Successful students at the CSEC and CAPE examinations results ceremony pose with Education Minister Priya Manickchand on Friday, August 15. Inset: CSEC and CAPE top performers (L-R) Jayden Adrian and Arthur Roberts
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2025| GUYANATIMESGY.COM
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, August 16 – 22:00h–23:30h and Sunday, August 17 –11:45h–12:30h and 23:30h–01:00h
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, August 16 –09:30h–11:00h and Sunday, August 17 – 11:00h–12:30h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY
Thundery showers are expected during the day, and cloudy skies with late-night thundery showers are expected at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.
Winds: North-Easterly to East South-Easterly between 1.34 metres and 3.12 metres.
High Tide: 09:42h and 22:02h reaching maximum heights of 2.32 metres and 2.37 metres.
Low Tide: 15:31h reaching a minimum height of 0.96 metre.
QC boys top CSEC, CAPE – aiming for careers in science & engineering
Arthur Roberts and Jayden Adrian of Queen’s College have topped this year’s Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams, respectively.
Roberts secured nine Grade Ones and four Grade Twos at CAPE, while Adrian wrote 27 subjects, earning 21 Grade Ones and six Grade Twos at CSEC.
"No man is an island"
In an interview with the media, Roberts thanked God, his teachers, parents,
and family, as well as his colleagues, for their support in his journey.
“My motivation mainly came from the community I had around me. My teachers, my mother, father, family members, my colleagues in school, and even members of the different associations related to Queen’s College, and the different associations I was also in, have continued to not only push me or guide me but also carry me to this point I am in today.”
He also quoted a famous saying, “No man is an island”, and stated that this quote reflects him very similarly.
“I’m also not an island, but I’m only here because of the people that have pushed me here. I’m a representation of all those people that have impacted me in my life thus far.”
Amidst this, he explained that there were several challenges along the way.
“So far, throughout the past year, a lot of my colleagues would have expressed that it could be considered more than a year because of not only the activities that we were required to carry out but also the different interruptions that we had within our school year – mainly referring to the demolition of the west wing for renovation.”
When asked about careers he is interested in, Roberts said, “Currently, I definitely can’t say where
I’m going next, but I am very interested in the sciences for sure. I’m also very intrigued by research and science, so I think that’s a hint as to where I’m going.”
However, Roberts noted that with the correct will, correct input, and correct discipline, anyone can achieve anything they put their minds to. Roberts said
he is interested in the fields of science and research and may pursue careers in this regard.
Fulfilment
Meanwhile, Jayden Adrian told reporters that he is very pleased with his CSEC success.
“Right now, I’m feeling very fulfilled because
that’s all I’ve been working for, for the past two years. So, I couldn’t have settled for anything less, given the hard work and all the tight nights I put in. So, that’s how I feel.”
He also gave his rationale for pursuing so many subjects.
“So, the main reason I did 27 subjects was to achieve a scholarship from the Government so I can study abroad. Because I want to be given the best services.”
Further, he expressed that despite Guyana’s strengths, “I know Guyana has the best, but [so] also [does] overseas. And secondly, because I am going to a university over there, I want to tune myself, or equip myself, with the schedule and the level of work you would expect at that level.”
As it pertains to his career path, “I want to follow the path of my father and my grandfather, where I become a mechanical engineer. But that’s subject to change. I also like aeronautics, too.”
Students from across the country who were successful at the 2025 CAPE and CSEC examinations pose with Education Minister Priya Manickchand on Friday
In 1979, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) was launched as a Caricom institution, to ensure that our more autochthonous curricula were graded from within, and also to be recognised by other universities and institutions of higher learning, especially in the developed countries. CXC was so successful that, in 1980, one year after the exams that we now call the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams were introduced, they received recognition from several overseas-based organisations: Joint Matriculation Board, UK; Cambridge University Examinations Syndicate and the American Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO). At this time, there has been no foreign institution that has not given an equivalency accreditation to CXC’s imprimatur. The organisation remains one of the most successful Caricom institutions.
The 2025 results of the CSEC, along with those of the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), were released on Friday, with students expressing pride in their outstanding performances.
This year, in Guyana, a total of 12,685 students wrote the CSEC exams, with 80,556 entries. Jayden Adrian of Queen’s College topped the country with 21 Grade Ones and six Grade Twos, while improved performances were recorded in 15 subject areas.
Guyana secured 100 per cent passes in a number of subject areas, including Agricultural Science, Animation and Gaming, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Digital Media, Environmental Science, Entrepreneurship, Geography, Green Engineering, Spanish, Physical Education and Sports, Performing Arts, Logistics and Supply Chain, Information Technology, and French.
However, there remain a few dark clouds over the success story that is CXC, with students’ performance at CSEC Mathematics across the Region being of particular concern. Again, a majority of students who took CSEC Mathematics across the Caribbean this year failed the exam. In Guyana, there was a 32 per cent pass rate for Mathematics, an improvement from the 27 per cent recorded in 2024.
The consistent struggle with CSEC Mathematics underscores a broader issue within the Region’s education system. Despite improvements in other subjects and a general rise in pass rates over recent years, the sub-par Maths performance is alarming.
Education stakeholders, including the CXC and national education ministers, have recognised the need for reform. The introduction of new strategies, such as enhanced use of Artificial Intelligence and targeted interventions, is a positive step.
In 2024, the Education Ministry took a bold step with a targeted initiative aimed at transforming Maths outcomes across Guyana. The Ministry launched an intensive Mathematics Intervention Programme, designed to raise the national pass rate to between 45 per cent and 50 per cent at the CSEC level. And it is starting to bear fruit.
Chief Education Officer (CEO) Saddam Hussain, who had previously criticised the lack of progress in Maths education, expressed confidence in the revamped approach. On Friday during a ceremony hosted by the Education Ministry at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre to announce the results, he said the increase in the Mathematics pass rate was significant.
“This is an increase of five per cent which is significant in any aspect of education gained in a single year,” he noted.
The results of these examinations are not just numbers on a paper; they represent the dreams and aspirations of young people.
A message to young people: “Before running to AI (Artificial Intelligence), master the fundamentals first”
By Garfield Joseph
In an age of rapid technological advancement, where artificial intelligence can write essays, summarise books, and even mimic human conversation, it’s easy to believe that success is just a few clicks away. But beneath every powerful tool lies a deeper truth: without mastering the fundamentals, even the most advanced technologies are little more than empty potential.
Two stories – one from a prison cell and another from a high school classroom – remind us that greatness begins with the basics.
Before he became one of the most influential voices in American history, Malcolm X was a prisoner grappling with frustration. He envied the eloquence of others and yearned to express himself with clarity and conviction. So he began a journey that would change his life: he taught himself to read and write.
Using a dictionary, Malcolm painstakingly copied every word, page by page, learning not just vocabulary but also the rhythm and structure of language. This self-imposed education unlocked a world of ideas. Books became his teachers, and reading became his liberation. In his autobiography, he wrote, “I could spend the rest of my life reading, just satisfying my curiosity.”
Malcolm’s transformation wasn’t powered by technology or privilege – it was built on the foundation of literacy. His mastery of language allowed him to articulate complex ideas, challenge injustice, and inspire generations.
Decades later, in a suburban high school in Minnesota, another young man was discovering the power of fundamentals. Thomas Friedman, now a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and New York Times columnist, credits his high school journalism teacher, Hattie Steinberg, for shaping his career.
“I took her journalism course in 1969 and never needed – or took – another journalism course,” Friedman wrote. Hattie didn’t just teach him how to write a lead or transcribe a quote. She instilled discipline, precision, and a respect for the craft. These fundamentals became the bedrock of Friedman’s career, enabling him to report on global affairs with clarity and insight.
His story is a testament to the power of great teaching and the importance of mastering the basics before reaching for the extraordinary.
As a young adult, I was captivated by the power of great oratory. I listened to Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech over and over again, not just for its message, but to understand how it was constructed – how it moved hearts and stirred minds.
I was also deeply influenced by the preaching of Gardner C Taylor, particularly his sermon “In His Own Clothes”, first delivered and recorded at the 1982 Hampton University Ministers’ Conference. In it, Taylor vividly depicted the crucifixion of Christ, emphasising that Jesus went to the cross not in borrowed robes, but in His own clothes – symbolising authenticity, sacrifice, and divine pur-
pose. With poetic repetition and thunderous delivery, Taylor declared:
“In His own clothes, He climbed the hill at Golgotha. In His own clothes, He asserted His role as Redeemer… In His own clothes, He fixed it, and it’s alright now! It’s alright now!”
