheelections,we are nonetheless deeply concerned at the extensive and, I would say, vulgar use of state resources to impact the outcome of the election over the campaign period,”
h e s a i d , a d d i n g
“Specifically, the massive politicaladvertisingpaidfor by ministries, departments and agencies of government duringanduptoelectionday at the cost of taxpayers to
benefit the incumbent JLP [Jamaica Labour Party] a d m i n i s t r a t i o n i s problematic.”
“Wearegoingtohaveto, asanation,lookatthewayin which public resources are used in support of political achievementsintheelection period,”hesaid.
The Opposition leader saidhispartywillbesending out teams to conduct field surveys in constituencies mostimpactedbytheissues.
“This survey will empower Jamaicans who experienced or witnessed these issues to share their experiences with us. Many persons are deeply upset by what took place and this process will allow them to getsomeclosure.
It will also assist us to advocate for changes to the law and the processes of elections that will ultimately help to protect Jamaica’s democracy from tactics that clearly affected the ultimate outcome of the 25th general election and which are not contemplated bythesystemthatwehave,” Goldingsaid.
Millions lose power as Cuba hit by fifth blackout in less than a year
Aljazeera-Anothertotal electricity blackout has struck Cuba, the latest in a string of grid collapses that haverockedtheislandof10 millionoverthepastyear.
The island-wide outage, whichhitjustafter9amlocal time on Wednesday, is believed to be linked to a malfunctionatoneofCuba’s largest thermoelectric plants, the Ministry of EnergyandMinessaid.
The ministry said crews hadbeendispatchedtobuild a microsystem capable of providingbasicservices,and were prioritising the return of electricity to essential sites such as hospitals and foodproductionplants.
On Thursday, the nationalelectricitycompany said power was restored to 11ofCuba’s15provinces.
The island of 10 million’s worsening energy and economic crisis has led to a series of ‘frustrating’ grid collapses.
scurried around to buy groceries and basic goods
“The SEN (National Electric System) has been reconnected, with restoration still pending” in fourprovinces,thecompany added.
Earlier, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero also made anappearanceonstateTVat Cuba’s state-run power company,askingCubansfor theirtrustandpromisingthat electricitywouldberestored gradually
Cuba’s worsening economic and energy crisis has led to repeated daily blackouts and full grid outages In March, a breakdownatasubstationin Havana led to rolling blackouts across the island, with three more blackouts occurringlatelastyear
Across Havana on Wednesday, traffic lights were down as people
The Cuban Electric Union said on X that 79.4 percent of households in the capital Havana have electricity again after a blackout that lasted nearly 24hours.
before dark Pumps supplying the capital’s apartments with water rely onelectricity.
Havana resident Danai Hernandez told Al Jazeera she had left work to prepare her home for the blackout.
“We just have to wait There’snootherchoice,”she said.
“We’re cooking with wood and charcoal, so we have to adjust our schedules,” resident Ernesto Gutierrez told Al Jazeera.
“It’s complicated, stressful, andfrustrating,too.”
Cuba’s energy supply crisis has deteriorated in recent years because of US sanctions, which prevent it from holding sufficient foreign currency to upgrade or repair fast-ageing plants that have been in use for morethanthreedecades.
Havana has tried to fill
Aman walks on a street during a blackout in Havana in March 2025 [File: Yamil Lage/AFP]
People’s National Party President (PNP) Mark Golding
At least 53 killed in Gaza as Amnesty warns of ‘unlawful' displacement
Amnesty International urges Israel to ‘immediately rescind’ mass displacement order as WHO vows to remain in Gaza City.
Aljazeera - At least 53 Palestinians, including two young children, are among the latest deaths in Israel’s
r o u n d - t h e - c l o c k
bombardment of the besieged Gaza Strip, adding to the 53 Palestinians killed over the last 24 hours, medicalsourceshavesaid.
Ten of those who were killed since dawn on ThursdaywereinGazaCity, where Israeli forces are currently conducting a siege and launching daily strikes on residential buildings as they prepare a major offensive against the PalestiniangroupHamas.
The Times of Israel, citing Israeli military
figures, reported that a total of200,000Palestinianshave already been forced out of GazaCityinrecentweeks,in an operation described by rights group Amnesty International on Wednesday a s “ u n l a w f u l a n d inhumane”.
