Pres Ali signs proclamations officially dissolving 12th Parliament, RDCs
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, July 4 – 00:05h - 01:35h and Saturday, July 5 – 00:55h02:25h
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, July 4 – 10:50h - 12:20h and Saturday, July 5 – 12:05h13:35h
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY
Thundery showers and late-afternoon sunshine are expected during the day, and thundery showers are expected at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.
Winds: North-Easterly to East South-Easterly between 0.89 metre and 3.12 metres.
High Tide: 11:21h and 23:45h reaching maximum heights of 2.18 metres and 2.23 metres.
Low Tide: 17:14h reaching a minimum height of 1.04 metres.
Pres Ali signs proclamations officially dissolving 12th Parliament, RDCs
…says “free and fair elections are the lifeblood of our democracy”
In a move that signals the official start of Guyana’s 2025 Regional and General Election season, President Irfaan Ali on Thursday afternoon signed two proclamations to dissolve the 12th Parliament and Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) across all 10 administrative regions, in keeping with constitutional provisions.
The proclamations also formally designate September 1, 2025 as Election Day — when Guyanese citizens will head to the polls to elect a new government and regional representatives.
“Free and fair elections are the lifeblood of a democratic state. The upcoming elections represent our country’s commitment to renewing the democratic covenant between its citizens and Government. Elections provide the opportunity for citizens to exercise their democratic right to elect their President and Representatives of the National Assembly. I urge all eligible Guyanese to participate in the upcoming elections, and in so doing, be part of this critical decision-making process of the state,” the Guyanese leader said via live broadcast.
In accordance with Article 72 of the Constitution, Proclamation No 1 of 2025 officially dissolves the 12th Parliament. Meanwhile, under Article 73-2, the RDCs have also been dissolved, clearing the way for regional contests across Guyana.
The President reaffirmed his full confidence in the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to conduct transparent and credible elections and called on the public to lend their support to the Commission’s work in the coming months.
“The task of administering the forthcoming elections rests with the Guyana Elections Commission, and I remain confident in its ability to hold free, fair and credible elections. I urge all Guyanese to support the work of GECOM,” he said.
Countdown 2025
With the signing of these proclamations, the political spotlight now shifts to the campaign trail as parties begin to roll out manifestos and mobilise support.
The 2025 elections are expected to be some of the most closely watched in Guyana’s recent history, occurring against a backdrop of economic transformation, growing global interest in the country’s energy sector, and increasing calls for inclusive governance.
The governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic
the upcoming 2025 General and Regional Elections.
According to PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo, vetting is ongoing for candidates to be included in the backers’ list, which will be in compliance with GECOM’s prescribed form, which has a declaration at the top to indicate that persons are knowingly and willingly signing to support a particular political party.
Jagdeo called on the Elections Commission to ensure that all political parties utilise these designated forms to enlist nominators/ backers for the upcoming elections.
He had last week alleged that “some people are pay-
ing to get backers, and some are being misled, and they [are] not showing people the form”.
“I hope GECOM will rigidly enforce that the appropriate form is used, because in the past…they will go with a blank sheet and get people to sign off, and then they will add a covering letter, and many of those people never even knew they were supporting a list of candidates for a particular party; they may not even support that party,” the PPP General Secretary added.
On July 14, Nominations Day, parties will be required to submit their approved symbols and their Lists of Candidates: one National Top-Up List, at least six Geographical Constituencies’ Lists, and
the Regional Democratic Councils’ Lists.
The National Top-Up list, which identifies the presidential candidate, must have at least 42 candidates and between 300 and 330 nominators countrywide. Each geographical constituency list must have between 150 and 175 nominators from each geographical constituency.
Party symbols
On Tuesday, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) officially approved some 19 political party symbols for the upcoming 2025 Regional and General Elections.
3 additional symbols were approved on the condition that minor changes would be made.
Guyana Times understands that GECOM will be engaging directly with those parties to address the necessary adjustments. In a statement, the electoral body clarified that the “final approval of the remaining three (3) symbols would be subject to minor modifications, the nature of which is in the process of being communicated to them. Importantly, GECOM takes this opportunity to clarify that although twenty-four (24) symbols were initially submitted to the Commission, two of those political parties have since joined the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), resulting in the symbols being included within the Partnership”.
(PPP/C) is gearing up to formally launch its campaign this month for
President Irfaan Ali signing the proclamations on Thursday
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Guyana’s environmental model, nature & value equation
As global leaders and environmental advocates continue to search for sustainable solutions to the climate crisis, the example set by Guyana stands out as a practical and effective model of green development. It is a model rooted in balance, pursuing economic advancement while prioritising environmental preservation. This equilibrium is no longer aspirational rhetoric but a working reality that is receiving growing international recognition, including from prominent voices such as former Colombian President Iván Duque.
Duque’s recent remarks underscore the value of Guyana’s strategic environmental approach. He aptly described investments in the country as “greener dollars”, not merely in symbolic terms, but based on measurable outcomes. With over 95 per cent of its tropical forests intact, Guyana continues to serve as one of the world’s most important carbon sinks. This makes every dollar invested in the country contribute to both economic returns and also to global climate resilience.
What distinguishes Guyana’s efforts is not only the outcome, but also the foresight and planning that made them possible. Long before oil began flowing in 2019, Guyana had already taken steps to preserve its natural wealth through the pioneering Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). Initiated in 2009 by the then President Bharrat Jagdeo and later updated into LCDS 2030, this framework has guided the nation’s efforts to channel forest conservation into sustainable economic development. This commitment was not reactionary or externally driven. It was a deliberate national choice to value biodiversity and climate responsibility on par with economic ambition.
Such a commitment is rare in an era when environmental pledges often fall short under the pressure of short-term economic gain. In contrast, Guyana has turned its ecological integrity into an asset, not a burden. The potential value of its carbon-sinking capacity has even been likened to the country’s oil reserves, a striking comparison that speaks volumes about the environmental capital Guyana possesses. As Duque noted, this “extraordinary comparative advantage” provides a unique platform from which Guyana can lead in reimagining global climate finance.
The concept of a Gross Biodiversity Product (GBP), referenced by Duque, invites a much-needed shift in how the global economy values natural ecosystems. By recognising the tangible benefits of low deforestation and healthy biodiversity, countries like Guyana can claim a rightful place at the centre of international environmental and financial negotiations. Already, the implementation of carbon credit mechanisms under LCDS 2030 demonstrates that biodiversity can be monetised ethically, sustainably, and transparently. Expanding this framework to include biodiversity bonds or other financial instruments could further unlock global funding for conservation.
President Irfaan Ali’s leadership on this front has not gone unnoticed. His administration has pursued environmental goals with consistency, even as energy sector revenues rapidly expand. This demonstrates that development and environmental stewardship need not be at odds. Instead, they can and must go hand in hand. The president’s firm stance on sustainability, especially in the context of growing international apathy towards environmental obligations, sets a moral and strategic standard worthy of global emulation.
Against this backdrop, the upcoming Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit, scheduled for July 23-25, 2025, in Guyana, is well-timed. It presents an opportunity to showcase the country’s success and to catalyse broader international momentum for biodiversity financing. The Summit has the potential to mark a turning point in how the world approaches conservation –moving from promises to practical tools that reward countries for safeguarding the natural world.
For small and developing nations navigating the complexities of economic growth and environmental protection, Guyana offers a model worth studying. It proves that national development need not come at the expense of ecological integrity. In fact, the preservation of biodiversity and ecosystems can be a foundation for inclusive growth, not a barrier to it.
As the global community prepares to gather on Guyanese soil for the Biodiversity Alliance Summit, the message that nature must be part of the value equation is apt.
Guyanese and the PPP/C welcome the Carter Center and all observers
Dear Editor, Julius Caesar waxed Shakespeare’s lyrics that “Experience is the teacher of all things.” The grandmother of all elections in Guyana is expected to highlight on the 1st of September this year a free, fair and transparent electoral process. This ‘will of the people’ will reflect the choice of the majority of Guyanese to choose a president and government to govern this country for another five years.
Managed by a reorganised GECOM, the administration, system, staff, security and infrastructure have been filtered, cleansed and upgraded to exclude a number of nuances, vices, encumbrances and impediments which may constrain the smooth flow of operation and hamper the efficiency and effectiveness of GECOM’s legal and legitimate responsibilities.
At the last General and Regional Elections held on the 2nd of March 2020, after the PNC’s Herculean task to stall the holding of a statutory election, GECOM’s fragility was stretched to the limit, and the Chairman’s endurance was strained to a bursting point.
But, with the vigilance, help and perseverance of a supportive international community, backed with efforts of a spirited PPP/C party and a host of observers, an APNU/ AFC vile plan to thwart the PPP/C from being declared the rightful winner was spiritedly avoided at the last moment when the US imposed sanctions on all those APNU/ AFC affiliates who were undermining democracy in Guyana.
After a marginal but questionably one-seat victory in 2015, the APNU/AFC ruled the roost as if the only thing they had to fear was fear itself, and that element which did not stop them made them stronger. It may be because of a graded exposure to the
PNC’s weaknesses, corruption and hindsight that the PPP/C carefully planned with vision, tactics and wisdom to focus on a political strategy to capitalise on the PNC’s repeated mistakes, which could not prolong their sustenance in power.
The greedy, short-sighted and devious PNC since 1964 was always too occupied in keeping the spoils for their friends, families and associates and only sharing pittance; too busy breaking the economy by “killing the goose that lays the golden egg” instead of building a future which will develop the nation as a growth engine; and, among other negativities, preaching, practising and promulgating dictatorship with their propaganda machinery programmed with hate, violence and racism.
Guyanese and Guyana were distraught, destroyed and devastated for thirty-three agonising years under the rule of the corrupted PNC administration. For 28 straight humiliating years lasting from 1964 to 1992, it was the PNC who deployed a rancorous system of rigorous, repetitive and repulsive election rigging to defeat the PPP at every election held and prevent them from winning, despite the majority of Guyanese voting for the PPP.
During those embarrassing 28 years of unpleasant decadence, Guyanese need to be reminded that it was the very People’s National Congress party which denied the prestigious Carter Centre to come to Guyana and observe any of the elections, add credibility to the process, justify the legitimacy of the result and report to the world their conclusive opinion, void of any discrimination.
But with everything to hide and nothing to show that the PNC won any of those elections fairly and square-
ly, the continued bullying of Burnham and Hoyte prevailed, with unquestionable security guaranteed from the biased armed forces which served the interests of the PNC and obeyed their command. A dangerous PNC could not risk having any observer witness their controlled mechanism, which protected the PNC from losing power and prevented the PPP from winning to administrate the country.
The PNC had to shut out the presence of a Carter Centre so that their ignoble and iniquitous degeneracy would remain covered and they could rule fraudulently. The high-handed and clenched-fist policed autonomy prevailed until 1992, when the Hoyte administration had to succumb to the pressure of past US President Jimmy Carter, who came to Guyana himself to observe the election. All the good things and tidings which went the PNC way came to an end when the PPP convincingly won that election. Dr Cheddi Jagan regained power, and the PPP was restored in office.
The PPP has always welcomed the Carter Centre with open arms as an observer, and this year is no different. Likewise, members from the ABCEU, CARICOM, OAS, other overseas agencies and local stakeholders have all been invited by the fearless PPP/C as observers to this year’s election. It is only the PNC who are indifferent, and they will fearfully suffer knowing that their arms, agencies and associates will be prevented from deploying any acumen or action which may activate any discrepancies to forge, fabricate or formulate any fictitious formula to favour a PNC win.
Maya Angelou asserted that “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” Linden Forbes
was not a devil in disguise but evil disguised in the fallacy of wits and charms to manipulate people and things like a puppet on a string. He fooled his followers with false dreams, fermented favours and fragmented promises. The Kabaka had a dream: to be a master and a king. But it ended in a nightmare as a patient craving a ravenous wish on a bed in the hospital! Samson Burnham brainwashed his advocates, surrogates and associates to consummate his wicked malevolence and his heinous nefariousness. He indoctrinated his viciousness as a mantra which trapped members to live, breathe and feed in this PNC doctrine. Jessica Burnham stayed quiet for a while because Forbes was her brother.
But Burnham’s policies became a burden, and the PNC/AFC parties lost their sense of duty and direction. Like Jessie, other members evidently spoke up and out, revolted, couldn’t fetch this heavy weight, saw the saddened winding road had no return, and they “cut and ran”. They probably pondered on Oscar Wilde’s analogy, “Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.” Some changed their clothes while others exchanged their uniforms.
Exposed Guyanese and the experienced PPP/C are thankful for the honourable Carter Centre and all invited observers to grace us with their presence again. Did the PNC/AFC and the remaining 20 prospective parties learn their Mathematics 101 lesson that “practice does not make perfect? Only perfect practice makes perfect?” Good luck to the 21 ambitious budding prospects as they attempt to fulfil a dream.
