Kunjaz Group provides free music classes to Adopt-an-Orphanage Fisherman’s body pulled from Corentyne River; boat captain in custody
Corentyne man jailed 3 years for causing death of girlfriend in road accident
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, August 7 –03:15h–04:45h and Friday, August 8 – 03:45h–05:15h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, August 7 –15:25h–16:55h and Friday, August 8 – 16:00h–17:30h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY
Thundery showers are expected during the day and at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.
Winds: North-Easterly to East South-Easterly between 0.89 metre and 1.34 metres.
High Tide: 15:33h reaching a maximum height of 2.33 metres.
Low Tide: 09:03h and 21:19h reaching minimum heights of 0.8 metre and 0.88 metre.
“Water necessary for fuelling
manufacturing growth” –
industrial,
President Ali
…commissions $850M Parika Water Treatment Plant ...reveals $8.8B investment in Region Three
resident Irfaan Ali has underscored the critical role of water infrastructure in supporting Guyana’s economic transformation, declaring that “water is necessary for fuelling industrial and manufacturing growth,” as he commissioned the new $850 million Parika Water Treatment Plant in Region Three (Essequibo Islands–West Demerara).
According to the President, the state-ofthe-art facility is part of a broader $8.8 billion investment into water infrastructure across Region Three, which President Ali said is key to enabling the industrial expansion, housing development, and agriculture
ment in Region Three.
Aquifers and groundwater systems
To this end, President Ali announced that the Government has begun assessing the performance of Guyana’s aquifers and groundwater systems to ensure long-term supply, noting that the Ministry of Housing and Water must explore harnessing and recycling surface water, similar to the ongoing Hope Canal project, to increase availability.
“We are now doing an evaluation of the groundwater potential and the performance of our aquifers. Because, as you know, it is the aquifers that must
that are reshaping the region’s economic landscape.
In his address, President Ali hailed the water treatment plant as a tangible example of the Government’s delivery on its promises to the Guyanese people. He linked access to clean and reliable water directly to economic expansion and the nation's future prosperity.
“In water alone, in water alone, we've invested in this region more than $8.8 billion. Bringing benefit to more than 89,000 residents. We have constructed water treatment plants here in Parika, Wales, and Parfait Harmony. Two new plants are being constructed in Wakenaam and Leguan.”
“This is all part of what we call the Integrated Water Resource Management Strategy. IWRM. That strategy is aimed at integrating every source of water. Because as our country continues to grow, there will be greater demand for industrial purposes. For agricultural purposes. For manufacturing purposes. So, the strategy we are pursuing is to give you the best quality water. But also, to give our economy the water that is necessary to fuel the growth and development,” the President said.
The Head of State emphasised that the Government is already seeing a surge in industrial, commercial, and household water demand – driven by Guyana’s booming economy and fast-paced develop-
inform us on our capacity and capability to meet future demands. So, we have come to an important decision based on the expansive growth and demand here in Region Three. Growth based on the multi-dimensional nature of the demand. Because we have industrial demand expanding, manufacturing de-
mand expanding, commercial demand expanding, and household demand expanding. And we are not as yet at a stage in our water development where we can have industrial water, agricultural water, and also potable water. So, you find that for every aspect of national life, it is the same water that is being utilised.”
“I've asked the Minister of Housing and Water to explore the possibility of putting at least one such facility. Where we can harness the fresh water, treat it, and put it back in the system at high volume capacity. So, this will be an important part of the strategy as we move forward,” he explained.
The Parika Water Treatment Plant
The Parika Water Treatment plant is a significant infrastructural project being undertaken by Toshiba Water Company. Toshiba Water Company is known for its expertise in
water treatment solutions, and it is utilising its knowledge and experience to develop a facility that meets the highest standards of efficiency and effectiveness.
The primary objective of the plant is to provide clean and safe drinking water to a substantial population of over 15,000 customers, but for President Ali, the facility is only one component of a much larger transformation coming to Parika and its surroundings.
Outlining a bold fiveyear vision for the region, the President announced plans to construct cold storage units, a packaging facility, and agro-processing infrastructure to add value to local produce; develop a tourism terminal on the Essequibo River; and create a Government Service Hub with one-stop access to services from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Home Affairs, Agriculture, and other ministries – ending the need for long trips to Georgetown.
President Irfaan Ali speaks at the commissioning ceremony on Wednesday, August 6
The commissioning of the $850 million Parika Water Treatment Plant in Region Three stands as evidence of the strategic investments driving Guyana’s infrastructural and economic evolution. Far beyond the immediate benefit of supplying clean water to more than 15,000 residents, this facility shows a transformative national agenda that emphasises sustainable development and industrial growth.
The broader context of this project reveals a modern administration acutely aware of the inextricable link between access to clean water and national development.
The Parika facility is a key component of a broader $8.8 billion regional water infrastructure programme. This expansive initiative, which has already delivered new facilities at Wales and Parfait Harmony and includes ongoing works in Wakenaam and Leguan, reflects a developmental forced approach to national development. Aligned with Guyana’s Integrated Water Resource Management Strategy (IWRM), these efforts underscore a commitment to long-term water security and sustainable resource management through strategic, regionally integrated planning.
This strategy is anticipatory, as it recognises that as the economy expands, so too will the demands placed on the nation’s water systems, from households and communities to agriculture, manufacturing, and heavy industry. The Government’s emphasis on future-proofing water supply through rigorous evaluation of aquifer performance and sustainable surface water harnessing reflects a rare confluence of infrastructure, science, and vision.
Such a vision is particularly crucial in Region Three, an area now poised for multi-dimensional growth. With industrial zones, agro-processing facilities, housing schemes, and commercial hubs emerging rapidly, the demand for reliable and abundant water cannot be overstated. The reality, as noted by President Irfaan Ali, is that Guyana is not yet at a stage where separate water streams – potable, industrial, and agricultural – are fully delineated. Thus, every litre becomes a national resource, reinforcing the importance of both conservation and innovation.
The call to recycle and reintegrate treated surface water into the national grid is not just a technical proposal; it is a pragmatic solution to the challenges of rapid development. It demonstrates a willingness to deploy modern technologies and international best practices, such as those being employed by Toshiba Water Company in the construction of the Parika facility. Leveraging global expertise while maintaining a sharp focus on local needs creates a balanced development approach that ensures no community is left behind.
But water infrastructure is just the beginning. The development of Region Three is being mapped with deliberate intent. Plans to establish cold storage facilities, agro-processing hubs, and packaging centres will not only increase the shelf life and exportability of local produce but also bring farmers closer to value-added markets. These investments directly impact livelihoods, elevating agriculture from subsistence to enterprise. The addition of a tourism terminal on the Essequibo River further positions the region as a node of economic diversification.
Moreover, the proposed Government Service Hub, offering one-stop access to essential services from the Guyana Revenue Authority, Ministry of Home Affairs, Agriculture, and others, signifies a significant step toward decentralised governance. For residents who would otherwise need to travel to Georgetown, this initiative means time saved, costs reduced, and services brought closer to the people. It also reflects a governance model that is service-orientated, people-centred, and digitally integrated.
This multi-sectoral development model, anchored in infrastructure but elevated by economic vision, is transforming Guyanese society. It is a model that understands that water is a utility, but also it is a strategic enabler of prosperity. Clean, accessible, and sustainable water fuels health systems, drives agricultural productivity, sustains manufacturing, and ensures environmental resilience.
In this regard, the Parika Water Treatment Plant shows that development must be aligned with the long-term aspirations of the nation.
Can’t rig, cry rigging?
Dear Editor, Finally, it seems that the PNC will be unable to rig any election in Guyana, be it the local Government or the Regional and General Elections, since safeguards are put in place to ensure that the GECOM election machinery is uncompromised and is capable of delivering a free, fair and credible election.
The GECOM has been sanitised at last.
It must be recalled that both GECOM top officials, the CEO, Keith Lowenfield, and the DCEO, Roxanne Myers, are facing criminal charges for electoral fraud when they blatantly attempted to rig the 2020 elections. The list includes Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) member Carol Smith-Joseph, former Health Minister under the former A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government Volda Lawrence and former GECOM employees Sheffern February, Enrique Livan, Denise Babb-Cummings and
Michelle Miller. The real riggers have been decommissioned.
Yet despite the fact that when those charged are analysed, the PNC involvement is undeniable, the APNU and the AFC falsely claimed that it was the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) which rigged the 2020 elections. This is so preposterous. Therefore, being unable to now rig the 2025 elections, what is the game plan of the PNC (APNU)?
The Leader of the Opposition and the Presidential candidate of the APNU is now making public utterances that the PPP/C will rig the 2025 elections since he claimed that the voters list is ‘padded’ (it was the APNU who could have called for a new voters list back in 2020 but had agreed to go ahead with the 2020 elections, being confident of their rigging competency).
Norton should know that the Court had ruled existing registrants cannot be excised from a new voters’ list unless they are deceased or otherwise disqualified
under Article 159 (2), (3) or (4). Guyanese residents living abroad cannot be deleted from the list.
His next piece of ‘irrefutable evidence’ is the non-introduction of biometrics at the place of poll. A statement from GECOM had clarified that ‘the introduction of such technology was premised on allegations of voter impersonation at places of poll and that such a feature could serve as an additional mechanism for enhancing the system of identifying voters on election day’.
However, the learnt Attorney General made it clear that the Opposition is using the absence of biometrics as a “smokescreen to undermine the electoral process”. He further pointed out that, “We already have biometrics – fingerprints, photographs, and distinguishing marks – recorded and integrated into our voter registration process,” hence the credibility of the elections will not be affected.
With the current safeguards there is no possibility of electoral fraud.
It would seem that
whenever the PNC loses an election, it is due to ‘fraud’. When in 2020 the Coalition lost that election, they claimed that the PPP/C rigged it, and now in 2025, Norton is again laying the groundwork that the PPP/C will rig this election. So here is the scenario: if the PPP/C wins, then it rigged the election, but if it loses, then the election was ‘free and fair’. This is most preposterous and senseless. But what was most horrifying was his statement that ‘rigging will not be accepted; there will be serious consequences for attempting to rig the elections’. Therefore, it would seem that it would seem to be in our national interest and survival that the PPP/C los the 2025 elections to avert these threats from being materialised. No wonder Norton refused to sign to abide by the ERC’s Code of Conduct. Lastly, a word of advice to Norton: ‘this time na lang time’ – this may be your last stand, so don’t destroy yourself.
Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf
In preparations for the ceremonial sod turning at the site for the new secondary school at Karaudarnau, a traditional ceremony was also carried out at the site (Education Minister Priya Manickchand photo)
Govt to invest heavily in agriculture on Essequibo Coast – Jagdeo
...says farmers will get help to grow onions,
Vice President (VP) and PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo has assured farmers on the Essequibo Coast that the Government will continue to invest heavily in the agriculture sector, especially in key areas such as rice, onions, storage facilities, and farm-to-market infrastructure.
Speaking during a community outreach at the Affiance No. 1 Ballfield in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), the VP said the Government’s vision is to shift the agricultural landscape towards more profitable and diversified production while supporting farmers with real, practical solutions.
“We’re looking at, say, growing all the onions that we consume on the Essequibo Coast... We’re going to bring in the seed and have the farmers work on that, because they can make much, much money,” the VP told the gathering.
He pointed out that
Guyana cannot put everything into rice alone and that crop diversification is a key goal of the administration. However, he reaffirmed the Government’s strong support for rice producers and committed to resolving one of the industry’s long-standing challenges, which is limited storage capacity during harvesting periods.
“In the rice industry, we promise if we’re going to get this high yield, we may have to invest in trying to facilitate Governmentowned ones [storage facilities], where people can rent the space, keep the paddy there... You dry it early, and you store it so that you don’t have this six-week window between cutting the paddy and getting it into the mill,” he explained.
