Issuu

Nationwide coverage coverage from from the the best best news news team team in in Guyana Guyana Nationwide Issue No. 6540 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON BEACON OF OF TRUTH TRUTH THE

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026

US to inject US$150M into Guyana’s bauxite operation to secure critical supply chain

PRICE $140 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

See story on page 3

Chinese national slapped with traffic P8 charges over fatal Coverden accident

– once fully operational project is expected to meet 100% of US military demand Guyana Prize for Literature 2025

Tell Guyana’s stories truthfully, with Imagination & skill – PM Phillips – Deonandan cops best Book of Fiction award; Payne gets Best First Book of Fiction award for "Leech" See story on page 14

Several P8 busted with guns, ammo during CANU operation

Over 300 Reg 5 residents P19 receive house lots bringing homeownership closer

Prime Minister Mark Phillips along with Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Charles Ramson Jr and Guyana Prize for Literature 2025 winners on Friday evening

Chicken import Govt introduces ban temporarily compulsory standards for gas cylinders, lowlifted amid local pressure regulators safety supply shortage See Bar, club owners can access story on page Development Bank funding to 7 – as ‘Model Village Initiative’ soundproof facilities – Pres Ali consultations move to Reg 6 Page 9

P 21

No foul play P12 suspected in death of Nandy Park businessman – Police

Lethem teacher, fireman fined for drunk driving P8

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

US to inject US$150M into Guyana’s bauxite operation to FERRY SCHEDULE secure critical supply chain BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, August 9 – 13:55h–15:25h.

– once fully operational project is expected to meet 100% of US military demand

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery showers are expected to clear to sunny skies by late afternoon during the day, followed by clear skies at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius. Winds: North-Easterly to East-South-Easterly between 1.34 metres and 4.02 metres.

he United States (US) Government on Friday announced a US$150 million investment geared towards expanding bauxite mining in Guyana as Washington moves to secure a regional supply chain for refractory-grade baux-

High Tide: 12:31h reaching a maximum height of 2.18 metres. Low Tide: 05:52h and 18:21h reaching minimum heights of 0.89 metre and 1.06 metres.

ite, a critical material for national defence and key industrial base sectors. In a statement on Friday, the

Operations at the American-owned First Bauxite’s Bonasika Bauxite Project in Guyana

ysis provided by the IBAS programme ensures that critical materials in the western hemisphere stay in supply chains that protect the United States and its allies.”

First Bauxite leadership change

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DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

COMMODITIES Indicators Crude Oil Rough Rice London Sugar

US$ $78.18/barrel $257.04/ton $503.40/ton

Live Spot Gold

Change % +1.15 +0.67 +3.39 USD Per Ounce

Low/High

$4341.30 $4228.90

$4343.30 $4372.40

Change

+101.40

+2.39%

Bid/Ask

Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, Jacob Helberg, discussed the United States interest in Guyana’s bauxite during a May 13, 2026, meeting with President Dr Irfaan Ali and his Cabinet in Georgetown

US Department of War’s (DOW) Economic Defence Unit (EDU), in partnership with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy, announced an US$85.5 million equity investment agreement with Strategic Bauxite USA, through the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) programme. This contribution is complemented by an additional US$64.5 million co-investment from the private sector. “These funds will be used to acquire and expand the First Bauxite (FBX) mine in Guyana, develop new calcination facilities for primary processing, and contribute to a follow-on project to construct a brownfused alumina (BFA) facility in the United States,” the DOW said in its missive. According to the Department, this strategic partnership will establish a secure, vertically integrated US supply chain for refractory-grade bauxite, which is a critical material for national defence and key industrial base sectors. “Our defence readiness relies on secure, regional access to critical minerals,” Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy

Michael Cadenazzi “This partnership

said. with

Strategic Bauxite through the equity funding and anal-

This announcement comes less than a month after Canada’s First Bauxite revealed in a July 2026 statement that it entered into an agreement under which Strategic Bauxite USA has acquired the company - a deal it says would allow continued growth, investment, and long-term success. TURN TO PAGE 20

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Industrial Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana and the Singapore Way

n 1968, Singapore made a decision that Guyana has now clearly learned under President Irfaan Ali: the future is going to be built around what the country could become, not around what it inherited. While that sounds simple, it actually is not. It requires something that is notoriously short in supply in politics: the willingness to tell people that not every industry, institution, factory, plantation, or government program can be preserved indefinitely simply because it has a sentimental constituency. Singapore had few resources. Guyana has too many. Singapore had no oil. Guyana has billions of barrels of it. Singapore had almost no room for error. Guyana has been handed an extraordinary financial opportunity. Yet the central challenge is remarkably similar: what do you do when the old economic model no longer fits the world that has arrived? Singapore chose transformation by not asking how to preserve the economy it inherited, but rather asked: how do we build the economy we need? Take sugar with us: if it can be made competitive, modernised, and diversified, then by all means, invest in it. If land can produce greater returns through alternative agriculture, agro-processing, energy, logistics, or other productive uses, then those possibilities must be considered without political hysteria. The question should not be whether sugar is sacred. The question should be whether Guyana’s land, labour, and capital are being put to their most productive use, and the same test should be applied to every other sector. Our country’s new petroleum wealth should make this easier, not harder, because we now possess something that generations of governments could only dream about: the financial capacity to rebuild the economic foundations of the country. However, the real purpose of oil wealth should be to make Guyana less dependent on oil, not more dependent upon government spending financed by oil. This is where the present government deserves credit for recognising that the country requires massive investment in infrastructure, housing, education, healthcare, agriculture, energy, and connectivity. Development is new roads that lower transport costs; bridges that open markets; reliable electricity that allows factories to operate competitively; technical education that produces skilled workers; and modern ports that make Guyana a logistics hub. Recently, President Irfaan Ali at the Baker Institute in Houston, Texas, identified data centers, advanced processing industries, and digital infrastructure as areas where Guyana can generate significant multiplier effects. Then there is industrial development at Wales using our natural gas as feedstock for a fertilizer manufacturing facility, a gas bottling plant, etc. This reorientation will inevitably raise hackles in some quarters from vested interests like trade unions. But new industries do not mean abandoning our traditional sectors; they just force them to become better. As the President has emphasized, agriculture, for example, must become more mechanised, commercial, and export-oriented. The government is following Singapore in exploiting its geographical fortuity: here, our extraordinary geographic position is finally being treated as an economic asset rather than an accident on the map. We sit below the Caribbean, adjoining Brazil on the Atlantic shore of northern South America. With the modern ports, roads, energy, and logistics being implemented, that geography can become enormously valuable. Like Singapore, the cumulative result of the President’s hard choices, disciplined institutions, strategic investment, and an unusually clear understanding of comparative advantage will bear fruit. The government is using the oil revenues to dismantle the structural constraints that have kept us poor for generations to build an economy capable of surviving long after the last barrel is pumped. Unlike the Opposition’s constant calls for cash handouts simply because we had the good fortune to discover oil, the government should not suffer the misfortune of believing that spending it is the same thing as transforming the country. The choice is still ours, but Singapore’s lesson is unforgiving: countries become prosperous not by preserving everything they have, but by having the courage to decide what is worth carrying into the future. Guyana has finally acquired the resources to make those choices. Now it needs a government and a leader with the nerve to make them.

Miss Guyana World Kelcia Nelson during an in transit at the John F Kennedy International Airport in New York on her way to Vietnam to represent Guyana at the 73rd Miss World Festival set from August 8 to September 5, 2026. Nelson was officially crowned Miss World Guyana 2026 during a coronation ceremony held at the Pegasus Exhibition Hall in Georgetown back in May

Help President Ali ‘modernise’ villages Dear Editor, Guyana’s transformation continues, and I am happy that President Dr Irfaan Ali is pushing the ‘model village’ initiative. We need this all across Guyana, where the big idea is for “... creating safer, more resilient, and sustainable communities.” This kind of mindset and new way of thinking, being spawned by the People’s Progressive Party, was explained by His Excellency himself to eager listeners across the East Coast of Demerara. According to the effervescent Head of State, his “Government’s national village transformation programme will incorporate security infrastructure, improved drainage systems, economic development initiatives, and enhanced public amenities (all) as part of a comprehensive plan to modernise communities across Guyana,” and not only Melanie Damishana, where he met with villagers.

On this note, I hastily apprise the nation that any good village will and must involve a combination of easy physical access to the basic needs of everyday living. It must also incorporate strong social connectivity, and definitely, a shared sense of safety, characterised by the presence of security officers and the availability of law enforcers. By way of expansion, and as per President Ali, these villages will be equipped with potable water systems and sanitation to ensure a ‘healthy living’ environment. Of course, “Safe roads and transit options to reach larger towns” will be in place. I see that the Government is planning for proper “medical care, schools, gathering spots, market squares, and parks.” Overall, it’s like a miniature country, and this kind of thinking is consistent with the modern and developed world, and Guyana must take its place therein. Mind you, there is a caution that President Ali allud-

ed to, that is, ‘people are at the centre of such developments.’ He clearly laid down the notion that “Stronger, resilient, and sustainable communities are communities that are built to last; communities that are built to ensure the space in which you live is not only pleasing to the eyes, physically, but that space gives a sense of belonging, that space gives a sense of pride, a sense of ownership, a sense of dignity. “ I see this as a challenge for the people of Guyana wanting and driving to become good and worthy villagers themselves. Leaving aside logistics and minutiae, what is heartening is that this is not ‘mere talk,’ as “...preliminary assessments have already been carried out by teams of engineers, planners, architects, and development specialists, who have identified several priorities for Melanie’s development, (and in time, all across the country.)” Staying with the motif of ‘people’ or villagers them-

selves, the President was emphatic that “A community is the coming together of people; it is the coming together of many different things that coexist as one, and that is what makes us a community. A community has within it its traditions, culture, economy, infrastructure, people, environment, ecology, and its own beauty. And what we want to do is invest in such a way that all of these aspects of the community can become critically integrated in making the community a better place.” This means that the onus will be upon every citizen to parallel the model villages and become model villagers. This redounds into following the law, helping out in their various communities, showing respect for all and sundry, caring for the common good, and taking part in society’s well-being. In a nutshell, it’s about realising a vision. Yours truly, Hargesh B Singh

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026 |GUYANATIMESGY.COM

The Music of A call for unity, forgiveness, and solutions Our Lives

By Ryhaan Shah

ost of us enjoy listening to music. For those of you who play an instrument, you probably still enjoy making music by strumming your guitar or playing the piano. Music offers significant, non-medication benefits for us as we grow older. It stimulates mental activity and processing, awakens preserved memories, and helps us alleviate anxiety, depression, and restlessness. It also encourages physical movement, whether it’s dancing or rhythm for exercise workouts, and can be used as a powerful medium for emotional expression and social connection. Most of us have a soundtrack to our lives, and listening to the music from our youth most likely brings back happy memories of a first love, parties, friendships, and dancing. A familiar song can take us back to a particular time and place and spark personal memories of happy, youthful years. It is said that such music-oriented memories help us lower stress hormones like cortisol and increase others like dopamine, which can help us alleviate stress levels, anxiety, and even feelings of loneliness and isolation. When music is used as group therapy, it prevents the common issue of elderly isolation by fostering communication, even for individuals with limited verbal ability, since rhythm stimulates the brain’s motor centers. Activities like chair dancing, tapping, or hand drumming help improve mobility, coordination, and speech recovery following conditions like a stroke. It is not surprising that music is used as therapy for those who show symptoms of dementia. At one care home in Strabane in the UK, staff have been using “silent discos” to help residents with dementia reconnect with some of their musical memories. Unlike a traditional disco, the music is played through wireless headphones, allowing each resident to enjoy songs chosen especially for them. Staff report that the impact of the music is extraordinary since it appears to reach places that dementia cannot take away. Hayley Phillips, who has worked at the home for 26 years, told BBC Radio, “You can actually see that wee bit of personality that can be lost after a dementia diagnosis coming back when they put the headphones on. We see the music bring back that spark in them.” Elaine Kelly, another staff member, says the residents come to life when they listen to their chosen music. “The music brings them back to a sense of safety and security. In that moment, nothing is worrying them. It’s like the dementia is gone, and they are free. It’s really beautiful to see that. Dementia robs people of so much, but it can’t touch music - it stays within them forever.” A professionally led music therapy session would include sing-along sessions using hand-held percussion instruments or rhythmic tapping, relaxation to targeted tempos to reduce stress and tension, and talking about life events tied to specific songs. And what goes best with music other than dancing? Dancing is a wonderful, low-impact way for us to stay active, improve balance, and boost our mood. Dancing - even if seated - gets our blood pumping safely without stressing our joints, and it releases feel-good chemicals that lower stress and lift our mood. Doing it as a group offers the added benefit of meeting new people and sharing happy moments with friends. Music bypasses logic to touch our deepest core and helps us articulate complex feelings of grief or joy when words fail. Most of us would agree that this universal art form transcends the limitations of spoken language to instantly connect with our emotions. Here in Guyana, with our diverse cultures and forms of musical expression, we are well aware of this. We all know the Caribbean beats of soca, chutney, and reggae, which exist alongside Bollywood hits, African and Amerindian rhythms, and, newer to our song list, the Spanish sounds that are becoming more mainstream. There is little doubt as to the healing power of music, and even casual listening to favourite songs can be beneficial. My father, who lived to age 98, enjoyed listening to old Bollywood hits sung by Mohamed Rafi. It reminded him of his youth, of happy times with his family, and sparked storytelling of those days, all of which were good for his health and well-being. The American writer Mark Twain, well-known for his wit and wisdom, put it well when he said, “Dance like nobody’s watching, sing like no one is listening.” Music promotes our physical, emotional, and mental health. Whether through listening, singing, playing instruments, composing, or interacting with music as a group, music therapy can help us achieve healing, improve our quality of life, and build resilience against illness. The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

Dear Editor, Over the past few days, Guyana has made one thing very clear to our Government and to our entire country. Protest after protest, whether in coastland or riverain settings, there is one force that cannot be denied: the POWER of the average Guyanese man and woman. Right now, that power is strong in the fists waving placards across the country. It’s in the farmer walking miles from his fields to join the marching crowd. It’s in the market woman who closes up shop to join her fellow citizens in solidarity. It is in our youth, who instead of blasting music with cheap paint on the back road, are flooding social media with calls for change. That power comes from the people. The numbers. The emotion and sheer exhaustion of a people no longer willing to tolerate poor living conditions and the lack of vision from those who claim to lead us. But friends, fellow Guyanese, let me remind you that while we are

powerful together, we are strongest when we realise that we ARE one family. As I’ve watched the developments of this nation over the recent days, I’ve realised that we Guyanese have become experts in one thing: PROTESTING. We know how to point out what’s wrong with the economy. We know how to criticise our leaders; we know how to dissect everyone in authority until there is nothing left but a shell of what was intended to help the average citizen. BUT... What if we instead used that time and energy to create solutions? Real power comes with the ability to build, to forgive, and to love our neighbours. In July of 2026, tragedy struck our country and poured salt directly into the wounds of the grief-stricken families who lost loved ones when the MV Barima sank. Those who perished were nothing short of AMAZING humans: beautiful souls who lost mothers, fathers, children, grandparents, siblings, and friends that day.

