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Issue No. 6562

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2026

Pres Ali pitches shade houses, honey production, livestock farming for Kuru Kuru residents Page 3

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Education Month 2026 to spotlight digital learning, TVET, driver’s education P15 Farmer found dead with 2 P8 wounds; husband in custody

Stronger education system, greater support Venezuelan woman for student success – Parag pledges stabbed during See story on page 2

confrontation with P8 neighbour

Police repaint school crossings, hold road safety lecture as new school term P14 commences

…as schools nationwide reopen today

Processing facilities must come before probing industrial hemp cultivation – Pres Ali CJIA passenger’s UNSC campaign complaint over GGMC steps up confiscated hairAllegiance would be to styling product push for miners UN Charter, international to declare gold law – Rodrigues-Birkett Page 7

Page 11

Page 9

2 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Stronger education system, greater support for student success – Parag pledges …as schools nationwide reopen today

ducation Minister Sonia Parag has assured parents, teachers and students that schools across the country are prepared to welcome learners for the start of the 2026-2027 academic year today, as she wished all stakeholders the best for the new term. In a video message to parents and learners on Sunday, Parag said

the new school year represents a fresh beginning for students entering nursery, primary and secondary schools. While acknowledging that the transition can bring excitement and anxiety for both children and parents, Parag encouraged the learners to embrace the opportunities ahead. “I welcome all of our beautiful babies back

to school tomorrow. It's a new beginning for our children and I don't want them to feel intimidated; I don't want them to feel anxious,” Parag noted. “As we get into our new school year for 20262027, to all of our babies who are coming nursery, primary, secondary, I want to welcome you. You will be meeting new friends and you will be

creating bonds that may last a lifetime. Teamwork is a great thing. Always respect your teachers. Always respect your fellow students” Parag also recognised that returning to school after the holidays may not be welcomed by every child. She noted that while some students are excited about entering secondary school, younger chilEducation Minister Sonia Parag

dren starting school for the first time may experience anxiety. “I've spoken to some students, some of them are very excited about getting into high school, as we know it, and you know, you ask them, so why are you excited? And they tell you straight up, because I'm going to be a big boy or a big girl, you know, so they're excited about going into that phase of their life,” she said. “And then you have nursery students who, of course, for the first time they're coming into school and you will have that anxiety from both parents as well as their children. I would have experienced that a couple years ago, and you have this little, the strength of your heart, they're tugged at when you drop off your children for the first time at school.” To the parents, Parag acknowledged that there would be challenges in getting children ready for school, including early mornings and traffic. “Parents, I know tomorrow you're going to be getting up really early, I am too. I know you have to battle with the traffic and I really hope that the traffic is kind to you as well as me tomorrow morning when I'm heading to school to drop off my son as well,” she shared. Parag thanked education officials and school personnel who worked during the holiday period to ensure schools were ready for reopening. She stressed that the Ministry re-

mains committed to providing the resources and infrastructure needed to support students, while noting that education extends beyond academic achievement. “I want to say thank you to all of the officers, all of the HMs (Headmaster/ Headmistress), all of the teachers who have worked in the Ministry of Education, the REOs (Regional Executive Officers), the REDOs (Regional Education Officers), who have worked with us this holiday to ensure that schools are prepared and ready to be opened for our students and open their doors,” the Minister noted. “School is a natural part of all of our lives and we're really happy at the Ministry of Education to be able to provide resources, infrastructure as well as other resources for our children to thrive and to be successful at their exams and to be successful in life because it's not just academics as well.” She commended teachers for the role they play in supporting students academically and emotionally. “I know that teachers will dedicate their time and their effort and also give that little extra to ensure that their children are compassionate and ensure that their children are successful but also on the softer side of things help them to manage their feelings and manoeuvre the grade that they're in.” TURN TO PAGE 5

NEWS 3

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS BRIDGE OPENINGS The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, August 31 – 06:10h–07:30h and Tuesday, September 1 – 06:50h–08:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.

WEATHER TODAY Thundery showers are expected during the day, followed by cloudy skies at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East-North-Easterly to Easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.47 metres. High Tide: 06:21h and 18:35h reaching maximum heights of 2.77 metres and 2.76 metres. Low Tide: 12:12h reaching a minimum height of 0.51 metre.

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Pres Ali pitches shade houses, honey production, livestock farming for Kuru Kuru residents …says clusters to be created to access funding from Development Bank

resident Dr Irfaan Ali has pitched several agricultural projects that the Government intends to work with young people and farmers on along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. During a visit to Kuru Kuru on the SoesdykeLinden Highway on Saturday afternoon, the Head of State discussed a number of developmental initiatives with the residents, including shade houses, stingless bee honey production, and livestock farming. Addressing the residents, Ali pointed out that many persons have acres of farmland that are either unused or underutilised. He outlined plans to work along with farmers to establish shade houses to produce high-demand crops with short turnovers that would increase earnings. “What you can do with a half-acre of land with a shade house, you’ll make more money than with five acres of land. With modern farming, you don’t need five acres. You need to have these shade houses so you can do [farming] in a modern way. The five acres will be there, and you can develop those five acres and put like permanent crops, whether it’s the provisions, coconut and other things,” the president stated. He went onto add that the Government, through the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) and private sector stakeholders such as the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), would work along with the residents to find markets for their products. “We want to help you so that you can increase your income… But you have to have a piece of land that is producing all the time. If you have, for example, in here 50

President Dr Irfaan Ali outlining plans to advance a number of agriculture projects during an engagement with residents of Kuru Kuru on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway on Saturday

farmers and you have 50 shade houses doing peppers, celery, shallots and those things, the market is so huge for it that you will have continuous sales,” he asserted. According to the Guyanese leader, persons can even explore cultivating exotic fruits, hybrid fruits and even more local fruits such as cherry and guava that are in demand by local manufacturers like Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL).

Honey production

On honey production, President Ali proposed using stingless bees. He explained, “The honey is clearer, but it’s a new honey that’s coming on the market. So, we want to do a lot of the stingless bees here with you guys. Honey production, that is something that I think has enormous potential.” Stingless bee honey is a superfood with unique health benefits, containing low-glycaemic trehalulose (which prevents sharp blood sugar spikes) and rich antioxidants. In Guyana, groups like the Madeweni Queen Bees – backed by the UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme, the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), and

the Guyana School of Agriculture – are already engaged in stingless bee farming to empower local women and build eco-friendly livelihoods.

Swine farming

Moreover, the Head of State also spoke about working with residents on a massive swine project. He highlighted plans to build out the pens with funding from the Guyana Development Bank, which offers zero-interest, collateral-free financing of up to $3 million to small and medium-sized businesses. “[We want to] do a huge swine project here

with the young people. So, all those young people and farmers who are interested in the swine project…we can put you in a cluster and have you work on that project,” he stated. This same approach, according to President Ali, would be used for the honey production and shade house initiatives. The Head of State has identified Minister within the Housing Ministry, Vanessa Benn, to work along with the young people and farmers from the community to advance these projects. TURN TO PAGE 7

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2026

Views

Pork-Knockers Day 2026 Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Industrial Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Taming social media in Guyana

or years, Governments have been told that regulating social media is either impossible, impractical, or an assault on free speech. The technology companies have been particularly fond of this argument. Apparently, the moment Washington, Brussels, or Georgetown asks them to accept responsibility for what their algorithms do to children, democracy itself is supposedly under threat. Then came Meta's (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, with a valuation of US$1.47 trillion and projected revenues this year of US$228 billion) US$18 billion wake-up call. Meta has agreed to pay up to US$18 billion to settle claims brought by several US states alleging that Facebook and Instagram were designed in ways that encouraged addictive use among children and teenagers. Separately, New Mexico took Meta to court over allegations that its platforms enabled child sexual exploitation and failed to adequately protect children from predators. A New Mexico jury found Meta liable under state consumer-protection law and imposed a US$375 million penalty. At long last, it appears that regulating social media does not look quite so impossible with alleged threats to “protected speech”. So we see that regulators elsewhere – Australia, South Korea, Brazil, and the European Union – have already taken the hint and are demanding that Meta's new protections for American teenagers should not stop at America's borders. We should be demanding the same with also the broader New Mexico precedent. A week ago, President Irfaan Ali had reiterated the need to address the harmful use of social media, particularly where children are concerned, and Attorney General Anil Nandlall was tasked with examining international legislative models. The Meta and New Mexico settlements provide them with something even more valuable than another foreign law to study: a demonstrated international precedent that the platforms can be compelled to change their behaviour. We should therefore stop treating the President’s call as merely a question of regulating what people post but going beyond to what the platforms themselves are permitted to do to our children. Guyanese children should not need to become lawyers, psychologists or digital detectives before being protected from doctored pictures or algorithms deliberately designed to keep them scrolling. Nor should parents be expected to compete with billion-dollar technology companies armed with sophisticated algorithms, behavioural data and armies of engineers. The Government should consider legislation requiring platforms accessible in Guyana to provide not only effective age verification, parental controls, and meaningful limits on children's usage but also protections against harmful or exploitative content. And there should be consequences since a multinational technology company should not make money from Guyanese users without also being prepared to accept Guyanese responsibilities. We may have a small population, but we are not operating in a legal vacuum. Most importantly, however, the legislation must be carefully drafted so it does not become a convenient excuse for Government censorship or political control of legitimate speech. The target should be harmful content, manipulative design and exploitation of children and others – not inconvenient opinions. That distinction is crucial. The Meta settlement has demonstrated that Governments do not have to surrender to Silicon Valley simply because Silicon Valley is rich, powerful and technologically sophisticated. If the United States and other jurisdictions can tell the world's largest social-media companies that children require protection, Guyana certainly has the right to do so with not only that company but also those who use their platforms. Mr Nandlall, therefore, need not reinvent the wheel but can examine what the Americans have extracted from Meta and also what Australia and other countries are doing, and then ask a very simple Guyanese question: Why should a child in California or New Mexico receive protections from Instagram or Facebook that a child in Georgetown does not? Guyana should follow suit – not necessarily by copying America's US$18 billion price tag, but by copying the principle behind it. If social media companies are big enough to influence our children, they are big enough to be regulated when they harm them. And if Meta has finally discovered that children's safety is a legitimate reason to change its business practices, then Guyana should help it make that discovery universal.