Another sermon that shaped my understanding of rhetoric was “The Rending of the Veil” by James S Stewart, preached in 1952. Stewart, a Scottish theologian and preacher, delivered this message at Union Theological Seminary in New York. Drawing from Mark 15:38, he explored the tearing of the temple veil at Christ’s death as a symbol of divine access – God breaking the barrier between the sacred and the ordinary. Stewart’s sermon was a masterclass in expository preaching, blending theology, history, and emotion to reveal the profound implications of Christ’s sacrifice.
I listened to these sermons not just for inspiration but to learn – to see how these masters crafted their messages. The common thread was clear: mastery of the fundamentals of rhetoric – ethos (credibility), pathos (emotion), and logos (logic).
Today’s youth are growing up in a world filled with smart devices, instant answers, and AI-powered tools. It’s tempting to rely on these technologies to do the heavy lifting. But here’s the catch: tools are only as powerful as the hands that wield them.
Artificial intelligence can help you write faster, research deeper, and communicate more efficiently. But if you don’t understand the
structure of a good argument, the nuances of grammar, or the logic behind a persuasive essay, AI becomes a crutch rather than a catalyst.
Mastering the fundamentals – reading, writing, and critical thinking – is what allows you to use AI effectively. It’s the difference between copying and creating, between consuming and contributing.
To every young person reading this: your journey begins with the basics. Don’t rush past them. Embrace them.
Read widely – not just social media posts, but books that challenge your thinking. Write often – not just texts, but essays, stories, and reflections that sharpen your voice. Ask questions. Seek mentors. Practise discipline.
Whether you dream of becoming a journalist, an entrepreneur, a scientist, or an artist, your success will be built on the foundation of the fundamentals. Malcolm X didn’t need a classroom to become a scholar. Thomas Friedman didn’t need a college course to become a journalist. What they had was a commitment to learning and a respect for the basics. AI is here to stay. It will change industries, redefine careers, and open doors we can’t yet imagine. But it will never replace the human mind’s ability to think deeply and passionately and communicate clearly.
So master the fundamentals. Build your foundation. And then, use every tool at your disposal to build something extraordinary. Your story is waiting to be written. Make sure you have the skills to write it well.
(Antigua News Room)
Bucket seats have been installed in the final stand (the red stand) currently under construction at the Mackenzie National Stadium, formerly known as the Mackenzie Sports Club, in Linden, Region 10. The stadium is slated to officially open this year
CXC 2025: Guyana records 91.9% pass rate at CAPE, 66.76% at CSEC
Guyana has recorded a 91.9 per cent pass rate at this year’s Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), and the pass rate is 66.76 per cent for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC).
Guyana secured 100 passes in a number of subject areas, including Agricultural Science, Animation and Gaming, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Digital
Media, Environmental Science, Entrepreneurship, Geography, Green Engineering, Spanish, Physical Education And Sports, Performing Arts, Logistics and Supply Chain, Information Technology, and French, among others.
This year, 650 candidates wrote the exams, and there were 3632 entries, whereas last year, there were 721 candidates with 3906 entries.
Meanwhile, the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate
(CSEC) pass rate stands at 66.76 per cent. A total of 12,685 students wrote the exams this year, with 80,556 entries.
Improved performances were recorded in 15 subject areas.
There was a 32 per cent pass rate for mathematics, an improvement from the 27 per cent recorded in 2024.
In light of the persistent decline in mathematics in
recent years, the Education Ministry took a bold step with a targeted initiative aimed at transforming math outcomes across Guyana in 2024.
The Ministry launched an intensive Mathematics Intervention Programme, designed to raise the national pass rate to between 45 per cent and 50 per cent at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate
(CSEC) level – and recorded a significant increase from the current 31 per cent within the period of 2024.
Chief Education Officer (CEO) Saddam Hussain, who had previously criticised the lack of progress in maths education, expressed confidence in the revamped approach.
English Language (A) and English Literature (B) recorded pass rates of 71.2
per cent and 63.89 per cent, respectively.
This year’s pass rate represents a minimal decline when compared to 2024, when the pass rate was 92.57 per cent.
The statistics were announced by CEO Saddam Hussain during a ceremony hosted by the Ministry of Education at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre Friday.
00:00 Sign Off
06:00 Cartoons
08:00 Stop Suffering
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2025
07:00 Evening News (RB)
09:00 KTLT Kids Today Leaders Tomorrow
10:00 Movie - Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)
12:00 Movie - The Parent Trap (1998)
14:00 Movie - Junebug (2024)
16:00 Indian Movie - Bhoothnath (2008)
16:30 Evangelistic Hour
17:00 Hephzibah Ministries
17:30 The Evening News
18:30 CPL 2025 ABF vs BR
23:00 Movie - The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex (2013)
E3. The rectangular base of a pyramid = 6m long and 4m wide, and its vertical height = 9m.
The volume can be found with the formula: V = 1/3(base area) x h = 1/3 (6x4) x 9 = 1/3 (24) x 9 = 1/3 (216) = 72m 3
Practice
• A cone has radius 3cm and height 8cm. Find its volume.
• A sphere has radius 7cm. What is its volume?
• A pyramid with a rectangular base 3m × 6m is 12m tall. How much space is inside?
• A basketball has diameter 24cm. Find its volume.
• The base radius of a cone is 5m and the height is 12m. What is its volume?
• A triangular-based pyramid has base area 30cm² and height 12cm. Find its volume.
arth is more than 4 billion years old. That’s really, really old! But the planet is still changing. We know it’s changing when volcanoes explode, land collapses, or the earth shakes and quakes.
In an earthquake, huge masses of rock move beneath Earth’s surface and cause the ground to shake. Most earthquakes are caused by changes in the Earth’s outermost shell, or crust. The crust is made up of about a dozen rock masses called plates that are constantly moving. In different places they move apart, collide, or slide past each other. The shifting rocks release energy in the form of shock waves. The waves spread through the rock in all directions, causing an earthquake. In the most powerful quakes, people thousands of miles away from the centre of the quake can feel the ground shake.
A small number of earthquakes have other natural or human causes. The movement of molten rock beneath a volcano can trigger an earthquake. The pressure resulting from holding vast amounts of water behind large dams can cause minor quakes. So can underground nuclear explosions and the digging of mines.
An earthquake may be powerful enough to change the surface of Earth, thrusting up cliffs and opening huge cracks in the ground. Earthquakes can do great damage to buildings, bridges, railroads, and other structures. The violent shaking during earthquakes often causes other Earth movements, such as avalanches. Some quakes that happen in or near oceans can cause tsunamis. (Adapted from kids.britannica.com)
By Dave Crawley
“My doggy ate my homework. He chewed it up,” I said. But when I offered my excuse My teacher shook her head. I saw this wasn’t going well. I didn’t want to fail. Before she had a chance to talk, I added to the tale:
“Before he ate, he took my work And tossed it in a pot. He simmered it with succotash Till it was piping hot.
“He scrambled up my science notes With eggs and bacon strips, Along with sautéed spelling words And baked potato chips. “He then took my arithmetic And had it gently fried. He broiled both my book reports With pickles on the side.
TO BE CONTINUED
Is there something you are good at doing? Write about your best strengths.
WORD SEARCH
Guyana finalising human capital strategy to tackle labour shortage
– to tap Diaspora to fill existing gaps
The Guyana Government is in the final stages of completing a comprehensive human capital strategy aimed at tackling the ongoing labour shortage in the country amidst its exponential economic growth.
This was revealed by President Irfaan Ali on Friday during an appearance on the British podcast, “The Rest Is Politics: Leading with Alastair Campbell”.
President Ali becomes the first sitting President from the Americas to be featured on the programme.
Speaking about the unprecedented growth that Guyana is experiencing as a result of its burgeoning oil and gas industry, the Head of State highlighted the challenges the country is facing, given its lack of human resource capacity to keep up with the widespread transformation.
“For the growth that is taking place, we don’t have the size of the labour force [to meet the demand.]
The human resource capital is just too small to fuel this growth that is taking place,” he explained.
In fact, the President noted that to fill demand, his Government has introduced incentives such as tax breaks to encourage persons to work second jobs.
Additionally, in order to tackle the country’s labour shortage, the Head of State revealed plans to roll out the human capital strategy that will see emphasis placed on tapping into the vast expertise
in the diaspora.