Most of the victims were Amerindian men and women who depend on the lifeline of the rivers to transport them to and from the markets. Our Amerindian brothers and sisters are grieving. I can tell you that their pain affects me too because when one part of our Guyanese family suffers, we ALL suffer. I want to offer my love, support, and sympathy to everyone who knew their loved ones aboard the Barima. I know there are no words that will take away the agony you are feeling, but please try to find it in your hearts to forgive. This tragedy brings us together as Guyanese, not to point fingers at who’s to blame, but to lift each other up in prayer and support. Forgiveness. It’s powerful. It’s quiet. It’s the weapon of the average person who knows that despite what we want to believe, we are all sinners. We are ALL down on our luck sometimes, and we ALL need a second chance. Please, look into the eyes of the indige-

nous mothers and fathers who lost their families and children and realise that it could have been your face looking back at you. Allow the suffering of your fellow Guyanese to wash away the bitterness of race, income, and political differences that divide us as a country. Guyana... You are powerful because YOU are the soul of this country. It is up to us to find solutions instead of problems, to love and forgive one another instead of holding grudges that will eat away at us all. Let us move forward together, stop pointing fingers at each other, and start walking beside one another. Coast and interior, town and village, one Guyanese family. Let’s rise up from the tragedy of the MV Barima stronger and more united than ever. Let’s show these families that their children, husbands, wives, fathers, and mothers are NOT forgotten. Let’s show them that we are all ONE family. Respectfully, Philip Inshanally

Emancipation celebration at Eversham Village Dear Editor, On Saturday, August 1, 2026, thousands of residents from the Macedonia Joppa district and neighboring villages celebrated Emancipation at Eversham Village, East Corentyne, Berbice. It was the largest all-day celebration on the Corentyne, sponsored by the Macedonia Joppa Voluntary Committee (MJVC), a registered non-profit organisation located at Eversham Village. The day’s activities began at 7:30 AM with a twomile male and female road race, followed by breakfast and several other activities including a domino and card games competition. The highlight of the day’s activities was a twomile road march that began at 4:00 PM from Brighton Village and ended at the Eversham Pavilion. Thousands of children and adults from the Macedonia Joppa district and elsewhere joined the road march under the theme “UNITED FOR A BETTER GUYANA.” Participants in the road march were decked out in a dazzling array of colourful African attire of red, black, yellow, white, and green, portraying the colours of Guyana’s flag, the Golden Arrowhead, and depicting Guyanese culture, lifestyle, and heritage. Residents of all ages and from all walks of life from the Macedonia Joppa villages of No. 35 and 36, Brighton, Kiltearn, Eversham, Epsom, Bengal, and No. 43, and neighbouring communities lined both sides of the roadway to view the colourful display of African costumes and the rich and gorgeous

Afro-outfits as the revelers danced to the rhythm of the lively and customary Soca music supplied by the dynamic and popular Natural Vibes Entertainment Sound. Lunch was served at 2:00PM to more than 2,000 residents of the district and neighbouring villages. After lunch, a number of children participated in several cultural, social, and educational activities, including the recital of poems, singing of folk songs, playing games, and dancing to a variety of African songs. The day’s activities were capped off by a stunning beauty pageant that began at 7:30 PM with six beautiful and charming teenage contestants from various ethnic and social backgrounds from different villages vying for the Miss Macedonia Joppa title. The beauty pageant was hosted by the most experienced, talented, and flamboyant MC from the Corentyne, Linden Murray,

and was judged by three highly skilled and accomplished individuals. Denica Henry, who hails from Bloomfield, East Corentyne, was the chief judge and brought a wealth of experience to the pageant. Ms. Henry is a model, a former pageant queen, Miss Exquisitely Conscious 20192020, and currently a Youth Ambassador and an advocate for Betterment. Judge Rayaan Liverpool from Chesney Village, East Corentyne, is an exciting and amazing judge who has participated in more than

half a dozen pageantries. The third judge was Colin Moore from Nurney Village on the Corentyne. Moore has an abundance of experience in pageantry and has always been thrilled to watch young and beautiful ladies compete for beauty titles. For the last four years, the Macedonia Joppa Voluntary Committee has made Emancipation an annual and the largest celebration on the Corentyne. Sincerely, Dr Asquith Rose, MJVC Chair

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026

00:00 Sign Off 06:00 TVG Devotional Hour 07:00 Ramayan EP 63, 64, 65 09:00 Indian Movie - Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) 12:00 Indian Movie - Dil To Pagal Hai (1997) 15:00 Indian Movie - Baadshah (1999) 18:00 TVG Music Break 18:30 Week-in-Review 19:00 Supergirl 20:00 The Flash

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

21:00 Heartland 22:00 Indian Movie - Badla (2019)

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026

Page

Foundation

Why do older people tend to have lower-back pain?

o your parents or grandparents complain about their backs? Why do so many older people have lower-back pain? One possible answer to these questions lies in sections of the spine called spinal discs. Discs help the spine perform its many jobs, like holding the weight of the upper body and letting people twist and bend. These jobs put a lot of pressure on them, and as people age, their discs start to break down and struggle to work as efficiently as they once did. A deeper understanding of the disc structure and how it breaks down can help scientists and medical professionals develop better tools to treat this disease. Humans have 23 spinal discs that sit between bone segments, or vertebrae, which together make up the spine. While vertebrae support body weight and protect the spinal cord, spinal discs allow for flexibility

and protect the vertebrae. Have you ever fallen when you were

wearing knee pads? Chances are, even if it was a big fall, your knees were fine because the knee pads absorbed the force. Spinal discs are made of three key components. A

central nucleus pulposus and a surrounding annulus fibrosus

make up most of the spinal discs. The third component, endplates, cover the top and bottom of each disc. The nucleus pulposus is a jelly-like ball that sits in the centre

against the force and expands outwards onto the surrounding annulus fibrosus. You can think of the spinal disc as a water balloon. When you push down on a water balloon, the water moves and presses on the sides of the balloon, similar to how the nucleus pushes onto the annulus. In reality, the annulus is much larger, stronger, and stiffer than a balloon, so the disc does not bulge as much under pressure. Like us, discs need nutrients and oxygen to survive. Most body parts get their nutrients from

absorb water. With age, there is less aggrecan in the nucleus. As a result, more of the force that should have been absorbed by the nucleus passes to the annulus. The increased force on the annulus causes the fibre layers to rub against one another. This rubbing between annulus layers leads to structural damage such as tears. If the body senses damage, it sends help to fix these cracks. In doing so, nerves grow through the tears toward the nucleus. Nerves make up a signalling network that sends messages

blood vessels, but spinal discs lack them. As a result, nutrients must travel from the closest blood vessels in the surrounding vertebrae to get to the disc. This is where the endplates come in. They contain small holes, or pores, that let nutrients flow into the nucleus and annulus. Think of pores like a sponge. They expand when wet and shrink when dry. Water helps to keep pores large so that nutrients can easily pass through. This is another reason why it is important to stay hydrated. Activities like walking and running can help larger nutrients flow into spinal discs. The forces from these actions squish the nucleus and expel water through the pores of the adjacent endplates. During a given day, 3%-10% of the fluid in a person’s discs leaves. Then, when a person sleeps, the pressure on the discs releases and invites water back into the disc. The water carries fresh nutrients with it to feed the disc. You can mimic this process by squeezing a wet sponge and then letting go so it can refill with water. Stationary activities, such as sitting, also provide compressive forces on the spine. However, excessive inactivity can actually shrink the pores and decrease nutrient flow. The sponge will not be able to absorb water, and the same goes for your discs. Thus, it is best to stay as active as possible to keep your spinal discs healthy. Over time, discs degenerate and struggle to absorb forces as efficiently as they once did. This is called degenerative disc disease. While exercise and hydration can help, some disc breakdown is a natural part of ageing. Many factors can lead to disc degeneration, but ageing is the most common one. A healthy spinal disc has a hydrated nucleus and an intact annulus. There is a special protein called aggrecan in discs, which helps the nucleus

between the brain and body. They let you feel a bug land on your arm or tell your brain to remove your hand from a hot stove. Needless to say, nerves are extremely sensitive. When they grow into disc tears, they become subject to the forces the disc usually encounters. Once they become compressed, they send signals to the brain that cause pain. Since nerves are sensitive enough to tell when a small bug lands on you, imagine how they feel when they are crushed under the weight of your upper body. While nerves can grow into the tears of the annulus, this does not always happen. Instead, a hernia may form. The jellylike nucleus can expand into tears and push through layers of the annulus. If the nucleus completely breaks through all layers of the annulus, it becomes a herniated disc. Herniated discs can cause a lot of pain if they press against surrounding nerve roots or the spinal cord. While there are treatments for back pain, there is still no cure for disc degeneration. The first line of defence for back pain is typically pain medication and physical therapy. If that does not work, patients may require surgeries to remove problematic parts of the disc or to fuse parts of the spine together. Scientists are actively researching spinal disc structures to create therapies for degeneration. However, there is still a lot to uncover about discs to make these new methods effective. In the meantime, it is important to be preventive – so keep drinking water and make sure to exercise. While most people eventually get this disease, it is not one to be afraid of. Instead, it is something for you to be aware of and continue learning about. Who knows? Maybe one day you will help find a cure! (Adapted from Frontiers for Young Minds)

of the spinal disc and is made mostly of water. The high water

content of the nucleus allows it to maintain its shape, even under pressure. When force is applied, the nucleus may smush a little, but it will not completely flatten. Instead, the nucleus pushes back

NEWS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Bar, club owners can access Development Bank funding to soundproof facilities – Pres Ali – as ‘Model Village Initiative’ consultations move to Reg 6

President Dr Irfaan Ali and his Cabinet Ministers at Saturday’s public consultation

s the Guyana Government pushes to create ‘model villages’ across the country, proprietors of bars and nightclubs within communities are being encouraged to tap into financing from the Guyana Development

can enclose their bars with soundproof material so those who want to hear the noise hard can go inside, but the noise does not come out to affect the neighbourhood,” Ali stated. In fact, in two weeks’ time, a team of

putting together clusters of individuals who would want to have support under the Development Bank. We want to work with you on creating those opportunities,” the president said on Saturday. During these public engagements, the

Residents of Rose Hall, Berbice, at the public engagement on Saturday

assessment of its state, including infrastructure and subsequently made recommendations for enhancement works. The proposed

Propose enhancements for Rose Hall Town under the ‘Model Village’ initiative

Bank (GDB) to soundproof their establishments to avoid disturbing residents. This was revealed by President Dr Irfaan Ali during a public consultation at Rose Hall in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). Over the past few days, the Head of State has been engaging residents in various communities across the country where the pilot phase of the Model Village initiative will be rolled out. According to President Ali, the number one issue that people raise during these community meetings is noise nuisance. Emphasising the importance of building communities where neighbours are respectful to each other, the Guyanese leader outlined plans for the Government to work with business owners to curb this issue. “We want to work with all of the established bar and entertainment areas to see how we can grant concessions for them to bring in soundproof material. So, with [funding from] the Development Bank, they

Government Ministers, including Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh; Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, and Government Efficiency and Implementation Minister Zulfikar Ally, along with other senior officials, will return to Region Six to launch the Guyana Development Bank. Just last month, the National Assembly passed the GDB Act 2026, paving the way for existing and aspiring Guyanese small business owners to start accessing financing and other support services. This, coupled with the President’s subsequent assent into law, now allows for the operationalisation of the Development Bank, which will see loans of up to $3 million being provided to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across a wide spectrum of sectors, free of collateral and interest. “[The team of Ministers] will be coming back to talk to you about the Development Bank because we will start the process of

Head of State has been touting the Development Bank as an important component of the Government’s efforts to turn community potential into viable businesses, particularly by supporting young people and women interested in entrepreneurship. “So today, we want to discuss with you a model of Government that will create economic opportunity [and] will foster communities where mental health, wellness, safety, security, dignity, and pride are all part of your daily life,” he told Rose Hall residents. At Rose Hall, residents were presented with a vision to transform the township into a cleaner, safer, more attractive, and better-planned community, with improvements to roads, drainage, recreation, traffic management, fire and public safety and beautification. President Ali explained that a team comprising engineers, architects, planners and Government representatives had gone into the community to conduct an

upgrades include improved drainage and flood control, road rehabilitation and widening, pedestrian cross-

ings, street signs, additional bridges and culverts, upgraded fire hydrants, street lighting, and CCTV cameras. The initiative will also see the rehabilitation of parks, development of new green spaces, debris removal, and the replacement and repositioning of damaged or improperly placed utility poles. It also includes the relocation of informal vending structures along the road’s shoulders to a centralised location that would be transformed into a prime food court in the community. According to President Ali, “What we want to do is not take away your power to earn. We want to empower you to earn with dignity and pride. So, we will create spaces where we will have people selling food - a nice area like a food court, where you can have community talent [and] people coming out there [in an environment that] is hygienic, with proper flowing water and proper drainage.

So, when people come to the country, they come to a beautiful area that is touristic and looks good - somewhere people would want to come and buy food.” In addition to Rose Hall Town, the Guyanese leader also held public consultations at Port Mourant, Skeldon, and New Amsterdam, where the blueprints were also presented for the enhancement of those communities across Region Six. These are part of 23 villages being targeted under the pilot phase of the ‘Model Village’ Initiative. So far, discussions have been held with 19 villages in Regions Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), and Five (Mahaica-Berbice). The remaining four communities are Supenaam, Charity, Suddie, and Anna Regina in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), where consultations will be held on Monday.

8 NEWS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Chinese national slapped with traffic charges over fatal Coverden accident

Chinese national was on Friday slapped with several traffic-related charges following an accident that claimed the life of 21-year-old Christopher Thomas along the Coverden Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Wednesday evening. Zeng Huqaing, 39, attached to the CRBC Construction Camp and of Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, was on Friday charged with driving without a valid driver ‘s licence; driving an unlicensed motor vehicle; driving an uncertified motor vehicle; and driving an uninsured motor vehicle. He appeared before Magistrate Timeka Clarke at the Friendship Magistrate’s Court, where the charges were read to him. He pleaded not guilty to all four offences. As such, he was remanded to the Lusignan Prison until

Dead: Christopher Thomas

August 14, 2026. He is yet to be charged with causing death by dangerous driving. It was reported that a motor van, PAG 8745, driven by the Chinese national, was proceeding along the roadway and, upon approaching the entrance to a

worksite compound, allegedly turned right into the compound without stopping. In the process, the vehicle collided with Thomas, who was driving motorcycle CR 8010 with a 24-year-old man from Grand Sand Road, Soesdyke, EBD as the pillion rider. As a result of the collision, Thomas and the pillion rider were flung onto the roadway and sustained injuries to their bodies. They were picked up and taken to the Diamond Regional Hospital, where Thomas was pronounced dead. The pillion rider remains a patient at the hospital. A breathalyser test conducted on the driver of the motor van returned a reading of 0.07 micrograms, which is below the prescribed legal limit. The Guyana Police Force (GPF) stated that it remains committed to enforcing the

Charged: Zeng Huqaing

nation’s traffic laws and reminds all motorists that driving without the required licence, certification and insurance places all road users at serious risk and carries significant legal consequences.