Residents, small-scale miners and staff of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) came together in several hinterland communities as part of the agency’s Mining Week 2026 Pork-Knockers Day celebrations. The events featured traditional gold-panning, shovelling and nugget-search competitions, along with dominoes, cricket, football, prizes and giveaways, highlighting the contribution of Guyana’s mining community to the sector’s development (Natural Resources Ministry photos)

NEWS 5

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CJIA probing passenger’s complaint over confiscated hair-styling product

he Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) is

reviewing a passenger’s complaint concerning the confiscation of an

edge-control product at the airport’s security screening checkpoint.

In a statement issued Sunday, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation (CJIAC) said it is aware of a social media post about the incident and has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the confiscation. The corporation said its team is examining the matter with urgency, while maintaining that its priority is to provide a safe and respectful environment for travellers and assist passengers in navigating aviation security requirements. CJIAC also referred

to the Transportation S e c u r i t y Administration’s (TSA) 3-1-1 liquids rule, which permits passengers to carry liquids, gels and aerosols in travel-size containers of 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres) or less. Passengers are limited to one quart-sized bag containing such items. The corporation said items exceeding the permitted limits are required, under standard security procedures, to be placed directly into a designated collection container. Passengers are also not permitted to empty the contents of containers or cans

into airport bins, according to CJIAC. The corporation further reminded travellers that filming is prohibited within security-sensitive areas of the security checkpoint, citing the privacy and safety of both passengers and airport staff. CJIAC acknowledged that security procedures can sometimes feel stressful for travellers and said the incident has its “full attention”. The corporation said it will provide the passenger with its detailed findings once the review is completed.

Stronger education system, greater support for... Another examination cycle begins

The Minister also called on teachers to give their best as another examination cycle begins. “To our teachers who are coming back I say to you give your all because it's another cycle of examinations. It's another cycle of you shining as a teacher because when your students do well it ultimately tells a story about you as well. So I want to say good luck to all of you,” she said. Using a Grade Three classroom at St Gabriel’s Primary School as an example, Parag said the learning environment can help ease the concerns of students entering a new grade or school. “We are in a Grade

Three classroom and it is brightly colored, so when students walk into this classroom, they are feeling like sunshine, and that lifts their mood if they're feeling anxious or if they're feeling a bit nervous about starting school for the first time,” Parag pointed out. She said providing children with access to education and ensuring they take advantage of those opportunities remain priorities for the Ministry. “Educating our children, giving them that opportunity and ensuring that they make use of the opportunity and I can assure you and I commit to you that as the Minister of Education I will ensure that I work

with all stakeholders to strengthen our system as well as to allow our children to have all of the re-

sources that they need to be successful,” Parag said. Parag’s Sunday mes-

sage comes as she spent the past few days visiting schools across the country, reassuring par-

FROM PAGE 2

ents and students that public schools are prepared to receive learners come Monday morning.

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2026 0:00 Sign Off 6:00 Islam for Guyana 6:30 TVG Devotional Hour 7:00 Week-in-Review (RB) 7:30 Cartoons 8:00 Stop Suffering 8:30 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

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2026

Foundation ◄

Page

Triangles cont’d Acute triangles are triangles that have three acute angles. Recall that an acute angle is an angle that has a measure that is greater than 00 and less than 900.

Here is an example of acute triangle ABC, notice how all three angles are acute angles. Notice, how the three interior angles sum to 1800. This is true of all triangles regardless if they are acute triangles or not because of the angle sum property. The interior angles of an acute triangle will always be acute angles. Acute triangles can be classified into three categories.

By Arthur Davison Ficke I It is a little isle amid bleak seas— An isolate realm of garden, circled round By importunity of stress and sound, Devoid of empery to master these. At most, the memory of its streams and bees, Borne to the toiling mariner outward—bound, Recalls his soul to that delightful ground; But serves no beacon toward his destinies. It is a refuge from the stormy days, Breathing the peace of a remoter world Where beauty, like the musing dusk of even, Enfolds the spirit in its silver haze; While far away, with glittering banners furled, The west lights fade, and stars come out in heaven. II

Obtuse triangles are triangles that have one interior angle greater than 90° and two acute angles less than 90°.

It is a sea—gate, trembling with the blast Of powers that from the infinite sea—plain roll, A whelming tide. Upon the waiting soul As on a fronting rock, thunders the vast Groundswell; its spray bursts heavenward, and drives past In fume and sound articulate of the whole Of ocean’s heart, else voiceless; on the shoal Silent; upon the headland clear at last. From darkened sea—coasts without stars or sun, Like trumpet—voices in a holy war, Utter the heralds tidings of the deep. And where men slumber, weary and undone, Visions shall come, incredible hopes from far,— And with high passion shatter the bonds of sleep.

(Source: Poetry [October 1912])

Set your story over the course of a few minutes, with no time skips or flashbacks.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS 7

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Processing facilities must come before industrial hemp cultivation – Pres Ali

President Dr Irfaan Ali engaging Leon Saul during Saturday’s community visit at Kuru Kuru, Soesdyke-Linden Highway

hile the G u y a n a Government is keen on building out a local hemp industry, President Dr Irfaan Ali has underscored the importance of having the necessary processing facilities in place before moving to advance cultivation. The Head of State made these remarks while engaging long-time advocate, Leon Saul during a visit to Kuru Kuru on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway on Saturday afternoon to discuss developmental initiatives with residents. During

their engagement, Saul enquired about the developments in the sector after the Industrial Hemp Bill was passed in the National Assembly some four years ago, paving the way for the decriminalisation of industrial hemp in Guyana. President Ali indicated that the Guyana Industrial Hemp Regulatory Authority has been established to oversee the advancement of the sector. In fact, he recalled previously discussing variety types and safeguarding the industry as well as plantations

with Saul. But according to the Guyanese Leader, there needs to be the operators set up first before moving to planting crops. “So, the whole ecosystem we got to work on… The processing [facilities. In order to] get the oil, you got to get the companies. You got to get the right variety…[but also] the industry for the consumption,” the President stated. Only back in May, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha had indicated that several overseas companies have already expressed

interest in investing in the industry, particularly in establishing a hemp processing facility in Guyana. “So what we are doing now…is that two regions were identified to plant hemp. Those two regions are Region Six and Region 10. We have an authority now in place. We have a CEO (Chief Executive Officer) in place. We already have some interests already been expressed by some companies overseas,” the Minister had noted. Mustapha too had explained that largescale cultivation cannot proceed until a processing facility is operational. To this end, he disclosed that the Government has already received several expressions of interest from potential investors and is hoping to move the process forward once a suitable company is selected.

Processing plant

“We are now in discussion with those companies to set up the processing plant. I am hoping that that can happen within another three to four months because you can’t plant hemp without a processing plant,” he had

Pres Ali pitches shade houses...

FROM PAGE 3

Other interventions

Meanwhile, during Saturday’s engagements, the president also directed the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) to establish two shallow wells in the farmlands to assist farmers with accessing to water for their crops. This was one of a series of interventions made during his engagements with the residents. At the meeting, President Ali also

announced upgrades to the community’s learning centre and ground, including a pavilion, fencing, and spaces for cricket, football, and basketball. Moreover, he further informed residents of efforts already underway to expand the water distribution network in the area, and works being done by the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) to install 6 megawatts (MW) of additional power to be stationed

at Moblissa to support Linden and highway communities. The President has also asked the Ministry of Housing, the Ministry of Labour, and the Ministry of Public Works to meet with the Co-op Society to work out how unused land nearby gets used. More than $1 billion has gone into road works in the area since 2022, much of it done with community involvement, and accord-

ing to President Ali, works on another 15 to 20 roads are planned. That work, however, will be scheduled around a land-use meeting set for Tuesday, so it does not run into new housing construction. The Head of State was joined by Minister Benn and Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy, during Saturday’s visit.

Hemp plants

stated. Efforts to get an update from the Agriculture Minister on Sunday regarding those engagements with potential investors were futile. Nevertheless, the Guyana Government has committed to developing a high-value industrial hemp industry in the country. To do this, the Industrial Hemp Bill was tabled in the National Assembly in May 2022, seeking to provide for the cultivation, manufacturing and research of industrial hemp and hemp-related products in Guyana. The legislation, which eventually passed in August 2022 and was later assented to by the President, also

provides for the establishment of the Guyana Industrial Hemp Regulatory Authority, which will regulate the industry. Industrial hemp is often confused with marijuana because both belong to the cannabis family. However, hemp contains significantly lower levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound responsible for the “high” associated with marijuana. Government officials have previously said the development of the industry could create opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing and exports while opening new economic avenues for farmers and investors.

8 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2026| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Farmer found dead with 2 wounds; husband in custody Keeping…

olice are investigating the death of a 25-year-old farmer of Philippai Village, Upper Mazaruni River, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), whose body was discovered near a stream on Friday night. Dead is Marinda Ernest. According to initial investigations, Ernest and her 23-year-old reputed husband had earlier joined about 40 villagers in a self-help exercise at a farm located approximately one hour’s walk from their residence. The exercise ended around 16:00h,

after which the couple began making their way home. The reputed husband told investigators that while travelling along the main trail, he briefly entered the bushes. Upon returning to the trail, he claimed that he could not locate Ernest.

He reportedly continued home but did not find her there. The man then returned to the trail and conducted a search, during which he discovered Ernest’s unclothed and motionless body among bushes near a stream. He subsequently alerted villagers. The

matter was reported to the Police on Saturday. Investigators later visited the scene and found Ernest’s body beneath a shed, covered with a sheet. An examination of the body revealed what appeared to be a puncture wound below the left breast and another to the back. Abrasions were also observed on the back and left leg. Ernest’s body is awaiting a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death. Her reputed husband remains in Police custody and is assisting with the investigation.