“[The diaspora] is a big part of the strategy. So, we are now finalising that human capital strategy, which is linked to the migration strategy and the type of human capital that we need,” the Guyanese leader stated.
One category of workers that Guyana is facing a shortage in is healthcare professionals, and, with the Government building out a modern healthcare system, Ali noted that while they are training personnel for the long-term needs of the country, they are simultaneously working to fill the current gaps.
“The world is going through a
crisis in healthcare. For example, nurses are moving around globally… The UK (United Kingdom) is recruiting heavily. In the Caribbean [and] in Guyana, we’ve all suffered from that. So, we have those same challenges, because we are building out a modern healthcare system that requires special
ists, requires specialisations and requires a certain quality of nurs
es.”
“So, whilst we are building out our capacity to train nurses, pharmacists, technologists, and doctors to meet this future requirement, in the medium term we will have –and we [do] have – major shortages, and we have been recruiting,”
he explained.
Meanwhile, the Head of State went on to note during the podcast that the human capital strategy will also look at restructuring Guyana’s education system to deliver the skills that are required now, not only in healthcare but in other sectors as well.
“This human capital strategy will be used to structure the education system to deliver what we want now and for the future, but also to examine the gap that exists. The human resource information system gap would allow us to understand where that gap exists and where the potential areas are we can recruit human capital from to fill this gap,” he added.
Only earlier this week, President Ali had stated that the thousands of Guyanese nurses who left Guyana over the years to seek better-paying jobs would soon be returning home to take advantage of the high pay package that the Government will offer.
Speaking at a public meeting on the campaign trail held at Alexander Village, Georgetown, on Wednesday, the Guyanese leader had noted, “Within the next five years, all the nurses who left are going to come back because what we are going to give our nurses here will make it make no sense for them to be anywhere else… They’re coming back because we are building stronger and better, and Guyana today is a land of opportunity.”
Just last month, President Ali had said he has instructed that all efforts be taken to ensure that the human resources gaps in the local medical field are filled in the short term, as the country trains its own cohort of medical professionals.
“I’ve mandated the Minister of Health to ensure that we bring in every single skill that is needed in this short to medium term. Whatever skill level, he has the authority to bring that skill level – because I do not want to hear that we don’t have the doctors, the nurses, the lab technicians or anyone at these hospitals to provide quality care. The PS [Permanent Secretary] and the Minister, they are responsible for this. And they have absolutely no excuse because I’ve given the Minister full authority to have this done,” the Head of State stressed during the commissioning of the newly constructed Bath Regional Hospital – one of six such facilities that are being built across Guyana.
Only in July, Delhi-based recruitment firm Ansari Manpower Overseas Consultant published an advertisement inviting male and female nurses in India to work at Government hospitals in Guyana.
According to President Ali, “We are making too many investments to accept any level of service that is below par. This is not about the Government; this is about the people. They deserved the best that we’re investing in for them.”
President Irfaan Ali during the British podcast
Looking into…
…the (elections) crystal ball
VP Jagdeo was asked at his weekly press conference about speculations that the PPP mightn’t be able to garner a majority at the Sept 1st elections – leading to a “hung” Parliament. So what’s this “hung” business?
Well, because of our (peculiar?) constitutional stipulations, parties can’t enter into coalitions AFTER the elections. But the one with the LARGEST number of seats (a PLURALITY rather than a MAJORITY) captures the presidency and the Executive!! The Parliament is said to be “hung” since the Government can’t pass any bills to make any decisions on Government actions!! The expression came from the term “hung jury” – when the jury can’t agree on a verdict!
In such a situation, however, if the largest party can get the support of other parties to reach a majority in Parliament – then the business of Government can go on!! Under such an ad hoc arrangement one cannot speak of a “coalition”, as was posed in a question to the VP. As we found out in 2011, a “hung” Parliament actually was formed with the PPP capturing the Presidency and executive with 32 seats and the AFC’s 7, with APNU’s 26 outnumbering them!! The PPP called an early election!!
But the VP unequivocally asserted that there ain’t gonna be no hung Parliament in 2025!! He knows that under such a scenario, the Government would always be a “lame duck” since the opposition parties could call a “no confidence” motion at any time and throw the Government out!! He declared, “We’ve seen the numbers on the ground. We’ve done the testing. We are on track to win the elections outright.” And in Guyana, winning means getting at least 33 seats – never mind the Opposition’s special math about an “absolute” majority demanding 33!! So let’s examine whether the VP’s just whistling in the dark!! The reporter had implied the PPP’s support in Indigenous communities was being eroded by “other” –read WIN! – parties. Now, while the VP dismissed WIN’s Sanction Man’s intense efforts – and money handouts! – which had gotten publicity, it should be noted that the PPP’s never gotten 100 per cent of the Indigenous votes!! It’s more than likely that – as has happened on the coastland – WIN’s hiving off the Opposition PNC and AFC’s shares, since those parties have shown themselves to be so anaemic no one sees them as a viable alternative to the PPP!!
On the coast, the PPP’s unrelenting efforts to include African and Mixed Guyanese in the transformation in all sectors of national life are bearing fruit – especially with youths!! Your Eyewitness really believes this election’s gonna be historic for breaking the ethnic determinism of our elections.
As the VP said, the PPP’s gonna get their majority hands down!!
…India’s independence
A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since India made its “tryst with destiny” and became independent –along with Pakistan – on Aug 15, 1947!! It’s now the fourthlargest economy by nominal GDP and the third-largest by purchasing power parity (PPP) – along with being the most populous nation on planet Earth!! It can now feed itself –having brought 400 million out of absolute poverty – and send rockets to the far side of the moon. But yet, it’s the Rodney Dangerfield of nations which don’t get no respect!! Especially from the west!
What’s going on?? Your Eyewitness believes it all boils down to that “turn all four cheeks” pushed by Gandhi that has stuck to the country. Truth is, while Gandhi’s example might work for individual persons – and your Eyewitness has his doubts!! – it’s disastrous for nations!! Here the rule is ‘might is right and the devil takes the hindmost’! India gotta quit playing Mr Nice Guy – and start kicking some (disrespectful) butts!!
…new (int’l) rules
The US under President Trump just announced it’s relaunching the “war on drugs” (WoD) that seemed to have gone off the radar while they promoted democracy around the world. The goal, of course, is to cut the supply chain!!
“You know once we write this, we are going to deliver” – Jagdeo
…as school students, pensioners, public servants, part-time workers to see steady, significant financial increases in the next term
Come next year the Government will spend about $40 billion on assistance for schoolaged children, including the Because We Care cash grant for schoolchildren. This is according to Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo.
The VP, who held several meetings in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on Friday, noted that the cash grants will be significantly increased.
Speaking ahead of the release of the PPP/C 20252030 Manifesto, Jagdeo said students are expected to receive a significant increase on the $50,000 given to each child in 2025. According to the VP, the Government will be spending about $40 billion on grants to school-aged children next year, once he is re-elected to office.
In 2024, the Government spent $9.2 billion on the Because We Care cash grants – including both the cash component and school uniform allowance.
This amount reflected the combined value of the $40,000 per child cash grant plus a $5000 uniform allowance, given to more than 205,000 school-aged children.
This year, the National Budget earmarked $11 billion for the programme, consisting of $50,000 per student plus $5000 for uniforms. It was expected to reach around 205,000 beneficiaries.
Steady increases and development
Meanwhile, although Jagdeo did not divulge how much each child would be entitled to, he announced that every year, the $40 billion will be increased, noting that the Government plans to spend more money on children.
"You're going to hear this weekend how much more every child will get per year. It's a huge sum of money. When you hear it this weekend, every year you will see the Because We Care grant go up, and also, everyone will get a transport grant so that they can help their parents to pay for the transportation to send them to school. It will cost us, I can tell you, over $40 billion a year to do that. I am not telling you how much it is because the President will announce that, but every year from that initiative alone would be about $40 billion,” Jagdeo disclosed.
He said pensioners too would also receive an increase, in addition to a transportation grant every year.
Additionally, the Government is planning to introduce hot meals to schools and increase public servant and Government part-time worker salaries.
During the next term of the current Government,
Jagdeo promised that the backlog of house lot applications will be cleared up.