Several busted with guns, ammo during CANU operation

everal persons were taken into custody following the discovery of two firearms with ammunition along Robb Street, Georgetown, on Friday. The Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) stated that officers, acting on intelligence received, went to the location, where they seized one Taurus TX22 semi-automatic pistol with 29 rounds of .22 LR ammunition and one round of 5.56 mm ammunition commonly used in AR-15 rifles. However, during the raid, several persons who were at the premises were arrested and escorted to CANU Headquarters as investigations continued. In July, the drug enforcement unit reported that it had recovered a total of 35 illegal firearms and 699 rounds of ammunition during the first half of 2026, in comparison to 8 firearms and 76 rounds seized during

The firearms and ammunition seized

the same period in 2025. Rifles dominated the firearm seizures, accounting for 23 of the 35 weapons recovered (65.7 per cent), followed by six shotguns and seven handguns. The ammunition profile

was similarly weighted toward high-powered weaponry, with 504 rounds of 7. 62×39 mm calibre, the standard round for AK-pattern assault rifles, accounting for the bulk of recovered rounds. Following the seizures,

Director of CANU, James Singh, stated that the seizures reported for the first half of 2026 reflect the unwavering commitment of every CANU officer to its core mandate.

Lethem teacher, fireman fined for drunk driving

wo Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) residents on Friday pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol and were fined $100,000 each or an alternative of two weeks’ imprisonment. Roderick George, 71, a teacher of Tabatinga, Lethem, Central Rupununi, was arrested on August 3, 2026, for driving motor car DAM 2087 while his alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit of consumption. As such, he appeared before Magistrate Nekkisha

Charged: Terrell Pauline

Charged: Roderick George

This year…

Logan at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was read to him, to which he pleaded guilty. In addition, Terrell Pauline, 24, a fireman of St Ignatius Village, Central Rupununi, was charged with a similar offence. Police stated that he was caught driving motorcycle CN 7286 while being under the influence of alcohol. He too appeared before Magistrate Nekkisha Logan and pleaded guilty to the charge. Similarly, he was granted $100,000 bail or an alternative of two weeks’ imprisonment.

…is Warriors’!!

he CPL has expanded to seven teams making the carnival is bigger, the competition is tougher with a new Jamaican franchise ready to upset the old order. But as the season gets under way, there’s one question that’s on your Eyewitness’ mind: can our Guyana Amazon Warriors bring the trophy home again? The answer - judging from the squad assembled - is an emphatic yes!!!! Our boya have been here before!! They’ve reached six CPL finals and endured the peculiar agony of being consistently good enough to be the bridesmaid but never the bride - till 2023!! Now coming from back-toback champs of the Clobal cricket league, they have the opportunity to establish something more important than a single triumph: a dynasty!! And this year’s squad looks capable of doing precisely that. Shimron Hetmyer remains the obvious headline act for Guyanese supporters. When Hetmyer gets going, he doesn’t merely score runs—he changes the emotional temperature of a match! While Romario Shepherd brings explosive batting and useful firepower with the ball, Shai Hope supplies the kinda class and stability that every winning T20 side needs. Then there is Shamar Joseph, whose arrival adds another dimension to the attack. And the Warriors ain’t done yet!! Glenn Phillips provides serious international-quality firepower; Muhammad Nabi brings experience bordering on unfairness in T20 cricket. Rahmanullah Gurbaz offers another explosive option at the top of the order, while Dwaine Pretorius gives the side the kind of all-round balance that becomes invaluable when matches are decided in the final five overs. This ain’t a team built simply to entertain the Providence crowd – it’s a team built to win!! And then there’s Providence Stadium - more than a venue for the Warriors and hometown advantage!! There are few things more intimidating in Caribbean cricket than a Providence crowd that has decided the Warriors gonna win!! Opposition batsmen know what’s coming: - spin, pressure, noise and a Guyanese audience that treats every boundary as a national event!! The Warriors got five home matches this season beginning against the Jamaica Kingsmen who just lost their opening game by a nose!! That home stretch could prove decisive. In a tournament expanded to seven teams and 39 matches, consistency gonna matter more than spectacular individual performances!! The Warriors have that psychological advantage: they know how to win in Providence!! And after the disappointment of losing last year’s CPL final to the Knight Riders, there should be no shortage of motivation!! The new boys have changed the equation cause they ain’t dependent on one superstar. Their strength is the combination of international experience, Caribbean familiarity and a substantial Guyanese presence. That could become the difference between being entertaining and being champions. Go Warriors!! …a Hand Up, not a Handout The Opposition’s prescription for Guyanese prosperity is wonderfully simple: give everybody some cash and hope for the best!! But it’s simplistic - the politics of the ATM—press the button, dispense the money, collect the applause!! But people don’t need no politicians to hand them a cheque every time the cost-of-living squeezes. They need a hand up, not a handout. Like the govt’s doing - give youths training and job, not just grants; give entrepreneurs access to capital, markets and infrastructure - not a one-off payment that disappears at the supermarket or rumshop!! There’s certainly a place for targeted assistance to people genuinely in need. But turning government into a permanent ATM machine is hardly a viable economic development strategy!! We gotoil wealth precisely so that we can build an economy in which people earn more, rather than an economy in which politicians compete to decide who gets the next handout!! The difference is fundamental!! Gwan da side Opposition!! …gripe The PNC/APNU remnant Opposition not surprisingly has joined the GSMA criticism of GWI bottling water saying it ain’t the business of Govt to be in Business!! So, are they gonna denounce Burnham’s nationalizing 80% of businesses – which he promptly destroyed?? The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

NEWS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt introduces compulsory standards for gas cylinders, low-pressure regulators safety I

n a move to strengthen public safety and improve the quality of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) equipment available on the local market, the Guyana Government has approved two National Standards governing LPG cylinders and low-pressure regulators-measures that are now compulsory. These new standards come on the heels of mounting public concerns regarding LPG cylinder explosions and leaks at consumers’ premises some of which were fatal. This prompted the Government, through the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), to review and revise the national standards GYS 264-Specification for LPG Cylinder and its Storage, Handling and Transportation, and GYS 523-Specification for Lowpressure Regulators for Use with LPG in 2025 to provide greater clarity, improve ease of use, and strengthen the monitoring of the importation and sale of low-pressure LPG regulators and LPG cylinders. The comprehensive revision process was completed by a Technical Committee comprising key stakeholders, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),

Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Guyana Fire Service (GFS), Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Massy Gas, GUYGAS Inc, and the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC). In a statement on Saturday, the Tourism, Industry, and Commerce Ministry said that extensive input was also garnered from others in the petroleum industry and the public through a public consultation process over a 60-day period before the documents were finalised with recommendations for these changes. Among the key requirements introduced under the updated GYS 264 standard are provisions to ensure that LPG cylinders meet recognised safety specifications or international standards. Cylinders must also be appropriately stamped to indicate compliance. Additionally, cylinders shall be permanently marked with the tare weight, water capacity, serial number, manufacturer or trade name, date of manufacture or last test date, tester’s symbol, and cylinder specification or working pressure. Further, the standard requires cylinders to be fitted with a safety relief device designed to relieve vapour

pressure, a cylinder shroud in good condition that is securely welded to the cylinder body, or a neck ring that allows a valve protection cap to be screwed onto the cylinder, together with a foot ring that enables the cylinder to stand in a stable, vertical position above ground. With respect to the condition of the cylinder body, the standard requires it to be free from sharp dents or cuts, free from evidence of exposure to fire or excessive heat, bulging, corrosion, damaged foot rings, defective or broken pins, and dirt or other removable substances that may affect safe operation. Beyond construction and marking requirements, the standard also addresses repairs, requalification, test methods, storage locations, fire extinguishers, display, handling, and transportation, among other key safety provisions. The second National Standard GYS 523-Specification for Lowpressure Regulators for Use with LPG specifies the materials, construction, performance and testing requirements for low-pressure single-stage and two-stage regulators used with LPG mixtures. For the purposes of this standard, low pres-

sure refers to any pressure below 6.894 kN/m². For comparison, domestic and commercial appliances normally operate at a gas pressure of 2. 942 kN /m ². Among its provisions, the standard requires that all regulator components shall be manufactured from, or treated with, materials that are compatible with LPG and are not adversely affected by the chemical or thermal conditions encountered during normal use. It further specifies that brass parts shall not be susceptible to stress cracking, while the covers of regulators with a rated capacity of up to 1,000 litres per hour (L/h) shall be manufactured from zinc-based alloys by pressure die-casting. It also specifies the re-

quired finishes and materials used in regulator construction, valve pad materials, workmanship, threaded and non-threaded connections, low- and high-temperature testing, endurance testing, user instructions, maintenance requirements, and tests for the mechanical strength of connections, among other technical requirements. “The introduction of these standards as compulsory will require suppliers and manufacturers to ensure that all LPG cylinders and low-pressure regulators comply with the prescribed requirements, thereby enhancing safety, improving product quality, and reducing the risk of accidents. It will also provide consumers with greater confidence that

LPG cylinders and regulators available on the market meet established safety and performance requirements,” the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce stated. The Ministry further noted that the implementation of these standards will involve collaboration among relevant regulatory agencies, with GYS 264 being monitored by the GEA and GYS 523 being monitored by the GNBS. Meanwhile, as part of the legal requirement towards making these standards compulsory, the Ministry of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce is inviting interested persons to submit representations/comments on the proposed compulsory LPG standards to the Executive Director, GNBS, on or before September 30, 2026. The Ministry is encouraging consumers, importers, distributors, and other stakeholders to familiarise themselves with these National Standards. Copies of the standards are available for inspection at the GNBS Head Office, Track MB, Block B, National Exhibition Centre, Sophia, Georgetown, and on the GNBS website www.gnbsgy. org.

Fatal stabbing of Berbice duo

Family calls for justice, says ‘truth must come out’

ne day after 36-year-old Tyrone Captain, a labourer of Eversham, Corentyne, Berbice and 23-year-old Wreford Vincent Trim also called “Junior Browne”, a vendor of Durban Backlands, Georgetown were stabbed to death, relatives believe that the ‘truth’ as to what took place will come to light. Police said the incident occurred at about 09:30h and preliminary investigations revealed that an altercation occurred involving Captain, Trim and the 29-year-old salesman of Industry, East Coast Demerara (ECD). During the confrontation, both Captain and Trim were fatally stabbed. Trim collapsed and died while attempting to escape his attacker while Captain succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). The 29-year-old suspect was arrested and remained in police custody as investigations continued. Police also recovered a knife suspected to have been used during the incident. The weapon was lodged pending examination. Investigators have obtained CCTV footage, which police said forms part of the ongoing investigation into the circumstanc-

Dead: Tyrone Captain

es surrounding the deaths. The bodies of Captain and Trim are awaiting post-mortem examinations (PMEs). Meanwhile, at Eversham, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), where Captain grew up, his relatives are calling for justice and say they want the truth about the circumstances that led to his death. Captain’s cousin, Charlene Sutherland, said she was selling at the market when she received the devastating news. “I was at the market selling, and I heard that my cousin got

stabbed and died,” she recalled. Sutherland said Captain moved away from Eversham approximately eight years ago but continued to maintain contact with relatives in the community, particularly his aunt and grandmother. He had returned to Eversham as recently as about three months ago following the death of an aunt. “He normally communicated with his aunt and his grandmother. He normally visited. Three months ago, my aunt passed away, and he was here. They

always keep in contact with him,” Sutherland said. She remembered her cousin as a loving, hardworking and caring man. “He was very loving and hardworking, manly, caring,” she related. Sutherland also described Captain as a quiet person who was not known by his family to be easily angered. “He was very quiet; he was never a tempered person. So, I was sad when I heard that news,” she said. While relatives have heard reports about what allegedly occurred in Georgetown, Sutherland made it clear that the family does not know firsthand what triggered the deadly confrontation. “What I’m speaking of is what the news said because we weren’t there. So, I won’t get down to details about that,” she said. It is for that reason, she indicated, that the family wants investigators to establish exactly what transpired. “Because he didn’t deserve to die like that,” Sutherland said. Calling for the person responsible to face justice, she added: “The person that stabbed him, justice must serve. The truth must come out.” Sutherland said Captain had previously worked in Guyana’s interior, although she was unable to say what work he was do-

Dead: Wreford Vincent Trim also called “Junior Browne”

ing immediately before his death. he also said she knew him to be the father of a daughter. For Captain’s relatives in Eversham, the police investigation — including the CCTV footage now in investigators’ possession — is ex-

pected to provide answers about the confrontation that claimed his life. As the family awaits those answers, Sutherland said their demand remains simple. “The truth must come out,” she said.

10 NEWS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GWI expands access to affordable drinking water with Port Mourant refilling station – residents welcome 5-gallon refills at $100

GWI Chief Executive Officer Shaik Baksh

esidents of Port Mourant and surrounding communities in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) will now enjoy safe, affordable drinking water as Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) commissions its newest Water Bottle Refilling Station. The facility was officially opened on Friday, and members of the public received free five-gallon water refills throughout the day. However, from Saturday, refills will cost $100 per five-gallon container-something that residents welcomed. “Normally, I would buy three bottles of water for the week at $260 for one. So, here it’s only $100, so I’m saving some money there, which is good,” Hazel Fraser, an elderly resident, stated. Like Fraser, other residents also welcomed this opportunity to save on wa-

ter purchases, praising the Government for introducing the refill station. In fact, one person appreciated the convenience of being able to drive up to the refill stands. Another resident, Neil Pike, said, “People don’t have to go out [on the public road] to buy water. So, it will be really efficient for the community... and with the price, I think everyone will come here.” The Port Mourant Water Bottle Refilling Station is the second such facility opened by GWI this year, as part of an ongoing initiative to improve access to clean, safe, and affordable water for all citizens. Back in April, the rehabilitated Pouderoyen Bottle Refilling Station in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) was commissioned. According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GWI Shaik Baksh during

Friday’s commissioning at Port Mourant, refill stations would be established in every region across Guyana. “We’ve already completed about 10 of those stations. They’re not commissioned as yet. We’ve commissioned the first one at Pouderoyen in Region Three. And we’re hoping that the population here, residents here at Port Mourant and Rose Hall, will make use of the affordable water here. Because we are going to sell a five -gallon bottle for $100,” Baksh stated. The GWI Head explained this is one of the initiatives that the agency is undertaking to deliver safe and affordable water to Guyanese. The other major project is the GWI-operated $496.3 million water bottling facility that is slated to be established at Parfait Harmonie in Region Three. “We would be selling at affordable prices bottled water to the population as a whole,” Baksh asserted. Dismissing concerns by private sector representatives and local manufacturers, Baksh defended the move of GWI getting involved in the water bottling business through both the refill stations and the planned bottling plant, saying there is value for consumers. “Apart from these refill stations, the bottled water would be very, very competitive for the population. And this is the role of Government: to provide services at affordable rates to the people of Guyana... The bottled water itself, we would ensure it’s affordable-much lower than what you pay now,” the GWI boss argued. Moreover, Baksh went on to reject concerns