Venezuelan woman stabbed during confrontation with neighbour

olice in Regional Division Three are investigating the unlawful wounding of a 23-year-old Venezuelan woman following a confrontation at MetenMeer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara, on Saturday. The incident reportedly occurred at about 08:30h on Saturday. According to initial investigations, the victim, Andreina Nunez, and the suspect, a 19-year-old Venezuelan national, occupy separate flats in a two-storey building. Police said the two women were involved in a heated argument which escalated into a physical confrontation. The landlord reportedly intervened and later went to the Leonora Police Station to report the matter.

… a shoddy reputation

s your Eyewitness knows from bitter experience, the phrase “Made in China” carries a notorious reputation!! It means cheap toys, questionable electronics, watches that stopped working before the warranty expired, and household appliances that came with the useful feature of becoming obsolete not long after purchase!! In today’s Guyana you take your life in your hands if you buy tools from the hundreds of Chinese hardware shops springing up everywhere like Jumbie Umbrellas! But China has apparently decided the world deserves something bigger – "Made-in-China" infrastructure – and Guyana was selected as one of the regional testing grounds!! The US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs just pointed out what our Guyanese motorists and air travellers have long discovered the hard way – when Chinese state-owned companies undertake major infrastructure projects in our neck of the woods, a “completion date” can be treated less as a contractual obligation and more as a philosophical suggestion!! Take the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, which was supposed to be a modern gateway to Guyana and onto the rest of South America!! Instead, it became a gateway to Chinese construction philosophy – where projects would take years longer than promised, cost overruns could multiply, and even after completion, one would still encounter leaking roofs, defective tiling, non-working toilets, malfunctioning systems, and airbridges apparently waiting for their moment of retirement before ever entering service!! Then came portions of Heroes Highway and the East Bank road – the latter leading from the CJIA – and, as such, is the first impression visitors get when coming into the fastest-growing economy in the world!! It’s being executed by the China Road and Bridge Corporation and has made trips to the airport a test of fortitude – where sometimes passengers have to get out of taxis and lug their luggage for miles so as not to miss flights!! The President had to haul the contractors to State House and read them the riot act!! Not that it has helped much since it’s clear that the Chinese construction calendar operates according to a different timeframe – one calibrated to building the Great Wall of China, which took over TWO THOUSAND YEARS!! Even their showpiece into which they poured all their efforts – the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge – was a year delayed!! Now, there’s nothing inherently wrong with Chinese companies building infrastructure – they’ve demonstrated they can construct enormous bridges, railways, ports, and skyscrapers domestically at remarkable speed!! The problem is the export version of Chinese infrastructure comes with a different quality-control setting under the slogan “Made in China, assembled elsewhere, delayed everywhere, and maintained by somebody else!!” Going forward with ALL contractors, we gotta insist – build it properly, on time, and for the price agreed!! This ain’t anti-China. It’s called getting value for money!!

…Desperate Delcy

The scene of the stabbing at Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara

Upon returning to the property, he observed the suspect holding a black-handled knife while Nunez was lying in the yard with in-

juries. The Police were subsequently summoned, and Nunez was taken to the De Kinderen Regional Hospital,

where she was admitted. Her condition is listed as stable. The suspect was arrested and remains in Police custody.

Devious Delcy’s desperate struggle to remain in power added a new twist to her socialist “principles” – what’s yours is yours, unless Washington wants a majority share!! She just offered US control over a colossal Venezuelan oil bonanza, reportedly more than 65 billion barrels!! In revolutionary language, that clearly means "Please don't let me lose my job!!” But the really interesting part ain’t what America’s getting – it’s who ain’t rushing in!! If Venezuela were such an irresistible oil paradise, where are the oil majors? Why aren't ExxonMobil and the other giants lining up to pour billions into the world's “largest oil reserves”? Well, they ain’t stupid!! They’ve EXPERIENCED Venezuela's political instability, expropriations, sanctions, contract uncertainty and collapsing institutions and decided that 65 billion barrels can wait!! And that’s where we provide Devious Delcy with an inconvenient comparison!! ExxonMobil didn’t need no political rescue package to come to Guyana – it came, invested billions, took enormous exploration risks and continues investing 'cause we offer what Devious Delcy can't – stability and confidence that the rules gonna still exist tomorrow.

…on divided

Amazingly, Opposition worthies WIN and APNU still got no agreement on substantive matters – they can’t even establish teams to develop “guidelines” for future cooperation!! What wankers!! 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

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

UNSC campaign

Allegiance would be to UN Charter, international law – Rodrigues-Birkett …says committed to balancing needs of small, large countries if elected General is mandated by the Charter to implement the decisions of Member States. But if there are reforms that are not yet decided upon and member states need the relevant information from the Secretary General and the Secretariat, I would endeavour to provide that information, a

Guyana’s candidate for United Nations Secretary-General, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett during the recent Virtual Dialogue convened by the United Arab Emirates

uyana’s candidate for the United Nations (UN) Secretary General (SG) post, Ambassador Carolyn RodriguesBirkett, has made it clear that her allegiance would be to the UN Charter and international law if given an opportunity to serve in the office. She made these remarks during a recent appearance on a Virtual Dialogue on “The Future of Global Leadership”, convened by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) within the framework of the World Governments Summit (WGS). The Ambassador responded to questions about her vision and priorities as a candidate for the position of Secretary General of the UN. RodriguesBirkett was specifically asked about how she intends to balance representing both developed and developing countries, especially given the fact that she hailed from a small nation that not only represents many similar global voices but is also seeking the UN’s support on a number of issues. In response, the Ambassador pointed out that while the UN is made up mainly of small countries – with over 100 nations having under 10 million persons, the Secretary General (SG) represents all 193 nations around the world. “As Secretary General, the only bias I would have is to the [UN] Charter and to international law. And so, what-

ever I do as Secretary General must be in consonance with the Charter and with international law,” she asserted. According to RodriguesBirkett, there must be a balance when it comes to representing large and small and medium-sized countries. In fact, she contended that these nations need each other, arguing that they all face similar global challenges in most cases. “I do not believe that it is one side or the other. I believe that small countries need large countries, large countries need small countries as well. And when we come to global challenges, it does not stop at the doorstep of any one country. It affects us all as we are seeing right now, for example, with climate change. [And] as we have seen when we have major trade routes affected, it affects us all. Prices go up for all of our countries,” she noted. The Guyanese SG hopeful went onto say add that she would work to ensure that there is balance by, among other things, maintaining very close relationships with all Member States, both through their representatives in New York and also directly at capital level. Moreover, RodriguesBirkett further outlined that if elected, among her first priorities in the top international office would be to implemented the host of reforms that were agreed upon by Member States. “The Secretary

very objective information, because how we come out of this reform as the United Nations must be guided by the objective information that would guide those reforms. And so…I would want to advance that,” she asserted.

TURN TO PAGE 10

10 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Young Guyanese eye business Allegiance would be to... opportunities after Government training programme

FROM PAGE 9

Peace, security

group of young trainees from Regions One (Barima-Waini) and Four (Demerara-Mahaica), enrolled in a Government training programme, are building practical skills in carpentry and welding, with one already planning to turn her training into her own business. The trainees are based at the Kuru Kuru Training Centre (KKTC), located along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, and are producing cricket bats and school furniture in the carpentry stream, while others are welding. During a walkabout while visiting the community on Saturday, President Dr Irfaan Ali interacted with the students. One student, a young woman from Port Kaituma, Region One, encouraged other young people to consider the programme. “Get involved so that you’ll be able to better yourself.” She also told President Ali that she is “grateful to be part of it.” She said the skills she’s gaining will follow her home. “I plan to take my skill back to my community and help young people to better themselves, because I plan to open my own furniture shop.” The welding group is

This young trainee from Region One told President Irfaan Ali of plans to open her own furniture shop back home

producing goal posts as part of their coursework. Trainees said the programme has been manageable and worthwhile, with several planning to advance to Level 2 training through a partnership with School of the Nations in Georgetown. “They need a lot of welders these days…people must be already looking for you all,” the President told the trainees. Stated the Department of Public Information (DPI)

Another issue at the top of her agenda is peace and security. The Ambassador indicated that she would want to have a panoramic view of all of the conflicts existing around the world in order to ascertain where she can utilise the tools available to the SG, and where she would need to go to the Security Council. On the peacekeeping side, she noted that they would have to look at how to advance politically. “As you know, peacekeeping was meant to keep the peace while we seek political solutions. And so, this is what I would also want to do to look at how we could move the needle on some of the conflicts,” she stated. Meanwhile, as part of her immediate plans upon assuming the top-UN post would be to engage the International Financial

Institutions (IFIs) with the aim of working with them, and not talking down to them. “Even if we have some small incremental steps that would be very important and systemic, especially for developing countries. These are the things that I would like to see put in place,” she posited. While recognising that some progress was made, Rodrigues-Birkett noted that global humanitarian needs are ballooning and so one of her top priorities in her first 100 days in office would be to address this issue. As she continues her campaign across the globe, Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett has been stepping up in the race for the UNSG post. In fact, only two weeks ago, she moved into the lead following the second United Nations Security Council (UNSC) straw poll, securing the high-

est number of “encourage” votes among the candidates. Rodrigues-Birkett received eight encourage votes, three discourage votes and four no-opinion votes in the second round. The result places her narrowly ahead of Rebeca Grynspan, who received seven encourage votes, four discourage votes and four no-opinion votes. The latest result represents a shift from the first straw poll, when Grynspan led the field with 10 encourage votes. RodriguesBirkett had secured nine encourage votes, two discourage votes and four no-opinion votes in that round. While RodriguesBirkett’s encourage tally declined by one vote in this second round, Grynspan’s fell by three, allowing the Guyanese candidate to emerge with the highest number of encourage votes in the field.

NEWS 11

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GGMC steps up push for miners to declare gold T

he Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) is urging miners to declare their gold through authorised channels as the authorities continue efforts to bring declaration services closer to mining communities. Policy Planning and Coordination Officer at the GGMC, Omkar Lochan, told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the Commission has been expanding access to declaration services, including through additional offices in areas with significant mining and gold declaration activities. According to Lochan, the authorities continue to identify communities where mining activity is increasing and target those areas for ex-

Pork-knockers Day activities held over the weekend

panded services. Where establishing a permanent office is not feasible, arrangements are being made for GGMC officials to travel to mining communities on designated days to facilitate gold declarations.

