Over
35 professionals participate in youth & family violence training hosted by FESS unit
Thirty-five professionals from key Government agencies have come together for a two-day Youth and Family Violence Training hosted by the Family Enhancement Services Section (FESS) of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.
The event aims to strengthen responses to violence among young people and families.
The training conference, held at the Regency Hotel, brought together professionals from across the Ministry, including FESS, the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), and the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit (SO&DVPU), along with officers from the Ministries of Home Affairs and Education.
This collaborative initiative seeks to strengthen partnerships, deepen un-
derstanding, and foster dialogue on effective strategies to support youth and families across Guyana, while addressing and preventing violence in schools and homes.
Delivering opening remarks, Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud underscored the importance of tackling youth and family violence as a critical component of national development.
“This will be a very productive and fruitful session where you, as professionals, can pool your ideas, share creative and innovative suggestions, and collectively move in a strategic direction to eradicate violence among youths. Together, we can develop coordinated strategies that drive us toward the same goal,” Minister Persaud stated.
She further emphasised the need to address the root
causes of youth violence from an early stage, highlighting that every individual and agency plays a vital role in the solution.
“Violence among youth continues to be a pervasive
issue both globally and here in our country. To truly gain an in-depth and balanced understanding, we must look at its root causes and address them comprehensively – family by family,
community by community, and collectively as a country,” she said.
Minister Persaud also noted that empowering young people requires creating an enabling environment that fosters encouragement, motivation, positivity, and inclusion – one where they feel valued, heard, and supported to reach their full potential.
Through its partnership with USAID, the Ministry has introduced the YSET test under the Y-RIE programme, which focuses on building resilience and empowering atrisk youth. Additionally, six youth-friendly spaces have already been established, with a goal of expanding to 10 by the end of the year.
The Ministry has also launched a national anti-bullying and anti-body-shaming campaign in schools to promote positive behaviour and self-es-
teem among students.
Facilitator of the training, Lauristan Choy, from the University of Guyana, explained that the initiative is designed to enhance understanding of family dynamics and strengthen coordinated responses across systems.
“Youth and family violence present complex challenges that intersect the justice and child protection systems. Many young people are victims, witnesses, or even perpetrators of violence within their families. This training seeks to close systemic gaps and develop more effective, unified interventions,” Choy explained.
During the morning session, participants engaged in meaningful discussions with Minister Persaud, sharing valuable insights and recommendations based on their experiences working directly with youth and families.
Human Services and Social Security Minister, Vindhya Persaud
BRIDGE OPENING
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, October 24 –05:25h–06:55h and Saturday, October 25 – 06:00h–07:30h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY
Sunny skies interrupted by brief midday thundery showers are expected during the day, and clear skies are expected at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius.
Winds: East North-Easterly to Easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.91 metres.
High Tide: 17:45h reaching a maximum height of 2.65 metres.
Low Tide: 11:22h and 23:45h reaching minimum heights of 0.69 metre and 0.57 metre.
Nov 3 first sitting of 13th Parliament – President Ali
President Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday signed a proclamation to declare that the first sitting of the 13th Parliament will be held on Monday, November 3, 2025, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.
In a video statement, the Head of State said this decision was made in pursuance of Article 69 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana, which states the President must issue a proclamation to set the time and place for each Parliamentary session.
According to Article 69 (1), “Each session of the Parliament shall be held at such place within Guyana and shall begin at such time (not being later than six months from the end of the preceding session if Parliament has been prorogued or four months from the end of that session if Parliament has been dissolved) as the President shall appoint by proclamation.”
Since the 12th Parliament was dissolved on July 4, 2025, to facilitate the holding of the September 1 General and Regional Elections, the President was required to convene the 13th Parliament by November 4.
Hence, President Ali’s announcement of the convening of the 13th Parliament with the first sitting set at 14:00h on November 3 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre is well within the constitutional provisions.
Only last month, Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs had confirmed to reporters that he had received from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) the names of all 65 persons to be seated as Members of Parliament (MPs) following the September 1 polls.
The parties to be represented in the National Assembly are the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) with 36 seats, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) with 16, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) with 12, and Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) with 1 seat.
The WIN party, founded by US-sanctioned and indicted businessman Azruddin Mohamed, managed to cop the Leader of the Opposition post after ousting the PNC-led APNU as the main Parliamentary opposition and booting APNU’s former coalition partner, the Alliance For Change, from the House.
At the first session on November 3, the 65 new Parliamentarians would take their Oaths of Office, after which the Speaker of the National Assembly would then be appointed to run for the next five years.
Meanwhile, the Parliament Office has already started the cleri-
cal work in preparation for the new session, including preparation of registers, letters to the accountant general for the members to be paid their salaries and allowances, and division lists, among others.
With at least three local banks shutting down the accounts of several candidates associated with the WIN party – many of whom have been named as Parliamentarians –the Clerk of the National Assembly had previously indicated that those persons would be paid cash.
MPs
In addition to the sanctioned Mohamed, WIN’s Parliamentary representatives include former APNU+AFC Ministers and MPs Dawn HastingsWilliams, Tabitha SaraboHalley and Natasha SinghLewis, along with Duarte Hetsberger, who was the personal assistant to embattled former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield.
On the other side, the PPP/C Government will see
a return of most of its MPs from the last Parliament including its 25-member Cabinet that comprises of: Anil Nandlall, SC, as Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs; Gail Teixeira as Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance; Hugh Todd as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Dr Ashni Singh as Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance; Dr Frank Anthony as Minister of Health; Vickram Bharrat as Minister of Natural Resources; Vindhya Persaud as Minister of Human Services and Social Security; Kwame Mc Coy as Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister as well as Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill, who will be supported by Madanlall Ramraj; Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha with Vickash Ramkissoon as his junior; Housing Minister Collin Croal with Vanessa Benn as his junior; Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports
Charles Ramson with Steven Jacobs as his junior; Priya Manickchand as Minister of Local Government and Regional Development; Sonia Parag as Minister of Education; Oneidge Walrond as Minister of Home Affairs; Susan Rodrigues as Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, and Deodat Indar as Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation.
Additionally, the new faces that have been introduced to the Cabinet include Zulfikar Ally as Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation; Sarah Browne-Shadeek as Minister of Amerindian Affairs; and Keoma Griffith as Minister of Labour, Manpower Planning.
These 25 Ministers will be joined in the Parliament by James Bond, Zamal Hussain, Seepaul Narine, Bagmatie Veerasammy, Suresh Singh, Vishwa Mahadeo, Jennifer Westford, Alister Charlie, Anand Persaud, Lenox Shuman, Peter Ramsaroop, Sanjeev Datadin, and Sonia Latchman.
Moreover, Thandi McAllister and Mischka White Griffith were named as Parliamentary secretaries for the PPP/C.
In the APNU camp, leader Aubrey Norton will not return to Parliament, sending businessman Terrence Campbell to lead the party’s Parliamentary group that includes Juretha Fernandes, Ganesh Mahipaul, Sherod Duncan, attorney Dexter Todd and David Hinds.
Meanwhile, Amanza Walton-Desir will be taking up the lone seat secured by FGM on the opposition side.
President Dr Irfaan Ali
Editor: Tusika Martin
News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761
Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707
Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Industrial Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown
Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com
Confronting youth and family violence & early intervention
The persistent challenge of youth and family violence in Guyana continues to demand urgent, coordinated, and innovative responses.
The Youth and Family Violence Training Conference hosted by the Family Enhancement Services Section (FESS) of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security represents an important step in advancing this effort. Bringing together 35 professionals from key agencies, including the Childcare and Protection Agency, the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit, and officers from the Ministries of Home Affairs and Education, the initiative underscores a growing national recognition that violence, whether in the home or among youth, must be tackled not in isolation but through unified, multi-sectoral engagement.
Violence among young people is a social and developmental issue. It undermines community safety, disrupts education, erodes family structures, and perpetuates cycles of trauma that impede national progress. Addressing this crisis requires proactive measures, as it calls for early intervention, prevention, and the creation of positive spaces where young people can thrive emotionally, socially, and intellectually. As Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud aptly emphasised, understanding and tackling the root causes of youth violence from an early stage is crucial. This approach aligns with the ministry’s broader vision of building resilient families and communities that are capable of nurturing the nation’s youth toward productive and peaceful futures.
The conference’s objectives – to strengthen partnerships, deepen understanding, and foster dialogue – are precisely what is needed to confront the complex interplay between family dysfunction, socioeconomic stress, and behavioural outcomes in youth. Too often, violence is treated as a symptom rather than a signal of deeper issues such as neglect, poverty, exposure to abuse, or lack of supportive networks. The involvement of professionals from various agencies ensures that the conversation is not limited to the confines of one ministry or discipline but extends across education, justice, and community welfare sectors. Such cross-sectoral collaboration is indispensable if the goal is to build sustainable systems of prevention and rehabilitation.
Central to this national response must be empowerment of both families and youth. Empowerment begins with inclusion, encouragement, and access to opportunities that cultivate self-worth and hope. The Ministry’s efforts to establish youth-friendly spaces across the country are a commendable investment in this direction. These spaces provide safe environments for young people to access mentorship, counselling, and skilldevelopment resources that can redirect potential negative behaviours toward positive, transformative paths. The planned expansion from six to ten youth-friendly spaces by year-end demonstrates commitment to ensuring that interventions reach more communities, especially those most vulnerable to violence and social dislocation.
Additionally, the Ministry’s partnership with USAID through the YSET test under the Y-RIE programme signals a shift toward data-driven approaches in addressing youth vulnerability. By assessing risk factors and building resilience among at-risk youth, the programme is positioning itself as a proactive instrument in preventing violence before it manifests. This focus on resilience-building is critical; it allows young people not only to avoid harmful environments but also to develop coping mechanisms that enable long-term personal growth and stability.
Equally significant is the ministry’s national anti-bullying and bodyshaming campaign, which targets one of the most formative spaces in a young person’s life: the school environment. By promoting positive behaviour, self-esteem, and empathy among students, the campaign helps to cultivate cultures of respect and non-violence from an early age. In doing so, it challenges the normalisation of aggression and exclusion that often fuels broader patterns of violence within families and communities.
The presence of academic expertise, such as that of facilitator Lauristan Choy from the University of Guyana, adds further depth to the initiative. Choy’s emphasis on understanding family dynamics and closing systemic gaps between the justice and child protection systems points to the importance of comprehensive frameworks rather than fragmented interventions.
Youth and family violence cannot be viewed through a single institutional lens; it spans multiple domains – legal, psychological, educational, and social. Strengthening coordination among these systems is therefore essential to ensure that victims receive timely support, perpetrators are rehabilitated, and prevention strategies are rooted in evidence and empathy.
Ultimately, the fight against youth and family violence is not one to be won in conference halls alone. It requires sustained political will, community participation, and societal transformation. Every household, school, faith-based organisation, and neighbourhood has a role to play in shaping environments that reject violence and foster respect, communication, and care. While Government-led initiatives are crucial in setting the policy direction, their success depends largely on grassroots implementation and civic engagement.
The ongoing work of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security reflects a growing awareness that addressing violence is integral to national development. A country cannot truly advance if its youth are unsafe, unheard, or unsupported. Building a culture of peace begins with investing in families, strengthening institutions, and believing in the potential of every young person to rise above adversity. The recent conference is therefore a training exercise of reaffirmation of Guyana’s collective commitment to ensuring that every child and family can live free from violence and empowered to contribute to a stronger, more compassionate nation.
The Amazon Adventure 2025 Classic Car Enduro rally visited the Iwokrama River Lodge earlier this week before heading to Georgetown and then continuing their epic cross-border journey. According to bespokerallies.com, the adventure runs from October 3 to 25 with a route that includes Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil and Guyana – and participants take a “well-prepared classic car or a 4×4 of any age on this adventure” (Iwokrama River Lodge photo)
Leading conservationists just decided that genetically engineering wild animals is OK – sometimes. They’re right
By Helen PilcHer
Do you think we should genetically modify wildlife? What if we could make seabirds resistant to the flu that has been exterminating them en masse, just by tweaking their DNA a smidgen? Or make fish that can shrug off pollution or coral that can survive warming waters? Engineers are in the sorts of change that could occur naturally, given enough time, if only the wildlife would stop dying already.
Thanks to newly emerging methods, such as CRISPR, these feats are within reach.
Recently, conservationists met at the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) 2025 World Conservation Congress, where they debated GM wildlife and voted on a proposed moratorium that would stymie their release into the wild. Ahead of the meeting, a group of more than 90 NGOs issued a press release urging the IUCN to “say no to engineered wild species.” But humans have been altering the DNA of other species for millennia.
It all began about 30,000 years ago, when our species started to domesticate wild animals. When we invited them into our world, slowly but surely, the grey wolf morphed into the dog, the red jungle fowl transformed into the chicken and the aurochs gave way to domestic cattle.
Then, a few hundred years ago, people started to deliberately breed their most desirable animals together. By repeating the process across generations, key features became exaggerated. Cattle became meatier. Pigs became
longer. Dogs took on distinctive features which are now identifiable as Dachshunds, Dalmatians and Dobermanns. Selective breeding, as it is known, led to the creation of hairless cats, goldfish with quiffs and goats that faint when they are surprised. No kidding.
All of these features are underpinned by changes to the animals’ DNA. We may not have modified their genetics by design, but when we select for specific characteristics, the related DNA sequences hitch along for the ride. Over time, this leads to genetic change.
