ERC, Carter Center discuss strategy to safeguard unity, ensure credible polls
Laura George named PM candidate for AFC
Man remanded for speedboat captain’s murder
Region 9 Commander dies suddenly en route to Lethem
Teen remanded for murder of 16-year-old killed by stray bullet
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, July 26 – 04:30h-06:00h and Sunday, July 27 –05:30h-07:00h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, July 26 –04:55h-06:25h and Sunday, July 27 – 05:30h-07:00h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY
Thundery showers are expected until midday, followed by afternoon sunshine during the day, and cloudy skies with occasional showers are expected at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.
Winds: North-Easterly to East South-Easterly between 2.23 metre and 4.47 metres.
High Tide: 17:50h reaching a maximum height of 2.52 metres.
Low Tide: 11:25h and 23:38h reaching minimum heights of 0.59 metre and 0.68 metre.
Transportation grant for pensioners under new PPP/C Govt – Pres Ali
Under the next People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government, benefits for pensioners will increase, and according to President Irfaan Ali, this will include the introduction of a transportation grant.
Ali made this announcement on Friday evening at a public meeting hosted by the PPP at Industry on the East Coast of Demerara.
“We want our pensioners and our elders to see the development that is taking place. We want them to be able to drive on the new road. We want them to experience the beautiful tourism product that is being opened up all across the country… That is why we will create a special transportation grant and allowance for our pensioners and our children so we can support their movement,” he told thousands of party supporters.
Only last month, the PPP revealed plans for a new student transportation grant during its next term in
proved ways to remove human biases from the Public Assistance programme to ensure that everyone who qualifies receives the benefit and that no one is removed from the register.
“Let us not take these things for granted,” the President stressed.
Less tax
burden
Turning his attention to children, Ali noted that the PPP/C not only restored the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant but increased it to a whopping $50,000 per child and extended this to children in private schools as well.
Under the PPP/C Administration, children have also benefited from the school uniform grant and the school feeding programmes, free tertiary education at the University of Guyana, and subsidies for eight subjects at the secondary level CSEC and CAPE exams per child.
These are just among the many initiatives that the
office, an initiative aimed at removing the burden from the parents so every child can get the opportunity to go to school.
This transportation grant for pensioners will add to the menu of benefits that the PPP/C Government has rolled out for the country’s elderly population over the last five years. These include restoring the water and electricity subsidies that were removed by the previous APNU/AFC Government and more than doubling pension payments. Pensioners were also given a one-off bonus payment by the Government.
In fact, more than 76,000 pensioners benefited from a total pension pay-out for this year alone of some $37 billion, and Ali said on Friday night that this figure will continue to increase in the coming years.
“We will continue to grow it until you benefit more and more,” he promised.
According to Ali, the PPP/C is already working on making life much easier for pensioners with the introduction of the One Guyana Digital Card. This instrument will see pension payments paid directly into the cards so that the elderly would no longer have to travel and line up every month to receive their money.
Similarly, he says that his Cabinet is already examining new and im-
more to further enhance the lives of citizens over the next five years.
“In coming years and months, you can expect less tax burden on the people of this country. You can expect electricity costs to come down by half. You can expect greater support for families… because we are not a party that takes away from the people. We give and give… that is our philosophy. We don’t take away. We sustain and we build,” he stated.
Currently, Guyana’s earnings from the oil and gas sector cover just over 30 per cent of the national budget.
for every Guyanese,” Ali declared.
Basket of goods
The President further floated the concept of a ‘basket of goods’ to ensure sustainable living for every family and more targeted support at the household and individual levels that goes beyond just higher salaries.
Ali-led Government rolled out to enhance the lives of Guyanese over the last five years. Reminding of the hardships imposed by the previous APNU/AFC administration – many of which the PPP/C had to undo – Ali assured of plans to do much
Citing the expansion across sectors like health with more hospitals and trained professionals, infrastructure with new roads and bridges, or housing with the distribution of house lots and provisions that support homeownership like lowered interest rates on mortgages and building subsidies, President Ali says much more will be done in the next five years.
“Only 37 percent of our budget is financed by oil and gas, so imagine what the next five years will look like
“We’re going to define what that basket of goods is, and ensure that every family can and will afford that basket of goods to live a comfortable, high-quality life right here in Guyana… We’re thinking beyond salaries about how we diversify your stream of income… that your Government will create the opportunity for and co-invest with you so you can get those earnings. That is how you will build wealth.”
“This is what we’re pursuing, not a sterile vision but a very comprehensive and well-thought-out strategy of how we will grow wealth at every level of our society... We have the experience and talent, and we have the country of our country behind us to do this.” Ali declared.
President Irfaan Ali at a PPP public meeting at Industry, East Coast Demerara, on Friday night
Supporters at a People’s Progressive Party meeting
Guyana’s conservation & global leader in biodiversity
At the just concluded Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit, the spotlight turned toward Guyana, once again underscoring its vital role as a global leader in biodiversity preservation. The revelation of 33 new fish species, alongside two amphibian and bird records discovered during a 2024 scientific expedition in the Acarai-Corentyne Corridor, reinforces Guyana’s unique position as a custodian of one of the world’s most intact and vibrant ecosystems.
The month-long rapid biodiversity assessment, led by a team of more than 50 experts from the Chicago Field Museum, the University of Guyana, the Protected Areas Commission (PAC), and other partners, marks a milestone in scientific exploration and ecological stewardship. Situated in the south-eastern region of the country, the Acarai-Corentyne Corridor has now been further established as a biodiversity hotspot of international significance.
The expedition yielded far-reaching results. Beyond the discovery of the new fish species, including Potamotrygon boesemani, Microglanis sp., and Pseudoplatystoma cf. reticulatum –the research team recorded 40 new additions to Guyana’s national fish list. A new avian record, the Speckled Spinetail, and an estimated population of 400 jaguars added further scientific weight to the ecological importance of the region. Additionally, an estimated 10 million emergent trees were catalogued, enriching global data on tropical forests and carbon storage potential.
The findings directly support Guyana’s policy vision of sustainable development rooted in the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030. The documented richness of flora and fauna in the Acarai-Corentyne region strengthens the foundation for expanding the country’s network of protected areas and contributes toward the global “30 by 30” goal – protecting 30 per cent of the planet’s land and marine areas by 2030.
Guyana’s leadership in environmental conservation is further reflected in its embrace of cutting-edge tools for biodiversity monitoring and decision-making. During the summit, one of the panels examined the integration of scientific and digital technologies for ecosystem tracking. Presentations by experts from institutions such as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Yale Centre for Biodiversity and Global Change underscored how satellite-based data and AI-driven models are being utilised to measure biodiversity trends and inform policy decisions. Such alignment between local conservation efforts and global scientific innovation reinforces Guyana’s practical stance in preserving nature.
Critically, the expedition also showcased the success of community-integrated conservation models. Local Indigenous knowledge was central to the successful identification and collection of species, demonstrating that conservation is strongest when it embraces both traditional ecological wisdom and modern science. The local involvement exemplifies Guyana’s commitment to inclusive environmental management, with communities as beneficiaries as well as active stewards of biodiversity.
The discoveries also highlight the immense ecological value of regions that have remained under-explored. The Acarai-Corentyne Corridor, once largely unknown to global science, now stands as a powerful reminder that some of the most important biodiversity reserves are still hidden within pristine rainforests. This reinforces the urgency of conserving such areas before they are affected by human encroachment or climate change.
These findings contribute directly to building resilience against climate risks. By safeguarding intact forests, Guyana continues to secure vital ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration, freshwater regulation, and soil fertility, that benefit both local populations and the global climate system. The preservation of biodiversity is a secondary objective and central pillar in climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.
As the world confronts escalating ecological crises, Guyana’s example offers both inspiration and evidence that conservation efforts can yield extraordinary outcomes. The discoveries made in the Acarai-Corentyne Corridor reaffirm the country's crucial role in global biodiversity governance and sustainable development. It is a reminder that nature, when protected and studied with care, continues to reveal its secrets and its solutions.
In an era when biodiversity loss is accelerating worldwide, Guyana is setting a standard for scientific discovery and ecological foresight.
OFAC sanctions
Dear Editor,
On 11th June, 2024, the US Homeland Security Investigations joined the US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to announce sanctions against Nazar Mohamed, his son, Azruddin Mohamed, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Hadi’s World, and Team Mohamed’s racing team for what was described as “their roles in public corruption in Guyana.”
According to an announcement from the US Department of State, “Mohamed’s Enterprise, between 2019 and 2023, omitted more than ten thousand kilograms (kg) of gold from import and export declarations and avoided paying more than (US)$50 million in duty taxes to the Government of Guyana. To perpetuate and conceal this scheme, Mohamed’s Enterprise engaged in extensive bribery of (Guyana) Government officials, and this activity served to enrich the corrupt actors involved, undermine Guyanese institutions, and deprive the people of Guyana of important revenues.”
Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian E. Nelson, said that “today’s action underscores our commitment to holding accountable those who seek to exploit Guyana’s underdeveloped gold sector for personal gain.” Treasury,
he said, “in close coordination with our partners in US law enforcement, will continue to take action to safeguard the US financial system from abuse by corrupt actors.”
Long ago, Forbes Burnham, for very different reasons, under very different circumstances, when I was a member of his Cabinet, poked his finger into the eyes of Uncle Sam and Mr. Henry Kissinger, then Secretary of State of the US Government, and made him and the people of Guyana pay the price by ensuring the economic collapse of Mr Burnham’s Government, when all that Mr Burnham had done was to seek to defy the imposition of American and Soviet imperialism as a nonaligned country. We learnt a bitter lesson then, and we should be much wiser now.
Mr Azruddin Mohamed is now contesting in our General and Regional Elections to be the future President of Guyana as the leader of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party. Accosted by our media at the Global Biodiversity Summit and reported by Denis Chabrol on Demerara Waves, the United States Ambassador, Nicole Theriot, on 23rd July, 2025, in answering a pointed question put by Chabrol about Mr Mohamed being the Presidential Candidate and possibly being elected a parliamentarian, had
every right to state her Government’s position:
“We’re in such a beautiful position. All these US companies want to come to Guyana, and Guyana is welcoming, and I don’t want, if he were to become a member of the Government, that to change, so that’s a real concern.” The Ambassador went on to explain that if Mr Mohamed were to be elected, having been sanctioned by OFAC, it could “send jitters down the US private sector and affect Guyana’s investment climate such as had happened in Afghanistan.”
According to Mr Chabrol, the US Ambassador went on to assert that if Mr Mohamed is elected to the National Assembly, it’s worrying for the US. “It’s problematic in multiple ways,” she said, “because of the way we at the US Government interact with the Government. We have to be very careful, and if that person is involved”.
Homeland Security Investigations New York Special Agent in Charge, Ivan J. Arvelo, emphasised that “these sanctions are a significant first step in bringing the Mohameds’ alleged corrupt practices to bear and holding them accountable for their yearslong abuse of power,” and Mr Mohamed, at his press conference introducing his manifesto on Thursday (24th July), is reported to
be confident that the OFAC sanctions against him will be lifted. He must be joking.
I have seen letters in today’s Stabroek News (25th July, 2025) attacking the US Ambassador, from Mr. Lancelot Hyman and GHK Lall, both accusing the American Ambassador of “seeking to meddle in our internal affairs” and giving “short thrift to the will of the Guyanese people.” They clearly do not live in the real world.
Hyman and Lall conveniently forget that, many years ago, it was the intervention of former US President Jimmy Carter in our internal affairs that forced then-President Desmond Hoyte to change our electoral system, causing the results of the election to be publicly displayed at every polling place to safeguard against the rigging of our elections. It was the publication of exactly these Statements of Poll that exposed the minions of the Granger-led Government who attempted to rig the last elections and who are now before the courts.
We believe that we are an independent country, and we are. We are not, however, independent of the world in which we live, and we live in that part of the world that is, so to speak, in the backyard of the United States of America.
Booths at the just concluded Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre showcased a diverse selection of Guyanese industries and natural resources
Addressing baseless claims about NGSA results
Dear Editor,
The Ministry of Education has noted yet another irresponsible and reckless statement from a political candidate of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party regarding the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) results.
OFAC...
We may love or hate America and Americans, but we cannot ignore the US and the US Government, or we do so at our peril as a people and a country.
It’s now all over the media that several of the candidates declared on the WIN list have had their accounts closed by Demerara Bank. Other banks are likely to follow, and it should be of no surprise to anyone. No bank in Guyana can function if cut off by its corresponding US bank, and that is exactly what will happen to any bank that does business with a sanctioned individual and those directly engaged with such an individual.