Lochan also highlighted the role of licensed gold dealers and traders operating in the various mining districts in providing miners with access to legitimate channels for selling and declaring their gold.

“We have in excess of over 30 licensed traders, all in the different mining districts,” he said. The expanded services are intended to make it easier for miners to declare and sell their gold through authorised channels, while supporting Guyana’s gold declaration and foreign exchange earnings. Gold mining remains an important contributor to Guyana’s economy and a significant source of foreign exchange. Lochan therefore encouraged miners who may be reluctant to declare their gold to comply with the law, noting that the necessary services are increasingly accessible. “I would urge them to come in. We are making it very easy to do that now,”

he said, while warning that persons who breach the law will face the consequences. Lochan also reaffirmed the GGMC’s commitment to supporting small and medium-scale miners, describing them as the backbone of the mining industry. He said the commission will continue making mining lands available through lotteries, encouraging miners to remain engaged with opportunities being created within the sector.

Pork-knockers Day

The call for greater use of authorised gold declaration channels comes as the country observes Mining Week, which includes activities aimed at recognising the contribution of small-scale miners.

The Natural Resources Ministry, in a social media post on Saturday, said Porkknockers Day activities were held across several mining communities on Saturday, with residents, miners and officials from the Ministry and GGMC participating. The annual event is held during Mining Week to honour small miners and includes activities such as Tacuba Crossing, gold panning, and football. Activities were held in Matthews Ridge in Region One; Bartica, Puruni, Imbaimadai, Issano, and Tamakay in Region Seven; Mahdia in Region Eight; and Aishalton in Region Nine. The Ministry said the activities attracted participation from communities across the country.

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2026

President Ali engages Kuru Kuru residents on development plans

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Saturday walked through the community of Kuru Kuru, Linden–Soesdyke Highway, engaging residents and receiving updates on ongoing and planned development projects. Discussions included upgrades to the community’s learning centre and recreational ground, including a pavilion, fencing and improved facilities for cricket, football, and basketball, along with support for agriculture and improved water access (President Dr Irfaan Ali/Facebook)

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MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Police repaint school crossings, hold road safety lecture as new school term commences

Ranks from Regional Police Division Two Traffic Department along with residents, repainted several pedestrian crossings on Saturday

embers of the Regional Police Division Two Traffic Department, with assistance from residents, repainted several pedestrian crossings on Saturday as part of efforts to improve road safety ahead of the new school term. Between 13:00h and 17:00h, two police ranks led the exercise, which focused on crossings near schools and other locations in Region Two. The crossings repainted were located at Abram Zuil Secondary School, Fisher’s Primary School, the Onderneeming Public

Road Junction, Huist Dieren Primary School, Aurora Primary School, Good Hope Nursery School and Good Hope Primary School. The ex-

ranks from the Sans Souci and Wales Police Stations and the Traffic Department, conducted the exercise along the Vriesland to Free

and pedestrian crossings. The officers also highlighted the issue of obscured identification marks on motor vehicles. Drivers partic-

Ranks from the Traffic Department in Division Three conducting driver’s education lecture on Saturday

ercise comes as the new school term commenced today, with motorists being reminded to give way to pedestrians, particularly in school zones and at marked pedestrian crossings. Traffic Department in Division Three also conducted a driver education lecture on Saturday in keeping with the 2025–2026 road safety theme, “Careful Driving Saves Lives.” Two Police Inspectors, along with

and Easy Public Road, West Bank Demerara (WBD) and at the Sans Souci Police Station compound. The session addressed several road safety issues, including the Five C’s, defensive driving, proper maintenance of motor vehicles, the importance of wearing safety helmets, the use of coloured lights on motor vehicles, and the need for motorists to remain vigilant when approaching school zones

ipated in the session by raising questions, which were addressed by Inspectors Mohamed and Glasgow and the accompanying ranks. The Traffic Department reminded road users that road safety requires the collective responsibility of motorists, pedestrians and other road users, particularly with increased activity around schools as the new academic year begins.

NEWS 15

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Education Month 2026 to spotlight digital learning, TVET, drivers’ education T

he 2026 Education Month activities will commence with the opening of school on Monday, including the launch of a “Driver’s Education Programme” on the Guyana Digital School (GDS) platform and the commissioning of AUTOCAD facilities at a number of schools, and will end with the hosting of an Education Awards on October 2. The activities will also include a TVET Fair, a documentary on “60 Years of Education”, and a National Conference on Education, Innovation, and Development from September 29 to October 1. This is according to the 2026 Education Month calendar of activities released by the Ministry of Education (MoE) on Saturday. Celebrated annually in September, this year Education Month is being observed under the theme “From Classrooms to Communities, Education Transforms Lives”. The celebration of the event will span a number of activities across September. On Sunday,

September 6, there will be the launch of the annual Sports Championships alongside a “Steps for Education Walk”. Though the activities have been listed, the calendar is yet to identify the locations or times for the various activities. On September 9, the MOE will be launching the expansion of the GDS to include registration from Grades One – 11. The platform was initially opened to students of Grades 10 and 11 and saw over 20,000 students across the Caribbean region signing up. It was promised that the initiative would be expanded to include learners across other grade levels. On September 11, the much-anticipated “Drivers’ Education Programme" will be launched on the GDS platform. Under this programme, Fifth-Form students in secondary schools across Guyana will, for the first time, be able to access and pursue their driving theory curriculum through the national digital school platform, enabling them to graduate secondary school equipped with es-

sential knowledge on road safety and responsible road use. On September 14

will be the launch of the National Education Leadership Academy (NELA) Community of

Practice, an expansion to the NELA programme that was launched in December 2025. The

NELA Community of Practice is a nationwide professional network established by Guyana's MoE. It is designed to extend the reach of the NELA academy, allowing current and aspiring school leaders to collaborate, network, and exchange knowledge peerto-peer. The TVET Fair will be held from September 15 to 17; the location has not yet been disclosed. The award ceremony for the winners of the Mangrove School Competition hosted by the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) will be held on September 18. On September 20, there will be a “60 Years of Education” documentary. Additionally, AUTOCAD facilities will be launched at the New Amsterdam, North Ruimveldt, Hope Secondary and Zeeburg Secondary Schools on September 23, 25, 28 and 30, respectively. An inter-departmental cricket competition will also be held on September 25, and a Spanish spelling bee on September 28.

Back-to-school boost for Angoy’s Avenue children

cores of children from Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, have received backpacks and other school supplies as part of an annual giving-back initiative to help them prepare for the new school year. The initiative was undertaken by Samantha Reid through SAWA Investment Inc, continuing an effort which has over the years provided support to children in the community. Reid, who is also President of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce

Angoy’s Avenue children receive back-to-school supplies

and Development Association (BCCDA), said the distribution forms part of her year-

ly giving-back effort for the children of Angoy’s Avenue. During the exercise, backpacks were

distributed to the children, while some also received other school supplies to assist them

when they return to the classroom. The focus on Angoy’s Avenue is significant given the large number of children residing in the community. Previously published data from New Amsterdam’s five primary schools indicated that Angoy’s Avenue accounted for more than half of the children in the town. Located on the fringe of New Amsterdam, the community has over the years also faced many social challenges, including unemployment, teenage pregnancy and

school dropouts. Reid and SAWA Investment Inc have previously undertaken similar giving-back activities for children, including annual Easter initiatives during which youngsters received kites and other items. Previous activities have also extended to children from neighbouring Smithfield, which has faced some of the same social challenges. Reid had previously said that it was a pleasure to be able to bring joy to children in those communities.

16 FEATURE

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

HEALTH TIPS

PSYCHOSIS: KNOW THE SIGNS, UNDERSTAND THE TRIGGERS & PROTECT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH health condition can be prevented, and having a risk factor does not mean that someone will develop mental illness. However, we can reduce avoidable risks, strengthen protective factors and intervene before problems become severe.

Protect your mental health every day

Dr Tariq Jagnarine

ental health affects how we think, feel, behave, cope with stress, and interact with others. Just as we protect our heart, blood pressure and blood sugar, our mental health deserves attention too. One condition that is often misunderstood is psychosis. Unfortunately, fear and stigma sometimes prevent people and families from seeking help early.

and neurological illnesses.

What can trigger psychosis?

There is usually no single cause. Psychosis can result from a complex interaction between biological vulnerability and environmental or psychological stressors.

sleep can significantly affect thinking, emotions and perception. Sleep disruption can also be an early warning sign that someone's mental health is deteriorating. 3. Severe or prolonged stress Bereavement, rela-

What is psychosis?

Psychosis is not simply "going crazy". It is a state in which a person may have difficulty distinguishing what is real from what is not. A person experiencing psychosis may: • Hear or see things others do not – these are called hallucinations. • Develop strong beliefs that are not based in reality – called delusions. • Become unusually suspicious or fearful. • Have confused or disorganised speech or behaviour. • Withdraw from family and friends. • Neglect personal hygiene or normal responsibilities. • Experience major changes in sleep, emotions, school or work performance. Importantly, psychosis is a symptom, not a single disease. It can occur with conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and severe depression but may also occur because of substance use, certain medications or medical

ly stopping medication or repeatedly missing treatment can increase the likelihood of symptoms returning. Medication changes should therefore be discussed with the treating healthcare professional. 6. Physical illness or medication Some neurological and medical conditions, as well as certain prescription medicines, may produce psychotic symptoms. A first episode of psychosis therefore requires proper medical assessment rather than assumptions about its cause.

Look for the warning signs

Common factors that may precipitate or worsen psychotic symptoms include: 1. Alcohol and recreational drugs Cannabis – particularly frequent or high-potency use – and other psychoactive substances can contribute to psychotic symptoms in susceptible individuals. Substance misuse should therefore never be dismissed as harmless experimentation. 2. Severe sleep deprivation Going for prolonged periods with little or no

tionship difficulties, violence, financial problems, unemployment, academic pressure and other major life events may contribute to mental distress, particularly when several problems occur simultaneously. 4. Trauma Exposure to violence, abuse and other traumatic experiences can increase vulnerability to mental health problems. 5. Stopping prescribed psychiatric medication For someone already being treated for a mental health condition, sudden-

Psychosis does not always appear suddenly. Family and friends may notice changes beforehand, including increasing isolation, unusual suspiciousness, deterioration in personal hygiene, difficulty thinking clearly, confused communication, abnormal sleep patterns or a sudden decline in school or work performance.

