Guyana Times - Saturday, June 21, 2025

World Trade Centre

G\town to shape new economic culture in Guyana – Pres Ali

‘SafeHaven’ app launched to bridge gap

Guyana, UK launch new phase to combat marine pollution, boost blue economy Changes to nomination form aim to curb abuse, reinforce electoral fairness, transparency – GECOM

drain maintenance to temporarily ease city’s flooding woes – Mayor

Manslaughter trial SWAT officer recounts fatal Essequibo Coast raid Security, climate, geopolitics among key agenda for July CARICOM meeting Body of elderly Buxton man found in trench

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday June 21 – 00:25h01:55h and Sunday, June 22 –01:25h - 02:55h

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday June 21 – 12:55h to 14:25h and Sunday, June 22 –14:00h to 15:30h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Rain showers with instances of thunder are expected during the day and at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East South-Easterly between 0.89 metre and 2.68 metres.

High Tide: 13:01h reaching a maximum height of 2.4 metres.

Low Tide: 06:30h and 18:52h reaching maximum heights of 0.73 metre and 0.82 metre.

World Trade Center Georgetown to shape new economic culture in Guyana – Pres Ali – says

will equip

resident Dr Irfaan Ali on Friday evening commissioned the World Trade Center Georgetown (WTCG), which he says will play a pivotal role in equipping local businesses with the tools and networking opportunities needed to compete on the international stage.

Located on High Street in Georgetown, the WTCG – the first of its kind in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) region – is a state-of-the-art multi-storey building that is outfitted with advanced technologies, integrated security systems and other environmentally friendly features – all aimed at providing a modern commercial space that is critically needed in Guyana’s rapidly growing economy.

Delivering the feature address at the commissioning ceremony, President Ali noted that such a building, with

local

businesses

for global competitiveness

phase of transformation,” the president posited.

He further noted that this phase requires transformative thinking, with mindsets geared towards what is needed and what is required in such a transformative environment.

This, Ali explained, is especially critical for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to build their competitiveness, meet the standards of the international market, get cheap capital, and access technology that will make their businesses viable – all of which are necessary to remain viable in today’s environment.

Already, the Guyana Government has touted the creation of a special investment vehicle to support these small and medium-sized enterprises, which will co-invest with them to bring down the cost of financing.

“The government will put in

these and other globally recognised characteristics, signals to sophisticated international investors that Guyana is ready to play in any league.

“The World Trade Center Georgetown is a powerful example of private sector initiative aligned with national development… I look forward to the World Trade Center Georgetown helping to shape this new economic culture in our country; one that speaks the language of export readiness, trade facilitation and global competitiveness with the tools, networks and exposure needed to compete and win on the global stage,” he stated.

While this investment is reflective of the type of confidence that the Guyanese business community has in the country’s increasing economic growth –largely driven by its burgeoning oil and gas industry – the Head of State underscored the need to re-examine the way in which both companies and the government are traditionally structured and managed to ensure they are agile and flexible to embrace both the challenges and the opportunities that are heading this way.

“The type of opportunities that are coming our way are of a scale and magnitude that we need partnership, we need transfer of technology, we need integration of human capital, and we need efficiency of doing business. But we need it at a pace that we cannot wait to achieve, and the only way we can achieve that pace is by adopting the best international practices and principles… And that is why the World Trade Center and organisations like these, with the network they have, are so critical for this

financing at 0% cost so that the capital market can reduce their interest rate and match that financing. It also reduces the risk of lending to SMEs, and with a reduction of risk comes a reduction of collateral requirement. So, all of this will come together to help our SMEs,” the Guyanese leader stated.

Moreover, President Ali went on to commend Demerara

Distillers Limited (DDL) – the holder of the WTC license in Guyana – for having the foresight to secure this global trade platform to be set up here. He encouraged that the WTCG focus on reaping results from the opportunities that such a facility brings.

“This is not merely a real estate play; this is a development play, a nation-building play, a confidence play. This Center must now be animated not just by meetings and exhibitions but also by outcomes [and] results. Let it become the go-to destination for international trade missions. Let it host dialogues between local producers and global buyers. Let it inspire new standards in office infrastructure, business services and commercial culture…”

“It cannot be a one-off transaction that is going to make us successful. We have to understand how our culture, in our entities, our businesses and organisations, must be critically integrated with results. Let it inspire new standards. Let it incubate businesses and business opportunities. Let it be a Center of training, facilitating and empowering not just top corporations but small businesses – owners trying to take their first steps into export markets. Let it help Guyana pivot from a resource-based economy to the knowledge-driven, globally integrated one. Let the WTC Georgetown act

as a matchmaker, connecting Guyanese food producers with international distributors, buyers and chefs,” he asserted.

Chairman of DDL, Komal Samaroo, disclosed during his remarks that since acquiring the licence for WTCG in March 2022, extensive work has been done to promote Guyana and the investment opportunities here at major forums across the world.

In fact, WTCG has since signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with several sister centres in Panama, India and the United States for collaboration in areas such as information exchange, regulation and market access, business training and exchange of trade missions.

Under this partnership with WTC Miami, three major Guyanese manufacturers were given the opportunity to participate in the American Food and Beverage Show.

Additionally, Samaroo noted that WTCG has also been working with Guyana’s diplomatic missions in Asia, Africa and Latin America to open up new markets for local products.

“[Now that] this building is complete and commissioned, and the WTCG is fully operational, we’re going to be actively involved in bringing opportunities to the businesses in Guyana, particularly in the small, medium and micro business sectors,” Samaroo declared.

President Dr Irfaan Ali

The World Trade Center Georgetown

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Shade Houses & youth empowerment

The decision by the Government through the Education Ministry to install shade houses in every secondary school across Guyana is a commendable initiative that places sustainable agriculture and technical education at the heart of the national development agenda. Announced by Education Minister Priya Manickchand during the Ministry’s annual TVET Fair and Exposition, the initiative signals a renewed focus on equipping young people with practical, entrepreneurial, and environmentally conscious skills that are essential for the future.

The move aligns seamlessly with the exposition’s theme: “Empowering Youths, Elevating Skills: TVET as a Catalyst for Inclusion.” This is not merely a slogan – it reflects the broader transformation of education into a vehicle for national resilience, food security, and economic diversification.

The significance of this initiative lies in its scope and impact. Once completed, every secondary school in Guyana will house a functional shade house, a controlled environment that allows for year-round cultivation of crops such as peppers, herbs, and leafy greens. In doing so, schools become both a learning institution and an active hub of agricultural production, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

This initiative is already bearing fruit. Several schools that have adopted the model are producing and marketing value-added goods such as jams, pepper sauce, and herbal seasonings. These products are being consumed locally and are also introducing students to the processes of branding, packaging, and retail, essential components of modern agribusiness.

Particularly noteworthy is the example of The Bishops’ High School, which has developed a full production line under this programme. The school’s approach to value-added manufacturing sets a benchmark for other institutions to follow. Another school in Region Two has also been recognised for establishing a similar model, reflecting the initiative’s growing reach and effectiveness across both urban and rural regions.

The collaboration between the Education Ministry and the Agriculture Ministry adds further strength to the initiative. The construction of shade houses by the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) underscores the technical and scientific backing that supports the project. In Region Six alone, approximately 70 out of 100 shade houses earmarked for development have already been completed as of October 2024. Each structure, capable of housing 400 plants, offers a robust platform for sustained agricultural activity at the school level.

Beyond crop production, this initiative addresses several national priorities simultaneously. First, it helps to instil in students a respect for agriculture as a viable and rewarding career. Second, it empowers young people with skills that are marketable, practical, and relevant to local and global food systems. Third, it nurtures a spirit of selfsufficiency and entrepreneurship, especially among students who may go on to launch agribusinesses or contribute to communitybased food production in the future.

The programme also has strong environmental implications. Shade houses, by design, use water and other resources more efficiently than open-field agriculture. They are resilient to erratic weather patterns and pests, making them an important tool in the fight against climate change and food insecurity.

Importantly, the initiative exemplifies what good public policy and inter-Ministerial collaboration can achieve. It is a clear demonstration that when education policy is integrated with national development goals such as agricultural diversification, food security, and youth employment, the result is a comprehensive strategy that uplifts communities and empowers the next generation.

The roll-out of this programme should be carefully monitored and continuously supported. Success will depend not just on the construction of infrastructure but also on sustained teacher training, community engagement, curriculum integration, and funding for product development and marketing. Schools must also be encouraged to share best practices with one another, building a network of innovation and mentorship within the education system.

Guyana stands at a unique moment in its development journey, one defined by rapid growth, a push for diversification, and a need for inclusive progress. Integrating shade houses into the secondary school system is an excellent example of how education can lead this transformation. It prepares students for exams and for life and, in the process, plants the seeds of a more food-secure and sustainable nation.

A look into Vincent

Alexander's proposal: giving prisoners the right to vote?

Dear Editor, Vincent Alexander, and by extension the political party which he represents, is making the grand proposal for the electoral body to issue an order for prisoners who are incarcerated to be given the privilege of voting. I do not know if I had missed the point somehow or if I am not getting it right, but I shall repeat: Vincent Alexander, the PNC Commissioner, is trumpeting the call for incarcerated criminals to be given the chance to vote. If this is not the epitome of lawlessness, then what is?

Vincent Alexander is not stupid, nor is he suffering from a mental illness; that has been ruled out. So, we can safely conclude that he is of a sound mind when he uttered those words. This spurs us to ask the following question: what was on Alexander's mind when he made that statement, or simply put, what was his motive for making that request?

Our questioning leads us to a PNC age-old strategy, that is, making inordinate requests just before elections, then turning again and blaming the PPP/C for bringing it into law, as was the case in their piloting of the "Voting only by Identification Card (ID Card) in an election. This was handcrafted by the PNC, yet when they lost the election, they in turn blamed their loss on the very same law they instituted.

The intellectual author behind the PNC rigging machinery is now demanding that prisoners be given the same rights as ordinary citizens to vote. Now, two fundamental facts loom large before us: (a) this was never done anywhere in the civilised world and certainly wouldn't be al-

lowed here; once you become an incarcerated prisoner, you can no longer claim equal status as a free person; you have been incarcerated, which means you are separated from certain rights and privileges as a free person would have. No more can you claim total freedom as the ordinary man.

But in Vincent's crooked mind, he would have calculated that a sizeable percentage of the prisoners are of a certain ethnicity, that is, a similar ethnicity to his; hence, he opines that they could be potential votes for his party here.

The second aspect here is hidden in his corrupt mind, where the opportunity to create chaos and mayhem in Guyana seems a sure thing to happen, as it was in the situation when there was that prison break that brought death and uncertainty to the minds of our citizens. If you are reading it carefully, I see Alexander wanting to bring back that reign of terror in our country. There is no guarantee that prisoners would not make a dash for it, as they mix and meddle with civilians. When that occurs, one can imagine the fear and foreboding in the minds of the general public out there. Fresh on our minds would be the infamous Fineman days and the murderous assault he mounted on innocent people; even the police were not spared the violence! We are wary of this situation occurring again, so we say a blunt no to Vincent Alexander and that diabolical scheme of his.

They tried that reign of terror in the Adriana drowning case, which that party turned into a political campaign slogan, claiming that

the little girl was murdered when autopsy reports, four to be exact, confirmed that she died by drowning. But the PNC and their supporters ran with the lie that she was sacrificed by the PPP/C party in a satanic ritual death. Though they were proven wrong four times over, yet to this day they persist with that Voodoo ritual story, hoping to gain some political traction.

Finally, it shows how desperate the PNC are in their bid to regain power; they are

using all the illegal means at their disposal. Using the street talk, Guyana is too quiet, so let us stir up trouble that has the ripple effect of throwing the election in doubt. The creation of violence and foreboding is one of them. Do they want us to return to the 2015 Crum-Ewing death attack scenario? Are they laying down the groundwork of this death wish situation again?

