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Issue No. 6566

THE BEACON OF TRUTH FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

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Sod turned on 8-acre site set for Guyana’s 1st law school …“The realisation of generations of Guyanese” – AG

WHAT'S INSIDE: Commercial vehicles entering Linden

Govt considers 50% toll cut after Linden Council insists on vehicle P12 charges

Page 3

Region 10 P10 records 38.7% drop in crime – Commander … 21.4% decline in traffic offences

2 heavily-tinted vehicles intercepted after lurking at Pres Ali’s private residence Page 7

…US-sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed found with unregistered drones in detained vehicle

GDF deploys aerial water drops to contain Moblissa savannah fire Page 9

$1.6M theft at BJ Demerara River Bridge Chief Magistrate rejects US- Page 8 Man confesses: sold sanctioned Mohameds’ copper cable for $15K plea to halt extradition hearing …scrap metal

…Police witness testifies on arrest of indicted father-son duo to buy drugs dealer in custody

Page 10

Major investments coming as new business districts, bauxite expansion loom – Ali tells Lindeners See story on page 13

Timehri 3-vehicle smash-up

Unlicensed Cuban driver charged with causing deaths of Indonesian P11 nationals

Guyana backs UNICEF push for stronger child protection, including P12 mental health

Excavator hits, damages GPL power line, P5 triggering outage

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENING

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, September 4 – 09:25h–10:55h and Saturday, September 5 – 11:10h–12:40h.

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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, followed by clear skies at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.

Sod turned on 8-acre site set for Guyana’s 1st law school …“The realisation of generations of Guyanese” – AG

he sod has officially been turned on about eight acres of land at the Turkeyen Campus of the University of Guyana (UG) for the establishment of the fourth law school under the auspices of the Council of Legal Education (CLE) in the Caribbean. The idea of establishing a law school in Guyana under the CLE dates back to 1996, when it was first proposed at

“It’s quite a big piece of land, and right here, we will work with the Caribbean Court of Justice to establish a home here on these grounds for the CCJ Academy of Law. And we hope that judicial training, legal education, and professional continuing legal education will be done from this facility. Again, not for Guyanese alone, but for the entire region.” The AG also stressed the

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Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall alongside Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice, Roxane George and Council of Legal Education (CLE) officials among those present at the sod-turning ceremony on Thursday

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a meeting of the Council by the then Attorney General (AG) of Guyana. The proposal was born out of difficulties encountered by Guyanese students graduating from UG, who faced challenges securing admission to the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago. At the time, an arrangement that had existed for more than three decades guaranteed 25 students’ automatic entry to the law school. However, Guyanese students were required to meet the relevant admission criteria, which had historically presented challenges for many, partly because of the economic costs associated with pursuing legal education abroad. Speaking at the sod-turning ceremony, AG Anil Nandlall pointed out that the institution will serve not only Guyana but also the wider region. “History will record us here today because this law school will be here for a very, very long time. It is the realisation of the aspirations of generations of Guyanese. Many students, dozens if not hundreds of students, are out there listening to us and waiting for this initiative to become a reality. Significantly, the establishment of this law school is part of the Government’s vision of making Guyana one of the centres of learning in the Caribbean. And right here, if you look, it’s eight acres of land.”

CCJ Academy of Law

Nandlall further disclosed that the Government intends to work with the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to establish a home for the CCJ Academy of Law on the same grounds.

need for the CLE to modernise its frameworks, infrastructure and methods of delivering legal education in response to changes in the Caribbean and globally. “In 2021, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Council. No doubt, the Council of Legal Education has served with distinction its conceptual role and purpose of administering and delivering quality legal education to the Caribbean. But 50 years hence, and now we are beyond 50 years hence, the world has dramatically

changed. The Caribbean has dramatically changed. Legal education, as we know it, has changed. Technology has revolutionised the world.”

Next 50 years

Nandlall said the Council must therefore prepare for the next 50 years by moving away from its traditional approaches to legal education. “So, I believe the Council recognised that, going forward for the next 50 years, it cannot continue with the same framework, the same infrastructure, the same method of delivery of educa-

tion, or the same system of administering legal education in the region. We have to prepare for the next 50 years over the last 50 years.” Nandlall stressed that the establishment of the law school was not granted without conditions, noting that strict criteria had to be met before the initiative could move forward. A feasibility study was required to demonstrate that the law school would be economically viable, not only during its first and second years but also as a long-term venture. He said careful consideration was also given during negotiations to ensure that the institution would not be viewed as an insular Guyanese school. Instead, the institution will be located in Guyana but serve as a regional law school, catering to people across the Caribbean and operating under the regional council responsible for legal education. Nandlall explained that Guyana therefore had to satisfy the Council of Legal Education that establishing the institution locally would make economic and financial sense, while also taking into consideration the current demand for legal education. TURN TO PAGE 11

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

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Keeping food safety on the front burner & vigilance An $18B settlement – and

Guyana’s Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett meets with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) representatives in New York to present her candidacy for Unites Nations Secretary General (Permanent Mission of Guyana to the United Nations/Facebook)

he report presented to the Region Six Regional Democratic Council offers is a reminder that food safety cannot be treated as a matter beginning at the point of sale. The safety of food destined for public consumption depends on controls throughout the chain, from slaughter and handling to transportation, storage, preparation and eventual sale. Weakness at any stage can undermine safeguards applied at another. The environmental health activities documented in Region Six are important as essential measures for protecting public health. The inspection of animals, monitoring of markets and slaughtering facilities, medical examinations of food handlers, training and certification form part of a system designed to reduce risks before unsafe food reaches consumers. During the reporting period, Environmental Health Officers inspected 359 animals intended for human consumption, comprising 132 bovine, 128 porcine, 67 ovine and 32 caprine animals. Such inspections are a critical line of defence. Meat entering the food supply must be subject to appropriate scrutiny, and slaughtering facilities require consistent oversight to ensure that basic hygiene and sanitary standards are maintained. The attention given to facilities such as the Number 79 Abattoir, along with visits to markets, demonstrates the importance of maintaining oversight at different points in the food-supply chain. Monitoring cannot be confined to slaughterhouses as conditions under which food is transported, stored, displayed and sold can also determine whether food remains safe for consumption. The report also recorded measures directed at food handlers with 45 food handlers were issued letters requiring medical examinations for food-safety purposes. The report did not state that these individuals were ill or had violated food-safety requirements, nor did it provide the circumstances that prompted the letters. Such distinctions are important. Public-health measures should be communicated clearly enough to avoid creating unnecessary concern while ensuring that the purpose and value of the safeguards are understood. Training is equally significant. Thirty-eight food handlers participated in a programme at the Port Mourant Hospital Training Centre covering food safety, microbiology, sanitation and foodsafety legislation. Proper training is one of the most practical tools available for reducing preventable contamination. Knowledge of safe handling practices, sanitation requirements and applicable legislation must translate into daily practices wherever food is prepared or handled. The permitting system provides another layer of accountability. During the period under review, 23 food-handler permits were issued to new applicants and 39 were renewed. Permits, however, should not become a purely administrative requirement. Their value depends on effective enforcement, regular monitoring and continued compliance with established standards. Historical findings reinforce the need for sustained attention without being used to characterise present conditions. A 20182019 survey of 55 food establishments in Regions Four and Six found significant shortcomings in food preparation and sanitation. Only 18 per cent of establishments adequately protected food from contamination, while 11 per cent used safe practices for thawing meat. Testing also found 37 per cent of food samples to be unsatisfactory. Those findings are several years old and cannot be presented as a description of the current state of Region Six’s food establishments. They do, however, demonstrate why food-safety systems require continuous monitoring rather than periodic intervention. Standards can deteriorate when oversight becomes inconsistent, and improvements achieved through training and enforcement can be lost without follow-up. The latest figures suggest a system operating across several fronts 359 animals inspected, 45 food handlers directed for medical examinations, 38 trained, and 62 food-handler permits issued or renewed. The figures represent activity, but the greater measure of success must be whether such interventions result in safer practices and fewer risks to consumers. Food safety is ultimately a public-health responsibility requiring cooperation among regulators, food businesses, handlers and consumers. Environmental Health Officers must have the capacity and resources to conduct regular inspections, undertake testing and enforce standards. Food establishments must maintain proper sanitation and handling practices, while food handlers must understand that compliance is an ongoing responsibility rather than a one-time requirement. Greater surveillance, monitoring and testing of food sold in markets and supermarkets should therefore remain a priority. Effective food safety is built through prevention, verification and enforcement. Consistent application of these measures offers the strongest protection against contamination and helps ensure that food reaching the public is fit for consumption.

Zuckerberg barely blinked. By Jonathan Freedland

ollow the money. If you want to know how the tech giant Meta really feels about the US$18 billion it agreed to fork out to end a landmark lawsuit against it – an outcome widely hailed as a victory for campaigners – just look at its share price. It didn’t go down when word came on Wednesday that Meta had settled with the 29 US states that had argued that the company’s Facebook and Instagram platforms harmed children. On the contrary, Meta stock went up, initially surging by five per cent, before levelling out at a gain of just over 1.25 per cent. There could be no clearer proof that the money men reckon Meta dodged a bullet. To be sure, there was plenty to hearten those who have long believed that social media damages teenagers especially, whether by exposing them to content they shouldn’t see or by sapping their self-esteem, offering them filters that show how much prettier they would look if they had cosmetic surgery or giving them a metric of their popularity – and unpopularity – in the form of a running tally of “likes” and views. For one thing, US$18 billion is a lot of money. For another, Meta has agreed to a series of changes in the way young people use their platforms. There’ll be a twohour daily cap on use; restricted access during the night and the school day; likes will not be shown automatically and assorted safety and parental supervision measures will no longer be opt-in extras but the default standard. You can see why Lori Schott of Colorado, who believes the content her daughter encountered on Instagram played a part in her suicide aged 18, declared Wednesday to be “a good day”. But look closer and you see that, for Meta, US$18 billion is not exactly a bank-break-