Early recognition matters

The longer significant psychotic symptoms remain untreated, the more difficult the disruption to education, employment, relationships and everyday functioning can become. Early assessment and appropriate treatment are associated with better recovery.

Can psychosis and mental illness be prevented? Not

every

mental

Sleep consistently. Protecting regular, adequate sleep is one of the simplest ways to support emotional and cognitive functioning.

Avoid harmful substance use

Alcohol and drugs should not become coping mechanisms for stress, anxiety, loneliness or depression.

Manage stress before reaching crisis point

Exercise, relaxation, recreation, spirituality that is personally meaningful, hobbies and healthy routines can all form part of coping.

Stay connected

Isolation can worsen mental distress. Strong relationships with family, friends and community provide important protection.

Talk about problems

Asking for help is not weakness. Sometimes speaking with a trusted person, counsellor, social worker, psychologist or doctor can prevent a manageable problem from becoming a crisis.

Take care of your physical health

Regular physical activity, adequate nutrition, management of chronic diseases and avoidance of harmful alcohol and drug use also support brain and mental health.

Build emotionally healthy homes

Children and adolescents particularly benefit from safe environments, supportive relationships, opportunities for

education and development, and adults who listen without immediately judging them. WHO emphasises that social connection, supportive environments, good physical health, emotional skills and access to education and services are important protective factors for mental well-being.

When should you seek help?

Seek professional assessment when changes in thoughts, emotions or behaviour are persistent, worsening or interfering with someone's ability to function. Urgent help is needed when a person is hearing voices telling them to harm themselves or others, is severely confused or agitated, cannot adequately care for themselves, expresses suicidal thoughts, or appears to pose an immediate danger to themselves or another person. Do not ridicule, argue aggressively with, threaten, or stigmatise someone experiencing psychosis. Keep the environment as calm and safe as possible, and facilitate professional assessment.

Mental health is health

We should be able to discuss depression, anxiety, substance use, and psychosis with the same seriousness and compassion that we discuss diabetes or hypertension. Psychosis can be frightening for the individual and their family, but effective treatment exists, and recovery is possible. Early recognition, appropriate treatment, family support, and continued care can make a major difference. Protect your sleep. Manage your stress. Avoid harmful substances. Stay connected. Recognise changes early. And seek help before a mental health problem becomes a mental health crisis.

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2026

Regional

Maduro shares 1st photos T&T PM: Stop blaming colonial past for country's problems released since US arrest P

One of the images posted to Maduro’s account on X

enezuela's deposed leader Nicolás Maduro said on social media Sunday that he was "standing firm" while sharing photographs from the New York prison, where he has been held since his capture by US forces. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seized in Caracas during a US military operation in January. They are being

detained in a Brooklyn, New York, jail on drug trafficking and firearms possession charges, which they deny. "I am sending these photos as a small gift to all my grandchildren, to the boys and girls, and to all the good persons who love us," he wrote on the Telegram messaging service. "I want you to know that we are standing firm, with our hearts full

of your love," he added. In the two photographs, Maduro is wearing a grey tracksuit and making peace signs with his hands. He appears to have lost weight since his capture. Although the photographs emerged Sunday, camera data indicates they were taken on June 25, a day after twin deadly earthquakes killed more than 6500 persons and caused widespread destruction in northern Venezuela. "We will remain strong, calm and confident: God is with us. God will provide. Venezuela will rise again," he concluded. The message was posted two days after his successor, interim President Delcy Rodriguez, announced a "historic" oil agreement allowing the United States to operate oil fields in Venezuela. (Excerpt from CBS News)

Delcy says Venezuela retains “sovereignty” with oil deal; Trump says US will refill petroleum reserves

enezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez says the country is preserving its sovereignty despite the announcement that it will hand over the rights to billions of barrels of its oil to the United States. The “historic” deal with Washington to hand over 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan oil will last 25 years and allow Venezuela to develop its oil industry while preserving “ownership and sovereignty” of its resources, Rodriguez said in a televised address on Saturday.

Under the deal, US$19 from every barrel of oil produced and sold to the US will flow to Caracas, an arrangement that could be worth US$209bn per year to Venezuela, depending on oil prices, Rodriguez said. Venezuela will keep ownership of its natural resources “while leveraging capital, technology and operational expertise to support the recovery of a strategic industry that has been severely affected by sanctions”, she said. United States President Donald Trump has said on so-

cial media that oil from a recently struck deal with Venezuela will be ⁠used to replenish the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve, an oil stockpile that the country keeps for emergencies and that has been drawn down sharply in ⁠recent years to respond to global supply disruptions and high fuel prices. The US President wrote on Truth Social that the reserve had been made “virtually” empty, while blaming former US President Joe Biden. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

rime Minister (PM) Kamla PersadBissessar says Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) must take responsibility for its post-Independence failures instead of continuing to blame its colonial past. In her Independence Day message on Sunday, Persad-Bissessar said the country had failed to build on what she described as a strong foundation left by the British in 1962. “We must confront our post-independence history with honesty and acknowledge that we

should have done much better over the past 64 years,” she said. She noted that T&T had a higher per-capita income than countries including Japan, Singapore, Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Brazil and China at independence but said all had since surpassed the country. She also pointed to the country’s established oil industry, agricultural sector, railway system, legal structure and low crime rate at the time. “The fact is that the British left us a very

prosperous functioning country in 1962,” she said. Persad-Bissessar said it was now time to accept responsibility for decisions made since independence. “After 64 years, it’s time we grow up and stop blaming our problems on our colonial past,” she said. She called on citizens to put T&T first and move forward with “conviction and accountability” to create a stronger, safer and more prosperous nation. (Excerpt from T&T Guardian)

Civilian leader helps free Haiti’s Kenscoff hostages with UNICEF support; Police response questioned

Luckson Jean of Fondation Frè Luckson Zòn Pa Fè Moun leaves the Kenscoff gang stronghold carrying a little girl on Friday

Haitian community leader entered a gang-controlled area of Kenscoff on August 28 and helped with the release of 13 persons abducted during a deadly attack, including six children and seven women, with support from UNICEF. The release has prompted renewed questions about the Government’s ability to protect civilians from armed groups, particularly after a civilian intermediary was able to enter gang territory to retrieve hostages. Luckson Jean, known as Frè Luckson, leads the nonprofit Fondation

Frè Luckson Zòn Pa Fè Moun (FLZPFM). In a video posted on social media, he said he entered the gang stronghold after learning that children were among those being held. Jean said the hostages were released without a ransom and credited UNICEF and other community-based organisations with supporting the negotiations. Jean said organisations including Haiti’s Social Welfare and Research Institute (IBERS), with UNICEF’s support, participated in negotiations. He said gang

members told negotiators they would trust only him to retrieve the children. UNICEF said in a statement that six children and seven women had been released after several days in captivity. The children included three babies younger than two, a seven-yearold, and two teenagers. The Haitian National Police (PNH) has faced mounting criticism over its response to the Kenscoff attack. Persons also questioned the presence of the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF) and Erik Prince’s Vectus Global forces, linked to a $52 milliona-year mercenary contract. Police Director Vladimir Paraison ordered an investigation into whether negligence or complicity contributed to the attack and ordered additional specialised units to the area. Police also announced a new command structure for the commune. (Excerpt from The Haitian Times)

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2026

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Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS

Nepal death toll soars past 800, residents on high alert for fresh flooding as river levels rise

esidents in flood-affected districts in Nepal were warned to remain on high alert for possible fresh flooding as rescuers scrambled to clear a major highway connecting Kathmandu to one of the areas worst hit by Wednesday's catastrophic floods. Nepal's disaster agency said Sunday the death toll had climbed to 788 with 2502 missing, while Chinese authorities reported 16 deaths and 546 missing on the Chinese side of the border.

Flash flood survivors walk through sludge past damaged houses searching for salvageable belongings at Trishuli Centre in Nepal's Nuwakot district on August 30, 2026

The latest flood warn-

ing notices were sent to

people's phones early Sunday after water levels rose in the Bhotekoshi River. Chinese authorities informed their Nepalese counterparts of increased water flow upstream, according to Dharam Raj Uprety, chief executive of Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. Residents of the floodhit villages said they were struggling to make sense of near-constant alarms they've received since the initial floods. (Excerpt from CBS News)

US forces strike 2 Iranian launchers on Iran's Larak Island, US official says

S forces struck two Iranian launchers on Iran's Larak island on Sunday, a US official said, marking the first ‌known American strikes on Iran since late July. "I can confirm that earlier today US forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces were observed preparing to launch rock-

ets with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz," the US official said. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said the attack killed and wounded several soldiers and citizens and would be met with a "response and punishment" from Tehran, Iranian state media reported. Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported the US carried out

a drone strike on the island. US President Donald Trump said last week that all mines had been detonated or removed from the international waters of the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran has been told that any ship or boat placing new mines will be destroyed. The last known ‌US strikes on Iran were in late July as the war has

reached a stalemate in recent weeks, with Washington threatening to impose costly sanctions on countries that support Iran. US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed thousands and displaced millions. Eighteen US service members have been killed in the conflict. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Oil jumps more than 2% after latest US attack on Iran

il prices jumped more than two per cent on ‌Monday, with Brent back above US$90 a barrel, after US forces struck two Iranian launchers on Iran's Larak island in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, the first known American strikes on the Gulf ‌nation since late July. Brent crude futures climbed US$2.22, or 2.52 per cent, to US$90.32 a barrel by 22:02 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude was at US$85.41 a barrel, up US$2.01, or 2.41 per cent. The US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, and Iran responded with its own strikes on Israel and Gulf states that host US bases. The Iran war has now crossed its six-month mark. The war has led to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which before the conflict used to see a transit of about a fifth of the world's oil barrels consumed. (Excerpt from Reuters)