Yours sincerely, Jai Lall
Scenes from the drill square: Rehearsals are in full swing at Eve Leary, Georgetown, as ranks gear up for the Guyana Police Force’s Anniversary Route March, set for Saturday (GPF photo)
Ubraj Narine is the one who is deflecting and misleading
Dear Editor,
The GAWU’s attention has been drawn to a letter signed by former Mayor of Georgetown Pandit Ubraj Narine, which appeared in the July 03, 2025, Stabroek News and a few social media pages.
In his letter, Pandit Narine held himself out to be a purveyor of truth. Such characterisations come as the former mayor, on the Freddie Kissoon show of June 30, 2025, flat out disavowed any knowledge that his party – the PNC/R – was involved in rigging the 2020 national and regional elections. Tsk tsk, Pandit Ji.
The Pandit’s newfound
embrace of sugar workers is interesting. We do not recall him adding his voice when the sugar estates were closed, thousands of Guyanese lost their livelihoods, and tens of thousands more were pushed into despair. Instead, the self-righteous religious leader remained mute, as far as we recall. The former mayor speaks of deflection and revisionism. Such labels are more appropriately applied to him. Had Pandit Narine been careful, he would have known that very early on, it was said that Wales Estate would not be reopened. On September 02, 2020, the
Newsroom reported that then newly elected President Irfaan Ali said Wales was pulled to pieces and could not be salvaged. Of course, we do not need a CoI, a regular outlet of former President David Granger, to tell us who pulled the estate into pieces. On March 03, 2018, Kaieteur News reported on the expressions to sell Wales’ assets, seemingly under the guise of scrap metal. Former workers of that estate informed GAWU that many critical operational components were sold off as ‘scrap metal’ to apparently chosen bidders. Again, deflection is in full force regarding the re-
opening of Skeldon. The Guyana Times reported on February 23, 2025, that Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha said cane cultivation will be resumed at Skeldon this year. According to the newspaper report, the minister said it was anticipated that 1,500 hectares would be cultivated by the end of this year. Who is engaged in propaganda now, Pandit?
The former mayor discusses GuySuCo’s indebtedness to the NIS and the pension scheme. We are not au fait with the quoted numbers and would refrain from commenting. Nonetheless, we can say, without hesita-
tion, that the Union has ensured that sugar workers, like all union members, benefit from all their conditions of work. As far as we know, workers have been accessing their NIS benefits and GuySuCo pensions when they become due. Regarding NIS specifically, we know of concerns surrounding workers’ NIS contribution records. As current and former workers approach the union, we continue to represent such issues to the NIS and the GuySuCo, as the case may be.
The GAWU finds it disappointing that a religious leader, a position of great reverence and respect, has
chosen to knowingly, from all appearances, mislead and deceive. We see former Mayor Narine’s attack on the Union as a propagandistic ploy intended to dupe Guyanese. Our union remains proud of its record in defence of all union members and the working class generally, and we will not be distracted by those who, from all appearances, have too much time on their hands as they attempt to boost their waning political credentials.
Yours sincerely, Seepaul Narine President GAWU
An unsurprising and insipid alliance
Dear Editor,
The least surprising alliance in Guyanese political history took place when we had Azruddin Mohamed’s comically titled We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) team up with Dr Mark Defrance’s A New and United Guyana (ANUG) last weekend. Instead of a press event, even a limited one like that of Amanza Walton on the launch of her own coalition, the signing ceremony was held secretly during the day on Saturday, a press release on it having taken place was sent out in the pre-dawn hours of the morning, and the next day the two signatories were out of press range in an outreach in the interior.
The ANUG-WIN coalition has since then come up with all the obfuscations, deflections and gaslighting that anybody observing the two men for the past months could have expected. Before they even started, you had the clip art logo from Mohamed that was a jaguar, then a leopard, and then a jaguar when he was caught saying it was a jaguar, and then finally a letter of apology to the same GECOM he had threatened legal action against, admitting that he had inadvertently called it a jaguar but it was really a leopard.
In teaming up with Dr Defrance, Mohamed seems to have found his smarter, more slippery, but still as obvious partner in duplicity. After months of representing no policy positions for ANUG, of engaging in no political outreaches, of not so much as updating the party’s Facebook page despite him writing libraries worth of Facebook posts and comments in support of Azruddin, the ANUG Chair finally signed off on a ‘secret’ deal to enter a coalition.
Even with this coalition agreement, both men are insisting on calling a jaguar
a leopard, referring to their coalition as a “collaboration” – as if Guyanese are stupid. Under the law, once two parties come together with a shared list and still retain their individual party structure, that is a coalition. The reason why they don’t want to call it what it is, is twofold.
First, Azruddin is a man that likes sticking to his story, no matter what evidence you bring up to contradict it. Therefore, since he was caught clearly stating that he was not coalescing with any party because he could win the elections on his own, for him to now coalesce with ANUG would be to contradict himself and expose what is well known – he is struggling to get candidates on his own and had to settle with the only small party desperate and unscrupulous enough to risk sanctions by teaming up with him.
As for the craftier Defrance, he knows that saying openly that he had entered ANUG into a coalition with the OFACsanctioned Azruddin would not only expose him to sanctions himself – and likely already has. Calling a coalition a collaboration will not fool the American authorities.
To enter into a coalition with Azruddin also contradicts Defrance’s own supposedly ethical postures. Just a few weeks ago, as Chair of ANUG, Defrance charged GECOM with adhering to standards of transparency, integrity and accountability.
In keeping with that spirit, Defrance has to explain to the public that if it is true that ANUG was starved of resources up to last week, as evidenced by the fact that he and his executive have had no public outreaches for the entire year, how did he and several of his executives suddenly get the resources to go on a political outreach to the interior?
The Representation of the People’s Act obligates the single list, not the constituent partners of a coalition, to report its expenses – How is Defrance accounting for ANUG’s financial involvement on that single list with Mohamed, particularly with regard to verification of the sources of list funds?
He also has to, in the spirit of transparency, directly address how many members of ANUG, already a skeleton crew party, have sent in their resignations in the wake of his coalition with WIN. Who exactly are the ANUG members, other than himself, who would be signing on to the coalition with Mohamed as presidential candidate?
As for Mohamed, every single time he opens his mouth to speak to the media directly, he further indicts himself and his integrity. When he was last at court on the tax evasion charges, he claimed without any evidence to support it that he had a poll conducted of 80,000 respondents, about one-tenth of the entire population of Guyana and about one-seventh of the electorate, and that 65 per cent of those people said they would vote for him. If that were true, that would be the largest election poll in the history of global politics.
Defrance, in contrast, has predicted that the PPP, being the best party at this time to run the country, would win the elections but that his intention was to provide them with a minority executive. How are the two reconciling these vastly different predictions?
Then there is the issue of policy and integrity. Early on the morning of the day of the release of the NGSA results, last week, you had Mohamed with his teleprompter stating clearly that education was in a crisis and spiral. Nothing could be further from the
truth, yet the video in which Mohamed spoke with his full chest about a non-existent crisis and downward spiral in primary education is still on his page with over 238,000 views.
Dr Defrance, the clearly more educated of the two, instead praised the historical achievement and congratulated Priya Manickchand on her consistent high performance in the education sector. When confronted not just about the contradiction in their perspectives on the education system but about the clear dishonesty in his coalition partners’ statement, Defrance predictably runs away.
The secret coalition signing ceremony, the four-day morning press release, and then the running off into the interior are not a bug of the ANUG-WIN coalition; they are a feature. For Defrance, hyperactive on social media, whenever he faces a tough question on one forum, he immediately runs to another. When he is caught up there, he runs to another forum.
Azruddin is even more evasive. His social media engagement is the most ironically contradictory. Both Team Mohamed’s and We Invest in Nationhood are plural in title but focus exclusively on one man. That man, however, does not have his own social media identity and never engages directly. On the two occasions that he engaged with the media, ten minutes did not pass before he got flustered and had to be shielded by some protector. In the first instance, when he was giving his 65 per cent support comment, when questions about the sanctions and the tax evasion charges became too hard, he was whisked away by his lawyer. When Trinidadian journalist Ian Alleyne (who he notably invited to an interview while running from the local media
the day after the coalition signing) pressed him about the same thing, Alleyne was aggressively confronted by Mohamed’s supporters as he himself was whisked away by his ‘campaign manager’ Odessa Primus.
Both men continue to prove themselves the cowardly, mediocre and entirely inconsistent pity-po’-boys of Guyanese politics, two insipid peas in a pod of self-delusion, all ego and bluster on social media but deathly afraid of the press for even basic scrutiny.
I am calling on Azruddin
Mohamed and Mark Defrance to man up and have the courage to hold a press conference where they open themselves up to direct questions from the media.
The time for running and hiding behind skirt tails every time the questions get too uncomfortable is over.
I told a drinking buddy of mine that I was going to issue this challenge to the dodgy duo, and his response was, “They gun mek it, man.” Let’s see.
Yours sincerely, Don Singh
Adding decimals
Adding decimals is just like adding whole numbers, except you must be careful to line up the decimals correctly. Once you do that, you can add as if the decimal is not there.
Example:
Add 82.72 + 9.34
Step 1: Line up the numbers. Make sure that the decimal points line up in a single column.
Step 2: Place a decimal point in the answer line under the other decimal points:
Step 3: Add:
What if a number has no decimal point? For example: Add 6 + 23.56
Just put a decimal point at the end of the whole number and add placeholder zeros after:
1) 12.20 + 7.58
2) 10 + 33.60
Exercises: Add
894.08 + 2.36
1 + 31.05
54.31 + 23.48
7.12 + 92.88
Each part of a tree has a purpose. The roots anchor the tree and gather nutrients and water. The trunk supports the weight of the boughs and brings water to branches, twigs, and leaves. The leaves use sunlight to help make food for the tree.
Ask yourself what makes a tree a tree? What characteristics do trees share? How would you describe a tree? Make a list of what all trees have in common – trunk, roots, branches, leaves.
Roots and root hairs: tree root systems absorb water and other nutrients from the soil, store food for the tree, and anchor the tree in the ground. The types of roots a tree has and how they grow depend on the species of tree and what else is in the ground.
Root collar: where the belowground roots meet the aboveground trunk. This part of the tree is important for the stability of the tree.
Trunk: provides support and carries water and nutrients to the leaves and branches and brings food down from the leaves to the roots.
Bark: covers the trunk (and branches) and protects the tree from weather, disease, and injury. Beneath the outer bark, inner layers include the vascular cambium which makes new phloem and xylem cells every year. Phloem moves food in any direction up or down – from leaves up to a fruit or from a leaf down to the roots. Sapwood is functioning xylem that moves water, while heartwood is xylem that is no longer moving water.
Branches and twigs: branches, which are connected to the trunk, enable the tree to spread out its leaves to get as much sunlight as possible. Twigs, which grow from branches, provide support for leaves, leaf buds, and flower buds. (Adapted from startwithabook.org)
By Phillis Wheatley
O thou bright jewel in my aim I strive To comprehend thee. Thine own words declare Wisdom is higher than a fool can reach. I cease to wonder, and no more attempt Thine height t’explore, or fathom thy profound. But, O my soul, sink not into despair, Virtue is near thee, and with gentle hand Would now embrace thee, hovers o’er thine head.
Fain would the heaven-born soul with her converse, Then seek, then court her for her promised bliss. Auspicious queen, thine heavenly pinions spread, And lead celestial Chastity along; Lo! now her sacred retinue descends, Arrayed in glory from the orbs above. Attend me, Virtue, thro’ my youthful years! O leave me not to the false joys of time! But guide my steps to endless life and bliss. Greatness, or Goodness, say what I shall call thee, To give an higher appellation still, Teach me a better strain, a nobler lay, O Thou, enthroned with Cherubs in the realms of day!
Source: Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral (1773)
Draw the poem by hand
Bonus points: Try to recreate your drawing using a computer-based tool or app of your choice
Think of some of the song lyrics you have misheard throughout the years. Pick your favorite, and use these misheard lyrics as the title of a new creative writing piece. Write a story, scene, or poem based on this title.
WORD SEARCH:
Mark Phillips to return as PPP/C prime ministerial candidate
Prime Minister
Brigadier (retired)
Mark Phillips will return as the prime ministerial candidate of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) for the upcoming September 1 General and Regional Elections, running alongside President Irfaan Ali.
This was confirmed by the party’s General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo during a press conference on Thursday.
“We’re very proud [of Mark Phillips], and he shall be our prime ministerial candidate,” Jagdeo affirmed.
In fact, Jagdeo rejected a false report by the online entity – Credible Sources – operated by Opposition Member Sherod Duncan, which reported that the PPP is looking to replace PM Phillips at the upcoming polls.
According to the PPP General Secretary, this fiction being peddled by Duncan demonstrates the panic and fear within the opposition camp, which they are now trying to project onto the PPP.
