Guyana Times - Saturday, October 25, 2025 by Gytimes

Model Farm Open Day plants seeds of knowledge, growth

Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards takes early retirement – Pres Ali confirms

5 arrested following discovery of cocaine, ganja onboard vessel at Port Kaituma

Duo remanded on murder charge; woman arrested with duo granted bail for ammo possession GPF records decline in crime in Region 1 after increased patrols, community engagement

Promising opportunities in Guyana’s agriculture, food processing sectors – Indian diplomat ...as India soon to field trade

Guyana Times among 80 organisations, individuals recognised for advancing reform within prison system

Guyana Times was among over 80 organisations and individuals who were recognised by the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) for their outstanding contributions towards advancing rehabilitation and reform within the prison system.

The awards were presented during the service’s 42nd Anniversary Collaborators Appreciation Luncheon at the Regency Suite, Georgetown, on Friday.

Hosted under the theme “Changing Culture and Mindset to Achieve Corrections”, the event celebrated the invaluable partnerships that have sup-

small pool of resources, and so, I emphasise the cruciality of collaborations by acknowledging the time invested in consultations we have had with our numerous partners, beginning with our sister services and security agencies that help us provide safety every hour, because the prisons never sleep – both within and outside the walls of our facilities.”

Corbin went on to commend the various stakeholders – ranging from educational institutions and private sector trainers to

ported the GPS in fulfilling its mission to transform Guyana’s correctional system.

Delivering remarks at the ceremony, Head of Strategic Management RaeDawn Corbin underscored

the critical role of collaboration in strengthening the Service’s capacity to deliver on its mandate.

“We remain cognisant that our service could not be provided effectively solely from – though great – our

medical and psychological experts – who have contributed to improving the environment and outcomes within the correctional system.

“We trust that our partnerships will continue to reveal new avenues to

strengthen our collective impact and enhance the work we have already begun for the benefit of inmates and staff,” she added. “Without your strong and vast expertise, we would not be able to conquer the challenges before us. Let us continue to show our commitment to professionalism, modernisation, and national development.”

She also commended prison officers for their dedication and collaborative efforts throughout the year, noting their commitment to advancing the institution’s vision of rehabilitation and transformation.

Meanwhile, lending his

perspective on the Service’s evolving public relations mechanism, Deputy Director of Prisons (ag) Kevin Pilgrim highlighted that the GPS has made significant progress in controlling its narrative and strengthening engagement with the public and media.

“The work we do in the Prison Service is multifaceted – it encompasses not only the enforcement of laws but also the promotion of justice, rehabilitation, and humane treatment for those in our care,” Pilgrim stated. “Through collaboration, we have turned each obstacle into an opportunity.”

Cohort of recipients alongside Police officials

Recipients during the event

Deputy Director of Prisons (AG) Kevin Pilgrim handing over an award to Guyana Times Journalist Mishael Henry

BRIDGE OPENING

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, October 25 –06:00h–07:30h and Sunday, October 26 – 06:25h–07:55h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Sunny skies are expected during the day, and clear skies are expected at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 06:10h and 17:17h reaching maximum heights of 2.48 metres and 2.56 metres.

Low Tide: 11:54h reaching a minimum height of 0.78 metre.

Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards takes early retirement – Pres Ali confirms –

Justice George to continue as acting Chancellor

resident Dr Irfaan

Ali on Friday after-

noon announced that Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards will be proceeding on early retirement after serving as acting Chancellor of the Judiciary of Guyana for some eight years.

This confirmation came on the heels of several local reports sparking controversy about her resumption of duties after returning from annual leave. Justice Cummings-Edwards proceeded on vacation leave in July until October.

In her absence, President Ali, on August 4, swore in the then acting Chief Justice, Roxane George, to perform the duties of the office of Chancellor of the Judiciary, and High Court Judge Justice Navindra Singh to perform the duties of the office of Chief Justice.

However, there was uncertainty about the top judicial posts after Justice Cummings-Edwards resumed work recently – something that was clarified by the Guyanese Head of State during his announcement on Friday.

“Today, Madam Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards, CCH, OR, requested my approval to proceed on pre-retirement leave with effect from Monday, 27th of October, 2025, and on early retirement. After due consideration, I acceded to this request,” the President stated during a live broadcast on his Facebook page.

According to Dr Ali, “I take this opportunity to thank Madam Justice CummingsEdwards for her long service to the judiciary and the people of Guyana. I express my personal appreciation for her many years of public service.”

Justice CummingsEdwards began her law career in 1988 as a State Counsel within the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). She was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Guyana in 2000 and was later elevated to Judge of the Court of Appeal in 2008.

From December 2015, she acted as Chief Justice of

the Judiciary of Guyana, and in March 2017, she was appointed acting Chancellor of the Judiciary – a position she

legal field.

Unnecessary risks on our roadways

As Guyanese continue to express concern and shock over horrific road accidents occurring regularly, there are various reasons for these accidents. A common theme appears to be the unnecessary taking of risks and speed, factors often lamented as causes.

Historically, the shock, concern and caution that follow a fatal accident seem to be fleeting, and the major contributory factors are seemingly swiftly resumed despite public outcry. However, given that those accidents are occurring on our roadways, and judging from sentiments expressed on social media, it seems that a large number of Guyanese are outraged and are calling for drivers to slow down.

While that is encouraging, only time will tell if public pressure would indeed make a positive impact. Social media wields tremendous influence, and traffic violations by some irresponsible drivers have been captured and attracted the attention of the Police.

There were instances when some drivers imbibed alcoholic beverages while in the process of transporting members of the public. The conductors randomly stick their hands out to demand that the bus be allowed to cut in front of vehicles, without considering the risk involved.

The said drivers literally drive on the parapets at times to illegally undertake, just to avoid staying in lanes and to reach their destinations within the shortest possible time. They also blatantly block turning lanes while ignoring the pleading horns.

The end result is that those who respect the traffic laws are made to spend much longer commuting and are left at the mercy of those inconsiderate drivers. This in no way suggests that all minibus drivers are reckless; however, many are noticeable offenders across the country. Sadly, their unacceptable behaviour has been allowed to continue, seemingly encouraged by both the travelling public and the Police to an extent.

While some passengers have objected to the overall despicable behaviour of minibus operators and were in the process abused, there is an urgent need for a collective and robust approach to denounce what has unfortunately become a culture of disrespect for both passengers and traffic laws.

There are times when the Police act and times when they seemingly turn a blind eye. Serious consideration must be given to the fact that some Police officers own minibuses. Every day, roadways – including those in some villages that are not approved on the road service – are used by minibuses.

The Police cannot be oblivious of that, for, in some cases, when they are managing the flow of traffic, they allow those buses to re-enter the main thoroughfare. That can only be seen as encouraging a transgression of the said road service. Also, on a daily basis, many minibuses are crammed with passengers, having exceeded the legal limit.

There are times when the Police intervene, and commendations must be given; however, there is a lack of much-needed consistency, not just for the minibus drivers in question, but for all others.

The situation has worsened and will further decline if no meaningful and sustained intervention is made. If the working traffic lights were to be configured to best suit the rush hours, then more ranks could be freed up to deal with traffic violations.

In addition, there should be consideration for more stringent mechanisms, including raising the required age to obtain a licence to drive a minibus or taxi and higher costs. Penalties for traffic violations must be more punitive, possibly even for minor offences.

In whatever review that may now take place, maybe a protocol on how minibuses owned by Police officers should be treated in the context herein, and to simplify a complaint process for the public, needs to be established.

The bottom line is that this issue must be addressed immediately and holistically, since a lack of sustained action would be continually interpreted as encouragement for the lawlessness.

Why the Louvre heist feels like justice — but isn’t

By Belén Fernández

On Sunday, the iconic Louvre Museum in the French capital played host to a speedy heist in which eight items of precious jewellery dating from the Napoleonic era were spirited away from its second floor.

The stolen items included a tiara pertaining to the jewellery set of Queen Marie-Amelie and Queen Hortense, an emerald necklace utilised by Empress Marie-Louise, a large brooch belonging to Empress Eugenie, and other similar goodies.

International news outlets reported the theft with predictable drama; CNN, for example, blared the headline “Historic jewels stolen in ‘national disaster’ for France”. The article went on to note that one of the looted diadems “features 24 Ceylon sapphires and 1083 diamonds that can be detached and worn as brooches, according to the Louvre.”

The sensational hand-wringing was almost reminiscent of another contemporary “national disaster” in Paris – namely, the April 2019 fire at the Notre Dame cathedral that broke the hearts of politicians worldwide, even as they remained apparently unmoved by such objectively more tragic events as Israel’s recurrent slaughter of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

And now that we have just witnessed two years of all-out genocide in Gaza courtesy of the United States-backed Israeli military, it seems that the loss of all those sapphires and diamonds might ultimately not really be so “disastrous”, after all – at least in terms of, you know, the general state of humanity and the future of the planet.

In fact, many of us might even find ourselves rooting for the thieves, to some extent – if only as a symbolic middle finger to a world predicated on obscene inequality and misplaced priorities.

To be sure, the Louvre and like-mind-

ed elite art institutions are themselves symbolic of historical injustice, serving as they do as repositories for treasures accrued by royals who built their very wealth on the backs of the working classes – not to mention cultural artefacts and stolen relics from former colonial possessions and other imperial stamping grounds.

Talk about “looting”.

In her book Decolonise Museums, curator and scholar Shimrit Lee notes that “even the term ‘loot’, derived from the Hindi ‘lut’, meaning ‘stolen property’, was appropriated into the English language as a result of British control of India”. Remarking on how the British Museum in London has traditionally “showcased plundered sculptures from India as well as the bronzes of Benin”, the West African kingdom in what is now Nigeria that was invaded by Britain in 1897 and subsequently subsumed into the British Empire, Lee observes that “France’s Louvre created galleries in the early 1800s specifically to house the many objects nabbed by Napoleon and his entourage in Egypt”.

Nowadays, Lee writes, it is “impossible to find a Western museum that doesn’t hold some amount of cultural material from Africa, Asia, Oceania, or Native America” – a legacy of violent and extractive colonialism whose repercussions continue to impact the lives of Indigenous and Black people across the world. And yet “the museum, with its white walls and white lights, aids in historical amnesia, tricking visitors into believing that this violence only exists in the past”.

Enter Sunday’s jewel thieves, who – against such a white-walled, whitelit backdrop – might even assume the role of semi-Robin-Hood-type heroes. Unfortunately, this sort of romanticisation falls short, as the would-be Robin Hoods most likely did not undertake their spectacular stunt as a politico-cul-

tural statement against historical amnesia but rather in the interest of making bank by peddling the looted treasures to other rich people specialising in the art of exploitative economics.

In her recent article on the heist, Emiline Smith – a lecturer in criminology at the University of Glasgow in Scotland – emphasises that the stolen jewels are “products of a long history of colonial extraction”, the looted gemstones having been mined in Asia, Africa, and South America, regions that were “systematically exploited for their cultural and natural resources to enrich European courts and empires”.

As Smith puts it, France’s “colonial outposts and broader European networks funnelled such valuable resources to royal courts and elite collectors” – all with the help of good old slavery. Among the funnelled items is a 19th-century sculpture by enslaved court artist Akati Ekplekendo of the kingdom of Dahomey – formerly a colony of France – in the present-day Republic of Benin (not to be confused with the British-appropriated kingdom of Benin), which Smith notes “Benin has repeatedly requested back yet is still exhibited in the Louvre’s Pavillon des Sessions”.

Again, then, it is not difficult to see why those of us concerned with global justice might theoretically be inclined to view with favour the material loss inflicted on the Louvre on Sunday. At the end of the day, though, the heist is not quite worthy of romanticisation. Nor, however, is it worthy of categorisation as a “national disaster” – or an international one. And the fact that there are folks who would cast it as such is pretty much a disaster in itself. (Al Jazeera) Belén Fernández is an Al Jazeera columnist and author. She has written for The New York Times, the London Review of Books blog, The Baffler, Current Affairs, and Middle East Eye, among numerous other publications

It was the Grand Market Day at the Lethem Public Market on October 24. As a part of this year’s Agriculture Month, the event saw farmers exhibiting their best produce and livestock. Agro-processors and crafters within the region’s communities also displayed their products at the event

“Baseless and misleading”

on APNU’s “water

– GWI

crisis” claims

...says with over $65B spent, over 350,000 residents benefiting – no “national water crisis”

With more than $65 billion invested in Guyana’s water sector over the past five years, benefiting over 350,000 residents, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) on Friday rejected claims by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) of a “national water crisis” as baseless and misleading, citing the substantial scale of recent investments.