Respectfully, Neil Adams

PNC disrespect for women continues with running mate Juretha Fernandes

Dear Editor,

The question must be asked – does the PNCR have a problem with women? The available evidence suggests that women in the party are treated with disrespect and that they have no confidence in the party, and especially in its leadership.

In 2024 Vanessa Kissoon made some serious allegations against party leader Mr Aubrey Norton. Ms. Kissoon’s complaint prompted Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, an APNU Member of Parliament, to ask her fellow comrades to take Ms. Kissoon’s allegations “seriously”. Masculinist chauvinism, and worse, has long dogged the PNC.

The mistreatment of Amna Ally in the PNC is well known. And to make matters worse, in a determined display of disrespect, the party leadership abandoned her even in death!

The dramatic departure of Amanza Walton Desir and

Geeta Chandan-Edmonds in the space of one week clearly points to the failure of the PNCR leadership to accommodate women.

In a desperate attempt to stop the haemorrhaging, Norton decided to go with Juretha Fernandes as his prime ministerial running mate. But this is another slap in the face of PNC women. Ms Fernandes has just migrated from the AFC to the PNCR and, without a day’s service, bypassed all the PNC women.

Worse yet is the fact that Ms Fernandes is as weak a running mate the PNC could have found. Yet, that might be exactly why Norton decided to go with her. A weak running mate can be, and will be, easily ignored. The disrespect for women in the PNCR is moving full-speed ahead.

Sincerely, Dr Randy Persaud

First Lady Arya Ali and other officials on Friday commissioned Zia’s Play Park, a recreational park in Leonora, WCD, developed under her National Beautification Project. A collaboration between the Office of the First Lady, the Ministry of Public Works and the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Guyana, the play park comprises play amenities for children, a gazebo, washroom facilities, comfortable seating, lighting, and a variety of fruit trees

Elections 2025: internationally respected vs sanctioned/no track record candidates

Dear Editor, Elections 2025 (E-25) are in full gear. On Thursday, June 19, 16 political parties attended a briefing session with GECOM. At the moment, some 27 political parties have hinted at participation if they are able to meet eligibility requirements. One thing is immediately apparent – E-25 will have two distinct groups of presidential candidates. The first group consists of one candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali, the present incumbent, who is respected, admired and loved everywhere in Guyana and internationally respected. The second group consists of all the other presidential candidates. Except for the PNC-led APNU’s candidate, who has a poor track record with no real accomplishment, all the others lack a track record, and almost all of them have problems that are either ethical or criminal.

Outside of policies and parties’ performances, presidential candidates are important choices people must make for E-25. It is quickly apparent that one presidential candidate stands way above all the others. In fact, E-25 provides no alternative to the present incumbent, Dr Irfaan Ali. In terms of party leaders, no one comes even close to Bharat Jagdeo.

The PPP General Secretary, Dr Bharat Jagdeo, and the PPP’s presidential candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali, have garnered an impressive list of international awards and rec-

ognition. This is in very stark contrast to the leaders of other political parties and their presidential candidates, who are either criminally sanctioned internationally or are ridiculed at home and abroad.

The leader of the PPP, its General Secretary, Dr Bharat Jagdeo, is one of the Caribbean’s most internationally recognised former heads of state. Dr Bharat Jagdeo is admired, respected and loved throughout Guyana. Dr Bharat Jagdeo has a long list of honorary doctorates from prestigious universities around the world, bestowed on him based on merit and his leadership roles and not based on monetary contributions. A short-listing of international awards includes Time magazine as a "Hero of the Environment" (2008), the United Nations’ "Champion of the Earth" (2010), Roving Ambassador for the Three Basins (Amazon, Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia) (2011), President of the Assembly of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and Founding Board Member (since 2010), Chairman of the Board of Governors of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank (2005 to 2006), and many others too numerous to list here.

President Irfaan Ali has accumulated in just five years an impressive list of international awards. These include the prestigious Global Leadership Award for Open Innovation (2024) from the

University of California, Berkeley, which was given to him in April 2025. President Ali is the first Caribbean leader to be so recognised. Among other heads of state that have previously received this award was President Barack Obama of the USA.

On December 5, 2024, HE President Mohamed Irfaan Ali was awarded by the Wilson Centre’s Latin America Program for his efforts in environmental and biodiversity sustainability as well as climate action. Since 1998, the Wilson Centre has recognised exemplary individuals with the Woodrow Wilson Awards, honouring them for thoughtful discussion, generous philanthropy, and selfless service contributing to making the world a better place for all of us.

Outside of the University of California, Berkeley Global Leadership Award and the Wilson Centre Award, Guyana’s president has accumulated a long list of prestigious international awards. In July, 2024, in an acknowledgement of his exceptional leadership, President Irfaan Ali was bestowed with the prestigious Caribbean Global Awards 2024 for his contributions within the region. Earlier in 2024, he was awarded the esteemed Global Africa Leadership Award during an official visit to Ghana. In April, 2024, President Dr Irfaan Ali was conferred with the Legacy Award Class of 2024 at the American

Foundation for the University of the West Indies (AFUWI)’s 27th Annual Awards Gala in New York. In January 2023, during an official visit to India, President Irfaan Ali was bestowed with the highest honour conferred on overseas Indians – the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) – for the year 2023 by Prime Minister Modi. In November 2023, during the 57th Independence Anniversary and the 2nd Republican Day anniversary for Barbados, Prime Minister Mia Mottley bestowed President Ali with the prestigious Order of Freedom of Barbados, the country’s highest national award. In May 2023, the Inter-American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture (IICA) awarded President Ali as the first recipient of the IICA Award for Contribution to Food Security and Sustainable Development.

The other leaders and presidential candidates for Elections 2025, in bleak contrast, lack any similar global respect, admiration and awards as the PPP’s leader and its presidential candidate. It is not merely that they just have less recognition in comparison to Bharat Jagdeo and Irfaan Ali; they have zero.

In spite of his many deficiencies, the main opponent vying for the presidency against President Irfaan Ali is Aubrey Norton, the PNC leader. He is not even honoured within his party and within

Nigel Hughes was masterfully outplayed by Aubrey Norton

Dear Editor,

It would be recalled that since the split of the APNU+AFC coalition, Vice President and General Secretary of the PPP/C, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, had predicted that the AFC would, before the national elections, unashamedly crawl right back to the APNU, begging to be re-consumed into the façade of an APNU+AFC coalition. Yesterday (June 18, 2025), that prediction manifested quite beautifully, though not surprisingly.

At the outset of the socalled coalition talks between the two parties, AFC had put to the APNU a presumptuous proposal demanding 55% of the seats in the National Assembly, which was outrightly and correctly rejected by the APNU leader, Aubrey Norton.

Subsequently, in a bravado exhibition, the AFC emboldens their presumptuousness by declaring that they will contest the elections alone, knowing full well that their demise at the polls would be guaranteed.

As the AFC’s internal divide and disenchanted members deepened, which played out yesterday with the defec-

tions of that party’s youngest members to the APNU, unknowingly to the party apparently, the AFC was forced into a retreat, which saw them “eating their vomit” by running back to the APNU with a desperately downscaled proposal from demanding 55% of the seats down to 35%, which was again, rightly and correctly rejected by the APNU in the circumstances.

These developments flew in the face of Nigel Hughes, who fallaciously presented himself as an inspirational leader for the youths, especially. Yet, under his leadership, he has failed to attract new members to the party. Instead, the inverse occurred.

A brief review of Nigel Hughes’ tenure since retaking, by way of hijacking, the AFC’s leadership: On June 29, 2024, Hughes won the AFC leadership at the party’s 8th National Congress. Thereafter, he immediately called for a 10–15-year national development plan. This was a plea made to other political parties whereby a special public request was made by him for the leadership of the PPP/C to engage him on this front.

This was despite the AFC’s existence for some two (2) decades, bearing in mind that he previously served as the party’s leader as well. This, in my assessment, was a subtle way of accepting that the AFC lacks the capability to develop an original national development plan, much less public policies.

One year following his election to the party’s helm, he publicly opposed the trend of students sitting 20+ CSEC subjects, calling it impractical and unsustainable. He also criticised the GOAL scholarship programme, despite its widespread uptake, arguing it doesn’t suit Guyana’s realities.

It would be recalled, too, that his dishonesty was exposed in connection with his contract with ExxonMobil Guyana (EMGL). When asked about this, he had disclosed, unequivocally, should his client’s interest conflict with the country’s, his client’s interest shall prevail. After being brutally criticised for this by the PPP/C General Secretary and this author, he then backpedalled—stating that he was not the attorney representing EMGL, which was quickly disproved

when a video surfaced of a Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) hearing in a case involving EMGL, wherein he was in fact the attorney representing EMGL.

Simultaneously, Nigel Hughes was actively working to undermine Aubrey Norton with the hope that he would have been supported to somehow become a “consensus presidential candidate” to lead the APNU/ AFC coalition. Aubrey Norton, being the smarter and more seasoned politician than Nigel Hughes, who is a fake sophisticate, survived Hughes' machinations to have him ousted, thereby crushing Hughes ambition, thus proving that Hughes is politically inept and daft.

As the national elections near with less than three months remaining, these developments in the political landscape are quite entertaining as they unfold, proving what we knew a long time ago and predicted: that Nigel Hughes is a fake sophisticate, lacks substance, is discreditable, and is hugely politically inept.

Sincerely, Joel Bhagwandin

the ranks of the opposition. His best-known accomplishment is that he was Desmond Hoyte’s, the then-PNC’s leader’s “creature”, made by Hoyte and, therefore, eligible for being discarded at the whim of the leader. He was, in fact, discarded by every other political leader that followed Hoyte. Today, he is disowned by his own rank and file. Outside of this, Norton has had an ordinary career as a foreign affairs staff member. He is undoubtedly a celebrity from Bam-Bam Alley, displaying his grassroots credentials, which we commend him for. Other leaders of opposition parties have deemed him unsuitable for being a presidential candidate. He was even recently thrown out as leader of APNU, although he has muscled his way back in as the leader.

The AFC leader, Nigel Hughes, after decades of practice, is not even a senior counsel. He would, of course, insist that the PPP government has denied him this honour. But his friends and colleagues were in the government between 2015 and 2020. They did not consider him “fit and proper” for this recognition. His law firm, and by extension, he himself, was EXXON’s lawyer when the PNC-led APNU/AFC government signed the one-sided EXXON deal and more recently insisted that unless he was elected president, his loyalty would be with EXXON,

as their lawyer. It is true his firm recently announced that he would no longer be representing EXXON’s interest as part of the firm. Hughes is best known and internationally ridiculed for trying to convince the Guyanese people that 33 is not more than 32. When on December 21, 2023, the PPP successfully moved a no-confidence motion against the PNC-led APNU/AFC government, Nigel Hughes, in an attempt to overturn the vote, utilised his own newly invented mathematics theory.

Azrudin Mohamed is known for displaying his expensive toys, like a Lamborghini, which was obtained in part through criminally lying to the GRA about the cost. He is truly rich, but the USA has sanctioned him and his family for criminal activities and evasion of taxes. There are others who have flirted with illegal activities who have been unofficially running for president. These have taken to AI-generated FB postings as their daily staple.

The contrast between the PPP’s leader and its presidential candidate and those from other parties are very stark, like day and night differences. It is an easy choice for the Guyanese people. It is one of the many reasons why we have seen an exodus from the opposition to the PPP.

Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

◄ Page Foundation

Multiplying fractions: Reciprocals

To multiply fractions, treat the numerators and the denominators as two different multiplication exercises. Multiply the numerators to find the numerator of the product. Then multiply the denominators to find the denominator of the product.

