instructed to increase mortgage lending limit
Indigenous communities have seen massive development under PPP/C – Jagdeo
...as National Toshaos Council Conference 2025 gets underway
Ahead of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference that gets underway today, Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo has reminded that under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government, Indigenous communities were able to see massive development they never realised under the former coalition Government.
During his most recent press conference, Jagdeo referenced the PPP/C’s long track record of investing in Amerindian communities. He pointed to the billions of dollars spent on infrastructure and improvements to the lives of the Indigenous population.
“Lethem trail: all the bridges are being done now. We have eight villages where we’re doing paved roads. And this just mirrors what’s going on here. We’ve had 30,000 people who got a free solar panel since we got into office. And we just brought in 7000-8000 for the riverain areas. Tractor and trailer for each community. Hundreds of Amerindians trained in the police force, as nurses.”
“I can go down a long
list of things being done. So, when people pop in these communities now and talk nonsense? We have a track record with these communities. And when we were in opposition, these communities voted overwhelmingly for the PPP. You think, with
they don’t have 100 per cent support and that a few “PPP haters” may be induced to voice opposition to the PPP/C, the VP made it clear that the PPP/C enjoys overwhelming majority support in these Indigenous communities.
munities. I didn’t even talk about training programmes for women, the housing programme alone. We’re doing 300 plots in the Mahdia sub-district. Even Mahdia is not all Amerindians, but we won the township there.”
“Every one of these com-
our track record from 2020 to now, they’ll suddenly give up on the PPP? What’s the alternative? They know that,” he said. As such, Jagdeo disabused persons of believing that these communities will suddenly turn on the PPP/C. While he acknowledged that
“We already got the overwhelming support, in opposition, when APNU (A Partnership for National Unity) was running in there and carrying all sort of things. What do you think now? [When] the Toshaos come out, ask them about it. The help they get in their com-
set aside to enhance welfare of Amerindian communities. Of this, $150 million was budgeted in 2025 to support the NTC conference that is being held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC)… an increase from the $136.5 million spent last year for the same purpose.
munities have seen massive development. Some of them got business grants, etc. So, I can tell you what we did. Let APNU tell you. They’ll have a hard time… so I’m looking forward to (sections of the media) putting forward all week, ‘oh this community not very happy’ and all of that. The APA (Amerindian Peoples Association) line all the time. APA is PNC. But they’re engaged in wishful thinking.”
In this year’s budget, a sum of $7.2 billion had been
As part of the PPP/C Administration’s commitment towards the recognition and protection of the collective rights of Amerindian Villages and Communities, this year’s budget also allocated over $80 million for the revision of the 2006 Amerindian Act. In its manifesto in the 2020 General and Regional Elections, it had promised a review of the Amerindian Act after a process of extensive public consultations.
The Amerindian Act of 2006 is the primary legislation that governs the affairs of the Amerindian peo-
ples of Guyana. It provides for the recognition, and protection of collective rights of Amerindian villages and communities in Guyana and the promotion of good governance.
When it comes to land rights for Indigenous populations, the Government had invested US$900,000 in the Amerindian Land Titling (ALT) Project in 2024, underscoring its commitment to addressing historical land tenure issues and promoting Indigenous rights.
The expenditure formed part of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry’s $800 million budgetary allocation for that year. Between 2020 and 2024 alone, more than 21 land titles were issued. In 2024, the Government issued two certificates of title, granted six absolute land grants, and successfully conducted seven demarcation exercises.
Newly-constructed road through Karaudarnau Village, South Rupununi
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, May 19 – 21:55h-23:25h and Tuesday, May 20 –22:55h-00:25h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, May 19 – 08:30h-10:00h and Tuesday, May 20 –09:45h-11:15h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY
Heavy to light rain showers with instances of thunder are expected during the day and at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.
Winds: North-Easterly to South-Easterly between 1.34 metres and 3.13 metres.
High Tide: 08:55h and 21:46h reaching maximum heights of 2.29 metres and 2.18 metres.
Low Tide: 15:08h reaching a minimum height of 0.91 metre.
NBS instructed to increase mortgage lending limit – Pres Ali
President Dr Irfaan Ali has announced that as part of its commitment to improved living standards for workers in Guyana, the New Building Society (NBS) will be increasing its lending limit while ensuring that interest rates remain low; making home ownership even easier for the population.
The President made this announcement during a labour day brunch at State House on Sunday, where he assured workers that under his Government, they will continue to benefit from increased wages and other benefits.
“At 9:45 am, I instructed the Minister of Finance to write to the NBS and to in-
give you that. The People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government. Do you want improved retirement benefits? Do you want continuous
crease their loan limit to $30 million with the guarantee that their interest rate on loans $30 million and below for housing will be 5 per cent maximum,” the President declared.
According to President Ali, this is among the raft of measures the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government will be rolling out for working class Guyanese. He therefore urged those at the labour brunch and around the country to vote wisely.
“Do you want a higher standard of living? Then you know who you can trust to
increases in your old age pension?” President Ali asked.
“For greater and more improved retirement benefits? You can trust the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic Government. You want
continuous increases in your disposable income? You want more cash grants? You want more subsidies? Then you know who you can trust to give you more cash grants, more ‘Because we care’ grants, more transportation and children grants.”
A few years back, President Ali had revealed that there has been a 41.25 per cent growth in lending for home ownership and house construction from 2020 to 2023. This figure has steadily increased over the years.
One of the measures that has had a positive impact on mortgages has been the mortgage interest relief, which the PPP/C Government had increased from $15 million to $30 million. It was announced last year that almost 17,000 home owners had benefitted, with over $2.7 billion going back into their pockets.
Mortgage interest relief is a tax refund from the
Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) that reduces the amount of interest paid by a homeowner on their mortgage. The initiative was introduced in Guyana back in 2013 under the then President Donald Ramotar led PPP/C Government.
Additionally, with the encouragement of the state, several banks have also been implementing promotions aimed at easing the process of home ownership for customers. Among those measures were the Demerara Bank Limited’s, “A Loan That Brings You Home” promotion.
This had allowed customers submitting and obtaining loan approvals to enjoy several benefits, including waiver of processing fees, 50 per cent waiver of attorney fees, waiver of site inspection fees, competitive equity contribution, and no anticipatory interest on principal payments. Meanwhile, GBTI had launched its “Dream Big –We’ll Take Care of The Rest” promotion, offering reduced interest rates to aid persons seeking financial assistance to buy, build or complete their new homes, or for persons wishing to renovate their homes.
Citizens Bank had implemented its “My Time Home Mortgage” promotion, offering prospective homeowners the chance to benefit from interest rates as low as 3.5 per cent, reduced loan fees, insurance premiums, and a maximum of 30 years to repay.
President Dr Irfaan Ali
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Values for a market economy
Some Opposition politicians have blamed the recent looting, arson and other anti-social behaviour by groups describing themselves as “Scrapeheads/ Scrapes” as a failure of our market economy. The following description of the market economy by the Federal Reserve Bank in St Louis shows that individuals have to take more responsibility for their success or failure. “A market economy is an economic system in which individuals own most of the resources – land, labour, and capital – and control their use through voluntary decisions made in the marketplace. It is a system in which the Government plays a small role. In this type of economy, two forces – self-interest and competition – play a very important role.
Why do you go to work? Why do you go to school? There may be many reasons, but at their core you probably go to work and school, because you are self-interested. To be selfinterested simply means that you seek your own personal gain. You go to work, because you want to get paid so you can buy the things you want. You go to school, so you can get a better job someday and earn more money to buy the things you want. In fact, most of the economic activity we see around us is the result of self-interested behaviour.
Why does the baker choose to bake? The answer is selfinterest. The baker wants to earn enough money to feed his family and buy the things he wants and the most effective way he has found to do that is to bake bread for you. In fact, his bread has to be good enough and the service friendly enough that you are willing to give up your money freely in exchange for his bread. The baker, while serving his selfinterest, has produced a commodity that is very valuable to you. The miracle of a market system is that self-interest produces behaviour that benefits others.
Is being self-interested greedy? Is it immoral? While the term self-interest has negative connotations, it does not necessarily imply greedy or immoral behaviour. Selfinterest just means that you seek your goals. In fact, your self-interest might lead you to study hard for your Maths test, give money to your favourite charity, or volunteer at a local school.
Doesn't self-interest lead to price gouging, corruption and cheating? Sometimes it does, but most often it is held in check by competition. Because other self-interested people are competing in the marketplace, my self-interest is held in check. For example, if I were to increase the price of my bread too much, you would likely buy bread from my competitors. Thus, competition is the regulator, a check on self-interest because it restrains my ability to take advantage of my customers.
Adam Smith described the opposing, but complementary forces of self-interest and competition as the “invisible hand”. While producers and consumers are not acting with the intent of serving the needs of others or society, they do. When you work, your goal is to earn money, but in the process you provide a valuable product or service that benefits others and society. The amazing part of this process is that there is very little Government control. The bread you buy at the store arrived as the result of hundreds of self-interested people cooperating without a government bread agency managing production at each step along the way. In the words of Adam Smith, it's as if they were being guided by an invisible hand that guided resources to their most valued use.
The discussion of self-interest and competition usually results in a discussion of the proper role of government regulation. Some see a market economy as largely selfregulating, assuming there are enough firms competing in the market to be a check on self-interest. Others point to examples of fraud where competition has failed to be an adequate check on self-interest – they argue that government must take a more active role regulating economic activity.”
Our Opposition must debate governmental strategy, not encourage anti-social behaviour.
Will we ever see despots like Putin in court? It’s unlikely –and that’s the West’s fault too
By Simon TiSdall
It’s tempting to hope the establishment last week of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, to give its full name, will lead to the speedy trial and indefinite incarceration of Vladimir Putin and senior Russian leaders. After all, the new court is backed by about 40 countries, including the UK, plus the EU and Council of Europe. And only fools like Donald Trump are confused about who the aggressor is in this conflict.
Sadly, this appealing notion has scant basis in reality. Ducking peace talks and dodging responsibility for the war he started, a smirking Putin manspreads smugly in the safety of the Kremlin. He also hides behind the outdated convention that serving Heads of State enjoy legal immunity. The bottom line is unchanging: Russia will ignore the new tribunal, just as it ignores arrest warrants for Putin over alleged war crimes brought by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
This lawless state of affairs is intolerable. So why is it tolerated? While the Ukraine tribunal sets no time limit on punishing aggression, other factors help Putin to evade justice. One is that autocratic allies like China’s Xi Jinping, right-wing extremists like Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu and powerful States like the US also reject international jurisdiction, fearing it may constrain or ensnare them. Netanyahu is another unrepentant ICC indictee who, like Putin, remains at large.
International law – comprising UN-endorsed rules, treaties, conventions and standards – is the foundation stone of the post-1945 global order. It assumes ever greater importance as the world grows more disordered. Yet everywhere, or so it seems, its principles, tenets, institutions and practitioners are challenged, flouted and undermined by politicians and governments whose duty is to uphold it. Whatever consensus previously existed is collapsing.
The days when nations could sit down together and agree the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as in 1948, are over. Even then, the declaration wasn’t truly universal, in that only a minority of the world’s coun-
tries – 48 UN Member States – backed it. Now a majority blatantly ignores it. Special tribunals have successfully prosecuted war crimes in 1945 – the Nuremberg trials of Nazi leaders – and in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. But it is a typically convoluted, costly and slow-moving process. Tribunals suffer similar problems to the ICC and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague (the UN “world court”) – namely, fracturing support among influential states led by authoritarian, anti-democratic figures. Such explanations and excuses are no comfort to bombed and starving residents of Gaza, who, according to the UN’s aid chief, Tom Fletcher, face an incipient genocide. He urged the UN Security Council to intervene immediately. The “corrosive and infectious” degradation of international humanitarian law in Gaza was undermining decades of progress on civilian protection, Fletcher said. “Humanity, the law, and reason must prevail.”
Few beyond Israel will doubt the justice of his plea. But the unreformed Security Council, guardian of the UN charter and the Geneva conventions governing the “laws of war”, is chronically divided on this and other major global issues. Its ineffectiveness exacerbates the crisis in international law enforcement. It’s pointless seeking justice there.