It doesn’t stop there, however. As I point out in my book, Life Changing: How Humans are Altering Life on Earth, human activity is now altering the DNA of all life on Earth. Before our species evolved, life was shaped by natural forces. Evolution and the genetic change that goes with it tended to happen slowly across many millennia.
Now, as we warm our world, pollute our planet and destroy the few wild places we have left, we are causing evolution to accelerate. Genetic change is being witnessed on timescales of decades and centuries. Central Park’s white-footed mice have acquired versions of genes that help them to process fatty foods and a fungus found on mouldy nuts. It seems they have evolved the ability to eat pizza and peanuts. Meanwhile, in Nebraska, American cliff swallows have evolved smaller wings to help them dodge traffic, and in Puerto Rico, crested anole lizards have evolved longer legs and stickier toes to help them cling to buildings.
If altering the DNA of wild species is a line you feel should never be crossed, then I have news for you. That ship sailed long ago. Although the hi-tech methods of today’s scientists may be different, the end result – modified organisms with new characteristics and subtly different DNA – is the same.
New technologies often spawn anxiety. When Robert Bakewell, the 18th-century agriculturalist who championed selective breeding, began his work with farm animals, critics said it was unnatural and potentially dangerous.
The same concerns were later raised with Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards as they pioneered the development of IVF in the 70s. In the 90s, cloning expert Ian Wilmut received similarly short shrift when he unveiled the birth of Dolly the sheep.
Then, selective breeding turned out to be useful. IVF led to the creation of happy, healthy babies. And cloning became adopted by the agricultural industry, which uses it to replicate elite breeding animals. Sometimes, methods that are initially perceived as new, artificial and unnerving become accepted over time as they become familiar and are proven to be safe and helpful.
The deliberate genetic modification of wildlife could be one of these methods.
Those who raised their concerns at the IUCN conference were right to do so. One way that gene editing differs from traditional breeding methods is that it can be used to introduce entirely novel characteristics. For example, scientists have taken genes from jellyfish and coral and added them to zebrafish
to create fluorescent versions of the popular aquarium pets. Genes from different species can be mixed and matched, so it’s important to decide which changes are acceptable and which are off limits.
New methods also have the potential to alter DNA, not just at the individual level, but at the population level too. A technique called gene drive rewrites the traditional laws of inheritance by ensuring that a particular gene gets passed down to all offspring, rather than the usual half. This can be used to quickly spread helpful features, such as disease resistance, down the generations. But if researchers choose to modify a gene that curtails fertility, the same technique could be used to wipe out an entire species.
Yet conservationists aren’t proposing to trick out the genes of wild species on a whim. Instead, they realise that in the midst of this current mass extinction, where 150-200 species go extinct every day, traditional conservation tools aren’t enough. So it was a win for conservation when IUCN members in Abu Dhabi chose to reject the moratorium on releasing GM wild species and instead accept a policy that enables researchers to proceed with genetically modifying wildlife cautiously, with key decisions made on a case-by-case basis. Humans are the ones driving biodiversity loss among all species. We have new tools that could help to address this travesty, so isn’t that at least worth exploring? (The Guardian)
Helen Pilcher is a science writer and the author of Bring Back the King: The New Science of De-Extinction.
No status downgrade of CJIA’s rescue and fire-fighting capacity – GCAA refutes report
The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has maintained that there was no downgrade of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport’s (CJIA) status as it relates to its rescue and firefighting capacity.
On Thursday, online news entity Demerara Waves reported that the GCAA had downgraded the CJIA’s, which is Guyana’s main port of entry, rescue and firefighting capacity from a category eight to category five due to limitations in both the fire tenders and number of personnel assigned to the airport – something which the aviation regulatory body refuted.
In a statement on Thursday evening, the GCAA said both the headline – “GCAA downgrades Cheddi Jagan Airport’s rescue and firefighting capaci-
ty, but airport remains safe” – and the implications contained within the article are misleading.
“Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Egbert Field, Director General of the GCAA, firmly states that there has been no downgrade of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport’s status from category eight to category five. Furthermore, he has not signed any document to suggest such a change,” the statement detailed.
Moreover, the GCAA further pointed out that unnamed sources in the article, unfortunately, provided inaccurate information to the news agency regarding the category rating of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
“The GCAA does not disclose or discuss inspection findings and reports on aviation stakeholders with third
parties,” the regulatory body contended in the missive.
Nevertheless, the GCAA maintains its commitment to the highest standards of aviation safety and regulatory oversight and assures the public that Cheddi Jagan International Airport continues to operate safely and efficiently.
Only in September, it was reported that Guyana had recently concluded the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) USOAP (Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme) and USAP (Universal Aviation Security Audit Programme) audits. The results from those audits showed that Guyana was successful in both areas of operations.
The USOAP and USAP audits are programmes run by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to assess the aviation safety and security oversight capabilities of its member states, not specific airlines or airports.
Moreover, just last month, Guyana also received a positive assessment of its aviation security system following an audit conducted by two aviation security auditors from Transport Canada.
The auditors evaluated the nation's security protocols, infrastructure, and operational practices across its aviation sector. Their examination encompassed all critical areas designed to ensure the safety and integrity of air travel, from screening procedures to regulatory over-
sight.
In their report to the GCAA Director General, the auditors found no issues of significant concern, indicating a high standard of compliance and effectiveness.
Meanwhile, back in August 2024, Guyana had achieved an overall score of 66.36 per cent for the effective implementation of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards following an audit which was done between May and June last year, under the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP-CMA) Programme.
Guyana is a signatory to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Convention on International Civil Aviation (also known as the Chicago
The impact of gold smuggling
Dear Editor,
It is profoundly perplexing to my faculty of reasoning that there exist intellectuals and others who would so brazenly prostitute their supposed credibility in defence of an indicted, OFACsanctioned gold smuggler in Guyana, in such an unashamedly profanatory manner, as though the authorities are obliged to absolve the accused of all alleged crimes. Furthermore, a rational mind would find it exceedingly difficult to comprehend how these very so-called intellectuals, under different circumstances – had the alleged offences been attributed to an agent of the incumbent political party – would have upended the world with vocifer-
ous opposition, protests, and cries of corruption and illegality.
Having established this on unapologetic grounds, let us now contextualise the quantifiable magnitude of the financial crime under discussion, not to mention the related and unrelated transgressions.
Ten thousand kilograms of smuggled gold equates to 352,740 ounces. With the average price per ounce of gold between 2015 and 2019 standing at US$1400, this results in a staggering sum of US$494 million, or GY$105 billion. Consequently, the US$50 million owed in taxes represents a mere 10 per cent of that total. It is important to note that the royal-
ty rate for large-scale mining operations is eight per cent. However, the calculation of the US$50 million (or GY$10 billion) omits corporate taxes, which are not included in this figure.
To further elucidate: this is no ordinary instance of smuggling. It is vast in its scope. Consider the following:
- Total declared gold exports in 2024 amounted to 434,067 ounces. This means that the volume of gold smuggled by a single entity over five years was equivalent to 81 per cent of the total declared gold exports for the entire country in a single year.
- To offer additional perspective, GY$105 billion could finance two and a half
- It could fund ten years of “Because We Care” cash grants for schoolchildren.
- It could cover three years of old age pensions for all pensioners.
- It could construct 10,500 low-income houses – benefiting 10,000 families.
- It could underwrite the cost of an entire year’s fuel consumption for the entire country.
- This sum ($105B) equals approximately 7291 years of the Opposition Leader’s salary. This list is by no means exhaustive.
Yours sincerely, Joel Bhagwandin
Convention).
As a member state of ICAO and a participant in the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit-Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP-CMA) Programme, Guyana commits to providing ongoing information related to the establishment and implementation of its safety oversight system.
Notably, Guyana’s performance surpassed its 2007 ICAO audit and the last four audits conducted by ICAO within the South American region.
The audit was robust and comprehensive and covered the Convention on International Civil Aviation and the safety-related provisions of its Annexes in the following eight areas.
These include legislation, organisation, personnel licensing, aircraft operations, airworthiness of aircraft, aircraft accident and incident investigation, air navigation services and aerodromes and ground aids. With the exception of aircraft accidents and incident investigations, each audit area was assessed using eight critical elements, including primary aviation legislation; specific operating regulations; state system and functions; qualified technical personnel; technical guidance, tools and provision of safety-critical information; licensing, certification, authorisation and/or approval obligations; surveillance obligations; and resolution of safety issues.
Cartoons
Evening News (RB)
Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown
Stop Suffering
Indian Movie - 14 Phere (2021)
News Break 12:05 Indian Movie - Ulajh (2024)
Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River bridges.
Director General of the GCAA, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Egbert Field
The GCAA says there is no downgrade of the CJIA’s rescue and fire-fighting capacity
Page Foundation
You’ve learnt all about negative numbers – now it’s time to multiply and divide them!
When you multiply positive numbers, the answer is always positive: 3 × 2 = 6
But what happens when one of the numbers is negative? Then it would look like this: –3 x 2 = –6
You can think of this as moving backwards on the number line instead of forwards.
Now, what if both numbers are negative?
−3 × −2 = 6
How can two negatives make a positive?
A negative means “go the other way”.
Two negatives? You turn around twice — so you’re facing forward again!
So here are the easy rules to remember:
Same signs = positive answer
• Different signs = negative answer
The same rules work for division, too:
−8 ÷ −2 = 4 (Same signs = positive answer)
12 ÷ −3 = −4 (Different signs = negative answer)
Example 1
You owe your friend $5 each week for 2 weeks. Each week you give away $5, so that’s – $5. 2 weeks × (− $5 each week) = −10
At the end of the 2 weeks, you’re down $10!
1. Paint the entire canvas black.
2. While the paint is still wet, use tissue to gently dab purple, navy, and white paint across the centre to create a galaxy effect.
Example 2
A team loses $36 and shares it evenly among 6 players. The $36 loss is written as – $36
– $36 ÷ 6 players = −6 Each player loses $6. Practice
8. In a game, you lose 12 points every time you hit a trap. You hit 3 traps. What’s your total score change?
9. The roller coaster goes down 15 meters each second for 4 seconds. How far down did it go?
10. The temperature drops 2°C every hour for 7 hours. How much did the temperature change altogether?
Splatter
4. Look up your favourite constellation to get the star pattern right and place your holes. Carefully use a compass to puncture the canvas.
5. Gently remove the star covers from the LED lights, then poke each LED through from the back. Replace the star covers to secure the LED in place.
6. Paint a fine white line to finish your constellation, then secure the battery pack to the back of the canvas using tape. (bakerross.co.uk)
By Li-young Lee
1.
Through the night the apples outside my window one by one let go their branches and drop to the lawn. I can’t see, but hear the stem-snap, the plummet through leaves, then the final thump against the ground.
Sometimes two at once, or one right after another. During long moments of silence I wait and wonder about the bruised bodies, the terror of diving through air, and think I’ll go tomorrow to find the newly fallen, but they all look alike lying there dewsoaked, disappearing before me.
2. I lie beneath my window listening to the sound of apples dropping in the yard, a syncopated code I long to know, which continues even as I sleep, and dream I know the meaning of what I hear, each dull thud of unseen applebody, the earth falling to earth once and forever, over and over.
[Source: Rose (BOA Editions Ltd., 1986)]
Do you think grown-ups are boring? Why do you think they are so boring all of the time? What is something fun that boring grown-ups could do instead of being so boring?
3.
white paint using a paintbrush to represent stars, then let the canvas dry completely.
Government steps up support as millers offer rice farmers $2300 per bag of paddy
…pledges continued subsidies to farmers, negotiations with millers
The Government of Guyana is intensifying support for rice farmers to cushion the effects of rising production costs and fluctuating market prices, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said at the launch of the Nano Fertiliser at the Burma Rice Research Station.
The Minister acknowledged that some rice millers are paying as little as $2300 per bag of paddy, which he described as unsustainable. He pledged to continue en-
gaging with millers and the Rice Millers Association to secure better prices for farmers.
“We have different prices across the country; some areas are as high as $3000, but others are as low as $2300. That cannot work. I will be meeting with the millers again shortly to find a way forward,” he reassured farmers at the launch on Tuesday.
In addition to dialogue, the Government has made substantial financial inter-
ventions, including $4 billion in fertiliser subsidies in 2024–2025 and $1.9 billion in direct price support for the first crop of 2025 when paddy prices dropped.
“We have never turned our backs on farmers; our goal is to make sure you can produce efficiently and still have money in your pocket.”
Other forms of assistance include the distribution of free chemicals, seed paddy support, and paddy bug management programmes, which include
paying labourers to spray affected areas.
Mustapha noted that while global market pressures, particularly from large rice exporters such as India, have affected local prices, the Government remains committed to protecting farmers’ livelihoods.
“The Government is doing its part to keep costs down and ensure you get the best possible price. We will continue to fight for increased prices for farmers,” the Minister assured.
Choose proper treatment over “bush medicine” – Cancer Institute ...negligence, misinformation
Director of Outreach at the Cancer Institute of Guyana, Dr Syed Ghazi, is urging women battling breast cancer to prioritise proper medical treatment, including chemotherapy, over unproven “bush medicine” and misinformation circulating in communities.
In the most recent broadcast of the Starting Point podcast, he warned that negligence, denial, and misguided traditional advice are among the leading causes of preventable deaths in Guyana, despite major advancements in cancer treatment and awareness.
