Development Bank to come onstream in 2026 – VP
Performance, suitability, people skills among criteria for Ministers in new Cabinet – Jagdeo
"Real change coming to your doorstep" – Pres Ali tells Linden Highway communities
reminds employers of legal duty to grant time-off for voting
Persons caught dumping garbage on roadways to face fines, jailtime Foulis man gets 2 years, fined $1M after confessing to rape
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, July 18 – 22:30h-00:00h and Saturday, July 19 –23:55h-01:30h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, July 18 – 09:50h-11:20h and Saturday, July 19 –11:10h-12:40h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY
Thundery showers are expected during the day, and cloudy skies with late-night showers are expected at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.
Winds: North-Easterly to East South-Easterly between 1.34 metres and 2.68 metres.
High Tide: 10:16h and 22:41h reaching maximum heights of 2.38 metres and 2.43 metres.
Low Tide: 16:09h reaching a minimum height of 0.87 metre.
"Real change coming to your doorstep" –Pres Ali tells Linden Highway communities …says new hospital; 24-hour electricity; new lands for loggers, for residents
resident Irfaan Ali has announced the construction of a new hospital along the SoesdykeLinden Highway to improve access to healthcare services for the thousands of citizens who reside along the corridor.
He made the announcement on Thursday evening during a public meeting hosted by the People's Progressive Party (PPP) at Kuru Kururu.
Addressing some of the key issues affecting the community, President Ali pointed out that the regularisation of land, land titling, and housing development are three key issues. He said in order to build value on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, the Government must remove the ad hoc type of development that is taking place.
“We have to have more structured development where you can have proper roads, treated water, street lights, schools, and health centres, and you can have all the amenities of a modern urban planning area. That is what we want to invest in,” he told Kuru Kururu residents.
He also said that every home will have 24-hour electricity.
He told residents that in the next five years, in every single community on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, “we will be building housing schemes with proper infrastructure so that you can have not only a home but also a home in which you can realise the value for that home, in which that asset can give you access to liquidity so that you can take your lease or your land title to the bank and you can get a loan for $20, $30, or $40 million, and you can invest that in a business so that you build prosperity in your home, in your community.” Additionally, he said the tourism sector along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway will see massive investment over the next five years.
President Ali also announced that there will be a new hospital constructed, through which thousands of jobs will be created for persons living along the high-
way.
“Already, we have major project proposals for resorts and hotels to be built on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway,” he revealed.
He noted that soon a new hotel will be opened at Timehri, and some 1500 jobs
terminal that will create more jobs. Where are the people going to come from?
Right here on the SoesdykeLinden Highway. Silica City, which is already recognised as a world-class model, will create thousands of jobs for people liv-
will become available.
“...we have already finalised a contract to be signed very soon for the building of the second terminal at the Timehri International Airport. That is a second
ing on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.”
Ali noted that already, there is an investor who will be building a hospital at Silica City. It will provide services for tourism, health
tourism, and medical tourism.
The President also announced the opening up of lands for loggers.
“We will be building the Sandhill to Timehri Road link that is going to open up hundreds of thousands of acres of new land for those in forestry, those in sand mining, those in agriculture, and for residential and housing development. These are investments that we are going to make as a Government to ensure that every single Guyanese not only owns a plot of land but also that every single Guyanese can maximise the benefit of that land. Whether you are a farmer, whether you are in forestry, or whether it is for your home construction, we want to maximise the benefit of that land,” President Ali assured.
According to President Ali, the PPP has a development plan that is going to bring prosperity. “A development plan that is going to improve your life and your living conditions,” he told the gathering.
President Dr Irfaan Ali with residents of the community showing their support at the PPP/C’s public meeting
Editor: Tusika Martin
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Garbage dumping & public responsibility
The joint advisory issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the industry-Plaisance Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) serves as yet another urgent reminder of the growing lawlessness and disregard for order that continue to erode the fabric of Guyanese society. The warning, which addresses the increasing trend of illegal garbage dumping, particularly along the new Ogle to Eccles Highway, highlights not only a serious environmental concern but rather also a deeper cultural problem, one rooted in indifference, poor civic values, and a waning sense of public responsibility.
The advisory was clear, dumping garbage in unauthorized areas is illegal under the Environmental Protection Act, Cap. 20:05, and violators can be fined or imprisoned under the Environmental Protection (Litter Enforcement) Regulations 2013. The EPA, in collaboration with law enforcement, has committed to stepping up surveillance and enforcement. These efforts are commendable and necessary. However, the fact that such a warning must be issued—yet again—is a reflection of the cultural decay that has allowed such practices to become normalized.
Illegal dumping is a matter of untidiness. It is a symptom of a larger malaise, a growing tolerance for disorder and a culture that increasingly dismisses the value of law, community, and civic pride. The Ogle to Eccles Highway, a modern infrastructural investment designed to ease traffic congestion and stimulate economic activity, is now being sullied by irresponsible behavior. Such acts undermine not only the physical beauty of the nation but the very efforts being made to advance development.
This is not a case of ignorance. Public education campaigns about proper waste disposal have been ongoing for years. Bins are provided in communities. Sanitation services exist. Yet, the habit of dumping garbage in drains, empty lots, and now along main thoroughfares persists. What is lacking is a fundamental cultural shift, a reawakening of values that once prized cleanliness, respect for the law, and mutual responsibility.
Enforcement alone cannot fix what is ultimately a cultural and behavioral issue. Stronger laws, bigger fines, and more surveillance may yield short-term compliance, but they will not build a responsible society. What is urgently needed is a nationwide campaign for cultural renewal, starting with the homes, schools, religious institutions, and community groups. The normalization of littering and dumping must be challenged at every level. Conversations around environmental stewardship must become as integral to civic life as conversations about jobs and education.
There is also a growing perception that those who break the law do so with impunity. Whether it is noise nuisance, traffic violations, or illegal construction, public tolerance of misconduct has reached worrying levels. The failure to act consistently against offenders creates an enabling environment where minor infractions are overlooked until they become major problems. In such an environment, public trust in institutions weakens, and the rule of law becomes selective.
Addressing the dumping crisis is therefore restoring standards. The EPA’s renewed commitment to enforcement must be matched by swift and visible action. Offenders must be identified and prosecuted publicly, not to shame individuals, but to signal that the era of impunity is ending.
Further, the private sector must be encouraged to play a greater role in promoting environmental responsibility. Businesses, particularly those in retail, generate a significant amount of waste. Their suppor, whether through waste management partnerships, community sponsorships, or internal eco-policies, can help build a cleaner, more responsible society.
The challenge of waste disposal and its consequences are national. It affects tourism, public health and overall quality of life. Preserving Guyana’s health, beauty, and development prospects requires a change in mindset, a return to values of respect, responsibility, and pride. The culture of garbage lawlessness must end.
Guyana’s estimated poverty rate is below 20%
Dear Editor, In 2022, the World Bank (WB) published a fact sheet on Guyana, which asserted that Guyana’s poverty level, “measured using the upper-middle-income poverty line” (US$5.5 per day in 2011 under the PPP) has dropped from close to 61 per cent in 2006 to 48 per cent in 2019 but was still among the highest in the Latin America and Caribbean Region (LAC)”. I publicly challenged the accuracy of this estimate, and the WB has since removed the referenced factsheet from its website. For ease of reference, the original link (now inactive) was: https://www. worldbank.org/en/news/ factsheet/2020/09/02/theworld-bank-in-guyana. My critique was on December 15, 2022.
Yet, despite the removal of the factsheet, the WB continues to cite the same outdated and challengeable poverty estimate in its country overview for Guyana. To this end, reference is further made to a Stabroek News article dated July 17, 2025, with the caption: “World Bank says using poverty stats from 2019 as no recent data available”.
During a webinar organised by the Canada Caribbean Institute on July 8, 2025, I had the privilege of participating as a panellist for a book launch titled ‘Oil and Climate Change in Guyana’s Wet Neighbourhood: Probing
Promises and Potential Peril’ by distinguished Professor Dr Ivelaw Griffith, where I reiterated my position in response to another panellist, Dr Janete Bulkan.
Dr Bulkan and her colleagues affiliated with the Oil and Gas Governance Network (OGGN), most of whom are seasoned academics, appear to place significant reliance on reports published by international institutions such as the WB, often treating these publications as authoritative and beyond interrogation. In contrast, my academic training has instilled in me a fundamentally different approach. I am guided by the principles of critical inquiry: to critically examine, evaluate, and synthesise information regardless of the source. While I acknowledge the value and respect the work of institutions such as the WB, I do not accept their reports uncritically. Instead, I treat such reports analytically – assessing their assumptions, methodologies, and implications before arriving at my own informed conclusions.
With respect to estimating the poverty level in Guyana in the absence of an updated, credible and reliable report or data on the poverty level, anecdotal and economic indicators suggest that the rate of poverty is significantly lower than 48 per cent. For instance, based-level employees such as an un-
skilled labourer or a domestic worker earn more than US$5.5 per day (US$165/ month or G$34,402/month).
A domestic helper earns $160,000/month, a cleaner earns more than $80,000/ month, the lowest rank security officer earns more than $80,000/month, and a labourer in the construction sector earns at a minimum $5,000/day (US$25/ day).
It is important to note that poverty is typically measured at the household level, not the individual level. In doing so, there are different scientific approaches to measure poverty.
These include (i) (i) monetary approaches, (ii) multidimensional approaches, (iii) asset-based approaches, (iv) participatory and qualitative approaches, and (v) time-based and dynamic approaches. Less rigorous approaches include the subjective and perception-based approaches.
Several socioeconomic indicators further substantiate the view that poverty has declined substantially, a few of which were acknowledged by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as noted in their Article IV Report (2025):
• The social welfare programmes targeting schoolchildren and senior citizens (direct cash transfers),
• The housing programme whereby homeownership has grown at an unprecedented rate, facil-
itated by a comprehensive fiscal programme designed to make homeownership affordable through mortgage interest relief of 100 per cent and at a subsidised cost, both direct and indirect subsidies (50,000 in the last five years),
• Net disposable income has risen from $72 billion in 2015 to north of $400 billion in 2025.
• Individual savings in the banking sector have more than doubled since 2015.
• Vehicle ownership/ registration has increased at a rate of 4x per annum from historical levels of less than 5,000 vehicles per annum to more than 20,000 vehicles per annum.
• Private consumption (household consumption/ expenditure) has risen from 8 per cent of GDP in 2015 to 23 per cent of GDP in 2024, up from $71 billion annually to $1.5 trillion annually, signalling stronger spending power and increases in net disposable income.
Against this background, any academically honest and methodologically sound poverty assessment in Guyana considering the comprehensive strategies employed by the present government aimed at poverty reduction would conclude that poverty has reduced dramatically from over 90 per cent in the late 1980s to less than 20 per cent in 2025.
Yours respectfully, Joel Bhagwandin
Paving of the new multimillion-dollar Demerara River Bridge as workers move closer towards the August 31, 2025 deadline (Office of the President photo)
Azruddin Mohamed’s tax evasion case
Court will have a problem if absences persist – Magistrate warns after no-show
United States (US)sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed was a noshow at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where a tax evasion case against him by the Guyana Revenue Authority is ongoing.
Mohamed’s lawyer, Damian Da Silva, told acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty that his client was travelling from Linden, Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) when he was called in by police for questioning, and as such, he headed straight to the police station.
The Magistrate asked why the defendant would choose to appear before the police rather than the court. In response, the lawyer referenced the ongoing police investigation.
