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Emancipation obser-
vances are an opportune time to reflect and give credence and re-
spect to the contributions of the African Guyanese to the development of Guyana, Prime Minister (PM) Mark
Phillips said.
As Guyana observes 187 years since the abolition of slavery, PM Phillips said it
is an occasion to reflect on the substantial and important contribution Guyanese of African descent have made towards the development of Guyana.
Guyanese of African descent made significant contributions towards the local Government system in Guyana today, and this should be recognised, he noted.
He made the remarks at the Hopetown, West Coast Berbice, Soriee to observe the Emancipation celebration on Thursday evening.
He pointed out that former slaves grouped together in a movement known as the Village Movement in Guyana, which started immediately upon emancipation on August 1.
“And by November 7, 1939, we had 83 freed men and women on a plantation known as North Cumberland. They purchased the plantation, and they named the village Victoria. And that was the first purchase in 1839. And then we had subsequent purchases, including here at Hometown and many other purchases between 1839 and 1857. And when we found this, by 1857, nearly 50 percent of the people who were living on the coastline of
Guyana lived in villages. And many of those villages initially were purchased as part of the Village Movement, and then other villages were established as Guyana changed over time,” the prime minister explained.
As those villages changed, he pointed out, the then colonial Government passed an ordinance that formally established the local Government system in Guyana.
“Over years, you had the changes that led to the local Government system that we have today. So this is a major contribution of the people of
African descent to the development of Guyana, our local Government system.”
PM Phillips said emancipation did not mean freedom, relaxation, and celebration only.
He noted that African Guyanese have made their mark in Guyana, not only in politics but in the areas of defence and security, public management, and business and education.
The event was organised by the Region Five Emancipation Committee through the Government of Guyana under the One Guyana initiative
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, August 2 –23:45h-01:15h and Sunday, August 3 – No Closure.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, August 2 –09:40h–11:10h and Sunday, August 3 – 11:05h–12:35h.
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
Thundery showers are expected until midday, followed by afternoon sunshine during the day, and cloudy skies with occasional outbreaks of drizzle are expected at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.
Winds: North-Easterly to East South-Easterly between 1.78 metre and 4.47 metres.
High Tide: 10:19h and 22:41 reaching maximum heights of 2.16 metres and 2.19 metres.
Low Tide: 16:10h reaching a minimum height of 1.09 metre.
In demonstration of the Government’s commitment to bolstering Guyana’s rich heritage, President Irfaan Ali on Friday announced funding for two local groups so that they can continue fostering African culture, especially among young AfroGuyanese, and empowering them.
The Head of State, along with other senior Government officials, attended a grand Emancipation 2025 celebration hosted by the Organisation for Social and Health Advancement in Guyana (OSHAG), in collaboration with the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).
The event was also attended by Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, David Lammy, who was born to Guyanese parents.
Held at the New Amsterdam Secondary School (NAMS) Tarmac in New Amsterdam, Berbice, the event showcased the country’s rich African heritage through vibrant cultural displays, traditional drumming, and a variety of delicious foods.
During his address to the gathering, President Ali recognised the work of two New Amsterdam-based non-profit organisations in Region Six.
They include the Congo Nya Cultural Foundation located at Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, which operates a free drumming school for youths. According to the President, the school’s work with young people is “enormous,” and as such, he pledged GY$1 million towards the further development of the organisation.
Similarly, the Head of State commended OSHAG’s work in embracing young people. He said, “Your ambassadorial program is second to none. Your investment in young people and championing the cause of young people is most admirable.”
To this end, Ali also pledged a GY$1.5 million grant to support the organisation’s ambassadorial program.
“We honour your time, we honour your sacrifices… especially the young people who are taking forward the tradition of honouring our ancestors,” the President stated.
Only earlier on Friday, the Guyanese leader met with representatives of a number of African heritage groups at State House in Georgetown.
During that engagement, Ali emphasised his Government’s commitment to strengthening Guyana’s cultural identity, particularly through music, arts, and traditional clothing,
while outlining plans to build a national framework for cultural development.
The President also pledged continued collaboration with scores of African heritage groups countrywide to empower communities and create economic opportunities rooted in cultural and historical expression.
Inheritors of ancestors’ sacrifice
Meanwhile, addressing the gathering at the Emancipation Day event in New Amsterdam, the Head of State noted that the sacrifices made by African ancestors have laid the foundation for Guyana’s development and the prosperity of all its people.
“Our ancestors went through it. The sacrifice of the African ancestors is part of my journey and every Guyanese’s journey because they give us this freedom. No one can tell me that I am not an inheritor of their sacrifice because every Guyanese is an inheritor of their sacrifice, their pains, and their joys,” he noted.
With the promise of building a One Guyana society and a flourishing economy, Ali assured residents of Region Six of unprecedented development that is coming their way.
“Here in Region Six, you will have a future that you cannot even imagine. A future that is going to be boundless in opportunities. A future in which every single Berbician will rise in prosperity… The future of this region is unimaginable. You cannot imagine what lies ahead of you,” he stat-
ed.
From the highest quality of education, healthcare, and utility services and infrastructure to support for entrepreneurs to housing incentives and thriving communities – the President outlined that these are all things that are synonymous with what the ancestors fought for so they can live in honour, dignity, and pride.
“In your lives, their dreams would be lived. In your lives, their sacrifice ought to be honoured. In your lives, their selfless sacrifice will be celebrated. And in your lives, the ultimate price for freedom, honour, and dignity of human will live on forever because you and we are the inheritors of their work, their sacrifices, and their bondage,” the Guyanese leader declared.
Proud of Guyanese heritage
Also delivering brief remarks was the British Foreign Secretary, who
emphasised the importance he places on his African Guyanese heritage. Disclosing that his parents hail from West Coast Berbice in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Lammy noted that his maternal grandmother is buried in New Amsterdam, making his presence there even more special on an occasion like Emancipation Day.
“My name is made up of Semples, Johnsons, Grants, Haynes, and Allens, and they stem largely from the great West Coast Berbice [village] of Hopetown… To think of how beautiful this country is when you see the many peoples that make it up, and how ‘One Guyana’ really has to mean something, particularly at this point in history. I want you to know that when I am standing up in the UK, I am standing up proud because of people in this place, this country that forged and made me who I am today,” the UK Foreign Secretary stated.
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Amajor step forward in transforming Guyana’s healthcare landscape is now underway, with the Government’s decision to deploy electronic containerised laboratories across the country, starting with larger communities. This initiative, though modest in appearance, has the potential to create lasting structural change in the way healthcare services are delivered and accessed nationwide.
The establishment of these laboratories forms part of a broader strategic vision as announced by the Government to decentralise diagnostic services and improve the overall responsiveness of the healthcare system.
Historically, geographic and infrastructural constraints have hindered many communities, especially those in rural and hinterland regions, from receiving timely diagnostic testing and consistent monitoring for chronic diseases. As a result, preventable and manageable conditions such as diabetes and hypertension often go undetected or untreated until they reach advanced, more debilitating stages.
By bringing diagnostic services closer to the population through containerised laboratories, the Government is closing a persistent gap in healthcare equity. These labs will be integrated into the national health system and are designed to offer routine testing such as blood sugar screenings and other essential diagnostic procedures. Their mobility and compact design mean they can be rapidly deployed, easily maintained, and flexibly expanded based on community needs.
Beyond the physical infrastructure, this initiative is being supported by two transformative digital platforms: the National Health Information System and the Patient Management Information System. Together, these technologies will allow for the seamless collection, storage, and analysis of health data across the country. This shift from fragmented paper-based systems to streamlined digital records is expected to significantly improve continuity of care, reduce medical errors, and facilitate evidence-based decision-making.
Crucially, the integration of these digital tools with containerised laboratories ensures that data captured at the point of care is not only stored efficiently but also used to guide public health interventions. Early identification of trends, such as spikes in chronic illnesses or outbreaks of communicable diseases, can prompt quicker, more targeted responses. Health workers, armed with timely and accurate information, will be better positioned to tailor interventions and allocate resources more efficiently.
Moreover, this approach reinforces the Government’s stated commitment to strengthening primary healthcare. Effective primary care is about preventing illnesses in the first place. With more citizens gaining access to routine tests, there will be greater opportunity to catch conditions in their infancy, advise on lifestyle modifications, and initiate treatments before complications develop.
The economic implications of this move are also noteworthy. Preventative healthcare reduces the long-term burden on hospitals and tertiary care facilities. By intercepting disease progression early, it is possible to cut down on costly emergency interventions and long-term treatments, ultimately saving public funds and improving workforce productivity. The investment in containerised labs, therefore, should not be viewed as an expense but rather as a strategic move with the potential for high social and economic returns.
Additionally, this initiative opens doors for job creation in both the healthcare and technical sectors. Each lab will require trained personnel to operate diagnostic equipment, manage patient data, and maintain infrastructure. This could stimulate demand for new training programs and create opportunities for young professionals, further contributing to national development.
While the success of the containerised laboratory initiative will depend on robust implementation, ongoing training, and continuous monitoring, its intent and design reflect a modern understanding of healthcare delivery, one that is inclusive, technology-driven, and centred around the needs of the population.
The commissioning of the $6.6 billion Bath Regional Hospital, where the announcement was made, also underscores the synergy between infrastructure expansion and service decentralisation. Hospitals serve as critical nodes in the healthcare network, but real progress lies in ensuring that quality care reaches every community, no matter how remote.
The rollout of containerised labs is a necessary evolution of Guyana’s healthcare framework. It signals a shift toward a system that is proactive, rather than reactive, one where early detection, digital innovation, and equitable access form the backbone of public health strategy.
Dear Editor,
The tropical rain overnight and early morning threatened to dampen the opening ceremony of the Bath Memorial Hospital later in the day (July 30th). But nature intervened; the rain stopped around 11am, and the sun showered its radiant rays onto the stateof-the-art Bath Memorial Hospital. Across 4 separate large tents that were filled to capacity, the 5000 crowd became part of a history-making event.
Bath Hospital is situated between the villages of Experiment on the east and
Catherina’s Lust on the west. The major adjacent village to the east of Experiment is Bath Settlement, and to the west is Hopetown. Bath Hospital is one of six regional hospitals being built by the Guyana Government. It will serve the estimated 54,000 residents of Region 5, which is also one of the largest agriculture-producing areas in Guyana.
The regional hospitals already built and commissioned by the PPP/C Government are Diamond, Enmore, and Bath. Those still under construction are at Tuschen, Lima, and
Skeldon, and these are expected to be completed in a few months’ time.
Each hospital is equipped with CT, an X-ray laboratory, and operating theatres. 24-hour emergency services, dialysis machine, ICU, and 24-hour pharmacy. There are over 70 beds at the Bath hospital, and patients would enjoy privacy and have access to an inside washroom. At the end of the program, the crowd was invited and taken on a conducted tour to see for themselves these facilities. They were fascinated to witness first-hand this healthcare transformation.
Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony delivered the opening address, in which he spoke glowingly about the advance in healthcare throughout the country within the last 5 years. He said that prior to 2020, in some hospitals like Mahaicony and Wellington, equipment was malfunctioning and unserviceable. When the PPP/C took office in 2020, they replaced those with new equipment.
The president praised Dr Anthony and the ministry’s staff, as well as the contractors and other stakeholders, for producing a magnifi-
cent facility. Seeing another of his visions come through, the president nevertheless cautions that the institution is good only as the good performance of its workers. He emphasises that the public requires quality health care.