The VP said many of the rice mills do not have adequate intake capacity, leading to bottlenecks and loss in quality for farmers.
“It’s unfair to get the private millers to invest only in
greater storage just to cover that intake period. So, the state may have to invest a lot in that too,” he added.
Jagdeo further committed to the continued development of farm-to-market roads and support for cash crop production. He highlighted that the PPP/C Government has always been accessible and responsive to farmers’ concerns and that this will continue in the next term.
“Of course, continuation of help for farm-to-market
boost paddy storage, expand markets
roads and everything else – seed paddy and so cash crops, job creation, a lot of those things,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of creating value for farmers and ensuring they are supported not just during harvest but across the entire production cycle. The investments, he noted, will help farmers increase income and access better opportunities, especially on the Coast.
To further boost agricul-
ture and trade, VP Jagdeo revealed that plans are underway to expand port capacity and develop a fourlane road from Charity all the way to Supenaam.
“We’d have to expand portage capacity for more vessels to come here... A four-lane road from Charity all the way to Supenaam on the Essequibo Coast... these things will open up markets and reduce transportation time,” he said.
The VP reminds the resi-
dents that under the PPP/C Government, they will always have a sympathetic ear and real support.
“You know once we’re in office, you have a sympathetic ear… Even in the tough times, we’re here,” Jagdeo stated.
Residents of Affiance and surrounding areas expressed their appreciation for the Government’s continued focus on agriculture, which remains the backbone of Region Two’s economy.
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Vice President and PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo engaging residents at Affiance ballfield
Residents at the meeting on Wednesday
Distance between points: vertical or horizontal
Let’s say we have two points:
A = (2, 0)
B = (2, -5)
A and B are on the same x axis point, but different y axis points, To find how far apart they are, simply count the points from A to B. A and B are 5 points apart on the y axis.
LPractice:
1. Point M is located at (4,0). Plot M on the grid below.
2. Now plot point N 3 points away on the x axis.
3. Point X is located at (3, 2). Point Y is located at (3, -8). Plot them on the graph that follows and find the distance between X and Y on the
ightning is a bright flash of electricity produced by a thunderstorm. All thunderstorms produce lightning and are very dangerous. If you hear the sound of thunder, then you are in danger from lightning. Lightning is an electric current. Within a thundercloud way up in the sky, many small bits of ice (frozen raindrops) bump into each other as they move around in the air. All of those collisions create an electric charge. After a while, the whole cloud fills up with electrical charges. Lightning is approximately 29,982 degrees Celsius. That is nearly six times hotter than the surface of the sun! Have you ever rubbed your feet across carpet and then touched a metal door handle? If so, then you know that you can get shocked! Lightning works in the same way.
(Adapted fromweatherwizkids.com)
By Matthew arnold
Continued
Children dear, were we long alone?
"The sea grows stormy, the little ones moan; Long prayers," I said, "in the world they say; Come!" I said; and we rose through the surf in the bay.
We went up the beach, by the sandy down
Where the sea-stocks bloom, to the white-wall'd town; Through the narrow paved streets, where all was still, To the little grey church on the windy hill. From the church came a murmur of folk at their prayers, But we stood without in the cold blowing airs. We climb'd on the graves, on the stones worn with rains, And we gazed up the aisle through the small leaded panes.
She sate by the pillar; we saw her clear:
"Margaret, hist! come quick, we are here! Dear heart," I said, "we are long alone; The sea grows stormy, the little ones moan." But, ah, she gave me never a look, For her eyes were seal'd to the holy book! Loud prays the priest; shut stands the door. Come away, children, call no more! Come away, come down, call no more! Down, down, down! Down to the depths of the sea! She sits at her wheel in the humming town, Singing most joyfully. Hark what she sings: "O joy, O joy, For the humming street, and the child with its toy! For the priest, and the bell, and the holy well; For the wheel where I spun, And the blessed light of the sun!" And so she sings her fill, Singing most joyfully, Till the spindle drops from her hand, And the whizzing wheel stands still.
To be continued
Guyanese exempt from US$15K travel bond – US Ambassador
...unsure whether US$250 visa integrity fee applies
United States (US)
Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, has clarified that Guyanese citizens who are applying for a business or tourism visa to that country will be exempt from paying the newly introduced travel bond of as much as US$15,000.
“So, currently, Guyana is not included in that list. It does not apply to Guyanese citizens applying for a visa,” Ambassador Theriot told reporters on the side-lines of an event on Wednesday morning.
As part of its ongoing immigration crackdown, the US Government has implemented a new requirement that will see travellers from some countries having to pay bonds of up to US$15,000 to enter the country.
This 12-month pilot programme, which affects B1 business and B2 tourism visas, will take effect from August 20. The proposed visa bond has three tiers: US$5000, US$10,000 and US$15,000, which would be refundable to travellers
who comply with the terms of the bond.
The visa bond will be applied mainly to countries with high overstay rates in the US – something which Ambassador Theriot says Guyana is not part of.
“Guyana’s overstay rate is not very high… In my opinion, it’s not problematic in that sense. So, at this moment, Guyana is not included in that list, and obviously, anything could change, but I would be very surprised [if it changes],” the US diplomat stated.
A recently released report by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) revealed that some 3186 Guyanese nationals, who entered the US on non-immigrant visas for business or tourism purposes, overstayed their legal period of stay in 2023, resulting in an overall overstay rate of 5.59 per cent.
Meanwhile, in addition to the US$15,000 bond, the US has also introduced a new US$250 visa integrity fee for all international visitors.
However, Ambassador
Theriot could not say whether this would be applied to Guyanese non-immigrant visa travellers.
She told reporters, “I don’t know because I don’t know the basis of that one. I’d have to go back and do some research. I’m not sure about that. But I know you’re definitely not on the bond list.”
The recent CBP report noted between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2023, a total of 56,965 Guyanese citizens were legally admitted to the US through air and sea ports of entry on non-immigrant business and tourist visas. However, 3186 individuals failed to depart the country within the authorised time frame, resulting in an overall overstay rate of 5.59 per cent.
Overstaying
Of this total, 3070 were categorised as suspected in-country overstays, meaning they had no record of departure and no known change in immigration status. Additionally, 27 Guyanese nationals on stu-
dent or exchange visas overstayed their time in the US.
According to CBP, the global average overstay rate for non-immigrant visitors during the same period was 1.45 per cent, making Guyana’s rate nearly four times higher. Overstays are considered serious immigration violations by US authorities and may lead to visa revocations, travel bans, or tighter visa issuance policies for nationals of affected countries.
Back in March, the US Embassy in Georgetown had cautioned individuals holding US non-immigrant visas about the severe consequences of overstaying their allotted time in the US.
Overstaying a visa could lead to a permanent travel ban, according to a statement published on the embassy’s social media page on Tuesday. The embassy emphasised that visa holders must abide by the terms of their visas and adhere to their designated duration of stay.
For visitors, the most common visa – the B1/B2
– allows for a stay of up to six months. However, visitors must depart before this period expires. Failure to do so could result in serious repercussions, including being barred from entering the US for life.
Additionally, the Embassy noted that US consular officers have access to comprehensive immigration histories, ensuring that any violations, including overstays, are flagged.
“Consular officers have full access to your immigration history and will know about past violations. There is no such thing as an “honest mistake” – it is your responsibility to use your visa
correctly,” the Embassy indicated.
The warning comes amid a broader crackdown on illegal immigration by the US Government.
Since President Donald Trump assumed office in January, there has been a significant increase in immigration enforcement actions. This includes raids across US communities, particularly those with large Guyanese and Caribbean populations. The embassy’s warning is part of this intensifying enforcement against illegal immigration, which also includes a halt on asylum seeker processing.
2 teens missing after leaving home in black Toyota
Two teenage schoolgirls from Supply, East Bank Demerara, have been reported missing after they left their homes on Sunday and never returned.
The girls, 13-yearold Aneeza Bangatt and
15-year-old Shavine Russell, both students of Soesdyke Secondary School, were last seen leaving home around 10:30 on Monday in a black 192 Toyota motorcar bearing registration number PJJ 1933, heading to an un-
known destination.
Their disappearance was reported to the police later that evening at 19:36h, after relatives were unable to reach them.
According to the police, both Aneeza and Shavine are of slim build, stand about four feet seven inches tall, have shoulder-length hair, and are described as brown in complexion. The teenagers are known to be close friends and have been attending the same school for some time.
Investigators said a photo of a male individual who was reportedly last seen in their company has also been circulated, and efforts are being intensified to locate him.
The Guyana Police Force is urging anyone with information on the whereabouts
of the missing girls or the individual they were last seen with to make urgent contact with the nearest police station or call the Commander of Regional Police Division 4B, Superintendent Wayne DeHeart, on telephone number 661-4716.
Photographs of the missing girls and the male in question have since been released by the authorities. As the search continues, family members are appealing for the safe return of the girls, while police investigations remain active.
More than a month ago, 13-year-old Cadacia James went missing from her home in Plaisance, sparking days of searches and public appeals. She was found on June
25 and reunited with her family after being dropped off at the La Penitence Police Station by a taxi driver.
A similar incident occurred more than a month ago, where a teen had reportedly spent several days at the home of a man known to the family as “Uncle Andre”, who is now in police custody. Though not a relative, he had gained the family’s trust through frequent visits. Cadacia later told her mother she had been put out by the man and was afraid to return home.
Authorities were able to trace her social media activity, which reportedly led to the suspect’s residence. The teen is now receiving counselling and was interviewed by child protection officers. Investigations are ongoing, with continued involvement from police and
child protection officials.
Aneeza Bangatt and Shavine Russell
The alleged driver of the car
The car the alleged suspect was seen driving at the time the girls reportedly went missing
United States Ambassador Nicole Theriot
…to their (own) beat
In politics most practitioners have taken the art of virtue signalling to a whole new level. To listen to them, you’d think butter wouldn’t melt in their mouths, and every day, they rush into burning buildings to rescue trapped babies!! Not to mention working 24/7 to serve us, the people, body and soul. But not our LOO (not the outhouse, Dear Reader, but our Leader Of the Opposition, get it?), Aubrey Norton!! No siree, Bob!! Aubrey marches to the beat of his own drummer!!
Shaking the hand of the winner of an election where you’ve lost? Naaah… not Norton!! You’d think he never looked at – much less played – a game of cricket, which taught us how to act “proper and signal we were “cultivated”!! Smiling good-naturedly when an opponent makes a crack at your expense in Parliament? Not Norton! His scowl’s been ossified into his face, so he always looks like “cow bruk rope”!!
So your Eyewitness wasn’t surprised when he read Norton refused to sign the ERC’s Code of Conduct (ERCCOC) agreement. Here, parties contesting the elections affirmed their commitment to peaceful, respectful, and lawful campaigning – and acceptance of election results. But frankly, why should Norton?? “Peaceful, respectful, and lawful?” That ain’t the beat Norton’s drummer beats out!!
Throughout his long career in the PNC – starting with the YSM – his motto’s been “war, in-your-face disrespect and unlawful”!! If the truth be told, it’s the reason he’s the PNC leader today!! After Granger bowed to international pressure and conceded that his rig attempt hadn’t struck paydirt, PNC kingmakers decided that Norton was the man who’d make the country ungovernable. When Hoyte did this back in the day – with slow fyaah; mo’ fyaah – to depose the PPP, Norton had been in the streets leading the charge!! But as the new PNC leader, he hemmed and hawed because of changed circumstances, making that strategy questionable. He was derided, and a slew of upstarts tried to oust him. In not signing the ERC-COC, he’s signalling he might return to the streets when he loses the Sept 1st elections!! When…no “if”!! But one of the mushroom parties that sprung up also didn’t sign – the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) led by Amanza Desir and that anti-LGBTQIA+ pastor!! Well, Amanza might be worried she’s also seen as “soft” – and might also be signalling she’s gonna be looking to develop some street cred!! Your Eyewitness just hopes she doesn’t join the pastor and start beating up on LGBTQIA+s.