The matter was then adjourned to August 7, with the chief Magistrate telling the defence lawyer to advise his client accordingly because the court would have a problem if he continues to be absent.
On May 29, Mohamed was placed on $500,000 bail for tax evasion and fraudulent declaration charges. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges of fraudulent declaration to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and evasion of taxes regarding his Lamborghini. The US-sanctioned busi-
nessman is also being represented by attorneys Siand Dhurjon and Darren Wade.
The United States Department of Justice (DoJ), under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT), had provided an original invoice for the Lamborghini Aventador, which was billed to Azruddin Mohamed
himself, to the tune of US$695,000.
In his previous declarations to the court, Mohamed claimed to have spent US$76,000 on the luxury car, a difference of some US$619,000.
In April, GRA officials, backed by police, attempted to seize several luxury vehicles – including a Lamborghini Roadster, Ferrari, Rolls Royce, and Land Cruisers – from the Mohamed’s residence in Houston, Greater Georgetown. The operation was aborted after a hostile crowd, reportedly paid by Mohamed, blocked access to the premises.
GRA has said that the vehicles were imported under the remigrant scheme but failed to meet key requirements, including residency status and proper declaration of value. The total tax liability in the matter is estimated at nearly $900 million.
Among the outstanding amounts are: $479.7 million for a 2020 Ferrari registered
The pathetic record of APNU
– A reply to Ms Ferguson
Dear Editor,
Annette Ferguson has a special talent for manipulating the record of the APNU-AFC term in office. In contradistinction to her rosy depiction of 20152020, the truth is that the Granger administration years were marked by demonstrable incompetence. Allow me to provide evidence.
The Granger Administration handed over the COVID hospital with no water, no electricity, no beds, no doctors, no nurses, no staff, no washrooms, no drugs, and no vaccines. Yet Granger opened the hospital twice.
Granger’s APNU Government imposed VAT on electricity, water, education, data, medical supplies, building materials, heavy equipment, and mining equipment. You imposed a tribute tax on the mining industry! You taxed horse carts and people selling sugar cake, pine drink, and buns! I do not recall if dog food escaped.
You (meaning APNU) scrapped the Because We Care Grant for 200,000 schoolchildren and the one-month bonus for the
Disciplined Services.
You took away the subsidies given to pensioners for water and electricity.
The APNU joined up with the AFC to fire 2000 CSOs and 7000 sugar workers and destroyed 1000 bauxite jobs.
The Granger administration hid US$18,000,000 for signing a terrible oil contract.
You promised $9000 for a bag of paddy price but turned around and said rice is private business.
And let’s not forget the $6.1 billion on the Durban Park Project. Today it is for ‘harse’, ‘dankey’, and druggies.
Then on top of all that, you and the Comrades tried to steal the Parliamentary Mace and did everything possible to rig the 2020 elections. For instance, the APNU prevented the Carter Centre from re-entering the country for the recount.
The APNU replaced GECOM laptops with a bed sheet and a projector with Vaseline.
I urge Ms Ferguson to make every effort to discover the truth – via Hansard, the academic lit -
erature, and even spiritual guidance.
Ow, laad!
Sincerely, Dr Randy Persaud
Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty to Hana Mohamed; $371.7 million for the Lamborghini tied to Azruddin Mohamed; $320 million for a 2023 Rolls Royce registered to Bibi Mohamed; and additional millions linked to a Range Rover and Toyota Land Cruisers under various fam-
ily names.
In 2024, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) had announced that it sanctioned Nazar Mohamed and his son, Azruddin Mohamed, several of their companies, and a Guyanese government official, Mae Thomas, for their roles in alleged public corruption in Guyana.
According to a statement from OFAC, this is related to the evasion of taxes on gold exports, noting that between 2019 and 2023, Mohamed’s Enterprise omitted more than 10 thousand kilograms (kg) of gold from import and export declarations and avoided paying more than US$50 million in duty taxes to the Government of Guyana.
US-sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed
Exponents
An exponent tells how many times a number should be multiplied by itself. An exponent is usually written as a small number next to, and slightly above a number that is larger in size. The larger number is called the base of an exponent. Each exponent represents a “power”. You have already learnt about the powers of 10. 103 is 10 to the 3rd power. Any number can be a base. 24 is 2 to the 4th power. 35 is 3 to the 5th power.
103 24 35 46
103 = 10 x 10 x 10
24 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2
35 = 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x3
46 = 4 x 4 x 4 x 4 x 4 x 4 Often when the exponent is 2, people say squared instead of to the 2nd power. 52 = 5 to the 2nd power = 5 squared. Remember that squared means “to the 2nd power” You can add and subtract numbers with exponents.
Forests act as huge air filters and coolers for the Earth. To the benefit of our ecosystem, when a tree makes its own food through photosynthesis, it takes carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, trapping it inside the tree, and releases oxygen and water into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, traps heat from the sun and makes the planet warm up. But when a tree turns carbon dioxide into oxygen and glucose, it acts as a carbon sink, trapping the carbon inside and removing it from the atmosphere.
That’s called sequestration and helps keep our planet cooler. The more wood in a tree (trunk, roots, and branches), the more carbon it can trap. Older trees can even trap carbon in their leaves.
This significantly impacts the ecosystem and the living conditions for all plants and animals. You can explore connections between forests and climate and learn more about how the benefits trees provide are the foundation for a cooler planet and healthy environment. (Excerpted from startwithabook.org)
By Tina Boyer Brown
Imagine the lunchroom, crowded and wary— seating charts a welcome apprehension.
Loose-leaf papers spiraled from ballpoint-scratched notebook covers until the last hour, when a teacher sighed and sighed. Today, we close backpacks, but minutes come quick and quit the ease of dawn.
Source: Poetry (March 2021)
Sweet memories
Let’s pick flowers and make sweet memories. Write a short story or scene to portray the above.
WORD SEARCH:
Performance, suitability, people skills are among criteria for Ministers in new Cabinet – Jagdeo
…says new PPP/C Govt will reorganise Ministries, agencies to deliver efficiency
With the People’s Progressive Party/Civic seeking a second term in office, the party’s General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, said none of the current Cabinet Ministers are guaranteed a position in the next PPP/C Administration as he highlighted some of the key characteristics that they will be looking for in the new cohort of Ministers.
Asked by Guyana Times about the criteria for the selection of Ministers for the new Cabinet, Jagdeo, who now serves as Vice President in the current PPP/C Government, explained that it is the President who usually chooses the Cabinet members. He, nevertheless, outlined that professionalism and suitability are among the key features that will be looked at in selecting the new cohort of Ministers.
“Clearly, you have to look at, in my view, performance, suitability, skill, people skills; a whole range of factors goes into this, having been there and choosing cabinets several times myself. So, these are the important metrics that you use, and I expect that they would also be used in selecting the cabinet in the next term,” Jagdeo told this newspaper. In fact, the General Secretary noted that the PPP’s list of candidates that was submitted to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to contest the upcoming September 1 polls has “a good deal of experience” with a team that is ready to hit the ground running and continue the work that has been ongoing over the past five years to transform Guyana.
The party’s lists also prominently feature “tonnes of new faces”, including some 27 individuals who are under the age of 25, with the youngest being 18. According to Jagdeo, “We think that
exposing them very early on to lists is very important as a signal, not just for those young people who are on the lists but for other young people across the country that they too can contribute at the national level, never mind their age.”
Questioned about the role of those young candidates in the new PPP/C Government, the General Secretary declared that they were not promised any positions but will be engaged in capacity-building exercises.
“A lot of people who’ve been on our lists in the past, they get included in many areas of Government. So, we believe in capacity-building… [But] nobody
knows what they’re going to get now at this stage,” he stressed.
Reorganisation
Having the correct fit of Cabinet members will be crucial in executing the PPP’s ambitious plans to reform governance in order to boost efficiency.
While he did not entirely rule out the creation of new Ministries, Jagdeo said the focus would be primarily on reorganising the operations of many, if not all, Government offices and agencies.
“It doesn’t necessarily mean the creation of new Ministries, but it could result in that. But it’s not our intention to grow the number of Ministries. It is to ensure that work is done effectively in a different way so that we can better serve the citizens of the country, and that may necessitate some reorganisation,” he noted.
That reorganisation, the General Secretary noted, is not just physical but would also include workload restructuring. In fact, he noted that revamping the tools used to deliver that efficiency will also vastly change.
According to Jagdeo, the current PPP/C Administration has made
progress in every sector over the past five years –something they want to enhance even further. For instance, he pointed to the payment of pension.
Prior to 2020, elderly citizens, especially those residing in remote hinterland communities, would complain about the fatigue of having to travel far distances to obtain their payments. Today, those persons get the money delivered directly to their communities. Additionally, payments are also made directly into the bank accounts of some pensioners who have signed up for that service.
New tools
In the next term, Jagdeo said the new administration will explore more options to bring further efficiency to this programme.
Among the new tools being examined is the possibility of contracting out the delivery of pensions to a private company, which will be responsible for delivering the money to the homes of every pensioner across the country, especially to hinterland communities, within a specified period.
Another option would be to fully integrate the
payment of pensions through the banking system, but this would require more ATMs being set up in the various regions across the country so that the pensioners can access the money conveniently.
“We’re constantly looking to see how we can do what we’re doing better in Government… So, it’s building out that infrastructure. All of these things have to be explored, but it’s primary in our thinking now: how do we do this fast and get better service to our people?”
“For example, if we’re contracting out, we may not need all of the staff to hand deliver [and] process the pension. They could form a company and do this through the company; that’s if we decide to go that route, not that we have. Or if we’re doing it through the bank account now, a lot of those people won’t need the vouchers anymore, so the people who’re working on the vouchers can be redeployed to do something else. That is the thinking that we have,” Jagdeo posited.
He pointed out that similar options are being explored to bring efficiency in all the other sectors to better serve citizens.
Ramayya quits WIN party; cites harassment, sidelining
Alleging that he was being harassed and lied about by members of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) political party, Berbician Dr Veersammy Ramayya said he has no apology to make as he announced his resignation from the party headed by US-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed.
Ramayya made the declaration during a social media live video posted on his page on Wednesday evening.
“I feel that I am not comfortable with the way that I was treated. People (sic) within the WIN delegation sent voice notes. They cursed me and cursed my mother and everybody [in my family],” Ramayya revealed.
“I am not going to apologise for leaving the WIN party and have no intention to affiliate myself with any party at this stage. Because instead of getting thank you, I'm getting a bad name for not saying things.”
Ramayya insinuated
that the harassment was as a result of his refusal to disparage President Dr Irfaan Ali and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).
“I know President Ali from 2011 in Parliament he was very kind and good to me. In fact, all of them in the PPP camp were kind to me. He [President Ali] offered me his house, he offered me a place to stay. He said here are the keys. So how can I be ungrateful? He’s the President,” Ramayya explained.
According to Ramayya,
he was being purposely sidelined within the party, noting that he was not informed when the party opened its office at Whim, Berbice, and he was also not invited to the party’s Nomination Day activities on Monday.
“A few weeks ago I pledged my support to the WIN party, because of the things he was doing [however]... without any apology I will not continue or function in any political party. I don't want to be a victim of any movement,” he said.
Ramayya was originally a member of the Alliance For Change (AFC) political party, where he served as a Member of Parliament and subsequently served as the Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), under the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)/AFC coalition government.
He resigned from the REO position in 2016.
He later threw his support behind the PPP/C, and served as Coordinator
for the Region Six Rapid Response Taskforce, resigning from that position earlier this year. He subsequently joined the WIN party.