“The Opposition is in crisis… [Duncan] is really in full panic mode. The psychosis is visible in his behaviour,” Jagdeo said, cau-
tioning that closer to the elections, the opposition will continue to spread baseless rumours.
“Credible Sources is the least credible source in the country,” he declared. In fact, he cautioned supporters to be wary of the rumour mill, especially during this election season.
Nevertheless, the PPP General Secretary pointed out that the party is proud to have someone of the calibre of Brigadier (Ret’d) Phillips to serve in the Prime Minister’s office.
“Mark Phillips has been a great prime minister for this country. Mark Phillips has decency, credibility and [experience from] heading the army and commanding people. He walks around this country upright, and we are proud of him,” Jagdeo contended.
During a previous press conference, Jagdeo had pointed out how Phillips is significantly more qualified than his competitors and has oversight of some critical sectors such as ICT, which has been flourishing under his leadership.
On the other hand, Jagdeo had noted that the Peoples National Congress (PNC)-led Partnership
for National Unity (APNU) Prime Ministerial Candidate, Juretha Fernandes, was a mere confidential secretary to the former Prime Minister up to
2020.
In fact, the PPP General Secretary had contended that all the leaders within the PPP are more qualified and experienced to run
the country when compared with the opposition members.
“None of the candidates vying on the other side has the experience of an Irfaan Ali or a Mark Phillips – none of them. And it would take them a very long time to get the experience of these two gentlemen,” he posted.
The PPP General Secretary went on to state that the opposition parties – not just the APNU and Alliance For Change (AFC) but also smaller parties like A New and Unity Guyana (ANUG) – are all in crisis with their credible membership diminishing.
In recent months, there has been a mass exodus from the opposition parties which has seen members from the AFC switching over to the APNU and vice versa, as well as persons from both of those parties breaking ranks to join the ruling PPP.
Several of the senior high-ranking officials who have left APNU have cited racism, lack of vision and side-lining by the party’s leadership among the reasons. Similar sentiments come from former AFC members as well.
According to Jagdeo, unlike those parties, the PPP
– the most diverse political party in the country – has welcomed a lot of those former opposition members, especially those who share the same goals as the party and are interested in working for the betterment of the country and its people.
Moreover, Jagdeo noted that these crossover members are not being promised anything to join the PPP. As a matter of fact, he reiterated that not even the positions of the current cohort of Cabinet Ministers are guaranteed.
“Some of them have approached the PPP, and they think they’re going to come in and get a promise. Nobody gets a promise from the PPP – not even the current ministers know if they will be in the new Cabinet.”
“We don’t promise seats or any position before you’ve gone to the voters… So, they don’t linger around us for too long if they’re coming for the wrong reasons. They go to the other side that can make promises to them … Because we’ve not promised anyone who’s come to us any guaranteed position,” the PPP General Secretary posited.
"It is our duty to ensure resources in the financial system are used for legitimate purposes" – VP …as Guyana monitors payment methods by Chinese and Trinidadian companies here
Amidst persisting shortages in the local market, the Guyana Government is closely monitoring the operations of Chinese establishments and Trinidadian companies here to ascertain whether they are involved in gold smuggling or contributing to the shortage of forex in the country.
This is according to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo during a press conference on Thursday.
He explained that there have been reports of businesses, such as Chinese-owned supermarkets and Trinidadian operators here, paying for goods through the purchase of gold or foreign currency from the local market since they cannot do so via the formal banking system.
“What we’ve been examining is an attempt to ensure that all of our resources are going to legitimate purposes… the money in circulation – the foreign currency – is being utilised for legitimate purposes, and to ensure foreigners that our foreign currency is being used to support Guyanese demand for goods and services and investment purposes,” the VP noted.
According to Jagdeo, the Government has looked at the records of which companies are requesting for-
eign currency from the local banks, and many of these Chinese and Trinidadian businesses are not listed.
“So, the banks know who they’re selling money to, and in that request for purchase of resources from the banks, we do not see a number of companies that are doing business here – Trinidadian [and] Chinese, especially –that they’re not on that list. So clearly, they are either getting the goods supplied by someone else and selling the goods for them – another big person who’s importing the goods and may be on the formal system – or, as we’ve heard, people are buying up gold and exporting it,” he explained.
Already, the Guyana Government is clamping down on these networks, having conducted several sting operations in the past to dismantle such rings.
Only back in March, Chinese national Ying Xin Su, a 30-year-old travel agent who had previously been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, was slapped with seven money laundering charges by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) – the white-collar arm of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
The charges indict Ying of being in contravention of Section 3 (1) (c) of the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act, Chapter 10:11. She was placed on bail in the sum of $1.5M on each charge.
She was also arraigned on another count of money laundering – for which she has been placed on $200,000 bail.
SOCU said that on July 9, 2024, members of the Police Force searched Ying’s room at the Princess Ramada International Hotel at Providence, East Bank Demerara, for gold she was suspected of smuggling and found GY$52 million, US$5,480.00, Bar$97.00 and SR$662.00. They also found an illegal firearm and ammunition.
A summary of all the charges has revealed that Su acquired or possessed several properties and mo-
tor vehicles knowing, or having reasonable grounds to believe, that the said properties and motor vehicles were derived, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from proceeds of crime, which amounted to money laundering.
According to SOCU Head, Deputy Commissioner Fazil Karimbaksh, the money laundering investigations had been ongoing for several months prior to the institution of the charges.
Nevertheless, VP Jagdeo noted during Thursday’s press conference that local authorities are also looking at how these foreign establishments operating in Guyana utilise foreign currency in the local market.
“So, all of this is being examined by both the GRA (Guyana Revenue Authority) and the Securities Services. So, we have to examine all of this – not because we’re targeting anyone but because we have to [and] our duty is to ensure that the resources in our financial system in Guyana are being used for legitimate purposes and to support Guyanese growth and Guyanese businesses mainly,” he stressed.
In recent years, Guyanese companies have been complaining bitterly about the lack of foreign currency in the local market
sue not because of the lack of availability of money but because it’s the currency that’s sometimes scarce,” he noted. The private sector in the past has accused some banks of hoarding the foreign currency.
Another issue that Guyana has had to grapple with is Trinidadian businesses purchasing US dollars from Guyanese cambios and businesses.
and the impact this is having on their ability to conduct business.
Previously, the Government has had to intervene to inject foreign currency into the Guyanese market. On March 27, the Bank of Guyana injected US$35 million into the market, distributing the money across commercial banks. On April 7, a further US$100 million was injected.
According to the vice president, while Government has “enormous capacity” to intervene, this has to be carefully calibrated.
“We have a problem with the currency, not the instrument, so the dollars are a bit scarce because we don’t sell too many dollars. We sell to the banks through direct transfers… So that is an is-
“Some of the cambios and the banks, to a lesser extent the banks, are selling the foreign currency to them, [the Trinidadians] who come here and… there are some local companies buying from the banks and the cambios at about $216 and selling at $220 to the Trinidadians,” Jagdeo had stated at a press conference back in May.
In Trinidad, he highlighted that businesses are often forced to wait over six months to access foreign currency, resulting in them tapping into the Guyana market.
This, coupled with a surge in domestic demand for foreign currency, is creating issues in the local market, Jagdeo had said.
He explained that domestic demand for foreign currency surged from 2020, when imports to Guyana stood at $2.2 billion, compared to $9 billion in 2025.
(L-R) Prime Minister, Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips and President DR Irfaan Ali will be the frontrunners on the PPP/C ticket at the upcoming elections
Chinese national Ying Xin Su has been charged with money laundering
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo
Antiguan man remanded over death of Guyanese woman ejected from moving vehicle
Victor Ince, 24, of Lightfoot West, appeared before Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel today in connection with the death of 19-year-old Guyanese national Joyleen Abraham and was remanded to prison.
Ince faces charges related to Abraham’s death on May 7, 2025, at Judges
Estate. The charges include unlawful confinement and killing Abraham. The incident occurred sometime shortly after 5pm when Abraham was somehow ejected from a moving vehicle being driven by Ince along a by-road leading from New Winthropes to the Jabberwock main road. Police who responded to the
scene found Abraham’s body on the south side of the road with multiple injuries. She was pronounced dead by a medical doctor at approximately 6:30pm.
Reports indicate that
Abraham had arrived in Antigua only days before losing her life.
Ince’s next court appearance is scheduled for September 17. (Antigua News)
Police bust roadside shop drug operation
drugs and cash
A27-year-old man was arrested on Thursday after police discovered a quantity of marijuana concealed at a roadside shop at Last Bridge, West Minster, Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara.
According to reports, police ranks attached to an anti-crime patrol acted on information received about narcotics being sold at the location. At about 14:00h, the ranks visited the area and observed a small yellow-painted wooden shop, where they made contact with a self-employed resident of Last Bridge.
During the search, in the man’s presence, the ranks unearthed a black transparent plastic bag hidden under the shop counter, containing a quantity of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis.
He was arrested and escorted to the Parfaite Harmonie Police Station. He was also taken along with the narcotics and a quantity of local currency, consisting of $100, $50, and $20 notes, totalling $44,820. The money is suspected to be proceeds from the sale of illegal drugs.
At the station, the suspected cannabis was weighed in the man’s presence and amounted to 200 grammes.
He remains in custody as the investigation continues.
Reasons…
…for PNC’s implosion
As you well know, dear Reader, your Eyewitness has been diligently (obsessively?) following the goingson in the Opposition camp – especially the exodus of high-profile leaders. He’s had to infer the reasons for their perambulations cause, in most cases, no reasons were given. Or if they were, they’re personalised. However, Jermaine Figueira, the latest bigwig to exit the PNC – and even though he’s young (or maybe ESPECIALLY because he’s young!) he IS a bigwig – took the time to offer his rationale in a very thoughtful and structured manner.
For which, of course, your Eyewitness is quite grateful, since it makes his job of analysing the political traffic much easier. Figueira offered four reasons – all of which speak to the Guyanese populace’s need for the best leadership at this critical juncture of our history. Not just because elections are just around the corner – but because the said elections ’ gonna determine who’ll be in charge of spending the oil revenues that offer the first opportunity to make us really independent.
Figueira’s first reason was the “Erosion of the Ideal of National Unity”, pointing to the PNC’s “alignment with elements espousing divisive ethno-political rhetoric, which corrodes the pluralistic foundation of our society”. Now your Eyewitness has been writing about this retrograde step until he’s now literally blue in the face!! Figueira, of course, is referring to the PNC’s coalition with the now rabidly racist WPA and its geriatric leadership – who’ve been praised by Leader Norton as “intelligent” – and so cannot be criticised!! And one doesn’t have to wax idealistic or anything like that – one can look at the “national unity” goal from a purely pragmatic perspective!! Imagine working to get 50%+1 vote – when your traditional (African) base is just 29% of the populace – and the WPA’s cussing out Indian members of the executive who defended Indian pride!! For goodness sake!! Those Indian members should’ve been given a prize for not only attracting members from outside the faithful –but also giving ammunition to take on the PPP!!
His second reason was a “Decline of Internal Ethics and Honour” in the PNC, when he claimed, “The internal culture of the PNCR has deteriorated from principled deliberation to an insular climate defined by sycophancy, vindictiveness, and the systematic side-lining of faithful contributors.” Whew!! So, the parochialism wasn’t confined to Indians –but also some “born PNC”!! The third reason was “Absence of Visionary Leadership” when Figueira claimed the PNC “suffers from intellectual inertia and political pettiness”. While this has a subjective element – this critique was offered by several other departees.
Lastly, he pointed to a “Failure to Uphold National Duty” when the PNC didn’t participate in the National Assembly’s denunciation of Venezuela revanchism!!
A most damning exposure of the PNC from inside!!
…for gold digging
There’s gold in them thar pits that Omai had abandoned – 2.3 million oz “indicated” – after they’d been drilling exploratory holes for the last four years! Most Guyanese would (or should) remember the 1995 disaster when over 400 MILLION gallons of cyanide-laced water from their tailings pond – after gold was extracted – spilt into the Essequibo River!! Omai continued to work the site – after a class-action suit was dismissed for the environmental damage – until 2005 after they’d extracted 3.8 million oz of gold. The company then passed through at least half a dozen hands. Until – with gold crossing the US$2000/oz mark –Omai completed a reverse takeover and started drilling!!
Our concern – which your Eyewitness hopes is obvious –is to ensure that we get more revenues from the % royalties we’re supposed to receive on gold production, which may once again become the largest open-pit mine in all of Latin America!!
And we can’t allow Omai to once again claim no profits – and pay no taxes!!
…for QC’s continued success
QC’s celebrating 50 years of going co-ed. While at the time it was seen as “helping girls up the ladder”, we see now it’s the girls who’ve helped QC remain – and even rise – up the (educational) ladder!!