Similarly, South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the ICJ is groundbreaking – but may take years to be resolved, if it ever is. ICC investigations have not, and will not, save desperate people in Myanmar, Afghanistan or Sudan from prolonged additional suffering. Welcome though it is, the Ukraine tribunal risks becoming a fig leaf for the collective failure to swiftly halt an indisputably illegal war.
Legal redress may be sought in other ways, through so-called hybrid courts (as in Sierra Leone and Cambodia), or via national courts that assume “universal jurisdiction”. French and German courts, for example, have prosecuted former Syrian regime torturers, on the principle that such crimes harm the international order. This approach is underpinned by the UN’s 2005 “responsibility to protect” doctrine, which requires States
to act to prevent mass atrocity crimes. Trouble is, most States neglect most such responsibilities most of the time.
Worse still, as Amnesty International’s annual report, published last month, notes, some Governments “actively undermine” the quest for international justice. Trump, a serial lawbreaker and convicted felon, has pilloried the ICC and sanctioned its officials. Hungary hosted Netanyahu in April when, in all honour, it should have arrested him. Countries in the global south felt it necessary to create the Hague Group this year to protect the ICJ and ICC against arbitrary assaults on their authority.
Defiance of international law grows fiercer as demands to observe it intensify. Dictators and authoritarian regimes rarely stick to the rules. Yet democratic States such as Britain and the US, which should set an example, often do the opposite – most notoriously with the precedent-setting, illegal 2003 invasion of Iraq.
The UK is arguing in court that supplying Israel with components for combat jets used in Gaza is acceptable, because, it claims, there’s no proof that genocide is occurring there. Such shameless sophistry ignores Britain’s unambiguous legal obligation, under the genocide convention, to prevent and pre-empt genocide – not hang about until it has already happened.
It’s not all downhill. Significant victories have been won. Putin and Netanyahu were indicted. Public awareness of war crimes and crimes against humanity is rising. Other transgressors face a reckoning, sooner or later. Perhaps Ukraine really will obtain justice. For this epic struggle is raging everywhere, reflecting contested, transformational shifts in the global order and balance of power.
Put simply, it’s a struggle to do what’s right. At its heart lies not criminal wrongdoing but huge moral confusion among political leaders, their generals, and followers. Without respect for law, human societies, however configured, cannot succeed. Peaceful coexistence ceases. All values, all security are lost. What’s left is the law of the jungle. (The Guardian) (Simon Tisdall is a Guardian foreign affairs commentator)
A new view along the East Bank Demerara road is the upcoming overpass for the new Demerara River bridge, as Guyana sees a surge in transformative projects throughout the country
Guyana partners with GGGI, UK PACT programme to strengthen climate tracking ...aimed
at improving sustainable forest management,
The Government of Guyana, in partnership with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and with support from the United Kingdom Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK PACT) programme, recently launched the project “Strengthening and Enhancing Capacities of Guyana’s MRVS.”
The project aims to expand Guyana’s Monitoring, Reporting and Verification Systems (MRVS) to improve climate reporting, sustainable forest management and access to carbon financing.
According to a GGGI press release, the UK PACT programme is funded by the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) through the UK's International Climate Finance Programme. It supports countries in their ef-
forts to reduce emissions and achieve their vision for tackling climate change.
Working alongside the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) as the main Government agency, the project will increase the country’s reporting capacities of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals, by covering all land use activities and ecosystems, including mangrove forests.
Through a more robust MRVS that fully captures data from land use, land use change, and forestry (LULUCF) sector, the project is expected to contribute to the sustainable management of about 33,000 hectares of forests and potentially mobilising an estimated £46 million in climate finance, the release noted.
By improving data analysis capabilities, the initiative will also support policy decisions and compliance with global climate report-
ing processes. This in turn will support attracting more investments in resilience for Guyana. Further, project activities are expected to assist in the advancement of Guyana’s National Climate Commitments (NDCs), maintaining low rates of emissions, and raising climate awareness.
“The Guyana Forestry Commission is pleased to partner with the Global Green Growth Institute and the UK PACT programme to advance Guyana’s national Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification System. Through the work being led by the Guyana Forestry Commission and other Government agencies, we are reinforcing Guyana’s leadership in low-carbon development and ensuring that our forests continue to deliver value for all Guyanese,” stated Edward Goberdhan, Guyana’s Commissioner of Forests as he emphasised the project’s impact on ad-
finance access
vancing the Government’s commitment on forests and sustainability. The British High Commissioner to Guyana H.E. Jane Miller, while speaking about the project at a recent workshop in Georgetown, reflected on the UK’s longstanding alliance with Guyana on climate efforts and forest stewardship.
“Guyana should be proud to maintain more than 85 per cent forest cover while experiencing rapid growth,” she stated.
Another key area of the project is strengthening institutional capacity, where efforts will focus on streamlining data sharing and enhancing coordination in the existing MRVS framework developed in Guyana’s partnership for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+).
“This initiative will significantly expand Guyana’s ability to monitor and manage its land and forest resources while enhancing transparency and accountability in climate finance,” said Daniel MuñozSmith, GGGI’s Caribbean Representative. He added, “By expanding MRVS capabilities, we are not only advancing carbon finance readiness but also paving the way for a more sustainable and climate-resilient future.”
GGGI will continue to engage stakeholders, fostering awareness and syn-
Justice for Adriana
Dear Editor,
The angry mob cried, "Dey murder d lil girl " and "We want justice for Adriana." Those were the frenzied noises from the madding crowd as they went on a rampage through the streets of Tuschen and as far away as Agricola, Belladrum and other hotspots. They burned tyres, derelict vehicles, blocked roads, looted supermarkets of private citizens who had nothing to do with Adrianna's death; others received severe beatings. It was mayhem in the streets.
The din continued, reaching a fever pitch crescendo when Adrianna's dead body floated up from the pool. The sustained noises turned to ‘Who killed her, how did she die and when that took place?’ When her body floated up from that pool, the questions start coming: ‘How did she appear in the pool, did she drown there or was she
killed – in this case sacrificed – then thrown into the pool?
Then, drowning by natural causes such as an accidental death is not a cause – she was murdered.
So far, the speculation is that of murder, so when you would have established a conjecture, or an opinion formed on the basis of incomplete information, there is only one way to determine the cause of death, that is, an autopsy.
That requires a scientific examination of the remains to ascertain the cause of death. Now, the family was given the opportunity to choose an international pathologist, while the government added two others, all internationally recognized scientists.
After hours of detailed examination, the cause of death was given by unanimous declaration, that Adrianna died from drowning; a murder cause was categorically ruled out.
Now that the qualified,
scientific conclusion has been arrived at, those who promulgated the murder theory are left in a quandary: they have to piece together evidence that can corroborate their story.
That is a difficult place to be because the pathologists report is conclusive evidence, murder is hearsay theory which is not evidence that can stand scrutiny.
The voodoo theory means that they have to give verifiable evidence of that being a cause.
Where were the guardians when all of this was going on? Were the grandmother and aunt absentee guardians? Were they imbibing that their recollection became nebulous? Who formulated the voodoo seance story? Was it the grandmother or the Police? What was reported to the police?
We are told that the uncle of the dead girl works at The DD Hotel as a Disc Jockey;
could he give us information as to what goes on there as it relates to children being sacrificed in a satanic ritual? If so, then why would he recommend that place as a safe recreational space for his niece to go swimming?
As being rumoured, who saw Adriana leaving the pool, and with whom?
As we enter the investigative stage, these are questions the guardians would have to answer. Family members would have to come forward with verifiable evidence as to what they saw, witnessed or felt at The DD Resort.
In conclusion, what do they mean when the cry is made "Justice for Adrianna"? Is it honest, normal, aboveboard justice, or is it mob justice; one that is filled with hearsay street news spin? Come on, let's be real now.
Yours sincerely, Neil Adams
ergies for implementation during the project period, until its completion planned in December 2026. Key activities are being planned for roll out such as setting quantifiable forest-related NDC targets and developing a tracking tool for reporting on Policy and Measures impacts (PaMs).
About GGGI GGGI was founded as a treaty-based international, inter-Governmental organisation in 2012 at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development. GGGI supports its Member States in transitioning their economies toward a green growth model that simultaneously achieves poverty reduction, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and
economic growth.
With 51 Member States and 29 Partner countries and regional integration organisations in the process of accession, GGGI delivers programmes and projects in over 53 countries. These initiatives encompass developing innovative green growth solutions, technical support, capacity building, policy planning & implementation, and assistance in building a pipeline of bankable green investment projects, project financing, investments, and knowledge sharing. GGGI's work contributes to its Member States’ efforts to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement.
00:00 Sign off 06:00 Cartoons
Representatives of GGGI, UK PACT programme, GFC and others at a project workshop in Georgetown, where British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller delivered remarks
The project was recently launched at a workshop in Georgetown
Page Foundation
Maths
Govt warns of sinister political motive behind fearmongering Venezuelan propaganda
– urges citizens to rely on official channels for border controversy updates
Despite the increased tensions between Guyana and Venezuela over the latter’s unjust claims to Guyana’s Essequibo territory, there are some who have resorted to sharing Venezuelan propaganda, prompting a sharp rebuke from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
In a statement on Sunday, the Ministry called out these “unpatriotic” acts, which it warned feeds into the Venezuelan narrative and only increases tension. As a matter of fact, the Ministry warned that some of these propaganda videos are not even current, but are outdated.
“The Government of Guyana has noted the unpatriotic and sustained efforts of some, in spreading Venezuelan propaganda; some of which is dated, some not related to Guyana and some totally fabricated,” the Ministry said.
The Ministry also warned that these posts are no doubt being generated with an ulterior political motive, though it stopped short of pointing fingers.
They did warn Guyanese however, to avoid falling prey to this “alternative unpatriotic agenda” by relying on official channels to get information on the border controversy.
“These posts are gener-
ated to create unease, tension and unnecessary worry among the population, no doubt with an ulterior political motive. We urge Guyanese to rely only on official communications on this matter,” the Ministry added.
Back in December 2023, Presidents Irfaan Ali of Guyana and Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela signed the Argyle Declaration in
Motorcycle theft case dismissed; accused a no-show in court ...currently
on remand for another similar theft
Acase involving 23-year-old Shawn Inniss was dismissed on Friday by Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court after the virtual complainant indicated that he no longer wished to proceed and only wanted his motorcycle returned.
However, Inniss was notably absent from the courtroom for that hearing. His attorney, Gwendolyn Bristol, informed the court that her client was unable to attend because he had been remanded to the Lusignan Prison in connection with a separate motorcycle theft case.
Bristol said she learned of his detention after speaking with family members, who relayed that Inniss’ mother confirmed his remand.
Magistrate McGusty, in response, expressed concern that Inniss had again found himself before the courts on a similar charge, despite still being tied to an earlier matter that was only now being dismissed.
The now dismissed motorcycle theft charge stems from an alleged incident on March 20 at Robb Street, Georgetown, where Inniss is accused of stealing a motor-
cycle valued at $450,000 belonging to Anvesh Bathani. Inniss had appeared in court earlier in the week and pleaded not guilty.
During that hearing, his attorney said Inniss had previously worked at the business where the motorcycle was taken. She also noted that Inniss’ mother reported her son suffers from mental instability and frequently smokes marijuana; factors which may have led him to believe he was still employed there.
It was reportedly his mother who contacted police after noticing the stolen motorcycle at their home. This led to his arrest and subsequent charge.
The prosecution had opposed bail, stating that Inniss attempted to alter the motorcycle’s appearance by spray-painting it black in an effort to disguise it.
In his defence, Inniss told the court he took the motorcycle to his mother’s house for safekeeping, fearing that individuals he had past conflicts with would steal it from the area. He claimed he had done so previously while working at the location.
The virtual complainant in the recent case told the court he would accept compensation if the motorcycle was repaired and repainted, but was unable to estimate the cost of those repairs at the time. It is alleged that the virtual complainant was compensated.
This is not Inniss’ first brush with the law. In 2019, he was remanded along with two others for the alleged robbery of two cell phones on Camp Street, during which the victim was reportedly assaulted. They were positively identified and denied bail at the time.
It remains unclear under what circumstances Inniss was released from prison following that earlier charge.
Argyle, St Vincent and the Grenadines. This agreement was facilitated by regional leaders, including Prime Ministers Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines and Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica, with support from Caricom, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Brazil, and the United Nations (UN).