In 2024, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) had announced that it sanctioned Nazar Mohamed and his son, Azruddin Mohamed, several of their companies, and a Guyanese Government official, Mae Thomas, for their roles in alleged public corruption in Guyana.
According to a statement from OFAC, this is related to the evasion of taxes on gold exports, noting that between 2019 and 2023, Mohamed’s Enterprise omitted more than 10 thousand kilograms (kg) of gold from import and export declarations and avoided paying more than US$50 million in duty taxes to the Government of Guyana.
In a Reuters article published on July 14, 2023, it was revealed that the family is under investigation by sever-
al US agencies – including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security. Citing five sources with direct knowledge of the matter, Reuters reported that the Mohameds are suspected of smuggling both Colombian co-
caine and Venezuelan gold to international markets. Further, an intelligence report referenced in the investigation suggested that they may also be involved in laundering money for drug traffickers and criminal organisations, including sanctioned Russian nationals operating in the region.
Veersammy Ramayya
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo
Man wanted for Rupununi double murder found dead
Kendell Joseph, also called 'James', 26, who was wanted for the murder committed on Clifton and Sylvester Thomas on July 11, was on Thursday found dead at Kato Village, North Pakaraimas, Region Nine. He is suspected to have died by suicide.
Police stated that at about 07:00 hrs on Thursday, Joseph's mother,
along with her family, left their home and went out for breakfast.
However, upon returning home, his sister went to the back of the house, where she observed Joseph in a motionless position. As a result, she raised an alarm, and the matter was reported to the Kato Police Station.
Joseph was removed and taken to the Kato Cottage Hospital, where he was pro-
nounced dead.
It was reported that the murdered men and the suspect had been imbibing when an argument ensued. During the altercation, the suspect allegedly stabbed both victims, inflicting injuries that resulted in their deaths. He then made good his escape.
The police later issued a wanted bulletin for Joseph’s arrest.
Venezuelan national busted with cocaine during Police patrol operation in Mahaica
An 18-year-old Venezuelan national was on Wednesday arrested after he was found with a quantity of cocaine in his possession.
Police stated that police ranks were conducting motorcycle patrol duties at Helena #2 Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD), when they observed the construction worker standing on a bridge with a black onestrap bag hanging around his neck.
The cocaine that was found on the suspect
As such, a search was con- ducted of his person and bag,
during which they found seven parcels wrapped in black plastic inside a transparent Ziplock bag and one white plastic bag wrapped together.
Upon inspection, several pieces of hard, rock-like substance suspected to be cocaine were found, leading to the arrest of the Venezuelan national.He was taken to the Mahaica Police Station, where the cocaine was weighed and amounted to 11 grams. He remains in custody pending charges.
EBD miner jailed for 3 months after being found guilty on narcotics possession charge
Agold miner was sentenced to three months imprisonment by Magistrate Teriq Mohammed for possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.
Fifty-one-year-old Ashman Scott, of Supply Village, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was
Jailed: Ashman Scott
arrested earlier this week at the Itaballi Checkpoint in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) following the discovery of a quantity of cannabis.
However, he was charged and appeared at the Bartica Magistrate's Court, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge. This prompted a trial during which he was found guilty of the offence, which led to him being sentenced to three months in jail.
Sneak preview…
…of the PPP Manifesto
On Wednesday, the PPP – in the presence of Pres. Ali, who’s once again their Presidential Candidate, and VP Jagdeo, who happens to be their General Secretary – gave the nation a sneak preview of their manifesto. Well, to be honest, the PPP wasn’t sneaky or anything like that –since it was a very well-publicised event at the Ramada Princess – in front of a hall full of professionals and the press. It’s just that they offered some broad strokes of what their full manifesto’s gonna offer when they release it sometime in the next week or so by your Eyewitness’ estimate. This event was billed as a “consultation” on the broad sketches offered.
Now, while the word “manifesto” received quite a bit of notoriety from Karl Marx’s “Communist Manifesto”, it’s got a long history and basically means pledges made by a person or group. And to give the PPP its jacket, they’ve always been pretty serious about fulfilling the pledges they make in their manifestos – issued at the beginning of each election cycle. And as such, they’ve set a standard by which the other parties should be judged. For example, during the last five years, they’ve been most obsessed about keeping us posted on their efforts to keep their pledge to distribute 50,000 house lots!! They succeeded by some margin!!
So what’s in store for us if the PPP wins come Sept 1 – as most expect them to do? Quite simply, they’re following the same strategy that undergirded their 2020 manifesto. Which is, firstly, to continue building our infrastructure. But this time, according to GS Jagdeo –with less borrowing and more dipping into our oil kitty, which should be substantially larger on account of higher oil production. Your Eyewitness is in full agreement with that thrust – notwithstanding the Opposition’s snide refrain that “you can’t eat roads”. Maybe not – but without infrastructure we’ll never be able to attract the industries, farms and businesses that’s gonna employ folks to give them the wherewithal to secure the necessities of life –and more!!
That was spelt out in the presentations – with the added fillip of encouraging ordinary folks to become entrepreneurs to craft their own destinies by owning small and medium-sized businesses. A development bank’s gonna be established to provide low-cost loans – and in doing so, unleash market forces to push the commercial banks to drop their interest rates!! Fundamentally, then, the PPP intends to make Guyanese truly independent by encouraging them to achieve through their own efforts. Rather than depending on government handouts as the Opposition’s pushing!!
The pressure is now on the Opposition parties to come up with their own pledges – backed by coherent plans – on delivering the good life to all Guyanese!!
…of the runt’s implosion
Your Eyewitness had wondered – idly, it turned out! – about how in the world he was gonna report on the goings-on with TWENTY-TWO parties in the Sept 1 sweepstakes. But it turned out (thankfully!!) only SEVEN survived to Nomination Day – and with what’s been going on, we might just end up with the two big boys!! There’d been “Great Expectations” for the AFC – but that was based on what happened in the past. Today it’s but a shadow of its former self – and shadows don’t matter in elections!!
On Nomination Day, one newbie – the Know Nothing Party – made a splash in blue. But we now know that was due to folks being promised $50,000 EACH to show up!! Your Eyewitness reported on the party’s organiser Doggie – yes, Doggie!! – pistol-whipping one participant who complained about not receiving the full $50,000. Well, after the leader disassociated himself from Doggie’s intemperate action, Doggie resigned with some trademark expletives!!
Over in Berbice, their funeral-attending organiser also stepped down!! Implosion?
…on Suriname’s Map
At the inauguration of Suriname’s new President Simons, your Eyewitness is sure there was their official map displayed – which shows our New River Triangle as theirs. This matter gotta be sorted out before continuing with the bonhomie.
Dead: Kendell Joseph
Guyana welcomes US bill to strengthen defence ties, monitor Venezuelan aggression
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has welcomed the move by a United States (US) senator to introduce legislation to strengthen defence ties between the two countries and monitor Venezuelan aggression.
“We’re pleased that they would see it as important, the US Government, to have the Department of Defence report regularly on the Venezuelan aggression towards Guyana and hopefully to ensure that their designs on our country, which is an aggressive design, will not succeed,” Jagdeo said on Thursday.
Earlier this week, US Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, had introduced legislation to strengthen US security cooperation with Guyana and deter Venezuelan aggression against the country.
In a statement, Bennet
said, “As Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro continues to threaten Guyana, the United States must work with Guyana to deter such aggression… This bill will force the Pentagon to evaluate current cooperation and determine where improvements can be made.”
The legislation would require the Secretary of Defence to provide a report to Congress on the state of current security cooperation between the United States and Guyana and whether additional US assistance is necessary to deter a potential Venezuelan attack on Guyana.
Since taking office in 2013, Maduro has ramped up threats against Guyana, claiming the country’s Essequibo region as part of Venezuela despite international law affirming the region’s status as part of Guyana.
Maduro’s regime has flown Venezuelan Air Force jets over Guyanese territory and threatened oil facilities in Guyana’s internationally recognised maritime territory, among other malicious actions.
Both the Biden and Trump administrations have bolstered security cooperation with Guyana and promised to impose costs on Venezuela if Caracas
attacks Guyana. This bill would augment those bipartisan efforts.
In a statement, Bennet’s office noted that Guyana is a key partner in advancing regional security, democracy, and stability.
Another US Senator, Mark Kelly, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Armed Services Committee, co-sponsored this bill.
Kitty youth intercepted with ammunition in motor car
A22-year-old Kitty, Georgetown resident, was on Wednesday evening arrested after six rounds of live 9mm ammunition and two .32 spent shells were found in the car he was driving along Aubrey Barker Road, Georgetown.
Police stated that at about 21:45 hrs on the day in question, detectives and other police ranks were on mobile patrol duty, and whilst driving along Aubrey Barker Road, between Penny Lane and Festival City entrance, they intercepted a white Toyota Axio motorcar bearing registration number PAC 4181.
However, a search conducted on the vehicle led to the discovery of the live ammunition and spent shells under the front passenger seat concealed in a multi-coloured plastic bag.
The young man was questioned about a licence
The vehicle at the time was being driven by 22-year-old Samuel Cole. In fact, he was the only occupant in the vehicle during the interception. A search was carried out on his person, but nothing unlawful was found.
to carry a firearm or ammunition, but he responded in the negative. As such, he was taken to the East La Penitence Police Station, where he was placed in custody as investigations continue.
Arrested: Samuel Cole
The live rounds of ammunition and spent shells found under the seat of the car
2025 elections
GECOM reminds employers of legal duty to grant time-off for voting
With the General and Regional Elections slated for Monday, September 1, 2025, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is urging employers across the country to comply with laws that guarantee workers time off to cast their vote.
In a statement issued on Thursday, GECOM reminded employers that it is mandatory by law to allow all eligible employees a reasonable timeoff during working hours to vote without loss of pay or penalty.
“GECOM is cognisant that persons may be required to work or will be stationed away from their respective polling district on duty during the conduct of the polls,” the
Commission noted. “It is therefore in this regard that GECOM takes this opportunity to inform all employers of the legal provisions to grant employees the requisite time off to vote at the elections.”
The reminder comes under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act (ROPA), Section 81(1), which mandates that “Every employer shall permit every elector in his employ... to be absent from his work on election day for a reasonable time, in addition to the normal midday meal hour, for the purpose of voting... No employer should make any deduction from pay or other remuneration of any such elector or impose... any penalty by reason of his absence
during such period.”
GECOM further warned that failure to comply with these rules could result in serious legal consequences, which are provided for under Section 82 of ROPA.
Section 82 states that any employer who refuses or interferes, directly or indirectly, with an employee’s right to time off for voting could face a fine of GY$65,000 and six months’ imprisonment upon summary conviction.
However, though employers must facilitate time off, GECOM also advised employees to act responsibly by informing and coordinating with their employers in advance.
“Employees are advised that it is their constitutional
right to vote at the election,” the statement read. “As such, it is also their responsibility to engage their respective employers ahead of time to discuss the requisite time off and to obtain the necessary approvals.”
With just weeks remaining before the September 1 polls, GECOM is urging all stakeholders to make the necessary preparations to ensure every eligible voter can participate in the democratic process without obstruction.
“All persons are urged to take note and put the necessary systems in place to ensure that they are able to vote on election day,” the Commission stated.
The upcoming elections will determine the com-
position of Guyana’s 13th Parliament, with both national and regional seats up for grabs.