In a statement, GWI reminded that goals achieved over the past five years included the increasing of the coverage of treated water to 75 per cent and a massive increase in the provision of potable water to hinterland residents.

“Within the last five years, the Government of Guyana, through the Guyana Water Incorporated, invested approximately GY$65 billion to upgrade and expand potable water supply across the country in

both coastal and hinterland regions, with over 350,000 beneficiaries. These projects are directly improving water quality, reliability and service delivery to the population and impacting on the livelihoods and quality of life of our people,” GWI noted.

The company urged that stakeholders, including political actors, engage in responsible, evidence-based discourse, noting that “false narratives only undermine public trust and distract from the collective goal of delivering improved water services to all Guyanese.”

It was during the APNU’s weekly press conference on Friday that Chairman of the party, Aubrey Norton, read a prepared statement that claimed an “emergence of a National Water Crisis” that is negatively impacting essential services.

The GWI refuted these claims, noting that the

APNU statement lacked specificity and failed to acknowledge the unprecedented levels of investment and development in the water sector over the last five years.

“The support of the Government coupled with the technical expertise of the management of GWI will ensure that water sector

development continues to be improved across the country, including a high level of quality and service in all regions,” GWI said.

Moreover, GWI noted that there have been widespread and significant improvements in GWI’s current performance when compared with the situation that occurred when APNU

Facts over fiction

Dear Editor, Public integrity begins with transparency – and that applies to everyone who occupies the national stage.

I have been somewhat disconnected from politics lately, now catching up as I have been deeply focused on work. My attention was drawn to the recent exposé involving GHK Lall, who at one point described himself as a Wall Street analyst and claimed to have formerly held the prestigious, gold-standard CFA designation. This was during the period when, as some of you may recall, I took him to task by exposing a series of financial and procurement irregularities and mismanagement under his tenure as Chairman of the Guyana Gold Board.

I wrote an essay on this matter, published on September 7, 2023, which can be accessed here for easy reference (https://guyanachronicle.com/2023/09/07/ghklall-and-the-guyana-goldboard/).

In summary:

• During GHK Lall’s tenure (2017–2019) as Chairman of the Guyana Gold Board, audits uncovered significant financial and procurement irregularities totalling over $120 million.

• Key findings included sharp increases in

administrative spending –up 41 per cent – with directors’ fees rising 551 per cent and “other expenses” ballooning 740 per cent.

• There were unauthorised payroll expenditures, unapproved asset disposals, and solesourced contracts lacking proper documentation or tendering.

• Licensing irregularities were found in gold dealer approvals, with inadequate due process or ministerial oversight.

• A controversial $60M contract for a Regulatory Compliance System was deemed by auditors to be excessive, unjustified, and noncompliant with procurement laws.

• Auditors concluded that the Board failed to follow financial procedures, did not receive value for money, and demonstrated poor internal controls under Lall’s leadership – issues not present in prior years.

Regarding his claim to have held the CFA designation, my review found no evidence in the official database supporting Lall’s stated qualifications. I even reached out to an actual CFA holder with access to the historical database, and no results were found. If he does possess evidence to the contrary, given the scrutiny he now faces – rightly so, in the public’s interest – he

should have records of his certificates, transcripts, or proof of subscription payments, and should there-

fore make them public.

Yours sincerely, Joel

was in Government.

“While the APNU+AFC Coalition occupied Government during the period 2015-2020, the water sector was in fact in that crisis state that they now seek to mention. The Guyana Water Incorporated was bankrupt and on the verge of collapse. Treated water coverage stood at a meagre 52 per cent compared to 75 per cent in 2025 and will reach 90 per cent by the end of 2026. Under the APNU Government, access to Hinterland water was at 46 per cent and is now at 91 per cent. Only 21 wells were drilled compared to 153 wells drilled between the period 2021-2025,” the statement noted.

“GWI has already completed the operationalisation of seven new water treatment plants in Caledonia, New Cummings Lodge, Onderneeming, Parika, La Parfaite Harmonie, Wales,

and Bachelor’s Adventure. Works have already advanced for five new treatment plants that will be built in Maria’s Delight, Wakenaam, Leguan, Bath and Adventure. Plans are already underway for three additional surface water treatment plants in Diamond, Bartica and Hope. These treatment plants will continue to play a tremendous role in the treated water coverage and ensure that each resident has access to water which is safe for consumption.”

And while the utility company acknowledged that it is aware of occasional service interruptions that occur for a number of reasons, including ongoing construction, third-party damage, or temporary power disruptions, “[t]he company maintains an active response mechanism to swiftly address reports,” GWI said.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2025

Bhagwandin

Page Foundation

7 × 3 = 21

A factor of a number is a number that divides it exactly, leaving no remainder.

Example 1:

Factors of 12:

1 × 12 = 12

2 × 6 = 12

3 × 4 = 12

So, factors of 12 are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12

Example 2:

Factors of 24:

1 × 24

2 × 12

3 × 8

4 x 6

The factors of 24 are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24

Tip: Factors always come in pairs.

A multiple of a number is the result you get when you multiply that number by any whole number.

Example 1:

Multiples of 4:

4 × 1 = 4

4 × 2 = 8

4 × 3 = 12

So, multiples of 4 are: 4, 8, 12, … (and they go on forever)

Example 2: Multiples of 7:

7 × 1 = 7

7 × 2 = 14

Factors and Multiples

So, multiples of 7 = 7, 14, 21, 28 … (and they go on forever)

Tip: Every number is a multiple of itself.

Some numbers can be both factors and multiples in certain situations.

Example 1:

What is a number that is both a factor of 48 and a multiple of 8?

Step 1: List factors of 48: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 48

Step 2: List multiples of 8 (up to 48): 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48

Step 3: Find numbers that appear in both lists: 8, 16, 24, 48

These numbers are both factors of 48 and multiples of 8, and any one will correctly answer the question posed.

Example 2:

What number is a factor of 60 and a multiple of 12?

Step 1: List factors of 60: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30, 60

Step 2: List multiples of 12 (up to 60):

12, 24, 36, 48, 60

Step 3: Numbers in both lists = 12, 60

Answer: 12 or 60. The difference between

factors and multiples are given here in tabular form. Go through the below table to understand the difference between them.

Practice

1. List all the factors of: a) 15 b) 20 c) 30

2. True or False: a) 7 is a factor of 49. b) 8 is a factor of 36. c) 12 is a factor of 60.

3. List the first 5 multiples of: a) 6 b) 9 c) 12

4. Find the common multiples of 4 and 5 up to 50.

5. Find a number that is both a factor of 48 and a multiple

of 8.

6. A number is a factor of 60 and a multiple of 12. What numbers could it be?

7. A number is a multiple of 2 and 3 but less than 20. List all possibilities.

8. Find a number that is both a factor of 100 and a multiple of 20.

9. Two numbers are multiples of 5. One is 25. Suggest another number that shares 5 as a common factor and is less than 50.

10. List all numbers less than 40 that are multiples of 4 and factors of 32

DIY Lava Lamp Craft

MATERIALS

Empty bottle (glass or plastic)

Vegetable Oil

Food colouring

Small coloured paper plates

Decorations (self-adhesive gems, stickers, glitter pens, etc.)

Alka-Seltzer tablets

Scissors

Glue

INSTRUCTIONS

Take an empty plastic or glass bottle and rinse thoroughly. Leave to dry. Fill the bottle a quarter full with water. Pour vegetable oil into the bottle, almost

up to the top but not quite. What you’ve got now is what looks like a gloopy mess, but don’t worry.

Next, pour a few drops of food colouring into the mixture. You’ll notice that the oil and water have separated and the food colouring is dropping to the bottom. This is how it should be.

Take a small paper plate and measure out the centre point. Cut a slit from one side to the centre point, then fold to make a pointed lampshade shape and fix in place with glue. Decorate as desired, then take the bottle lid and fix it to the lampshade with a glue dot.

To activate the lamp, break it into two halves and pop an Alka-Seltzer tablet into the mixture, and you’ll see the water shoot upwards, taking some of the colour with it to create a “lava” effect. (Adapted from www. bakerross.co.uk)

By RoBeRt Duncan

And solitude, a wild solitude ’s reveald, fearfully, high I’d climb into the shaking uncertainties, part out of longing, part daring my self, part to see that widening of the world, part

to find my own, my secret hiding sense and place, where from afar all voices and scenes come back

—the barking of a dog, autumnal burnings, far calls, close calls— the boy I was calls out to me here the man where I am “Look!

I’ve been where you most fear to be.”

[Source: Ground Work: Before the War (New Directions Publishing Corporation, 1984)]

If you could invent a new board game, what would it be called? How is it played? What are the rules? What makes it fun to play? Write about it! It’s in the perilous boughs of the tree out of blue sky the wind sings loudest surrounding me.

WORD SEARCH

Edghill warns of prosecution, clamping of overweight trucks

– as weigh-in-motion scales roll out countrywide

As the Guyana Government moves to impose weight restrictions for trucks on the country’s roadways, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill has warned that trucks found to be over the weight limit of 15 tonnes per axle will be clamped and impounded, while the owners/operators will also face prosecution.

Over the last two days, the Public Works Ministry, along with stakeholders including the Guyana Police Force (GPF), has been conducting test runs as it introduces the weigh-in-motion scales on major roadways

across the country. During a demonstration exercise of the weigh-in-motion scale on Thursday afternoon, subject Minister Juan Edghill revealed that teams will be dispatched on major roadways, including the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, Heroes Highway, the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge, and the East Coast Demerara (ECD) corridor, among others, to monitor the weight of trucks.

“We have started testing and setting up for the enforcement of 15 tonnes per axle on our roadways… I would like to inform the na-

tion that mobile teams will be dispatched on various roadways. In the next couple of days, every trucker and every transportation provider – whether it’s sand, loam, aggregate, cement, steel, or whatever the merchandise or materials that you are using – we will be testing and enforcing the weight limit,” the Minister advised.

Earlier this month, the Cabinet approved a series of new rules for trucks on roads and bridges nationwide, with those over the 15-tonne per axle limit being banned, as part of efforts to curb damages to infrastruc-

ture by heavy-duty vehicles and to protect Guyana’s road network as well as improve transportation safety. According to Edghill on Thursday, there would be consequences for trucks that do not abide by the weight restrictions.

“We cannot, as a country, continue to build infrastructure, roads and bridges, and shortly after, have them damaged because of the indiscriminate use and carrying of excessive loads by trucks and activated vehicles. Once you are caught carrying more than 15 tonnes per axle, you will remain parked right where we catch you until you remove the weight, and then you will be prosecuted by the police as well. So, we are giving everybody notice. If persons believe that this is a joke, we will clamp the trucks, we will impound the trucks, and we will use every available mechanism under the regulations and the laws to enforce it,” the Minister stressed.

In preparation for the enforcement of the 15-tonne per axle weight limit and the introduction of the weighin-motion scale, the Public Works Ministry has procured some 1000 truck clamps that will be issued to the Police Force for those vehicles that violate the limit. With actual enforcement set to begin this

weekend, the Public Works Minister is putting sand pit owners, loam pit owners, quarry operators, service providers, and truck owners and drivers on notice that there will be no tolerance for breaches of the weight limit. As such, he encouraged stakeholders to adhere to the weight restrictions.

“These are the weigh-inmotion scales that will test both the front and the back axles. You will get a printout, and it will show you exactly what the tonnage is, and we’ll be able to know if it is more than what is allowed and what is carried. We would expect in the next 48 hours as we roll this out, everybody will bring themselves in order, and after those 48 hours of grace and you getting a chance to see what is going on, we

will have to start doing extreme compliance,” Edghill declared.

At a press conference two weeks ago, the Public Works Minister had explained that letting overweight trucks keep driving would seriously damage the roads, and fines would not be enough to cover the repairs. He pointed out that the cost of the damage is much greater than the fines.

In April of this year, Edghill made it clear that heavy-laden trucks are not permitted to traverse along the railway embankment on the ECD to alleviate damage to the thoroughfare. This was after more than six Acrow-panel bridges underwent significant rehabilitation works but were subsequently destroyed by overladen trucks.

Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards takes early...

This “agreement” stipulation, however, has consistently resulted in political deadlock spanning over two decades and affecting five successive Presidential Administrations.