ing sum. It amounts to less than a month’s revenue. And it has 10 years to pay it out: the monthly payments could come out of petty cash. What’s more, nearly a third of that sum is contingent on Meta’s rivals YouTube and TikTok agreeing to the same restrictions. All told, the financial penalty is less than a tenth of the US$200 billion the 29 states were seeking, and a tiny fraction of the US$1.4 trillion the company told the court it feared it would have to cough up. No wonder Meta’s shareholders were doing fist bumps on Wednesday. Beyond the money, Meta will be thankful it has escaped a court ruling against it, a legal verdict on the behaviour detailed so compellingly in the California courtroom in the first week of the trial before it was abruptly halted. Jurors heard from the former Meta safety engineer Arturo Béjar, who spoke of his own teenage daughter’s experience on Instagram – how she received unwanted sexual advances, crude misogynistic insults and photos of male genitalia on the platform – and of a survey he had conducted that found 51 per cent of teen users had had bad or harmful experiences on Instagram within the previous seven days, and that content was taken down only 0.02 per cent of the time. Béjar reported his findings to Mark Zuckerberg directly, but got no reply. As Béjar told me when we spoke on Thursday: “They knew that harm to kids was happening, but they were telling the world it wasn’t.” Under Wednesday’s settlement, Meta hasn’t even made an admission of liability. As for the new restrictions, anyone who has seen a teenager on a computer or phone will have little confidence that they won’t find a way around them. If they do, then, according to this week’s deal, Meta will not be accountable. And crucially, says Béjar, it is Meta itself

that still gets to define what constitutes harm. No less frustrating, these new terms apply inside the US only, even though Meta’s reach, and its capacity to do damage, is global. As the gagged former Facebook employee Sarah Wynn-Williams described in her riveting book Careless People, the company was assiduous in hunting for new users in those overseas territories with few legal safeguards. There’s a parallel here with the tobacco industry: long after the US and Europe had cracked down on cigarettes, big tobacco was energetically selling into developing countries that had not yet put up their defences. Above all, this week’s settlement addresses only the safety of children, despite the copious evidence of danger to adults, whether in the form of addiction or exposure to toxic misinformation. The danger lies not in this or that specific feature, but rather in the fundamental business model of social media: namely, tracking and surveilling individuals online, using the data gathered to construct a profile, which is then sold to advertisers eager to target potential consumers with extraordinary precision. It’s this model that keeps users hooked, scrolling for hour after hour, as they are served content aimed directly at their interests and anxieties. As Ravi Naik, the lawyer who acts for WynnWilliams and others, told me: “The algorithm preys on you.” The trouble with this latest settlement, he explains, is that “it reaches the features of Meta’s platforms but not the engine that drives them. The recommendation algorithm is untouched.” What, then, can be done? For Béjar, the answer is to approach social media as a public health crisis, akin to the road traffic accidents that led to mandatory safety belts in cars (and not only for children). Governments

need to say that any company involved in this crisis has to be involved in tackling it. And no one should fall for the line that the nature of the Internet is such that it cannot be subject to meaningful regulation. When the music industry objected to copyright infringements online, incentives were swiftly arranged to fix the problem. As Béjar so damningly puts it: “A song has more protection than a kid.” There are ample other precedents that can serve as guides to action, though none of them will please the titans of big tech. For decades, they have avoided being viewed as publishers, liable for what appears on their platforms. Nor do they want to be treated like carmakers, responsible for product safety. And they don’t like being likened to cigarette firms, selling a product they know is dangerous. Perhaps policymakers need to make a new comparison. More than a century ago, when Standard Oil’s de facto monopoly was deemed harmful to consumers, it was broken up by order of the US supreme court into 34 smaller companies. Meta operates like a monopoly, with users feeling they can’t move, because all their friends and contacts are on the same few platforms. “Meta knowingly exploit this and refuse to make changes to their platforms that they know would deliver safer user experiences,” Damian Collins, a former chair of the UK parliamentary committee that oversees the digital realm, told me. If users could move their data and contacts over to new services, giving them more options, “break-up would work”. This settlement has been a disappointment to those longing to see the tech giants finally brought to heel, found guilty by courts and made to pay for it with costs too big to ignore. For now, Meta has swerved judgment day. But that day must surely come.

(The Guardian) (Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist)

NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Excavator hits, Family says mental illness overlooked damages GPL power before NJ man deported to Guyana line, triggering outage

The excavator that hit the GPL power line

n excavator making contact with a high-voltage transmission line at Blairmont No. 4 Settlement caused an electricity service interruption in sections of Demerara and Berbice on Thursday evening, according to the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL). GPL said the incident occurred at approximately 18:00h when the excavator came into contact with its 69 kV L21 Transmission Line, which links the Onverwagt and Canefield substations. The line tripped following the contact, resulting in an interruption of electricity supply to customers in the affected areas. GPL said its technical teams were immediately dispatched to inspect the line and assess the network. Upon their arrival, the excavator operator was not at the scene. However, the company said evidence at the location indicated that the excavator’s boom had come into contact with the high-voltage line. Burn marks were also observed on the boom. The excavator bears the name tag of Rishal’s Construction and Maintenance Service. GPL said its teams carried out the necessary restoration work, and electricity supply was restored to all affected areas at approximately 18:30h. The company said it will engage the Guyana Police Force and pursue the appropriate avenues to establish accountability and address any damage caused to its network infrastructure. GPL is also urging contractors, construction companies and heavy equipment operators to exercise caution when working near electricity infrastructure. The company warned that contact with high-voltage lines can result in serious injury or death, damage

to electricity infrastructure and interruptions to the power supply. GPL is encouraging contractors and others involved in construction, excavation and related activities to engage the company before beginning work in areas where electricity infrastructure may be present.

Burlington County family is mourning the death of a 35-year-old man months after he was deported to South America, saying his long-running struggle with mental illness should have been taken into account in his immigration case. Kwesi Menezes died after overdosing on his schizophrenia medication in Guyana, according to his family. His relatives believe he would still be alive and receiving the care he needed, had he not been deported in April. “Sunday morning we received the news that he was found unresponsive. He was with our family back home. He was deported by ICE,” his sister, Shane Menezes Banjo, said. Menezes’ mother, Sharon Menezes, questioned how her son was treated as he struggled with his mental health. “His mental health – he’s struggling to even comprehend what’s going on. How inhumane… and then label him a criminal, and you don’t know him,” she said. His family said Menezes had moved between mental health facilities and jail

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 00:00 Sign Off 06:00 Islam for Guyana 06:30 TVG Devotional Hour 07:00 Week-in-Review (RB) 07:30 Cartoons 08:00 Stop Suffering 08:30 HGTV 10:00 Food Network 12:00 Movie - Fly Away with Me (2022) 13:30 Movie - Leave It to Beaver (1999) 15:00 Cartoons 16:00 KTLT (RB) 16:30 Indian Soaps 17:00 The Young & The Restless 18:00 Documentary: Nat Geo Animals 19:00 The Evening News 20:00 Indigenous Herbal Life Clinic with Sister Lynn 21:00 Movie - Shubh Mangal Savdhan (2017) 23:00 House of Cards S5 E11

over the past several years. He served time in the Burlington County Jail for assaulting a Police Officer during what his family described as a mental health episode. He was jailed again after his release for breaking probation. His family was informed in November that Menezes had been moved into ICE detention. In December, the Department of Homeland

Dead: Kwesi Menezes

Security included Menezes on its “Worst of the Worst Criminal Aliens Arrested” list. “They painted a picture like he was just somebody – this criminal, that just did

Kwesi Menezes’ family speaking with NBC10 Philadelphia

all these terrible things, but he was struggling with mental illness,” Banjo said. His family believes the assault charges were used to begin deportation proceedings despite Menezes being a green card holder. NBC10 reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment on Menezes’ case but has not received a response. Immigration lawyers who spoke with NBC10 said ICE agents are examining criminal histories as potential grounds for deportation. “When we’re looking at immigration today, the rule is: show me the crime and I’ll find you the man. It’s really not about protecting the community. It’s about finding the straw that’s going to break the camel’s

back immigration-wise and justify a draconian, overreaching decision to deport an individual,” said Renata Castro, a long-time immigration attorney and founder of immigration law firm USA 4 ALL. DHS reported record-breaking ICE arrests nationwide over the past three months, including almost 51,000 persons arrested in August. As the Menezes family grieves, relatives are working to bring his remains home. “He struggled enough. I want him to rest with dignity,” his mother said. The family is also sharing Menezes’ story in hopes that mental health will be taken into account in other deportation cases. (NBC10 Philadelphia)

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

Foundation ◄

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Perimeter of compound shapes The perimeter of a compound shape is the distance around the shape. A compound shape (or composite shape) is any shape which is made up of two or more shapes. They are often rectilinear shapes which have straight sides and right angles. For example Find the perimeter of this compound shape.

2) Add all the side lengths. 3) Write the final answer with the correct units. Practice questions Calculate the perimeter of the following compound shapes:

To find the perimeter we add all the lengths of the sides. 3+2+4+3+7+5 = 24 The perimeter is 24cm. In order to calculate the perimeter of a compound shape: 1) Work out any missing lengths.

Is the gold in my jewellery real?

o, how can we differentiate between real gold jewellery and all the others? Because gold is a natural element (number 79, atomic symbol Au on the periodic table of elements), it has specific chemical and physical properties. Jewellers and laboratories that specialise in testing metal use these properties to decide whether a sample is made of gold, and what the level of purity, or karatage, of the gold is. These tests include properties like how the sample scatters light from X-rays, how heavy the ions released from the sample are, and the exact weight of the sample once it is purified. It turns out that in addition to these physical and chemical properties, gold has a biochemical property: it is toxic to some life forms. Although it is completely harmless to humans and other mammals, gold can be harmful to

CONTINUED

bacteria, algae, moulds, and fungi. Some other metals, including nickel, copper, cadmium, and mercury, also have this property. Collectively, metals capable of causing harm to organisms are often referred to as heavy metals or toxic metals, and many of them, like mercury and cadmium, are harmful to humans, too. Usually, it is not the metal that is toxic, but the ions it forms when in contact with water. An ion is an atom or molecule in which the total number of electrons does not equal the number of protons, which gives it a net negative or positive charge. These ions are easily transported into tissues and cells where they interfere with normal functions. The exact mechanism of their interference depends on the type of metal ion, and on the organism under attack. This toxic effect of metal ions, even in very low

concentrations, on bacteria is called the oligodynamic effect. The word oligodynamic comes from the Greek words oligos, meaning "few" and dyanmis, meaning "force". Can the oligodynamic effect be used to tell whether or not the gold or silver in a piece of jewellery is real? Do bacteria react differently to pure, plated, and non-gold jewellery? Given that the oligodynamic effect is not unique to gold and in fact, metals commonly used to make alloys of gold or gold-plated jewellery like copper, silver, brass, and zinc demonstrate a stronger effect, this phenomena is not a reliable indicator of the purity of gold. (Adapted from sciencebuddies.org – Veselin Dobrev, OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc; Sandra Slutz, PhD, Science Buddies Alumni)

