High Court extends detention of 8 terror attack suspects
Berbice motorcyclist dies after crashing into concrete fence
Moruca man arrested after threatening to shoot reputed wife with illegal firearm Guyana, Suriname to benefit from US$1B development funding from IsDB & IDB Police hunt suspect who threw firearm, ammo in trench after spotting patrol
President Dr Irfaan Ali during discussions with President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame (right); former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi (left); and Richard Attias –Founder and CEO of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute and Executive Chairman of Richard Attias & Associates, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Wednesday
Guyana, Suriname to benefit from US$1B development funding from IsDB & IDB
The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the InterAmerican Development Bank Group (IDB Group) have pledged some US$1 billion to support development in Guyana and Suriname over the next five years.
In a recent joint statement, the two financial institutions said they have renewed their strategic partnership through the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Under this MoU, the IsDB Group and the IDB Group, along with IDB Invest – the arm of the regional bank that lends to the private sector – will provide the US$1 billion in co-financing to the two South American countries.
With newfound oil and gas resources, both Guyana and Suriname are on the path of massive economic transformation. Guyana started oil production in December 2019, which is now expanding at industry-high rates offshore, and oil revenues have been fuelling expansion of the countries’ traditional economic sectors as well as building out new and existing infrastructures.
Nevertheless, this re-
newed collaboration between the IsDB and IDB Group will focus on advancing inclusive and sustainable development in both countries, with investments focused on key sectors, such as transportation, energy, urban development, education, rural development, health, and resilience.
“At the Islamic Development Bank, we are committed to empowering our member countries and fostering partnerships that advance sustainable development. This renewed engagement with the IDB Group allows us to jointly deliver transformative projects that will enhance live-
lihoods, strengthen resilience, and promote shared prosperity in Suriname and Guyana,” IDB President Dr Muhammad Al Jasser said.
Meanwhile, President of the IDB Group, Ilan Goldfajn, added, “We are joining forces with the Islamic Development Bank to unlock new co-financing
opportunities in Guyana and Suriname, as well as cooperation with other member countries, to build resilience, foster inclusive growth, and improve lives.”
Beyond Guyana and Suriname, the partnership supports broader collaboration in common member countries and IDB member countries with significant Muslim populations.
It was further noted that the MoU also aims to deepen cooperation between the two institutions in areas that promote inclusive growth, including trade and investment, as well as sustainable transportation solutions that enhance regional connectivity and climate resilience.
The institutions also reaffirmed their shared commitment to knowledge sharing and delivering impactful development solutions, as well as strengthening cooperation among Latin America and the Caribbean, Gulf States, and other stakeholders.
Guyana joined IsDB in July 2016 as its 57th member, and since then, the IsDB Group has provided a total of US$ 235.6 million in financing for projects in the agriculture, energy and education sectors in Guyana.
In 2021, the Saudi Arabia-based bank offered Guyana a US$900 million package for mainly infrastructural development works.
Moreover, the IsDB has supported a number of other pivotal projects across Guyana, including the construction of hydropower plants in the Moco Moco and Kumu areas, for which some US$14.63 million was allocated, as well as a US$291,200 grant funding aimed at acquiring resources to enhance the quality of life for residents at the Palms Geriatric Facility.
In September 2023, the IsDB Group and the Guyana Government inked a new Country Engagement Framework (CEF) for the period of 2024-2026. The CEF is a strategic document that outlines the priority areas and sectors for IsDB Group's interventions in Guyana, in alignment with the country's national development plan and the IsDB Group's realigned strategy.
Under this framework, Guyana secured a US$200 million loan from the IsDB to undertake the rehabilitation of the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, which started in June 2024.
(L-R) Chairman of IsDB Group, Dr Muhammad Al Jasser; President of the IDB Group, Ilan Goldfajn and CEO of IDB Invest, James P Scriven renewed the partnership between the two banking institutions via an MoU in Riyadh
BRIDGE OPENING
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, October 31 –12:00h-13:30h and Saturday, November 1 – 12:55h-14:25h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY
Sunny skies are expected during the day, interrupted by thundery showers in the mid-morning and midday hours. Clear to partly-cloudy skies are expected for the most part at night, with early-morning thundery showers. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius.
Winds: East North-Easterly to East South-Easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.92 metres.
High Tide: 12:23h reaching a maximum height of 2.20 metres.
Low Tide: 18:18h reaching a minimum height of 1.02 metres.
Demerara Bank reports highest profit in history of banking in Guyana
– records $8.41B profit after tax in 2025 fiscal year
emerara Bank
DLimited (DBL) is taking in a landmark performance marked by economic expansion and rapid digitalisation that saw the financial institution delivering record profits and powering unprecedented lending growth at a national scale, to position itself as powerhouse in the local banking industry.
For the financial year ending September 30, 2025, the local commercial bank recorded a net profit after tax of $8.41 billion, representing a whopping 50.5 per cent increase over the previous year and an impressive 184.7 per cent growth over the past five years. This is the highest profit recorded in the history of commercial banking in Guyana.
In the 2024 fiscal year, DBL reported a 37 per cent increase in profit after tax, reaching $5.59 billion – a performance that was driven by growth in both loans and deposits.
According to DBL –Guyana’s only indigenous commercial bank, the 2025 performance not only underscores its exceptional profitability trajectory and prudent management, but also cements Demerara Bank’s
equates to an increase of approximately $31 billion in just one year, demonstrating that DBL accounted for about 50 per cent of all new lending within Guyana’s financial system over the past 12 months.
This extraordinary achievement, the Bank said, highlights its central role in financing national development and supporting the country’s rapidly-expanding economy.
“Without DBL’s contribution, overall banking sector lending would have grown by only seven per cent,” the Bank’s report highlighted.
Moreover, DBL said its impressive lending growth was a testament to prudent and well-managed expansion, underpinned by a disciplined credit culture and the acquisition of new TierOne corporate clients; many of whom have transitioned their banking relationships to DBL in recognition of its exceptional customer service, reliability and technologically-advanced delivery channels.
position as the most profitable financial institution in Guyana for 2025, achieving the highest net profit among all local financial institutions.
In a statement on Thursday, it was noted that DBL’s Return on Assets reached 3.8 per cent, and Return on Equity climbed to 24.2 per cent, both well above the local banking sector averages. Additionally, deposits rose 19.5 per cent to $208 billion, while the Bank’s loan book expanded by $31 billion in a single year.
According to the Bank of Guyana’s Statistical Abstract (September 2025), total commercial bank loans and advances across the system stood at approximately $510 billion, reflecting a 13.8 per cent year-on-year growth from October 2024 to September 2025, an increase of roughly $62 billion.
Dominating national lending Demerara Bank’s loan portfolio surged by 32 per cent, more than double the national average, reaching $126 billion by the end of the 2025 financial year. This
The Bank’s branch network has also significantly contributed to retail portfolio diversification, with strong growth across agriculture, residential housing, automobile financing, and credit cards. This balanced approach to corporate and retail lending has ensured sustained portfolio quality and broad-based support for Guyana’s economic development.
By embedding automation, analytics, and digital monitoring into its core operations, the Bank has achieved faster decision-making without compromising credit quality. As a result, DBL has maintained zero Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) for the fourth consecutive year, a distinction unmatched in the local financial sector and a testament to its disciplined lending culture, robust credit governance, and unwavering commitment to excellence.
DBL CEO Dowlat Parbhu
DBL Chairman Komal Samaroo
Editor: Tusika Martin
News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761
Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707
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Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com
Professional development for teachers
Education is a fluid, evolving, continually changing landscape, and teachers have to keep in step with that process. Thus, the critical need for ongoing professional development (PD) for teachers, perhaps presented by master teachers in each school.
While this training must focus on the latest pedagogy, it must not ignore other factors that impact the teaching-learning dynamic. For example, the two biggest strengths of "awesome" teachers are their capacity to develop emotive connections and build trust with their students. Thus, teacher training must include emotive connection and trust building as well as empathetic communication, which is critical to both.
As well, PD would ensure that teachers are staying abreast of whatever schools and the system introduce at any and all times - instructional methodologies such as the workshop model, for example; differentiated instructions to ensure the needs of all students are met during instructions; types of assessments beyond standardised tests; classroom management without corporal punishment; et al.
In fact, it is highly recommended that all teachers do basic education courses to be adept with learning/teaching styles (John Dunn), multiple intelligences (Gardner), differential cooperative group learning, and curriculum-based assessment skills to continuously measure learning, especially of the slow learners, to share with parents. Teachers must not only be fluent with the cognitive taxonomy of objectives of Bloom but also with the affective domain to effectively define instructional objectives (scientifically) according to the cognitive and emotional level of students. And there should be teacher training in violence prevention, conflict resolution, psycho-social skills (at the levels of teachers and students), social problem solving, social and emotional learning, role-playing, supervised interactions, student-centred instruction, basic learning disabilities such as dyslexia, modelling and reinforcement exercises.
Mentoring is another critical need. Experienced teachers can allow into their classrooms other teachers, especially inexperienced ones, as observers, with each such session followed by the exemplary teacher helping the observing teachers to unpack, clarify, and seek additional details. The other side of the coin is exemplary and/or master teachers observing the classes of the other teachers and then meeting with them to unpack, guide and mentor.
Additionally, new teachers should be provided with mentors, drawn from either the current teaching staff or retired teachers. No matter what kind of training and skill set a new teacher possesses, it is manifestly unfair to throw that teacher into the classroom without the help of mentoring. No amount and type of academic training prepares a teacher for the real-life classroom experience.
Periodic meetings of teachers according to grades (continuous improvement teams) are necessary to discuss grade-level practices, instruction, effectiveness of instruction, student growth, team policies, behaviour, and areas/needs for improvement as well as to share best practices, develop new strategies, and address any deficits. Grade-level teams help to ensure consistency in instruction (academic, behavioural, and social) by allowing for all teachers of a particular grade to share and bring successes and challenges to the table, reduce teacher stress and burnout, invite the expertise of each individual person on the team to present itself as a resource for addressing challenges to maximise capital, problem solve, share best practices, and plan according to identified student needs.
Teachers must also meet across subjects to analyse students' performance data and come up with instructional plans based on such analyses. This fosters the process of evidence-based teaching and also creates scope to group students according to needs and offer related assistance, as well as determine areas of weaknesses that would need reinforced teaching and infer strategies to do so.
At the personal level teachers should play a part in curriculum design, especially with respect to goal settings and standards to be met; be provided with an annual stipend for classroom supplies; and be paid for after-school teaching - evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Consideration must also be given to teachers being provided with skills to address the various issues they come up against in the course of each working day. Thus, for example, why not provide anti-bullying training directly to teachers, perhaps using the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program - the most researched and best-known such program?
Of course, a psychologist in each school…
History is a tapestry of half-truths and folklore
By Alice loxton
Hear ye! Hear ye! A new history fact has been debunked! According to bubo-bursting research by the German Museum of Medicine History, the image of the terrifying beaked doctor’s mask of Black Death fame is, in fact, a myth.
This is not the first time such fictions have been cemented as fact in the public imagination. Our understanding of the past is plagued with layer upon layer of half-truth and folklore, romanticised through grand paintings and epic poetry.
Perhaps the greatest of all: Vikings wore horned helmets. There is no contemporary evidence for this. The idea originated centuries later, with Richard Wagner’s The Ring Cycle, a cycle of four operas inspired by characters from the Norse sagas. In the 1870s, costume designer Carl Emil Doepler – with a taste for high drama – designed helmets with mag-
nificent horns, worthy of a Highland cow. Thus, in the public imagination, falsehood became fact.
Another fiction is that Napoleon was short. In fact, he stood above average height and probably stood taller than Nelson. In 1815 he was described by an English captain as “a remarkably strong, wellbuilt man”. So where did this idea of Napoleon’s diminutive height come from? The biting satires of London printmakers, such as James Gillray and Thomas Rowlandson. Their work was so effective, it was “veritable madness” when a new print was displayed in Piccadilly printshop windows, causing a Beatlemania-esque frenzy. Feeding off anxieties during the Napoleonic Wars, they created a new, fictitious character, “Little Boney”, a tantrum-ridden toddler. So small, he was dwarfed by his enormous, feathered hat and could only just perch on a chair, legs swinging freely. So effective was this propaganda
campaign that, still, in popular imagination, we think of the Gillrayic character, rather than the man himself.
A year after Napoleon’s death, in 1822, King George IV made a visit to Edinburgh – the first visit of a monarch north of the border in 172 years. It was a lavish extravaganza, stage-managed by Sir Walter Scott, “a scene surpassing every triumph of ancient or modern times”.