The sanctioned fella’s WIN party unsurprisingly signed along the ERC-COC’s line? Why “unsurprisingly”?? Well surely he doesn’t want to add “election violence” to the reasons why the Yanks are all over him like a cheap suit!!
…on Burnham’s grave
Your Eyewitness was reminded by a letter in the press from Hamilton Green about his master Forbes Burnham’s death anniversary forty years ago – Aug 6, 1985. Green –“the Elder”, as he dubs himself! – claimed Burnham “stood up against the people who enslaved us, who brought us here as slaves and indentured labourers.” Now it’s quite possible Green might be having an “elder moment” – since he’s confessed to being an “elder” – but wasn’t it the Brits who brought us here as “slaves and indentured labourers’?
So when Burnham connived with those Brits – according to THEIR now declassified records – to plunge our country into ethnic violence in 1962 to remove the PPP Government, he “stood up” to them?? Or when the Brits passed him on to the Yanks and they paid him US$5000 monthly and he stood up to collect the cash, is that what Green understands by “stood up”??
We know Green must sanitise Burnham for his own relevance – but he gotta watch these senior moments!!
…for City Hall
Your Eyewitness must confess he got quite choked up when the scaffolding around City Hall was removed – revealing our foremost Gothic piece of architecture in pristine condition.
Thanks to the PPP central Government!! Hip!! Hip…!
14 EU observers deployed to monitor electoral activities across Guyana
As part of their work to monitor the upcoming September 1 General and Regional Elections, the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has deployed 14 longterm observers across all 10 administrative regions in Guyana to monitor electoral activities leading up to next month’s polls.
The deployment of the 14 long-term observers has effectively begun the mission’s full-scale monitoring activity.
Deputy Chief Observer Vania Angelova explained that the work of the longterm observers will provide essential insights and form the basis of the mission’s impartial and fact-based assessment of Guyana’s electoral process.
“Our long-term observers will meet with the different stakeholders in the regions. They will meet with political parties and candidates contesting there. They will meet with the local branches of the elections administration. They will also meet with civil society, local media and all other interlocutors who are present on the ground,” Angelova told reporters during a briefing on Wednesday morning prior to the team’s deployment.
She added, “…And they will make independent, neutral and fact-based assessments of the election preparations and also the election process in general in the different locations where they are deployed.”
These 14 long-term observers – all of whom adhere to the EU Code of Conduct – hail from different countries and work in pairs of two across all 10 regions. Some of these observers are tasked with monitoring activities in more than one region.
According to the Deputy Chief Observer, the observers will remain at those locations even after the September 1 polling day to monitor the post-election atmosphere.
Prior to their deployment, she noted that the
long-term observers received comprehensive briefings on the electoral process, the political environment, the legal framework, and the media and social context in Guyana.
“We work in an independent, impartial manner… And I also look forward to the different stakeholders at the regional level collaborating with us for contributing to the transparency and the credibility of these elections,” Angelova said.
As the September 1 elections near, the EU Observation Mission will be joined by another 20 shortterm observers to field a 50-member team that will be monitoring the voting, counting and tabulation process.
Only last week, the EU EOM’s core team of eight members arrived in Guyana and has already met with a series of stakeholders in Georgetown, including the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the judiciary, civil society bodies and the various political parties contesting the upcoming elections.
On Friday last, Chief Observer Robert Biedroń, who launched the mission during a press conference in Georgetown, had called for the transparent and timely tabulation and declaration of results at the September 1 elections.
“We envisage full transparency and accountability from all electoral stakeholders. This will enhance public trust in the process. We also encourage a transparent and timely tabulation and announcement of results,” Biedroń had posited.
The mission head had also assured that their presence will not interfere in Guyana’s electoral process at any stage. “We are here to observe whether the electoral process is conducted in a transparent and credible manner,” he declared.
The EU EOM mission was deployed at the invitation of the Guyana Government. It is expected to present its preliminary
findings in a public statement two days after the election, followed by a final report, including recommendations for improving the electoral process, which will be published after the completion of the entire process.
This is the second fullscale Election Observation Mission deployed by the EU for local elections.
2020 polls
At the March 2, 2020 polls, the EU had fielded the largest mission – a 55-member team. That mission played a key role in ensur-
ing that Guyana’s democracy prevailed following blatant attempts to rig those elections.
At the time, Guyana was plunged into a political deadlock for five months as a result of blatant attempts to steal the elections by some senior electoral officials with the aim of keeping the then ruling A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition regime in power.
In its final report, the 2020 EU Mission had found that while the voting and counting were well managed
all over the country, along with the tabulation of results in nine of Guyana’s 10 regions, the tabulation process was abruptly stalled in Region Four – the country’s largest and most decisive voting district.
The EU EOM had said, “…the integrity of the entire electoral process was seriously compromised by the non-transparent and non-credible tabulation of results in the largest and decisive Region Four by senior GECOM officials acting in blatant violation of the law and High Court orders is-
sued in this regard.” At the centre of those allegations are former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield and then Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, who allegedly blatantly inflated figures in favour of the APNU+AFC. Both Lowenfield and Mingo, along with other GECOM staff and senior APNU+AFC members, have since been slapped with a slew of electoral fraud charges that are still pending before the local courts.
EU EOM’s Deputy Chief Observer, Vania Angelova
The European Union Election Observation Mission deployed 14 long-term observers to monitor electoral activities across Guyana
Warning on implications if sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed enters Parliament
“I
was stating facts… US has no interest in interfering in Guyana elections” – US Ambassador
United States (US)
Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot has expressed her disappointment over suggestions in some circles that she and the US are attempting to interfere in Guyana’s electoral process.
The ambassador had faced criticism in some quarters after warning that US-Guyana relations could be affected if an individual sanctioned by the US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) were to enter Parliament.
However, she told reporters on the side-lines of an event on Wednesday morning that she was “simply stating the facts” when she said last month that it would be “problematic” if US-sanctioned Guyanese businessman Azruddin Mohamed, who is contesting the September 1 elections, were to enter parliament.
“I was a little upset by that characterisation simply because I was stating facts,” Ambassador Theriot stated on Wednesday in response to a question about the criticism against her.
She explained that, “I was asked what being OFAC-sanctioned meant in terms of the US Government being able to work with an individual, and I simply gave the facts that have occurred in other countries, where OFAC-
sanctioned individuals had been members of the Government, and how the US Government had to adjust how we worked with that Government.”
No electoral interference
Ambassador Theriot went on to make it clear that neither she nor the US has any intention of interfering with Guyana’s upcoming elections.
“We have absolutely no interest in interfering in your elections. I was asked a question, and I gave the facts as I understand them, as they are published on our Department of Treasury website. I have no interest or intention of interfering in the Government of Guyana’s elections. This is a sovereign country; you run your elections as you see fit… How you run your elections is entirely up to you,” the US Ambassador added.
In fact, the diplomat pointed out that the US involvement in Guyana is merely limited to electoral observation work and election security training – the latter being a direct request from the Guyana Police Force.
“At this moment, we’re sending quite a few supervisory police officers to the New York Police Academy to be provided with training on election security, to include crowd control and how to handle any sort of civil unrest that may arise.
We also have a team from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Department coming in on August 18 to do training with both the supervisory and the line police officers, the guys who are out on the street, to do training with them on exactly the same thing – election security, crowd control, etc. So, we’re very proud to be able to contribute that,” she stated.
In 2024, OFAC sanctioned Nazar Mohamed and his son, Azruddin Mohamed, as well as several of their companies. The sanctions are related to the evasion of taxes on gold exports, noting that between 2019 and 2023, Mohamed’s Enterprise omitted more than 10 thousand kilograms (kg) of gold from import and export declarations and avoided paying more than US$50 million in duty taxes to the Government of Guyana.
Azruddin Mohamed has since launched a political party, called We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), and he is running as the presidential candidate. His party has been approved by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to contest the upcoming General and Regional elections on September 1.
No association
In a July 23 interview with reporters, Ambassador Theriot had cautioned that if the sanc-
tioned Mohamed were to enter parliament, then this could have implications for both Government-toGovernment relations and private sector engagement between the two countries.
“When you see an OFAC-sanctioned individual become [an official] within a Government, it sends concern through the private sector of the United States. So, you see US companies often rethinking their relationships in the country,” she told reporters on the side-lines of the Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit that was held in July at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre in Georgetown.
“All these US companies want to come to Guyana, and Guyana is welcoming… And I don’t want that to change if he
were to become a member of the Government. So, that’s a real concern that I have… It’s problematic in multiple ways… We have to be very careful if that person is involved; let’s say he was on a certain committee, we would have to be very careful in working with that committee. We have to ensure that we didn’t work with him spe-
cifically,” the ambassador had noted last month.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Government, including President Irfaan Ali as well as Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo, had previously explained that the US-sanctioned businessman is a risk and a threat to Guyana’s financial stability, sovereignty, and diplomacy.
Salesman gets $250,000 bail on causing death by dangerous driving charge
A51-year-old salesman who is accused of causing the death of a cyclist during a traffic accident has been granted bail in the sum of $250,000.
The accused, Sahadeo Jaggernauth, appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday, where the charge of causing death by dangerous driving was read to him.
It is alleged that on July 31, at the intersection of Erwin Street and Woolford Avenue, Georgetown, Jaggernauth drove motor car PNN 6502 in a dangerous manner, resulting in the death of Julio Khan, a 36-year-old construction worker and father of two.
Khan, who was from Heartburn Village, East Bank Demerara, and also resided at Benkurton Court, Georgetown, was reportedly riding a bicycle at the time of the collision. Jaggernauth pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Attorney-at-law Keoma Griffith, who is representing the accused, made an application for bail. In his submission, Griffith stated that Khan was riding recklessly at the time of the accident. He told the court that Jaggernauth had been given the go-ahead to cross the roadway by another driver and that the collision occurred due to the way Khan was manoeuvring.
The defence counsel further emphasised that Jaggernauth was not speeding and that there is no evidence to suggest otherwise. He also highlighted that his client had been cooperating with investigators and is not a flight risk.
Griffith pointed out that Jaggernauth had previously been granted $100,000 station bail and had shown up to court earlier in the week, but the matter had not been ready for hearing at the time.
Despite objections from the prosecution, who raised concerns about the seriousness of the charge, Magistrate McGusty granted bail and cautioned Jaggernauth about the importance of attending all court hearings.
United States Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot
Dead: Julio Khan
Sahadeo Jaggernauth
Kunjaz Group provides free music classes to Adopt-an-Orphanage
The Kunaz Group is offering free music classes to children from care homes across Georgetown under the Adopt-an-Orphanage initiative.
According to a post on First Lady Arya’s social media page, the programme runs for three weeks and will allow the children an opportunity to develop a new talent or express themselves through music.
Ongoing feud lands 2 women in court on assault charges
Two women with a reported history of personal conflict were brought before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on assault-related charges following a series of violent incidents in July.
Delys Gampat, 34, a dental nurse employed with the Ministry of Health and a mother of two, appeared before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty, who was presiding over the case. She faced two charges: unlawful wounding and assault causing actual bodi-
ly harm, both committed against Kimberley Beckles, 30, a self-employed woman from Albouystown.
The court heard that on July 30, Gampat allegedly wounded Beckles during an altercation at the Ruimveldt Police Station. She pleaded guilty to that offence. However, she pleaded not guilty to a separate charge of assault stemming from a prior incident on July 25 at Jackie’s Sports Bar.