A resident utilising the newly opened Port Mourant Water Bottle Refilling Station

that these initiatives will distract GWI from achieving its core objectives. Currently, access to potable water has reached more than 98 per cent over the last five years. In fact, he pointed out that the agency has seen significant progress in its goals to deliver better quality water to the people. For instance, access to treated water has moved from 35 per cent to now 77 per cent on the coastland. “We have some way to go to ensure that we provide treated water, and by next year, we’re hoping to achieve in excess of 95 per cent of treated water in this country,” Baksh stated. But even with this progress, the GWI Head recognised that there are some communities that still complain about the quality of water being supplied. Those areas, he explained, are still being served directly from artisan wells rather than receiving water through treatment plants. Over the last three years, at least eight new water treatment plants were

established across the country to enhance water quality for consumers, with three other facilities currently under construction. “We’re getting there. So, we’re asking for the patience of the population. The Government recognises the need for clean, treated water and GWI has been and will be delivering on that mandate with challenges, of course, and we need more time to complete the objective of providing over 90 per cent of treated water,” Baksh declared. Meanwhile, in addition to Pouderoyen and Port

Mourant, water refill stations are slated to be established in areas such as Lima (Region Two), Vergenoegen and Wales (Region Three), Grove and Caledonia (Region Four - East Bank), Mon Repos and Bachelor’s Adventure (Region Four - East Coast), Vlissengen Road and Mandela Avenue (Region Four - Georgetown), Cotton Tree in Region Five, Sheet Anchor and Queenstown (Region Six), Central Bartica (Region Seven), and Amelia’s Ward in Region 10.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Plantation Life T

he logies of De Willem were directly north of the sugar factory. In addition to a few who had survived slavery, most were either five or ten-room structures built directly on the ground with peaked corrugated zinc roofs that sloped sharply in the front to the passage or “cow mouth” in front. Unfortunately, Ravi Dev Rambishoon had arrived during a prolonged period of depression in the sugar industry due to competition from beet sugar in Europe. At the national level, it was a period of consolidation of plantations, and Uitvlugt, Zeeburg, and De Willem had been amalgamated with the factory, soon to be shuttered. At the local level, cost-cutting meant that overseers in the fields set daily tasks demanding long, strenuous, impossible hours to complete. By 1888, fifty years after the abolition of slavery, most Africans had moved out of the logies and built cottages-some multifamily, resembling logies-near the Public Road, as some continued to work on the plantation while others migrated to Georgetown. The 1881 census showed the population to be 725, consisting of 92 African “Creoles”-born in British Guiana-87 Creole Indians, and 23 from “other lands.” Immigration Returns placed “Asiatics”-which could include Chinese-at 523, of whom 281 were not indentured. De Willem had 638 acres in cane, 34 in plantains, and 250 uncultivated. In 1886, it produced 100 hogsheads (1,350 tons) of sugar. On the Allanshaw, Rambishoon encountered Africans for the first time in his life, as a small number had been employed as workers called “lascars, “ who worked under grueling conditions in the boiler room and who often took out their frustrations on the Indian indentureds. Rambishoon was placed with three other experienced Indian workers as “partners” who were supposed to “break him in” to the nuances of cutting cane on a plantation. A single stalk would be grasped, pulled forward, and cleanly severed about a foot from the ground with the sharpened cutlass. It would then be twirled to chop off the leafy tops and then thrown onto the ground to form a heap-all in one fluid motion. The heaps would be picked up by other workers, including women, placed on their heads in bundles, and fetched to nearby canals to be dumped into punts that would take them to the factory. Rambishoon would prepare his meals-which were monotonously but invariably boiled rice with curried vegetables and dhall-some eaten immediately as “breakfast” and the rest during the morning break from cutting his task as “lunch. “ Very early on, he noticed that African cane cutters did not prepare their lunch at home but would break around 10 a.m. to cook “ground provisions” that would constitute breakfast and lunch. This difference in custom was one that militated against the two groups working together as “partners.” He learned that the water to be used for cooking or drinking was taken from the irrigation canals. The white overseers on their mules would ensure that all workersmale and female-were up by 5 a.m. to be marched into the “backdam. “ Those who were not were sent to the hospital at Uitvlugt to determine whether they were “sick. “ There was no other excuse. A decade later, a planter would testify, without irony, to a Royal Commission inquiring about working conditions that indentureds could only legitimately be in one of three places-in the field, hospital, or jail. The last was most frequently for absences from work, since this civil infraction of their contract was deemed a criminal offense and dealt with condignly by the magistrate’s court. As in the depot and aboard the Allanshaw, relations with women had become increasingly less constrained compared with the village, and this continued in the logies and backdam. In fact, several “liaisons” occurred at the former, and on landing, were sent to the same plantation as “married. “ The proportion of women to men was tremendously skewed against the former, who were then in great demand. They were not slow in taking advantage of that fact to break the constraints that had been imposed on them in India. During his indentureship, young Rambishoon would have a relationship with a woman who would bear him a child named Rambharose, but they did not get married. As a child, my Nanie would tell me about Rambharose, who grew up farther west in Tuschen and recognized the relationship. The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

12 NEWS Reg 9 Chairwoman engages Taushida residents on development, safety & good governance SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Regional Chairwoman for Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), Vania Edwards addressing the meeting

Residents of Taushida Village at the meeting

egional Chairwoman for Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo), Vania Edwards, led a team to Taushida Village to engage with community members and update them on ongoing projects within the region. Edwards was joined by members of the Police Station and staff attached to the Regional Agriculture Department. The team engaged residents on matters relating to community safety, crime prevention, traffic awareness, domestic violence, agriculture and support for farmers and community development. The visit also focused on strengthening the relation-

ship between the Village Council and the people it serves, while emphasising the importance of transparency, accountability and good governance at the village level. Edwards reminded community members that village funds and resources must be managed responsibly with proper accountability to residents. However, she reminded councils to provide regular reports at Village General Meetings (VGMs) and ensure that residents are kept informed about decisions and the use of village resources. She also stressed the importance of councils holding regular meetings with the public and actively

involving community members in discussions about development priorities so that projects and investments align with the actual needs of the community. The Chairwoman also stressed that strong villages are built through responsible leadership, active community participation, transparency, accountability and partnership. The Regional Democratic Council (RDC), through the Office of the Regional Chair, remains committed to working with Village Councils, Government departments, law enforcement and residents to strengthen communities and improve the lives of our people.

No foul play suspected in death of Nandy Park businessman – Police The lifeless body of 49year -old businessman Freeman Fordyce was found at his Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara (EBD) residence on Thursday, but the police a few days later ruled out foul play at this time. The police stated that Fordyce, who lived alone, was last seen alive by a relative on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at about 16:00h. However, after several attempts by relatives to contact him were unsuccessful, the relative went to the residence on Thursday, where they discovered his body in

Dead: Freeman Fordyce

a bedroom. Fordyce was pronounced dead by a doctor from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), after which his body was examined, but no marks of violence were observed. However, a post-mortem examination (PME) performed by Government pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh on Friday determined the cause of death as heart failure. The body was subsequently handed over to relatives for burial.

NEWS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Berbice businesses urged to embrace investment & export opportunities for investment, agro-processing, and export-led growth. As Guyana’s national investment promotion agency, GO-Invest continues to facilitate local and foreign investment, promote exports, support business expansion and connect investors and entrepreneurs with the Government services and strategic partners needed to establish, grow, and scale their operations. Through its Investment A section of the gathering on Friday

he Guyana Office for Investment (GOInvest), in collaboration with the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA) on Friday engaged businesses and entrepreneurs from across

ganisation is committed to working directly with businesses across Guyana to unlock new investment opportunities, strengthen productive sectors and prepare more local companies to compete in regional and international

Go-Invest Head Peter Ramsaroop

President of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association, Samantha Reid engaging the participants

Member of Parliament (MP) Zamal Hussain

Region Six for a strategic forum focused on expanding exports, attracting investment, and accelerating business growth in Berbice. Addressing the gathering, the head of GOInvest, Peter Ramsaroop, emphasised that the or-

markets. He encouraged businesses to capitalise on the Government’s investment-friendly policies by pursuing value-added production, improving quality standards, enhancing packaging and branding and positioning themselves

to become export-ready. The engagement reinforced President Dr Irfaan Ali’s 2030 Vision, which seeks to build a diversified, globally competitive economy driven by production, exports, innovation and private sector growth. Ramsaroop highlighted the President’s vision for the continued expansion of Berbice through transformative investments in infrastructure, agriculture, energy, manufacturing, logistics, and industrial development, positioning Region Six as a major hub

Charter, GO-Invest remains committed to creating an enabling business environment that encourages innovation, strengthens productive sectors and generates sustainable em-

ployment. Member of Parliament (MP) Zamal Hussain underscored the importance of the Government’s planned Development Bank, noting that expanded access to financing will empower entrepreneurs, manufacturers and small and medium-sized enterprises to invest, expand production, and seize new economic opportunities. In addition, the President of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association, Samantha Reid, reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment to supporting the business community by fostering entrepreneurship, strengthening collaboration among local enterprises and partnering with

GO-Invest to help businesses become investmentand export-ready. The engagement also showcased several GO-Invest success stories, highlighting businesses that have expanded production, secured new investment, entered export markets and created employment with the agency’s support. These achievements demonstrate the growing competitiveness of Guyanese enterprises and reflect GO-Invest’s continued commitment, under the leadership of Hon. Peter Ramsaroop, to advancing President Ali’s economic vision by building a stronger, more competitive and export-driven economy.

14 NEWS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana Prize for Literature 2025

Tell Guyana’s stories truthfully, with Imagination & skill – PM Phillips – Deonandan cops best Book of Fiction award; Payne gets Best First Book of Fiction award for "Leech"

Prime Minister Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips addressing the gathering

rime Minister Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening Guyana’s literary and creative sectors while underscoring the importance of ensuring that Guyanese stories continue to be told authentically and preserved for future generations. During his address at the 2025 Guyana Prize for Literature Award Ceremony on Friday evening, Phillips reflected on the longstanding role of storytelling in shaping how Guyana and the wider Caribbean understand their history, identity and experiences. He noted that much of the Caribbean’s early history was recorded through the perspectives of outsiders, while the experiences of its people were often overlooked or distorted. Guyanese and Caribbean writers, he said, helped to correct those accounts by bringing greater depth and dignity to the lives and experiences of their people. The PM highlighted the

Raywat Deonandan won Best Book of Fiction

Short Story Prize, and Guyana Prize honoree Tessa McWatt’s 2026 OCM

Tessa Mc Watt wins Best Book of Non- Fiction with “The Snag: A Mother, A Forest and Wild Grief”

contributions of renowned Guyanese writers, including Edgar Mittelholzer, E.R. Braithwaite and Beryl Gilroy, while also pointing to the continued international recognition of contemporary Guyanese literature. Among those achievements, he noted Dr David Dabydeen’s nomination for the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature, Subraj Singh’s regional win in the 2025 Commonwealth

Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature. “These achievements remind us that Guyanese stories can travel. They reach classrooms, theatres, prize juries and readers far beyond our shores.” Moreover, Phillips acknowledged, however, that writers across the Caribbean continue to face challenges, including small markets, high publishing and distribu-

tion costs, limited reviewing platforms and insufficient access to professional editing and mentorship. Against this backdrop, he underscored the importance of ensuring that Guyanese literature reflects the country’s full diversity. “We need stories from the coast and the hinterland, from villages and towns, from and about the diaspora, from those who left and those who stayed. We need work that preserves language and custom, examines difficult history, records contemporary change, and imagines futures that have not yet arrived.” He also called for stronger support systems for writers, including workshops, reading groups, school writing clubs, public readings, editorial services, literary journals, and greater partnerships among writers, libraries, universities, publishers and the private sector. The Government, he added, has accepted its responsibility in helping to strengthen this environment. Since restoring the Guyana Prize, the Administration has made the competition annual, broadened its categories, introduced Youth Awards, and moved submissions and judging online, reducing costs and making participation more accessible to Guyanese writers at home and abroad. This support, he explained, forms part of a wider focus on developing the creative industries. CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Tell Guyana’s stories truthfully...

Jasmaine Payne received the Best First Book of Fiction award for ‘Leech’

Budget 2026 allocated $3.7 billion to Orange Economy initiatives, while a national stakeholder consultation earlier this year examined areas including

Nevertheless, he placed particular emphasis on nurturing young writers and encouraged all participants to continue developing their craft. “Keep writing

Makeda Braithwaite shares third prize in Best Book of Poetry

to remain open to rigorous editing and experimentation while continuing to draw from Guyana and the Caribbean without feeling confined by geography or expectation. With Guyana undergoing rapid transformation, PM Phillips said writers also carry an important responsibility in documenting the period for future generations. “Tell those stories truthfully. Tell them with imagination and skill. Give future readers more than official dates and public events. Give them the private hopes, anxieties, contradictions and humour of the people who lived through this time.” He congratulated the shortlisted and winning writers, as well as all those who submitted entries, and thanked the judges and organisers for their contribution to the continued development of Guyana’s literary community.

Deonandan won Best Book of Fiction, while Somnauth Narine secured second prize. Jasmaine Payne re-

Phebe Wallerson wins for First Book of Poetry and second prize for “Songs From Sorrow Hill”

Scott Ting-A-Kee and Makeda Braithwaite were both awarded sec-

Awardees

Raphel Trotman receives the award on behalf of Joyce Trotman who copped second prize for ‘Dis Gyrl: The Enchanted Life of Aunty Joyce Trotman.’

training, financing, market access, policy support, and international competitiveness.

and keep reading. Invest in yourself as we continue to find ways to invest in you.” He further urged writers

Meanwhile, some of Guyana’s established and emerging literary voices were recognised as the winners of the Guyana Prize for Literature 2025, with awards presented across fiction, poetry, non-fiction, drama and youth categories. In Fiction, Raywat

Seeta Shah Roath wins Best Play for ‘Kisna’

ceived the Best First Book of Fiction award for ‘Leech’. Veteran Guyanese poet Maggie Harris captured Best Book of Poetry for ‘I Sing to the Greenhearts’.

FROM PAGE 14

ond prizes, while Phebe Wallerson was recognised for Best First Book of Poetry. Wallerson also received a second prize for ‘Songs From Sorrow Hill’. In the non-fiction catego-

ry, Tessa McWatt won the top award for ‘The Snag’, while Joyce Trotman took second prize for ‘Dis Gyrl: The Enchanted Life of Aunty Joyce Trotman.’ The Drama category saw Seeta Shah Roath winning Best Play for ‘Kisna’. Shaphan Hestick placed second with River, Blood, Son, while Mosa Telford took third place for The Bell and the Bones. Young writers were also celebrated. In the Youth Short Story category, Juvelle Atherley claimed first place for ‘Salt Water Does Not Forget’, followed by Sieara Fernandes in second and Gabriella West in third for ‘Armonia’. The Youth Poetry category produced joint first-place winners, with Mortimer Duke recognised for ‘Notes Towards an Incomplete Definition’ and Ariel Mohanlall for ‘Motion and Buckets’. Jessica Persaud placed third with ‘Oh Sea, Swallow My Pleas’, while Darshanic Tickapersaud received an honourable mention for ‘Ah Still Deh / By the Water Dat Doan Sleep’. The Guyana Prize for Literature continues to provide a major platform for recognising literary excellence while encouraging the development of new generations of Guyanese writers.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 9 2026

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

18 NEWS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Young campers charged to lead with character, courage & confidence – as GPF Youth Camp 2026 5-day concludes

The participants of the camp and officials

he Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Annual Youth Camp 2026 concluded on Friday after five days of activities aimed at building character, confidence and leadership among young people. Held under the theme “Empowering Tomorrow’s

to learn, share experiences and build lasting friendships. She encouraged the campers to recognise that Guyana’s future must be nurtured and empowered, reminding them that true leadership is built on character, courage, kindness and making responsible choices.