Key provisions of the Argyle Declaration include a commitment to non-aggression, the peaceful resolution framework and the establishment of a joint commission comprising Foreign Ministers and technical experts from both countries was to be formed
to address mutually agreed matters.
Despite the provisions, Venezuela continues to use aggressive tactics against Guyana, including plans to unlawfully elect a Governor and legislative council of “Guayana Esequiba State”, which is the name the Spanish-speaking nation has given to Guyana’s Essequibo region.
In January 2025, the Nicolás Maduro regime had announced plans to hold elections in the Essequibo region, which is two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass, on May 25, 2025 – something which Guyana wrote the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in March to have blocked.
The World Court, which is hearing the case to settle the decades-long border controversy between the two South American neighbours, subsequently issued an order that Venezuela must refrain from conducting or preparing to conduct elections in Guyana’s Essequibo region.
It also reaffirmed the provisional measures issued by the Court on December 1, 2023, which states that “…Venezuela shall refrain from taking any action which would modify the situation that currently prevails in
the territory in dispute, whereby the Co-operative Republic of Guyana administers and exercises control over that area; and (2) Both Parties shall refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute before the Court or make it more difficult to resolve.”
However, the Venezuelan Government had said no international pressure, judicial blackmail or foreign court could make it back down, and called on Guyana to engage in direct negotiation and comply with the Geneva Agreement.
In response to Caracas, the Foreign Ministry called Venezuela’s reaction to the additional provisional measures issued by the World Court “unfortunate” and shut down, once again, any idea of bilateral talks between the two neighbouring states.
In fact, the Foreign Ministry went on to remind Venezuela that the case pending before the ICJ is a decision of the UN Secretary General in accordance with the 1966 Geneva Agreement on the settlement of the controversy – an Agreement to which both Guyana and Venezuela are parties.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Shawn Inniss
Bank fraud accused remains behind bars as case stalls
– court hears prosecution still waiting on bank statements
The $36 million bank fraud case involving 23-year-old Shemaiah Ryan, known as “Banker”, has hit yet another delay, as the prosecution told the court on Friday that it is still awaiting critical documents from the bank in question.
The matter was called before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
Ryan, who remains incarcerated, did not appear in court. The prosecutor informed the court that the outstanding bank statements are essential for disclosure and requested additional time.
Defence attorney, Dominick Bess, voiced his frustration with the delay, noting that at the previous court hearing, the prosecution had similarly claimed that an investigation was ongoing. He argued that the matter had been under investigation for some time and insisted that the prosecution had “more than enough time” to produce the necessary disclosures.
Bess also requested a peremptory date—a legal con-
text that signifies a final or absolute date, after which further delay or reconsideration is not permitted. It's often used to set the deadline for an action, such as a trial date, meaning that no further postponements will be granted on the party's request.
But Magistrate McGusty declined. She stated that, according to court records, the case was first brought before the court on April 4, and she was not prepared to grant the request at this stage. The matter was adjourned to June 6, 2025, for disclosure and further proceedings.
Ryan was arrested on
March 31 by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department’s fraud unit after a wanted bulletin had been issued for him. He now faces 25 counts of simple larceny under the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, and 23 counts of conspiracy to commit computer-related fraud, under the Cyber Crime Act of 2018.
The charges stem from an elaborate scheme in which more than $36 million was siphoned from the joint savings account of Bernadette and Carl Peterkin. The couple had never signed up for internet banking nor received any ATM cards from their bank. However, investigators say that on September 2, 2022, Ryan and others allegedly created a fake national ID card using Carl Peterkin’s personal information. A man then used that ID to impersonate Peterkin at a Camp Street branch of a commercial bank, where he successfully requested an ATM card and online banking access.
Shortly afterward, Ryan reportedly contacted two women—Donna Edwards and her daughter, Chelsea
Edwards—whom he had known for years. Claiming to be a government contractor tied up with roadwork in Berbice, he asked to use their accounts to transfer money, allegedly telling them he was unable to travel to Georgetown to make withdrawals. Investigators say the women agreed, withdrew the funds, and handed them over to Ryan.
Between September 2 and 19, a total of $17,997,000 was transferred to Chelsea Edwards’ account in 13 transactions, while $13,618,000 was sent to Donna Edwards’ account between September 7 and 27.
During this period, Ryan also reportedly used the fraudulently obtained ATM card to make 27 cash withdrawals from ATMs across Georgetown, totalling $4,829,000. These transactions were captured on CCTV and are believed to show Ryan himself conducting the withdrawals.
Police have not yet indicated whether the Edwards women will be charged or if other suspects are being pursued. The investigation remains ongoing.
Duo nabbed with cannabis, firearm, ammunition
– as separate operation nabs suspect with over 1kg of cannabis in car
The firearm and drugs which were discovered
On Friday, May 16, officers attached to the Customs AntiNarcotic Unit (CANU) acting on information received, conducted an operation in the vicinity of the Royal Hotel on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, where they intercepted two individuals.
A subsequent search of the suspects revealed eight parcels containing a quantity of leaves, seeds, and
stems suspected to be cannabis, and a CZ pistol with 19 live rounds. The suspects were arrested and escorted to CANU headquarters along with the suspected narcotic, which later tested positive for cannabis and weighed 3.810 kilograms.
Investigations are ongoing.
Meanwhile, in a separate operation on Friday,
Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) Officers, acting on information received, conducted an operation in the vicinity of the Mikey Restaurant at Old Road, Parika, East Bank Essequibo, where they intercepted a motor car.
Rising… …temperature
And your Eyewitness ain’t talking about global warming!! On his mind are the tensions being ratcheted up in our dear Mudland following the riots spawned – supposedly to “protest” sloth in finding young Adrianna’s “murderer”. Never mind we first should find out whether she drowned in the pool or was the victim of foul play elsewhere. Nah…there’s a constituency out there who’re convinced it was murder most foul – and are screaming bloody murder that nobody’s been fingered yet!!
Now it might very well BE that the unfortunate child’s life was snuffed out by someone. But just screaming that’s the case ain’t gonna make it so to have the law take its course. What it’ll do is make the folks who insist it was murder, angry. And in Guyana – as we know to our cost – when an ethnic element can be shoehorned into the mix – as it’s been- our political types are very practised in harnessing such anger for political purposes!! And so said; so done – hence the present (political) temperature rising!!
So on Saturday afternoon we saw – thanks to social media – a school in the compound of the East Ruimveldt Community Center ground in Georgetown burnt to the said ground. No one thought much of it – just shaking of heads that the kids in the area would be inconvenienced. Then just past midnight, a home-made (channa?) bomb –which has become a staple in our conflicts since the 1960s! – was hurled at the Police Outpost in the same community. Luckily it just blew off the back gate – and woke up folks in the area. Strike two – as the Yanks would say.
And then a little while later – not too far away on Mandela Ave – another bomb was thrown at the GPL Substation there!! Now from what your Eyewitness knows from passing that substation rather regularly, there are fuel storage tanks that could’ve been set ablaze!! And what a blaze that would’ve been – visible for miles!! Luckily, whoever threw the bomb was no prospect for fielding on the boundary – and as with the E Ruimveldt Police Outpost, just some innocuous damage was inflicted. But it was strike three, innit??
Well, your Eyewitness thinks so. As he’s so often declared from his dissolute youth looking at Sean Connery’s Bond in Goldfinger: “Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action”!! And with the Opposition out in force excusing previous overt riots and arson – supposedly as explained above – to bring “justice” for Adrianna, your Eyewitness is convinced this is enemy (of Guyana’s peace and stability) action that’s gonna escalate going forward!!
Bond liked his Martini “shaken not stirred” – but seems our Opposition’s determined to shake AND stir our body politic!!
…electricity loss
One nugget the IMF team that recently visited left us in their Report, is that a whopping 25% of our generated electricity is lost in transmission!! Imagine that!! A substantial portion of that is due to the physics of electricity moving through electric wires at high voltages – and losing some of that energy through heat. The longer the distance, the greater the heat and loss – and unfortunately, we’re a very large country – unlike islands like Barbados and TT! It's for this reason that the government’s gonna be spending so much money on transmission lines from the Wales GtE plant that’s being built.
A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed two parcels containing a quantity of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis.
The suspect was arrested and escorted to CANU headquarters along with the suspected narcotic, which tested positive for cannabis and weighed 1.034 kilograms.
But in Guyana there’s another loss – as far as the bottom line is concerned – in that there’s substantial theft of electricity by customers!! This is individual but there are certain communities notorious for having illegal connections!! Often it’s with the connivance of GPL workers who’re bribed to allow the electricity to bypass the meter. Laying new transmission lines ain’t gonna solve this source of electricity loss.
…tides
One of the mantras in the neo-liberal economics that dominates the present world order, is “rising tides will lift all ships”. But the analogy sends a false message that we will automatically rise. Actually, we gotta paddle our canoe!!
Shemaiah Ryan, known as "Banker"
Cannabis found in the car
Private Sector must lead in quest to strengthen regional food security – Ambassador Prendergast
As Caricom heads of government and stakeholders work assiduously to make the region food secure, a call to action was made to the private sector, recognizing the important role the sector can play in making the food security dream a reality.
The private sector in the Caribbean Community (Caricom) was called upon to take the lead in strengthening regional food security, driving economic development, and stimulating investment in the agriculture sector.
Ambassador David Prendergast, Director, Sectoral Programmes at the Caricom Secretariat, underlined the private sector’s role while speaking on May 13, at the opening of the Caribbean Poultry Association’s (CPA) Eighth International Technical Symposium and Exhibition in Jamaica.
He delivered remarks before the keynote address by Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica. Floyd Green, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Jamaica, and CPA President, Mr. Hamant Mahabir, also spoke at the opening ceremony.
“This symposium underscores the fundamental importance of the poultry industry to our Region. Poultry is, without question, the most consumed meat in all Caricom countries, accounting for over
75% of total meat consumption. The industry’s role is absolutely critical in strengthening regional food security, driving economic development, creating employment, fostering intra-regional trade, and stimulating investment in the agricultural sector,” Amb. Prendergast said.
He added, “We believe that the private sector, led by organisations like the CPA, must be at the forefront of this effort.
The Region’s role is to provide a conducive ecosystem that fosters and encourages economic growth and development, as well as developing policies and programmes that promote increased intra-regional trade in poultry, which will, in turn, stimulate essential cross-border investment and production. We are actively implementing the Regional Trade in Animals
and Animal Products, and we are anticipating that the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) will approve a pre-clearance mechanism and framework from which the sector will benefit.”
Mr. Shaun Baugh Programme Manager, Agriculture and Agroindustrial Development at the Secretariat, is also participating in the three-day symposium and made a presentation during a technical session on 14 May on ‘Unlocking the Potential for Value-Added Poultry in Caricom’.
<<< Challenges affecting the region’s food security efforts >>>
Uncertainties in the global trade arena and impacts from natural disasters in the Region are among the factors that have necessitated an extension to the regional food se-
curity initiative.
The 25 by 2025 Initiative, which targeted the reduction of the Region’s more than $6B food import bill by 25 percent by year-end, has now been extended to 2030. New goals have also been added to the Initiative.
Dr. Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana and Lead Head of Government with responsibility for agriculture and food security in the Caricom Quasi Cabinet, made the announcement earlier this year on Friday, 21 February 2025, at the end of the 48th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) in Barbados.
While acknowledging the significant progress that was made to date under the Initiative, the President had pointed to the devastating conse-
quences of Hurricane Beryl on the agriculture sector and continuing global supply chain disruptions.
Given the current situation, he said then, that the Region has established a “holistic framework” to build a resilient, sustainable, and competitive industry and food system that will encourage participation, particularly, of young people and women.
Food security dashboard
In a significant step toward bolstering food security in the Region, Caricom, in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), launched the Caribbean Real-Time Food Security Monitoring Dashboard.
The digital platform, unveiled in April, offers live updates on food security conditions across 11 Caribbean nations: Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Data is being collected through random digit dialling to consumers. The surveys will collect data on demographics, food security, livelihoods, coping strategies, local market conditions, and respondents’ primary concerns.
This approach supports rich collection to provide valuable insights into the diverse issues people are facing across different linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
The Dashboard also shows other factors related to food security, such as weather, hazards risks, population and macro-economic situation.