Consequently, Guyana has been without a substantive Chancellor and Chief Justice for more than two decades.

It was reported on Friday that President Ali had written to Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton, seeking his agreement for the substantive appointments of Justice George and Justice Singh in their respective posts.

However, efforts by this newspaper to contact Norton as well as several Government officials to confirm this were futile.

Only last week, the newly appointed President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Justice Winston Anderson, urged that the substantive appointments of the Chancellor and Chief Justice be made swiftly in Guyana.

“It is a concern. The judiciary, of course, would like to see the Chancellor and the Chief Justice confirmed in their positions… The Office of Chancellor and the Office of Chief Justice ought to be occupied by persons

who are confirmed,” Justice Anderson told reporters on the side-lines of an event in Georgetown on October 16.

However, the CCJ President recognises that there is a willingness on both the current Guyanese Government and opposition sides to end this impasse.

Guyana’s last substantive Chancellor was Justice Desiree Bernard, who served until 2005, when she left to join the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Since then, Justice Carl Singh was appointed acting Chancellor – a position he held until his retirement in 2017 without being confirmed.

Justice CummingsEdwards was then appointed acting Chancellor in 2017 by former President David Granger. He had also appointed Justice Roxane George as acting Chief Justice in 2017.

Prior to this, the late Justice Ian Chang was appointed acting Chief Justice in 2005 and served in the position until his retirement in 2015.

Guyana’s failure to have substantive appointments in its two top judicial posts has been lamented both locally and regionally, including by successive CCJ

Presidents.

Calls for the substantive appointments of these two top judicial positions have been a recurring demand from legal professionals, civil society groups, and international organisations, who argue that the long-standing acting appointments undermine the stability and perception of the judiciary’s independence.

In the past, Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall, SC, along with past Bar Association President Pauline Chase, had advocated for a re-evaluation of the constitutional provisions governing these appointments. They have suggested this issue be addressed during the country’s much-anticipated constitutional review process.

Similarly, Canada had called on Guyana to review its constitutional provisions that hinder the appointment of a substantive Chief Justice and Chancellor of the Judiciary. This call came from the Second Secretary at Canada’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations (UN) Office in Geneva, Amélie Goudreau, during a review of Guyana’s human rights record at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for

Human Rights’ (OHCHRUN) Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in Switzerland, back in May.

Nevertheless, with the entire Constitution of Guyana slated to be under review during the reform process, it is more than likely that the provisions for these key appointments will also be under consideration.

Back in December 2024, President Ali had assured that the substantive appointment of the Chancellor and Chief Justice is being continuously looked at. Meanwhile, the Bar Association earlier this year reiterated concerns about the prolonged lack of permanent appointments to these top judicial positions, describing the situation as “untenable”.

Weigh in Motion Scales will be introduced on roadways to limit overladen trucks

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill

5 arrested following discovery of cocaine, ganja onboard vessel at Port Kaituma

An intelligence-led operation at the Port Kaituma Waterfront, Region One (Barima-Waini), on Friday has led to the dis-

covery of 22.2 pounds of cannabis and 1.25 pounds of cocaine onboard a vessel.

Police stated that five occupants of the vessel were

arrested and are assisting with the investigations.

“The suspected narcotics were weighed, sealed and lodged at the Port Kaituma

Police Station in the presence of the suspects,” a release from the Guyana Police Force stated.

Starting…

…a new Parliament

The new opposition MPs have been squealing for sittings to begin – so they could get their authorisations for duty-free cars and other perks!! But the President legally had till November 2nd to authorise this!! Well, November 2nd being a Sunday, we’re informed that the “First Sitting of the National Assembly of the 13th Parliament of Guyana” will be convened Monday after next – November 3rd!! And to the cries that Pressie dragged matters out – they should reflect on the five-month delay that held up the Twelfth Parliament’s start!!

Anyhow, what are we to expect?? Fireworks?? Well, we had those at Diwali, didn’t we?!! OK… OK… Your Eyewitness knows the expectations are fireworks of another kind!! At the first sitting, the main order of business gonna be the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. With its comfortable majority of 36 out of the 65 seats, the governing PPP/C will definitely be nominating and electing a Speaker of their choice. This could be one of their MPs or not. If an MP is chosen, he or she will have a casting vote – when necessary!!

It's most likely Manzoor Nadir’s gonna be returned as Speaker. After all, he was on their list of candidates for the last elections, and they had to’ve been VERY satisfied with how he handled matters between 2020 and 2025!! This included the infamous seizing of the Mace from its place in front of him – for which eight Opposition MPs were censured for their role in the ensuing melee!! The Dep Speaker’s gonna also be elected – and traditionally comes from the Opposition benches – but not necessarily the largest Opposition Party. Nadir’s Deputy in the 12th Parliament was Lennox Schuman from the joinder parties that only got one seat – while the major Opposition APNU had 31!! The latter walked out, and maybe when – as expected – the PPP/C nominates someone from APNU and not WIN, Sanction Man might raise a ruckus and walk out!!

The real drama’s gonna erupt when the new Speaker decides to call for the election of the Leader of the Opposition (LOO). Sanction Man – with WIN’s 16 seats to APNU’s 12 – has already announced he’s gonna be the LOO!! And has already threatened to go to the courts to select new GECOM Opposition Commissioners!! But there’s been grumbling from his MPs, and who knows?? Maybe there will be a mutiny, and APNU’s Campbell will get the three crossovers to his twelve for fifteen to pip Sanction Man’s remaining 13?

OK…OK Sanction Man can threaten to replace the dissidents!! But in the case of Charandass voting against his party’s position in the No-Confidence Motion in 2018, the CCJ ruled the vote was legit!!

…to remove Mad Maduro

The Marines have landed!!! Well actually they landed in T&T, where they’re supposed to be holding joint “exercises” with the local military!! But with 14 per cent of America’s entire naval fleet – complete with destroyers and aircraft carriers and 10,000 troops – in the Caribbean, it strains credibility that Pres Trump’s gonna bring them back quietly to the mainland – without achieving what we all know to be the objective: GET MAD MADURO!!

Now don’t expect massive numbers of troops to be landing to slog their way like at Iwo Jima in WWII. No siree, Bob!! This is the new warfare we see unfolding in Ukraine – with long-range missiles and drones taking out identified targets. As we saw in the Middle East, intelligence by the CIA and their local sources gives those missiles pinpoint accuracy!! Promises would have already been made to the military heads Mad Maduro’s depending on to protect him!!

It’s a Greek tragedy unfolding – in which Mad Maduro’s gonna get a taste of his own medicine!!

…to modernise agri

Your Eyewitness has always been impressed with our farmers adopting new technologies to improve their products and yields. The latest is nano fertilisers – they are applied directly to leaves to eliminate the leaching out of traditional fertilisers from soils!!

The cocaine and ganja found onboard the vessel

Rupununi farmer nabbed with gun, ammo & gunpowder after threatening to shoot councillors

Fifty-four-year-old

Tony Joseph, a farmer of Shiri Village, South Central Rupununi, was taken into custody following the discovery of a single-barrel shotgun, five live cartridges, five spent shells, and two plastic tubes containing gunpowder.

According to information received, Police had gone to the area to investigate an incident which alleged that Joseph had threatened to shoot several village councillors over a domestic issue.

A visit to the village: the suspect, along with his 33-year-old girlfriend, was found at the home of

his cousin. A search of the premises unearthed an unloaded single-barrel shotgun without a serial number.

The suspect was taken to his home, located a short distance away, where a further search was conducted.

There, ranks found a plastic bag containing five live cartridges, five spent shells, and two plastic tubes containing gunpowder.

Joseph was then arrested and taken to the Lethem Police Station, where he was interrogated and claimed that the shotgun belonged to his cousin while the cartridges were his. He further stated that he purchased the

cartridges from Brazil and would usually sell them to other farmers. Efforts are being made by Police to locate the suspect’s cousin, at whose home the shotgun was found.

An investigation is underway.

Arrested: Tony Joseph

The gun, ammunition and gunpowder were seized by Police

Promising opportunities in Guyana’s agriculture, food processing sectors – Indian diplomat

...as India soon to field trade delegation to explore investment opportunities at upcoming GuyExpo

As Guyana continues to diversify its economy, there are lots of opportunities for potential investments in the agriculture and food-processing sectors that are being eyed by companies from India. This is according to the Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr Amit Telang, during a recent interview with Guyana Times. Cognisant of Guyana’s continued exponential growth, the Indian diplomat highlighted his country’s desire to play a significant role in this unprecedented economic transformation.

In fact, he recognised that opportunities for foreign investments here are expanding, and India is looking to capitalise on these with special interest in the budding agriculture and food processing sectors in Guyana.

“We are also looking at, in terms of participation of Indian companies in different projects related to ag-

tential in terms of agriculture and the food processing industry. So, we would be very much looking forward to that area of cooperation as well,” the Indian diplomat stated. The Guyana Government has been pursuing an aggressive agriculture agenda, with heightened investments in agro-processing and other related sectors.

riculture and food processing… and there’s a lot of promise, I would say, in the agriculture and food processing sector. We know that Guyana has a lot of po-

According to High Commissioner Telang, India will be fielding a trade delegation next to explore opportunities in these and other areas for possible in-

vestments.

That visit will coincide with the hosting of GuyExpo 2025. Set for November 13 to 16, GuyExpo is Guyana’s premier trade and investment showcase that highlights local and regional products, bringing together innovations, entrepreneurship and culture.

“We are in touch right now with the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce [in Georgetown], and in fact, they would be inviting one of our prominent chambers of commerce, which can be a partner, to mount a business delegation from India. And definitely, we will look at all possible options. It will not be only agriculture and food processing; it will include companies from other sectors as

well.” “Based on what we are looking at in terms of what GuyExpo has to offer, which are the different areas that are part of GuyExpo, different sectors, and wherever we find that there is complementarity existing, we’ll certainly include those companies from India to be a part of the visiting delegation,” Dr Telang revealed.

Over the years, Guyana and India have established strong cooperation in the agriculture sector, with the Asian country lending its expertise and innovations in various fields, including rice, sugar, corn and wheat, to help bolster local production. Just last year, during the historic visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Guyana, several Memorandums of

Understanding (MoUs) were inked between the two countries to strengthen cooperation, specifically, the exchanging of information technology and expertise to enhance the efficiency of the agriculture and allied sectors. This collaboration aims to promote climate-resilient and precision agriculture, foster digital public infrastructure and create a supportive ecosystem for farmers, particularly smallholders. In a joint statement, it was noted that both President Dr Irfaan Ali and PM Modi acknowledged the crucial role of the agricultural sector in advancing food security and nutrition and expressed a shared commitment to strengthening collaboration.

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr Amit Telang

A small agro-processing plant in Guyana

The nano fertilisers produced by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) in collaboration with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) of India

Norton says APNU opposes US military presence in Caribbean

Chairman of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Aubrey Norton, has expressed strong opposition to the growing United States (US) military presence in the Caribbean and waters off northern South America to combat drug trafficking in the region.

Speaking at APNU’s weekly virtual press conference on Friday, Norton was questioned about the party’s stance on the situation, given the regional debate. Norton called for the US to explore increasing resources to capture narco traffickers instead.

“I will have difficulty; the APNU will have difficulty supporting that. The rule of law should prevail both at the local level and at the international level,” Norton said.

“I do not think anybody should be bombed just because they are perceived as drug traffickers. The United States has the capacity to capture them and bring them to trial, but I cannot ever support a situation where a sovereign state bombs people in another sovereign state over so-called drug trafficking. The APNU will have difficulty supporting that.”

Norton further stressed that Guyana’s interests must remain the priority.

“The United States has its interests and will pursue its interests. We have our interests; we must pursue our interests. We are cogni-

sant of the fact that we are a small nation and we do not have a lot of the tools at our disposal, and therefore diplomacy is what is needed at this stage,” Norton said.

“There are areas in which we have strengths; there are areas in which we have weaknesses. We know we are not a military power, but we know that in Guyana there exists the brainpower to engage and ensure our positions are understood and move forward.”

Norton’s statements underscore a growing debate in the region over the balance between countering transnational crime and protecting national sovereignty, highlighting the differing approaches among Caribbean leaders to US military involvement in regional security

Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has publicly supported these measures.

Since September, the Trump Administration has intensified its military presence in the Caribbean, signalling a significant escalation in a campaign against drug cartels and increasing tensions with Venezuela.