The camp was led by Head of the Strategic Planning and Implementation Unit and President of the GAWP, Senior Superintendent Dr Nicola Kendall. She was assisted by Head of the Community Relations Department, Superintendent Leslyn

Minister Oneidge Walrond along with Police Commissioner, Clifton Hicken and other top brass of the GPF

Leaders: Building Character and Youth Confidence,” the camp took place at the Kuru Kururu Co-operative College along the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway and brought together more than 100 young people between the ages of seven and 13 from

Walrond also told the young participants that among them could be future lawyers, police officers, nurses, firefighters, Ministers and even the future President of Guyana. She also reflected on Police Commissioner Clifton

Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond addressing the young people

across the Police Regional Divisions. The camp was organised by the GPF in collaboration with the Guyana Association of Women Police (GAWP). The campers were supported throughout the week by caregivers, police officers, members of the organising committee and support staff. At the closing ceremony, Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond stated that the camp was significant because it brought young people from every region of Guyana together

Smith while Assistant Superintendent Michael Kurt served as Camp Father. The closing ceremony featured cultural performances, songs, spoken word, a fashion show and an arts and crafts display. Awards

Top Cop Clifton Hicken

Hicken’s personal experience, noting that he had attended the same youth camp when he was their age and had gone on to become Commissioner of Police. The top cop echoed those sentiments, noting that the camp had provided the youths with new skills and valuable experiences. He encouraged them to remain focused on their education, improve their vocabulary and communication skills and appreciate the diverse cultures and backgrounds of their fellow campers.

were also presented for Most Outstanding Camper, Most Improved Camper, Most Disciplined Camper, and Best Dormitory. Also in attendance were Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Home Affairs Ministry Andre Ally, senior and junior police officers, community Toshaos, caregivers, and parents. The 2026 Youth Camp concluded with participants leaving with new friendships, valuable skills and lasting experiences as they prepare to play their part in Guyana’s future.

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Over 300 Reg 5 residents receive house lots bringing homeownership closer brackets were included. The exercise was led by the Director of Operations at CH&PA, Denise KingTudor; Operations Manager, Gaitree Ramawad; and Regional Housing Officer, Arianne Barratt-Rodrigues, supported by agency staff. Throughout the process, beneficiaries were guided on the allocation procedure and provided with essential information on the next steps to complete their transactions. For over 300 beneficiaries, these allocations mean more than just access to land; they lay the foundation for families to establish permanent homes, increase security and create lasting

Resident at the housing drive on Thursday

A young resident being processed

ore than 300 residents of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) received house lot allocations on Thursday during an allocation exercise held at the Ministry of Housing and Water’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) Regional Housing Office. The exercise forms part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to address the housing needs of families across the region and provide more residents with access to affordable land for homeownership. The allocation exercise also followed through on a commitment made by Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo to residents, underscoring the

Government’s continued focus on expanding access to housing opportunities and improving the quality of life for families in that region. Among the beneficiaries were applicants who were unable to secure allocations during the Ministry’s recent ‘Dream Realised ‘ Housing Drive held at the Rosignol Stelling Tarmac. Thursday’s event, therefore, offered another opportunity for these applicants to progress towards homeownership. Residential lots across the low, moderate, and middle-income categories were allocated in Track A, Waterloo, and Track C, Experiment, ensuring families from various income

A resident pulling the lot to her land

assets for future generations. Back in June, the Government had begun implementing plans to clear the housing backlog within that region, with up to 1,000 house lots being made available. Housing Minister Collin Croal had stated that the exercise represents the start of the Government ‘s effort to fulfill a commitment to clear all pending housing applications in the region during its current term in office. He had explained that while the CH&PA database reflects more than 4,000 applications in Region Five, officials recognise that some applicants may have relocated, migrated, or secured housing elsewhere.

He said the Ministry has been working with the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission to secure additional lands to meet the demand. Croal noted that applicants who attended the previous allocation exercise in October 2024 but were unable to receive lots because of limited availability were given priority consideration during Friday’s activity. Those allocations are being made in new housing developments at Experiment and another area identified as Track A-O. He said the Ministry now has sufficient land to cater to all applicants attending the current exercise and indicated that additional allocations could be made if necessary.

19 Junior Officers undergo training to strengthen command, leadership skills important dimension to the course, fostering professional interaction, knowledge exchange and the sharing of military experiences and best practices. Such engagement not only enriches the learning environ-

The 19 Junior Officers and Senior members of the GDF

ineteen junior officers, including three officers from regional partner defence forces, have commenced training on the Junior Command and Staff Course No. 34 (JCSC #34) at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). The cohort comprises 16 officers from the GDF, two officers from the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF), and one officer from the Saint Kitts and Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF). The 12-week programme is designed to prepare officers to serve effectively as junior commanders and staff officers across the full spectrum of military opera-

tions. It seeks to strengthen participants’ leadership capabilities, operational planning skills, critical thinking and professional competence, equipping them to meet the evolving demands of modern military service. The course curriculum encompasses a broad range of areas essential to effective command and staff functions, including military operations, operational staff procedures, leadership, military law, management, planning, decision-making and other aspects of professional military development. The course was officially opened by Colonel Kenlloyd Roberts, Colonel

General Staff of the GDF. In his opening remarks, Colonel Roberts underscored the importance of professional military education in developing capable, adaptable and effective military leaders. He encouraged the participating officers to approach the course with commitment, discipline and an open mind, while taking full advantage of the opportunity to broaden their professional knowledge, sharpen their leadership abilities and enhance their effectiveness as future commanders and staff officers. The participation of officers from regional partner defence forces adds an

ment but also contributes to strengthening professional relationships and interoperability among regional defence forces. Through initiatives such as the Junior Command and Staff Course, the GDF continues to invest

in the professional development of its officers, while reinforcing its commitment to regional defence cooperation and the development of a capable, adaptable and professionally prepared military force.

20 NEWS Years of waiting end as Reg 5 families receive house lots SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…applicants receive long-awaited phone call to after more than a decade

The CH&PA Office at Fort Wellington

esident of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) on Thursday completed payments and receive their house lots located in the expanding Bath, Waterloo, and Experiment housing developments. For many, the day represented the fulfillment of a long-held dream of owning a place to call home. For years, 65-yearold Ganchamani Balkaran watched others achieve what she feared might never happen for her. After raising six children and enduring the loss of her children’s father, she continued living in her mother’s modest home, carrying the hope that one day she too would have a place to call her own. On Thursday, as she clutched the documents confirming the allocation of a house lot at Waterloo, the emotion she had held inside for years could no longer be contained. “I feel so happy because many years ago I didn’t get through,” she said, pausing as she reflected on the long wait. “I feel so happy and so glad. I live back at my mother’s little house, and every day my family tells me I must get my own place. Now I finally get this land, and I feel so happy.” Balkaran was among hundreds of Region Five residents who attended Thursday’s house lot allocation exercise, an event that

brought together applicants from different villages but with one common dream: to finally own a piece of land on which they could build a home. The allocations form part of the continued expansion of the Bath, Waterloo and Experiment housing developments, where thousands of house lots have been created over the past several years. The area, once dominated by agricultural lands, is rapidly evolving into one of Region Five’s fastest-growing residential corridors as roads, drainage networks, water distribution systems and electricity infrastructure continue to expand. But while the programme represents another milestone in Guyana’s housing drive, Thursday’s event was less about statistics and more about people, people whose stories of perseverance, sacrifice and hope were written across their faces as they left with allocation documents in hand. A few seats away sat Omar Khan, whose journey to Thursday’s allocation stretched back to 2011. The 39-year-old labourer said he had submitted application after application, convinced that patience would eventually pay off. Instead, he later discovered that although his application existed, his name had somehow not been entered into the system.

There were times when the dream seemed to drift further away, not because he had failed to apply, but because a simple administrative error had kept him from moving forward. For years, that administrative problem left him waiting while he continued providing for his wife and three children, wondering whether his opportunity would ever come. “When I received the call that I was supposed to come here, it was very delightful, very joyful,” Khan recalled. “I tried many times, and I never got through. I have been applying since 2011. My application was there, but my name wasn’t in the system,” he explained. Despite the setback, he never abandoned the dream of owning a home.

Building their dream homes

Now that the allocation has finally become a reality, his attention has already shifted to the next step. “As soon as we identify the lot, we’ll start building,” he said, determined to begin creating a permanent home for his family. His story was one of many unfolding across the venue compound of the Housing Ministry’s Region Five office at Fort Wellington. For Mahadev Jaipasar, 53, of Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB), the alloca-

One of the recipients, Omar Khan

tion represented something many people take for granted: a place where her family can finally settle without uncertainty. For years, she and her family lived on Government lands while waiting for an opportunity to own property of their own. Every application carried hope. Every year without a response brought disappointment. Thursday changed that. “We feel happy because we never get our land. We living on Government land and now we finally get our own house lot,” she said. Her plans are already taking shape. “When we get there, we’re going to build a house, and we’re going to live there,” she added, her words carrying the quiet confidence of someone already imagining a different future. Their stories echoed throughout the venue. Some beneficiaries spoke of years spent paying rent. Others described raising children while living with relatives, waiting for the telephone call that would eventually change their lives. For Balkaran, however, the day’s significance extended beyond receiving land. It represented independence. It represented dignity. And after years of believ-

Reneto Moore

Keisha Alley

ing the opportunity might never come, it represented the beginning of a new chapter. Nearby sat Reneto Moore, a 30-year-old single father whose dream had survived more than two decades. Every parent wants to leave something behind for their children. For Moore, that legacy begins with a plot of land. She said he first applied for a house lot in 2004. Since then, life continued, her family grew, and responsibilities increased, but the application remained little more than paperwork waiting for its day.

time paying rent, she now sees an opportunity to invest in something that will belong to her family. “It feels great to get a house lot because I was renting a house for a good while,” she said. “I am very excited.” For Ally, owning land is about more than building a house. “It means that we will get an early start and we can put other things in place so that when our children get bigger, they will have a place to call home,” the mother of four said. While each beneficiary’s story was different, they were united by a common thread. Some had waited ten years, others waited more than twenty, and some carried the responsibility of raising children while others simply longed for a place they could finally call their own. The Bath, Waterloo and Experiment housing developments have become central to Region Five’s expanding housing programme, with significant investment in roads, drainage, water distribution and electricity infrastructure transforming former agricultural lands into new communities. Yet on Thursday, those developments were measured not in kilometres (km) of roads or dollars spent, but in the lives they will shape.

Never give up

On Thursday, that day finally arrived. “I applied for this land since 2004; today I feel proud and happy that I’ll finally be able to build a house for me and my kids,” Moore said. There was no elaborate celebration. Just a father quietly imagining a future where his children would grow up under a roof built through his own determination. If Moore’s story reflected perseverance, Keisha Alley represented possibility. At 25, she belongs to a generation hoping to begin home ownership much earlier than many of those who came before them. Having spent

US to inject US$150M into Guyana’s bauxite...

First Bauxite, through its local subsidiary Guyana Industrial Minerals Inc. (GINMIN), operates the Bonasika Bauxite Project located in Region Three between the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers. Meanwhile, the US DOW explained in Friday’s missive that this US$150 million initiative addresses an over-dependence on imports for refractory-grade bauxite for the US supply chain, with the vast majority sourced directly from China or Chinese-owned entities. It noted that once fully operational, this project is expected to meet 100 per cent of US military demand for BFA and 100 per cent of US demand for refractory bauxite. The Department said IBAS equity and direct investments are strategically targeted at critical supply chain bottlenecks, particularly where private venture capital has historically been hesitant to invest due to long developmental timelines. “The Department of War is no longer waiting for supply chain dependencies to be exploited,”

Director of the Economic Defence Unit George K. Kollitides II stated. “This agreement shows how EDU and the Department can partner with the commercial sector to rapidly turn opportunities into advantages for the warfighter.” Refractory-grade bauxite is necessary for manufacturing high-temperature-resistant materials used to make critical components for our warfighters, such as heat shields, thermal barriers, and turbine engines in guided missiles, rockets, military aircraft, and space systems. Beyond defence, this high-purity bauxite is a vital raw material for steel and aluminum production, energy infrastructure, and industrial furnaces, making it a cornerstone of a modern industrial economy. The DOW said this agreement also serves as an example of how the Department is coordinating across the interagency to support national security requirements. As part of the broader effort, the Department of State provided crit-

ical funding to support infrastructure associated with the project, enabling the US Government to act quickly and reinforce the long-term viability of the supply chain.

Interest in Guyana’s bauxite

The US Government had first announced its interest in Guyana’s bauxite resources back in May when Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, Jacob Helberg, visited Georgetown and held high-level engagements with the Guyanese Government. During a press conference with local reporters, Helberg told the Guyana Times that Guyana has a lot of natural reserves but not the capacity to get this mineral into markets-something which the US is ready to work with the country on. “We talked about the opportunities surrounding bauxite and expanding Guyana’s economic activities in the bauxite sector with additional private investments. We also talked about ways that infrastructure in-

vestments, especially in roads and potentially autonomous trucking technology, can actually be catalytic to getting more Guyanese bauxite on the global market,” Helberg stated. According to the US Government official, “Bauxite minerals were a focus because the reserves are already known, and there are already a lot of investors with active investments in Guyana today. We did talk about surveying land where large amounts of new reserves for many types of other minerals are believed to be located, but where the land needs to be surveyed in a more extensive way. So, we did talk about things that were prospective, but because the reserves of bauxite are known and there are already investments today, we talked a fair amount about those.” Moreover, just last month, Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau, reiterated the United States’ commitment to position its private sector to tap into the vast investment opportunities available in Guyana

FROM PAGE 3

across multiple industries, including mining. He made these remarks during bilateral engagements with a Guyanese Government delegation led by the Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance, which attended the US-Guyana Investment Enabling Forum held in Washington, D.C., on July 17. “They agreed that US private sector capital, expertise, and technology could unleash a wave of investment opportunities in all sectors of the economy, including agriculture, critical minerals, energy, infrastructure, and housing,” the Spokesperson at the US Department of State, Tommy Pigott, stated about the meeting. Moreover, Deputy Secretary Landau, in a social post on X, lauded the Guyana Government’s ambitious plans to promote economic growth in both the energy and non-energy sectors, such as mining and agriculture, as well as its commitment to ensuring that such growth benefits the Guyanese people now and in the future.