This will contribute to more informed national planning and more strategic engagement with international development agencies.
Governments will be better positioned to identify opportunities for programmes and measures to enhance food security and develop more resilient food systems.
Fire at CJIA causes temporary disruption; operations resume
Afire broke out in the check-in area of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Sunday, causing temporary disruptions to flight operations and prompting a swift emergency response. Operations resumed several hours later.
The incident occurred around midday when a ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit ignited, producing smoke that quickly filled the departure lounge, as fire embers dropped to the floor from the ceiling, creating a small fire pile while fire alarms blared.
At the time, check-in procedures were underway for Caribbean Airlines (CAL) Flight BW527 and a Suriname Airways(SLM) flight.
Passengers and airport staff were promptly evacuated as fire alarms activated and emergency protocols were initiated.
The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) responded promptly, containing the blaze before it could spread further. No injuries were reported, and
the fire was isolated from the airport’s electrical distribution system, allowing for the restoration of power and the resumption of flight operations later in the day.
Passengers were allowed back into the terminal, and check-in and boarding activities recommenced with minimal residual delays. Airport authorities confirmed that all systems were restored, and flights resumed their regular schedules later in the afternoon.
The incident caused minor disruptions to the CAL and SLM outbound flights.
CJIA’s emergency systems, including fire alarms, emergency lighting, and fire shutter doors, functioned effectively, facilitating the safe evacuation of all individuals present
In an official statement issued Sunday, CJIA assured the travelling public
Firearm
that safety remains its top priority.
“We appreciate the cooperation and understanding of our passengers. The swift response of emergency teams, coupled with the effectiveness of our systems, helped us avert what could have been a more serious event,” the release stated.
This is not the first time CJIA has had to respond to a fire-related emergency. In 2009, a small blaze in the generator room caused a temporary power outage. And in 2015, three firefighters were injured when a fire truck overturned on the airport’s runway.
In light of this, to bolster its emergency response capacity, in May 2024, the GFS announced plans to establish a new outpost at the airport to enhance emergency response times. The proposed facility is now lo-
cated in a hangar south of the London Army Base, strategically positioned to support the expanded runway and increased airport operations.
The establishment of this outpost is part of a broader initiative by the Ministry of Home Affairs to bolster the nation’s security sector. The 2024 National Budget allocated G$4.3 billion to the GFS, with G$505 million earmarked for the refurbishment of existing fire stations and the construction of new ones, including the CJIA outpost.
The GFS is conducting a thorough investigation to determine the precise cause of the recent fire, as an initial CJIA press release noted that the fire is suspected to be electrical in nature.
Passengers are advised to check with their respective airlines for updates on any residual delays.
and ammunition
in Corentyne home
Police of Regional Division #6, on Friday, May 16, seized an illegal .38 revolver and 7 matching rounds of ammunition at the Alness Village, Corentyne, Berbice home of a 56-year-old woman.
Ranks were at the time conducting a police operation when they visited the area and a search of the residence unearthed the firearm and ammunition.
The woman, her 66-yearold husband and their 28-year-old son, all of the same address, were cautioned and arrested in connection with firearm and ammunition seizure. They remain in custody as investigations continue.
The aftermath of the fire at CJIA
Finance Minister commends ICT graduates for recognising the value of acquiring skill
– encourages them to keep upgrading skills for self-advancement, better life
Dr Ashni Singh, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, on Saturday delivered the feature address at the graduation ceremony in honour of participants completing the Basic Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Training programme, which was conducted by the Industry and Innovation Unit of the Office of the Prime Minister.
The ceremony was held at the No. 56 Primary School, Region Six.
The free training session was for residents of Villages No. 52-64 district in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). Five training sessions have been com -
pleted so far in the Region, with a total of 187 persons completing the training.
During remarks, while emphasising the importance of digital literacy, Dr Singh said that President Irfaan Ali’s Government is committed to rolling out digital solutions to make
life easier for all of the citizens of the country.
He also noted that it is the Government’s vision to get to a point where they achieve universal Information Technology (IT) literacy, with every single citizen being literate in the use of this technolo-
2 men granted bail in separate incidents
Two men who were on Friday charged in separate incidents, were granted bail when they appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
One man is accused of obtaining money under false pretence, and the other of assaulting a child.
Leandro Samaroo, 22, of Lot 5 Dennis Street, Sophia, is accused of defrauding a woman of $300,000 by pretending he was in a position to sell her a food cart. The charge alleges that the incident occurred between February 19 and April 8, 2025, at Dennis Street, Sophia.
Samaroo was not required to plead to the indictable charge. The prosecution did not object to bail but requested that he report to the Brickdam Police Station on a scheduled basis.
Magistrate McGusty
granted Samaroo $150,000 bail with the condition that he report to the station every fourth Friday of the month between 9:00h and 11:00 h. The matter was adjourned to June 6, 2025. In the other unrelated matter, radio personality Alex King of Cummings Park, Georgetown, was charged with unlawfully assaulting a child. The court heard that the alleged as-
sault took place on May 7, 2025, at Austin Street, Campbellville.
King, who identified himself as an employee of 96.1 FM, pleaded not guilty. The prosecution raised no objection to bail, stating that the parties were not previously known to each other. He was released on $10,000 bail, and the matter was adjourned to May 23, 2025.
gy; the training programme offered throughout the country, is in keeping with that vision.
Dr Singh commended the graduates on recognising the value of acquiring the skill, and for making the decision to participate in the training programme. He encouraged them to explore other training pro-
Region 1 men remanded in separate criminal matters
Two men from Region One (Barima-Waini) were remanded to prison last week in unrelated criminal cases: one for murder and the other for drug trafficking, following separate court appearances.
In the first matter, 20-year-old Steve Williams, known as “Short Man”, of Khan Hill, Mabaruma, appeared before the Bartica Magistrates’ Court on Thursday to answer to a murder charge.
Williams is accused of killing Dexter France, also known as ‘Chiney,’ during an altercation on May 11, 2025 at a gold mining camp in the Wrong Turn Backdam, Puruni River, Region Seven.
The court heard that the two men, who were co-workers, were involved in a heated argument when Williams allegedly armed himself with a cutlass and dealt France a fatal chop to the chest.
Williams was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was remanded until July 10, 2025.
France’s identity was confirmed by his brother, after police initially appealed to
the public for help in identifying the body.
A post-mortem conducted by Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh later confirmed that France died from a chop wound to the chest.
Meanwhile, in a separate case, 39-year-old driver, Anthony Dalgetty, of Garrison Hill, Matthews Ridge was also remanded after being charged with drug-related offences.
Dalgetty was arrested on May 13, 2025, at Main Road, Eyelash Backdam, where police reportedly found narcot-
ics in his possession. He appeared virtually before the Matthews Ridge Magistrates’ Court on Friday, and pleaded not guilty to charges of possession of narcotics and possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.
He was denied bail and is scheduled to return to court on June 10, 2025. Both matters are being actively investigated as the courts continue to address serious crimes emerging from Guyana’s hinterland regions.
Alex King
Steve Williams
Leandro Samaroo
Anthony Dalgetty
Pres Ali hosts post-Labour
President Dr Irfaan Ali on Sunday hosted a post-Labour Day brunch for workers on the lawns of State House. Among the attendees were executives, diplomats and members of Government.
Day brunch at State House
National Toshaos Council Conference begins today
...held under the theme "Robust Governance for Sustainable Village Development"
Toshaos from more than 200 Amerindian communities across Guyana will meet at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) for the National Toshaos
Conference (NTC) beginning Monday. The annual event will conclude on Friday, May 23 and is being held under the theme “Robust Governance for Sustainable Village Development.”
The conference is organised by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs in collaboration with the National Toshaos Council.
The National Toshaos
Council is the only constitutionally recognised body that represents the rights and interests of the nation’s first people.
According to a Department of Public
Information (DPI) report, the conference provides elected Amerindian leaders with a platform to directly engage members of Government to discuss areas of development and advocate for initiatives or programmes geared towards the unique needs of their communities.
The NTC will open with a key address by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, followed by cultural presentations, adoption of the NTC agenda, and an interactive engagement session. The remaining days leading up to the close will allow Toshaos to participate in discussions with Ministers from the various sectors, including health, education, housing, infrastructure, and public service, among others.
On the final day, President Ali will return to deliver the closing remarks
to wrap up a successful week of strategic consultations which may lay the groundwork for further collaboration.
Meanwhile, the Government, in its 2025 national fiscal plan allocated funds to support the staging of this year’s conference.
This reflects the Government’s commitment to ensuring the voices of Amerindians are meaningfully represented in national policymaking.
Speaking to the Government’s unwavering commitment, since returning to office in August 2020, billions have been injected into development initiatives across all 240 Amerindian communities.
The intervention is reflected in areas like health, education, infrastructure, housing, water, and electricity.
Sparta Mandir inaugurates 15-foot Hanumanji Murti
The Sparta Madir, Region Two on Sunday inaugurated a 15 foot Hanumanji Murti, a sacred occasion that marks a symbol of unwavering devotion and strength in their faith.
Rain did not deter the devotees at the sacred but festive event, who turned out in numbers for the auspicious occasion, as prayers, chants and cheers filled the air at the unveiling.
Vehicle accident results in some EBD communities without water – GWI
Amotor vehicle accident that occurred over the weekend, has resulted in damages to a Guyana Water Inc (GWI) 6-inch transmission main trench crossing in the vicinity of Pearl, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
As such, the company has advised that the Caledonia Water Treatment Plant is off for repairs to be made to the broken pipeline.
Customers in Garden of Eden; Brickery; Supply; Support; Relief; Land of Canaan; Sarah Johanna; Pearl; Caledonia; Coverden and Den Huevel, areas served by the Caledonia Water Treatment Plant, have seen disruption in their water supply.
According to a social media post by GWI, their technical team has been mobilized, and is working to carry out repairs in the
shortest possible time.
The GWI added that it sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience, and encourages the public to report water disruptions or visibly damaged GWI pipelines and other infrastructure to 227-8701.
It's also advised that persons stay connected to their Facebook page for more updates. Up to the time of writing, no update had been posted.
A section of the audience at the 2024 NTC Conference (DPI photo)
Over 6700 Guyanese to be credentialised at GOAL 2025 graduation
In a remarkable step towards improving access to tertiary education in Guyana, the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) will be hosting its third graduation ceremony on June 9 and 10, 2025, at the National Cultural Centre.
This year’s ceremony carries special significance, as it coincides with the fifth anniversary of GOAL, a national initiative that has transformed access to tertiary education for thousands of Guyanese in every region.
Held under the theme “Enhancing the Nation’s Human Capacity,” the event will spotlight the success stories of 6,712 graduates who have completed programmes across certificate, diploma, degree, and postgraduate levels, in partnership with globally recognised institutions.
Since its inception in 2021, GOAL has focused on upskilling and empowering Guyanese citizens through online learning opportunities, equipping them with globally accredited qualifications that support personal advancement and national development.
According to GOAL, the Get Ready for Opportunity to Work (GROW) Programme will see 1,274 persons graduating; 4,244 persons graduating from certificate programmes; 150 graduates in diploma programmes; 27 persons with an associate degree; 277 graduates receiving their bachelor’s degrees; 90 graduating in postgraduate diplomas, and 920 receiving master’s degrees.
This monumental graduation, GOAL noted, underscores its commitment to supporting Guyanese of all ages and backgrounds in pursuing higher learning, regardless of geographic or economic limitations.
Through scholarships and fully funded programmes, GOAL has provided an unprecedented level of access to quality education from international institutions based in India, the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, and North America.
As GOAL celebrates five years of existence, this graduation ceremony serves not only as a tribute to the academic success of its graduates, but also as a testament to the Government of Guyana’s bold and visionary investment in human capital development.
Meanwhile, in a momentous step towards broad-
ening educational opportunities, GOAL announced a major expansion through strategic partnerships with internationally recognised institutions.
With the inclusion of Atlantic Technological University (ATU) in Ireland, and the New Guyana School (NGS) in collaboration with Ubicua Technology, Guyanese students now have access to a wider range of academic and professional development programmes.
These partnerships mark a milestone in Guyana’s commitment to providing tuition-free, high-quality education to its citizens, and ensuring that students across all ten administrative regions benefit from internationally accredited qualifications.