In an Israeli attack early o n T h u r s d a y, t w o Palestinians were killed, including an infant, and several others injured after tents sheltering displaced people were hit near YarmoukStreetinGazaCity
Another Palestinian child was killed after Israeli forces opened fire in the BureijcampincentralGaza, a source from al-Awda
HospitaltoldAlJazeera.
Sources from al-Awda and al-Mahmoudiyah hospitals also reported early on Thursday several deaths andinjuriesfollowingIsraeli shelling of Shujayea district eastofGazaCity
Further south, at least fourPalestinianswaitingfor aid were killed in two separate incidents in Rafah, while one person was killed in Israeli shelling northwest ofKhanYounis.
Earlier, Palestinian authorities and medical sources reported at least 53 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza within a 24-hour period on Wednesday
These figures bring the number of people killed in Israeli attacks since the start ofthewartoatleast64,718, with 163,859 wounded, according to the Gaza MinistryofHealth.
‘Further compounding genocidalconditions’
Israel accelerated its military campaign on Wednesday, with the army attackingdozensofhomesin
areas of Gaza City in an attempt to push Palestinians outofthearea.
The escalation is accompanied by direct and repeated Israeli warnings to leaveGazaCity
In a statement on Wednesday, Amnesty
International urged Israel to “immediately rescind” the mass displacement order, calling it “cruel” and “unlawful”,whilewarningit it “further compounds the genocidalconditionsoflife” that Israel is inflicting on Palestinians.
“Amnesty International has repeatedly and unequivocally stated that forcibly displacing PalestinianswithintheGaza Strip or deporting them violates international humanitarian law and constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity,” thestatementsaid.
Heba Morayef, a senior Amnesty official for the Middle East, said the Israeli order “is a devastating and inhumanrepeat”ofthemass displacement order issued for all of North Gaza in October2023.
Amnesty said some of those who are trying to flee since the order was issued wereunabletodosobecause they cannot afford transport costs, or fit into the small
areadesignatedbyIsraelfor evacuation.
Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Gaza City, said people are making their way from the area to the southern and central areas of the Strip, “butsomepeoplearecoming backbecausetheyareunable tofindaplacetostay”.
“So as of this moment, there is no safe place in Gaza, including the ‘humanitarian zone’ designated by Israel. The journey itself, from north to south Gaza, has become a matteroflifeordeath.”
Meanwhile, the World HealthOrganization(WHO) has said it will remain in GazaCity,despitetheIsraeli order
In a statement published on X by WHO DirectorGeneral Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the UN organisation said it is “appalled” by Israel’s order, saying the evacuation zone “has neither the size nor scaleofservices”requiredto support the displaced people.
“This catastrophe is human-made, and the responsibility rests with us all,” the statement said, while calling for an “immediate ceasefire” and for upholding international humanitarianlaw
A woman pushes a man in a wheelchair as Palestinians, displaced by the Israeli military offensive, take shelter in a tent camp on Thursday [Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters]
A Palestinian woman carries a child as she walks through the rubble near the Tiba Tower which crashed to the ground moments after Israeli attacks in Gaza City [Omar al-Qattaa/AFP]
Albouystown fire wipes out five homes …leaves 30 homeless
Several families of James Street, Albouystown, are now homeless after a Thursday afternoon fire reduced their homes to ashes.
FivehousesbetweenHill and Albouys Streets were destroyed, leaving about 30 personsdisplaced.Theblaze started shortly after 14:30
garbage was being burnt, reportedly occupied by persons residents described as “junkies.” From there, it spread to nearby homes
Alisha and Nekita comforting each other
hrs. By the time Kaieteur News arrived on the scene, three houses were already engulfed and the fire was spreading Residents complained bitterly about the Guyana Fire Service's (GFS)lateresponse,arguing that the losses could have beenprevented.
AlishaFarnan,a32-yearold single mother of two, said she was at work when she got the devastating call. “Iwentatwork,whenIgota phone call that my house on fire, I didn't get to save anything, ohhh my gawddd, everything gone. I didn't get to save nothing for my children,”shecried.