NASA launches powerful new space telescope

Captain, crew arrested after at least 8 N die in northern Cyprus ferry disaster

t least eight persons have died and 22 are missing following the capsizing of a ferry off the coast of northern Cyprus. Ünal Üstel, the north’s Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister, told Turkish state broadcaster TRT that 237 persons have so far been rescued. A total of 161 persons had been taken to hospital, including three children in intensive care, and 76 were back with their families. The catamaran-style ferry was sailing from the port of Kyrenia, in the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, to the port of Taşucu in Turkey, when the disaster occurred about

A helicopter brings survivors ashore after they were rescued from the sea after a passenger boat carrying more than 260 persons capsized off northern Cyprus

four nautical miles (7.5 kilometres) off the coast. Local media report that an intensive search and rescue effort was launched after the boat capsized. Four Turkish Cypriot coast guard vessels and a civilian passenger boat were deployed to the scene, along with five Turkish coast-

guard vessels and two helicopters. Cyprus has been lashed by storms over the past 48 hours, with officials saying the adverse weather could have played a role in the disaster. Several survivors from the ferry have described a blast which went off at the

vessel’s bow before it rolled over and also claimed the Captain was among the first to abandon ship. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ transport minister said the ferry “completely sunk to a depth of 514 metres (1686 feet)” when it capsized. The Captain of the capsized ferry, along with seven crew members, has been arrested, and an investigation has been launched. Prime Minister Üstel vowed authorities will get to the bottom of the disaster, saying, "There will not be a cover-up.” “Even the smallest negligence will be uncovered. There will be no leniency for anyone thought to bear responsibility.”

asa's powerful next-generation telescope has blasted off into space from its launchpad in Florida, with a mission to explore dark energy, black holes and other mysteries of the universe. The Nancy Grace Roman telescope will capture vast panoramic views of space, with a field of vision 100 times larger than both the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes, NASA says. The mission begins with a 100-day journey to a vantage point roughly one million miles from Earth, where the telescope will then start charting planets outside our solar system, known as exoplanets. "Roman is going to change the way we look at the universe," said Nicky Fox, a NASA ad-

ministrator. The successful launch of the telescope took place on Sunday morning local time from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Jackie Townsend, a project manager on Nasa's Roman telescope, described it as "glorious" at a news conference afterwards. "The ride was magnificent. It put us right where we wanted to be." About 30 minutes after launch, Roman separated from its SpaceX rocket and is now heading towards its orbiting point around a million miles away. While Roman will look outward into the Universe, Astronomer Jenifer Millard said scientists are also anticipating it will find thousands of new worlds in our own galaxy. (Excerpt from BBC News)

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MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2026

DAILY HOROSCOPES

ARCHIE

(March 21-April 19)

PICKLES (April 20-May 20)

Read the room before offering your opinion. Look for balance in everything you pursue. Keeping the peace will give you access to what you want. A networking event or meeting will help you carve out a path that leads to success. Refuse to let personal matters interfere with your professional goals. Use your imagination to incorporate positive change. Get active. You can accomplish plenty if you are astute and tune into the universe. Positive thoughts will lead to actions that help you initiate change. Communication is key, along with understanding the consequences that come with speaking your truth and using your imagination. Change will come with growing pains and require thought and action.

What you crave won’t sit well with those you encounter. If you want to make progress, fly under the radar. Use your imagination, and you’ll be able to achieve your goal and address your concerns simultaneously. Don’t pay for others’ mistakes or try to impress someone. Let your actions speak for you, and choose honesty over hype. (May 21-June 20) Bide your time, watch for signs and use your intelligence to guide you forward at a pace you can handle. Opportunity is apparent but will require research. Ask questions and follow the dots to ensure you aren’t on a wild-goose chase. Take control instead of being controlled, and you will achieve peace of (June 21-July 22) mind. Communicate, ask questions and get answers. How you direct your energy and what you give back will determine your success. A wishy-washy attitude will lead to a force play. Control situations, and the outcome will help you gain recognition and a place at the head of the table. Having high energy, enthusiasm (July 23-Aug. 22) and expertise will pave the way to success.

PEANUTS

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Set yourself up for success. Carry those who have something to offer along with you, but don’t jeopardize your goals by trying to carry deadweight. Look at a change carefully and determine the cost involved before you take a leap of faith. Use your energy and your imagination with care and concern for the imprint you leave.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Don’t let anger set in when constructive action is necessary. Keep your personal thoughts to yourself, and use your charm and understanding to convert those you don’t see eye to eye with. The art of positive manipulation will help you keep the peace and make progress. A partnership will improve if you honor your promises. Romance is in the stars.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

An honest approach will help you gain respect. Put your energy into living up to your promises and doing what you can to become the best version of yourself. Refuse to let what others do deter you from following through with your plans. Recognize an offer that’s too good to be true. Trust your instincts.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Look for the positive in everything. Letting your mind wander down a dark path will deter your progress. Don’t start something new and ignore what you left unfinished. Put more onus on yourself, and choose discipline to turn what’s going wrong into something spectacular. Discipline, self-reliance and creativity will get you where you belong. Peace and love are favored.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

(Feb. 20-March 20)

Rethink your every word before you share your thoughts. Choose to be practical, and invest wisely in yourself and your future. Change only what’s necessary, and refuse to let someone talk you into something that benefits them more than you. Put your energy into becoming more self-reliant and less accommodating toward manipulators. Love yourself first.

Take a moment to get your house in order. Clutter will cost you if you must replace items you misplaced. A change of attitude will lead to letting go of people who no longer share your interests or space. It’s out with the old and in with the new. Self-improvement will lead to personal freedom and additional confidence. Take your time. Spontaneity will lead to regret. Concentrate on personal growth, awareness and having a healthy and active lifestyle. Refuse to let taking on too much responsibility stunt your progress or your heart’s desires. It’s what you do to please yourself that will give you hope for a brighter future. Don’t slow your effort to satisfy your soul.

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2026

Robinson leads dominant seam display as England seal series with 194-run win

Ollie Robinson claimed a four-for

llie Robinson put in another stellar performance as England won the second Test for an unassailable 2-0 lead in their three-match series with Pakistan at Lord's. Robinson had been the chief destroyer of Pakistan's first innings, well supported by Jofra Archer, and that was the case once more as England won by 194 runs with a day to spare, their first Test series victory since late 2024 in New Zealand. Robinson took four for 24 to cap staggering match figures of eight for 35 in 27 overs, while Archer claimed five across both innings. For Pakistan, Saud Shakeel staged a fighting 97, and Mohammad Abbas received the consolation of writing his name on the Lord's honours board with a five-for. Ultimately Pakistan didn't do enough on the second day. After a good start with the ball – they had England at 36 for three and 77 for four on

day one – and improved performance in the field, they let the last-wicket pair Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson take

Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam succumbed to them early. Once Tongue had accounted for Shakeel, he cleaned

conceded 24 runs off his four overs before he was replaced by the offspin of Dan Lawrence. Shakeel shared a 97run stand for the fourth wicket with fellow lefthander Shan Masood either side of a 40-minute rain delay, after which Robinson returned to the attack and broke them up. Masood walked across his stumps and was struck on the pad in line, although it took an England review to seal his dismissal. Robinson had his fourth for the innings and eighth wicket of the match a short time later with a nip-backer to

er one wide of point. He was struck a nasty blow to the grill of his helmet from a Tongue bouncer but went to tea unscathed and unbeaten on 78, with Pakistan at 140 for five, still needing 249 runs. After the break, Archer followed a couple of short balls to Ali Usman by seaming one in from a length and catching the inside edge onto the stumps. Shakeel took on a short-ball barrage from Tongue with twin sixes and a four through the square-leg region to move within one more boundary of his century, but he fell agonisingly

short when he holed out to deep square leg off another Tongue short ball. Tongue picked up another; Khurram Shahzad bowled by a slower ball, then greeted Mohammad Ali – Pakistan's last batter with Imam-ul-Haq injured – with a 91 mph bouncer, followed by another short ball before he was collected by Harry Brook at second slip. Earlier, Abbas claimed an elusive five-wicket haul at Lord's, ending with nine wickets for the match, including five for 57 from 22 overs in England's second innings. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Saud Shakeel climbs into a pull shot

their side above par at 290 and then collapsed in the face of a seam onslaught by Robinson and Archer. The England bowling duo again did the damage in the fourth innings as Pakistan never threatened the target of 389, lurching to 14 for three as Azan Awais,

up the Pakistan tail in his familiar fashion. Shakeel, however, resisted, reaching a half-century in just 54 balls with a strong drive off Atkinson through long-off for four. This came amid a rare toothless phase for England's bowlers after the lunch break, in which Atkinson

Mohammad Rizwan, who attempted a slog sweep and then failed to overturn his lbw decision on the umpire's call. Shakeel unfurled some excellent strokes amid his 13 fours and two sixes, more than once negating short balls from Archer to good effect and steering a full-

England 2nd Innings Ben Duckett c Babar Azam b Khurram Shahzad 1 Emilio Gay lbw b Mohammad Abbas 31 Jordan Cox lbw b Khurram Shahzad 11 Joe Root (c) lbw b Mohammad Ali 24 Harry Brook c †Mohammad Rizwan b Mohammad Abbas 34 Dan Lawrence b Mohammad Abbas 54 Jamie Smith † c Shan Masood b Mohammad Abbas 7 Gus Atkinson lbw b MohammadAli 7 Ollie Robinson c †Mohammad Rizwan b Mohammad Abbas 8 Jofra Archer not out 2 Josh Tongue run out (Babar Azam) 12 Extras (b 4, lb 4, nb 4, w 5) 17 Total 54.2 Ov (RR: 3.82) 208 Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Ben Duckett, 1.3 ov), 2-13 (Jordan Cox, 3.1 ov), 3-60 (Joe Root, 16.3 ov), 4-83 (Emilio Gay, 23.4 ov), 5-128 (Harry Brook, 35.5 ov), 6-149 (Jamie Smith, 39.6 ov), 7-162 (Gus Atkinson, 44.6 ov), 8-186 (Dan Lawrence, 49.2 ov), 9-187 (Ollie Robinson, 51.1 ov), 10-208 (Josh Tongue, 54.2 ov) Bowling O-M-R-W Mohammad Abbas 22-3-57-5 Khurram Shahzad 14-3-56-2 Mohammad Ali 16.2-1-70-2 Ali Usman 2-0-17-0