Dr Ghazi said that while Guyana has made tremendous progress in cancer care – moving from limited resources to now offering advanced diagnostic and treatment options such as mammograms, CT scans, and radiation therapy –many patients still present themselves late due to fear, stigma, or reliance on unscientific remedies.
“You know, a breast biopsy is done by the stroke, like a thick needle, and we take a thin little tissue out. We numb the area and put the needle there. But then what happens? She goes home, and the neighbour comes
among biggest hurdles in fight against cancer, says Director
and says, ‘...Hey, don’t do the biopsy. It spreads it’, you know, or somebody comes and says, ‘No, no, no, no, no, don’t go to this treatment. You know, they will give you chemotherapy and stuff. I know this bush doctor, and he or she treats your breast cancer and/or does the fasting’, you know; food fasting, vegetable fasting, whatever.”
“These treatments are developed after spending millions of dollars or, you know, whatever kind of money on research; thousands and thousands of hours of research and studies are spent. And then comes the treatment where we know
what kind of receptors are there. You know, it’s advanced now. We know what kind of receptors are there and what kind of chemotherapy should be used to kill those cancer cells. And cancer cells, by the way, when people say chemotherapy kills normal cells and radiation kills normal cells, that’s not true. They only target the DNA because cancer is a disease of sick DNA,” the director explained.
The Cancer Institute of Guyana was the first in the Caribbean to offer radiation therapy. Today, the facility continues to expand, with plans to introduce brachytherapy, a highly ef-
fective internal radiation treatment particularly beneficial for cervical cancer.
Dr Ghazi revealed that the institute is collaborating with the Government to further expand oncology services, including plans for a national cancer hospital.
However, despite growing awareness, he noted that misinformation remains a serious challenge.
“Still, there’s a long way to go, a long way to go. The Cancer Institute had radiation, but we are trying to get a brachytherapy unit, which is internal radiation, which we don’t have, and patients go to Suriname and other countries, you know, and spend millions of dollars. The Government helps the patients and subsidises it. It’s costing a lot of money. So recently the Cancer Institute made a
contract, and soon we are going to have brachytherapy. We are trying to raise funds for that. It’s kind of US$200,000, something like that… In a meeting a few months ago with the president, I found him also very interested. He’s passionate about treating those patients who are suffering. I think they’re working on an oncology hospital also. So, it is going to be a good milestone soon when we will have not one but maybe multiple institutions trying to treat cancer patients,” Dr Ghazi said.
Dr Ghazi also highlighted that breast cancer is more common in women who have no children or who are on hormone replacement therapy.
According to Dr Ghazi, early detection remains the most powerful weapon against cancer.
“So, when people say cancer is not curable, I would confront them and say, ‘No, cancer is curable. The only thing is if you detect it early; it’s the same thing with breast cancer. If you detect breast cancer early, you know, it’s curable. I mean, you can find the mass or lump before it spreads into your armpits or anywhere you do the –whatever surgery you have to do – and lumpectomy or whatever, according to the patient case, you’re cancer-free. How many hundreds of survivors look at that point also? And when you say the number is increasing, tell me how many survivors there are now. They’re a hundred times more than what they used to be years ago,” he added.
Director of Outreach at the Cancer Institute of Guyana, Dr Syed Ghazi
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha
ACop shot dead during alleged confrontation with businessman Model…
Lance Corporal attached to the Impact Base at the Brickdam Police Station was shot dead on Thursday during an alleged confrontation with a businessman at Stelling Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara (WCD).
The deceased is 35-yearold Richard Marvin Hayes of School Street, Vreed-enHoop, WCD.
The shooter, 37-year-old Robert Hoosein of Crane Housing Scheme, WCD, has since been arrested, while his.32 Taurus pistol was confiscated, and his licence was revoked.
Based on reports received, the now-deceased Policeman visited the suspect’s cell phone shop on Wednesday and enquired about several mobile phones he intended to purchase but
later left.
At about 09:00h on Thursday, Hayes returned to the place of business, indicated his interest in purchasing a phone but again
walked back out.
At the time, Hoosein was reportedly packing boxes in his store and claimed that Hayes began to behave in a hostile manner, and was asked to leave the premises.
He also claimed that Hayes continued his hostility, during which it is alleged that he picked up a heat gun and threw it at Hoosein, hitting him in the chest.
This led to a confrontation which led to Hoosein drawing his firearm and discharging one round which struck Hayes in his rightside chest.
Meanwhile, upon hearing the loud explosion of a gunshot, the victim’s brother, who operates a barbershop in close proximity, rushed over and saw Hayes bleeding from his chest.
He was taken to the
West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he was treated but subsequently succumbed. Hoosein was arrested as investigations continue.
Y…for new politicians?
our Eyewitness recently stumbled over this Netflix series, “Narcos”, dramatising the life and times of Pablo Escobar – the Colombian young man who created one of the most lucrative businesses in the world today – cocaine!! Based on real-life events in Colombia and Miami from the seventies to the nineties – it’s news, but the producers concede liberties were taken on personal depictions to jazz up the story!! Americans gotta have their sex scenes, don’t they??
The other night, he sat through three episodes and was so struck by parallels to some recent events in our dear old Mudland that he’s committed to ploughing through the entire series. Pablo – we’ll call him this, OK?? – starts out dirt poor, growing up in rural Colombia. Which means he gotta hustle to make a living or remain a peon in subsistence agriculture. He starts out in 1979 smuggling electronic goods – like TVs and music systems – from Peru and learns the basic rule of the business: the officials at all levels who’re supposed to prevent smuggling, gotta be bribed!!
He's introduced to the cocaine business from Peru – made from the leaves of the coca plant that had been cultivated since the Spanish era for its cocoa bean – by a fella named “Cockroach”! Village kids crush the leaves with their feet, and the cocaine is extracted through a series of simple processes involving passing it through gasoline, boiling the resulting paste in acid and finally baking it. From these “cocaine” labs – more like kitchens under tents in the Peruvian jungles – Pablo smuggled the cocaine across the border in the wheels of spare tyres of his trucks.
Pablo had contacts in Miami who’d collect packets of cocaine in the suitcases of airline crews or pellets swallowed by mules who flew up to Miami!! At that time, marijuana was the drug on the US’ radar – and the cocaine abused in the ghettoes, where there was addiction, was ignored by the authorities. Pablo transferred his production to Medellín – where he lived in Colombia – and cranked up production and delivery with his own planes. Within a few years US$ BILLIONS were being made. But significantly, cocaine spread into the white suburbs, and the Ronald Reagan administration – and the DEA – took notice of Pablo!!
Meanwhile, back in Medellín, Pablo brought all the drug dealers and shippers together to form the Medellín Cartel. He had so much money he couldn’t launder; he took to burying tonnes of cash in the ground. He also started to build houses and community centres and distributed money freely to the poor!! Finally, he decided to become President of Colombia by running for a Congressional Seat from his district!!
And wins the seat!! That’s as far as your Eyewitness got – but you see the parallels??
…for drug interdiction?
While Caricom – notably WITHOUT T&T! – wrings its hands about Trump’s new American approach to stop cocaine smuggling from South America into Miami via the Caribbean Sea, the US president broadened his field of activity to the Eastern Pacific!! Most of the heroin – also abused in the States – comes from the Asian “Golden Triangle”, where, not so incidentally, it spread after the Brits cultivated the poppy plant to extract opium to exchange in China for tea!! What goes around comes around!!
Last Tuesday, two persons were killed on a drug boat by a US Navy warship, and on Wed another 3 were sent to Davy Jones' locker!! From this operational expansion we can expect that Trump’s gonna continue turning the screws on Mad Maduro – as his covert CIA field agents prepare for an early transition to a new, more democratic regime. Mad Maduro continues bluffing that Venezuela can defeat the US forces!! Never the day canoe can bore punt!!
…on drug info
It’s a positive development that former Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman contradicted the former Guyana Gold Board Head to confirm that Sanction Man's name was cited by the FBI as involved in gold smuggling between 2015 and 2020!!
Supports full investigation!!
Dead: Richard Marvin Hayes
Arrested: Businessman Robert Hoosein
Guyana can tap into India’s hospitality, healthcare expertise – High Commissioner
...says long-standing capacity-building cooperation is ongoing
As Guyana continues to build out key economic sectors, India is offering its vast expertise in areas such as hospitality and healthcare to fill vacancies while simultaneously helping to build local capacity.
During a recent interview with the Guyana Times, Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr Amit Telang, explained that his country wants to play a significant role in the current exponential growth that Guyana is undergoing.
In fact, he pointed out that India has vast expertise and skills in many of the industries that Guyana is now building out.
“The hospitality industry, I think, also happens to be one of them because you are going to have some of the new hotels coming up.
I think there’s a lot of emphasis in terms of the development of tourism and other areas. So, I think there would be a requirement [for skilled personnel], and we’ll be happy to assist,” the Indian diplomat noted.
Already, some major Indian companies are eyeing the dozen new hotels being constructed here with the intention of providing managerial services, the High Commissioner disclosed.
He said, “…some of our companies are looking at the possibility [of] whether they would like to collaborate in operating one of the new hotels, which is coming up… [And in] the services sector, we see a lot of Indian companies interested there.”
Guyana has already turned to India for personnel to fill gaps within the local healthcare sector, especially with demand created following the recent construction of six new regional hospitals across the country.
Only back in July, a New Delhi-based recruitment firm – Ansari Manpower Overseas Consultant – published an advertisement inviting male and female nurses in India to work at Government hospitals in Guyana.
President Dr Irfaan Ali has already made it clear that he would not be accepting any excuses when it comes to fully staffing the new hospitals and other medical facilities that are being built out across the country. Noting that the human resources gaps in the medical field need to be fixed in the short term as Guyana builds its own cohort of healthcare professionals, the Head of State instructed the Health Ministry to seek the needed skills from overseas.
Supplying skilled manpower
According to the Indian diplomat, his country is ready to supply the skilled technical personnel needed for the local health sector, from technicians and nurses to doctors.
“So as and when there is a requirement, I think the Government of Guyana, through the High Commission in Delhi, is also looking at the possibility of getting skilled manpower,” Dr Telang stated.
In fact, the High Commissioner disclosed to this publication that there is already an increasing number of Indian healthcare workers in Guyana.
“We are aware of this because we have noticed that in terms of the Indians who are coming to us to avail of the consular services, like renewing their passports and other things, attestation of documents. So, we have definitely seen over the last couple of months that the number of people who are coming from India
has increased. And most of them, I think, are in the disciplines like healthcare… So, that’s how we gauge that these are the areas in which there is a requirement, and more and more people, the skilled personnel from India, are coming,” the diplomat explained.
Moreover, he went on to note that one of India’s top healthcare providers, the Apollo Hospitals Group, which operates a large chain of hospitals back in India, has been in discussions with the Guyana Government on the possibility of being part of one of the new hospitals recently built here.
“So, they are discussing these modalities as to how they can do that,” the Indian diplomat informed this newspaper.
Only back in April, a delegation from the Apollo Hospitals Group was in Guyana for high-level discussions aimed at exploring strategic healthcare partnerships with the local health sectors. Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony had expressed his Ministry’s eagerness to deepen bilateral engagement with the group as part of Guyana’s ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare delivery and medical expertise across the
country.
That visit had set the stage for enhanced cooperation in specialised medical training, clinical services, and institutional development between the two countries.
Only last November, during the historic visit of the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to Guyana, the two countries signed several cooperation agreements in the healthcare sector.
Capacity-building cooperation
Meanwhile, capacity-building cooperation between the two countries remains strong, as the Indian Government is also assisting Guyana in developing its local capacity.
“Every year, I would say, close to around 100 people from Guyana go to India for various capacity-building projects. Some of these training courses are also done in a way that experts travel from India, and they impart training here. And some of these areas are new areas, taking into consideration the requirement projected by the Government of Guyana,” he asserted.
Among those new areas of cooperation are training in forensic science and space cooperation, as well as disaster management and maritime support.
Only earlier this month, the Indian diplomat had a meeting with the newly appointed Minister for Public Services, Government Efficiency and Implementation, Zulfikar Ally, during which they discussed the long-standing capacity-building cooperation between the two nations under the flagship Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme and the possibility of further diversifying this initiative.
“So, we are in the process of also looking at the possibility of training programmes for the civil services and other Government employees for their skill upgradation, providing them [with training on the] digital format for providing faster and efficient service delivery. So, some of these areas, I think they are emerging as attractive areas, which are of interest also to the Government of Guyana,” High Commissioner Telang stated.
Just before the 2025 elections, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo had explained that Government Ministries and agencies could be reorganised to ensure better efficiency in public service delivery.
Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr Amit Telang
Over 80 agriculture students graduate; charged to advance Guyana’s food security ...as
GSA celebrates 60 years of excellence in agricultural education
The Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) on Wednesday celebrated a major milestone in agricultural education and national development with its 60th graduation ceremony, held at the National Cultural Centre. A total of 84 students received diplomas and certificates in various disciplines, reaffirming the institution’s pivotal role in advancing Guyana’s food security, innovation agenda, and regional agricultural growth.
Delivering the feature address, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha congratulated the graduating class and underscored the crucial role they will play in Guyana’s ongoing transformation. He noted that since its establishment in 1963, GSA has remained a cornerstone of the country’s agricultural development, producing skilled professionals through its programmes in Agriculture, Forestry, Animal Health
and Veterinary Public Health, Fisheries Studies, and Agro-Processing.