A pivotal moment came when King George donned a Highland dress – an eyebrow-raisingly short tartan kilt, paired with pink tights to hide his bare legs. Though tartan was worn by Scottish clans as early as the 16th century, Scott’s spectacle popularised a Romantic idea of Scottish national identity, aided by his literature, with descriptions of tartan, Highland dress, and sublime landscapes.
Many misconceptions result from misunderstanding surviving evidence. The discovery of Ancient Greek and
Roman ruins – those rough blocks of bare stone – caused our ancestors to view the colourful classical world in faded, monochrome visuals. The same can be said for the Middle Ages.
As paintwork on mediaeval architecture has dulled over the centuries, we imagine they were undecorated. Yet a mediaeval castle was a riot of colour, bedecked with vibrant patterns. Such interiors – recently reinstalled at Norwich Castle – are garish to the modern sensibility, clashing with our thoughts of imagined mediaeval worlds.
Far from being set in stone, our understanding of the past is in constant flux, redirected by operatic costumes or satirical prints. But this is the thrill of investigating history: unpicking and restitching the many threads of an ever-changing tapestry. As demonstrated by the German Museum of Medical History, history is no corpse but alive and kicking. No plague doctors needed here.
(The Telegraph UK)
Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Susan Rodrigues last weekend embarked on a hike to “Black Rock” in the Rupununi, relaxing with a scenic view at the summit. According to the Ministry, the adventure highlighted the beauty and biodiversity of the Rupununi and underscored the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to promote ecotourism and sustainable adventure travel across Guyana
CDC says teams on standby for J’ca deployment – generators,
tarpaulins & chainsaws among critical relief supplies mobilised
after Hurricane Melissa
As Jamaica grapples with the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, Guyana is currently mobilising humanitarian relief support for the island nation, including critically-needed supplies such as generators, tarpaulins, and chainsaws, to support immediate response efforts on the ground.
Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday as a Category 5 storm, with winds up to 185 mph, causing significant destruction to properties and infrastructure, widespread disruption of essential services, and displacement of communities across affected areas.
On Wednesday, Jamaican authorities reported severe flooding in the western part of the country and four deaths.
Over the last few days, the Guyana Government, through the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), has been initiating humanitarian relief support coordination for the devastated Caribbean Island.
Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, who is currently performing the functions of President, recently convened a high-level coordination meeting with the CDC, the Guyana Defence Force and the Private Sector Commission (PSC) to finalise Guyana’s support actions following the
hurricane’s impact.
According to the CDC in a statement on Thursday, “The Prime Minister has indicated that the immediate and initial response will include the mobilisation and deployment of critical relief supplies, including generators, tarpaulins, and chainsaws, to support immediate response efforts in Jamaica.”
This support is being executed through a collaborative Government-Private Sector initiative under the coordination of the CDC and the leadership of the Prime Minister.
Following Wednesday’s coordination engagement, PM Phillips told the Guyana Times that Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has put out a document outlining the immediate needs of the country, and it is based on that list, which is being regularly updated, that the local stakeholders are mobilising relief.
“So, a number of things are happening in terms of coordinating assistance to Jamaica… We want to arrive at the requirements based on the identification of needs by the Jamaican Emergency Management Agency, and that would guide us to whatever interventions [are needed]. But we are ready to assist,” Phillips declared.
Moreover, the CDC said on Thursday that it is con-
tinuously working closely with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and other regional partners to support ongoing relief efforts.
Director General of the CDC, Colonel (Retired) Nazrul Hussain, confirmed that Guyana stands ready to provide additional technical, logistical, and humanitarian assistance as recovery needs evolve. Key teams, including the GuyanaCaricom Disaster Relief Unit (G-CDRU) and the Caricom Operational Support Team (COST), are currently on standby for deployment to assist with response and recovery efforts on the ground.
Private Sector efforts
Additionally, the Private Sector Commission is calling on the generosity of the public and the Private Sector to support communities affected by Hurricane Melissa.
“Your contribution can make a real difference in helping families rebuild and recover. Your financial contribution will directly support the purchase and delivery of essential supplies for affected families,” the statement detailed.
Persons interested in making a monetary donation toward Humanitarian Relief Support for Jamaica can do so via cash or cheque made payable to the Private Sector Commission or contact +592-
614-4625 for assistance.
For bank/wire transfers, persons can make donations to the account of the Private Sector Commission at Demerara Bank Limited using Account Number 4023420.
“The CDC, in partnership with the Private Sector, with the support of the office of the Prime Minister, reaffirmed Guyana’s unwavering solidarity with Jamaica during this challenging period,” Thursday’s missive detailed.
President Ali reassures
Jamaican Govt
Only Tuesday evening, President Dr Irfaan Ali, who is currently overseas on official Government business, reassured Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Guyana’s readiness to offer support.
In a social media post in the wee hours of Wednesday, the Guyanese Head of State said, “This evening, I spoke with Prime Minister Andrew Holness and reaffirmed Guyana’s full readiness to support the Government and people of Jamaica as
they confront the impacts of Hurricane Melissa. I assured the Prime Minister that the Government and people of Guyana stand in solidarity with Jamaica and that our love, prayers, and every form of support remain with them during this difficult time.”
Since Sunday, the Guyana Government has pledged its support for the Caribbean Island nation as it braced for impact from the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the country.
Hurricane’s impact in the Caribbean
After battering Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa left the island and made landfall in Cuba on Wednesday morning as an “extremely dangerous” Category 3 storm, where over three million persons were exposed to life-threatening conditions and some 745,000 persons had to be evacuated. By 11:00h, the hurricane had moved off of Cuba as a Category 2 storm and was in
the Atlantic Ocean.
Nearly 240 communities have been cut off due to severe flooding and landslides, as Cuba faces destruction to health facilities, schools, power lines, and telecommunications.
Additionally, Hurricane Melissa caused deadly flooding in parts of Haiti, with some 24 deaths reported. Based on international reports, around 15,000 persons were placed in over 120 shelters, with significant losses to the agricultural sector further compounding the country’s humanitarian crisis that has worsened as a result of widespread gang violence across Haiti.
Nevertheless, as Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti assess the damage left in Melissa’s wake, Bermuda is bracing for impact.
As a Category 2 hurricane, the storm was expected to reach the British overseas territory Thursday night and pass over through the early hours of Friday morning.
00:00 Sign Off 06:00 Cartoons 07:00 Evening News (RB)
Dear Editor,
Few moments in politics allow one person to alter the tone of national life.
Mr Aubrey Norton now faces such a moment.
A decision by him to endorse President Irfaan Ali’s nominees for Chancellor of the Judiciary and Chief Justice rests squarely in his hands. If he chooses to do so, that decision would not be seen as surrender but as an act of maturity and statesmanship – a gesture that could redefine how history remembers him.
Mr Norton’s tenure as Leader of the Opposition is coming to an end. While his party may debate its direction and leadership, he alone still holds the constitutional authority to resolve one of Guyana’s longest institutional deadlocks. If he uses that authority wisely, he could walk
away not as a footnote in history or a casualty of political turnover, but as the man who finally completed what others before him could not – the restoration of constitutional normalcy to the highest offices of the judiciary.
Much of the public criticism on this issue has been misdirected at the Government, overlooking that such appointments require agreement between the President and the Leader of the Opposition. For more than twenty years, that consensus has been missing – leaving Guyana with “acting” judicial heads, a situation that does not exist in any other country in the Commonwealth.
Substantive appointments would signal to the world that Guyana’s democracy and institutions have matured. As the country attracts global at-
tention and investment, stability in its judiciary is vital to its credibility. Mr Norton’s cooperation would demonstrate that even in political rivalry, national interest will prevail.
Importantly, his supporters would in no way be disadvantaged. The final appellate jurisdiction remains with the Caribbean Court of Justice –a regional body beyond local political influence – ensuring that judicial independence and fairness are preserved at every level.
The alternative, if he delays, is far less dignified. Within days, the authority to consent to these appointments may fall into the hands of an individual under serious indictment and sanction – a situation that would not only tarnish Guyana’s reputation but also invite national embarrassment. It would
be unthinkable for a person facing such serious criminal charges to participate in the selection of the very Judges who may one day have to try him. Such an outcome would cast a very dark shadow over the country’s institutions at a time when Guyana should be consolidating its credibility abroad.
Mr Norton still has time to act – to prove that leadership is not only about opposing but also about rising to the need of the hour and completing what the Constitution demands. Such an act would not only fulfil a constitutional duty but would stand as an enduring testament to statesmanship – securing for him a legacy that outlives both politics and partisanship.
Yours sincerely, Suresh Dookhie
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2025
08:00 Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown
09:00 Stop Suffering 10:00 Movie - Motocrossed (2001) 12:00 News Break
12:05 Indian Movie - Besharam (2013) 14:30 Movie - Popular Theory (2023)
16:00 Indian Soaps
17:00 The Young & The Restless
18:00 Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown
19:00 The Evening News
20:00 Stop Suffering
20:30 Abbot Elementary S3 E11
21:00 Heartland S2 E13 22:00 Movie - The Marvels (2023)
The devastated North Street neighbourhood in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa swept through on Tuesday (Photo: AFP)
Guyanese stakeholders engaged in a high-level coordination meeting led by acting President, Prime Minister Mark Phillips on Wednesday
Page Foundation
Common 3D Shapes
The usual 2D shapes have 3D forms, but those aren’t all the 3D shapes!
Here are the most common 3D shapes that you will come across:
Triangular Prisms
either end are hexagons, and the rest of the faces are rectangular.
Triangular Prisms have 5 faces, 9 edges, and 6 vertices. The two faces at either end are triangles, and the rest of the faces are rectangular.
Hexagonal Prisms
Hexagonal Prisms have 8 faces, 18 edges, and 12 vertices. The two faces at
Triangular-based pyramids
Triangular-based pyramids have 4 faces, 6 edges and 4 vertices. The base is a triangle. All of the faces are triangular.
Fun fact: If the triangular faces making up the prism are all equilateral, then the shape is also called a Tetrahedron!
Square based pyramids
Square based pyramids have 5 faces, 8 edges and 5 vertices. The base is a square. All the other faces are triangular.
Hexagonal pyramids
Hexagonal pyramids have 7 faces, 12 edges, and 7 vertices. The base is a hexagon. All of the other faces are triangular.
By Thomas mcGraTh
The birds have flown their summer skies to the south, And the flower-money is drying in the banks of bent grass Which the bumble bee has abandoned. We wait for a winter lion, Body of ice-crystals and sombrero of dead leaves.
A month ago, from the salt engines of the sea, A machinery of early storms rolled toward the holiday houses Where summer still dozed in the pool-side chairs, sipping An aging whiskey of distances and departures.
Now the long freight of autumn goes smoking out of the land. My possibles are all packed up, but still I do not leave. I am happy enough here, where Dakota drifts wild in the universe, Where the prairie is starting to shake in the surf of the winter dark.
[Source: Selected Poems 1938-1988 (1988)] Materials
• Medium-sized cardboard box
• Paper or plastic cup
• String
• Marker
• Scissors • Paper, or a very long printed receipt from a store
• Tape • Coins, marbles, small rocks, or other small, heavy objects to use as weights
• Another person to help Instructions
1. Cut the lid or flaps off the cardboard box. Stand the box up on one of the smaller sides.
2. Poke two holes opposite each other near the rim of the cup.
3. Tie a piece of string, slightly longer than the length of the box, to each hole.
4. Poke two holes in the top of the box, making sure they are the same distance apart as the holes in the cup.
5. Push the two pieces of string through the holes and tie them together on the top of the box so the cup hangs down inside the box. The bottom of the cup should be about an inch above the bottom of the box.
6. Poke a hole in the centre of the bottom of the cup. Remove the cap from the marker, and push the marker through the hole so its tip just barely touches the bottom of the box.
7. Fill the cup with coins or other small weights, making sure the marker stays vertical.
8. Fold a piece of paper in half lengthwise, then fold it in half lengthwise again. Unfold the paper and cut along the folds to form four equal-sized strips. Tape the strips of paper together end to end to form one long strip. If you have a long printed receipt, you can skip this step.
9. Cut two slits on opposite sides of the cardboard box, as close as possible to the bottom edge. The slits should be wide enough to pass the paper strip through one side, across the middle of the box, and out the other side.
10. Make sure the marker is centred on the paper strip. You might need to poke different holes in the top of the box and rehang the cup if necessary.
11. Now you are finally ready to use your seismograph! Stabilise the box with your hands as your helper slowly starts to pull the paper strip through the box from one side to the other side.