President Ali cited numerous accomplishments of his Government in the healthcare sector, including the construction of 12 hospitals and rehabilitation of others; the collaboration with Mt Sinai Hospital and Northwell Hospital of New York; the digitising of health records; and the accelerated training of more nurses,
doctors, and medical technicians. He insists that no patient should go to a public hospital and be told that there is no medication for a particular treatment.
The president says that the goal of the PPP/C Government is to attain world-class healthcare throughout all 10 regions in Guyana. He cited the case where his son’s arm was fractured in Region 9 and the medical staff there was able to successfully fix the problem.
Yours Sincerely,
Dr Tara Singh
Dear Editor,
In a rare moment of unique concurrence Thursday night, West Coast Berbice was the domain for a cultural occasion, a religious event, and a political forum. Region 5 was electrified into a sea of nostalgia to accommodate the perfect storm to transform Hopetown, Cotton Tree, and D’Edward Village into a forum to forge unity from diversity, a platform for reflection, and a stage to taste the essence of inclusivity.
There is an old saying, “Good things come in threes.” This concept is rooted in a Latin principle, “Omne Trium Perfectum,” translated as “The Rule of Three.” Confucius hinted at the rule of three in 500 BC in ‘Analects’ when he wrote, “Ko Wan ”Ze” – think thrice before acting.
On the eve of observing the 187th anniversary of Emancipation, Hopetown was infused with the radiance of joy as thousands of ecstatic villagers turned up to join Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Philips (Ret’d) in the celebration as he reminded
Guyanese to acknowledge the contributions of daring and dominating Afro-Guyanese in the development of Guyana and to give thanks to the ancestors while singing their praises.
Prime Minister Phillips urged all caring Guyanese to remember to work together, stressing that, “Today, we need all our people…to work together in unity, in keeping with our motto ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny.” Dancing to the sound of jubilation, both the young and the elders were persuaded to gravitate towards the Congo music, music for the soul and the swaying hips.
Closer to the Berbice River, D’Edward Village was a favoured red sea of flamboyant fragrance and the scene of a frenzied political gathering that occupied the community, as anxious villagers eagerly awaited the arrival of their beloved leader. A large overzealous crowd of PPP/C supporters, consisting of women and men, ignited the night to join Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips (Ret’d) along
with his family.
He did not disappoint their exuberance as he extolled history, saying, “In 1950, the PPP was born out of unity. And tonight, that dream of a united Guyana – of Dr Cheddi Jagan – is alive and thriving.” The atmosphere was transfixed with the applaudable faces of all races, energised to forge a unity to build a knitted Guyana under President Ali’s mantle.
Sandwiched between a cultural gala and a political gaiety, Cotton Tree simultaneously neutralised the West Coast Berbice atmosphere with the ambiance of a Hindu religious glorification. The Caribbean American Hindu Issues Inc. (CAHII), in collaboration with the Cotton Tree Mandir, commenced a fournight Ramayan Yajna, the theme being “Dharma and Bhakti – Duty and Devotion.”
Former University of Guyana senior lecturer in sociology, Dr Tara Singh, a current proficient contributor in the news media and ardent social worker both in New York and Guyana, spearheaded the
organising and arrangement for the event. He is supported by many associates, including his brother Shri Arbind, former Group Accountant for Guybridge, along with Arbind’s wife, Baby, who hails from Leonora. The group is accompanied by many New Yorkers, including philanthropist Marcus Bisram. Thursday night’s pravacana was delivered by popular NY priest and charitable worker Pandit Tillack Seerattan Maharaj, who hails from Number 57 Berbice and is the founder of Shiv Shakti Mandir. In exploring the doctrines of Hindu philosophy, he expounded on the teachings of the Ramayana and lectured on the ideals of leadership as accentuated by Lord Rama. He explained that the kingdoms of Bali and his brother, Ravan and his 2 brothers, and Lord Rama and his 3 brothers provided the background to analyse the 3 gunas (qualities), attributed to influencing the mind, body, and soul in the abode of Rajasic, Tamasic, and Sattvic nature.
Have you considered the strategies of the political parties in this election?
Dear Editor,
The tightest security would have to be in effect this election, because the Opposition is in desperation mode, and being in that mode makes them a dangerous force to contend with. I say this with history being my judge and jury. One does not have to look very far into history to see the dark side of a desperate opposition; this is a turf they have traversed every election. Violence and other demonic acts are all part of their arsenal of subversive strategies, used to intimidate and spread fear.
Guyanese are quite familiar with the terms "The Police and The Army are my Kith and Kin", meaning the GPF came under the direct control of Congress Place. Instructions were giv-
en to the police to turn a blind eye to the PNC thugs when they went on a rampage through the streets in that "Slo fire, moh fire" dog whistle chant. Fires started everywhere with the characteristic "channa bombing" of Indian businesses when Georgetown became a towering inferno. These were the common spectacles at every election. Schools and government buildings became prime targets, as these also went up in flames.
We are knowledgeable of the Freedom Fighters, and "Guyana is in for a revolutionary change" as drive-by shootings became common events. The newcomer kid and presidential hopeful has joined the band of opposition thug-like behaviour, as he comes in for dishonoura-
ble mention. He joins forces with the PNC with the notion that runs along the same lines: use force to get your way into power. It is interesting to know that he was in collusion with the scrape heads who were burning and looting the Double Day Hotel owner's property; in addition, rumours run amok that the thugs were brought in and financed by him to carry out their frenzied destruction of private property.
It was their intention to use the Adriana drowning incident as a political campaign tool to gain political mileage; however, it backfired on them when the comprehensive, scientific report of three internationally renowned pathologists was given. That autopsy nailed a
lie that the opposition chose to run with; theirs is an embarrassment to endure.
This election, like no other, will bring out the worst in the opposition, one in which violence, coupled with intimidation and fear, will be the campaign strategy. It also gives the Guyanese voting public a detailed view of what each party is up to: whether it is murder and mayhem, as in the 2015 killing of Crum-Ewing to ease one's way into power, or getting into political office to cover my drug and gold smuggling empire?
This election, like no other, would be the defining moment for all the parties involved.
Yours sincerely,
Neil Adams
Pandit Seerattan ventured to absorb the trading of sides from bad to good, listening to people and their problems, and making the subjects of the nation happy, as his concluding remark in aligning Guyana’s context with the Ramayan’s content. In conclusion, he could not resist intertwining politics with religion to convey the message of peace and tranquillity with action as required with compassion. The other Pandits to present their sermon will be Pt Dinesh Narine Harilall, Pandit Ravi, and Pandit Roopnauth Sharma.
Martin Seligman, an American psychologist, is a leading authority in positive psychology, which forms the foundation of three pillars concentrating on the concerns of positive experienc-
es, positive individual traits, and positive institutions. In this nation’s toxic environment, with the three core beliefs in the self, people, and world, it is not difficult to recognise who provides, protects, and preaches peace, progress, and prosperity when positioning oneself to permeate positive principles, policies, and practices.
Good things do come in threes, as perceived in the Trinity of Christianity – the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; Islam – the Five Pillars of Islam, belief in one God (Allah), and character and good deeds; and Hinduism – Brahma (Creator), Vishnu (Sustainer), and Shiva (Annihilator).
Yours Respectfully, Jai Lall
SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 2025
Negative numbers are numbers that are less than zero. You identify them by adding a minus sign to the front of a number. So – 1 is 1 less than 0. – 35.5 is 35.5 less than 0.
Look at the number line. Notice that – 4 is four spaces to the left of 0 on the negative side. Also note that 4 is four spaces to the right of 0 on the positive side.
The Property of Additive Inverses: When you add a negative number to its inverse (its exact opposite on the other side of the number line), the total is 0. For example, – 2 + 2 = 0.
By EE Cummings
what if a much of a which of a wind gives truth to the summer's lie; bloodies with dizzying leaves the sun and yanks immortal stars awry?
Blow soon to never and never to twice (blow life to isn't: blow death to was) —all nothing's only our hugest home; the most who die, the more we live figuratively. Remember….
Blow king to beggar and queen to seem (blow friend to fiend:blow space to time) —when skies are hanged and oceans drowned, the single secret will still be man what if a keen of a lean wind flays screaming hills with sleet and snow: strangles valleys by ropes of thing and stifles forests in white ago?
Blow hope to terror; blow seeing to blind (blow pity to envy and soul to mind) —whose hearts are mountains, roots are trees, it's they shall cry hello to the spring what if a dawn of a doom of a dream bites this universe in two, peels forever out of his grave and sprinkles nowhere with me and you?
Guyana’s daily oil pro-
duction is set to increase by 37 per cent with the imminent start-up of its fourth offshore development, the Yellowtail project, operated by ExxonMobil. The project will add 250,000 barrels per day (bpd) to national output, raising production from June’s estimate of 664,000 bpd to over 900,000 bpd.
ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods made the announcement during the company’s second-quarter earnings call on August 1, confirming that the Yellowtail development is on track to achieve first oil next week.
“Our fourth development is the largest to date. Yellowtail is next in line and anticipated to achieve first oil next week, delivered four months ahead of schedule and under bud-
get,” Woods said. The project is being brought online through the ONE GUYANA floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel, which was built by SBM Offshore. The Dutch company has now delivered multiple FPSOs for Guyana’s offshore developments, consistently ahead of schedule.
Yellowtail will mark a major milestone not only for Guyana but also for the region. With its start-up, Guyana will become the world’s largest oil producer per capita.
ExxonMobil operates the Stabroek Block with a 45 per cent stake, while Chevron, following its acquisition of Hess, holds 30 per cent, and CNOOC owns 25 per cent. Together, the consortium has driven a rapid scale-up of oil production offshore Guyana
since first oil in 2019.
Yellowtail is the fourth project in this series. Three prior developments – Liza Phase 1, Liza Phase 2, and Payara – are currently producing. Two more 250,000 bpd developments are expected to begin production between 2026 and 2028, while another two are undergoing the application process with potential start-up between 2029 and 2030. These future projects are expected to broaden the production space beyond oil to include natural gas and condensate.
ExxonMobil Guyana has been a notable contributor to global oil supply growth in recent years. With the addition of Yellowtail, CEO Darren Woods said the company remains on track to help bring production in Guyana to 1.7 million bpd by 2030.
Titanium reinforcements
Meanwhile, offshore-energy.biz reported on Friday that Hunting Subsea Technologies, the Texas-based subsidiary of London-headquartered precision engineering group Hunting, has provided the connections for a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) to be deployed at a field offshore Guyana being developed by US energy giant ExxonMobil.
The eight titanium stress joints (TSJs) delivered will be integrated into the FPSO unit Errea Wittu that will work at the Uaru development within the Stabroek Block. According to Hunting, Uaru is among the most important deep-water projects in the Western Hemisphere, both in scale and strategic impact.
According to offshore-energy.biz, once installed ap-
proximately 200 kilometres offshore Guyana, at a water depth of 1690 meters, the vessel will be able to produce approximately 250,000 barrels of oil per day and will have associated gas treatment capacity of 540 million cubic feet per day, along with being able to store around 2 million barrels of crude oil.
“Our successful delivery to the Uaru project reflects the
strength of our execution and the confidence leading operators place in Hunting when performance matters most. As offshore developments become increasingly complex and capital-intensive, we are seeing sustained demand for proven technologies that reduce risk and add long-term value,” said Dane Tipton, Managing Director of Hunting Subsea Technologies.
The European Union Election Observation Mission to Guyana (EU EOM) is calling for the transparent and timely tabulation and declaration of results at the upcoming September 1 General and Regional Elections.
While the mission’s core team of eight experts has already arrived in Guyana, the EU EOM will be deploying a full-scale 50-member Election Observation Mission to all 10 regions across the country for next month’s polls.