“Since its founding, the Guyana School of Agriculture has been
tion across Guyana and the Caribbean. Through collaboration with agencies such as NAREI, the Ministry of Agriculture, and Caricom partners, the school is helping to drive the region’s goal of reducing the food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.”
Minister Mustapha also emphasised that the graduates are entering the workforce at a time of significant change and modernisation within the agriculture sector. “You are graduating at a time of transformation,” he noted. “Agriculture is no longer just about food—it is about national security, economic growth, and sustainability. The future of this sector depends on your ability to innovate and lead.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Education Sonia Parag, who delivered the charge to the graduates, commended
this country long before the discovery of oil,” Minister Parag said. “Your training must now serve the nation— whether in animal health, forestry, or agro-processing. It is through your work that Guyana will continue to grow as a food-secure and self-sufficient country.”
She further encouraged the graduates to view their achievement as the start of a lifelong journey of learning and growth, highlighting new opportunities being developed through government initiatives, including future degree programmes in veterinary medicine.
“Your achievement is a milestone,” she said. “Use it to propel yourselves forward, and ensure that whatever you do reflects excellence and productivity.”
Minister Parag joined Minister Mustapha and
Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture Vickash Ramkissoon in celebrating the achievements of the graduates and the continued impact of the
dedicated to providing high-quality agricultural education and practical training,” Minister Mustapha said. “GSA continues to play a vital role in supporting food security and agricultural innova-
them for their perseverance and dedication. She urged them to apply their skills with integrity and purpose, reminding them that agriculture remains central to Guyana’s identity and prosperity.
“Agriculture has carried
GSA on national and regional development.
Over the past six decades, the Guyana School of Agriculture has produced nearly 5,400 graduates, many of whom have gone on to play leading roles in advancing food production, sustainability, and innovation across Guyana and the wider Caribbean.
The 60th graduation ceremony served not only as a commemoration of academic achievement but also as a testament to GSA’s enduring legacy of industry-ready professionals who are helping to modernise agriculture and secure Guyana’s position as a leader in regional food production and innovation.
Graduates pose at GSA’s 60th graduation ceremony
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha
Education Minister Sonia Parag
NA launches Town Day 2025 under green & tourism-driven themes
The Mayor and Town Council of New Amsterdam officially launched Town Day 2025, on Thursday, marking the start of a vibrant series of activities that will run from October 26 to November 29, 2025, under the theme “Rooted in Nature, Our Town, Our Home – Clean, Green and Welcoming.”
Speaking at the launch, Mayor Wainwright Macintosh emphasised that the municipality continues to embrace tourism as a key pillar of local economic growth, describing the annual celebration as a unique opportunity to promote New Amsterdam as a tourism destination.
“We recognise, as a town, the importance of embracing tourism as a product. Such an activity brings economic opportunities to the town from, our local hotels to our restaurants and vendors. When visitors come, they need accommodation, food, and entertainment. This allows both small and large businesses to
benefit,” the Mayor said.
He also extended gratitude to regional security agencies and emergency services, including the Guyana Police Force, Fire Service, and Prison Service, for their continued support. McIntosh underscored that collaboration among all stakeholders is key to ensuring a safe and successful celebration.
“It is very important for us to ensure inclusion, equity, and transparency in every-
thing we do. Tourism offers both micro and macroeconomic benefits, and we must position New Amsterdam to take full advantage of those opportunities.”
Focus on education, science, and the environment
Deputy Mayor Kirk Fraser, who is coordinating Town Day 2025, revealed that this year’s celebration includes a Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics (STEM) project involving local secondary schools. The initiative, he explained, aims to foster innovation and problem-solving among young people, particularly around solid waste management, a persistent issue in the township.
“This year, we’re focusing on education as a vital part of our development. Our science project addresses the management of solid waste using technology and data-driven solutions. We want our students to become innovators who can help tackle real problems like garbage disposal in an environmentally friendly way.”
In keeping with the “clean and green” theme, Fraser announced new environmental regulations for the events, including a ban on glass bottles at all Town Day activities.
“We are implementing a system that prohibits glass bottles and encourages biodegradable alternatives. Vendors will also be responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of their vending areas, ensuring that after the events, the town is quickly restored to normalcy.”
He also assured the pub-
lic that security will be significantly enhanced during major events, particularly the signature Street Fair on November 22.
“We will be very strong on security this year. There will be zero tolerance for disorderly behaviour, including motorcyclists riding through crowds. Our goal is to ensure that Town Day 2025 is incident-free and enjoyable for everyone,” Fraser warned.
Packed calendar of events
Town Day 2025 will feature a wide variety of activities catering to all ages and interests. According to committee member Devon Gallay, several events have already taken place, including a barbecue and a “Stand It Up” lime.
Upcoming October events include: an All-White Party at Club Eclipse; a Cycle Road Race in honour of Cancer Awareness Month and an Essay Writing Competition for primary school students For the month of November, events include a Football Competition; Cycle Race and Domino Competition, the first-ever Auto Expo and Bike Show, as
well as a Job and Skills Fair, among other activities.
Commitment to a cleaner, safer, and more vibrant town
Regional Commander Assistant Commissioner Shivpersaud Bacchus has committed to deploying police officers at all official Town Day activities, ensuring safety and order throughout the festivities.
The Mayor concluded the launch with a call for civic pride and community involvement:
“Town Day is not just a celebration, it is an opportunity to showcase who we are as New Amsterdamers,” let’s keep our town clean, green, and welcoming, and let’s make this year’s celebration one that reflects our pride and unity as a community,” the Mayor said.
Town Day 2025, promises to blend tradition with innovation — celebrating local culture while advancing New Amsterdam’s vision of becoming a model green and tourism-friendly municipality. Interested persons can check out the NA M&TC FB page for more information.
New Amsterdam's Mayor Wainwright McIntosh speaking at the launch
Belize High Commission becomes 1st tenant of World Trade Centre Georgetown
The High Commission of Belize in Guyana has announced that it has become the first tenant of the World Trade Centre Georgetown (WTCG).
“The Government of Belize is represented in Guyana via the High Commission of Belize to Guyana (HCBG). In recognition of the bilateral friendship and the importance of trade, the Government of Belize decided to establish the HCBG in the World Trade Centre Georgetown (Guyana), on June 1, 2025. The High Commission of Belize has the distinction of being the first tenant of the WTCG,” the Commission noted in a brief statement on its Facebook page.
It noted that this is a true signal of the Government of Belize’s commitment to public and private sector collaboration between Belize and
Royal Castle launches
2026 Chick ‘N’ Run – expands event to include duathlon
Royal Castle has officially launched the 2026 edition of its annual Chick ‘N’ Run, produced by Stride592 Guyana, promising an even bigger and more exciting event for participants across Guyana and the wider region.
The launch took place on Thursday afternoon at the Georgetown Club, Camp Street, Georgetown, and formed part of the company’s continued efforts to promote fitness, youth engage-
ment, and national sporting development.
Speaking at the launch, Royal Castle Managing Director and CEO Yudhister Samaroo explained that the event, which has grown in popularity since its inception, will once again feature both the 5 kilometre (km) and 10 km runs.
However, for 2026, the company will be taking things a step further by introducing a duathlon component – adding a cycling element to the existing run.
“So, it is our intention to further develop what we fondly call the Chicken Run – the 5K and 10K event; it’s an annual event. We had it this year, and now we’re moving into 2026. We’re inviting participants from across the country, and we’re opening it up to regional participants as well.
Guyana.
The WTCG is the first WTC in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
The WTCG is a stateof-the-art building offering modern office spaces and amenities, 24-hour physical and cyber security, conference facilities, and access to over 300 World Trade Centres in over 100 countries worldwide that can stimulate and promote the marketing of goods and services, contributing to the expansion of regional and global trade.
The Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) is one of the leading manufacturing companies in Guyana and the official licence holder for
the WTCG. The DDL is a public company delivering a diverse range of products and services, including the world-renowned El Dorado rum.
The WTCG is being officially launched this week, and in commemoration of this achievement, the DDL has created a limited edition: World Trade Centre Georgetown Special Blend commemorative rum.
The DDL has established a diplomatic duty-free shop in the WTCG, and today Belize’s Ambassador Gale Miller Garnett received a bottle of this special blend, which she plans to keep unopened for posterity.
Royal Castle Managing Director and CEO Yudhister Samaroo
33 GDF members honoured as Force commemorates 60 years of service
Thirty-three members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) – two officers and 31 ranks –were presented with medals on October 22, 2025, during a parade at Base Camp Ayanganna, as the Force marked its 60th anniversary of dedicated service to the nation.
The GDF hosted its 60th Anniversary Medal Presentation Parade on October 22, 2025, at the Drill Square of Base Camp Ayanganna. The event formed part of the Force’s Year of Legacy observances, marking six decades of distinguished service to the nation.
In attendance were the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali; the Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier
Omar Khan, MSS; other Heads of Services; members of the Defence Board; retired Chiefs of Staff and
the Force Sergeant Majors; and Military Attachés, along with officers and ranks of the Guyana Defence Force.
President Ali underscored that the Medal Presentation Parade was not merely about the conferral of medals but about the ideals and virtues they represent. Each medal, he stated, tells a story of sacrifice, leadership, and distinguished service, the very qualities that have strengthened the Guyana Defence
Force throughout its 60 years of existence. He reminded the gathering that the ceremony holds a rightful and respected place within the Defence Force and is not mere pageantry but “a living expression of the values that define military service, which are discipline, respect, and pride in duty.”
During the parade, medals were conferred on officers and ranks in several categories, including the Military Efficiency Medal (MEM), which recognises consistent professionalism and exemplary soldiering; the Border Defence Medal (BDM), awarded to those who safeguard Guyana’s frontiers; and the Special Operations Medal (SOM), honouring those who demonstrate courage and excellence in specialised missions. Recipients also received the 60th Anniversary Medal, commemorating the Force’s six decades of service to the nation.
In addition, several ranks were honoured with the newly established Commander-in-Chief’s
Special Series of Medals, introduced under the authority of the President to broaden recognition across the Force. These included the Engineering and Border Operations Medal (EBOM), Search and Rescue Operations Medal (SROM), Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response Medal (HADRM), and the Joint Services Operations Medal (JSOM). Each of these new medals reflects the evolving nature of military service, celebrating those who contribute not only in combat but also in humanitarian, engineering, and cooperative operations across the joint services. The 60th Anniversary Medal Presentation Parade stands as a proud reminder of the Guyana Defence Force’s unbroken tradition of excellence, discipline, and unity. As the Force moves forward into a new chapter of its history, it remains steadfast in its mandate, a true family bound by service and dedicated to the defence of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
Mustapha slams exploitative land rentals, vows firm Govt action
Agriculture Minister
Zulfikar Mustapha has condemned the steep land rental rates being charged to rice farmers, warning that the Government will act to end exploitative practices that threaten the sector’s profitability.
Addressing farmers at Mahaicony on Tuesday, the Agriculture Minister said that although the Government reduced land rental and drainage and irrigation (D&I) charges under the Mahaica-MahaiconyAbary (MMA) scheme from $15,000 to $3500 per acre, some landowners continue to rent the same plots for up to $45,000 per acre.
“People are paying $3,500 per acre to the MMA but
then charging $35,000 and $40,000 per acre to farmers. In some areas, like Black Bush Polder, rental for a 15acre plot reaches $700,000. That is unacceptable.”
The Minister said he is working with the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Rights Assessment Committee to enforce lease conditions that prohibit subletting and to apply a statutory formula to determine fair rental rates.
“In the lease arrangement, there’s a clause that says you cannot sublet your land, yet many are doing so at exorbitant costs,” he noted.
“We will act decisively to correct this,” he declared.
According to the Agriculture Minister, such
practices undermine the Government’s substantial investment in agriculture, which has increased from $13 billion in 2020 to $104 billion by 2025 under the administration of President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali.
“We are investing billions to reduce production costs, but landlords charging $45,000 an acre defeat that purpose; the Government will not allow exploitation of farmers. We cannot allow a few to profit at the expense of those who are actually producing and developing this country. We will deal with this issue firmly.”
He urged farmers to work together and avoid bidding against one another for access to land, which further drives prices higher.
President Dr Irfaan Ali speaking at the event
Improvised weapons, ganja found during search operation at Mazaruni Prison
AJoint Service operation conducted on Thursday at the Mazaruni Prison led to the discovery of a number of prohibited items, including suspected narcotics, improvised weapons, and mobile phones.
According to an official report from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the coordinated search exercise was carried out by ranks
from the Bartica Police Station and prison authorities at Mazaruni Prison Phase 2.
The operation was spearheaded by Superintendent R. Nedd, Officer-in-Charge of Crime, and supported by Chief Inspector K. Gordon, three other inspectors, and a team of eleven Police ranks. They were joined by twenty-five prison officers under the leadership of
Superintendent Cameron, with assistance from Assistant Superintendent Denard.
Authorities uncovered several transparent and black plastic bags containing leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis, weighing about 41 grams (g). In addition, seven improvised weapons, nine lighters, and four cellular phones with SIM
cards were found within the prison compound.
Officials confirmed the operation concluded
Royal Castle launches...
The site is open as of today, so you can register right now for 2026. Regionally, anyone who wants to take part – both professional athletes and amateurs – can go online and sign up.”
Samaroo added that Royal Castle plans to market the event throughout the Caribbean to encourage greater participation and regional collaboration.