The US began conducting airstrikes on vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean on September 2. Along with the most recent strike, the US has carried out 10 attacks on suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean, killing nearly 40 persons.

Norton’s remarks come amid Pentagon announcements on Friday that the US has dramatically escalated a military build-up in the Caribbean by deploying the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford and its strike group to the US Southern Command region, citing the need to “bolster US capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities.”

However, Venezuela, which has continually threatened Guyana’s rightful territorial integrity over the past few years, has accused the US of attempting to disrupt peace. Venezuela’s threat against Guyana has increased under current president Nicolas Maduro.

Addressing this issue earlier this month, President Dr Irfaan Ali highlighted the importance

of defending sovereignty while maintaining regional peace.

“Our dispute with the Venezuelan state is not born of hatred, nor does it prevent us from seeking to advance our relations, but

we will not compromise our sovereignty,” President Irfaan Ali said.

“Guyana supports the aspiration of keeping Latin America and the Caribbean a zone of peace, but equally, we support every action

and embrace partnership to combat transnational crime, the illicit drug trade, and any form of destabilisation that threatens the security of Guyana and this region.”

Duo remanded on murder charge; woman arrested with duo granted bail for ammo possession

Akande Ross, a 25-yearold machine operator of 1358 Herstelling, East Bank Demerara, and Shaquille Wilburg, a 29-year-old resident of 14 Public Road Buxton, East Coast Demerara, were arrested on October 20, 2025, for the offence of murder in the furtherance of a robbery, committed on 24-year-old Faynell Brewster. Ross and Wilburg both appeared at the Georgetown

Magistrate’s Court #2, before Principal Magistrate Leron Daley, on Friday, October 24, to answer the charge. They were not required to plead and were subsequently remanded to prison.

Additionally, 25-year-old Atelly Gonsalves of Morocut Square, East La Penitence, was also arrested on October 20, 2025.

Gonsalves and Akande Ross were both charged with

the offence of unlawful possession of ammunition without a licence.

They pleaded not guilty after appearing before Magistrate Leron Daly in court to answer the charge. Gonsalves was granted bail in the sum of $300,000, while Akande Ross was remanded to prison on the charge.

The matters were adjourned until November 18, 2025.

Atelly Gonsalves

Remanded: Akande Ross and Shaquille Wilburg

APNU Chairman and PNCR leader Aubrey Norton

Model Farm Open Day plants seeds of knowledge, growth

Beneath a bright morning sun, the hum of voices and the scent of fresh produce filled the air at the Ministry of Agriculture’s Model Farm. Farmers, students, and agriculture officers came together for a day of learning, discovery, and celebration during the annual Model Farm Open Day and Exhibition.

For Krisna Sewlall, National Model Farm Coordinator, the day represented more than just an exhibition; it was a living classroom.

“Our main role at this model farm is to promote and support agricultural development by helping farmers and students adopt new technologies,” Sewlall said, as he guided visitors between rows of lush celery and sweet pepper plants.

The Model Farm functions as a hands-on demonstration site, showing farmers how to identify and overcome challenges in the field. Celery, for instance, is in high demand, up to $3000 per pound, yet many farmers struggle with diseases like damping off and leaf spots.

Through its Farmers’ Clinic, the Model Farm offers real-time diagnosis and solutions. Farmers bring in samples, discuss their challenges, and receive expert advice to improve yield and

also a hub for education and training.

Students from schools across Regions Five and Six, including Berbice High School, attend open days to see classroom lessons come alive. Teachers, too, benefit through in-service training, using the farm to strengthen their agricultural science

of Agriculture. Each showcased innovative tools, techniques, and products designed to boost productivity and sustainability.

As the event came to a close, the pride was evident on Sewlall’s face.

quality.

“We also focus on Blue Star sweet pepper. Many farmers face problems with thrips and mites, so we show them how to recognise those pests and manage them properly,” Sewlall explained.

But the Model Farm is not just for farmers. It is

programmes.

“Teachers often come here to go through specific topics. We assist them to enhance their curriculum and make agriculture more practical and engaging.”

This year’s Open Day drew more than 800 participants and featured eight agencies from the Ministry

“It has been a successful agricultural activity. Seeing farmers, students, and agencies working together – that’s what progress looks like,” Sewlall said. With every demonstration, every seedling, and every student eager to learn, the Model Farm continues to plant more than crops; it plants the seeds of a stronger, more resilient agricultural future for Guyana.

Krisna Sewlall, National Model Farm Coordinator

The Model Farm functions as a hands-on demonstration site

This year’s Open Day drew more than 800 participants and featured eight agencies from the MoA

GPF records decline in crime in Region One after increased patrols, community engagement

Superintendent of Police and Deputy Commander of Regional Division One, James Tappin, has reported a reduction in crime across the region – a positive outcome he attributed to the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) strengthened operational posture, increased patrols and enhanced community partnerships.

Speaking during a recent radio programme, Superintendent Tappin said that the division has seen “a small but meaningful reduction” in crime, noting that the Force’s proactive approach has significantly improved visibility and responsiveness in both urban and remote communities. “We presently enjoy a small reduction in crime, and this has been due to our operational posture,” he explained.

“We’ve had an increase in ground patrols, including

vehicle patrols with pickups, ATVs and bikes, as well as boat patrols – because as you know, the region is heavily traversed not only by land but also by air and water. Our policing strategy must therefore reflect that dynamic.”

The senior officer emphasised that the decline in criminal activity is the result of deliberate measures implemented to ensure greater Police presence across the vast region, which spans hundreds of villages and communities. He acknowledged, however, that the size and terrain of the region continue to pose logistical challenges, particularly in delivering consistent policing services to remote hinterland and riverine areas. He explained that due to the region’s vast size and challenging terrain, delivering services to remote communities remains difficult.

As a result, the Police

have been relying heavily on community policing group members strategically stationed across the region. Currently, there are over 60 community policing groups comprising more than 500 members operating in over 100 villages and satellite communities. Tappin said these partnerships have

proven vital in extending the reach of the Force, improving intelligence gathering, and promoting trust between residents and law enforcement. Turning his attention to domestic violence, the Superintendent revealed that Regional Division One has adopted a firm and structured ap-

proach to addressing such cases, ensuring that victims receive both justice and support.

“We have adopted a posture where over 90 per cent of domestic violence cases end up before the court,” he disclosed. “The remaining cases often receive intervention from NGOs (non-Governmental organisations) and support groups that provide counselling and social assistance. Our goal is to ensure that every domestic violence case is effectively and efficiently addressed to prevent escalation, and in some instances, to save lives.”

He emphasised that collaboration with social agencies continues to play a key role in addressing the root causes of domestic and interpersonal violence within the region. With the Christmas season approaching, Superintendent Tappin also outlined the division’s plans to further enhance security and engagement across communities. He revealed that the Force will implement a robust Christmas policing posture designed to ensure public safety, deter criminal activity, and strengthen Police–community relationships. “We will be seeing more engagement between the Police and the community throughout the length and breadth of Regional Division One,” he said. “Expect heightened activities between the Police and their auxiliary units, as well as stronger partnerships with the business community.”

As part of the plan, patrols will be intensified

Pilgrim reflected on the institution’s growth over the years, noting that the GPS has moved away from outdated systems and practices towards a more humane and rehabilitative model.

He revealed that these efforts are paving the way for the eventual transition from the Guyana Prison Service to the Guyana Correctional Service.

“We have seen the positive impacts of partnerships with members of the Joint Services, educational institutions, NGOs, community organisations, Government agencies, and the media,” he said. “In the past, the Prison Service was silent, which allowed misinformation to spread. Today, we have our own public relations mechanism and programmes that ensure the public receives accurate information.”

According to Pilgrim, the GPS continues to strengthen initiatives focused on education, vocational training, and mental health support for inmates, all aimed at promoting successful reintegration into society.

“Together, we are not just transforming lives – we

across all sub-districts, including road, river, and ATV patrols. In remote areas, joint service operations involving the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) will also be conducted to ensure a coordinated security presence.

“You will also see more foot patrols,” Tappin continued. “Our younger ranks, along with senior supervisors, will be out engaging the business community – sensitising them about safety, security, and their role in keeping our region safe.”

The Deputy Commander further called on residents to take an active role in maintaining safety during the festive period.

“As Sir Robert Peel said, ‘The Police are the public and the public are the Police.’ Crime is everybody’s business,” he stressed. “I urge members of the Region One community to remain vigilant, cooperate with the Police, and share whatever information they have that can help in preventing crime and ensuring peace across the region.” Superintendent Tappin expressed optimism that through sustained collaboration, continuous patrols, and stronger stakeholder partnerships, the division will maintain its downward trend in criminal activity well beyond the holiday season.

“Our goal is to keep Region One safe, secure, and peaceful,” he said. “With the continued support of our community, we are confident that we can build on this progress and further strengthen public trust in the Police.”

are transforming the narrative surrounding incarceration and rehabilitation in Guyana,” he affirmed. “As we continue to move forward, our work does not end here. The road ahead may be challenging, but with continued collaboration, we can achieve even greater milestones.”

He closed by expressing gratitude to all partners and stakeholders for their ongoing commitment.

“Your expertise, resources, and passion have enriched our programmes and provided invaluable support to our staff and inmates,” he said. “Let us inspire one another and remain accountable as we strive for a more just and rehabilitative system that all Guyanese can be proud of.”

Some of the individuals and organisations recognised were the Guyana Times, CEO of BIT Richard Maugh, Dr Kinnary Brahma – a yoga facilitator, Chief Fire Officer Gregory Wickham, Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken, Brigadier Omar Khan and Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle.

Superintendent of Police and Deputy Commander of Regional

Division One, James Tappin

Guyana-Brazil international road agreement to be implemented before year-end

The International Road Transport Agreement (IRTA) between Guyana and Brazil was on Friday the focus of a meeting between the Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, and truckers from Lethem, Region Nine, who operate along the Georgetown–Brazil route.

According to a Department of Public Information (DPI) report, the partnership, which is set to be fully implemented before year-end, will regulate the movement of passengers and cargo by road between the two countries, stimulating new tourism and investment opportunities.

ing licence, will be issued. This will allow transport operators to move goods between Guyana and Brazil.

A supplemental licence issued through the ANTT must then be obtained within 120 days.

Meanwhile, as Guyana deepens its cross-border cooperation with Brazil, new infrastructure is being developed to support trade, security and logistics.

Minister Edghill revealed the Government’s plans to establish air-conditioned containers and multi-agency facilities at strategic locations to house police, customs, immigration and anti-narcotics units.

To ensure this partnership protects the interests and economic well-being of Guyanese, the Minister discussed the formalisation of cross-border travel and sought to address their concerns.

During the engagement, which was held at the Lethem Regional Democratic Council (RDC), Minister Edghill encouraged the truckers to take advantage of the opportunities that are expected to come on stream as a result of the project.

“Our discussion today aims for you to be more than just a man wanting a hustle.

It must be how we fix a system that allows you, others, your children and your children’s children and us as a country to leapfrog into the next level of engagement and influence,” he said.

Importantly, the initiative aims to streamline licensing, customs, and security processes to boost

Promising opportunities in...

As a matter of fact, in June last year, a delegation of technical experts from India was in Guyana on a familiarisation visit, inspecting the local tissue culture lab, the hydroponic farm, and the Mangrove Information and Preservation Centre at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD). Moreover, at least seven Indian technical experts were previously working with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to support its revitalisation efforts, focusing on areas such as field management, agro-management and crop management.

But according to the Indian High Commissioner, these collaborations are not just at the Government-toGovernment level but also Government-to-Private Sector. In fact, the Guyana

Government already has several cooperation initiatives with Indian companies on agricultural projects, including hydroponics and nano fertilisers. Only on Wednesday, the Ministry of Agriculture launched Guyana’s first-ever nanotechnology fertiliser – a collaboration between the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and India’s The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). According to the Ministry, the introduction of nano fertilisers marks a new era in Guyana’s rice cultivation and agricultural innovation by enhancing productivity, reducing input costs, and promoting sustainable farming practices across the country. The introduction of nano fertilisers in Guyana began in mid-2022, following a collaboration between

the GRDB and TERI.

Early trials included various nanotechnology-based formulations, such as boron nanoparticles, di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium (NPK) fertiliser, and a growth-promoting blend of NPK nutrients. This partnership deepened following Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo’s visit to India in early 2023, during which an MoU was signed between the Government of Guyana and TERI to advance sustainable agricultural practices in Guyana.