Example:

Step 1: Multiply the numerators: 4 x 2 = 8

Step 2: Multiply the denominators: 5 x 7 = 35

Step 3: Write the product:

You may need to multiply reciprocals. Reciprocals are two fractions that look like upside-down reflections of one another. The numerator of the first is the denominator of the second and the numerator of the second is the denominator of the first.

Example:

You could go through the steps of multiplying the numerators (2 x 7 = 14) and then multiplying the denominators (7 x 2 = 14). Notice the products are the same. When multiplying reciprocals, the product of the numerators and the products of the denominators will always be the same.

Exercises: Multiply

By Walt

The big doors of the country barn stand open and ready, The dried grass of the harvest-time loads the slow-drawn wagon, The clear light plays on the brown gray and green intertinged, The armfuls are pack’d to the sagging mow. I am there, I help, I came stretch’d atop of the load, I felt its soft jolts, one leg reclined on the other, I jump from the cross-beams and seize the clover and timothy, And roll head over heels and tangle my hair full of wisps. Continued To be continued

Changes to nomination form aim to curb abuse, reinforce electoral fairness, transparency – GECOM

Amidst complaints by some political parties over the recent changes made to the Nomination Form, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has defended its actions saying that this modified version aims to prevent any abuse, and promote transparency in the electoral process.

Last week, GECOM announced that the Nomination Form, which is statutorily required to be submitted along with the Lists of Candidates by political parties contesting General and Regional Elections, has been amended to cater for greater accuracy and to guard against misuse.

However, at an engagement hosted by the Elections Secretariat on Thursday, several parties expressed concerns with the changes, noting that all the work done prior to compile their Lists of Candidates would now have to be redone ahead of the July 14 Nomination Day.

But in a statement on Friday, GECOM acknowledged the timing of the

amendment and the challenges that the procedural changes may present to parties. In the same breath, however, the Elections Commission remained that it is mandated to operate within the powers vested in it by law to safeguard a fair, transparent, and credible electoral process for all stakeholders.

“As was conveyed to representatives of the concerned party during a recent engagement, the amendment was introduced as part of GECOM’s commitment to upholding the integrity of the electoral process. Specifically, the revised form requires political parties to demonstrate the requisite level of public support across each of Guyana’s 10 administrative regions,” the missive detailed.

According to GECOM, this measure was agreed upon with no objections by the seven-member Commission “…as a necessary step to mitigate risks of abuse and to strengthen the credibility of the nomination

process. Importantly, the requirement applies equally to all political parties and is designed to promote fairness, transparency, and confidence in the electoral framework.”

Nevertheless, the Elections Commission reiterates that it remains committed to continuous engagement with all stakeholders to ensure that the nomination process is clearly understood and that the necessary support is available. GECOM added that it stands ready to provide clarification and assistance to any party requiring further guidance as they work collaboratively to ensure that the 2025 General and Regional Elections are inclusive, transparent, and credible.

In addition to the nomination form changes, representatives of several parties, following Thursday’s engagement, also expressed concerns about GECOM’s preparedness to host the upcoming elections.

However, Deputy Chief Elections Officers (DCEO),

Body of elderly Buxton man found in trench

The lifeless body of a 66-year-old pensioner was discovered early Friday morning in a trench along Church of God Road in Buxton, East Coast Demerara, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

The deceased has been identified as George Julian Harry, a resident of Lot 103 Church of God Road, Buxton.

Police said Harry, a man of African-Guyanese descent, was known in the community and was a patient of the Georgetown Public Hospital Clinic, where he received treatment for seizures.

It was reported that police were alerted to the scene around 07:45hrs, after a 911

call reported the sighting of a motionless body floating face-down in a trench located on the western side of Church of God Road.

When the ranks responded, they found the body clad in a black T-shirt and navy-blue long pants, barefoot, with a wristwatch still on his left hand. A physical examination revealed no visible signs of violence on the exposed areas of the body.

A medical team from the Melanie Fire Station was dispatched to the scene, where a physician on board officially pronounced Harry dead at the scene.

The deceased was positively identified by Arita Phillander, a 54-yearold vendor from Lot 50 Annandale Railway Embankment, East Coast

Demerara, who told investigators she was Harry’s cousin.

Police interviewed several residents of the area and canvassed the surroundings for evidence.

Investigators noted that surveillance cameras were spotted on a building opposite the location where the body was discovered, and they are in the process of obtaining relevant footage.

Statements from witnesses are being gathered as part of the ongoing investigation.

Harry’s body has since been taken to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where it is being stored pending a post-mortem examination, which is expected to provide more insight into the cause of death.

Aneal Giddings, assured of the Elections Secretariat’s readiness to deliver a free and transparent election on September 1.

“From the point of view of the Secretariat [and] where we are with preparation, where we are with the work plan, I am confident that we will deliver a free, transparent and credible elections come September 1,” Giddings told reporters.

Meanwhile, GECOM said 16 political parties attended Thursday’s meeting which sought to provide technical guidance in preparation for Nomination Day.

“I believe it is very important to understand the aspects regarding the preparation and submission of the various Lists of Candidates. Many parties had a lot of questions. It is a very technical process, so it has a lot of requirements, and I believe this [engagement] was very appropriate. And from the reaction of the persons who attended, I believe that it was a success,” the DCEO

told reporters after the meeting.

According to Giddings, both he and the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Vishnu Persaud, have been in constant contact with the various parties, making themselves available for any queries heading into the upcoming electoral activities.

Prior to next month’s Nomination Day, the political parties contesting the upcoming polls are required to submit their symbols by June 22. These symbols, once approved, will be included on the ballot paper to represent the respective parties.

GECOM said on Friday that to date, 28 symbols have been submitted.

On Nomination Day, the CEO will accept submissions at the Umana Yana, Kingston, Georgetown, from 10:00h to 14:00h.

The timeline for election-related activities after Nomination Day includes: July 15: Notification of any death or withdrawal of candidates and feedback on defects in the lists; July 17: Submission of corrected lists and further withdrawals; July 18: Issuance of approval or rejection notices by GECOM; July 20: Deadline for appeals to the High Court; July 21: Deadline for notifications of joinder of lists; and July 23: Publication (gazetting) of the approved Lists of Candidates.

Meanwhile, the next milestone event will be August 22, when members of the Disciplined Services will be allowed to cast their ballots ahead of the September 1 election day.

Young mother dies in East Coast Berbice crash

Ayoung mother is now dead after the car she was driving veered off the road at Number 7, East Coast Berbice (ECB), Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) in the wee hours on Friday. The woman’s lifeless body was reportedly pulled from the submerged car a short while after.

Dead is 22-year-old Althea Walton, also known as Stacy, of Alexander Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice.

Up to press time, police have not released any information on the incident. The parents of the now-dead woman refused to provide information about the young lady to the media.

However, this publication understands that the woman had gone to the Corentyne to drop off a package and was on

her way back when the incident occurred.

Her boyfriend was reportedly driving another car a short distance away when the incident occurred.

Reports say that it was the boyfriend, who is known to the police, who pulled the mother of one out of the car. The

couple had been living together for more than a year, but Walton moved out four months ago to live with a sister. During this time, the couple stayed in close contact, and three weeks ago, she moved from East Canje to live with a female friend in Alexander Street.

Manslaughter trial SWAT officer recounts fatal Essequibo Coast raid

Aconstable attached to the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) on Tuesday provided an account of the police raid that resulted in the 2021 fatal shooting of Dartmouth businessman, Orin Boston. His testimony came as the manslaughter trial of fellow officer Constable Sherwin Peters continued before the Essequibo High Court.

Constable Adrian Moore, a former member of the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, took the stand as the prosecution, led by State Counsel Latifah Elliot, continued to present its case against Peters, who is facing trial without legal representation.

Moore told the court that on September 14, 2021, he and roughly ten other ranks from the SWAT Unit were instructed by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Gordon to travel to the Essequibo Coast for an anti-crime operation. He said all officers were armed, and he was personally issued an AR-15 assault rifle equipped with a torchlight, along with a Glock pistol.

The team, he recalled, departed Police Headquarters at Eve Leary and journeyed to Parika, then on to Supenaam before reaching the GPF’s Training School in Suddie. Upon arrival, Moore said they were told to stay “battle prepped” until further instructions were given. He noted that the following day, the officers were

informed that raids would be conducted at several locations and were reminded of their operational guidelines.

“We were told of the firing orders, that you can only fire if you’re in serious danger and unable to defend yourself by any other means,” Moore testified.

At around 04:00h on September 15, 2021, the unit arrived at a Dartmouth property on the Essequibo Coast that housed two residences within one yard. The team was divided into two groups, Alpha and Bravo. Moore, assigned to Alpha alongside Peters, said they were ordered to breach the premises and carry out searches.

“I used a ram to breach the first door. After the door was breached, the team flooded the house where several females were. Nothing was found, so we moved to the second house,” Moore

said. Inside the second building, Moore testified that he and Constable Lewis entered the first room and found two children.

“I shouted ‘Police! Police! Get on the ground!’ I then instructed the children to go outside,” he recounted.

What followed next was a sudden loud sound that rang out inside the home.

“I went to the second room and saw a male of African descent. He was big built and had what appeared to be blood coming from his shoulders. His upper body was on the bed, and his legs were on the ground,” Moore described.

He said at that point, Constables Peters and Millington, along with Lance Corporal Grenville, were already in the room with the wounded man. “Peters was trying to assist him,” Moore added.

Boston, 29, was taken to the Suddie Public Hospital shortly after. Moore recalled that after returning to the police training school, they were informed that Boston had succumbed to his injuries.

During his testimony, Moore stressed that Peters was among the officers who rendered assistance to the injured man and clarified that Boston was not harmed during transportation for medical care.

The GPF had previously stated that the SWAT team had gone to Boston’s residence in the early morning hours to execute a search when a “confrontation” allegedly occurred between Boston and the ranks, an account that Boston’s wife has publicly disputed. Peters was later charged with manslaughter and released on $1 million bail.

Magistrate dismisses racial hostility, cybercrime charges against former Mayor, MP

Senior Magistrate Leron Daily on Friday dismissed both racial hostility and cybercrime charges brought against former Mayor of Georgetown Ubraj Narine and Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Sherod Duncan, ruling that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case.

The charges were filed against the duo in 2022 during a protest for vendors outside the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC).

In filing the charges, the Police had said that the two intentionally transmitted a video in an attempt to incite racial division. They were not required to plea to the indictable charges, and were granted bail in the sum of $100,000 at the time.

In a detailed ruling on Friday, the Magistrate outlined several critical evidential and procedural deficiencies in the case presented by the state under both the Racial Hostility Act and Section 18 of the Cybercrime Act. The charges stemmed from comments made in a video circulated online, in which Narine allegedly accused the Government

of discriminating against Afro-Guyanese citizens while favouring IndoGuyanese. Duncan, for his part, was accused of disseminating the video via social media.

Addressing the charge under the Racial Hostility Act, the Magistrate said the Prosecution failed to satisfy the four key elements necessary to sustain the charge.

Turning to the charge under the Cybercrime Act, the Magistrate expressed concern over the lack of foundational evidence regarding the device allegedly used to share the video.

A witness had testified seeing Duncan with a selfie stick and a cellphone, but the court said this alone did not establish that he transmitted the video using a computer system, as required by law.

In both matters, the court concluded that the Prosecution had failed to prove its case at even the most basic legal level. “When one or more elements of an offence are missing, the court has a responsibility to dismiss the case,” the Magistrate ruled.

As such, the charges were dismissed.

Singing…

…a dirge for PNC?