Our economic well-being and development are wholly dependent on our good relationship with the US. The discovery and exploitation of our oil and gas, from which we benefit hugely, albeit we should benefit much more, results from an American company called ExxonMobil, along with a host of other US companies being imbedded in the development of our country. Without them our oil would remain under the ocean.
Mr Maduro’s regime has not crossed the border to take possession of the Essequibo, for which they claim to have established a governor to admin-
Ms Tabitha SaraboHalley has alleged that because there have been requests for reviews of marks, something was amiss with the NGSA results. Every exam system that is responsible provides for the opportunity for review. And every year, there are requests for reviews.
ister, because of the fact that Guyana enjoys what the US Ambassador enthusiastically described as a “beautiful relationship” with the US Government.
It has become obvious to me that those who, either out of ignorance or greed or both, are attracted to the massive wealth that Mr Mohamed is said to own and dispense freely and have, therefore, become his acolytes, know not what they do, nor what will result from what they do, so let me help them. They need only to access Google to find out some of the direct consequences of engaging with a person specifically sanctioned by the US Government.
According to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement announcement issued on 12th June, 2024, “financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with the sanctioned entities and individuals may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.”
The number of review requests this year has remained fairly constant. For example, there were 258
review requests in 2020, 261 in 2021, 241 in 2022, 185 in 2023, 267 requests in 2024, and for 2025, there were 257 review requests. There was nothing unusual, therefore, in this year’s requests for reviews.
Ms Tabitha Sarabo-
Halley may have been following her leader when he alleged that the NGSA results showed a decline in performance when the reality was the exact opposite of that ignorant claim.
Being sanctioned by the US Government carries severe consequences. These sanctions can involve blocking assets, prohibiting transactions with designated individuals and entities, and imposing significant civil and criminal penalties for violations. And, yes, when you engage with Mr Mohamed, you are exposed to exactly those risks.
US sanctions can also significantly impact the economies of targeted countries, and if, for instance, by some miracle of chance, Mr Mohamed were to become the president of Guyana, then, as the American Ambassador’s remarks have subtly warned, Guyana would become a targeted country with all the consequences attached to a sanctioned individual.
Trade, investments, and economic growth tied
to the US would come to a grinding halt. Access to international financial systems, access to secure loans, and participation in global markets would be severely restricted. The reputation and credibility of the country and the ability to conduct business and attract investment would be severely damaged. ExxonMobil would be forced to pack up and go home, our banks would close down, our diplomatic relations with the United States would freeze, and Mr. Maduro would happily take possession of the Essequibo without a problem.
Let me repeat, those who tie the bundle with Azruddin Mohamed know not what they do, nor what will result from what they do.
Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento
This year, Guyana recorded the best ever NGSA results, with every single subject trending upward in every regard. In fact, the country moved from 49 per cent of our children passing with 50 per cent or more in 2020 to 64 per cent of our children passing with 50 per cent or more in 2025.
This didn’t happen by accident but because of the conscious investments made in building schools, training teachers, providing textbooks, school feeding, the Because We Care Cash Grant, the Teachers Resources Grant, making access to reinforcement through the learning material on the Guyana Learning Channel universal, etc.
The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) sets, manages, and marks this assessment, and to attempt to bring the results into disrepute just because of ignorance of the system or for cheap political gain is to bring into disrepute the qualifications of every single child and adult who has received CXC certification over the years.
This has serious consequences for our young people locally and internationally as they set about acquiring jobs or tertiary education.
We call on political parties and candidates to try to be responsible and decent in their claims and to try not to harm the children and young people of this country in their quest for political office.
Ministry of Education, Public Relations Department
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The Distributive Property
According to the distributive property, multiplying the sum of two or more addends by a number will give the same result as multiplying each individually by the number, and then adding the products together. To “distribute” means to divide something or give a share or part of something.
So what does distributive property mean in math? The distributive property describes how we can distribute multiplication over addition and subtraction.
According to the distributive property, an expression of the form A(B+C) can be solved as
AB+AC=A(B+C)
This property applies to subtraction as well.
AB–AC=A(B–C)
The multiplier A is ‘distributed’ in order to multiply it with B and C separately.
(A, B, and C are any real numbers.)
Here’s an example of how the result does not change when solved normally and when solved using the distributive property:
This property helps in making difficult problems simpler. You can use this property of multiplication to rewrite an expression by distributing or breaking down a factor as a sum or difference of two numbers.
Example 1: Solve 4(5+7+3)
Solution: Using the distributive property of multiplication over addition:
A(B+C)=AB+AC
4(5+7+3)
=(5×4)+(7×4)+(3×4)
=20+28+12
=60
We can verify it as:
(5+7+3)4
=(15)4
=60
Example 2: Solve the expression 2(2+4) using the distributive law of multiplication over addition.
2(2+4)
=(2×2)+(2×4)
=(4)+(8)
=12
If we try to solve this expression using the PEMDAS rule, we’ll have to add the numbers in parentheses and then multiply the total by the number outside the parentheses. This implies:
2(2+4) =2(6)
=12
Thus, we get the same result irrespective of the method used.
Example 3: Solve the expression 6(20–5) using the distributive property of multiplication over subtraction.
Using the distributive property of multiplication over subtraction, we get 6(20–5)
=(6×20)–(6×5) =(120)–(30)
=90
Practice Problems on Distributive Property 1. 7(4+6) 2. 3(7–8) 3. 8(3–9)
Poetree: Tree-Inspired Writing
By William WordsWorth
And let the misty mountain-winds be free To blow against thee: and, in after years, When these wild ecstasies shall be matured Into a sober pleasure; when thy mind Shall be a mansion for all lovely forms, Thy memory be as a dwelling-place For all sweet sounds and harmonies; oh! then, If solitude, or fear, or pain, or grief, Should be thy portion, with what healing thoughts Of tender joy wilt thou remember me, And these my exhortations! Nor, perchance— If I should be where I no more can hear Thy voice, nor catch from thy wild eyes these gleams Of past existence—wilt thou then forget That on the banks of this delightful stream We stood together; and that I, so long A worshipper of Nature, hither came Unwearied in that service: rather say With warmer love—oh! with far deeper zeal Of holier love. Nor wilt thou then forget, That after many wanderings, many years Of absence, these steep woods and lofty cliffs, And this green pastoral landscape, were to me More dear, both for themselves and for thy sake!
Think of an area in your hometown that needs improvement. What would you do to transform it? Describe what it would look like after.
No new taxes in next PPP/C Government – VP Jagdeo
Vice President (VP)
Bharrat Jagdeo has pledged that should the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) return to Government after the September 1, 2025, General and Regional Elections, no new taxes will be implemented during the party’s next five-year term in Government.
Delivering the feature address at a public meeting in Meten-Meer-Zorg on the West Coast of Demerara, Jagdeo reaffirmed the party’s commitment made in the 2020 campaign. He stressed that the PPP/C has honoured their promise by reversing more than 200 new taxes introduced under the APNU/AFC administration and placing no new tax burdens on citizens since taking office.
“We promise in 2020 that we will not put any new taxes on people. In the five years under the PPP/C, there have been no new taxes. That was a major achievement, and we are saying in the next five years there will be no new taxes on people,” he declared to the swarm of supporters.
According to Dr Jagdeo, the PPP intends to continue with no new taxes in the next five-year period while working closely with Guyanese to ensure families keep more of their earnings.
“We want people who work harder to keep more of their money by having fewer taxes collected by the Government. We made it clear that we will continue to do this to support families, etc. That is what you can expect from us; you can expect for us to work with the people of the country. Every group of Guyanese will continue to get support to prosper. The business community can expand and create more jobs and keep more of the money that they earn, and so too will the poor people,” he said.
According to the VP, APNU/AFC’s implementation of dozens of new taxes weighed heavily on every sector, from farmers and miners to pensioners and small businesses.
He reminded them that taxes reversed under the PPP/C Government included VAT on water and electricity, freight surcharge ad-
justments, duties on farming and mining equipment, and corporate taxes on healthcare and education.
Meanwhile, he was reminded of the PPP’s bold vision for Region Three.
“From Vreed en Hoop all the way to Wales will change. Our plans are well laid out,” he declared.
He emphasised that development would be visible across the region, supporting families, businesses, and communities.
The VP and PPP General Secretary told the crowd of the PPP’s plans for sweeping transformations in Region Three as well as all across the country, including infrastructure upgrades, enhanced community services, a planned high-span bridge across the Berbice River, and the establishment of industrial zones across communities, among other projects.
“We are a party that does not only think for and plan for today. We are a party that thinks about today and plans for the future –and that is what differentiates us from every other political party in this country.
Your children’s and your own future will be prosperous and secure once the PPP is in office. We will rise to every challenge, and we will find solutions that are in line with the aspirations of our people,” Jagdeo said.
He reiterated the PPP’s commitments to reduce the cost of living for Guyanese, including establishing a national development bank to offer zero interest loans to small and medium-sized en-
terprises, expanding school feeding programmes, establishing transportation grants for children, providing housing assistance, and providing broader support for single parents and vulnerable households.
“I can talk a lot about what we did, but tonight I want to talk about the future too. What we are yet to do. We have to look to the next five years and come back to the things that we
have not done as yet, and there are many things that we still need to do,” Dr Jagdeo said. He called on voters to judge the party by its track record of fulfilled promises and visible progress.
According to Jagdeo, when the PPP took office in 2020, citizens lacked optimism and opportunities were shrinking, but the PPP/C has since renewed hope, he said.
Laura George named PM candidate for AFC
The Alliance For Change (AFC) National Executive Committee (NEC) on Friday elected Laura George as Prime Ministerial candidate in the run up to the September 1, 2025 General and Regional Elections.
In a press release the party described the Elections as an “intense process” where, at the end of the four-hour long process, AFC Presidential Candidate Nigel Hughes stated, “The AFC has done itself proud tonight. It had
a process, it was transparent, everyone was allowed to question the candidates, and this all augers well for the future of our party.”
Laura George, a former teacher, is best known locally and internationally as an Indigenous rights advocate with more than twenty years of dedicated service to promotion of Indigenous rights and the uplifting of Amerindian communities in Guyana, the brief informed.
Guyana, US deepen cooperation on extradition, criminal justice matters
Attorney General and Legal Affairs
Minister Mohabir
Anil Nandlall, SC, MP, on Thursday met with senior officials from the Unites States (US) Department of Justice and the US Embassy to advance bilateral cooperation in criminal justice, particularly in relation to extradition and fugitive matters.
In a post on the Attorney General’s social media page, it was stated that the visiting US delegation included Sandy Rao, Senior Inspector of the US (US) Marshals Service, the lead federal law enforcement agency in fugitive apprehension and extradition, and Timothy Semons, Regional Security Officer at the US Embassy in Georgetown.
operation in extradition proceedings between the two nations.
“These amendments are crucial to streamlining the processing of extradition cases, many of which remain pending,” Rao noted, highlighting that the updated legal provisions will help both countries expedite such matters more efficiently.
Earlier this year, officers of the US Marshals Service and the US Embassy Regional Security Office paid a courtesy visit to Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn.
Their meeting, held in the Ministry’s boardroom, focused on key areas of cooperation, including crime-fighting strategies, extradition processes, and other mutual agreements aimed at strengthening security collaboration between Guyana and the US.
In a post on the Ministry’s social media page, it was stated that discussions underscored the ongoing commitment of both parties to enhancing law enforcement partnerships and addressing regional security concerns.
During the meeting, Rao conveyed the US' appreciation to the Government of Guyana for enacting significant amendments to the Fugitive Offenders Act in 2023. He underscored that the legislative reforms have strengthened the framework for mutual co-
The discussions also focused on enhancing broader collaboration in criminal justice, with both parties reaffirming their commitment to strengthening mutual legal assistance. The officials agreed to continue working closely to bolster enforcement mechanisms and facilitate information sharing in criminal investigations and judicial processes.
Nandlall reaffirmed Guyana’s readiness to collaborate further with the US in combating transnational crime and ensuring that justice is served within an efficient and fair legal framework.
Fugitive Offenders (Amendment) Bill
In July 2024, Guyana passed the Fugitive Offenders (Amendment) Bill, which is aimed at ensuring fugitives hiding from the long arm of the law can be brought home to face justice, while at the same time respecting due process.
This was the view expressed by Attorney General Anil Nandlall, who presented the bill. The attorney general made it clear that the bill contains safeguards against being misused, since it allows the local judiciary to satisfy itself that there is evidence for the extradition request. Additionally, the Minister of Home Affairs has the final say on whether to allow the extradition request to proceed after a committal order is transmitted from the magistrate.
In February, Guyana extradited Harry Narine Rajkumar to Canada, marking the first-ever extradition between the two nations.