Seven parties have so far submitted lists of candidates to participate in the elections: the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), which is the current Government; A Partnership for National Unity (APNU); the Alliance for Change (AFC); and We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), led by United States (US)sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed, which will be contesting in all 10 Administrative Regions of Guyana.
The Assembly for Liberty and Prosperity (ALP), led by former APNU/AFC Minister Simona Broomes, will be con-
testing in six regions, and Forward Guyana, led by former APNU parliamentarian Amanza Walton-Desir, will be contesting in seven regions, while Horizon and the Star Party, led by Dr Hubert Maloney, also submitted a list to GECOM.
Initially, 22 parties had submitted symbols to GECOM, declaring their interests in contesting the upcoming polls. The Elections Commission approved 21 of those symbols after one of the parties dropped out of the race. However, following several mergers and the stepping down of other parties, only the seven parties submitted lists on Nominations Day held Monday last.
Beating of a woman at Cuffy Square US-sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed under probe for witness intimidation, justice obstruction
…WIN party organiser “Doggie”
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Thursday said it is investigating US-sanctioned businessman and political aspirant Azruddin Mohamed for allegedly obstructing the course of justice, threatening a woman and holding her against her will.
The GPF related that on Wednesday, a resident of McDoom, Greater Georgetown, visited the East La Penitence Police Station and reported that on Tuesday she was beaten and assaulted by Bradley Sampson, also known as “Doggie” – a supporter of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) political party recently launched by Mohamed.
The woman told the police that she was employed by Sampson, a key organiser in the political party, for Nomination Day progression on Monday, and in return, she would get paid $50,000.
The police said the woman further claimed that she went to the Square of the Revolution, also known as Cuffy Square, Georgetown, on Tuesday to uplift the payment from Sampson. However, he only paid her $10,000.
surrenders
This consequently led to an argument during which Sampson allegedly dealt her several kicks and punches about her body and lashed her with a gun to her head, causing her to receive multiple injuries.
She stated that Sampson later called her via Facebook Messenger and requested that she meet him at Mohamed’s house at Green
Field, East Bank Demerara.
As requested, that afternoon, she met with Mohamed, Sampson, and other persons at the said location, the GPF statement detailed.
The woman reportedly informed the police that during that encounter, she was detained against her will at the premises by several armed security guards for
to Police
more than an hour and that Mohamed instructed her not to pursue the matter against Sampson.
The police further stated that the woman said she was offered $500,000 to drop the matter.
“Azruddin Mohamed instructed her not to pursue the matter against Sampson, to accompany Sampson to the police station, and to inform the police that she is withdrawing all complaints against Sampson; and in consideration thereof, he will pay to her $500,000,” the police statement outlined.
According to the police, the woman also alleged that she was threatened by Mohamed’s security guards.
“One of the guards at the premises said to her, ‘Don’t feel I don’t know you living in McDoom.’ He then raised his jersey and showed her a black handgun that was tucked in his waist. This resulted in her being fearful for her life. Eventually, she was permitted to leave the premises,” the statement further noted.
After this, she made a report at the East La Penitence Police Station, the police said.
She was subsequently examined by a doctor regarding the injuries received, and a medical certificate was duly issued.
The Force said it also considered the allegations against Mohamed and his security guards to be of a serious nature and may involve the commission of several serious criminal offences, including attempting to pervert the course of justice.
As a result, several ranks visited Mohamed’s premises on Wednesday evening, but he was not at home.
On Thursday morning, Mohamed turned himself in at the Ruimveldt Police Station, in the company of his lawyer, and was subsequently released on his own recognisance.
Doggie
Meanwhile, as a result of the ongoing investigation, a wanted bulletin was earlier in the week issued for Sampson. On Thursday, the man surrendered to the police in the company of his lawyer. In the wanted bulletin, police had said Sampson was being sought for questioning in relation to several offences under the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act and the Firearm Act, including threatening behaviour, threatening language, obscene language, disorderly behaviour, assault, possession of a firearm without a licence and possession of ammunition without a licence.
US-sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed
Bradley Sampson, aka “Doggie”, during the beating of the woman at the Square of the Revolution
Persons caught dumping garbage on roadways to face fines, jailtime
Awarning has been sent out to members of the public by the Environmental Protection Agency in collaboration with the Industry Plaisance Neighbourhood Democratic Council that persons caught dumping garbage along public roadways will be fined and/or face jail time.
This advisory stated that indiscriminate dumping of garbage along public roadways, including the newly constructed Ogle to Eccles Highway, is illegal and strictly prohibited. According to the two entities, this practice violates the Environmental Protection Act, Cap. 20:05, and the Environmental
Protection (Litter Enforcement) Regulations 2013.
It also stated that offenders found guilty of dumping waste in unauthorised areas will be prosecuted and may face fines and other penalties (including imprisonment) as stipulated by the Environmental Protection
(Litter Enforcement) Regulations 2013.
Thus, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, will be increasing surveillance and enforcement activities to curb this illegal practice.
Additionally, the entities are urging persons to
be responsible.
“We urge all citizens to act responsibly and dispose of waste at designated collection sites and facilities. Keeping our environment clean is a shared responsibility. Let us all work together to preserve the health, safety, and beauty of our nation.”
PPP pays tribute to Michael Forde at wreath-laying ceremony
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) on Friday morning held a wreath-laying ceremony at the gravesite of Michael Forde, paying tribute to the young hero who died in 1963 while trying to prevent a deadly attack at the party’s headquarters.
The ceremony, which drew several senior officials and representatives, was held in honour of Forde’s bravery and selfless act of heroism. Among those in attendance were Executive Secretary of the party, Zulfikar Mustapha; PPP Executive Member Neil Kumar; and President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Seepaul Narine.
Michael Forde was 22 years old when he lost his life while attempting to remove an explosive device reportedly planted by an agent of the then opposition People’s
The late PYO member Michael Forde
National Congress (PNC) at the Progressive Bookshop located at Freedom House. The incident occurred during a volatile period in the country’s political history and claimed the life of the young Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) member, whose swift action is credited with saving the lives of several PPP lead-
ers who were present in the building at the time.
In a message shared via social media, PPP’s General Secretary and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo reflected on Forde’s courage and legacy.
“Today [Thursday], we remember Michael Forde, who lost his life 61 years ago while trying to remove a bomb planted by a PNC agent in the bookshop at Freedom House. Michael was only 22 years old when he made the decision to act, saving the lives of many PPP leaders who were in the building at the time,” Jagdeo stated on his social media page.
“As a mark of respect for his actions, the Party renamed the Progressive Bookshop in his honour,” he added.
Jagdeo further highlighted Forde’s involvement in the PYO and noted that his
commitment and bravery exemplify the spirit of many young activists of that era who risked their lives in defence of democracy.
“Michael Forde was not just a worker at the book-
shop; he was also an active member of the Progressive Youth Organisation. His actions on that day reflect the commitment and courage of many young people who stood up for what they
believed in. Today, we honour his memory and the role he played in protecting the Party and defending the democratic values we continue to fight for.” he said.
Executive Secretary of the PPP, Zulfikar Mustapha; PPP Executive Member Neil Kumar; and President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Seepaul Narine, among those at the gravesite of Michael Forde
Motorcyclist crushed to death in crash with truck
Police are investigating a road accident that claimed the life of a 55-year-old motorcyclist on Thursday afternoon along the Eastern Carriageway of the Covent Garden public road, East Bank Demerara.
The incident occurred at about 16:05 and involved the motor lorry GAG 2043, driven by a 23-year-old of Timehri, and the motorcycle CL 9379, owned and ridden by Gerald Da Silva of Covent Garden.
According to police, preliminary investigations revealed that both vehicles were heading south on the Covent Garden roadway, the lorry in the eastern driving lane and the motorcycle in the western lane, slightly ahead of the lorry.
Reports indicate that as Da Silva approached a parked motor canter at the side of the road, he swerved eastward in an attempt to avoid the stationary vehicle. However, the 23-year-old lorry driv-
er, upon observing the sudden movement, applied brakes in an effort to prevent a collision. However, due to the short braking distance, the right front side of the lorry collided with the motorcycle.
Following the impact, the motorcycle and rider fell onto the road surface. The right front and rear wheels of the lorry rolled over Da Silva, causing severe crushing injuries to his head and other parts of his body.
Emergency responders arrived shortly after, and the injured motorcyclist was transported to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The body has since been transferred to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination. An investigation has been launched.
Illegal gun found hidden in rice bag by social worker
Police have launched an investigation following the discovery of an unlicensed firearm at the home of a 52-year-old social worker in Westminster, Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, on Thursday afternoon.
According to reports, around 17:30h, ranks from the Parfaite Harmonie Police Station responded to a report made by the woman and conducted a search of her home. During the operation, officers discovered a .32 revolver wrapped in a black plastic bag which was hidden inside a rice bag.
Preliminary investigations revealed that around 19:30h on Wednesday, the social worker was at home when her aunt delivered the rice bag, which was
already opened and contained about half a bag of rice. The woman told Police she accepted the rice and placed it in her kitchen, intending to use it to prepare food for her dog.
However, on Thursday around 17:25h, as she reached into the bag to retrieve some rice, she discovered the firearm concealed within.
She immediately contact-
ed the Police, who visited the scene and took possession of the weapon. The revolver was subsequently taken to the Parfaite Harmonie Police Station.
The aunt, who brought the rice bag, has since been contacted and is currently being questioned by investigators. The Police have confirmed that the firearm is unlicensed, and investigations are ongoing.
The firearm that was found by the social worker
Region 6 parents, students applaud Govt’s CXC exam fees refund
Since April 2025, the Government of Guyana, under President Irfaan Ali, has committed to reimbursing students for exam fees for up to eight subjects for both CSEC and CAPE exams –applicable to students from public and private schools, as well as private candidates.
The Ministry of Education officially began the refund process on July 14, 2025, accepting national or community IDs for eligibility.
The programme covers
full exam costs per candidate (around GY$46,500 for eight CSEC subjects, roughly GY$48,000 per student).
The refund was announced by President Ali that the Government will, from this year, pay exam fees for up to eight subjects.
When the announcement was made, fees were already paid; hence the reimbursement.
However, the Government has not released specific numbers on how many students are involved in the reimburse-
ment scheme.
In Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), the reimbursement commenced on Wednesday.
Many parents and students applauded the initiative by the Government to refund exam fees for up to 8 CSEC and CAPE subjects.
Richard Bacchus, a parent whose child sat nine CSEC subjects, welcomed the reimbursement with appreciation.
“It’s a good thing because we never expected it, so we’re grateful and thankful for it. I’m sure
that it will be put to some good use further. After all, you can’t count it as money gained because you wouldn’t have gotten it back. So you get it now for a good purpose. You could open an account or something. Thanks to the Government. I applaud the initiative; it’s a good thing. I’m sure it will help a lot of parents as children are preparing to go into the world of work, and they will have something to start them,” Bacchus said.
Another parent, Tashanie Nandankumar,
Foton partners with ISG to bring new fleet
...to include models powered by LNG
Anew fleet of Foton-
Auman heavy-duty trucks has officially entered the Guyanese market, following a partnership between Industrial Supply of Guyana (ISG) – a subsidiary of MACORP – and Foton Motor.
The powerful lineup was unveiled Wednesday at ISG’s brand-new, US$30 million, ultra-modern facility in Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
The facility is expected to be fully operational by the first quarter of 2026. The trucks have the capacity to handle 12 tonnes per axle and, when properly utilised, can move up to 48 tonnes.