Acting on the VP’s directive, the testing of Nano Urea was prioritised and initiated at the Burma Rice Research Station, Mahaicony, where demonstration trials have been successfully conducted over four crop seasons since April 2023.

regional integration and trade.

Under the agreement, the Ministry of Home Affairs will serve as Guyana’s implementing agency, while the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT) will serve as Brazil’s implementing agency.

Both agencies are responsible for registering transport companies and reviewing licensing applications for cross-border oper-

ations.

To qualify, operators must first be registered businesses and can provide key documentation, including tax identification numbers (TIN) and vehicle licences, among others.

Companies must also appoint a legal representative in Brazil to handle administrative and legal matters.

Once applications are approved, a document of competence, the official operat-

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) will also install container scanners at border points such as the Takutu Bridge and Lethem crossing to enhance trade monitoring and security.

The Minister added that plans for a deep-water harbour are advancing, and this is part of the Government’s plan to position Guyana as a major player in regional shipping, logistics and trade.

AFC’s Devin Sears “innocent until proven guilty” – Norton

Chairman of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Aubrey Norton on Friday defended Alliance for Change (AFC) member Devin Sears as presumptively innocent until proven guilty in his drug trafficking charge.

Sears was charged with the offence after a vehicle he was driving on Monday was intercepted with over 680 pounds of marijuana. At the time Sears noted that he was “transporting tourism plants”. Sears pleaded not guilty to the charge but remains remanded until November 11. A prominent political figure in Region 10, Sears is a former Regional Member of Parliament (MP) for the APNU+AFC.

On Friday Norton was questioned about the blow that Sears’ situation brings to the already plagued opposition. Norton noted that while he will not defend Sears, notwithstanding how things look, until he is found guilty, Sears remains innocent.

“Like every human being in this society, he should be presumed innocent until he’s proven guilty. We are saying the same thing when it comes to other crimes committed in society, but we seem to just want to make Devin Sears guilty. I will hold no brief for him, but all I would say to you is he should be assumed innocent until proven guilty, and that should apply across the board,” Norton responded.

Similar sentiments were earlier this week echoed in a statement by Sears’ AFC party.

With Region 10 a prominent opposition stronghold, over the years Sears has been a leading voice in the opposition camp. Sears has served as a councillor at the Linden Mayor and Town Council, vice chairman and chairman of AFC’s Region 10 Chapter, General Secretary of the AFC Youth Arm For Change, and Organising Secretary for AFC’s Region 10 Management Committee.

He was also serving as the vice chairman of the Region Ten Tourism Committee Inc at the time of his arrest. He has since resigned from this position.

It was on Monday that the Police reported that

39-year-old Sears was pulled over at around 20:41 hrs in the vicinity of the old Bamia Police Checkpoint in Linden while driving a minibus registered to the Region 10 Tourism Committee.

During the stop, Police stated that Sears began to act in a suspicious manner and was sweating profusely. He was accompanied by 69-year-old Albert Sandy, a farmer from Tacama Waterfront, Upper Berbice River.

An officer then instructed Sears to pull over and then informed him that a search would be conducted on the vehicle.

During the search, Police uncovered 22 plastic bags and four canvas bags, which, when searched, turned out to be marijuana.

Both men were told of the offence, arrested, and cautioned.

Police said Sears remained silent, while Sandy admitted ownership, stating that the narcotics belonged to him and that he had paid the AFC member to transport him to Parika.

Sandy has since pleaded guilty to the offence on Thursday and was sentenced to four years imprisonment when they appeared before Magistrate Rushelle Liverpool at Linden Magistrate’s Court.

During the court appearance Sears was represented by fellow AFC member and former leader, attorney Nigel Hughes, along with attorney Bernard DaSilva.

AFC MP Devin Sears

Truckers at the International Road Transport Agreement (IRTA) between Guyana and Brazil engagement on Friday

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, engages truckers in Lethem on Friday (DPI photos)

Pres Ali welcomes more investments by Chinese companies in Guyana

resident Dr Irfaan

PAli has welcomed the increasing interest and investments by Chinese-owned companies in Guyana. This was related during a recent high-level meeting between the Guyanese Head of State and the Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Yang Yang, along with their respective teams. According to a statement from the Chinese Embassy in Georgetown, the engagement, which was held on Wednesday, October 22, at State House, saw the two sides exchange views on bilateral relations and practical cooperation. It was noted that President Ali spoke highly of the Guyana-China partnership and pragmatic cooperation and looked forward to deepening bilateral

cooperation.

“President Ali welcomed more Chinese companies to invest in Guyana to support the country’s development and transformation,” the Chinese Embassy said in the brief statement about the meeting. Meanwhile, it was stated that Ambassador Yang applauded Guyana’s firm commitment to ChinaGuyana friendship and support for the four global initiatives proposed by China’s President, Xi Jinping.

The statement added that “China stands ready to strengthen synergy with Guyana to deliver more outcomes in Belt and Road cooperation for the benefit of the two countries and two peoples.” As more Chinese companies are being encouraged to invest here, the Guyana

Government has made it clear that they must do so in compliance with the local laws and regulations. In fact, only earlier this month, the Chinese Embassy had to call on Chinese nationals operating businesses in Guyana to follow the country’s laws, including opening bank accounts here. This came on the heels of the Government announcing a slew of measures to stabilise the local financial sector, including the implementation of a new foreign exchange monitoring mechanism. Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo had assured that these new measures will not burden ordinary Guyanese or small businesses but will instead target loopholes that allow non-Guyanese entities, like the Chineseowned supermarkets, to exploit the system and evade taxes. Against this backdrop, the Chinese Embassy issued a notice to encourage lawful business operations by Chinese-owned and Chinese-operated shops.

Chinese-operated businesses

In the missive, the Chinese Embassy reminded the local Chinese business community to ensure they “…apply for business licences, residence permits, and ID in accordance with the relevant law of Guyana; open bank accounts; and conduct business activities within the scope permitted by the relevant law of Guyana.”

Chinese businesses are also urged to standardise daily business practices. Specifically, the Embassy implored that they “…strictly control product quality, do not sell expired, unidentified-origin or counterfeit goods. Strictly adhere to relevant laws; do not engage in money laundering, smug-

gling, commercial fraud or similar activities. Strictly comply with tax regulations; invoice customers accurately and pay taxes regularly; contribute social insurance for employees legally.” Additionally, the Embassy called on Chinese businesses to actively shoulder social responsibilities in Guyana, ensuring that they hire Guyanese employees legally and make positive contributions to local economic development. Moreover, Chinese business operators are encouraged to “…cooperate fully with law enforcement inspections. Should you encounter unfair treatment, handle the situation calmly and rationally while gathering evidence to protect your legitimate rights afterward.”

According to the Chinese Embassy, Chinese businesses should also enhance safety awareness and strengthen risk prevention. “Equip your premises with necessary security devices, minimise on-site cash reserves,

and hire security guards if necessary. In emergencies, call the police immediately and seek assistance from the Chinese Embassy,” it told business operators. During his October 2 press conference, VP Jagdeo pointed out that the measures being rolled out by Government are aimed primarily at large-scale foreign currency users whose transactions are not always reflected in Guyana’s formal financial system. He cited cases such as some Chinese-owned supermarkets that import large volumes of goods without maintaining bank accounts locally. “We’re not going to restrict Guyanese from purchasing foreign currency… [But] most of these [Chinese] supermarkets don’t have a bank account… and they’re importing a lot of goods to sell in their supermarkets. How are they getting the foreign currency? So, closing these loopholes would allow us to collect more taxes from these foreign entities, mainly, who

are operating here, or if they are using our foreign currency on credit cards to meet demand in another country,” Jagdeo had said.

In a September 30 meeting with the heads of local banks, President Ali disclosed that the Government, through the Bank of Guyana, has injected a staggering US$1.2 billion into the local financial system so far this year – more than triple the amount provided in the entire year of 2024 – in an effort to meet rising demand for foreign currency. According to the Head of State, credit card clearances rose from US$91.3 million in 2023 to US$347.5 million in 2024. For 2025 so far, transactions have already reached US$252 million, even before the yearend holiday period.

To deal with these pressures, the administration has announced a series of interventions that will reshape how foreign exchange requests are processed.

Guyana to offer attractive incentives for development of resorts countrywide

The Government of Guyana (GOG), through the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, is inviting proposals for the development of eco-lodges and resorts across the country.

The Government said it is prepared to offer attractive incentives for the development of the ecolodge and resort industry, including fiscal incentives.

The objective of this project is to generate employment by engaging the local communities, create business opportunities through collaboration and partnership by engaging with the local communities, expand the country’s accommodation selection and the quality of room stock, encourage the participation of the public and pri-

vate sectors, and facilitate preservation by supporting and promoting sustainable practices.

Areas identified for suitable investment are Mashabo in Region Two; Vreed en Hoop Waterfront and Leguan in Region Three; Stabroek Waterfront in Region Four; Bartica, Sakaika Falls and Kumerau Falls in Region Seven; Kamana and Orinduik Falls in Region Eight; and Lethem in Region Nine.

“…it is envisaged that the eco-lodges/resorts contain elements such as the following: nature trails, wildlife viewing platforms or reserves, bird trails and viewing spots, adventure and exploration offerings, agritourism and culinary fusion offerings, entertainment, natural wellness/

spa, and gift shops or indigenous artesian boutiques, among other activities,” the Ministry noted in the Request for Proposals (RFPs).

The Government said it will use the responses to this RFP to rank and select those parties who will be invited to negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), including land terms, zoning, development conditions, and other incentives that will be provided.

The deadline for the submission of the RFP is December 31st, 2025.

The initiative, it stated, “supports sustainable tourism development, encourages community partnerships and highlights Guyana’s unmatched natural and cultural heritage.”

President Dr Irfaan Ali and his team, comprising Cabinet Ministers, recently met with a delegation from the Chinese Embassy led by Ambassador Yang Yang

President Dr Irfaan Ali with Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Yang Yang

Kaieteur Gorge, Kaieteur National Park

PSC engages Japanese business mission on expanding investment in Guyana

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) recently participated in the JETRO Guyana Business Mission 2025, held from October 22–23, 2025, which brought together a high-level Japanese delegation representing 14 companies across multiple industries.

During the two-day mission, the delegation met and engaged with members of the private sector through business matching sessions and networking exchanges aimed at strengthening trade and investment partnerships between Guyana and Japan.

At the opening ceremony, PSC Chairman Captain Gerald Gouveia Jr described the mission as a great opportunity for investors in the private sector to forge meaningful partnerships that will strengthen trade and technology transfer between Guyana and Japan.

He highlighted Guyana’s potential as a hub for manufacturing, ICT, and logistics in the Caribbean and emphasised the country’s role as a gateway for Japanese businesses looking to expand into the region.

At the closing ceremony, Dr Peter Ramsaroop, Chief

Investment Officer and Head of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), expressed optimism about the outcomes of the visit, noting that he was “very interested in the technology coming out of Japan and in working together with the companies represented.”

In a statement, the PSC said it welcomes initiatives that foster international cooperation, technology exchange, and sustainable investment opportunities, further positioning Guyana as a key destination for regional and global business engagement.

CDB calls for urgent investment in irrigation to boost Caribbean food security

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing food and income security across the region through sustainable irrigation investments.

partners to discuss innovative approaches to water management in agriculture.

for greater concessional and grant financing to support infrastructure development.

“Reliable irrigation – as evidenced from irrigation projects we have supported in several countries – can double or triple agricultural productivity,” said Vice President Solomon. “It enables crop diversification and year-round production, allowing farmers to move beyond rain-fed subsistence crops to higher-value fruits and vegetables.”

Dr Solomon highlighted findings from a joint CDB–Food and Agriculture

The Vice President emphasised that irrigation projects must be tailored to the specific needs and conditions of each location, taking into account projected climate scenarios to ensure long-term viability. These initiatives should integrate suitable technologies and prioritise water conservation, while also promoting improved governance and effective management of water resources. Equally important is the commit-

practices and called for integrated water resources management to ensure sustainability and equitable access.

Vice President Solomon concluded with a call to action for Caribbean na-

tions to adopt holistic, climate-smart approaches to irrigation, ensuring that water abundance is harnessed wisely to mitigate the impact of droughts and build resilient agricultural systems.