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Chicken import ban temporarily lifted amid local supply shortage

ne day after, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha reported that the Government has yet to decide whether to grant permission for the importation of chicken to meet growing local demands, he later stated that a decision was taken to temporarily lift the ban to import chicken. Speaking with other sections of the media, the Minister related that the importation of chicken will be allowed for the next few weeks, as requested by the producers who assured him that they will be able to meet the local demand within the next 4 to 6 weeks. This came on the heels of a meeting with representatives from the Guyana Poultry Producers Association (GPPA) and the Minister to discuss the current shortage. Highlighting market trends showing a decline in production levels coupled with an increase in

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha

demand for chicken, the GPPA officials sought the Government ‘s assistance in facilitating the temporary importation of chicken to help meet market demand. However, Mustapha stated on Thursday that he has yet to decide on the request. According to him, any decision will balance the in-

terests of all stakeholders, including consumers and poultry producers, as well as the long-term sustainability of the industry. In fact, he has ordered an assessment of the current supplies in the local industry before deciding on the matter. During the July 28 engagement, the GPPA representatives noted that the temporary importation of chicken would assist in maintaining stable market prices during the period of reduced supply and assured that once local production returns to normal levels, there would be no need for continued imports. The Minister pointed out that despite these complaints of shortage, the Government has recently launched the tunnel-ventilated poultry project aimed at encouraging young professionals to embrace technology-driven agriculture and expand poultry produc-

tion through modern, climate-controlled farming systems. Only last month, on July 15, one of the state-of-the-art Tunnel-Ventilated Poultry Pen Projects was commissioned at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD). The Tunnel-Ventilated Pens Project represents an investment of over GY$1 billion in infrastructure, equipment, and train-

ing and has expanded the Agriculture Innovation and Entrepreneurship Programme (AIEP) across Regions Three, Four, and Five. The project comprises five state-of-the-art poultry facilities located at Mon Repos, Cornelia Ida and Onverwagt, all of which have been completed and are currently stocked with birds that are performing exceptionally well.

Designed to international poultry production standards, each tunnel-ventilated pen accommodates between 20,000 and 45,000 birds, with broilers reaching market weight in just five to six weeks. The facilities utilise controlled-environment technology that enhances production efficiency while improving flock health and overall performance.

Fort Canje mortuary fees under scrutiny amid public facility claims

Fort Canje mortuary

uestions have surfaced over the collection of fees from families using the mortuary at Fort Canje, even as regional authorities maintain that the facility is jointly operated by the Government and the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG). The issue was raised at Thursday’s statutory meeting of the Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) Regional Democratic Council (RDC), where questions were asked about the operation of facility located in the compound of the National Psychiatric Hospital. Unlike the mortuary at the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital, where families are not required to pay for storage of the bodies, persons using the Fort Canje facility are required to pay a fee. Regional Executive Officer (REO) Ronald Harsawack explained that the Fort Canje mortuary is neither a private facility nor one reserved for members of the Muslim community. “I should point out that it is not a private facility, nor is it a facility for just one religion to utilise. It is a public facility that we have entered into that MoU (memorandum of understanding),” Harsawack told the RDC. According to the REO, in February 2022, the Guyana Government, through the Health Ministry signed an MoU with the CIOG for the provision of mortuary services to residents of Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six. “Part of that MoU includes shared costs and shared responsibilities between the Ministry of Health and the CIOG,” he explained. Harsawack said the agreement

Councillors at Thursday’s RDC meeting

places responsibilities on both parties. Under the arrangement, he said, the Government is required to provide some of the staffing at the facility, while the CIOG pays for morticians and three hearses stationed there. Government, meanwhile, meets operational and maintenance costs. “It is a joint operation between the CIOG and the Government. It is not a private facility, but it is a facility operated by the Ministry of Health and the CIOG,” the REO said. However, while his explanation provided some clarity on the management of the facility and the division of responsibilities between the Government and CIOG, it did not address several questions surrounding the fees being paid by families. No information was provided at the meeting on who collects those fees, where the money collected is deposited or ultimately goes, how the charges are determined, or precisely what services the payments cover. Neither did the explanation establish how the money collected is accounted for or whether the Government, CIOG or another entity receives the revenue and ultimately benefits from the fees. The issue is particularly significant given Harsawack’s insistence that the mortuary is a public facility and his disclosure that Government itself uses it as part of the public health system. “We utilise it whenever there is a need or we exceed the capacity at the hospital; we utilise that storage facility as well,” he told councillors. That means the Fort Canje mortuary is also utilised when the storage capacity available to the public health system at the New

Amsterdam Regional Hospital is insufficient. Questions therefore remain over the for families needing to pay for storage at one facility being used by the public health system while no similar charge applies at the mortuary at the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital. The present arrangement also represents a development from the manner in which the Fort Canje facility was originally presented to the public when construction began seven years ago.

New Amsterdam mortuary

In August 2019, the then Ministry of Public Health announced the construction of a $70 million mortuary in New Amsterdam, specifically stating that the facility would replace the existing mortuary at the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital. The new mortuary was to be located in the National Psychiatric Hospital compound at Fort Canje. At the time, the Government said the 36-by-84-foot building, comprising approximately 3,000 square feet, would include a chapel for funeral services, a viewing area for post-mortem examinations (PME) and an administrative section. It was described by a Ministry engineer as a stateof-the-art facility and one which could serve as a template for similar facilities in the future. The project had been awarded to Andre Vincente Construction Services. Construction followed longstanding concerns about the condition and capacity of the mortuary at the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital. The then Public Health

Minister, Volda Lawrence, had visited the hospital in late 2018 and expressed dissatisfaction with the location and condition of the existing mortuary. Staff had also raised concerns about its capacity and working environment. Earlier in 2019, the old facility had reportedly been forced to close temporarily after it stopped functioning, resulting in serious concerns about the preservation of bodies. The new Fort Canje facility was therefore presented as the Government’s answer to those longstanding problems and as a replacement for the existing mortuary. However, by 2021, the arrangement surrounding the new facility had evolved. Then Region Six Chairman David Armogan announced that a new mortuary in the National Psychiatric Hospital compound was expected to be opened as a partnership between the Government and CIOG. His comments came at a time when problems were continuing at the old New Amsterdam Hospital mortuary. Armogan had disclosed that its doors had lost their hinges and pieces of wood were being used to keep them closed, raising concerns about maintaining the temperatures required to properly preserve bodies.

CIOG involvement

The involvement of CIOG was subsequently formalised. On February 22, 2022, the Ministry of Health and CIOG signed the MoU for the management and operation of what was described at the time as the New Amsterdam Funeral Parlour. The agreement was

signed on behalf of the Ministry by then Permanent Secretary (PS) Malcolm Watkins. It is now unclear whether the introduction of fees for families formed part of the 2022 MoU, whether the charges were introduced subsequently, who authorised them and how they are determined. The terms of the MoU relating specifically to fees and revenue were not detailed during Thursday’s meeting. There was also no explanation as to why persons whose deceased relatives are accommodated at Fort Canje should have to pay when persons using the mortuary at the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital do not face a similar charge. Harsawack’s intervention has established that, despite CIOG’s involvement, the Fort Canje mortuary remains a public facility available to persons regardless of their religious affiliation and that its operation involves both Government and CIOG. It has also established that Government contributes staffing and bears operational and maintenance expenses, while CIOG meets other costs, including morticians and three hearses. However, the explanation has left unanswered the central questions surrounding the money being paid by grieving families: who collects the fees, where those monies go, how they are accounted for, who benefits from them and why a fee is being charged at a public mortuary that was originally conceived as the replacement for the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital mortuary.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026

Regional

New Colombian President Griffith pitches Hall pledges robust fight against of Fame, holiday to crime, fiscal austerity

honour Sir Garry

Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Charles Griffith

Abelardo De La Espriella salutes after being sworn in as the country's new President during an inauguration ceremony, in Cali, Colombia, August 7, 2026 (REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez)

olombia's new r i g h t - w i n g President Abelardo De La Espriella was sworn in on Friday, using his inaugural speech to pledge a vigorous fight against drug trafficking, as well as austerity measures to restore confidence in the economy. De La Espriella, 48, won June's runoff on promises to crack down on armed groups, shrink the ‌ state by as much as 40 per cent and revive the oil and gas sector. An ally of United States (US) President Donald Trump, he represented people with ties to right-wing paramilitaries during his time as a lawyer. De La Espriella has

never before held elected office. De La Espriella's election was part of a rightward shift rippling across Latin America. In Peru, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia and Panama, weak economies and rising crime have reshaped voter priorities, allowing once-fringe hard-right candidates to gain traction by promising crackdowns amid a global rise of right-wing nationalism. De La Espriella could push through some of his policies via decree, but analysts say many of his proposals will require backing from a divided congress and could be watered down in negotiations. The new President vowed to "definitively eradicate the

scourge of illicit crops," saying he would use aerial herbicides that do not harm human health or the environment to destroy coca, the plant used to make cocaine. In one of his first acts as President, Colombia will join the Shield of the Americas programme founded by Trump, he said. He pledged to freeze public spending and pursue tax reform to simplify the country's payment regime and boost investment and employment, while preserving popular social programmes, some put in place by his predecessor, leftist Gustavo Petro. (Reuters)

Port under probe - Billiondollar cocaine bust triggers lockdown at wharf in Kingston

he Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited (KFTL) was under a virtual lockdown for several hours until late Friday as security forces continued a high-level operation into a major cocaine bust that the police have estimated at approximately J$1 billion. The operation reportedly began Thursday morning and remained active late Friday as police, the Jamaica Customs Agency and other members of the security forces restricted movement in and around the port while pursuing leads into the shipment and persons who may have been involved.

In a statement last night, the Jamaica Constabulary Force confirmed the operation, noting that it followed investigations into the cocaine seizure earlier in the week. A source close to the investigation, but who was not authorised to speak, told The Gleaner that at least eight employees were detained on Friday during the operation and that their personal vehicles were searched while they were placed in handcuffs. The Gleaner understands that one employee was detained on Thursday after investigators began probing the movement of

a container under surveillance at the facility. The investigation subsequently expanded as authorities sought to determine whether other persons were involved. The authorities had reportedly been monitoring the movement of containers and that the surveillance formed part of the operation that led to the discovery of the cocaine. The investigation has also extended beyond Kingston, with premises in St Thomas and other parishes reportedly searched as investigators continued to follow leads. (Jamaican Gleaner)

ational Sports Hall of Fame, a commemorative stamp and a national holiday in honour of Sir Garfield Sobers are among proposals being advanced to preserve the National Hero’s legacy, Minister of Sport Charles Griffith told Parliament on Friday. Griffith said the proposed Hall of Fame would give Barbadians and visitors an opportunity to ex-

plore the achievements of the island’s sporting greats through interactive exhibits, including QR codes linking to information on Sir Garfield and other national sporting heroes. The proposed facility would allow Barbadians and visitors alike to learn about the achievements of the island’s sporting greats through interactive exhibits, including QR codes linking to information about Sir

Garfield and other national sporting heroes, he said. Griffith also suggested that July 28, Sir Garfield’s birthday, become a national holiday to ensure younger generations understand the significance of the man widely regarded as cricket’s greatest all-rounder. The Minister further proposed the introduction of a commemorative stamp bearing Sir Garfield’s image, saying it would not only honour the National Hero but could also generate funding to assist promising young athletes. He suggested proceeds from the sale of the stamps could support aspiring sportsmen and women who require assistance purchasing equipment or accessing opportunities to develop their talents. Griffith’s proposals came as Parliament reflected on the life and legacy of Sir Garfield, whose death last month prompted an outpouring of tributes from Barbados, the Caribbean and the wider cricketing world. (Barbados Today)

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026

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Around the World

Child among 3 killed in Russian Israel mulls Saudi, Turkiye, missile attacks near Kyiv Pakistan pact as elections looms

t least three people, including a child, have been killed in overnight Russian attacks near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, a local official said. Another three people were injured as ballistic missiles hit east of Kyiv, head of the regional military administration Timur. The new attack comes just days after 21 people were killed as Russia intensifies its strikes, aware that Ukraine has been running out of Western-donated interceptor missiles used to defend its skies. On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a fresh call for more US-made Patriot interceptor missiles, saying what

his country was receiving was not enough. Zelensky’s plea comes days after US President Donald Trump appeared to go back on a promise to grant Ukraine a licence to manufacture the defensive systems. On Saturday, Ukraine’s president still referred to an agreement with the US on a licence. Since coming to office, Trump has scaled back direct military aid for Ukraine. Instead, Ukraine’s European allies have been buying expensive US supplies - such as Patriot missiles - which are then donated to Ukraine. Earlier in the week, Zelensky said the supply of interceptors from allies had been “significantly reduced” this year.

Putin launched a fullscale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, Russia has seized parts of Ukraine in the east, but the front lines have remained unchanged for a long time. Trump’s efforts to mediate an end to the conflict have faltered recently, leading to an escalation of attacks between the two warring sides. Ukraine has developed advanced drones able to hit deep into Russian territory in an effort to take the war to Russia. In the latest such attack, the Ukrainian military hit Russia’s Ilsky and Syzran oil refineries during overnight attacks, causing fires at both, the Ukrainian general staff said on Saturday. (BBC)

Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, centre, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meeting in Mecca [Hand out/AFP]

Trump’s ex-lawyer Todd Blanche narrowly I confirmed as US Attorney General

S President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer Todd Blanche has been narrowly confirmed as Attorney General - the nation’s top law enforcement official. The vote brings to an end a lengthy standoff between Senate Republicans and the Trump administration over Blanche, who has served as acting Attorney General since April. Blanche won confirmation in a 50-49 vote overnight, with two Republican senators, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, joining all Democrats to oppose his nomination. Senator Bill Cassidy cast the deciding vote, a decision closely watched in Washington given the years of acrimony between the Louisiana Republican and

Confirmed US AG, Todd Blanche

Trump. After the vote, Blanche said he was “deeply honoured by the trust and confidence President Trump has placed in me”. Some Republican senators had raised concerns

about Blache’s handling of the release of Jeffrey Epsteinrelated documents and his role in establishing Trump’s $1.8bn (£1.3bn) “anti-weaponisation” fund. The fund was planned to provide compensation to individuals who alleged Government persecution but critics including Murkowski feared it would go to individuals who were prosecuted for participating in the 6 January attack on Congress in 2021. Blanche eventually pledged to walk back the fund after blowback from Republican senators during his confirmation hearings. It remains unclear whether the commitment is legally binding or whether Trump could later persuade Blanche, his former personal attorney, to revive a similar scheme under another name. (BBC)

srael is yet to officially respond to a defence agreement signed in Mecca by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye, which some analysts have perceived as a challenge to Israeli regional expansionism. Turkiye, viewed as Israel’s next nemesis in waiting, nuclear-powered Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, which Israel has been eager to normalise relations with, signed the Mecca Joint Defence Pact on Friday. Among the most significant points of this new military alliance is a stipulation that “any armed attack against any one of the three

States shall be regarded as an attack against them all”. Analysts and Government insiders have suggested that the Israeli leadership will likely take advantage of Saturday’s lull – when Israeli politicians typically take a break to mark the Sabbath – to consider the full implications of this new regional formation. Turkiye is widely perceived by Israeli politicians of all stripes as a threat. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s comments last month that Israel was a “burden that humanity can no longer bear” were seized on by Israeli politicians, in-

cluding Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who said this was a “textbook incitement to genocide”. Turkiye has been a strong critic of Israel’s war on Gaza, which has killed at least 72,000 Palestinians and is widely perceived by scholars and international rights groups as a genocide. Netanyahu’s attacks on more than six countries in the region since 2023 – including the February 28 USIsraeli assault on Iran – have had a huge impact on Saudi Arabia, which has been repeatedly targeted by Iran on the pretext that it hosts US forces. (Al Jazeera)