Foton, also known as Beiqi Foton Motor Co., Ltd., is a Chinese company that manufactures a wide range of vehicles, including light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty trucks, as well as buses and pickup trucks. They are renowned for their Cummins-powered Aumark S light-duty truck and the Auman Galaxy 9 heavy truck, which is a smart heavy-duty vehicle. Foton also offers new energy vehicles, including electric and hybrid models.
The new Foton-Auman fleet includes tractors, dumpers, flatbeds, tankers, pumps, and mixers –all designed to handle the demanding conditions of Guyana’s booming construction, mining, and resource sectors.
Foton Motor, one of China’s leading global manufacturers of light and heavy commercial vehicles, brings years of experience and innovation to help meet Guyana’s growing need for durable and efficient transport solutions.
Speaking at the event, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill highlighted the strength of the trucks and urged both private and state sector operators to adhere to regulations as these new vehicles are integrated into the country’s infrastructure.
He emphasised the importance of responsible usage to ensure the longevity
and effectiveness of the fleet.
The Minister also acknowledged the longstanding partnership with MACORP, stating that Guyana is attracting investors and expanding its capabilities.
“Today we see another private investor, a company that has worked with us as a nation for over thirty-two years, weathering the storm and now expanding by bringing in new partners to be properly positioned for Guyana’s infrastructural development and modernisation. So, welcome, Foton.”
He further noted the improved quality of vehicles
being offered to Guyanese consumers through these established partnerships.
Emphasising Guyana’s green economy, he remarked, “Our low-carbon pathway and our green economy would appreciate the fact that part of the proposal for the trucks you are bringing in includes models powered by liquefied natural gas [LNG]. Better fuel consumption will lead to lower emissions.”
Addressing infrastructure concerns, the Minister highlighted the need for road upgrades to accommodate the increased load from these heavy-duty
whose child wrote 10 subjects, said the reimbursement is timely.
“It feels good; it was great. Actually, it will pay for what she’s going to learn now. She’s attending an accounting college, so the money would come in to help pay for that. To the Government, thank you very much, and we’re supporting the Government. Yes, I hope for more initiatives like this. I have more kids going to school, and maybe when the next one is ready to write [CXC], I won’t have to pay a cent,”
shared. Students themselves are equally appreciative. Navesh Jainarine, who sat the CAPE exams, said the initiative could reduce dropout rates.
“My thought on this initiative is that it will decrease the rate of high school dropouts because the toll of CSEC or CAPE fees will diminish,” he noted.
The initiative, which covers students from both public and private institutions, is part of a $700 million national investment.
of trucks to Guyana
trucks. He stated that there needs to be a reconstruction of varied carriageways, going down several metres and rebuilding all the way back up.
If not, he says, Guyana will continue to experience the bulges seen along the roads, leading to public dissatisfaction. “The reality is that the roads were not built to handle the volume and weight that some trucks are carrying. We have engaged a contractor for this rehabilitation.”
He also mentioned the issue of truck parking, stating, “With more trucks being purchased, parking when not in use is becoming an issue. We just can't park our trucks anywhere, especially not close to residential areas. Therefore, we're developing commercial truck parks in various areas to address this concern.”
Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador Yang Yang de-
scribed the launch as another milestone in deepening China-Guyana collaboration in the area of industrial development.
“This event marks not just a new chapter in business collaboration but a strong partnership in business between China and Guyana. Our co-operation today makes it clear that Guyana is moving with confidence towards a future of opportunities, and communities are growing strong.”
She added, “I am proud to share that today, Chinese companies account for these developments. Let us continue to build on this momentum, and these partnerships will drive and create jobs, supply chains, and more communities from Georgetown to Lethem, from the coast to the hinterland. China is ready to work with Guyana side by side towards a greater, brighter, and prosperous future for all.”
Nandankumar
Refunds began Wednesday in Region Six
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill alongside Chinese Ambassador Yang Yang among other key officials
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill
Corentyne hit and run
Driver slapped with 7 charges, remanded to prison
ACorentyne hire car driver, who was on the run for just over four months after a fatal accident, was on Thursday slapped with seven charges and remanded to prison after he was found hiding in a chair in a house and arrested July 15.
Avinesh Naidoo of Linepath, Corentyne, had allegedly struck a family of three who were on an electric motorcycle, which resulted in the death of a mother and her baby. He subsequently went on the run.
Naidoo appeared before Magistrate Tuanna Hardy at the Springlands Magistrate Court, where the seven charges were read to him.
He faces two charges for causing death by dangerous driving and three more charges for failing to render
assistance to an injured person and take them to a registered medical practitioner for medical treatment. He is also charged with failing to report an accident to a police officer within 24 hours and faces another charge
for failing to stop after an accident.
It is alleged that on March 2, Naidoo drove motor car HC 8905 in a manner dangerous to the public and caused the death of Kavita Betsan and Eli
Surnjnarine. The 32-yearold taxi driver allegedly failed to render assistance to the trio on the motorcycle: Betsan, her 9-monthold baby, Eli Surnjnarine, and Tushan Surnjnarine. Naidoo was not required
to plead to the two causing death by dangerous driving charges but pleaded not guilty to the other five charges.
Police Prosecutor Constable Whitney Yearwood told the court that Naidoo was driving motorcar HC 8905 at a fast rate on March 2 along the Linepath Public Road when he hit an electric motorbike ridden by Tushan Surnjnarine, with Kavita Betsan and her nine-monthold baby Eli Surnjnarine as pillion riders.
The prosecutor told the court that both the car and the electric bike were heading in the same direction. After the accident, the driver did not stop, and when police went to Naidoo's home, they were unable to find him.
Yearwood told the court that on July 15, police were
able to arrest Naidoo, who was hiding in a chair at a house in Linepath. The prosecutor told the court when he was contacted, he denied his name but was nevertheless arrested. She asked the court not to grant bail, arguing that Naidoo might not attend court; she referred to him as a flight risk.
However, attorney at law Vinnay Punwa, in response, claimed that Naidoo was not a flight risk. The attorney appealed to the court for bail and said if granted bail, Naidoo is willing to surrender his passport and is subject to whatever conditions the court may impose.
However, Magistrate Hardy pointed to the facts presented by the prosecution and refused bail. Naidoo will return to court on July 31.
Small parties submit corrections to GECOM
Representatives of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) and the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) political parties have confirmed that they have resubmitted the necessary corrections to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to update defects on their List of Candidates for the upcoming September 1 elections.
On Monday, political parties seeking to contest the elections submitted their regional, national top-up, and geographical constituency lists of candidates, with five of the seven submitting parties being subsequently notified by GECOM that there were defects with their lists.
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and A Partnership for National
Unity (APNU) were the only two parties without defects on their lists.
The other contesting parties are the Assembly for Liberty and Prosperity (ALP), led by former APNU/ AFC Minister Simona Broomes, which will be contesting in six regions, and the Horizon and Star Party, led by Dr Hubert Maloney.
WIN is being led by United States (US)-
Court grants $50K bail to accused rapist
Osafo Collins, also called 'Blackboy', 29, a plumber of Victoria Village, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was on Wednesday charged and granted bail on a sexual assault charge.
Granted
The suspect appeared before Magistrate Orinthia Schmidt at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court and pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him. He was nevertheless granted $50,000 bail, and the matter was adjourned to July 30, 2025.
sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed, while FGM is headed by former APNU parliamentarian Amanza Walton-Desir, and AFC is led by presidential candidate Nigel Hughes.
Speaking with the
Guyana Times on Thursday, AFC Executive David Patterson confirmed that the AFC had submitted the corrections to their list on Wednesday.
“We’re good, all 10 regions, all geographical, and the national top-up,” Patterson affirmed.
The AFC had been contacted by GECOM due to issues relating to two of their regional lists, noting that the issue related to the maximum requirement of candidates not being met. One of the regions is Region Nine.
Speaking for FGM, Walton-Desir said that her party submitted the corrections.
“We completed that yes-
Foulis man gets 2 years,
fined $1M after confessing to rape
Thirty-eight-year-old
John Chappelle, a construction worker of Foulis, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was on Wednesday sentenced to two years imprisonment and fined $1 million on a sexual assault charge.
The suspect who was arrested on July 13, 2025, appeared before Magistrate Worship Orinthia Schmidt at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court and pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
Police stated that Chappelle was charged with the offence of 'Sexual
Activity with a Child Family Member'. However, following his plea, he was sentenced to two years imprisonment and fined $1 million.
terday [Wednesday]. We are awaiting the official correspondence from GECOM, and the official communication must come from the Commission, and they are meeting [on Friday],” Walton-Desir noted.
All seven parties will be notified on Friday as to whether their lists have been approved or not by GECOM. Any party not approved will have until July 20 to appeal their non-approval at the High Court.
The parties also have until July 21 to notify GECOM of any joinder of lists, whereby any two or more parties will be combining their votes. The officially approved lists will be
gazetted on July 23. On Monday, parties were able to submit Regional Lists to contend for seats in respective Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) across the country and submit their National Top-Up List and Geographical Constituency List to contest the General Elections and vie for seats in the National Assembly. Of the 65 elected members in Guyana’s National Assembly, 25 are elected from the 10 geographical constituencies and the remaining 40 from the national top-up list. Parties have to ensure that one-third of the candidates nominated are female.
60-year-old Bartica resident fined $200K for drunk driving
ABartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) resident was on Wednesday fined $200,000 with an alternative of three months’ imprisonment for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Deetnarrine Prahalad, 60, of Third Avenue, Bartica, appeared before Magistrate Teriq Mohammed at the Bartica Magistrate Court, where the charge of driving a motor vehicle whilst his breath alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit was read to him.
The accused pleaded guilty to the charge and, as such, was fined $200,000 or three (3) months imprisonment.
bail: Osafo Collins
Sentenced: John Chappelle
Deetnarrine Prahalad
Avinesh Naidoo at court Thursday. Inset: Kavita Betsan and Eli Surnjnarine
State-funded Development Bank to come onstream in 2026 – VP
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s highly-touted Development Bank to financially support local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) could become operational next year.
This is according to Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo at a press conference on Thursday. He explained that the bank would be a state-led initiative, and the administration has already conceptualised its operational model for the new term, should the PPP/C be re-elected in office at the 2025 General and Regional Elections.
“So, we already have a concept in mind how it will operate; the seed capital needed to start it off everything… We know what we’re about,” Jagdeo, who is also the General Secretary of the PPP, declared.
He added, “We are hoping to start working on it as soon as we get back into office, so by 2026 [the Development Bank would come on stream].”
Only Wednesday,
President Dr Irfaan Ali, who, along with Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, is seeking a second term in office at the upcoming polls, told stakeholders at the PPP/C manifesto consultation that this Development bank would not only offer zero-per cent interest, co-financing and support access to liquidity, but will reduce the cost of borrowing and remove the collateral requirement which are burdensome to SMEs.
While this development bank initiative would be state-funded, Jagdeo explained on Thursday that it would work in collaboration with the private sector. But according to the Vice President, “we were going to focus a lot on small and medium-scale enterprises.”
However, he did not rule out larger enterprises accessing funding from the state-funded development bank. For example, a person or company with a big project could raise part of the capital from the development bank
and the other part from a merchant bank.
Jagdeo noted that the low-interest terms of lending from the development bank would de-risk borrowing from institutions like merchant banks.
Already, the PPP/C government has changed local laws to allow representative offices for major internation-
al financial institutions to have a representative office in Guyana without setting up a full bank.