“In the next term we
will make sure that anyone who needs a house lot, once they are eligible and they apply, and then once they get their house lot, we will assist them to build or improve their own homes if they are poor. So we will help people to improve their homes or start building. We will spend a lot of time on building homes in the next year because we want people to have jobs, live in safe communities, have good health care and have proper education – because these are important issues for us.”
The VP explained that the goal is to ensure that in
every village, roads are upgraded and concrete drains installed. Apart from that, he said, there will be adequate street lighting and security cameras installed to address security issues.
Jagdeo pointed out that the current administration ensured the liberalisation of telecommunications, causing the cost for internet and bandwidth to fall. Mortgage rates were also lowered by the administration.
“On food prices, in some areas we have been successful, and in other areas we have not been. Prices have been moving up and down, and so it is very hard. Those
are the things we have to focus on in the next term,” he noted.
In addition, according to Jagdeo, electricity costs will be slashed in half when the “power plant is completed”.
The gas-to-shore project will see the price for cooking gas locally being reduced significantly.
“I hope that you would be reading about these things because we are putting them down on paper like we did in 2020, and you know once we write this, we are going to deliver – we are not like APNU [A Partnership for National Unity] or AFC [Alliance For Change],” Jagdeo assured.
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo speaking to supporters in Region Six on Friday, August 15
CAPE, CSEC successes this year spread out across the country – Education Minister
– as CEO urges the Ministry to create an enabling environment for students with varying abilities to excel
Minister of Education Priya Manickchand announced that the results of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) were not limited to top secondary schools but were distributed across the country.
Minister Manickchand shared this view at a simple ceremony marking the release of the results at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Friday, August 15.
This year, non-traditional schools such as Zeeburg Secondary, Bygeval Secondary, JC Chandisingh Secondary, and Mackenzie High School achieved a pass rate of more than 85 per cent at the examinations.
With more than 42 secondary schools slated for
completion by mid-next year, the Minister said that these schools are creating the opportunities necessary for children to excel.
“[This shows you] that wherever we build schools or offer opportunities, children – our children – excel,” she said.
Addressing the students, Minister Manickchand urged them to grab hold of the many opportunities available now in Guyana, through the GOAL scholarship or by considering that the University of Guyana is free.
“The world is now your oyster. You have a University of Guyana that you can go on to for free and do anything… You now have the world open to you with a Government that has committed that you will become anything you want to be with
our support and that we will provide the platform for that,” the Minister advised.
Meanwhile, Chief Education Officer (CEO) Saddam Hussain has revealed that in the last five years, less than 2 per cent of all the students who
have written Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) or Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) exams have actually written more than 15 subjects.
Speaking at the ceremo-
ny, Hussain revealed that in 2023, only 155 students out of the 12,108 who wrote exams sat more than 15 subjects, representing some 1.3 per cent, whereas in 2024, out of the 11,600 students who wrote the exams, 200 did more than 15 subjects, representing 1.7 per cent.
This year, of the more than 12,500 students who wrote the exams, 248 wrote less than 15 subjects, which is less than 1.9 per cent.
The CEO emphasised that the Ministry of Education must create an enabling environment for students with varying abilities to excel.
“There is this notion that the Ministry promotes this idea of a large quantity of
subjects to be written. That is so far from the truth in terms of policy and statistically,” the CEO said. He emphasised that there is no policy about writing 15 or more subjects. However, if students have the ability or want to, then they will be given the opportunities to do so.
In fact, the CEO highlighted, “We cannot have an education system that talks about equity if we are not going to have a place for the gifted, if we are not going to have a place for the extraordinary.”
He contended that there must be space for students who have the ability to “learn an entire maths syllabus in one month”.
ABath, West Coast Berbice (WCB), contractor accused of taking over $1 million under false pretence was on Friday granted bail in the sum of $250,000 when he appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Terbhawan Ramjit, 38, of Lot 126 Bath, WCB, appeared before Magistrate Annette Singh and pleaded not guilty to the charge.
It is alleged that between Sunday, June 1, and Thursday, July 31, in Georgetown, Ramjit, with intent to defraud, obtained $1,030,000 from Nalini Ramcharan by falsely claiming he could secure three house lots for her, when he was not in a position to do so.
During the bail application, defence attorney Jevon Cox told the court that his client has an unblemished
record with no prior criminal matters or convictions. He stressed that Ramjit is not a flight risk, is in full denial of the allegation, and intends to contest the charge. However, the prosecutor objected to bail, pointing to the seriousness of the offence and the large sum of money allegedly obtained. He argued that the gravity of the matter could deter the accused from returning to court and urged that, if bail were granted, it should be substantial and accompanied by conditions, including a monthly reporting requirement to the Brickdam Police Station.
Magistrate Singh, after considering both submissions, granted bail at $250,000 and ordered Ramjit to report to the Brickdam Police Station on the last Friday of each month.
Terbhawan Ramjit
Education Minister Priya Manickchand
Over 2100 land titles to be distributed at Int’l Building Expo
As part of its aggressive housing drive, the Housing and Water Ministry is expected to hand over more than 2100 landownership documents to allottees during the ongoing International Building Expo 2025.
The distribution of titles and transports got underway Friday, with 822 documents available on-site at the National Stadium for allottees to uplift.
Housing and Water Ministers, Collin Croal and Susan Rodrigues, presented the first set of documents to allottees, taking them one step closer to homeownership.
An additional 1342 titles and transports will be ready for collection today and Sunday during the Ministry’s hallmark exhibition. Persons can vis-
it the Housing and Water Ministry’s website to view the list of persons who have landownership documents ready for pickup.
Moreover, some 300 allottees from the Two Friends Housing Scheme (Phase 1), East Coast Demerara, were also targeted to sign and receive their Agreements of Sale on Friday – another important step toward obtaining their Titles and Transports.
Today, allottees from the Two Friends Housing Scheme (Phase 2) will have their signing, followed by La Bonne Intention (Block 3) allottees on Sunday.
Held under the theme “The Road to Success: Guyana 2030 and Beyond”, International Building Expo 2025 was officially launched Thursday evening, during which Minister Croal re-
flected on the unprecedented transformation that the housing sector had experienced over the last five years.
With an investment of over $250 billion in those five years, more than 20,000 new lands were developed in various housing schemes countrywide. During that period, the Ministry also processed some 20,000 titles, of which 13,000 have already been distributed. This figure will increase further, with the 2100 documents slated to be distributed this weekend.
In addition, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has built some 3000 turnkey homes and distributed more than 50,000 house lots, in keeping with its 2020 manifesto promises. To complement the mass house lot
distribution, over 500 kilometres of community roads have been paved.
According to Minister Croal, “…50,000 families now have a place to call their own; 50,000 families now have the key to financial security, and 50,000 families are now part of a new Guyana rising before our eyes… By 2030, we are not only aiming for zero backlog in housing allocations but also to ensure that every new scheme has roads, drainage, lighting, schools, health centres and the infrastructure that makes a community thrive.”
Steel and cement subsidy initiative
As part of its aggressive housing drive, the PPP/C Government had rolled out a number of initiatives over the last five years to push homeownership. Among these is the steel and cement subsidy initiative, which aims to assist Guyanese citizens in constructing their homes, regardless of whether the land is Governmentallocated or privately owned.
To date, some 2500 Guyanese have benefited from over $500,000 in subsidies, with this number expected to further increase.
In fact, during the International Building Expo on Friday, more than 330 first-time homebuilders received this essential assistance. The distribution of cement and steel vouchers was overseen by both Ministers Croal and Rodrigues.
Under this programme,
homes valued at $6 million and below will receive one voucher for a sling of cement and steel. Builders constructing homes estimated between $6 million and $25 million will benefit from two slings of cement. This support is expected to significantly relieve the financial burden on new homeowners and expedite the construction process.
According to the Ministry, “The ongoing distribution of cement and steel vouchers highlights the Government’s commitment to promoting affordable housing and empowering Guyanese families to achieve their dream of homeownership. Since its introduction in 2023, the Cement and Steel initiative has positively impacted the housing sector and continues to contribute to the overall development of the na-
tion.” Meanwhile, also reflecting on the Government achievements over the last five years, Minister Rodrigues pointed out during Thursday’s opening ceremony that of the more than 50,000 house lots distributed, some 21,493 went to single women. Additionally, some 54 per cent of the allocations went to young people, while 90 per cent went to low-income families.
“The lives of these families are being changed forever, and they are now on the trajectory of accessing financing, owning a home and providing a place that is safe and secure for their families in a community that will be fully equipped with infrastructure, utilities, access to Government services and recreational facilities,” Minister Rodrigues stated.
Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water Susan Rodrigues handing over the land title to a young allottee on Friday at the International Building Expo
Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal on Friday handed over a cement and steel voucher to a beneficiary
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2025| GUYANATIMESGY.COM
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2025| GUYANATIMESGY.COM
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2025| GUYANATIMESGY.COM
Search continues for 2 girls missing after mass escape from Unity Children’s Home
Authorities are intensifying efforts to locate two teenage girls who remain missing following an apparent mass escape from the Unity Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD) Children’s Home earlier this week.
The missing girls have been identified as 15-yearold Amanda Tyson and 14-year-old Shazela Khan. Both were among a group of 21 girls who fled the ECD facility on Wednesday evening after a disturbance inside the home.
According to eyewitness accounts, the incident began when a fight broke out between some of the girls inside the facility. The commotion escalated, and the
girls reportedly forced their way out of the building and compound, confronting the guard on duty before fleeing into the surrounding area.
Police quickly mobilised teams from the Cove and John and Mahaica stations to track down the escapees. Some of the girls were intercepted, but efforts to locate
the remaining two – Tyson and Khan – are ongoing.
The Guyana Police Force is appealing to members of the public to remain vigilant and report any sightings of the missing girls immediately.
The Unity Children’s Home, operated under the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, provides shelter and care for girls from troubled backgrounds. The home offers rehabilitation programmes designed to assist the children in addressing behavioural challenges, building life skills, and transitioning successfully back into society.
North Ruimveldt pensioner charged for $1.75M house lot fraud
A72-year-old North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, pensioner, with a history of fraud and larceny allegations, was on Friday arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on a fresh charge of obtaining money under false pretence.
Norman Phillips appeared before Magistrate Annette Singh and pleaded not guilty to the allegation that on Friday, December 27, 2024, at Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown, he, with intent to defraud, obtained $1.75 million from Lawrence Lorimer by falsely claiming he could secure a house lot for him when he was not in a position to do so.
Represented by attorney Casside Nurse, the court was told that Phillips is a pensioner with no convictions who suffers from medical complications and is on medication. Nurse said her client had been released on station bail and had faithfully reported to the police daily since then.
She further noted that Phillips was engaged in talks with the virtual complainant to settle the matter, proposing to repay the money in instalments. Nurse requested that the court impose reasonable bail, highlighting that Phillips’ brother was prepared to make the payments on his behalf.
After brief discussions in court, Nurse informed Magistrate Singh that Phillips’ brother could pay $500,000 by the coming Wednesday, with the remainder to be settled before the end of the month.
Lorimer reluctantly agreed to the arrangement.
The prosecutor, however, objected to bail, citing issues
with the address Phillips provided to the police, the seriousness and prevalence of the offence, and the large sum involved. The court also heard that Phillips currently has another charge pending.
Magistrate Singh ultimately placed Phillips on $100,000 bail and adjourned the matter to August 20, when the first repayment is due.
While Phillips’ lawyer has said he has no previous convictions, reports show that he is, however, no stranger to the judicial system, having been before the courts on multiple occasions over the past decade for similar offences.
In 2017, he was remanded to prison by Magistrate Judy Latchman after being accused of stealing more than $2 million in property, including a Bedford truck, from his then employer, Aubrey Barnwell.
Phillips denied the allegation and also revealed in open court that he had another pending matter before Magistrate Annette Singh. Despite his protests of innocence, he was remanded to prison. The outcome of that matter is unclear.
Phillips had also faced similar allegations in 2012. In that case, he was charged with obtaining $170,000 from an overseas-based Guyanese, Harold Carr, under the false pretence that he was employed with the Central Housing and Planning Authority and could secure a house lot.
Phillips was placed on $250,000 bail, ordered to lodge his passport, and report weekly to the Criminal Investigations Department. The outcome of that case also remains unknown.
Friday’s proceedings add yet another chapter to Phillips’ history of court appearances.
Amanda Tyson and Shazela Khan, who remain missing
The Unity Mahaica Children’s Home
Norman Phillips
Around the World
OOIL NEWS
Oil settled nearly US$1 lower
il prices closed down nearly $1 on Friday as traders awaited talks between Unites States (US) President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, which could lead to an easing of the sanctions imposed on Moscow over the war in Ukraine.
Brent crude futures settled 99 cents, or 1.5 per cent, lower at US$65.85 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures eased US$1.16, or 1.8 per cent, lower at US$62.80.
“President Trump will likely threaten further tariff pressure on India and possibly China as far as oil imports from Russia if the meeting stalemates, which is keeping a nervous trade in crude,” said Dennis Kissler, senior vice president of trading at BOK Financial.
“If a ceasefire announcement is made, it will be taken as a negative to crude near-term,” Kissler added.
For the week, WTI dropped 1.7 per cent, while Brent eased 1.1 per cent.
Weaker economic data from China, meanwhile, raised concerns over fuel demand.
Chinese Government data showed factory output growth slumped to an eight-month low and retail sales growth expanded at its slowest pace since December, weighing on sentiment despite stronger oil throughput in the world’s second-largest crude user.
Oil rig count, an indicator of future supply, rose by one to 412 this week, Baker Hughes data showed.
Bank of America analysts said on Thursday that they were widening their forecast for the oil market surplus, citing growing supplies from the OPEC+ producer group comprising the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and other allies.
The analysts now project an average surplus of 890,000 barrels per day from July 2025 through June 2026.
That forecast follows this week’s International Energy Agency predictions saying the oil market looks “bloated” after the latest increases to OPEC+ output. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Trump, Putin leave Alaska after no deal reached in Ukraine talks
“There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” Donald Trump said early in his post-summit remarks here in Anchorage.
It was a roundabout way of conceding that after several hours of talks, there is no deal. No ceasefire. Nothing tangible to report.
The president said that he and Vladimir Putin made “some great progress” - but with few details about what that might be, it’s left to the world’s imagination.
“We didn’t get there,”
he later said, before exiting the room without taking any questions from the hundreds of gathered reporters.
Trump travelled a long way to produce only vagaries, even if America’s European allies and Ukrainian officials may be relieved he did not offer unilateral concessions or agreements that could have undermined future negotiations.
For the man who likes to tout himself as a peacemaker and a dealmaker, it appears that Trump will leave
Alaska with neither. There are also no indications that a future summit involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is forthcoming – Putin’s “next time in Moscow” quip about their next meeting aside. While Trump had less at stake during these negotiations than Ukraine or Russia, it still will put a dent in his domestic and international prestige after earlier promises that this meeting had only a 25% chance of failure. (Source: BBC News)
Mali’s military arrests Generals, suspected French agent in overthrow plot
Authorities in Mali have arrested a group of military personnel and civilians, including two Malian army generals and a suspected French secret agent, accused of attempting to destabilise the country.
Mali’s security Minister, General Daoud Aly Mohammedine, announced the arrests on Thursday evening following days of rumours that Malian military officials had been arrested.
The Minister said, “The situation is completely under control.”
Tough US stance casts gloom over plastics pollution deal after Geneva flop
Plastic items are seen next to an artwork by Canadian artist and activist Benjamin Von Wong, titled “The Thinker’s Burden”, during the Fifth Session of the Inter-Governmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC-5.2), at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Friday, August 15, 2025 (Courthouse News Service photo)
The collapse on Friday of a sixth round of UN talks aimed at curbing plastic output has dimmed hopes of tackling a key source of pollution and left many advocates of restrictions pessimistic about a global deal during the Trump administration.
A three-year global push to reach a legally binding treaty to curb plastic pollution choking the oceans and
harming human health now appears adrift, participants said.
Many states and campaigners blamed the failure on oil producers, including the US, which they said hardened long-held positions and urged others to reject caps on new plastic production that would have curbed output of polymers.
Debbra Cisneros, a negotiator for Panama, which
supported a strong deal, told Reuters the US, the world’s number two plastics producer behind China, was less open than in previous rounds conducted under Joe Biden’s administration.
“This time they were just not wanting anything. So it was hard, because we always had them against us in each of the important provisions,” she said at the end of the 11-day talks.
Anti-plastic campaigners saw little hope for a change in Washington’s position under President Donald Trump, who in February signed an executive order encouraging consumers to buy plastic drinking straws.