Pakistan 2nd Innings (T: 389 runs) Shan Masood lbw b Robinson 26 Azan Awais lbw b Robinson 6 Abdullah Shafique b Robinson 0 Babar Azam (c) c Cox b Archer 6 Saud Shakeel c Brook b Tongue 97 Mohammad Rizwan † lbw b Robinson 1 Ali Usman b Archer 16 Khurram Shahzad b Tongue 9 Mohammad Abbas not out 13 Mohammad Ali c Brook b Tongue 8 Imam-ul-Haq absent hurt- Extras (b 4, lb 6, nb 1, w 1) 12 Total 50.5 Ov (RR: 3.81) 194 Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Azan Awais, 4.3 ov), 2-7 (Abdullah Shafique, 4.6 ov), 3-14 (Babar Azam, 7.1 ov), 4-111 (Shan Masood, 30.1 ov), 5-115 (Mohammad Rizwan, 32.5 ov), 6-146 (Ali Usman, 43.4 ov), 7-169 (Saud Shakeel, 46.1 ov), 8-176 (Khurram Shahzad, 48.3 ov), 9-194 (Mohammad Ali, 50.5 ov) Bowling O-M-R-W Ollie Robinson 14-5-24-4 Jofra Archer 15-1-73-2 Josh Tongue 8.5-1-46-3 Gus Atkinson 11-2-41-0 Dan Lawrence 2-2-0-0

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2026

The New Doctor’s Clinic joins Lotto/Let’sBet T10 to provide physiotherapy support T

he fourth edition of the Lotto/Let’sBet T10 tournament has secured a boost off the field, with The New Doctor’s Clinic coming on board as the official medical partner. The partnership ensures that highly skilled physiotherapists will be stationed at every match, underscoring the tournament's commitment to player health and safety as the high-stakes tapeball action heats up across Guyana. Proprietor of The New Doctor’s Clinic, Satyendra Khemraj, officially sealed the agreement by handing over the sponsorship to key organiser and lead statistician Ronaldo McGarrell of the tournament. Expressing gratitude for the partnership, John

Proprietor of The New Doctor’s Clinic, Satyendra Khemra (right), officially sealed the agreement by handing over the sponsorship to key organiser and lead statistician. Ronaldo McGarrell of FL Sport

Ramsingh of OGT10 emphasised that athlete welfare remains a top priority for the organisers, noting that having professional

medical support on standby throughout the campaign aligns with the tournament's growing stature. Reaffirming the clin-

ic’s long-standing backing of regional athletics, Khemraj highlighted the institution's ongoing devotion to supporting local

sport. "We have a proud history of standing behind sports in Guyana, and ensuring our athletes are properly cared for while performing at their peak is a duty we take very seriously," Khemraj said during the presentation. "Tapeball cricket at this level is fast, intense, and physically demanding. We are delighted to partner with FL Sport to safeguard the players' well-being and contribute to the continued success of the Lotto/Let’sBet T10." On the field, the fourth edition of the tournament has already produced compelling action, with three regional champions officially crowned. Grillmaster Sip N Play All-Stars secured the Berbice zone title, Mahdia

– Movements Family dominated the East Bank/ West Demerara zone, and Lusignan Bulls DTP II claimed victory in Essequibo. The tournament now turns its attention to the Georgetown/East Coast Demerara Zone, slated to run across two weekends on September 26–27 and October 3–4, with the zonal finals taking place at the Enmore Community Centre Ground. Once the final zonal winner is determined, the action shifts to Essequibo for the grand finale. All roads lead to the Anna Regina National Stadium on Sunday, October 11, where the nation’s premier tapeball outfits will collide for top cash prizes of $2 million, $1 million, and $500,000.

Trinbago Knight Riders retire Tearful Federer inducted Dwayne Bravo's No. 47 jersey into Hall of Fame

here won't be a player wearing the No. 47 on their back for Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) again, with the franchise retiring Dwayne Bravo's jersey "in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to the team, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), and cricket in Trinidad & Tobago". Bravo is the first CPL player to have had his jersey retired. "Dwayne Bravo's contribution to the Knight Riders and to the CPL is impossible to measure," Venky Mysore, CEO of the Knight Riders group, said at a ceremony prior to the start of the Knight Riders' CPL 2026 game against the Jamaica Kingsmen in Port of Spain on Saturday night. "Retiring No. 47 is our way of ensuring that his legacy will forever be a part of this franchise. There could be no more fitting player to become

the first in CPL history to receive this honour." Bravo, currently the head coach at TKR, won the title five times as a player from 2015, when the team was called Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel, to 2025. Two of the titles, in 2017 and 2018, came as Captain of TKR. One came as the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots Captain in 2021. Overall, as a player, Bravo played 107 CPL matches, picking up 129 wickets at an economy rate of 8.74. Despite last playing in 2024, he remains the third-most-prolific wicket-taker in the history of the tournament, behind only Sunil Narine (139) and Imran Tahir (135). "Thank you for being an inspiration and a role model," Nicholas Pooran, the current TKR Captain, said in a video released by the franchise. "We're really happy to have you in

our corner. Thank you for being a bigger brother. Thank you for being a father figure at times for us. But most importantly, thanks for being that inspiration in my life." Narine said, "I think you have paved the way for a lot of young cricketers. The way you care about yourself, your energy levels, and always wanting to win in everything." And Kieron Pollard, who led TKR when they won the title in 2020 with Bravo in the lineup, said, "Thank you for all that you have done, obviously for me personally as an individual, and then, you know, we're coming together as a force to be reckoned with, something that you always spoke about, and being able to win championships and games and create an environment where people will enjoy." (ESPNcricinfo)

oger Federer has been inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, describing the moment as "one of the greatest honours" of his life. The 20-time Grand Slam singles champion, who retired in 2022, was teary-eyed at the ceremony in Newport, Rhode Island, as he reflected on his glittering career in front of tennis greats including Billie Jean King and John McEnroe. After making his main tour debut in 1998 at the age of 16, Federer won a record eight men's Wimbledon singles titles, plus six Australian Open crowns, five US Opens, and one French Open. "This is one of the greatest honours of my life," Federer, 45, said. "They call this the Hall of Fame, but fame was never the goal. My goal was to spend my life doing something I love, with people who love it as much as I do." Only Spain's Rafael Nadal, with 22 majors, and Serbia's Novak Djokovic, with 24, have won more men's Grand Slam singles

titles than Federer. He won his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2003 and spent 310 weeks as the world number one – a record until it was surpassed by Djokovic. Federer also won Olympic doubles gold for Switzerland with Stan Wawrinka at Beijing 2008 and singles silver at London 2012. He was part of the Swiss team that won the Davis Cup for the first time in 2014. Federer, who started out as a 13-year-old ball boy at an ATP tournament in Basel, reflected on the lesser-known statistics from his career during his speech. "I'm talking about the numbers that really paint a picture. Between 1998 and when I first went on the ATP Tour, and when I retired in 2022, I wore more than 5000 headbands," said Federer. "That's more than [Bjorn] Borg and [John] McEnroe combined. "And if you think that's impressive, I wore probably over 7000 pairs of socks. That's probably twice as

many as most of my opponents, because I doubled them up. "But really, there's no way to measure what it means to be here. It's hard to put it into words." Federer wiped away tears as he thanked his wife Mirka, tennis idol Stefan Edberg and "every ball kid who ever stood through" his matches. Federer also said he was "incredibly lucky" to have played with different generations of tennis players, from Andre Agassi and Lleyton Hewitt to Andy Roddick, Nadal and Djokovic. "I need tissues and sunglasses and everything to protect me right now. This is such a mess," Federer joked. "As you can tell, I'm still writing my love letter to tennis. My time as a player is done, but tennis will always stand at the intersection of everything I care most about: my family, our friendships, the past 40 years, and the future we're building. "Tennis for me is responsible for it all" (BBC Sport)

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2026

GDF drops 5 as Elite League 26/27 opens T

he Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Football Club (FC) and the Den Amstel FC enjoyed wins, though contrasting, when the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Elite League kicked off on Saturday night at the National Training Centre (NTC), Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD). The double header saw Den Amstel battling Fruta Conquerors in a passionate, nail-biter while GDF steamrolled Monedderlust FC in the following clash. Fruta Conquerors’

A look at the action between Den Amstel (Green) and Fruta Conquerors (Jemima Holmes Photo)

Jaleei Alcindor netted irst, putting the Tucville’ based unit ahead in the 14th

minute. However, Den Amstel would respond in the 29th minute, through

Calvin Richmond, to level the scores 1-1. That score persisted until the second half as both sides sought to find the game winner. Den Amstel eventually reaped the reward of their relentless press, drawing a foul in the box. Cleavon Murray stepped up to take the shot, converting against the stand-in Fruta Conquerors keeper to push the score to 2-1 in Den Amstel’s favour in the 75th. The West Demerara side maintained the lead, even through a confron-

tational end to the match to secure their first three points of the extended Elite League season. Things were not quite as difficult for former champions GDF FC, though, as they cruised past Monedderlust FC. GDF began probing early, but a spirited Monedderlust managed to keep them out of the nets for quite some time. As the halfway stage approached, Malcolm Miggins pierced the back of the net in the 36th minute to break the deadlock. It was like the floodgates opened as

GDF managed to find the net twice more before the 45-minute interval. Stephen McDonald netted in the 39th and 45th minutes for the 3-0 lead at the half. In the second segment, Jeffrey Pererira netted in the 81st whilst Quancey Fraser connected in the 87th minute to put the cherry on top of GDF’s 5-0 domination. The Elite League was scheduled to continue with another doubleheader on Sunday night. The League is expected to wrap up in April 2027.