Listening to PNC Chief Whip Christopher Jones recently describing the state of affairs in the PNC

– in a press release no less! Your Eyewitness could be forgiven for thinking he was reading his party’s last rites. Among his milder declarations was this wail: “As we have seen, some threats challenge our existence. But as a national institution, our existence and purpose cannot be extinguished overnight… Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat. The PNC is not dead.” Threats?? Defeat? Death?? What the heck’s going on??

Was he reacting to the departure of Amanza WaltonDesir to form her own party?? Does Jones really believe Walton-Desir BROUGHT any support INTO the PNC when Granger plucked her out of the government bureaucracy and practically appointed her to Parliament? And that she’ll take away that support with her departure? She was just a member of Granger’s Coloured Class, on whose support he could count!! That class is a parasitic class that needs the African mass base to survive – much less amount to anything – and without it they’ll just shrivel up and die!!

And that African base is – by and large – represented by people like Aubrey Norton, who’ve shared their travails and pains through his experience and not voyeuristically like Walton-Desir!! It’s true that the White man did his darndest to convince African Guyanese that their coloured spawns were closer to the white ideal – and as such better equipped to lead them. But you’d think by now folks like Christopher Jones’ eyes would’ve been opened up to the cruel hoax.

Or was Jones wailing about the AFC finally giving up on coalescing with the PNC?? There again, the Whip should’ve asked the pertinent question of democratic politics: how many votes would they have brought – and from where?? When Granger hooked up with them, the AFC had a goodly number of Indian Guyanese voters, dissatisfied with the PPP!! They’ve all dissipated like shaved ice in the sun – after Granger’s sugar shenanigans and Ramjattan/Naga’s acquiescence. Now all they got are some wannabe-coloured leaders!! Why’d he think Walton-Desir isn’t with them?? She’d be like a third wheel!!

But didn’t his leader Norton pull a masterstroke – and degut the AFC’s coloured pretensions – by announcing that one of their young prospects – Juretha Fernandes – was gonna be his PM candidate?? And while Fernandez might LOOK coloured, Norton emphasised her INDIGENOUS heritage!! Killing two (ethnic) birds with one stone!! Imagine the AFC leader thought HE could be the (possible) candidate!! While one of his own stars demonstrated she doesn’t even believe he’s viable!! That gotta be the unkindest cut of all!!

Anyhow, for what it’s worth, your Eyewitness thinks news of the PNC’s demise is greatly exaggerated!!

…about “defections”

Your Eyewiness wants to know what’s with dubbing the departures from a political party to join another as “defections”? This seems to him to be a term from the Cold War days when, for example, folks “defected” from East Germany to the West!! The centre of the road Wiki defines the term 'thustly' as: "In politics, a defector is a person who gives up allegiance to one state in exchange for allegiance to another, changing sides in a way which is considered illegitimate by the first state." More broadly, defection involves abandoning a person, cause, or doctrine to which one is bound by some tie, as of allegiance or duty.”

So, taking the second (milder) version, does joining a party imply swearing eternal fealty?? What happened to the constitutional right to freedom of association?? The problem is our politics is so polarised that most folks think parties are each other’s enemies rather than merely opponents who have different views on national matters.

So, did Burnham defect from the PPP??

…he seh, she seh

PNCR-APNU spokesman, Sherwood Lowe, came out swinging at the AFC following claims made about their coalition negotiations. “The AFC statement is misleading in an important regard. APNU NEVER proposed it must name the PM candidate for the coalition. Never!!”

Charged: Sherwin Peters Dead: Orin Boston

Former Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine (left) and Opposition Member of Parliament Sherod Duncan, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts

“We

cannot build a nation without men” – Dr Vindhya Persaud – as

Human Services Ministry launches BRAVE Men’s Policy

The Human Services and Social Security Ministry’s Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit (SO&DVPU) has launched the Bridging the Gap policy. This policy was creat-

ed in an attempt to put men and boys at the centre of the fight against gender-based violence in Guyana and calls for a deeper focus on accountability, emotional resilience, and respect as part of the solution.

The policy does not just include men and boys, but it invites them into a process of reclamation: of agency, responsibility, emotional awareness, and connection. It recognises that men and boys are not simply part of

the problem but rather they are also essential to the solution.

Bridging the Gap Policy marks a deliberate and much-needed shift: it calls for a new approach to male engagement — one that affirms the capacity of men and boys to lead change, reclaim personal agency and build lives rooted in accountability, respect, and emotional integrity.

Speaking during the launch at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) on Friday, Human Services Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud highlighted that men are the main factor towards building a nation.

“We cannot build a nation without men, and we must recognise that men are equally important as women as we counter violence; we cannot

see one without the other; we cannot see one as the problem and the other as the solution. We need to see both as part of the solution to an issue that has been embedded not only nationally but globally in families and communities for generations. I say this because what we are endeavouring to do is to change what we have known, what we have lived, what we have experienced, and what we see from time to time in the media or in our daily lives.”

She noted that people who face or perpetrate violence are shaped by their experiences, exposure, culture, beliefs, and values — which makes every person unique. However, gender-based violence still seeps through and causes havoc.

“Diversity is a wonderful thing, however, amidst this beauty, gender-based violence continues to rear its head again and again. When it comes to the fore, lives are lost — and that is why this is more than a policy. This is transformational. This is not just a national policy that remains on paper.”

On that note, she emphasised that the policy was carefully crafted with the consideration of men at its core.

“It has been carefully thought out and crafted to ensure that it is comprehensive and inclusive. In the crafting of this policy, men from all walks of life were consulted and engaged to ensure that what we have cre-

ated appeals to men of every walk of life. What we have crafted will not only appeal to them but empower them. And when I speak of empowerment men often say, ‘You’re only speaking of women.’ Today I want to say, when we speak of empowerment, see yourselves as part of this. The policy has been so carefully crafted that there is nothing here that gives men a negative label. And we were very sure that is where we wanted to go when we made this policy.”

The Bridging the Gap policy outlines seven mutually reinforcing policy actions. These actions are designed not only to address the roots of gender-based violence (GBV) but also to support men and boys in reclaiming emotional well-being, healthier identities, and meaningful roles in violence prevention and family life.

Together, these actions provide a national roadmap for engaging men and boys across communities, institutions, and life stages.

The BRAVE Programme is a flagship intervention of the Bridging the Gap policy. It offers structured, values-based spaces for men and boys to reflect, heal, and grow.

BRAVE supports participants in reclaiming personal agency, exploring their identities, challenging harmful norms, and building a legacy grounded in respect and responsibility.

Dr Persaud along with some of the attendees at the introduction of the BRAVE policy

Human Services Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud described the policy as meticulously designed to understand and address challenges faced by men and boys

“We have moved on” – Nigel Hughes on coalition talks as PNC says door still open

Despite the People’s National Congress Reform-A Partnership for National Unity (PNCR-APNU) already taking steps towards contesting the upcoming General and Regional Elections independently, its Leader Aubrey Norton says the door is always open for continued talks with the Alliance For Change (AFC) whose Leader Nigel Hughes has definitely shut down that prospect.

“I think the prospects of anything positive coming out of further engagements, the prospects are marginal. We have moved on and we’re heading straight to elections as I’m sure APNU is,” Hughes told the Guyana Times during a press conference on Friday.

Earlier on Friday at the PNCR’s weekly press briefing, Norton indicated that APNU is willing to continue engaging the AFC despite the minority party making some impossible claims.

“We have been negotiating for months with some impossible suggestions like we should take 35 per cent and the AFC should get 65 per cent… [But] we leave the door open. I’ve been around politics long enough to know in a few minutes or seconds, there could be changes to the political dynamics,” the APNU Chairman posited.

Over the past few weeks, negotiations between the two former coalition partners had become tenuous before finally collapsing earlier this week.

The APNU and AFC had coalesced to contest the 2015 elections, which they won but failed to secure a second term at the 2020 polls.

Efforts have been ongoing in the last few months to revive the coalition ahead of the upcoming elections on September 1, however, these talks have not yielded any progress towards an alliance.

Initially, there was a proposal for a 35-65 governance sharing ratio, that is, 35

per cent for AFC and 65 for APNU.

Last month, however, the AFC proposed a ratio of 6535 – 65 per cent for itself – to be applied across the board, which was rejected by APNU. The Norton-led party had then countered with a 70-30 proposal.

But in what is being described as a last-ditch effort to salvage the coalition talks, the AFC on Monday submitted a revised proposal to APNU through an intermediary.

This new proposal included a 65-35 ratio to be applied across the board, that is, 65 per cent for APNU and 35 per cent for AFC. It also proposed that AFC selects the Prime Ministerial Candidate while APNU picks the Presidential Candidate. The AFC proposal also included that the Representative of the List be an independent nominee acceptable to both parties, and for the Speaker of the National Assembly to be nominated by the AFC but acceptable to APNU.

“We were informed on Tuesday that this proposal was rejected. On this occasion, APNU decided that they must also name the AFC’s PM candidate, contrary to the established protocol of the negotiations. This demand is totally unacceptable to the AFC,” the party said in a statement on Wednesday night.

According to the AFC, “This last proposal gave APNU all they have been asking for to agree to a coalition and the AFC decided at all costs it would play its role in response to public feedback and the nation’s desire for a unified opposition. It is now clear the APNU was and is not interested in a coalition.”

The AFC’s position came after news broke that its Member of Parliament (MP), Juretha Fernandes being named as APNU Prime Ministerial Candidate for the upcoming elections – a

move that blindsided the AFC. The party has since cancelled the membership of Fernandes along with two other MPs, Sherod Duncan and Deonarine (Ricky) Ramsaroop – all former AFC Executives who have now aligned themselves with APNU and committed to being on that party’s Lists of Candidates.

However, the AFC has been criticised by members of the PNCR-APNU grouping for going berserk during the negotiations.

Sherwood Lowe, who is an advisor to the PNCR-APNU, believes that the AFC should have stayed with its initial proposal several months ago for a governance sharing of 35-65 with APNU, as well

as for APNU to name the Representative of the List (ROL), among other positions.

“Had the AFC stuck close to its very first proposal… instead of abruptly going berserk (sorry) during the talks (by, for example, asking for a 60 per cent stake in the coalition and changing its mind on who should name the

ROL), an accord could have been signed months ago,” the PNCR Executive stated.

Meanwhile, General Secretary of the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has since opined that the two sides will eventually come together to form a coalition out of desperation for a win at the upcoming elections.

AFC Leader Nigel Hughes

PNCR-APNU Leader Aubrey Norton

“We have no

space left” – Human Services Minister urges families to collect elderly relatives from GPHC

Following the call by the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for the public to help locate the relatives of some 29 elderly patients who have been medically discharged but remain at the facility, the Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud has urged the relatives of the families to collect them as there is simply no space to keep them at the health institution.

She revealed this during a sideline interview on Friday during the launch of the BRAVE policy at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC).

“The thing is, those people have been discharged. They came to the hospital, so they are really their responsibility. However, over time

we have been helping them –but we are filled. People have got to stop dumping their parents here,” she remarked. She also mentioned that constant talks have been ongoing between her Ministry and the GPHC to make sure these persons are not left “on the road”.

“I don’t want those people on the road. So I’ve met with the hospital several times. We’ve had several meetings on this thing to make sure nobody’s on the road. Either they keep them or if we have space, we take them. But as of now, we just don’t have the space.”

She highlighted that those who are now in their senior years would have raised children and grandchildren, and she thinks it’s only fair that that same care,

compassion, and empathy is shown to them. She added that she very much disapproves of people who dump their family and leave them — whether on the road or at the hospital.

“I used to work at the hospital, and that used to happen then. And it’s a continuation of that. And what has been happening over these five years is that I’ve had several meetings with the team from the hospital and we have discussed ways in which we can work together to ensure that we’re dealing with this. There would have been an assessment of the people by the mental health unit at Hugo Chavez, the Night Shelter and The Palms. And among these three, we’ve been trying to find space. And we have also

been assessing and moving to institutions,” she revealed.