“We’re going to start advertising it throughout the region,” he said, citing his remarks as something patrons should look out for.
While addressing the purpose behind the event, Samaroo stressed that the Chick ‘N’ Run is not a commercial initiative but rather a community-driven project designed to give back and promote inclusivity among Guyanese youth.
“The funds that we receive from our sponsors –many people ask what we do with that – well, that helps us run the event. For those of you who took part this year, you’d know the amount of management that went into it. But that also helps us do something most important, which is our main focus: that
money allows us to give free entry to kids and schools.”
He added, “For example, one of our sponsors here today had their sponsorship package used to help four classes of a school participate in the Chicken Run for free – and we thank them for that. So, a round of applause
ipate free of cost. And we’re hoping that our sponsors assist us in doing that. Besides everyone else who takes part, of course, you still have to pay to register – sorry,” he added with a laugh.
Meanwhile, lending his perspective towards expanding on new elements for the upcoming year, Samaroo revealed that the company will introduce a duathlon, adding a cycling component to the event.
“As I mentioned to one of our sponsors a few minutes ago, not only is it our objective to host the 5K run, walk and 10K run, but we’re also going to develop a duathlon. How many people here know what a duathlon is? It will be a run, a transition to a cycle,
to our sponsors.”
Samaroo was keen to emphasise that the Chick ‘N’ Run is about national impact, not profit.
“This is not a profit-generating thing for Royal Castle; it’s our way of giving back. For 2026, our goal is to have 500 schoolchildren – both under 12 and over 12 – partic-
then back to a run. So that will be part two. After the 5K and 10K are finished, we’ll move on to the duathlon in different categories.”
According to the CEO, this new addition is also meant to broaden the appeal of cycling in Guyana and encourage wider youth participation.
“This will further aid in expanding the appeal of cycling to the general public, A lot of companies sponsor cycling, but those are mostly road races, which aren’t necessarily aimed at kids or teenagers. If you don’t have a race bike, you can’t take part in those. But for the Chicken Run, we don’t care – we want you to come even if you have a mountain bike. We want everybody to take part.”
He said the broader goal of the Chick ‘N’ Run is to help develop national sport and give athletes – both amateur and professional – a legitimate platform to build their skills and credibility.
“That’s how we want to develop national sport across Guyana,” he explained. “We want to widen the range of sporting skills in our youth. We’ll once again be partnering with Odyssey Timing, a regional timing organisation that is internationally recognised. So athletes – amateur and professional – will get an official printed-out time that they can use as a pre-qualifier for other events.”
Looking ahead, Samaroo shared that the company plans to engage both returning and new sponsors to expand the event’s reach and impact.
“We’re going to be reaching out to our previous sponsors and new prospective sponsors to widen the scope of our sponsorship packages,” he said. “We want to embrace a more holistic view of how sport is supported, managed, and celebrated here in Guyana.”
smoothly, without any incidents. The Joint Services reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the safety
and security of the facility while also preventing the smuggling of contraband into the country’s correctional institutions.
Investigations into the origin of the prohibited items are ongoing.
A similar operation was executed on Monday at the New Amsterdam Prison, which also unearthed several prohibited items.
Police stated then that the two-hour-long exercise was led by a senior Police officer and 38 other ranks, along with a senior prison officer attached to the New Amsterdam Prison and 17 subordinates.
During the search, seven improvised weapons were found along with 17 packs of cigarettes, seven cellular phones, 43 ZipLoc bags containing ganja and 21 lighters.
The suspected cannabis was taken to the Central Police Station, where it was weighed and amounted to 37 g. The operation was conducted without a glitch, the GPF stated on Wednesday.
GDF ranks excel at Guyana School of Agriculture
Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ranks Lance Corporal Quinton Crandon and Corporal Leroy Cosier successfully completed their respective two-year programmes at the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), earning them high praise and congratulations from Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Omar Khan, MSS, officers, and ranks of the GDF.
According to the GDF, both ranks are beneficiaries of scholarships.
Lance Corporal Crandon graduated with credit in the Diploma in Agriculture programme, an achievement, the Force noted, that highlights his commitment to advancing his professional and technical capabilities within the Force.
Corporal Cosier graduated with Distinction in the
Certificate in Agriculture programme and was the recipient of two prestigious awards: Best Performance in the Certificate in Agriculture and Best Overall Performance in Farm Practical for the Mon Repos segment of his training. Their combined success and exceptional accomplishments underscore the GDF’s continued efforts to strengthen its Agriculture Corps by equipping ranks with the knowledge and skills to support the Force’s agricultural development initiatives, the GDF stated. The GDF remains steadfast in its mission to empower its members through ongoing education and training in disciplines that contribute to both national development and food security, it added.
The prohibited items found during the Mazaruni Prison exercise
Lance Corporal Quinton Crandon and Corporal Leroy Cosier
Merch for the Chick 'N' Run event
New 2026 medal for competitors
Guyanese envoy calls on Haiti to bridge differences, achieve transitional objectives
– warns continued division jeopardises progress
Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Carolyn RodriguesBirkett, has urged Haitian political and civil society stakeholders to put aside their differences and work together to achieve the country’s transitional objectives, warning that continued division could jeopardise fragile progress being made toward peace and stability.
Delivering a statement on behalf of the A3+ group, comprising Algeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Guyana, during the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) briefing on The Question Concerning Haiti, Ambassador Rodrigues Birkett said the situation in Haiti remains dire, with 1.4 million people displaced and more than 27,000 migrants forcibly returned in recent months.
“As we meet to assess developments in Haiti, the reports paint a grim picture of a deteriorating security situation amid fears of an even more profound political crisis emerging from delays in the transition timeline,” she said. “The compounded effects of these challenges are placing greater strain on the Transitional Presidential Council, which is already working against the clock to complete the outstanding objectives of the Political Accord.”
Despite these challenges, the envoy highlight-
Speeding
ed “glimmers of hope”, noting that progress has been achieved in several areas, particularly through the reinforcement of international support and the Security Council’s decision to transition the MSS mission into a larger and more robust Gang Suppression Force. She said these developments, along with the gains made by Haitian security forces in and around Portau-Prince, represent significant achievements that could help restore law and order and pave the way for elections.
The A3+ also welcomed the OAS Roadmap for Haiti, which outlines a comprehensive framework for stabilisation focusing on security, political consensus, and humanitarian aid. Ambassador Rodrigues Birkett said the roadmap, along with the Caricom Eminent Persons Group’s Good Offices mandate, provides a valuable basis for aligning international and regional efforts with Haiti’s national priorities.
“Regional and international support must be accompanied by the firm determination and concerted action by all relevant Haitian stakeholders in strengthening cohesion and national consensus on the path ahead,” she emphasised. “Sustained progress in the security situation cannot be achieved without advancing the political process.”
The A3+ reaffirmed its call for meaningful dialogue among all Haitian stakeholders – including women, youth, and civil society – to bridge divisions and achieve the goals of the transitional period. The envoy noted encouraging developments, such as the July 3 Decree establishing the legal framework for a constitutional referendum and progress made in preparing for national elections, with the Electoral Council completing assessments of voting centres across nine of 10 departments.
Ambassador Rodrigues Birkett also recognised the technical and logistical assistance provided by the UN to support Haiti’s electoral preparations, underscoring that “a Haitian-led and Haitian-owned dialogue is critical to restoring and realising democratic governance.”
She commended the efforts of the BINUH (UN Integrated Office in Haiti) in supporting the Commission for the Implementation of Penal Reform and assisting Haitian authorities in implementing sanctions measures, pursuing gang leaders and collaborators, and operationalising two specialised judicial units established in April.
“The A3+ continues to emphasise that strengthening Haiti’s justice institutions and restoring the rule of law are critical to restoring security and achieving
motorcyclist dies after colliding with motor cars while overtaking
An accident along the Rupert Craig Highway, East Coast Demerara (ECD), in the vicinity of Pump Station Road, involving two motorcars and a motorcycle, has left 45-year-old Jomo Peters of Haslington New Scheme, ECD, dead.
The accident involved a motorcar bearing registration number PYY 4296, which was at the time being driven by a 21-year-old female; motorcar PAE 9879, driven by a 28-year-old female; and a motorcycle, CR
2701, driven by Peters.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Peters was proceeding along the Rupert Craig Highway, allegedly at a fast rate and without wearing a safety helmet. In the process of overtaking a line of traffic, the left side handlebar of his motorcycle came into contact with the front left side and rear-view mirror of motorcar PYY 4296. As a result, he lost control and further collided with the left front portion of motorcar PAE 9879, causing
him to be flung off the motorcycle and land onto the median, where he sustained multiple injuries to his head and body.
Emergency medical technicians were summoned to the scene, and after attending to Peters, they pronounced him dead. Breathalyser tests were administered on both drivers, but there were no traces of alcohol in their systems.
They remain in custody pending further investigations.
sustainable peace,” the envoy said, adding that this also requires full implementation of the arms embargo, with technical support from Caricom IMPACS. She warned that preventing the illegal flow of weapons and ammunition into Haiti is essential to ending the cycle of violence.
The A3+ also endorsed the UN Secretary-General’s call for the appointment of a national institution responsible for disarmament, dismantlement, and reintegration (DDR) efforts, commending the Haitian authorities and their partners for the progress made in this area. “This promotes national ownership and sustainable progress,” she said, noting the vital role of these initiatives in long-term peacebuilding and stability.
Turning to the humanitarian crisis, Ambassador Rodrigues Birkett expressed
deep concern about the severe funding gap for the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, describing it as “woefully underfunded.” She acknowledged the Haitian Government’s relocation programme, which has helped slightly reduce the number of internally displaced persons, but stressed that living condi-
tions remain dire, especially for women, children, and persons with disabilities who face heightened protection risks.
“The A3+ urges the international community to scale up contributions to the humanitarian response plan,” she said. “The gap between needs and resources must be urgently addressed.”
AFC MP remanded, farmer gets 4 years for 680-lb ganja bust
Days after Alliance for Change executive member and Parliamentarian Devin Sears and farmer Albert Sandy were busted with over 680 pounds of ganja at Bamia, Linden/Soesdyke Highway, he was arraigned on Thursday for possession of narcotics with the intent to traffic.
The duo appeared before Magistrate Rushelle Liverpool at the Linden Magistrate Court, where the charge was read to them, stating that on October 20, 2025, they had 310.71 kilograms (kg) of cannabis in their possession.
While 39-year-old Sears, who was represented by attorneys-at-law Bernard DaSilva and Nigel Hughes, pleaded not guilty and was remanded to prison, Sandy, 69, entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to four years of imprisonment.
Police on mobile patrol duties intercepted a dark blue Toyota Hiace minibus bearing registration number BAJ 4486 and registered to the Region 10 Tourism Committee Inc. During the stop, Police stated that Sears began to act in a sus-
He is expected to make his next court appearance on November 11, 2025.
It was reported that
picious manner and was sweating profusely.
During the search, 22 black plastic bags and four large brown canvas bags were found inside the vehicle, which, when inspected, contained cannabis.
Sears and Sandy were arrested, during which Sears remained silent, and Sandy admitted ownership of the 310.7 kg of ganja, stating that the drugs belonged to him and that he had paid Sears to transport him to Parika. At the time, Sears was the driver of the minibus, while Sandy was the front seat passenger.
Meanwhile, following the incident, Sears has resigned as Vice-President of the Region 10 Tourism Committee to facilitate a full investigation.
However, one of the officers reported asking Sears what he was transporting, to which he allegedly replied, “I am transporting tourism plants.” As such, he was instructed to pull to the side of the road and was informed that a search would be conducted on the vehicle.
One of the cars involved in the accident
Jailed: Albert Sandy AFC MP Devin Sears
The ganja that was found during the Police operation at Bamia
Dead: Jomo Peters
Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett
Essequibo woman dies after motorcycle collides with cow
Thirty-four-yearold Yolanda John, of Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), met her demise on Wednesday evening after the motorcycle on which she was travelling collided with a cow.
Police stated that the incident occurred at about 19:30h and involved a motorcycle that was at the time being driven by a 23-yearold resident of Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast, and a cow. John was reportedly the pillion rider.
However, it was alleged that the now-deceased woman was picked up from work by the motorcyclist, and as they were proceeding along the Elisa Public Road, they collided with a cow that was on the roadway despite attempts to avoid the collision.
As a result, the woman fell off the motorcycle and onto the roadway, sustaining injuries to her body. She was rushed to the Lima
Essequibo quartet on traffic-related charges
Four persons were slapped with separate traffic-related charges that were committed along the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), during the month of October.
Bhupesh Ramroop, 38, a mechanic of Hibernia, Essequibo Coast, was charged with refusing to provide a breath specimen for a breath alcohol test.
The offence was commit-
ted on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at Fairfield Public Road, Essequibo Coast, but he appeared at the Anna Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir. He pleaded guilty and was fined $20,000, and by default three months’ imprisonment.
In addition, Abegale Wilson, 49, of Reliance, Essequibo Coast, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. She was arrested on Sunday, October 5, 2025, along the Anna Regina Public Road, Essequibo Coast, but appeared in court last Wednesday. She pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined $200,000, and by default default six months’ imprisonment.
Further, Orsent King, 57, a carpenter of Lima, Essequibo Coast, was slapped with a dangerous driving charge. The of-
fence was committed on Devon John on October 8, 2025, along the Lima Public Road. He too appeared in court on Wednesday last, and pleaded not guilty. He was granted bail in the sum of $100,000, and the matter was adjourned until December 10, 2025.