As part of its Rebirth Vision, the Bank continues to champion solutions that combine infrastructure, governance, and technology to deliver lasting impact in food and water security.

Chile offers limited scholarships for Guyanese in engineering and IT fields

Speaking at the closing of the Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum at the recent 2025 World Food Forum, the Bank’s Vice President (Operations), Dr Isaac Solomon, emphasised the urgent need for climate-resilient water infrastructure to support smallholder farmers and strengthen national food systems.

The Forum, themed “Enhancing Food and Income Security Through Sustainable Irrigation Investments in Caribbean Countries”, brought together ministers, technical experts, and development

Organization study which revealed that droughts are increasing in frequency and intensity across the Caribbean, threatening rural livelihoods and food security. With less than four per cent of arable land in the region currently irrigated, the Bank is advocating

ment to inclusivity, ensuring that women, youth, and marginalised groups are actively involved and benefit from these interventions.

CDB also announced its work on a regional knowledge platform to provide farmers with mobile access to location-specific best

The Government of Guyana, in collaboration with the Republic of Chile, is offering a limited number of scholarships in Chile at the Master’s Degree level for the 2026/2027 academic year. Applicants are invited from suitably qualified persons for consideration in the following fields of study:

Electrical Engineering

– Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Engineering –

Structural Engineering (Geotechnical) – Pontifical

Catholic University of Chile Data Science

Information and Management – Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Data Science – Adolfo Ibanez University

Computer Science –Austral University of Chile

Key eligibility requirements for applicants are that applicants must be

holders of valid Guyanese passports, must have relevant Bachelor’s Degrees, must be fluent in the Spanish language (i.e., must be able to speak, read, and write in Spanish), and must have unconditional acceptance letters from the relevant universities.

The closing date for submission of applications is October 26, 2025.

Interested persons can visit mps.gov.gy for further information.

US strike against alleged drug vessel in Caribbean kills 6, Pentagon says

AUS strike against an alleged drug vessel killed six suspected “narco-terrorists” in the Caribbean, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday, the latest op-

eration in President Donald Trump’s counter-drug campaign in the region.

In a post on X, Hegseth said this was the first strike carried out at night as part of the campaign which began in

September. The strike took place overnight, and the vessel was operated by the Tren de Aragua gang, he added.

While Hegseth did not provide any evidence of what the vessel was carrying, he posted a roughly 20-second video which appeared to show the vessel in water before being hit by at least one projectile and exploding.

Trump said on Thursday that his Administration plans to brief the US Congress on operations against drug cartels and that even though he did not need a declaration of war, operations against cartels on land would be next.

Along with the most recent strike, the United States has carried out 10 attacks on suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean, killing nearly 40 persons. While the Pentagon has provided little information, it has said some of those strikes have been against vessels near Venezuela.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

US warship bound for Trinidad for military exercises

AUS warship is due to arrive in Trinidad for a five-day visit during which joint training exercises would be done with the T&T Defence Force, the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs announced on October 23.

The USS Gravely will dock in Port of Spain from October 26 to 30 with the 22nd US Marine Expeditionary Unit onboard.

“The US military services’ presence in Trinidad and Tobago highlights the US commitment to regional security and cooperative efforts in the Caribbean. The visit strengthens US–

Trinidad and Tobago military cooperation through expert exchanges focused on

core infantry tactics, maintenance procedures and advanced medical capabilities,

leveraging the TTDF’s facilities to enhance tactical proficiency and enhance mutual trust. These efforts strengthen interoperability, reinforce long-term defence cooperation and improve operational readiness among partner forces,” the ministry said in a statement.

The warship arrives a week after the US Embassy, in an advisory on October 18, warned American citizens to avoid visiting US Government facilities in this country “due to a heightened state of alert” over the recent Divali holiday weekend. (Excerpt from Trinidad & Tobago Newsday)

Woman detained after 37-lb cannabis seizure at Antigua airport

Ajoint drug operation at the VC Bird International Airport, Antigua, on Wednesday led to the seizure of about 37 pounds of cannabis valued at more than $222,000.

Ecuador’s

Police said officers from the Narcotics Department, K-9 Unit, and Customs Enforcement conducted the search around 14:15h at the airport’s Cargo Shed. Two cardboard boxes were

President

found containing 37 vacuum-sealed packages of the suspected drug.

A woman was taken into custody and is assisting police with investigations. (Antigua News Room)

says he was target of foiled chocolate, jam poisoning

Ecuador’s President has said someone attempted to poison him by putting three highly concentrated toxic substances in gifts of chocolate and jam.

One dead in Haiti as Tropical Storm Melissa nears Jamaica

Tropical Storm Melissa lumbered through the Caribbean Sea on Thursday, killing one person in Haiti and threatening the region with life-threatening flash floods and landslides as it crawls slowly toward Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.

Haitian authorities said an elderly man was killed in the coastal town of Marigot after a large tree fell on him, while five others were injured in flooding in the central Artibonite region. The Civil Protection Agency warned that the risk of deadly landslides remains high as heavy rains continue to saturate the soil in southern Hispaniola – the island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

A hurricane watch was in effect for Jamaica and Haiti’s southwestern peninsula, stretching from the Dominican border to Portau-Prince, while a tropical storm warning covered all of Jamaica.

“The system is still mov-

ing very slowly,” said

Director

“We are very concerned about the potential for multiple days of long-duration wind, storm surge, heavy rainfall and flooding impacts.”

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced Thursday that it had allocated $4 million to support over 10,000 vulnerable Haitians ahead of the storm. The funds will go toward emergency evacuations, cash assistance, temporary shelters, and water and sanitation supplies.

The NHC warned that Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic could see between eight and 14 inches of rain through Sunday, with localised totals even higher – posing “significant, life-threatening flash flooding and numerous landslides” across southern Hispaniola and eastern Jamaica. (Excerpt from CNW)

OECS leaders back Grenada’s decision on controversial US radar request

TThe South American leader told CNN on Thursday that he believed it was “practically impossible” that the three chemicals would be found in high con-

Daniel Noboa said his team had proof to support the claim, though he has yet to publicly provide any evidence.

centrations in the items by chance.

His comments come in the wake of violent clashes in Ecuador over a sharp rise in fuel prices under his presidency. The centre-right politician has brought in military crackdowns on drug

gangs but has also faced accusations of targeting protesters.

Noboa has denied the allegations of attempts on his life – the third in two months – were a means of portraying his detractors as violent. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Mexico deports alleged drug trafficker Zhi Dong to US to face charges

Mexican authorities on Thursday deported Chinese national Zhi Dong to the United States (US) to face alleged drug trafficking charges linked to Mexican cartels, officials said.

Dong, who was previously sent to Mexico from Cuba, has been accused of exporting, transporting, and distributing various types of drugs, including fentanyl, in alliance with powerful Mexican car-

tels.

A Mexican federal Judge had granted Dong house arrest, from which he managed to escape. He was later located and detained in Cuba in July, along with two

other persons, the Mexican Secretary of Security Omar Garcia Harfuch said in a post on X.

“Today he was handed over to the United States authorities,” he said. (Reuters)

he leaders of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, and St Lucia have pledged full support for Grenada regardless of its decision on a US request to temporarily install a radar at Maurice Bishop International Airport and deploy military assets nearby.

Speaking at a news conference following a tour of the new Kingstown Port, St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, Dominica’s Roosevelt Skerrit, and St Lucia’s Phillip J Pierre underscored the sensitivity of the issue.

“Whatever decision [Grenadian Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell] makes, I will support him, because he’ll have a rational basis on which to make whatever decision he makes,” Gonsalves said. He noted the com-

plexity of the matter, citing Grenada’s economic dependence on US students and airlines, as well as principles of non-intervention and regional peace.

Mitchell has yet to make a formal decision on the radar request, describing it as “a technical matter” requiring expert guidance. He said this week that the public debate surrounding the US request is ongoing.

Gonsalves said the US intends to place the radar near Venezuela to exert pressure on President Nicolás Maduro but emphasised that other options, such as platforms at sea or satellites, exist.

He added that Antigua and Barbuda has already declined the US request, and he supports each country assessing its own national interests. (Excerpt from CNW)

The US said it had destroyed a drug trafficking boat earlier on Friday (BBC News photo)

NHC

Michael Brennan.

A view of the USS Gravely (DDG 107) destroyer

OIL NEWS

Oil slips on scepticism about US commitment to Russian oil sanctions

Oil prices fell on Friday as scepticism crept into the market about the Trump Administration’s commitment to sanctions on Russia’s two biggest oil companies over the war in Ukraine.

Brent crude futures settled five cents, or 0.1 per cent, lower at US$65.94 a barrel, while US crude futures finished at US$61.50 a barrel, down 29 cents, or 0.5 per cent.

Both benchmarks had risen earlier in the session, extending gains of more than five per cent made on Thursday after the sanctions were announced, but retreated in the last two hours of trading. They still ended the week over seven per cent higher, the biggest weekly rise since mid-June.

“There is renewed scepticism these sanctions will be as harsh as they are said to be,” said John Kilduff, partner with Again Capital LLC.

US President Donald Trump hit Russia’s Rosneft and Lukoil with sanctions to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the Ukraine war.

The two companies together account for more than five per cent of global oil output, and Russia was the world’s secondbiggest crude oil producer in 2024 after the US Kuwait’s oil minister said the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries would be ready to offset any shortage in the market by raising production.

Looking ahead, investors were also focusing on a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next week as the pair work to defuse long-standing trade tensions and end a spate of tit-for-tat retaliatory measures. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Liberia agrees to accept wrongly deported migrant Abrego, US says

Donald Trump’s Administration said on Friday it has reached an agreement with Liberia to accept Kilmar Abrego, the migrant whose wrongful deportation to El Salvador in March became a flashpoint in the Republican president’s immigration crackdown.

The Justice Department said in a court filing that Abrego could be deported to the African country as soon as October 31.

Maryland-based United States (US) District Judge Paula Xinis has temporarily blocked the US Government from deporting Abrego while she considers his bid to be released from immigration detention. It is unclear how the administration’s agreement with Liberia will influence the Judge’s decision.

Abrego also could seek to challenge his removal by claiming fear of torture or persecution.

Liberia said it agreed to take Abrego “on a strictly humanitarian and temporary basis” following a request from the United States. Liberia’s information Ministry said in a statement that it would ensure that Abrego is not removed to “any country where he may face substantial risk of persecution, torture or other serious harm.”

Liberia is the first country in Africa to agree to accept Abrego after the Administration unsuccessfully floated Uganda, Eswatini and Ghana as options for a potential second deportation.

Abrego, a sheet metal worker who entered the US illegally, had been living in Maryland with his wife, their child and two of her children – all of whom are American citizens – when he was arrested and sent to his native El Salvador.

He was deported to El Salvador, where he spent time in a mega-prison known for its harsh conditions, in violation of a prior US court order.

Abrego was sent back to the United States in June, and Trump’s Justice Department brought criminal charges accusing him of smuggling migrants. He has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers have accused the Administration of vindictive prosecution. The Administration also has said Abrego was a member of the MS-13 gang, an accusation his lawyers deny.

A lawyer for Abrego, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, said Abrego has no personal connection to Liberia and added that the country is far from his wife and children in Maryland. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Around the World

Pentagon deploys top aircraft carrier as Trump’s militarisation of Caribbean ratchets up

The Pentagon said on Friday that it was deploying the United States’ (US) most advanced aircraft carrier to the Caribbean, a major escalation in the Trump Administration’s war against drug cartels that provides the resources to start conducting strikes against targets on the ground.

The move will bring the USS Gerald Ford carrier, with dozens of stealth fighter jets and surveillance aircraft, in addition to other warships that accompany the carrier, to the coast of Venezuela as it nears the end of its current deployment in the Mediterranean.

Sending the carrier strike group to the Caribbean is the clearest sign to date that the Administration intends to dramatically expand the scope of its lethal military campaign from hitting small boats alleged to be carrying drugs bound for the US to targets on land.

The carrier strike group has dozens of F-35 fighter jets that increase the firepower and ability for the US to hit air-defence systems in Venezuela. That would clear the way for US special operations or drones to destroy land-based targets, current and former officials said.

The expanded naval presence “will bolster US capac-

ity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities that compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States homeland and our security in the Western Hemisphere,” a Pentagon spokesperson, Sean Parnell, said in a statement.

Donald Trump also confirmed to reporters at the White House on Thursday

that the next stage of his military campaign was to hit targets on the ground. “The land is going to be next,” Trump said. “The land drugs are much more dangerous for them. It’s going to be much more dangerous. You’ll be seeing that soon.”