19-year-old Joyleen Abraham (Photo Credit: Facebook)
The
that were found at the roadside shop at Parfaite Harmonie
“They know what they’re talking about” – VP on US lawmakers’ linkage of sanctioned Maduro and Mohamed …says lobby firm hired to counter Venezuela threat
Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo has clarified that the Guyana Government engaged the American lobbying firm Continental Strategy LLC to keep the
United States informed about threats to Guyana’s territorial integrity. He emphasised that the firm does not receive daily briefings from the Government and that no
one in the PPP administration gave any instructions for the lobbyists to target US-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed.
Jagdeo made these statements during a press conference on Thursday, addressing concerns raised after two US Congress members issued statements this week regarding recent developments in Guyana.
On Monday, US Congressman Carlos Gimenez raised concerns over what he describes as Venezuela’s attempt to influence internal affairs in Guyana, specifically through a controversial figure.
In a statement posted
on
social media platform X, Gimenez stated: “In the US Congress we are alarmed by the regime in Venezuela’s attempt to undermine Guyana through its pro-Maduro puppet candidate Azruddin Mohamed, who is sanctioned by OFAC.”
The remark refers to Mohamed, a Guyanese businessman and political aspirant, who has been sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
Then on Tuesday, US Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar posted on social media, X: “We remain deeply concerned about efforts to undermine democracy in Guyana. As a strategic ally of the United States, Guyana deserves leaders who respect democratic values. Individuals sanctioned for illicit activities must not be allowed to jeopardise this vital relationship.”
However, some sections of society have sought to downplay the statements from the US politicians, instead focusing the narrative on the firm hired by the Guyana Government for federal engagements and advocacy in America.
Fight off the Venezuelan threat
Jagdeo clarified that the firm has to deal with everything related to Venezuela and the border controversy “because the United States of America is very important in the defence of our territo-
rial integrity and sovereignty.”
Jagdeo pointed out that Venezuela, through lobbyists, constantly tries to influence US policymakers in relation to the border controversy, spreading false information on the history of the issue.
“This is a major firm to help to fight off the Venezuelan threat,” he said.
He further explained that the US Congresspersons are supported by staff and intelligence briefings. “They know what they’re talking about,” the VP said.
“We don’t tell the lobbyist what to do on a daily basis… No one in Government said to go after the Mohamed,” he added.
Jagdeo further explained that given the firm’s vast network and access to information, if they have un-
earthed a link between Mohamed and threats to Guyana’s security, and for a member of the US Congress to add their name to that position, “trust me, there is a connection”.
He suggested that the connection could be rooted in illegal activities.
“You got a longstanding issue of Venezuela bypassing sanctions through the gold smuggling, and some of it was coming through Guyana, the smuggling of Venezuelan gold through Guyana, and there were generals in Venezuela who were complicit with individuals here who were the conduit to getting Venezuelan gold, in that period…out through it being sold from Guyana through individuals in Guyana,” he outlined, telling reporters, “You do the maths.”
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo US Congressman Carlos Gimenez US Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar
Azruddin Mohamed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro
New $688M Christ Church school to equip students with capabilities for 21st century ...2 years after
devastating firess
In a bold symbol of resilience and progress, the Government of Guyana has unveiled the brand-new $688 million Christ Church Secondary School after a devastating fire reduced the historic institution to ashes and rubble just two years ago.
On Thursday, President Irfaan Ali, joined by
Minister of Education Priya Manickchand, officially commissioned the state-of-theart facility, noting that the school plays a vital role in equipping students with capabilities for the 21st century. Contracts for the school’s reconstruction were signed in June 2023, with an ambitious timeline of seven
months.
Housed at the same Middle and Camp Streets site, the modern facility is designed to accommodate 450-500 students, and features 20 remodelled classrooms, eight laboratories, library, auditorium/ multi-purpose indoor area and main staff rooms with lunch room, washroom, and showers.
Importantly, it was built with enhanced fire prevention standards in accordance with the Guyana Fire Service’s post-fire recommendations, ensuring safety and sustainability.
In his address, President Ali explained that the amenities are geared towards delivering excellence and producing future leaders.
“Secondary education is no longer a luxury, and I want us to understand
this. It is a necessity. It is no longer optional. It is mandatory for survival and success in today’s world… We are living in an era and an age defined by information, innovation and imagination.”
“The world is no longer powered simply by oil and ore but by ideas, inventions, innovations and intellect. And to compete, to thrive, to lead in this world of ideas, inventions, innovations and intellect, we
must equip our young people with the competencies of the 21st century. Critical thinking, analytical reasoning, communication and problem-solving,” the president said.
According to the Guyanese leader, the commissioning of Christ Church Secondary comes amid a wave of transformational investments by the government in education, including universal secondary educa-
tion by 2026; 100 per cent trained or in-training teachers by the end of 2025; free university and technical education; and the expansion of science and digital education.
With this in mind, he emphasised that when students step through its doors, they carry more than books; they carry the hopes of a nation determined to rise, rebuild, and lead.
“Secondary education is a bridge between childhood and citizenship. A very important concept. Secondary education is that bridge between childhood and citizenship… It is a foundation upon which careers are built and nations are developed. It is the gateway to higher education and, with it, upward mobility, entrepreneurship and economic independence.”
President Dr Irfaan Ali speaking at the commissioning
Education Minister Priya Manickchand speaks at the commissioning ceremony
Ogle-to-Eccles bypass road conceptualised since 2003 – Jagdeo
…says the Opposition should be ashamed over false claims
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has revealed that the recently commissioned Ogle-to-Eccles Road link was conceptualised in 2003 during his presidency and not under the former A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU + AFC) Coalition, as is being claimed.
The highly anticipated US$133.8 million project, which saw the construction of some 7.8 kilometres of road connecting Ogle on
the East Coast of Demerara to Eccles on the East Bank of Demerara, was commissioned on Monday.
However, former Public Infrastructure Minister under the Coalition, David Patterson – the current Chairman of AFC – has sought to claim the project. In fact, he detailed in a recent letter to the editor that “the original design for this project was completed in November 2019”.
But this was strongly rejected by Jagdeo, who dis-
closed during a press conference on Thursday that the project was conceptualised some 22 years ago at the time when he was President of Guyana.
He pointed to a study done in 2003 looking at an alternative southern approach to Georgetown. That document, Jagdeo explained, detailed an alignment that mapped out road links from Ogle to the East Bank corridor and from Mandela Avenue to Eccles, then running all the way to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
“The alignment is mapped out here that we studied since 2003… we studied it. We had cost, etcetera,” Jagdeo stated, adding that this plan had never been implemented because of the economic state of the country at the time.
“We have the plan here. So, for them to say they conceptualised this project in 2019 – and all of their supporters saying, ‘Look at our great intellectual work that we did’ is nonsense … I don’t think Patterson even knows about this [study],” the Vice
President said on the opposition’s attempt to take credit for the project.
Importantly, however, funding for the road link project was secured in January 2015 by then President Donald Ramotar under the previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government –months before the Coalition regime took office in May of that year.
During a visit to New Delhi, an agreement for a US$50 million Line of Credit (LOC) was tied up between President Ramotar and Indian Prime Minister Modi for the construction of a bypass road that was initially slated for Ogle to Diamond, EBD.
But the project cost was driven up to a whopping US$208.1 million by the APNU+AFC administration, and the project languished under them.
When the current PPP/C Government took office in 2020, it redesigned the project into two phases to fit the LOC – first from Ogle to Haags Bosch Road in Eccles, which is about 48-50 per cent of the project, and then from Eccles to Diamond.
The Guyana Government plans to undertake the extension from Diamond all the way to Timehri, where the country’s main port of entry, CJIA, is located.
Be ashamed
The Ogle-to-Eccles project saw the construction of 7.8 kilometres of road from the East Coast to the East Bank, with each of the four
lanes being 3.6 metres wide.
The highway will help to ease traffic congestion in Georgetown and provide alternative routes to drivers, especially along the ECD and EBD corridors.
Back in June 2022, the Government signed a US$106 million contract with Indian company Ashoka Buildcon Limited for the construction of the Ogleto-Eccles Road link project with a 24-month timeline. RITES Limited, also out of India, secured a US$3.2 million contract for the provision of supervisory services for this project.
During Monday’s commissioning ceremony, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill explained that the modification to the project plans regarding bridges, drainage systems, elevated sections to prevent flooding and a full four-lane design further raised the cost to US$133.8 million – which he says is still lower than the Coalition’s total allocation of some US$275 million, including consultancy and other costs.
In addition to the ECDEBD road link, the 2003 study also outlined plans for further critical road networks, including the Buzz Bee Dam expansion project that is currently undertaken by the Government.
Jagdeo noted that the PPP is the only party that documented strategic plans, dating back to 1996, for the infrastructure development of the country – many of which have already been rolled out, such as an airport
at Ogle, expansion of the CJIA runway, a new fixed high-span bridge across the Demerara River to replace the floating structure, a bridge across the Berbice River, and the Takutu Bridge in Lethem connecting to Brazil, among others. Meanwhile, the Guyana Government is now designing another highway connecting the Ogle-to-Eccles Road with the Heroes Highway and the existing East Bank of Demerara Public Road.
This was revealed by President Irfaan Ali during Monday’s road commissioning, where he stated that “We will also have very soon the interconnection of the Houston Highway; that is what we call the Houston interconnection that is under design now. That will be another four-lane road that will connect this highway (Ogle-to-Eccles), Heroes Highway, Houston and then goes out back again to the old East Bank highway.”
The President noted that the new Ogle-to-Eccles Road will also have a new interconnection to the Heroes Highway at Providence to extend to the Demerara River Bridge, and a third connection will be a flyover of the Heroes Highway.
“…So, it will be seamless; there will be no stopping of traffic on the Heroes Highway or traffic coming all the way to the East Coast,” he said.
Already, the Ministry of Public Works has extended the Aubrey Barker Road which leads into South Ruimveldt from Mandela Avenue and the Conversation Tree Road on the East Coast of Demerara.
Further along the East Bank corridor, the Head of State disclosed that works have started on a new road linking Land of Canaan to Buzz Bee Dam with connections along Kaneville, Diamond and Grove.
Simultaneously, the Government has completed the design of a new road from Land of Canaan to the new Soesdyke–Linden Highway that is being rehabilitated. Moreover, works are also ongoing to upgrade the Timehri-East Bank corridor and expand the Railway Embankment Line on the East Coast of Demerara from Sheriff Street to Mahaica.
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo
Police Welfare Fund scandal
Brutus seeks 2021-2024 financial records as prosecutors object
Former Assistant Police Commissioner Calvin Brutus returned to court on Thursday as part of his ongoing legal battle related to allegations of financial misconduct involving the Police Welfare Fund.
He is seeking access to financial records spanning a four-year period, specifically documents from Republic Bank and the Ministry of Finance covering 2021 to 2024. These, his legal team says, are necessary for his defence. Prosecutors objected to the request, claiming the timeframe is excessive and not relevant to the core of the case, which centres around activity in early 2024.
The magistrate presiding over the matter, Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty, suggested that the defence reduce the scope of the request to a shorter period. Brutus did not commit to that, maintaining the broader context is necessary. He claims the fund had long been used to support operational costs in the police force and that the pattern of spending over time is relevant.
The court has given the
prosecution up to July 18 to file submissions, after which a decision on the applications will be made.
Meanwhile, the court was also updated on the status of Brutus’s wife, Adonika Aulder, who is also facing charges. She has been overseas for medical treatment but is reportedly returning to the country. The court heard that Aulder was scheduled to return to Guyana on Wednesday, but her flight was cancelled, and she arrived on Thursday but not in time for court.
The case stems from a
2024 investigation into the use of the Welfare Fund. Brutus, Aulder, and three other individuals, including two businessmen and a former police sergeant, are accused of fraud, larceny, and money laundering. Brutus is individually accused of laundering hundreds of millions through various personal and business accounts.
One of the co-accused, businessman Asif Zafarally, also appeared in court seeking to have his bail conditions adjusted. The court allowed limited virtual appearances going forward but
SOCU to appeal dismissal of fraud charges amid controversial procedural lapse
Prosecutors attached to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) were left blindsided on June 27 when they learnt that three criminal charges against convicted fraudster Dave Rajeshwar Persaud were dismissed weeks earlier by Magistrate Delon Bess at the Diamond Magistrate’s Court under controversial circumstances.
Persaud, who is currently serving a three-year sentence imposed in April 2025 for the offence of obtaining by false pretence, had three additional charges pending before Magistrate Bess. The matters were scheduled for continuation of trial but, according to SOCU, were abruptly and irregularly dismissed on May 29, 2025, a date on which the prosecution believed the matters had been adjourned.
SOCU prosecutors stated that at approximately 6:39h on May 29, 2025, they received a WhatsApp message from the court clerk attached to Magistrate Bess, informing them that the Magistrate was scheduled to sit at the Leguan Magistrate’s Court, not at Diamond, and requested an adjournment date. SOCU said that it responded suggesting June 27, and the clerk confirmed that the proposed date was convenient.