The US State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment about its positions and its role in the talks. US delegate John Thompson declined to respond to questions from a Reuters reporter on the outcome. (Excerpt from Reuters)
“The transitional Government informs the national public of the arrest of a small group of marginal elements of the Malian armed and security forces for criminal offences aimed at destabilising the institutions of the republic,” Mohammedine said on national news.
“The conspiracy has been foiled with the arrests of those involved,” he said, adding that the plot began on August 1.
“These soldiers and ci-
vilians” had obtained “the help of foreign states”, Mali’s military said in a statement, adding that a French national – identified as Yann Christian Bernard Vezilier – was held on suspicion of working “on behalf of the French intelligence service”.
Images shared on social media of the alleged French spying suspect featured a white man in his 50s wearing a white shirt and appearing somewhat alarmed.
National television also broadcast photos of 11 people it said were members of the group that planned the coup.
The security Minister also identified two Malian generals he said were part of the plot.
Security sources told the AFP news agency that at least 55 soldiers had been arrested, and authorities said they were working to identify “possible accomplices”. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
Blackwater founder Erik Prince to send forces to Haiti to fight gangs
Aprivate security company run by Blackwater founder Erik Prince will send hundreds of fighters to violence-wracked Haiti to combat the country’s gang violence problem and restore its tax collection system, according to US media reports.
Prince, a controversial figure who is a major donor to Donald Trump, revealed details of the new mission for his company, Vectus Global, in an interview with the Reuters news agency on Thursday. A person with knowledge of the plans also confirmed details to The Associated Press news agency.
Prince told Reuters that he expected Vectus Global, his US-based private security firm, which provides logistics, infrastructure and defence, would regain control of gang-held roads and territory in Haiti within about a year.
He said the company would also be involved in creating and implementing a system to tax products crossing Haiti’s border with the Dominican Republic once security was restored.
For years, Haiti has been plagued by violence and insecurity as powerful armed gangs, often with ties to political and business leaders, have vied for influence and territorial control – a situation that worsened dramatically after the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise.
The deployment of a United Nations-backed, Kenya-led police mission last year has failed to restore stability. Earlier this month, the Government announced a three-month state of emergency in several parts of the country in response to the crisis.
Vectus Global began its operations in Haiti in March, Reuters reported, mostly through the use of drones in coordination with a Government task force.
But it was set to significantly increase its activities in the coming weeks in coordination with Haitian police, Reuters reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.
“Resorting to private military companies cannot be seen as a solution to insecurity in Haiti,” Gedeon
Jean, head of Haiti’s Centre for Human Rights Analysis and Research, told AP. “The use of private companies has often resulted in human rights violations.”
Romain Le Cour Grandmaison, head of the Haiti programme at Geneva-based Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, told AP that Vectus Global’s mission in Haiti would violate US law unless it had permission from Washington to proceed. He said its involvement was more likely to complicate the crisis in Haiti than fix it.
A Trump administration official said the US Government had no involvement with the hiring of Vectus Global by the Haitian Government and was not funding or exercising any oversight of the mission, the AP reported.
Earlier this year, a team from US security firm Studebaker Defence ceased its operations in Haiti after two personnel were abducted, likely due to corrupt police officials, The New York Times reported. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin shake hands after landing in Alaska
Focus on what’s important to you. Time, money, partnerships, and socialising while bringing every aspect of your life into perspective will offer insight into where your happiness measures up to your expectations. Balance is the key, along with money management and eliminating unnecessary worry. Learn to trust your instincts and follow your heart.
Maintain stability. Avoid persuasive tactics that may lead you to take a leap of faith, potentially resulting in a loss. Pay more attention to how you look and where you live. Make room for improvement in your personal life and establish a routine that promises both physical and financial benefits.
Choose kindness when dealing with the ones you love. A positive attitude has the most effective influence on others. Refrain from letting your emotions surface, as this can lead to problems when handling sensitive information. Get approval from those you live with, near, or rent from before you make domestic changes.
Anger will lead to regret. Gather the facts before pointing a finger at someone. Question your motives and what you expect in return for what you do. Life is complicated, but solutions can be simple if you choose to be honest and have integrity. Choose home and self-improvement over trying to change others.
Take your time regardless of who is poking or prodding you to act in haste. It’s up to you to manage each situation to maintain your status. Your skills will yield better results if you are the one to initiate when and what you use to gain the momentum and success you demand.
Patience will keep you from making an emotional blunder. Keep your thoughts to yourself. Please pay attention to your finances and how money flows in and out of your hands. With a little extra wheeling and dealing, you can lower your overhead or increase your income. A venture you embark on will pay off.
Set the stage for change and do whatever it takes to improve your health and well-being. Don’t set yourself up for failure unnecessarily. Preparation will make the difference, so don’t scrimp when it comes to research, learning, asking questions, and making adjustments that support your actions. What you do matters more than what you say.
Take care of business and move on to something you look forward to doing. Time is precious, and spending it with someone you enjoy will make a difference in how your day unfolds. Pampering or updating your image will boost your self-esteem and give you the confidence to step into the spotlight. Romance is favoured.
Put pressure on yourself to take care of unfinished business. Home improvements that help you get organised and lower your overhead will put your mind at ease and encourage you to incorporate what makes you happy into your routine. Live life your way, learn from experience, and you’ll find your niche. Change begins with you.
Be aware of what’s happening around you. Not everyone will be on your team or looking out for your interests. Please verify the information before sharing it. Protect your reputation at all costs. Partnership opportunities are apparent, but they will require thorough screening before engaging in any joint ventures or investments. Romance is favoured.
Look, see, and do what you can to make things happen. Consider what excites you most and head in that direction. Engage in talks and associate with those who are heading in a similar direction. Invest more time in your surroundings, your attributes, and your aspirations. Put your energy behind your promises and achieve.
Spend less time trying to force change and more time establishing what means the most to you. Concentrate on personal appearance, health, diet, and positioning yourself for what you want to achieve. Attend events that are conducive to expanding your connections and skills to meet the demands you want to achieve. Romance is favoured.
ARCHIE
Northern Superchargers soared to the top of the women’s Hundred table with a commanding victory over Birmingham Phoenix at a sun-drenched Headingley.
A third win in four matches for Hollie Armitage’s team was built around a miserly performance from their slow bowlers, Lucy Higham and Linsey Smith, who each picked up two wickets to stem the Phoenix’s flow.
Their intervention was perfectly timed, after the visitors had begun brightly. At 44 for 1 from 30 balls with Emma Lamb and Marie Kelly going well, Phoenix lost five wickets in 20 deliveries, with captain Ellyse Perry’s unfortunate run-out – Annabel Sutherland diverting a straight drive from Kelly onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end – summing up the Phoenix’s misfortune.
From 59-6, Em Arlott and Sterre Kalis rebuilt the innings impressively, putting on an unbeaten 57, the highest stand for the seventh wicket in the history of the
Hundred’s women’s competition.
On a beautiful batting track, it nonetheless felt under par. The Superchargers’ openers, Davina Perrin and Alice Davidson-Richards, were both dropped early on –Perrin before she had scored when Hannah Baker palmed a pull shot over the rope for six – and their stand of 27 ensured that the home side were always ahead of the game.
Australian superstar Phoebe Litchfield, having started this year’s tournament quietly, roared back into form with a stunning assault against Baker in particular, drilling the spinner for a trio of consecutive boundaries to settle any concerns in the home dugout.
With her compatriot Sutherland at the other end, the pair cruised to the finish line with only one alarm when Litchfield, on 48, was dropped at deep extra cover by Baker. Litchfield brought up her second half-century in the competition from just 25 balls, as Superchargers’ overseas
Spinners, Litchfield set up Superchargers’ sprint to victory The Hundred Tournament
stars wrapped things up with a whopping 26 balls to spare. Litchfield was named the Meerkat Match Hero: “That was good fun out there. Every time we play here at Headingley, we know it’ll be a good pitch, and you saw that even when Davina and ADR came out, and then especially
Bellesey [Sutherland] at the end there.”
Litchfield was also full of praise for Superchargers’ spinners, Smith and Higham. “They hit their lengths and kept the stumps in play and forced the Birmingham batters to try something else, and we backed them up in
the field. Our two little spinners have done wonders for us for a few years now, and they showed it again today.