The Home Affairs Ministry
confirmed that Rajkumar was sent back to Canada on Thursday to face multiple criminal charges. Rajkumar was wanted in Canada on serious charges under the Canadian Criminal Code, including attempted murder and aggravated assault specifically within the Ottawa jurisdiction. Authorities had been tracking him since May 2019 after he fled Canadian law enforcement. His capture was made possible through an INTERPOL Red Notice and efforts by the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
Following his arrest, Rajkumar was remanded to prison and later waived his right to an extradition hearing, opting to return to Canada voluntarily. His extradition was formalised before acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty.
The prosecution team was led by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Lisa Cave, along with Ormella Gladstone, Treaty Officer at the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Sergeant Stephan Hinds from the Major Crimes Unit, along with other law enforcement officials.
Last month, the Government announced that it had extradited Parmanand Singh, a citizen of Guyana, to the US. Singh was wanted in the US in connection with a vehicular fatality, and the Home Affairs Ministry had said that he waived his right to an extradition hearing and consented to return to the USA to address judicial matters related to a fatal vehicular incident.
In September 2024, the Guyana Government received a formal extradition request for Singh from the US Government. Acting on
this request, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn signalled Chief Magistrate (ag) Faith McGusty to initiate legal proceedings required for the extradition.
Parmanand Singh was accused of operating a white 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe while his blood-alcohol level exceeded the lawful limit, leading to impaired faculties. He collided head-on with a black Nissan after driving the wrong way, resulting in the death of Sérgio Gadelha.
In August 2024, a five-year search for a driver who fatally struck a 67-year-old man on Christmas in Queens ended with his arrest in Guyana.
WABC reported that police said Ravindra Dharamjit, 26, fled the scene and the country but was tracked down by detectives in the years following the December 2019 crash. He was arrested by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in August 2024 at a horse racing event and was extradited.
In May 2023, US fugitive Bobby Allen Stark, who was arrested in Guyana for alleged sexual assault in his country, was extradited to face charges. The 52-year-old had fled the US to seek shelter from justice in Guyana.
In 2022, two fugitives who were wanted for sex crimes in the US were extradited.
On February 25, 2022, Julian Yhip and Kareem
Hack, who had been hiding out in Guyana for years, were extradited to the US to face charges on separate sexual offences.
Hack was arrested in Berbice, while Yhip was nabbed in Georgetown.
In November 2020, former Guyanese policeman Shawn Neblett was extradited to the USA, where he was wanted for trafficking cocaine. Ranks from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) picked up Neblett from a local prison where he was being held on remand pending extradition proceedings in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Neblett was wanted by the US for his role in trafficking 4.178 kilograms of cocaine, which was found in four parcels inside a suitcase on an outgoing passenger at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) in January 2017.
Caption: Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, MP, meeting with the visiting US delegation, which included Sandy Rao, Senior Inspector of the US Marshals Service, the lead federal law enforcement agency in fugitive apprehension and extradition, and Timothy Semons, Regional Security Officer at the US Embassy in Georgetown.
(News Room Photo)
1 remanded, 1 granted bail on embezzlement, B&E charges
Two Essequibo residents were virtually brought before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday in separate cases, one involving multiple counts of embezzlement, and the other relating to a break and larceny charge.
In the first matter, 32-year-old cashier Bonita Valenzuela was charged with three counts of embezzlement amounting to over $2.4 million. Valenzuela, who is employed at a Superbet outlet at the Supenaam Waterfront, Essequibo Coast, appeared virtually before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty.
It is alleged that on March 18, 2025, while serving as a clerk or servant to businessman Devin Warner, Valenzuela fraudulently embezzled three separate sums: $1,364,000; $700,000 and $385,000; money that she received on behalf of her employer.
Valenzuela’s attorney told the court that her client has no prior convictions and was
reportedly in discussions with the virtual complainant toward settling the matter. The attorney also highlighted that Valenzuela is pregnant and had come to court voluntarily while on $200,000 station bail.
The prosecution did not object to bail, and Magistrate McGusty granted Valenzuela bail in the sum of $600,000. The matter was adjourned to August 22. Meanwhile, in a separate
case, 26-year-old Esau Jeffers of Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, was remanded to prison after being charged with breaking and entering and larceny. Jeffers, who appeared before Magistrate McGusty, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Police allege that between July 22 and July 23, Jeffers broke into the stall of businesswoman Sattie Narine at Anna Regina and stole a quantity of confectioneries valued
at $16,840; eight tights worth $9,600, and beverages valued at $20,060; amounting to a total loss of $46,500. The prosecutor informed the court that Jeffers had a previous conviction for a similar offence and requested that he be ordered to stay away from the virtual complainant, as the two are known to each other.
Given his criminal history, Magistrate McGusty denied bail and remanded him to prison until August 19.
Teen remanded for murder of 16-year-old killed by stray bullet
An 18-year-old from East La Penitence was on Friday remanded to prison for the murder of 16-year-old Reyna Depeazer, who was struck by a stray bullet during a shooting at Mango Lane, East Ruimveldt, last week. Travel Daniels, also known as "Hammer", appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where the indictable charge was read to him. He was not required to plead. The matter was adjourned to August 20, 2025.
The charge alleges that between Monday, July 21 and Wednesday, July 23, at East Ruimveldt, Daniels murdered Depeazer.
Police said Depeazer, of East La Penitence, was socialising with a friend on a motorcycle at around 23:25h on July 21 when Daniels reportedly drove up in a white Fielder Wagon (PYY 2896), exited the vehicle with a handgun
and approached another motorcyclist who was parked near the girls.
An argument subsequently broke out between Daniels and the man. During the altercation, Daniels allegedly discharged a round from the firearm.
The round struck Depeazer in the neck and she collapsed to the
ground as the suspect fled the scene in his car.
Ranks responded promptly and rushed the teenager to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) where she underwent emergency surgery. She died on July 24 after several days in the Intensive Care Unit. Daniels was arrested just hours after the shooting, around 01:00h
on July 22, on Mandela Avenue driving the same Fielder Wagon vehicle. He was cautioned, arrested and taken into custody. Police searched him, the vehicle and his home but did not find the firearm. He was swabbed for gunpowder residue and remains in custody as the investigation continues.
As the world…
…moves on
While we’ve become consumed by the goingson of our politicians on the hustings vying to run the country – and more to the point, its rising oil revenues!! – we might’ve forgotten that the rest of the world continues to move on to the beat of their own drums!! And those beats might impact us – whether positively or negatively. Take, for instance, the US of A, which decided way back in the 1820s that we were in THEIR neck of the woods and THEY had the right to take whatever action THEY felt was necessary to protect THEIR interests as THEY defined it!! They dubbed this the Monroe Doctrine – after THEIR then President!!
So what has the US done recently that affects us – while our politicians duke it out verbally?? Well, right up there on our totem pole of burning interests – according to a report in the Wall Street Journal that’s as non-sensational and factual as you can get – is that the Trump Administration’s considering giving Chevron the go-ahead to resume production of oil in Mad Maduro’s Venezuela!! Back in May, they’d reimposed the sanctions that had been lifted by Biden – giving the dictator a lifeline.
But your Eyewitness had smelt a rat from the beginning, since – unlike the sanctions of Trump – I, Chevron, was allowed to continue servicing its plants and equipment!! This clearly signalled that the sanctions weren’t permanent!! Additionally, Chevron engaged the Trump Administration, arguing that an American withdrawal would only give arch-rival China an opportunity to increase its influence in Venezuelan oil production. China’s already Mad Maduro’s biggest creditor with their highest-rated “all-weather strategic partnership.” So it looks like Trump has taken the bait and will now allow Chevron to resume production under the face-saving stipulation that they’ll pay no taxes or royalties to Mad Maduro’s Govt!! But the madman’s gonna now rake in higher revenues on state-owned PDVSA’s share of the increased production – and reach the symbolically important 1M bpd production marker!! Your Eyewitness notes also that Trump has yet to back González as President as he’d done with Guaidó in 2019 – and so he’s de facto recognising Mad Maduro as Venezuela’s President.
Now, what makes Chevron’s license renewal even more problematical is they’re now owners of 35% of our Stabroek Block!! Unlike Exxon – which pulled completely out of Venezuela when Chavez legislated that foreign oil companies had to become minority partners with PDVSA – Chevron remained and developed a very accommodative relationship with Mad Maduro and his generals – who have their fingers in PDVSA!!
Our politicians on the hustings must be unified in rejecting any Chevron role in our border controversy!! With China’s CNOOC’s 25%, they can outvote Exxon!!
…ignores the PNC
Your Eyewitness is ready to send out a “Missing in Action” (MIA) for the PNC/APNU. Here it is, the PPP holding massive daily meetings – looking no different from rallies! – and your Eyewitness can’t see hide nor hair of what’s supposed to be the MAJOR opposition party in our fair land!! He knows they ain’t got the money of the PPP – them being incumbent and all. But it’s always been the custom and practice here that all the business fraternity – big and small – would strategically hedge their bets and give donations across the aisle!! That’s just prudent business practice! So if the PNC/APNU haven’t received their share this time around, it means the business class has written them off!! Tragic!!
The other factor is our politics being ethnically flavoured. With our villages ethnically dominated by one or the other major ethnic group, the PNC don’ even need to advertise to pull a crowd in one of “their” villages. Or is the PPP’s assertion that they’ve taken over those strongholds true??
…becomes sanctioned
The US is increasingly using its hegemonic power by imposing or easing sanctions to make countries fall in line. However, one local sanctioned individual claims he’ll be off the hook if he’s just elected – without any quid pro quo!! Fool!!
The Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts
Travel Daniels
Dead: Reyna Depeazer
Capacity building, access to finance key to positioning local suppliers as leaders – GOGEC Head
President of the Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC), Manniram Prashad, believes that capacity building and access to financing are among the critical components required for positioning Guyanese suppliers in the local oil and gas sector as industry leaders.
Currently, some 1500 Guyanese suppliers are providing goods and services to the country’s burgeoning oil and gas sector, while thousands of Guyanese have been trained and employed in key roles in offshore operations, engineering, logistics, compliance, and other areas.
Delivering the feature address at the opening of the Guyana Supplier Forum 2025 held at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown on Friday, Prashad noted that while hundreds of locally owned companies are registered on the Local Content Secretariat’s database, many of them are providing services not just to ExxonMobil Guyana and its prime contractors but are also expanding to regional markets.
However, the GOGEC Head pointed out that more can be done, especially to further expand the reach of Guyanese suppliers regionally and internationally.
“While we celebrate the progress, we are also very aware that this is just the beginning. There is still a long road ahead to ensure that local suppliers are not just included but are positioned to lead.”
“To achieve this, we must continue to focus on capacity building… so that our local suppliers can meet international standards and compete with the best; access to finance so businesses can grow and invest without the burdens of cash flow limitations; [and] technology transfer so innovation can thrive within our borders,” Prashad stated.
According to the GOGEC president, the Chamber is committed to working with ExxonMobil, the Guyana Government, and all other stakeholders to create an enabling environment where local businesses can flourish.
“We support initiatives that promote collab-
oration over competition, sustainability over shortterm gains, and partnerships over mere transactions. We envision a future where Guyanese companies not only provide goods and services in-country but also become regional exporters of oil and gas expertise, and where our young people view careers in energy not just as jobs but as lifelong journeys filled with purpose and innovation,” he posited.
It is for this reason, Prashad added, that plat-
forms like the Guyana Supplier Forum are important since they create a space for connection, dialogue, and shared learning, as well as help to demystify processes, open doors, and build trust between operators and the supplier community.
ExxonMobil engagement
On this note, the GOGEC Head commended ExxonMobil Guyana for demonstrating its commitment to ensuring that
ment, according to Prashad, helped set the tone for the current dynamic and expanding ecosystem of Guyanese-owned businesses supporting the sector. These were further bolstered by the Local Content legislation that was subsequently enacted by the Guyana Government, in which some 40 areas have been carved out specifically for Guyanese individuals and companies to benefit from.
Meanwhile,
opportunity to strengthen those credentials.”
At Friday’s Supplier Forum, teams from various oil and gas companies detailed opportunities that are available to Guyanese and how they can position themselves to take advantage of these.
“We’re here today because we believe that by working together in new and innovative ways, we can create lasting value, especially for the people of Guyana,” Carlson added.
Guyanese and locally owned businesses play a key role in the oil and gas industry. The United States (US)-based oil major is currently operating the prolific Stabroek Block offshore Guyana along with its co-venturers.
From logistics providers and catering services to security companies and technical support, ExxonMobil had been ensuring that Guyanese firms were part of the country’s oil and gas story from the very beginning – since its exploration phase.
This proactive engage-
Socioeconomic Manager at ExxonMobil Guyana, Lorna Carlson, recognised that more Guyanese individuals and businesses are scaling up, building capacity, and forming joint ventures to capitalise on the opportunities within the oil and gas sector.