Another tenant, Nekita, recalled that residents first tried using buckets of water todousetheflames.Shesaid she managed to alert a woman and her son inside one of the buildings, who escapedunhurt.“Ithadaset ofrubbishinfrontoftheyard and the rubbish catch and started the fire. Everything burn up. Everything burn up,” she said, blaming the fire service for not arriving sooner
The fire is believed to have started in a yard where
Property owner Mohamed, who lost two of his buildings, estimated his losses in the millions, while tenant Derrick “Fred” Sharples said he only managed to save documents andatelevision.
“Its hurtful, because all your things them burn up… all my lil money, I was savingfuhbuyacar,allthat money burn up in there, all mylilsavings,”helamented.
Divisional Officer Otis Charles of the GFS reported thatonarrival,“onebuilding wasfullyengulfedinflames andanotherwasnowstarting tocatchafire…”
He said firefighters immediately got into action and accessed water from open sources as well as hydrants As the smoke cleared, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) leader Azruddin Mohamed visited the scene The affected familieswerealsovisitedby Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, Public Works M
Services Minister Vindhya Persaud.
Notably, the Civil De
Comm
ss
Scenes from the fire at James Street, Albouystown
n
on (CDC) has since activated a shelterattheSixHeadLewis Gym to accommodate the displaced, providing temporary housing and personalsupplies.
Holder’s heroics seal nail-biting win for Patriots over Royals
JasonHolderproduceda captain’s knock and followed it up with crucial strikes with the ball as St Kitts and Nevis Patriots edged the Barbados Royals byasingleruninathrillerto keep their playoff hopes alive. Sent in to bat at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, the Patriots’ top orderwobbledearlyasEvin Lewis fell lbw first ball to
Daniel Sams and Kyle MayerswasbowledbyChris Green. Mohammad Rizwan anchored with 39 off 36 balls,butitwasHolderwho changed the momentum Walking in with the score at 60 for 4, the skipper launched a counterattack, blasting53notoutfromjust 30deliveries,decoratedwith five towering sixes and a
solitary four He found vital support from Navin Bidaisee, who chipped in with30off23.Togetherthey pushed the Patriots to a competitive 150 for 7 from their 20 overs. In reply, the Royals began briskly through Quinton de Kock (22)andBrandonKing(29), but Navin Bidaisee struck twice to remove both Rassie van der Dussen kept
the chase alive with an unbeaten 37 from 27 balls, while Sherfane Rutherford’s 25 looked threatening until Evin Lewis pulled off a stunningdivingcatchatdeep backward square, injuring hiswristintheprocess.
Holder returned at the death with the ball, striking keyblows.
Friday September 12, 2025
ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)
You'll find that things are slipping nicely into place for you today, Aries Your persuasivemannerandgentle nudges are just enough to get peoplewhereyouwantthem.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
When faced with ten entrees onthemenu,itmightbehard for you to choose just one. Feelfreetoordertwoormore, Ta u r u s D o n ' t l e t indecisiveness slow you down.Atthesametime.
GEMINI(May21–June20)
Your dreams won't come true unless you believe in and act onthem,Gemini.Nooneelse is going to do it for you. Unless you have a fairy godmother, you need to take mattersintoyourownhands.
CANCER(June21–July22)
If people hassle you or give you a hard time about your appearance today, pay them nomind,Cancer Youhavethe righttoliveyourlifeanyway youwantto.
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
Reachforthepotofgoldatthe end of the rainbow, Leo. It's closerthanyouthink.Indeed, your dreams are completely within your reach, and there are huge forces at work helping you achieve your goals.
VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)
Today is your day to dream and dream big, Virgo. Think aboutwhatitisthatyouwant most out of life. Aim your arrow to the stars and pull back your bow as far as possible. There's no limit to howfaryoucango.
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
Expand your mind to its furthest reaches today, Libra.
opportunity opening up for you in which you can make great strides in a creative realm.Followthemusic.
SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)
Your mind may seem rather cloudy today, Scorpio, but don't let this hinder you. In fact, you'll find that you can use this feeling of fantasy to your advantage. Try to bring moremagicintoyourlife.
SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)
Today is an excellent day for you,oneinwhichyou'llfinda great deal of strength in your emotions, Sagittarius Trust that your instincts are serving youwell.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
Things might get a bit confusing for you today, Capricorn. Don't feel like you needtomakesenseofitall.In fact, this task may be impossible. Just be yourself. Let your creative nature shine through.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)Mixyourrealitywithabit of fantasy today, Aquarius. Allowyourfeettocomeoffthe ground for a little while. Give yourselfarest.Takesometime to meditate and clear your mindofyourdailyworries.