12. Now, shake the box back and forth (perpendicular to the paper strip, keeping the bottom of the box in contact with the table) as your helper continues to pull the paper strip through, doing their best to pull at a constant speed. How does the line on the paper strip change?
13. Pause your shaking for a few seconds (as your helper continues to pull the paper), then try shaking the box harder.
14. Pause for a few more seconds, then shake the box very gently.
15. Pull the paper strip all the way out of the box and look at the line.
(Adapted from Science Buddies)
The Bermuda Triangle is an area of the ocean where many ships and planes have gone missing! Why do you think this could be? Write a story about what it might be like to travel there and what you would encounter.
Mobil Service Station bombing
High Court extends detention of 8 terror attack suspects
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has secured an extension to further detain eight of the nine suspects who were taken into custody for the deadly terror attack in Georgetown on Sunday evening.
This was confirmed by Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, who also stated that all nine of the suspects remain in custody pending investigations and charges.
"Today, detectives made an application to the High Court to extend the period of detention for eight of the nine individuals currently in custody... the application was granted by Chief Justice Navindra Singh," the Deputy Commissioner of Police told the Guyana Times.
He further added that an application was not made for the ninth suspect since his detention period
had not expired. By law, persons are legally held for 72 hours, after which they are either released or the police can request additional detention, which must be granted by a judge.
The Crime Chief added that investigations are working on several other leads but could not divulge any further information.
However, in other sections of the media, it was reported that the fuel attendant who refused to allow the Spanish-speaking male to dispose of a black garbage bag has positively identified Daniel Alexander Ramirez Peodomo as that man.
He was reportedly part of an identification pa -
Demerara Bank reports highest...
“In just 30 years, Demerara Bank has achieved what no other bank in Guyana has: record profitability, zero NPLs and the strongest growth in national banking history,” Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dowlat Parbhu noted.
Crediting its unwavering dedication to excellence and innovation, the Bank said it has positioned itself as a formidable force in the country's financial progress, setting new benchmarks for performance and shaping the future of banking in Guyana.
Efficiency and innovation
In fact, Demerara Bank continues to operate as Guyana’s most efficient financial institution, maintaining a cost-to-income ratio of just 28 per cent,
compared with a sector average of roughly 45 per cent. This efficiency is not merely owing to cost restraint, but rather is a result of exceptional income growth outpacing expenditure – a direct outcome of its digital transformation and technology-driven operating model.
By automating processes, integrating digital platforms, and expanding service delivery through innovation, DBL has enhanced productivity and revenue generation across all business lines. The result is a model of modern banking efficiency, where technology and prudent management combine to deliver sustained profitability without compromising on service quality, investment, or growth.
rade on Wednesday, during which the pump attendant picked him out.
Just a day ago, it was revealed that the suspect and accomplices scouted the targeted location prior to the attack, which has left a six-year-old dead and several others injured.
It was reported that suspects arrived in a motorcar that was parked in the vicinity of the ACME building. "Whilst there, one man exited the vehicle, walked over to the Mobil Service Station, walked around, then went into a KFC outlet, purchased chicken, and went back to the car," Blanhum told this publication on Wednesday evening.
He further stated that after some time, the prime suspect exited the motorcar with a black bag and walked toward the service station. "And we all know what happened after that since it was all captured on camera."
CCTV footage in the area captured the suspect attempting to dispose of
two black garbage bags in a bin. Nevertheless, he was prevented from doing so by an attendant; instead, he walked toward the western side of the fuel station, shortly after which a loud explosion was heard coming from the section where bottled cooking gas was stored.
One day after the police issued a wanted bulletin for the suspect, the clothes suspected to have been worn by him were found at a location in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara). The GPF soon after announced a reward of $5 million for any information that may lead to the arrest of the suspect wanted for the crime.
It has further been established that Peodomo and another man, both Venezuelans, arrived in Guyana illegally by boat hours before the terror attack. More worrying is that the explosive was transported from Venezuela by the suspect.
In a confession statement, Peodomo indicated that he had brought the bomb from Venezuela and would have activated it when he exited the vehicle on Sunday evening. It was also confirmed that the prime suspect is affiliated with a criminal gang in his home country, which goes by the name "R", linked to the Sindicato gang.
With investigations currently underway, the Guyana Police Force will be pursuing the death penalty in accordance with Sections 309A and 309B of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01, which address acts of terrorism
and conspiracy to commit terrorism.
This was confirmed by Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond, who emphasised that a young, innocent child was murdered, and had the suspect been successful in placing the bag in the bin, it could have been more detrimental.
She is confident that President Dr Irfaan Ali will sign off on a death penalty for those found culpable of the terror attack.
The blast on Sunday evening left six-year-old Soraya Bourne dead and four others hospitalised, including two minors and two adults. The two children were admitted to the paediatric ward suffering from significant injuries, while the two adult females are being treated for soft tissue injuries to the face, head, neck, and thigh, with one suffering a fracture to the leg.
An update late Thursday afternoon indicated that they are on the road to recovery and are still being closely monitored.
In 2025, the Bank has also completed several landmark digital integrations, enhancing customer service and demonstrating its commitment to innovation. These integrations position the Bank to support customers with advanced technological solutions.
Building on this success, DBL announced that it would soon launch new platforms, including a mobile banking service. These additions will enrich its suite of services, offering customers a seamless banking experience.
“Our digital-first model enhances customer trust while achieving operational excellence,” stated the Chairman, Komal Samaroo. “It’s the perfect balance between innovation and prudence.” FROM PAGE 3
The scene after the explosion on Sunday evening
Dead: Soraya Bourne
Arrested: Daniel Alexander Ramirez Peodomo
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Wendell Blanhum
Mahdia miner gets $200k bail on narcotics charge
– driver busted with ganja at Itaballi checkpoint
Sixty-one-year-old
Elvis Arthur, a miner from Potaro Mahdia, Region 8 (Potaro-Siparuni), was placed on $200,000 bail after being charged with narcotics possession.
Arthur appeared before Magistrate Tariq Mohamed at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
As such, he was granted $200,000 bail and will make his next court appearance on December 5, 2025.
Meanwhile, a 22-year-old driver from Byderabo Road, Bartica, was taken into custody after he was found with
Police hunt suspect who threw firearm, ammo in trench after spotting patrol
The police are on
the hunt for a male suspect who allegedly disposed of a bag containing a 12-gauge single-barrel shotgun and six 12-gauge live cartridges at Nabaclis Village, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Thursday.
Police stated that ranks were in the area conducting a mobile patrol and upon seeing them, the suspect fled the scene but not before throwing a dark green duffle
bag into a nearby trench.
The bag was retrieved and upon inspection found the firearm with its serial number filed off and the matching rounds of ammunition.
The firearm and ammunition were taken to the Cove and John Police Station and lodged. Despite immediate efforts to locate the suspect he remains at large but the police are making every effort to apprehend him.
20.7 grams of cannabis in his possession at the Itaballi Checkpoint on Thursday.
Police stated that during a routine stop-and-search exercise, ranks intercepted a motor lorry travelling from Bartica to the Mara Mara Backdam and conducted a
search on the driver, during which the ganja was found. The narcotics were weighed and amounted to 20.7 grams. He remains in custody pending charges.
Moruca man arrested after threatening to shoot reputed wife with illegal firearm
The gun that was recovered near the construction site
A32-year-old labourer from Moruca, North West District (NWD),
was taken into custody on Tuesday after threatening to shoot his reputed wife with an illegal 9mm pistol during a domestic dispute.
Police stated that the victim went to the Acquero Police Station and reported that she was threatened by her reputed husband. She claimed that the suspect drew a firearm from his waist, pointed it at her, and threatened to shoot her.
She, however, managed to take away the magazine containing the ammunition, after which she reported the matter to the police. The magazine, when examined, contained one 9mm round of ammunition. Following the report, the suspect was arrested and later admitted ownership of the magazine and ammunition.
However, the following day, the suspect led police near a construction site on Kumaka Hospital Road, where a gold-and-green 9mm Taurus pistol was discovered wrapped in a brown cloth and hidden in vegetation. He remains in custody pending investigations.
Intelligence… …upgrade??
On the heels of the quick capture of the Venezuelan terrorist who bombed the midtown gas station, all kinds of info are now circulating about our “National Intelligence and Security Agency” (NISA). Now it’s all well and good to know what our Government’s doing about collecting information on the bad guys in and out of Guyana – which NISA’s hopefully converting to “intelligence” with their analysts!! But do we really need to know the minutiae of the spy hardware it acquired last year (for $150M –including “geolocation finders, earbuds, wristwatches, eyeglasses with hidden cameras, waterproof cameras and drone jammers”)?
What the dickens?? If our “agency’s” to be anything like the one it was clearly named after – the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to those who are at the back of the class!! – Then how can they conduct espionage if every Carlos, Juan and Maduro knows our spies all wear eyeglasses with hidden cameras, earbuds and smart wristwatches?? We’ve now blown their cover, and we hope our boys (and girls) aren’t being picked up to be waterboarded to spill their guts literally and figuratively!! Did Her Majesty’s Government announce in the Times that 007’s Aston Martin came with machine guns, an ejector seat, revolving licence plates –and could produce smokescreens at the press of a button?? And ironically there are complaints about the Agency being kept as a secret!! Heck…isn’t it a SECRET agency?? Back in 2012 it had been launched under Donald Ramotar’s presidency!! Remember the announcement that a “Central Intelligence Unit (CIU)” was housed at the back of Castellani House? The moment your Eyewitness – who grew up on Bond movies – learnt they had access to security cameras being deployed around Georgetown, he knew what was going down!!
In 2013 APNU’s security maven – former COP Winston Felix – screamed that there ought to be legislation governing the agency. Was clearly worried about the PNC being sussed out!! But when Brigadier (rtd) David Granger took office in 2015 and announced, “We’re going to establish a National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), and the CIU will be incorporated into the NSA.” Did he pass any legislation?? No siree, Winston!!
Then in 2023, he read on one of the online news sites that NISA was gonna be sending agents to foreign capitals. While your Eyewitness was a tad long in the tooth, he figured there HAD to be the need for a silver-haired manabout-town who could wangle info from various and sundry femme fatales about who – in addition to Mad Maduro –was trying to get their hands on our newfound oil wealth!! Unfortunately, he never got a reply to his application. He wondered if it was because he said he liked his rum-andcoke stirred and not shaken!!
…inside and outside?
Back in 2023, LOO Norton had indicated he agreed that NISA was necessary. He just had some concerns about its “sweeping powers” and its director being appointed by, and reporting to, the President. Fair enough…that’s what an Opposition’s all about. To suggest how the Government could perform its job better. So what’s the standard?? In the US and UK they’ve split their intelligence operations into domestic (FBI and MI5) and foreign (CIA and MI6), and their heads ultimately report to the head of their executive – POTUS and the British PM.
So your Eyewitness doesn’t see what the fuss is all about with our President “having too much power”. Who’s the intelligence supposed to be sent to, if not Pressie?? The Opposition Leader?? Jeez!! It’s the executive branch of Government that’s in charge of all state institutions!! Are they gonna now complain that Pressie heads the Defence Board and is Commander of the Armed Forces??
Anyhow, that distinction between domestic and foreignbased intelligence agencies should be legislated. Pronto!!
…on FDI
It doesn’t take intelligence agencies to figure out why investors are beating a path to our door. The latest being the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB) pledging US$1 billion to us and Suriname.
Money attracts money!!
The firearm and ammunition that were found in the trench
The ganja found in Arthur’s possession
The cannabis that was found on the driver of the motor lorry
Charged: Elvis Arthur
Rule of Law Index 2025 report flawed – MoPA&G
...says report “cannot be construed as a real reflection of Guyana’s 2025 realities”
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance (MOPA&G) has rejected the accuracy of the recently released World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index 2025, stating that the report’s methodology is deeply flawed and “cannot be construed as a real reflection of Guyana’s 2025 realities.”
According to the report, Guyana ranked 80th in 2025, a slight decline from 78th in 2024. However, the Ministry stressed that the methodology underpinning this ranking is deeply flawed. The data used includes household polling conducted between 2018 and 2022 by the StatMark Group, a firm whose surveys were neither made public nor independently verified.
“The 2025 report, without question, relies on older datasets, including household polling data which originates from 2018 and 2022 by the StatMark Group,”
the Ministry stated. “Of note, neither of these faceto-face surveys was ever made public at the time, nor does the public know of the StatMark Group.”
It added that by the WJP’s own acknowledgement, “where rule of law is stronger, so is the economy.”
In this regard, the Ministry pointed out that Guyana’s rapid economic growth – as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world – is a living example of strong rule of law and institutional integrity.