Chief Observer of the EU EOM is Robert Biedroń, a Member of the European
tion day but on the entire electoral process, including the pre-election environment, the campaign, the tabulation of results, and the resolution of any election-related complaints… We envisage full transparency and accountability from all electoral stakeholders. This will enhance public trust in the process. We also encourage a transparent and timely tabulation and announcement of results,” he posited.
According to Biedroń, the EU EOM sees the upcoming elections as an opportunity for all stakeholders to demonstrate Guyana’s commitment
Parliament from Poland. He is part of the eight-member core team of experts currently in Georgetown and has commenced engaging key electoral stakeholders.
Addressing members of the media at official launch of the 2025 EU EOM, Biedroń said the team will observe and analyse all aspects of the electoral process.
“The presence of the European Union Election Observation Mission demonstrates our commitment to inclusive, transparent, and credible elections in Guyana. We do not only focus on elec-
to democracy, ensuring that all eligible voters and candidates fully exercise their democratic rights; all contesting political parties are free to campaign on a level playing field with equal access to media and public spaces; and importantly, voters are able to cast their votes in secret – free from any pressure, intimidation, or any other form of interference.
To ensure that this is done, the mission’s Core Team arrived in Georgetown on July 23, comprising eight experts who will conduct electoral, legal, political, media,
and social media analysis.
On August 6, the EU EOM will deploy a group of 14 long-term observers across all 10 regions to monitor the electoral preparations, campaigning, and the broader political environment in those areas. Then, just before September 1, another 20 short-time observers join the team here to observe voting and the tabulation of results.
“Altogether, we’ll expect to have around 50 observers on the ground – all of them…represent a well-oiled machine of high-quality experts,” the mission chief stated.
Biedroń went on to assure that his team would not interfere in any of the local electoral processes. He stressed, “They do not, and I want to underline this, interfere in the electoral process at any stage. We are here to observe whether the electoral process is conducted in a transparent and credible manner.”
Meetings
Meanwhile, since their arrival in Georgetown, Biedroń and his core team have engaged a broad range of stakeholders on Thursday, including officials of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), discussing the entity’s preparedness and other
issues of electoral importance for next month’s polls.
The EU EOM also met with Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George on the role of the judiciary in the electoral process as well as representatives from three political par-
ties – the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, A Partnership for National Unity, and the Alliance For Change.
These engagements continued on Friday with the mission meeting Forward Guyana Movement’s Amanza
Before we progressed to bars for socialising, there were the rum-shops – some of which, trust your Eyewitness!! – are still around !! And rum-shops habitues remind us where we stand in the pecking order by pointing out that “Lil Bottles” are on different shelves than “Big Bottles”!! Well today we have a VERY “big bottle” in the US White House by the name of Donald Trump, whose leadership style the rest of the world better get used to. His confidence is summarized by that old Sinatra standby, “If you can make it in New York; you can make it anywhere!!” And quintessentially New Yorker Trump has certainly made it!!
To ensure he gets his way in the world for America, Trump has any number of persuasive arguments at his disposal. Right there on top are the 5000 nuclear warheads in his arsenal – and the street cred of being leader of the only nation to use them against another country – at Hiroshima and Nagasaki!! The bunker busters he launched recently against Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities was just a (not so gentle!) reminder of what else he could do!!
Anyhow, the latest weapon he’s deployed – against both friends and enemies – was to arbitrarily impose imposing, arbitrary tariffs on US imports. Now, tariffs are taxes on goods entering your country. But while the Government collects those tax revenues – importers usually pass on the amounts by raising prices on the goods – which are then borne by the customers!! Apart from Govt revenues, the tariff theory proposes two benefits – firstly; the higher prices make consumers balk and reduce imports, and secondly; local producers can compete easier – and boost local GNP.
So Pres Trump initially slapped a 38 per cent tariff rate on our exports to his country – which raised quite a storm of outrage here – and also the “Big Bottle” question!! It was of little comfort that the tariffs against his close allies line like the EU, Canada and Mexico were of the same order – or higher!! The high tariffs were also intended, Trump insisted, to remove “trade barriers” we’d all imposed against American goods. “Negotiations” followed and our people had to’ve said, “What trade barriers??” And pointed out that most of our exports to the US was Exxon shipping their share of Stabroek’s oil – and the price that Exxon billed itself when “exporting” to its US refineries doesn’t go into our coffers!!
Well, Trump just said our tariff’s gonna be 15 per cent and our Gov says they’ll keep on jawboning. Ultimately, those who’re kvetching about our Government’s efforts better appreciate that the Big Bottle’s on the top shelf!!
…or prudence?
As we all should know by now, the Trump Administration, through its Treasury’s OFAC department, last year slapped sanctions against local gold exporter Mohamed Enterprise and its principals – father and son Azruddin Mohamed. But it became clear we still have a ways to go in understanding how US sanctions work. Folks in Venezuela who have long been sanctioned just roll with the punches and adjust their activities.
Here, after the Government shut down the local Mohameds’ businesses, the son launched a political party, WIN, to contest the Sept 1 elections – with himself as Presidential candidate. After local Demerara Bank closed the accounts of a number of individuals running on the WIN ticket, they explained the OFAC prohibitions include “the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person...” See the rationale?
Now while Demerara Bank may be operating locally they have a relationship with a “corresponding” US bank that could also be penalized. Well, who told them to protect their shareholders’ interests??!! Critics however claimed it’s THE GOVERNMENT “victimizing” WIN!!
GBTI and Citizens bank have now followed DB’s move!! But the Government’s still blamed – not those wannabe Big Bottles!
…or monster?
NY Times claims a dead Palestinian child already had “preexisting health conditions”. They don’t see the irony that Nazis could’ve said “The gassed Jews were already bronchial”.
More than two decades after brutally stabbing his common-law wife to death as she held their baby in her arms, 57-year-old Philbert Thomas was on Thursday sentenced to 24 years in prison by Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall at the Demerara High Court. Thomas, who had spent over 20 years evading justice, pleaded guilty to the 1998 murder. His sentencing was deferred from Monday to allow for the presentation of a psychiatric evaluation.
The forensic psychiatric report revealed no signs of mental illness or delusion and noted that Thomas was “oriented, co-operative and expressed deep remorse” for his actions. However, it also highlighted a long-standing problem with alcohol abuse. Reports are that in September of 1998, Thomas, called “Gilbert Thomas,” was at a fun day in the Kwabanna village, Region One (Barima-Waini,) when he allegedly stabbed his reputed wife, Viola Thomas, to death at the community centre ground. According to police, the stabbing incident was witnessed by over 100 persons, but as soon as Thomas allegedly stabbed Viola’s, he ran away from the scene before anyone could apprehend him. He went into hiding and was not seen by persons in that area. It was reported that Thomas and Viola had been involved in a relationship for years prior to the stabbing incident. The now dead woman had also mothered his children. The file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice and investigators were told to arrest and charge Thomas for the murder of the woman, but police ranks could not locate the man.
Just days later, Thomas was slapped with two felonious wounding charges committed on his ex-lover, Dally Gobin, and Leaymond Smith, her male companion. It was reported that on the day in question, the victims were imbibing alcohol at Gobin’s house when the suspect showed up without an invitation.
This resulted in a heated argument among them. The argument however turned into a scuffle and it was at this time that the suspect whipped out a knife and stabbed Gobin. He then turned his attention to Smith and stabbed him once before escaping the scene.
The couple were taken to the Kwakwani Hospital where they were treated and referred to the Linden Hospital Complex, where they were admitted but subsequently discharged. Thomas was arrested while hiding out at a camp in Hururu Backlands and was subsequently charged.
It was after this story had been published in the media in 2019 that persons who had witnessed the murder 21 years ago contacted the police. The man, after being arrested, admitted to the police that he had murdered Viola because she had been “unfaithful” to him.
Philbert Thomas
Prosecutor and defence arguments
During mitigation, Defence Attorney Ronald Bostwick urged the court to take into account the challenges of Thomas’s early life. Bostwick said Thomas’s dependence on alcohol led to “periods of irrational and belligerent behaviour,” and contended that the killing stemmed from a mix of jealousy and immaturity. Bostwick asked the court to consider a sentence that would not “shatter whatever hope remains” for Thomas, while acknowledging that his client was not seeking sympathy or leniency.
But State Prosecutor Tanisha Saygon called for a stiff penalty, underscoring the particularly vicious nature of the attack.
“This was not just murder – it was an act of cruelty in its most intimate form,” Saygon said. “The victim was a young mother, cradling her infant, and she never saw the attack coming.” Saygon also revealed that Thomas had a prior conviction for felonious wounding of another woman, a fact she said demonstrated a “pattern of violent behaviour against women.” She urged the court to hand down a sentence that reflects not only the gravity of the crime, but also the message that violence in domestic settings will not be tolerated.
Ruling
In her ruling, Justice Morris-Ramlall described the killing as a devastating breach of trust.
“She was just 23 years old – young, with her whole life ahead of her – and he was the man she trusted most,” the Judge said. “And yet, instead of walking away when he suspected infidelity, he chose to take her life.” Quoting from a statement Thomas gave to a probation officer – “I killed her because she was cheating on me” – the judge said this showed a dangerous mindset and a sense of entitlement over the woman’s life.
The court heard that Thomas stabbed the woman multiple times while she was holding their baby. Her violent death left three children motherless. Thomas fled and remained in hiding for years, building new relationships while his victim’s family was left to grieve and raise the children without her.
Justice Morris-Ramlall said the court could not ignore the lasting trauma inflicted on the victim’s family, especially her children and described the entire case as “laden with aggravating circumstances.”
While she acknowledged the guilty plea, the judge said
the strength of the prosecution’s case meant the plea was “more tactical than remorseful,” and therefore did not warrant the usual one-third reduction in sentence.
According to the probation
report, Thomas was seen as a man of “ill repute” in his community, with a continued “propensity for violence.”
“Contrary to what the defence suggested, I found no evidence that this was a tortured
man,” the judge said. Justice Morris-Ramlall concluded that the circumstances warranted an uplift in the sentence. As such, Thomas was handed a sentence of 24 years, with eligibility for parole only
after serving a minimum of 20 years. The court also ordered that he undergo prison programmes focused on literacy, alcohol management and domestic violence rehabilitation.
Following the United States (US) slashing the reciprocal tariff imposed on Guyana from 38 per cent to now 15 per cent, the local private sector has welcomed the reduction but urges continued dialogue to further ease the impact this could have on Guyanese exporters.
On Thursday evening, the White House released a document to show that the 38 per cent reciprocal tariff announced for Guyana in April has now been reduced to 15 per cent.
Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Captain Gerald Gouveia Jr, has acknowledged this adjustment, telling the Guyana Times on Friday that they are still hopeful of a further reduction.
“While we respect the right of every country to set its trade policy, we are mindful of the potential impact this may have on Guyana’s emerging non-oil export sectors like agriculture, agro-processing,
and manufacturing,” he noted.
According to the PSC Chairman, the tariff imposition comes at a time when Guyana is working hard to diversify its economy and expand export markets. He pointed out that this tariff will put pressure on local small, medium, and large businesses that are seeking to remain competitive in the US market.
To this end, Gouveia Jr urged the Guyana Government to continue dialogue with US authorities so that the 15 per cent tariff could be further adjusted.
“We are hopeful that this matter can be addressed through constant dialogue between our two countries. We encourage the Government of Guyana to continue its dialogue with the USA toward negotiating sector-specific exemptions or finding more favourable terms that can continue to build our long-term partnership between the nations.”