Since its inception, GOAL has played a transformative role in bridging the
gap between Guyanese students and global educational opportunities.
By offering a broad spectrum of professional certificate, diploma, bachelor’s and master’s programmes, the academy has positioned itself as a leader in accessible higher education. The latest expansion builds on this foundation, introducing courses in crucial and emerging fields such as applied fire safety management, biopharmaceutical processing, bridge engineering, healthcare analytics, and precision agriculture, among others.
These programmes not only enhance individual career prospects but also align with national development goals by equipping the workforce with the skills needed to drive economic growth and innovation.
GOAL’s collaboration
with ATU and NGS is part of a larger initiative that includes partnerships with ten new academic institutions in 2025. The additional partners—Universidad Católica De Murcia in Spain, Western State University in California, QualiTest Inc Medical Laboratory in Guyana, West Africa
and drinking water treatment operations reflects a strategic effort to cultivate expertise in sectors vital to national infrastructure and development. Meanwhile, specialised programmes like professional skills for high-performance sport and electronic and computer engineering address emerging
South America Alliance Inc, Accountancy Training Centre Inc, MJM Accounting and Management Institute, Cacique Inc, and ARKA JAIN University in India— further expand the academy’s reach and diversity of offerings.
This strategic network of institutions underscores GOAL’s commitment to fostering a robust, globally competitive education system in Guyana.
The diverse range of courses offered through these new partnerships reflects an acute awareness of both global and local workforce demands.
The inclusion of programmes such as road and transport engineering, quantity surveying, real estate development and valuation,
industries and technological advancements, ensuring that Guyanese professionals remain competitive in an evolving job market.
As Guyana undergoes rapid economic transformation, particularly with the growth of the oil and gas industry, the need for a highly skilled workforce has never been more pressing. GOAL’s commitment to fostering educational excellence through international partnerships positions the country as a hub for professional development and lifelong learning.
The programme’s continuous expansion signifies a proactive approach to human capital development— one that prioritises both immediate workforce needs and long-term national progress.
President acknowledges role, contribution of workers to development
President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has reaffirmed his Government’s commitment to the rights and welfare of Guyanese workers during a labour brunch at State House in Georgetown on Sunday.
In his address, the President underscored the pivotal role and contribution of workers to Guyana’s development. He assured them of a leadership they can trust.
“We honour your hard work and we will do so not only by words. We will do so by actions, actions that we have proven in the last four years,” the President stated.
The President pledged to uphold and expand the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration’s longstanding commitment to safe-
guarding workers’ democratic rights, improving social conditions, and promoting economic empowerment.
Pointing to some of the Government’s achievements since resuming office in August 2020, the Head of State outlined a slew of measures intended to bolster workers’ income and overall quality of life.
These include a 46.2 per cent increase in public sector wages from 2021 to 2025. Another noteworthy feat is the restoration of the onemonth bonus for members of the disciplined services.
Income tax was also reduced from 28 and 40 per cent to 25 and 35 per cent, respectively.
Additionally, the income tax threshold was doubled from $65,000 in 2020 to $130,000, placing more than $18 billion annually
President Dr Irfaan Ali
in the pockets of more than 60,000 workers countrywide.
The Government has doubled the ceiling on mortgage interest relief for housing loans from $15 million to $30 million to ensure more Guyanese become homeowners. Tax relief for
taxpayers who incur costs of life and medical insurance was also introduced.
For each child, one parent can now claim $10,000 monthly of their income as non-taxable.
Similarly, the first $50,000 monthly overtime income is now non-taxable,
while the first $50,000 income earned monthly from a second job is non-taxable.
Beyond this, the Government has made targeted adjustments to the wages and salaries of specific categories of workers, teachers, health care professionals and members of the discipline services.
Following the wave of economic development, similar interventions were made to increase education allowances to reward those who have obtained higher qualifications relevant to their jobs.
The President further highlighted his Government’s progress in fostering a more robust industrial relations environment, noting that more than 100 collective labour agreements have been signed between employers and trade unions, more than at any
other point in the country’s history.
He also announced plans to establish a special development agency, which focuses on facilitating concessional loans for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and working families as part of a wider drive to boost entrepreneurship and productivity.
“We don’t want to just give you more subsidies and grants, we want to help you to earn more. We want to help you to build small businesses, we want to help you to build greater productivity,” President Ali said.
He further pledged investments in infrastructure, community safety, reliable electricity, and improved public services, as part of the Government’s continued efforts to enhance quality of life across Guyana.
Psychiatrist calls on persons to pay attention to their mental health
...as Reg 5 holds mental health awareness walk for Mental Health Month
Acall is being made for everyone to pay attention to their mental well-being. The call comes from Dr Shion Toney, a psychiatrist at the Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) Health Department.
The department on Saturday held a mental health awareness walk and medical outreach at the Mahaicony Community in Region Five. The event was in observance of Mental Health Month, which is currently being observed under the theme "Turn Awareness into Action."
The psychiatrist explained that the activity was also aimed at bringing awareness to persons who are living in denial; those who are not aware of men-
tal health; and the mental health services available in the region.
Mental health is referred to as a state of mental well-being.
The region, she explained, provides services to assist persons with their mental well-being. These services are available at the Mahaicony Hospital, Fort Wellington Hospital, Rosignol Health Centre and the Hugo Chavez Rehabilitation Centre.
“There are a lot of people in Region Five who still attach a stigma to mental health, and there are also a lot of people who still believe the myth that if something is wrong with you mentally, it is because somebody did something to
them,” she said.
“Most times you would find that people who are affected with a mental condition, they do not have insight into what is going on, unless if it is somebody who has depression or symptoms of depression, is like, feeling sad, low on energy, having suicidal thoughts, and so forth. And if someone can recognise that they are having these symptoms, then they would most likely say, ‘Oh I think that I do have a mental illness’. But you wouldn't find a psychotic person saying ‘You know what? Something is wrong with me’,” she pointed out.
Nevertheless, Dr Toney noted that many persons with mental conditions live normal lives. Some are even
looked up to in society.
“It could be a person who is going to work at the Ministry of ‘X’ or someplace… It is possible that people who go to work regularly, in a Government job, can be mentally challenged. There are a lot of people who have a mental condition, and they are living a normal life. It is not for you and me to know that that person has a mental illness. But they are working in high positions. Some of them are teachers...we have lawyers, we have doctors… and they live a normal life, and they go about their daily activities as per normal.”
She pointed out that one of the challenges in treating mental health is the stigma attached to the condition.
“If someone sees someone else going to see the psychiatrist, most likely they would say, ’I didn't know that that person has a mental illness, but they wouldn't say it in that way. They would say, ’Oh, I didn't know that that person is mad. Or I didn't know that something was wrong with that person's nerve. And they wouldn't say it in a pleasant way.”
However, according to Dr Toney, mental illness can be presented in different forms.
“You can find a person being psychotic, where you would find them walking on the street, eating from bins, and eating garbage, and so forth. Then you could find people who are experienc-
ing depressive symptoms. Basically because they're stressed out or they are going through a very difficult time when they start experiencing these symptoms. But they're well-dressed, well-groomed.”
According to Dr Toney, anyone with such symptoms should seek medical help. There is treatment available for such persons.
NA Fire Department takes fire prevention awareness to kids’ camps
As part of its public relations campaign, the New Amsterdam Fire Service is taking fire prevention education to children aged five to 13, with a focus on firefighting awareness.
On Sunday, children from the village of Sandvoort, West Canje, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), visited the fire station, where officers engaged them on fire awareness, prevention and firefighting.
Station Officer with the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) in New Amsterdam, Shannan Crawford, told this publication that one of the duties of the fire service is to educate the public in the role and responsibility
of the fire service, as well as the fire prevention and fire safety activities, with the aim of preventing fires, because it is always better to prevent a fire than fight a fire.
“We believe that once we educate the public, the general public, the likelihood of reducing fires will have a great effect. Now, as part of that population activity, we have incorporated educating students and children. We have always educated children by visiting schools, by doing fire drills, fire safety talks, and evacuation drills. But in the last few years, two years or so, that has been expanded to what we call Kids Camp,” he explained while noting that the camps are where the of-
ficers go into communities and engage students at both the secondary and primary levels.
Crawford said the fire department has been focusing on providing fire safety education from a tender age.
“Children have a tendency to spread the message to their parents, their
siblings, their neighbours, and so forth, as well as in the school itself. So that has been an ongoing activity he said, responding to the reason for the visit from the children from the Sandvoort Seventh-day Adventist Church on Sunday.
According to Crawford, one of the fire service's man-
dates is to educate children about the fire service’s role and responsibility.
He pointed out that during outreaches like the one on Sunday, information was provided in a way that the children would be able to grasp what the job of the firefighter is, which provides a sense of responsibility for the child.
Apart from demonstrations showing what firefighters do, they also spoke of some of the responsibilities of the fire service. The children were also given a tour of the control room –where all calls are received.
The children also got the opportunity to see how the fighters are dispatched, giving them an appreciation for firefighting. They were
also familiarised with some of the equipment of the fire truck. The tour also gave the children a first-hand look at the operations of the firefighters when on a fire scene.
“For all kids' camps, we give them a certificate to let them know that we appreciate the visit, and something for them to use and to treasure as they grow up. They can recall that they made a visit to the fire station, or they were part of a kids' camp. Also, we give them a booklet.”
The booklet looks at some Do's and Don'ts about firefighting and fire safety. Crawford said the information is for kids but can be shared with members in the home and school mates.
Region Five Health Department Psychiatrist, Dr Shion Toney
Over $5.5 billion invested in hinterland potable water development to date
With over $5.5 billion invested in hinterland potable water development to date, thousands of residents in Guyana’s hinterland and riverine communities now have access to a reliable potable water supply directly in their homes.
The investment has supported the drilling of more than 100 wells, which have significantly enhanced water access, and reduced dependence on creeks, springs, hand-dug wells, and rainwater harvesting.
Some $2 billion was spent drilling 56 new wells in 2024 alone, resulting in the first-time access to clean drinking water for approximately 2,800 residents in underserved areas.
A total of $2.2 billion has been allocated to expand water supply systems in 2025 to achieve full coverage.
Currently, access to potable water in the hinterland regions stands at over 88 percent, up from significantly lower figures just a few years ago.
A Department of Public Information (DPI) report stated that over the past four years, more than $1.5 bil-
lion has been invested to improve water access in Region One, resulting in new wells for several communities, including Oronoque, Santa Rosa, and Kumaka. In 2025, 51 additional wells will be constructed in the region, with Mabaruma and Moruca among the primary beneficiaries. Several other communities are also expected to benefit from ongoing and future well proj-
ects.
Region Seven has seen over $1.2 billion invested in its water sector, improving access to clean water for 13,000 households.
A new $468 million water treatment plant at Five Miles is expected to be completed by next month. The water system will provide a 24-hour service to residents between Central Bartica and Three Miles.
In addition, several communities, including Kurutuku, Jawalla, Kako, and Isseneru, now have functioning water systems.
A $50 million well under construction at Phillipai will soon benefit 1,500 residents, while a $49.4 million upgrade has improved water access in Imbaimadai and Ominike.
Over $1 billion has been invested in Region Eight’s
water infrastructure, leading to the drilling of over 15 new wells. By the end of 2021, more than 8,400 residents had access to potable water.
An additional $440 million was spent to further improve access in 2022 and 2023. Water systems were installed in several communities, including Kaibarupai, Monkey Mountain, and Kato.
In 2024, over 1,090 residents in Kamana, Itabac, Micobie, and Sand Hill benefited from water systems worth $161 million. Karisparu also saw upgrades with $60 million invested in distribution networks, a trestle, and a catchment system, along with plans for a new well.
The government continues to invest heavily in improving water access in Region Nine, with millions spent to enhance coverage across the region.
In 2024, water supply systems were advanced in villages such as Sawariwau, Sand Creek, Massara, and Quarrie, while several others, like Tiperu and Pai Pang, are benefitting from ongoing works.
New wells are being drilled in Taushida, Parabara, Moco Moco, and Crashwater. Fairview and Moco Moco have already received new wells.
Elevated storage systems were installed in communities such as Potarinau, Rewa, and Katoka, while new trestles were constructed in 16 villages. Some $62.2 million worth of systems are now operational in Rupertee, Kwatamang, and Massara.