Things Artificial Intelligence Can’t Do By Aaron Belz Stare for 25 minutes at a blank screen. Write half a poem and give up. End up walking down to the bus stop bench, sit strangely erect, look dead into the winter sun. Hate itself. Resent the apparent happiness of others. Miss its daughter. Go back in time. Wish it had been a better dad. Leave church after 15 minutes even though it needed nothing more than the company of the faithful. Even though it needed the Word of assurance, the taste of God’s blood in its mouth. Drive home cold, order a pizza. Feed itself. Numb itself. Shut itself down and dream of love lost, of a girl refusing to speak, of all that beauty slipping into ether, nor can it remember kissing her blue forehead in a Los Angeles funeral home. (Source: Poetry [September 2026])

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2 heavily-tinted vehicles intercepted after lurking at Pres Ali’s private residence …US-sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed found with unregistered drones in detained vehicle

wo heavily-tinted motor vehicles carrying four occupants were intercepted by Police on Thursday evening after being observed lurking near President Irfaan Ali’s private residence at Leonora, West Coast Demerara. According to the Guyana Police Force, the vehicles were observed at about 18:20h on September 3, raising security concerns in the area. The Police said that after the occupants observed the vigilance of Presidential Guards on duty, the two vehicles sped away. A distress call was immediately issued, and Police patrols in the area were alerted. The vehicles were subsequently intercepted.

Reports are that one of the vehicles was intercepted near Windsor Forest. A search was conducted on the detained vehicle, and US-sanctioned and indicted Azruddin Mohamed was one of the occupants. He was questioned and taken to the Leonora Police Station. In a separate statement, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said several unregistered drones were discovered in the possession of the occupants. The GCAA said it takes the matter seriously and reminded the public that the unauthorised operation of drones, including unmanned aircraft within restricted or prohibited airspace, is illegal and may constitute a crimi-

The heavily-tinted vehicle which Police intercepted and in which US-sanctioned and indicted Azruddin Mohamed was one of the occupants

nal offence under the Civil Aviation Act 2018 and applicable aviation regulations. The Authority warned that operating drones in restricted airspace, near protected locations, or in a manner that compromises aviation safety, national security, or public safety will not be tolerated. The GCAA said it is working with relevant law enforcement and national security authorities and will take appropriate action against persons found to be operating drones unlawfully. It said offenders could face prosecution and applicable penalties. Police investigations into the incident are continuing.

Food safety checks intensified in Region 6 …45 food handlers sent for medical examinations, 359 animals inspected

ood sold to the public can become unsafe long before it reaches the consumer, with risks extending from production and slaughter to transportation, storage, preparation, and sale. It is an issue that has been receiving increased attention in Guyana this year, with stronger surveillance, monitoring, and testing of food sold in markets and supermarkets among the areas identified for attention. Environmental Health Officers in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) have been inspecting animals slaughtered for human consumption, monitoring markets and slaughtering facilities and paying closer attention to persons responsible for handling food. A report presented at Thursday’s statutory meeting of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) revealed that 45 food handlers were issued letters requiring them to undergo medical examinations for food safety purposes. The report did not indicate that the persons were ill or had breached food-safety requirements, nor did it state the circumstances that resulted in the letters being issued. Figures contained in the report show that 132 bovine,

128 porcine, 67 ovine, and 32 caprine animals were inspected, a combined total of 359 animals. The inspections were carried out as officers continued monitoring animals slaughtered for human consumption at facilities across the region. Among the locations receiving attention was the Number 79 Abattoir, while Environmental Health Officers also visited markets as part of efforts to monitor food being offered for sale. The activities place officers at two important points in the movement of food to consumers, where animals are slaughtered and where food is eventually offered on the market. Alongside inspections and monitoring, attention was also placed on persons who prepare and handle food. Thirty-eight food handlers participated in a training programme at the Port Mourant Hospital Training Centre. According to the report, the programme covered food safety, microbiology, sanitation, and food-safety legislation, providing participants with training in areas directly associated with the preparation and handling of food. Certification activities were also carried out during

the period. Twenty-three food-handler permits were issued to new applicants, while another 39 were renewed. A survey conducted during 2018-2019 at 55 food establishments in Regions Four and Six found shortcomings in several areas of food preparation and sanitation. Among the findings, only 18 per cent of the establishments surveyed adequately protected food from contamination, while 11 per cent were found to be using safe practices for thawing meat. Testing conducted as part of that exercise also found 37 per cent of food samples to be unsatisfactory. Those findings are historical and do not establish the present condition of food establishments in Region Six. They nevertheless indicate some of the food-handling challenges previously identified in the two regions and the reason continued monitoring, training and certification remain important components of the food-safety system. The latest Region Six figures show that the current programme is operating at several levels. There are inspections involving animals intended for consumption and visits to markets and slaughtering

facilities. At the same time, food handlers are being medically examined, trained and brought within the permitting system. For the reporting period, that translated into 359

animals inspected, 45 food handlers directed to undergo medical examinations, 38 persons trained, and 62 food handler permits either issued or renewed. Those activities were

among the environmental health work documented in the report presented to the RDC on Thursday, as officers continued monitoring the handling and sale of food across Region Six.

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Chief Magistrate rejects US-sanctioned Mohameds’ plea to halt extradition hearing …Police witness testifies on arrest of indicted father-son duo

hief Magistrate Judy Latchman has ruled that the extradition proceedings against United States-sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, must continue, despite their lawyers’ request for a stay pending clarification from the Court of Appeal. Chief Magistrate Latchman made the ruling on Thursday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, stressing that she is bound by a recent order of the Court of Appeal and therefore must allow the proceedings to continue. The ruling came after Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, who appeared with Attorneys Damien Da Silva and Siand Dhurjon, asked the Chief Magistrate to “stay her hand” while the defence seeks directions from the Court of Appeal on the scope and implications of its order.

With the CCJ matter disposed of, the extradition proceedings resumed, although the subsequent Court of Appeal order placed a restriction on the Chief Magistrate’s ability to make a final determination.

The witness testifies

Senior Superintendent of Police Prem Narine, head of the Special Branch Unit, is currently under cross-examination by the defence after

lifted the warrants and proceeded with Sarrabo to Smyth Street, Georgetown, where they located Azruddin Mohamed. According to his evidence, Azruddin Mohamed was seated inside a black Toyota Crown motor car bearing registration PZZ 5000. Narine told the court that he informed Azruddin that a request had been made by the United States for his extradition in relation to allegations including money laundering and wire fraud and that, as a result, an arrest warrant had been issued. He then arrested Azruddin Mohamed. Narine further testified that Azruddin Mohamed requested that he be allowed to contact his attorney, Dhurjon. Narine testified that, in

“Crisis of clarity”

Forde described the situation as a “crisis of clarity”, arguing that the appellate court’s order has created uncertainty about how the committal proceedings should continue. The Court of Appeal has rejected the Mohameds’ request for a stay and permitted the extradition proceedings to continue. However, it ordered that Chief Magistrate Latchman embargo her final ruling while it determined the men’s constitutional challenge to certain provisions of the Fugitive Offenders (Amendment) Act. During submissions before Magistrate Latchman, the defence maintained that the constitutional challenge has implications for the extradition proceedings and argued that she should await directions from the Court of Appeal before proceeding further with the committal hearing. However, the prosecution urged the court to continue with the matter. The prosecution is led by Jamaican King’s Counsel Attorney-at-Law Terrence Williams, along with fellow Jamaican Attorneys Herbert McKenzie and Celine Deidrick. The prosecution submitted that the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) had upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal and, as a result, the extradition proceedings should continue. The extradition proceedings, which began on January 6, had been placed on hold since March 25 following an order of the CCJ. That order was discharged on July 29 after the regional court dismissed the Mohameds’ challenge to the Authority to Proceed (ATP) issued by Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond, which they had challenged on grounds of alleged political bias.

US-sanctioned and indicted Azruddin Mohamed

commencing his testimony on Thursday. Narine is the prosecution’s second witness and gave evidence concerning the circumstances surrounding the arrest of the Mohameds following the United States’ request for their extradition. According to his testimony, on October 31, 2025, he visited the Attorney General’s Office on Carmichael Street, Georgetown, where he collected a bundle of documents in connection with the extradition proceedings. Among the documents, he said, was the ATP issued and signed by Minister Walrond. The bundle also contained documents bearing the signature of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as a Section 6 Certificate under the Fugitive Offenders Act. Narine testified that attached to the certificate was the extradition treaty between the United States and the United Kingdom. He also received two draft arrest warrants in relation to the Mohameds, he told the court.

2 arrest warrants issued

The witness said that after collecting the documents, he proceeded to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts at about 10:00h in the company of Detective Superintendent of Police Rodwell Sarrabo. There, he appeared before Magistrate Latchman, swore to the truth of the documents and tendered them to the court. Following the presentation of the documents, the court issued two arrest warrants for Azruddin and Nazar Mohamed. Narine said he then up-

US-sanctioned and indicted Nazar Mohamed

his presence and hearing, Sarrabo used his personal cell phone to call Dhurjon, but the call went unanswered. Azruddin Mohamed was subsequently arrested and placed in a Police vehicle.

Waiting for Police to arrive

The Police witness said a few minutes later he proceeded to Mohamed’s Enterprise on Lombard Street, Georgetown, where Nazar Mohamed was located. He testified that Nazar Mohamed was also informed that the United States had requested his extradition on the same allegations and that a warrant had been issued for his arrest. Narine said Nazar Mohamed was also arrested and placed in the Police vehicle. Unlike his son, however, Nazar Mohamed did not make a request at the time of his arrest, Narine testified, adding that Nazar Mohamed told the Police he had been waiting for them to arrive. Narine told the court that while the father and son were being transported to the Brickdam Police Station, Dhurjon contacted Sarrabo’s mobile phone and informed the Police that he would meet them at the station. Narine testified that at

Award…

Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman

the Brickdam Police Station, a record was made of the arrests, after which the two men were allowed to speak privately with a US marshal and their attorney. Narine said that at about 13:00h on October 31, 2025, the Mohameds were taken before the court, where the extradition proceedings commenced. His evidence is now being tested under cross-examination by the defence. Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Sharon Roopchand Edwards, who was previously available for cross-examination, did not take the stand for that purpose on Thursday, with her cross-examination deferred. Narine is expected to face further cross-examination today.