In a statement issued by the Ministry on Thursday, it was noted that while Guyana values mechanisms that facilitate comparative global reviews on governance, anti-corruption, and human rights, the 2025 Index relies heavily on outdated and opaque data sources that do not accurately capture the country’s ongoing institutional reforms and current realities.
The Ministry emphasised that Guyana re-
mains committed to international transparency and accountability frameworks, including the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), the Inter-American Convention against Corruption through the MESICIC, the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), and other mechanisms of the UN and the International
Monetary Fund (IMF).
The Ministry therefore underscored that the WJP’s conclusions do not align with Guyana’s current progress. “The report cannot be construed as a real reflection of Guyana’s 2025 realities, particularly given ongoing institutional and legislative reforms across governance and justice sectors after 2022, and certain-
ly since 2018,” it declared.
Further, MOPA&G urged both the media and the public to consult official data sources and to exercise critical analysis when interpreting or reproducing third-party publications.
The Ministry cautioned that while rankings may make for attractive headlines, they lack analytical value if not accompanied by nominal scores and underlying datasets.
“The absence of detailed nominal values for the sub-factors limits the analytical value of the rankings, especially in the context of informing policy application and public understanding,” the statement said.
The Ministry also questioned the transparency of the “expert perception” component of the Index, pointing out that the identities and credentials of most contributors were not disclosed. “It cannot be that the perceptions of a few anonymous people are con-
sidered representative of the entire population of approximately 800,000,” it stated. “Without more rigorous sampling parameters, it is indeed difficult to validate the robustness or representativeness of the findings.”
While reaffirming Guyana’s openness to engagement with international partners and monitoring mechanisms – evidenced by recent large-scale reviews under UNCAC and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR – the Ministry maintained that credible assessments must be grounded in current, transparent, and verifiable data.
“The Government continues to underscore the necessity for continuous scrutiny of methodologies, transparent disclosure of sample sizes, and timely updating of datasets to ensure that global indices accurately portray current conditions, particularly for countries in the global south,” the statement said.
Family of ECD schoolboy struck down on pedestrian crossing inconsolable
The family of 15-yearold Annandale Secondary School student Navindra Mahes is inconsolable following his tragic death in a road accident on Thursday morning along the Success Public Road, East Coast Demerara.
Police have confirmed that the fatal collision occurred at approximately 07:30h and involved motor car PAB 214, driven by a 35-year-old female Police corporal.
Mahes, of Lot 44 Le Ressouvenir, ECD, was struck while reportedly using the pedestrian crossing.
According to Police investigations, the vehicle was travelling west along the northern carriageway, in the southern driving lane, at a time when the temporary third lane was active.
Video footage showed Mahes standing on the median facing north before attempting to cross. As he proceeded, he was struck by the left front side of the vehicle. He was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
had already left by the time she arrived, and she did not get to see or speak with him before receiving the tragic news later that day.
“Every morning I would see him… But this morning, I was just a few steps away, and he had already left. I didn’t get a chance to see him or talk to him. When I reached work, I got the news. It was shocking.”
The teen leaves behind his mother and a six-yearold sister. Navindra’s father passed away six years ago, leaving his mother to raise him and his younger sister.
Speaking to Guyana Times, relatives described the teen as a bright and ambitious young man who dreamed of becoming an engineer and had a deep love for cars and video games.
His cousin recalled his usual morning routine – putting on his socks and boots and sharing a brief conversation before heading out. However, on the morning of the accident, she said he
Relatives said he had only recently started travelling alone after school-transport costs became too high, and he quickly adapted, demonstrating maturity and awareness on the road.
“For Form One and Two, I used to pay to take him and bring him. But it started to get too much – $5000 a week, $20,000 a month. So I said I would teach him how to catch the bus. It took him two days… and he got accustomed,” his mother, Vimlawattie Arjun, recalled.
Due to earlier financial challenges, his mother had initially sent Navindra to live with relatives in Berbice, where he excelled in his studies and topped his class at the NGSA. When circumstances improved, she brought him back home. Though he was initially set to attend school in Georgetown, she requested that he be placed at a school on the East Coast so that it would be easier on their family.
Meanwhile, Local Government and Regional Development Minister Priya Manickchand visited the home of the deceased
15-year-old. There, she met with his mother, offering her condolences and support during this devastating time.
Minister Manickchand was accompanied by Pandit and Parliamentarian, Honourable Suresh Singh; Regional Chairman and Vice Chairman for the Regional Democratic Council for Region Four, Mr Clemsford Belgrave and Mr Deoraj Nauth; the Vice Chairman and Acting Chairman of the Better Hope/La Bonne Intention Neighbourhood Democratic Council; and several Regional Democratic Council and
NDC members. Among them were RDC Councillors Alechia Amos, Alana Persaud, Raghunandan Singh, Tasleem DrePaul, Roopnarine Persaud, Jaosdra Appalsammy, Gayaitri Jagroop, Neemawattie Baldeo, Salesha Gafoor, and Sumatie Ramcharran. In expressing her condolences, Minister Manickchand emphasised that no parent should ever have to endure the loss of a child. The Minister and accompanying officials committed to providing ongoing support to the family during this difficult time.
Local Government and Regional Development Minister Priya Manickchand along with family members in the home of the deceased
15-year-old Annandale Secondary School student, Navindra Mahes
President Ali featured among influential Muslim leaders in The Muslim 500 2026
President Dr Irfaan Ali has been featured in the 2026 edition of The Muslim 500: The World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims, under the category of Political Caribbean Leaders.
According to a Department of Public Information (DPI) report on Thursday, the annual publication, produced by
the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre based in Amman, Jordan, highlights individuals who have made significant contributions and exerted meaningful influence within the global Muslim community.
It spans several fields, including politics, scholarship, philanthropy, social development, science, and culture.
President Ali appears on
page 157 of this year’s edition.
According to the article, “A development economist by training, his administration has seen unprecedented growth due to Guyana’s emerging oil sector. He emphasises inclusive development and has promoted interfaith harmony in one of South America’s most religiously-diverse countries.
Men on Mission handing over more homes to vulnerable families during anniversary observance
The Government of Guyana’s Men on Mission (MoM) initiative has handed over several newly constructed two-bedroom homes to vulnerable families all across Guyana as part of its 3rd anniversary celebrations and in keeping with its mandate to provide an avenue for men to contribute meaningfully by rendering valuable service to their communities.
During a week of activities, the first recipient, Amanda Hercules, a single-parent mother of Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara, was handed the keys to her home by Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Vikash Ramkissoon.
Minister Ramkissoon disclosed that he grew up in a zinc house with a single-parent mom and so he understands the challenges faced by these vulnerable groups.
He noted that the President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali is a great example of a leader that is humane and feels the sorrows of others and intend to make Guyana a better place for all of its citizens.
“This is what our government is all about…Our lives will be meaningless unless we contribute positively to society,” the Minister said.
Hercules, a 10-day worker and a single mother of three, expressed heartfelt
gratitude to the President and the Men on Mission team for transforming her family’s living conditions and providing them with a safe and comfortable home.
She heaped praises on the team and the government for the hard work in helping her to achieve her home.
Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McKoy. handed over the keys to the second home to 80-year-old Dahlia Lewis, a pensioner of Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke /Linden Highway.
Minister McKoy, in his remarks, said that women have outpaced men in many aspect of life and noted that while this is good for gender parity, men must begin to shoulder their responsibility with a sense of purpose and pride.
He commended the women who have stepped up and applauded the men in society who live up to their roles and fulfill their duties at home and in the community.
The Minister stated that too many men are being distracted, led astray and consequently are not able to perform well.
He encouraged men to make use of the opportunity to correct their errant behavior by joining the mission to learn, develop, expand and be better able to manage their emotions.
Minister McKoy emphasized that the housing ini-
tiative reflects the spirit of compassion and service that defines the government and its trajectory.
Dr Ali represents a rare instance of Muslim political leadership in Latin America and the Caribbean.”
Now in its 16th year, The Muslim 500 assesses the impact of leaders who shape the socio-economic, cultural, and political lives of Muslims worldwide.
With more than 2.1 billion Muslims across the globe – over a quarter of the world’s population – the
publication focuses on those whose influence extends beyond borders, whether through governance, scholarship, or humanitarian work.
This year’s edition also honours the men and women of Gaza as its Persons of the Year.
During Ramadan Village 2024, an initiative of President Ali, Guyanese responded to his call and do-
nated over $110.8 million to support Palestinian refugees through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
On behalf of the Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) and the Director of Education of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG), Sheikh Moeen ul-Hack, congratulated President Ali and said: “This well-deserved and timely recognition highlights your remarkable leadership as the first Muslim President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and your steadfast commitment to inclusive development, interfaith harmony, and national transformation.”
The President was in September featured in TIME Magazine’s 2025 TIME 100 Next list, which recognises the world’s most influential rising stars.
President Dr Irfaan Ali
Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Vikash Ramkissoon hands over the keys to Amanda Hercules
Guyana Times Journalist emerges top CPCE academic teacher
At just 22 years old, Raywattie “Sophie”
Deonarine has already proven that dreams do come true—but only if you are willing to chase them with courage, faith, and unstoppable determination.
From a young age, Deonarine envisioned herself working in an air-conditioned office, dressed smartly and building a stable career. After leaving high school with an impressive 11 subjects—nine Grade Ones and two Grade Twos— she began applied for employment at various banks and financial institutions. But destiny had other plans. When the office life she
once dreamed of didn’t feel right, she didn’t give up but started over again.
With nothing but faith in herself, she launched a small business called Sophie’s Printing World. At first, business was slow, but she pressed on, driven by the belief that every great success starts small.
Then one day, she saw a vacancy at Guyana Times newspaper and applied. That one application changed her life forever. In 2021, she became a freelance journalist, doing what she loved most— telling stories that matter. Journalism, she realised had always been her hidden passion.
But Deonarine wasn’t done yet. She wanted to make an even greater impact, to inspire and guide others. In 2022, she applied to the Teaching Service Commission and began teaching at Aurora Secondary School. Soon after, she enrolled at the Cyril
day’s work, travel to evening classes at the Anna Regina campus, and return home late at night.
There were moments of exhaustion, self-doubt, and struggle—but never surrender. “It was tough,” she recalls, “but I kept reminding myself of the life I wanted,
Potter College of Education (CPCE), where her real test began.
Balancing teaching, journalism, and studies was no easy feat. Sophie would leave school after a full
her name, followed by the word Distinction. “I froze for a moment,” she said. “Then I smiled. I did it. Every late night, every sacrifice—it was all worth it.”
Still hungry for growth, she expanded her printing business to include handmade ribbon bouquets, combining creativity with entrepreneurship.
In September 2025, she was accepted into the University of Guyana to pursue a degree in Mathematics, while also studying Communication and Mass Media at Amity University of California.
and that kept me going.”
Two years later, on her graduation day in November 2024, Sophie’s dream became reality. As the results were read aloud, her heart raced. Then she heard it—
Then came another life-changing moment—she was named Region Two’s Best Graduating Teacher for Academics. “When I received the message, I couldn’t believe it,” she said, her eyes lighting up. “I told myself, ‘Sophie, you wanted it—you got it.’”
Behind her success stands a circle of love
and support—her mother, Lilwantie Jaigobin, her partner, Devindra Persaud, her lecturers, her Head of Centre Miss Navita Singh, and her aunt Reema Natram, who constantly reminded her that she could rise above any challenge.
Deonarine’s story is one of transformation—from a shy girl with uncertain dreams to a confident woman shaping her own destiny. Her message to others is simple yet profound: “Never give up. Even if you didn’t shine in nursery, primary, or secondary school, you can still become everything you dream of. I wasn’t born successful—I worked for it. And so can you.”
Today, Sophie continues to balance her roles as a teacher, journalist, and entrepreneur, inspiring everyone she meets to believe that with faith, discipline, and a brave heart, anything is possible.
Deonarine and her family
Raywattie “Sophie” Deonarine receiving the trophy for top academic student
Deonarine with her accolades
Police investigate fatal Success accident: teen suffered head injuries, fractured leg
Police are investigating a fatal accident that occurred around 07:30h Thursday, October 30, at Success, East Coast Demerara, which resulted in the tragic death of a 15-year-old schoolboy, Navindra Mahes.
The accident involved motor car PAB 214, driven by a 35-year-old female Police Corporal, and pedestrian Navindra Mahes, a 15-year-old Annandale Secondary School student of Lot 44 Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara.
Enquiries disclosed that the car was proceeding west along the north-
ern carriageway on Success Public Road in the southern driving lane, where the “third lane” was active at
that time.