Finally, 39-year-old Govinash Persaud, a construction worker of Reliance, Essequibo Coast, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. He was reportedly stopped on Sunday, October 5, 2025, along the Anna Regina Public Road, Essequibo Coast, and charges were instituted.
He appeared at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him. Bail was granted in the sum of $100,000, and he will make his next court appearance on December 3, 2025.
Regional Hospital, where she died while receiving treatment.
A breathalyser test conducted on the motorcyclist confirmed that he was not under the influence of alco-
hol at the time of the accident.
Nevertheless, the motorcycle was lodged at the Anna Regina Police Station while the driver was placed in custody, assisting with the investigation.
Meanwhile, an autopsy conducted on John’s remains showed that she died as a result of multiple injuries consistent with the motor vehicle accident.
BV school closed for rehab works – MoE
The Ministry of Education (MoE) has advised that the Beterverwagting (BV) Quamina Primary School was temporarily closed on Thursday and will remain closed on Friday to facilitate additional cleaning, ongoing rehabilitative works and the implementation of a permanent solution to the pigeon infestation.
The notice follows reports of an ongoing pigeon infestation at the school.
Last week, Minister of Education Sonia Parag said the issue was expected to be resolved over the weekend, while deputy chief education officers and education officers investigated the situation
According to reports,
Minister Parag had revealed that the problem was an intermittent one. Four students who were alleged to have fallen ill from the infestation were examined, but their illnesses were found
not to be related to the infestation issue.
The MoE in its missive assured parents and students that measures would be implemented to recover instructional time lost.
Charged: Bhupesh Ramroop
Charged: Abegale Wilson
Charged: Orsent King
Charged: Govinash Persaud
The bike that collided with the cow
Mexican President says US players involved in fuel smuggling
Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Thursday that United States (US) individuals are involved in smuggling fuel into the country, following a Reuters investigation into the illicit trade that showed how narcos have penetrated the North American energy sector.
"Yes, there are US businesspeople in the cases under investigation," Sheinbaum said during her regular morning press conference in response to a question about the Reuters report. "One cannot explain otherwise how fuel comes from the US to Mexico and enters illegally."
The Reuters investigation, published on Wednesday, uncovered the role of a Houston company, Ikon Midstream, in delivering diesel to Mexico and declaring the cargo as lubricants – a product exempt
from the steep import duty levied on diesel and gasoline.
Ikon Midstream and its executive director, Rhett Kenagy, declined to comment for the story through their lawyer.
Sheinbaum said she did not know if Ikon Midstream was part of Mexican investigations related to alleged fuel
smuggling. But two Mexican security sources told Reuters that a tanker delivery by Ikon Midstream of diesel to Mexico in March is part of a probe into the illicit trade.
The White House did not immediately respond to questions about Sheinbaum's comments. (Excerpt from Reuters)
T&T man charged with robbing brother in home invasion
One week after a La Romaine businessman and his wife were robbed of cash, jewellery, and a wedding ring during a home invasion, Police have charged his brother with the crime.
Ronaldo Samai, 26, also of La Romaine, appeared before Master Denicia Bethelmy in the San Fernando AJIPA Court yesterday, charged with one count of burglary and two counts of robbery with violence. He pleaded not guilty.
PC Ramsaroop laid the charges, which stemmed from the incident, on October 15. The prosecution elected for a summary tri-
al, and Samai was granted $200,000 bail with a surety. As a condition of his bail, he must report to the Couva Police Station weekly between 06:00h and 18:00h. He was also ordered not to visit the victims’ home or contact them directly or indirectly. The matter was transferred to the San Fernando District Court and adjourned to November 19.
According to the Police report, the 30-year-old businessman and his wife were awakened around 3 am by a loud noise outside their bedroom. Moments later, two men wearing dark hoodies, one armed with a cutlass, burst into the room.
One suspect bound the husband’s hands with plastic straps while the other ransacked the house. The intruders fled with a bag containing about 80 grams of gold scraps, a white gold wedding ring, three gold bangles, a Louis Vuitton handbag, and three gold beras. The men also took several bottles of alcohol and $38,000 in cash.
Police officers from the Southern Division responded but found no signs of forced entry. However, investigators said the bandits appeared to have left through the front door.
(Excerpt from Trinidad & Tobago Guardian)
Bahamas man who made children have sex with each other jailed for 5 years
A31-year-old man who forced two young children to have sex with each other and watch porn was on Wednesday jailed for the maximum sentence of five years.
Justice Jeanine WeechGomez sentenced Danis Cezalien to concurrent five-year sentences on four counts of cruelty to children.
Cezalien was a family friend who babysat his victims. In January 2020, he took the children, a sixyear-old boy and sevenyear-old girl, to a beach in
New Providence to collect shells.
While there, he took the children to a secluded area, where he had them undress and perform a sexual act on each other.
In August 2021, when the children were seven and eight, Cezalien made them watch pornography. Weech-Gomez said the crimes were a profound breach of trust.
She noted that Cezalien was convicted of rape in May and is awaiting sentencing.
She said this shows that Cezalien has a “disturbing propensity for sexual violence”.
The sentences will run from September 17, the date of conviction. Cezalien has been given credit for the two years and 10 months he spent on remand, so he has two years and two months remaining on his sentence.
Weech-Gomez said it was highly likely that Cezalien would face a lengthy prison term for the rape conviction.
(Excerpt from The Nassau Guardian)
J’ca: Mavado’s son facing assault, weapon charges
Dantay Brooks, the son of dancehall superstar Mavado, has once again found himself in trouble with the law.
Observer Online understands that the junior Brooks is now facing charges of unlawful wounding and assault at common law.
According to Police sources, charges were laid against Brooks on Wednesday. In addition to wounding and assault charges, the entertainer’s son is also facing charges of possession of a prohibited weapon and using a prohibited weapon to commit a scheduled offence.
The Police said the new charges stem from a July incident in Mavado’s hometown of Cassava Piece. Specific details related to the matter were not revealed; however, it is understood that Brooks is also being investigated on a gun-related charge.
This is the second time official charges have been laid against Brooks, who was freed in March after his 2021 murder conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal. At the time, the then 18-year-old Brooks was sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2018 killing of Lorenzo Thomas in Cassava Piece. His co-accused, Andre
Hinds, was also freed. The Brooks family was reunited last week after Mavado returned to Jamaica for the first time in almost a decade. This after a 2018 warrant for his arrest was vacated recently. He had been wanted for assault occasioning actual bodily harm. (Source: Jamaica Observer)
Over 647,000 in DR without water due to effects of Storm Melissa
More than 647,000 persons are without drinking water in the Dominican Republic (DR) after rains caused by Tropical Storm Melissa affected dozens of water supply systems, according to data released Thursday by Government authorities.
The rains affected 51 aqueducts, of which 48 were completely out of service, according to the National Institute of Drinking Water and Sewerage (INAPA) and reported by the Emergency Operations Center (COE).
"The National Institute
of Drinking Water and Sewerage (INAPA) reported that, due to heavy rains, 51 aqueducts were affected. Of these, 48 remain completely out of service and two are partially out of service, impacting approximately 502,602 users," the report detailed.
Rainfall associated with Storm Melissa has also caused power outages in several parts of the country, as well as flooding in various areas, while the downpours are expected to continue over the next few hours.
Due to the situation, the
agency has placed 25 of the country's 32 provinces on alert, nine of them on maximum alert, including the National District and Santo Domingo.
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported Thursday that the strengthening of Tropical Storm Melissa, which is expected to become a major hurricane this weekend, will bring heavy rain to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Jamaica and will also be of concern to Cuba. (Source: E Caribe)
SVG PM says Trinidad support for US military action “misguided”
Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines has strongly condemned Trinidad and Tobago’s endorsement of recent United States (US) military operations in the Caribbean, warning of potentially devastating regional consequences.
His primary argument centres on the potential for widespread destabilisation, particularly if these actions are perceived as a precursor to regime change in Venezuela.
“One state’s action should not interfere in the business of another state,” Gonsalves emphasised, highlighting the delicate geopolitical balance in the Caribbean region.
The US has claimed responsibility for a series of targeted strikes on boats al-
legedly involved in narcotics trafficking, resulting in 32 reported fatalities, including two Trinidad and Tobago nationals.
A significant point of contention is the divergence in regional responses. While Trinidad and Tobago fully endorsed the US military operation, CARICOM’s official stance reaffirms the
Caribbean as a “zone of peace” and calls for peaceful dispute resolution. Gonsalves pointedly criticised the lack of coordinated foreign policy among Caribbean states, calling for more diplomatic leadership and collaborative approaches to regional challenges.
(Excerpt from St Vincent Times)
Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum
Mavado (right) and his son, Dantay Brooks
OIL NEWS
Oil surges 5% after US sanctions Russian firms Rosneft and Lukoil
Oil prices surged around five per cent to a two-week high on Thursday after the United States (US) imposed sanctions on major Russian suppliers Rosneft and Lukoil over Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The sanctions could reduce global oil supplies since Russia was the world’s second-biggest crude producer in 2024 after the US, according to US energy data.
That put both crude benchmarks on track for their biggest daily percentage gains since mid-June and their highest closes since October 8.
In addition to soaring crude prices, US diesel futures jumped almost seven per cent, boosting the diesel crack spread to its highest since February 2024. Crack spreads measure refining profit margins.
The US sanctions mean refineries in China and India, major buyers of Russian oil, will need to seek alternative suppliers to avoid exclusion from the Western banking system, said Saxo Bank analyst Ole Hansen.
Multiple trade sources told Reuters that Chinese state oil majors have suspended purchases of seaborne Russian oil from the two companies now under US sanctions, providing a further boost to prices.
Kuwait’s oil Minister said that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries would be ready to offset any shortage in the market by rolling back output cuts.
The impact of sanctions on oil markets will depend on how India reacts and whether Russia finds alternative buyers, said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Around the World
US kills 3 in 2nd strike on alleged drug boats in Pacific
United States (US) forces have struck a second vessel alleged to be carrying drugs in the Pacific Ocean, amid an escalating US campaign against seaborne drug smuggling.
Three people were killed, and no US forces were harmed in the strike on Wednesday, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said. It came hours after the US struck another boat in the Pacific, killing two people.
“These strikes will continue, day after day. These are not simply drug runners – these are narco-terrorists bringing death and destruction to our cities,” Hegseth posted on X.
The post was accompanied by a video that appears
to show a boat catching fire after being struck by a US bomb.
Floating items are then seen in the water before they appear to be targeted by a second air strike.
The expansion of these strikes into the Pacific
Ocean is significant. It is a far greater drug trafficking sea route than the Caribbean, so, in that sense, this strike appears more consistent with the US justification.
However, it is still widely believed that these
strikes are not only about drug trafficking but also about putting military pressure on the Government of President Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.
At least 37 people have been killed in the US strikes on alleged drug boats, including a recent strike on a semi-submersible vessel in the Caribbean.
Two men survived that strike last week and were repatriated to Colombia and Ecuador.
Ecuador’s Government later released its national – identified as Andrés Fernando Tufiño – saying there was no evidence of wrongdoing. The other man, from Colombia, reportedly remains hospitalised. (Excerpt from BBC News)
NBA-related arrests rise above 30 in FBI crackdown on illegal gambling
More than 30 persons have been charged on Thursday, including Chauncey Billups, a National Basketball Association (NBA) Hall of Fame player and head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers,
and Terry Rozier, a guard with the Miami Heat, in connection with two separate but related federal gambling investigations that involved the league and the Mafia.
The schemes – one of them focused on insider
Trump calls off federal agent deployment to San Francisco; pardons Binance founder Changpeng Zhao
Donald Trump will not deploy federal agents to San Francisco, the United States (US) President and the California city’s Mayor said in separate social media posts on Thursday, a surprising stand-down as Trump pressures Democrat-led cities around the country to step up enforcement against crime and illegal immigration.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said Trump called him Wednesday night to tell him he was calling off any plans for a federal deployment. US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem “reaffirmed that direction” in a separate call Thursday morning, Lurie said in an X post.
Trump confirmed the agreement in a post on Truth Social, saying the federal Government had been preparing a surge in San Francisco but would cancel it.
Trump had indicated San Francisco would be the next stop for National Guard troops he was sending to various US Democratic-led cities, moves that have been challenged in courts.
Despite the apparent stand-down, a handful of US Border Patrol vehicles arrived at a US Coast Guard base in the Bay Area on
Thursday morning and were met with dozens of protesters.
Trump has long highlighted what he views as rampant crime in San Francisco and had signalled in recent weeks that he would send federal agents there.
“We’re going to San Francisco, and we’ll make it great,” Trump told Fox News on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Changpeng Zhao, founder of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, has been pardoned by US President Donald Trump.
Zhao, also known as “CZ”, was sentenced to four months in prison in April 2024 after pleading guilty to violating US money laundering laws.
Binance was ordered to pay US$4.3bn (£3.4bn) after a US investigation found it helped users bypass sanctions.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called Zhao’s prosecution under the Biden Administration part of a “war on cryptocurrency”.
She claimed Zhao had been targeted “despite no allegations of fraud or identifiable victim” and said prosecutors’ efforts to seek a three-year prison sentence had “severely damaged the
United States’ reputation”.
“The Biden Administration’s war on crypto is over,” she said.