In a detailed explanation to the court regarding the wounding, Gampat said she
has known Beckles for more than 20 years and claimed that Beckles and members of her family have consistently harassed and verbally abused her over the years. She told the court that the tension escalated to the point where she had to move out of the area to avoid further encounters.
On the day of the police station incident, both women had gone to make reports and were left alone in a room by an officer known to them. According to Gampat, Beckles began to provoke
APNU scapegoats ERC to refuse signing Code of Conduct
APartnership for National Unity (APNU) has defended its decision to boycott the signing of the Ethnic Relations Commission’s (ERC) elections Code of Conduct.
APNU, led by Aubrey Norton, and Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), led by former APNU Member of Parliament Amanza Walton-Desir, were the only two political parties that snubbed the event hosted on Tuesday.
The Code is aimed at securing commitments from political parties to uphold peace, avoid hate speech, and promote ethnic harmony during the election season. The other four political parties that have been approved to contest the September 1 elections signed onto the Code. Zulfikar Mustapha signed on behalf of the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), Hana Dmitriyev represented the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, Khemraj Ramjattan signed
for the Alliance for Change (AFC), and Aeon Thomas represented the Assembly for Liberty and Prosperity (ALP) party, which is led by former APNU+AFC minister Simona Broomes.
In a statement on Wednesday, APNU defended its decision to boycott, stating that “while we believe in the value of a Code of Conduct on peaceful, respectful, and lawful campaigning, we have no confidence in the impartiality and
independence of the Ethnic Relations Commission”.
Nevertheless, APNU pledged that it will conduct its election campaign “in a peaceful, lawful, respectful manner – as we already are.”
APNU also said that “we embrace the fact that Guyanese have the constitutional freedom of expression, association and assembly. We embrace the fact that Guyanese must be able to freely vote for the party of their choice.”
her, uttering deeply offensive remarks, including accusations that she has HIV and claims about her child’s paternity. Gampat said the repeated verbal attacks led to an argument, which turned
physical. She told the court she acted in self-defence.
The court subsequently entered a not guilty plea on her behalf for that matter.
Beckles, meanwhile, was charged with assault caus-
ing actual bodily harm, also allegedly committed at the Ruimveldt Police Station, but on July 20. She denied the allegation.
In light of the circumstances surrounding the incidents and the nature of the longstanding dispute between the parties, the prosecutor refrained from opposing bail.
However, a request was made for both women to be placed on a bond to keep the peace while the matter is before the court.
After considering the submissions, Magistrate McGusty granted conditional bail to the defendants.
Gampat was placed on $25,000 bail for the unlawful wounding charge and $10,000 for the assault matter. Beckles was granted $20,000 bail for her charge. Additionally, both parties were placed on a bond to maintain the peace pending the outcome of the proceedings. The matter is set to continue on August 13.
APNU presidential candidate Aubrey Norton and prime ministerial candidate Juretha Fernandes
Delys Gampat
Kimberley Beckles
Scenes from the commissioning Treatment Plant at Parika,
commissioning of the Parika Water
Bank Essequibo
Sod turned for Karaudarnau Secondary School
– as Shulinab Village to get $350M secondary school
The hinterland villages of Karaudarnau and Shulinab, nestled in the South Central Rupununi of Region Nine, are to benefit from transformative investments in education.
Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, along with Karaudarnau Toshao Apollos Isaacs and others, on Wednesday turned the sod for a new secondary school in Karaudarnau that will also serve the villages of Bashaizon and Achiwib, along with any other nearby community that wants to attend the school.
According to Minister Manickchand, the school will also house a laboratory, small dorm and cafeteria.
The village Toshao expressed his gratitude for the timely construction of the school which he said would help both students and parents avoid the long travelling and costs.
It was revealed that the community had reached out to Government for a school in the village to help reduce the daily transportation, and in response, the new school has been earmarked.
Minister Manickchand noted that Government is committed to universal access to education, giving students across the hinterland, educational options they never had before.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, it was announced that another construction initiative will give rise to a brand-new
secondary school at Shulinab Village, complete with all critical infrastructure needed to support both learners and teachers in one of Guyana’s most remote communities.
A total of 20 construction contracts have been awarded to facilitate the development of this new facility, which includes dormitories, sanitary blocks, teachers’ quarters, dining and kitchen areas, electrical works, water storage systems, a tarmac, perimeter fencing, and the school buildings themselves.
These contracts were awarded through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), in full compliance with Guyana’s Procurement Laws and Regulations, ensuring transparency, competitiveness, and value for public funds.
This development signals the Government of Guyana’s continued commitment to closing the gap between hinterland and coastland educa-
tion. For decades, students in places like Shulinab have faced limited access to secondary education, often having to travel long distances or leave their communities entirely in order to attend school.
The construction work will be carried out by a number of contractors who were successful through the national competitive bidding process, with the project estimated to be completed in about 6-8 months.
The schools in Shulinab and Karaudarnau mark a major development milestone for generations of students. It’s part of a broader push by the Ministry to ensure that every child in Guyana, no matter where they are born, has access to quality education.
Currently, the Government of Guyana is undertaking the construction of more than 40 new secondary schools across the country as part of its unwavering commitment to improv-
ing access to education at every level.
This national effort is particularly focused on the hinterland regions, where the aim is to achieve Universal Secondary Education by ensuring that indigenous and remote communities are no longer left behind.
In Region One, five secondary schools are either under construction or recently completed. Hosororo, Kwebanna, Waramuri, and Matthew’s Ridge are all in progress, while the North West Secondary School has already been completed and commissioned.
Region Six is seeing the addition of a new secondary
school at Orealla, bringing secondary education closer to the riverine communities of the region.
In Region Seven, four secondary schools at Jawalla, Issano, Karrau, and Phillipai are being built to serve children from several Indigenous communities that previously relied on primary-top schools or had no access at all to secondary education.
Region Eight is also benefitting significantly, with new secondary schools being developed at Micobie, Monkey Mountain, and Kopinang. Each of these institutions is designed to include learning environments in some of the most remote
areas of the country.
Region Nine has already seen the successful commissioning of Katoka and Yupukari Secondary Schools, both of which are now fully operational. Additional schools are currently under construction at Maruranau, Nappi, Tabatinga, Karasabai, Massara, Karaudarnau, and most recently, Shulinab. These projects are vital in reducing the distances students must travel to access education and in building a future where every child in Region Nine has access to a complete secondary education close to home.
128 individuals from Regions 3, 4 now certified Patient Care Assistants
One hundred twenty-eight individuals from Regions Three and Four graduated on Tuesday as Patient Care Assistants (PCAs), significantly bolstering Guyana’s healthcare workforce.
Of the 128 graduates, 34 are from Region Three, while the remaining 94 are from Region Four.
The graduates underwent a rigorous four-month practical and theoretical
clinical training, enabling them to assist nursing assistants, registered nurses and other medical professionals in delivering the highest level of patient care.
Delivering remarks at the graduating ceremony that was held at the Pegasus Suites in Georgetown, Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony charged the newly minted graduates to uphold the values of the profession and
deliver the highest level of medical services.
The health Minister said that the graduates are now equipped with the knowledge, compassion and skills to make a profound difference in the lives of patients.
“You are joining a very bold profession, and we hope that while you spend some time working with our patients, you uphold the values of this profession… We want to ensure that
when people come to us, they are getting good service,” Dr Anthony stated.
In a Department of Public Information (DPI) report, a single mother of two, Alesia Reddy, praised the Government for facilitating the training programme.
“It was a great push for me because I always wanted to be in healthcare. And this was a great opportunity,” Reddy said.
To complete the programme, Reddy said she had to juggle parental responsibilities with her studies.
“It was a good experience. I am a single mother, so it was tough. But I made it through, and I am proud of myself. If I can do it, then everybody can do it. It is a great experience,” she said.
Nichola Wilson, an aspiring nurse, also graduated from the programme.
“I found out about the programme while doing a course, and someone sent me the link… I signed up for the course and got a call for an interview, and then I got through. I was so happy… It was great at the end. The experience so far has been perfect,” she added. Wilson overcame her challenges to finish her studies and encouraged others to use the training opportunities available.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand, along with Karaudarnau Toshao Apollos Isaacs and others, turned the sod for the new Karaudarnau Secondary School
Karaudarnau Toshao Apollos Isaacs
GECOM warns against misinformation, urges public to be vigilant amid fake news surge
With less than a month to go before Guyanese head to the polls for the highly anticipated General and Regional Elections on September 1, 2025, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has issued a stern warning to the public, urging them to exercise caution and verify information from credible sources, as it raises concern over the growing spread of misinformation and fake news related to the electoral process.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday, GECOM expressed grave concern over
the rapid spread of disinformation, particularly across social media platforms, which it says threatens to undermine public trust, erode confidence in the electoral process, and potentially disenfranchise voters.
“The Commission urges all stakeholders, including voters, political parties, civil society organisations, and media outlets, to recognise GECOM as the sole credible source of authentic information regarding the electoral process. To combat the spread of misinformation, GECOM will continue to proactively disseminate accurate and timely
information through its official channels. These include the GECOM website, www.gecom.org.gy, official press releases, and verified social media accounts. Accordingly, the public is strongly advised to cross-reference any election-related information with GECOM's official statements before sharing it. GECOM is committed to ensuring a free, fair, and transparent electoral process,” the release said.
GECOM is urging voters, political parties, civil society, and media entities to be vigilant, to verify all election-related information from official sources, and to avoid sharing unverified content that may cause confusion or conflict.
As the Commission continues to implement its elections work plan, officials report observing a concerning trend: deliberate attempts to manipulate public opinion through distorted news articles, fake press releases, and edited images or videos that mimic official communication.
“The Commission ap-
Corentyne man jailed 3 years for causing death of girlfriend in road accident
Twenty-five-year-old Niraz Sukdeo has been sentenced to three years and two months imprisonment for causing the death of his girlfriend in a road accident on July 22, 2024.
Sukdeo of Lancaster Village, Corentyne, Berbice, was on Wednesday last found guilty of causing the death of 18-year-old Bibi Aleah Ali, a medical technologist.
peals to all Guyanese citizens to exercise critical thinking and verify information from reliable sources. By working together, we can safeguard the integrity of our democratic process and ensure that the September 1, 2025, General and Regional Elections reflect the true will of the Guyanese people.”
The Guyana Election Commission (GECOM) has approved six parties to contest the upcom-
ing GRE: the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), led by Presidential candidate Irfaan Ali; A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), led by Aubrey Norton; the Alliance for Change (AFC), led by Presidential candidate Attorney Nigel Hughes; the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), with Presidential candidate Amanza Walton-Desir; We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), led by US-sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed; and
the Assembly of Liberty and Prosperity (ALP), created by former APNU Minister Simona Broomes. Both the AFC and WIN parties had publicly noted that they were in negotiations with other parties looking into the possibility of a joint list, while the PPP, APNU and FGM were not considering a list. In fact, political parties have already kickstarted their campaigns across the country.
Fisherman’s body pulled from Corentyne River; boat captain in custody …went
on boat testing operation
ACorentyne fisherman whose lifeless body was fished out of the Corentyne River on Wednesday afternoon is believed to have drowned.
The man, along with the captain of a boat, went into the river to test the boat for leaks when the incident occurred in the vicinity of Number 65 Village.
Reports are that the young man and the boat captain were in the river when he allegedly fell into the murky water and disappeared.
The captain said he was navigating the waters and made a turn when the young man fell out of the boat.
Immediate efforts to fine him were futile. However, the body was discovered sometime later and taken to the Skeldon Hospital, where he was
The man, who is also a medical technologist, was remanded to prison until Wednesday, August 6, when he returned to court for sentencing.