However, when pros-
ecutors appeared at the Diamond Magistrate’s Court on June 27, 2025, and waited for hours for the matters to be called, they were informed by the clerk that the cases had already been dismissed on May 29. They were then directed to Magistrate Bess, who explained that although he was sitting in Leguan on the day in question, he had joined the Diamond court virtually and noted that neither the prosecutors nor any witnesses were present during the proceeding, leading him to dismiss the cases. According to SOCU, one of the matters was actively being heard, and the virtual presence of the accused from prison was not sufficient grounds for dismissal in
refused to have his reporting conditions be reduced.
The court granted bail to the trio, with Brutus required to post GYD6.2 million, his wife GYD1 million, and George GYD500,000. One of the conditions of
their bail was that they had to report to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) on the second Friday of each month.
As the investigation deepened, prosecutors brought 201 additional charges against Brutus in November 2024, bringing the total to 231. The charges further strengthened the case against him, leading to an increase in his bail amount by GYD10.05 million.
Lima Sands farmer remanded for murder of friend
A23-year-old farmer from Lima Sands, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), was on Thursday remanded to prison after being charged with the murder of Gary Melville, a 46-year-old labourer also of Lima Sands.
Saif Majid appeared before Magistrate Tamieka Clarke at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court, where the indictable charge was
formally read to him.
The accused is alleged to have murdered Melville, also known as “Tonna”, sometime between 20:00h on June 27 and 05:30h on June 28 at Lima Sands.
Police arrested Majid on June 28 following investigations into Melville’s death. Details surrounding the motive or circumstances of the incident remain under investigation. The matter has been adjourned to July 29. Charged: Saif Majid
New $688M Christ Church...
the absence of the prosecution. The victim in that case was reportedly still under cross-examination when the trial last convened. SOCU noted that the proper course of action would have been for the Magistrate to close the cross-examination, declare the prosecution’s case closed, and proceed with a legal assessment based on the evidence already presented before issuing a ruling. SOCU claimed that no such process was followed, nor is there any record of it in the Magistrate’s case file.
Further, it has pointed out that it is highly unusual for a Magistrate presiding in one magisterial district, in this case, Leguan, to dismiss cases belonging to another jurisdiction, such as Diamond, without proper notice and communication.
SOCU said that subsequent checks into the correspondence between the court and SOCU revealed that the court clerk failed to notify Magistrate Bess of the agreement reached with prosecutors regarding the adjourned date, potentially contributing to the confusion and mismanagement of the case.
SOCU has confirmed its intention to file an appeal in the matter, citing procedural errors and the lack of due process in the dismissal of the charges.
“It is the single most powerful weapon we have against inequality. And yes, secondary education drives economic growth. An educated workforce attracts investment, boosts productivity and ensures development. It’s not a privilege but a shared national experience. If Guyana is to be taken seriously on the world stage, if we are to be more than a resource-rich nation, then universal secondary education must not just be a goal. It must be a given,” the Head of State emphasised.
While the reconstruction of Christ Church Secondary School was slated to be completed in seven months, the project suffered a 16-month delay.
The Education Ministry’s adopted approach to construction saw seven companies awarded contracts.
In her speech, Minister Manickchand addressed the delay and dispelled claims that the school fire was staged to create additional space for commercial activity.
“They said very clearly that there is growing and pervasive suspicion that the
school fires at St George’s and Christ Church may have been targeted for destruction as economic development plans have other uses for the properties.”
“We have a video showing growth. The day the fire happened – by the next day we were meeting with teachers, and shortly after that – a few days – we were meeting with parents at the Queen’s
College Auditorium… One day, not too long after the fire, we were summoned to State House… And with the president, there were two engineers – not belonging to the education family… And the president said we have to build back Christ Church... and we have to build schools all over the hinterland,” the Minister revealed.
Dave Rajeshwar Persaud
The rebuilt Christ Church Secondary School
Former Assistant Police Commissioner Calvin Brutus
UG architecture students win top prize at prestigious international design competition
– second 1st place win for the department
The Architecture Department of the University of Guyana’s Faculty of Engineering and Technology has claimed top honours once again, securing first place at the 5th International Lekol Architectural Competition, held in French Guiana from June 24 to 27, 2025.
The winning design was inspired by the Cayenne Nightjar — a bird spotted only once in French Guiana in 1970. The building bio mimicked the bird’s features in terms of colour, wings, flight dynamics, and anatomy. The total square footage exceeded 19,000, with 30% of the space allocated for green areas.
This marks Guyana’s second first-place win since it began competing in 2023. Last year, the country took home the top prize for sustainability in construction for its design of an engineering and architecture faculty for the University of Guyana
campus.
The winning students will present their project during this year’s departmental final-year dissertation presentations, to be held in the Engineering and Technology boardroom.
Second place in the competition went to Brazil, while Suriname claimed third place.
Head of the University of Guyana’s Architecture Department, Dr Anna Perreira, shared her enthusiasm and pride following the department’s victory. She noted that the achievement reflects not only the strength of the academic programme but also the high calibre of students it continues to produce.
“I feel proud of the success the department has accomplished in this architectural competition, as it signals the expertise the department possesses and the calibre of students in the programme. The oppor-
tunity to compete with other universities and win not only brings credibility to the department but also to the University of Guyana,” Dr Perreira stated.
She further explained that UG’s internal selection process is a key factor behind the department’s continued success. Unlike other participating universities, which typically submit work prepared by preselected teams or individuals, the University of Guyana requires all final-year architecture students to compete internally. This rigorous process ensures that the most innovative and well-developed proposal represents the university on the international stage.
“What is unique about how we prepare ourselves for this competition is that the entire cohort first competes internally amongst themselves to then identify the best proposal, which will represent the university’s
submission. The competing universities do not adopt this approach. However, it allows us equal opportunity for the students to prove and apply their knowledge and skills,” she explained.
The International Architecture Competition was organised by eco-construction and ecotechnology of French Guiana, with support from the Territorial Authority of French Guiana (CTG) and the French State through the Regional Cooperation Fund (FCR).
This year’s participants included the University of Guyana, Anton de Kom State University of Suriname, and the Federal University of the State of Amapá, Brazil.
The aim of the annual competition is to enable architecture students to design ecological and solidarity-based projects that address the pressing envi-
ronmental concerns of the decade. The competition encourages innovation in architecture by challenging students to propose environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable solutions for local communities.
This year’s architectural challenge was to design a convention centre for the University of French Guiana’s campus.
The design was required to balance production cost and architectural efficiency, incorporate decarbonised construction, consider urban planning elements, volume and adaptability, functionality, site suitability, and cultural relevance.
The UG contingent included Head of the Architecture Department, Dr Anna Perreira; lecturer, Kurt Gonsalves; and final-year BSc Architecture students Kiana Persaud,
Aditya Mohanlall, and Denish Ramnarin.
The department conducted an internal competition among final-year students, which saw an unprecedented 10 groups — each comprising three students from both the third and fourth years — developing their own designs.
From January to midMay 2025, part-time lecturers Godfrey Proctor and Kurt Gonsalves, along with Dr Perreira, guided the students during their design studio classes to develop their concepts. The winning team was selected by a jury composed of faculty members from the Architecture Department.
The final international jury comprised Jenny Sanchez (Vice Dean of Research & Outreach, Faculty of Arts, National University of Colombia, Bogotá Campus); architect Caroline Marie-Calixte, who developed the competition’s design brief; two local architects; one civil engineer; the Chief of the University of French Guiana; and the Head of the Department of Civil Engineering at the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (CNAM), France.
The Department of Architecture expressed appreciation to the lecturers and students who supported Team UG’s successful representation of the University of Guyana, the organisers of the Lekol Architectural Competition, and the French Ambassador to Guyana and Suriname, Nicolas de Lacoste.
The winning design
(L-R): Kiana Persaud; Aditya Mohanlall; Denish Ramnarin; French Ambassador to Guyana and Suriname, Nicholas de Lacoste; Head of Architecture Department, Dr Anna Perreira, and lecturer Kurt Gonsalves
JPs and COAs who abuse powers will have appointments revoked – AG warns
Justices of the Peace (JPs) and Commissioners of Oaths and Affidavits (COAs) who abuse their powers will have their appointments revoked, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs
Anil Nandlall has warned.
During his programme “Issues in the News” on Tuesday evening, Nandlall said he has received multiple complaints that persons who hold these appointments are abusing their powers.
“That they are doing things that this appointment doesn’t qualify them to do,” Nandlall said.
The powers of a JP and Commissioner of Oath are limited to minor administrative or procedural functions such as witnessing, signing or administering affidavits.
Nandlall emphasised that they “are not attorneys
at law, and this appointment that you have received as a Justice of the Peace or Commissioner of Oath of Affidavit – neither of those appointments nor the combination of the two qualifies you to perform any legal services.”
The Attorney General said there are instances where these officers have opened offices, offering a range of services they are not qualified to provide, and are charging exorbitant fees.
He also recalled an instance where a JP placed his stamp on a landlord’s eviction notice to a tenant, noting that “that is not a function of the JP.”
“When you pretend to be a lawyer, you’re committing a number of offences, particularly when you’re charging persons for legal services which you are not qualified to offer,” Nandlall warned,
noting that these appointments can be revoked.
In fact, he said when the appointments were made, the officers were duly informed of their roles and responsibilities.
“It was explained to each
Guyana’s National Water Council holds 1st official meeting – seeks to strengthen water resource management
Guyana’s National Water Council (NWC) was reconvened Wednesday at the Ministry of Agriculture, marking an important milestone in the country’s commitment to the sustainable management and protection of its water resources, an NWC press release announced Thursday.
Established under the Water and Sewerage Act (2002; Cap. 30:01), the NWC is a statutory body responsible for the oversight, coordination, and integrated management of Guyana’s water resources.
According to the release, the first official meeting brought together representatives from key institutions, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Studies and the Faculty of Engineering and Technology at the University of Guyana, Guyana Water Inc., the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, the Private Sector Commission, and the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Dr Garvin Cummings, Chief Hydrometeorological Officer and Chair of the Council, emphasised the critical role of the NWC in
shaping a secure and sustainable water future for Guyana.
“Water resources are vital to national development, public health, food security, and environmental resilience. Through the National Water Council, we will foster cross-sector collaboration and advance policies that safeguard this essential resource,” he stated.
During the meeting, council members outlined initial priorities, including a comprehensive national review of water usage trends and the formulation of a National Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) policy.
Furthermore, the Council intends to strengthen collaboration with regional and international water agencies, research institutions, and civil society partners to encourage innovation and best practices in water management.
As Guyana faces the dual challenges of climate change and rapid economic development, the NWC will serve a strategic advisory and regulatory function to ensure that the nation’s water systems remain resilient, inclusive, and prepared for future demands.
The Council is scheduled to hold several meetings in the coming months as it seeks to deliver on its mandate in areas such as water quality standards, governance, and public outreach.
An early 2024 news report had noted that in response to the pressing need for efficient water management amid challenges posed by climate change, the Government of Guyana was considering the establishment of a National Water Council.
By mid-2024, the official gazette listed the Cabinetapproved appointment of persons to the Board of Directors of the NWC.
The NWC’s primary objectives include ensuring sustainable allocation and equitable access to water across all sectors; developing national policies and strategies for water resource management, including addressing climate-related challenges such as flooding and drought; enhancing water quality monitoring and regulatory standards; promoting education and public awareness on water conservation; and advising the Government on water-related legislation, governance, and strategic interventions.
of these persons that this appointment is intended for them to use these newly acquired qualifications for the public good, to use it to assist persons in their communities who may require that type of service… It was
specifically made clear that these appointments are not intended to make them commercial operators, that is to say, to offer these services at exorbitant prices,” Nandlall highlighted.
In this regard, he called on persons engaged in these practices to desist from doing so.
A few years ago, the Bar Association of Guyana raised similar concerns. In a statement, the association said, “We also note with alarm the abuse by some Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of Oaths of their commission in performing legal services, including the drafting of legal documents contrary to the Legal Practitioners Act, Cap. 4:01.”
The association had pointed out that Justices of the Peace and/or Commissioners of Oaths to
Affidavits are only permitted pursuant to S. 96 of the Evidence Act, Cap. 5:03, to certify the receipt of such oaths, affirmations and/or statutory declarations. Such a commission does not extend to and/or permit the drafting and/or preparation of any legal documents or in any way permit the performance of any legal service, it noted.
Moreover, the association had also expressed concerns over the heightened frequency of other persons who are not duly admitted to practice law in Guyana brazenly advertising the offer of legal services, which in some instances, includes the preparation of a number of legal documents touching and concerning inter alia divorces, custody, deeds, leases, conveyances, agreements, land transactions and estates.