“The Private Sector Commission remains committed to supporting efforts to protect Guyanese jobs, export opportunities, and price stability while preserving strong, respectful trade relations with all global partners,” the PSC head stated.
Meanwhile, similar sentiments were expressed by the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), which also expressed appreciation to the Government for its active engagement and representation throughout the negotiation process with the US to secure a reduction.
“The Association further acknowledges that discussions are ongoing and expresses its full support for continued diplomatic and trade efforts aimed at securing additional tariff reductions. The GMSA remains committed to advocating for the interests of local manufacturers and service providers and will continue to work with national and international partners to un-
lock new trade opportunities for Guyanese businesses,” the GMSA said in a statement on Friday.
Back in April, the US had initially announced a 38 per cent reciprocal tariff on goods from Guyana, but this was later slashed to an across-theboard 10 per cent pending the August 1 rollout of the new tariff rates.
Following the announcement of the new 15 per cent tariff rate, Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo told this newspaper on Thursday evening that the Government of Guyana was very pleased that there was a downward adjustment. He added, how-
ever, that Guyana is still engaged in discussions with US authorities and is hopeful that the tariff will be adjusted back to 10 per cent.
In fact, speaking on the issue earlier on Thursday at his weekly press conference, the VP stated that Guyana had already submitted documents to the US Trade Representative’s Office regarding the tariffs and that the US authorities understood that the surplus was largely from oil exports.
“They know that it’s almost entirely from the export of oil into the US. So given that, I think… they’ve approached this matter differently… Now, unlike with some other countries, which I think take a harder line, they understood that the [Guyana’s] surplus is as a result of the oil export, not any unfair currency practices or protective barriers in Guyana that have led to that situation, which they accuse other countries of. So given that goodwill there and the understanding, I anticipate that we should have a favourable outcome,” Jagdeo told reporters earlier on Thursday.
Currently, US-based oil major ExxonMobil and its co-venturers are conducting oil production activities offshore Guyana in the Stabroek Block.
Back in April, Guyana had been included on a list of countries facing reciprocal tariffs from the US, a measure that, once implemented, could have seen the cost of doing business increase and had resulted in the Government of Guyana
reaching out to its partners in the US, seeking answers.
According to a chart US President Donald Trump read from, Guyana had a 38 per cent reciprocal tariff rate applied to its exports to the US in response to the 76 per cent tariff that Guyana was listed as imposing on US products. However, the US then put a 90-day pause on the increased tariffs with an acrossthe-board 10 per cent.
In May, Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, and a team from Guyana met with the US Trade Representative, Ambassador Jameson Greer, to discuss the tariff. At the time, Jagdeo had revealed that the meeting focused on explaining the economic context of the surplus, including the nascent nature of Guyana’s oil and gas industry and the dominant role US companies play in its development.
During Friday’s press conference, the Chief Observer told the Guyana Times that they intend to engage all six political parties contesting the elections, along with other key stakeholders, over the coming days and weeks.
Two days after the upcoming election day, the EU EOM will release a preliminary report on September 3 of its initial findings, with the final comprehensive report expected in the next two to three months, provided that the electoral process is completed.
This is the second fullscale Election Observation Mission deployed by the EU for local elections.
EU and the March 2020 polls
At the March 2, 2020 polls, the EU had fielded the largest mission – a 55-member team. That mission played a key role in ensuring that Guyana’s democracy prevailed following blatant attempts to rig those elections.
At the time, Guyana was plunged into a political deadlock for five months as a result of blatant attempts to steal the elections by some senior electoral officials with the aim of keeping the then A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance
For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition regime in power.
In its final report, the 2020 EU Mission had found that while the voting and counting were well managed all over the country, along with the tabulation of results in nine of Guyana’s 10 regions, the tabulation process was abruptly stalled in Region Four – the country’s largest and most decisive voting district.
The EU EOM had said, “…the integrity of the entire electoral process was seriously compromised by the non-transparent and non-credible tabulation of results in the largest and decisive Region Four by senior GECOM officials acting in blatant violation of the law and High Court orders issued in this regard.”
At the centre of those allegations are former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield and then Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, who allegedly blatantly inflated figures in favour of the APNU+AFC. Both Lowenfield and Mingo, along with other GECOM staff and senior APNU+AFC members, have since been slapped with a slew of electoral fraud charges that are still pending before the local courts.
The Government will not support same-sex marriage but will strengthen anti-discrimination protections for citizens regardless of their sexual orientation as part of its broader commitment to human rights and equal access to public services.
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, speaking at his weekly press conference on Thursday, confirmed that the administration is open to legislative reforms aimed at preventing discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly in areas such as education, healthcare, and employment.
“SASOD (Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination) came, and they made a presentation here. They came to our consultation, and they asked us whether we will support strengthening legislation to prevent discrimination against people based on sexual orientation. And the answer is yes, we will do that. And it will probably be reflected in our manifesto because we don’t believe that people should be denied any opportunity because of their race, their religion, their gender, or their sexual orientation to get access to health care or education, et cetera,” he disclosed.
Jagdeo, who is also the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), confirmed that these anti-discrimination commitments will likely be reflected in the party’s upcoming election manifesto, along with proposed reforms to in-
crease accountability in law enforcement and other areas tied to the protection of human rights.
The announcement comes as civil society groups continue to push for more inclusive legal protections in Guyana, which currently criminalises same-sex intimacy under colonial-era laws but has seen growing calls for reform.
While the Government maintains its position against same-sex marriage, the renewed commitment to combat discrimination signals a step forward in expanding civil protections for all Guyanese, regardless of sexual orientation.
“I said, ‘not gay marriage’. I told SASOD this: ‘We’re not going to support that, but we will support any legislation to prevent discrimination’. And they said to me, ‘We’re not even seeking that’. So that is something we don’t want to discriminate against our people for education or health or jobs based on any factor whatsoever… We have already had some accountability in law enforcement up there. That’s an important issue for us – greater accountability,” he added.
Back in 2023, SASOD launched a campaign to increase tolerance and respect for LGBTQ+ people and repeal same-sex laws. Over the past nine years, there has been a 15 percent increase in acceptance and a 13 percent reduction in hatred against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) people.
In fact, just three days ago, SASOD launched a manifesto, ahead of the 2025 General and Regional Elections, calling for political parties to commit to addressing legislative, socio-economic, and other critical issues affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and other (LGBTQIA+) Guyanese.
The document lists ten priority issues for political parties to address.
On Tuesday, SASOD hosted a town hall meeting where representatives of five of the six political parties contesting the September 1 elections shared their views on several issues relating to the LGBTQIA+ community. The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was represented by Susan Rodrigues.
...discuss defence training, equipment acquisition
Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, MSS, recently hosted separate courtesy calls from the Ambassadors of the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Korea at Defence Headquarters, Base Camp Ayanganna, as part of ongoing efforts by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to advance bilateral military cooperation. In a release on the GDF’s social media page, it was stated that the engagements marked a continuation of the GDF’s strategic initiative to boost international partnerships in the defence sector, with a focus on capacity building, equipment acquisition and regional security collaboration.
During her visit, China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Yang Yang, held discussions with Brigadier Khan centred on strengthening military-to-military cooperation. Talks included opportunities for enhanced training support and the potential procurement of
China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Yang Yang, during the recent discussions with Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, MSS and team
defence equipment to improve the GDF’s operational readiness. Ambassador Yang reaffirmed China’s longstanding commitment to Guyana’s national defence development and expressed a desire to build on the legacy of collaboration established by her predecessors.
Brigadier Khan also welcomed South Korea’s Ambassador to Guyana, Seijoong Kwon, who is based in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Their discussions focused on the evolution of bilateral defence relations, with emphasis placed on the impor-
tance of domain awareness in responding to modern security challenges. The two sides also explored prospects for future defence acquisitions and institutional exchange visits between the GDF and South Korean defence agencies.
The GDF noted that both engagements underscore the Force’s dedication to fostering international defence relations through dialogue and cooperation. These partnerships it said, are critical to enhancing Guyana’s security posture and supporting regional peace and stability.
As Guyana celebrates 187 years since the abolition of slavery, hundreds of Guyanese flocked to the National Park, Thomas Lands, Georgetown, to take part in the festivities, where various groups showcased their rich culture through food, clothing, music, and artifacts. Proof that the shackles have been removed was clearly evident, as scores of persons gathered at the National Park, proudly celebrating their freedom from
up with several of the organisational bodies present at the event, including the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA), to gain insight into their efforts to keep African traditions alive.
One of the speakers, Denise Murray, offered deep historical insight into the origins and legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, highlighting the brutal journey of African people – many from West Africa – who were brought
conditions.
She recalled her own experience visiting Ghana, where she had the opportunity to see actual slave ships and retrace the route many enslaved Africans had taken.
“They were brutally treated; many were lynched, especially in places like the United States (US). Those who survived the journey were placed on plantations to work –whether in farming, reaping or particularly in cane
slavery.
Guyana Times caught
to the Americas and the Caribbean under horrific
fields, which became significant in countries like
Denise also pointed out that the enslaved were stripped of their identity - not only through name changes but also by being forced to wear the clothing of their enslavers instead of traditional African garments.
“They didn’t have work clothes like we do today, They had to work in the clothes given to them, and these were not traditional garbs. Today, it’s significant that we’ve returned to wearing African attire - reclaiming a part of what was taken.”
She emphasised the importance of acknowledging the regions from which many Africans were taken – countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Cameroon, and Gabon –and how their descendants now live across the world, including in Jamaica, Haiti, and Guyana.
“We are them,” she stated firmly, speaking of the deep ancestral ties.
“The strength of our people continues today. No matter how they tried to erase us - by changing our names or our clotheswe remain spiritually and physically strong. These were people who endured tremendous pain, yet they survived. They were treated badly, ostracised and put down… and still, they made it through. Today, they are our heroes and heroines and we must carry on their legacy.”
Matthew Daymon, a volunteer at the ACDA booth, shared insight into the organisation’s long-standing role in preserving and promoting African heritage among Guyanese citizens. He noted that ACDA has been undertaking these initiatives for 32 consecutive years.
“We really focus on bringing African culture to Guyanese people, because sometimes we tend to drift away from our roots. Through our displays –
from history to cultural artifacts – we educate the public about our ancestry, from slavery right up to modern cultural developments.”
He added that volunteers – like himself –come from all over to support the initiative. When asked about the impact of events like these, Matthew stressed the importance of reaching the youth.
“Young children in Guyana often don’t know much about their roots or African culture. Bringing this knowledge to them can help shape their identity and personality. It’s important they understand where they come from.”
Elsewhere in the park, one family took the opportunity to launch a book on Emancipation Day, aiming to highlight the significance of the occasion. They shared that this initiative was part of their 2025 family tradition.
“Our goal is to help people truly understand the meaning of the holiday,” a family member explained.
Another extended family came out in full force, proudly dressed in matching outfits to represent their cultural pride.
“Well, I think they should come out and enjoy the vibes – and unite and enjoy themselves,” one family member shared.
There will be more money in the pockets of Guyanese even though the cost of living is expected to rise over the next five years. Prime Minister Mark Phillips gave that assurance as he addressed a meeting hosted by the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) at D’Edward, Region Five (Mahaica-
Berbice) on Thursday evening.
Saying that his party is not shy of the reality that cost of living will increase, the Prime Minister assured that there will be more jobs created should the PPP/C return to office to serve for the next five years.