“We’ve had this group together for three years now;
it hasn’t changed much, and the vibes are good. We had a pretty average game last time out, but we tried to park that and came out with a positive mindset.”(ESPNcricinfo)
Sterre Kalis bats during her innings
Annabel Sutherland and Phoebe Litchfield of the Northern Superchargers celebrate victory
Northern Superchargers celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Ailsa Lister
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2025
JioStar brings Hindi commentary to Republic Bank CPL, Massy WCPL
Cricket fans can now enjoy the electrifying action of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) exclusively on the Star Sports Network, the television broadcast network owned by JioStar.
English commentary will be available on Star Sports Select 2 SD, Star Sports Select 2 HD, Star Sports 2 SD, and Star Sports 2 HD, while the Hindi commentary will be available on Star Sports Khel.
For the first time, CPL and WCPL moments will
feature Hindi coverage, ensuring millions of cricket lovers can relive the excitement in their preferred language. From match-winning sixes to game-changing wickets, every highlight will be brought to life with passion, precision, and expert insight.
Leading the Hindi commentary panel is former Indian cricketer and celebrated commentator Akash Chopra, known for his sharp analysis and engaging storytelling. He will be joined by a panel of seasoned cricket experts, delivering in-depth coverage of matches tak-
Fing place from August 14 to September 21.
CEO of the CPL,
Pete Russell, said, “The Caribbean Premier League is all about bringing the en-
ergy of Caribbean cricket to fans everywhere. Partnering with JioStar for Hindi com-
mentary ensures we connect with one of the largest cricket-loving audiences in the world. With Akash Chopra leading the panel, we are confident fans will enjoy the CPL like never before.”
Through the Star Sports Network, fans will have easy access to highlights of all matches, along with live Hindi commentary for six CPL matches scheduled at 20:30h IST. This initiative marks a significant step in making Caribbean cricket more accessible to South Asian audiences, expanding the leagues’ global reach.
Deandra Dottin returns to the crease after rehabilitation
– says she is a lot more confident than before
ew cricketers possess the ability to change a match in a single over, which made the sight of the West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin limping out of warm-ups before a crucial WPL playoff match much more heart-breaking.
Her subsequent absence since late March left a gaping hole in the Maroon Warriors’ line-up throughout the season as teammates and fans alike craved the return of her match-winning capabilities and vast experience on the field.
Now, months on from her rehabilitation, the “World Boss” looks in fine form in The Hundred franchise tournament in the United Kingdom for Manchester Originals, further adding to the excitement of her return to the regional side, especially ahead of next year’s Women’s T20 World Cup.
Speaking recently about her recovery journey, Dottin, who turned 34 this past June, expanded on her days of resilience, meticulous rehabilitation and determination to return stronger than ever.
What was initially a 12week recovery period turned into a much more complex rehabilitation process, but the key breakthrough came when medical professionals dug deeper to find the root cause of her problem.
“I had torn the patellar tendon ligament. It was a slight tear there and happened in the WPL. It was a
play-
off to reach the semi-finals, and I pulled it while we were warming up,” she recalled of that fateful day.
“My recovery took longer because we did other stuff to enhance the recovery. Firstly, we had to find out the main problem or the source of the injury.
After we did that assessment, we started therapy.”
In addition to the expected stress of treatment and recovery, watching from the side-lines proved to be its own form of torture for a player whose career has been defined by explosive performance and match-winning moments.
“Things are looking pretty good now, and I’m a lot more confident in it than I was before,” she confirmed.
“On the side-lines, I felt miserable. I just wanted to play cricket. I know the importance of making sure that I’m fully recovered and prepared to be back on the field, but it was miserable, and I felt a bit uneasy.”
The emotional pain was heightened particularly during the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers in Pakistan, where the West Indies narrowly missed out on securing their spot in the global tournament in India later this year.
“I was heartbroken. I was having a conversation with Hayley, and I told her, “I don’t care if you guys win the qualifying group; I just want us to qualify. That was the main goal, so to see the end results was really heart-breaking.”
“I know everything happens for a reason. We need to reflect, work on our game and come back hungry and ready.”
Dottin also missed the team’s two subsequent white-ball tours, away to England and at home to South Africa.
Despite her frustration, she maintained her connection with the team and supported them as a fan from the side-lines.
“I think the T20I series victory against South Africa was very important. Since we are not going to the World Cup this year, we should have fought some more to finish the year with a bang.”
“Yes, we came back to win the T20 series, and that’s the format we are most known for because
of our fearless cricket, but in the ODI series we could have done a lot better to finish the entire year on a good note.”
While the tours had their ups and downs, Dottin acknowledged one positive from the experience, namely the emergence of young players Realeanna Grimmond and Jahzara Claxton, who came to the front during the tough series away in England.
“I think that going to England was always go-
ing to be tough. Even if you don’t win the games, make sure that every time you finish playing, you have improved,” she urged.
“With Realeanna and Jahzara, it was good to see the youngsters leading from the front as well. I watched them both, and I think they did well as debutantes. It’s only up from here once they continue to put in the work.”
That sage advice came from a place of personal experience for the Bajan, as the injury that threatened
to ruin her recent return to international cricket instead brought a more mature understanding of her body, her mental fortitude and a renewed appreciation for the game. For Deandra Dottin, the long road back, even with its twists, turns and potholes, has been worth every step. Cricket fans across the region and the world will be watching and waiting for the moment she finally steps back onto the field, in maroon.
Sonny Baker gets 1st England call-up; Jacob Bethell to captain in Ireland
Sonny Baker has won his maiden England callup for the forthcoming One-Day International (ODI) series against South Africa, while Jacob Bethell’s rapid rise continues after he was named captain of the T20 International (T20I) side to tour Ireland immediately after.
Bethell is set to become England’s youngest men’s captain when he deputises for Harry Brook in three T20Is. Still only 21, Bethell will beat the mark currently held by Monty Bowden, who was 23 and 144 days when he led England against South Africa at Cape Town on the Test tour of 1888-89.
South Africa will arrive to play three ODIs and three T20Is next month, which will conclude England’s home season. Brook will then sit out the three-match trip to Ireland, along with four other all-format players – Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith –as part of workload management. Marcus Trescothick will also take the reins from Brendon McCullum for the games in Malahide.
Baker impressed with England Lions over the winter, which led to him being awarded an England development contract. Capable of bowling around 90 mph, he has caught the eye with Hampshire and Manchester
Rehan Ahmed returns to the ODI group and is included in all three squads after a prolific summer with the bat. Baker is also in the Ireland T20I squad, alongside Hartley and Matthew Potts.
“Jacob Bethell has impressed with his leadership qualities ever since he has been with the England squads, and the series against Ireland will provide him with the opportunity to further develop those skills on the international stage,”
England men’s selector,
“Sonny is a player we have identified for a while, and he was impressive during the England Lions tours last winter. He has carried that form into this season in white-ball cricket with Hampshire and Manchester Originals and deservedly gets his op-
England ODI squad to face
South Africa: Harry Brook (capt), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra
Archer, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jamie Smith
England T20I squad to face
South Africa: Harry Brook (capt), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Luke Wood
England T20I squad to face Ireland: Jacob Bethell (capt), Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jos Buttler, Liam Dawson, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt and Luke Wood. (ESPNcricinfo)
Sonny Baker
Deandra Dottin managing the bat
Promising Guyanese jockey Yovin
Kissoonchand is heading to Sunday’s Guyana Cup as the leading jockey as it relates to the number of first positions this year.
While the standings will not determine who wins at the Guyana Cup, Kissoonchand will be confident but cautious of his competitors, especially the Brazilian jockeys.
Kissoonchand recorded five first-place positions,
two second places and two third places. Kissoonchand has 36 points this race season, while Bharrat Ramnarin has four wins in his 14 starts. Ramnarin has five second places and three third places this season.
Seasoned jockey Colin Ross had 24 starts this year, and he recorded three wins and seven second places. Ross will be eyeing a big Guyana Cup, and he will have experience as his advantage over the
Kissoonchand heading into Guyana Cup as leading local jockey
the Emancipation race at Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club, Bush Lot. He led El Tarzan to a clinical win in the most recent race.
Other jockeys in the top 10 of the standings are Kishawn Pereira, Kevin Blake, Drepaul Yhap, Ronaldeo Appadu and Amit Parmanan.
likes of Kissoonchand and Ramnarin.
Kevin Paul is fourth on the jockey standings with three wins from 13 starts. The Brazilian jockey Francisco Chavez had three starts this year in Guyana, and he recorded three wins.