“At the end of the day, irrespective of that, we don’t want anyone on the road. They must be somewhere where they’re being taken care of. That’s my view,” she affirmed.

The GPHC earlier this month had shared the names and photographs on its Facebook page of the 29 medically discharged persons left at the hospital, asking for public assistance in locating family members, as it urged family and relatives to make contact with the institution regarding the individuals.

They are George Barton of Lot 85 Collingwood Avenue Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara (EBD), Oscar Ombrella of 260 Sec

A, Field 8, Sophia South, Georgetown, Kenrick Velloza of 246 Blygezight, Campbellville, Morris Perreira of 130, 5th Street, Alberttown, Hubert Gaskin of 37 Durban & Lime Streets Georgetown, Rameshwar Singh (address unknown), Trevor Figuera of Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara (WCD), Mark Dillion of Lot 8 Bagotstown EBD, Suraj Singh Ragubir of Lot 1122 Onderneeming West Bank Demerara (WBD), Wayne Lewis (address unknown), Joseph Daniels, Khemraj Tikaram of Lot 1202 Gauling Place South Ruimveldt Park Georgetown, Earl Melville of Kuru Kururu, Linden-Soesdyke Highway, Joseph Gordan of 168 West Ruimveldt, Georgetown,

Mohamed Khalin of 68 2nd Street Campbellville, Simon Holm of Charlotte Street Georgetown, Neave Cox of 125 King Edwards Street, Albouystown Mohamed Hafeez (Address Unknown), Jaipaul of Vryheid Lust, East Coast Demerara (ECD), Gerard Charles (address unknown), Earl Thomas of 647 West Ruimveldt Georgetown, Charles Quail, Lynette Mc Gowan of 34 Friendship EBD, Radica Germathe Shiverattan of West Minster Parfaite Harmonie WBD, Olympia Abrams Rooknee Meetoorar of 357 BB Eccles, EBD, Kim Hardly of Plaisance ECD, Petronella Wilkinson, Chandra Rampersaud of 358 Sec D Non Pariel, ECD and Reandre Yearwook.

Fernandes for PM, Mahipaul for VP as Norton attempts to reenergise APNU

Peoples National Congress (PNC)

Leader Aubrey Norton has defended his selection of Juretha Fernandes as the coalition’s Prime Ministerial Candidate, calling her appointment a reflection of principled leadership and a step toward a more inclusive political future.

The announcement came amid rising tensions between the PNC-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), with negotiations to form a united coalition for the upcoming September 1 General and Regional Elections still unresolved.

Fernandes, alongside AFC parliamentarians Sherod Duncan and Deonarine “Ricky” Ramsaroop, recently crossed over to APNU, a move that sparked backlash within the AFC, which claims it was

not formally notified and has since canceled the trio’s party membership. Despite this, Norton said the decision to embrace Fernandes and name her as the Prime Ministerial Candidate was both strategic and principled.

“I spoke with all the persons in the APNU, and we generally agreed that we needed Juretha Fernandes as the Prime Ministerial Candidate,” Norton said Friday. “She has the intellect, she is a woman, she is from the Indigenous community, and she is in contact with the Indigenous community. We believe she’s qualified to Be Prime Minister.”

He further explained that the promise of the post had already been made to Fernandes and would not be revoked to accommodate the AFC’s recent demands, which include the right to

name the Prime Ministerial Candidate despite lowering their proposed seat allocation from 65 to 35 per cent.

“If Juretha wants to give the opportunity to the AFC to select the candidate, we have no problem with that,” Norton said. “But we will not give her our word and then renege on it to satisfy a late request when we have

been negotiating for months with some impossible suggestions.”

“Petty” While Norton said the coalition remains open to continued talks with the AFC, he described the party’s decision to expel Fernandes, Duncan, and Ramsaroop as “petty,” particularly in light

of the AFC’s own attempts to recruit APNU members.

Responding to criticism over the crossovers occurring before any formal resignation, Norton drew attention to what he described as a double standard within coalition politics. “We see the coming of Juretha, Ricky, and Sherod as a case of people who are interested in co-

alition and coming to join us to ensure that the coalition reflects the APNU+AFC,” he said.

Fernandes, who served on the Bartica Town Council and rose through the AFC ranks before her switch, broke her silence in a statement accepting the nomination.

“To be selected as the Prime Ministerial Candidate for the APNU Coalition is both an immense honour and a profound responsibility, one I accept with humility, knowing that no meaningful progress is achieved alone,” Fernandes said.

Norton also disclosed that Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul, a participant in the coalition talks, supported Fernandes' candidacy and could be considered for a Vice President role should the coalition win the election.

Juretha Fernandes

Ganesh Mahipaul

Upgraded drain maintenance to temporarily ease city’s flooding woes – Mayor …as business community voices concerns

The Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has announced plans to implement a revised and enhanced drain maintenance schedule following multiple complaints from residents in the capital city about flooding caused by the current rainy season’s heavy downpours.

This updated schedule will prioritise the regular cleaning and upkeep of several key drains within the city’s drainage system to effectively reduce the risk of flooding and improve water flow during periods of intense rainfall.

On Wednesday, Mayor of Georgetown, Alfred Mentore, along with the team from the City Engineer’s Department of the M&CC met with several business owners and

area cleared, and at least every two to three months, we should have it done until we could have a permanent situation in place,” he advised.

These proactive measures are designed to significantly reduce the risk of flooding during the rainy season and ensure better wa-

posed by future rainy seasons.

The M&CC are placing a strong emphasis on enhancing drainage infrastructure across the city, as highlighted in their recent 2025 budget presentation. With a dedicated allocation of $4.28 billion, significant invest-

representatives from various enterprises operating in the central Georgetown area.

During the engagement, stakeholders voiced their concerns regarding persistent flooding and inadequate drainage systems, which have been impacting daily commerce and posing health and safety risks.

To bring much-needed relief to residents affected by flooding, Mayor Mentore emphasised that the M&CC will undertake comprehensive cleaning and rehabilitation of key drainage systems throughout the city. In addition, the council will implement enhanced and more frequent maintenance schedules aimed at improving overall drainage efficiency.

“I want us to continue to do that until... from time to time, maybe every three months, let them continue to do that until we could get a permanent solution to this issue. So, the engineer who put that in place and put systems in place to allow for that, with the drainage section and those other processes, let them put that work towards having that

ter flow, thereby safeguarding communities and minimising disruptions caused by heavy rainfall.

However, the Mayor also revealed that, alongside the immediate maintenance efforts, the City Council will undertake comprehensive long-term infrastructural upgrades. These upgrades

ments are planned for drainage improvements, urban development, and long-term resilience projects.

Mayor Alfred Mentore has actively inspected key areas in downtown Georgetown, pinpointing drainage blockages and structural vulnerabilities that contribute to frequent flooding.

are part of a broader strategy aimed at strengthening the city’s drainage capacity and overall resilience to withstand the challenges

These efforts underscore the city’s commitment to creating a safer, more flood-resilient environment for its residents.

Persistent flooding challenges remain in the city

Mayor of Georgetown Alfred Mentore

Security, climate, geopolitics among key agenda for July CARICOM meeting

The upcoming 49th meeting of the CARICOM Heads of Government will place strong emphasis on strengthening regional security, advancing food and nutrition security, accelerating efforts to address the impacts of climate change, as well as addressing emerging geopolitical issues.

The meeting convenes 6-8 July, in Montego Bay, Jamaica, with Dr Andrew Holness as Chair. Jamaican Prime Minister (PM) Holness assumes the six-month rotating Chairmanship of the Community on July 1, 2025.

In a video message released ahead of the 49th meeting of the CARICOM

Heads of Government, CARICOM SecretaryGweneral (SG) Dr Carla Barnett emphasised that the upcoming summit will focus on strengthening regional security, improving food and nutrition security, and advancing the region’s response to climate change.

She noted that these priority areas reflect the urgent need for collective action to safeguard the Caribbean’s long-term stability, sustainability, and development.

“Discussions will focus on strategies to improve regional security, efforts to enhance food and nutrition security, and initiatives to combat the adverse impacts of climate change on our vulnerable na-

‘SafeHaven’

tions. We will also address emerging geopolitical issues, such as the impact of US (United States) tariffs on the region, as well as how the provisions of the

CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) can contribute to national and regional growth and sustainable development.”

Moreover, the SG ex-

pressed her enthusiasm about the upcoming meeting, noting that the conference will serve as a critical platform for regional leaders to unite in pursuit of the shared interests and priorities of CARICOM. She underscored the importance of collaboration and collective decision-making in addressing the region’s most pressing challenges.

“We look forward to the creative expressions which will accompany some of the activities. Our expectation is that this meeting of the Conference will engender those discussions and decisions that will lead to meaningful outcomes for the Caribbean community,” she added.

The Conference of Heads of Government,

which consists of the Heads of Government of the Member States, is the supreme organ of CARICOM and determines and provides its policy direction. In addition to this function, it is the final authority for the conclusion of Treaties on behalf of the Community and for entering into relationships between the Community and International Organisations and States. The Conference is also responsible for making the financial arrangements to meet the expenses of the Community, but has delegated this function to the Community Council.

Decisions of the Conference are generally taken unanimously.

app launched to bridge gap in caregiving services

Recognising the growing demand for accessible and dependable caregiving services in Guyana, a local entrepreneur has taken a bold step to modernise the sector with the launch of a new mobile application called SafeHaven.

Named ‘SafeHaven’, the app is designed to bridge the gap between caregivers and those in need of assistance – whether elderly individuals, persons with disabilities, or families seeking trustworthy support – by offering a user-friendly platform that connects clients with vetted, reliable caregiving professionals.

Speaking at the launch, SafeHaven founder Angenie Abel shared how her own personal struggles in finding a trustworthy caregiver inspired the creation of the app. These challenges, she noted, laid the foundation for developing a platform that aims to

make reliable caregiving services more accessible to families across Guyana.

“What you're seeing here is something that came from a very personal space. There were moments in my life when I needed help and couldn't find it. When my father needed support, we struggled to find someone experienced and reliable. When my son was born, we needed a little break from time to time but, again, the options were far and few. It became clear to me that there was a real gap in the caregiving space,” she revealed.

Moreover, the founder emphasised that the digital platform is not only designed to support families in need of care, but also to empower certified caregivers by providing them with a reliable avenue for employment.

“And at the same time, it's a space where caregivers can find real work op -

portunities with structure…We are already working at ways to expand our services, introduce new care, give new care categories, and possibly partner with training programmes to ensure an even higher standard of caregiving. We also hope to strengthen our collaboration with Government initiatives like WIIN [Women's Innovation & Investment Network] to create more work opportunities for trained women in this space,” she added.

All caregivers listed on SafeHaven will undergo a rigorous verification process, including police clearance and thorough reference checks, to ensure that every client is met with the highest standards of safety, professionalism, and care.

One of the key challenges that initially slowed the development of the app was the integration of a reliable digital payment

solution. To address this, SafeHaven partnered with Mobile Money Guyana (MMG), enabling users to make secure and seamless payments directly through the platform.

Representing MMG was the organisation’s Merchant Services Lead, Charlston Ansdell who reaffirmed MMG’s commit -

ment towards improving Guyana’s electronic payment landscape.

“At MMG we take pride in being Guyana’s leading mobile wallet provider committed to transforming the way individuals and businesses manage electronic payments our mission is built on innovation, accessibility and creat -

ing solutions that improve lives and this partnership is a powerful example of that mission in action.”

To learn more or to book a caregiver, visit safehavengy.com or download the SafeHaven app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Non-Pareil woman murdered; daughter, son-in-law reportedly confess – dead woman’s husband also implicated

Three persons are currently in custody for the murder of 48-year-old Jenny Mohammed, whose body was yesterday discovered along the new Eccles-Ogle Highway.