“You know that there is no alternative for development. No alternative
for safety. There is no alternative for the security and sovereignty of Guyana other than the PPP/C Government. I am here asking you for a second term to support our President and our Vice President in a second term. Because a second term means more development for you, the people of Guyana. With the guidance of His Excellency, our
President, and our Vice President, two economists, there will be more economic growth in Guyana. And you know, we already promised. We already promised you. As the economy grows, you will get more,” the Prime Minister told the few hundred in attendance.
It was at this juncture he said that the administration will implement initiatives to cushion the effects of rising costs, explaining that the actions are necessary to stabilise prices.
“With economic growth, there will be more for you in your pocket. Because we can utilise the money to cushion all the effects of rising costs in any country. In any country, the cost of living is going up. Cost of living will go up in Guyana too. But you have a Government that is brave and ready and prepared to take the necessary actions to stabilise the cost of living, he asserted.
Speaking of some of the initiatives taken by the Government to reduce
rising costs, the Prime Minister mentioned that the current cost for electricity is the same cost that was in place in 2019, and had the Government not found funding to give to the electricity company for it to purchase fuel, electricity costs in Guyana would have skyrocketed.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister also took the opportunity to touch on another issue: unemployment, saying that efforts will be made to bring it down close to zero.
However, he pointed out that persons must want to work and also educate themselves through the numerous opportunities that the Government has made available.
Apart from that, the Government removed all taxes on fuel so that the increased prices on the world market are not being felt by consumers in Guyana, he reminded.
Two women were on Thursday brought before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on separate high-value cheque forgery charges totalling over $24 million.
Both cases were called before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty, and, though unrelated, the charges bear striking similarities in both alleged execution and legal defence.
Nicola Raupersaud was slapped with three charges in relation to the forgery of a Citizens Bank cheque totalling $8.5 million. The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The first charge alleged that between July 1 and July 29, at Georgetown,
Raupersaud conspired with unknown persons to forge a cheque in the sum of $8.5 million, purporting it was signed by B. Ferdinand.
The second charge stated that on July 29, at Camp Street and South Road, Georgetown, Raupersaud, with intent to defraud, offered the forged cheque in favour of Home Design and Engineering Inc. to Shantel Baptiste, knowing the document to be false.
The final charge alleged that on the same day and location, she forged the Citizens Bank cheque bearing the signature of the managing director of Home Design and Engineering Inc. and obtained the sum of $8.5 million upon the forged in-
strument.
Raupersaud was represented by Attorney Konyo Holder, who told the court that her client has been fully cooperative with police investigators.
Holder noted that Raupersaud previously faced a similar charge that was successfully dismissed and described the current case as a “fishing expedition” where a single alleged event has resulted in multiple charges.
Holder also assured the court that her client is not a flight risk and expressed her client’s willingness to surrender her passport. She requested that bail be granted in a reasonable amount.
Magistrate McGusty granted bail in the sum
of $600,000 and ordered Raupersaud to lodge her passport with the court. The matter was adjourned until September 24, 2025.
Also appearing in court was 38-year-old housewife and mother of six, Sunita Henry, of Lot 138 King Edwards Street, Albouystown, Georgetown. She too was charged with three counts relating to cheque forgery, amounting to $15.5 million. Henry pleaded not guilty to all charges.
According to the charges, between July 1 and July 29, Henry conspired with unknown individuals to forge a Citizens Bank cheque in favour of S’M Service Station, purporting it was signed by M. Wilson.
The second charge alleged that on July 29, at Camp Street and South Road, Henry, with intent to defraud, uttered the same cheque to obtain funds in favour of S’M Service Station.
The third charge claimed that Henry forged the cheque with the intent of obtaining $15.5 million by falsely representing it as a legitimate instrument signed by M. Wilson, the owner of S’M Service Station.
Henry was also represented by Attorney Konyo Holder, who argued that all three charges stemmed from a single cheque transaction. She maintained that her client is not a flight risk, has no prior record, and is willing to
comply with any court-imposed conditions. Holder signalled her intention to present deeper arguments on the validity of the charges at the next court date.
However, the prosecution strongly objected to bail, citing the serious nature of the offence. Prosecutors revealed that CCTV footage allegedly captured Henry at the bank presenting the cheque. They also referenced telephone records and audio-visual interviews in which Henry reportedly confessed to the offence. It was further disclosed that Henry had been in communication with a still-at-large co-conspirator.
The prosecution ex-
pressed concerns that due to the weight of the evidence against her, Henry may not return to court if granted bail.
Despite the objections, Magistrate McGusty reminded the court that the offences are bailable and granted Henry $200,000 bail on each of the three charges, totalling $600,000. She was cautioned about the consequences of failing to return to court and was ordered to report to the Brickdam Police Station on the last Friday of every month between 9:00 and 12:00.
Her case was also adjourned until September 24.
Twenty young men and women graduated from the Level 2 City and Guilds Welding Programme, an initiative spearheaded by the Human Services and Social Security Ministry in partnership with Nations Inc. The programme offered under the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN), is part of ongoing efforts to equip individuals with marketable skills to boost employment opportunities and economic empower-
ment. The graduation ceremony on Thursday was held at the Nations School of Technology Training Centre, located on North Road, Georgetown.
In a post on the Ministry’s social media page, it was stated that all graduates had previously completed Level 1 of the course earlier this year. With the successful completion of Level 2, they are now internationally certified welders, making them eligible for both local and overseas employment in
the growing technical and construction industries. Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud, handed over certificates to the graduates during a brief ceremony.
The Level 2 certification, awarded by the globally recognised City and Guilds of London Institute, signals a new chapter for the graduates, many of whom are now seeking job placements or looking to pursue advanced technical training.
Just four months after a fire devastated the western section of the Critchlow Labour College (CLC) at Woolford Avenue, Georgetown, another blaze tore through the institution late Thursday night, leaving its remaining infrastructure in ruins.
The cause of the most recent fire remains unknown. According to reports, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has launched an investigation into the incident.
The fire broke out around midnight on Thursday. Four fire tenders were dispatched to the scene, where firefighters found part of the building engulfed in flames, with visible flare-ups in
multiple areas. The latest fire follows a March 22 incident which destroyed the college’s main auditorium, boardroom, a classroom, and several pieces of equipment. That blaze was confirmed to have been caused by an electrical fault. In a statement released Friday, the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) described the destruction of the college as an attack on the country’s labour movement, which it says plays an essential role in Guyana’s development.
“The first fire was on March 22, 2025, and the second on July 31, 2025. GTUC is still awaiting the report on the previous
fire, which is also considered suspect,” the union said. While avoiding speculation on the cause, the
GTUC claimed that the repeated fires are “an act to destroy their existence,” and vowed to continue
their work despite the setback. The union expressed thanks to the GFS and others who helped prevent
Thursday night’s fire from spreading to nearby properties.
The Office of the President had earlier pledged support for rebuilding the institution. The CLC, which functions as the educational arm of the GTUC, has long been recognised as a key training institution offering both online and in-person programmes. For more than five decades, it has provided educational opportunities to thousands of Guyanese across all walks of life, many of whom used it as a stepping stone to institutions like the Cyril Potter College of Education and the University of Guyana.
Tsector continues to expand. The PM stated that the Government is working intentionally to ensure that Guyanese are at the centre of this growth.
Valedictorian, Bharat Bhopal, in his speech, relayed the initial hesitancy and trepidation at the unknown field he was entering before becoming fully immersed in the training programme to become the cadets they now are.
The graduating class
of 2025 participated in a Passing Out Parade, a ceremonial event traditionally held to mark the successful completion of training, particularly in Commonwealth nations. It signifies the transition from trainee to a fully qualified member of the institution. This dignified occasion typically includes a Guard of Honour, a ceremonial march past, and the symbolic passing of the school flag from one batch to the next, representing conti-
nuity and legacy.
Special honours were given to the national flag, and the presence of PM, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, added great prestige to the event as he witnessed the ceremony and congratulated the graduating cadets on their achievements, AAMOTI said on their social media page.
The 29 graduates will be placed with international companies for their internships.
training in maritime operations, offshore safety, and industry-related protocols, was delivered by AAMOTI and fully funded by the Government of Guyana through the GOAL scholarship initiative.
Prime Minister (PM), Brigadier (Ret’d), the Honourable Mark Phillips,
key step in Guyana’s national development strategy.
Recognising the pivotal role AAMOTI has played in cultivating Guyana’s maritime talent, PM Phillips said that with Guyana’s emergence as a gateway to international trade and offshore energy production, the relevance of their train-
wenty-nine persons who completed maritime and offshore studies under the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) were on Wednesday officially awarded their international certification at the graduation ceremony of the Atlantic Alliance Maritime & Offshore Training Institute (AAMOTI), the only International Maritime Organisation (IMO)recognised training institution in Guyana.
The three -year programme in specialised
who delivered the feature address, hailed the accomplishments of the graduates and commended them for their perseverance and dedication, noting that their achievement marks both a personal milestone and a
ing could not be more timely or more vital.
He also emphasised the evolving landscape and the continuous demand for certified, competent and skilled local professionals as Guyana’s oil and gas
The National Milling Company of Guyana (NAMILCO) has once again been recertified by the
This recertification, on Friday, July 18, confirms the company’s continued compliance with GNBS standards
Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) to use the ‘Made in Guyana’ stamp on its Thunderbolt and Maid Marian flours.
for local content and quality. GNBS Technical Officers Rosmarie Liliah and Rachel Cecil emphasised that the ‘Made in Guyana’ mark as-
sures both product authenticity and national value, helping to distinguish high-quality, locally manufactured goods.
NAMILCO first earned the certification in 2022, and its annual renewal is a testament to the company’s consistent adherence to quality and operational standards. Managing Director Scott Mitchell stated that the recertification reflects NAMILCO's commitment to innovation and serving both local and export markets.
NAMILCO remains a leading force in Guyana’s agro-processing sector. For more details on NAMILCO’s products and certifications, persons can visit www.namilco.com.
Three Grenadian men who were convicted of killing an elderly United States (US) couple last year after hijacking their catamaran have been sentenced to decades in prison.
Ron Mitchell, a 30-yearold sailor who was accused of being the ringleader, received two life sentences late on Wednesday in the killings of Ralph Hendry, 66, and Kathy Brandel, 71. Mitchell, who must serve at least 50 years before becoming eligible for parole, was also sentenced to 9 years and 1 month for housebreaking; 5 years and 4 months each on two counts of kidnapping; and 18 years and 4 months for robbery with violence.
Atiba Stanislaus, a 27-year-old farmer, received 30 years for each count of manslaughter; almost 18 years for the rape of Brandel; 9 years and 1 month for housebreaking; 5 years and 4 months and 4 years and 10 months for kidnapping; and 17 years
and 9 months for robbery with violence.
Trevon Robertson, an unemployed man in his early 20s, received 28 years for each count of manslaughter, 7 years and 7 months for housebreaking, and 5 years and 4 months and 5 years for kidnapping.
The Grenada newspaper, The New Today, reported that prosecutors said the men bound and gagged the couple before throwing them overboard, with Mitchell accused of steering the yacht over Hendry.
The two bodies were never found.
Police at the time said the men had escaped in late February 2024 from the South Saint George police station, where they were held in custody in connection with a string of other violent offences, including rape, attempted rape, and robbery with violence.
They hijacked the catamaran ‘Simplicity’ on the following day and then headed to nearby St. Vincent, where they were arrested, accord-
ing to authorities.
Mitchell, who has 9 prior convictions dating from 2012 to 2017, was given a combined sentence of 31 years and 8 months for rape, attempted rape, and indecent assault in a separate case involving a minor.
Stanislaus, with 10 prior convictions, received 14 years, 9 months, and 17 days for related offences.