Extradition

The United States is seeking the extradition of the Mohameds over allegations stemming from a multi-year scheme involving the evasion of taxes and royalties on gold exports, money laundering and wire fraud. US authorities alleged that falsified customs declarations and the reuse of government export seals were used as part of the scheme, which allegedly resulted in approximately US$50 million in revenue losses to the Government of Guyana. Both father and son were sanctioned by the US Government in 2024 and subsequently indicted in the United States in 2025 on criminal charges arising from the alleged gold-export and tax-evasion scheme. The Mohameds continue to challenge their extradition under Guyana’s Fugitive Offenders (Amendment) Act on various grounds, including a constitutional challenge to provisions of the legislation that remains before the Court of Appeal. Azruddin and Nazar Mohamed remain on $150,000 bail each pending the determination of the extradition proceedings. Their bail conditions include surrendering their passports and reporting weekly to the Ruimveldt Police Station.

…for playing victim e Guyanese have always been movie crazy – remember the cinemas in every neighbourhood? – but our own stars aren’t acknowledged for their thespian qualities!! Remember our hysteria when Leticia Wright received kudos for her Black Panther role?? Well, acting ain’t only done for the big screen, but also in modern times, for the cameras on smartphones that feed into our ever-present small screen!! So, your Eyewitness, who knows Hollywood and Bollywood are always looking for Oscar-worthy performances, is nominating a fella who beats, hands down, most of the actors out there!! So, ladies and gentlemen (drum roll) let your Eyewitness introduce Sanction Man!! Who deserves an Academy Award for Best Performance as the Perpetual Victim in a Legal Drama!! The man has demonstrated remarkable versatility: whenever another legal challenge, court proceeding, or Government action comes along, the script somehow remains the same: he ain’t the accused – he’s the victim!! He even parlayed the role into getting him elected as our LOO!! The latest production – “Extradition: The Never-Ending Story” – resumed yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Courts in front of Magistrate Judy!! The production, of course, had already enjoyed appearances at the said Magistrate’s Courts, High Court, Court of Appeal, and CCJ, and then repeatedly in an almost endless loop!! The latest was the CCJ rejecting Sanction Man’s challenges to the extradition process TWICE in August, while our Court of Appeal ruled the Magistrate proceedings could continue, with the final determination to await the constitutional appeal!! But why let inconvenient things like court rulings interfere with a good victim narrative?? For this Reality Show production, Sanction Man has perfected the art of looking less like a man facing charges in courts and more like the unfortunate hero of a political persecution flick!! As the nominating committee, your Eyewitness was particularly impressed by his ability to transform every courtroom appearance into another episode of “Why’s Everybody Picking on (poor!!) Me?”!! And let’s not forget the Best Supporting Performance: Sanction Man’s legal team!! But the Best Direction Oscar gotta go to his sisters – who understand that a clueless actor needs a good director!! Their job has been to ensure the cameras, microphones, and social-media audience never forget the central theme: Sanction Man’s the victim, and Pressie is the “bad guy”!! And boy have they succeeded!! Your Eyewitness therefore suggests the Academy establish a special category for Guyana – Best Family Production of a Legal Victimhood Franchise!! After all, unlike most Oscar nominees, this movie keeps producing sequels faster than the Marvel franchise: “Extradition: The Never-Ending Story”, “The Victim Strikes Back”, “Return of the Appeal”, and now, playing at the GT Magistrate’s Courts, “Victimhood VI: The Magistrate Strikes Again”!! Pass the popcorn, please!! …for justice at last It was exactly 10 years ago that West Coast rap genius Tupac Shakur was gunned down – ironically not in his beef with East Coast rappers, but by a local South Side Compton Crips street gang leader – Duane “Keffe D” Davis!! Davis was finally convicted because of his own boasts in his recently published memoir!! Just 25, Tupac was unrivalled in his description of life in the Black “hood” of America. A flavour of his talent can be gleaned from this snippet from his release, “Changes”: “Wake up in tha mornin and I ask myself/is life worth livin’ or should I blast myself?/I’m tired of bein’ poor, and even worse, I’m Black, my stomach hurts/so I’m lookin’ for a purse to snatch. “Cops give a damn about a Negro/pull tha trigger, kill a nigga he’s a hero/give tha crack to the kids who the hell care/one less hungry mouth on welfare/first ship em dope, that I’m dealin’ brothas/give ‘em guns, step back, watch ‘em kill each other”!! …for Barima CoI Your Eyewitness hopes all the armchair critics will not give evidence to the CoI that’s begun investigating the circumstances surrounding the capsizing and sinking of the MV Barima. The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GDF deploys aerial water drops to contain Moblissa savannah fire

he Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has deployed a helicopter to assist the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) in containing a savannah fire near Moblissa Ranch along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway. The GDF said that, following reports of the fire, its Air Corps conducted an aerial reconnaissance of the affected area and identified several active fire pockets. While GFS crews began ground firefighting operations, the GDF deployed a helicopter equipped with specialised aerial firefighting equipment to drop water on sections of the fire. The aircrew, led by

GDF helicopter conducts aerial water drops over the savannah fire near Moblissa Ranch along the SoesdykeLinden Highway

Lieutenant Colonel Anson Weekes, with Sergeant Clyde Jones operating the firefighting equipment, completed nearly 30 water drops. According to the GDF, the aerial water drops reduced the intensity of the fire, allowing ground crews to continue their efforts. Joint aerial assessments and coordinated air and ground operations will continue as the two services work to contain the fire and limit its spread. The GDF said operations remain ongoing, with available resources being deployed as required to protect nearby communities and property.

10 NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

$1.6M theft at BJ Demerara River Bridge

Man confesses: sold copper cable for $15K to buy drugs …scrap metal dealer in custody

ours after the Guyana Police Force launched an investigation into a $1.6 million copper cable theft at the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge, detectives swooped down on a house in Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, which led to the arrest of a scrap metal dealer who allegedly purchased the stolen cables. The 52-year-old businessman, who operates out of lot 93 Sussex Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, was detained following the arrest and confession of 39-year-old Roy Morgan on Wednesday evening on the bridge with cutting equipment. At the time, he was wearing a safety helmet and a reflective vest, thus giving the impression that he was a worker at the bridge. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, when contacted, confirmed that after his arrest, the 39-year-old man admitted to stealing and selling the copper cable for $15,000 to purchase food and drugs. This was confirmed by the businessman, who admitted that he had indeed purchased 30 pounds of copper from the suspect but could not recall

Confessed thief Roy Morgan after his arrest

the description and, moreover, made no attempt to find out where he had ac-

quired it. However, a search of his Sussex Street bond, according to Blanhum, did not yield any success, but detectives proceeded to his home in Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, where they conducted a search that resulted in the discovery of two pieces of copper wire similar to the copper that is missing from the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge. The scrap metal dealer has since been arrested. It was reported that some 90 feet of 4/350 KCMIL copper cable, valued at approximately $1.6 million, were stolen from the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge, Providence, East Bank Demerara. The theft reportedly occurred sometime between 00:00h on August 23, 2026, and 09:00h on September 1, 2026. The bridge is equipped with LED lights attached to steel poles along its high span and powered by a generator beneath the bridge. The lights are used to display various colours and according to the Police, were last operated on August 23, 2026. However, at about 18:30h on August 31, 2026, an electrical main-

tenance engineer attempted to illuminate the bridge in the colours of Trinidad and Tobago’s national flag in observance of that country’s Independence Anniversary, but only the lights on the northern side were functioning. The engineer and his team inspected the southern side of the bridge the follow-

ing day when it was discovered that the copper cables had been cut and removed from the metal trunking box. As such, the matter was reported to the Providence Police Station, which led to a full-scale investigation. Both the scrap metal dealer and the seller remain in custody pending investigations.

Region 10 records 38.7% drop in crime – Commander

…21.4% decline in traffic offences

Commander, Senior Superintendent John Barker

egional Police Division 10 has recorded a 38.7 per cent decrease in overall crime-related matters and a 21.4 per cent reduction in traffic-related matters when compared with the corresponding period last year. The figures were disclosed by Commander of Regional Police Division 10, Senior Superintendent of Police John Barker, who said the division has maintained its focus on community policing and engagement. Barker, in a video update posted by the Home Affairs Ministry on its social media page, said Police ranks have continued to conduct community meetings and outreach activities while collaborating with residents and other members of society to address issues affecting communities. He said the division also intensified its road safety efforts with the reopening of schools, including the painting of road signs and educating both children and adults about the rules governing road use. “We also continue to collaborate with members of the society,” Barker said, adding that the division recently focused on road safety education as part of preparations for the reopening of schools. The Commander also credited increased resources allocated to the Guyana Police Force in Region 10 for strengthening the division’s operational capacity. According to Barker, the

division has received additional material resources and manpower, including vehicles that have improved its ability to respond to incidents. “Our presence in the communities is felt because of the resources allotted to us, particularly patrol vehicles and the ranks on the road,” he said. Barker said the availability of vehicles has placed the division in a better position to respond when the need arises. He also pointed to improvements in Police infrastructure across the region, noting that several Police buildings have been modernised or newly constructed to support policing operations. “Most of our buildings in Region 10 are up to date in terms of the condition and newly constructed,” Barker said. He disclosed that several Police outposts and stations are still under construction and are expected to be completed soon. According to Barker, the completed facilities will provide improved working conditions for Police ranks while also creating a more suitable environment for members of the public who visit Police Stations to report matters. He said the infrastructure improvements are intended to ensure that both Police officers and members of the public can access and use the facilities in a comfortable and conducive environment.

NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Timehri 3-vehicle smash-up

Unlicensed Cuban driver charged with causing deaths of Indonesian nationals

Cuban national who was not licensed to drive in Guyana was charged on Thursday and remanded to prison for causing the deaths of two Indonesian nationals during a three-vehicle smash-up along the Timehri Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD), last Friday. Thirty-five-year-old Ramon Rodrigues of Land of Canaan, EBD, appeared at the Friendship Magistrate’s Court, where the charges were read to him. Police stated that on Friday, August 28, 2026, Rodrigues, a driv-

Charged: Ramon Rodrigues

The bus in which the men were travelling when they met their demise

er attached to Avinash Construction Inc, drove a motor lorry in a dangerous manner, thereby causing the deaths of Edy Sukri and Ikomang Putra – both Indonesian nationals. He was not required to plead to the indictment and was remanded to prison until September 25, 2026.