Trump did not discuss which targets in which countries the US intended to strike. But he directed the defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, who was seated beside him at the White House event to curb the flow of illegal drugs into the US, to notify Congress about the administration’s plans. Asked whether he would declare war against the cartels, Trump suggested he would continue with individual strikes. “I think we’re just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country, OK?” he said. “We’re going to kill them; you know they’re going to be, like, dead.” (Excerpt from The Guardian)

Refugee boat sinks off western Türkiye, killing at least 14

At least 14 refugees died when their inflatable dinghy capsized in the Aegean Sea off the Turkish resort of Bodrum, according to the provincial Governor.

The office of the Mugla Governorate said on X on Friday that an Afghan man who survived the disaster and swam back to the mainland had raised the alarm shortly after 01:00h (22:00

GMT).

The Afghan national told the emergency services that 18 persons had set out on the rubber boat, but that it had taken on water shortly afterwards and sunk, according to the Governor’s office.

Search and rescue teams found a second survivor who had managed to reach Celebi Island off Bodrum. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Colombian sentenced to 42 years for murder, dismemberment of UK couple

AColombian national who murdered two men in west London and transported parts of their dismembered bodies in suitcases to southwest England was sentenced on Friday to 42 years in prison.

Yostin Andres Mosquera, 35, was convicted in July of killing Albert Alfonso, 62, and Paul Longworth, 71,

at their flat in July 2024. Prosecutors said Mosquera had bludgeoned Longworth with a hammer and stabbed Alfonso to death after the pair had sex.

He then decapitated and dismembered both victims, placing parts of their bodies into suitcases and travelling to Bristol, southwest England, where he aban-

doned the luggage on the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

He had pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder but admitted to the manslaughter of Alfonso, claiming he had lost control after Alfonso killed Longworth and threatened his family. The jury rejected his defence and found him guilty of both murders.

On Friday, Mosquera

pleaded guilty to three new charges of possessing indecent images of children. Judge Joel Bennathan, who described the murders as “thoroughly wicked crimes”, handed down his sentence of life imprisonment with a minimum term of 42 years at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Manhunt after jailed Epping hotel asylum seeker

mistakenly released

Police have launched a manhunt after a former asylum seeker who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl was mistakenly released from prison. Ethiopian national Hadush Kebatu, who arrived in the UK on a small boat, was jailed for 12 months over the attack in Epping, Essex, last month.

Prison sources said Kebatu was meant to be sent to an immigration detention centre from HMP Chelmsford ahead of a planned deportation. An investigation has been launched by the Prison Service, and an officer has been removed from discharging duties while it takes place.

Essex Police said, “Fast-

paced enquiries have shown that the man boarded a London-bound train at Chelmsford railway station at 12:41 BST.”

Justice Secretary David Lammy said he was “appalled” and “livid on behalf of the public that Kebatu is at large”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

The USS Gerald R Ford will make its way to the coast of Venezuela

Kebatu was sentenced to 12 months in prison

Turkish emergency officials stand near a covered body after a refugee boat sank off the coast of Bodrum, killing at least 14 persons

Explore the possibilities of a friendship, partnership, or mentorship. Dig in and find out all you can about someone or something of interest. The quest for something new and exciting will spark your imagination and encourage you to add to your skills and marketability. Networking will lead to interesting prospects. Romance is in the stars.

You’ll gravitate toward unique individuals, pursuits, and practices. Making a change at home or in your lifestyle can help you transition in a different direction. Broaden your horizons, review your options, and set a budget that will alleviate stress, not add to it. Time and money are key when it comes to finishing what you start.

Channel your energy into something worthwhile. Protect and nurture your relationships and don’t take anyone or anything for granted. Your health and well-being depend on how you maintain yourself and your position. Make deliberate and well-thought-out moves and personal changes, and you’ll avoid an indiscreet or excessive situation. Focus on self-improvement and health.

Size up your budget, expenditures, and what it will take and cost to reach your goals. Ease stress by creating a plan that helps you avoid making poor choices or falling for scams. Be open to suggestions, but do your homework and complete the handson work yourself when possible; you will come out ahead financially.

You’ll face opposition at home and at functions you attend. Be cautious about sharing personal information with those trying to sell you something. You’ll receive misinformation from someone you think you can trust. Fact-check and be willing to walk away when red flags pop up. Funnel your time, money, and effort into personal growth.

Keep your plans to yourself. You can expand your interests quickly if you avoid interference from negative people or those unlikely to take risks. Communicate with experts, learn all you can without revealing the true nature of your inquiries, and you’ll gain insight into how you can use your skills, experience, and knowledge to your benefit.

Read, research, and find remedies for what ails you. A desire to look and feel your best will propel you in a positive direction, offering ways to make your surroundings more conducive to the lifestyle you desire. A change of scenery will provide clarity to your vision and encourage immediate transformation to jumpstart your new adventure.

Budget wisely, formulate a plan, and work diligently toward your goal unannounced to others, and you’ll gain the most leverage and returns. Refuse to let others tempt you with lavish plans that have little to no credibility. Follow your heart and nurture what matters most to you. Physical improvements will boost your confidence and energy.

Share feelings and resolve issues. Stick to the facts and avoid overreactive responses. Don’t be too quick to use your credit card or to participate in a joint venture. You may crave change, but the wrong move will ultimately cost you more than you are willing to pay. Focus on self-improvement, not trying to improve others.

Put your time and effort into building trust with those you want to interact with more. Be open to discussions and listen to the ideas that others present. Understanding the potential and downfalls of a situation will help you make wise choices. Offer your thoughts, but only join in if it’s a good fit for you.

Rethink your strategy and consider your options. Stick close to home and dedicate more time and effort to personal growth and development. Examine the job market and consider how you can adapt your skills to match the available opportunities. Refuse to let anyone undermine you or take advantage of your knowledge, experience, or skills. Know your worth.

Put your emotions aside and refuse to let anyone play mind games or manipulate you. Ask direct questions, stick to your morals and ethics, and be willing to go it alone if it will give you the freedom to create and use your imagination to suit your needs. Trust in you and your abilities and excel.

ARCHIE

8 teams advance to quarter-finals of Blue Water U15 Girls Championship

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF), in collaboration with Blue Water Shipping, has officially concluded the Round of Sixteen stage of its U-15 Girls National Secondary School Championship, thus setting the stage for an exciting quarterfinal showdown among eight teams from across Guyana.

Following a weekend of spirited competition in Essequibo and at the National Training Centre (NTC) in Providence, three schools –Waramuri Secondary, Bartica Secondary, and Marian Academy – secured the final

Caribbean Clash of Champions

Team AJM on Friday welcomed its newly acquired Porsche GT3 to Guyana ahead of the Caribbean Clash of Champions, set for November 2, 2025, at the South Dakota Circuit, Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

The new machine will be driven by Nasrudeen Mohamed, who is ready for a showdown with Trinidad and Tobago’s Franklyn Boodram and Guyana’s Mark Vieira in the GT3 Spec class.

This clash of GT3 titans –Vieira’s Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, Boodram’s Renault Sport RS 01, and AJM’s GT3 entry – will serve as the headline race of the event, marking a new chapter in Caribbean motorsport.

AJM’s machine represents only the second GT3 entry from Guyana, elevating the nation’s presence in the premier motorsport class and igniting excitement among fans.

With several more cars expected to join the grid, this debut will be a crucial test not only for the GMRSC but also for other teams across the region, who will be watching closely to see how the new class unfolds. Meanwhile, alongside the GT3, Team AJM will campaign a full-build Honda Civic in Group Two, aiming to dethrone reigning champion Shan Seejatan. Both machines have been meticulously prepared by the UK-based Bourne High Performance Powertrains Ltd (Bourne HPP) – an elite engine builder with a pedigree spanning Formula One, Le Mans, and the World Endurance Championship (WEC).

Backed by decades of experience in the workshop and trackside at motorsport’s biggest stages, Bourne HPP brings global expertise to Team AJM’s effort.

spots in the quarter-finals, joining five other regional champions.

Round of Sixteen Summary – Essequibo (Saturday, October 18, 2025)

The Essequibo leg of the competition featured Waramuri Secondary, Charity Secondary, and Abram Zuil Secondary in a roundrobin battle that showcased emerging female football talent from the region.

Game 1: Charity Secondary 0–0 Abram Zuil Secondary Game 2: Waramuri

Secondary 2–0

Abram Zuil Secondary Goal scorers: Zabita Harris, Shenessa Thomas Game 3: Waramuri

Secondary 3–0

Charity Secondary Goal scorers: Zabita Harris, Erika Harris; one own goal (Charity)

With two dominant wins and no goals conceded, Waramuri Secondary emerged as Essequibo’s top representative, advancing to the national quarter-finals.

Round of Sixteen Summary – Providence (Sunday, October 19, 2025)

At the GFF National Training Centre, teams from Regions 3, 7, and Georgetown produced six competitive fixtures filled with intensity, teamwork, and attacking flair.

Marian Academy 1–0 Westminster Secondary Goal scorer: Skylar DeNobrega Bartica Secondary 3–0

Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary Goal scorers: Nerismar Williams (2), Verlerky Simon (1) Bartica Secondary 6–0

Westminster Secondary Goal scorers: Nerismar Williams (3), Kelys Williams (2), Sheniza Daniels (1) Marian Academy 0–0

Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary 0–0 Westminster Secondary Bartica Secondary 3–0 Marian Academy Goal scorers: Nerismar Williams, Kelys Williams, Virlerkys Simon Both Bartica Secondary and Marian Academy advanced from their group following consistent performances and strong defensive showings.

Quarter-final line-up confirmed The eight teams advancing to the quarter-final stage are: Region 1: Waramuri Secondary, Wauna Primary Region 4 (ECD): President’s College Region 5: Bushlot Secondary

Region 7: Bartica Secondary

Region 9: Anai Secondary

Region 10: Christiansburg Wismar Secondary

Georgetown: Marian Academy

The quarter-final phase of the GFF–Blue Water Shipping U15 Girls National Secondary School Championship will commence in the coming weeks, as these eight regional champions continue their pursuit of national honours.

Harpy Eagles Boxing Gym makes triumphant return – to host GBA’s U-16 Championship next weekend

After years of inactivity, the Harpy Eagles Boxing Gym is set to make a longawaited return to the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), marking a major comeback for one of the country’s most storied boxing institutions.

President of the GBA, Steve Ninvalle, hailed the revival as a significant boost for both the sport and youth development in Guyana. Presenting a new set of training equipment to head coach James Walcott, Ninvalle described the gym’s return as a “welcome step forward.”

“That gym has produced world-class amateurs in the past, and we’re thrilled to see it back in action,” Ninvalle related.

For Walcott, the gym’s reopening is deeply personal. Harpy Eagles had to close just before the COVID-19 pandemic, and he spent years working to keep the spirit of the gym alive.

“My mind was out of boxing for a while,” Walcott admitted. “I trained young fighters from Albouystown, but many left for

more established gyms when they reached their peak. That was difficult to watch.”

The push to reopen, however, came from the Albouystown community itself.

Local residents and former trainees encouraged Walcott to restart the programme, emphasising the gym’s crucial role in guiding youth away from the streets.

“We have youths that need guidance, and boxing has helped take a lot of them off the streets,” Walcott said. “This gym is here to help save many young people in Albouystown. Honestly, the young fighters I have now are the reason I’m back – they give me the encouragement to keep punching.”

Ninvalle emphasised that the GBA’s support for Harpy Eagles aligns with a broader national plan to expand boxing across Guyana. “We’re already working on projects in Linden and Region Nine, and Harpy Eagles’ return strengthens our base even more,” he said. The gym will officially return to the competitive scene next weekend at the GBA Under-16 Championship. Ninvalle nonetheless expressed excitement about the prospects.

“This gym has always produced top youth boxers in Guyana. I’m eager to see the new talent they’ll bring to the ring.”

Randy Barrett (right) and James Walcott –coach and founder of Harpy Eagles

Action from the Round of 16

WI seek redemption in T20 Series after ODI defeat to Bangladesh

After a 2–1 series defeat to Bangladesh in the One Day International (ODI) Series, the West Indies (WI) will have a chance for redemption in the shorter format.

The two teams will lock horns on Monday, October 27, in the first of three T20Is in Chattogram, Bangladesh. Both leaders of the West Indies side, Shai Hope and Darren Sammy, expressed disappointment at the result.