Robertson, who had no previous convictions, was sentenced to 11 years, 4 months, and 2 days.
The court credited all three with 513 days already spent on remand in relation to the charge of escaping lawful custody.
While some of the sentences will run concurrently, others are to run consecutively, resulting in one of the harshest sentences to be handed down by senior Grenada High Court Judge Madame Justice Paula Gilford, who described the case as “one of the most heinous” she has ever presided over. (The Guardian, The New Today)
More than two in five people in English, Dutch speaking Caribbean struggle for daily meals
Nearly 3.2 million people in the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean are food insecure, according to the latest Food Security and Livelihoods Survey by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
In 2025, 30 per cent of Caribbean people reported eating less than usual, which is in line with the trend over the last 4 years arising from increased food costs that accompanied global geopolitical factors.
Across the Caribbean, nations face food-related challenges due to their geographic remoteness, lack of locally available resources, and exposure to
worsening climate.
"The Caribbean is particularly vulnerable to natural hazards and supply chain disruptions, which can cause rapid increases in food prices. It's deeply concerning that many people are struggling to afford the food they need. Strengthening and diversifying supply chains and trade routes across the region is essential. These efforts will help make food more accessible and affordable, while supporting faster recovery in times of crisis," said Brian Bogart, WFP's Representative and Country Director in the Caribbean.
Rising food prices are a major concern for the region, with food inflation consistently outpac -
ing overall inflation rates.
Nearly all respondents, 94 per cent, report higher food costs in the months leading up to the survey. One-third of households also experienced job loss or reduced income, putting further strain on already stretched budgets.
Local production efforts are being challenged by rapidly increasing operational costs. Among farmers, 85 per cent report rising prices for animal feed and tools or machinery, 81 per cent note higher fertiliser prices, and 73 per cent cite increased seed costs. These burdens are particularly heavy in a region that relies significantly on imported agricultural inputs. (Excerpt from WFP.org)
Activists and opposition leaders have warned that El Salvador is following Venezuela’s path towards dictatorship after the Central American country’s congress scrapped presidential term limits, paving the way for Nayib Bukele to seek indefinite re-election.
“Democracy in El Salvador has died,” opposition congresswoman Marcela Villatoro declared late on Thursday as the legislature – in which Bukele’s Nuevas Ideas party controls 90 per cent of seats – approved the highly controversial constitutional reform by 57 votes to three.
Villatoro accused fellow lawmakers of dealing a “death blow” to the country’s democratic system during the late-night session. “Today some people applaud this. Tomorrow they will regret it,” she said, comparing El Salvador’s slide into authoritarianism to the collapse of Venezuela’s democracy.
“When all the orders come from one person and everything revolves around one single person, democracy no longer exists. And when you lose democracy… it takes years to get it back,”
Villatoro warned.
Loyalists of Bukele – a social media-savvy 44-yearold who once called himself “the world’s coolest” dictator – celebrated the reforms, which will also see presidential terms extended from five years to six and bring the presidential election scheduled for 2029 forward to 2027. The election’s second round will also be scrapped.
Bukele, who is one of Donald Trump’s top Latin American allies, was first elected in 2019 and was re-elected last year thanks to widespread public support for his hard-line crackdown on gangs, which has seen homicide rates plummet.
That three-year clamp-
down has seen 2 per cent of El Salvador’s adult population jailed and due process suspended and made Bukele a role model for right-wing Latin American politicians grappling with high crime rates and for members of Trump’s MAGA movement. But Bukele’s concentration of power has horrified opposition politicians and activists. Juanita Goebertus, Human Rights Watch’s Americas director, compared El Salvador’s scrapping of presidential term limits to Venezuela’s 2009 referendum, which approved the same measure under its then populist president Hugo Chávez. (Excerpt from The Guardian)
B’dos farmers under siege as theft rings target crops, livestock
Criminal gangs are targeting farmers in a wave of organised praedial larceny, with thefts now operating on an industrial scale, an agricultural leader has warned.
Chairman of the Barbados Sugar Industries Ltd., Mark Sealy, declared that crop and livestock stealing has gone beyond simple crop theft and is now entering the category of organised crime.
Addressing farmers, policymakers, and law enforcement officials during
Thursday’s Praedial Larceny Farmers’ Forum at Kensington Oval, the veteran farmer said the nature of agricultural theft across the island has evolved into a well-organised and profitable criminal operation.
Calling for greater public awareness, Sealy argued that many still view praedial larceny as a minor issue or isolated nuisance when in reality it has become far more sophisticated and systematic.
“We have to tell the public, really, what level
Former Colombian
President Alvaro Uribe was sentenced by a judge on Friday to 12 years of house arrest for abuse of process and bribery of a public official in a long-running case over connections to former right-wing paramilitaries.
Uribe was convicted of the two charges on Monday by Judge Sandra Liliana Heredia in a witness-tampering case that has run for about 13 years. He has always maintained his innocence.
Heredia read the sentence to the court in an af-
ternoon hearing on Friday. Uribe will be fined $578,000, Heredia's ruling said, and barred from public office for more than eight years.
Uribe, whose legal team has said he will appeal the ruling, is to report to authorities in Rionegro, in Antioquia province, where he resides, and then "proceed immediately to his residence where he will comply with house arrest," the ruling said.
Uribe and his lawyers appeared virtually at the afternoon hearing. There is an appeal hearing scheduled for August 4. The conviction made
of theft there is now. And the majority of the level of theft now in Barbados, from farmers, is that it’s organised crime,” he said.
“We’re talking about vans and trucks coming to collect the produce, people in the fields, lookouts, etc.” He said these are not crimes of opportunity but premeditated raids backed by logistics and leadership, hinting at larger players coordinating the theft and resale of stolen goods.
(Excerpt from Barbados Today)
Uribe the country's first ex-president to ever be found guilty at trial and came less than a year before Colombia's 2026 presidential election, in which several of Uribe's allies and protégés are competing for top office. It could also have implications for Colombia's relationship with the United States. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this week that Uribe's conviction was a "weaponization of Colombia's judicial branch by radical judges," and analysts have said there could be cuts to U.S. aid in response. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Donald Trump has said that he has deployed nuclear-capable submarines to the “appropriate regions” in response to a threatening tweet by Russia’s former president Dmitry Medvedev, suggesting that he would be ready to launch a nuclear strike as tensions rise over the war in Ukraine.
xxon Mobil beat Wall Street estimates for second-quarter profit on Friday as higher oil and gas output and low production costs offset the impact of lower crude prices.
The biggest US oil producer made clear that it is ready to take advantage of lower oil prices and make acquisitions, but only if it is confident that it can create additional value.
Exxon's oil and gas production was the highest for any second quarter since the merger of Exxon and Mobil formed the company more than 25 years ago, Exxon Mobil said.
Adjusted earnings during the second quarter were US$7.1 billion, or US$1.64 per share, surpassing consensus analyst estimates of US$1.56 per share, data compiled by LSEG showed.
The company's main production areas include the Permian Basin, the largest US oilfield, as well as the prolific Stabroek Block off the coast of Guyana.
The low cost of production in those fields allows them to stay profitable even during times of weaker oil prices, Exxon has said previously.
The start-up of Yellowtail, a fourth floating production, storage, and offloading facility in Guyana, is anticipated next week, the company said.
Meanwhile, oil prices fell US$2 a barrel on Friday because of jitters about a possible increase in production by OPEC and its allies, while a weaker-than-expected US jobs report fed worries about demand.
Brent crude futures settled at US$69.67 a barrel, down US$2.03, or 2.83 per cent. US West Texas Intermediate crude finished at US$67.33 a barrel, down US$1.93, or 2.79 per cent.
(Source: Reuters)
Afederal Judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from fast-tracking the deportation of potentially hundreds of thousands of immigrants who were paroled into the United States under Bidenera humanitarian programs.
US District Judge Jia Cobb in Washington, DC, said it served the public interest to put on hold the Department of Homeland Security's expedited removals for those who entered with temporary parole, rather than cause irreparable harm to immigrants by allowing them.
Cobb also quoted a recent dissenting opinion by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor in rejecting
DHS' assertion of a substantial interest in carrying out President Donald Trump's policies, including the prompt removal of immigrants not entitled to stay.
"This case presents a question of fair play," Cobb wrote. "This court will not endorse the radical proposition that the President is harmed, irreparably, whenever he cannot do something he wants to do, even if what he wants to do is break the law."
DHS did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Expedited removals could allow immigrant parolees to be deported without hearings or lawyers. (Excerpt from Reuters)
In a post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump wrote that he had decided to reposition the nuclear submarines because of “highly provocative statements” by Medvedev, noting he was now the deputy chairman of Russia’s security council.
Medvedev had earlier said that Trump’s threats to sanction Russia and a
recent ultimatum were “a threat and a step towards war.”
“I have ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that,” Trump responded. “Words are very important and can often lead to unintended consequences; I hope this will not be one of those instances.”
He did not specify whether he was referring to nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed submarines.
Medvedev, who was sidelined when Vladimir Putin returned to the presidency in 2012, is also an avid fan of X, formerly Twitter, where he often posts aggressive and
curiously worded attacks against Western countries and leaders in the evening in Moscow.
Putin has not responded to Trump’s ultimatum.
On Friday, he said he wanted a “lasting and stable peace” in Ukraine but gave no indication that he was willing to make any concessions to achieve it, after a week in which Russian missiles and drones again caused death and destruction across Ukraine.
“We need a lasting and stable peace on solid foundations that would satisfy both Russia and Ukraine and would ensure the security of both countries,” said Putin, speaking to journalists on Friday, a week before a new dead -
line imposed by Trump for hostilities to cease.
Putin has periodically claimed to be interested in peace, but only on terms wholly unacceptable to Kyiv.
Last week, the third round of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine took place in Istanbul but broke up in less than an hour and has so far led to no agreements except on prisoner exchanges.
In an apparent reference to Trump’s comments, Putin said on Friday, “As for any disappointments on the part of anyone, all disappointments arise from inflated expectations. This is a well-known general rule.” (Excerpt from The Guardian)
Putin says Russia’s hypersonic missile enters service; to be deployed in Belarus
President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Russia has started production of its newest hypersonic missiles and reaffirmed its plans to deploy them to ally Belarus later this year.
Sitting alongside Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko on Valaam Island near St. Petersburg, Putin said the military already has selected deployment sites in Belarus for the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile.
Russia first used the Oreshnik, which is Russian for “hazelnut tree,” against Ukraine in November, when it fired the experimental weapon at a factory in Dnipro that built missiles when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union.
Putin has praised the Oreshnik’s capabilities, saying its multiple warheads that plunge to a target at speeds up to Mach 10 are immune to being intercepted and are so powerful that the
use of several of them in one conventional strike could be as devastating as a nuclear attack.
He warned the West that Moscow could use it against Ukraine’s NATO allies who
allowed Kyiv to use their longer-range missiles to strike inside Russia.
Russia’s missile forces chief has declared that Oreshnik, which can carry conventional or nuclear warheads, has a range allowing it to reach all of Europe.
Intermediate-range missiles can fly between 500 and 5,500 kilometres (310 and 3,400 miles). Such weapons were banned under a Sovietera treaty that Washington and Moscow abandoned in 2019.
Last fall, Putin and Lukashenko signed a treaty giving Moscow’s security guarantees to Belarus, including the possible use of Russian nuclear weapons to help repel any aggression.
(Excerpt from CNN)
US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has for the first time visited a controversial Israel- and US-backed aid distribution site in Gaza.