She says, “As the operator, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited is committed to deepening our engagement with local suppliers, improving access to procurement opportunities, and supporting the development of a world-class supplier chain… Today’s forum is an
Among those innovative tools mentioned is the Social Performance Network – a programme run by ExxonMobil and 11 of its prime contractors aimed at identifying and communicating opportunities for Guyanese and local businesses in the oil and gas sector.
First held in 2021, the Guyana Supplier Forum is the Centre for Local Business Development’s flagship forum connecting local and international businesses with opportunities in the oil and gas sector and more.
GOGEC President Manniram Prashad
Socioeconomic Manager at ExxonMobil Guyana Lorna Carlson
Stakeholders at the Guyana Supplier Forum 2025 held on Friday at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Georgetown
$95M 6th Form, admin block commissioned at Diamond Secondary –
IMinister highlights expanding access,
n a significant move to expand access to advanced secondary education on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD), Minister of Education Priya Manickchand officially commissioned a brand-new $95 million Sixth Form and administrative building at the
building will allow students and teachers to move out of the overburdened auditorium and into properly outfitted classrooms. The school will now offer 16 CAPE subjects, in addition to its existing 23 CSEC subjects.
“Diamond is now part of a growing list of sec-
calls for parental partnership
and Soesdyke. The Houston Secondary School is being completely rebuilt, and plans are in place to rebuild Covent Garden Secondary as well.
“Prospect Secondary will accommodate 1000 students; Kaneville, 800. This new block adds capacity for
Diamond Secondary School on Thursday afternoon.
The event marked the official introduction of Sixth Form (CAPE) studies at the institution, making it the first school on the East Bank to offer this post-CSEC programme. Constructed by Simcon Engineering Inc. over a 10-month period, the new facility comprises six spacious classrooms, a recreation area, modern sanitary facilities, and an office for the deputy headteacher.
Adjacent to this teaching space, the administrative building features a fully equipped library, a 40-station IT lab, and offices to support the school’s growing academic and operational needs.
“This is a representation of what we are doing across the country,” Minister Manickchand told the gathering of students, parents, and teachers. “We are not just opening buildings; we are opening opportunities for children.”
Minister Manickchand
velopment, particularly the training of teachers.
“This school has 64 teachers. Six are currently untrained, but they are now enrolled in training programmes. Within two years, we will have 100 per cent of teachers trained,” she declared.
Guyana has dramatically increased teacher training efforts, now offering programmes through 223 learning centres across the country, in addition to the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and its 13 satellite campuses.
“We are training more teachers than ever before, more than 4500 in the last four years alone, compared to just over 500 annually in previous years,” she noted.
ondary schools with Sixth Form programmes. In the last four years, we’ve introduced CAPE in Anna Regina, Rosignol, West Dem [Demerara], and now here,” the Minister noted.
180 more students here at Diamond,” the Minister added. “And it doesn’t end there; nursery, primary, and sec-
ondary schools are going up in every region.”
Manickchand also detailed ongoing education sector investments along the East Bank and across the country, highlighting the Government’s drive to ensure no child is left behind.
On the East Bank alone, new secondary schools
Nationally, 42 new secondary schools are either under construction or completed, with 24 of those being built in hinterland regions (One, Seven, Eight, and Nine), where access to quality education has traditionally lagged behind.
While physical expan-
recalled that the original structure was destroyed by fire in 2018 while she was still in opposition. The new
are under construction at Prospect and Kaneville, while expansions are ongoing at Yarrowkabra, Dora,
sion has been a visible success, Minister Manickchand emphasised that real transformation lies in human de-
With the country in election mode, the Minister addressed criticisms from some corners that projects are being unveiled purely for political gain.
Minister Manickchand concluded by reaffirming her commitment to ensuring
that every child in Guyana has access to quality education, from nursery to university.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the new building
A section of a classroom at the newly opened block
Minister Manickchand with students at the event
The Minister with staff, among others, at the opening
The commissioning of the Sixth Form and admin block at Diamond Secondary
Participants of the Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit experience Guyana’s diversity at Iwokrama
$192M Kitty Police Station commissioned
The Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday officially commissioned the newly reconstructed Kitty Police Station, continuing the Government of Guyana’s ongoing efforts to modernise the nation’s law enforcement infrastructure.
In the Ministry’s social media post, it noted that the commissioning marked another milestone in the Ministry’s commitment to enhancing public safety and building greater capacity within the Guyana Police Force.
The reconstruction
ality, designed to support a wide range of police operations and improve the quality of services provided to the public.
As with other recently commissioned police stations, the Kitty police station’s key features include male, female, and juvenile lockups; a witness and ID parade room; an armoury and evidence room; as well as dedicated child-friendly spaces and domestic violence interview and waiting areas.
These additions are aimed at creating a more
includes specialised offices for enquiries, the Officerin-Charge, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), traffic enforcement, and the Integrated Crime Information System (ICIS).
The inclusion of both senior and junior living quarters is also part of the Ministry’s commitment to providing proper accommodations for police officers.
Donations
Additionally, Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn and Permanent Secretary (PS) Andre Ally handed
was completed at a cost of G$191,907,925.
The upgraded facility comprises a modern layout and enhanced function-
responsive and humane environment, particularly for vulnerable populations.
In addition to these core functions, the station now
over a set of protective helmets for distribution under the Ministry’s “Do the Right Thing” road safety campaign.
This initiative seeks to raise public awareness and promote safer practices among motorcyclists, particularly in light of the increasing number of road fatalities involving young riders.
As part of ongoing efforts to promote youth engagement and support community wellness, the Minister and permanent secretary also donated sports equipment.
This initiative reinforc-
es the Government’s commitment to proactive, community-orientated policing and holistic social development. By investing in positive, constructive outlets for
unwavering commitment to national safety, community trust, and responsible governance. We have delivered on time and within budget, and now we must deliver perfor-
young people, the Ministry aims to foster stronger community bonds and reduce youth vulnerability, the post highlighted.
"This police station, like many others commissioned across the country, represents more than just infrastructure; it reflects our
mance, professionalism, and empathy," Minister Benn asserted in his remarks at the commissioning.
The state-of-the-art station will significantly augment the operational capacity of the Guyana Police Force to protect and serve the nation effectively.
The newly commissioned Kitty Police Station
Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn (centre), PS Andre Ally (left), and Deputy Commissioner ‘Operations’ Errol Watts during the commissioning
Minister Benn and PS Andre Ally present protective helmets for distribution under the Ministry’s “Do the Right Thing” road safety campaign at the event
30% reduction in electricity rates for Mahdia, Campbelltown residents
One week after promising residents of Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) that they will soon benefit from reduced electricity rates, President Dr Irfaan Ali on Friday announced a 30 per cent reduction in tariffs for some residents.
“Residents of Mahdia and Campbelltown who receive electricity from Mahdia Power & Light Company Inc will now benefit from an 30 per cent reduction in tariffs,” the
in Mahdia into the local grid operated by Mahdia Power & Light Company Inc. President Ali assured that, “Other hinterland and riverine communities would benefit similarly with the introduction of integrated systems.”
Back in December 2024, a 0.65-megawatt (MW) grid-forming solar photovoltaic (PV) farm was commissioned in the Mahdia township.
At a public meeting just last week in Mahdia,
Head of State disclosed in a social media post.
This reduction is effective from July 1, 2025.
According to reports, the decision to slash the tariffs was made following the introduction of power from a new solar farm
President Ali had told residents of Region Eight efforts are underway to deliver cheaper and more reliable electricity.
"All of these are projects that are currently underway. By the first of August, you will have more
generating capacity and by the time we get up to the end of August, the solar farm will be properly integrated into the electricity system,” Ali stated at a political meeting hosted by the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).
He added, “We have invested also in bringing more technical resources, because we are not a party that walks away from challenges, and I want to assure you that in the coming weeks and the coming months, we are working towards reducing your cost of electricity here in Mahdia so you can save more and put more money back in your pockets." Funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) under the Energy Matrix Diversification and Strengthening of the Department of Energy (EMISDE) programme, the 0.65 MW solar farm in Mahdia is expected to supply 935 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity annually. It includes a 1,500kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery energy storage system, and benefits some 3,000 residents in the town.
The solar PV farm integrates seamlessly with the existing mini-grid, providing a stable and resilient power supply. This state-
of-the-art facility can independently support the existing grid and ensure energy reliability during peak demand and adverse weather conditions. At the December 6, 2024, commissioning ceremony, Prime Minister (PM) Brigadier (Ret'd) Mark Phillips, highlighted the significant economic and environmental benefits of the solar farm, which is expected to save $80.5 million by reducing diesel consumption by 309,681 litres per year. Additionally, it will cut carbon dioxide emissions by 672,561 kilograms (kg).
“This solar farm will
drive socio-economic transformation in the region by supplying reliable and affordable energy, fostering the growth of small businesses and micro-enterprises, and boosting local economic activity,” the PM had stated.
The project was completed at $362.41 million and also includes a two-kilometre (km) 13.8 kV transmission line for efficient energy distribution.
Aligned with the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030, the Mahdia solar PV farm is part of a broader initiative that has already in-
stalled solar PV systems in Lethem and Bartica. Improvements are also slated for Wakenaam and Leguan, among other regions. These efforts aim to increase Guyana’s solar energy capacity to over 39 MW by 2025. At a broader scale, the Guyana Government is targeting a 50 per cent reduction in electricity costs across the country with the highly-anticipated Gasto-Energy (GtE) Project, which will generate some 300 MW of clean electricity using natural gas that will be piped from offshore. The project is expected to come onstream mid next year.
APNU rejects LCDS but vows to spend earnings, campaigns on gains … Jagdeo calls posture ‘shameless opportunism’
The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) continues to reject the beneficial nature of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), despite the unprecedented earnings secured through the programme, most notably the US$750 million carbon credit agreement signed in 2022 with United States (US) energy giant Hess Corporation.
Despite these demonstrable benefits, APNU continues to disparage the LCDS framework, claiming they would better manage the proceeds, despite their track record of dismantling the initiative when in office.
During the party’s weekly virtual press conference on Friday, APNU’s Presidential Candidate Aubrey Norton and running mate Juretha Fernandes re-
iterated their party’s longstanding opposition to the LCDS, even as they seek to campaign on the financial gains generated through the initiative.
“For you to say we don’t support the LCDS is true,” Norton admitted when questioned about the party’s contradictory campaign platform.
“We can engage and look at the positive approach of the LCDS, which we have done… I see no contradiction between the two. There is no contradiction. We will pursue giving more to the Indigenous people on the question of the LCDS carbon credit,” he added.
As part of their campaign promises leading up to the September 1 General and Regional Elections (GRE), the APNU is promising to increase the percentage of pro-
ceeds to Indigenous communities, from Guyana’s carbon credit sales, to 50 per cent. This is notwithstanding that during the APNU time in Government from 2015 to 2025, the party disbanded the LCDS programme and replaced it with a Green State Development Strategy (GSDS), under which the country never earned any revenue.
The LCDS was revived as “LCDS 2030” when the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) returned to Government in 2020.
The carbon credit multiyear agreement with Hess came through initiatives developed under the revived LCDS 2030, which focuses on reducing deforestation and protecting its forests.
In signing the agreement with Hess, the Government committed to annually giv-
ing Indigenous communities at least 15 percent of the carbon credit sale to incentivise environmental stewardship and support sustainable development within Indigenous communities.
The first payments, totalling US$22 million (GY$4.75 billion), were distributed to 241 Indigenous communities based on a formula considering population and village size. In 2024, the Government increased the funding from 15 per cent to 26.5 per cent.
APNU faced questions about its campaign promises for the LCDS on Friday, after Fernandes spoke on the issue at a public meeting in Bartica last Saturday and promised that should APNU be elected to Government following the GRE, APNU would not only increase the
proceeds to Indigenous communities to 50 per cent, but that the money would be given to individuals as opposed to being given to the village councils, which are elected by the residents of the respective villages.
On Thursday, Vice President and PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo
slammed the APNU’s posture as "shameless”, accusing the party of political opportunism and pointing out that the same party had shelved the LCDS and replaced it with the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS), which yielded no revenue during its implementation.
Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton
President Dr Irfaan Ali recently promised reduced electricity rates to Region Eight residents
The Mahdia Power & Light Company Inc
Region 9 Commander dies suddenly en route to Lethem
– Tributes pour in from police commissioner, DPP Chambers, colleagues
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) is in mourning following the sudden death of Assistant Commissioner of Police and Commander of Regional Division Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), Raphael Rose, who died suddenly on Thursday night.
Commander Rose was said to be returning to Lethem after official duties in Georgetown when he reportedly began experiencing chest pains. According to Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken, Rose was in transit through Kurupukari when he complained about the discomfort.