United States-based Citibank has already indicated an interest in setting up a representative office here. Although, the financial institution has exited the retail banking market in the entire Latin America, they
10,000kg smuggled gold
have expressed interest to the Guyana Government in opening a representative office here to provide loans to Guyanese business.
“So, that would help with a lot of the big projects by Guyanese companies and others to get access to that financing for their capital projects without having to go to our local banking system,” the Vice President noted on Thursday.
Last November, Jagdeo had stated that the discussions with Citibank were ongoing, adding that the office, coupled with Guyana’s growing economy, will play a crucial role in enhancing financial services by providing access to international expertise, advanced banking solutions, and global networks.
He added that the presence of the US-based financial institution here further has the ability to boost foreign investment by increasing investor confidence in the local economy, facilitating international trade through better financial infrastruc-
ture, and supporting businesses with access to capital and resources.
Guyana’s economic transformation, fuelled by its oil boom, has made it a focal point for foreign investment.
Citibank, a leading financial services provider with operations in over 100 countries, has a reputation for supporting economic development in emerging markets. Its interest in Guyana underscores the country’s rising profile on the global stage.
Dialogue with Citibank which provides credit cards, mortgages, personal loans, commercial loans, and lines of credit, commenced back in September 2023,. In fact, a senior team from Citibank was on an exploratory visit to Guyana back in 2020. In addition to Citibank, the PPP/C Government has also been in talks with the Bank of America on setting up a branch here. A team of representatives from the Bank of America was also in Guyana on an exploratory mission in September 2023.
“You can’t buy your way out of criminality” – VP warns
…as investigators zero in on
GRA, Gold Board,
airport staff; shipment patterns; phone calls
Investigations into the alleged gold smuggling by the Mohamed family and their businesses have been ongoing, with local law enforcement agencies examining several factors that would have supported this alleged criminal activity.
Guyanese businessmen Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed, along with their businesses: Mohamed’s Enterprise; its subsidiary, Hadi’s World; and Team Mohamed’s Racing Team, have been sanctioned by the United States Government over gold smuggling and public corruption allegations.
Pressed for an update on the investigation during his press conference on Thursday, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo disclosed this is ongoing with the Guyana Police Force (GPF), its white-collar arm – the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) all conducting independent probes.
The VP indicated that these agencies are “… looking at the shipment
of gold out of the country and who were officers in the [Guyana] Gold Board, the [Guyana] Geology and Mines Commission, and the [Cheddi Jagan International] Airport – everywhere, on duty at that time, and to look at patterns. We know that there are people also from GRA who are being examined, and they are looking at calls made to [Azruddin Mohamed] during that period etc.”
According to Jagdeo, the investigation spans beyond the five years that the US has covered, that is, 2018 to 2023.
“So, I’m aware that those investigations are ongoing. So, there would be a number of people who will have to face accountability when this matter is dealt with,” the VP stated.
Jagdeo had previously said that these investigations are being handled at the technical level by the aforementioned law enforcement agencies, with the executive maintaining arms-length in the current political season, and the fact that Azruddin Mohamed has entered the race to con-
test the 2025 General and Regional Elections slated for September 1.
However, he assured that the matter will be vigorously pursued once the elections are over and the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic regime returns to office.
“[The matter is] not disappearing. After the six weeks, there will be a return to a lot of these issues, and people will have to pay their taxes with the penalties [and] they have to face accountability for all of the illegalities. You can’t buy your way out of criminality. We made this clear,” Jagdeo stressed.
The Vice President went on to dismiss concerns that the government is pussyfooting around this issue out of fear of being accused of political persecution. He further rubbished concerns that Mohamed has entered the electoral race to secure a seat in the Parliament in order to escape prosecution for these alleged activities.
According to Jagdeo, Guyana’s parliament, unlike many other countries, does not grant immunity for criminal activities to either
sitting or former members of the National Assembly.
US sanctions
Back in June 2024, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued the sanctions against the businessmen and their businesses, stating that Mohamed’s Enterprise smuggled some 10,000 kg of gold out of Guyana between 2019 and 2023, and avoided paying more than US$50 million in duty taxes.
Shortly after the sanctions, Guyana had requested the relevant information and documentation from the US Department of Justice (DoJ) to assist local investigations on the allegations of falsification of import and export documents, evasion of taxes, and bribery of customs and government officials to facilitate illicit gold shipments, and the award of government contracts.
In addition, the GRA had also requested information, dating back to 2015, from the US’ Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Some nine months after that request, local law en-
forcement agencies, including the GPF and GRA, received a ‘sufficient volume’ of evidence to take action against the businessmen.
Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, S.C., had told reporters back in March that this is an ongoing investigation, and the local authorities are continuing to work with the US on this matter.
Meanwhile, in addition to the Mohameds, the US had also sanctioned former Permanent Secretary of the Home Affairs Ministry, Mae Thomas, for public corruption. Thomas, who was moved to the Labour Ministry before being sent
on administrative leave since June last year, remains on admin leave.
In OFAC’s June 11, 2024 sanctions, UnderSecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian E. Nelson, said, “Today’s action underscores our commitment to holding accountable those who seek to exploit Guyana’s underdeveloped gold sector for personal gain…Treasury, in close coordination with our partners in US law enforcement, will continue to take action to safeguard the US financial system from abuse by corrupt actors.”
Nazar Mohamed and Azruddin Mohamed
Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo
Around the World
OOIL NEWS
Oil jumps US$1 after further drone attacks on Iraq oil fields
il prices rose $1 on Thursday after drones struck Iraqi Kurdistan oil fields for a fourth day, pointing to continued risk in the volatile region.
Brent crude futures settled at $69.52 a barrel, up $1.00, or 1.46 per cent. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures finished at $67.54 a barrel, up $1.16, or 1.75 per cent.
Officials pointed to Iran-backed militias as the likely source of attacks this week on the oilfields in Iraqi Kurdistan, although no group has claimed responsibility.
Oil output in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region has been slashed by between 140,000 and 150,000 barrels per day, two energy officials said, more than half the region’s normal output of about 280,000 bpd.
“Some of the gains are a reaction to drone attacks in Iraq,” said Andrew Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates. “It shows how vulnerable oil supplies are to attacks using low technology.”
US crude inventories fell by 3.9 million barrels last week, Government data on Wednesday showed, compared with analysts’ expectations in a Reuters poll for a 552,000-barrel draw.
Last week, the International Energy Agency said that oil output increases were not leading to higher inventories, which showed markets were thirsty for more oil.
Markets were continuing to look for signals of tighter supply or higher demand, said Phil Flynn, senior analyst for Price Futures Group. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Former colonial ruler France hands over last military bases in Senegal
Senegal’s Chief of General staff, General Mbaye Cisse, right, and French General Pascal Ianni, who commands France’s troops in Africa, salute as the Senegalese flag is raised during a ceremony to return Camp Geille, France’s largest base in the country, and its airfield at Dakar’s airport to Senegal
France has officially handed over its two remaining military bases in Senegal, leaving the onetime colonial power with no permanent presence in either West or Central Africa.
France returned Camp Geille, its largest base in Senegal, and its airfield at Dakar’s airport in a ceremony on Thursday attended by top French and Senegalese officials, including Senegalese Chief of the General Staff Mbaye Cisse and General Pascal Ianni, the head of the French forces in Africa.
The pull-out ends the French army’s 65-year presence in Senegal and comes after similar withdrawals across the continent as former colonies increasingly turn their backs on the nation that once ruled them.
About 350 French soldiers, who had primarily been tasked with conducting joint operations with the Senegalese army, are now leaving the country, marking the end of a departure process that began in March. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
FTC reverses order barring John Hess from Chevron Board
The US Federal Trade Commission on Thursday reversed a previous order that had barred Hess Corp CEO John Hess from the board of directors at Chevron as a condition of the oil giant’s pending $53 billion acquisition of his company.
ExxonMobil and Hess are locked in an arbitration case, with a ruling related to a major oilfield project in Guyana set to determine whether Chevron can move forward with its planned acquisition of Hess.
Chevron struck a deal to acquire smaller US oil producer Hess in October 2023, with an eye on the lat-
ter’s 30 per cent stake in the prolific Stabroek Block in Guyana that is operated by
ExxonMobil with a 45% interest.
“We are very pleased with the FTC’s unanimous decision,” a Chevron spokesperson told Reuters.
Separately, the FTC on Thursday also reversed a prior order that had barred Scott Sheffield, the founder and former CEO of Pioneer Natural Resources, from ExxonMobil’s board after its acquisition of Pioneer.
Exxon and Hess did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comments. Sheffield could not immediately be reached for a comment. (Reuters)
US$153M of cocaine found hidden in banana shipment in Russia
Russia said Wednesday it had seized 1800 pounds (lbs) of cocaine hidden under a shipment of bananas, calling it its largest bust of drugs from Latin America this year.
Russia’s customs service, working jointly with the FSB security service, said it had uncovered a batch worth “more than 12 billion rubles (US$153 million)” stashed in banana containers.
had seized 1800 lbs of cocaine hidden under a shipment of bananas, calling it its largest bust of drugs from Latin America this year (Federal Customs Service of Russia)
The cocaine packages – disguised in briquettes bearing the label of a French luxury fashion brand – were discovered in a “hidden cavity” under the bananas, it added. In a post on social media, the Federal Customs
Service of Russia released images of the cocaine and said service dogs helped sniff out the hidden drugs. Customs officials said they carried out the bust after a tip-off from “foreign colleagues about the intention of a South American criminal group to organise a smuggling channel for cocaine supplies to Russia”. It said an investigation had been opened into largescale drug trafficking, a charge that in Russia carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. (Excerpt from CBS News)
Brazil’s Lula says he won’t take
orders from "gringo" Trump
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Thursday said that he would not take orders from a “gringo”, responding to US President Donald Trump’s letter slapping Brazil with 50 per cent tariffs.
In a letter last week, Trump attributed the tar -
iffs, set to start in August, to Brazil’s treatment of former President Jair Bolsonaro and to alleged unfair trade practices by Brazil against United States (US) companies.
Lula and members of his cabinet have rejected the reasoning behind the tariffs and insisted on
Brazil’s sovereignty while calling for trade negotiations with the US.
“No gringo is going to give orders to this president,” Lula said, wearing a bright red shirt as he addressed a gathering of leftist student activists in the state of Goias.
In Brazil, ‘gringo’ is a
Trump supporters burn MAGA hats after he dismisses Epstein files furore as "hoax"
Donald Trump’s efforts to dismiss criticism of his Administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files as a “hoax” showed no sign of working on Thursday as some of his supporters recorded videos burning their signature Make America Great Again hats.
Also on Thursday, more prominent figures from across the political spectrum also emerged to attack the US President.
Trump’s former Vice President, Mike Pence, told CBS News on Wednesday that “I think the time has come for the administration to release all of the files regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s investigation and prosecution”, while the conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer,
a frequent close adviser to Trump, called for the appointment of a special counsel to handle the Epstein files investigation.
Senator Josh Hawley questioned the Justice Department’s claims about
the files, saying, “I think it is maybe a little difficult to believe the idea that DoJ and the FBI… don’t have any idea who Epstein’s clients were,” and called for Maxwell to testify.
In a rare moment of friction between Trump and Johnson, meanwhile, the House speaker broke with the president on Tuesday, calling for the justice department to make more Epstein documents public and urging Pam Bondi, the attorney general, to “come forward and explain” the situation.
Bondi has come under particular attack for appearing to claim earlier in the year that she had a client list of Epstein’s, then declaring last week no such list existed. (Source: The Guardian)
common term for foreigners, without the pejorative sense it carries in other parts of Latin America.