Witkoff said the purpose of the trip to a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) site was to give Trump "a clear understanding of the humanitarian situation and help craft a plan to deliver food and medical aid to the people of Gaza."
The visit follows near-daily reports of deadly shootings at GHF points, with the UN reporting at least 859 Palestinians killed in the vicinity of the sites – a figure the GHF rejects.
International journal-
ists, including the BBC, are blocked by Israel from entering Gaza independently, making it difficult to verify claims.
The BBC understands Witkoff visited one of the GHF sites near Rafah in southern Gaza on Friday.
He was accompanied by US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).
Posting on X afterwards, alongside pictures of their visit, Witkoff said, "Today, we spent over five hours inside Gaza – level-setting the facts on the ground, assessing conditions, and meeting with @GHFUpdates and other agencies."
Huckabee said they had received "briefings from the IDF and spoke to folks on
the ground."
He claimed GHF sites were delivering "more than one million meals a day," calling it an "incredible feat."
The GHF said it had delivered 1.3m meals across three distribution sites on Thursday. It has not yet released figures for Friday.
The UN says the number of meals provided by the GHF falls far short of overall nutritional requirements.
UN agencies have repeatedly warned that manmade mass starvation is taking place in the territory. Some Gazans who spoke to the BBC denounced Witkoff's visit as a "media stunt."
Former US State
Department official Annelle Sheline, who resigned from her role in protest at Joe Biden's policies towards Gaza last year, said Witkoff and Huckabee's visit was a "glorified photo-op, meant to obscure the reality of a dire humanitarian crisis that America has helped to author."
A retired US special forces officer who worked at GHF centres told the BBC last week he witnessed IDF troops and US contractors shooting at crowds of Palestinians near sites he worked at.
Eyewitnesses and medics have on several occasions described Israeli forces opening fire on crowds near the aid points. (Excerpt from BBC News)
Concentrate on health, finances and paperwork. Reaching out and helping someone or addressing a cause that concerns you will get you in touch with fascinating insight and information.
Consider your professional options. A change may not be something you relish, but it may be in your best interest. Soothe your emotions by heading in a direction that puts your mind at ease.
Get into the mainstream where the action is, and see for yourself. Knowing right from wrong, truth from fiction and what's best for you will help you make better choices.
Ask questions, and refrain from agreeing to something you cannot deliver. Focus your energy on home improvements and addressing issues that make life difficult.
It's up to you to create opportunities that help achieve your vision. Waiting for someone to do things for you will be your downfall, as it gives others the chance to upstage you.
Refuse to let someone's playful attitude infringe on what's important to you. Don't accommodate others; only change what works for you, and you'll maintain respect and freedom of choice.
Think before you act. Too much of anything will drag you down. Avoid the temptation to indulge in excessive behavior. Pay more attention to your surroundings, and be grateful for what you have.
Participate in something that concerns you. Force isn't the answer, but showing up to support your beliefs can make a difference. A choice will lead to confusion.
Put more time and effort into your surroundings. Maintaining a cost-efficient and functional home will give you the incentive to share your space with friends and family.
Verbalize your feelings and agenda. Take the initiative to share your dreams and plans with someone who matters to you. The input you receive will help you determine how to balance the needs of those you love.
You'll find yourself going back and forth. Follow the path that feels best for you. Refuse to let anyone railroad you into something you don't want to do. It's time to take responsibility for your happiness.
Stop guessing; when in doubt, ask. Don't be shy or reluctant to infringe on others for answers. Knowing how others think or feel will make your choices easier.
Now this, party people, is what it’s all about. We had to wait until the final Friday of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, but it delivered –the best day of play so far. As stumps were called on Day Two of the fifth and final Test, India stood tall at 75 for 2 in their second innings, leading by 52 and holding the momentum.
That it came on Day Two only added to the drama – a rollercoaster through nerves, risk, and revelation.
Gus Atkinson, returning after two months out, snatched his fourth five-wicket haul to wrap up India’s first innings for 224. Fittingly, it was Atkinson again who closed the day, trapping Sai Sudharsan LBW – the 15th wicket to fall on a frenzied Friday.
In between, England was bowled out for 247. That modest 23-run lead felt like it might swell when Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett blitzed 92 off just 77 balls. But post-lunch, with England at 109 for 1 and the game hanging in the balance, India punched back hard.
Mohammed Siraj (4 for 86) and Prasidh Krishna (4 for 62) led the charge in
a gripping middle session. England lost their last nine wickets for just 155. Only Harry Brook’s 53 offered resistance, but by the time the final 16 overs rolled around, it was clear the tide had turned.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, fearless as ever, blazed an unbeaten 51 off 49 balls –dropped twice, on 20 and 40. Crawley missed Sudharsan on seven. And with Chris Woakes sidelined by a shoulder injury from Day One, England began to look stretched, chasing a game that might slip further from them on Saturday.
Earlier in the day, England had things firmly in hand. India resumed on 204 for 6 but was dismissed in just 34 balls. Atkinson claimed three, with Josh Tongue (3 for 53) starting the damage. His chaotic but effective approach paid off – he removed Karun Nair for 57 with a nip-backer that pinned him LBW. Nair wasted a review on the way out.
Washington Sundar followed soon after, miscuing Atkinson to deep square leg. Siraj and Prasidh fell in quick succession, completing a collapse of 4 for 6. Atkinson’s figures now place
him among elite company – averaging 21 with the ball, the second-best strike rate (34.9) for any England seamer with 60+ wickets.
Then came the CrawleyDuckett show. Duckett was especially aggressive, reverse-pulling Akash Deep and ramping Siraj for the match’s first two sixes. He fell trying for a third, glov-
Tongue
bowled with more control than in the morning and deserved better. He dismissed Rahul with bounce and seam – caught low by Root. But the real chance was spilt by sub-Liam Dawson, who failed to hold a swirling catch off Jaiswal. Sunglasses perched on his cap, the ball cannoned off his chin and chest.
The crowd deflated, only for Indian fans to erupt in turn. That energy turned electric when night watcher Akash Deep drilled his first ball for four. He’d face just one more before bad light ended play. Saturday promises clearer skies – and,
seemingly, a brighter outlook for India. (Revised from ESPNCricinfo)
ing behind for 43. Siraj patted him on the shoulder – a gesture of mutual respect, but a sign of change brewing.
After lunch, India regrouped. Siraj’s eight-over burst (3 for 35) blew through England’s score. He removed Ollie Pope, Joe Root, and Jacob Bethell – exposing England’s vulnerability to movement off the surface. Pope’s dismissal required a review; Root’s was wasted on one. Bethell, returning to the Test side, simply walked.
Prasidh stirred the pot too – especially against Crawley. After throwing a ball at him in frustration (apologies quickly exchanged), he had Crawley caught by Jadeja for 64. It was Crawley’s third half-century of the series –an innings full of class but ending with a hot-headed swipe.
By tea, Prasidh had added two more: Jamie Smith edged to Rahul, and Overton fell LBW. Brook stuck around for 53 but was eventually bowled off his toe by Siraj. England were all out for 247.
India had the edge, but England had a window with extended play until 7:30 pm Instead, Jaiswal seized the moment. He smacked 12 off Atkinson’s second over, including a fierce on-drive and a rasping cut through point.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 2025
In a game that wasn’t as close as the final scorecard would suggest, Pakistan’s spinners were the difference between the two sides as they derailed the West Indies chase of 179 in the middle overs to ease to a 14-run victory in the first T20I in Lauderhill.
That target was put up thanks to a brisk half-century from Saim Ayub up top and contributions through the order. West Indies› bowling had the discipline to never truly let the batters cut loose on a surface that rewarded pace off the ball, but the flow of runs remained steady, if not explosive.
Pakistan backloading some of their power hitters would come in handy when Jason Holder trapped Ayub in front for 57; cameos from Hasan Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf, as well
helped Pakistan fetch 58 off their last 31 balls. The West Indies knew it was chaseable and batted
teammates.
line-up in the face of a multitude of Pakistan spinners, as well as a standout bowling performance from Shaheen
as a six off the only ball Mohammad Haris faced,
like it up front. But there was an uneasy fragility to that
West Indies (T: 179 runs from 20 ovs)
Johnson Charles c † Mohammad Haris
b Mohammad Nawaz 35
Jewel Andrew †c Fakhar Zaman
b Mohammad Nawaz 35
Shai Hope (c), Hasan Nawaz, Saim Ayub 2 Gudakesh Motie c Saim Ayub
b Shepherd 9 Salman Agha (c) not out 11 Faheem Ashraf c Holder b Joseph 15
Mohammad Haris † not out 6
Extras (lb 6, w 8) 14
Total 20 Ov 178/ 6
Did not bat: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem Fall of wickets: 1-26 (Sahibzada Farhan, 3.2 ov), 2-107 (Saim Ayub, 11.5 ov), 3-110 (Fakhar Zaman, 13.1 ov), 4-136 (Hasan Nawaz, 16.2 ov), 5-150 (Mohammad Nawaz, 17.4 ov), 6-172 (Faheem Ashraf, 19.5 ov)
b Mohammad Nawaz 0 Sherfane Rutherford c Fakhar Zaman
b Saim Ayub 11 Roston Chase c Sahibzada Farhan
b Shaheen Shah Afridi 5 Romario Shepherd b Sufiyan Muqeem 12
Jason Holder not out 30
Shamar Joseph not out 21
Extras (lb 2, w 11) 13
Total 20 Ov (RR: 8.20) 164/7
Did not bat: Akeal Hosein, Jediah Blades Fall of wickets: 1-72 (Jewel Andrew, 11.1 ov), 2-75 (Johnson Charles, 11.4 ov), 3-75 (Gudakesh Motie, 11.5 ov), 4-77 (Shai Hope, 12.5 ov), 5-92 (Sherfane Rutherford, 14.3 ov), 6-110 (Roston Chase, 15.5 ov), 7-110 (Romario Shepherd, 16.1 ov) Bowling O-M-R-W Shaheen Shah Afridi 4-0-27-1 Mohammad Nawaz 4-0-23-3 Haris Rauf 4-0-41-0
Shah Afridi, the standout Pakistan seamer on the day. It left the hosts with too few overs to target as the asking rate climbed and too few wickets to play with as Mohammad Nawaz, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Ayub wreaked havoc.
Holder reminded his side how easy big hitting can sometimes be with a blistering late attack as he helped himself to an unbeaten 30 off 12 with four sixes. It ensured West Indies finished strongly with 38 runs in the final two overs, but of all the things it threatened to do, changing the outcome at that stage wasn’t one of them.
Ayub sets himself apart
Asked to bat first, each of Pakistan’s top-order batters chipped in, but the runs never came at the dynamic strike rate Pakistan has repeatedly promised they would. Sahibzada Farhan was trapped in front early by Shamar Joseph, who would also account for Fakhar Zaman after a stodgy 24-ball 28. Five of the top six saw their innings conclude with strike rates between 110 and 133.33. And this would have been a problem but for Ayub.
For the first 25 balls of his innings, he found himself ambling along at the same pace as his
However, Ayub burst into life with a boundary off the final ball of the ninth over, and for a tiny, match-turning window, the fog lifted for him. Romario Shepherd was smashed for four in the following over, before two sixes in a 20-run Jediah Blades over flew Ayub past 50. His last 28 runs came in 13 balls, and by this time, Pakistan’s run rate was well above nine.
That, when thrown the ball for a couple of overs, picking up a wicket in each was merely the icing on the cake.