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
Let yourself go into high creative mode and drift into a whole other world, Pisces. Escape your present reality and explore your fantasies through any sort of artistic endeavor Dreamasbigasyour mindallows.
He trapped Chris Green lbw for 4 and repeated the dismissal to remove Daniel Sams off the final delivery, sealingthegameindramatic fashion. Naseem Shah and Waqar Salamkheil also chipped in with crucial wickets,whileBidaisee’s2for 24kepttheRoyalsincheck
In the end, Barbados Royals finished agonisingly short on 149 for 7, as Holder’s all-round brilliance, an unbeaten 53 with the bat and 2-for-32 with the ball, lifted the Patriots to a nail-biting victoryandkepttheirplayoff dreamverymuchalive.
The focus now shifts to thebattleforthelastspotfor the play-off, where the Patriots’fanswillbeclosely watching the Guyana
Amazon Warriors’ remainingtwomatches.
CANOC launches advanced Governance and Leadership Programme to strengthen Caribbean Sport Administration
After months of preparation, the C a r i b b e a n Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) has officially rolled out its Advanced Governance and Leadership Programme, a landmark initiativedesignedtoelevate the standard of sports administration across the region.
Theprogrammeis being delivered under CANOC’s StrategicPlanandformspart of its ongoing commitment to providing continuing educationforitsmembers.
Itfollowsthesigningofa M e m o r a n d u m o f Understanding (MOU) with the University of the West Indies (UWI) Sports Faculty at CANOC’s 21st General Assembly in Barbados on October8,2023
Inaddition,theinitiative benefits from a 2024 MOU between CANOC and the Peruvian Olympic Committee (COP), further s t r e n g t h e n i n g i t s internationalcollaboration.
The development of this programme was heavily influenced by CANOC’s third Needs Assessment Survey, which identified education and leadership training as a top priority for current and future sports leaders across its membership “This
president, Keith Joseph
programme is a direct response to what our memberstoldustheyneeded most education and training to strengthen governance in sport,” CANOCsaidinastatement.
The initiative is tailored for executives of member organisations, chairs of c o m m i s s i o n s a n d committees, as well as administratorsfromnational sportsassociationsandother sportingbodiesendorsedby CANOCmembers.
By targeting decisionmakers at the highest levels, CANOC aims to create a rippleeffectthatwillimprove g o v e r n a n c e , professionalism, and efficiency throughout the Caribbean sporting landscape The Advanced Governance and Leadership Programme will focus on, building a deeper understanding of CANOC’s coreprinciplesandstrategic
direction and highlighting the importance of stakeholder engagement, forecasting,andplanning. Training participants in effective strategic and operational planning, along with implementi
governance structures essential to the success of s
exploring business model adoption for sustainable organisationalgrowth. S
organisational culture and enhancingknowledgeofthe Olympic Movement and n
nding opportunitieswillalsobeon theprogramme.
CANOC, according to release, believes that the successfulcompletionofthe programme will encourage itsmemberstoadoptamore professional approach to sports governance and management, ultimately contributing to sustainable development in the region’s sporting sector The launch of this programme marks a significant step forward in CANOC’s long-term vision of strengthening leadership and governance across Caribbean sport, ensuring the region is better prepared to meet global standards while creating a legacy of growthandprofessionalism.
CONOC
Santos, GDF grabthree points
…Elite League double-header tonight at Providence
The race for positions in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League continued on Wednesday evening, with Santos FC and defending champions Guyana Defence Force (GDF) adding three valuable points to their tally in a rare midweek fixture at the Federation’s National Training Centre in Providence.
Itwasanightfullofgoals
a n d c o m m a n d i n g performances The GDF, with their eyes still set on finishingashighupthetable as possible, produced a demolition job on Ann’s Grove,runningoutemphatic 8–1winners.
Santos,meanwhile,were just as ruthless, brushing aside Den Amstel with a convincing 4–0 scoreline to keep themselves in the top-
halfofthestandings. Forthearmyside,itwas a performance that showed both attacking flair and clinicalfinishing.
Chris Macey was the man of the moment, scoring a sensational hat-trick with goals in the 68th, 77th and 90thminutes.