He added that Brazil would go forward with regulation and taxation of US tech firms, alleging that they promote violence and fake news under the argument of freedom of expression.
Foreign Relations Minister Mauro Vieira told CNN Brasil separately on Thursday that Lula was open to talks with Trump, though they had not yet met.
“If the circumstances are given, they will speak,” he added. (Source: Reuters)
Russia said Wednesday it
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
MAGA hats burn in an online video
Hess Corp CEO John Hess
Refuse to let emotional spending or indulgence take the lead. Sticking to the truth may be difficult, but it will help you phase out the people and projects that no longer reflect your values or beliefs.
Be careful what you sign up for or promise. Wanting to be a people pleaser will hold you back when you need to gain respect by doing what’s right and best for you. Trust in your abilities.
A change will be uplifting. Adopting a new image, making an upgrade or attending a social event will change your perspective and offer insight into your challenges. Optimize your chances to get ahead.
Size up a situation and work your magic to ensure everything goes according to plan. Home, family, comfort and convenience will lead to gratitude and peace of mind. Take pride in what you have.
Be cautious dealing with people who can influence your reputation, career or financial well-being. Take the high road, share positive input and enjoy whatever event you attend.
Don’t let anger set in; find better ways to expel your energy. Volunteer to help a cause that concerns you. Declutter, dismiss and discard what no longer works for you.
Keep absorbing information and using your discoveries to improve your life. Research, travel and make a move; it will help you find the happiness or satisfaction you’re searching for.
Transform whatever you discover into something that improves your life or your relationships. Channel your energy into what you can do to help a cause or improve yourself.
Take pride in your surroundings. Pay it forward and give away items you no longer need or use. A kind gesture, romantic suggestion or an event that can lead to love will pay off.
Pay attention to loved ones. Make plans that unite people. Be the glue, the go-to person, and enjoy the attention and love. A change doesn’t have to be costly, but it must be satisfying and gratifying.
Embrace change and consider what you want to manifest for yourself. Discuss your feelings and intentions with loved ones and make plans that promote a lifestyle that promotes equal opportunities.
Concentrate on where your money goes. Planning and sacrifice will be necessary to achieve your goal. Refuse to let outsiders talk you into something you don’t need or want.
ARCHIE
Horse racing action will return to the Bush Lot United Turf Club in West Coast Berbice on Sunday, July 20.
J’s Racing Stables is all set to host the Summer Stakes, which will have eight races on the one-day racing programme.
The feature event, which is the summer stakes, will be running for one mile, and the top horse will be awarded GY $1.5 million.
Other races on the card include the open sprint, the three-year-old Guyana and West Indian-bred, the F Class and Lower, the H
Class and Lower, the K Class and Lower and the L Class maidens.
According to race organisers, the post-position draw for the summer stakes will be broadcast live on July 18 at 20:00. Importantly, all prizes will be paid in cash on race day at the Bush Lot
Jamaica is inching closer to regaining its place in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), with discussions around a new franchise reaching an advanced stage. While the upcoming 2025 season will proceed without a Jamaica-based team, it is becoming increasingly likely that the island will return to the CPL fold in 2026.
The push follows the departure of the Jamaica Tallawahs, who were forced to sell back their franchise to the CPL due to financial constraints, including a lack of sustainable support from the Jamaican government. The team has since been relocated and rebranded as the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons.
However, momentum is building for a fresh start. Reports from early on suggested that the new Jamaican franchise will be backed by an Indian Premier League (IPL) ownership group, bringing renewed investment and global expertise into the CPL. The move is seen as part of a broader strategy to strengthen the CPL’s commercial model by deepening its ties with one of the world’s most successful T20 leagues.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, confirmed to
SportsmaxTV that talks are progressing well.
“I’m in touch with CPL; I’m in touch also with our local stakeholders – the Tourist Board, the Ministry, and local private sector individuals or companies. We are in discussion. I can only say to you it’s looking good,” she said. “It’s a little early for me to say anything specifically, but the intention is to ensure that we can work it out so that we can be the host.”
In recent weeks, Sabina Park – long regarded as the spiritual home of cricket in Jamaica—has undergone key upgrades, including the installation of new stadium lights and a modern electronic scoreboard. These improvements not only enhance the venue’s appeal for CPL
matches but also signal serious intent by local authorities to position Jamaica as a viable host for international cricket once again.
The CPL has expressed strong interest in returning to Jamaica, given its passionate cricket fan base and the island’s historical significance to West Indies cricket. However, Government involvement remains critical, particularly with regard to ensuring longterm viability and infrastructural readiness.
Should all the pieces fall into place, Jamaica’s return to the CPL in 2026 could mark a major resurgence for cricket on the island, reigniting fan enthusiasm and creating fresh opportunities for players, sponsors, and the local economy alike. (Sportsmax)
Turf Club.
These races are being run under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Rules. Entries for this race were closed on July 17, 2025. The club has reserved the right to cancel or reframe any race.
Five horses to start before the third prize will be paid, and seven horses to start be-
fore the fourth prize will be paid. In an instance where four horses start, stakes will be reduced by 25%. If three horses start, stakes will be reduced by 40%.
All entries and queries are to be sent to Fazal Habibulla via +592 705 9585, Jinjo +592 618 7278 and Simon Prince WhatsApp +1
Project Cricket Gear…
St Cuthbert’s Mission’s cricket team is the latest to benefit from the “Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana” initiative, done jointly by Anil Beharry of Guyana and Kishan Das of the United States (US). Beharry, a project partner, was on a recent visit to the Amerindian community to participate in a friendly cricket match, and he was so impressed with the talent of the cricketers. More impressive, he observed, was the interest shown by the kids outside of the boundary area of the beautiful cricket ground, hence the ensuing contribution.
The donation of one box of cricket balls will be used to develop young cricketers; further, a promise was made to provide more support to the young cricketers in the community.
The project also recently received a cash donation of $100,000 from a generous family, who wished to withhold their names, to assist in the purchase of cricket gear for young, aspiring and talented players. The funds will be used only when requests are made for gear that is not available at the moment.
According to the organisers, “We take the opportunity to thank you for your kind gesture.”
“This project will continue to improve the lives of youths in every community. We are pleased to be part of the development of young cricketers in Guyana. Our aim is to keep them off the streets and get them actively involved in sports, cricket in particular.”
Total cricket-related items received/purchased so far: $730,000 in cash, 13 coloured cricket uniforms, one set of stumps, two trophies, 36 pairs of cricket shoes, 38 pairs of batting pads, 47 cricket bats, 42 pairs of batting gloves, 29 thigh pads, three pairs of wicketkeeping pads, six arm guards, two chest pads, two boxes, 14 gear bags, 13 bat
(305) 509-9721. Horses entered for the summer stakes were accepted via the entry form that was published.
Some of these horses running at the summer stakes will use this event as timely preparation for the Guyana Cup, which is set for August 17 at the Rising Sun Turf Club.
rubbers, seven helmets, one fibreglass bat, one pair of floppy hats, one pair of inners, 16 boxes and four white cricket balls, 13 boxes of red cricket balls, one bat cone and 28 footballs. In addition to the above, gear with a value of over $600,000 was donated by Sheikh Mohamed, former national wicketkeeper and batsman. All cash collected is being used to purchase cricket gear requested and not available at the time.
To date, ninety-nine players, male and female, from all three counties of Guyana have benefited directly from cash, eight gear bags, two trophies, four arm guards, 36 bats, four boxes, six helmets, 37 pairs of cricket shoes, 21 pairs of batting pads, 26 thigh pads, one bat grip, 40 pairs of batting gloves, one pair of wicketkeeping pads and four pairs of wicketkeeping gloves with one pair of inners. Many others benefited indirectly. In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area benefited from two used bats. Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenaam Cricket Committees and Cotton Tree Die Hard also received one box of red cricket balls each, and Cold Fusion Cricket Club received thirteen colour uniforms, while RHCCCC received six boxes of balls, fifteen white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicketkeeping gloves, and two sets of stumps and
bails. Other beneficiaries are The Essequibo Cricket Board, the Town of Lethem, youth coach Travis Persaud (one box of red cricket balls), male and female teams playing the traditional hardball and softball in the Upper Corentyne area, No.65 Young Titans with 30 T-Shirts, youths of Just Try Cricket Club, Wakenaam Cricket Academy (one box of white balls), Shamar Joseph, Nehemiah Hohenkirk, Shamar Apple, Leguan Cricket Committee, Tucber Park Cricket Club, Malteenoes Sports Club (nine cricket balls each), Kendall’s Union cricket club with 12 red balls, Lower Corentyne, Corentyne Comprehensive and JC Chandisingh Secondary Schools with 12 red balls each, Thaddeus Lovell with one pair of cricket shoes, GCC, two boxes of white cricket balls, Bush Lot United Sports Club, one box of red balls, West Demerara Cricket Association, one box of white balls, Blairmont Cricket Club with one pair of batting pads, one cricket bat, one helmet and cricket balls, Tagore Memorial Secondary School and St Cuthbert’s Mission with a box of balls.
Cricket-related items, used or new, are distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients.
Former franchise Jamaica Tallawahs have won 2 CPL trophies
Some of the horses running at the Summer Stake will use the event as Guyana Cup preparation
Project representative Ariel Tilku (left) and the day’s centurion Avanash Poonsammy display the new box of balls
United
Last weekend, July 12–13, 2025, at the Leonora National Track & Field Centre marked a landmark event for Archery Guyana.
Under brilliant skies and despite passing showers that added aesthetic drama, 40 dedicated archers competed fiercely across recurve, compound, and barebow divisions. The Championships doubled as both a national ranking event and a marquee audition for future high-performance squads and international representation.
Regional and local stars are set to feature in Georgetown/ East Coast Zone in Kares T10
It will be high-octane action this weekend in the Georgetown/East Coast Demerara Zone
The highly anticipated Georgetown/East Coast Demerara Zone is set for July 19 and 20 access venues, and a top field of players will be on show for the 32 registered teams.
The defending national champions, the Titans All-Stars, will be led by Leon Johnson, who has the services of Christopher Barnwell, Keemo Paul, Kemol Savoury, Quentin Sampson, and other high-profile national players.
Team Corruption has arguably made the biggest signings, signing Trinidadians Jesse Bootan, Djourn Charles, Joshua James, and Terrence Hinds. They look to improve on their semi-final finish in 2023.
But there are still title contenders: the formidable Village Rams, led by seasoned tape ball player and former national youth player Omesh Danram. They will have some of Guyana’s brightest young talents in support.
As one peruses the other teams, many of which are community-based, more national players, such as Rajendra Chandrika, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, and many talented junior players, surface.
Brooklyn Youth Strikers is another name to remember, given their 2024 exploits and Pure Entertainers.
The East Coast teams, such as Lusignan, Better Hope, Young Rivals, and
Dream 11, are worth monitoring.
But given the team’s talent, it is too close to call who will be the zone champion.
The 32 teams are:
Mighty Tarmac Legends, Vipers All-Stars, The Other Guys, Tropix Essentials, Up Tap XI, Team Eastsyde, Hill Foot Strikers, Team Corruption, Mystic Marvels, Pure Entertainers, Mavericks All-Stars, EastWest Matadors, Supernovas, Titans All-Stars, Kings, Beharry Champion XI, Better Hope All-Stars, Giftland Titans, No Limit, Team AVP, Lusignan Sports Club, Royal Raptors, Housing & Water One Guyana, Team Upsetterz, Village Rams, Powertech, Dream 11 All-Stars, Raps Blazers, Brooklyn Youth Strikers, Navins and Sons Construction XI, and Young Rivals Sports Club.