The sentence was handed down by Magistrate Tuana Hardy at the Number 51 Magistrate’s Court.
pronounced dead. The boat captain is currently in police custody, assisting with the investigation as authorities seek to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident. Meanwhile, when this publication reached out to the parents of the nowdead man, although they confirmed that he had died, they refused to offer any more information.
The lifeless body of the yet unnamed Corentyne fisherman
The father of the now dead Corentyne fisherman looks at the event unfolding
PPP/C hosts "first-ever" Wismar-Wisroc public meeting
MAccording to Minister Edghill’s post, he reaffirmed the PPP/C’s unequivocal vision, leader -
inister of Public Works Juan Edghill, in a social media post, has announced the ‘first ever’ public meeting the party has held in Wismar-Wisroc, on Wednesday, August 6.
ship, and commitment to sustain Guyana’s growth trajectory.
He also reminded the citizens about the importance of their vote at the
General and Regional Elections.
“We know that you have a choice, but the right choice for Guyana is the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic. And when you have a choice, you have to compare and contrast, so we want you to examine who is in leadership. The PPP/C has the superior leadership.”
Those present were also assured that the plethora of initiatives and opportunities made available by the PPP/C will be expanded in the second term of governance.
Former APNU MP Jermaine Figueira was also present at the event.
PM Phillips unveils 1st direct submarine fibreoptic cable to Bartica -lauds ENet for ground-breaking initiative
Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) the Honourable Mark Phillips hailed the commissioning of the first direct submarine fibre-optic cable to Bartica as a transformative development that brings the hinterland town in line with the capital city’s digital capabilities.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony hosted by telecommunications provider E-Networks (ENet), he described the project as both a technical feat and a national achievement that reflects Guyana’s broader digital development goals.
He explained that “Bartica, long regarded as the gateway to Guyana’s interior, is now poised to benefit from dramatically faster and more reliable service for homes, businesses, and institutions. This is an immense technical achievement that also signifies a meaningful step toward bridging the digital divide between our coast and hinterland.”
Prime Minister Phillips applauded ENet’s drive while highlighting the critical role of the private sector in advancing the country’s digital agenda.
“We commend ENet for its bold investment and welcome this initiative as a demonstration of what can
be achieved through partnership, innovation, and a shared commitment to national development.”
Digital Guyana strategy
The project, the Prime Minister noted, reflects the Government’s ongoing commitment to building a digitally empowered Guyana. He said since liberalising the telecommunications sector on 5th October 2020, the ruling administration has worked to expand access, reduce costs, and encourage private sector innovation, especially in underserved and hinterland communities.
Expanding on this vision, Prime Minister Phillips recalled the Government’s Digital Strategy, which outlines ICT as a key pillar in Guyana’s inclusive development framework.
“When the PPP/C Government took office, we pledged to modernise Guyana’s ICT infrastructure as part of a wider vision for inclusive development. That vision is embodied in our Digital Guyana strategy, which aims to make public services faster, more accessible, and more responsive. To date, we have connected over 150 ICT hubs and more than 130 schools, en -
suring even the most remote communities can benefit from connectivity.”
The Prime Minister explained that the fibre-optic cable unlocks new possibilities for economic diversification, smart public services, and digital inclusion, while allowing small businesses to scale beyond regional boundaries, students to access real-time learning resources, and public institutions to function with greater speed and efficiency.
He reiterated the Government’s pledge to ensure that hinterland regions benefit from the same level of digital connectivity and Government services as those along the coast.
To this end, he pointed to recent announcements made by President Irfaan Ali, which include plans to make essential services such as licensing, GRA support, and financial transactions accessible directly within some hinterland communities as early as next year, eliminating the need for residents to travel to Georgetown.
Prime Minister Phillips also stated that Guyana’s vision for inclusive national development cannot be realised without digital inclusion.
“We realise that if the digital divide continues,
we cannot speak of development in a truly inclusive way. That is why the Government will continue to support initiatives like this one, ensuring that every region, every town, and every citizen is included in Guyana’s digital future.”
CEO and Founder of ENet, Mr Vishok Persaud, said the pioneering venture involved identifying a viable submarine route and clearing a path through difficult terrain.
“The project was extraordinarily challenging, as it required finding a viable route and running fibre through the trails. Today, we have connected Bartica
via fibreoptic cable for the first time.”
The fibreoptic rollout to Bartica also delivers full Fibre To Home gigabit speeds and introduces 5G mobile connectivity, linking the community directly to the country’s most extensive fibreoptic backbone, now penetrating seven of Guyana’s ten administrative regions.
The multi-billion dollar project involved traversing two major rivers and now grants residents and businesses in Bartica access to coastlandlevel digital services.
The unveiling on Wednesday
13 graduate as GDF enhances medical readiness
…as 19 ranks commence the Grade Two IED/EOD course
Thirteen newly minted Grade Two Medical Assistants have recently joined the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), as the Force continues its efforts to enhance its medical personnel capacity. The ranks officially completed their training on Thursday, July 31, 2025, after 36 weeks of intensive theoretical and practical instruction.
Throughout the training period, the ranks were exposed to advanced topics including Level Two Clinical Anatomy, Pharmacology, Nursing, Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Basic Surgery, Traumatology, and Obstetrics and Gynaecology. They also studied medical ethics and other relevant subjects and completed a clinical attachment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.
Officer Commanding the Medical Corps and Director of the course, Lieutenant Colonel Dr Nigel Langhorne, expressed immense pride in the graduates during their official closing ceremony. He commended their commitment and resilience throughout the rigorous training and reminded them of the critical role they now
play within the Force.
“Your role as military medics becomes even more crucial. You are not just healthcare providers but protectors of our nation’s stability – especially in remote areas where access to medical services is limited. The health and wellbeing of ranks stationed in these regions directly impact our capacity to maintain sovereignty. Your readiness, professionalism, skill, dedication, and compassion are vital. Every life you save and every act of service you perform reinforces our national strength and unity,” he stated.
Lieutenant Colonel
Langhorne also urged the graduates to remain mission-focused and to uphold the dignity and pride of the uniform they wear and the noble institution they represent.
Corporal Calwin Thomas was adjudged Best Student Overall and also received the award for Best Student in Medicine. Petty Officer Jamal Darrell was named runner-up student. Both were awarded prizes in recognition of their outstanding performance.
Meanwhile, 19 ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) have commenced training on the Grade Two Improvised Explosive Device/Explosive Ordnance
Disposal (Grade Two IED/ EOD) as they strive to improve their knowledge and skills to better serve the nation.
This premier course is designed to equip ranks with the knowledge and skills to competently, effectively and safely identify, detect, neutralise and render safe IEDs as Grade Two IED/EOD specialists within the GDF.
During their six weeks of theoretical and practical training, ranks will be
taught explosive theories, explosive safety rules and regulations for handling, travelling and storage, first aid, explosive ordnance disposal, improvised explosive devices and IED disposal, and sweep and searching methods in built-up and open areas.
During the simple opening ceremony, Officer Commanding 21 Artillery Company, Major Brentnol Bart, delivered the feature address and urged the ranks
to be focused, stay alert and listen keenly to the instructors and follow all safety protocols.
“The fight against IEDs is a battle of intelligence, technology, and discipline. As soldiers and EOD specialists, your preparedness, vigilance, and professionalism can save lives and ensure mission success. Remain committed to continuous learning and operational excellence in this challenging domain,” he urged.
Guyana welcomes 36th cohort of Peace Corps volunteers – marking decades of partnership in fostering development
Guyana has welcomed the 36th cohort of Peace Corps volunteers, marking another step in the long-standing partnership between the country and the United States (US) aimed at deepening community development, education support, and cultural exchange across all regions.
The volunteers, who come from diverse backgrounds and professional disciplines, will be deployed to various communities throughout Guyana to support initiatives in education, health, youth empowerment, and capacity building. Many of them will live and work in remote and underserved areas, helping to bridge gaps and support sustainable local development.
During the welcoming ceremony, US Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot praised the spirit of collaboration and service embodied by the Peace Corps programme, emphasising the positive impact the volunteers have made in previous years, not only through development projects but also by fostering mutual understanding and cross-cultural friendships.
Addressing the new volunteers, the ambassador encouraged them to explore, “eat the food” and embrace every aspect of their new environment.
Voluntarism
“To the community and school counterparts who have
asked for and received a volunteer, thank you for taking the time to exchange views and ideas and to work side by side in making a lasting impact in your community and with Guyana's youth, because that's really what it's all about, right? It's all about the youth. And of course, a massive thank you to the members of Guy 36 who have chosen to serve here. You're about to begin what may be the most significant time in your life. At completion of your service, you will undoubtedly be wiser and better equipped for life's many
challenges, regardless of your age. I wish you tremendous success, and once again, thank you so much for your willingness to serve,” the US Ambassador to Guyana said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira encouraged the group to focus on expanding their skill sets while in Guyana.
Describing how the early years of Peace Corps support focused on primary health care and tackling high maternal and infant mortality, Teixeira explained that
over time, the scope expanded to include education, environmental conservation, and youth development.
She described today’s Guyana as a “blessed nation” of remarkable cultural, religious, and linguistic diversity, undergoing a dramatic transformation. With one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, she said, Guyana presents an unmatched opportunity for volunteers to witness development in real-time and contribute to building sustainable, equitable progress.
“The new cohort is com-
ing on the backs of those who started in 1995 when we were very, very poor. And things were really hard. You are coming now to a country that's very different from 1995. Very, very different. And our country has always been wonderful, always blessed. One of the most culturally diverse countries in this hemisphere, I believe the most. The most religiously diverse and also in terms of biodiversity. But we were so poor then. And so today, the new Peace Corps volunteers are going to come in with a very interesting ex-
perience while you're here. Our people are very friendly. We're very, sometimes a little bit familiar. But we love to share, whether it's food or drink, knowledge, or information; we just share.”
“The whole concept of One Guyana is a reality and a model that we're trying to advance. And so you will experience that here. You will also experience the challenges of climate change. If you are very sensitised, I'm sure in your training to do with the border issues, but also to the speed at which we're going as a country in terms of infrastructure and human resources,” the minister said.
In March of 1961, President John F Kennedy created the Peace Corps to provide human resources and technical assistance to developing countries. The Peace Corps was first active in Guyana from 1966 to 1971 and later returned in 1995 at the invitation of the then-president, Dr Cheddi Jagan. Since its establishment, more than 900 American volunteers have supported numerous communities throughout Guyana. Since 1996, more than 240,000 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in 142 countries, and in Guyana, over 1400 volunteers have served since 1966, with a break from 1971 to 1995.
Medical graduates of the GDF
Ranks from the IED/EOD course
The Peace Corps volunteers along with US Ambassador Nicole Theriot, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony, and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira, following their swearing-in ceremony
J’ca: Kingston Central MP appeals for calm after Tuesday night shooting
Member of Parliament for Central Kingston, Donovan Williams, is urging supporters not to retaliate following a gun attack in the constituency on Tuesday night.
Armed men reportedly emerged from a motor vehicle and opened fire in the direction of Mr Williams and a group of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters while they were erecting campaign material in the area. The incident reportedly occurred at the intersection of Tower Street and South Camp Road, St Andrew.
Mr Williams said, despite the alarming incident, JLP supporters must show restraint.
This marks the latest reported incident amid rising political tension in the constituency.
The JLP has strongly condemned the Tuesday night incident on Williams and his campaign team.
Addressing the incident in a statement on Wednesday, JLP Campaign Committee Chairman, Dr Christopher Tufton, said, “Thankfully, no one was hurt, and Mr Williams’ security was able to repel the gun attack. The police are investigating the incident.
The Jamaica Labour Party strongly condemns this attack on Mr Williams and his team. We urge the police to leave no stone unturned in bringing to justice the perpetrators of the attack.” (Source: Radio Jamaica Online, Jamaica Observer)
The Barbados Defence Force calls back veterans
The Barbados Defence Force (BDF) is making a fresh appeal to former service members to temporarily rejoin the force as it seeks to strengthen its operations in the interest of national security.