GNBS sees surge in business certifications in 2025 2nd quarter
The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has reported a significant increase in business certifications during the second quarter of 2025, reflecting a growing movement toward quality, consistency, and consumer confidence.
In a recent press release, the GNBS stated that a growing number of Guyanese businesses are stepping up to meet national standards. They added that this trend aligns with the Government of Guyana’s call for greater conformity with standards and certification.
According to the GNBS, between May and June, three companies earned the prestigious Made in Guyana Certification Mark, which authenticates the local origin and quality of their products: Heather’s Creation and Products, Pure Aqua, and Treev’s Natural Blends.
The GNBS emphasised that certification supports the Government’s broader goals to strengthen the business sector, improve product and service quality, and enhance Guyana’s compet-
itiveness in both regional and global markets.
These new GNBSapproved “Made in Guyana” businesses join a growing list of local manufacturers who have demonstrated their commitment to meeting GNBS requirements. This certification enables them to use the official mark on their products and packaging.
By attaining this certification, these businesses are not only fulfilling GNBS and Government expectations but are also creating opportunities for growth and expansion into new markets.
Meanwhile, the second quarter also saw the certification of three new laboratories: Geo-Enviro Support Services, Geo-Solutions Guyana Inc., and Allied Health Medical Laboratory – a vital move in ensuring scientific accuracy and operational excellence in the areas of environmental, product, and medical testing.
The increased access to reliable testing supports the nation’s efforts to improve the quality of infrastructure, enhance health and safety, and preserve the environment.
Adding to the certification momentum during the quarter, Lemmyal Place, a local bed-and-breakfast facility, was certified by the GNBS as a standard-compliant accommodation establishment. This reflects growing attention to hospitality standards, a key pillar of Guyana’s expanding tourism sector.
Certification provides assurance, credibility, and consistency in meeting guidelines and specifications aimed at consumer satisfaction. It builds trust, offers a competitive edge, ensures quality, opens access to more markets, and helps mitigate risks by requiring adherence to best practices. The GNBS commended the businesses for their commitment and encourages others to follow in their footsteps on the path to prosperity.
With continued Government support and clear national policy direction, the GNBS remains committed to helping businesses make standards and certification key pillars of development and economic transformation.
Management and staff of newly-certified Geo-Solutions proudly pose with the GNBS certificate and plaque
Members of the NWC at Wednesday’s meeting
Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall
‘Narco
sub’ with Starlink antenna found off Caribbean coast
The Colombian Navy on Wednesday announced the seizure of an autonomous underwater vehicle / unmanned narco submarine floating off the Caribbean coast. The image shared by the Colombian Navy suggest that it is fitted with a Starlink antenna on the bow.
The incident marked the first known use of unmanned underwater vessels in drug trafficking. The vessel was not carrying any drugs, but the Colombian Navy and Western security sources said they believed it was a trial run by a drug trafficking cartel.
According to the Colombian Navy, the discovery of the autonomous semi-submersible highlights a shift toward more advanced and sophisticated smuggling technologies. These systems enhance the ability of criminal networks to evade detection, posing an increasing threat to international maritime security.
“This demonstrates an evolution in the logistical capabilities of drug trafficking, which seeks to surpass traditional approaches through innovation and highly adaptive means.” said Admiral Juan Ricardo Rozo, Chief of the Colombian Navy in the press release.
The unmanned vessel appears to have been designed for remote operation (autonomous or semi-autonomous). This incident marks the first recorded discovery of such a vessel in
the region.
Manufactured in Colombia, these rudimentary and lightweight vessels operate at waterline level, allowing them to travel longer distances than conventional speedboats while remaining difficult for authorities to detect and track.
According to the Colombian Navy, the vessel was owned by the Gulf Clan, Colombia’s largest drug trafficking group, and has the capacity to transport 1.5 tons of cocaine.
(Source: Naval News, Gulf Coast News)
Lula visits former Argentine President Cristina Kirchner in house arrest
After participating in Mercosur trade talks in Buenos Aires, Brazilian President Luiz
Inácio Lula da Silva visited former Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner on Thursday at her apartment in Buenos Aires, where she is serving a sixyear sentence for corruption.
Kirchner called Lula’s visit “a political act of solidarity,” in a post on X following the meeting, and said that the Brazilian leader had also been a victim of political persecution. In 2017, Lula faced a corruption conviction for which he served
19 months in prison.
Kirchner was president of Argentina from 2007 to 2015 and last month began serving a sentence for participating in a fraud scheme that steered public road
work projects to a close ally while she was president. The sentence, upheld in June by the country’s Supreme Court, also bars Fernandez from holding office. (Excerpt from Reuters)
US, Colombia recall their ambassadors in diplomatic tussle
The United States has recalled its top diplomat from the US embassy in Bogota over statements it said were made at high levels of the Colombian government, the US State Department said on Thursday, prompting the South American country to also recall its ambassador to the US President Donald Trump’s administration recalled Chargé d’Affaires ad interim John McNamara “for urgent consultations following baseless and reprehensible statements from the highest levels of the Government of Colombia,” State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement.
“In addition to the recall
of the Chargé, the United States is pursuing other measures to make clear our deep concern over the current state of our bilateral relationship.”
The State Department did not specify which comments it took issue with or what other measures were being pursued by Washington.
After Washington’s announcement, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced that he was recalling Colombia’s ambassador to the US, Daniel GarciaPena.
In a lengthy post on X, Petro said the diplomat should come back to discuss the two countries’ bilateral agenda, listing priorities such as climate cooperation,
anti-narcotics efforts and migration policy.
Colombia’s foreign ministry said Minister Laura Sarabia, who announced her resignation on Thursday, is “in communication with the United States while she is in office until they designate a new foreign minister who will be in charge of the matter.”
Colombia is the third-largest US trading partner in Latin America.
The US is Colombia’s largest trading partner, largely due to a 2006 free trade agreement that generated $33.8 billion in twoway trade in 2023 and a $1.6 billion US trade surplus, according to US Census Bureau data. (Excerpt from Reuters)
US Coast Guard offloads US$20.1M worth of illicit drugs interdicted in Caribbean Sea
The United States Coast Guard say the crew of its Cutter Northland on Wednesday offloaded approximately 2,220 pounds of cocaine and 3,320 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated US$20.1 million at Coast Guard Base Miami Beach.
The US Coast Guard said the seized contraband was the result of four interdictions in the Caribbean Sea by the crews of HMCS William Hall and HNLMS Friesland with embarked Coast Guard law enforcement detachments.
“Stopping harmful and illicit narcotics from reaching our shores and entering our communities is a team effort,” said Commander Brian Gismervik, Coast Guard Cutter Northland’s commanding officer.
“In the dynamic maritime environment, it takes the combined efforts of our joint force DoD (Department of Defense), DHS (Department of Homeland Security), and international partners to com-
bat transnational criminal organizations,” he added.
The US Coast Guard said detecting and interdicting illicit drug traffickers on the high seas involves significant interagency and international coordination.
It said Joint Interagency Task Force-South, in Key West, Florida, conducts the detection and monitoring of aerial and maritime transit of illegal drugs.
“Once an interdiction be-
comes imminent, the law enforcement phase of the operation begins, and control of the operation shifts to the US Coast Guard for the interdiction and apprehension phases,” the statement said.
“Interdictions in the Caribbean Sea are performed by members of the US Coast Guard under the authority and control of the Seventh Coast Guard District, headquartered in Miami,” it added. (Loop Caribbean News)
PM Modi arrives in T&T to grand reception, welcome by PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday for the second leg of his five-nation tour, where he was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour at Piarco International Airport.
The Prime Minister was received by his counterpart, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who was joined by 38 ministers and four parliamentarians. In a gesture seen as a mark of respect for Indian culture, Persad-Bissessar welcomed PM Modi wearing traditional Indian attire.
In a post on X, the PM said, “Landed in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago.
I thank Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, distinguished members of the Cabinet and MPs for the ges-
ture of welcoming me at the airport. This visit will further cement bilateral ties between our nations. Looking forward to addressing a community programme in a few hours from now.”
The Prime Minister also interacted with members of the Indian diaspora, many of whom had gathered at the air-
port hours in advance to catch a glimpse of him. During his two-day visit, PM Modi will hold talks with President Christine Carla Kangaloo and Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar.
The Prime Minister is also expected to address a joint sitting of Trinidad and Tobago’s Parliament. (DD News)
2 arrested after Police find corpses piled up at private Mexican crematorium
Two people have been arrested after police found 383 corpses piled up in a private crematorium in northern Mexico’s Ciudad Juarez near the US border, the local prosecutor’s office said Tuesday, attributing the grisly find to negligence.
The bodies were “deposited irregularly in the crematorium, which were not cremated,” Eloy Garcia, communications coordinator of the Chihuahua state prosecutor’s office, told AFP.
Garcia said the corpses were “stacked” in no apparent order in various rooms of the building where the crematorium operates in the city about 10 miles south of El Paso, Texas.
They were “just thrown
like that, indiscriminately, one on top of the other, on the floor,” he said. All the bodies had been embalmed. Instead of ashes, relatives were given “other material,” Garcia said.
Authorities estimated that some of the remains could have been there for up to two years.
Garcia blamed the “carelessness and irresponsibility” of the crematorium owners, adding that all such businesses “know what their daily cremation capacity is.”
State Attorney General César Jáuregui Moreno met with families concerned that their loved ones may be among the bodies recovered from the crematorium, the prosecutor’s office said Tuesday.
“We will seek the highest possible penalty for those responsible,” he said. “We will conduct a thorough investigation, seeking to minimize the re-victimization of families already experiencing this.”
Forensic officials said that of the 383 bodies, 218 are male, 149 female and 16 are currently undetermined. Authorities did not specify whether the corpses belonged to victims of criminal violence.
Mexico, a country hard hit by organized crime, has been suffering for years from a crisis in its forensic system, saturated by the high number of bodies to be processed, the lack of personnel and budgetary restrictions. (Source: CBS News)
Crew members of USCGC Northland stack bales of illicit drugs on pallets during a drug offload at US Coast Guard Base Miami Beach, July 2, 2025 (US Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Diana Sherbs)
The unmanned narco submarine seized by Colombian Navy boats
(Credit: Colombian Navy)
PM Narendra Modi is on an official visit to T&T from July 3-4 at the invitation of PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva poses for photos with Argentina’s former President Cristina Kirchner, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, July 3, 2025
Around the World OIL NEWS
Oil prices ease on US tariff uncertainty ahead of expected OPEC+ output boost
Oil prices fell slightly on Thursday as investors worried that U.S. tariffs could slow energy demand ahead of an expected supply boost by major crude producers.
Brent crude futures settled 31 cents, or 0.45%, lower at $68.80 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 45 cents, or 0.67%, to $67 in thin trade on the eve of the Independence Day holiday.
President Donald Trump’s 90-day pause on implementation of higher U.S. tariffs ends on July 9, and several large trading partners have yet to clinch trade deals, including the European Union and Japan. Oil traders are worried about the impact on the economy and fuel demand.
Also weighing on prices, OPEC+ is expected to agree to raise output by 411,000 barrels per day at its policy meeting this weekend.
Also, a private-sector survey showed service activity in China – the world’s biggest oil importer – expanded in June at its slowest pace in nine months as demand weakened and new export orders declined.
In the U.S., a surprise build in crude inventories also highlighted demand concerns in the world’s biggest crude consumer.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday that domestic crude inventories rose by 3.8 million barrels to 419 million barrels last week. Analysts in a Reuters poll had expected a drawdown of 1.8 million barrels.
U.S. energy firms this week cut the number of oil rigs by seven to 425, their lowest since September 2021, energy services firm Baker Hughes said in its closely followed report on Thursday. The oil rig count is an indicator of future output. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Hamas seeks ceasefire guarantees as scores more killed in Gaza
Hamas is seeking guarantees that a new U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal for Gaza would lead to the war’s end, a source close to the militant group said on Thursday, as medics said Israeli strikes across the territory had killed scores more people.
Israeli officials said prospects for reaching a ceasefire and hostage deal appeared high, nearly 21 months since the war between Israel and Hamas began.
Efforts for a Gaza truce gathered steam after the U.S. secured a ceasefire to end a 12-day aerial conflict between Israel and Iran, but on the ground in Gaza, intensified Israeli strikes continued unabated, killing at least 59 people on Thursday, according to health authorities in the territory.
Hamas is seeking clear guarantees that the ceasefire will eventually lead to the war’s end, the source close to the group said. Two Israeli officials said those details were still being worked out.
Egyptian and Qatari mediators have been working to secure U.S. and international guarantees that talks on end-
US Congress passes Trump’s sweeping domestic policy bill
The US Congress on Thursday passed President Donald Trump’s massive package of tax and federal spending cuts, delivering the president the first big legislative win of his second term.