The platform and its dismantling
For all of Pakistan’s late surge, a chase of 179 wasn’t near insurmountable, and West Indies would set about demonstrating that in a mature powerplay that balanced intent with calculated risk-taking. The hosts showed deference to Afridi, content to see off his two powerplay overs for five runs, but pounced on the others. Pakistan tried to sneak in a cheeky second over of the innings from Nawaz, only to watch it go for 11, while Johnson Charles took another ten off Haris Rauf’s first.
from Nawaz and Muqeem.
The eight overs following the end of the powerplay produced just 37 runs and yielded four wickets, gutting the West Indies before the final launch.
Nawaz triple strike guts the hosts West Indies had begun to fall behind the asking rate following the powerplay, and that pressure brought a glut of wickets in dramatic fashion in Nawaz’s final over. Accurate without being menacing, until then, Nawaz provided Pakistan their first breakthrough by breaking West Indies’ 72-run opening stand when debutant Jewel Andrew holed out to longoff. Johnson Charles appeared to have cleared cow corner two balls later with an on-side heave, only for a brilliant effort on the boundary from Shaheen Afridi to parry it back and save his side four runs.
But even without wickets falling, Pakistan began to rein West Indies in. Before the powerplay had ended, Rauf sneaked in an over for just seven, and as the field spread out, West Indies’ scoring ability nosedived in the face of some superbly accurate lines
Things got better for Pakistan when Charles topedged the very next ball to the wicketkeeper, before West Indies slid further into the mire as Gudakesh Motie biffed one to deep midwicket. Nawaz, once famously termed a “match-winner” by Babar Azam, had indeed lived up to Babar’s estimation on this occasion. (ESPNCricinfo)
Former captain of the United States (US) Men’s National Team and a highly experienced international coach, Thomas Dooley was appointed new head coach of the Guyana Senior Men’s National Football Team.
This marks the beginning of a new era for the Golden Jaguars as the Guyana Football Federation embarks on a strategic push to elevate the national programme, both in terms of performance and professionalism.
“I am delighted to welcome Coach Dooley to the GFF family,” GFF President Wayne Forde stated, adding, “He joins us at the beginning of a new cycle for the Senior Men’s National Team Programme and has the opportunity to introduce his coaching philosophy and build a strong technical staff around him. As a highly qualified gaffer with years of experience, he brings a full set of tools and expertise for the change in direction we would like to see. He will have our complete support, and I look
forward to meeting with him in the coming weeks to charter a new course for
our beloved Golden Jaguars Programme.”
Dooley brings with
Guyana Amazon Warriors’ ace all-rounder Keemo Paul is set to rock the E4 brand at the upcoming Caribbean Premier League (CPL), which starts on August 14 in St Kitts.
Paul joined his teammate Kevlon Anderson, who recently signed a oneyear deal with the topnotch E4 brand.
The E4 brand, which is owned by overseas-based Guyanese Ravi Etwaroo, has become a household brand name in Guyana and the Caribbean, and it is slowly taking over the cricket world.
In an invited comment, Paul said it feels great to be supporting a local brand that is of the highest quality and high in demand.
“It feels great to be using and supporting a local brand. I have known Ravi for a while now, and it’s a privilege to have been given the opportunity to represent him and his E4 brand.”
Paul, like all international players who only settle for the best equipment, praised the E4 soft goods.
“The soft goods are top quality. I am very impressed, and personally I haven’t used the bats as yet, but I’ll be using them in our CPL pre-camp, and I’m sure they’ll perform really well,” Paul said.
“I’m enthusiastic about CPL this year. I have recovered from my surgery now, and I’m just eager to play some cricket. “The rest is in God’s hands. I just pray for
his protection and mercy,” Paul added.
The 27-year-old Paul has played three Test matches for the West Indies, 30 One Day Internationals, and 23 T20 Internationals. With age on his side, Paul will be aiming to find his form and fulfil his talent.
Notably, E4 is International Cricket Council (ICC) approved to be used in all formats of international cricket (Tests, ODIs, and T20Is), meaning the E4 logo can legally be displayed on clothing and equipment used in international cricket.
To gain this accreditation and approval in March 2024, it was important the E4 brand catered to all levels of cricket – male, female, senior, junior, and youth.
Additionally, Cricket Zone USA, through E4, has sponsored several cricketers across the
region, among them
Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Gajanand Singh, Kennar Lewis, Matthew Nandu, Kimani Melius, Navin Stewart, Oraine Williams, Tevin Imlach, Adrian Hetmyer, Akshaya Persaud, and West Indies female cricketers Stafanie Taylor, Rashada Williams, and Natasha McLean.
The E4 brand has been high in demand; as such, Etwaroo and his team have supported Guyaneseowned businesses with the supply of E4 products.
The E4 products are available at Giftland Mall in Georgetown and the Cricnation592 Store in Berbice.
Paul and Anderson, the latest signatures of the E4 brand, along with Gudakesh Motie, will be donning the E4 brand for the Guyana Amazon Warriors at the 2025 CPL.
US National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2010 and was widely recognised during his career, earning several “Best XI” awards in Major League Soccer and helping lead the US to the Round of 16 in the 1994 World Cup. His professional playing career also included a stint at Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen.
On the side-lines, his coaching career has been equally decorated. He served as National Head Coach of the Philippines (2014–2018), leading them to an unbeaten qualification campaign for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup and setting 11 national team records.
ed coaches ever appointed to lead Guyana’s senior men’s programme.
him an exceptional résumé shaped by decades at the highest levels of the game, both as a player and as a coach. As a player, he earned 81 caps for the US, captained the team at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, and played in two World Cups overall.
He was inducted into the
He was also the sporting director of Viettel FC in Vietnam, where he helped the club win its first championship in 23 years. Other portfolios include assistant coaching roles with the US Men’s National Team and US U20 Men’s National Team, working under renowned coach Jürgen Klinsmann and helping the youth team qualify for the U20 FIFA World Cup, and a UEFA Pro License holder, the highest certification in football coaching globally.
Dooley also has experience in Germany’s Bundesliga, Major League Soccer (MLS), and US youth development, making him one of the most well-round-
“I am truly honoured and excited to take on the role of Head Coach for the Guyana National Team… I have been deeply impressed by the talent and potential of this group of players, and I firmly believe they can achieve even greater heights with the right mindset, attitude, and sense of responsibility. There is a bright future ahead for this team, and I am eager to work closely with the players, coaching staff, management, media, and fans to unlock that potential. Together, we can write new and inspiring chapters in Guyana’s football story, driven by a shared passion and commitment to excellence,” Dooley related.
He will officially assume his role in the coming days, with immediate focus on assessing the current player pool, building out his technical team, and preparing for the 2026 campaigns. He is also expected to visit Guyana shortly for introductory meetings and technical briefings.
The GFF sees this appointment as a long-term investment in the national team’s structure, playing identity, and competitiveness across regional and international tournaments.
High-profile cricket is set to return to the ancient county this weekend across various venues.
Ten teams across Berbice will be battling it out in the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) first division round robin tournament that is set to commence on August 2, 2025.
The teams from Zone A are Blairmont, West Berbice, Tucber Park, Young Warriors, and Rose Hall Community Centre. Zone B teams are Skeldon, Port Mourant, Rose Hall Town, Albion, and Police.
The likes of Kevlon Anderson, Kevin Sinclair, Shamar Joseph, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, and Gudakesh Motie are some
the top players that could feature in the later rounds.
tournament will
The recently finished Lifeguard Certification ProgrammeProgramme has been praised by Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle as historic and unparalleled, marking a significant advancement in safety for Guyana’s waterways and sports facilities.
Ninvalle commended the work of all parties engaged in the closing ceremony and diploma distribution event on Thursday.
The Canadian Lifesaving Society certified seven lifeguards, three examiners, 41 Emergency First Aid, 32 Bronze Medallion, and 28 Bronze Cross personnel.
“This is extremely import-
The highly anticipated Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball tournament will conclude thrillingly this Sunday at the National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
In a significant boost to the event, long-standing sports supporter Trophy Stall reaffirmed its commitment. Managing Director Ramesh Sunich recently handed over the trophies for the top teams and individual performers to the organisers, FL Sport.
Sunich expressed his delight in partnering with a tournament that continues to grow, and he’s pledged to remain a key partner in its future success.
Speaking on behalf of FL Sport, Yusuf Ali thanked Trophy Stall, noting that their iconic trophies are a fitting reward for the teams’ immense hard work.
The stakes have never been higher, with a staggering prize pool on offer.
The four zone champions will battle it out for the ultimate national title and a massive GY$1.7 million grand prize, in addition to the GY300,000 they have already secured as zone winners.
The national runner-up will not leave empty-handed, taking home GY$700,000, a trophy, and medals. Even the losing semi-finalists will be rewarded with GY$300,000 each.
The individual accolades are equally impressive. The Most Valuable Player (MVP) will receive a substantial cash prize of GY$150,000 and a
ant as we push to make our waterways safer, particularly at facilities under the control of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport,” Ninvalle stated.
He noted that the certification ProgrammeProgramme is intended to be ongoing and credited Minister Charles Ramson Jr for delivering on a promise made during last year’s initiative to expand the country’s lifeguard pool.
Ninvalle also underscored the significant cost savings of participating in such a ProgrammeProgramme locally, compared to what similar certification would cost in oth-
er countries.
He encouraged the newly certified individuals to apply their skills and knowledge, noting that their qualifications
brand-new motorbike, courtesy of Regal. Furthermore, players with the most runs and most wickets will each be awarded GY$100,000.
These prizes, along with additional televisions, are sponsored by Regal Stationery and Computer Centre.
Dedicated sponsors for specific awards further bolster the prize pool: Man-of-theFinal: Sponsored by businessman Mario Moonsammy, this award includes GY$75,000 and a trophy, with another trophy contributed by Regal; Most Economical Bowler: Azad Ibrahim has sponsored a prize of GY$35,000; Highest Strike Rate Batsman: B.M. Soat is backing this award with GY$35,000, along with other incentives for record-breaking performances.
In a special treat for fans, one lucky spectator will win a motorbike, courtesy of Banks DIH.
The action kicks off at 13:30h with a female exhi-
bition match. The four zone champions will then compete for the national title.
The semi-finals schedule is as follows:
15:30: Defending champions Titans All-Stars face Mahdia (Movements Family)
17:00: The Montra Jaguars go head-to-head with the Eccles All-Stars
A special exhibition match featuring Government officials, private sector representatives, and youth cricketers is slated for 18:30h, leading into the grand finale at 19:30h.
With all four teams boasting immense firepower, the championship title is truly up for grabs.
The main seating will be in the Green Stand, with overflow into the Red Stand. Spectators are advised to use Gate Two for free parking.
Organisers have reminded patrons that coolers, firearms, and glass bottles are prohibited inside the stands.
Admission to the event is free.
Lifeguard Certification Programme Awardees now make them more competitive and marketable, especially as Guyana’s hotel and tourism industries continue to grow.
The training and certification of seven local instructors was one of Ninvalle’s main achievements, calling it a historic game-changer.
“This is huge for us because it now allows for a sustainable, year-round
ProgrammeProgramme, which will complement our ‘Teach Them Young’ Swim ProgrammeProgramme.
Beyond that, we’re already exploring ways to expand this initiative outside of our annual engagement with the Canadian Lifesaving Society,” he added.
The certification sessions were led by Sarah Newton and Tamara Wood of the
Canadian Lifesaving Society, with special recognition given to NSC Swim Coach Paul Mahaica for spearheading the Lifeguard Certification ProgrammeProgrammeme.
“This is just the beginning,” Ninvalle concluded, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to building a safer aquatic environment through continuous training, partnerships, and capacity building.