The trio in custody are the victim’s husband, daughter and son-in-law.

The daughter and sonin-law have reportedly confessed to killing the woman on June 10.

The victim’s husband is also reportedly involved in her death.

Based on preliminary investigations, the victim was initially reported as missing by her relatives.

However, when investigators visited her Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home, they observed blood in one of the rooms. This led to the arrest of the suspects.

In their confession, the daughter and her husband reportedly admitted that they devised a plan to kill Mohammed after they, along with their child, were subjected to constant abuse by the victim.

The victim’s husband was reportedly involved in the plan.

The daughter and sonin-law subsequently took police to the location where they had dumped the woman’s body. The body was found in a garbage bag and wrapped in a tarpaulin. A rope was also tied to the neck of the victim, and the body bore multiple stab wounds

The police have also recovered a knife reported to be the murder weapon. Investigations are ongoing.

MMG Merchant Services Lead Charlston Ansdell and SafeHaven's Founder Angenie Abel

Dr Carla Barnett, CARICOM SG

Murdered: Jenny Mohammed

The body was found in a garbage bag and wrapped in a tarpaulin along the new Eccles-Ogle Highway.

Guyana, UK launch new phase to combat marine pollution, boost blue economy

Representatives from the Government of Guyana and the United Kingdom convened this week to launch the next phase of a collaborative initiative aimed at tackling marine pollution and advancing the sustainable development of Guyana’s blue economy.

The initiative, titled “Enhancing Water Quality for Sustainable Blue Economy Development”, is supported by the UK Government through the Sustainable Blue Economies Technical Assistance Platform. The project is being implemented by the UK’s Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), in partnership with Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United Nations Cartagena Convention Secretariat.

A central component of the weeklong engagement, which ran from June 16 to 20, was a two-day National Workshop on the Blue Economy and Marine Pollution, held from June 17 to 18 at the EPA Head Office. The workshop convened officials from a range of govern-

ment ministries and agencies to discuss national Blue Economy goals, identify pollution risks, and prioritise actions for improved pollution management and investment planning.

British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller, addressed participants at the opening of the workshop, reiterating the UK’s commitment to supporting Guyana’s sustainable ocean development. She highlighted the UK’s role in aiding the development of Guyana’s Maritime Economy Plan (MEP), launched in 2021, which

Guyana’s ambassador presents credentials to King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands

his Letters of Credence to His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

The Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry announced that Guyana’s Ambassador Sasenarine Singh has officially presented his Letters of Credence to His Majesty King WillemAlexander of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on June 18. The ceremony took place in The Hague, the capital city of the Netherlands. This formal presentation marks the completion of Ambassador Singh’s accreditation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the Kingdom of

the Netherlands, serving in a non-resident capacity. The occasion underscores the longstanding and friendly relations between Guyana and the Netherlands. Both countries look forward to strengthening bilateral cooperation in key sectors including agriculture, renewable energy, and coastal zone management, areas vital to Guyana’s sustainable development and environmental resilience. The Ministry reiterated its commitment to fostering closer ties and advancing mutually beneficial partnerships between the two nations.

forms a key part of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030.

“The MEP was developed to identify key maritime sectors and to create tailored action plans to address gaps, overcome barriers, and build capacity,” High Commissioner Miller stated. “Together you will brainstorm ways to strengthen Guyana’s national capacity to assess and manage marine pollution, thereby safeguarding the country’s marine and coastal resources.”

EPA Executive Director Kemraj Parsram underscored the value of the part-

nership, describing it as a model for meaningful cooperation. “Our partnership with the UK Government, the British High Commission, Cefas, and the Cartagena Convention Secretariat is more than technical cooperation—it is a model of meaningful collaboration,” he said. “Together, we are building the scientific capacity, institutional strength, and regional alignment necessary to protect our marine and coastal ecosystems.”

The workshop was followed by two days of stakeholder engagement and planning sessions on June 19 and 20, involving community representatives, technical experts, and project partners. These sessions aimed to deepen understanding of local pollution challenges and align strategies for effective marine resource management.

The project is currently focused on conducting a comprehensive national situation analysis to map existing data, evaluate pollution sources, and identify priority risks. The findings from this analysis will guide the development of technical solutions and investment

frameworks aligned with Guyana’s broader ocean and coastal sustainability objectives.

Dr Will Le Quesne, Director of the International Centre for Ocean Protection and Use at Cefas, emphasised the global relevance of the initiative. “Protecting the health of the marine environment is critical to Guyana’s development goals,” he said. “This partnership with Cefas and the UK Government strengthens the international col-

laboration needed to ensure the world’s oceans continue to support our people and economies for generations to come.”

The initiative is scheduled to continue through 2025 and forms part of the UK’s broader support for climate-resilient development in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). By leveraging UK marine science expertise, the project seeks to co-develop practical tools and strategies for the sustainable use of marine resources.

Man remanded after police find gun hidden behind AC vent during night search

A26-year-old businessman was remanded to prison on Friday after appearing before Magistrate Annette Singh at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to a charge of illegal possession of a firearm.

Larry Adams, who pleaded not guilty, was charged after a weapon was allegedly discovered hidden behind an air conditioning vent in a car he had borrowed from his father.

Despite a detailed bail application from his attorney, Stacy Goodings, Magistrate Singh refused bail and ordered that the matter continue on June 27, by which time surveillance and body camera footage are expected to be presented in court.

According to the prosecution, Adams was intercepted on King Street, Georgetown, by officers who claimed they smelled marijuana emanating from the vehicle he was driving.

When asked to exit the vehicle and allow a search, he allegedly refused, locked the doors, and sped off, prompting a chase through the city.

“He was pulled over by police, but he locked his doors and refused to cooperate. After driving away, police had to pursue him again. Even then, when in-

tercepted for the second time, he still refused to open the vehicle,” the prosecutor told the court.

It is alleged that police eventually gained access and conducted a search of the car. They claim the firearm, a large pistol, was found in the glove compartment area, easily accessible and visible upon opening the panel.

The investigating rank told the court that he opened the glove compartment, and as he squeezed the release clip, the entire panel fell down and the firearm became immediately visible, adding that body camera footage captured the discovery.

However, the footage was not produced in court on Friday.

The prosecution maintained that Adams’ actions during the encounter were suspicious and evasive, and they further disclosed that he was previously wanted in connection with another matter.

Additionally, the court heard that the vehicle in question is no longer in police custody. Officers claim that after photographing the scene and placing wheel ramps to immobilize the car, it was left overnight, but by the following morning, it had disappeared.

The car was later found

parked at Princess and Smyth Streets, allegedly in the possession of persons known to the accused.

The defense Attorney, Goodings, argued strenuously for his release on bail, citing insufficient evidence to link him to the firearm.

“The gun was not found on his person or in any area that he had direct or exclusive control over. It was concealed behind the AC vent, which required internal removal to access,” Goodings said.

The defense explained that Adams had borrowed the car from his father earlier that evening to deliver cash to an employer and make two brief stops.

According to Goodings, the vehicle is regularly used by Adams’ father, a construction worker, and is often rented out to other individuals. A rental agreement was reportedly submitted to police to support this claim.

Goodings also revealed that Adams had recently returned from the interior and had no time or reason to tamper with the vehicle’s AC system. She emphasized that no fingerprints were recovered from the weapon, and police were not wearing gloves at the time of the arrest.

Goodings drew compar-

isons to R v. L (2012), a Canadian case in which a woman was acquitted after marijuana was found in a vehicle trunk. The court ruled in that matter that the prosecution failed to prove knowledge and control, two essential elements of possession.

In an attempt to persuade the court that Adams was not a flight risk, Goodings noted that her client runs a small auto parts business, employs staff, and is actively involved in his father’s construction company. She further stated that Adams does not possess a passport and has no history of fleeing the jurisdiction.

Despite the detailed submission, Magistrate Singh ruled that she was not satisfied there was a special reason to grant bail at this stage. She emphasized that she wanted to personally review the footage before making any further determination.

“This is not a trial,” Singh told the court. “I’m not taking evidence at this stage, but I want to see the footage for myself. I’ve made a note, and I’m giving a short adjournment.”

She ordered that the body camera and surveillance footage be brought before the court for review on the next date.

Sharing ideas around water quality and the blue economy at the EPA

Tourism stakeholders and authority discussions

Guyana’s Ambassador Sasenarine Singh has officially presented

OOil prices settle lower as US sanctions ease fears of escalation in Iran

NEWS

Iran will consider diplomacy when aggression stops, foreign minister says

Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi speaking after talks in Geneva, told reporters that Iran is "ready to consider diplomacy once again once the aggression is stopped" and "the aggressor is held accountable for the heinous crimes committed".

il prices settled down on Friday as the U.S. imposed new Iranrelated sanctions, marking a diplomatic approach that fed hopes of a negotiated agreement, a day after President Donald Trump said he might take two weeks to decide U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict.

Brent crude futures settled down $1.84, or 2.33%, to $77.01 a barrel.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for July – which did not settle on Thursday as it was a US holiday and expires on Friday – was down 21 cents, or 0.28%, at $74.93.

The more liquid August contract settled at $73.84.

Brent rose 3.6% on the week, while front-month U.S. crude futures increased 2.7%.

Brent prices retreated after the White House said Trump would decide whether the United States would get involved in the Israel-Iran conflict in the next two weeks.

“Although a major escalation is yet to occur, risks to supply from the region remain high, still hinging upon the potential for U.S. involvement,” said Russell Shor, senior market analyst at Tradu.com.

"However, while Israel and Iran carry on pounding away at each other, there can always be an unintended action that escalates the conflict and touches upon oil infrastructure," PVM analyst John Evans said.

Iran in the past has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for Middle East oil exports.

Oil exports so far have not been disrupted and there is no shortage of supply, said Giovanni Staunovo, an analyst at UBS.

"The direction of oil prices from here will depend on whether there are supply disruptions," he said.

An escalation of the conflict in such a way that Israel attacks export infrastructure or Iran disrupts shipping through the strait could lead to oil at $100 a barrel being a reality, said Panmure Liberum analyst Ashley Kelty.

The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by one to 554 in the week to June 20, the lowest since November 2021. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US court lets Trump keep control of California National Guard for now

AU.S. appeals court let Donald Trump retain control on Thursday of California's National Guard while the state's Democratic governor proceeds with a lawsuit challenging the Republican president's use of the troops to quell protests in Los Angeles.

Trump's decision to send troops into Los Angeles prompted a national debate about the use of the military on U.S. soil and inflamed political tension in the country's second most-populous city.

On Thursday, a three-judge panel of the San Franciscobased 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals extended its pause on U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer's June 12 ruling that Trump had unlawfully called the National Guard into federal service.

Trump probably acted within his authority, the panel said, adding that his administration probably complied with the requirement to coordinate with Governor Gavin Newsom, and even if it did not, he had no authority to veto Trump's directive.

"And although we hold that the president likely has authority to federalize the National Guard, nothing in our decision addresses the na-

ture of the activities in which the federalized National Guard may engage," it wrote in its opinion.

Newsom could still challenge the use of the National Guard and U.S. Marines under other laws, including the bar on using troops in domestic law enforcement, it added.

The governor could raise those issues at a court hearing on Friday in front of Breyer, it said.

In a post on X after the decision, Newsom vowed to pursue his challenge.

"The president is not a king and is not above the law," he said. "We will press forward with our challenge to President Trump's authoritarian use of U.s. military soldiers against our citizens."

Trump hailed the decision in a post on Truth Social.

"This is a great decision for our country and we will continue to protect and defend law-abiding Americans," he said.