The force has put out a public appeal through social media, targeting veterans aged 18 to 50 who previously completed a sixyear stint, offering shortterm re-enlistment for three to six months.
But the move comes with conditions: only those honourably discharged, physically and mentally fit, and formerly ranked sergeant or below need apply.
While the BDF has not disclosed how many former members have responded so far, a spokesperson framed the initiative as a necessary step to “combat all threats to safeguard our nation’s peace”.
The recruitment drive unfolds as the BDF continues its collaboration with the Barbados Police Service under the Military Assistance to the Civil Power (MACP) programme – a partnership that has placed soldiers alongside officers in joint operations.
Yet behind the scenes, some serving troops have called for more clarity on how the initiative will be implemented.
“Even though the call outlines physical and mental fitness as requirements, some of us are wondering how that will actually be assessed,” one soldier told Barbados TODAY, questioning whether returnees would face modern-day evaluations like psychometric testing.
“The job isn’t the same as it was 10 or 15 years ago, and we want to know if returning personnel will be tested to today’s opera-
tional standards.”
Another area of concern is promotions. With only junior ranks eligible to return, some worry that reintegrating veterans could harm advancement opportunities for those already in line for a step up.
“There are soldiers who’ve been waiting to move up,” another service member admitted. “We just want reassurance that bringing people back won’t cause stagnation or confusion within the ranks.”
The BDF, however, insists the focus remains squarely on national security. “The sole aim of this operation is to bolster the BDF’s efforts… through security and joint operations,” the spokesperson reiterated, adding that the force remains “resolute in its commitment to safeguard the interests of all Barbadians.” (Excerpt from Barbados Today)
Belize man charged for flashing gang sign in photo
A27-year-old man is due to reappear in court on September 24 after he was charged with flashing a gang sign, which authorities say is a gesture tied to gang activity.
Lyndon Alexander St Claire was arraigned late Tuesday before Magistrate Ludlow Black on the charge of promoting gang-related activity, specifically using a
hand signal associated with the Crips gang. St Claire, who appeared in court without a lawyer, is alleged to have committed the offence on July 28, after investigators said they spotted him in photos making the gesture.
He pleaded not guilty, but under Belize’s Crimes Control and Criminal Justice Act, the offence is
considered serious enough that bail cannot be granted at the magistrate’s level.
He was advised to seek legal representation and apply for bail through the High Court, though that process could take up to 90 days.
He has since been remanded to the Belize Central Prison, with his next court date set for September 24.
(Excerpt from CBC News)
China ups Caribbean climate aid
As the Trump Administration continues down a path of reducing foreign assistance and distancing itself from climate goals, a report titled “A Review of Chinese Climate Assistance in the Caribbean” from Washington, DC-based Inter-American Dialogue noted that China is becoming a more prominent partner as it relates to climate adaptation and mitigation efforts in the Caribbean region.
It suggested that China’s increased focus on climate outreach in the region “is ostensibly aimed at forging stronger diplomatic ties to Caribbean nations, where climate change and its implications are generally top of mind” and suggested that this is in an effort to advance other foreign policy objectives.
“Although the Caribbean is not a top foreign policy priority for China, ties to the region achieve a range of political and economic aims,” the report said.
“Proximity to the
United States has also arguably driven some of China’s economic and strategic engagement with the region, as has interest in Caribbean tourism, natural resources, and export markets.
“Additionally, the region is one of a few key transit zones for China as it transports raw materials from Latin America.
The report considers China’s climate cooperation/outreach in the Caribbean to include the direct provision of financing (including export credits), donations, technical cooperation, educational outreach, and foreign di-
rect investment (including infrastructure development that China describes as climate-related), whether in support of disaster relief, energy transition, food security, or other forms of climate-related recovery or resilience.
Based on that definition, it found that China carried out at least 139 direct, climate-related projects in 13 Caribbean countries over the past decade. Cuba, with 40 projects, and Dominica, with 19 projects, were the two largest destinations for China’s climate aid in the region . (Excerpt from Nassau Guardian)
Brazil's President sees no point in tariff talks with Trump; to discuss tariffs with BRICS
As US tariffs on Brazilian goods jumped to 50 per cent on Wednesday, Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva told Reuters in an interview that he saw no room for direct talks now with US President Donald Trump that would likely be a "humiliation".
Brazil is not about to announce reciprocal tariffs, he said. Nor will his Government give up on cabinet-level talks. But Lula himself is in no rush to ring the White House.
"The day my intuition says Trump is ready to talk, I won't hesitate to call him," Lula said in an interview from his Presidential residence in Brasilia. "But today my intuition says he doesn't want to talk. And I won't humiliate myself."
Despite Brazil's exports facing one of the highest tariffs imposed by Trump, the new US trade barriers look unlikely to derail Latin America's largest economy, giving Lula more room to stand his ground against Trump than most Western leaders.
Lula described US-Brazil relations at a 200-year nadir after Trump tied the new tariff to his demands for an end to the prosecution of right-
wing former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is standing trial for plotting to overturn the 2022 election.
The President said Brazil's Supreme Court, which is hearing the case against Bolsonaro, "does not care what Trump says, and it should not," adding that Bolsonaro should face another trial for provoking Trump's intervention, calling the right-wing former President a "traitor to the homeland".
In an interview with Reuters on Wednesday, he revealed plans to call the leaders of India and China to discuss a joint BRICS response to tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.
"What President Trump is doing is tacit – he wants to dismantle multilateralism, where agreements are made collectively within institutions, and replace it with uni-
lateralism, where he negotiates one-on-one with other countries," Lula said.
Lula said he will initiate a conversation at the BRICS group of developing nations about how to tackle Trump's tariffs. He said he planned to call Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday and China's Xi Jinping and other leaders after. The group also has Russia and other emerging economies among its members.
"I'm going to try to discuss with them about how each one is doing in this situation and what the implications are for each country so we can make a decision," he said. "It's important to remember that the BRICS have ten countries at the G20," he added, referring to the group that gathers 20 of the world's biggest economies. (Source: Reuters)
The damaged vehicle of a campaign team member after Central Kingston MP Donovan Williams and others were shot at (Jamaica Observer photo)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with foreign Ministers and representatives of the Caribbean countries having diplomatic relations with China, in Beijing, May 12, 2025
Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Around the World
OOIL NEWS
Oil prices slide to 8-week low as USRussia talks stir sanction uncertainty
il prices slid about 1 per cent to an eight-week low on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump’s remarks about progress in talks with Moscow created uncertainty on whether the US would impose new sanctions on Russia.
Brent crude futures fell 75 cents, or 1.1 per cent, to settle at US$66.89 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 81 cents, or 1.2 per cent, to settle at US$64.35.
Those moves marked a fifth consecutive day of losses for both crude benchmarks, with Brent closing at its lowest since June 10 and WTI closing at its lowest since June 5.
Trump said on Wednesday that his special envoy Steve Witkoff made “great progress” in his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as Washington continued its preparations to impose secondary sanctions on Friday.
Trump has threatened additional sanctions on Moscow if no moves are made to end the war in Ukraine.
“Everyone agrees this war must come to a close, and we will work towards that in the days and weeks to come,” Trump said, without providing further details.
Russia is the world’s second-biggest producer of crude after the US, so any potential deal that would reduce sanctions would make it easier for Russia to export more oil.
Earlier in the day, oil prices rose after Trump issued an executive order imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on goods from India, saying it directly or indirectly imported Russian oil. The new import tax will go into effect 21 days after August 7.
In addition to the tariff and sanction uncertainty, analysts said a planned OPEC+ supply increase has weighed on the market in recent days. (Excerpt from Reuters)
US hunter reportedly killed by buffalo
during South Africa expedition
An American game hunter was killed by a buffalo he was stalking during a hunting expedition in South Africa over the weekend, according to multiple reports.
Asher Watkins, 52, of Texas, died on 3 August while tracking a 1.3-tonne Cape buffalo in South Africa’s Limpopo province, according to a statement from Coenraad Vermaak Safaris (CV Safaris), the company that organised the hunting trip.
“On Sunday, 3rd August, while on a hunting safari with us in South Africa’s Limpopo Province, Asher was fatally injured in a sudden and unprovoked attack by an unwounded buffalo he was tracking together with one of our professional hunters and one of our trackers,” CV Safaris said in the statement, obtained by the Metro news outlet and other publications.
Trump plans to meet with Putin as soon as next week, The New York Times reports
US President Donald Trump plans to meet in person with Russian President Vladimir Putin as early as next week, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing two people familiar with the plan.
Trump then plans to meet with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy together, the newspaper reported, adding that the plans were disclosed in a call with European lead-
ers on Wednesday.
“The Russians expressed their desire to meet with President Trump, and the President is open to meeting with both President Putin and President Zelenskiy.
President Trump wants this
brutal war to end,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, responding to the report. It was not immediately clear where or when such meetings would take place. (Excerpt from Reuters)
2 Ghanaian Ministers die in helicopter crash, along with 6 others
Ghana’s ministers of defence and environment have died in a military helicopter crash in the central Ashanti region, along with six other people, a government spokesperson says.
Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment, Science and Technology Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, 50, were killed in the crash, which Chief of Staff Julius Debrah described as a “national tragedy”.
Earlier, the Ghana Armed Forces said the Z9 helicopter, which was carrying three crew and five passengers, had gone “off the radar”.
It had taken off from the capital, Accra, at 09:12 local time (and GMT) and was heading to the town of
Obuasi for an event to tackle illegal mining. The authorities have not confirmed the cause of the crash.
The chief of staff has directed the country’s flags to fly at half-mast.
He extended condolences to “the servicemen who died in service to the country,” on behalf of President
John Dramani Mahama and the government.
Ghana’s Deputy National Security Coordinator and former Agriculture Minister Alhaji Muniru Mohammed was also among the dead, along with Samuel Sarpong, ViceChairman of the governing National Democratic Congress party.
The crew members were named as Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin TwumAmpadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah. Boamah served under Mahama’s previous government as communications minister and before that he was minister of environment. As defence minster he tackled jihadist activity that was brewing in the northern border in Burkina Faso.
Muhammed was at the forefront of the battle against illegal gold mining, which has wrecked the environment and contaminated rivers and lakes.
Protests against the practice, known locally as Galamsey, peaked during Mahama’s run for the presidency last year. (BBC News)
Russia, China’s naval forces to carry out joint Asia Pacific patrol: Report
Russian and Chinese naval vessels plan to conduct a joint patrol in the Asia Pacific region, following recent exercises in the Sea of Japan, Russia’s official Interfax has reported.
Citing a statement on Wednesday from the
Russian Pacific Fleet’s press service, Interfax said that ships from the Russian Navy and China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy “will form a new task group to carry out joint patrol missions in the AsiaPacific region”.
Russia is conducting a
series of military exercises with China in response to the build-up of US military potential in the Asia Pacific region, Interfax said, citing Russia’s chief of staff, Valery Gerasimov, in 2022.
The joint patrol announcement comes as the two countries conclude five days of joint naval drills in the Sea of Japan that focused on anti-submarine and air defence missions.
(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
Moscow and Beijing have already conducted joint air patrols in the Asia Pacific region since 2019, it added.
“This is a devastating incident, and our hearts go out to his family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” the company said, adding that it is “doing everything we can to support the family members who are here with us and those back in the United States as they navigate this tragic loss.”
Metro reported that Watkins’ brother Amon, mother Gwen and stepfather Tony were waiting for him at the safari lodge when the incident occurred, and CV Safaris also said it was in touch with Watkins’s teenage daughter and his ex-wife, Courtney.
A warning on the CV Safari website notes the dangers of Cape buffaloes.