Jeffrey Pereira also had his say, netting twice in the 73rd and 80th minutes to cap off a strongshowing The foundation of the victory, however, was laid early on, as Stephen McDonald (7’), Malcolm Miggings (25’) and Quancey Fraser (70’) all got their names on the scoresheet, ensuring GDF fans had little to worry about by the time the second half rolled around. Withthethreepointsinhand, GDF remain in fourth place
with 28 points from 13 games, but the battle for secondisheatingup.
They face a crucial clash with the Guyana Police Force on Saturday, a match that could go a long way in deciding who finishes runners-up to runaway leaders Slingerz
FC
Santos, on the other hand, continued their s
comfortable win over Den Amstel
They were gifted an early lead through an own goal by Rondel
looked back
Tywell Henry doubled the advantage in the 33rd minute, while Sigmund Cobena added a third just three minutes later The vic
A
drew Simmons struck in the 76th minute, putting the result beyond any doubt It was Santos’ sixth win of the season, moving them into fifth place, l e a p f r o g g i n g Monedderlust but still trailing GDF
M o n e d d e r l u s t , however, have the chance to respond tonight when they take on Mainstay Gold Star in another
Providence With Gold Star struggling to find form, Monedderlust will be eager to capitalise and reclaim fifth spot
T
suspense, as Slingerz FC remain in full control of the league
Sitting on 40 points
giants need just two more wins from their final four fixtures to officially seal the title
SlingerzFC’snexttest
y evening when they lock
Conquerors at 6:30 pm
The statistics behind Slingerz’s dominance are staggering
They have scored a jaw-dropping 81 goals while conceding just three, boasting a +78
superiority With such
surprise that the title is already within touching distance.
The race for second and third promises drama, but when it comes to the top spot, the writing is alreadyonthewallandthe crown is Slingerz FC’s to lose
LittonleadsthewayasBangladeshovercomeHongKong
LittonDasledtheir chaseof144with 59 while Towhid Hridoy contributed an unbeaten 35 Boundaries dried up through the middle overs,butBangladeshfound a way to win. Once Hong Kong’s intensity waned, Litton broke free, going from26off24tofiftyoff33 balls.
Hong Kong’s second game in the Asia Cup, though, was far more productive than their first. After being held to 94 for 9 against Afghanistan, they posted a more competitive 143 for 7 thanks to Zeeshan Ali’s30,NizakatKhan’s42, and a brisk 28 from captain Yasim Murtaza. But the 95run third-wicket stand between Litton Das and
TowhidHridoyruinedHong Kong’schancesofanupset. Bangladesh’s win was their first T20I victory in Abu Dhabi. Hong Kong remain winless in Asia Cup matches.
Bangladesh’s chase beganwithaglimpseoftheir new hitting intent. Parvez Hossain Emon raced to 19 off 13 before miscuing a slower delivery from Ayush Sharmatodeepmidwicketin the third over.Tanzid Hasan then fell in the sixth over, when he edged Ateeq Iqbal with Nizakat completing a sharpcatch.
Hong Kong, guilty of fourdroppedchancesintheir opener against Afghanistan, held on to their catches on Thursday But the damage came elsewhere: the extras
Liton Das in action against Hong Kong
conceded-11atthetimeand 17 in all - allowed Bangladesh to motor to 51 for2inthepowerplay
From there, Litton and Hridoy settled into accumulation. Between overs eight and
12, they failed to clear the boundary against spin and medium-pace, yet their urgencybetweenthewickets meant the asking rate never touched eight an over. The pair ran 11 twos, while Bangladesh’s total of 16 twos was their secondhighestinaT20I.
In the heat, the constant sprintingdrainedthem,butit also squeezed Hong Kong outofthecontest.
Littonshiftedgearsinthe 13th over with two fours, liftinghisstrikeratefromthe low100stofinishat151.28. With only two runs needed, he was bowled trying for a big finish, but his job was alreadydone.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong started slowly, with a combinationofearlywickets and a sluggish start for Zeeshan and Nizakat keeping Bangladesh in controlofproceedings.