Democrats plan Trump investigations over impeachment if they win House

UAE says Iran targeted ADNOC tanker W in Strait of Hormuz, no casualties

he United Arab Emirates has accused Iran of striking a tanker owned by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) with a missile as it crossed the Strait of Hormuz, drawing swift condemnation from Gulf and Arab Governments. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday that the vessel was hit in the early hours of the morning while transiting the strategic waterway, a chokepoint for a large share of the world’s seaborne oil. Abu Dhabi described the strike as an act of piracy by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and called on Tehran to halt the attacks and reopen the strait fully and unconditionally. ADNOC confirmed one of its ships had been targeted by a missile while crossing the strait, according to the state news agency WAM. ADNOC did not provide details on any

Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, [File: Stringer/Reuters]

damage to the vessel or its exact location at the time of the attack. The UAE Ministry said using the waterway as a tool for pressure or economic blackmail threatened regional stability and global energy security. The IRGC have previously threatened action against any vessels transiting the strait if they are linked to Tehran’s adversaries, or if they fail to comply with Iranian directives. ADNOC said on Friday that it had been significantly

affected by what it described as unprovoked attacks on its personnel and assets, while continuing to meet customer requirements in an “exceptionally challenging environment.” The company said 15 of its vessels had been attacked by missiles and drones while transiting the strait since the start of the conflict, including three this week, killing one crew member and injuring 20 others. ADNOC did not identify those responsible for the attacks in its Friday statement. (Al Jazeera)

ASHINGTON, Aug 8 (Reuters) - U.S. House Democrats preparing for a possible return to power are developing a broad investigative strategy targeting companies and financial firms surrounding President Donald Trump, instead of trying to impeach him immediately, according to four people familiar with the discussions. Senior Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives and committee aides have discussed using hearings, subpoenas and document requests to obtain records from entities tied to Trump’s political and business orbit, the sources said. It is a bet that investigating ‌ private companies and outside financial players will prove more fruitful than directly confronting a White House they expect to resist oversight, they said. The approach reflects both Democratic caution and a lesson many in the party say they learned during Trump’s first term: that impeachment proceedings can consume Congress while allowing Trump to cast himself as the victim of

US President Donald Trump

a partisan campaign. Instead, Democrats involved in the planning envision using House investigative powers after November’s midterm elections to scrutinize the administration’s decision-making and examine whether Trump used his power to benefit himself, allies or donors. Republicans hold a narrow House majority, and polls favor Democrats regaining the majority in November. Winning control would ⁠give Democrats the power to issue subpoenas, compel testimony and documents, hold public hearings and pursue contempt proceedings. Democrats expect the

White House to fight or ignore requests aimed at the executive branch, making companies, contractors and financial firms working with the administration an important route for obtaining information, the sources said. The White House said in a statement that Trump has worked to thwart the “radical left’s agenda” and remains committed to preserving Republican majorities in Congress. A White House official said the administration is “prepared to respond to oversight requests, no matter who is in the House or Senate.” (Reuters)

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026

ARIES

Spend your downtime relaxing (March 21- with people who bring out the best April 19) in you. Keep life simple and instill a healthy routine that eases stress. Change what's necessary and avoid temptation. Open discussions will resolve unTAURUS finished business and give you hope (April 20for a brighter future. Express the May 20) solutions and contributions you are willing to make to improve your life and situation.

GEMINI Consider how you can stabilize (MAY 21- your finances. Don't let anyone fool June 20) you into a questionable scheme or joint venture. Pay attention to your surroundings, and you'll find a way to lower your overhead. Gather information that will CANCER help you decide what's best for you. (June 21- Pursuing education and using expeJuly 22) rience to point you in a better direc-

tion will pay off. Prioritize emotional stability.

Don't make unnecessary changes because someone is pressuring you. (July 23Prepare a detailed response to control Aug. 22) the outcome. Spend time updating your image and pursuing happiness.

LEO

Pickles

Your input will change your life and help others. Stop thinking about (Aug. 23- what you can do and start making Sept. 22) your presence felt. Speak for those who can't, and build new opportunities for yourself.

VIRGO

Contact like-minded people and LIBRA work together to build a healthy life(Sept. 23style rich with love, trust and empaOct. 23) thy for others. Your time and effort are worth more than cash and will offer higher rewards.

SCORPIO

Peanuts

Be true to yourself and others and aware of your faults and temptations. (Oct. 24Evaluate your options, and be origiNov. 22) nal in how you handle sensitive issues. Learn from experience and be direct.

SAGITTARIUS Don't rely on others to do things (Nov. 23- for you. You'll encounter aggressive Dec. 21) people who deliver nothing but sorrow. Analyze situations and make your best offer. A reunion will be eye-opening. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Calvin and Hobbes

Don't let anyone interfere with your plans. Use your knowledge and skills to create opportunities. Alter your surroundings to address your happiness. Strive for stability and security.

AQUARIUS Don't go over and above to prove (Jan. 20- yourself to someone undeserving. Feb. 19) Set a course that honors your promises and protects your peace of mind. Romance will enhance your life.

A last-minute change will put PISCES (Feb. 20- you at risk. Be ready to make a snap Mar. 20) decision and head in a direction that offers security over instability. Let your intuition be your guide.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026

Infantino allies rally as Norway FA demands FIFA president’s resignation F

ootball appeared to be headed for a prolonged standoff on Friday as allies of FIFA President Gianni Infantino rallied behind him while Norway demanded his resignation after several European associations withdrew their support. Confederations and national associations continued to choose sides a week after Infantino abandoned his proposal to raise some $4.2 billion by selling off a stake i‌n the commercial rights of the World Cup and other tournaments. Norwegian Football

Federation President Lise Klaveness said Infantino no longer had the confidence of the football community, saying the sport needed to move beyond “Game of Thrones” power struggles and focus on real governance reform. “He does not have the institutional trust required to govern FIFA stably in the times we are in. There is no going back for Gianni Infantino,” said Klaveness, a qualified lawyer. “The international football cooperation is very much in trouble, and we

FIFA president Gianni Infantino speaks during an event (REUTERS/ Benoit Tessier/File Photo)

must have a reason to get together now, and we want to ask the FIFA president to resign now.”

Messi’s father Jorge dies aged 68 in Argentina

ionel Messi’s father, Jorge, died on Friday night aged 68 at a medical clinic in the Argentine city of Rosario after a long illness, the footballer’s family confirmed to Reuters. Jorge spent his final months alternating between a medical center in Rosario and his home, accompanied by his wife Celia and h ‌is children Rodrigo, Matias and Maria Sol, the family said. Lionel Messi spent time with his father after the World Cup in North America before rejoining his club Inter Miami, for whom he returned to action a week ago. He is expected to arrive in Rosario at around 8 p.m. local time on Saturday on a private flight from Miami to bid farewell to his father during a private wake, according to a source close to the footballer’s ⁠family. Jorge closely accompanied his son Lionel throughout his career, beginning with his early years at Barcelona. He acted as a crucial pillar of support and, for several years, served as his representative. “I always needed my dad’s approval, ever since I was a kid. After every match, I’d ask him what he thought of how I played,” the 39-year-old had said previously. During the World Cup, the Argentine captain experienced mixed emotions after scoring a hat-trick in

Meanwhile, European soccer’s governing organisation UEFA, which has 55 members, stood firm in its threat to boycott all events organised by the global body. However, the football associations of Mexico and Argentina were the latest to throw their weight behind the embattled world soccer chief, following the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) unanimous backing of Infantino’s

leadership on Thursday. South America’s CONMEBOL, meanwhile, expressed concerns over the “repeated unilateral actions taken without resorting to dialogue”. MEXICO BREAKS RANKS The Mexican Football Federation (FMF), cohosts of the recently concluded World Cup, broke ranks with its own regional confederation by supporting Infantino after CONCACAF had earlier called for a “comprehensive reckoning” with his presidency. CONCACAF, which runs football in North and Central America as well as the Caribbean, has been among the key critics of FIFA alongside UEFA, which on Thursday said that its key conditions for a return to FIFA competitions had not been met. UEFA said it remained committed to boycotting the World Cup until it re-

ceived assurances that “such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again.” England defender Lucy Bronze said European players would support a boycott of FIFA competitions if necessary “for the good of the game.” UEFA has not said whether its teams would skip FIFA’s next event -- the women’s under-20 World Cup in Poland next month. The French Football Federation told the BBC: “For now, France will be participating in the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup.” Reuters has asked the FFF for comment. Asia’s confederation (AFC) said it “stood in solidarity” with UEFA and CONCACAF, although a few of its 47 members -- like Indonesia, the Philippines and 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar -- have come out in support of Infantino. (Reuters)

Asalanka, Malinga lead Galle to maiden LPL title

Lionel Messi’s father, Jorge, died on Friday night aged 68 (REUTERS/Nacho Doce)

the opening match against Algeria, breaking down in tears while celebrating his first goal. Later, at a press conference, Lionel explained that his tears were due to “something unrelated to football” after going through “a few difficult, complicated days.” Days later, the family issued a statement regarding Jorge’s “health situation”, informing the public ‌that ⁠he was undergoing medical treatment. Jorge’s remains will be transferred on Sunday to El Prado private cemetery in Perez, a town near Rosario, according to local media reports. SEVERAL CLUBS SEND CONDOLENCES Several clubs, including Real Madrid and Lionel Messi’s youth team Newell’s Old Boys, along with the Argentine FA (AFA) expressed condolences to the family. The AFA also said a

minute’s silence would be observed at matches across all of Argentina’s divisions, ⁠while players, coaches and referees will wear black armbands. “From here, we stand in solidarity with the entire family during this difficult time and send the most heartfelt, warm, and affectionate embrace. Strength to you all,” the Argentine FA said in a statement. Barcelona, where Messi spent most ⁠of his career from his senior debut in 2004 to 2021, said in a statement: “FC Barcelona thanks Jorge Messi for his commitment to our club, for entrusting us with the beginning and the most glorious years of his son Leo’s ⁠football career.” Messi’s side Inter Miami, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment, are scheduled to play Monterrey in the Leagues Cup group stage later on Saturday.

alle Gallants 126 for 5 (Rogers 34, Shakib 2-15, Mathew 2-15) beat Jaffna Kings 123 (Mishara 41, Asalanka 3-20, Malinga 3-25) by five wickets Charith Asalanka and Eshan Malinga shared six wickets between them as Galle Gallants clinched a low-scoring final to secure their first Lanka Premier League (LPL) title, in Colombo. After the pair dismissed Jaffna Kings for 123, Gallants wrapped up the chase with five wickets and 25 balls to spare at the Premadasa Stadium. Malinga’s three-wicket haul placed him at the top of the wickets charts, with 17 strikes overall at an economy rate of 9.32. Malinga combined well with Asalanka, the batting allrounder, to run through Kings’ middle order. Wicketkeeper-opener Kamil Mishara was the only Kings batter to pass 25 in their innings. He scored 41 off 32 balls be-

Charith Asalanka came away with a three-wicket haul (Sri Lanka Cricket)

f o r e

o f f

Malinga cut his knock short in the 13th over. A l l r o u n d e r C h a m i n d u Wickramasinghe was the second-highest scorer for Kings with 25 16 balls. Tharindu Ratnayake, the ambid e x t r o u s spinner, a l s o

did his bit, picking up 2 for 14. In response, Gallants lost Sam Harper in the first over, but Tom Rogers, his Australian compatriot, smoothed the chase with 34 off 27 balls. In the ninth over, Shakib Al Hasan engineered a double-strike to remove Rogers and Dinura Kalupahana (31 off 19 balls), and Chamika Karunaratne fell shortly after, but Dasun Shanaka and Sahan Arachchige got the job done for Gallants.

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026

GFF inspects FIFA minipitch project at Retrieve G

uyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde and members of the GFF Council recently inspected the FIFA Arena Mini-Pitch under development at Retrieve, Linden, Region 10. The visit focused on the completed sub-base construction carried out by B&J Civil Work. The inspection formed part of the GFF’s quality assurance process before the work receives formal approval. Once the completed work is satisfactorily verified, the Federation will proceed with the project sign-off. The FIFA Mini-Pitch construction team is expected to arrive in Guyana next week to install the specialised playing surface, turf and other facilities. The Retrieve facility is one of two FIFA MiniPitches donated to Guyana through the Global FIFA Arena initiative, which supports the objectives of FIFA’s Football for Schools programme. The other pitch has

GFF president Wayne Forde (left) and B&J Civil Work CEO Beverley Tapp (right)

The visit focused on the completed sub-base construction carried out by B&J Civil Work

been allocated to the East Coast Demerara Football Association and will be installed at Haslington. The facilities are expected to give schools, grassroots programmes and communities greater access to quality football infrastructure. They will also support the GFF’s Youth Ensemble

Programme, which was launched earlier this year to provide structured youth development and more playing opportunities. More than 4,000 young boys from all nine Regional Associations have participated in the Youth Ensemble Programme so far. Forde said the

Federation’s approach is to link the development of football facilities with organised programmes. “We are deliberately pursuing an approach that connects infrastructure with programmes. Building quality facilities is important but ensuring that young people have structured opportunities to use them is equally important,” he said.

The Retrieve project is part of a wider infrastructure programme being developed by the GFF in partnership with FIFA. Over the next four years, the Federation plans to help install multiple FIFA Arena Mini-Pitches across each of its Regional Associations. The aim is to establish a national network of quality facilities for schools, grassroots football programmes and communities. Forde said the partnership with FIFA is helping to expand access to football facilities while strengthening the Football for Schools

and Youth Ensemble programmes. “Our objective is to ensure that young people across Guyana have access to quality facilities, qualified coaching and regular opportunities to play. This is how we build a stronger foundation for the future of Guyanese football,” he said. The GFF said it will continue working with FIFA, Regional Associations, schools, communities and other stakeholders to ensure the mini-pitches are properly used and included in its wider football-development framework.

Funding delay raises concern over Guyana’s junior cyclists’ Belize trip KARCC trio to contest 2 Grand Prix events in French Guiana W

ith the Caribbean Junior Road C y c l i n g Championships just two weeks away, officials within the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) are hoping that promised support from the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) will be provided soon to help the national junior team travel to Belize. The championships are scheduled for August 2223 and Guyana’s confirmed team comprises Alexander Leung, Alex Newton, Kevin Stephen and female cyclist Tandeia Noel. According to a GCF executive member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the federation received assurances that the GOA would provide the necessary assistance for the team. However, the support has not yet been received, causing concern within the cycling fraternity as the competition approaches. The source said the parent of one cyclist has already purchased an airline ticket and is expecting reimbursement from the federation. The GCF, however, is reportedly awaiting the promised funding from the GOA before it can cover that expense. Officials remain hopeful that the matter will be resolved promptly, allowing the young cyclists to

The situation is particularly important for Alexander Leung, who is in his final year as a junior cyclist and will therefore have his last opportunity to secure a medal at this level

focus fully on representing Guyana at the regional championships. The situation is particularly important for Leung, who is in his final year as a junior cyclist and will therefore have his last opportunity to secure a medal at this level. Persons within the cycling fraternity believe he is in good form and capable of challenging for silverware, provided he is able to make the trip. Most of the cyclists have also benefited from recent training stints at the International Cycling Union’s satellite training centre in Trinidad and Tobago, which helped with their preparation for the championships.

The two-day event will begin with the individual time trial on the Trial Boom Road on August 22. Junior men will compete over 20 kilometres, while the other categories will cover 15 kilometres. The road race will follow on August 23 along the Philip Goldson Highway. The junior men are scheduled to race 93.6 kilometres over 12 laps, while the other categories will contest 62.4 kilometres over eight laps. With travel arrangements requiring urgent attention, the cycling community is looking forward to the promised support being made available in sufficient time for Guyana’s junior riders to compete in Belize.