Video footage revealed that the female driver continued to proceed further west, while the pedestrian was standing at the median that separates the two carriageways, facing north. The student then attempted to cross the road in a northern direction, using the pedestrian crossing, and in doing so, the leftside front portion of the car collided with the schoolboy.
As a result of the collision, Mahes fell onto the roadway, where he received injuries to his body.
He was picked up by public-spirited citizens and
Berbice motorcyclist dies after crashing into concrete fence
An excavator operator attached to Blairmont Sugar Estate is now dead after he reportedly lost control of the motorcycle he was driving and crashed into a concrete fence at Number Two Village, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) on Thursday.
The deceased has been identified as 32-year-old Azim Khan of Experiment Bath, West Coast Berbice. According to information received, the accident occurred at about 5:45h on Thursday while Khan was driving a motorcycle, bearing registration CR 3710.
Khan was reportedly proceeding along the Number Two Public Road, allegedly at a fast rate, and while negotiating a left turn, he lost control and slammed into the concrete fence.
He was picked up in an
unconscious state by public-spirited persons and taken to the Bath Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The dead man’s wife Dusshula Sookwah recounted that on Wednesday evening, he informed her that he had to go into work early the next morning.
She stated that he left home at about 5:30h and sometime after she received information about the crash and rushed to the scene.
“The taxi man carry me to Number Two. When we reach there I tell the driver I don’t want to come out; I don’t want to see. When I reach, they already carry him away, I just see the
motorbike on the ground damage up and the police was there. After I see how the motorbike is, I say like something bad happened to him and the driver asked a man what happened. The man tell him is an accident and the driver asked him if the man alive or dead and the man said it looked like the man it looked like he dead. After I hear that I tell the driver to carry me home,” she recalled.
The widow is now left to fend for their three young children, with the youngest being less than a year.
“She is only five months next week; she would be six months,” the widow said, sobbing.
taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit.
On arrival at the hospital, he was seen and examined by doctors on duty, reportedly suffering from
head injuries and a fractured right leg. He succumbed to his injuries at 09:56h while receiving medical treatment.
The body is presently at the Georgetown Public
Hospital Mortuary, awaiting a post-mortem examination.
The female Police rank is under close arrest and is assisting with the investigation.
Region 2 Education Dept celebrates academic excellence
The Region Two Department of Education on Thursday hosted a grand awards ceremony to honour outstanding students, teachers, and educators who excelled in academic performance across various levels.
The event, which was held at the Anna Regina Secondary School auditorium, recognised top performers at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), CSEC, and CAPE examinations, as well as outstanding graduates from the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and the Management Certificate Programme.
The ceremony celebrated the achievements of students who gained places at national schools, top CSEC and CAPE achievers from secondary institutions, and exceptional teachers and officers who continue to raise the standard of education within the region.
Delivering remarks, Regional Education Officer (REdO) Shondelle Hercules commended the collective efforts of teachers, parents, and administrators whose dedication contributed to the region’s remarkable improvement in academic results.
“Region Two continues to demonstrate that we are a results-driven region. Our students’ success is a reflection of the hard work, commitment, and determination of our headteachers, teachers, parents, and the wider education fraternity,” Hercules stated.
She highlighted that the Department of Education has been implementing several intervention programmes at the primary level to boost the performance of Grade Six pupils ahead of the 2026 National Grade Six Assessment. The initiatives, she said, are already yielding positive outcomes.
According to Hercules, the region recorded significant improvements in the 2025 NGSA results compared to the previous year. Mathematics improved from 40 per cent in 2024 to 54 per cent in 2025, English from 59 per cent to 66 per cent, Science from 48 per cent to 58 per cent, and Social Studies from 56 per cent to 60 per cent. The overall pass rate moved from 38 per cent to 50 per cent, with 55 per cent of the region’s pupils earning placements at na-
tional schools.
The Regional Education Officer also commended the Department’s success in advancing infrastructural and educational development within the region. She announced that the 2026 education budget has been completed and submitted to the Regional Executive Officer (REO), the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Finance.
Among the highlights, Hercules reported that four new modernised schools are under construction, including new nursery and secondary schools, while maintenance and rehabilitation works are ongoing across several nursery, primary, and secondary institutions. Upgrades are also underway at the Aurora Secondary and New Wakapao Secondary dormitories.
In addition, ten school boats and fourteen engines were approved for distribution, aimed at improving school accessibility for hinterland and riverine students. More than 2000 new furniture pieces and learning resources have been distributed, while each school received grants to support school operations and learning programmes.
The Department also reintegrated 32 students through its School Welfare Unit and completed several community outreach initiatives, including literacy exhibitions, breast cancer awareness walks, and tree-planting exercises.
Hercules extended appreciation to all stakeholders, including the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), the Regional Executive Officer Susan Saywack, education officers, headteachers, and literacy committees for their continued partnership. She also recognised Boadnarine Harrinarine, co-
ordinator of the awards ceremony, Parmanand Singh, and others who contributed to the success of the event.
“We at the Department of Education are truly grateful for the tremendous support from all quarters. I urge everyone to continue being agents of positive change as we strive for excellence in education,” Hercules said in closing. Meanwhile, Regional Chairman Devin Mohan, in his feature address, lauded the Department of Education and the teaching fraternity for their unwavering commitment to improving educational outcomes in Region Two.
“The continuous improvement in school infrastructure, the introduction of modern teaching resources, and the implementation of innovative programmes all reflect our shared vision of providing every child, regardless of background, with equal access to quality education,” Mohan stated.
He reaffirmed the Regional Democratic Council’s commitment to supporting the education sector and fostering people-centred leadership that prioritises inclusivity, accountability, and progress.
“Education is the foundation upon which sustainable regional development is built. To all the awardees, your hard work and determination are commendable. You have made your families, schools, and region proud,” the Regional Chairman expressed.
Awardees were presented with trophies, plaques, certificates and gift bags in recognition of their outstanding contributions to education and academic excellence in the Pomeroon-Supenaam region.
Dead: Navindra Mahes
Dead: Azim Khan
The broken fence showing where Khan crashed
Regional Education Officer (REdO) Shondelle Hercules delivering her remarks at the event
Regional Chairman Devin Mohan
Over $140M invested in BIT training in Region 3; 902 women among 1696 beneficiaries
As the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning, through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), continues its drive to equip Guyanese with the skills needed to thrive in the country’s evolving job market, Region Three (Essequibo Islands–West Demerara) has recorded remarkable progress over the past five years, with 97 training projects benefitting 1696 individuals – including 902 women and 794 men.
during a BIT graduation ceremony at the Leonora Technical & Vocational Training Centre, which celebrated the achievements of 55 trainees who completed programmes in information technology, 20 in data operations, and 15 in general office administration.
“We are ensuring that there is sustainable development and growth throughout Guyana and just for this reason over the last five years the board's work has been diversified across every part
dividuals with a gender distribution of 794 males and 902 females a total investment of 141.6 million dollars made by the Government of Guyana I think region three is enriched by this intervention and it deserves a round of applause because these are not just statistics numbers or money's being poured this what we are seeing here is enriched families stronger families stronger households and therefore stronger communities,” the Minister disclosed.
According to Subject Minister Keoma Griffith, the Government has expended the $141.6 million during the five-year period in a bid to “enrich families, create stronger households, and stronger communities”.
The Minister made this revelation on Wednesday
of Guyana all ten administrative regions and we have seen growth and skills development across this country and for region number three alone in the last five years there has been 97 projects implemented and we have seen the beneficiaries in the total of 1696 in-
Earlier this year, BIT collaborated with the Leonora Technical & Vocational Training Centre and the Sabeelur Islamic Training Centre, in Region Three, to provide individuals with competency-based training designed to help them gain entry-level skills, expand
their opportunities, and improve their livelihoods. This was the second batch of trainees to complete the programme. The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates to the successful graduates.
Empowerment and transformation
In his address to the graduates, Minister Griffith commended the cohort for their perseverance and commitment, describing the day as a celebration of empowerment and transformation.
He also praised the efforts of the Government of Guyana, led by President Dr Irfaan Ali, for its continued investment in education and skills training across the country, noting that the Administration’s mission is to ensure sustainable growth and development throughout Guyana, empowering citizens to actively participate in the nation’s transformation.
“Under the visionary leadership of His Excellency President Ali, the Government of Guyana remains steadfast in its commitment to expanding access to technical and vocational skills, to creating greater opportunities for participation in every aspect of life, to ensuring full access to education and skills training, to increasing employment opportunities, and to supporting youth entrepreneurship and innovation. Let me tell you something: this is the
best time to be a Guyanese; this is the best time to be young in this country. This generation will be the generation that will take this country forward,” Griffith added.
The training, he said, fosters employability, professionalism, and adaptability to evolving workplace technologies.
With this in mind, Griffith encouraged graduates to see their training as the foundation for entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency, while urging them to also remain committed to continuous learning and to help others gain similar empowerment.
“Through the Board of Industrial Training you
are seeing direct deposits and investments being made in both white-collar and blue-collar jobs; we want persons not only to excel and become contractors all across this country, but we recognise that there is a need for professional persons who want to operate within the office and build their own consultancies and enrich office and administration, and that is why this program will be impactful for all of you because now you will possess the skill set to go anywhere you want in Guyana to improve office administration in this country, and you don't only have to go and work in an office; trust me, you can go and set up your own consultancy,” he said.
Movable assets as collateral to drive local enterprise, boost investment – WUSC Country Coordinator
With Guyana’s Collateral Registry now fully in operation – a landmark development in advancing financial inclusion, transparency, and security within the country’s business environment – the World University Service of Canada’s (WUSC) Country Coordinator for the Sustainable Agriculture in the Caribbean Project, Donald Cole, has highlighted that the new framework will significantly enhance access to finance for farmers, women entrepreneurs, and small business owners – ultimately driving national development and investment.
The registry, established under the Security Interest in Movable Property Act, No. 20 of 2024, allows individuals and businesses to use movable property such as vehicles, equipment, inventory, consumer goods, farm products, petroleum or minerals, and receivables as collateral when seeking
loans or credit.
The initiative forms part of the Government of Guyana’s broader efforts to improve access to credit, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), women entrepreneurs, and vulnerable groups by expanding the range of assets that can be used to secure financing.
It also represents a major milestone in President Dr Irfaan Ali’s Government digital transformation agenda within the financial sector, reflecting its commitment to modernising systems, enhancing efficiency, and promoting greater accessibility to financial services across the country.
During his address at the
launch of the Micro Women Entrepreneur Learning Centre, held on Tuesday in Georgetown, Cole explained that the registry is vital for empowering entrepreneurs who have traditionally been excluded from formal financing due to the lack of fixed assets.
“Across the system, finance and policy are moving too. Banks are adopting products and advice for smallholders. The new framework on movable collateral helps unlock credit for equipment, crops and livestock. In Region Five, processing services are helping producers turn cassava into flour. Fruits into juices and pepper into sauces that meet standards,” Cole said.
Highlighting tangible progress under the Sustainable Agriculture in the Caribbean Project, Cole revealed that over 2500 producers have already started using these services, with activities now extended across Regions Two
(Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
“More than 2500 producers have already started using these services. And activity now reaches Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, and 10. This is how we measure progress. Not by workshops held, but by what we get adopted, expanded and reinforced by institutions. The centre will help those
links faster and clearer so that goods produced reach buyers, and buyers can trust the standards behind them. Our ask is very straightforward. Use the centre. Share expertise. Join the buyer-seller sessions. Support the training calendar with guest lectures, site visits and mentorships. Help entrepreneurs navigate certification, finance and logistics. Small improvements at each step add up to better incomes and more resilient communities,” he added.
World University Service of Canada (WUSC) Country Coordinator for the Sustainable Agriculture in the Caribbean Project, Donald Cole
Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith
Labour, public service Ministries collaborate to hold OSH training for Public Servants
Acollaboration between the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning (MoLMP) and the Ministry of Public Service’s Training and Development Department has led to a successful two-day Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Training Programme for public servants, held October 28 and 29, 2025.
Roydon Croal, MoLMP Assistant Chief OSH Officer, successfully facilitated the training sessions, which were organised and hosted by the Ministry of Public Service’s Training and Development Department.
According to the
MoLMP, a total of 34 public servants benefited from the training, representing several Ministries, agencies and some ministry divisions, such as the Ministry of Public Works’s Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation, Transport and Harbours Department, and its Canawaima Ferry Service division. Also among participants were the M&CC; Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority; Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation; and the Guyana National Shipping Corporation Limited, and others.
During the two-day programme, participants engaged in a series of interac-
tive sessions covering topics such as the introduction to occupational safety and health, workplace hazards and risk assessment, the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations, safety and health policy and programme development, OSH management systems, workplace inspections, accident investigation and prevention, and the role of disciplinary procedures and joint workplace safety and health committees.