"This is much bigger than Gavin, because all over the United States, if our cities, and our people, need protection, we are the ones to give it to them should state and local police be unable, for whatever reason, to get the job done."

(Excerpt from Reuters)

He went on to say that Iran's nuclear program is peaceful, and that attacks on it are a violation of international law, adding that Iran will continue to "exercise its legitimate right of self-defence".

"I make it crystal clear that Iran's defence capabilities are non-negotiable," he said.

Also speaking after talks, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said that they do not think

there is a "definitive solution" militarily to the "Iranian nuclear problem".

"The Iranian Foreign Minister has indicated his willingness to continue these discussions on the nuclear program and, more broadly, on all issues," he tells the gathered media.

"And we expect Iran to be open to discussion, including with the United States, to reach a negotiated settlement through dialogue", he says. (Source: BBC News)

Israel-Iran War: Heated exchange at United Nations Security Council

There’s been a heated exchange at the United Nations Security Council between Iran and Israel as world powers meet to discuss the escalating military conflict.

While the UN secretary general warned that the world is racing towards crisis, and the permanent European powers on the council – the UK and France – called for

urgent de-escalation, the tough exchange of words between Iran and Israel highlighted the entrenched nature of their positions.

The Iranian ambassador called the Israeli attack “unprovoked”; he insisted his country’s nuclear program was peaceful and – accusing the US of complicity and the rest of the Security Council of failing to act – he said Iran

would continue to defend itself until Israel’s military action stops.

The Israeli ambassador, in his following remarks, accused Iran of having a “genocidal agenda,” claiming that its ability to deploy nuclear weapons was approaching faster than anyone could imagine and, he said, Israel would not stop targeting its nuclear facilities until the

threat had been “dismantled”.

China said Israel was in violation of international law, Russia said it had showed a “blatant disregard” for diplomacy. But the US, calling Iran the principal source of terror in the Middle East, said it continues to stand with Israel as an ally, and supports its actions. (BBC News)

B’dos Govt moves to counter viral AI video, launches address to report fake news

The Barbados government on Thursday launched a public reporting initiative and issued a strong rebuttal on the heels of a viral AI-generated video falsely claiming Prime Minister Mia Mottley is leading a Caribbean revolution against former US President Donald Trump made the rounds.

The YouTube video on the FunJourney channel, had by Wednesday racked up 61 000 views and almost 300 comments.

At a post-Cabinet press briefing on Thursday, Home Affairs and Information Minister Wilfred Abrahams, flanked by Minister of Tourism Ian Gooding-Edghill and Minister of Labour Colin Jordan, said the spread of fake news had reached crisis stage.

The fallout from the video has prompted the government to take the initial step

foreign policy

of setting up a special email address where citizens can report suspected or known cases of disinformation. Abrahams said: “I am going to ask Barbadians to get involved in the process.

It’s about your interest as well. What happens to the reputation of Barbados or how Barbados is perceived internationally, affects you. It affects your business, it affects your chil-

dren, it affects the economy of Barbados.

The information minister read a disclaimer issued on Thursday by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), which described the video as a “deliberate act of misinformation” designed to mislead the public and sow confusion.

It insisted that the content is “entirely false, misleading and wholly fictitious”.

The video makes claims that the prime minister, in response to supposed comments by President Trump, had made several statements, including banning him from the island.

The government rebuttal also urged the public to be vigilant in the face of such “malicious content” and to avoid sharing or engaging with posts that have not been verified by reputable or official sources.

(Excerpt from Barbados Today)

Iran's foreign minister speaking after talks in Geneva

The PMO also described the video as misrepresenting Barbados’

SUDOKU

Gimmicks and offers that are too good to be true will tempt you. Do your homework before venturing down a path for the wrong reason. Put your energy where it brings the most satisfaction and rewards.

Distance yourself from people who disturb what you are trying to accomplish. Visiting a place that enriches your mind and offers insight into using your time wisely will lead to success.

Let creativity lead the way and inspire you to follow your heart and soothe your soul. Set a budget and figure out how to reach your goal with no regrets.

Taking charge and letting go of unnecessary items and pastimes to make room for what makes you feel alive will set the stage for a bright future. Your life, your decisions.

Rethink your day and take care of responsibilities first. Make last-minute adjustments and learn as you go. Take pride in what you do, and don’t apologize for being different.

Gather information and use your experience to push your way into the spotlight. Attend events that allow you to shine and attract interest. High energy and enthusiasm will attract attention.

Unusual concepts and people will draw you. Trust your instincts, verify information and follow the most comfortable path. Pay attention to your surroundings.

Don’t skip a beat. Your mind, body and soul are eager to reach whatever goal you set. Love is on the rise, and self-improvement will attract attention.

Pay attention to your surroundings and be ready to counter any negativity that comes your way. Take care of domestic problems and spaces requiring adjustments to make life easier.

Opportunities are apparent if you socialize or sign up for something interesting. Budget for the extras you want to implement into your routine before you start. Ask questions and get what you want in writing.

Focus on what you have and the maintenance necessary to stabilize your life. Refuse to let others dominate you. A change at home will turn out better than anticipated.

Consider how to make your environment user-friendly. Check what’s happening in your community or attend an event that promises to inspire you and push you in an exciting direction. It’s time to get moving.

Jaiswal, Gill tons begin India’s new Test era in style

The two faces of India’s new generation of Test batters traded sparkling centuries to dominate England on the opening day at Headingley. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill cruised to hundreds as opener and no. 4, respectively, shrugging off the absence of two modern greats whose retirements have vacated those roles; no Rohit, no Virat, no problem.

India ended on 359 for 3 on the first day.

Jaiswal plundered 712 runs in India’s home series against England 18 months ago; here, he provided further evidence of his adaptability. His century was a masterclass in off-side stroke play: each of his 17 boundaries, including a vicious cut for six over cover, came on the off side, and he took only 48 balls to move from 50 to 100.

But Gill’s innings –his first as captain – was even better. He embodied his side’s desired tempo, charging to his fastest half-century (off 56 balls) without offering a chance before cruising serenely to three figures. After lashing a cover drive for four to reach his sixth Test hundred, he bowed to a standing ovation from his teammates on the dressing-room

painstaking day in the field for England’s bowlers, who must have rued Ben Stokes’ decision to bowl first on winning the toss on an unusually hot day in Leeds. Stokes himself was the pick of the attack, strangling the debutant Sai Sudharsan down the leg side on the stroke of lunch and knocking back Jaiswal’s off stump straight after tea.

Stokes’ call was informed by the sense that there would be life in the pitch in the first session, but Jaiswal and KL Rahul did not entertain that notion. England’s seamers bowled reasonably full and attacked the off-stump channel but without success, their desperation summed up by a hugely optimistic lbw review when Josh Tongue hit Jaiswal on the pad from around the wicket.

Jaiswal occasionally played and missed and was struck in the ribcage by a lifter from Brydon Carse, but Rahul appeared unbothered as he punished width and half-volleys. It came as a shock when he finally offered a chance of a Carse outswinger, his thick outside edge flying straight to Joe Root at slip.

Carse’s follow-up ball to Sai Sudharsan, India’s new no. 3, was a snorter

pealing unsuccessfully for a leg-side strangle with his third delivery; Sai Sudharsan duly obliged one ball later, feathering through to Jamie Smith.

Gill started jumpily after lunch, scampering through for a tight single off his second ball and offering a run-out chance off his sixth. He worked Carse to the right of Ollie Pope at short midwicket, whose pick-up-and-throw would have found Gill short of his ground with a direct hit; instead, it ran away to the boundary for overthrows.

It proved to be the

might well have had Jaiswal lbw on review for

utterly unflappable for the rest of his innings: he made Chris Woakes look utterly innocuous after lunch, then reached a rapid half-century with a pull off Tongue.

Jaiswal battled cramp as he put his foot on the accelerator, marking Shoaib Bashir’s introduction to the attack by slicing his first ball away behind point and later dumping

er: he reached his hundred by belting Carse for consecutive fours, then snuck through for a single and raised his arms aloft. His innings ended soon after tea, as Stokes angled the ball away off the seam and pegged back the top of his off stump. But the respite was shortlived: Rishabh Pant, playing against England in Tests for the first time in three years, charged at his second ball and belted it over Stokes’ head for four. England’s captain could only laugh.

Pant and Gill reined themselves in, allowing Bashir to settle into an economical, if largely unthreatening, spell of 21 unchanged overs from the Football Stand End. But Pant was never likely to wait for long and started to take on the deep fielders: he nearly miscued a catch to Crawley at short midwicket but comfortably cleared long-on with a towering straight six.

45 had he not overstepped. After an itchy start, Gill settled down and looked

him back over his head for four. As he grew tired, he began to stand and deliv-

Gill upped the tempo further after his rasping drive off Tongue to reach his century, short-arm pulling six over long leg. And England’s hopes that the second new ball would provide a breakthrough were quickly quashed as Pant toe-ended a slog-sweep through midon, then hoicked Woakes over midwicket for six in the final over of the day.

(ESPNcricinfo)

Carse

Shubman Gill hugs Rishabh Pant after getting to a century (AFP/Getty Images)

Ben Stokes and Shubman Gill pose with the trophies before first day’s play (Getty Images)

Ben Stokes sends Yashasvi Jaiswal back (Getty Images)

Yashasvi Jaiswal celebrates his hundred (PA Images/Getty Images)

Tazim Brits 98 not out takes SA Women 1-0 up in T20I Series against WI

Pacers beat Thunder to force NBA Game 7 decider

The NBA finals will be decided by a winnertakes-all Game 7 for the first time in nine years after the Indiana Pacers defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-91 in Game 6 to level the series.

A fine attacking display from Pacers, which included 20 points for Obi Toppin off the bench, stopped Thunder from claiming the Championship in Indianapolis.

Star player Tyrese Haliburton, who struggled in Game 5 because of a calf injury, passed a late fitness test before tip-off and managed 14 points, five assists and two steals in 22 minutes of play.

“We just wanted to protect our court,” Haliburton said, “we didn’t want to see those guys celebrate a championship on our home floor. Backs against the wall, we

just responded.”

“So many different guys chipped in. It was a whole team effort. I’m really proud of this group.”

The victory means the NBA finals will go to Game 7 for the first time since 2016, when Cleveland Cavaliers won their first Championship with a 4-3 series win against Golden State Warriors.

Thunder will host Game 7 on Monday (01:00 BST) but will need a much-improved performance to win their first championship in Oklahoma City.

Their only previous NBA title came as previ-

ous incarnation, the Seattle Supersonics, in 1979.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the newly-crowned Most Valuable Player, top scored for the Thunder with 21 points.

“Credit Indiana.” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “They earned the win. They outplayed us for most of the 48 minutes. They went out there and attacked the game.”

Monday’s game will mark the 20th time the NBA finals have gone to Game 7, with the home side of the decider triumphing 15 times. (Sean Kearns, BBC Sport)

South Africa Women took a 1-0 T20 International Series lead over the West Indies Women, thanks to a 50run win in the first of three games at the 3Ws Oval in Barbados on Friday.

Tazmin Brits starred with a brilliant 98 off 63 balls to help South Africa post 183-6 in their 20 overs after being put in to bat by West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews.

Brits hit nine fours and four

and

didn’t have much support, as the only other batters to get to double figures were Nadine de Klerk (21) and Chloe Tryon (16).

Jahzara Claxton picked up 3-39 from her four overs of medium pace for the hosts.

The West Indies were then restricted to 133-6 in their 20 overs thanks to a good all-round bowling effort from the South Africans.

Pacer Marizanne Kapp was the pick of the bowlers with 2-27 from three overs,

while

was excellent in support, conceding just 18 in her four overs while picking up a wicket.

was the best West Indian batter on the day, hitting 53* off 44 balls.