But as the Zeeshan-
Nizakatpartnershipgrew,so did their range of strokes, andtheir41-runstandforthe third wicket ensured their battingdidn’tcollapselikein t h e g a m e a g a i n s t Afghanistan. Their captain Yasim Murtaza looked briefly like the man who could change the momentum as he blazed to a 19-ball 28, but he was r u n - o u t a f t e r a miscommunication with Nizakat. Since the start of 2023thiswastheir47thrunout in T20Is, and after Murtaza’s dismissal, Hong Kong couldn’t bring out too manybighits.
MustafizurRahmanwas tough to put away at the death and Rishad’s brave bowling meant there was a carousel of incoming new batters. Still, they scored 54 offthelastsixoverstoposta respectable 143 for 7decent in isolation but not goodenoughontheday
Moen Hall wins eSports League... Hall
Frompage27 squad, operating under the governance of the GFF Together, they’ll take on the best in the region in pursuit of qualification for the prestigious FIFAe World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The announcement was made official during a presentationceremonyatthe GFFheadquarters,wherethe players were honored in front of key football and esportsstakeholders.
Now, the grind begins. WiththeRegionalQualifiers looming, Guyana’s esports squadshiftsintopreparation modefortheRoadtoRiyadh 2025. Training schedules, tactical analysis, and competitive scrims will all be part of the process as the players aim to sharpen their gameplay for the highest levelofFIFAecompetition
For Guyana, this moment signals a new era. No longer just a football nation on the grass, the country now has digital athletes ready to showcase their skill, composure, and passion in the esports arena. With eyes fixed on Riyadh, the journey has only just begun.
GFF General Secretary, Chattopadhyay, alongside Technical Director Bryan Joseph and Senior Men’s National Team Head Coach Thomas Dooley, presented thegamerswiththeirofficial national kits, symbolic of their elevation from local competitors to national representatives.
King,MotieonlyWestIndians...
Frompage27
Hosein and Sherfane Rutherfordrespectively Veteran campaigner Sunil Narine was retained by Durban’s Super Giants through pre-signing, while Andre Russell will feature for the Capitals after being snappedupasawildcard.
The Caribbean stars were among the 541 names in the player pool for the auction, but only a handful picked up contracts as franchises finalised their squads a h e a d o f t h e tournament’s December start
History has been made.
Moen Hall wins eSports League
….GFF names National eSports Squad for FIFAe World Cup 2025 Regionals
Qualifiers, marking Guyana’s long-awaited debut on the global esports footballstage.
TheGFFeSportsLeague delivered high drama, skillful gameplay, and nailbiting finishes. After weeks of competition that drew 33
registered players, the console battlefield came down to four standouts who punched their tickets to nationalteamstatus.
Moen Hall was named Champion, GFF Console Division2025,whileTrayon Guillaumeplacedsecond.
While Ricardo Sukra placed and Jermaine Lewis were third and fourth respectively
These players have now etched their names in the history books as Guyana’s firstofficialesportsnational (Continuedonpage26)
The four-player squad will represent the Golden Arrowhead at the FIFAe World Cup 2025 Regional
The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has officially unveiled its firstever national esports roster, following the conclusion of the GFF eSports League –ConsoleDivision.
King,Motieonly WestIndiansdrafted atSA20auction
WestIndiespairBrandon King and Gudakesh Motie were the only Caribbean players snapped up at the 2025/26 SA20 auction, held inCapeTownonTuesday
The SA20, officially known as the Betway SA20 for sponsorship purposes, is a franchise-based Twenty20 cricket tournament in South Africa Organized by Cricket South Africa, the competition was first staged in2023andfeaturessixcitybased teams battling for supremacy
Despite 28 West Indians throwing their hats into the ring, only the explosive opening batsman and the craftyleft-armspinnerheard their names called when the
hammerwentdown. Motie, who continues to enhance his reputation as one of the region’s premier spinners, was picked up by the Paarl Royals for R375,000(US$21,437.41). King, known for his abilitytocleartheropeswith ease, was secured by the Joburg Super Kings for R200,000(US$11,435.62).
The duo will join fellow West Indians already confirmed for Season 4 of the high-profile T20 league, which bowls off on December 26 Nicholas Pooranwasapre-signingfor MI Cape Town, while the Super Kings and Pretoria CapitalslockedinAkeal (Continuedonpage26)
GFF General Secretary, Chattopadhyay (centre), flanked by GFF eSports League (L-R) Moen Hall, Trayon Guillaume, Ricardo Sukra and Jermaine Lewis.
Santos, GDF grab three points