“The driver sought to speed up to reach medical assistance, but this was not to be,” Hicken shared in a heartfelt statement. “Commander Raphael Rose
ERC,
is not just an Assistant Commissioner of Police, but he is like a brother to me… His death is a painful one to us at this time, as he will surely be missed by all in the GPF.”
Rose, who took over command of Region 9 in 2021, was also preparing to proceed on pre-retirement leave. He was known for his efficiency, leadership, and devotion to the communities he served.
The Guyana Police Force officially confirmed his passing, noting his longstanding commitment to public service and his impact on crime reduction and community trust in the region.
“Commander Rose was widely respected for his dedicated service and strong leadership,” the Force said in a statement. “His untimely death comes just as
2025 Elections
he was preparing for retirement.”
From the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Chambers came a similarly emotional tribute as DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack and her staff extended condolences, calling his passing “a real shocker.” They highlighted his close relationship with the DPP’s Outreach Program in Region 9, stating:
“He always avails himself, his vehicles, and police ranks to accompany us wherever in Region 9 we go. He was most respectful to Madam DPP and all of us who interacted with him, sometimes on a daily basis… We shall always be grateful for his thoughtfulness and assistance to us.”
Assistant Superintendent Seon Leitch, who served as Officer in Charge of Traffic
Carter Center discuss strategy to safeguard unity, ensure credible
polls
The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) met Thursday with representatives of The Carter Center to engage in discussions on matters relating to the 2025 General and Regional Elections in Guyana.
In its press release, the ERC noted that the Carter Center was represented by its Country Director, Mr Jason Calder; Deputy Director, Mr Nicholas Jahr; and Ms Mariam Tabatadze.
In attendance on behalf of the ERC were Chairman Shaikh Moeenul Hack; Commissioners Chandrowtie Sarran, Alphonso Porter, Norris Witter, Neaz Subhan, and Ashton Simon; and Chief Executive Officer Gomin Camacho.
The meeting provided an opportunity for both sides to share their respective plans and activities in support of a peaceful and credible electoral process.
The ERC outlined its key initiatives for the election period, which include the planned signing of the Code of Conduct for Political Parties, monitoring of campaign activities, and observation on Election Day.
The ERC remains committed to promoting unity and respect during the elections and looks forward to continued engagement with both local and international stakeholders.
In June, the Carter Center announced that it had launched an international election observation mission to Guyana in advance of the country’s general and regional elections scheduled for Sept. 1.
According to the Centre, it was invited to observe this year’s elections by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
A four-person core team of experts began arriving in Georgetown on June 30 from the United States, Georgia, and the United Kingdom. Additional electoral experts and observers will join them closer to election day, it noted.
“We look forward to engaging with Guyanese stakeholders across the political spectrum and civil society to provide an independent and impartial assessment of the electoral process. We hope our observation and reporting will help the Guyanese people assess the credibility of the
for Region 9 under Rose’s command, was visibly shaken in his tribute. “With tears in my eyes, a heavy heart, and profound sadness, it hurts me to say RIP to a remarkable leader, a dedicated officer, and a dear colleague,” he said. “He was not just an officer; he was a mentor, a friend, and a guiding force.”
Leitch described witnessing Rose’s final moments, calling it a stark reminder of life’s fragility. He recalled Rose’s high standards, leadership, and the motivation he provided to those around him: “His leadership inspired me to be a better leader, to serve with honour… Sir, I will not forget that letter you gave me that made me pull my socks up.”
Sources within the police force described the late Commander as a dedicated officer who was loved and re- spected by all ranks.
An autopsy has been or-
dered to determine the official cause of death.
International Day celebrates women and girls of African descent
Friday, July 25 marked the first-ever International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent, following a declaration last year by the UN General Assembly. It recognises their immense contributions to society but also acknowledges the persistent challenges they face.
Although women and
elections while providing useful recommendations for reform and encouraging transparency,” Calder had said.
David Carroll, director of the Carter Center’s Democracy Program, stated, “The Carter Center has had a long-standing commitment to democracy in Guyana, and we are honoured to launch this international election observation mission in support of the electoral process.”
The Carter Center’s election observation work is conducted in accordance with the 2005 Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation and makes assessments based on relevant parts of national legal frameworks, as well as regional and international obligations for democratic elections. Since 1992, the Centre has worked in Guyana to strengthen democracy, support civil society, encourage sustainable development, and reinforce the rule of law.
The Carter Center has organised more than 125 election observation missions in 100 countries, including in Guyana in 1992, 2001, 2006, 2015, and 2020.
the International Day coincides with the start of the Second International Decade for People of African Descent, which runs through 2034.
The aim is to take concrete actions to confront the legacies of enslavement and colonialism, deliver reparatory justice, and secure the full human rights and freedoms of people
lived experiences highlight not only the impact of injustice but also the transformative power of opportunity and equity.
Empowering women and girls of African descent requires a comprehensive approach grounded in human rights, cultural affirmation and inclusive policymaking. Governments, institutions and commu-
girls of African descent embody strength, resilience and untapped potential, they remain among the most marginalised groups globally due to the intersection of racial, gender and socio-economic discrimination.
For example, they suffer alarming maternal mortality rates, according to the United Nations’ (UN) reproductive health agency, UNFPA, where often, cases are not related to income or education, but rather to racism and structural inequality rooted in a legacy of slavery and colonialism.
The first celebration of
from the African diaspora worldwide, building on the previous Decade, which ended last year.
According to the UN, from limited access to quality education and healthcare to under-representation in political and professional spaces, they often navigate systemic barriers that hinder their development and violate their rights.
Despite these challenges, they continue to lead movements, excel in academics and careers, advocate for justice and break generational cycles of poverty and exclusion. Their
nities must commit to dismantling discriminatory structures and investing in initiatives that ensure equal access to education, healthcare, justice and leadership.
It is only through intentional action—such as collecting disaggregated data, removing stereotypes, and implementing targeted programmes—that we can foster environments where women and girls of African descent thrive. In doing so, we not only uphold their dignity but also strengthen societies through their contributions, creativity, and leadership.
DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack shared a photo of herself and Assistant Commissioner of Police and Commander of Regional Division Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), Raphael Rose, as she extended her condolences
ERC Commissioners with the Carter Center Team on Thursday
“I have never seen so much improvement" in education system – former GTU Pres Dr Mark Lyte
Former President of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) Dr Mark Lyte says in his more than thirty years as an educator he has never seen so much development in the education sector as he has experienced over the past five years. He took the opportunity to address some of the transformative initiatives implemented in the education sector which has brought about massive improvements over the last three and a half years. According to Dr Lyte, not only have grades been improved but the welfare of both teachers and students also.
Focusing on the infrastructural development in the education sector, Dr Lyte noted that it was not only physical enhancement of school buildings and the establishment of new schools but also improvements within the learning infrastructure.
“Classrooms are now being upgraded. Schools are now being upgraded. Students are now enjoying the opportunity to play in their schools on tarmacs and other facilities that are made possible through the Government's effort,
and I believe it's testimony of the hard work, not only of the members of the Ministry of Education, but by extension the Government at large, and I want to say to all of us present, in person and under the sound of my voice, that where there is progress we must allow progress to continue,” he declared. Dr Lyte said based on what he is seeing in the education sector, there will be continued improvement.
“We must never stand in the midst of progress because what we see over the last few years is only going to get better. We've already seen the number of new schools that have been built across Guyana and the Honourable Minister of Education in the last four weeks would have been opening several schools across Guyana; and this is testimony to the Government's priority to provide education for our learners, better learning facilities and more so better trained teachers. All across Guyana our teachers are now being trained to become professionals in the classroom,” he testified.
Among some of these initiatives is the school feed-
ing programme. Guyana’s National School Feeding Programme has grown into a cornerstone of the country’s education and nutrition strategy. Initially launched in the hinterland regions as a community based initiative around 2006–2007 with support from the World Bank and the Global Partnership for Education, it aimed to improve attendance, learning outcomes, and nutritional status among Amerindian children by involving local communities in food production and meal delivery.
Evaluations showed measurable gains—attendance rose by roughly 4 per cent, stunting declined in participating schools, and academic scores improved significantly for those receiving meals. Over time, the programme expanded nationwide, offering juice and biscuits, breakfast, cassava bread snacks and hot meals across nursery and primary levels, particularly in hinterland and coastal regions. Government funding surged—from about $2 billion in 2022 (serving roughly 12,400 students) to $ 2.1 billion in 2023 (benefiting over 85,000 students), then $ 4.9 billion in 2024
(reaching approximately 126,000 students), and most recently $ 5.5 billion in the 2025 budget, aimed at extending its reach to even more children across the country.
The former GTU President also commented on the cash grant being given to schools, which is separate to the cash grants received by children and their parents.
“This cash grant that is given to each school is based on the number of children in the school multiplied by a specific figure
that gives teachers an opportunity to go off and buy their own materials to service their classes. And when you go into schools today you are seeing classrooms that are learner friendly because teachers have gone out there and used the resources provided by this Government to better enhance their classrooms,” Lyte explained.
“We no longer rely on the Regional Democratic Council to provide those resources. Teachers can now go out and buy what they need for their class-
rooms. And that speaks testimony of the work this Government has done. Not only listening but they have stepped forward and done what is required so that the educational level of the nation's people can improve. And further to that ladies and gentlemen, comrades all, we now have the GOAL (Guyana Online Academy of Learning) Scholarship. And the GOAL Scholarship, if you don't know, provides an opportunity for school dropouts to get a second chance,” he added.
Lyte warned of the dangers of putting the education system in the hands of persons who cannot be trusted and who do not understand progress.
“Right now, there are all kinds of plans being rolled out without any proper consideration. Everybody is talking about what they will give and how they will give that and what they will give. We have to think about giving with a sustainable plan. And that is what this present administration has done. They have not only provided for the nation's people, they have done what they thought can be sustainable,” Dr Lyte pointed out.
Man remanded for speedboat captain’s murder
Alabourer of East Bank Demerara (EBD) was on Friday remanded to prison for the unlawful killing of an Essequibo boat captain.
Javon Greene called “Devon”, 19, a labourer of Diamond Housing Scheme EBD, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) appeared before Magistrate Tariq Mohamed at the Bartica Magistrates Court, charged with murder. It is alleged that on July 24, at Puruni Landing River he murdered Lakeram Rambhajue.
The 20-year-old speed boat operator of Puruni, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) was allegedly beaten with a piece of wood;
he succumbed to his injuries four days later at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
Greene was arrested on the day of the incident.
He was not required to plea to the indictable charge when he appeared in court and was remanded until September 8, 2025.
Attorney at law Bernard Da Silva represented Greene.
It had been reported that the incident occurred
on Sunday night in Puruni, where Rambhajue lived and worked. He reportedly had offered Greene one of his boats to operate. However, tensions escalated when Greene repeatedly failed to pay for the use of the boat.
Rambhajue reportedly took possession of the boat and was assaulted. After reporting the incident to the police, Green promised to pay $100,000.
However early Monday morning the situation fur-
ther escalated and Green reportedly threw a glass bottle hitting Rambhajue in his face causing him to fall off of his motorcycle he was riding. Rambhjue was then lashed with a piece of wood to his head. He reportedly sustained multiple skull fractures; fragments of his skull were lodged in his brain, resulting in several haemorrhages. The injured man went into a coma and never regained consciousness.
Remanded: Javon Greene
Dead: Lakeram Rambhajue
Dr Mark Lyte
AG denies Antigua’s role in former T&T PM airport detention
The Antigua and Barbuda Government has denied involvement in the controversial recent detention of former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley at VC Bird International Airport.
“I have been informed by immigration authorities that no such thing came from Immigration,” Public Safety Minister Sir Steadroy Benjamin stated, though he refused to elaborate further on the matter.
The denial comes as former Commissioner of Police Rawlston Pompey alleged “collusion” in Rowley’s detention and suggested someone exploited weaknesses within Antigua and Barbuda’s Immigration Department.
The allegations follow Rowley’s revelation that he was detained for questioning last week after his name appeared on an Interpol watch list, leading to what he described as a humiliating experience while travelling to neighbouring Montserrat.
Rowley detailed the incident during a press conference at his home on Monday, explaining how he
Jamaica’s Spanish Town-born “Top Boy” actor Micheal Ward has been charged with rape and sexual assault, according to international media.
A BBC report indicated that the alleged offences relate to one woman and date back to January 2023.
Catherine Baccas, deputy chief crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service London South, said, “Having carefully reviewed a file of evidence, the Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Micheal Ward, 27, with two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault against a woman in January 2023.”