These sessions were designed to deepen understanding, encourage participation, and strengthen practical approaches to safety management within the public sector.
Facilitator Roydon
Croal, the MoLMP noted, brought awareness of the importance of cultivating a proactive safety culture and incorporating preventive measures into daily operations across public sector entities.
“[A]ll workplaces, the public sector and the private sector, must follow the Occupational Safety and Health Act Chapter 99:06,” he declared, stressing the need for functioning Occupational Safety and Health Committees, accident reporting, and continuous inspections by the
Committee. “It is also imperative that all industrial establishments develop a safety management system,” he added.
The MoLMP will continue to conduct workplace inspections, provide advice and guidance, give lectures, and investigate complaints in keeping with its functions.
The training sought to promote a safe, healthy, and productive work environment by educating public servants about workplace hazards, preventive measures, and safety pro-
tocols.
Participants are now expected to identify and assess workplace risks and hazards, practise a proactive safety culture within their respective Ministries and agencies, and adhere to national Occupational Safety and Health laws and regulations.
The MoLMP noted that the programme reflects the Ministry’s ongoing commitment to improving public sector efficiency and strengthening inter-agency collaborations to promote safer, healthier workplaces.
Men on Mission handing over more homes to vulnerable families...
Lewis, who has lived in the area for several decades, expressed deep appreciation to the Men on Mission team for the life-changing gesture, stating, “I want to thank God first and everyone who has put heart and hand into this home. This new home is a blessing, and I am truly grateful to everyone who made it possible. I can finally rest comfortably knowing I have a safe
place to call my own.”
Roberta Macey, a mother of five including an autistic 3-year-old, was the third recipient of a MoM house this week.
The 43-year-old pathway worker, who lived with her aunt in very deplorable conditions, met the President at a State House Autism Programme and shared her struggles with him.
He immediately sprang
into action and activated the MoM team to begin construction on Macey’s home at Non Pariel, East Coast Demerara.
A 58-year-old Buxton resident also received a home from the MoM as the fourth recipient during the anniversary celebrations.
Marva Andrews, a GUYSUCO employee, has faced real hardship including living in a house with a leaky roof, but has shown
great resilience over the years.
It was her openness and perseverance that saw her being identified as a beneficiary under the housing initiative, giving her the opportunity to become a homeowner and raise her adopted children in a comfortable environment.
Friday’s activities will lead to Essequibo, where four houses will be handed over to Yonette Sargeant of Pomona, Chandrawattie Narayan of Onderneeming Sandpit, Serojanie Bishewar of Walton Hall and Donna Bridgemohan
of Queenstown.
The modest two-bedroom homes were all constructed through the collaborative efforts of the Men on Mission team, community volunteers, and private sector partners, who all contributed labour, materials, and support to ensure the successful completion of the project.
MoM Coordinator, Lieutenant Colonel (rtd), Bhageshwar Murli, reaffirmed the initiative’s commitment to empowering men to play an active role in community development and supporting families in
need.
Colonel Murli, providing a brief overview of the Men on Mission initiative, detailed that it was launched by President Ali in October 2022 with 1000 men at the Camp Ayanganna ground.
Since its launch, Men on Mission has been active in 7 of the 10 regions and has handed over more than 170 homes to single-parent families, senior citizens, persons living with disabilities and citizens whose homes were destroyed by natural disasters across Guyana.
The programme continues to engage men in positive community-building activities and promote values of leadership, responsibility, and compassion.
Men on Mission will remain committed to improving the lives of vulnerable citizens through housing support, mentorship programmes, youth empowerment programmes, skills development and community outreach activities.
The initiative continues to partner with government agencies, private sector entities, and volunteers to promote positive values and responsible leadership among men.
Participants are now expected to adhere to national OSH laws and regulations
Participants during a training session
Eighty-year-old Dahlia Lewis and her grandson
Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister Kwame McCoy hands over the keys to Dahlia Lewis
Hurricane Melissa heads to Bermuda as relief efforts intensify
Jamaica has ramped up efforts to clear roads
and reach people in isolated and cut-off areas after Hurricane Melissa rampaged through the Caribbean, with the storm now heading towards Bermuda.
“The devastation is enormous,” said the Transport Minister, Daryl Vaz.
The British Government said on Thursday that it was chartering flights to the island. “The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has chartered a limited number of flights from Jamaica for British nationals who are unable to fly home commercially,” it said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) says electricity has been restored to more than 50,000 customers across Kingston, St Andrew, St Thomas and St Catherine.
“The backbone of the electricity grid has suffered tremendous damage,” said JPS President and CEO, Hugh Grant, following an aerial tour of the most severely hit parishes.
The company said JPS teams are using the opportunity to do repairs in areas with less extensive damage and get power back to customers where it is safe to do so.
Grant warned that while power has been restored to some areas, the high-voltage transmission backbone of the system that traverses some of the most severely damaged areas remains compromised.
4 killed in latest strike on alleged drug vessel – White House
The White House says United States (US) forces have bombed another alleged drug-smuggling vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing four men, just days after confirming it had killed 14 persons in three strikes on vessels in the area.
Hurricane Melissa has been intensely destructive, estimated to have caused billions of dollars, but accurate forecasting and Government advice meant many people who were able to reach shelters were protected.
In T&T, Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander confirmed that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had instructed officials to extend immediate support to Jamaica.
“The Prime Minister says whatever our Caribbean neighbours need and we can provide, we will provide it.
After meeting with CEDEMA (Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management
“We understand the inconvenience being experienced by our customers who are without power,” Grant further expressed. “The one thing we know is that this will be a rebuild of significant portions of our infrastructure and not just a restoration in order to get the power back on. But rest assured, our teams are working non-stop twenty-four seven to get the lights back on, while we are taking steps to get even more overseas line workers to assist.”
Agency), we will know if we should deploy human resources to assist,” he said.
Alexander told Guardian Media yesterday that a shipment of relief items is expected to be dispatched today (Thursday).
Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Sean Sobers added that the Government is reviewing a list of priority relief items provided by Jamaican authorities to ensure that assistance meets the most urgent needs.
Four deaths were reported in Jamaica. In Haiti, 25 persons, including 10 children, died in floodwaters when a river overflowed its banks.
In eastern Cuba, authorities had evacuated about 735,000 persons from their homes as the storm approached.
Across the Bahamas archipelago, which Melissa has now passed, the Government had flown out nearly 1500 persons in one of its largest evacuation operations. (Excerpts from The Guardian, Jamaica Observer, and Trinidad Guardian)
“The bodies just kept coming” –photographer at deadly Rio Police raid
A
photographer who witnessed the aftermath of a massive Brazilian Police operation in Rio de Janeiro has told the BBC of how residents came back with mutilated bodies of those who had died.
The bodies "kept coming: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45..." Bruno Itan told BBC Brasil. They included those of Police officers.
One of the bodies had been decapitated – others were "totally disfigured", he said. Many also had what he says were stab wounds.
More than 120 persons were killed during Tuesday's raid on a criminal gang – the deadliest such raid in the city.
Bruno Itan told BBC Brasil that he was first alerted to the raid early on Tuesday by residents of the Alemão neighbourhood, who sent him messages telling him there was a shoot-out.
The photographer made his way to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the bodies were arriving.
Itan says that the Police stopped members of the press from entering the Penha neighbourhood, where the operation was under way.
"Police officers formed a line and said, 'The press doesn't get past here.'"
At a news conference on Wednesday, Governor Castro defended the Police force.
"It wasn't our intention to kill anyone. We wanted to arrest them all alive," he said.
He added that the situa-
tion had escalated because the suspects had retaliated: "It was a consequence of the retaliation they carried out and the disproportionate use of force by those criminals."
The Governor also said that the bodies displayed by locals in Penha had been "manipulated".
Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has summoned Governor Castro to a hearing on Monday to explain the Police actions "in detail". (Excerpt from BBC News)
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said in a post on X late on Wednesday that the “Department of War”, the name President Donald Trump’s Administration has given to the recently rebranded Defence Department, had “carried out a lethal kinetic strike on yet another narco-trafficking vessel”.
Hegseth said “four male narco-terrorists” were killed on the vessel, which was “operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization”. He did not provide an exact location for the attack but said it was conducted in international waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
“This vessel, like all the others, was known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was transiting along a known narco-trafficking
route, and was carrying narcotics,” Hegseth said, posting aerial footage of the strike.
None of the victims of Wednesday’s attack have been identified.
Critics have called the strikes a form of extrajudicial killing and a violation of international law, which largely prohibits countries from using lethal military
force against non-combatants outside a conflict zone.
“We continue to emphasise the need for all efforts to counter transnational organised crime to be conducted in accordance with international law,” Miroslav Jenca, the United Nations (UN) assistant secretary-general for the Americas, told the UN Security Council this month. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
A& B: Sentencing adjourned in child rape case as court awaits probation report
Sentencing for a man convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl has been adjourned until October 31 as the court awaits his probation report.
The man, now in his late 40s, was found guilty in September by a jury following a trial that began in July before Justice Ann Marie Smith.
The case involved allegations of rape against the young victim, who testified virtually from off-island about incidents that allegedly occurred while she was spending a weekend at
the home of her mother’s friend in December 2021.
The accused was the boyfriend of the mother’s friend and was 45 years old at the time of the alleged incidents.
The complainant described going to shower in a bathroom that was accessible through two doors.
According to her testimony, he held her arm and pulled her out of the shower while it was still running, then pushed her in a way for her to bend over before allegedly assaulting her.
The victim said when the
man left the room, she told him she would tell her mother, to which he responded with a “funny smile” and told her to keep it a secret.
After deliberating for several hours on the evidence presented during the trial, the jury sided with the prosecution and returned a guilty verdict.
Justice Ann Marie Smith was to hand down a sentence this week, but it was adjourned until the end of the month once the probation report is completed.
(Excerpt from Antigua News Room)
St Lucia Ministry of Health strengthens defences with new pandemic preparedness plan
St Lucia is significantly bolstering its capacity to manage future health crises by developing a comprehensive Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan. The initiative started in a critical three-day workshop held from October 21 to 23, aimed at creating a national roadmap for handling the next major health emergency.
Hosted by the Ministry of Health, Wellness, and Elderly Affairs in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the workshop
brought together a broad coalition of experts and essential national partners. Attendees included health professionals alongside key agencies such as the National Emergency and Management Organisation (NEMO), the Customs and Excise Department, and the St Lucia Fire Service, highlighting the understanding that pandemic response is a whole-society effort.
The new plan is designed to enhance St Lucia’s ability to detect, respond to, and swiftly recover from pandemics, with a focus on respiratory diseases.
Joanne Persaud,
PAHO’s Advisor for Health Emergencies, underscored the urgency and significance of this effort. “The pandemic plan, like any other hazard or disaster plan, is designed really to enhance preparedness for a pandemic threat,” she explained.
“We’ve had the experience of COVID-19, and there’s always that great concern that we will have another pandemic. This is overall part of preparing St Lucia, in particular the Ministry of Health, but many other sectors… because everyone has a role to play.” (Excerpt from St Lucia Times)
A man walks his dog past downed trees, power lines and destroyed houses in El Cobre in Cuba
A screengrab of a video posted by US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, reportedly showing the aftermath of a strike on an alleged drug smuggling vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean
Dozens of bodies were laid out in a square in Penha, in northern Rio, after the deadliest Police raid in the city's history
Around the World OIL NEWS
Buckingham Palace statement on Andrew in full
BOil prices steady as investors assess USChina trade truce
Oil prices held steady on Thursday as investors assessed a potential trade truce between the United States and China after US President Donald Trump lowered tariffs on China following a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea. Brent futures rose eight cents, or 0.1 per cent, to settle at $65.00 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 9 cents, or 0.1 per cent, to settle at $60.57. Trump agreed to reduce tariffs on China to 47 per cent from 57 per cent in a one-year deal in exchange for Beijing resuming US soybean purchases, keeping rare earth exports flowing and cracking down on the illicit fentanyl trade. PVM analyst Tamas Varga said investors see the announced agreement between China and the US as more of a de-escalation of tension than a structural change in the relationship.
Oil majors Shell and TotalEnergies posted quarterly profit falls of 10 per cent and two per cent, respectively, on Thursday, dragged down by lower oil prices, though Shell beat expectations, helped by better trading results in its huge gas division. Also helping to boost the economic outlook, the US Federal Reserve lowered interest rates on Wednesday, in line with market expectations.