Republic Bank CPL…

Kingsmen claim back-to-back wins T

he Jamaica Kingsmen recorded their fourth win of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a seven-run win via Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) over the Trinbago Knight Riders, as the rain halted play just shy of 15 overs into the Kingsmen’s chase. It was an unfortunate end to a match that was set for a thrilling conclusion as the Queen’s Park Oval provided plenty of runs for the crowd to enjoy. Vitel Lawes might have bowled

The Jamaica Kingsmen enjoyed a rain-affected, sevenwicket victory over the Trinbago Knight Riders on Saturday night (Photo credit: CPLT20)

the over of the tournament with a three-wicket maid-

SCOREBOARD Trinbago Knight Riders (20 ovs maximum) Colin Munro c †Usman Khan b Lawes 52 Sunil Narine c Smith b Paul 53 Nicholas Pooran (c)† not out 60 Kieron Pollard c Maaz Sadaqat b Lawes 0 Matthew Tromp c †Usman Khan b Lawes 0 Alex Hales b Hunain Shah 5 Jyd Goolie b Hunain Shah 0 Dominic Drakes not out 4 Extras (w 6) 6 Total 20 Ov (RR: 9.00) 180/6 Did not bat: Akeal Hosein, Usman Tariq, Abdul-Raheem Toppin Fall of wickets: 1-101 (Sunil Narine, 8.5 ov), 2-120 (Colin Munro, 13.1 ov), 3-120 (Kieron Pollard, 13.2 ov), 4-120 (Matthew Tromp, 13.6 ov), 5-160 (Alex Hales, 18.3 ov), 6-160 (Jyd Goolie, 18.4 ov) Bowling O-M-R-W Jediah Blades 3-0-15-0 Saim Ayub 4-0-37-0 Keemo Paul 3-0-46-1 Hunain Shah 4-0-27-2 Odean Smith 2-0-26-0 Vitel Lawes 4-1-29-3

Jamaica Kingsmen (T: 121 runs from 14.4 ovs) Maaz Sadaqat c Drakes b Goolie 12 Kirk McKenzie c Toppin b Goolie 30 Keacy Carty b Usman Tariq 42 Saim Ayub not out 24 Rovman Powell (c) not out 5 Extras (lb 5, w 9) 14 Total 14.4 Ov (RR: 8.65) 127/3 Did not bat: Usman Khan †, Keemo Paul, Odean Smith, Vitel Lawes, Jediah Blades, Hunain Shah Fall of wickets: 1-18 (Maaz Sadaqat, 1.6 ov), 2-68 (Kirk McKenzie, 8.1 ov), 3-120 (Keacy Carty, 13.6 ov) Bowling O-M-R-W Sunil Narine 2.4-0-20-0 Jyd Goolie 4-0-30-2 Dominic Drakes 1-0-8-0 Usman Tariq 3-0-28-1 Akeal Hosein 2-0-16-0 Abdul-Raheem Toppin 2-0-20-0

en that eventually helped his side to stay the right side of the DLS margin. It had been a bit of a slow start for the defending champions, losing three in a row before last night’s win over the Tridents. Colin Munro and Sunil Narine had powered the Knight Riders into pole position last night, and they didn’t miss a beat here as their form carried forward 24 hours. The two have combined for 197 runs across two opening partnerships, as they bettered their effort last night with a 101run stand. Narine got his second half century in as many nights but was dismissed shortly after to Keemo Paul. Munro continued on to secure his first half century and, in the mean-

time, put himself at the top of the tournament run charts. The Knight Riders were going nicely at 120 for one, but when the 14th over came, things changed. Munro was first to go as he feathered an edge behind Usman Khan. Kieron Pollard, usually so reliable at the back end of an innings, clouted one straight to cover after falling foul to a bit of grip and turn. Matthew

Keacy Carty hit 42 in the chase (Photo credit: CPLT20)

Tromp, l o o k ing to go big, skied one that was eventually taken by

Khan. Vitel Lawes sent down what proved to be vital over in the end. But Nicholas Pooran ensured that Lawes didn’t swing the innings in Jamaica’s favour as he hit the Knight Riders' third half-century of the night. He finished in a flash, taking Keemo Paul all the way to the end, 60 unbeaten off 37 balls, and his side with a total of 180 for six. The Kingsmen made a positive start with Kirk McKenzie leading in an efficient fashion. The end of the PowerPlay saw the Kingsmen sitting at 54 for one. McKenzie’s good start was cut short as he holed out to long off from the bowling of Jyd Goolie for 30. Just three balls later the players were off as the rain fell heavily in Port of Spain. An hour later, play continued unaffected, and the Kingsmen picked up where they had left off, with Keacy Carty showing his international prowess. He fell to the tricky Usman Tariq, who continued his impressive form. Unfortunately, the weather intervened as the rain fell again and the players were tak-

en off. The Kingsmen had done enough to get above the DLS adjusted target and nabbed a big victory at the home of the defending champions. A second win on the spin for the Jamaican side as they brush off their early season stutters. The Knight Riders have two more games left of their home stand, against the Warriors and the Falcons.

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MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2026

Clash of the Titans: GAW, TKR 1st battle on today T

he biggest rivalry in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will have its first dose of the 2026 season this afternoon when the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) meet the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) on their home turf. The Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain is in for a blockbuster clash as the hosts search for a reprieve, while the visitors will be looking to maintain their thus-far unbeaten streak. It has been a contrasting CPL season thus far for the two franchises. On one hand, GAW have played three games, winning all three with a perfect six-point record. To boot, the Guyanese franchise's 2.99 run rate is the highest amongst the CPL’s seven teams this season, with the Amazon Warriors wrapping up their fastest chase (of 116

GAW will be looking to maintain their winning streak

against the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons) in 9.5 overs in their last outing. Meanwhile, TKR have had a rocky start to the 2026 season, winning just two of the six matches they’ve played, recording losses to the Falcons, St Lucia Kings, and the Jamaica Kingsmen twice. In the Warriors camp, all cylinders have been firing well. Pacer Shamar Joseph leads the wickets column with seven, followed by Captain Imran Tahir with five,

both from three matches. With the bat, Shai Hope has racked up 120 runs in three games, followed by Shimron Hetmyer and Glenn Phillips, both with 75 in as many games. Things look a lot different for the Knight Riders, whose Colin Munro leads the batting charts with 216 from six games and Sunil Narine in fourth with 171 runs. Usman Tariq leads their bowlers with seven wickets in six games, followed by Narine with

TKR will be looking to bounce back from Saturday’s loss

six scalps. Though the Trinidadian top order has been going great guns, especially with the promotion of Narine to the top in place of Alex Hales, the Knight Riders have been unable to carry that momentum through their batting innings, many times being ‘pulled back’ in the death overs. In addition, their lack of a reliable express pace option has proved to be a spot of bother for the Trinidadian team, having to chop and change be-

tween Nathan Edwards, Terrance Hinds, Dominic Drakes and, most recently, Abdul Raheem Toppin. As such, today’s clash pits two teams, experiencing the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, against each other, with an entertaining past behind them, fuelling a storied rivalry. “It’s a big clash. Everyone knows that it’s a big game,” GAW Captain Imran Tahir had previously said about to-

day’s face-off. “They have some world-class players, as we, so I think it depends on who is going to perform well on the day. We’re ready for it, you know; we’ve been playing good cricket. We want to stay humble; once we get there, we want to show what we’ve got.” On the other hand, Pooran shared on Saturday night, “As a group, we know what we have to do. We saw today that we have the ability to fight, and that’s what we have to do for the next four games; we need to fight and stay in it, continue to believe that we’ll win a couple games and see where it goes for us. Again, T20 is about momentum as well; hopefully, on Monday we could be on the right side.” The battle between the Amazon Warriors and Knight Riders is scheduled to get underway at 17:00h local time.

Republic Bank CPL viewership National U14 team more than doubles in 2026 season honoured by GFF

he Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has recorded an increase in livestream viewership of more than 100 per cent for the 2026 season, a surge driven primarily by fans watching matches on YouTube and Facebook in India. The growth reflects a rapidly expanding audience for the tournament, where fans have increasingly turned to CPL's live streams on YouTube and Facebook to follow the action from the Caribbean. The trend has been evident throughout the current season and marks a significant milestone in the league's ongoing digital expansion. The Republic Bank CPL has built its reputation as one of the world's premier T20 leagues on the strength of its accessibility to fans, and this season's streaming numbers underline the tournament's growing global

uyana’s National Under-14 Boys’ team, who, last week, returned from the Caribbean Football Union’s (CFU) U14 Boys’ Challenge series with the Tier II Championships trophy, were on Saturday night honoured by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF). The simple ceremony saw each player and staff member being felici-

The Republic Bank CPL livestream viewership has thus far doubled in 2026

appeal. The league's digital platforms remain central to bringing the thrilling, electrifying cricket of the Caribbean to audiences wherever they are in the world. Pete Russell, Republic Bank CPL CEO, said: “To see livestream viewership more than double this season, with such strong growth coming from our fans in India, speaks to the growing global appeal of this tournament. The ‘Biggest Party in Sport’ is now reaching more fans than ever before, and

we remain committed to bringing them closer to the action, wherever they are watching from. Our expectation is that this growth will continue over the coming weeks.” As the Republic Bank CPL continues through its 2026 season, the league remains focused on growing its global footprint and deepening its connection with cricket fans across the Caribbean and around the world, further cementing its status as one of the world's premier T20 leagues. (CPLT20)

tated and presented with commemorative plaques by members of the GFF’s executive body, including President Wayne Forde and General Secretary Pushpargha Chattopadhyay. The U14 Junior Jags pulled off a 4-2 victory on penalties against Suriname after a 1-1 draw after regulation time on Sunday last to win the CFU Tier II Championship.

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2026

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

Pg 23

Clash of the Titans: GAW, TKR 1st battle on today Pg 23

Pg 22

Republic Bank CPL viewership more than doubles in 2026 season

GDF drops 5 as Elite League 26/27 opens

Stephen McDonald (Green) netted a brace in GDF FC’s 5-0 win (Jemima Holmes Photo)

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