The move to pardon Zhao comes amid the Trump Administration’s adoption of a more friendly stance towards cryptocurrency than his predecessors.
The President has vowed to make the US the “crypto capital” of the world and
made his own mark in the digital currency landscape by releasing his own coin shortly ahead of his inauguration in January.
Since then, he has sought to establish a national cryptocurrency reserve and pushed for making it easier for Americans to use retirement savings to invest in them. (Source: Reuters, BBC News)
sports betting and another that rigged poker games nationwide – spanned years and involved tens of millions of dollars in illicit gains from wire fraud, money laundering, extortion and gambling, FBI Director Kash Patel said at a news conference in Brooklyn on Thursday.
Rozier was one of several NBA insiders who allegedly provided non-public information about upcoming games to their criminal partners, who in turn used straw bettors to place multiple bets based on the tips, authorities said.
In March 2023, for instance, Rozier told associates in advance he would leave a game early with a supposed injury, allowing them to place more than $200,000 in bets that he would not reach his expected statistical totals for the game, officials said.
US axes website for reporting human rights abuses by US-armed foreign forces
The United States (US) State Department has removed an online portal for reporting alleged human rights violations by foreign military units supplied with American weapons.
The Human Rights Reporting Gateway (HRG) acted as a formal “tip line” to the US Government.
It was the only publicly accessible channel of its kind for organisations or individuals to inform it directly of potentially serious abuses by US-armed foreign forces.
Its deletion has been condemned by human rights campaigners and by a senior congressional aide who drafted the law requiring it.
The State Department portal where violations could be reported –before it was taken down
The State Department insisted it was still abiding by the law.
Tim Rieser, former senior aide to Senator Leahy who wrote the 2011 amendment mandating information gathering, told the BBC the gateway’s removal meant
the State Department was “clearly ignoring the law”. He added it was a further sign that “the entire human rights architecture” within the department was being “rendered largely ineffective”. (Excerpt from BBC News)
“This is the insider trading saga for the NBA,” Patel said.
Billups was charged in a separate case with helping to rig poker games to defraud unknowing players who were lured to the games with the promise of playing against celebrities, officials said. The defendants employed sophisticated technology to fix the games in New York, Las Vegas, Miami and elsewhere, including fraudulent card shufflers and x-ray tables.
That scheme also involved the Bonanno, Gambino, Lucchese and Genovese organised crime families in New York, which controlled some of the underground poker games in the city where the rigging took place, officials said. The families took a cut of the profits, used extortion and robbery to collect unpaid debts and laundered proceeds through cryptocurrency and other means, according to prosecutors.
While the arrests stemmed from two separate indictments, a handful of defendants were charged in both cases, Brooklyn US Attorney Joseph Nocella said, including former Cleveland Cavaliers player and assistant coach Damon Jones.
In a statement, the NBA said Rozier and Billups had been placed on leave and that the league would continue to cooperate with authorities. The arrests are likely to increase scrutiny of the relationship between online sportsbooks and professional sports leagues, which have reaped the benefits of a massive expansion in legalised betting even as they have also sought to assure fans and gamblers that the integrity of the game is unaffected. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
Floating items appear to be targeted by a second US strike, video shows
You are overdue for a change. Whether it’s an emotional, financial, or lifestyle transformation, beginning the process will put your mind at ease and help you recognize the potential it offers when you are open to something new and exciting. Be ready to bend your schedule to accommodate something or someone who jumpstarts your imagination.
Do the legwork before you initiate a change. Establish a realistic budget and schedule to prevent conflicts and stress. Opportunities are apparent if you explore unique ways to convert a space at home into a sideline business. Use your energy wisely and refuse to let anyone take advantage of your skills without giving back.
Market yourself for success, and don’t shy away from events that offer networking possibilities. A passionate conversation about how you utilize your skills and how strongly you feel about achieving your goal will capture the attention of someone who can offer valuable insights or connections that help you reach your goal. Romance is in the stars.
When opportunity knocks, open the door. Participation is the path to new beginnings. Engage in talks and put your energy and skills to good use, and the outcome will be more than you imagine. Don’t fear change or trying something new. An embrace and conquer attitude will serve you well. Protect against injury or illness.
Tread carefully. Socializing or networking can lead to arguments and emotional conversations that trigger old wounds. Put your energy into nurturing and protecting meaningful relationships. Overreacting or promising and not delivering will put a wedge between you and someone important. Domestic issues will surface if you ignore the reactions others have to your words and actions. Erratic behavior will come back to haunt you. Consider your choices and be mindful of what others expect from you. Be frank about what you are willing and able to do before you agree. Refuse to let emotions nix something you are counting on or need to excel. Bide your time to avoid making a mistake.
Pampering will ease stress and encourage you to rethink your plans, thereby avoiding the pitfalls of running yourself ragged or compromising your reputation. Sticking to facts, what’s feasible, and setting a timetable you can work with will protect you from criticism and stressful situations. Selfimprovement, personal growth, and making time for someone you love are necessary.
Plan a social outing that fulfills your needs. Whether you enjoy creating something new or getting together with friends, the more you engage in things you enjoy doing, the bigger the growth spurt you’ll encounter. Trust your instincts and follow your heart. A creative hobby you pursue will gain momentum and recognition.
An emotional plea will serve you well. Offer facts that help others understand your actions. A change is apparent, but it’s up to you to believe and trust in yourself to ensure your initiatives come to fruition. Present a vision that’s easy for others to understand, and you’ll receive the support necessary to achieve your goal.
Protect your reputation and well-being. Refuse to let anyone put you in a compromising position. Focus on finishing what you start, and you’ll gain respect and opportunities. Your dedication and loyalty will be a telltale sign of who you attract and what they are willing to do for you. A chance meeting will change your perspective.
Listen carefully and you’ll detect nuances that indicate what others are willing to do for you. Charm may help you get things off the ground, but be aware that you’ll have to carry the bulk of the workload to finish what you start. A change at home appears promising and is likely to bring peace of mind.
Live, learn, and enjoy what life offers. Travel, reuniting with old friends, or learning something new and exciting will have emotional implications that cause you to question what’s next and what’s best for you. Socializing will offer insight into the pitfalls and gains that come with change. Expect conversations to create an emotional tug of war.
ARCHIE
Short, Connolly, Zampa guide Australia to series victory in Adelaide
Matthew Short made India pay for sloppy fielding on his Big Bash League (BBL) home at Adelaide Oval before Cooper Connolly showcased composure at the death as Australia clinched the One-Day International (ODI) series on a day where Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma had contrasting fortunes with the bat.
Chasing 265 under lights, after Player of the Match Adam Zampa took four wickets with the ball, Australia were in trouble at 132 for 4 before Short and Connolly steadied the ship with a half-century partnership. Short, in his 17th ODI, made a career-best 74 off 78, while inexperienced all-rounders Connolly and Mitchell Owen helped secure Australia's series triumph on the back of a seven-wicket victory in the first ODI.
There was a late twist with Australia losing three quick wickets, but Connolly's calmness ensured the third ODI in Sydney will be a dead rubber.
The performances of Short, Connolly and Owen will please Australia's hierarchy, looking to build depth with an eye towards the 2027 World Cup. Owen blasted 36 off 23 balls in his debut ODI innings, while Connolly finished 61 not out from 53 balls as Australia reached the target in the 47th over. Connolly had only made 10 runs in three previous ODI innings, but has shown a knack for performing in big moments in his fledgling domestic career.
Even though they fought to the end, it's been a disappointing return for India in the 50-over format in a shaky start to Shubman Gill's ODI captaincy reign. After being sent in under sunny skies at the Adelaide Oval, India – sticking with the same XI – could not quite get going despite teasing on several occasions with Rohit and Shreyas Iyer threatening with an 118-run third-wicket partnership.
For the first time in his legendary ODI career,
Kohli has fallen for consecutive ducks, but Rohit fared much better with 73 off 97 balls as he overtook Sourav Ganguly into third place on India's ODI runs list.
Australia's trio of quicks conjured movement off the surface, with swing bowler Xavier Bartlett proving an inspired selection, having replaced a resting Nathan Ellis. After Josh Hazlewood bowled without reward in his opening spell, Bartlett rocked India's top order with the dismissals of Gill and Kohli in the seventh over.
Bartlett and legspinner Zampa claimed seven wickets between them, but Hazlewood again was the standout despite not taking a wicket after conceding just 29 runs from 10 overs.
After a new-ball assault in Perth warmed the hearts of Australia's hierarchy ahead of the Ashes, Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc continued their strong start to the international summer with probing bowling.
Hazlewood started with two maidens in a seven-over burst and particularly troubled Rohit, but was left frustrated after two unsuccessful reviews.
74
There has been a lot of pressure on Rohit with his future uncertain as India starts building towards the 2027 World Cup. After a scratchy 8 in Perth, Rohit was almost run out in the third over by a direct throw from Owen, only to scramble back just in time.
Rohit could do little against the unrelenting accuracy of Hazlewood, who targeted a fuller length with plenty of seam movement on offer. At one stage Rohit went 17 balls without scoring a run against Hazlewood.
With runs at a premium and having had little of the strike, a flustered Gill tried to counterattack, but hit Bartlett to counterpart Mitchell Marsh at midoff. In contrast to his Test reign, Gill has started his ODI captaincy quietly with scores of 10 and 9.
All eyes were on Kohli after his long-awaited return to international cricket ended with an eightball duck in Perth. He lasted just four deliveries after being trapped plumb lbw by an inswinger from Bartlett, who later admitted on the television broadcast that he was trying to bowl an outswinger.
Before this tour, Kohli had never made a duck in 29 previous ODI innings in Australia as he walked off to warm applause on a ground that he had enjoyed plenty of success across formats.
Rohit continued to look unconvincing, crawling to 14 off 40 balls, before finally getting hold of Hazlewood and muscling him down the ground. Iyer's fluency rubbed off on him as Rohit's confidence blossomed
until falling tamely to an innocuous short delivery from Starc, who was brought back in the 30th over.
Having entered the attack in the 21st over, Zampa enjoyed his return to the team after missing the opening ODI due to paternity reasons and knocked over Iyer and KL Rahul as India slumped to 174 for 5.
Axar Patel quietened those sceptical of him batting at number five with 44 off 41 balls to be one of India's few bright spots so far on tour.
India tried hard with the ball, but were left to rue missed opportunities to dismiss Short, a fringe white-ball player trying to bed down a permanent position amid a transition of Australia's ODI batting order.
Quicks Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj started well with the new ball, pinning down normally freewheeling openers Marsh and Travis Head, who finally smashed Australia's first boundary in the seventh over.
Such is Marsh's recent form that he has somewhat emerged as a left-field option for the Ashes, but he lost patience and
tamely on 11 nicked off to Arshdeep, while Head succumbed shortly later to gift Harshit Rana a wicket.
Short entered at number three despite a fielding mishap at slip resulting in a bloodied finger on his right hand. There was pressure on Short after he failed in Perth.
On a ground he has long dominated for Adelaide Strikers in the BBL, Short was much more proactive from the get-go, but did receive luck after surviving a run-out chance on 14 before being dropped by Axar at point.
Axar's thumb throbbed from the stinging blow, and he had to leave the field briefly as Short and Matt
India (50 ovs maximum)
Rohit Sharma c Hazlewood b Starc 73
Shubman Gill (c) c Marsh b Bartlett 9
Virat Kohli lbw b Bartlett 0
Shreyas Iyer b Zampa 61
Axar Patel c Starc b Zampa 44
KL Rahul † b Zampa 11
Washington Sundar
c Hazlewood b Bartlett 12
Nitish Kumar Reddy st †Carey b Zampa 8 Harshit Rana not out 24 Arshdeep Singh b Starc 13 Mohammed Siraj not out 0
Extras (b 2, lb 2, w 5) 9
Total 50 Ov (RR: 5.28) 264/9 Fall of wickets: 1-17 (Shubman
Renshaw built a half-century stand to get Australia on track. Renshaw has publicly spoken about his efforts to shut out external noise as he has made his way into the ODI team almost a decade since his international career started. Like in Perth, he looked untroubled and cruised to a run-a-ball 30 before being clean bowled by a looping delivery from Axar. India were right back in the game when Alex Carey, replacing Josh Philippe in the XI, was knocked over by Washington Sundar, succumbing to the sweep shot that has caused him some problems in his career. But Rana's tactics of bowling short backfired as the pressure eased amid a flurry of big hits from Owen and Connolly. (ESPNcricinfo)
Cooper Connolly and Adam Zampa celebrate their win
Rohit Sharma during his innings of 73
Matthew Short topscored with
Women’s League…
GDF drub Ann’s Grove; Western, Mainstay draw
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Women’s Football Club continued their winning ways on Wednesday evening, with another massive victory in the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Women’s Division One League, this time against Ann’s Grove United.
Sandra Johnson and Akeelah Vancooten led the charge for GDF, netting five goals each in the encounter.
Johnson opened the scores in the 3rd minute and went on to find the back of the net in the 9th, 29th, 31st, and 50th minutes, while Vancooten registered her glut in the 6th, 9th, 11th, 21st and 22nd minutes.
Lusignan teams, Fairfield shine in ECCB 50-Over
The East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) Naven’s Construction First-Division 50-Over Competition continued over the weekend with several thrilling encounters producing outstanding individual performances and close finishes across venues.