Seven venues will host matches on Saturday: Malteenoes Sports Club, Georgetown Cricket Club, Better Hope Community Centre, Lusignan Sports Club, Everest Cricket Club, YMCA, and the National Stadium, Providence.
Lusignan will host the finals on July 20, and admission is free to all venues.
Matches commence from 09:30h.
The zone champion will pocket $300,000 while the runners-up get $100,000. At the national final, the team will have the opportunity to compete for an additional $1.7 million at the
The national finals will offer even greater rewards, with the runner-up taking home $700,000, a trophy, and medals, while the losing semi-finalists will each receive $300,000.
Individual brilliance will also be recognised throughout the tournament, with prizes including MVP ($150,000 + motorcycle), Most Runs ($100,000 + trophy + TV), Most Wickets ($100,000 + trophy + TV), Man-of-theNational Final ($75,000 + trophy + TV), Highest Strike Rate ($35,000), and Best Economy ($35,000).
The Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast has garnered support from a wide range of sponsors, including Kares Engineering Inc, the Office of the President, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, KFC Guyana, Star Rentals, Banks DIH, ENet, Guyana Lottery Company, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Impressions, Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal, Shawn’s Mini Mart, Giftland Group of Companies, Kris Jagdeo Construction Company, Montra Restaurant & Lounge, Windsor Estates, The New Doctor’s Clinic, GuyOil, ANSA McAL, SuperBet Guyana, Digital Technology, Camille’s Academy, Navin Construction, Demerara Mutual Life Insurance, Continental Transportation, and Environmental & Technical Solutions.
A lot of firsts were achieved for the Federation; for example, for the first time, the Federation hosted the 70 m Olympic-standard shooting distances and a team competition. Together, the high-level officials, archery judges, international targets and IANSEO scoring brought an international atmosphere. Day One featured qualification rounds, followed by the Elimination and Medal Finals on Day Two.
judges, and introduced the officials as the Director of Shooting, Mr Umasankar Madray, and Chairman of Judges, Ryan McKinnon.
Over the weekend, the athletes proved their mettle in brief showers, showcasing discipline akin to global standards. There was diverse participation: across men’s, women’s, and mixed divisions, veteran amateurs, developing talents, and beginners delivered performances that reflected Guyana’s growing depth in archery. The Nationals attracted independent archers from across Guyana and representatives from various clubs, including QC Archers, The Archery Guild, Pro Archers, Bow Nation and Golden League Archery.
For the Opening Day remarks, President of the Federation, Mrs Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, set the tone, emphasising discipline, sportsmanship, and national pride. She reminded athletes, “Each arrow you shoot is a testament to your dedication… this is the proving ground for excellence.” She also acknowledged sponsors, field crew,
According to Archery Guyana, the Championships were officiated with the highest standards, featuring Chairman: National Judge Ryan McKinnon, Judges: Continental & National Judge Gamal Mohamed, Judge Robert Singh, and President Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, and the Scoring Team comprising IANSEO officials Idrees Shakeem and Anoopa Ramdial, who ensured seam-
CWI Rising Stars…
Guyana U19 women’s struggles continue
The home team, Trinidad and Tobago, defeated Guyana’s Under-19 women as the defending champions suffered another defeat in the ongoing Cricket West Indies (CWI) Rising Stars Women’s Under-19 Championship at the National Cricket Centre. Guyana Under-19s Women won the toss, elected to bat first, and produced an underwhelming performance with bat in hand. Tiea Isaacs contributed 12 from 34 balls, while Latoya Williams top scored with 16 from 54 deliveries. Those were the only two batters
to reach double figures as Guyana were bowled out for 70 in 26.4 overs. Brianna Harricharan’s figures of 5 for 20 in her 6 overs were the catalyst for the Guyana batters’ downfall.
The bowlers for Guyana didn’t give up easily, though, as they made the game competitive. Danellie Manns was impressive in her spell of 4 for 18. Rebekah Cleto also supported her, as she had figures of 2 for 17. Kristina Naipaul, 15, top-scored for her team as Trinidad finished the game after 22 overs with a score of 71 for 8.
less, transparent scoring in real time.
The sport association also wished to extend special thanks to Guyana Beverages Inc. – Oasis Water (official hydration partner), Dr Shannon DaSilva of Da Silva’s Optical, Mrs. Alana King of Toucan Distributors, El Dorado Security Services, Mr. Halim Khan, Medina Halaal Restaurant, Director of Sport Mr. Steve Ninvalle, the National Sports Commission (NSC), and Hon. Minister Charles Ramson Jr and by extension the Sport Ministry.
President PersaudMcKinnon closed the event with heartfelt thanks, noting, “From the first qualifying arrow to the final medal shot, your dedication has inspired us. Let us carry this momentum forward to upcoming regional and international competitions.
Brianna Harricharan had figures of 5 for 20
Danellie Manns had figures of 4 for 18
Podium snippets from the National Outdoor Archery Championships
A look at the National Outdoor Archery Championships winners
For the third time in both teams’ history, the Guyana Amazon Warriors and Bangladesh’s Rangpur Riders will meet again tonight, but this time, the stakes will be higher; the glistening, waterfall-replica trophy of the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) T20 will be on the line.
The anticipated clash will bowl off at 19:00 hrs at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD), with the hosts hoping to finally get the better of the Bangladeshi opponents.
Their first meeting came during the tourna-
ment’s inaugural edition in 2024, where the Rangpur Riders denied the Amazon Warriors a chance to make it to the final, pulling off a tense victory in a low-scoring thriller.
Months later, in 2025’s second edition of the tournament, it was almost déjà vu for the Guyanese team, who could almost identify the parallels compared to their first meeting with the Riders. Again, the Warriors found themselves chasing the Riders’ total but fell short, being bowled out on the first ball of the 20th over.
Mind-blowing as it may seem, the Amazon Warriors
first defence in the GSL final tonight might just be to avoid chasing.
More impor tantly though, the Guyanese franchise, after their opening loss on Thursday last, rebounded splendid ly in the tournament, romping to a hat trick of victories against opposi tions from New Zealand, Dubai and Australia.
In each outing, the Amazon Warriors’ bowling has been sub lime, with bright sparks here and there from individual batsmen,
but the hosts will need to tie it all together to keep the championship at
According to batsman Shimron Hetmyer, though they have won a few games, all their boxes are not yet ticked.
“I don’t think we have completely [ticked all the boxes] yet. I think a good start for us is still something that we’re waiting for. So, with the one game remaining, that’s something we could work on for the final, basical-
Wly. It’s a short tournament as well, so it’s just for us to continue to do the right things, which is bat with a clear mind and then when we’re in the field, scrap for every run,” Hetmyer, who slammed five sixes in an over on Wednesday night, shared.
The Rangpur Riders have had an equally stellar run in the tournament thus far, winning their first three on the trot, all in tense situations. However, their last preliminary game on Thursday morning saw the defending champions being bowled out for 79 runs in a ghastly batting collapse. One can only wait
and see whether their temporary drop in performance will go on to haunt future outings.
For now, the Guyana Amazon Warriors are a confident bunch, as told by star spinner Gudakesh Motie.
Motie related, “We are very confident. We won three games in a row, and we know the talent that we have in the dressing room, that anyone can step up on the day. So, we’re really confident going forward.”
The final will bowl off at 19:00 hrs with a star-studded half-time show awaiting patrons at the National Stadium.
eather conditions affected the final game of the preliminary round of the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) T20 as the defending champions, the Rangpur Riders, were up against the Central Stags. Rangpur Riders won the toss and chose to bat in a match that was initially cut to 17 overs for each side due to the rain. With two runs and a wicket from his opening over, Angus Schaw gave the Stags a strong start. Matthew
Forde caught Soumya Sarkar on the long-on boundary and dismissed him for a golden duck. Riders’ poor start persisted as Jayden Lennox’s bowling claimed another wicket as Zadran fell for just five runs during the power play.
After 4.4 overs the Rangpur Riders were 19 for 2, and rain once again intervened. At the resumption, Saif Hassan and Mahidul Islam Ankon walked to the crease as the game was further reduced to 14 overs per side.
Hassan and Ankon produced a 41-run 3rd-wicket partnership to carry the score up to 56 for 3 after 8.5 overs. Blair Tickner got the breakthrough as
he knocked over Ankon for 25. At a strike rate of 125, Ankon added some valuable runs on the board for Riders. Saif followed shortly after 25, caught at short fine leg by Toby Findlay.
At 65 for 4 with 4 overs remaining, the Rangpur Riders wanted to inject momentum into their innings but suffered an almighty collapse as they only man-
aged to accumulate 14 runs and lost all their remaining wickets as they were bowled for 79 in 13.5 overs.
Blair Tickner, Jayden Lennox, and Angus Schaw all picked up 3 wickets for the Central Stags. Unfortunately, the rain continued to pour down on the National Stadium, making it impossible to continue the game.
The Guyana Amazon Warriors are confident of lifting the ExxonMobil Guyana GSL T20 trophy tonight
The ExxonMobil Guyana GSL Trophy will be on the line tonight
Central Stags bowled out Rangpur Riders for 79
Rangpur Riders had a batting collapse
Rain forces a no-result
ExxonMobil Guyana GSL…
As the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) cricket tournament kicked off last week, Guyana also witnessed the launch of One Guyana AI – a free, smart, digital AI assistant that seamlessly blends the excitement of live cricket with trusted, locally-relevant information for everyone in Guyana.
A world first: AI meets sport in Guyana
For the first time anywhere, an AI platform has been launched in tandem with a major sporting event, enabling fans to access live GSL scores, player stats, team news, and unique AI-powered insights—alongside relevant answers on tourism, business, health, education, and more.
What sets One Guyana AI apart
Unlike ordinary chatbots or static information portals, One Guyana AI comes with a range of ready-made questions on each topic, it’s simple for anyone to find what they need. Whether you’re a seasoned technology user or just starting out, the platform’s intuitive tiles and built-in guidance make it simple for anyone to get started – no technical expertise required.
Available in English, Guyanese Creole, and other popular languages, One Guyana AI is a truly accessible and advanced tool. The “AI Boost” feature allows users to unlock even deeper research, analysis, and expert-level answers
for those who wish to go further.
Trusted, locallyrelevant answers
Developed by global AI innovators The GreenZone.ai with local support, One Guyana AI is trained on verifiable Government websites and credible local sources, ensuring every answer is both accurate and relevant as possible to the needs of Guyanese users.
Empowering digital literacy, free for all
Anyone can use One Guyana AI for free today by visiting www.1gy. ai on any device, with a fullyoptimised mobile experience. Mobile apps for Google Play and the App Store will be available later this month. With a focus on improving digital literacy and making reliable information accessible for all, the platform helps users gain confidence in using advanced AI.
A smarter way forward – with human judgement at the core
By blending cricket data with local knowledge, One Guyana AI delivers real-time, personalised answers and strategic insights that go beyond what you’ll find on traditional sports sites or search engines. However, as with any AI platform, it remains important for users to review and confirm details when using the tool.
One Guyana AI signals the next chapter in digital access – an innovative, evolving tool created to empower Guyanese communities while fostering critical thinking and information verification.
As Guyana welcomes both world-class cricket and rapid digital transformation, One Guyana AI stands ready to be a trusted resource for fans and citizens alike.
For more information or to explore the platform, visit www.1gy.ai.