This was her maiden fifty in the format and included five fours. Chinelle Henry was unable to find her groove, using up 32 balls for her 26. The hosts will look to bounce back in the second game on Sunday. (Sportsmax)

Injured Bavuma out of Zimbabwe Tests, Maharaj named captain

the Boxing Day Test against India that year. He has also had a series of elbow injuries and plays with a heavily strapped left elbow. South Africa squad: David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj (capt), Kwena Maphaka, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi (second Test only), Lhuandre Pretorius, Lesego Senokwane, Prenelan Subrayen, Kyle Verreynne, Codi Yusuf (ESPNCricinfo)

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has been ruled out of the two-Test series against Zimbabwe, which starts next Saturday. Keshav Maharaj will captain the team in Bavuma’s absence.

Bavuma has not recovered from the hamstring strain he suffered during the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia last week and will undergo further scans to determine the extent of the injury.

The squad features five uncapped players as South Africa rest several all-format players, including Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada. Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi is only available for the second Test.

Bavuma, who led South Africa to the WTC title, sustained the injury on the third day of the match. He was on six runs at the time and pulled up while completing a single. He received treatment on the field and batted through to tea, where he was advised not to continue batting.

After the game, Bavuma revealed that he went against medical advice be-

cause he did not want to give himself the option of not being in the middle at a crucial time in the game. In consultation with Markram, who agreed to downscale the tempo of his running between the wickets. Bavuma resumed his innings and saw South Africa through to the close of play. He finished on 66 as South Africa won by five wickets.

South Africa’s next assignments after Zimbabwe, which Bavuma could be part of, are ODIs against Australia in August and England in September. Their next WTC campaign begins against Pakistan in October before a series in India in November. South Africa will not play any home Tests until October 2026, when they will host Australia. Bavuma has indicated he would like to continue playing until the 2027 home ODI World Cup, fitness permitting.

This is the third hamstring injury Bavuma has suffered in less than two years. He was injured during the 2023 ODI World Cup and played the semi-final and then again during

Tazmin Brits during her blistering 98 not out

Injured South Africa Captain

sixes in her knock

Nonkululeko Mlaba

Jannilea Glasgow

‘One Guyana’ King and Queen of the

Sand Football…

Final 3 of 8 male teams for quarterfinals to be decided Saturday

The full line-up of teams for the knockout rounds of the ‘One Guyana’ King and Queen of the Sand Football championships in Linden will be confirmed on Saturday night when the final round of the group stages is completed.

In the male/King segment of the competition, only groups B (top 2) and D (second team) are to be

decided, as groups A and C, along with the female/ Queen qualifiers have already been confirmed.

Group B is, interestingly, poised with three of the five teams locked on 7 points each; the top two on goal difference (GD) set to play their final matches, and will both be seeking wins to advance. Spaniards are on top with a +6 GD and will face bottom of the table

UDK Victors.

Second in the group is Young Gunners with a +2 GD and they will oppose Lil Ballers who are just above UDK Victors, both out of the race. Foundation Family is also on 7 points with a -2 GD, but they have exhausted their quota of four matches.

The other undecided group is Group D with one spot on the line as Bomberz

The final four in the inaugural June Madness Futsal championship will be known on Saturday night when the quarterfinals are contested at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. A total of forty-eight teams commenced action a few weeks ago and now it’s down to the business-end of the championship.

Following the conclusion of the round-of-16 on Thursday night, the final four teams inked their names in the win column to cement the match-ups that will certainly see enthralling battles with the respective winners booking their places in semifinals.

Back Circle A displayed ripping form in downing Festival City and have earned a date with Z-Tekk, which upstaged Linden All Stars in an epic clash. Gold Is Money will put it all on the line when they go up against the giant slayers, Bomb Squad, who took down the mighty Bent Street A to reach this stage.

National Champions Sparta Boss have not been as clinical as they can be and have eased into this round having scored just six goals. They will take on North East in what is antic-

ipated to be a fierce battle.

The team that many feel will go all the way this time around and have been very clinical in both their matches so far, Road Warriors of Brazil, will have to get past Bent Street B in what will be a huge game for the local side.

Road Warriors’ Luis Da Silva’s tally of 8 goals so far is the most by any, and he will certainly be aiming to build on this. He’ll have solid support from teammates Thalyston Pinheiro and Joao De Souza with 4 and 3 goals, respectively, to their credit.

Road Warriors have scored a total of 23 goals in their two matches to date, a phenomenal average of 11.5 goals per game. Bent Street B will turn to Lennox Cort (4 goals) to lead their charge and will hope that the likes of Samuel Garnett step it up, along with Tyric McAllister and Randy Roberts.

The two female matches on Saturday night will see Iconic Strikers taking on Tucville Terrorists from 20:00hrs followed by Avacado Ballers against Pouderoyen. The six-team female competition is being played using the round-rob-

have already qualified, having accumulated 9 points from 3 wins and 1 loss. YMCA and Goal IQ have everything to play for, as both have a chance of being the team to join Bomberz in the knockout round.

YMCA (+5) are ahead of Goal IQ (+4) by a single goal with both on six points from two wins each and one loss, so this showdown which is the final match of the night

& Sparta collide

in format with the top four moving into the semifinals.

Following are the full results from match night 8:

Female round-robin (20 minute matches)

Game 1 Iconic Ballers 1 vs The Lioness 0

Shanic Thornhill 13th

Game 2 Lady Kanaimas 8 vs Avacado Ballers 1

Sandra Johnson 13secs, 2nd, 9th, 17th Mia 15th

Glendy Lewis 4th, 20th

Glengy Lewis 6th, 16th

Male Round-of-16

Z Tekk 5 vs Ballers united 3

Tyrice Dennis 4th, 13th Ray Roderick 35secs

Gerry Burnette 8th, 12th

Tyrone Delph 9th, 15th

David George 20th

North East 2 vs Linden All Stars 1

Lennox Cort 2nd Marcus Tudor 27th

Akil Plass 19th

Back Circle ‘A’ 8 vs Festival City 0

Simeon Moore 5th

Darren Benjamin 7th, 24th YB

Chris Macey 22nd

Cecil Jackman 26th

Fabian Abrams 28th

Azariel Davis 30th

Sparta Boss 2 vs Back Circle ‘B’ 0

Kelsey Benjamin 9th

Curtez Kellman 21st

These players from Hururu (left) and Avacado Ballers battle for the ball on the opening night

is expected to be a humdinger of a clash.

The other teams already qualifying are: Group A (Hard Knocks and One Syde), Group C (LA Ballers and Team Minerals) and Group D, Bomberz to date.

In the Queens competition GDF, with a game in hand, have already booked their place in the semi-finals and they are joined by Hururu as the Group A top two. Over in Group B, Iconic

Ballers have topped the group with a perfect three wins from as many matches. Defending champions Speightland, have won one and lost the other match, set to face Rockstone in their final game on Saturday. Barring any major complications, the defending champions will most seal the other spot from their group.

Final group stage matches for Saturday, June 21.

Time Team vs Team

18:30hrs Young Gunners vs Lil Ballers 19:10hrs GDF vs Circuitville (Queens) 20:00hrs HH Ballers vs Turf President 20:50hrs Speightland vs Rockstone (Queens) 21:40hrs Spaniards vs UDK Victor’s 22:30hrs LA Ballers vs Team Mineral 23:20hrs YMCA vs Goal IQ

8.74. He represented TKR in 9 out of the 11 seasons and won the title 5 times, including 2021, when he led St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.

Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) have appointed former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo as their new head coach for the upcoming edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2025. He replaces Phil Simmons, who is currently the head coach for Bangladesh men’s team.

“It’s an honour to be given the opportunity to be Head Coach of TKR, a team that’s very close to my heart,” he said in a social media post, “I would like to personally thank coach Phil Simmons for his time and commitment over the last few years, and now I look forward to this new challenge for me and my staff.”

Bravo played 107 matches in the CPL between 2013 and 2024, and took 129 wickets at an economy of

Last year, he was appointed the head coach of Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20, owned by the Knight Riders group. He served as a mentor for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025, and had worked as a bowling consultant for Chennai Super Kings for the 2023 and 2024 seasons, following his retirement from playing for the franchise in 2022.

At the 2024 T20 World Cup, Bravo was the bowling consultant for the Afghanistan team that lost to South Africa in the semi-final.

The 13th edition of the CPL will be held from August 14 to September 21 this year. TKR finished third on the points table and were knocked out of the Eliminator last year after they lost to Barbados Royals. (ESPN)

Trinbago Knight Riders new head coach Dwayne Bravo

It was a tough battle between Z-Tekk and Ballers United (Blue and Red)

Sandra Johnson starred in Lady Kanaimas’ win

Back Circle A (Red) pulled off a comfortable victory

– cites transformative support for motorsport development endorses Dr Irfaan Ali for 2nd term

The Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMRSC), on Friday, announced its full endorsement of President Irfaan Ali for a second term as President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

This endorsement reflects the Club’s deep appreciation for the President’s steadfast commitment to sports, especially motorsport, and for delivering on his promises during his 2020 campaign trail.

Among the most significant of those promises was the pledge to support the expansion and modernisation of the South Dakota Circuit. Today, that promise has been fulfilled. With direct aid and support from President Ali’s administration, the circuit has been extended to an international length of 1.6 miles, making it capable of hosting regional and international racing events. In addition to the track upgrade, the access

roads leading into the facility have been newly paved, greatly improving accessibility for fans, officials and competitors. Furthermore, construction is underway on a new

grass spectator mound. This addition of infrastructure will enhance the viewing experience and further establish the circuit as a premier motorsport venue in the Caribbean.

most expensive sports to develop, his administration has shown an extraordinary commitment to phased infrastructure improvements to bring Guyana to the international motorsport stage.

public statements on the role of sport in economic development speak volumes about his genuine support.

President Ali’s Government has fulfilled campaign promises and demonstrated a longterm vision for motorsport growth. Recognising that motorsport is among the

Over the past five years, President Ali’s leadership has also seen a national boost in sports investment, with over G$21.6 billion allocated across disciplines. His belief in sport as an economic engine and a source of national pride is apparent.

His presence at events like the GMRSC International Race Meet and consistent

Latif thrilled to represent GAW in CPL 2025

The Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) recently selected their squad for this year’s Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL), which inGuyanese leg-spin ner, 17-year-old Riyad Latif, who re cently represented the Guyana Rainforest Rangers in the Break Out T20 League.

The young leg-spin ner, who represents the Transport Sports Club, was very happy when he was drafted and describes the moment as a dream come true and looks forward to rubbing shoulders with the experienced professionals.

“I am beyond happy after being selected to represent the Guyana Amazon Warriors. I have been watching the games for years now and never thought I would be putting on the Warriors uniform.

It’s like a dream come true. I am super excited to be in the setup and a part of this franchise and, most of all, to be around guys like Imran Tahir and er guys,” he told Guyana Times Sport during a telephone interview.

Riyad Latif also expressed gratitude to his family, especially his father, and coaches, who all participated in his journey to make this dream become a reality.

“I have the full support from my family members whenever I go out to play cricket. My dad is the one behind me at all times. I also have support from my team as well. In terms of the coach at Transport Sports Club, he works with me and encourages me to do better, and also the other coaches who I have worked with have contributed in some way or the other.”

The GMRSC is confident that with continued leadership from President Ali, the motorsport fraternity and all of Guyana’s sporting communities will see sustained progress and opportunity.

For these reasons, and in recognition of his vision, delivery, and continued engagement with the sporting sector, we at the GMRSC stand firmly in support of President Irfaan Ali’s bid for a second term.

President Ali with executives and racers

President Dr Irfaan Ali meeting motor racing fanatics at the South Dakota Circuit

Riyad Latif represented Guyana Rain Forest Rangers earlier this year