The cop reminded them that no information should be shared online to prejudice
An American businessman who failed to declare his licensed firearm on a boating trip to The Bahamas was on Tuesday fined $15,000.
Gerardo Delfin, the co-owner of a Miami-based construction company, paid the fine to avoid spending 30 months in prison.
Delfin pleaded guilty to possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition at his arraignment before Magistrate Lennox Coleby Sr.
was flagged as a criminal suspect.
The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) also issued a statement on Monday denying that they had placed Rowley’s name on an Interpol watch list.
Pompey, drawing from his professional experience, questioned the circumstances surrounding the detention and cast doubt on some explanations.
The former police commissioner expressed scepticism about Interpol’s involvement: “I’m going to take Interpol out of this. Interpol has nothing to do... As a matter of fact, you cannot even access certain information at Interpol.”
Addressing the constitu-
tional implications, Pompey referenced Antigua and Barbuda’s Constitution regarding freedom of movement.
“When people use semantics and nice language to tell you he was not detained, that might be true, but he was not free to leave the Immigration Department.”
He noted that if Rowley believes his rights were infringed, “there is no doubt that he will sue the Attorney General, put the head of the Immigration Department in place, get the name of the officer who attended to him, and place him right here in Antigua and Barbuda before the court.” (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)
the case, the report said. Ward, 27, rose to fame in the United Kingdom (UK) on Netflix’s hit Top Boy, released in 2019. That same year, he appeared in Blue Story, which received critical acclaim, and he was awarded a BAFTA for 2020 Rising Star at the UK-based Film Awards.
He was also nominated for best supporting actor at the Bafta TV Awards for Small Axe in 2021.
Ward’s court date is set for August 28 at the Thames Magistrates’ Court in London, six days after the premiere of his latest movie, Eddington. (Source: Jamaica Observer)
B’dos
sanitation workers down tools over incentive dispute
Workers at the Barbados Sanitation Service Authority downed tools Thursday morning and staged industrial action.
According to workers at the Pine, St Michael headquarters, they received incentives yesterday but are unsatisfied with the emoluments.
They were also protesting the lack of allowances, gloves, and other personal protective equipment needed to do their jobs.
One worker, speaking anonymously, said they have not received back pay dating back two years and questioned why they cannot be treated like police officers and other civil servants.
According to a media release by the SSA’s Public Relations Officer, Carl Padmore, the wildcat strike is in response to the recent disbursement of the performance incentive allowance.
He says workers have expressed dissatisfaction with
the amounts paid under the scheme.
Mr Padmore adds that the incentive allowance was introduced as a motivational measure and is contingent upon achieving clearly defined operational targets.
Unfortunately, these were not met, with performance only reaching 34 per cent of the benchmark.
Despite the shortfall, Mr Padmore says management approved discretionary payments.
Acting General Secretary of the National Union of Public Workers, Wayne Walrond, says they have met with the workers and are now awaiting the opportunity to meet at the table.
(Source: Barbados Today)
T&T CoP says criminals monitoring citizens’ garbage for financial info
Trinidad & Tobago’s Commissioner of Police (CoP) Allister Guevarro is advising T&T citizens to pay careful attention to how they dispose of their garbage, as they may unsuspectingly be facilitating the easy transfer of personal and financial information to criminals.
Responding to questions from Guardian Media yesterday about the motives behind recent kidnappings, he said, “It is not only the official garbage collectors who have an interest in what you throw out, so shred your financial statements before placing them in that garbage bag.”
He also warned the public against the dangers of posting too much on social media.
“There is also the exploitation of weak digital security protocols, allowing persons
to extract personal information, so persons may see their Facebook, WhatsApp, and other accounts being hacked, and you don’t know what is the hidden intent behind that,” he said.
Confirming that recent kidnappings were directly linked to the criminal syndicate whose activities led to the declaration of the State of Emergency (SoE) on July 18, he claimed abductions were used as a “means of them getting financial rewards out of their illicit acts.”
And while he is thankful the core threat has been neutralised, he confirmed, “Residual cells are still being actively pursued at this time.”
He said those cells may be responsible for recent kidnappings.
The top cop stressed the
importance of keeping personal information private. Referring to the ongoing SoE, which was predicated on intelligence that criminals were using specific crimes such as robberies, extortions, home invasions, and kidnappings to fund their illicit activities, Guevarro revealed, “Intelligence suggests victims are not randomly chosen, but rather organised criminal groups are strategically selecting individuals based on perceived financial vulnerability and visibility.”
He said victims were being selected by “criminals using a mix of digital profiling, human intelligence, illicit data exchange, and collection to assess a family’s ransom-paying potential.”
(Excerpt from Trinidad & Tobago Guardian)
According to the prosecutor, Inspector Kingsley Wilson, officers from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force boarded a vessel that was docked at Atlantis marina on June 30.
During a search of the vessel, the officers found an HNK .40 pistol and two magazines, each containing 10 unfired rounds of .40 ammunition.
Delfin told the police his wife had cleared customs. He said she did not declare his firearm because she was un-
aware that he had brought it for his protection.
He has a concealed carry permit in Florida that expires in 2028, his lawyer Alphonso Lewis told the court.
Coleby noted the gun was discovered soon after Delfin’s arrival.
According to the court, Delfin had up to 48 hours to declare the weapon and ammunition.
As a result, the Magistrate did not find that a prison sentence was appropriate. (The Nassau Guardian)
US authorities have confirmed that they arrested Haitian businessman Pierre Réginald Boulos on charges of immigration fraud and alleged support of criminal armed gangs destabilising Haiti.
He is currently held in ICE detention while facing deportation proceedings.
According to ICE, Boulos failed to disclose his role in founding the political party – Mouvement pour la Transformation et la Valorisation d’Haïti (MTV
Haiti – when he applied for lawful permanent residency.
He also did not disclose that Haiti’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) had named him for alleged misuse of loan funds.
Even more significantly, the US officials alleged, Boulos supported armed groups behind Haiti’s ongoing security crisis.
“The Department of State determined that Boulos’ presence or activities in the United States would have potential [sic] serious adverse foreign policy consequences,” the ICE
statement reads. “This supports an additional ground of removability based on immigration fraud.”
In making the Boulos arrest, the State Department reiterated that lawful permanent residents who aid criminal groups abroad may lose their immigration status.
“The United States will not allow lawful permanent residents to enjoy the benefits of that status while assisting criminal or terrorist organisations,” the statement said. (Excerpt from The Haitian Times)
Attorney General and Public Safety Minister, Sir Steadroy Benjamin
Actor Micheal Ward
Sanitation Service Authority workers on strike
Around the World
OOIL NEWS
Musk orders shutdown of Starlink satellite service as Ukraine retakes territory from Russia–report
Oil prices ease to 3-week low as negative economic news offsets trade optimism
il prices eased to a three-week low on Friday on negative economic news from the United States and China and signs of growing supply despite optimism US trade deals could boost global economic growth and oil demand in the future.
Brent crude futures fell 76 cents, or 1.1 per cent, to US$68.42 a barrel by 1:44 pm EDT (1744 GMT), while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 91 cents, or 1.4 per cent, to US$65.12.
That put Brent on track for its lowest close since July 4 and WTI on track for its lowest close since June 30.
For the week, Brent was down about one per cent and WTI down about three per cent.
The US is preparing to allow partners of Venezuela's staterun PDVSA, starting with US oil major Chevron, to operate with limitations in the sanctioned nation, sources said on Thursday.
That could boost Venezuelan oil exports by a little more than 200,000 barrels per day (bpd), which would be welcome news for US refiners, as it would ease tightness in the heavier crude market, ING analysts wrote.
In the Middle East, Iran said it would continue nuclear talks with European powers after "serious, frank, and detailed" conversations on Friday, the first such face-to-face meeting since Israel and the US bombed Iran last month.
Venezuela and Iran are members of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Any deal that could increase the amount of oil either sanctioned country could export would boost the amount of crude available to global markets.
A meeting of the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee, which includes top Ministers from OPEC and allies like Russia, a group known as OPEC+, is scheduled for 1200 GMT on Monday. Four OPEC+ sources told Reuters the meeting was unlikely to alter the group's existing policy, which calls for eight members to raise output by 548,000 bpd in August. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Seven students killed in India's Rajasthan after school roof collapses
Locals during the rescue work after a Government school building collapsed in Jhalawar district, Rajasthan, Friday, July 25, 2025. (Indian Express photo)
Seven children were killed and 20 injured in India's western state of Rajasthan on Friday when the roof of a school building collapsed, authorities said, after all those trapped under the rubble had been accounted for.
The school building was old and collapsed as a result of heavy rainfall in the region, Amit Kumar, a local police officer, told Reuters.
"Stones started falling inside... Suddenly, the whole roof fell, and we came out. There were 30 students in the
classroom," a student, who was not named, told ANI news agency.
Villagers and school staff rushed to the site after hearing the loud crash. Locals said the collapse sounded like an explosion.
Footage from news channels showed locals gathered around the site of the collapse. Distressed family members could be heard crying as authorities used a crane to remove the debris. (Source: Reuters, The New Indian Express)
During a pivotal push by Ukraine to retake territory from Russia in late September 2022, Elon Musk gave an order that disrupted the counteroffensive and dented Kyiv’s trust in Starlink, the satellite internet service the billionaire provided early in the war to help Ukraine’s military maintain battlefield connectivity.
According to three people familiar with the command, Musk told a senior engineer at the California offices of SpaceX, the Musk venture that controls Starlink, to cut coverage in areas including Kherson, a strategic region north of the Black Sea that Ukraine was trying to reclaim.
Staffers complied, the three people told Reuters, deactivating at least a hundred Starlink terminals, their hexagon-shaped cells going dark on an internal map of
the company’s coverage. The move also affected other areas seized by Russia, including some of Donetsk province further east.
Upon Musk’s order, Ukrainian troops suddenly faced a communications blackout, according to a Ukrainian military official, an advisor to the armed forces, and two others who experienced Starlink failure near the front lines.
Ultimately, Ukraine’s counteroffensive succeeded in reclaiming Beryslav, the city of Kherson, and some additional territory Russia had occupied.
But Musk’s order, which hasn’t previously been reported, is the first known instance of the billionaire actively shutting off Starlink coverage over a battlefield during the conflict.
The account of the command counters Musk’s nar-
rative of how he has handled Starlink service in Ukraine amid the war. As recently as March, in a post on X, his social media site, Musk wrote, “We would never do such a thing.”
Musk and Nicolls didn’t respond to requests from Reuters for comment.
A SpaceX spokesperson said by email that the news agency’s reporting is “inaccurate” and referred reporters to an X post earlier this year in which the company said, “Starlink is fully committed to providing service to Ukraine.”
The spokesperson didn’t specify any inaccuracies in this report or answer a lengthy list of questions regarding the incident, Starlink’s role in the Ukraine war, or other details regarding its business.
The office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and the country’s
Ministry of Defence didn’t respond to requests for comment.
Starlink still provides service to Ukraine, and the Ukrainian military relies on it for some connectivity. Zelenskiy, as recently as this year, has publicly expressed gratitude to Musk for Starlink.
It isn’t clear what prompted Musk’s command, when exactly he gave it, or precisely how long the outage lasted. The three people familiar with the order said they believed it stemmed from concerns Musk expressed later that Ukrainian advances could provoke nuclear retaliation from Russia.
Some senior US officials shared Musk’s concerns that Russia would make good on threats to escalate, one former White House staffer told Reuters. (Excerpt from Reuters)
US and China confront each other on Ukraine at United Nations
The United States told China at the United Nations (UN) on Friday it should "stop fuelling Russia's aggression" in Ukraine, as China accused Washington of trying to shift blame and spark confrontation.
Acting US Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea urged all countries, specifically naming China, to stop exports to Russia of dual-use goods that Washington says contribute to Russia’s war industrial base and enable its drone and missile attacks on Ukraine.
“Beijing’s claim to have implemented strong export controls on dual-use goods falls apart in the face of
daily recovery of Chineseproduced components in the drones, weapons, and vehicles that Russia uses against Ukraine,” Shea told a meeting of the 15-member UN Security Council on Ukraine.
China did not start the
war in Ukraine, is not a party to the conflict, has never provided lethal weapons, and has always “strictly controlled dual-use materials, including the export of drones,” China's deputy UN Ambassador Geng Shuang responded.
“We urge the US to stop shifting blame on the Ukraine issue or creating confrontation and instead play a more constructive role in promoting ceasefire and peace talks,” he told the council.
Reuters reported on Wednesday that Chinesemade engines are being covertly shipped via front companies to a stateowned drone manufacturer in Russia, labelled as "industrial refrigeration units" to avoid detection in the wake of Western sanctions.