L-R: KARCC’s Kevin Edwards, Andre Greene, Kwame Ridley and Ajani Cutting in French Guiana

he Kaieteur Attack Racing Cycle Club (KARCC) will fly the Golden Arrowhead in French Guiana this weekend, with three of its cyclists set to compete in two Grand Prix events in SaintLaurent du Maroni. National Sports Commission ThreeStage winner Ajani Cutting, Kwame “Key Man” Ridley and Andre “Padlock” Greene will represent the Guyanese club in races on Saturday and Sunday. They are being accompanied by team manager Kevin Edwards. KARCC was invited by the Vélo Club du Maroni to participate in the Grand Prix S3T/Ouest Fleurs on Saturday and the Grand Prix Sanyrapid/L.A Transports on

Sunday. According to the organisers, the two events are intended to bring together cycling teams from across French Guiana, with KARCC expected to proudly represent Guyana against the host country’s riders. The Vélo Club du Maroni has also committed to providing full support for the visiting Guyanese contingent during its stay. This includes accommodation, meals and a vehicle with a driver for the races. The two-day outing will give Cutting, Ridley and Greene an opportunity to test themselves in regional competition while strengthening sporting ties between cyclists from Guyana and French Guiana.

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026

Nine years on, weather delays Burnham Park synthetic track - Regional Chairman says specialised surface requires precise conditions

lmost nine years after work began on the synthetic track at Burnham Park in New Amsterdam, the facility remains incomplete, with Region Six Chairman Junior Basant identifying weather conditions as the main obstacle to completing the specialised surface. Basant provided an update during Thursday’s statutory meeting of the Region Six Regional Democratic Council (RDC), explaining that several components of the wider Burnham Park development are being undertaken simultaneously. However, he identified the installation of the remaining rubberised material on the track as the regional administration’s greatest concern. “But our greatest concern at this point in time is the rubber insulation, which is the matting on the track itself,” Basant told councillors. According to the Regional Chairman, the specialised work requires precise weather and temperature conditions, severely limiting the amount of time contractors can spend installing the material each day. “Based on the advice of the experts who are doing it, this thing can only happen for maybe an hour at most per day,” he explained. Basant said neither rainfall nor intense sunshine provides suitable conditions for the installation. “It cannot be a rainy day, nor can it be a day when the sun is shining brightly. So, it has to have that right balance,” he said. The Regional Chairman added that the work cannot simply be undertaken whenever contractors are avail-

Almost nine years after work began on the synthetic track at Burnham Park in New Amsterdam, the facility remains incomplete

able because the installation requires specific climatic conditions. “That is the biggest hindrance to the works progressing on this synthetic track,” he told the RDC. While completion of the surface remains a challenge, Basant reported that other components of the Burnham Park development are moving ahead. Washroom facilities are being constructed near Berbice High School, while additional stands are expected to be erected at the synthetic track. Work is also progressing on parking facilities. Basant said an area around the former dumpsite has already been covered with crusher run and is expected to be developed into a parking area. “But other than that, all other projects are ongoing, and they are moving at a pace with which we are satisfied at the regional level,” he said.

The latest explanation comes against the backdrop of a project that has experienced years of delays and several projected completion dates. Plans for a synthetic athletics facility at Burnham Park date back to 2017, when the Government announced that the location had been identified for the development of a world-class athletics track to serve Berbice. The plans included a 400-metre, eight-lane synthetic track, a full-sized football field and facilities for field events, including the javelin, discus, shot put and jumping disciplines. Major works were underway by 2018, with BK International Inc. being awarded an approximately $141 million contract for a phase of the development involving land clearing, drainage, construction of the inner and outer track, and asphalting. At the time, completion of

the facility was anticipated in 2019. That deadline passed, and in late 2019, the then Government indicated that the asphalt works would be completed, while the installation of the synthetic material and other supporting infrastructure would continue into 2020. However, the project remained incomplete. By August 2022, President Dr Irfaan Ali acknowledged that the synthetic track projects in New Amsterdam and Linden had been long delayed and announced that additional resources would be made available to complete them. In January 2023, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr. told the National Assembly that approximately $320 million had already been spent on the Region Six synthetic track project. Work continued throughout 2024 and 2025. In October

2025, Ramson reported that the New Amsterdam synthetic track was approximately 85 per cent complete. The Minister said the synthetic material had been purchased by the Government in 2021 and arrived in Guyana in early 2022. The Government had expected the synthetic surface to be installed during the first quarter of 2025, but prolonged rainfall was subsequently cited as contributing to further delays. There appeared to be significant movement on the project earlier this year. In March, the Government reported that installation of the synthetic surface was underway under the supervision of specialists from German manufacturer REGUPOL. At the time, the facility was again reported to be approximately 85 per cent complete. Ramson indicated that athletes could gain access to the New Amsterdam track within approximately one month, with the official opening expected sometime thereafter. That anticipated timeframe has since passed without the track being commissioned. In April, Ramson provided another update, saying the wider redevelopment of Burnham Park was on

VMFA youngsters dominate GFF/GFA Youth Ensemble awards T

he Vurlon Mills Football Academy (VMFA) underlined its strength at the youth level by capturing both divisional titles and several individual awards in the Georgetown leg of the 2026 GFF/GFA Youth Ensemble. VMFA accumulated 25 points to win the Under-13 championship before completing the double with 30 points in the Under-15 competition. The leading teams and individual performers were recognised during an awards ceremony on August 6. In the Under-13 tournament, Beacon Football Club finished second with 20 points, while Fruta Conquerors Football Club secured third place with 19 points. Beacon’s Isco Grumble enjoyed an impressive campaign, scoring 10 goals to claim the leading scorer award. He was also named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. VMFA’s Adiel Hamilton

course for completion by the end of 2026. That deadline has not yet passed, and work continues on several components of the development. However, Basant’s update to the RDC on Thursday makes clear that the specialised track surface—the central component of the athletics facility—remains unfinished. Almost nine years after the Burnham Park synthetic track project began, work is therefore continuing on the track, additional stands, washrooms and parking facilities. While the regional administration says the other components are progressing satisfactorily, completion of the track remains dependent on contractors getting the precise weather conditions required to finish laying the specialised surface.

CLASSIFIED ADS VACANCY

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BUS SERVICE The Vurlon Mills Football Academy (VMFA) underlined its strength at the youth level by capturing both divisional titles and several individual awards in the Georgetown leg of the 2026 GFF/GFA Youth Ensemble

NEED A BUS TO HIRE CALL MATTHEW BUS SERVICE 639-2663 OR 673-2348

received the Most Valuable Player award, while his teammate Johnny Carprio was adjudged the best goalkeeper after conceding only one goal. Western Tigers Football Club’s Thyatira King was recognised as the best female player. VMFA also controlled the Under-15 tournament, finishing six points ahead of sec-

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ond-placed Fruta Conquerors, who collected 24 points. Beacon ended the competition in third position with 21 points. Joshawn Haynes led VMFA’s individual award winners after scoring 16 goals to finish as the tournament’s top marksman. Aaron Vasconcellos was named the Most Valuable Player, while

Shaden Cornelius collected the best goalkeeper award after conceding four goals. The competition was organised by the Guyana Football Federation in partnership with the Georgetown Football Association. It forms part of the GFF’s nationwide youth development programme under FIFA’s Talent Development

Scheme, which provides structured competition for young footballers and strengthens the pathway towards future national team representation. The GFF congratulated the participating clubs, players, coaches, match officials, volunteers and the GFA for helping to deliver another successful edition of the Youth Ensemble.

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026

Springer earns World U20 400m bronze as Guyana shines in Oregon T iann a

Springer delivered Guyana’s s t a n d out performance at the World U20 Championships in Oregon, USA, by claiming bronze in the women’s 400 metres final on Friday. Springer completed the National record-holder Malachi one-lap event in Austin also reached a major 51.76 seconds to final for Guyana, finishing sixth secure Guyana’s first in the men’s 400m in 46.03 medal of the champiseconds (Track Alerts photo) onships. Her podium finish followed victories in both her opening-round heat and semi-final. Poland’s Anastazja Kus won the gold medal in 51.06 seconds, while Ataja Stephane-Vazquez of the United States collected silver after clocking 51.36. National record-holder Malachi Austin also reached a major final for Guyana, finishing sixth in the men’s 400m in 46.03 seconds. The United States secured the top two positions through Jayden DeLeon and Quincy Wilson.

In the men’s 200m, Tishawn Easton established a national Under-20 record of 20.66 seconds while placing third in his preliminary heat

Guyana’s Tianna Springer clinched bronze (Track Alerts photo)

DeLeon won in a championship record of 44.47 seconds, while Wilson registered a season’s best of 44.62. South Africa’s Leendert Koekemoer took bronze in 44.96. In the men’s 200m, Tishawn Easton established a national Under-20 record of 20.66

seconds

uyana’s men’s relay teams were eliminated from the World U20 Championships on Saturday in Oregon, USA, but the 4x400-metre quartet provided a major highlight by establishing a new national Under-20 record. Tishawn Easton, Dejuan Grant, Skylar Charles and Malachi Austin combined for a time of 3:10.93, placing fifth in Heat One of the men’s 4x400m. Easton completed his leg in 47.46 seconds, Grant recorded 48.54, Charles ran 49.54 and Austin anchored the team with its fastest split of 45.39. Botswana won the heat in a season-best 3:08.22, with France second in 3:08.28 and Germany third in a season-best 3:08.88. Those three teams secured automatic advancement. Sri Lanka finished fourth in 3:09.68, while Mexico followed Guyana in sixth place with 3:11.15. Earlier, Guyana placed seventh in Heat Two of the men’s 4x100m relay after clocking 41.11 seconds. The team comprised Ezekiel Millington, Gordon

Malachi Austin anchored the team with its fastest split of 45.39 en route to a new National U20 record

Ezekiel Thompson, Dequan Farrell and Onesi Dunn. Millington ran the opening leg in 11.24 seconds, Thompson recorded 10.17, Farrell completed his leg in 10.20 and Dunn anchored in 9.50. Trinidad and Tobago won the heat in a season-best 39.40 seconds, ahead of South Africa, which also produced a season-best time of

39.86. Czechia placed third in 40.30, followed by Ireland in 40.39. The Slovak Republic established a national Under-20 record of 40.53 to finish fifth, while India placed sixth in 41.01. Despite failing to progress in either event, Guyana ended its relay appearances with a new national junior mark in the 4x400m.

placing

opening heat with 21.51 and did not advance. Olivia Solomon was also unable to progress beyond the women’s 800m semi-finals. She finished fifth in heat three with a time of two minutes, 6.15 seconds.

Rain forces washout of Guyana’s U19 opener

G Guyana relay teams miss out on World U20 advancement

while

third in his preliminary heat and advancing automatically. Easton returned for the semi-finals but ended his campaign after finishing seventh in heat one in 21.19 seconds. His compatriot Skylar Charles placed seventh in his

uyana’s opening match in the 2026 CWI Rising Stars Women’s Under-19 Championship was washed out without a ball being bowled yesterday, as rain disrupted the opening round of the regional youth competition. Guyana Under-19 Women were scheduled to face Barbados Under-19 Women , but persistent rain prevented play from getting underway, leaving both teams to share the points. The championship nevertheless produced action at two other venues, although rain also intervened in the contest between the Leeward Islands and Windward Islands at the Liberta Sports Club. The Leeward Islands Under-19 Women secured a narrow one-run victory over the Windward Islands under the DuckworthLewis-Stern (DLS) method. Batting first after being sent in, the Leeward Islands posted 118 for eight from their allotted 20 overs, with opener Zara Skerritt anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 36 from 52 balls, including two fours. Captain Aaliyah Weekes contributed 14, while Jaeda Tyrell led the Windward Islands bowling

attack with three wickets for 21 runs from her four overs. The Windward Islands appeared to be making steady progress in their chase, reaching 50 for two, with Tyrell unbeaten on 31 from 39 balls, before rain brought the contest to Samara Ramnath was impressive an early in the opening round end. T h e Samara Ramnath DLS calwas the chief destroyer culations handed the with an outstanding four Leeward Islands a one-run for eight, while Brianna victory. Harricharan claimed three At the other venwickets to further underue, Trinidad and Tobago mine the Jamaican inUnder-19 Women pronings. duced the most emphatTrinidad and Tobago ic result of the opening needed little time to wrap round, defeating Jamaica up the run chase, reaching Under-19 Women by eight 42 for two in just 7.2 overs. wickets at the Bethesda Harricharan completed a Sports Ground. fine all-round performance Jamaica, after winning by remaining unbeaten on the toss and choosing to 14. bat, struggled against a The second round of disciplined Trinidad and matches is scheduled for Tobago attack and were today, with Guyana set to bowled out for just 39 in face Trinidad and Tobago, 11.5 overs. while Barbados will take Teandra Morgan was on the Windward Islands Jamaica's only batter to and the Leeward Islands reach double figures, makwill meet Jamaica. ing 14.

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026

guyanatimesgy.com Tianna Springer delivered Guyana’s standout performance at the World U20 Championships in Oregon, USA, by claiming bronze in the women’s 400 metres final on Friday. (Track Alerts photo)

Pg 31

VMFA youngsters dominate GFF/ GFA Youth Ensemble awards Pg 30

Springer earns World U20 400m bronze as Guyana shines in Oregon

Gajnabi, Fraser lead star-studded rosters in high-stakes Lotto/Let’sBet Tapeball

omen’s tapeball cricket takes center stage at the Albion Sports Complex on Sunday, August 9, 2026, as Team Lotto and Team Let’sBet go head-to-

head in a high-octane exhibition match as part of the One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast. With over $200,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs, the six-over-per-side contest

promises rapid-fire action under lights, featuring some of the country’s top talent in an evening showcase set to bowl off at 18:00h tonight. It follows two semi-finals in the male competition, then the final at 19:30h. The match pits West Indies international Shabika Gajnabi against fellow national teammate Cherry-Ann Fraser in a battle of tactics and power-hitting. Gajnabi captains a formidable Team Lotto side boasting dynamic top-order presence in Realeanna Grimmond and Shenta Grimmond, alongside Trisha Hardat, Mandy Abrahams, and Trisha Singh. Lotto’s squad is completed by Chrystal Durant, Aleema Akrouim, Susan Davanand, Linda Stephen, Nickacise Osborne, and Tiffeny Larose, providing a well-rounded combination of stroke-makers and bowling options. Countering them is a depthheavy Team Let’sBet unit led by Fraser, who commands a

lineup anchored by seasoned spinner Plafianna Millington, all-rounder Mandy Mangru, and Temica Wilson. The Let’sBet squad also features Tilleya Madramootoo, Abigail Scott, Ciana Barokoye, Haseena Mohammed, Shonette Belgrave, Cindy Stephen, Alicia Brummell, Renita Joseph, and Naomi Barkoye, setting up an intense 36-ballper-side shootout. The exhibition highlights the expanding spotlight on women’s cricket within the local tapeball arena, offering players a lucrative competitive platform at Berbice’s premier venue. With substantial rewards on the line and bragging rights at stake, both captains will look to establish momentum early in what shapes up to be a thriller at Albion.

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