However, it signalled that it might be the last cut of the year, as the ongoing Government shutdown threatens data availability. Lower interest rates reduce consumer borrowing costs and could boost economic growth and oil demand. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Trump sets refugee ceiling at record-low 7500 with focus on white South Africans
Trump sets refugee ceiling at record-low 7500 with focus on white South Africans United States (US) President Donald Trump set the refugee admissions ceiling at 7500 for fiscal year 2026, the lowest cap on record, a White House document published on Thursday said, part of a broader effort to reshape refugee policies in the US and worldwide.
Trump said in an annual refugee determination dated September 30 that admissions would be focused largely on South Africans from the country's white Afrikaner ethnic minority.
Trump has claimed Afrikaners face persecution based on their race in the Black-majority country, allegations the South African Government has denied.
Trump paused all US refugee admissions when he took office in January, saying they could only be restarted if they were established to be in the best interests of the US.
Weeks later, he launched an effort to bring in Afrikaners, sparking criticism from refugee supporters. Only 138 South Africans had entered the US by early September, Reuters reported, at the time.
In the determination published on Thursday, Trump said his administration would consider bringing in "other victims of illegal or unjust discrimination in their respective homelands".
An internal document drafted by US Government officials in April (opens new tab) suggested the administration could also prioritise bringing in Europeans as refugees if they were targeted for expressing certain views, such as opposition to mass migration or support for populist political parties. Europeans and other groups were not named in Trump's public refugee plan. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Russian
uckingham Palace has announced that Prince Andrew is to lose his “Prince” title and will be leaving his Royal Lodge home in Windsor.
Andrew MountbattenWindsor – as he is now to be known – gave up his other royal titles earlier this month, including the Duke of York, after more questions and allegations about his private life.
The palace said the former Prince has agreed to leave Royal Lodge, as his links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein continue to cause controversy.
Prince Andrew hosted Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine
Maxwell and Harvey Weinstein at Royal Lodge, the Prince's private home in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
The decision was made due to serious lapses in Andrew's judgement, it is understood, and he continues to deny the accusations against him.
It is also understood that he did not object to the King's decision to remove his titles.
The statement from Buckingham Palace in full:
His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the style, titles and honours of Prince Andrew.
Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence.
Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation.
These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.
Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.
(BBC News)
Hamas hands over bodies of 2 Israeli hostages
Palestinian militant group Hamas handed over two bodies of deceased Israeli hostages on Thursday, a day after the tenuous Gaza ceasefire was shaken by a series of deadly Israeli strikes across the enclave.
The bodies of hostages Amiram Cooper and Sahar Baruch were returned to Israel for burial after an identification process was completed, the Israeli military said in a statement late on Thursday.
Under the ceasefire accord, Hamas released all living hostages in return for nearly 2000 Palestinian prisoners and wartime detainees, while Israel pulled back
its troops, halted its offensive and increased aid into the enclave.
Hamas also agreed to hand over the remains of all
28 dead hostages in exchange for 360 Palestinian militants killed in the war. Up to Thursday, it had handed over 15 bodies.
Israel says Hamas has been too slow to hand over the remaining bodies of hostages still in Gaza. Hamas says it will take time to locate and retrieve all of the remains.
Families of some of the hostages are desperate to provide a proper burial for their loved ones and fear their remains will be lost forever beneath the ruins of Gaza.
Thousands of Palestinians believed to be dead are still missing amid the vast destruction.
The dispute over the recovery and handover of bodies of hostages has been one of the difficulties complicating US President Donald Trump's plan to end the Gaza war for good. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Trump gives South Korea permission to build nuclear-powered submarine
United States (US)
President Donald Trump has given approval for South Korea to build a nuclear-powered submarine, a move that would admit Seoul to a small club of nations possessing such vessels.
Trump met his South Korean counterpart, Lee Jaemyung, on Wednesday in the southern town of Gyeongju, where the US leader arrived for a summit ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum.
On Wednesday, Seoul’s Presidential aide said the
two countries had reached a broad deal covering investment and shipbuilding, while Trump said the agreement was “pretty much” finalised.
“I have given them approval to build a nuclear-powered submarine, rather than the old-fashioned and far less nimble diesel-powered submarines that they have now,” Trump said on Truth Social Thursday.
In a separate post, Trump wrote, “South Korea will be building its nuclear-powered submarine in the Philadelphia Shipyards,
right here in the good old USA.”
“Shipbuilding in our country will soon be making a BIG COMEBACK,” he added.
While South Korea has a sophisticated shipbuilding industry, Trump did not spell out where the propulsion technology would come from for a nuclear-powered submarine.
The US has been working with Australia and Britain on the Aukus project, which will allow Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines involving tech-
nology transfers from the US. The US has so far only shared that technology with Britain, back in the 1950s.
On Wednesday, Lee asked Trump to “make a decision to allow us to receive fuel for nuclear-propelled submarines.”
“We are not proposing to build submarines armed with nuclear weapons; rather, diesel submarines have inferior submerged endurance, which limits our ability to track North Korean or Chinese submarines,” Lee told Trump. (Excerpt from The Guardian)
army chiefs torturing, executing soldiers who refuse to fight in Ukraine,
Russian commanders are executing or deliberately sending to their deaths soldiers who refuse to fight in Ukraine, according to a new investigation by the independent outlet Verstka, which paints a bleak picture of internal violence within the Russian army.
Drawing on testimonies from serving soldiers, rela-
tives of the dead, leaked videos and official complaint records, Verstka said it had identified 101 Russian servicemen accused of murdering, torturing or fatally punishing their own comrades. The outlet said it had verified at least 150 deaths, though they said they believed the true tally to be far higher.
Since the start of
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, reports of soldiers being killed by their own side and of so-called blocking units deployed to prevent retreats have circulated widely.
The Kremlin has repeatedly rejected allegations of indiscipline among Russian troops, insisting that such problems are instead rife within the Ukrainian army.
report says
But Verstka’s report appears to be the most comprehensive to date, documenting a detailed catalogue of methods used to enforce obedience and terror within the ranks.
Verstka cited testimonies from soldiers who said commanders had appointed “execution shooters” to open fire on refusers and later dump their bodies in rivers or shallow graves, registering them as killed in action. Other accounts describe commanders using drones and explosives to “finish off” wounded or retreating soldiers. In several cases, officers allegedly ordered drone operators to drop grenades on their own men, disguising the killings as battlefield strikes. (Excerpt from The Guardian)
Andrew has been stripped of his “Prince” title and will move out of the Royal Lodge
Smoke rises in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip
SUDOKU
Emotional choices will be costly. Work in unison with people who are close to you or are experiencing a similar situation, and together you’ll find a solution.
Participation will lead to gratitude and insight into how to make a difference. Offer hands-on help instead of donating money. Follow your passion, and don’t look back.
You’ll crave change, but your emotions will make you hesitate. Focus on self-improvement, personal growth and discovering diverse ways to use your skills to advance.
Stop letting negativity stand in your way. Listen to your heart and follow through with plans that will secure your place in the universe. A financial opportunity is apparent.
A force play may be necessary. Take on a challenge if it accomplishes something meaningful. Communicate passionately, and you’ll fire up your audience and create a buzz.
Say less and do more. Your actions will send a message that declares what’s essential. A partnership looks promising, but caution is necessary regarding shared expenses.
Stay calm, put your emotions aside and focus on your words and what you are trying to achieve. Don’t forget to reward yourself when all is said and done.
Socializing will spark your imagination and set you on a creative journey. Put your emotions aside to make room for exploring possibilities and gaining insight into how to diversify your skills.
Invest time, money and energy into your lifestyle and your surroundings. Speaking freely and doing as you please work only if you allow others the same privileges. Choose peace over discord.
Work hard, play hard and enjoy life to the fullest. You’re in control of your destiny; wise choices will result in longterm benefits. Take the initiative to adopt healthy habits.
Pay attention to detail, finances and taking care of your health and well-being. A change at home that encourages you to do something you enjoy could lead to additional income.
Express yourself, but do so with compassion, honesty and purpose. Refuse to let anger infiltrate your message or detain you from going the distance.
ARCHIE
IA tricky run chase. Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur with a rescue act. That raises the prospect of an upset win in a knockout game against Australia. Only, this time at the Women's World Cup 2025, the ending was different.
Rodrigues ran towards Amanjot Kaur. She lifted her up and then bent down and lay next to the pitch. She was soon swarmed by her teammates who came charging in, perhaps faster than the speed of light, as India made only their third World Cup final, their first since 2017.
Importantly, India dealt Australia their first defeat in 16 One-Day International (ODI) World Cup matches. Faced with a record runchase in women's ODIs, India rode on an unbeaten century from Rodrigues and an 89 from Harmanpreet to romp home with nine balls to spare. This will be the first ODI World Cup final to not feature either Australia or England, as India will face South Africa on Sunday. The 34,651 at the DY Patil Stadium on Thursday sure got their money's worth.
The end might have been vastly different had Alyssa Healy managed to hold on to a skier from Rodrigues when she was on 82. India needed 131 from 106 balls at that point.
About three hours earlier, though, Phoebe Litchfield had put on an exhibition that left the crowd, bathed in blue, in awe and silence in equal measure for
Harmanpreet end
Schutt for a four off the second ball she faced. But the near-houseful crowd was silenced after Kim Garth trapped her lbw, with India also losing a review. It wasn't until the seventh over that Mandhana hit her first boundary, a lofted straight six off Garth. Rodrigues, in at number three after Harleen Deol was dropped, wasted little time in getting going. However, when India lost a second wicket in Mandhana inside the 10th over, you could hear a pin drop at the DY Patil Stadium. She was given not out for a caught-behind down leg side, so Australia used the DRS with Snicko returning the faintest of murmurs.
India were 60 for 2 after the power play, as opposed to Australia's 72 for 1. That is when Rodrigues and Harmanpreet set about with the rebuild. After Mandhana's fall, Rodrigues' flow allowed Harmanpreet to get her eye in. And that was not at the ask of the scoring rate. India constantly scored at around six runs per over, never letting the ask get out of hand. Rodrigues got to a 57ball half-century, and Harmanpreet got to hers in 65 balls. While the other captains have had vital contributions in this campaign, Harmanpreet's best was her 70 against England, her wicket helping the opposition open an end up. But in the semi-final against Australia, she was not going to let another ripe chance go begging. She only hit her
first six after her fifty – a loft inside out over extra cover off Tahlia McGrath. She followed that with another humongous hit off Gardner over midwicket in the next over. India needed only 150 in the last 20 overs, a regulation chase in this era.
But Harmanpreet's wicket threatened to add a twist to the tale. Deepti Sharma was run out for 24 off 17. Richa Ghosh came in and hit two fours and two sixes to reduce the margin before she fell. But India were not going to let Harmanpreet and Rodrigues' 167-run partnership off just 156 balls go to waste. The platform was set, and this time, India wouldn't
miss out. Not with a de termined Rodrigues, who scored her maiden World Cup hundred off 114 balls. She did not celebrate then because the task at hand was still not complete. In the end, nobody could stop her from celebrating.
Earlier in the afternoon, Kranti Gaud had a scratchy Healy, returning after she missed two games with a minor calf strain, chopping on in the sixth over before a heavy downpour. A 15-minute delay completely changed the momentum, as Australia hit nine fours in the next 29 balls, one of them via an overthrow.
If India expected the spin
dred off just 77 balls.
Against the spin bowling, India had protection in the deep for her sweeps – point and square leg being back. And that played into the hands of Litchfield, who was happy to dance down and hit Charani and Radha Yadav in the arc between long-off and deep cover. She was dismissed when she missed a scoop off Amanjot Kaur.
Perry rotated the strike well, but also did not miss out on a positive matchup if an opportunity arose – she tonked Deepti over
Australia Women (50 ovs maximum)
Alyssa Healy (c)† b Gaud 5
Phoebe Litchfield b AB Kaur 119
Ellyse Perry b Yadav 77
Beth Mooney c Rodrigues
b Shree Charani 24
Annabel Sutherland c & b Shree Charani 3
Ashleigh Gardner run out (Gaud/†Ghosh) 63
Tahlia McGrath run out
(Rodrigues/†Ghosh) 12
Kim Garth run out
(AB Kaur/†Ghosh) 17
Alana King c †Ghosh b Sharma 4
Sophie Molineux b Sharma 0
Megan Schutt not out 1
Extras (lb 2, w 11) 13
Total 49.5 Ov (RR: 6.78) 338
Fall of wickets: 1-25 (Alyssa Healy, 5.1 ov), 2-180 (Phoebe Litchfield, 27.2 ov), 3-220 (Beth Mooney, 33.6 ov), 4-228 (Annabel Sutherland, 35.5 ov), 5-243 (Ellyse Perry, 39.2 ov), 6-265 (Tahlia McGrath, 41.4 ov), 7-331 (Ashleigh Gardner, 48.3 ov), 8-336 (Alana King, 49.2 ov), 9-336 (Sophie Molineux, 49.3 ov), 10-338 (Kim Garth, 49.5 ov) Bowling O-M-R-W Renuka Singh 8-0-39-0 Kranti Gaud 6-0-58-1
also fell rather cheaply. Australia lost 4 for 45 in the latter half of the middle overs, and it felt like India were firmly in control. Charani and Radha were getting enough grip to even trouble Gardner. But her 41-ball fifty helped Australia cross the 300-run mark. What looked like a tall chase was aced with absolute mastery. The contest had the makings of an epic, and it lived up to it.