It was reported that the accident occurred in the wee hours of the morning and involved motor lorry, GAJ 3074, a Route 63 minibus with registration number BAH 6588, and a contracted minibus with plates BAF 1135. The two dead men and the injured were passengers of minibus BAF 1135.

Sod turned... Nandlall said Guyanese law students historically faced financial and admission challenges to regional law schools. He said it was against this backdrop that the President of Guyana was compelled to raise the issue with CARICOM Heads of Government. A decision was subsequently taken at the Heads of Government level and brought before the CLE. Over the last three years, the current administration has been working to get permission from the CLE to establish a much-needed law school here. The CLE is a regional organisation which operates the Hugh Wooding Law School in the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica, and the Eugene

FROM PAGE 3

Dupuch Law School in the Bahamas. Under the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Coalition Administration, attempts were made to establish the Joseph Oscar Fitzclarence Haynes Law School. However, the CLE was not approached about the project initially, and when permission was eventually sought after the fact, it was denied in late 2017. However, the PPP/C Government had previously declared that any law school that is established in Guyana will be done under the ambit of the CLE – something that will also allow the country to capitalise on the overcrowding at the other institutions across the region.

The motor lorry was reportedly heading to Timehri, EBD, at a fast rate of speed when the driver allegedly swerved and came into contact with minibus BAH 6588, which was proceeding in the opposite direction. Due to the collision, the driver of the lorry lost control and crashed into minibus BAF 1135, which was behind the other minibus. As a result of the smashup, the occupants of minibus BAF 1135 sustained injuries to their bodies. An ambulance attached to the Guyana Defence Force, accompanied by emergency medical technicians, responded to the scene where the two Indonesian nationals were pronounced dead.

12 NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Commercial vehicles entering Linden

Government considers 50% toll cut after Linden Council insists on vehicle charges

he Central Government is considering a request from the Linden Town Council (LTC) to continue imposing tolls on commercial vehicles entering the municipality, at a rate reduced by 50 per cent from the initial charge. This is according to a joint statement issued by the Guyana Government and the Town Council following a recent meeting. “The LTC proposed a 50 per cent reduction in the tolls that were previously being charged. It was noted that this adjustment would not negatively affect cash flow to the LTC nor put any additional burdens on the private sector. The Government is committed to reviewing the new proposal from the LTC as well as working to have a full and complete understanding of the revenue and expenditure of the LTC,” the statement, issued on Thursday, outlines.

proved levels of service and operational efficiency at the LTC. “Government received strong representation from Lindeners and the private sector about the cost of conducting business in the town of Linden brought about by the toll charges. It was established that the audited financial statements of the LTC are in significant backlog. This is to be corrected. There will be an examination to arrive at a clear understanding of revenue and expenditure, as the LTC President Dr Irfaan Ali sits in at the meeting between Government Ministers and members of the Linden Town Council

The issue stems from the Central Government’s recent shutdown of the toll collection for commercial vehicles entering the town. Reports indicate that Local Government and Regional Development Minister Priya Manickchand issued a letter to the Linden Town Clerk, ordering the Town Council

to immediately cease the imposition and collection of tolls or other charges at the Kara Kara Public Road toll station. However, the Town Council protested this move, claiming that the loss of revenue will have significant impacts on its operations. In August 2025, the LTC

made similar complaints when the Government had removed tolls to cross three major bridges across the country, including the Wismar-Mackenzie Bridge. Meanwhile, according to Thursday’s joint statement, the two sides discussed other matters relating to ensuring accountability, im-

was not in a position to pronounce on verifiable finances,” the statement outlined. The meeting included President Dr Irfaan Ali, Minister Manickchand; Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh; Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill; and other members of the Government, along with Linden Mayor Dominique Blair and councillor Alister Wester; Town Clerk Lenox Gasper; and Treasurer Audrey Nelson. President Ali was in Linden for a twoday Cabinet outreach.

Guyana backs UNICEF push for stronger child protection, including mental health

uyana has given its support to UNICEF’s proposed regional focus on children’s mental health, malnutrition, learning, and protection, with Guyana’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Trishala Persaud highlighting the importance of strengthening psychosocial support and mental health services for children. Persaud expressed the strong backing during the Second Session of the Executive Board of UNICEF, under Agenda Item 4(a): Country Programme Documents, on Wednesday. She commenced her presentation by thanking UNICEF for the comprehensive Multi-Country Programme Document 2027– 2031 and for its continued support and close collaboration with Guyana. She welcomed the strategic shift from project-based implementation to evidence-based solutions, which she said must be grounded in reliable data. UNICEF’s new Caribbean Multi-Country Programme Document (MCPD) 2027– 2031 focuses heavily on equitable access to education and healthcare, particularly for hinterland communities, while also placing emphasis on early childhood development. “We welcome the strategic shift in approach from project-based implementation to evidence-based solutions, which must be based on reliable data. The programme document reflects many of the realities the Caribbean faces. The region’s high exposure to climate-related shocks and socio-economic pressures underscores the urgency of the priorities outlined and the importance of continued partnership with UNICEF.” Persaud said while adding that “emphasis on strengthening data systems and regional cooperation through CARICOM and the OECS will aid in ensuring that investments reach disproportionately affected children.” In highlighting Guyana’s efforts to address child poverty, Persaud explained that the country’s investments in education, health and social protection are yielding posi-

tive results for children. “Guyana supports the MCPD’s three programmatic outcomes, which align closely with our national priorities. Child poverty reduction is a priority for Guyana, reflected in strong investment by the Government across key sectors, including education, health and social protection.” Persaud said sustained and targeted efforts were yielding positive results for children across Guyana. She noted that the MCPD’s focus on mental health, malnutrition and learning bolstered several of Guyana’s national initiatives, including the expanded school feeding programme, strengthened maternal and child health services, and advances in early childhood development through parenting programmes. She further explained that integrating mental health and psychosocial support into primary healthcare would complement Guyana’s efforts to expand schoolbased counselling and community mental health outreach. “The emphasis on integrating mental health and psychosocial support into primary healthcare is also timely and will complement Guyana’s efforts to expand school-based counselling and community mental health outreach. The MCPD’s emphasis on protecting children from violence is critical, in particular, the digitally enabled child protection systems, survivor-centred services and scholastic violence prevention. UNICEF’s support for child-centred disaster risk reduction will directly enhance our ability to strengthen protections for children, including those in hinterland and Indigenous communities and those affected by migration pressures.” Guyana also expressed its support for the MultiCountry Programme Document and reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with UNICEF and regional partners to ensure that every child in Guyana and across the Caribbean can enjoy their full rights and realise their full potential.

NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Major investments coming as new business districts, bauxite expansion loom – Ali tells Lindeners

resident Dr Irfaan Ali has challenged residents of Linden, Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice), to recognise the development already taking place in the region and prepare for even greater investment, including new business districts, increased support for small and medium-sized enterprises, and renewed investment in the bauxite industry. He made the remarks whilst addressing a gathering at Victory Valley, Linden, during a cabinet outreach to the region on Wednesday. According to President Ali, his Administration has made significant investments in Linden, with the level of investment under his tenure representing almost 1000 per cent more than that made under the previous A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration. “Today, you have hundreds of thousands of persons who have benefitted from the healthcare system by hospital visits, thousands of surgeries completed right here in Linden, tens of thousands of labs completed right here in Linden, and CT scans completed right here in Linden. Lindeners becoming registered nurses and training right here in Linden. Lindeners are becoming trained teachers and trained graduates, right here in Linden. That is real development,” the Guyanese leader said. In fact, he argued that those who refuse to acknowledge the progress are simply living in denial. “If you don’t think the new Wismar Bridge is a development, something is wrong with you. If you don’t think the road that is being built to Lethem is going to bring thousands of trucks passing through the township as development, something is wrong with you. If you don’t see the thousands of houses that are being built as development, something is wrong with you. If you don’t see the hundreds of young people in the last five years who own their own home today, something is wrong with you,” Ali contended. “If you don’t see the treated water that you’re getting as development, something is wrong with you. If you don’t see all the people in this village who became small contractors because of the investment, something wrong with you. Something definitely wrong with you,” he added. President Ali also cautioned Region 10 residents to be wary of politicians who seek to sow division. He posited that unlike other political leaders, those in his Government are focused on empowering young people in entrepreneurship. “Whilst they’re discussing division and hate, you

President Dr Irfaan Ali in Linden during the two-day Cabinet outreach

know what we’re discussing? How we will bring the young people to work together in the tunnel house programme, how we will get the young people to work together in the development of the swine industry, how we will get the young people to work together in agro-processing, in honey production, and how we will get them to work together in different areas of development and empowerment,” he noted. In this regard, he said to support small businesses in the region, the Government will establish business districts at Wismar and MacKenzie. “We’re going to build two facilities on each side of the river, and what we’re going to call these facilities are ‘business districts’ where we’ll build the tarmacs, and we’ll put proper shops, whether it’s mechanic…spray painting, commerce, or entertainment, on both sides, so we can bring the small businesses together. In bringing the small businesses together, we can then support you, we can empower you, and we can have training seminars and training programmes right there,” the president outlined. Moreover, he reminded us that these businesses can benefit from the Guyana Development Bank, which will offer collateral-free and interest-free loans “to build out their business opportunities”.

Agro investment park

The president said the Government is also looking to develop an agro investment park in Linden where the best technology, irrigation systems and extension services will be readily available. Additionally, he said works will intensify on rebuilding the community centre, with completion expected in nine months. “We want that centre to be used for women empowerment and youth empowerment,” he remarked. Apart from small business growth, President Ali said the region can look forward to major investments in the years to come, noting that “if you believe you’ve seen transformation in Linden, you’ve not really seen the massive transformation that still lies ahead”.

“We’re looking at investors now coming back in the bauxite industry to expand what is already happening in bauxite. These are things that are actively happening behind the scenes,” he noted. He further explained that Linden will become a major transit point, with markets opening up in

Northern Brazil, opportunities that residents can capitalise on. According to the Guyanese leader, Linden residents should embrace these investments. In fact, he criticised the response of some politicians to the region’s electricity shortfall in light of the growing investments.