Watkins had a Facebook page where he shared hunting photos, often posing beside animals he had killed, including deer and mountain lions. (Excerpt from The Guardian)
According to Metro, the buffalo suddenly charged at Watkins at 35 mph (56 km/h).
US: Five soldiers shot on Georgia military base, suspect in custody
Five soldiers were injured in a shooting incident at Fort Stewart, a military base in the US state of Georgia, officials confirmed.
The military base said a suspect was in custody, and the injured soldiers were
treated on-site before being moved to hospital for further treatment. It remains unclear how serious the injuries are.
There is no longer a threat to the community, officials said, though they did not provide further details on the gunman.
The shooting took place some 240 miles (386 km) southeast of Atlanta.
A video shared on social media shows military personnel evacuating from the scene.
Law enforcement was
alerted to a shooting at 10:56 EST (15:56 GMT), and the gunman was apprehended at 11:35 EST.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump had been briefed on the shooting. (Excerpt from BBC News)
The US requires Zambian and Malawian citizens to pay up to US$15,000 bond for some visitor visas
President Donald Trump’s Administration will require visa applicants from Zambia and Malawi to pay bonds up to $15,000 for some tourist and business visas under a pilot programme launching in two weeks, the State Department said on Tuesday.
“Starting August 20,
2025, any citizen or national travelling on a passport issued by one of these countries who is found otherwise eligible for a B1/B2 visa must post a bond in amounts of $5000, $10,000, or $15,000, determined at the time of the visa interview,” the State Department said in a notice on its website.
A notice about the pro-
gramme, which gives US consular officers worldwide the discretion to impose bonds on visitors from countries with high rates of visa overstays, appeared on the Federal Register on Monday, but no country names had been mentioned. The bond amount will be returned to the applicant if the applicant leaves the US within the allowed window of time in line with their visa and complies with all the terms of their visa status. Numerous countries in Africa, including Burundi, Djibouti and Togo, also had high overstay rates, according to US Customs and Border Protection data from fiscal year 2023. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah (l) and Environment, Science and Technology Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed
SUDOKU
Share your thoughts openly. The more you stew over endless possibilities, the less you achieve. Proactivity will help you win favors and establish yourself as the go-to person.
What you do will have a greater impact on others than what you say. Focusing on your endgame and distancing yourself from people who provoke you and waste your time will soothe your soul.
Up your game and revise how you use your skills to suit current needs. A wholehearted approach to change will be like a breath of fresh air, giving you the momentum to capture positive attention.
Refuse to let your emotions make you look bad or give someone the chance to take advantage of you. The progress you make working on personal growth will be consequential.
Refuse to let your emotions filter into your financial or professional decisions. Focus on what you know and present yourself and your ideas with finesse. Work to make positive change.
Focus on moneymaking projects. Network and engage in conversations that allow you to market your attributes and express your desires. Someone will show interest in how you live and who you are.
Don’t underestimate what the people around you are capable of. An in-depth account will be difficult for others to deny. Stick to facts; embellishment will come back to haunt you.
Follow your heart, say little and do what pleases you. Choose to educate yourself instead of trying to redirect others. Reconnecting with someone will impact your vision.
Make home and prospects your focal point. Utilizing your skills and time effectively will help you improve your situation at a price you can afford. Negotiating on your own behalf will pay off.
Be open to suggestions, but don’t immediately adopt what others want. Don’t waste your time arguing when you know what’s best for you. Align yourself with people who share your values.
Put your energy to good use. Refuse to let anxiety build or stop you from reaching your full potential. Avoid people who bring you down, confuse you or cost you.
Jumping to conclusions will cause problems. Do your research, prepare your questions and talk to the powers that be to help point you in the right direction.
ARCHIE
The Hundred
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is not keen on a two-tiered World Test Championship (WTC) in which relegation could lead to England not being in the same division as Australia or India, thus potentially depriving them of their two most lucrative rivalries.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) last month formed a working group, led by former New Zealand batter Roger Twose, to look into, among other things, improving the WTC ahead of the next cycle, which begins in July 2027. A two-tier system was among the most significant topics discussed at the ICC annual conference in July. Twose, New Zealand Cricket’s representative on the ICC Board, is expected to make recommendations to the board.
Two-tier Test cricket has been debated for more than 15 years, with the ICC showing its willingness to the idea as far back as in 2009, though Full Members have been split on the issue for various reasons.
Speaking to BBC’s Test Match Special on the opening day of the Oval Test between England and India last week, ECB chairman Richard Thompson said the value of bilateral cricket was dropping because of a “congest-
ed” calendar overwhelmed by T20 leagues, and that in most countries, Test cricket had taken a big hit. Thompson said that while a two-tier model for Test cricket was being discussed by the ICC, he was not sure if it was perfect.
“There are a lot of options that we’ve got to look at –tiers would be one of them,”
better than it does. It has definitely improved the narrative, [and] it has created a relevance,” Thompson said. “Seeing what it meant for South Africa – who are crushed by rugby in their own country – and seeing players I know really well, like Graeme Smith, in tears on the outfield, that was a real moment
2028, when we have an Olympics, and our best 11 cricketers have got to go to LA for two weeks in the middle of July? That is going to throw up some challenges.”
Details of the composition of the working group to improve the WTC, as well as a more specific brief, have
“Talking to CEOs of the West Indies and other [boards], when I was with them recently, everyone’s got a very open mind to this because they know that we’re going to need some level of change in order to extract value in this part of the game” –Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg
he said. “We wouldn’t want, as England, to go through a fallow period, and that means what? We fall into Division Two, and we don’t play Australia and India? That couldn’t happen. There has to be a sense that common sense needs to play out here.”
Thompson believed that a better solution could be tinkering with the existing WTC itself. He cited South Africa’s defeat of Australia to become WTC 2023-25 winners as an example of how, with the right support, smaller countries could emerge as strong contenders.
“The World Test Championship could work
seeing them win. As much as I was critical that they turned up with a ‘B’ team when they played New Zealand [in 2024], it was still good for the game when the underdog wins.
“But the reality of it is, the World Test Championship, if it was improved upon and certain changes were made, maybe you don’t need two tiers of Test cricket. What you do need is a schedule that makes a lot more sense than it currently does, and that must include the volume of bilateral cricket that you play, whiteball and red-ball, and recognise that from 2028, we have an Olympics.
“So what happens in
not been announced. Some reports have indicated an eight-person committee, with representation from nonTest nations as well. Sanjog Gupta, the recently appointed ICC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), is also likely to be in the group.
Having clarity over the two-tier model is key for ICC, with countries already having started conversations for bilateral series that will be part of the next WTC cycle (202729). With the media rights for the new commercial cycle (2027-31) expected to be put out to tender next year, the ICC is keen to find a solution to make the WTC more mean-
ingful. But, even at this nascent stage, there are a lot of reservations being expressed.
The majority of the Full Member countries have always been split on the two-tier test model for various reasons: some feared loss of revenue from the ICC’s annual distribution of money in case their country gets relegated, some don’t want to be relegated to a lower tier, and some plainly rejected the idea on an ego basis every time the ICC Board discussed the topic.
Todd Greenberg, Cricket Australia’s CEO, who is expected to be another influential voice on the subject, said the bigger countries had the responsibility of keeping smaller countries competitive, including by having a strong first-class system.
“The real challenge here is what role do we all play,” Greenberg told SEN Radio on Wednesday. “When I say we, those three countries that [are] putting resources and energy into Test cricket, what role do we have to help others make sure that they step up because it’s in our interest to see a strong West Indies, a strong Pakistan, New
Zealand, [and] South Africa? We want those countries to be strong in this format of the game, but clearly they’re going to need help. They can’t do it alone. It’s incumbent on all of cricket to help.”
Greenberg said he was keeping an “open mind” on the two-tier Test model subject to certain conditions.
“My open mind is in reference to if it helps grow the opportunities for those other countries to be stronger and have better resources in Test match cricket. If it does that, then I’m open for it,” he said. “But if it doesn’t achieve that, and it actually affects the opposite, then I wouldn’t be supportive.”
Greenberg pointed out that several CEOs who attended the ICC’s chief executives committee meeting in Singapore echoed the same thinking.
“Talking to CEOs of the West Indies and other [boards], when I was with them recently, everyone’s got a very open mind to this because they know that we’re going to need some level of change in order to extract value in this part of the game.”
(ESPNcricinfo)
RHT Poonai Pharmacy start Berbice U13 title defence with hat-trick of victories
…Bharrat, Ganpat top performers
The Rose Hall Town (RHT) Poonai Pharmacy Under-13 team have started their defence of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Under 13 championship with three consecutive victories in the BCB/ Singh Brothers Tournament. They had won the last tournament in 2024 when they defeated the Rose Hall Canje team by five wickets to lift their third title in six years. The team, in 2025, arebeing led by Berbice youth player Jayden Ganpat, who has so far taken ten wickets with his left-arm spin, while the highly-talented Khemraj Bharrat has spearheaded the defending champions' batting with solid batting in the three games.
In the matches played over three consecutive days, Rose Hall Town Poonai Pharmacy defeated Albion B, Port Mourant and Albion A to emerge as the champion
of Zone C and advance to the quarter-finals.
RHT Poonai Pharmacy batted first against Albion B in the 30-overs-per-side match at the Albion Sports Complex and reached 210 for 6, with Bharrat scoring 45 not out, while Akeem Fraser (34), Ganpat (31), Randy Williams (17), Dishan La Cruz (16) and Joshua Dhanraj (14 not out) all contributed.
Albion B in response were bowled out for 86 runs in 28 overs as LaCruz took 4 for 15 and Bharrat two for nine in five impressive overs. The RHT Poonai Pharmacy won by 124 runs.
On Monday, they crushed Port Mourant by 130 runs at the Port Mourant Ground. Batting first after winning the toss, the visitors amassed a solid score of 220 for 4 from 30 overs, with Royston Crandon top-scoring with a solid 71, highlighted by six boundaries. Crandon received
support from Justin Hicks (32 not out), Bharrat (30 not out) and Fraser (20).
In response, Port Mourant were shot out for 90 in 28 overs, with only S Samaroo reaching double figures with 17. The twin pair of left-arm spinners, Jayden Ganpat and Bharrat, were the main destroyers with 4 for 11 and 4 for 7, respectively. Anthony Srikissoon took 1 for 20.
In the final Zone C match, Albion A won the toss at the Area H Ground and decided to take first strike in brilliant
sunlight. They were never allowed to score freely, as pacers LaCrux and Srikissoon bowled a tight length and line. Albion crawled to 30 for one wicket at the end of the tenth over. The introduction of the left-arm spin duo, Ganpat and Bharrat, added more pressure. Albion were restricted to 120 for 8 off their allotted 30 overs. Extras topped the score with 33, while Sahid Gajnabi
scored a solid 31 with two boundaries and a six. Daniel Johnson (14) and Nicholas Madramootoo (10) offered support as Ganpat claimed four wickets for 18 runs from six very impressive overs and Fraser two for 18 from four overs. Rose Hall Town Poonai Pharmacy, in reply, reached 122 for 7 in 27 overs as Bharrat continued his impressive form with the bat
with a solid 41 with four boundaries, while Hicks (16) and Fraser (14) also contributed. Randy Williams also contributed a vital ten not out to lead the defending champions over the line. Daniel Johnson was the most successful bowler for Albion with two wickets for nine runs from three overs.
The tournament is being sponsored by the Singh Brothers company and involves twelve teams divided into four zones.
The winning Rose Hall Town Poonai Pharmacy team
Khemraj Bharrat
Royston Crandon
“We wouldn’t want, as England... we fall into Division 2, and we don’t play Australia and India? That couldn’t happen” – ECB Chairman Richard Thompson
St Lucia Kings Head
Coach Daren Sammy has announced that veteran South African all-rounder David Wiese will lead the defending Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) champions in the 2025 season.