Chavez, who pilots horses from Slingerz Racing Stables, will be hoping to remain unbeaten at the prestigious Guyana Cup. His last win came outside of his comfort zone, running at
Guyana’s chess team head to Colombia for FIDE World Youth U16 Chess Olympiad
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has supported the Guyana Chess Federation’s team of four top junior players as they head to the FIDE World Youth U16 Olympiad 2025, set to take place in Barranquilla, Colombia, from August 16 to 23, 2025.
The Guyanese team will compete alongside participants from around the globe in the prestigious event, jointly hosted by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and the Colombian Chess Federation (FECODAZ) at the Dann Carlton Hotel in Barranquilla.
Representing Guyana are Kyle Couchman, Candidate Master (CM) Sachin Pitamber, Alexander Zhang, and Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Aditi Joshi. Accompanying them as coach is International Chess Federation (FIDE)
Master Anthony Drayton.
These juniors are no strangers to international chess, having represented Guyana at various Caribbean tournaments and the Chess Olympiad.
Leading the team on Board One is recently crowned 2025 National Junior Chess Champion Kyle Couchman, currently Guyana’s third-highest active FIDE-rated player (1947). On Board Two is CM Sachin Pitamber, the youngest player in Guyana to earn the CM title and current U16 Open Champion, recognised for his skill and dedication.
Alexander Zhang will play on Board Three. A standout performer at the 2024 Inter-Guiana Games and top Guyanese player at the recent CARICOM U16 Junior Tournament, Zhang brings solid international experience to the team.
WCM Aditi Joshi,
the reigning U16 Girls and Women’s National Champion, will compete on Board Four. Both Joshi and Pitamber earned their FIDE titles at the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Hungary.
Guyana enters the Olympiad as the highest-ranked CARICOM nation, competing against 90 teams and over 350 players worldwide. The tournament will be played across nine rounds using the Swiss System, with a time control of 45 minutes plus 10-second increments.
The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) believes this event will be an invaluable opportunity for the players’ growth and development.
The GCF also extends its sincere thanks to the NSC for sponsoring the team’s airfare, making this international representation possible.
For the Guyana Cup feature race, some of these top
jockeys will be on the top horses.
Olympic Kremlin, out of the Slingerz stable, was drawn in first post. Reo do Brincadenia, El Tarzan, Data Man, Mapa Do Brasil, Anthem King, Frontline Warrior, Loyal Company, Spankhurst, Stormy Victory, Nolo Contesto, Ritorna Vincetori and Stat were drawn in post posi-
tions 2-13, respectively. The Guyana Cup will be an 8-furlong race.
Jumbo Jet, the promoters of the Guyana Cup, have also installed an emergency track to accommodate potentially 17 runners in a single race, surpassing the traditional limit of 10-11. A total of 11 races is carded for Sunday, and gates will open at 09:00h local time.
National 3x3 Basketball Championship set for September 27–28
The Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) has officially announced that the 2025 National 3x3 Basketball Championship will take place on September 27–28 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
This year’s tournament will be a crucial step in selecting the team that will represent Guyana at the FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup, scheduled for November 27–30 in León, Mexico.
The AmeriCup is one of the most prestigious events in the Americas for the fastpaced, half-court format, attracting the top 3x3 squads from North, Central, and South America, as well as the Caribbean.
A total of 16 teams will battle for national bragging rights, six more than last year’s edition, which was won by the Renegades.
The tournament’s winners will pocket $500,000, while $200,000 will be awarded to the second-place team. Third and fourth place will go home with $100,000 and $50,000, respectively.
President of the GBF, Michael Singh, highlighted that the tournament will be strictly for Guyanese players and will serve as the only selection process for the AmeriCup roster.
“We want a transparent selection process for the AmeriCup,” Singh explained. “The 3x3 AmeriCup is an important fixture on our international calendar. In fact, we’ve only missed it
once due to unforeseen circumstances. Every other year, we’ve proudly represented Guyana, often as one of the few English-speaking Caribbean nations in the competition.”
Singh applauded the growth of 3x3 basketball locally and the support from both the Government of Guyana and corporate sponsors.
“For our last two AmeriCup appearances, the Government covered all costs, registration fees, and flights and per diems for players, which has been a huge boost. That level of backing is something we truly appreciate, and it gives us the platform to focus on preparation and performance,” Singh added.
This year, the GBF plans to take a more competitive approach to preparation.
Once the national team is selected, Singh is hoping to have them entered into multiple stops on the international 3x3 circuit to face
high-calibre opposition.
“In past years, we didn’t give our teams enough chances to compete against elite talent before the AmeriCup,” Singh admitted.
However, he added, “This year, we want to change that by testing our squad in top-tier 3x3 competitions so they’re battle-ready when they step onto the court in Mexico.” At last year’s National 3x3 Championship, Renegades, featuring Jude Corlette, Travis Belgrave, Nikkoloi Smith, and Dominic Vincente, defeated a stacked Linden side boasting Harold Adams, Shane Webster, Shelroy Thomas, and Orlan Glasgow, 21–15 in the final at the National Gymnasium.
Ultimately, Belgrave, Vincente, Adams, and Smith went on to represent Guyana at the 3x3 AmeriCup in Puerto Rico, gaining valuable international experience.
FLASHBACK! 2024 GBF National 3x3 champions – the Renegades –receiving their trophy from GBF President Michael Singh
3x3 action at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall
L-R: Alexander Zhang, Anthony Drayton, Sachin Pitamber, Aditi Joshi, and Kyle Couchman
Yovin Kissoonchand has the most wins in horse racing this season
The Guyana Amazon Warriors started their Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) campaign with a five-wicket win against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots at Warner Park, St Kitts.
Led by the big Aussie Ben McDermott’s 75 and the classy Shai Hope’s unbeaten 56, Warriors chased down 154 inside 18 overs.
In the chase, Warriors lost an unsettled Kevlon Anderson (1). He chased a wide one and was caught in the slip cordon. Debutant McDermott unleashed his 360-degree skills.
The 30-year-old Aussie, McDermott, who played 30 white-ball matches for Australia, was in the zone. The Warriors breached 50 in the fifth over, and the pressure began on the Patriots’ bowling attack.
Warriors ruled the power play, scoring 54-1. McDermott reached his
Republic Bank CPL...
maiden CPL fifty from 30 balls, and he found a reliable partner in Shai Hope.
The duo were dynamic in their stroke play, and at the halfway stage, Warriors were motoring along on 107-1, requiring only 47 to win. McDermott slammed 10 fours and four sixes, and featured in a 114-run partnership with Shimron Hetmyer came and went for a duck; he was caught at a familiar mid-wicket region. Moeen Ali and Iftikhar Ahmed fell cheaply, but Hope ensured the Warriors opened this season with a win. Hope stroked six fours and two sixes in his undefeated innings.
Earlier, the 34-yearold Iftikhar Ahmed made his CPL debut when the Amazon Warriors won the toss and opted to bowl first.
Rain delayed the start, and after 25 minutes, the Warriors’ campaign bowled off. Patriots opener Evin Lewis struck Shamar Joseph for a boundary, but he retired hurt with a wrist injury.
Dwaine Pretorius provided width to Kyle Mayers, and that led to his
removed by Gudakesh Motie, and Patriots found run scoring difficult. A boundary in the middle overs came after 47 deliveries, as the slowness of the pitch was evident.
Fletcher’s lone hand came to an end after 42 balls. He scored 60, an innings laced with five sixes and one four. Wickets continue to fall, and the Patriots managed 153-
demise. Mayers pounced on a wide delivery, but he was caught at short third man, leaving Patriots on 26-1 after the third over.
Fletcher added spice early in the innings and ruled the powerplay for Patriots. After six overs, Patriots posted 55-1, with Fletcher taking on Moeen Ali.
Imran Tahir then took matters into his own hands and removed Rilee Rossouw. The pressure was severe as Tahir bowled three dots before removing
8 from their allotted 20 overs. Pretorius had 3-43, while the impressive Tahir had 2-29 in a collective bowling effort.
The next match is set for today, Saturday, August 16, with the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons taking on the Barbados Royals at 19:00h. Warriors will return to action on August 22 against the Falcons in Antigua.
Shai Hope and McDermott added a hundred-run stand Guyanese fans were out in support
Andre Fletcher scored a solid half-century (CPL photos)
Dwaine Pretorius picked up three
Ben McDermott blazed away on debut
Imran Tahir bowled a good spell, including a wicket maiden