At Lusignan, Lusignan Sports Club A held their nerve to secure a 19-run victory over Industry Stars.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, Lusignan were bowled out for 227 in 47.2 overs. Steve Ramdass and Suresh Dhanai both top-scored with 58 runs apiece, hitting some lusty boundaries. For Industry Stars, off-spinners Totaram Suknandan, Mohendra Singh, and Myhiem Khan each took two wickets to keep their team in contention.
In reply, Industry Stars were dismissed
Mohendra Singh, who struck six fours and four sixes. Irfan Alli (32) and Jonte Thomas (32) offered good support, but the chase fell short.
Left-arm spinners
Neeran Bani (4 for 27 from 8.1 overs) and Nigel Deodat (4 for 52 from 10 overs) shared the spoils for Lusignan, guiding their side to victory.
Over at the Golden Grove Ground, Lusignan Sports Club B continued their fine form with a dominant eight-wicket win over Golden Grove A. After winning the toss and choosing to bowl, Lusignan B bowled out Golden Grove A for 131 in 28.4 overs. S Mangal (29) and Lawrence Pellew (18) were the main contributors with the bat.
Off-spinner Navendra
Zoruna Ali secured a brace in the 40th and 46th, while Niomie Williams (18th), Abioce Heywood (24th), Glengie Lewis (22nd), Sarena Johnson (44th), Shanesa Cornelius (47th) and Sherrilyn Kingston (60th+1) all added one goal each to GDF’s tally, while Ann’s Grove United failed to muster a response.
with a brilliant 6 for 38 from 8.4 overs, while Rajindra Naikbarran claimed 2 for 13.
In reply, Lusignan B made light work of the chase, reaching 135 for 2 in 16 overs. Steve Alick smashed 61 off 36 balls (10 fours, two sixes), while Shazam Ali finished unbeaten on 54 from 46 deliveries. Terrence King picked up 2 for 16 for Golden Grove, but it wasn’t enough to prevent defeat.
At Fairfield, the home side defeated Enmore by five wickets in another exciting encounter.
Enmore, batting first after winning the toss, were bowled out for 110 in 33.5 overs. V Wilkson (24) and V Ramlakham (15) were the top scorers. For Fair Field, Zaman Rashid delivered an impressive spell, taking 4 for 22 from 7 overs, while Ramnaire Chatura supported with 1 for 18. Fair Field chased down the target comfortably, scoring 111 for 5 in 22.1 overs. Alex Marshall (35) and Wasim
Meanwhile, the following game in the night’s doubleheader had the smattering of fans on the edge of their seats after Western Tigers and Mainstay Goldstars FC drew 1-1.
After a goalless first half, Western Tigers took the lead through a well-executed free kick off the boots of Jada Young, which sailed past the keeper’s outstretched arms into the top left corner of the goal in the 45th minute. However, five minutes later, Mainstay’s Ashley Cozier equalised for her team almost identically, sending a set piece into the top right corner of the goal.
The Women’s League
continues at the same venue on Friday evening with another double-header. At 18:00h, Ann’s Grove United will be back in action, taking on Monedderlust FC, while at 19:30h, River’s View FC will battle Fruta Conquerors FC.
The teams in the Women’s Division One League are competing for a $1 million grand prize for the first time in women’s football history in Guyana.
Top gyms ready to clash at Terrence Poole National Intermediate Championship
Guyana’s best gyms are ready to trade punches when the bell rings for the Terrence Poole National Intermediate Championship, set for October 24–26 at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.
The three-night tournament, hosted by the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), will honour the late International Boxing Association (IBA) Three-Star Coach Terrence Poole, MS, whose name remains synonymous with discipline, excellence, and passion for the sport.
champions are born, and reputations are built with every jab, hook, and uppercut.
This year’s tournament takes on special meaning, doubling as a tribute to Poole’s enduring legacy.
Gyms and boxers from almost every corner of Guyana will converge under one roof to honour a man who dedicated his life to nurturing talent and raising the bar for local boxing.
mined to once again stand tall at the final bell. But don’t count out the hungry challengers. Berbice’s rising crop of fighters and the battle-hardened warriors from the Andrew "Six Head" Lewis Gym are out to upset the favourites and shake up the standings.
Adding even more intrigue is the emerging Guyana Police Force (GPF) team, whose young, aggressive fighters are eager to prove they belong among the country’s best.
ting effort. For Enmore, J Ishwardin (3 for 17) and A Mahase (1 for 10) bowled well in a losing cause. Fair
ry by five wickets, maintaining their strong run in
The championship promises fireworks in and out of the ring, with all of the country’s top intermediate boxers set to go toe-to-toe for national glory and the bragging rights that come with it.
As one of the GBA’s
The GBA has extended invitations to clubs across the country and is encouraging fans to come out and lend their voices to an event that celebrates not just competition but the spirit of a true boxing pioneer.
All eyes, however, will be locked on the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Gym, last year’s dominant champions, and the very place Coach Poole once called home.
According to the GBA, with Poole’s legacy in the air, this year’s National Intermediate Championship is shaping up to be a celebration of Guyana’s fighting spirit.
Akeelah Vancooten (on ball) netted five goals in another spree for GDF’s women
Navendra Persaud (top) had figures of 6 for 38; Steve Alick (left) made 61 and Shazam Ali, 54
The competition, which begins today, will honour the late IBA Three-Star Coach Terrence Poole, MS
Sarkar, Saif carry Bangladesh to series victory over West Indies
angladesh blazed a hole through the West Indies in a 179-run win in the third One-Day International (ODI), achieving their first series victory since March last year. Saif Hassan and Soumya Sarkar put together a scintillating 176-run opening stand which provided the backbone for Bangladesh's 296 for 8. The visitors lasted 30.1 overs, getting bowled out for 117 in reply.
Rishad Hossain claimed three wickets to take his series haul to 12, becoming the first Bangladesh bowler since 2015 to take more than ten wickets in a bilateral ODI series. Nasum Ahmed also picked up three wickets, while Tanvir Islam finished with 8-0-16-2.
Bangladesh got off to a fast start, unusual for this series, as it was played on mostly dark, cracked, spin-dominated pitches. Sarkar (91 off 86) and Saif (80 off 72) went on a boundary spree that lasted 25 overs. The two stylish batters matched each other stroke for stroke as they raised Bangladesh's second-highest opening partnership in ODIs and the first century opening stand at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in ten years.
Saif struck Akeal Hosein for two fours in the first over, followed by his first six in the left-arm spinner's next over. That inside-out strike over the covers set off the big-hitting spree. Sarkar struck Roston Chase for two sixes, both reverse hits early in the innings. Saif focused on hitting straight, blazing Chase for his second six before he
overturned an on-field lbw decision when he was on 28 and extended his innings.
Justin Greaves broke a sequence of 59 consecutive overs of spin from the West Indies, across two matches, and Sarkar welcomed him with two fours through fine leg. Saif, then, played the shot of the innings. He charged Greaves, who tried to cramp him, but the batter backed himself, and the result was a lovely high-elbow loft that went for a big six down the ground.
Saif struck two boundaries in the 16th over, one bringing up Bangladesh's 100-run opening stand, and the next one taking him to his maiden fifty. Sarkar wasn't done at the other end. He slammed Khary Pierre for a straight six before he went after Gudakesh Motie with a six and four in the 25th over. Just like that, he was into the nineties.
Chase ended the opening stand in the 26th over when he had Saif caught at long-on. Sarkar was left distraught when he also holed out in the deep, at midwicket, nine short of his fourth ODI tonne.
The rest of the Bangladesh batters couldn't quite do justice to the Saif-Sarkar double act. Najmul Hossain Shanto and Towhid Hridoy added 50 runs for the third wicket. Alick Athanaze took a tremendous catch to remove Shanto, running back from his bowling mark before diving full length.
West Indies had a bit of respite when Hosein removed Mahidul Islam, Rishad and Nasum, all in the 46th over. Still, Bangladesh's 296 – which included a record-equalling 14 sixes – looked like a formidable total on the Dhaka surface.
The West Indies never got their chase going, as they ran into Nasum, who took their first three wickets. Athanaze fell lbw trying to paddle Nasum in the fifth over, before Ackeem Auguste, playing a similar shot, also fell lbw for a duck.
Brandon King, who struck a six and two fours, was Nasum's third wicket, bowled for 18. Shai Hope fell for just 4, mishitting Tanvir Islam in the 14th over. Sherfane Rutherford became Rishad's first wicket when he inside-edged one to Mehidy Hasan Miraz at midwicket, having made 12. He had a particularly poor ODI series.
West Indies' lower half caved in steadily. Rishad bowled a full toss and had Chase out for a duck before trapping Motie for his third. After winning the first ODI and losing
Bangladesh's players celebrate with the trophy after their victory against the West Indies
(ESPNcricinfo)
Bangladesh (50 ovs maximum)
Saif Hassan c Greaves b Chase 80
Soumya Sarkar c Auguste b Hosein 91
Towhid Hridoy c Rutherford b Athanaze 28
Najmul Hossain Shanto
c & b Athanaze 44
Mahidul Islam Ankon b Hosein 6
Rishad Hossain c Pierre b Hosein 3
Nasum Ahmed c Auguste b Hosein 1
Nurul Hasan † not out 16
Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c) c Auguste b Motie 17
Extras (b 2, lb 3, w 5) 10
Total 50 Ov
(RR: 5.92,211 Mins) 296/8
Fall of wickets: 1-176 (Saif Hassan, 25.2 ov), 2-181 (Soumya Sarkar, 28.1 ov), 3-231 (Towhid Hridoy, 39.5 ov), 4-252 (Najmul Hossain Shanto, 43.3 ov), 5-259 (Mahidul Islam Ankon, 45.1 ov), 6-260 (Rishad Hossain, 45.4 ov), 7-261 (Nasum Ahmed, 45.6 ov), 8-296 (Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 49.6 ov)
Bowling O - M - R - W
Akeal Hosein 10 - 1 - 41 - 4
Roston Chase 8 - 1 - 53 - 1
Khary Pierre 10 - 0 - 46 - 0
Justin Greaves 7 - 0 - 61 - 0
Gudakesh Motie 8 - 0 - 53 - 1 Alick Athanaze 7 - 0 -
(T:
Akeal Hosein celebrates after taking a wicket
the second in a Super Over, the emphatic victory in the third match sealed the series 2-1 for Bangladesh.
ExxonMobil makes good on U14 boys’, girls’ football rewards
Just a few months after their respective triumphs, several secondary schools from across the country on Thursday afternoon received prizes they earned at this year’s ExxonMobil Under-14 Boys' and Girls' Football Championships.
The competition, which concluded back in July, saw the Girls’ tournament being won by Region Seven’s Bartica Secondary, while in the Boys’ division, Chase’s Academic Foundation retained their championship title in what were two exhilarating final matches.
During a simple presentation ceremony at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground, the top four schools were presented with
backpacks, school shoes and uniforms, textbooks, stationery and sports equipment which spanned a number of disciplines, including football, cricket, volleyball and basketball.
Reflecting on this year’s competition, organiser Troy Mendonca labelled it as “hard work” but justified it by noting that the tournament has an important place in the development cycle.
“I want to say that it was hard work from the inception. From meetings with the sponsor to coordinating the tournament and all the different logistics. Imagine having over 50-something teams in this facility at least for three Saturdays,” Mendonca recollected.
about balance. We’re talking about ensuring that we balance sport with education because we know that sport and other forms of education are important and necessary for the development of our young people. So, we look at the ‘and’ equation, football and? The ‘and’ equation for us is what is needed to ensure that we have well-rounded students but also players who are becoming well-rounded citizens.
“We’re also merging sport with STEM, and so, we’ve started to pilot one of our programmes this year that will focus on football and STEM, because we absolutely want to ensure that our students are well equipped for the evolving world that we’re living in. Guyana is evolving, our economy is evolving, and we want to make sure that even outside of the field, whether it's in the labs, classrooms, or the halls of Parliament,
we have young people who are equipped and able to hold their own wherever they go,” the ExxonMobil Community Relations Supervisor went on to divulge. The winners of the tournament received prizes to the tune of $400,000 each, while second, third and fourth place received prizes to the tune of $200,000, $100,000 and $75,000, respectively. In the boys’ competition, Chase’s Academic Foundation had defeated Three Miles Secondary 4-1 in the final, while in the third-place playoff, West Ruimveldt got the better of Waramuri Secondary, 4-1 on penalties.
On the distaff side, Bartica Secondary pulled off a 2-0 win over Chase’s Academic Foundation’s girls in the final, while in the third-place playoff, Waramuri Secondary needled Marian Academy 1-0.
PMTC male, female teams jet off for Goodwill tournament
The Port Mourant Training Center (PMTC) male and female volleyball teams have departed local shores for a Club Goodwill Volleyball Championship, set to be hosted in St Lucia. The 24-member contingent departed from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) in Timehri on Thursday, October 23, and will return to the Land of Many Waters on Monday, October 27. Davendra Latchman will captain the male team, while Rennia Liverpool will lead the female team. The duo, alongside Coach Levi Nedd, expressed positively that the PMTC will represent Guyana with high standards. The teams are set to come up against Under-23 nationals in St Lucia.
Teachers and students of the top four schools proudly display their winnings in the presence of ExxonMobil’s Ryan Hoppie and Petra Organisation’s Troy Mendonca, Nareeza Latif-Boston and Troy Peters
ExxonMobil Guyana Community Relations Supervisor Ryan Hoppie (left) and Petra Organisation Co-Director Troy Mendonca