Sammy described the performance as poor, and lamented the lack of

batsmanship shown by the men in maroon. The Head Coach, who is also the selector of the side, said spinners should be licking their lips on the surfaces in Bangladesh. On the other hand, Hope is hoping that his side will put the ODI Series defeat behind them and start fresh on Monday.

“Yeah, you said it. We obviously would have wanted to win this series, but it didn’t happen for us today. It’s been a tough series for us, especially as batters, but there are always things

CG United Super50 Cup 2025 Guyana Harpy Eagles to face Jamaica Scorpions in opening match

Cricket West Indies (CWI) on Friday announced the official fixtures for the 2025 CG United Super50 Cup, which will see the Guyana Harpy Eagles face the Jamaica Scorpions in the opening match.

Although the various teams are yet to name their squads, the 50-over rivalry returns with six regional squads squaring off from Wednesday, November 19 to Saturday, November 30, 2025, with matches taking place at three venues across Trinidad – Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA), Queen’s Park Oval (QPO), and Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Ground (UWI SPEC).

Trinidad & Tobago Red Force (TTRF), Barbados Pride (BP), Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE), Jamaica Scorpions (JS), Leeward Islands Hurricanes (LIH), and Windward Islands Volcanoes (WIV) will engage in intense competition over the 11-day period, with the West Indies Academy and Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) outfits being excluded for this year. The teams will battle for the top prize of US$100,000, with US$50,000 being awarded to the runner-up, while the third and fourth-placed teams will each take home US$25,000.

Entry to all matches will be free, with games at

BLCA beginning at 14:00h

AST/13:00h Jamaica time, while matches at QPO and UWI SPEC will bowl off at 09:00h

AST/08:00h Jamaica time.

This year, as a result, the rivalry returns with a shift from the traditional 31-match, eightteam layout to an abbreviated round-robin structure, with the top two teams qualifying directly for the Final.

The CG United Super50 Cup 2025 Match Schedule:

Wednesday, November 19

LIH vs WIV at BLCA

JS vs GHE at QPO

TTRF vs BP at UWI SPEC

Friday, November 21

TTRF vs JS at BLCA

LIH vs BP at QPO

WIV vs GHE at UWI SPEC

Sunday, November 23

TTRF vs GHE at BLCA

BP vs WIV at QPO

LIH vs JS at UWI SPEC

Tuesday, November 25

JS vs BP at BLCA

LIH vs GHE at QPO

TTRF vs WIV at UWI SPEC

Thursday, November 27

JS vs WIV at BLCA

TTRF vs LIH at QPO

GHE vs BP at UWI SPEC

Saturday, November 29

FINAL Pic saved as harpy

The Guyana Harpy Eagles squad that competed in the 2024 CWI Regional Four-Day Championships

to learn from. Yeah, credit must be given to their openers, especially at the beginning there.”

“It’s been tough hours for batters in general in the series, but we must give credit to those batters who came out and really showed that impetus at the beginning of the innings. I don’t think we bowled as particularly well as we could, but yeah, these are things that we’ve got to be really critical of with our players when we play in series like this, in conditions like this. But yeah, they

batted really well, and they bowled well and put us under pressure.”

He added that it was very difficult to pull the game back. “It was tough. I still think it was like a 170–180 surface. If you give them so many runs, it forces batters to chase, and it’s going to be difficult. But having said that, regardless of what they spoil you for, we’ve got to try to find a way to make the runs. If the bowler doesn’t do it in a particular situation, then batters have got to raise their hands, and we didn’t do that as

batters today.”

“Yeah, most definitely. It’s a different series, different format, same mindset. You’ve got to make sure you come down here to win games. Every single game, I always say, is very important. But again, you’ve got to get to Chattogram and see what the surface is like. Adapt, assess, and hopefully, we can play better cricket in that series,” the West Indies Captain explained.

The first T20I on Monday will bowl off at 08:00h Eastern Caribbean time.

Harper to conduct batting clinic in Berbice next month

After a poor showing at the Guyana Cricket Board Inter-County Super 50, the Berbice senior batsmen will receive muchneeded support through a batting clinic.

This all-important clinic will be conducted by former West Indies player Roger Harper on Sunday, November 16. According to the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), the clinic will feature 30 senior batsmen, with the venue to be confirmed at a later date. The session is expected to commence at 09:00h and conclude at 16:00h.

Additionally, Harper will

be assisted by coaches from across the ancient county during the clinic. The BCB

will announce the list of 30 participating batsmen in due course.

The BCB also announced that Hubern Evans will host a batting clinic for promising youth batsmen early next month.

“The Berbice Cricket Board is pleased to announce that veteran cricket coach and former national batsman Hubern Evans has agreed to host a batting clinic for our most promising youth batsmen early in November.

A total of thirty players selected by the selection committee will participate in the clinic. Coach Evans will

be assisted by several other coaches, and this will be the first of several clinics organised by the BCB as part of our developmental programme. The BCB would like to express thanks to Mr Evans for his cooperation,” the BCB said in a Facebook post.

These announcements follow Berbice’s defeat against Demerara in the senior intercounty match played at Number 69 Village. In that match, the Berbicians were dismissed for 162. The team featured several West Indies players, including Kevlon Anderson, Kevin Sinclair, and Shimron Hetmyer.

Bruster’s Guyana to host final warmup tournament ahead of Guyana Open

Bwarm-up event ahead of the prestigious 2025 Brava Guyana Open Golf Championship at the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) on Sunday.

The tournament will tee off at 08:00h. sharp and is expected to feature a strong line-up of both local and international golfers eager to test their form ahead of the country’s most anticipated golfing event.

Serving as the final competitive tune-up before the two-day Guyana Open, scheduled for November 1 and 2, this weekend’s tournament is expected to deliver an engaging and high-level display of skill and sportsmanship.

The format will be medal play over 18 holes, allowing players to challenge themselves under conditions similar to those they will face at the championship. Prizes will be awarded for Best Net (1st, 2nd and 3rd places), Overall Best Gross, Nearest to the

Bruster’s final warm-up tournament at LGC

Roger Harper

nent role in sport, it must also protect clean sport and the integrity of sports.

“There is a huge battle that all of our officers and all of the persons involved in the anti-doping movement... While I know that it’s extremely important, and I would be the first proponent for that, having said that, we have come a very long way in this space in the Caribbean. We have demonstrated to the world that our talent is not a talent that can be ignored.”

He added that it has been proven over the decades that the Caribbean has the talent, and because of that, “it is our role, our responsibility, to take that leadership opportunity that exists, in the space that exists. We must now take it.”

Representatives from ten Caribbean nations have assembled in Guyana for a three-day training workshop aimed at strengthening the region’s anti-doping framework and promoting fair play in sports.

These delegates are from the Turks and Caicos Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Barbados, Curaçao, Dominica, St Kitts, St Lucia, Suriname, and Guyana. The training runs from October 24 to 26, 2025, at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) Headquarters in Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

The initiative is being held in collaboration with the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (RADO), the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), and the World

Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr highlighted Guyana’s increased involvement in global sports governance, following its recent appointment to the approvals committee of UNESCO Funds.

“Now that we have both our election to the approval committee of the fund as well as our support for the Bureau in the next conference... it certainly places Guyana and its role of responsibility in the Caribbean in a very important and strategic position, as well as an opportunity,” Ramson noted.

He added that while the Caribbean must take a very promi-

The Minister, nevertheless, congratulated the GOA and partners from WADA and RADO for assembling in a coordinated way to draft policies that can be impactful. “The region has to now function in a far more coordinated way. We are small, but we are not tiny. We are small, but we must also be impactful,” he noted.

However, Chairperson of the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (Caribbean RADO) Dr Karen Pilgrim welcomed the participants and expressed appreciation to them and their respective national Olympic committees for supporting the programme.

«We want to extend our gratitude to everyone who was able to come here, especially on short notice,» Dr Pilgrim said. «This is a crucial time

for anti-doping control, with three major games coming up next year. There’s a great need for doping control officers, both out of competition and in competition. We look forward to a productive three days.”

Furthermore, Director of AntiDoping Services at the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) Matthew Koop emphasised the importance of global partnerships in promoting clean sport.

“For those who may not be familiar with the CCES, we are Canada’s national anti-doping agency,” Koop explained. “Our mission is simple –to protect the integrity of sport. Our vision is for sport to be safe, inclusive, fair, clean, and accessible. We’re pleased to be part of this capaci-

ty-building workshop in Guyana.”

Meanwhile, President of the Guyana Olympic Association Godfrey Munroe reaffirmed the GOA’s dedication to promoting integrity and authenticity in sport.

“The Guyana Olympic Association is proud to partner with Caribbean RADO and WADA,” Munroe stated. “Clean sport is critical to validating and authenticating the sporting movement, and we are happy to play our part in upholding that standard.”

The regional anti-doping training workshop represents another step in the Caribbean’s ongoing commitment to ensuring ethical sporting practices and strengthening institutional capacity ahead of upcoming international competitions.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Pete Russell, and his counterpart, Johnny Grave of Major League Cricket (MLC), have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding opportunities for women’s cricket, emphasising collaboration between the Caribbean and the United States.

The duo formed part of a panel at the inaugural Cricket Impact Summit & Expo in Santa Clara, California, moderated by broadcaster, former England international, and leading advocate for the women’s game, Ebony RainfordBrent.

The panel delivered a candid and energetic discussion on the future of T20 cricket across the United States and the Caribbean – from infrastructure and grassroots development to the growth of the women’s game, player retention, fan engagement, and the sport’s Olympic ambitions.

Russell shared CPL’s ambitions for the Women’s Caribbean Premier League

(WCPL), stating, “The goal is to have a USA team participate in the WCPL.”

Grave echoed this sentiment while emphasising a sustainable approach. “It’s not a case of will we do it; it’s a case of when. It’s going to be a journey – it needs to be a balance of being ambitious but not so ambitious that we’d have to put the brakes on.”

Both men agreed that the women’s game represents one of cricket’s most exciting growth frontiers – with clear potential for regional and international collaboration to accelerate its development.

With cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Grave reflected on the missed potential during the recent T20 World Cup.

“We need to ensure the LA Games is not another missed opportunity in the USA the way it was during the T20 World Cup,” he said. “The Olympics is massive in the US – and Team USA is massive in the US. The nature of T20, and particularly the tournament format, is a huge opportunity. We strug-

gle with awareness, and this could be the springboard to get cricket to the American

people. The challenge, however, is how do we convert that interest?”

Grave also highlighted the importance of inclusion in other multi-sport events such as the Pan American Games and the Commonwealth Games, which he noted could serve as catalysts for cricket’s long-term global growth.

Both men underlined that sustainable infrastructure is key to ensuring cricket’s long-term success in emerging markets.

Grave pointed to Minor League Cricket (MiLC) as a critical driver of grassroots and professional development. “The minor leagues are playing a key role. We have 26 passionate team owners investing in the game and getting communities engaged. The next step is bringing all stakeholders together – and that’s hugely exciting.”

Russell, meanwhile, spoke of CPL’s model of success through strategic partnerships, adding that the power of cricket is clear and that people are willing to invest if the right model is presented.

The discussion also turned to the ongoing challenge of retaining talent within smaller markets, particularly in the Caribbean. Russell reiterated the need to develop and reward local players despite financial constraints.

“We have one of the lowest salary caps in the world, but there’s a glut of talent in the West Indies – we just need to make sure it’s harnessed in the right way.” Both leaders agreed that expanding cricket’s fan base requires innovation, technology, and community-level engagement.

“There’s no silver bullet. Grassroots are obviously key – investing in schools and college programmes. But it’s going to take time,” Grave noted.

Russell added, “For us, it’s also about moving away from traditional spaces – you reach fans through mouthpieces that have influence. We have to embrace technology; that’s where it’s all going.”

“For CPL, focusing on media, sponsorship, and governance has been key. It’s about ensuring we deliver for fans and for our domestic sponsors.”

CPL CEO Pete Russell with MLC CEO Johnny Grave and moderator Ebony Rainford-Brent

Culture, Youth and Sport

Minister Charles Ramson Jr

Chairperson of the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (Caribbean RADO), Dr Karen Pilgrim

Director of Anti-Doping Services at the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) Matthew Koop

President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) Godfrey Munroe

CPL CEO Pete Russell with MLC CEO Johnny Grave and moderator Ebony Rainford-Brent