"If China is sincere in calling for peace, it should stop fuelling Russia's aggression," Shea said. (Reuters)
Australian politician found guilty of rape
ANew South Wales (NSW) politician has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two young men in Australia.
A jury found Gareth Ward – who is still a sitting member of state Parliament – guilty of three counts of indecent assault and one count of rape.
Both of the victims, who were aged 18 and 24, said they were assaulted at Ward's home after meeting the 44-year-old through political circles between 2013
and 2015.
Ward resigned as a state Government Minister and from the Liberal Party when the accusations emerged in 2021 but refused to leave Parliament and was re-elected as the member for Kiama in 2023.
The jury deliberated for three days after hearing nine weeks of evidence in the NSW District Court.
The trial heard Ward had invited a drunk 18-year-old man to his home in 2013 and indecently assaulted him three
times, despite his attempts to resist.
Two years later, he raped a political staffer after an event at Parliament.
Ward had argued the 2015 rape didn't happen and that the other complainant was misremembering their encounter from 2013.
But crown prosecutor Monika Knowles said the striking similarities in the accounts of the two men, who did not know each other, showed they were telling the truth.
"Similar behaviour, similar setting, same man, same conclusion. This is not a coincidence," crown prosecutor Monika Knowles told the trial, according to local media.
Ward will return to court later this year to be sentenced.
The NSW Government had previously considered voting to expel Ward, who has been a state MP since 2011, from Parliament, but legal advice indicated it could risk prejudicing his trial. (BBC News)
Pay attention to what you are trying to achieve. Refuse to let compliments cost you. Be realistic, have a plan and budget, and negotiate with precision. Combining discipline with intuition will give you the clout you require to dazzle anyone you want on your side. Love and social events will encourage romance.
Check your ego before you start a dialogue with someone looking for a fight. Sometimes, it’s best to walk away from situations that are disruptive or likely to spin out of control. Refuse to let stubbornness put you in a precarious position. Know when to walk away and cut your losses.
A short trip, attending a reunion, or changing routine will help you realign yourself and your thoughts in preparation for what you want to pursue. A physical challenge will take its toll if you aren’t careful. Pace yourself and avoid anyone trying to goad you into a reckless encounter.
Recap your current situation and consider your options. Preparation will help you feel more comfortable dealing with institutions, authority figures, and financial or medical issues that concern you. Address domestic problems and lifestyle changes promptly. Tone down the rhetoric before it has a chance to erupt. Take the high road and do what’s right. Let your charm lead the way, and everything else will fall into place. Participating in community and networking events allows you to establish valuable connections. Don’t hesitate to share your thoughts and explore potential partnerships with like-minded individuals. Avoid situations that involve physical risks. Distance yourself from large crowds. Consider the possibilities and choose the path that promotes the least friction and the highest integrity, peace, and love. There is no winner, only a loss when fights break out. Raise your standards and distance yourself from situations and people who lack respect for you or your lifestyle.
Stop procrastinating and start heading in a direction that puts a smile on your face, a skip in your step, and love in your heart. Participate in events that interest you and mingle with intriguing and entertaining people. Romance is in the stars, and reunions will bring new life to old connections.
Rethink your day and how you want to allocate your time. Taking on responsibilities that don’t belong to you will lead to regret. Don’t let anyone take advantage of you. Donate your time or money to causes that concern you. A positive impact will give you the strength and courage to move forward.
Give hope to those you encounter, and it will reverberate and restore your faith in others. A playful attitude will make those you encounter smile. Make lifestyle changes for the right reason, and keep your emotions from interfering with time-sensitive decisions. Personal growth and romance will flourish.
Emotional spending will be your downfall. Please pay attention to hidden costs and those eager to have you pay their way. Discipline will pay off in situations that require patience and acute timing. If you crave change, consider looking inward and working on personal growth and financial gain. Bide your time; everything is negotiable. Pay attention to detail. Last-minute legal, financial, or medical changes will require more careful consideration. Protect against force plays by being well-versed in the ramifications that arise. Take pride in your appearance and present yourself to those eager to exploit your weaknesses. Protect what matters most to you. A change may be your goal, but consider what it will take before you begin. Take another gander at your options and fine-tune your plan to meet the requirements. Let your intuition guide the way, and your patience save you from those who try to take advantage of you. Avoid risks and confrontations.
England’s Joe Root
marked a historic day on Thursday at Old Trafford with a sublime, unbeaten 150 –his 38th Test century –which not only consolidated England’s dominance in the match but also elevated him to second on the alltime Test run-scoring list.
Root overtook Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, and Ricky Ponting in a single innings, now sitting behind only Sachin Tendulkar.
England closed day three on 544/7, with a commanding 186-run lead over India on a deteriorating pitch – leaving the possibility of an innings victory and a 3-1 series win very much alive.
Root’s innings, filled with elegant strokes and precise footwork, was a statistical and symbolic milestone. He became the first batter to score 1000 Test runs at Old Trafford, equalled Kumar Sangakkara’s 38 centuries, and set a record for most Test centuries (12) against India, surpassing Steven Smith.
His composed, methodical approach showcased his class and consistency, delighting a packed Manchester crowd basking in rare sunshine.
He built crucial partnerships, notably a 144-run stand with Ollie Pope, who scored a confident 71 be-
fore edging to slip shortly after lunch. That stand was their sixth-century partnership and the most productive under Ben Stokes’ captaincy.
Earlier, Pope had a narrow escape after a mixup with Root and a sharp throw from Jadeja and was nearly caught behind by stand-in wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, who had a strong day with four dismissals.
After Pope fell, Root continued England’s momentum with Ben Stokes, who returned to bat after briefly retiring hurt due to a cramp in his left leg.
The England captain added a gritty 77, his highest Test
score in ten innings, and became one of only three England captains to take a five-wicket haul and score a half-century in the same Test.
Stokes’ contribution was particularly noteworthy given his recent injury history, including two hamstring tears and ongoing knee concerns. The crowd gave him a rousing ovation upon his return late in the day.
India, by contrast, looked ragged. The only effective spells came from Washington Sundar, who claimed two quick wickets – Pope and Harry Brook (stumped) – and Ravindra Jadeja, who removed Root eventually, also
before leaving the field, while Mohammed Siraj limped after tweaking his foot in a foothole, although he returned later to dismiss Chris Woakes.
England added 395 runs across 89 overs on the day, a relentless onslaught that turned a 133-run deficit into a 186-run lead. Their dominance was built on proactive batting, efficient running,
tential series win but also added a glorious chapter to his already legendary career. (Revised from ESPN)
stumped. Despite those flashes, India’s bowling was hampered by injuries to their key quicks: Jasprit Bumrah rolled his ankle going down stairs and bowled just one over with the second new ball
and clever exploitation of a tiring and injury-hit Indian attack. Even the forecasted rain on Saturday is unlikely to significantly disrupt England’s control.
Ultimately, this day belonged to Joe Root – not just for his match-defining performance, but for a historic ascent into Test cricket’s statistical stratosphere.
As England tightens its grip on the match and the series, Root’s masterclass has not only secured a po-
Dhruv Jurel stumped Joe Root (Getty Image)
Ben Stokes walked off as retired hurt (Getty Image)
Joe Root scored 150 (Getty Image)
Jasprit Bumrah took his first wicket of the Test in his 24th over (Getty Image)
F1 championship leader
Oscar Piastri stormed to a dominant pole position for Saturday’s Sprint race at the Belgian Grand Prix, with chief title rival Lando Norris behind Max Verstappen in third.
After the frustration of his race-losing penalty to Norris at the British GP three weeks ago, Piastri has hit the ground
Belgian GP Sprint Qualifying
Oscar Piastri takes dominant pole with Lando Norris third as Lewis Hamilton is 18th
running at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit and had already set the pace in Friday’s sole practice session before claiming the weekend’s first of two poles by almost half a second.
Verstappen, whose Red Bull team is at a race weekend without former team boss Christian Horner for the first time after 20 years, beat Norris to second in the effective single-lap shootout of SQ3.
Charles Leclerc was fourth in the lead Ferrari, but team-
mate Lewis Hamilton was 18th after making one of several shock early exits in qualifying.
A spin at the end of his final lap of SQ1 consigned Hamilton to the grid’s penultimate row, while 2024 Spa victors Mercedes qualified 13th and 20th with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, respectively.
With Hamilton and both Silver Arrows out early, the perennial midfield runners made hay, with Haas particularly cashing in to take a season-best fifth with Esteban Ocon and seventh with Oliver Bearman.
Carlos Sainz was sixth for Williams – who surprisingly lost Alex Albon in SQ1 – while Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Racing
Bulls’ Isack Hadjar, and Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto rounded out an unusual-looking bottom of the top 10.
What went wrong for Hamilton and the Mercedes drivers?
Piastri is the third different driver in as many Sprint weekends this season to claim pole for the short-form Saturday race. The contrast with the year’s first two pole sitters on Friday would not have been starker, however.
Hamilton – who qualified first for the season’s opening Sprint in China at 2025’s second round in March – admitted he was “massively frustrated” to spin out on his final lap of SQ1.
The seven-time champion, whose Ferrari team was de-
Project Cricket gear….
buting a new rear suspension, was already in the drop zone at the start of his final lap of the opening phase after an error on his first attempt but appeared to be heading for safety until the SF-25 suddenly snapped away from him under braking for the final corner, the Bus Stop chicane.
“Nobody will be more surprised than Lewis,” said Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle in commentary. “It looks like a technical issue.
“It’s almost like the engine sort of stalled out, and every time he pulled another shift, it just locked the rear axle.”
Although not blaming the car, Hamilton confirmed the car’s rear wheels had locked, adding, “First time, I think, in my career.” He otherwise said
Port Mourant, Rose Hall CC summer camp benefits
Leading cricket clubs in Berbice – Port Mourant and Rose Hall Community Centre – were recipients of cricket balls from the ‘Project Cricket Gear for Young and Promising Cricketers in Guyana,” an initiative executed jointly by Anil Beharry of Guyana and Kishan Das of the United States of America (USA).
Port Mourant has produced many world-class cricketers in their heydays, such as Rohan Kanhai, Alvin Kallicharran, Joe Solomon, and Basil Butcher, among others, while RHCCCC is the fast-rising club that has already produced several outstanding young cricketers, such as Isai Thorne. The balls will be used to conduct the clubs’ summer cricket camps.
According to a missive from the facilitators, the project will continue to improve the lives of youths in every community.
“We are pleased to be part of the development of young cricketers in Guyana. Our aim is to keep them off the streets and get them actively involved in sports, cricket in particular.”
Total cricket-related items received/purchased so far: $730,000 in cash, thirteen coloured cricket uniforms, one set of stumps, two trophies, 36 pairs of cricket shoes, 38 pairs of batting pads, 47 cricket bats, 42 pairs of batting gloves, 29 thigh pads, three pairs of wicket-keeping pads, six arm guards, two chest pads, two boxes, 14 gear bags, 13 bat rubbers, seven helmets, one fibreglass bat, one pair of floppy hats, one pair of inners, 16 boxes of four white cricket balls, 13 boxes of red cricket balls, and one bat cone. In addition to the above, gear with a value of over $600,000 was donated by Sheikh Mohamed, former
National wicketkeeper/batsman. All cash collected is being used to purchase cricket gear requested and not available at the time.
To date, 99 players, male and female, from all three counties of Guyana have benefited directly from cash, eight gear bags, two trophies, four arm guards, 36 bats, four boxes, six helmets, 37 pairs of cricket shoes, 21 pairs of batting pads, 26 thigh pads, one bat grip, 40 pairs of batting gloves, one pair of wicketkeeping pads, and four pairs of wicketkeeping gloves with one pair of inners. Many others benefited indirectly.
In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area benefited from two used bats. Pomeroon, Leguan, and Wakenaam Cricket Committees and Cotton Tree Die Hard also received one box of red cricket balls each, and Cold Fusion Cricket Club received 13 coloured uniforms, while RHCCCC received six boxes of balls, 15 white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicket-keeping gloves, and two sets of stumps and bails. Other beneficiaries are The Essequibo Cricket Board, the Town of Lethem, youth coach Travis Persaud (one box of red cricket balls), male and female teams playing the traditional hardball and softball in the Upper Corentyne area, No.65 Young Titans with 30 T-Shirts, youths of Just Try Cricket Club, Wakenaam Cricket Academy (one box of white balls), Shamar Joseph, Nehemiah Hohenkirk, Shamar Apple, Leguan Cricket Committee, Tucber Park Cricket Club, Malteenoes Sports Club (nine cricket balls each), Kendall’s Union cricket club with 12 red balls, Lower Corentyne, Corentyne Comprehensive and JC
Chandisingh Secondary Schools with twelve red balls each, Thaddeus Lovell with one pair of cricket shoes, GCC, two boxes of white cricket balls, Bush Lot United Sports Club, one box of red balls, West Demerara Cricket Association, one box of white balls, Blairmont
Cricket Club with one pair of batting pads, one cricket bat, one helmet and cricket balls, Tagore Memorial Secondary School and St Cuthbert’s Mission with a box of balls and Port Mourant CC with one box of balls.