Its passage followed a fierce arm-twisting campaign by GOP leaders to unite a deeply divided party behind Trump’s sweeping domestic agenda.
The president is expected to sign his “big, beautiful bill” on Friday, July 4, at 5 pm ET as he celebrates the Fourth of July at the White House.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries broke the modern-day record for the
Deputy
longest House floor speech, using his “magic minute” to speak for hours against the bill and drawing out
debate on the package.
The multi-trillion-dollar bill is set to unlock tax cuts and funding boosts for
national security, partly paid for by the largest cut to the federal safety net in decades.
A senior White House official called President Donald Trump “the omnipresent force behind this legislation,” stressing his “unique and powerful relationship with lawmakers”.
Vice President JD Vance was a “key player” as well, the official said, showing up to the Republican Senate conference lunches and holding various meetings with senators, including Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, working to push it through Congress. (Excerpt from CNN)
Russian Navy chief killed in
strike near Ukraine border
The deputy head of the Russian Navy has been killed near the Ukrainian border, the Russian military has confirmed.
Major General Mikhail Gudkov, appointed by President Vladimir Putin to the senior naval post in March, was killed during what Russia’s defence ministry described as “combat work” in the western Kursk region, which borders Ukraine’s Sumy region.
The ministry gave no further details about the operation.
Gudkov’s death is one of the most high-profile losses
for Moscow since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
According to Oleg Kozhemyako, governor of
the Primorsky region in Russia’s Far East, ten others were also killed in the incident.
Kozhemyako made the
announcement on Telegram, where he described Gudkov as a loyal officer who died “carrying out his duty”. Unconfirmed reports from Russian and Ukrainian military-linked Telegram channels suggest the deaths were the result of a Ukrainian missile strike on a Russian command post near the town of Korenevo, around 30 km (19 miles) from the border. Ukraine has not officially commented on the attack – consistent with its usual policy of not confirming targeted strikes on Russian territory. (Excerpt from BBC News)
ing the war would continue as a way of convincing Hamas to accept a two-month truce proposal, Egyptian security sources said.
A senior Israeli official close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said preparations were in place to approve a ceasefire deal.
A separate source familiar with the matter said that Israel was expecting Hamas’ response by Friday and that if it was positive, an Israeli delegation would join indirect talks to cement the deal.
The proposal includes the staggered release of 10 living Israeli hostages and the return of the bodies of 18 more in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, an official familiar with the negotiations said on Thursday.
Of the 50 remaining hostages in Gaza, 20 are believed to still be alive.
Aid would enter Gaza immediately, and the Israeli military would carry out a phased withdrawal from parts of the enclave, according to the proposal. Negotiations would immediately start on a permanent ceasefire. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Michael Madsen, actor of "Kill Bill" and "Reservoir Dogs" fame, dead at 67
Actor Michael Madsen, a stoic actor who worked frequently with director Quentin Tarantino and appeared in various acclaimed films from the 1980s onwards, has died, according to his publicist Liz Rodriguez. He was 67.
Rodriguez told CNN that Madsen had a cardiac arrest and was found unresponsive in his Malibu home Thursday morning.
Sgt Christopher Jauregui, watch commander for the Los Angeles Sheriff Department Lost Hills Station, confirmed to CNN Thursday that deputies responded to Madsen’s home in Malibu this morning and found him “unresponsive”.
He was pronounced dead at 8:25 a.m. local time, and no foul play is suspected, Jauregui added.
Madsen was a prolific dramatic actor who was best known for his work in several of Tarantino’s films, including “Reservoir Dogs”, “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood” and the “Kill Bill” films.
Madsen’s off-screen life was marked by some legal and personal troubles.
Last year, he was arrested on suspicion of domestic battery misdemeanour after a dispute with his wife, DeAnna Madsen, according to Variety and online arrest records.
The actor filed for divorce from DeAnna Madsen one month later.
Madsen was open about his struggles, telling the Independent in a 2020 interview that he went through some “terrible, terrible times”, including his DUIs and an injury following a motorcycle accident.
In 2022, Madsen’s son Hudson died by suicide in
Hawaii. With over 320 credits to his name on IMDb, Madsen also had a whopping 18 titles in development at the time of his death.
Madsen was also preparing to release a book called “Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems”. (Excerpt from CNN)
Putin insists Russia "will not step back from goals" in Ukraine in hourlong call to Trump, the Kremlin says
Vladimir Putin didn’t make any shift in Moscow’s position during a call with Donald Trump that lasted over an hour. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Moscow wants a negotiated end to the Ukraine war but would not step back from its original goals.
He told reporters: “Our president also said that Russia will achieve the goals
it has set; that is, the elimination of the well-known root causes that led to the current state of affairs and to the current acute confrontation, and Russia will not back down from these goals.”
Ushakov also said that while Russia was open to continuing to speak with the US, any peace negotiations needed to occur between Moscow and Kyiv.
Putin and Trump did not talk about halting some US weapons deliveries to Ukraine. They also had “a detailed discussion” on Iran and the Middle East, and the leaders agreed they would continue discussions going forward. There’s been no word from the White House, so we don’t yet know what Trump made of the call. (Excerpt from The Guardian)
A makeshift memorial to Major General Mikhail Gudkov
House Speaker Mike Johnson, alongside Republican lawmakers, shows the final tally of the vote on Trump’s signature bill of tax breaks and spending cuts (The Guardian)
SUDOKU
Choose your words wisely. Keeping the peace while maintaining equilibrium at home will be difficult. An innovative response will give you something to consider.
Refuse to let stubbornness get in your way. Communication, incentives and praise will help you get your way. Honesty, integrity, compromise and equality will be necessary.
Attending a trade show will help you discover options you didn’t realize were available. Show your enthusiasm, and someone will help you gain ground.
Follow your instincts, question expenditures and refrain from sharing too much personal information. Social events are likely to cost more than anticipated.
If you are neglectful, problems will surface in your personal life. You’ll be pressed for time or preoccupied with work or something intriguing, but save yourself grief by taking care of personal matters.
The more interaction, the better. What you discover today will help you change how you learn, use your skills and promote who you are and what you can bring to the table.
Concentrate on getting things done. How you handle your business affairs, money and reputation will set the stage for how far you can go. Trying something new will lead to connections and growth.
You’ll be hard to please, and someone you’re trying to impress will disappoint you. It’s time to try something new and expand your interests.
Stick close to home and maximize your surroundings. Adjust your workflow to help you engage in the hobbies you enjoy most. Settle differences with others and move forward.
Tidy up loose ends and make plans to do something engaging. Social events or pampering yourself will help rejuvenate you. An offer will grab your attention, but do your due diligence to avoid scams and fakes.
Pay attention and ask questions. Keep your emotions in check and your mind on what’s unfolding. Awareness is the best way to combat anyone trying to exploit you.
Do something nice for yourself. A chance to socialize will lead to an unexpected opportunity. Explore your options and enjoy whatever comes your way.
India’s new-ball bowlers picked off England’s top order with the same ease that Shubman Gill ticked off records during his maiden Test double-hundred to take control of the second Test. This was a near-perfect day for India’s captain: Gill cruised to 269 before offering his first genuine chance, then snaffled a blinding catch at third slip to prompt England’s slump to 25 for 3. Gill made clear at the toss that he supported India’s decision to reinforce their lower-order batting after two collapses at Headingley, and it has paid off to date. He added 203 for the sixth wicket with
on and cover, and treated Harry Brook’s medium pace with utter disdain as he swept landmarks aside.
He started England’s innings off the field after his 387-ball epic, then took a spectacular catch four balls after walking back on. Akash Deep, India’s replacement for Jasprit Bumrah, cramped Ben Duckett for room from around the wicket and induced a thick outside edge; Gill flung himself acrobatically to his left and clung onto the chance, sending last week’s fourth-innings centurion crashing back to earth.
quicks cause damage after epic 269
Ravindra Jadeja, then 144 more for the seventh wicket with Washington Sundar, turning 211 for 5 into the highest total that England has conceded in the Stokes-McCullum era.
Gill personified class and composure. He milked Shoaib Bashir for singles with the ease of a father teaching his son a lesson in the back garden, ca- ressed back- to-back bound - aries off Brydon Carse through wide mid-
Akash struck again with his next ball, a full outswinger which Ollie Pope optimistically tried to whip leg-side. His outside edge flew to KL Rahul at second slip, who parried the chance up to himself and grabbed it at the second attempt; Pope said after his first-innings century in Leeds that he was determined to avoid a familiar tail-off as the series wears on but has now failed twice since.
India were rampant and soon had a third when Mohammed Siraj, who bowled a faultless opening spell, had Zak Crawley edging to first slip. It was a text- book Crawley dis -
missal, pushing with hard hands – and no foot movement – at a ball which left him, which left Brook and Joe Root to pick up the pieces: after 151 overs in the field, England were still 362 short of the follow-on mark.
While Root was watchful, Brook sensed an opportunity to take the pressure off himself – and to get rid of some close catchers. After surviving an umpire’s call LBW shout – with Sharfuddoula consistent across both innings – Brook charged Siraj, flat-batting him through extra cover before launching him for six down the ground. He made it through to stumps, the deficit still 510.
role at No. 4. Chief among his records were the highest
Sundar struggled early against the bumper barrage. But he decided to take him on after lunch, pulling him over long leg for six, and otherwise held up one end while Gill dominated the scoring.
Stokes opted to preserve Chris Woakes’ body and his own: neither man bowled an over after their initial bursts, which started the day, with Bashir relied upon to hold up an end as Tongue, Brydon Carse and Brook rotated from the other. It took Joe Root, curiously under-bowled, to break the partnership, ripping an off-break past Sundar’s outside edge and into middle stump.
Gill fell shortly after tea, mistiming a pull straight to square leg; it was the first genuine chance he had offered, after a half-hearted lbw shout on the first evening and an outside edge past second slip in Woakes’ early burst. Bashir was handed the final two weeks on a platter: Akash holed out to long-on and Siraj walked past a carrom ball to be stumped.
India’s selection plan is halfway to working: Gill explained that Sundar’s selection ahead of Kuldeep Yadav was due to the extra batting he provided, and he played a major role in helping India add a national record of 372 runs for the last five wickets. The second half relies upon them taking 20 England wickets with the resources available: after three early strikes, so far, so good. (ESPNcricinfo)
aaa SCOREBOARD
India 1st Innings
Yashasvi Jaiswal c †Smith
b Stokes 87
KL Rahul b Woakes 2
But a 52-run stand could not take the shine off Gill’s day. It is increasingly hard to fathom that he averaged barely 35 in Tests before this tour; he has led by example in his first series as captain and already looks ensconced in
score by an Indian men’s captain and the highest score by any Indian batter in England.
He was brilliantly supported by India’s two spin-bowling all-rounders. Jadeja was the aggressor at the start of the day, slapping Ben Stokes through the off side for back-to-back boundaries. The pair exchanged words about Jadeja’s habit of taking two strides down the pitch before deciding whether to attempt a run, and both were warned off the danger area by umpires.
Jadeja fell shortly before lunch, gloving Josh Tongue’s short ball down the leg side for 89, and
Karun Nair c Brook
b Carse 31
Shubman Gill (c) c Pope
b Tongue 269
Rishabh Pant † c Crawley
b Shoaib Bashir 25
Nitish Kumar Reddy b Woakes 1
Ravindra Jadeja c †Smith
b Tongue 89
Washington Sundar b Root 42
Akash Deep c Duckett
b Shoaib Bashir 6
Mohammed Siraj st †Smith
b Shoaib Bashir 8 Prasidh Krishna not out 5
Extras (b 6, lb 6, nb 8, w 2) 22
Total 151 Ov (RR: 3.88) 587
Fall of wickets: 1-15 (KL Rahul, 8.4 ov), 2-95 (Karun Nair, 23.3 ov), 3-161 (Yashasvi Jaiswal, 45.1 ov), 4-208 (Rishabh Pant, 60.1 ov), 5-211 (Nitish Kumar Reddy, 61.4 ov), 6-414 (Ravindra Jadeja, 107.3 ov), 7-558 (Washington Sundar, 138.4 ov), 8-574 (Shubman Gill, 143.3 ov), 9-574 (Akash Deep, 144.2 ov), 10587 (Mohammed Siraj, 150.6 ov)
his new
Harry Brook clips one to the leg side
Akash Deep struck twice in his first two overs
Jadeja tackles a short ball
Shubman Gill now has the highest Test score by an Indian in England
Shoaib Bashir and England struggled to find a way past Shubman Gill and Ravindra Jadeja
FRIDAY, JULY 4, 2025
Attention turns to East Bank/West Demerara in
Following a weekend of compelling action in Berbice, the Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast will now focus on the East Bank and West Demerara zones.
Despite weather disruptions necessitating venue adjustments, the Berbice leg delivered on its promise, showcasing a wealth of talent.
Montra Jaguars emerged as the dominant force from the Berbice cluster, securing their passage to the national finals at the Guyana National Stadium.