“A simple issue that Linden is growing, we have to put more power; we’re not getting 6 mw to put in. You know what? Some leaders’ solution is they come here and say, ‘Why do these people come from this part of the country and invest in Linden? Why are these people doing this in Linden?’. They’re driving a wedge;

they’re using an old playbook…what we should do is work on ensuring Linden is the most welcoming place for investment, that people want to invest here, that people want to spend their money here, and that people want to build their businesses here. That is what we want,” President Ali expressed.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

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Around the World

US sinks another vessel used by OILNEWS OIL NEWS alleged Ecuadorian drug traffickers Oil prices hit fresh 6-week highs on renewed Middle East tensions

il prices hit fresh six-week highs on Thursday after new US strikes on Iran and renewed Israeli threats against Tehran heightened concerns about ‌disruptions to Middle East supplies. Brent crude futures were up US$1.66, or 1.7 per cent, at US$97.29 a barrel by 1200 GMT, erasing earlier losses, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose US$2.03, or 2.2 per cent, to US$93.04. Both contracts were heading for their fourth day of gains and hit six-week highs earlier in the session. Iran’s health minister said 18 persons were killed and 108 wounded in Tuesday night’s US ⁠strikes across Iran. The Iranian Red Crescent said four persons were killed and 67 wounded at a wedding ceremony near the coast of the Strait of Hormuz. Three Iranian Army pilots were killed in the US strikes, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported. The latest attacks marked the most substantial exchange of fire between the US and Iran since July, with the war now in its seventh month. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz renewed warnings that Israel would “cripple” Iran’s military and civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities, if Tehran launched attacks against it. (Excerpt from Reuters)

A screengrab of the video posted on social media showing the vessel seconds before being struck

he United States military intercepted and sank a vessel that was allegedly being used to support at-sea drug trafficking by the Ecuadorian criminal organisation Los Choneros, officials said on Wednesday. It came after a similar operation on Friday that destroyed another vessel linked to the gang, one of Ecuador’s main drug trafficking and extortion groups.

The US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said in a social media post that its forces intercepted a vessel “operating as a floating refuelling station” in support of Los Choneros in international waters of the eastern Pacific. The vessel was cleared without incident, and those on board were transferred to Ecuador’s authorities, SOUTHCOM said.

Grainy video footage accompanying the post showed armed men boarding a boat, which was later blown up. SOUTHCOM chief Gen. Francis Donovan said in the post that the operation was conducted “in coordination and collaboration with the Government of Ecuador”. In the port city of Manta, a group of relatives of fishermen were seeking information about their loved ones on Wednesday after losing contact. The boat left on Friday

for a fishing trip, and the crew had reported seeing helicopters and military boats approaching, according to the relatives. More than 200 persons have been killed in strikes in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean since then. The Trump Administration hasn’t provided definitive evidence that the vessels it has been striking are involved in drug trafficking. (Excerpt from CBS News)

St Kitts and Nevis PM Terrance Drew Dozens of trapped hydropower tunnel workers suffered stroke in Nepal could still be alive, official says

Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew

artinique media are reporting that St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister (PM) Dr Terrance Drew suffered a stroke and was treated at the University Hospital of Martinique. Martinique La Première reported that Drew was admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit on Monday evening after experiencing headaches and nausea. The report said Drew was placed under observation and treated by an intensive-care team led by Professor Dabor Resière. It said his condition subsequently stabilised following treatment and that he is not expected to suffer lasting effects. Martinique La Première also reported that Drew expressed gratitude for the care provided by healthcare professionals in Martinique and intends to vdiscuss the quality

and availability of medical care there with fellow Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders. The reported stroke diagnosis has not been publicly confirmed by the Government of St Kitts and Nevis or Drew’s medical team. In its most recent official update, issued on Monday, the Cabinet Secretariat said Drew had arrived at an undisclosed medical facility overseas and was undergoing scheduled diagnostic tests and specialist assessments. The Government said Drew remained in stable condition, fully alert and in good spirits, and that specialists at the overseas facility had consulted directly with the clinical team at the Joseph N. France (JNF) General Hospital in Basseterre to review his medical records and coordinate his care plan. (Excerpt from Antigua Newsroom)

epal authorities have said they are “confident” that dozens of workers in Nepal’s Rasuwagadhi hydropower plant are still alive, more than a week after deadly flash floods left them trapped in an underground chamber. Authorities said that at least 639 workers were still missing from hydropower plants built along Nepal’s Bhote Koshi and Triushuli rivers. The deadly flash floods reached up to 100 mph (160 km/h), according to scientists, and travelled more than 60 miles down the river valley, wiping away whole villages, bridges, and hydropower dams. At least 1252 persons

have been confirmed dead from the floods. More than 4200 remain missing. Speaking on Wednesday, officials said they believed 46 persons were still alive in an underground room in the Rasuwagadhi hydropower plant, and efforts were ongoing to locate them using excavators and other heavy equipment. Major rescue operations were under way or planned at four hydropower projects. Two sites – the Rasuwagadhi hydroelectric project and the Upper Trishuli 3A facility – where about 90 persons are missing, offered the strongest prospect of finding survivors because of the presence of air inside the tunnels, Shahi said.

Nepal army soldiers work during a search and rescue operation outside a tunnel near the Hydropower Project sites

The army said the search and rescue operation would go on for as long as there was hope for survi-

vors, but that efforts would also continue to recover the dead bodies. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

Venezuela Opposition leader says “illegitimate” regime cannot strike US oil deal

he Venezuelan Opposition leader María Corina Machado has questioned Donald Trump’s oil deal with Venezuela’s interim Government, saying the country’s natural resources do not belong to “an illegitimate regime”. In her first public comments since Trump announced what he called “the biggest oil deal in world history” with Venezuela last Friday, Machado walked

a diplomatic tightrope between challenging the agreement and trying not to rile the White House. In a video posted on social media, the Nobel Peace Prize winner said, “Of course the United States is the principal partner Venezuela needs to fully develop its strategic potential. This is what the majority of Venezuelans believe … and it is something I’ve spent my whole life defending.” However, Machado said,

the current occupants of the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas were “enemies of the US”, saying they did not have the right or the democratic mandate to negotiate Venezuela’s natural resources. “The wealth of our subsoil does not belong to an illegitimate regime – it belongs to the Venezuelan people,” she said, adding that supporters felt “sadness and anger” at being excluded from the decision-making process.

Venezuela has the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves, with an estimated 303 billion barrels, of which more than 65 billion barrels are involved in the agreement. Trump’s deal was struck with the un-elected interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, who took power in January after her predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, was abducted by US special forces. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

guyanatimesgy.com

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

Take a moment to consider your options. Acting in haste will turn sour, leaving you in an awkward position. Truth and compassion will help you find your way to a better place.

(March 21-April 19)

PICKLES (April 20-May 20)

Take more time to recognize your strengths and to put them to work for you. Refuse to let your emotions cost you mentally or financially. Pay attention to what others are experiencing. Your mind is working overtime. Take a moment to adjust your response setting to low, and behold what’s happening around you. Change may be your objective, but the wrong move will slow you down.

(May 21-June 20) Consider home improvements that make a difference to your state of mind. Declutter and get rid of subscriptions and things that are costly but offer limited returns. Face your fears head-on.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

(July 23-Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Fulfill your creative imagination. Dedicate more time to researching and discovering what makes you happy. Reach out to people of interest, and make decisions that suit your lifestyle. Protect your reputation, and abide by the rules. Surround yourself with people who share your integrity and mindset. Manage your daily routine to reflect good health and overall contentment. Put yourself first, and satisfy your needs. Discover what makes you happy. Life is about love and learning to become the best version of yourself. Choose progress over repetition. Love yourself first.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Channel your energy; if you let it run wild, you’ll pay the price. Choose activities that are safe. The thrill won’t be worth the consequences. Drive carefully, and refuse to let anyone enrage you.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22) If you spend more time at home and sort through the rubble that’s accumulated, you’ll breathe easier. Avoid conversations with people touting doom and gloom. Focus on reading.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Put some time and effort into getting your life and your legal, financial and health issues in order. Putting things off will add to your stress and hinder your relationships with the ones you love.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Embrace change; a new experience will revive your spirit and give you hope for a brighter future. Test the waters, and explore work possibilities that challenge and stimulate your imagination.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) It’s one step forward and two steps back. Caution is necessary when dealing with your lifestyle and relationships. Try to immerse yourself in activities or events that captivate your mind.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

Wong, Bouchier star as England cruise to 2-0 series win in Derby

Amy Hunter of Ireland bats during the second Women’s Metro Bank ODI match

ssy Wong’s maiden international fivewicket haul led England to a thumping victory over Ireland in Derby and a 2-0 lead in their three-match One-Day International (ODI) series. Wong’s five for 33 helped bowl Ireland out for a paltry 165 in 47 overs and an unbroken stand worth 47 off 38 balls between Dani Gibson and Freya Kemp guided England to a six-wicket win with 27 overs to spare. Were it not for Amy Hunter grinding out a second halfcentury in as many games, England’s target would have been even smaller. Maia Bouchier, a centurion in the opening match of the series, top-scored with 45, but ran out her partner, Sophia Dunkley, then fell to a soft dismissal, ultimately leaving it to Kemp and Gibson to see England over the line. Wong’s haul included the wicket of Hunter amid a collapse in which Ireland lost their last six wickets for 25 runs after being sent in to bat. She was

England’s Issy Wong celebrates with team-mate Alice Capsey after taking the wicket of Ireland’s Gaby Lewis

well supported by off-spinner Mady Villiers, who took the key wickets of Orla Prendergast and Rebecca Stokell, as well as the catch that gave Wong her fifth wicket. Hunter, one of three players to score 50s as the visitors asked England to stage their highest successful ODI run chase in the opening match in Leicester, dug in with Leah Paul for a 57-run partnership off 83 balls after a steady stream of wickets had Ireland 83 for 4 just before the halfway stage of the innings in Derby. Alice Tector was run out in the second over of the match by a fluid gather and throw from Dunkley at midoff and Wong removed Captain Gaby Lewis cheaply with an excellent ball which nipped back to beat the drive, sliding between bat and pad to rattle leg stump. Villiers entered the attack in the 22nd over to immediate effect with a wicket maiden when Prendergast

launched a slog-sweep to Kemp at deep midwicket. Villiers struck again in her next over with a flighted ball that drifted away late as Stokell’s drive found Gibson at extra cover. Villiers could have had three in four overs when Hunter, on 27, drilled the ball back at the bowler, but Villiers was wrong-footed after her follow-through, delaying her dive to the right by a splitsecond, long enough to reprieve Hunter. Hunter struggled to get the ball away, compiling her innings almost exclusively in singles until, finally, after withstanding a hopeful review for lbw off Ryana MacDonald-Gay, she drove the next ball through cover for her second of four fours. Hunter helped herself to another boundary, over midwicket in MacDonald-Gay’s next over to move to the cusp of a laboured half-century and she reached the mark with a single off the 79th ball she faced, the slowest of