Cricket-related items, used or new, are distrib-
uted free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills, discipline, and education are important characteristics of the recipients. Anyone interested in contributing can contact Anil Beharry on 623 6875 or Kishan Das on 1 718 664 0896.
Cricnation592 bats for Rose Hall Canje Academy
Berbice’s elite cricket store, Cricnation592, has supported the Rose Hall Canje Community Centre Cricket Club’s inaugural academy.
Noted journalist and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cricnation592, Brandon Corlette, visited the academy on the penultimate day and presented a brand-new cricket bat.
The cricket bat was gifted to the best young batsman who visited the academy throughout the week. Corlette hailed the consistency and productivity of the respected Coach Ameer Rahaman.
The young coach has been placing major emphasis on youth cricketers, both male and female, and the club has reaped significant benefits.
This cricket club is known for producing rising international talents in West Indies female players Ashmini Munisar and Releanna Grimmond, along with promising fast bowler Isai Thorne, among others.
Rose Hall has recently won the Berbice Youth Club of the Year Award for producing well-rounded cricketers for Berbice, Guyana, and the West Indies.
This academy was a well-organised program, which caters separately to
young cricketers from ages 8 to 14 and from ages 15 to 19.
In addition to talisman coach Rahaman, the academy will have Batting Coach Seon Hetmyer, Spin Bowling/Batting Coach Balram Samaroo, Fielding Coach Ravindra Beharry, Spin Bowling Coach Mark Sampson, Fast Bowling Coach Kawal Mangal, and Fitness and Conditioning Trainer Dwayne Mars.
In addition to Cricnation592, some of the other sponsors are Kascon Engineering Services, Alpha Construction Services, Maya Group of Companies, Professional Engineering and Construction Services, JR Engineering Solutions, A&H Contracting Services, Art Sawmilling, Chenick & Sons, Source Auto Sales, AAA Construction, AV
Construction and Supplies, Top Point, Arborsmart, Anil Beharry Project Cricket Gear, Cricket Agent Colin Bynoe Jr., FL Sport, and cricketers Ashmini Munisar, Realeanna Grimmond, and Isai Thorne.
Cricnation592 Store is located at Lot 11 B Ulverston Village, Corentyne Berbice, and it provides a unique feature, with delivery services throughout Guyana.
Cricnation592 is also the sole distributor of E4 cricket gear in Berbice, and the store also stocks top cricket brands such as SS, SG, GM, Adidas, and much more.
Under the management team, Cricnation592 aims to expand and continue the quest of providing quality cricket gear to cricketers in Guyana.
little in his post-session interview.
Hamilton’s former team, Mercedes, also had a qualifying session to forget.
Antonelli – who claimed a brilliant maiden pole at the previous Sprint in Miami— qualified last after his SQ1 was sent into a tailspin by a spin into the gravel at Stavelot on his first flying lap.
Teammate Russell, who was following closely behind his teammate at the time, comfortably progressed through to SQ2 in fifth place but then struggled for pace in the second stage, missing the cut for the top 10 as the track dramatically ramped up by two tenths of a second and a host of drivers jumped ahead.
“We’ve had the pace all day,” said Russell. “In Q1 I ran over all of that gravel when Kimi went off. For the rest of that lap, it felt terrible; the lap after it felt terrible, and then my SQ2 lap felt terrible.
“We saw some damage on the car. We need to see if that’s the reason because obviously it’s a big shock to be out in Q2.” (SKY Sport)
The CEO of Cricnation592 presents a bat to Coach Ameer Rahman with some of the youths at the academy
Oscar Piastri
Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced the 16-member squad that will contest a fivematch T20 International series against the USA Cricket Under 19 Women’s National Team, from 26 July to 3 August 2025, at the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Ground in St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.
The squad will be led by Trinidadian off-spinner Samara Ramnath, with 16-year-old Barbadian Theanny Herbert-Mayers as the vice-captain. Danellie Manns is the lone Guyanese on the squad.
The West Indies squad was selected after the recently concluded Rising
CWI T20I Series
Lone Guyanese named in WI Women’s 16-member U19 squad to take on USA
Stars Under 19 35-over Championships in Trinidad, which was won by Barbados under HerbertMayers’ leadership and features a squad bustling with young talent eager to impress.
There are some familiar names and faces, including skipper Ramnath, who led
tatives for company, including Jamaican Abigail Bryce; off-spinning all-rounder NaiJanni Cumberbatch, who ended as the leading wicket taker in the Rising Stars Under 19 tournament; 16-year-old Amrita Ramtahal; and 17-year-old Brianna Harricharan.
Both teams appeared at this year’s ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup, which took place in Malaysia, and reached the Super 6 stage.
The upcoming series will be the third such bilateral series between the two teams after successful outings in 2022 at the Central Broward Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida, and
tain, who coached Trinidad and Tobago to the CG United Women’s Super-50 title in March.
She will have former West Indies players Tremayne Smartt and Ryan Hinds as assistants, while former Windward Islands fast bowler and captain Yasmine St. Ange is the team manager.
Cricket West Indies CEO Chris Dehring said, “We are proud to welcome the USA Under-19 Women’s team and look forward to an exciting series that we hope will inspire even more young girls across the region to take up the sport.”
“This bilateral series reflects CWI’s strategic com-
the team at the second-ever ICC Under 19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia earlier this year.
She will have some other previous regional represen-
2024, also at the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Ground, in Trinidad.
The head coach is Merissa Aguilleira, former West Indies Women’s cap-
The Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) has finalised the Independence T10 Cup matches set for August 1, one week before the major event at La Bonee Intention (LBI) Ground, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
In order to finalise the head-to-head matches, executives Davteerth Anandjit, Shaun Massiah, and Avishkar Ramgobin held a draw with team representatives on Friday.
The winning squad will get $250,000 and a trophy, while the runners-up will cart off with $150,000 and a trophy, with the losing semi-finalists collecting $50,000 apiece. Awards will be given for Man-of-theMatch in the semi-finals and
final on the individual side.
In addition to the entertainment on the field, fans have the chance to win a number of gate prizes. Admission is $1,000. Meanwhile, the Independence T10 Cup continues to attract support, with Ramchand Auto Spares, Ansa McAl’s Amstel Bright, and businessman Anil Beharry confirming their alliance recently.
Other sponsors include Survival Group Inc., Petama Enterprise, Premier
Insurance, CIC Insurance Brokers (Guyana) Inc., L. Mahabeer and Son Cambio, Office Express, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Anil Beharry Real Estate, Construction and General Business Services, Naven’s Construction, Republic Bank (Guyana) Ltd, Ramchand Auto Spares, Mike’s Pharmacy, Steve’s Jewellery, 4R Bearings, Rid-O-Pes, Luke’s General Contractor Ltd, Ariel Enterprise, Doctor’s Clinic, and Fullworks Party Rental.
mitment to expanding competitive opportunities for young female cricketers while also building mean-
ingful partnerships to drive the growth of the game across the Americas.”
Cricket West Indies Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe shared the importance of the series for women’s cricket development in the region.
“This series marks the start of an eighteen-month campaign for the 2027 Women’s Under-19 World Cup. Most of the players selected for this series will be World Cup eligible, and this series will go a long way in assessing the work that needs to be done with the group to get them ready.”
“Following what is expected to be a competitive series with the USA, development plans will be created to further the skill and holistic development of the players in the squad with a view to giving them the best chance to compete at the 2027 World Cup.”
All five matches will be held at the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Ground from 10 am each day.
West Indies Squad: Samara Ramnath (captain), Theanny Herbert-
Mayers (vice-captain), Adanya Baugh, Eboni Brathwaite, Abigail Bryce, NaiJanni Cumberbatch, Kaela George, Brianna Harricharan, Zakiyah Harrilal, Sabriel Headley, Danellie Manns, Brianna Plummer, Amrita Ramtahal, Kristen Sutherland, and Jaeda Tyrell, and Aaliyah Weekes.
2-time Guyana Cup-winning jockey ready for showdown on Aug 17
Two-time Guyana Cup-winning jockey Nicholas Patrick is gearing up for this year’s Guyana Cup, which is set for August 17, 2025, at Rising Sun Turf Club, West Coast Berbice. While reminiscing on his two wins in the past, Patrick is looking forward to a good outing next month.
“I have been in Guyana riding horses. I have the Guyana Cup twice. But my last big race was with Bossalina.
“I am working hard trying to make the race run off. I am working at the moment with Mr. Grey. There is not much we can do. We have to keep the horses jogging; once the track is good, then we do our main work,” Patrick said.
Sport comes with risk, but the risk is higher in the sport of kings. Patrick is not backing down from the challenge, and he could build his confidence.
“Being a jockey is risky. When you fall, you cannot sit and say you are afraid. Everything in this life is a risk. You must build your confidence. I have been out for a year and more. I broke two ribs and two collarbones, but I built my confidence back,” Patrick said.
The outcome of a race changes quickly, and every decision made by the jockey
is integral.
“It only takes a split second to lose a race. It only takes one bad move to lose a race. Princess She’s Not was one race I always look at, because I came out with a strategy,” he said.
The Guyana Cup will see 11 races, and the action will begin at 11:00 hrs on race day.
The races on the provisional card are Guyana Bred Non-Earners (four years and older), Guyana Bred (three years and older) classified K-Class and Lower, Guyana Bred (three years and older) classified as J-Class and Lower,
Guyana and West Indian Bred juveniles classified as H-Class and Lower, Guyana and West Indian Bred classified as G-Class and Lower, Guyana Bred Derby, Sprint Classic Open to all Classes (three years and up), Imported Juvenile (new event), and Brazilian and West Indian Bred Derby (new event).
Defending champion Olympic Kremlin and the Slingerz Racing stables will be out to defend their title and remain the number one horseman in Guyana. The feature event will feature a record-breaking purse of G$20 million.
Jockey Nicholas Patrick
West Indies Under 19 Women
Captain Samara Ramnath
Guyanese Danellie Manns earns her call-up
Team representatives and DCB officials
The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) on Friday officially announced the national Under-17 squad
selected to represent Guyana at the 2025 CWI Rising Stars Regional Under-17 Tournament, scheduled for August 11 to September 2 in Trinidad and Tobago. The squad will be led by Romario Ramdeholl as captain, with Parmeshwar Ram named vice-captain. Also named in the touring party are Richard Ramdeholl, Lomar Seecharran, Emmanuel Lewis, Adrian Hetmyer, Shamar Apple, Nicholas Lovell, Feeaz Baksh, Dave Mohabir, Navindra Sankar, Gibran Yacoob, Micah Amsterdam, and Darwin Joseph. Standby players include Vishal Williams, Bhomesh Lall, Johnathan Mentore, Shane Prince, Jathniel Nurse, and Dhanesh Persaud.
This year’s tournament will commence
shortly, with focus placed on tactical refinement and building team cohesion ahead of their departure. The camp is set to over practice matches in an effort to have the ready as they head to Trinidad and Tobago, hoping to be the first Guyana team to win the elusive regional Under-17
The selection panel made its final decisions following a structured evaluation
Tim David produced a brutal display of hitting with Australia's fastest T20I century from 37 balls as the visitors surged to a series-winning victory by chasing 215 with a massive 23 deliveries to spare on a boundary-filled night in St Kitts.
Shai Hope's maiden T20I century, in which he formed an opening stand of 125 with Brandon King, helped the West Indies post 214 for 4, and when Australia wobbled on 87 for 4 in the ninth over, the target was a considerable distance off.
However, David produced a breath-taking performance that rewrote the record books with firstly Australia's fastest fifty from 16 deliveries and then the century mark with the boundary that also brought victory. In all, he plundered 11 sixes in his maiden T20 century.
Mitchell Owen, in his first international series, played his part with 36 off 16 balls in a fifth-wicket stand of 128 from just 46 balls. (ESPNcricinfo)
process, including April’s InterCounty 50-Over competition and a two-day trial match played recently.
In the trial match, a dominant all-round performance helped one team secure a commanding victory at the La Bonne Intention ground. After bowling out their Ramdeholl’s XI for just 107 inside 45 overs in the second innings through disciplined and sustained pressure. Mohabir’s XI raced to victory with National under-15batsman Lomar
Seecharran top scoring with 49 not out.
The GCB congratulates all selected players and commends the commitment shown by every athlete throughout the selection process.
The Board remains fully committed to the ongoing development of youth cricket through competitive structures and opportunitydriven programmes.