The question now is: who will join them?
This weekend, 16 teams will compete in the East Bank Demerara/West Demerara zone, all vying for a coveted spot in the national finals.
The teams set to compete are Diamond Gunners, Soesdyke XI, Eccles AllStars, 592 Gunners, Hyde Park, Young Guns, Laluni, Timehri Sports Club, Visionary Vipers (from Saxacalli), Trendsetters, The Guard, Stripling
Warriors, Tourism Guyana Titans, Young Steppaz, CJIA Warriors, and K&B All-Stars.
Organisers have indicated that the persistent inclement weather may lead to further venue changes.
Updates will be announced as soon as confir-
mations are made.
Some matches may be staged in Laluni, aligning with the tournament’s objective of bringing cricket to various communities across Guyana.
Beyond the prestige of reaching the national final, the zone champion will also
“I’m not here for fun...I’m here to make a statement” –sends stern warning to competitors
With Round Two of the GMRSC Vitz Cup Championship fast approaching, competitor Luis Kumar is turning up the heat in the B Class battle.
After a tough setback in Round One that saw him penalised and stripped of points, Kumar is entering the July 6 showdown at the South Dakota Circuit with zero on the scoreboard—but not without intent.
“Sudesh Rajaram and Reeyaz Hamid should enjoy their time at the top of the table while it lasts,” Kumar declared, “I’ll be there to spoil the party.”
The Boost High Octane driver, piloting car #619, has made it clear he’s not just showing up for participation points. With his eyes set on redemption, Kumar believes the B Class title fight will come down to grit, strategy, and determination.
“My car is bone stock—if you pop the hood, you’ll see a stock air filter. Some of these guys are running performance filters and should be going faster, but I’m still right there in the time bracket with them,” he explained. “It won’t be a straightforward race for the top two. They’ll need to make sure they don’t break out of the bracket—and that’s exactly what I’ll be using against them.”
“It’s going to be aggressive, cat-and-mouse racing,” he continued. “I’ve got to climb from the bottom, but I’m ready for the challenge. I’m not out there to have fun on race day—I’m there to make a statement.” Kumar encourages fans to come out and enjoy the action. “I encourage everyone to come out on Sunday and enjoy the Vitz Cup races.”
With confidence and focus, Kumar promises to shake up the standings and make his presence felt as the Vitz Cup continues to heat up in the 2025 GMRSC Circuit Racing Championship.
be rewarded with a significant prize of $300,000 and a specially commissioned trophy.
They will then be able to compete for a further $1.7 million in the national finals. The runner-up in the zone final will also re-
ceive a substantial prize of $100,000.
The stakes will be even higher at the national finals.
The runner-up will take home $700,000, along with a trophy and medals, while the two losing semi-finalists will each receive $300,000.
was filled with exciting matches
The tournament will continue with the Georgetown/ East Coast Demerara zone scheduled for July 19th and 20th, followed by the Essequibo zone on July 26th and 27th. The grand national finals are slated for Sunday, August 3rd.
Malicia Lawrence to make circuit racing debut on Sunday
Trailblazing drag racer and Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) executive Malicia Lawrence is set to make her circuit racing debut on Sunday, July 6, at the South Dakota Circuit.
Known for breaking barriers on the drag strip, Malicia will be stepping into the newly formed female circuit racing class, driving a Toyota Levin for Team SVC Racing.
Her transition comes after a decorated run in drag racing where she made history by becoming the first female to win a bracket class
outright, claiming victory in the 14-second category against male competitors at the 2024 Drag Wars 3. She also topped the female class, further cementing her place as a force in Guyana’s motorsport scene.
The female circuit class was introduced during the 2024 Caribbean Clash of Champions by GMR&SC executive Luis Kumar. The initiative was designed to encourage more women to transition from drag to circuit racing, following their
growing success on the strip. Sharima Khan made history as the first female circuit champion last year, and now Malicia is ready to carry the torch forward.
“This is a whole new challenge for me, but I’m up for it,” said Malicia, “winning on the strip was just the beginning. I’m proud to help lead the charge as we carve out more space for women in all forms of motorsport.”
Round 2 of the 2025 Circuit Racing Championship will see Malicia go wheel-to-wheel in
the female class on the
ly extended 1.6-mile South Dakota Circuit. The event will also feature action from Sports Tuner to Group 4, bikes, and the Vitz Cup. Action starts at 10 AM. With Team SVC Racing in her corner and a growing legacy behind her, all eyes will be on Malicia Lawrence as she begins her next chapter on the circuit.
new-
Malicia Lawrence
Luis Kumar and his machine
Berbice
Reckon you’ve seen this before? You wouldn’t be wrong. Australia’s top order again failed to inspire on the opening day in Grenada before Beau Webster and Alex Carey performed a familiar rescue act amid another crucial call by the third umpire and further fielding woes for West Indies.
Australia were wobbling on 110 for 5 when Travis Head fell, the TV umpire ruling Shai Hope’s brilliant take was clean, having earlier been 50 for 3 as a solid base vanished. Webster and Carey then added 112 in 25 overs, and the game was threatening to run away from West Indies, but they were able
rescue Australia after top-order slump again
to chip away at the lower order and bowl Australia out for 286 inside 67 overs, with Alzarri Joseph claiming four wickets. To the home side’s benefit, light prevented Australia from having a brief bowl at them, with the umpires taking the players off just as they returned to the field.
Although not on the level of Barbados, there was assistance for the quicks – Roston Chase said he would have bowled had the toss gone his way –and suggestions uneven bounce could play a part later in the game, particularly with the delivery which scuttled to remove Pat Cummins, so the true value of Australia’s first innings total will only become clearer tomorrow, although it certainly felt competitive.
Webster, who brought up an 87-ball fifty, again played superbly to follow up his vital second innings performance in Barbados and the runs he scored in the World Test Championship final. He was assured in defence and picked his moments to attack, including a slogsweep for six off Chase and one of the shots of
the innings when he laced Jayden Seales through the off side. But he was left frustrated when he gambled on a second run to deep point in an attempt to keep the strike and was beaten by Keacy Carty’s throw. It meant 300 were proved to be out of reach.
Carey lived something of a charmed life. He could have been run out on 10 and 51, was dropped by Shai Hope from an attempted ramp on 46, reached his half-century from 68 deliveries with an edge between the keeper and a wide slip, and edged wide of slip again on 55.
But he was also quick onto anything loose, showing the same counter-punching skills that have been so evident in his game over the last 18 months or so. In all, 46 of his 63 runs came in boundaries, including a swivel-pull for six off Justin Greaves, only for him to clout a long hop from the same bowler to midwicket when a significant innings appeared for the taking.
Australia’s earlier batting performance had been dominated by unconverted starts. Sam Konstas put away a strong early pull shot and played with more urgency than in
Barbados, although he was also beaten on multiple occasions, including three times in a row by Seales. There was also a flashing edge over gully against Shamar Joseph, which Roston Chase got a fingertip to, although it would have been a spectacular catch. Konstas followed that with a sweetly struck cover drive.
He and Usman Khawaja, who went to 6000 Test runs when he reached 2, had taken Australia to a promising 47 for 0 when the innings then took on a very different look. For the second time in the series, Khawaja was lbw to Alzarri Joseph from around the wicket that proved a bail-trimmer when Khawaja went to the DRS. Four balls later, Konstas drove at the recalled Anderson Phillip, who had been preferred to left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, and edged behind for an unfulfilled 25.
Australia’s slide turned into 3 for 3 when Steven Smith, back in the side after the finger injury he sustained in the World Test Championship final, top-edged a pull against the lively Alzarri Joseph that flew high to fine leg, where Phillip judged it
very well. The score-line read a familiar 50 for 3.
The opening session ended with a dramatic over from Seales. Cameron Green, who had shaped up encouragingly although could have been run out on 16 if mid-on had collected cleanly, drove to cover where John Campbell spilt a regulation catch. But Green could still not make it through to the interval when, four balls later, he went for a big drive on the last delivery of the over and sent a thick edge to gully, where Chase held it well.
Head threatened to perform another rescue act but fell early in the afternoon
following a brief delay for rain when the TV umpire, this time Nitin Menon, was back in focus as Hope took a brilliant catch low to his left when Head glanced a climbing delivery from Shamar Joseph. Hope was convinced of the catch, but it went upstairs; unlike in Barbados, the decision went West Indies’ way, and Head did not look thrilled as he walked off.
Another quick wicket and Australia could have been bundled out, but as they have tended to do, a couple of players found enough runs to give their high-class attack something to work with.
(ESPNcricinfo)
Alzarri Joseph took 4 for 61
Alex Carey made 63 and Webster 60
Back-to-back fifties for Beau Webster
Around this time next week, five T20 franchise teams from across the world will send an electric jolt through the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, igniting the second edition of the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL).
As teams begin to arrive in the Land of Many Waters tomorrow, preparations by the GSL team are moving full steam ahead for next Thursday’s bowl-off.
Sharing an update on those preparations was GSL Director Jamie Stewart, who announced the extension of the ticket bundle deals.
“The teams are arriving, coming in over the weekend, and the party’s about to begin. We’ve got a very special promotion that the Guyana Amazon Warriors have graciously made available to Warriors fans: if you buy your
prep ramps up ahead of next week’s commencement
GSL tickets this week, you will have the opportunity to get the same amount of Warriors CPL tickets. So, we’re doing a GSL-CPL bundle; you get both your cricket events back-toback. Hug excitement.
We urge you to come out and avail yourself of that opportunity,” Stewart revealed about the deal which will run until next Tuesday, July 8.
Quizzed about the recent showers that have been rearing their ugly heads, Stewart joked about other methods of keeping them at bay, assuring that the Providence venue is ready.
He joked, “If someone knows someone who can do a rain dance or something to stop this weather bucketing down, that would be helpful, but hopefully we’re getting it out of the way this week.
The stadium team are working very hard to get Providence ready.”
The GSL Director also took the opportunity to shed some light on another recently announced initiative, which will see Guyana utilising the global platform to push its tourism.
“I think the president’s vision for GSL has always been that
Ohe’s looking to build a sports tourism ecosystem. The Global Super League is the first event of what hopefully is many for the country to build a sports tourism industry here,” Stewart explained.
He went on to add, “With that in mind, we’ve asked the teams to send players early so we could work with Guyana Tourism so we could take them to some of the beauty spots around the country
and project the beauty of Guyana to the world. These major sports events offer a major platform to introduce Guyana to people who otherwise wouldn’t have Guyana in their consideration. We want to use this event to show off Guyana, Guyana’s people and your great hospitality to the world.”
Stewart later divulged plans for ticket sales at the National Stadium, speaking to the value of those tickets.
“Yeah, we’re working on that. So, just please check out GSL socials for updates on that. There are two things: one, it’s an amazing ticket, those mound tickets for the Warriors games. $1000, you get top-flight cricket, you get to watch your Warriors, and you get major Soca performances from both international and Guyanese superstars for half an hour at halftime. I mean, has there even been a better value ticket in Guyana? So that’s amazing value,” Stewart disclosed.
The ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) will run from July 10 to 18 with hosts the Guyana Amazon Warriors and defending champions the Rangpur Riders, the Hobart Hurricanes, the Central Stags and the Dubai Capitals competing for a USD $1M prize purse.
n June 3rd, at Elquemedo Willett Park in Nevis, Guyana’s National Male Under-19 team faced off with Barbados Under19in their first match of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Rising Stars Men’s Under-19 Championship.
Captain Jonathan Van Lange won the toss for Guyana, and his team opted to field first. Barbados
proceeded to post a very competitive total of 287 for 6 on the board after their allotted 50 overs. Captain Joshua Dorne led from the front with composed innings of 63 runs from 67 balls. His innings included 7 boundaries and one six. Opening batsman Zachary Carter provided a significant contribution as he made 62 runs. Wicket-keeper batsman Gadson Bowens (43)
and Shaquan Belle (39) were the other key contributors.
The Guyanese bowlers struggled to pick up wickets at regular intervals throughout the innings. Van Lange, Parmeshwar Ram, Riyad Latiff, Golcharran Chulai and Romeo Deonarine all picked up one wicket each.
The Guyanese team’s batting performance in response was grim, as they
were dismissed for 148 runs in 31.3 overs. Romeo Deonarine scored 19, Afraz Ali Budhoo scored 23, and Shamar Apple scored 39, the highest score for the batting team. As the bowlers dominated the Guyana team, no other batter managed to reach double figures. For Barbados, R’Jai Gittens led the bowl-
ing assault with figures of 4 for 26. Xaundre Baptiste and Joshua Dorne each took two wickets.
Joshua Dorne had a very good all-round performance
Shamar Apple top-scored for Guyana
The GSL T20 players will this weekend have the opportunity to see a few of Guyana’s tourist sites
GSL Director Jamie Stewart