Thanks to a $75 million investment, 95 percent of residents in Yurong Paru, Rukumuta, and Tiperu now have reliable access to water from newly drilled wells.
An additional $720 million will be spent this year to build more wells and extend distribution networks in 24 additional villages.
Community Service Officers (CSOs) are trained to maintain local water systems. At least one CSO from each village with a water system is selected for training to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective system maintenance, the report noted.
Dr Tariq Jagnarine, FMeD, enDocrinology/DiabeTes
Impetigo is a very common skin infection that causes sores and blisters. It affects mainly children. It’s sometimes called ‘school sores’. Impetigo is contagious and can be very dangerous for newborn babies. It’s important to keep children who have impetigo away from babies and they should not go to school or childcare until 24 hours after antibiotic treatment has started, or until the blisters have dried out.
CAUSES
Impetigo is caused by staphylococcus or streptococcus bacteria. The bacteria may penetrate the skin if it is scratched or broken due to conditions such as:
Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
Scabies
Insect bites
Head lice
Impetigo usually affects young children, because the infection spreads easily in places such as schools and childcare centres. Impetigo in adults is more common when people are living in a confined area, such as army barracks, or if someone has a lowered immune system.
Speak to a doctor if you or your child has symptoms of impetigo. Impetigo is not usually serious, but it may be confusing with other skin conditions such as cellulitis, contact dermatitis, and insect bites. Your doctor will be able to rule these out.
SYMPTOMS
Impetigo causes sores on the skin. These blisters can grow quickly and then burst, leaving a moist area with a brown crust at the edge. The blisters can be large (several centimetres across) and itchy. Sometimes, the stores have a thick, soft, yellow crust with a moist red area underneath.
Small blisters can join to form large, loose, floppy blisters. This is called bullous impetigo.
The sores appear one to three days after exposure to the infection. They are contagious if there is fluid weeping from them. They are no longer contagious when
HEALTH TIPS
IMPETIGO (SORES)
they have scabbed over or 24 hours after starting antibiotic treatment.
Other symptoms may include a fever, swollen lymph nodes (glands), or feeling generally unwell.
DIAGNOSIS
If someone thinks they or their child may have impetigo, see a doctor. They can diagnose it by examining
your doctor prescribes. This will help prevent the infection from coming back and reduce the chance of antibiotic resistance.
Here are some other things you can do to help manage impetigo and stop it spreading:
Wash sores with salty water (1 teaspoon of table salt dissolved in a cup of hot water and left to cool) two to
your skin and looking at the sores. They may also take a swab to test for bacteria and identify the most effective treatment.
TREATMENT
Antibiotics are usually prescribed in the form of cream, ointment, tablets or syrup depending on the severity of the condition. Always complete the full course of treatment that
three times a day. Pat dry, using a new or single-use towel each time, then apply the antibiotic cream as prescribed.
Cover sores with waterproof dressings to prevent the spread of infection. Throw all dressings in the bin straight after you take them off and wash your hands.
The affected area can become irritable and itchy. It
is important not to scratch it because it can make the impetigo spread and get worse.
Practise good hand hygiene and keep your fingernails cut short.
PREVENTION
Most people are no longer contagious after 48 hours of treatment, or once their sores have dried and healed.
Avoid childcare, school or work until you are no longer contagious. To minimise the risk of impetigo spreading, it’s also best to:
Avoid touching the sores
Wash hands regularly, especially after applying cream to the sores
Keep children out of childcare, playgroup or school until their sores have dried up
Avoid sharing anything that encounters the skin, such as face cloths, towels, clothes and bath water
COMPLICATIONS
Complications of impetigo are rare. However, sometimes the infection can spread to the lymph nodes (lymphadenitis), or to a deeper layer of skin (cellulitis).
DIFFERENTIAL
Impetigo, a bacterial skin infection, can be confused with various other conditions. Differential diagnoses include bacterial infections like erysipelas, staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, and necrotising fasciitis. Additionally, fungal infections (candidiasis, tinea); parasitic infestations (scabies); and viral infections (chickenpox, herpes simplex) can mimic impetigo. Other conditions to consider are drug reactions, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, discoid lupus, and ecthyma.
10-hour chase at sea leads to massive drug bust off DR coast
Following an intense 10-hour pursuit through rough waters, Dominican Republic (DR) authorities have seized over 500 packages of suspected cocaine and marijuana during a joint maritime interdiction operation off the coast of Pedernales province, in what officials describe as “another major blow to the international drug trafficking networks.”
The operation, which involved agents from the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD), the Dominican Republic Navy (ARD), and the Air Force (FARD), was conducted under the coordination of the Public Prosecutor’s Office following an alert about a possible landing with an undetermined number of narcotic substances.
The dramatic pursuit lasted over 10 hours as air, naval, and ground units
battled adverse weather conditions to intercept a ‘Go Fast’ type vessel several nautical miles south of Beata Island.
Despite the bad weather prevailing in the area, authorities apprehended three Dominican Republic
nationals aboard the boat, which was carrying 18 bags and a lump containing 163 presumably cocaine packages, as well as another 380 of a vegetable that appears to be marijuana, for a total of 543 packages. (Source: Loop Caribbean News)
J’ca community residents disgruntled over curfews
While Acting Superintendent of Police Anthony Wallace is championing the gains from curfews imposed in sections of the St Mary Division, Jamaica, frustrated Baileys Vale residents have reached boiling point and are threatening to block roads as they claim they are living “like prisoners” in a ghost town due to the security measure.
In fact, one resident likened living in the community to what obtained at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when everyone had to “lock up and lock in” due to safety measures implemented to stem the spread of the infectious disease.
According to the St Mary police, the curfews, which have been ongoing in the
area for months, were implemented in response to an increase in criminal activities. Imposed in 48-hour increments, the curfews run from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am and are sometimes extended. But the residents are crying out for relief, citing unlivable circumstances under the restrictions that are taking a toll on daily life and businesses.
Their discontent and threat of a protest come on the heels of a demonstration in Three Hills, Retreat, in the parish last week, with residents demanding answers about a curfew that was extended in that community.
Albion Mountain and Boscobel are the other sections of the “banana parish” impacted by the most recent curfew.
Baileys Vale resident Beverley Nugent told the Jamaica Observer on Friday that the situation is particularly concerning when it comes to the treatment of young men in the community.
A mother of seven sons, she said her children are constantly harassed by police who say they are conducting operations in the area.
Multiple sections of St Mary have had 48-hour curfews implemented since the start of the year, in order to curb violence. During the hours of the curfew all individuals within its boundaries are required to remain within their premises, unless otherwise authorised by the ground commander. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)
B’dos Ministry of Agriculture dismisses sugar storage video as misleading
The Barbados Ministry of Agriculture has dismissed as ‘misleading’ a video circulating on social media of operations at the Portvale Sugar Factory.
The video, which shows sugar stored outside the factory, has stirred public concern and anger regarding the quality and handling of locally produced sugar.
In response, the ministry said the sugar is awaiting remelting, a routine and controlled part of quality assurance.
Fatal blast near Florida fertility clinic "act of terrorism" – FBI
Abomb explosion outside a California fertility clinic has killed one person and injured four others in an “intentional act of terrorism”, FBI officials have said.
The blast happened just before 11:00 local time (19:00 BST) less than a mile from downtown Palm Springs, near several businesses including the American Reproductive Centers (ARC). The clinic said no-one from the facility was harmed.
The suspect in the blast has been identified as 25-year-old Guy Edward Bartkus, according to sources familiar with the investigation who spoke to BBC’s US partner CBS News.
The suspect stated in writings or recordings that he was against bringing people into the world against their will, according to law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation.
The FBI believes Bartkus is dead, but they are working to confirm.
“We believe he was the subject found by the vehicle,” Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, said of Bartkus at Sunday’s news conference.
The bomb has been identified as a large vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, and its blast could be felt more than a mile away from the blast zone.
Witnesses told the BBC the blast was strong enough
to shatter windows and badly damage a nearby building that housed the ARC.
The FBI said in a Saturday briefing that it was a deliberate attack.
“This was an intentional act of terrorism. As our investigation will unfold we will determine if it’s international terrorism or domestic terrorism,” said Akil Davis, the head of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office. (Source: BBC News, CBS News)
Foul play ruled out in woman’s death in Tobago after suspicions arose following 1st autopsy
After more than a month of uncertainty, a forensic autopsy performed Saturday morning has confirmed that 41-year-old Iyana Castanada died of natural causes.
The procedure was carried out in Tobago 36 days after her sudden death at Top Hill, Mason Hall in Tobago.
Castanada, originally from Bolai Trace, Chase Village in Trinidad, collapsed and died on April 11
while liming with friends.
Her body remained at the Scarborough General Hospital mortuary because Tobago has no resident forensic pathologist. The procedure had to be rescheduled from Tuesday after the assigned pathologist missed his flight from Trinidad.
Police shared the results of Saturday’s autopsy, which ruled out foul play.
Suspicions had been raised during the initial clinical autopsy, prompting doctors to refer the case to
the police for a forensic autopsy.
A male friend claimed Castanada complained of abdominal pains after drinking moringa tea. However, another account suggested she had entered a cold outdoor pool after cooking all day and was later given tea when she began shivering.
Arrangements are now being made to transfer the body to Trinidad for burial.
(Source: Trinidad &Tobago Guardian)
Mexican navy ship crashes into Brooklyn
Bridge, killing 2 sailors
Two sailors from the Mexican navy were killed and another 11 critically hurt when a sailing ship taking part in a promotional tour in New York City collided with the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, Mexico’s president Claudia Sheinbaum said.
The crash happened on Saturday night when the Cuauhtémoc – an academy training vessel with 277 people on board who shares a name with the last Aztec ruler – lost power and struck the bridge.
Eyewitness videos showed dozens of sailors in ceremonial uniforms spread across yardarms shortly before the collision, which snapped the Cuauhtémoc’s three masts.
A Mexican government bulletin said 22 crew members were injured, 11 of them critically, with nine in a stable condition. It confirmed that the two who died were navy cadets – and that officials were taking steps to reunite survivors with their families.
away from shore. Nobody was reported injured on the bridge, which was undamaged, said Eric Adams, the mayor of New York City, in a Facebook post.
Sydney Neidell and Lily Katz told the Associated Press they were sitting outside to watch the sunset when they saw the vessel strike the bridge and one of its masts snap.
The ministry further clarified that sugar may be remelted for a number of legitimate and quality-related reasons.
“All sugar designated for remelting is temporarily stored outside the factory for same-day processing. This ensures that only sugar meeting the strict standards required for direct consumption is packaged and distributed.”
The ministry reassured that the factory maintains rigid quality control protocols and stated that any attempts to misrepresent these processes are irresponsible and harmful.
(Source: Barbados Today)
The ship was moving in the wrong direction when it hit the bridge, a senior city official with knowledge of the investigation told CNN.
Cuauhtémoc’s captain said he lost steering of the vessel after the rudder stopped working, according to the senior official.
Multiple videos of the crash showed the masts snapping and partially collapsing as they crashed into the deck of the bridge. There was heavy traffic on the bridge at the time of the collision.
The vessel then drifted toward the edge of the river as onlookers scrambled
“We saw someone dangling, and I couldn’t tell if it was just blurry or my eyes, and we were able to zoom in on our phone and there was someone dangling from the harness from the top for like at least like 15 minutes before they were able to rescue them,” Katz said.
They said they saw two people removed from the ship on stretchers on to smaller boats. (Source: The Guardian, CNN)
543 packages of suspected cocaine and marijuana were seized during a maritime operation in the Dominican Republic (DNCD photo)
A screenshot of the video circulating online that created public distress for purportedly showing bags of sugar outside the factory
Damage from the explosion outside of a Palm Springs fertility clinic on May 17, 2025
Around the World
Mogadishu suicide bomber kills at least 10 at army recruitment drive
At least 10 people were killed on Sunday after a suicide bomber targeted a queue of young recruits registering at the Damanyo military base in the Somali capital Mogadishu, witnesses told Reuters, in an attack claimed by militant group al Shabaab.
Teenagers were lining up at the base’s gate when the attacker detonated their explosives, they said.
“I was on the other side of the road. A speeding tuktuk stopped, a man alighted, ran into the queue, and then blew himself up. I saw 10 people dead, including
lie outside a military base after a suicide bombing in
recruits and passers-by. The death toll may rise,” he said.