Freya Kemp and Dani Gibson of England celebrate winning the second Women’s Metro Bank ODI between England and Ireland

her 11 ODI 50s. Wong returned to break up the Hunter-Paul stand, Paul bowled via an inside-edge onto her off stump, and her next over yielded the wicket of Louise Little, dropped by new keeper Alice Capsey two balls before spooning one to mid-off. When Wong had Cara Murray caught at mid-off, she passed her international career-best and it was the prize wicket of Hunter that delivered her five-for, Villiers running round to deep midwicket to take a solid catch as Hunter tried to go big. Tilly Corteen-Coleman picked up two in her 10th over to mop up the tail. England’s pursuit started brightly enough. Bouchier and Dunkley looked set to reprise their match-winning stand from the first match as they raced to 54 off 43 balls, in a display of powerhitting which included a thumping six off Prendergast over wide long-off for

aaa

SCOREBOARD

Ireland Women (50 ovs maximum) Gaby Lewis (c) b Wong Amy Hunter † c Villiers b Wong Orla Prendergast c Kemp b Villiers Rebecca Stokell c Gibson b Villiers Leah Paul b Wong Louise Little c Grewcock b Wong Cara Murray c Grewcock b Wong Jane Maguire c & b Corteen-Coleman Georgina Dempsey not out Kia McCartney b Corteen-Coleman

19 64 25 3 23 2 9 1 1 1

Extras (b 2, w 12) 14 Total 47 Ov (RR: 3.51) 165 Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Alice Tector, 1.4 ov), 2-32 (Gaby Lewis, 9.2 ov), 3-77 (Orla Prendergast, 21.4 ov), 4-83 (Rebecca Stokell, 23.6 ov), 5-140 (Leah Paul, 37.5 ov), 6-142 (Louise Little, 39.6 ov), 7-156 (Cara Murray, 43.5 ov), 7-156 (Cara Murray, 43.5ov), 9-163 (Jane Maguire, 46.1 ov), 10-165 (Kia McCartney, 46.6 ov)

Issy Wong of England leads her team from the field after taking five wickets

Dunkley. But then Bouchier cooked her opening partner in a shocking runout, dabbing a Kia McCartney delivery straight to Prendergast at cover but running anyway and Dunkley was left with little hope of making her ground. Bouchier then picked out short backward square leg off a poor delivery from McCartney, who then dispatched Capsey cheaply with one that turned sharply from outside off stump and pinned the pad as the batter leapt back. Jodi Grewcock, playing her fourth match for England, made a start, but couldn’t convert, leaving the more experienced duo of Kemp and Gibson to reel in the runs required. Both powerful players, they did the needful on this occasion, while still managing three sixes between them, including two in three balls down the ground for Gibson, which brought up the winning runs. (ESPNcricinfo)

Bowling Ryana MacDonald-Gay Issy Wong

O-M-R-W 7-0-26-0 10-1-33-5

Tilly Corteen-Coleman Charlie Dean Dani Gibson Mady Villiers

10-0-32 8-0-34-0 5-0-17-0 7-1-21-2

England Women (T: 166 runs from 50 ovs) Maia Bouchier c Maguire b McCartne 45 Sophia Dunkley run out (Prendergast/†Hunter) 20 Jodi Grewcock c Lewis b Murray 24 Alice Capsey † lbw b McCartney 1 Freya Kemp not out 29 Dani Gibson not out 36 Extras (w 11) 11 Total 23 Ov (RR: 7.21) 166/4 Fall of wickets: 1-54 (Sophia Dunkley, 7.1 ov), 2-79 (Maia Bouchier, 9.6 ov), 3-85 (Alice Capsey, 11.6 ov), 4-119 (Jodi Grewcock, 16.4 ov) Bowling Orla Prendergast Jane Maguire Kia McCartney Georgina Dempsey Cara Murray

O-M-R-W 4-0-26-0 5-0-38-0 6-0-45-2 2-0-13-0 6-0-44-1

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

Persaud to defend title in PromotechDanny’s Auto Sales NTFGL final …championship showdown set for September 6 T

he National Top Flight Golf League (NTFGL) Tour Two will reach its climax on Sunday, September 6, with defending champion Patanjilee Persaud leading a tightly-contested championship race. The final, backed by Promotech and Danny’s Auto Sales, is set for Lusignan Golf Course, where Persaud will seek to successfully defend the title he won as the inaugural NTFGL champion. Persaud enters the final round on 19 points, but has little room for error. Maxim Mangra and Anand Persaud are tied on 18 points, while Joseph Szeplaki is just two

points off the lead on 17. The standings have set up a thrilling four-way battle for the championship, with the leading contenders expected to feature in the marquee group for the final round. Persaud’s rise to the top has been one of the major talking points of Tour Two. After a slow start to his title defence, the two-time Suriname Open winner found his best form at the business end of the competition. He collected seven points in Round Six before producing a superb net 65 in Round Seven to earn the maximum 10 points. Persaud’s 65 came after

Rohan Albert had posted a strong net 66, including a net 31 on the front nine. Persaud responded with a net 31 on the back nine to finish one stroke better and claim the maximum points. The result, combined with his Round Six haul, gave Persaud 17 points over two rounds and moved him into the overall lead. The defending champion will now look to complete the comeback on September 13, but with only two points separating the top four players, the NTFGL title race remains wide open. The Promotech and Danny’s Auto Sales-backed finale is, therefore, expected

Defending champion Patanjilee Persaud will contest against Anand Persaud, Joseph Szeplaki and Maxim Mangra this Sunday in the final of the Promotech-Danny’s Auto Sales NTFGL Tour 2

to provide a fitting conclusion to Tour Two, with Persaud seeking to retain the crown

while Mangra, Persaud and Szeplaki aim to deny him a second consecutive

championship. This event is free and open to members of the public.

Headquarters set up CoP T20 Archery Guyana congratulates Singh final showdown with TSU on Olympic Youth Camp outing

oung archer Ravish Singh has successfully concluded his participation in the Olympic Youth Camp Tobago 2026, held from August 23 to 28, 2026, where he represented Guyana alongside young participants from across the Caribbean. As such, the governing body for the sport in Guyana, Archery Guyana, congratulates him. According to the federation, Singh’s participation followed a structured and competitive selection process conducted by Archery Guyana after the federation was invited to nominate one youth participant for the regional Olympic youth development programme. Recognising the importance of ensuring a fair and transparent process, Archery Guyana developed specific selection criteria, aligned with both the requirements of the Olympic Youth Camp and the federation’s objectives for youth development. Five nominations were received and considered. To ensure that the final decision was not simply based on a single individual’s assessment, Archery Guyana established a five-member Selection Panel comprising representatives from different clubs: Narda Mohammed, Kenrick Cheeks, Samira Duncan, Karin Toppin, and Melissa Ramnarine. The Selection Panel met to deliberate on the five nominations, applying an agreed grading system, followed by a vote. Following the first round of voting, there was a clear winner, with Ravish Singh emerging as the selected nominee. Archery Guyana subsequently communicated with the unsuccessful nominees, thanking them for the quality of their applications and encouraging them to pursue future opportunities. The federation also wished to formally acknowledge the Selection Panel for the time, care, and professionalism demonstrated in undertaking what was recognised as a difficult task in selecting one

Ameer Mohamed

Archery’s Ravish Singh and Athletics’ Tesianna Harris display their certificates

nominee from a strong field. The Olympic Youth Camp provided Singh with an opportunity to develop not only as an athlete but also as a young leader and ambassador. During the camp, he interacted with young people from different Caribbean countries and athletes from a variety of sporting disciplines. The programme included sessions on Olympic history, careers in sport, nutrition, mental health and wellbeing, anger management, conflict resolution, sustainability, responsibility and career planning, alongside sporting and cultural activities. Singh also participated in team-building activities, including a supervised breakfast preparation exercise. His conduct and personal responsibility were further recognised when he received an award for having the cleanest room at the youth camp. Reflecting on his experience, the young archer said, “It was honestly an amazing experience. I got to meet and interact with young people from different Caribbean countries and athletes from different sports, including netball, volleyball, and, of course, archery.” Archery Guyana has extended its sincere appreciation to President

Godfrey Munroe and the Executive Committee of the Guyana Olympic Association for providing Ravish with this valuable international youth development opportunity and for supporting opportunities that expose young Guyanese athletes to leadership, education, cultural exchange, and the olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect. Meanwhile, President of Archery Guyana, Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, shared, “For us, youth development is about much more than producing athletes. We want to develop young people who are disciplined, responsible, confident, and capable of becoming future leaders and ambassadors for their sport and their country.” Archery Guyana further extended congratulations to the other members of the Guyanese contingent, Tesianna Harris, who represented Guyana in track and field, and Crystal Persaud, who served as chaperone. “We are pleased that Ravish was able to share this experience with fellow Guyanese representatives and to contribute to the country’s participation in this important regional youth development initiative,” the federation shared in a missive.

efending champions Headquarters will face the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) in the final of the Commissioner of Police T20 Cup after both teams secured victories in their respective semi-finals on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary. Headquarters booked their place in the championship decider with a hard-fought 19-run victory over the GPF Academy in the opening semi-final. Batting first, Headquarters posted 177 for nine from their allotted 20 overs, with captain Ameer Mohamed leading from the front with an unbeaten 49 off 37 deliveries, including eight fours and a six. Kanhaiya R a m ka ra n

provided valuable support with 36, while Andrew Lyght chipped in with 34 as Headquarters established a competitive total. Joshua Kishundial was the pick of the Academy bowlers, claiming an impressive four for 22 from his four overs. Shane Prince, Jamal Kesney and Bhupaul Narine took one wicket apiece. The GPF A c a d e m y mounted a spirited response, led by Vishaul Williams, who struck 73 from 2 0