In a video message posted on social media, Sammy, the franchise’s most iconic figure and namesake of the Daren Sammy Stadium, confirmed Wiese’s appointment ahead of the team’s opening match on August 23 at home in Gros Islet.
“Hello St Lucia Kings fans, CPL 2025 is almost here, and it’s time for you to know who will lead us in
our title defence of 2025, and it’s no other than David Wiese,” Sammy declared. “Someone who’s
part of the family, who’s been with us over a number of years, put in some excellent performances throughout the years. We cannot wait to start our first home game.”
Wiese, known for his powerful hitting and crafty seam bowling, has been a consistent contributor for the Kings in recent seasons and played a key role
Shepherd returns as CWI announces ODI squad for Pakistan series
Cricket West Indies
(CWI) has announced the 15-member squad for the 50-over leg of the white-ball home series against Pakistan, set to take place at the iconic Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad. The series will feature three CG United One-Day Internationals (ODIs) on August 8, 10 and 12.
Hunting a fourth consecutive ODI series win at home, the squad has the nucleus of players who were successful during home series wins against England and Bangladesh to end 2024 as well as the tour of the United Kingdom earlier this year.
The highly-anticipated tour will be the final one of the “Full Ah Energy” home series and provides an opportunity for CWI to focus on building its ODI team ahead of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.
Alzarri Joseph has been given an extended rest to continue workload management while Romario Shepherd makes a return after missing the matches against Ireland and England earlier this year.
Head Coach Daren Sammy is excited for the team to continue the momentum of the last 18 months.
“Pakistan presents a different test and challenge as we continue our push for automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup,” Sammy said.
“While qualifying is our immediate goal, maintaining a winning mentality and
team cohesion is essential for long-term success.”
Sammy also added, “The upcoming matches against teams like Pakistan, who are ranked higher, provide crucial opportunities to earn valuable ranking points to improve our standing ahead of the World Cup.”
West Indies CG United ODI Squad: Captain Shai Hope, Jewel Andrew, Jediah Blades, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales and Romario Shepherd.
Team Management Unit (TMU):
Head Coach: Daren
Sammy Manager: Rawl Lewis
Assistant Coach (Batting): Floyd Reifer
Assistant Coach (Bowling): Ravi Rampaul
Assistant Coach (Fielding): Rayon Griffith
Physiotherapist: Dr. Denis Byam
Strength & Conditioning
Coach: Ronald Rogers
Massage Therapist: Fitzbert Alleyne
Analyst: Avenesh Seetaram
Content & Media Officer: Jerome Foster Match
1st
in their historic title win in 2024. His experience and calm leadership have made him a fan favourite and a respected figure in the dressing room.
Sammy also issued a rallying cry to the fans ahead of the new campaign, urging them to turn out in their numbers to support the team and its new captain at the Daren Sammy Stadium, affectionately dubbed “The Blue
Fortress” by supporters.
“We know St Lucia Kings fans are the best fans. You will come out at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground and paint it blue as you support our new captain and the St Lucia Kings team this season,” he said. “Get your tickets, 23rd – we’re looking to see you at home. Let’s make it a grand occasion.”
Wiese becomes the latest in a line of high-profile
leaders for the Kings, who are aiming to become the first team to win back-toback CPL titles since the Trinbago Knight Riders in 2017 and 2018.
With the “Biggest Party in Sport” just weeks away, the champions appear locked and loaded, and with Wiese at the helm, St Lucia Kings fans have every reason to believe they’re in for another special season.
On Saturday the 9th of August, Precision Sports will see the commencement of a women’s T20 series at the Malteenoes Sports Club located in Georgetown between Combined Forces (Guyana) and Hibiscus Women’s Cricket Club (Trinidad and Tobago).
Organiser Nidia Andrews spoke with Guyana Times Sport and expressed what inspired her to launch this event.
“I came from Trinidad and Tobago, where we have an organised tournament that spans over a few months with multiple women's teams. When I came to Guyana, there was very limited cricket here for the ladies, and I can speak from experience because I participated in the inter-county tournament back in 2024. A lot is lacking, so I decided to step in and do something valuable and needed for the ladies.”
Andrews also discussed some of the difficulties she encountered while getting ready for this tournament.
“So right now, we are scrambling to put everything that we were supposed to have in place. We're trying to put it in place now because we don't have any loyalty from the Guyana Cricket Board, so we're trying to find alternative accommodation.”
There will be five T20 matches being played commencing on August 9th; the second will be played on August 10th, and the third
will be played on Tuesday the 12th. Games 4 and 5 will be played on Thursday the 14th and Saturday the 16th, respectively.
Prizes will be distributed to the best-performing players in the series, including Player of the Match awards (plaques & a Moonwalkr thigh guard). The Player of the Tournament will be awarded with a trophy and full Moonwalkr kit. The ones who gained the most runs and most wickets will receive a trophy each. With the championship trophy up for grabs, medals will be given to players of both teams.
The Hibiscus Women’s Cricket Club squad includes Jerveena Pollucksingh (Captain), Sian Ramnarine, Shanella Mohammed, Rosemary Samaroo, Zahra Mohit, Chelsea Simmons, Zaheera Mohit, Trisha Hardat, Jada Fraser, Renita Ramdeo, Sherica Campbell, Matana Cambridge and Temica Wilson.
The Combined Forces squad includes Varuni Pitamber, Naomi Barkoye, Tilleya Madramootoo, Yonette Welcome (Captain), Anestecia Valenzuela, Cianna Barkoye, Crystal Durant, Tamar George, Tiea Isaacs, Afifah Wickham, Tremaine Marks, Shenesa Thomas and Manager Jamella Chesney.
Precision Sports has gathered support from PC Consultants, LexieVille Airbnb, Kai Water, Superbet, Acado, Essequibo Cricket Board, Dave's West Indian Imports Inc, Stabroek
Prints (GuyLanta), Alstrom Consulting, Osbert Nurse, Trophy Stall, Gafoors, Joel Barnes (Queens of the Pitch), Anil Beharry, Star Sports (Sheikh Mohammed), Starbucks Guyana, Moonwalkr, and Pink Flower Embroidery Designs Limited. PJM Creations, Hand in Hand Fire & Life Insurance Ltd, Jacob's Jewellery, Marathon Development Group Inc, PRINT IT, Alyssa Bhola, Chelsea Construction & General Services Guyana and AGN Customs Brokerage & Logistics Services Inc.
West Indies will shift their attention to
The Guyanese Combined Forces during a warm-up session recently
David Wiese will lead defending champions St Lucia Kings in the 2025 RBL CPL
RUSH Sports to broadcast CPL and WCPL matches
RUSH Sports has been confirmed as the official Caribbean broadcaster of the 2025 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and the Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL).
This year’s CPL will feature 34 electrifying matches from 14 August to 21 September, showcasing world-class cricket across the Caribbean. The WCPL will bring even more excitement with seven high-stakes clashes scheduled between 6 and 17 September.
Fans can look forward to seeing some of the biggest stars in world cricket in action across iconic Caribbean venues in Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, St Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad & Tobago. The men’s tournament boasts a stellar line-up, including Quinton de Kock, Andre Russell, Nicholas Pooran, Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim, and Rovman Powell, promising top-tier competition at the "Biggest Party in Sport". On the women’s side,
Hayley Matthews, the world’s premier all-rounder, will aim to lead the Barbados Royals to a third consecutive title. She’ll face tough competition from stars such as Deandra Dottin and Shabnim Ismail, ensuring fierce battles on the field.
As the Caribbean’s premier destination for sports, RUSH Sports brings fans closer to the action through its two 24/7 linear channels – available across the region on all major pay-TV platforms and through affiliate TV Everywhere services.
August 9 fight night set to ignite CASH
Elton Dharry Promotions, alongside the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS), will appease professional boxing fans in Guyana on Saturday, August 9, with a star-studded Pro-Am card.
Headlining Saturday’s card will be Guyana’s fistic sensation Elton Dharry taking on Panamanian Roger Saldana, while Keevin Allicock battles Colombia’s Omar Cuello and Dexter Marques takes on Colombia’s Sammy Ramos.
Amateur boxer Desmond Amsterdam will make his professional debut against Romeo Norville, while a nail-biting title match will see Edward DeClou and Charwin Estwick in the squared circle.
As time winds down to the anticipated event this weekend, several of the boxers sat down for a press briefing on Wednesday afternoon, where GBBC President Peter Abdool shared what to expect.
“This is an excellent card in terms of the fact that it blends a bit of the new guys coming in, the people that Guyana wants to see. We want to see our new blood where that is coming from,” Abdool shared.
Promoter and pugilist Elton Dharry, admitting that he is in the twilight of his career, urged fans to come out and see the show.
Dharry expressed, ““First, let me acknowledge God like I always do. To be here again in Guyana in
front of my people. August 9th, I’m prepared to win. If you have never seen me fight before, you need to show up this time. I’m not going to be coming here much more; my career is coming to an end soon, so I’m going to do a few more before I retire.”
With the national super middleweight title on the line, DeClou and Estwick exchanged words ahead of their clash.
“It’s a blessing being
Guyana’s U15 boys cruise past Cayman Islands 3-1
here today because I haven’t been competing in a few years, but I’m still here, I’ve still got it, and definitely I’m willing to put on a show Saturday coming,” DeClou shared.
DeClou went on to warn his opponent, “The last thing I want to say, Estwick, is it’s best you don’t turn up Saturday and be done.”
Estwick responded, “Good luck. Good luck to you, DeClou.”
“The 22nd of April, the main reason I came to this country – I missed you last year. It’s not going to happen on Saturday. Good luck to you, DeClou,” he added.
On the amateur card, Abiola Jackman will be headlining that segment in a clash with Trinidad and Tobago’s Merlicia Durham, while Terron Wintz takes on St Lucia’s Justice Joseph. Akeelah Vancooten and Ryan Rogers are also expected to be in action.
Aquick bounce back was needed from Guyana’s national Under-15 boys team as they prepared for a clash with the Cayman Islands early on Wednesday morning in their second outing of the 2025 CONCACAF Under-15 Championships in Aruba.
The Junior Golden Jaguars had only hours before suffered a crushing 5-0 loss at the hands of Puerto Rico, but managed to turn it around.
This time around, Brathwaite opted for a few changes which saw his starting XI read: Captain Jaden Tasher, goalkeeper Nyall
Kendall, Travis Grogan, Nyron Barrow, Pharez Noble, Mark Stewart, Jeden Nelson, Juslyn Halley, Mark Glasgow, Germaine Garrett and Damani Hardy.
The Junior Golden Jaguars were stunned early in the encounter when Cayman’s Levi Jacks collected a long ball and slipped it past the Guyanese keeper for the first goal in the 9th minute.
Guyana’s response took a while, but it eventually came off the boots of Glasgow, who capitalised on an assist from Garrett at the top of the box to sink the equaliser in the 28th minute, resulting in the
half ending 1-1. Fortune was in Guyana’s favour as Cayman suffered a double red-card blow at the end of the first and beginning of the second half. Not too long after, Barrow sent a gorgeous left-footed shot into the right corner of the goal for Guyana’s second goal in the 49th minute.
After assisting earlier, Garrett officially added his name to the scoresheet with a shot in the 70th+3.
Guyana’s 3rd and final group match will come today, Thursday, August 7, at 09:00h at the same venue, Stadion CD Guillermo Trinidad in Aruba.
RUSH Sports is the official Caribbean broadcaster of the RBL CPL and Massy WCPL 2025
Edward DeClou and Charwin Estwick size up ahead of their title match
Abiola Jackman will headline the amateur undercard
Guyana’s national U15 team brought up their first win on Wednesday morning