Dozens of abandoned shoes and the remains of the suicide bomber were visible at the scene.
Another witness, Abdisalan Mohamed, said he had seen “hundreds of teenagers at the gate as we passed by in a bus”.
“Abruptly, a deafen-
ing blast occurred, and the area was covered by dense smoke. We could not see the details of casualties,” he said.
Medical staff at the military hospital told Reuters they had received 30 injured people from the blast and that six of them had died immediately.
In a statement on Sunday Islamist militant group al Shabaab said it was behind the attack and that it had killed as many as 30 soldiers and wounded 50 more. Government officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
Building fire kills 17, injures others in southern India
At least 17 people were killed and several injured in a fire that broke out at a building near the historic Charminar monument in Hyderabad city, southern India, officials said Sunday.
Several people were found unconscious and rushed to various hospitals, according to local media. They said the building housed a jewelry store at ground level and residential space above.
“The accident happened due to a short circuit and many people have died,” federal minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader G
A young child, who was injured when a building caught fire near the Charminar area in Hyderabad, is carried by a rescuer to an ambulance, India, Sunday, May 18, 2025 (Chron photo)
Kishan Reddy told reporters at the site of the accident.
Director general of Telangana fire services Y
Nagi Reddy told reporters that 21 people were in the three-story building when the fire started on the ground
floor early on Sunday.
“Seventeen people, who were shifted to the hospital in an unconscious state, could not survive. The staircase was very narrow, which made escape difficult. There was only one exit, and the fire had blocked it,” he said.
The 17 dead included six children aged under 5 years.
The fire was brought under control.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced financial compensation for the victims’ families and said in a post on X that he was “deeply anguished by the loss of lives.” (Source: CNN, Reuters)
Israel’s military announces start of "extensive" new ground operations in Gaza
The Israeli military says it has begun extensive ground operations throughout northern and southern Gaza as part of a new assault on the territory. The Israeli ground forces are being supported by the county’s air force.
Israel made its announcement after sources on both sides said there had been no progress in a new round of indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Qatar.
Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike in Jabalya, northern Gaza, on May 18, 2025
A senior Hamas official had told CNN they had offered to release 7-9 hostages in exchange for ceasefire and 300 prisoners.
Asked about the Qatar talks, a Hamas official told Reuters: “Israel’s position
remains unchanged, they want to release the prisoners (hostages) without a com-
mitment to end the war.”
The Israel army issued an evacuation order for several areas in Gaza ahead of attack.
Addressing Gazans “in the Al-Qarara area, the Salqa municipality, and the south of Deir al-Balah, and the neighbourhoods of AlJa’farawi, Al-Suwar, Abu Hadab, and Al-Satar”, the army said: “This is a preliminary and final warning before the attack... For your safety, you must move immediately west to the known shelters in Al-Mawasi.”
(Source: The Guardian, Reuters)
10 dead in ‘brutal’ attacks by Isis-linked militants on Mozambique wildlife reserve
One of Africa’s largest protected areas has been shaken by a series of attacks by Islamic State-linked extremists, which have left at least 10 people dead.
Conservationists in Niassa reserve, Mozambique, say decades of work to rebuild populations of lions, elephants and other keystone species are being jeopardised, as conservation operations grind to a halt.
On 29 April, militants at-
tacked buildings in Niassa, killing two anti-poaching scouts. Two more scouts are missing and another seriously injured. The attack, which was later claimed by Islamic State-Mozambique, came 10 days after another raid on a nearby safari camp in which two people were beheaded and six soldiers were killed.
A village of 2,000 people has been displaced by the violence and all conservation work has been suspended
in Niassa reserve, according to local groups. On Monday, wildlife and community organisations warned that the violence is risking more than 20 years of conservation work in the area.
“The worst thing about these kind of attacks, which is kind of the point, is the fear factor. The attacks are brutal: the two carpenters that were killed at the safari camp were beheaded. There is enormous fear from communities from the brutality
Support for Japan PM Ishiba hits record low as rice price soars, Kyodo reports
Support for Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has hit a record low, with nearly nine out of every 10 voters dissatisfied with the government’s response to soaring price of rice, the nation’s beloved staple, Kyodo news agency reported on Sunday.
of the attack,” said Colleen Begg, managing director of Niassa Carnivore Project, whose headquarters were attacked in the 29 April raid.
At 4.2m hectares (10m acres), Niassa is regarded as one of Africa’s most important wildlife refuges. It is home to as many as 1,000 lions, 350 critically endangered African wild dogs, and recovering populations of elephants, buffalo and other keystone species. (Excerpt from The Guardian)
Support for Ishiba’s government was at 27.4%, down from 32.6% a month ago, a Kyodo poll showed, boding ill for his ruling Liberal Democratic Party and junior coalition partner Komeito in an upper house election slated for July. The poll showed 87.1% of respondents found government measures addressing rising rice prices insufficient.
Retail rice prices are about double what they were a year ago after extreme heat hit crops and a tourism boom added to demand, although the government in March started releasing stockpiled rice into the market. (Reuters)
Russia launches war’s largest drone
attack ahead of PutinTrump call, Ukraine says
Ukraine says Russia has launched its biggest drone attack since the full-scale invasion began, targeting several regions including Kyiv, where one woman died.
Ukraine’s air force said Russia had launched 273 drones by 08:00 Sunday (05:00 GMT) targeting the central Kyiv region, and Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions in the east.
The barrage came just a day before a scheduled call between Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The US President has been urging a ceasefire.
Russia and Ukraine held their first face-to-face talks in more than three years on Friday in Turkey, agreeing a new prisoner swap deal but little else.
It said 88 drones were intercepted and another 128 went astray “without negative consequences”.
The strikes killed one person in Obukhiv district in
the Kyiv region, and injured at least three others - one of whom was a four-year-old child - officials reported.
The previous largest drone attack from Russia happened on the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion on 23 February, when Moscow launched 267 drones.
Russia’s military said it had intercepted 25 Ukrainian drones overnight and on Sunday morning. (Excerpt from BBC News)
China slaps anti-dumping
duties on plastics from US, EU, Japan, Taiwan
China on Sunday announced anti-dumping duties as high as 74.9% on imports of POM copolymers, a type of engineering plastic, from the United States, the European Union, Japan and Taiwan.
The commerce ministry’s findings conclude a probe launched in May 2024, shortly after the U.S. sharply increased tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, computer chips and other imports.
POM copolymers can partially replace metals such as copper and zinc and have various applications including in auto parts, electronics and medical equipment, the ministry has said.
In January the ministry said initial investigations had
determined that dumping was taking place, and implemented preliminary anti-dumping measures in the form of a deposit starting from January 24.
According to Sunday’s announcement, the highest anti-dumping rates of 74.9% were levied on imports from the United States, while European shipments will face 34.5% duties.
China slapped 35.5% duties on Japanese imports, except for Asahi Kasei Corp, which received a company-specific rate of 24.5%. General duties of 32.6% were placed on imports from Taiwan, while Formosa Plastics received a 4% tariff and Polyplastics Taiwan 3.8%.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
Slippers
Mogadishu, Somalia
Residents survey the damage to their homes after a Russian drone strike on Saturday night on suburbs outside of Kyiv
Review your investments and adjust your overhead. Setting a budget and allocating funds to pay off debt will ease stress and put you in a better position to follow your dreams. Connect with people in the know.
Look for the positive angle and head in that direction. Overanalyzing will hold you back. You are in a better position than you think, and a positive change will energise you to exceed your own expectations.
Keep your eyes on your goal and your circumstances. Someone will embellish information to grab your attention. When in doubt, take a break and concentrate on yourself and what makes you happy.
Step outside your comfort zone and let your imagination help you achieve your dreams. Focus on what's important and develop skills to help you achieve something new and exciting. It's OK to show emotions.
Seek information to enhance your skills, knowledge and experience, and rethink your purpose, passion and desired position. If you love what you do, you will do a good job. Reacquaint yourself with your dreams.
Too much of anything will lead to backlash. Choose discipline, harness your energy and do your best. Don't count on others to do things for you or give in to someone pressuring you.
You'll attract takers and givers. Examine who they are, what they want and what you are willing to offer and receive. Indebtedness can affect your ability to do what's best for you. Weigh the pros and cons.
Take your mind off all the distractions buzzing around in your head. Turn off the news, get outdoors and engage in activities that challenge you physically and encourage you to pay attention to your well-being.
It's two steps forward and three steps back. Sit back and organize your thoughts, and you'll get a clear message from your heart regarding what to do next. Opportunity is within reach, but you must take the time to recognize the possibilities.
Consider your concerns and set out to make a difference. Volunteer, engage in rallies, gather information and do your part. The people you encounter and the knowledge you gain will change how you view yourself.
Put money matters first. Look at how much you earn and where your money goes. It's time to restructure your lifestyle to fit your budget. Consider unique ways to use your talents, skills and experience.
Size down on all fronts. Too much food, expenditures, work, travel, daydreaming or anything else will drag you down. Temptation is the enemy, and the best way out of an indulgent lifestyle is through discipline.
ARCHIE
Nehal Wadhera and Harpreet Brar take Punjab Kings closer to play-offs
The break in the Indian Premier League (IPL) witnessed the departure of two huge pillars of Indian Test cricket. It resumed with a 23-yearold and a 14-year-old taking T20 batting to new heights. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi put on a 76-run opening partnership where 74 runs had come in boundaries. But even with that head start, it was heartbreak for Rajasthan Royals (RR) as they lost by 10 runs. Punjab Kings (PBKS) are now up to 17 points. They were assured of a play-offs spot after Gujarat Titans (GT) beat Delhi Capitals (DC) later on Sunday evening.
Wadhera, the unsung hero PBKS equalled an IPL record for most 200-plus totals in a season (6). They made 219 for 5. That it happened after they lost three wickets in the first 19 balls just added even more sheen to their achieve-
Punjab Kings have now qualified for the play-offs
ment. The top-scorer Nehal Wadhera (70 off 37) attended a mid-innings interview where he said his Captain Shreyas Iyer had told him to keep hitting despite wickets falling and that mentality was the reason why they made the most of beautiful batting conditions in Jaipur.
Most of PBKS’ firepower has come from their openers. But on Sunday, both Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya could not get going. That though allowed Wadhera all the time he needed to come into his own. He is a lovely spin-hitter (strike-rate 156, average 84 this IPL). Two of his best shots came off Wanindu Hasaranga on either side of Iyer’s wicket – one where he picked the googly and hit down the ground for six and the next where he picked the leg break and slog swept it for six.
Wadhera could have been out on 48 had Hasaranga been able to hold onto a tough caughtand-bowled chance.
Shashank Singh nails the finisher role
rough evening, might have thought he had bought his team some relief when he dismissed Wadhera with four
Jaiswal, Suryavanshi, Carnage Nobody was ready for how the RR innings began.
Tushar Deshpande went into death overs mode in the 15th itself, using yorkers and bouncers of varying pace to save himself. Akash Madhwal, who was having a
overs still left. Shashank Singh, at the time, was looking scratchy. He could have been dismissed for 11 off 10 if Dhruv Jurel had not misjudged where the boundary line was at long-off while trying to take a catch.
Shashank made the most of the life he got and became a menace for an RR attack that had plans to deal with him. The wide yorker was a big part of that, but the finisher one-upped them by moving around in his crease, twice scooping off the wide line to find the fineleg boundary and once taking guard almost two feet outside his crease in order to meet the yorkers on the full. Shashank made 59 off 30 balls.
Jaiswal went 4, dot, 4, 4, 6, 4 in the very first over bowled by Arshdeep Singh. Suryavanshi was not lagging behind. From his place deep in his crease, and with the kind of power that does not really tally with his age, he found leverage to hit bowlers looking for his nose and his toes out of the park. RR were 51 for 0 in three overs. Fifty of those runs in fours and sixes. One run off a wide. The first scoring shot that was not a boundary took 26 balls to arrive. On the back of this unreal partnership, RR put up their highest powerplay total (89 for 1) in IPL history.