(ESPNcricinfo)
India won the semi-final after acing the highest-ever chase in women's ODIs
Harmanpreet Kaur celebrates her half-century
Phoebe Litchfield celebrates her century
Women’s Division One League…
Monedderlust, Santos bag 3 points
Contrasting wins for Monedderlust Football Club (FC) and Santos FC were on the cards on Wednesday night when the Women’s Division One League continued at the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) National Training Center (NTC) at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
Monedderlust FC were the first to snatch three points that night, downing Den Amstel FC 3-1. Den Amstel broke the ice through Delia Chow in the fourth minute. However, the excitement of their lead allowed a lapse in defence, resulting in Monedderlust’s Delicia Fraser finding the equaliser in the 12th minute.
The one-all score would hold until the second half. Just when it seemed like a drawn result was on the way, Liliana Greenidge’s shot found the back of the net in the 56th to give the Berbice outfit the lead. Fraser returned in the 60th, capitalising on a build-up to net her team’s third goal.
On the other hand, Santos FC had to fight off a relentless Fruta Conquerors FC for their three points. There were shots galore over the first 50 minutes of the encounter, but it was a battle of the best defences, as the likes of Santos’ Shantel Green and Christina Henrito alongside Fruta Conquerors’
Delicia Fraser (15) and Liliana Greenidge (4) both netted for Monedderlust FC
Akilah Blucher and Karen Jupiter stood out. However, in the final minutes of the game, it was Gabriel Rivera’s shot in the 57th minute from outside the penalty area that sailed over the Fruta Conquerors’ keeper’s reach and into the net for the 1-0 win.
As a result of the win, Santos FC will move up to the third position in the league; however, it can
be temporary since Fruta Conquerors will have the op portunity to surpass them again tonight.
The Women’s Division One League will continue this evening, Friday, October 31, at the same venue. Den Amstel FC will be in action again, taking on Western Tigers from 18:00h, while at 19:30h, Fruta Conquerors will seek redemption against Mainstay Goldstar FC.
“B” Division Volleyball… Bartica teams ready to dominate
The upcoming Republic Bank/One Guyana “B” Division Volleyball Tournament promises to be an exciting showcase of local talent and competitive spirit. Scheduled to take place on November 1-2 in Georgetown, the tournament will feature some of the best male and female volleyball
brating local athleticism and teamwork.
The Bartica Men’s Volleyball Team have already made headlines by being selected to represent their community at the tournament. Their talented line-up, led by Captain Inzaman Bacchus and Vice Captain Tevon Stoll, reflects
Volleyball Association
Female Team line-up: Tytheon Jones (C), Jusel Duggan (VC), Valeria Leon, Aloma Daniels, Lieanna Katriah, Trenecia John, Rickeera Boyer and Nickesha Persaud.
The Bartica Volleyball Association Male Team lineup: Inzaman Bacchus (C), Tevon Stoll (VC), Davan Melville, Devon Elias, Anthony Murray, Kareem Hughes, Antonio Melville, Shaun Garraway, Adrian
The Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) NBS Second-Division tournament continued over the weekend, with the Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) securing a convincing victory against the El Dorado Cricket Club at the Queen’s College Ground. After winning the toss, MYO opted to bat first and posted a competitive total of 256 all out in 35.1 overs. Richard Latiff (20), Travis Kadir (31), and Dameon Cecil (40) all got promising starts but failed to convert them into big scores. However,
Kelvin Umroa produced a brilliant counter-attacking innings of 52 from 33 balls, striking three fours and five sixes to lift the innings during a crucial phase. Late cameos from Dexter Solomon (28) and Gurav Ramesh (23) added valuable runs to the total. For El Dorado Cricket Club, Akeem Williams (3-59) and Joshua Ferrell (343) were the standout bowlers. In response, El Dorado CC were bundled out for 169 in 29.5 overs, as MYO’s bowlers dominated proceedings. Sameer Housain was the
chief destroyer, claiming a sensational six-wicket haul, while Abdul Ramsammy provided solid support with 3-29. Despite the defeat, El Dorado had some resistance from Ferrell, who followed up his bowling performance with an explosive 61 from 34 balls, featuring six fours and five sixes. Joseph Shivgobin (34 from 52) and Daniel Persaud (33 from 29) also made useful contributions, but their efforts weren’t enough to prevent MYO from sealing a comfortable win.
Kelvin Umroa made 52
Captain Tytheon Jones
Anthony Murray
Gabriel Rivera (15) netted the game winner between Santos and Fruta Conquerors
After a dismal performance in the OneDay International series, the West Indies rebounded in fine fashion, clinching the T20I series with one match to spare. West Indies bowlers, led by Player of the Match Romario Shepherd, defended 150 to win the second T20I by 14 runs.
Captain Shai Hope credited the bowlers for pulling off a strong defence. Shepherd led the way with 3-29, including the prized scalp of Tanzid Hasan, who made a composed 61.
Despite the series win, Hope was concerned about the finish to the innings from a batting perspective.
"Yes, definitely some concern [with the finishing]. When we spoke at the halfway stage, we mentioned between 190 and sometimes even 220. We fell away a bit in the back end, but credit again must go to the bowlers who put in the effort to give us a win in the back end."
"We're very lucky to be able to put this game on. Yes, we always speak about the catches winning matches; we did have some unfavourable days with those dropped catches, but again, credit must be given to the bowlers," Hope said.
to see the guys turn things around, especially from the ODI series loss, something to take forward with us."
Meanwhile, Shepherd also credited his seam bowling counterparts, Jayden Seales and Jason Holder, for giving the team a good start.
total is pretty small."
The West Indies skipper added, "That’s something that we need to look out for in the next game.
We've got a sense of loss. Those catches were really costly in the back end. It's certainly going to uplift the mood in the dressing room. We always talk about coming here and doing well in these conditions. It's great
On the heels of respective victories, the two remaining Georgetown clubs, Ravens and Eagles, will face each other in semi-final action tomorrow night (Saturday) after their respective wins on Wednesday night in the Brusches Basketball Classic Championship at the Retrieve Hard Court in the mining town of Linden.
Playing in the first game, the Ravens were pitted against Kwakwani and were up by seven points when the halftime break came, 37-30.
A good third-quarter performance, where Ravens opened a 25-14 point gap, allowed the leading city side to be in the driver’s seat at 62-44.
This cushion was enough to see them winning without a fuss at 80-61.
The player who pushed them in the second period no doubt was Emani Charles, who netted all of his 16 points in the second half, while Alroy Nurse contributed 24 points, with Akil Hodges and Nikkolai Smith each registering 11 points for the winners.
Kwakwani’s main scorer was Martin Thomas, who netted 21 points.
In the other match of the evening, Eagles staved off the challenge of Pacesetters with a comfortable 68-49 victory.
Pacesetters had taken
the lead when the first quarter came to a close at 21-18, but they were unable to take control as Eagles responded to nudge ahead at half time, 34-32, and were up 4241 after three quarters had elapsed.
That is when Eagles tightened things to soar past Pacesetters to rush home 68-49 behind Travis Belgrave’s 23 game-high points as Shetan Gillis got 14 and Zian Grey, 12.
The other teams playing in the semi-finals are Linden sides Victory Valley Royals and Amelia’s Ward Jets, which will be the second game set for the Retrieve Hard Court tomorrow night (Saturday).
"From the start, it was difficult to hit at the back end. So, once we strug gled, you know, we needed to start well with the ball, and we did exactly that with Jayden and Jason. We knew we would keep it tight in the back end. It's going to be difficult for them to hit the ball. With a small total like that, there's no room for error; you have to keep the game as tight as possible when you're in the back end because once they get a big partnership, the
Speaking on the dropped catches, Shepherd said, "Dropped catches are part of the game. It's just for us to think about the next ball and that ball in
Leonora, SJTB to clash in anticipated PeeWee final tomorrow
Leonora Primary and St John the Baptist Primary will, on Saturday, November 1, lock horns in what is expected to be a scintillating battle for the vacant Courts Optical Boys’ Under-11 Pee-Wee crown.
This is on the heels of both teams securing wins in the semi-final round last Saturday.
St John the Baptist, after finishing fourth last
victory over Redeemer Primary. “I’m excited for we win the finals.”
the past; whatever is gone is gone."
The third and final T20I is set for today, Friday, October 31, in Chattogram. The first ball is at 08:00h local time.
About the preparation his team need, Edwards said, “Yeah, them got to work, 'cause in the finals we’ll play an stiff team, and them got to play good.”
With an eye on redemption, the St John the Baptist Captain added, “Last year, we bring
year, were the first to head into the final, as Captain Neymar Ewards relished his team’s redemption.
“It was good. I feel good that my team go through to the finals,” Edwards told Guyana Times Sport, reflecting on their 2-0 semi-final
fourth, right, and this year I put my mind to it and say ‘we got to bring first’.”
On the other hand, Leonora Primary are being referred to as the “giant killers”, ousting the likes of 2024 runners-up Marian Academy and tournament
favourites West Ruimveldt Primary from the competition. For their Captain, Jhonathan Melvin, teamwork will be key to his team’s triumph.
“It was good. It’s just teamwork we got to play in. It ain’t mean you will make goals, but you need teamwork,” Melvin stated, regarding their 1-0 needling of West Ruimveldt Primary in last week’s semi-final round.
Turning his attention to the final, the Leonora Captain said, “I’m excited; I hope we win. We just got to thank God we play good, no injuries and play with teamwork and make the dream work.”
Melvin went on to express, “It will mean so much. So, we could keep on making we dreams go forward. Don’t let nobody stop you from your dreams.”
The Pee-Wee final is scheduled for 16:00h this Saturday, November 1, at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground, Carifesta Avenue. Prior to that battle, Redeemer and West Ruimveldt Primary will go toe-to-toe for the third-place spot, beginning at 15:00h.
Leonora Primary Captain Jhonathan Melvin (left) and St John the Baptist Captain Neymar Edwards (right) face off ahead of Saturday’s final
Battle between Eagles players in red and Pacesetters in green during a match at Retrieve Hard Court in Linden on Wednesday
Romario Shepherd was Player of the Match in the second game
Shai Hope and Alick Athanaze scored fifties
Boxing duo off to Islamic Solidarity Games
uyana’s boxing pride, Olympian Keevin Allicock and standout Joel Williamson, will depart the country today, Friday, for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to represent the Land of Many Waters at the Islamic Solidarity Games.
The prestigious multi-sport event gathers athletes from across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, and this year marks the second time the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee has hosted the Games, following its inaugural edition in Mecca in 2005.
Both Allicock and Williamson are seasoned campaigners on the international circuit, and their inclusion underscores Guyana’s growing presence in global boxing.
Allicock, who recently transitioned to the professional ranks, remains eligible for amateur competition under
International Boxing Association (IBA) regulations.
The 26-year-old southpaw, known for his sharp jab and ring intelligence, represented Guyana at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games, and multiple Pan American Championships.
His speed, balance, and tactical precision make him one of the Caribbean’s most technically sound fighters. Williamson, meanwhile, brings grit and power to the national contingent. A proven competitor, he has represented Guyana at the Caribbean Boxing Championships and Americas Boxing Confederation (AMBC) Elite Championships, showcasing strong defensive fundamentals and a punishing counterpunch.
According to Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) President
Steve Ninvalle, the Islamic Solidarity Games will provide both pugilists with another opportunity to test themselves against elite opposition on a grand stage.
“Keevin and Joel have been working tirelessly during this preparation phase, and the Games will give them valuable rounds against world-class talent,” Ninvalle stated.
The GBA President saluted Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) President Godfrey Monroe and his executive for going the extra mile to ensure participation of the local boxing team.
The Islamic Solidarity Games is a multinational, multi-sport event jointly organised by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Islamic Solidarity Sports Association (ISSA).
Keevin Allicock (blue) in action
Joel Williamson in action