Andre Baker picked up three wickets

deliveries, including eight fours and two sixes. Jarel Hemerding remained unbeaten on 31, but the Academy could only reach 158 for five from their 20 overs. Kapildeo Charandeen spearheaded the Headquarters bowling attack with two for 11 from two overs, while Hazel Williams and Dwain Dick claimed one wicket each. The victory earned Headquarters another appearance in the final, where they will seek to successfully defend their title. In the second semi-final, TSU produced a convincing six-wicket victory over Region Six to secure the other finals berth. Region Six, batting first, were dismissed for 121 in 19 overs, with Joash Sampson top-scoring with 32 and Lesroy Williams contributing 29. Andre Baker and Damion Sardinha spearheaded the TSU bowling attack, claiming three wickets apiece. Baker finished with three for 18 from four overs, while Sardinha returned three for 24 from his allotted four overs. TSU then made light work of the chase, reaching 127 for four in just 14.2 overs. Sardinha completed an impressive all-round performance with 25, while Aeon Rodrigues also scored 25. Philbert Wilburg and Collis Burnett added 22 each to ensure TSU reached their target comfortably. Andel Doris was Region Six’s most successful bowler with three for 25 from four overs, while Marvin Arjune claimed one for 14 from 2.1 overs. The results have set up an intriguing final between Headquarters and TSU, scheduled for today from 13:00 hrs at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary. Headquarters will enter the contest determined to retain their crown, while TSU will be hoping to end the champions’ reign and capture the Commissioner of Police T20 Cup.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Drayton building weekly chess league for players, public

FIDE Master Anthony Drayton is aiming to establish the Pegasus Weekly Chess League as a sustainable competition

nternational Chess Federation (FIDE) Master Anthony Drayton is aiming to establish the Pegasus Weekly Chess League as a sustainable competition that offers players a different experience while making chess more accessible and appealing to the wider public. The league, staged every Monday evening at the Pegasus Hotel, features one serious game per player during each round. Every season comprises seven rounds, allowing the competition, rivalries, and individual stories to develop progressively from week to week.

Drayton told Guyana Times Sport that the initiative was created to add another dimension to competitive chess in Guyana, with consistency, accessibility, and player experience at the centre of the concept. His vision, however, extends beyond the results recorded over the chessboard. Drayton wants players to look forward to Monday evening chess while receiving greater recognition throughout the season. “At its core, the objective is straightforward; create another exciting platform for competitive chess, give players an experience they want to return to, and present the

game in a way that leaves the wider public interested in what happens next,” Drayton explained. That approach has led to special initiatives surrounding individual rounds. Game Face Night (round two) highlighted the intensity and personalities of the players during competition, while Professional Night (round three) was intended to showcase their careers and lives away from chess. The league includes national players, coaches, students, and competitors from several professions and backgrounds. Drayton believes highlighting those identities can help members of the public connect with the participants even if they do not fully understand the technical side of chess. Results remain important, but the league also uses photographs, player profiles, game stories, and other content to introduce the personalities behind the chessboards. This gives individual competitors additional opportunities to be recognised during the season.

As a FIDE Master and experienced national player, Drayton can follow games as they unfold and recognise when a position or contest is developing into a compelling story. The intention is to explain those moments in a way that people outside the competitive chess community can understand and enjoy. He believes greater public interest can improve the sport’s visibility and eventually create more opportunities for players and chess development in Guyana. Continuity is another important part of the plan. Each seven-round competition is treated as a season within the wider league rather than an isolated event. Drayton expects that structure to produce returning players, new challengers, rivalries and storylines that carry over from one season to the next. His long-term ambition is for players to naturally associate Monday evenings with the Pegasus Weekly Chess League and for the competition to develop its own identity, history, media presence and audience.

FIDE Master Anthony Drayton

8 Coaches earn Guyana C licence

Semifinal line-up confirmed …as GFF advances national coaching development for Ryan Dookie Memorial T20 E

The Ryan Dookie Memorial T20 Tournament is being hosted by the East Bank Demerara Cricket Association (EBDCA) in memory of the late Ryan Dookie

he semi-final lineup has been confirmed for the East Bank Demerara Cricket

Association (EBDCA), Ryan Dookie Memorial Annual T20 Tournament following a thrilling round of quar-

ter-final action. Herstelling A, Ruimveldt, Peter’s Hall, and Herstelling B secured victories in their respective quarter-final matches to advance to the final four. Herstelling A were the first team to book their semi-final place after defeating Uprising, while Ruimveldt followed with a victory over Sandpipers. Peter’s Hall then secured their spot with a win over North Soesdyke, before Herstelling B completed the semi-final line-up by defeating Demolition. The semi-final matches are scheduled for Saturday, September 5, 2026, at Farm Ground. The first semi-final will bowl off at 09:00h, with Peter’s Hall facing Ruimveldt, while the second semi-final is set for 13:00h, featuring an all-Herstelling clash between Herstelling A and Herstelling B. With both Herstelling teams reaching the final four, Saturday’s second semi-final promises to be an intriguing battle, while Peter’s Hall and Ruimveldt will meet in the opening encounter for a place in the tournament final.

ight Coaches have successfully completed the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) C Licence Coaching Course, marking another step forward in the Federation’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Coach education, licensing and professional development across the country. The graduates received their certificates during a ceremony held on Wednesday, September 2, at the National Training Centre (NTC) at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD), under the theme “Developing Excellence Through Coaching”. The graduating cohort comprised Akel Clarke, Jerome Richardson, Marlon Whitney, Oneal Heywood, Herbert McPherson, Jermine Junor, Travis Bess, and Jocelyn Bentick. GFF President Wayne Forde, who delivered the feature address, said the Federation’s continued investment in Coach education and professional development remains a key component of his administration’s legacy. “One of the legacies I am most proud of is the emphasis we have placed on Coach education, licensing and professionalism. Under my leadership, developing bet-

ter-qualified Coaches has remained a priority because Coaches arguably have the greatest influence on our young people, not only in shaping them as footballers but also in helping them become disciplined, productive members of society. That is why this work matters so deeply to me,” Forde said. The ceremony also featured remarks from GFF General Secretary Pushpargha Chattopadhyay, Technical Director Bryan Joseph and Head of Coach Education Linsworth Gilbert, who highlighted the objectives of the programme, its key learning outcomes and the opportunities available through the Federation’s wider Coaching development pathway. Adding a practical perspective to the occasion was Jamal Pedro, Head Coach of Guyana’s Caribbean Football Union (CFU) U14 Challenge Series Tier II championship-winning team, who delivered a reflection on his Coaching journey and the importance of continuous development. The GFF said its sustained investment in Coach education is geared towards creating a larger pool of qualified and professional Coaches capable of improving player development at

every level of the game, from grassroots and youth football to the elite level. The Federation congratulated the eight graduates on their achievement and commended their commitment to enhancing Coaching standards and contributing to the continued development of football in Guyana.

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

Sport is no longer our game, it’s our business

“Our best is yet to come” T

hough every department of the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ (GAW) unit has looked to be in fine touch thus far in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL), all-rounder Jonathan Van Lange believes the team have even better performances in the

tank. Speaking on the eve of the Amazon Warriors’ first home game of the season, which will see them coming up against the Jamaica Kingsmen from 19:00h today, Friday, September 4, Van Lange spoke of the mood in the camp, the Warriors’ confidence and what he believes they have in store.

“Yeah, definitely going into it is important,” the all-rounder shared. “I mean, winning four games out of four games is definitely applaudable. The team is in a really good space right now. So, just looking forward to being a part of the Amazon Warriors and continuing to win.” He went on to opine, “The team is in a good space right now. The reason why we’ve been unbeaten is because I think we’re playing some excellent cricket right now, but I think our best is still to come. So, yeah, very confident right now.” On a personal note, Van Lange discussed his ex-

perience in the Amazon Warriors camp thus far, this being his first season with the team. “It’s definitely a good experience being around some senior guys,” the youngster told this publication, “learning basics both on and off the field, how to operate as a professional cricketer. So, right now just taking it one step at a time.” He went on to respond to enquiries about the possibility of a CPL debut at home, “Once given the opportunity, I’m just looking to put my best foot forward and do what the team requires at the said time.” After the Amazon Warriors take on the Jamaica Kingsmen at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Friday night, they will turn their attention to the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots on Sunday from 15:00h.

he Guyana leg of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) bowls off today, Friday, September 4, with what is expected to be a titanic clash between the Guyana Amazon Warriors and Jamaica Kingsmen. For the hosts, they will be looking to solidify their spot in the playoffs early, while Jamaica are keen on staying alive in the competition. For Saxacalli native Keemo Paul, stepping out onto the park at the Guyana National Stadium will feel a little different this time around, but for his new franchise, this game is a must-win. Paul said about the crucial nature of tonight’s clash, “We see every game as a must-win game for us but also game by game. Tomorrow [today], it’s a big step; hopefully we can cross the line there. I know the Warriors; they’ve been playing some really good cricket. You know it’s going to be a tough game, but I think we can get it done. And, like you said, we want to stay in the tournament; we need a win, so we know what we have to do.” Paul has been on a good run of form in 2026 and is hoping to contribute positively once again to his new team. “I must give God thanks and praise for the year that I’m having. It started with the Four-Days,

we have been playing, and obviously, by winning. So, hopefully, at the end of the day, we come out victorious, and they could be a bit quiet,” Paul shared. The battle between the Amazon Warriors and Kingsmen is set for 19:00h this evening.

and it’s here in the CPL, you know, it’s a good feeling to be performing, to be contributing to the team. Obviously, like you said, tomorrow night is a big clash here against Guyana. So, it’s something that I’m definitely looking forward to,” the all-rounder told media operatives during a training session on Thursday. He added, “Looking to go out there, have fun, and play the same cricket that I’ve been playing and the brand of cricket that the team has been playing also.” Quizzed about what it would be like to take on the Warriors at home, Paul noted that there will be no friendships once the first ball is bowled. “Yeah, definitely. Have some good friends on the team, but you know me, once I step on the park, it’s all about business for me,” the Guyanese player said with a laugh. “I play hard cricket. I play with a lot of passion. Obviously, I’m representing a new franchise now, so this is my team right now. After the game, we’re friends, but on the park, nah, we’re not friends then.” The all-rounder went on to share his plans to quiet the Guyanese supporters. “To be honest, first of all, to play in

this atmosphere is great; it’s awesome. I haven’t played against the Warriors in Guyana. So, something that I’m mentally ready for and the way we’re going to quiet them is by playing good cricket, playing our same brand of cricket that

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