Harpreet Brar turns it around With the ball flying to all
parts – and regular Captain Shreyas Iyer subbed out to manage a finger injury –PBKS turned to Harpreet Brar (4-0-22-3) to see if pace off the ball would work. It did. Brar bowled one in the powerplay, got the benefit of a spread-out field after that, he still had to deal with a left-handed batter for most of his spell, nothing fazed him. Because he was clear with what he wanted to do. If he went full, he was not going to give RR the chance to get under the ball. He offered no room either. If he went short, he bowled it quick and kept the stumps in play to deny the batter time to swing. Riyan Parag found that out when the speed of his hands was no match for the skid of Brar’s arm ball. RR hit 19 boundaries in the powerplay. Brar came on to control the middle overs and they hit only four boundaries between overs 7 and 14.
Punjab Kings (20 ovs maximum)
Priyansh Arya c Hetmyer
b Deshpande 9
Prabhsimran Singh † c †Samson
b Deshpande 21
Mitchell Owen c †Samson
b Maphaka 0
Nehal Wadhera c Hetmyer
b Madhwal 70
Shreyas Iyer (c) c Jaiswal
b Parag 30
Shashank Singh not out 59
Azmatullah Omarzai not out 21
Extras (lb 4, w 5) 9
Total 20 Ov (RR: 10.95) 219/5
Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Priyansh Arya, 1.5 ov), 2-34 (Mitchell Owen, 2.6 ov), 3-34 (Prabhsimran Singh, 3.1 ov), 4-101 (Shreyas Iyer, 10.3 ov), 5-159 (Nehal Wadhera, 15.6 ov)
Bowling O-M-R-W
Fazalhaq Farooqi 3-0-39-0
Tushar Deshpande 4-0-37-2
Kwena Maphaka 3-0-32-1
Riyan Parag 3-0-26-1
Wanindu Hasaranga 3-0-33-0
Akash Madhwal 4-0-48-1
Rajasthan Royals (T: 220 runs from 20 ovs)
Yashasvi Jaiswal c Owen
The end RR’s finishers have been under the scanner all season. Shimron Hetmyer has the fifth-lowest strike rate of all batters who have at least 50 runs in the death overs. Jurel has been found out by spin. Here too, he made only 15 off 13 against Brar and Yuzvendra Chahal, but he was able to get on top of the PBKS quicks. He had a season strike rate of 179 against pace coming into this game. He upped it to 211 on Sunday. A tense finish was on the cards, but Arshdeep came back for the 19th over, and nailed his lengths, whether he went yorker, or knuckle-ball into the pitch, and gave away only nine runs. That left RR with 22 runs to get off the last six balls. They managed to do that once in this game. Twice was asking for too much. (ESPNcricinfo)
b Harpreet Brar 50
Vaibhav Suryavanshi c Bartlett
b Harpreet Brar 40 Sanju Samson (c)† c Jansen
b Azmatullah Omarzai 20
Riyan Parag
b Harpreet Brar 13
Dhruv Jurel c Owen b Jansen 53
Shimron Hetmyer c Bartlett b Azmatullah Omarzai 11
Shubham Dubey not
Shashank Singh scored quickly and creatively
Nehal Wadhera scored 70 of 37 balls
Harpreet Brar dismissed both openers
Gujarat Titans (GT) became only the second team in all T20 cricket to chase down a target of 200 or more without losing a wicket. That’s how clinical B Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill were against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Sunday night as they took GT into the play-offs.
Sai Sudharsan finished
Sai Sudharsan and Gill help clinical GT book playoff berth
an over to spare. That meant KL Rahul’s 112 not out off 65 balls ended up in a losing cause.
The result also took Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) into the play-offs. DC, Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants are the three teams in contention for the one remaining spot.
overs. But in the next three, he hit three sixes – one each against Axar, Kuldeep Yadav, and Vipraj Nigam. He reached his fifty off 33 balls, with a four off Chameera. It was his first four of the innings. As if he had commit lowing delivery for a six over
exquisite shots during his hundred. In the first over of the match, he had punched Siraj through covers off the back foot. Then he injected momentum into the innings by hitting Kagiso Rabada for two sixes and a four in the last over of the powerplay. This was Rabada’s first match after a one-month ban for using recreational drugs. He bowled just two overs, was wicketless, and went for 34.
Coming into this game, Rahul had a strike rate of 96.96 (64 runs off 66 balls) against Rashid Khan in T20 cricket. Here, he took him for 19 off 14. It was with a four off him that Rahul brought up his fifty, off 35 balls. Alongside Abishek Porel, who made 30 off 19, Rahul added 90 for the second wicket in just 8.4 overs. Luck also favoured Rahul. In the 14th over, he got three fours off R Sai Kishore’s first three balls, all through luck. The first one was drilled back and went through Sai Kishore’s hands. Rabada misfielded the next before an outside edge sped past short third.
GT reached 154 for no loss after 15 overs. As a last throw of the dice, Axar brought on Mustafizur for the 16th. Sai Sudharsan hit his first two balls for fours to stamp GT’s domination. Two overs later, he hit Kuldeep for a straight six to bring up his second Indian Premier League (IPL) hundred, off 56 balls. Fittingly, it was Sai Sudharsan with yet another
Earlier, DC’s batters struggled to get going after being sent in. Mohammed Siraj and Arshad Khan stuck to good lengths with the new ball and gave little room to free arms. There were 15 dot balls in the first four overs. Faf du Plessis, who tried to break the shackles and charged at Arshad, was caught at mid-
on for 5 off 10 balls. After five overs, DC were 28 for 1.
The KL Rahul show Rahul played plenty of
The late flourish Axar has been superb against spin this season. Still, Gill gave the 16th over to Sai Kishore. Axar ensured he faced all six balls and took 15 from them. Prasidh Krishna returned in the next over and dismissed Axar with his second ball.
Rahul brought up his hundred off 60 balls. In the 19th over, he hit Prasidh’s hard-length delivery for a straight six with a straight bat. Two balls later, he pulled him to square leg for four to get to the three-figure mark. Tristan Stubbs played a hand of 21 not out off 10, as DC scored 48 from the last four overs. But it was not enough. (ESPNcricinfo)
Shubman Gill finishes 93 not out
KL Rahul played plenty of exquisite shots during his hundred
Gujarat Titans became only the second team in all T20 cricket to chase down a target of 200 or more without losing a wicket
B Sai Sudharsan gave Gujarat Titans a blazing start
Premier Insurance supports DCB Independence T10 Cup
Premier Insurance has come onboard as a corporate partner of the Demerara Cricket Board’s fund-raising Independence T10 Cup, slated for May 25 at the La Bonne Intention (LBI) Ground.
Premier Insurance Assistant Manager Aleyah Peterkin and Marketing Representative Ariadna Fonseca recently presented the company’s sponsorship to DCB Secretary Davteerth Anandjit.
They both expressed the firm’s pleasure in being a partner for the first-ever Independence T10 Cup.
Peterkin and Fonseca
are confident the tournament will be a success and all the objectives will be met.
Premier Insurance has joined CIC Insurance Brokers (Guyana) Inc, L Mahabeer and Son Cambio; Office Express; Regal Stationery and Computer Centre; Anil Beharry Real Estate, Construction and General Business Services and Naven’s Construction as partners of the tournament.
Anandjit was elated to welcome Premier Insurance, noting that its support was critical to the success of the event.
He emphasised that such support was important in the board’s endeavour to fast-track the development of the sport in the county.
Eight First-Division teams from the county will compete for top honours, with the format being a one-game knockout.
Seven teams – Lusignan, LBI, Better Hope, Enterprise, Herstelling A, Transport Sports Club and Helena One and Two – are already confirmed, with the other one to be revealed in the coming days.
Total cash prizes of $500,000 and trophies will
be up for grabs at the oneday event.
While the teams will be represented by players within the respective associations, each team are allowed two guest players from other counties.
The champion team are guaranteed $250,000 cash plus trophy; the runners-up $150,000 and trophy, while the losing semi-finalists will receive $50,000 each.
On the individual side, the Man of the Match in the semi-finals and final will receive a trophy.
Action will bowl off at 10:00h and conclude under floodlights.
Tebogo: “It was always my goal to break the Jamaican and American sprint dominance”
Almost a year after his historic Olympic triumph, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo has opened up about the deeper motivation behind his gold medal run in the men’s 200m at the 2024 Paris Olympics, telling Al Jazeera in a recent interview that it was always his mission to disrupt the long-standing American and Jamaican dominance in the event.
“That’s always been my goal,” the 21-year-old sprint star said. “To snap their dominance. It was sad to see only two nations rule the sport for decades. I wanted to make a breakthrough for African athletes. I aspired to be the one to make it happen and then take in the world’s response. And that reaction has been heartwarming.”
Tebogo won the 200m title in Paris with a dazzling 19.46 seconds, a new African record and personal best, defeating a worldclass field that included American Kenny Bednarek, who finished second in 19.62, and reigning world champion Noah Lyles, who took bronze in 19.70. The win made Tebogo the first African athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in the men’s 200m, rewriting a chapter of Olympic history long defined by American and Jamaican icons.
Since Jamaica’s Donald Quarrie won gold in Montreal in 1976, the Olympic 200m has been almost exclusively the domain of sprinters from Jamaica and the United States. Americans dominated the event in the 1980s and 1990s, with Carl Lewis taking gold in 1984, followed by Joe DeLoach in 1988, Michael Marsh in 1992, and Michael Johnson, who won in 1996 with a then-world
record time of 19.32 seconds. Shawn Crawford added to the US legacy with his win in Athens in 2004. Then came Usain Bolt, who ushered in a new era of Jamaican sprint supremacy, capturing three consecutive Olympic titles in 2008, 2012, and 2016 before retiring after the 2017 World Championships.
Only three men outside of those two sprinting powerhouses had managed to interrupt that grip on the Olympic 200m title – Pietro Mennea of Italy in Moscow 1980, Kostantinos Kenteris of Greece in Sydney 2000, and Andre De Grasse of Canada in Tokyo 2021 – until Tebogo’s breakthrough last summer.
While African athletes have long been dominant in middle- and long-dis-
tance events, success in the sprints has been rare. Tebogo believes that disparity is due, in part, to a lack of infrastructure and broader support for sprint development across the continent.
“It’s mostly down to infrastructure and support, but I am not entirely sure,” he admitted. “However, I can see that Africa is looking towards investing in its athletes beyond distance running. Once the Governments are on board, it makes a massive difference to the sport.”
In Botswana, his win has already begun to shift the mindset of young athletes, inspiring a new wave of ambition.
“It’s still early days, but I’ve definitely seen athletes shed a layer of self-doubt.
They are no longer afraid of coming forward to showcase their talent,” Tebogo said. “I hope the new [Botswana] Government will take the next step and help these athletes.”
Looking to the future, the Olympic champion hopes his legacy will open the floodgates for other African sprinters to rise.
“Africans are stepping up and we see an increased number of African athletes in global competitions,” he said. “I dream of an all-African line-up at the Olympics one day.”
With his lightning speed and unshakeable belief, Tebogo has not just made history –he’s sparked a movement that could change the face of sprinting forever.
(Sportsmax)
Windies women defeat ECB XI in warm-up fixture
The West Indies women defeated the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Development XI in their warm-up match by 80 runs at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury, on Sunday.
The standout performer was Qiana Joseph, who topped the score with a 35ball 62, while spinners Afy Fletcher and Karishma Ramharack took two wickets apiece.
The ECB Women’s Development XI won the toss and elected to field first. Windies opener Joseph topscored with her impressive 62. Captain Hayley Matthews and Aaliyah Alleyne provided sup-
port with 20 each, while Jannillea Glasgow made a quick-fire 18. Phoebe Brett had figures of 2 for 25, while Chloe Skelton picked up one wicket as the West Indies reached a total of 175 for 4. For the WI bowling attack, Fletcher and Ramharack were superb throughout the middle overs as they were economical and picked up two wickets each. Guyanese duo CherryAnn Fraser and Ashmini Munisar also picked up a wicket as ECB Development XI were restricted to a total of 95 for 7 in their 20 overs.
On Wednesday, May 21, in their next match, the West Indies women will face the England women.
200m Olympic gold medallist Letsile Tebogo
Qiana Joseph retired hurt on 62
DCB Secretary Davteerth Anandjit (centre) receives the sponsorship from Premier Insurance Marketing Representative Ariadna Fonseca in the presence of Assistant Manager Aleyah Peterkin
